Out of the Blue

Our BTO in the works It dawned on me today that I've never really been able to let myself make mistakes. In an BTO exercise about two years ago, we chose a unit and we didn't even check the compass.  Today I walked past it, and saw that our block was climbing storeys but oh dear the setting sun was shining brightly into the windows!  It faces the west! Worry set in - what if we come home to a hot house every day?  And later if we want to sell, no one would buy it?  After some anxious googling of solutions and finding nothing, I was frustrated - with myself. As I switched on my twitter deck almost like a reflex after I turned off my safari, I read this. "Jesus doesn't condemn legitimate concern, but rather the continuous mindset that dismisses God's presence." (Max Lucado) My soul stirred.  I realised I've let me take over and really dismissed God.  I began to pray. I don't think that shifted any direction of the setting sun.  But I wa...

Sharing a devotion @AGM I must be one of those whom cannot stop working after I officially retire.  At four and a half months of pregnancy, my mind is really still all about work and ministry.  I can't let go yet I know, at least emotionally. It has been coming to 8 years on staff.  I've been burnt out before, discouraged and disappointed at some point in time.  But I've experienced the most wonderful things of my life during this period as well - finding good friends, getting married and having my own home, and learning about leadership. But changes are part of life and God has graciously moved me along to a new phase of life called motherhood.  I'd have to put down what I've held on dearly - the heated and passionate discussions with my staff friends about ministry, challenging of students to follow Jesus, the little adventures each day brings on campus.   In this very midst of changes, I know God is drawing me into a deeper road with Him - 'a pilg...

Before we catch Lion King @MBS I'm a lazy writer.  Can't believe my last post was in Jan!  So much has happened since then.  1. I've celebrated my big 30. 2. I'm pregnant.  3. Life will turn 180 degrees come next Feb Yes it's been a roller coaster ride since the two lines I saw at the end of May.  We saw a gynae in early May to have a body check up, cos I felt paranoid about my bad menstrual cramps that landed me in cold sweat, vomiting and diarrhoea sometimes.  The gynae pronounced me in good shape and predicted we should be able to conceive in six months time.  But no, it happened right away. Fast forward, it's been 4 months since.  Life definitely has changed for me.  I'm no where near efficient in anything - ministry or housework.  I get frustrated about it but at the same time it has forced me to appreciate the help of others more, to enjoy the grace of God more than before. Our relationship underwent chan...

He was physically handicapped.  But during the praise and worship, he clapped his hands joyfully.  His head jerked uncontrollably sometimes but he was clearly enjoying himself in the church.  It was the first time he came after being invited by Qingwen yesterday.  He probably knew alot about Christianity but had not committed his life to Jesus.  Qingwen told me he was worried he was too "sinful" to be a Christian.  What a confession. God amazed me again by bringing Willis, a boy whom came to Sunday School a long time ago last year and prayed and received Christ.  He had forgotten about the incident apparently.  But today, he came back with fresh questions about "baptism" and the significance of "sacrifice".   A man on wheelchair and a boy looking for truth.  May they find their deepest and greatest need met by the Lord God who has been seeking them!

A mission trip to Tokyo wasn't in my radar.  But preparation for it went underway in October when I was assigned to lead it. I brought 9 students along on this trip.  Qingwen was (thankfully) with me and so was Henry.  It wasn't easy handling the different personalities and needs.  But I believed the trip was divinely arranged as we squared off one another at different points of the trip.  It was definitely a refresher in discipling students! The cold air ushered a whole new world for us as we stepped out of Narita Airport.  After a two hr bus ride, we met our local staff host Sok Yee, whom is an amazing lady by the way.  She handled our pre trip arrangemements with the hotel, church and many other nitty gritty details.  I thank God for her. I ate my first Mc Pork at the Mac and loved it.  We took the train to our hotel and that was the quietest ride I've ever experienced in my life.  There seems to be an invisibe inst...

Last Saturday,  I was at Mass Media (Crusade Bookstore) trying to get some materials for my Sunday School kids (and wishing secretly that I'd something for myself)  I saw this book called "31 Days Toward Intimacy with God" and decided to buy it for my soul. And as I read through the introduction, it was as if God was saying.  "Stay close to Me- and this is what it means." "When we suffer, we realize we are not handling theological ideas, we are rather being handled a Person-the warm and intimate Person of the Lord Jesus.  At other times, when life is rosier, we may slide by with knowing about Him.  With imitating Him and quoting Him and speaking of Him.  But only in the fellowship of suffering will we know Jesus.  We identify with Him at the point of His deepest humilitaion.  The cross, symbol of His greatest suffering, becomes our personal touchpoint with the Lord of the universe."~Joni Erickson Tada, 31 Days towards intimacy with God Someho...

This past July has been the longest month I've ever experienced.  Being in charge of recruitment this year, work started for me right from March or so, with trickles of Admin and meetings mounting to peak in July. Freshman Camp, Matriculation Fair, online surveys and CORS Bidding help..things rolled from one thing to another while my energy dissipated uncontrollably.  There were a few nights where I stared at the TV screen, with energy left only to blink my eyes.  On other days, headaches arrested me without warning, leaving me unable to work. Through it, it wasn't merely the work that drained me.  More than that, it included disappointments with students, disagreements with colleagues, personal grunts and wrestling with God about stuff. In the midst of the cauldron of  despair and waiting for July to be over, I heard His tender, unexpected voice.  "Stay close to Me." For a while, things about me seemed to freeze.  My world just blanked abit as...