God's Child

First Post of the Year !!!

2009-04-02T22:38:00.002+08:00

Time flies....
many things have changed since... most for the better! Praise God!

This entry is primarily here cos' someone started to read my blog last night (or early this morning) and the ensuing conversation intrigued me enough to read some of my past entries, hence here i am typing away.

Tired already ... but before i forget ...
one more thing to add to my goal card for this year, a little step to start off first,
"In 2009, have u fly and stay a few nights as queen and i shall eat like a king"
hahahs !! =^)

An Afternoon with the Stars

2008-10-10T20:08:00.010+08:00

What's work without some fun ... =)

Fancy having an afternoon tea with some mediacorp A-listers?? I sure did ... =^)

What's work without some fun ... Spent much of the afternoon hanging around Jesseca Liu and Tay Ping Hui. Well, moving on into 'classified' territory now, shall keep my fingers off the keyboard at this point.

Yet another attempt ....

2008-10-05T22:24:00.002+08:00

... TO Revive this blog =)

Alright, feeling enervated, but just thought i would spend 5 minutes and add another post here. Just returned from City Hall after fellowship with AA Zone teachers.

It's been four years in children's church ministry, my first time visitation is on my birthday in 2004 and my last visitation is on the week of my birthday this year; a pretty apt time to conclude my service in children's church. Moving on to cell group ministry now; just wanting to give my little to God and advance His kingdom and strengthen e13.

>"Joel ... don't ever despise the days of small beginnings...."

Mission Trip

2008-05-26T08:56:00.005+08:00

I will be going to NorthEast Thailand for a short mission trip. Had initially thought that i will be free to keep updates on this blog after my exams, but i was wrong... mission trip preparation is a lot of hard and 'heart' work.

I had already learned so much just from the preparations alone, and i am really excited to see what God can do (in terms of life transformations of the people we are ministering to and ourselves too) and how He can use each of the team members to do His kingdom 's work.

Here's my mission trip team mates! We are all going there to serve and not to help... the first thing i had realized during the preparations. To serve means you place yourself lower, not higher than the people there.

Not going to talk about what we will be doing there for now, but it will be a truly humbling experience; that's good.. cos' a humble heart and a contrite spirit God does not reject... =^)

Exams

2008-04-30T13:29:00.001+08:00

This is a really bad time to try to revive this blog. It's just two days beofre my final examinations.. oh wells, time to hit the books again...

Pa-toh-logy 2

2006-09-16T00:21:00.000+08:00

To quote from my little, adorable sis, Melanie

" whats love if its all about wkling along town areas, holding hands, cuddling or kissing to tell the entire world that you've got a partner? furthermore, that person got to look good to make you look good. then in true love, the relation is strained to the world's ideal love thingy.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 "4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails."

where did the physical aspects come in? its just like flavours. "

or just like toppings or a mask to conceal any cracks forming underneath, it never lasts ....

Love never fails .... if there's any failures in 'love' , it's not true love.....

True love is more than just feelings, it's a decision, a total commitment to adore even when she is not adorable, to love when she is unlovable, to love even when she doesn't love you back, to love even when she doesn't deserve to be loved, to love without expecting anything in return, to love unconditionally & sacrifically, to love with the agape love of God....

Thank You Abba Father for Your healing touch !!
Time to reconcilate with those people ........

Pa-toh-logy

2006-09-16T00:04:00.000+08:00

Yes... Pa-toh-ology ... It's singlish referring the subject for dating ....

And yes, i am back to this abandoned blog of mine...

for the umpteeth time this past month, someone's asking about me getting attached or when am i going to get attached for that matter. *sigh*, and yes i do want to get attached, but it's more than finding a right partner, it's about being a right partner yourself. I am still working on that... Lots of things having be going through in my life for the past week, God's really showing me a lot of stuff about handling my emotions and matters of the heart.

I have seen quite a few people in my class who went through break-ups, what the point of getting together then in the first place....? You mean they just enter a relationship to 'try' each other out ?? That's so ABSURB!! What NAIVETY !! What good is instant gratification if all you have later is just weeks/months of hurt...

Back to the topic, thank God for His love and how He's healing of past hurts right now, thanks D -Team for praying for me ...!!
I am really looking for a friend, a best friend to just open up myself totally towards him/her... ; a soulmate to love unconditionally, unsacrifically.....

