Shannon's Winter Syndrome (SWS)

Today's been a bit of an 'emo' day. I found myself recalling an instance where I laughed at a brother and sister for being 'emo' couple of weeks ago. And here I am in such a state now.

But it's also today that I found myself discovering MYSELF.

There's something called a Shannon's Winter Syndrome (SWS). And that, I just found out yesterday and today. Something that affects me in a way that my emotions kind of gets conjured up in different directions, to a state where I become 'emo-fied'. No, there ain't no such word - I made it up. And with regard to SWS, I believe God has reveal this to me so that I could work on it. And thank God He didn't drop that awareness in my life like a bomb. He did it so gently that I found myself having to rely on Him to get through this. Now that I see it, I act upon it. Not just acknowledge.

SWS symptoms, cure and revelation

Been having a craving to sing KTV today... but well, see how it goes. Students are having exams - but I just called Raymond and he's actually singing K at Cybercity! LOL!

You know you kinda have those kind of days once in awhile, where you just think "man! everything is heading the wrong way!"

Today I paid $16.75 for a half a foot long subway sandwich which I'm still trying to get my head around it. I paid 20 bucks and got returned only 10 bucks. Then I tried reasoning with the cashier about how he only returned me $10.

Then after I managed to get back my few coins of change + my $10 note. I walked off.. and when I returned to my workplace, my $10 was not on me anymore.

I thought to myself - only if I hadn't tried getting back those coins I might now be still holding onto my $10. What really happened?

But somehow, there was that kind of peace in my heart. And though it was totally annoying, just the thought of it alone, I just asked God to give that $10 to someone who really needed it then.

There were also couple of hiccups at work today with the mice our lab were gonna work with. Somehow, the people from the animal house made a mistake and did double of our experiments with double the number of mice needed, which resulted in a shortage of mice for the next experiment. IT was chaotic and frustrating. And to make things worse, while handling some liquid nitrogen, I kinda 'burnt' my hand - okay, I do mean burn - ice burn. You know the temperature of liquid nitrogen is -196 degrees.. or more!

So, my finger hurts. But... after these all... I felt a sense of achievement while I left work.

And the verses rang in my heart, something Atieno left for me before she returned to Kenya.

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
- Psalm 118:24

Amen. Indeed God has made this day. And despite all that happened, the peace and joy in my heart had been from God - my comforter and sustainer.

And so I ended the day with an awesome 6km on the threadmill. There - an achievement! Then came home and did what I love doing most - bake!

And yeah, here I am, summing up today. That's pretty much it.

God is good. And because He is good, the day He made, today, is GOOD.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
- Romans 8:28

It's been a long day! I'm gon hit dreamland now. Goodnight all.

Zzzz... God bless. :)

P.S. Ooh.. My bro just went to Cambodia today for another mission trip.. Praise God! Please pray for him! :) Thanks!

I'm Answering Your Call

So it's been awhile people. Before you close this site thinking, "oh no, Xuan's gon talk about 'bible stuff' again..." Let me tell ya - there's gonna be more than just that today! So keep in tune and reading, cuz the photos are at the end!

Ok.. that doesn't mean you skip out on my AWESOME life and go to the pictures - that shouldn't be how ya read a book and never the way ya should read about my life! Hee..

Ok.. a sneak preview for photo sake.

Last month I was called to go to Melbourne for work purposes, and we had a 2 day 1 night company brainstorming session. It was hard work and with all that hard work and entertaining bosses and all, I thank God for a wonderful hotel that I could slump into after the long day. Although I didn't fully utilise the facilities... nor did I really sleep well... But the photos might intrigue you. That's the best picture I could capture using my humble old sony ericsson phone.

Rydges Brighton Beach Hotel Room

Ta da! MY facial kit and stuff on the table, a nice view of the mini-bar, the essential bathroom and the luscious queen size spring mattress, that my Giraffe-the-Leslie is enjoying itself after reading his Bible at the edge of the bed.

So yeah... I used to look forward to going overseas or travelling for work - with the intention to tour and see new places, but just after this once, I found out how so tiring it is! And no no no no no no... I don't hope to go again!

His Call - My Response

Now, a little bit about my call lately. Not for boasting sake but I have been called to rise up to more responsibilities in Life Group and today I'm just penning down my convictions after a chatting session with my shepherd, Elysaa. I think it's really important that I write this down today, so I may be held accountable (to myself, and of course to all y'all who's reading) for this commitment.

Bill Hybels once talked about the 'I can't stand this anymore' syndrome of Popeye the Sailor Man. If y'all know what I'm talking about... here's a picture of him.

If y'all knew Popeye the Sailor man, he had a girlfriend named Olive Oyl. And since she was really beautiful, she would always have man going after her, but sometimes when they try to get too close, Popeye would say the phrase 'I can't stand this anymore!', and he would pop in a can of Spinach the miraculously expands himself into a muscle man - and he would then go forth and do some justice.

Bill Hybels mentioned the need for the 'I can't stand it anymore' syndrome in every believer - every leader. What would be one thing that will cause us to arise from wherever we are and stand up to say 'I can't stand this anymore' and that something has to be done so that God's work can be done? What will be something that will make ME wake up from the slumber, or rebuke myself for backsliding? What will be that something that I will take hold and be burden enough to not allow room for mess to occur.

