MC today..and a lesson on prayer

I have 2 days MC...so stayed home today to rest.

At last, got antibiotics from the doc...so I got to take the whole course. Haven't taken antibiotics for a super long time..cos I try to avoid that as far as possible.

Sleepy all the time.. haha..hope I recover soon...dun want to go to Genting with a cold.

Read Pastor Edmund Chan's "Growing Deep in God"...just a few pages..but was reminded of something really important.

PRAYER...the LIFE of a Christian. It's so easy to stop praying...really...it just does not seem very natural to pray. I have been struggling to pray.

It's wrong to think of prayer as something all Christians must do out of obligation. It's also inadequate to pray just for ministry purposes. Prayer's about abiding in our loving Father and practising the presence of God.

"It is not God who needs our prayers, but we who need God - not as the cosmic answer to our questions not the celestial solution to our problems, but for who He is and for who we are when we are in Him. Jesus understood this - that is why prayer was pre-eminent in His life and ministry." (at pg 50 of Growing Deep in God)

It's so hard...a hard lesson to learn I must say...=(

"My House shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations." Mark 11:17

The Church must pray more...

Choices, Uncertainties... His Hand =)

Had a good time with BH during lunch today. Went to support her brother's hawker stall. The food's quite good I must say, at least I enjoyed it. Please approach me for details if you want to go try out the sliced fish soup.

We talked..and I shared about some thoughts this morning.

I have been thinking about the path to take in the future... will I continue to work as a lawyer? Should I? I am now in a firm that allows me to grow as a lawyer...but will I still be here in a few years time? When children come along, what would happen? When will God call WG to step into ministry ft? When he gets called, should I continue to work? Where will this current job bring him to? etc....etc....

Basically, I told God all that...and I asked him about the uncertainties ahead of me. So many uncertainties and possible paths to take.

But, I concluded that I could leave all those uncertainties into the hands of God...my loving Father who has the best plan in His mind and who is leading me step by step. Afterall, He was the one who led me to this firm and WG to the current company. We have no doubts about that and we are grateful for that =).

God is interested in our lives.. and because He is interested in my life, I know I need not worry about the future. He will grant me the wisdom I need at every juncture...and He will lead me to make decisions which are pleasing to Him. =)

Shared with CG last sat.. some people run after many things but at the end of 50 years, look back and regret not having involved God in the whole process.. some, on the other hand, faithfully cling on to God in every decision and look back on their 50 years and say "Thank God for bringing me to where I am now."

Only one thing's required of me right now...=)

"Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." Proverbs 4:23

Same birth date haha =p

Some of you would know that my favourite actress is Jessica Hester Hsuan.

Haha..missed the last series of PARENTAL GUIDANCE but watching the episodes off YouTube now.

She is apparently shooting PARENTAL GUIDANCE 2 now.

I like her personality, her looks etc. haha.. don't worry, she is not my 'idol' and I am not exactly a 'fan' haha.

Found out yesterday that her birth date is 18 August too! =)

The Song of the Vineyard : Isaiah 5:1-7

Studied this passage yesterday.

I was reminded of an important truth ...... God has provided us with all the conditions that we need for growth and fruit bearing.

"What more could have been done for my vineyard than I have done for it?" (v4)

What has God given to us:

1. His Son Jesus Christ
2. His Word
3. His abundant promises
4. His protection
5. His unfailing love
6. His grace
7. His power
8. ....
9. ....

God is proactive in our growth..He gives us the best conditions and His help because He loves us. But we got to do our part too... FAITH & OBEDIENCE =)

Sometimes, it's easy to think that we are the ones struggling to live the Christian life and God's just expecting to see results. But that's not true..cos He has already done everything for His precious vineyard.

M-time: "THE GAME PLAN" =p

Just came back from a movie "The Game Plan".

We thought we made a right choice watching this movie tonight for our weekly M-time. =) We had a good laugh.

For those who have not watched it, I would recommend that you do so..it's really funny and very very meaningful. Shan't say more! We were so touched by the movie.

It helped that we watched the show at Tiong Bahru Plaza...a place which always brings back lots of memories for us coz that's where he first popped the question in Dec 2002 hahaha!

Ah well...thank God for the great time!

Still sick =( But happy too! =p

Had a great time practising with WY, JC, Mic,SW and Kel...!!

We had so much fun and nearly went crazy over some songs haha!

I love to dance to music. God made me this way...just so sensitive to music and rhythm. Sometimes I wonder whether people find me weird haha..always so jumpy. But that's just how I am wired. And sometimes it is really fun going crazy with brothers and sisters haha...there's just so much joy in praising God.

I believe in being expressive in worship..because God gave us emotions, He gave us the ability to express ourselves with body language etc..hehe..King David danced while praising God too! There are verses in Psalms which talk about dancing while singing praises! Make a joyful noise unto our Lord!

If I could, I would want to serve in dance ministry! haha..but getting old...bones and muscles giving way.

Yeah! Yam & Kel finally back! I missed them so much! Was literally counting down...=) They sent me home today..so sweet of them...they r just like big bro and sis to me.

