Happy Chinese New Year Day 1 + Valentine's Day

Happy Chinese New Year and Happy Valentines' Day to all y'all out there!

Just called home and talked with my family... hee... happy happy. And today and yesterday I spent my New Year Eve and CNY with my 2nd family... hee. Let the series of photos tell the story~!

Started the day off with a trip down to Gold Coast Convention Centre to check out the OC2010 venue...

(yes, if you read my previous entry, you'll know that's not my first event of the day... but anyway~~)

After that...

Went to test drive a 2002 Honda Jazz... decided to get it!

Then... went home...

Wen Huey, Kuzi and I shredded and cut the veggies for Yu Sheng... and then arranged them nicely...

Crackers made by Kuzi and Wen Huey

Prepared the Pomelo and 'red packets' for Yu Sheng...

So happy to open Pomelo! Wen Huey's powerful strength!

Then... reunion dinner at James' house:

Wee hee!! End product - ready to be 'lao'!

Before that.. take photo with our hard work... wahaha... now I finally understand how much work mama spend doing it... so much work neh~~ but so glad to see the smile on everyone's face. Wen Huey did the most work!!

End product~~! Look like salad.. wahahaha... got salmon sashimi inside!!

Ice kachang machine from Faith.. we made Ice Kachang for reunion dinner too!!

It was a good time we had... not really like reunion dinner though.. was more like a fellowship gathering.. but was fun anyway!! Wee hee!

After that...

We went to watch the movie 'Valentine's Day'. To me, it was a totally meaningless movie. And I even fell asleep through the movie. It burned deep within me when I was not even halfway through the movie. Thought I should just walk up and leave the cinema. But anyway, I enjoyed the aircon and slept instead.

The movie tried to portray what 'love' is. And I just didn't agree. Anyway, that is hollywood now. So... the devil's got hollywood in his hands... and as you all know, my heart burns for the entertainment industry. And this movie production, 'Valentine's Day', is just another one of those movies that shares the wrong message to the world.

Whoever control the media controls the mind of the current generations, and the generations to come.

If you think that movie was alright, then allow me to ask you a few questions.

1. Would you allow your children to watch this movie? (i mean say, if you had kids)

2. If you would, will your children grow up thinking this is what love truly is?

Even though it's just a movie, a lot may say, it can still create mindsets in the hearts of many... especially this generation. Take just one example in the movie. The main actor (the florist), proposed to his girlfriend.. so happy about his engagement. Then next thing, the girlfriend left.. and he was sad but realised he had his best friend whom he cared about and the next thing you see in the end of the movie - they get together almost 'immediately'.

Another example, the teenagers in high school, and all they think of is smooching and having sexual relationships with their other half. The whole movie made it seem like it is ALL OKAY. The world follows the celebrities...

People of God, are we to sit back and relax and enjoy the movie, or rise up to take back the media for God? May we pray for the entertainment industry and for God's righteous role models to rise up, instead of having celebrities to entertain and corrupt the mind of the people.

Please pray for the entertainment industry... take it back for God!!

Anyway, on a lighter tone... it's also Valentine's Day today~~ ha ha..

So, together with Judah 5, 6 and 8... we headed to sunnybank for dinner. Here's a picture of what I ate. Taiwanese Beef Noodle... my favourite~!!

Anyway, gonna sleep and have some rest for tomorrow lo!!

Please pray for me?

I just decided on a car. Tomorrow will be getting news on whether it's road worthy and going to do the transfer from the owner to me on Tues or Wednesday... please pray that it will all go smoothly in God's will and that there will be no problems that will crop up!

Please pray for Venurs!

She is back in Brisbane and going for a job interview tomorrow (Monday). Please pray that it'll go well and God will open the door for her to work in Brisbane!

Merry Christmas Y'all

With Love to all my friends and family all over the world..