I found that answer during the leadership summit CDS. And even till today, I hold on fast to that. His vision - My vision. And that is to see every believer maximise their potential in God. It burdens me so much, so so much, whenever I see how much more one can do in God and for God, and through God, His Holy Spirit!

It burdens and burns within my soul how much I can't stand it to see people placing a veil over their flame, or limiting what God can do in their lives. And that is the reason I will not fall back and the reason I will rise up.

Of course to that, there are many other factors that God has revealed to me along in this journey with Him. And nevertheless to say that this vision can change as God mould and reveals a deeper vision for me. And so today I pen it down, to remind myself down the track should my conviction turn to haunt me - why am I doing this?

I'm doing this because God has called me. I'm doing this because God has anointed me. I'm doing this because God's heart is for His people. I'm doing this because God has a life of abundance for His people. And I'm doing because I'm going to take back what rightfully belongs to God from the grasp of Satan - through the power of His Holy Spirit.

And it's also to pen down my strength and weaknesses in saying this. I have my strengths, and so do I my weakness. God has brought me through a journey for the past 6 to 12 months, a season of moulding, refining, sharpening and through a great obstacle course - more spiritual than physical. If you think physical obstacle courses were a pain, spiritual courses are harder. But know what? Nothing beats a battle in God's battlefield, because the victory was ours to start. The battle belongs to God. We fight it, and win it as He guides and take us through it!

On Sunday, Pastor Wilson mentioned something that struck my heart. We question God endlessly, "God, why am I still fighting this battle? Why can't I overcome it? I face it weeks after weeks, and when I thought I won the battle, I find myself fighting it all over again!"

And God says, "My child, why are still in this battlefield? Get out and move on."

So many times I find myself going back to the same battlefield when God has called me to move on. But so many times, I thought God has brought me back to the same battlefield when He did not. He brought me to a similar battlefield, to fight a similar enemy - but stronger. But know what? As the enemy grows stronger, grace and strength from God pours out greater upon my life.

If you think the more you grow in God the more powerful you become, you're probably wrong. The more you grow in God, the lesser you become, and the greater God becomes evident in you. Do my best, and let God do the rest. Release the reigns of my own life and let God drive it!

Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
- Matthew 10:39

I have made this conscious decision to rise up to His call in my life. To a place where I felt I've been called to from the start, but God had to take me through a journey of a little less than 2 years of waiting (of course I'm not saying this is the end, cuz there's so much more I have to discover about myself still). Almost 2 years of waiting so He could show me my pride, show me the crap and tatters I had in my life; and He showed me the junk I had to tidy in my life. He had to show me that I was no different from all other brothers and sisters - and that in the same way I needed His forgiveness, grace and mercy. But by His Spirit and grace, and mercy - the very same way, I can rise up on eagle wings, and soar with Him.

"but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
- Isaiah 40:31

I thank God for this opportunity and I ask that you my brothers and sisters will keep me in prayer regarding this! To walk not by my might nor strength, but only by His Spirit and ways.

'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty.
- Zechariah 4:6

A Picture Paints A Thousand Words

I've been up to heaps of baking lately. For the past 3 months, I have had heaps of products. But I won't be showing all of them!

Now, enjoy and savour!

Horlicks Chocolate Chip Doggies

Apple Raisin Walnut Muffins - Normal and Bear Shaped

Banana cake (got standard right?) hee..

Pandan Chiffon Cake! (Success!! Hallelujah!)

Banana Choc Chip Almond Muffins

Super Rich Dark Chocolate Cake

That's all for baking!

And then some pictures of MYSELF! Wahaha... Want to see me dress up.. and my new hair colour?

Here's what I wore for Michelle's (my colleague) Hens Night. If you don't know what Hens Night means - it is the party for her to enjoy her last time as a single lady before she gets married.

That's what I wore!

And now for my new hair highlight! The first time in my life ever dying my hair!

Tada! Right at the salon. The colour hasn't really come out yet.. but you can see it much clearer if you saw me now. I don't have a pic yet.. unless the bottom one tells ya something?

And recently I have just started a dance group called Project Passion, together with Joe and Christine. So yeah, here's our group on week 3. And you can find out more about us on http://www.pjtpassion.blogspot.com/!

Project Passion - Unveil the Flame.

Now that I think about it, and honestly, I just realised a second ago while I'm writing now... this Project Passion's vision... coincides with my personal vision from God! To unveil the flame and help people maximise their full potential for God!

Praise God... even as I'm penning this entry down, I've gained further insight and revelation of what God has been doing in my life! I thank God for bringing different ones of you into my life and just illuminating it so brightly. Let God's light shine in this time of darkness and let our work and passion for God not diminish!

And even before I end, let me just end with a very cool paragraph I 'stole' from Shin Yee's blog. I'm putting it here because it spoke to me right at the very time I asked God something... and thank God, He responded almost instantly.. how good and great is our God! :) He knows and He CARES!

Here goes:

HE KNOWS..THAT YOU NEED THAT. hello? is not like he don't know.. is not like he doesn't know you need a partner, is not like he doesn't know you feel like giving up, is not like he doesn't' know you need a job, is not like he doesn't know you need a friend, is not like he doesn't know ... HE KNOWS. HE KNOWS AND HE KNOWS.

Live like HE KNOWS.

God bless you. :)