Tuesday, June 21, 2011

My One Desire

In the midst of the chaos, I called and the Lord answered. And deep within, something moved. This song - I thank the Lord. May this be my heart cry.

One Desire
You gave it all for me
My soul desire, my everything
All I am is devoted to You
How could I fail to see
You are the love that rescued me
And all I am is devoted to You

And oh, how could I not be moved
Lord here with You
So have Your way in me
Cause Lord there is just one thing
And that I will seek

This is my cry, My one desire
Just to be where You are Lord
Now and forever
It's more than a song, it's my one desire
Just to be with You, to be with You, Jesus

Friday, June 17, 2011

Inspirational

King David wrote some of the best music and poems in tough times.

Looking back at my facebook statuses, I'm amazed by what I churned out over the past few days. Indeed it has been a quick week that has flown by. Some times, it feels like gear 1, but at times gear 5. I'm getting the momentum of this ride with God now... but I'm still learning more. This magic carpet ride with God is getting more and more exciting!

But anyway... just for memory and keepsake, I've decided to just copy and paste my past two facebook status updates here. Cuz... to be honest, I think they're pretty cool and inspirational...! :)

16th June, midnight:
Preservering yet it feels like Gethsemane... Sheer vulnerability. A scapegoat, doormat, broken and poured out, hurt and misunderstood. Did the King mean to love sacrificially? Yet being hurt in the process. He understood, went through and now comforts because He understands...

17th June, midnight:
The guns fired and She finally realised. It's not an illusion but She did fire in accuracy and precision. The King was not delayed in fulfilling the promise. She saw the clouds dissipate, and clarity revealed. Now She pivots and makes a directional change. Her eyes and heart are on the field, where the King is calling Her to. As for the rest, She trusts and know the King has His time. :)

I've booked my flights to Melbourne, and then to Uluru. 10 days of holidays after my last day at work. Time to rewind, relax and find inspiration.
 
My personal short term ministry faith goals for the next half of 2011:
 
1) Purchase a good condenser microphone, pistol grip, and boom pole.
2) Improve after effects video animation skills
3) Make 2 short films/documentaries.
 
As the Lord guides... :)

The clouds are dissipating slowly..

It's 12am! Today is my beloved cousin's bday. We're the same age and she's hit a quarter her life!  Happy birthday Ah Ying! I'll join you in a quarter soon.. haha.


On a side note...

I'm beginning to see more and receive confirmation through a series of events that occurred.

Last month, a prophetic word was given onto me in 2 parts.
The first part had been coming true so many times, and I've been astonished and amazed at what God is doing. Yet on the sidenote, the second part instructed focus and waiting on God's timing.

Last week, the prophetic word continued with a part 3 and 4, and I'm surprised. There's beginning to be so much clarity now... I thought the word would just end with 1 and 2, but I'm now quite excited to see what is coming forth.

At least, I refuse now to waddle in self-pity, but instead to claim the victory and promises God has for me... the moaning and groaning and whinging can go.. I've given the enemy too much attention. Things happened and it does hurt me. But now I begin to see the picture being painted, and know that God who has spoken this into motion beforehand will carry it unto completion.

I thank God for the friends who has stood by and understood through this season. It's not exactly been easy, but God has put the wise around me to guide me.

So today I decided to do something really therapeutic.. cooking my favourite Teochew braised duck. This Teochew braised duck means a lot to me.. the recipe and the significance in my life. Anyone in my family who thinks of my favourite food will link it to this duck.. and it's never the same bought from outside. The best will always be mum's duck, and grandma's duck. :)  Hope I master this duck well... and pass it on to my future generations too!!!

Anyway.. here's the duck. Enjoy... looking! haha.... goodnight!

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Looking towards Heaven

The more I care... the more I get hurt.

The some things I might do, if I could turn back the hands of time.

Choose not to say something that I shouldn't say.
Say something I should have said.
Stay out of a specific matter.
Be there for somebody.
Be wiser with my words.
Be more of a giver than receiver.
Be more supportive than discouraging.
Be somewhere else at a specific time.

But if the hands of time turned back, I would still have made the same mistakes, and done the same thing.