From home in Singapore, to Malaysia, to Indonesia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thailand, China, Korea, Japan, India, Pakistan, Kenya, Zimbabwe, France, United Kingdom, Brazil, Colombia, America, Canada, New Zealand... all the way to Australia, my 2nd home.

 hope i haven't left out any countries with friends there! sorry if I did!

Yeah, all my friends for some reason all over the world.. I miss y'all, and I love y'all. Sending you some Christmas wishes and blessings flying down by prayer, whether or not you know Jesus or not. Jesus knows you, and Christmas is here, because Jesus came!

Christmas Eve

Had a great Xmas eve with Mum and Dad around Orchard. Sis took us to pedicure and manicure... muwahaha.. check out my nails later. Had my fav asian kitchen la mian for dinner...

Muwahaha.. nails after pedi and mani cure~~

Dad, Mum and Me @ Asian Kitchen at City Link 24 Dec 09

 

My prawn wonton la mian..

Xiao Long Bao... slurp!

I also attended Hope Church Singapore's Christmas Celebration Service at Suntec yesterday, Xmas eve. What an amazing service it was! Oh, I thought the spot lights were a little too much of an overkill, but I think it was great! The message and both the dance and drama performances! God is good!!

At The Door Xmas Celebration Service @ Hope SG at Suntec Exhibition Hall. 24 Dec 09

 

Praise God, Mum and Dad came too..!

It was overwhelming.. so many people. I've never attended any Hope Services that was so big... and this was only ONE of the 2 services of that day! Praise God!! :)

Oh yes.. that's only one side of the centre... there's more than another half behind me..!

Mum and Dad~ :)

Hope Brisbanites~! God is Good!

After that, Dad treated Mum and I Hokkaido Ice Cream.. yum...!

Esplanade a.k.a Durian of Singapore. Hee hee.

All the presents I received... so blessed. All the wonderful people who prepared presents.. I didn't even prepare nothing... thank you everyone! :)

I wished more of my friends were around to be touched by Jesus... the HOPE of the world. But, in His time yeah? Recently, Mum's been huming over the same song called, In His Time. We're all trusting God for Dad's salvation. In His Time! :)

In His Time

In His time, In His Time
He makes all things beautiful in His time.
Lord please show me every day
As your teaching me Your way
That You do just what You say
In Your time.

In Your time, In Your Time
You make all things beautiful in Your time.
Lord my life to You I bring
May each song I have to sing
Be to you a lovely thing
In Your time.

God is Good!

Today (Christmas!) 25 Dec 09


Merry Christmas y'all once again!

Alright, I had a pretty bad day today. I get very 'bad mood' and 'emotional' and to the state my sinful nature would just take control... Yeah.. like pride, and rebellion... It all just starts with waking up the 'wrong way'. You know.. like, sudden waking up... or etc... I remember one other time was when a repairman came to my room in Brisbane knocking early in the morning... It just started my whole day wrong, and made me really grumpy the whole day... even at work.

But yet I remind myself of the GRACE that God has so greatly poured forth upon me... and He will make me perfect in His time and by the renewing and transforming of my mind with His Spirit. Pour forth your new wine in my new wineskin, Lord!

And definitely, the verse that always encourages me in these kinda days:

"This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."

- Psalm 118:24

God is Good!

I'm in so much of a better mood now... anyway.. Had a bad morning.. but after that EVERYTHING was great!

Had a great time with Mum and Dad, since weekdays it's a bit difficult to just sit down together. Dad works in the day.. And I go out and meet my wushu friends and other ex-school mates for dinner.. come home and they're asleep le... So Christmas, spent time with Mum and Dad just doing stuff.. it's just so good!

But cuz of that I couldn't go to the Wushu Party... but I'm sure they had a great time too~!

They're leaving for Taiwan on the 31st Dec and will be back on the 9th Jan.
I'll be going to M'sia from 28th to 31st Dec... so I guess if I was gonna see them again, that'll be some time between 10th to 12th Jan.. but then again, my weekends are pretty booked... so... hik! We'll see how it goes!

