gohbiaomei's going to Rome because of this...

which would not have been possible if not for my mouse. hehehe. yeah and a little bit of creativity and a little bit of artistic ability, but trust me, its the mouse.

ok fine its not the mouse... YES SHE IS EXCITED =)

I flipped my calender flippy thing and today, it said this:

Throughout His early life, Jesus was constantly exposed to personal criticism and rejection... How did He respond to criticism and rejection? First, with steadfastness. He did not tone down His message, nor did He stop doing what He knew was right. Second, with strength. Ahead of Him was the Cross- but He did not loose courage or shrink from what He knew was God's will. Third, with submission. When Herod prodded Him to defend Himself, "He answered him nothing" (Luke 23:9). Only one thing mattered: Fulfilling God's purpose for His life. How will we meet criticism?

so how do we meet criticism? for me, i think i try to avoid it at all costs. if i do meet any, it affects me horribly, makes me feel lousy and demoralised, crushes my self esteem. at least that's what i expect to happen since i've been busy keeping myself in my own little bubble where i think i'll feel comfortable. but i'll get nowhere just staying within my comfort zone. i think we need to remind ourselves time and again to reflect on what really matters. Lenard was talking to me about my future role as missions rep and i think i'm still scared because i'm afraid i'll stuff up or i'll not be able to reach peoples' expectations and i hate being criticised or rejected, and i hate even more the way i react to criticism and rejection. like a spoilt brat, sobbing away, being angry and annoyed, as if the whole world has done me wrong. but i should really remind myself to take it in my own stride and keep in mind what God wants me to do.

this sem is gonna be really packed with tests, assignments(not as much), ocf bible studies discipleship public meets missions day spring feast praise and prayer night prayer day, im thinking of joining curtin volunteers for john curtin week, dance classes, kneehighs(kids ministry in subi)... but im excited =) the days are passing so quickly... tuition free week is next week!!

hiphurray xD

Lord, i pray for courage to step out of my comfort zone to spread Your word and share this love with the people around me. In Jesus' name i pray, Amen.

Your love is amazing
Steady and unchanging
Your love is a mountain
Firm beneath my feet

Your love is a mystery
How You gently life me
When I am surrounded
Your love carries me

CHORUS
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Your love makes me sing
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Your love makes me sing

Your love is surprising
I can feel it rising
All the joy that’s growing
Deep inside of me

And every time I see you
All your goodness shines through
And I can feel this God song rising up in me

i was just thinking about the time i just arrived in perth with my dad. small, helpless, vulnerable. HAHAHA anyway.. for the first few weeks we went about to different churches here and there.. although there were nice people, i didnt really like the idea of attending those churches every week. and being terribly shy and anti-social didnt really help much cus i would just glue myself to my dad everywhere he went.
but one fine day, after a few weeks of hopping around, we hopped into subi church of Christ, warmly greeted by the stand-at-the-door-to-shake-hands people, one of which was auntie deborah who talked to us as if she knew us long ago. she then introduced me to glennabanana (due to some miscommunications, i thought she was a mother of 3 HAHAHA) who invited me to ocf but on that night i entered the wrong room and joined friday night live instead .. i attended ocf after that and LO AND BEHOLD, here i am! happy in OCF =D
God is so amazing in the ways that He provides. if i had decided to attend those churches before, i wouldn have joined ocf, i might not even know what is OT and thus be stressed doing a course i dont really enjoy + cant imagine myself doing in the future. i love to look back and find out how everything clicks into place without myself realising. when i was frustrated about not being able to find a church i would enjoy attending regularly, God wanted me to wait, because He had a brilliant plan, far better than i could have imagined. it doesnt only affect my every sundays but also my every weekdays and my life ahead.
in the same way, while we were all worried bout my dad not being able to find a house in the first few weeks/months, God wanted us to wait, because He's got a much better plan for us. I'm awfully grateful to be staying in such a safe and peaceful area which is convenient and very pretty at the same time. while we were worrying about all these, we were merely concentrating on a single piece of jigsaw puzzle while God was dealing with the great big gigantic enormous picture. like that chinese story about the blind men trying to figure out what exactly an elephant was: the one holding the trunk said its long and skinny, the one holding the ear said its big and flat, the one holding the leg said its a big stump, all because they couldnt look at the big picture. and i guess that's what i tend to do. complain, whinge, whine, when actually its all part of a bigger and better plan. but thank You Lord, for remaining faithful, continually providing for me and loving me unconditionally.
Rejoice in the Lord always, and again i say REJOICE =)