I don't know the future and may not always take the best action, or say the best thing. I'm trying to be better but at times it seems to go the other way. I try to go the extra mile for a friend, but fail to be a good friend at the end. I try to see the need, but overlook the pressing need. I try to be a blessing to another, but hurt another in the process. I try to be giving, but in turn became selfish. I try to say the right words, but in turn hurt someone.  I try to do something, but in turn was classified a meddler. I try to pursue my dreams, but in turn compromise being there to support a friend's dream.

So many things I try, to make the world a better place. But I've carried a huge load upon myself, and it's weighing me down. I am trying, but am still an imperfect person, slowly improving and become a better person God wants me to be.

I want to be a blessing.
But at times I feel crushed.

The Bible says - we're hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

Yes, it's not the easiest thing to live for Christ. A friend shared reccently about her experience about being 'nice' after knowing Christ. I personally understand from my own walk as well.

In the past, being there for a friend, being nice, seemed to be a 'good deed' effort... and it seemed so easy to be a nice person. But ever since God began His work in my heart to love from the heart, and love with His grace and love... not to judge but to love... and to give without expecting in return, it all changed for me.

I find myself now constantly in a vulnerable place. Loving from my heart, and trying still, to be there for those whom I care for. But loving from the heart means opening myself up to deeper vulnerability. To expect being hurt by people's responses becomes a normal thing.

I find myself lowering to a deeper humility, to say 'sorry', or go out and do something and not get a response I want. But a friend taught me recently, if you are learning to give, then give without expecting in return. Easy theory I have known for a while... but never did I know, that includes expecting some reaction from the receiver.

God is moulding my character.

I'm sorry to everyone whom I might have hurt along the way as God moulds me. I'm sorry if I've been selfish and prideful. But please don't judge me based on yesterday, today, or tomorrow. God is a God of second chances... and each time I'm given another chance, I hope I did better.

I'm trying to be better, not just cuz I want to please people... to be honest, the reason is cuz the world is already a hard enough place, and I just want to be a blessing. I hate strife, and really love it when people around me are just united and happy. And the other reason - God has not given up on me despite my weaknesses, and He still loves me. So I'm not taking His love for me for granted... but I really wanna be a better person for God, a better ambassador for God.

Jesus loved us and died for us... and back then, He died a lonely and painful death... and the people hated Him, and it must have been really hard, to be killed and hated and wronged by the people you love.

I prayed that I can understand God's heart beat. And He allowed many things to happen in my life. And through these, I understand how much I can love someone, yet be hurt and wronged, yet persevering in the love that Jesus command us to. Of course, the love I give is no where near the perfect love that Jesus gives.

So in trying to love, I've been hurt again. But, each time I'll become stronger, for the treasure is building up in this jar of clay, and that's me.

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
2 Corinthians 4:16-18

In a developed country, people have every thing. But yet the hole in our hearts crave and yearn the filling of what only God can give. The true security and acceptance. I need that.
I look to my brothers and sisters in the developing or third world countries. They may not have every material possession they need or want, but the smile on their face each time they praise and worship God, and their living testimonies about how great God is in their lives, thoroughly reflects their security in God, the Provider of their lives.

No doubt, a lot of my problems and emotions are caused by my insecurities. And I'm praying that I may only allow God to fill that space in my heart. Pray with me friends... thank you.

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Business Unusual

40:00min onwards for the sermon. Deep message - watch if you can - you won't regret.


05 Business Unusual (Wired For Greatness) from Mavuno Church on Vimeo.

Starting small

Freddie short films always cheer me up. And here's what he's got to say.



Just a quick snippet for the day! :)

Underage Short Film

I sometimes wallow in self-pity and over-magnify my own minute state of life... yet forgetting my security is found in Christ. And in times like this... God does bring me gentle reminders. And at the same time, encourage me through His faithfulness, that I have a friend like Him. This season hasn't been most easy, neither has it been too difficult. But all things work for God and He uses all things.

I've been sick at home for the past 3 days... hasn't been an easy 3 days as well. See.. I had to be near a toilet all the time. Haha... But I thank God for rest, and even friends who rang up and drove me to the clinic.It's been a good time for me to reflect on my life as well.. hard not to, when I'm facing four walls in my room daily. And to let God search my heart..