Still having the cold though...been quite a while. Hope I get better soon!

It's going to be a long day tomorrow..God will sustain me!

Prayer for the day

Sometimes, our minds go out of control and we find it hard to pray.

Sometimes, negative thoughts and doubts just hit us and take over my minds.

But God has called us to love Him with all our minds...

My prayer for today (Psalm 86:1-7):

"Hear, O Lord, and answer me for I am poor and needy.

Guard my life, for I am devoted to You.

You are my God, save Your servant who trusts in You.

Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I call out to You all day long.

Bring joy to Your servant, for to You, O Lord, I lift up by soul.

You are forgiving and good, O Lord,

Abounding in love to all who call to you.

Hear my prayer, O Lord, listen to my cry for mercy.

In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for You will answer me."

Thank God for EVERYTHING?

At home for the whole of today because I am down with a bad cold and boss told me I should rest and recover soon.

Why am I down with a bad cold? A few reasons: Chilly wind at night, lack of vit c, insufficient rest, NEGATIVE EMOTIONS

I firmly believe that NEGATIVE EMOTIONS can bring lots of illnesses to a person. Stress, depression, hatred, bitterness, discontentment, discouragement etc...such emotions do not bring health to one's physical body.

Some of you would know, I have been rather depressed lately. Why? It's a long story..

BUT

God spoke through a sermon I listened to this morning. A familiar passage - Phil 4: 4 - 9....one of my favourite passages.

DO NOT BE ANXIOUS ABOUT ANYTHING AND GIVE THANKS FOR EVERYTHING!

I can choose to dwell on sad thoughts, problems, stress, difficulties...or I can choose to dwell on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable etc.

I admit that what's been going on in my mind lately are largely negative stuff. Terrible! Terrible!

My prayer today: "Abba Father, forgive me for dwelling on the negative stuff and for neglecting the importance of thanksgiving. Please help me to give thanks for EVERYTHING and to dwell only on what is good. In Jesus Name I ask and pray, Amen!"

Vision & Focus

A number of things have been on my heart lately...but I have yet to form a clear picture.

There's just so much going on in this broken world..so many needs...

We are living in the end times, the war is waging in our society and in every nation...

It takes broken relationships in one's life to mess things up for him/her and distort TRUTH and it takes healthy relationships to make things right. But there are so many obstacles to authentic relationships and the church is lacking in this area.

"What's my role in all these?" That's my question and I know that God will grant me the clarity that I need in due course.

In the meantime...the most important task is to pray and abide in Him.

Super tired...I just need to rest

Dunno why...but I am just feeling so drained emotionally and spiritually. Falling ill physically too..think I am just too tired.

Need a rest..a good rest.

Time to stop thinking... =)

Goodnight

SUPER High.. Adrenaline rush haha

Wah..was super high towards the end of the day..dunno why =) Maybe cos it's deepavali tomorrow..but the happiness within me was so overwhelming that I felt like telling the whole world how I was feeling... crazy right? hahahaha =)

Thank God for Marriage time tonight!

Left work at 655pm

Reached home by 715pm and met hubby

Changed into T-shirt and Jeans and got out of the home by about 735pm

Took 105 to Orchard and reached by about 8pm

Had dinner at Food Republique at Wisma Atria - Super nice Hokkien Mee and Guo1 Tie1

Went around shopping for a birthday present - and I got $52.00 worth of accessories!

Left Orchard at 10pm - took 105

Home sweet home by 1017pm! Bingo!

It's really great to stay so near to town!

"It's a happy day! And I thank God for the weather! It's a happy day and I'm singing for my Lord!"

Yippee!!!

He Lifted my soul...=p

Started the day feeling so depressed... so negative etc.

But God reminded me that such days will be over and it is not beneficial to dwell on all the negative emotions.

Told myself I should just focus on my work during the day and cast the negativity aside. Thank God... as the day went by, I felt better.

My new boss told me not to work late.. and encouraged me to leave early. So ya..I left office just in time to reach home to receive M & H who came by for dinner and a good chat.

Both of us enjoyed having M & H over...it was just wonderful being able to share our lives and experiences. And I am glad God's working.

All in all..it's yet another wonderful day.

I am reminded of a song:

"He's turned my mourning, into dancing again, He's lifted my sorrows;
I can't stay silent, I must sing for His joy has come!"

So tired...but thank God =p

Surprise surprise..guess what! God has blessed us with wonderful neighbours directly beside us. They are a young couple..about our age..Christians...and actively involved in youth ministry too! We were all so excited during our short chat yesterday. =)Thank God...His plans are always the best.

We had a good time having JYF over at our place yesterday.. =) After that, WG's NTU friends and CG came over.. I had so much fun just getting to know them...and I know WG really enjoyed meeting up with his NTU friends. =p

Feeling rather tired now especially after ministry this morning..but I know that God will restore me in His own time...=) Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.

btw, I think that the sermon by Rev Chua was GREAT!

Okie..got to get some rest and be ready for a new week at work!