But I had a great time with them at KTV and watching Bodyguard and Assassins over this week!
Some photos??

Sakae Sushi before singing KTV 21 Dec 09

Weng, Jul, Bin, Gary, Leslie, Jiao and Me. 21 Dec 09

Losen up people~ Sing! 21 Dec 09

Crazy Jul and Giraffe Leslie 21 Dec 09

Biao de and me~! 21 Dec 09

Supper after the movie 23 Dec 09.

Crazy Teen Yun a.k.a Lao Mao, Giraffe Leslie, William Hung Yong Xiong, Biao De Jiao, Weng, Elvin and Me!

Bodyguard and Assassins

This movie is about a group of people protecting Sun Zhong San from assassins and how they had such a sacrifical heart that they were prepared to die for the sake of the next generation of Chinese nationals.

I went to watch this movie with my wushu friends on Wednesday. It was a great movie yeah. And me being me, really enjoyed the sacrificial love that was portrayed in this movie. And... if you really know me.. you'd know what I'd inferred from the movie too.

Look, the only son of the tycoon, pleaded with his Dad to not hide back and be a coward or fear death. As much as his dad forbidded him to sacrifice for the country, he made the decision to do so.

In the movie, he stated, "I have lived all these years in waiting for this day." 
 In which he meant, to DIE for the nation, that by his sacrifice, many ones of the future generation of Chinese may be 'saved'.

I think watching this movie came pretty timely as it surely didn't just coincide with the Christmas season, has it? May it has... but it does fall upon the hearts of many the greatest Sacrifice mankind could ever receive.

In the similar way that the movie played, God demonstrated such sacrificial love as He allowed His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for the sins of mankind.

Jesus did not deserve death, but He being sinless, took on the sins of all man, so that all who trusts in Him will be able to be saved from eternal death. Let me share another well-known verse, but this is the verse that truly illustrates the HOPE of Christmas.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."

- John 3:16-17 (NIV)

On sharing that.... let me share another verse:

"But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord."

- Luke 2:10-11 (NIV)

Christmas isn't just a time where everyone exchanges presents, have a great dinner and then forget about its true meaning. If it wasn't for Jesus, we wouldn't have Christmas. So, as we enjoyed the joy and hope that Christmas always carry, let us take a further step to realise what Christmas truly is all about.

My dear friends...

Will you take a few moments, and truly ponder about what Jesus can do for you?

Relationships are what matters to Jesus.

Jesus doesn't care about religion.

Christianity is not a religion.

It is not another set of rules and regulations.

Religions are rites & rituals and formalities to follow.

Jesus doesn't care about how much of those you can do.

He cares about YOU, your struggles and your life.

He cares about that thing you have in your heart.

He cares about the pain you're going through.

He cares about your hurts..

He cares... about YOU.
And He plans to give you a HOPE and a FUTURE that will prosper you.

Jesus treasures relationships. 

And He desires a relationship with you.

Find out... and taste and see that the Lord is Good...!

"Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him."

- Psalm 34:8

May you have a great boxing day (which is already today, looking at the time)
Hee...

God loves you, and so do I!

Thank God for Vanness kor kor... I got heaps of them pictures from him :) Keeping his bro-in-Christ in prayer always!

Be a "Yes Man" for God

Caught the "Yes Man" movie just the Saturday ago, and as usual, another Jim Carrey comedy - my favourite. I always go about with this saying, "Jim Carrey is the reason why I'm such a hyped up crazy young lady."

Well, the story is about Carl Allen (Jim Carrey), a divorced man who had been shunning social gatherings to avoid his ex-wife and her boyfriend. In almost every single request in his life from approving monetary loans to spam mail in the email, his reply was always "NO". The movie progresses to tell how Carl Allen met an old friend who introduced him to a inspirational guru that compelled him to start a 'new life', where he made a covenant to say "Yes" to every invitation and opportunity presented to him.