At the same time, I've seen some amazing but heart wrenching short films (some on my facebook now cuz I can't link it here)... The world needs to see more of these films... it is the truth... why are we magnifying celebrity gossip news, or news about things that people just sit back and go, "oh, that again? ah, that's stupid." But things that happens daily in the world that nobody really sees... and when we screen them on TV, people go "so sad... but they just do this to ask us to donate".




I don't know about you but these films don't just make me want to donate, but make me want to be OUT THERE, fulfilling a purpose greater than myself. Living a life more than just for myself. I'm not noble and true I can't step out this day... but film and media - that's the avenue I have at the moment... I want the world to see it. And see it, so there hearts will say, "Here I am Lord, send me." This work cannot be done alone. The body of Christ needs to unite and do it together, each fulfilling their role.

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Hurray!! Victory!!!

I am very happy girl today. It's a joyous occasion. Something I've been praying for more than 4 years now has happened. God is faithful.

And other things... are making me happy and joyful as well.

2 job offers... 1 more to come? Crossroad number 2, but I'm praying for clarity.

Ps Wenan said they were all praying for me. It's so encouraging... I'm really thankful, and see God's favour.

Went for a jog this morning, and felt a strong uncomfortably plus depressive blow strike at me from the enemy. When things are going well, the enemy tries to destroy and steal. I kept praying and praying... and stood firmly and held strong unto God. To be honest, it wasn't easy but I prayed and praised God as I ran... soon the enemy left.

In the midst of many battles, both mine and my friends, I see lots of victories happening too... in two of my sheep's lives... in my leaders' lives... in my fellow sisters' and brothers' lives.. The enemy's been defeated,  death couldn't hold Jesus down. Friends, know who we stand in the Lord, and keep praying! Prayer is partnership with God to partake in Victory!! Yeah, I'm waving the flag of victory....!

And it's amazing, I randomly clicked on one of the sermons at Mavuno today. It's not a very recent sermon but out of the many sermons on the site, I just clicked this one. And it apparently talked about the MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT industry! How clear can God strike His vision for me when He really wants to?

Enjoy this sermon... from 37:00min onwards... you'll be so so blessed. Really.

03 Setting The Agenda (Wired For Greatness) from Mavuno Church on Vimeo.

Tonight I commission Xiao Jie to do God's work tomorrow in His safe hands. The Church needs more prayer and covering! So please pray pray and pray pray pray!! :)

Goodnight... and now let's welcome another exciting victorious week!!!

God is awesome!!!

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Welcoming Winter

I'm seated on my bed cuddled in my nice warm duvet, sleeping bag, thick ski jacket and nicely cushioned with at least four pillows by my sides...

It's not really that cold, is it?

Well, I'm once again embracing the Brissy winter - in which some has decided, is not really a winter. But for a tropical island girl like me, this season is definitely winter.

So as mentioned in my earlier entry, I was having my baby back. Ok, by this I meant my laptop - my baby. It was short lived. Right now, it's on its way back to Sydney to be re-fixed again. Suffice it to say, a poor job was executed and my baby needs to undergo another operation. Sob.

Well, so I'm living on this little netbook Jasmine has kindly lent me. It's pretty hard to type, but I cannot envision myself not blogging right now. For the 1st of June usually marks winter for me - officially. Although I must say that the few weeks before today did feel a lot colder.

To date since I last wrote, which isn't very long ago, I have had two job interviews and two other 'ex-employers' keenly creating roles for me in their companies. I thank God for such favour - I mean, this is amazing. I haven't had any concrete promises yet, yet holding on to God, I will trust Him.

I know the job offer in Sydney is so so so so tempting... lucrative job offer... but is this really what God wants me to do? Please pray for me...! I really hope to get PR sponsored by an employer... but anyway, I know God is doing something to shake my world so that the breakthrough of blessings may come!!! So I'm running this good race... without turning back. I just need to focus, and keep running!!!!

The prophetic word is coming to pass... and now it's part 1, before part 2. If you know what I mean, please pray for me along those lines.... too. :)

I'm determined not to be affected by SWS this year. SWS = Shannon's Winter Syndrome. God's peace upon me. I won't be mastered by my emotions. I will rise up above them and hold on to the Tower and Refuge. :)

Good night y'all...