School's in, Mind's still on holiday

2006-01-15T23:37:00.001+08:00

That's right, one week of school just flew past the corners of my eyes, and reality's setting in... 6 Modules again this semester, and i can't afford to start the second week as sluggishly as i started the first; BUT the flesh is unwilling.... ='(

One geography based module, a finanical accounting module and 4 core modules.... A laboratory session on Wednesday .... =(

Trying to get to sleep earlier tonight... Hoping that i can start piecing the jigsaw with Yin tomorrow afternoon....

Rain, Lots of it ....

2006-01-14T10:59:00.000+08:00

Yup, really heavy rainfall this past week, it's been 6 days since i seen any sunshine. Cold weather in Singapore for the past fortnight, which logically coincided with the Big Asia Chill.

Lots of things to write about since the last time i updated this little space.
Melanie, i kept my promise!! =)

Let's start;
November was my intensive month of preparation for the exams and i didn't really believe that i had the stamina to last 12-hour days in school 'mugging' for the 6 papers i am having from 22nd Nov to 1st Dec. 0930 to 2130 it is for me, clocking 9-10 hours of studying after factoring in the time i had taken for lunches and dinners and that odd 5 min break i took from time to time. Thank God for strength and wisdom; did well for my exams, and everyone (at home) was pretty pleased with it.

22nd Dec is the release of my exam results but i only checked how i've fared only on Christmas afternoon. That's how intense my timetable was during the festive period, busy with church commitments. Happy and privileged to be able to serve God in the children's church ministry. I've got to the chance to know 3 new people in my zone, yes, the zone in which i thought i knew almost everyone already. It's was through saturation during the one week plus prior to the Christmas party for the kids that i know Melissa, Michelle and Charmaine.

Seen Melissa around for transport trainings before but never took the opportunity to initiate a conversation with her. Well, i had to on one of those days (the period prior to Christmas), had to teach and help her learn the ropes of saturation. It's was on that day that i know Michelle too. Got to talk to her when we were at the 'entrance' of overhead bridge linking Compass Point and the bus stop, giving out those cute little flyers. And she was my transport helper on the 23rd and 24th Dec, the dates on which the kids parties were held. I must really comment that she's a really good helper, not only just fulfilling her roles but somehow challenged me to serve God and the kids better through the way she does things. She's the first helper to make me felt that way; and transport was done rather smoothly and we (the kids and us) had great fun on the trips =^) Came to know that Michelle's in the same cell group as Yvonne (haha .. what a coincidence) when we were at Hougang Mall, shopping, dining, frantically looking for a photocopying services, on top of doing saturation.. hehe ... =)

Dec 30th, got a call for a job interview, but it's so close to my sch term already and i am really reluctant to work as i study. Anyway told Yin about it and she advise me not to work there for the company as the environment is not good; a negative factor for Christian growth, based on what she saw on her interview which was a few weeks before i got my call-up. Eventually, i postponed the job interview to May, that's when my current semester will end and when i will be considering job offers other than tuition assignments. =^)

That's all for my Dec update, this month's update will come in about 12 hours time, if i am not too tired by the time i reach home after service.

Does Thinking Help?

2005-11-03T17:50:00.000+08:00

Thoughts today :
-Many men want to be god(s) but which God is willing to become Man??
This alone will be enough for me to worship that One God who became flesh and died for the world.
-Why are so many people troubled over BGRs??
Would i be truly happy if i am together with her? =Dew=, why are situations so bad on your side? Are you really happy? =Liam=, i pray you are really happy with =Fion= now, after having gone through so many tormenting times. =Y.Y=, i hope your brokened heart is being mended right now. Cheer up =Mel=, don't ever give up, people around still care. =Yin=, love you lots.

Do You Dare to be a Daniel??

2005-09-18T15:20:00.000+08:00

Oh do you dare to be a Daniel?
On your knees do you stand up tall?
Is your conversation faithful?
Do you pray when your back’s against the wall?
When you faced that hungry lion,
do you trembled at his roar? Oh do you do dare to be a Daniel?
Do you stand up for the Lord?

Part of the lyrics from "Dare to Be a Daniel"

... Daniel as a fourteen-year old boy, he had been taken from his home, family and friends, and forcibly marched to a strange land. There he was subjected to a powerful and subtle form of indoctrination, in later years he was surrounded by jealous enemies who plotted against his life. At no time was he free from the temptation to pursue material prosperity and personal advancement at the expense of everything else. He was surrounded by evil in youth, middle years and old age. There is hardly a temptation known to any of us that Daniel did not have to face, yet the scriptures do not record a single flaw in his character! He purposed his heart to please God and never moved from that resolve.

taken from http://www.zerubb.com/daniel.htm

"Wow!" is what my heart screamed... Daniel's secret ?? He's a man of prayer; (Dan 2:17-19), (Dan 6:10) and (Dan 9).

