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

back to school days arent that bad actually
in fact, i think this semester would be better than the previous one because i wont have many assignments to chiong! YAY thank God!
although its cold n windy n rainy i thank God for umbrellas n cars
n kind souls who drive the cars.
but i definitely prefer holidaying in singapore right now HEHEHE
ah wells =) its fine here
i think i've lost my social skills.. i've forgotten how to talk to people n what to talk about. more awkward silences =S
anyway, new sem new resolutions! im blogging max once per week! n im gna sleep! GOODNIGHT!

im starting to wish the days pass more slowly

how annoying it is to have to leave when i've started adapting and feeling all comfy and at home. how annoying it is to think about going to school in the freezing cold instead of relaxing in the nice and warm. how annoying it is to always feel so negative about everything =(



im happy that i came back. im happy and grateful for those people who generously made time for me. im glad to catch up with those i havent seen for ages. im happy hanging out in church and taking part in the choir practices. im happy going out to eat n walk n talk n watch movies n bishi bashi n kboxing n sleeping in the car. im happy at home baking n tv-ing n eating n cooking n piano-ing n sleeping. thank God for company =) n thank yous for being great company! it just makes it harder to leave now!
i enjoyed wandering round tp to deliver liming's birthday dinner

i enjoyed aspiring to be a taitai (it was in fact good consolation after a bad experience at the hairdresser's =p)

i enjoyed eating somemore with family

but then again, i guess it's not that healthy to bum around for too long. it's almost time i got my brain ticking and brain juice flowing again. Perth isn't bad. there's things to look forward to as well. there's company as well. the weather's not all THAT bad. but... mmhmm i want to linger here, mmhmm a little longer here......





this morning i woke up with funny eyes, because i've been crying and weeping as if my husband died, because i was watching whywhylove and OH MY GOSH it was so sad. and OH MY GOSH i actually finished watching it and OH MY GOSH MIKE HE woohoo!


hooray baking day =D

its not my fault.. it runs in the family...=D

in face of persecution, what would you do?

i've been struggling to be a reflector of Christ amidst non-Christian friends. i am easily troubled by how they will think of me and how they will react to what i say or what i do. i find it difficult to open my mouth to share the gospel with others, lest they start thinking that Christianity is a religion where its people enjoy brainwashing people.

from a Christian's point of view, it IS good news. it's about God sending Jesus to live like us humans.. but leading a totally blameless life, and dying on the cross bearing the burden of all our sins, but rising 3 days later. its the promise of eternal life, because death (the wages of our sins) has been overcome as Christ rose. and this eternal life is made available for all who believe, not because of what we have done, not because we have been outstandingly amazing people, but simply because God loves His people, even when they sin, even when they hurt each other, even when they are not as amazing as they make themselves out to be. that's what Christians believe and we want to share it with others so that they too would receive the gift of eternal life.
however, somewhere along the lines, misunderstandings might have appeared. Christians start to appear to be pushy, or always think that they're right (which i myself am guilty of). and people get offended and start disliking/avoiding Christians. but what im trying to get at is.. they really seriously meant well. they are sharing the gospel with you because they love you and want you to have that privilege as well and not because they want to brainwash you. having grown up in a Christian environment, i might not be able to relate to how it feels having someone evangelise to me.. but being introduced to a totally new and foreign thing may seem rather daunting and overwhelming.. some may not even see the point of all these religious things.. so what if somebody died for my sins 2000+ years ago? all i can say is, for me, i feel it is really an act of great sacrifice. the wages of our sin is death. but because God loves us, He sent His innocent son, Jesus to take our place. on the day He rose from the dead, sin and death was overcome. all these pain and suffering afflicted on Him, He did nothing to deserve, but He still endured out of love.

many people have died or suffered because of this faith. stoned, shot, jailed, mocked at, ostracised... i really admire their courage and perseverance. those who rejoice and bless those who persecute them i admire even more. in face of persecution, i want to rejoice that i bear the name of the Lord. in face of persecution, i want to still love and bless the people persecuting me. in face of persecution, i want to stand strong and firm in Christ, like a tree with its roots deep in the ground. in face of persecution, i want to be fully reliant on God, because "[His] grace is sufficient for [me], for [His] power is made perfect in weakness." For when i am weak, then i am strong.

i am really really grateful for the people God has placed in my life.. =D
i dont know what pictures to put..

i've been trying to step out of my comfort zone in different areas of life.
i tried and did somersaults on the trampolin (smth i would not hav done if i let the kiasi side of me take over). im not a risk taker, i like to be safe and alive and unharmed. i am scared of falling down or hurting myself.
i volunteered to take up the percussionist position in subi church. i get scared playing in front of people cuz im so lousy and its embarassing. but i think God didnt give me the chance to learn percussion and piano and ballet etc etc for me to play to myself.. and my teacher, but to serve Him in whatever ways i can. yes, i may not be good, but i learnt it so i have the basic skills. and its times like these when i am weak, that i can rely on Him and be strong in the Lord. so please pray for me, that i can serve God wholeheartedly in whatever i do, and stop being worried that i make a fool of myself. =D

HONEY, I'M HOME!!!

ah.. i just love the feeling of being home!

...despite almost suffocating when i stepped out of the plane into the humid weather.

But God has been graciously providing rain to cool my side of the world, so i don't melt and die. It's also a good thing that it's humid here cus perth has been dehydrating me so much that it made my skin peel n bla n it hurt. so here, i can re-hydrate myself while feasting!

night 1:

hokkien mee

orh luat

kulat (??!) some mushroom thing which is yummy =)

day 2:

seafood porridge

chee cheong fun

chicken rice

fish

another kind of fish

night 2:

mango milk pudding (i think?!)

chai tow kuay black

stingray

satay longan drink

day 3:

ya kun kaya toast

hehehe i know i know i've been doing a great job with meal planning. im a natural =p anyway, day 2 morning my dear friend qinyilim came to sengkang to visit! so sweet! but the funny thing was.. i was not home! hahaha but i got home eventually n we spent the day lazing around n walked to chomp chomp to eat with dorcas n zhengting=D

i've been itching ever since camp ended. i think i got bitten by bedbugs. I CANT STAND IT! SO ITCHY!!! gahh... if i did bring any home by accident, i hope the bugs starve n die so that when i return, i'll be saved from all the itching.

this holiday's gonna be real short! 18 days n 2.5 have gone! i need to make the most out of it! i find it very difficult to wake up!

all those claims that exercising makes you happy are fake! seriously.. while joggin last night, my blood pressure was rising steadily with xxx's constant nagging. but still.. i think i was annoyed because what he said was true and i think im too proud to admit my mistakes and weaknesses in front of my own family especially. i like to be right and i always think im right which is so not right =(

what happened to your 'never say die' spirit? slowly killed by failures and setbacks? where's your zest and daringness? hidden by fear and doubt? is that all to life? being too afraid of failing, always giving up? where does that bring you?

cya in 18 days perth home home!

geri's surprise 18th. we were teaching the ladies about modesty hahah.

sara's farewell/girly sleepover

1. winter camp was super duper!
2. i passed my driving test!
3. im sick!
4. im singaporing soon!
5. its so lonely at home =(
6. there's not many people left in perth
7. its freezing!
8. i miss camp!
9. i want trampolin!
10. i did somersault on the trampolin!
11. i put on weight i know so when u see me u dont have to tell me!

i think God's purpose for me to study overseas is to stop me from becoming too comfortable and attached to the world, and know that heaven is home.