Being regular...

Have not been regular in updating my blog, so will attempt to be more regular...maybe at least once a week.

Catching Up...

The class of 2005 finally met again on 23rd Jul, after a 5 mth break. So we welcomed back Theng Huat and family (Cheng Ping, Natania & Benedict). It was good to just see everyone (well almost) again..and seems like it was back to old times at college when we just sit around and talk and share and "suan" each other.

Theng Huat shared the initial months when they went over to Scotland, and then with new baby and all the adjustments they had to make as a family above his research workload. Anyway, God has been watching over them and our friend is officially accepted as a PhD candidate liao..steady man...dun play play...

Fred also got us to talk to Uncle Paul & Shantha on the phone and as always, they kept asking when are we going to have our class gathering over at Chittoor...hmm...guess we will have to start saving up.

The MOTs in our midst, Fred, Kay Huat, Aaron, Paul Thian & Jasper (hope I didn't miss out anyone) are all going to be ordained as deacons so this will be another time of celebration of their milestone in their ministry journey. Leeks has finished his requirements so is technically ready to be ordained too as a Presby minister.

Amos was supposed to bring durians and everyone was looking forward to it...however, cos no one confirmed with him that they cld help with transportation, the project was aborted...and boy did Amos get an earful from almost everyone present for NOT bringing the durians...!!!

We spent sometime praying with each other and hope that God will continue to keep the wonderful class spirit on.

Here's some pictures from that evening...

"Love Above All" - The Story of Jim & Elisabeth Elliot and the love of God for the World

What a lovely and touching musical that I managed to enjoy with SG, YH & KC. The story was about the life and work of Jim & Elisabeth Elliot to the Auca Indians in Ecuador together with their 4 friends (Pete Fleming, Ed McCully, Nate Saint & Roger Youderian) and their wives. The 5 friends were brutally speared to death by the people that they had sought to reach with the gospel . Apart from the fact that they gave their lives for the cause of the gospel, what was more touching for me was how the families of the men who were murdered overcame their grief, forgave the killers and continued to work amongst the Auca Indians until the whole tribe finally came to the saving knowledge of God's grace and mercy many years later.

Jim Elliot's famous words :

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, To gain what he cannot lose."

Excerpts from the song "He is no fool"

"He was no fool who gave his life on the cross

Who died the world to redeem

He paid my debt and set me free

And now I am no more my own

No greater love can claim my life

To give my all, I gladly choose.”

Such acts of forgiveness shown to the killers were made possible only because of God's love for the lost, which was truly "Love Above All".

Just some comments about the production: The whole production team was Asian from the lyricist to the Music Director to the Production Adviser. It was very well done, the songs and music were well-written, the cast was superb with good vocals. It was worth every cent of the $12 that we paid.

Wunderful Class of 2005!!!

Yeah!!! My class of 2005 at TTC is gonna meet up again on Monday (23 Jul) after like almost 6 mths break cos our "faculty-in-training" Theng Huat is back with his family from Cambridge for a short break. Really thankful to God for this class of gracious, fun-loving, humble servants of God. Thank God for bringing this class together as we share the joys and difficulties during our days at TTC, in our lives and ministry now. May God continue to bless our friendship and help us to draw closer to Him as we serve Him and as we encourage one another.

No regrets...

Got this from a friend today and I thought it is quite meaningful and "tongue-in-cheek" also especially the days of the week.

Look back and thank God.
Look forward and trust God.
Look around and serve God.
Look within and find God!"

"I asked God, 'How do I get the best out of life?'

God said, 'Face your past without regrets. Handle your present with confidence.And prepare for the future without fear!'"

"Without God, our week is: Mournday, Tearsday, Wasteday, Thirstday,Fightday, Shatterday and Sinday. So, allow Him to be with you every day!"

"Life is short, so forgive quickly. Believe slowly. Love truly. Laugh uncontrollably. Never regret anything that makes you happy. And have a wonderful journey!!!"

Thank God for the different people, diverse and unique as they are, in my journey in life...!!!

Readjusting...

Have been back to work and hostel for more than a week already, and it's almost like being thrown to the deep end of the pool again...swarmed by so many activities and things to do. Sometimes it's so overwhelming but need to remember that His grace is sufficient for me and I need to consciously tell myself to not push myself too hard and to slow down and smell the nature.

Kinda miss being at home and spending time with San, Tim & Nat.

It's mom's birthday today. God, pls keep mom in your care, may all that she does for You at church and at home be expressions of Your grace and love in her life. Amen!

Reflections from the surgery

Am back to work on 8 Jul after one month of recuperation at home. This one month of "enforced rest" has allowed me to reflect on many things and would like to share some thoughts from them.

1) Never to take our health for granted, cos this incident has caught me totally off-guard.

2) Thankful for how God allowed the fibroid to be discovered and to allow prompt action to be taken before I go out into the mission field. I had no common fibroid symptoms at all!

3) Thankful for the many friends and family members who offered words of encouragement & showered me with love and care.

4) Thanks to PIC for the simple gesture of calling and asking about how I was getting home and
offering to pick up the taxi fare.

5) Thanks to the nurses at Ward 73 who were ever cheerful and willing to help, especially Staff Nurse Lim who shared her own experience and also the physiotherapist (sorry...forgot her name) who was very encouraging when she was trying to get me to get up n walk on the 2nd day after the surgery.

6) Special thanks to my parents who took care of my needs when I moved back home, from the special attention paid to the food to even simple thing like putting the chair in the bathroom for my use.

7) Special thanks also to SG for ferrying me with the silver carriage before and after the op, to run errands.

8) Thankful for the many sweet moments of meaningful time spent with my "3 darlings" - Sandra, Timothy and Nathan. I used to carry Nathan (my 1 yr old nephew) but then he was very "choosy" about who gets to carry him. During the one mth at home, he was probably used to seeing me at home alot and would quite often run to me with opened arms wanting me to carry him but I can't because of my condition. Having him just snuggle his head into my lap is also a precious moment for me. Even for his 2 older siblings, just spending time talking to them or reading to them is for me a blessed time.

9) Thank God also for the opportunity to attend the reunion of the Myanmar Mission team with my home church AGPC and Living Praise and to hear of how God has continued to honour the work that has been done over the past 11 years and how He allowed for obstacles along the way to demonstrate His sovereignty and faithfulness in bringing the program to pass.

10) Thank God for the time to read and reflect on His word, to talk to Him, to put my fears in His hands and to allow Him to hide me under the shadow of His wings. Thank God also for the time to read good books, thus refreshing myself.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Grace Alone

Grace Alone
Every promise we can make
Every prayer and step of faith
Every difference we will make
Is only by His grace

Every mountain we will climb
Every ray of hope we shine
Every blessing left behind
Is only by His grace

Grace alone which God supplies
Strength unknown He will provide
Christ in us our Cornerstone
We will go forth in grace alone

Every soul we long to reach
Every heart we hope to teach
Everywhere we share His peace
Is only by His grace

Every loving word we say
Every tear we wipe away
Every sorrow turned to praise
Is only by His grace

Grace alone which God supplies
Strength unknown He will provide
Christ in us our Cornerstone
We will go forth in grace alone

Just wanted to share the words of one of my favourite song "Grace Alone". This is a constant reminder that the lives that we have is a gift from God and that we are able to do all that Christ teaches is through grace alone. It is difficult, often times impossible, especially when the people around us seem so undeserving but yet, we are called to be "grace dispensers" to reach the least, the last and the lost.

New kid on the blog...=)

Hi

Finally decided to start this blog after some help from my nephew Samuel...hope that this will not be the first and last post...