Well, got a little side-tracked there, but anyway i purposed to write about us, Christians today, facing all the possible circumstances i could ever imagined; no matter where we go, there seems to be a mountain for us to climb, a hurdle for us to cross, or worse... a lion waiting to devour us!

We all faced diffculties, but do we face our 'lions' bravely or do we tremble and run?? Many bible heroes all eventually had to face their lions (real ones) but with God all emerged victorious, Hallelujah!!

Samson tored apart a lion with his bare hands (Judges 14:6)

Benaiah, faced his lion in the pits on a snowy day. (2 Samuel 23:20)

King David, as a young shepherd boy, has already killed a lion and bear (1 Samuel 17:36)

Someday, all of us have to faced that big hungry 'lion', on a 'cold snowy' day, when that day comes, no doubt we will feel alone, no one understands us, but God does, and you will not be alone!! In the lions' den when Daniel faced the lions, God and the angels were with him!!

Find the strength and courage in God to fight the devil, the lion of our days (1Peter 5:8)

Put on the armour of God and fight (Eph 6)!! Well, we already have the girdle of truth, breastplate of righteousness and helmet of salvation (courtesy of the Cross... Ooo, thank You Lord!), take up the shield of faith, shod the shoes of peace and Good News, and the sword (the Word) and together with PRAYER; lets face the lion bravely. Remember don't run and hide; God's armour gives you full protection in the front, but none at the back!

Continue marching on, stand tall and fight!
God bless you all!

School's starting !!

2005-07-12T15:52:00.000+08:00

Gosh, i will be busy for the coming few weeks. I somehow landed in the publicity committee for 'Vision Tea 2005'; and both the publicity and logisitics committee for the Matriculation Fair 2005. How on earth did I landed myself in such a situation, .... .... i am still confused myself... hahahaha....

Well, i've got to take up six modules the next semester, of which 3 are core, that means i have to choose 3 more for myself. *sigh* I don't like it when i have to choose modules. I am usually very undecisive about these kind of stuff, which makes choosing all the more difficult, plus i have to worry about the modules' requirements...

Hungry

2005-07-06T12:38:00.000+08:00

Today, the church's having a fast again, praying for our Arise and Build campaign and for a new premise in the 'Marketplace'. Well, hunger has struck me again, 'rubbish bin' is kind of empty right now, hahahs... Watched New York City's IOC presentation just now and i must say it's pretty impressive, showcasing the city's vigour, vibrance and multi-cultural background. The sad thing is i missed Paris' presentation, *argh*, that's the city i am rooting for!! Well, i am planning to watch London's presentation at 4pm. later, and go for my bible study after that.

Re-read my sheepish sis's blog, and Mel, it's a long entry there .... and i regret telling you that i am not going for the youth day event at your church but most certainly i don't and won't regret telling you this : Please refrain from using the word 'funky', i'm 'allergic' to it... hahaha ....
And the game Utopia starts in 11 mins!!

Baptism in Holy Spirit cont.

2005-07-06T12:24:00.000+08:00

Just a really short summary here... ...
1 Cor 12; Paul is talking about the different workings in the church. After baptism in the Holy Spirit, all can speak in tongues but however not all are appointed to function in the ministry gifts of tongues. - for the edification of the church.
The Bible makes a clear distinction between 2 different words, the dorea(gk.) 'gift' and charisma 'gift'.
In 1 Cor 12, the 'gift' of tongues is referring to the charisma 'gift' and with interpretation, their purpose is to edify the body of Christ. All believers can receive the dorea 'gift' if they desired it.
Although we can speak in tongues after we are baptised in the Holy Spirit, we may not be given the charisma gift of tongues by the Spirit for the edification of the church. (That's what 1Cor 12:30 is talking about)
We can use this dorea gift of tongues as our 'prayer language' for personal edification and for God to hear. Only He needs to understand.

Probably, i will write about how to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit in my next update.

Baptism in the Holy Spirit and Tongues

2005-06-30T09:32:00.000+08:00

Had a long 2 hour bible study on this subject matter conducted by Rev. Tan, our church's deputy senior pastor. Just want to share with you some things i had learnt and at the same time refresh my mind about all that i had learnt. This week, we are talking about the objections to tongues. It will be quite long, and i may split it up into a few posts and put it up at different times.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 1 Cor 13:1-2 (NKJV)

A common objection : "Tongues is unimportant, only love is"
Is this really the case? If you are looking at it this way, you will have to look at the whole context as well; so you are also saying that faith is not important, only love is... ... But the bible says, without faith it is impossible to please God - Heb 11:6. So determine for yourself if tongues and faith are important. They are important (extremely) in my opinion.

Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. 1 Cor 13:8-10 (NKJV)

Another objection : "Tongues have ceased"
There are also people who quoted these verses to argue that tongues are unimportant and that speaking in tongues have ceased. They claimed that all prophecies have been fulfilled - the birth of Christ through a virgin, His death and resurrection,etc. But is this really the case, that ALL prophecies have been fulfilled? Nopes, there still the prophecy of His Second coming, where then we will rule and reign with Christ for 1000 years before the devil will be released for his final rebellion, and then condemned eternally to the bottomless pits. Tongues will NOT cease until the day has come. If you are still insisting that tongues have ceased, then knowledge will have vanished away already too! Not having to go to school anymore ... Now i know a lot of people who would love that! (what the point of education if knowledge have ceased to exist!)

More coming soon ... ... ...

Faith, Hope and Dreams

2005-06-29T12:13:00.000+08:00

It's been slightly more than 6 hours into the our church-wide fast. Starting to feel hungry now ... ...

Went to give Wei Zheng tuition yesterday and collected the tution fees. (Great! I am holding on to much more cash and can pay for my transport fees and give to God in the building funds.) After that, it's children church visitation time and not before long, Mei Xiu and I have to rush down for our zone's prayer meeting at the church's Suntec office. Strangely, she asked me about Liz during the trip down to Suntec. =)

Simon lent me a book ... it's "Whose Child is This - a story of hope and help for a generation at peril" By Bill Wilson. Pastor Bill's having such a powerful sunday school ministry and i am sure i will be greatly blessed by his book! =)

Gotta have faith for my sowing into the building funds, for where there is faith, His power will be released!

Bored

2005-06-25T00:36:00.000+08:00

I missed my msn buddies. Chatted with Da Senzai (Don't know his real name but i have always known him as that ... and he's a cool Dane!) Well, got to know him through playing the game 'Utopia' which kind of reminds me of my Aussie friends, Irene, Tony, Jono and PIMP (the ultimate 'crapper' from the U.S.); all of whom i knew from playing the game. Wonder where did Irene and Tony go to, it's been ages since i seen them online. Irene should be having exams now, well, hope i can see her online soon when her vacation starts. Tony, i hope you are not too busy with work .. =) Congrats Jono, now that you have completed your exams, you can relax we can have more time to talk about our ministries in Campus Crusade, haha, though i know you call it 'Student Life' over there in Australia.

Really missing Irene, my msn crapping buddy .... hmm, Melanie, our 'cute nut' don't get jealous, you just recently made it into my list of crapping buddies too! Haha, i sound kinda stupid don't i? But my crapping buddies are the people i lookout for the moment i log into msn.

Speaking of which, Melanie, schools reopening soon, and guess i may not see you online that often, but we can have coffee together in NUS in the near future! Yayy!! Congrats for making in NUS High, you are my first friend to make it there. So proud and happy for you! Praise GOD !! =) Too bad you did not join us for the Southern Cross packing. Well, it's kind of tiring for us. 4000 packs leh! Well, we are separated into groups; Jelaine and I were in the team, with ChaiLing joining us later. Well, she's late but she bought us lunch!! Yay!! I was really enjoying the chicken rice and Melanie's complaining that her lunch is late and that she's starving; didn't have the heart to tell her just how much i am enjoying, savouring the chicken rice at that moment. (If you are reading this, you may kill me or POOF me in msn now ...hahahas...)

Everything ended well, and went for cell group ... TIRED ... i was hoping the cups of coffee i drank earlier can perk me up a little but nope ... it' God who refreshed me during the worship session. God, you are the amazing, fantastic, marvellous !!