on the bus to school today i met a cute little boy who sat next to me

2 years and 3 months, beautiful dark curly hair

big innocent eyes.

everytime i smiled at him he'll giggle and cover his face and turn away

at curtin christian union's bible talk today i met sophie

she's just learned to stand, she hobbles a bit and finds that crawling is more of her thing

she's got chubby cheeks that are pink and rosy,

her hair's blackish with a tinge of goldish as if it is highlighted

she smiles a lot and she salivates a lot

she watches turbo the puppy guide dog in training as he finds things to chew or hops around frantically.

she's so amused, she watches him as if she's watching a movie

she tries to move as close as she can but her mum pulls her back

she continues to smile and salivate

awww.. heart melts

little kids are so beautiful (when they are not being annoying)

they have so much zest, so much life and energy

so curious, so carefree, so simple, so happy

they speak whatever's on their minds

they have so little to worry about

they havent learnt to fear people, strangers..

they flash their most gorgeous smiles that steal peoples' hearts away

they are so tiny and cute and they have such lovely soft hair

i wanna be a kid again, amused by the simplest things instead of being greedy and wanting more

carefree and happy, not having to be affected by things that happen or dont happen which frustrate me, not having to stress myself with tests.. or people.. or the house that seems like its gonna fall apart..

wake up wake up

it's only the beginning of school and im sick of studying =(

actually i havent started.. i want a holiday again!

while procrastinating, i was clicking through my photos again.

and i started reminiscing again..

the time i worked in uncle tham's after school care

the times when i was still skinny but didnt know it

the times when my sister was still small, cute but a little bit annoying

the times when my sister hasnt turned into kissmon yet.

the times in cedar, choir, ballet, sf, singapore, st marys, boarding...

they were not that bad.. in fact, they're not bad at all

it always takes me so long to realise what i've been given

it's always too late when i start to learn to appreciate

i think i complain too much. things that i should give thanks for, i end up complaining.

but God still remains faithful, always providing for me, still loving me. =)

latest updates:

i fell sick. im much better and getting better

my house flooded bcus the hot water pipe burst

im living on the streets right now

i was lying about the streets bit.

SIGH. i feel sian now.

this semester is just like one psych unit one measurement unit and 3 humanbio-anatomy-ish units and guess what? I SUCK AT THOSE HUMANBIO-ANATOMY-ISH KINDA THINGS!

but fret not! as Paul mentions in 2Cor12:9 "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." It is by God's strength that i pull through!

the days really pass by so quickly. it feels like sunday was yesterday..

ohoh i have another goal this sem: JIANFEI! this time i will make sure it works!

ive been looking at enough photos to realise how much ive grown these few years

Hillsong, Reuben Morgan:

You are my strength

strength like no other

strength like no other

reaches to me

You are my hope

hope like no other

hope like no other

reaches to me

in the fullness of Your grace

in the power of Your name

You lift me up

You lift me up

unfailing love

stronger than mountains

deeper than oceans

reaches to me

Your love, O Lord

reaches to the heavens

Your faithfulness

reaches to the skies

Your love, O Lord

reaches to the heaven

Your faithfulness

reaches to the skies

i wanna go travelling. not the tourist kind. the kind where i stay at a place for a while and learn their cultures and lifestyles. not the kind where i stay in a hotel and take a tourbus. blablabla goodnight