His whole life began to take a change as he forced himself out of his comfort zone to say "Yes" to many things he didn't want to do - for the fear of bad luck happening to him should he say 'No".
His obligation to say 'Yes' sent him driving a homeless man to a park, where he then ran out of petrol, money (giving them all to the man) and phone battery (used up by the man). Walking to the gas station for petrol, he met Allison who took pity on him and gave him a ride on her scooter and eventually kissed him. Miraculously, after the positive start, things began to take a change in his life as he got a job promotion for saying 'Yes' to working on Saturdays, and saying 'Yes' to loan applications for his company that brought in a stunning increase of revenue for his company.

I shan't continue about the movie... but it's a good one.

But what I wanted to type today was how the movie spoke to me. Instead of being just another 'Yes Man' in life, I took the picture from another angle. I believe that God, our provider, is seeking our answers to be "Yes" to all that He asks from us. Saying "Yes" to God may not be an easy thing to do, but doing that definitely will bring about a certain degree of blessing that cannot compare to all other earthly blessings.

So there can be a couple ways to handle situations and opportunities in our lives.

1. Saying "No" to everything.

As life presents before us, we meet turns and crossroads that requires us to make decisions. There's no one answer that can answer every single question in our lives. Saying No keeps us where we are, or maybe even deterioriate relationships and circumstances in our lives.

2. Saying "Yes" to everything.

Our journey in life requires us to make wise decisions, whether in relationships, in work or in our responsibilities, we have been placed so many times at crossroads. We can't say "Yes" to everything. It just wouldn't work - it might land us in situations saying "Yes" to doing things that are immoral and sinful - or even things we may consider to be good, but not the route God intended for us... and that itself may just burn us out and lead us to unhappy outcomes.

Saying "Yes" to worldly things can land you in a great fix! Just as the movie depicted. (Watch the movie to know what happened!)

3. Saying "Yes" with wisdom from God and "Yes" to all that God asks.

Nothing beats saying "YES GOD!".

God is good - all the time. Through life difficulties and circumstances, God is still good. Every moment in our lives, God is preparing to give us every good and perfect gift, that we may embrace and receive it. But the way God works does not comply to the way the world may think He works.. and the way He works is never the way the world works. God's blessings come in disguises and to receive His blessings, I have learnt, is to always first say "Yes" to what He asks of us.

Through a season of dryness lately, I've been asking God why different things in life had happened. In His sovereignity, He seemed to be saying "Start saying Yes to me and you will hear me more."

The more we reject and disobey God the more our hearts become hardened and eventually one day we will fall away. I thank God so much for He has not given up on me despite the times I almost given up. And I also thank God for just making things happen in my life that always lead to a blessing in disguise. Our Father in heaven will bring us through life lessons - easy and tough ones - to teach and guide us in our walk with Him, that we may walk righteously.

because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." Endure hard-ship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?
Hebrews 12:6-7

I love it so much time and again I get to the stage of brokeness and totally just laying down my life before God. As the His Word promises that blessed are those who are weak and contrite in spirit, for they will see God.

For this is what the high and lofty One says— he who lives forever, whose name is holy: "I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. Isaiah 57:15 (NIV)

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3 (NIV)

Saying "Yes" to God is not always easy. I've been reading a book called "Authentic Faith" by Gary Thomas that has been targeting the underlying issues of why we sometimes find it so difficult to say "Yes" to God. Something that struck me deeply from what he wrote:

It's human nature to value most that which has cost us something. If you don't highly value your faith, perhaps you've never sacrificed for it.

How much have I sacrificed in my life that I may say "YES" to God? I have realised it's not momentary sacrifice, but a long term sacrifice. It's not those who start strong, and die in the middle, but those perservere till the end!

So I learn, and will keep on learning to say "Yes" to God. I won't just be another Yes Man in the world, but to be a Yes Man for God!