A Msg from a Forum

2005-06-22T12:12:00.000+08:00

Just something meaningful i would like to have here

A 91-year-old woman died after living a very long dignified life. When she met God, she asked Him something that had really bothered her for a very long time. "If Man was created in God's image, and if all men are created equal, why do people treat each other so badly?"God replied that each person who enters our life has a unique lesson to teach us. It is only through these lessons that we learn about life, people and our relationships with God.This confused the woman, so God began to explain:"When someone lies to you, it teaches you that things are not always what they seem. The truth is often far beneath the surface. Look beyond the masks people wear if you want to know what is in their hearts. Remove your own masks to let people know who you really are.When someone steals from you it teaches you that nothing is forever.Always appreciate what you have. You never know when you might lose it. Never take your friends or family for granted, because today and sometimes only this very moment is the only guarantee you may have.When someone inflicts injury upon you, it teaches you that the human state is a very fragile one. Protect and take care of your body as best as you can, it's the one thing that you are sure to have forever.When someone mocks you, it teaches you that no two people are alike.When you encounter people who are different from you, do not judge them by how they look or act, instead base it on the contents of what is in their hearts.When someone breaks your heart, it teaches you that loving someone does not always mean that the person will love you back. But don't turn your back on love, because when you find the right person, the joy that one person brings you will make up for all of your past hurts Times a thousand fold.When someone holds a grudge against you, it teaches you that everyone makes mistakes. When you are wronged, the most virtuous thing you can do is forgive the offender without pretense. Forgiving those who have hurt us is often the most difficult and painful of life's experiences, but it is also the most courageous thing a person can do.When a loved one is unfaithful to you, it teaches you that resisting temptation is Man's greatest challenge. Be vigilant in your resistance against all temptations. By doing so, you will be rewarded with an enduring sense of satisfaction far greater than the temporary pleasure by which you were tempted.When someone cheats you, it teaches you that greed is the root of all evil. Aspire to make your dreams come true, no matter how lofty they may be. Do not feel guilty about your success, but never let an obsession with achieving your goals lead you to engage in malevolent activities.When someone ridicules you, it teaches you that nobody is perfect.Accept people for their merits and be tolerant of their flaws. Do not ever reject someone for imperfections over which they have no control."Upon hearing the Lord's wisdom, the old woman became concerned that there are no lessons to be learned from man's good deeds.God replied that Man's capacity to love is the greatest gift He has.At the root of kindness and love, and each act of love also teaches us a lesson.The woman's curiosity deepened.God, once again began to explain:"When someone loves us, it teaches us love, kindness, charity, honesty, humility, forgiveness,forgiveness, acceptance, and all of these can counteract all the evil in the world. For every good deed, there is one evil deed. Man alone has the power to control the balance between good and evil, but because the lessonbetween good and evil, but because the lessons of love are not taught often enough, the power is too often abused.When you enter someone's life, whether by plan, chance or coincidence, consider what your lesson will be. Will you teach love or a harsh lesson of reality? When you die, will your life have resulted in more loving or more hurting?More comfort or more pain? More joy or more sadness?

Living Water

2005-06-20T21:39:00.000+08:00

Back to my blog for the second time =)

This friday, the Southern Cross team is going down to GCTC to pack the 'goodie bags'. Well, i am so so excited, simply because the bags we are packing are not just ordinary bags, but really extraordinary bags; it contains 'instructions' to obtain water ... Living Water ... and you will never thirst again! Yayyie! Finding Jesus and finding our way back to our heavenly Father.

Today, i also receive news that my chem. engin. senior, Chee Wei's leaving for a college in Shanghai for a year. Felt that's a long time to be away from home in a foreign land. Well, all the best to you, Chee Wei, i know you will do well there.

Part of the lyrics from a worship song which i sang during cell ....
All my life i've searched for heaven
My heart it longs for so much more
A love so true, now I've found it in you
I'll keep on waiting, waiting on you

First Words

2005-06-13T21:32:00.000+08:00

2135 hrs and this blog is the result of me having nothing better to do. I don't really have any idea what to include here ... my day is pretty uneventful (my student postpone his tuition class to thursday) and all i did at home was to sleep, pretty unproductive huh? Mondays are usually my rest days anyway...

Well, i thought about 'love' today ... and it's been a while since i asked God to teach me more about love. This was after i read the verse in the bible

Jesus said to him, ""You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' Mt 22:37

In my mind, i was already thinking 'my, my, God, this's a TALL thing for me'
Well, slowly, time after time He just revealed to me how i can fulfill one of the Great Commandments.

First God showed me this ....
"If you love Me, keep My commandments." John 14:15

Next, He taught me that loving Him is also about giving Him all the Honour and Glory. Like how the Father exalted the Son, and the Son giving honour to the Father and the Holy Spirit pointing people to Christ, giving each other the honour and glory.

Third, He just told me to love the people around me; 'if you can't even love the ones you see, how can you love the ones you don't??'

Well, that's all for today... hope you enjoy reading my first post, do come back for more yea =)

---The reason for my existance is to be Your worshipper---