Relaxation Today

Had a good night rest last night... slept for about 9 hour.

During the Church Service this morning, I received some refreshing quotations from the speaker:

"He is no fool, to give up what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose."
- Jim Elliot

"God wants you to do the unusual, then He will do the extraordinary."
- Tommy Barnett

"If you are willing to do the ridiculous... I will do the impossible."
- God

*The secret of a successful and happy life is giving yourself totally to God."
- Tommy Barnett

Spent some time shopping in the afternoon after Church Service. Bought 2 pairs of shoes, then went to cut my hair. Hmn... it's shorter now, feeling cooler and lighter too.

That was my first relaxation treat for myself after a long while. :)

Exhausted

I am feeling very tired and exhausted. I woke up a few times last night in my sleep due to tummy aches... now body is aching.

One thing I am still trying to do to no avail is leaving my office by 7 p.m. *sigh* It seems I need a personal time keeper to chase me out of my office each day. If I continue to work till past 9 p.m. I might be burnt out just like Elvina. :(

Shall sleep early tonight. Good night.

Busyness Kills

In the article below, it shows how busyness can kill a relationship.

The Cost of Neglect
My work had become my mistress and my wife had had enough. What would happen to us?
By John Davidson

Most will be able to identify themselves with the case found in the article. It's time we pull ourselves back from all our busyness and think of the important people in our life while it is not too late.

Surprised Birthday Gift

Not only did I received the above ecard very early this morning, but also a surprised birthday gift. The gift is what you are seeing now -- a brand new webdesign for my blog! That's the result of many hours of hard work put into it... the labour of love from my best friend. Now you know why he is called my "best friend"? No pain, no gain ya. Thank you very much, Tommy! I like it very much! :)

Three other friends have wished me "Happy Birthday" in the late morning too. Though there's no present or card, I appreciate them for remembering it at least. Thank you, friends!

"May all your dreams come true." So what are some of my dreams?

1. My best friend will find his ideal godly soulmate soon.
2. My online friends will know Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Friend.
3. My non-Christian teachers will become Christians as they work together with me.
4. The children in our centres will believe in Jesus at their tender age just like I did.

If you do for someone what you don't normally do for others,
that person is someone special to you.
- Bee

Surprised by Marriage

Surprised by Marriage
5 common misconceptions about married life excerpted from Pocket Guide to Adulthood
by Jason Boyett

Makeover Time
How often have you heard this? "He's not really interested in the stuff I like to do, but that'll change once we get married." Few marriages that launch from that pad end up happily ever after.

If there's anything you should know about marriage, it's this: Saying "I do" may change your legal relationship, but it doesn't change your character. An unhappy single person will be an unhappy married person. A thoughtless single person will be a thoughtless married person. An obnoxious single person will be an obnoxious married person. Don't enter a marriage expecting to remodel your husband or wife into someone else. You can't. People have baggage, stuff we've wheeled around since high school. It's been with us so long, few of us have the willpower to drop it before entering the wedding chapel. The flaws are a part of the package. They follow us right down the aisle, up the steps, on the honeymoon, and over the threshold.

Don't marry someone for who they might become. Marry them for who they are right now. Otherwise, they're likely to become nothing more than your ex.


My Reflection:

The above article is quite a good read. It's a reminder that we can't change anyone.

Very often I heard Christians who plan to marry non-Christian partners claim that their partners will become Christians after marriage. It never happen. In fact, the opposite is true -- the Christians stop going to church to maintain family 'harmony'. *sigh* There is a Chinese saying, "Marriage is the grave of romance." True in a way if the expectation is unrealistic.

A person's character will not change unless God has done something in his/her life. Even then, it's a very slow moulding process and provided that person is open to God's work in his/her life.

"Unless the LORD builds the house,
its builders labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the watchmen stand guard in vain"
- Psalm 127:1


To sum up, marriage can't change a person's character any more than before marriage, neither do meeting up with a person can. He/She is the same person before or after. "The flaws are a part of the package." If one can't love or like a person in his/her current state, then it's wiser not to go any further.

I like what someone said to me before, "Ask not what do you like about me, but rather ask what do you not like about me and still can 'tahan' (accept)."

I Slipped

I slipped on a wet floor and fell down flat at my office today while approaching the wash room. Good thing no one was around or I would be very embarrassed. Now I have a slightly sprained right arm with a blue-black palm. :(

The moral of the story? I must be very careful! ...in all I do and say.

When In Love

Busy and tired as I am, I will still do my devotion with God before sleeping without fail nightly . Isn't that the same devotion when a person is in love?

I won't dare to claim that I love God fully yet, but at least I have loved Him enough to discipline myself to spend that little time reading the Bible, blogging my reflections, and praying.

Similarly, I have been reading Eliza's blog everyday too. Her entries on her journey with God daily have captured my heart as she is just like me when I was at her age. Reading her blog is like rewinding my life. I wish I really could. But now looking back, I thank God for seeing me through in my growing up years.

All things said, when we love/like someone, we will be very excited to read about that person's thoughts or the things he/she has gone through. The opposite of love is indifference. So if someone says he loves/likes a gal, yet does not like to read or have no time to read about her, then I can only conclude that he doesn't know his own feeling, unless he is lying.

He Answered My Prayers

Wow! God answered my simple prayers today by today!

I read Eliza's blog entry yesterday on how God has answered her prayers last Sunday on the same day. This morning, I decided to make 2 very specific prayers to God too.

First request: I prayed that I could catch the bus earlier than usual this morning so I could reach my office earlier. Usually, I have to wait for about 20 min or longer for the bus to arrive. But today, the bus came within 5 min. Thank God!

Second request: I prayed that God would help me manage my 'political' bosses well and that my work won't get stuck because of them. This afternoon, while I was having lunch with one of my bosses, another two came to join us. We had a good talk and after that I felt quite relieved as they promised to give me their support so I could do my job well without delay. Praise God!

Isn't my God wonderful? :)

One lesson I learnt is that I can learn things from someone younger than me, both in physical and spiritual age. Another lesson I learnt is that my prayers must be specific so I could see specific results. I also must have child-like faith to believe that God will answer my prayers when I pray.

Thank God for these lessons.

Memories Still Stay

Eliza (15-year-old blogger) said she saw a transformation of her life now compared to her a year ago, as she read through her last year's blog entries. Her blog entries have been changed from those of herself and all her complaints to those of her reflections about God and all His blessings.

I felt inspired to read my old blogs again too. I also see a transformation in my life compared to me in 2003, the year I started blogging. Memories was my first poem. The last verse is still valid for the present:

I remember the people I met
Those who made me sad and those who made me glad
How should I feel or what shall I say
They have all played a part
In making what I am today

Yes, the people I met, especially the online ones, have played a great part in my life. I have surpassed the phase of looking for earthly love to that of staying in God's love. I no longer yearn for earthly love now, especially after my mum passed away. Perhaps her death has brought along with her my unspeakable distress, and therefore, my yearning for someone who could fully understand me too. Anyway, I have learnt that such a person never exist, even though at times he comes close to being one, yet he's like an illusion that just slips away. Only God can meet all my needs.

God is the most important person in my life now. Without Him, my life would have gone hay wired. I have learnt to make Him my first love.

Second is my work, which basically involves working with people. I like helping others improve and excel. Most importantly I hope that I will make a difference in their life, that they will come to believe in my God too.

Third would be my "best friend", who will forever be just my "best friend" and nothing more. My "best friend" is important to me because we have been through our spiritual journey together daily since last year Oct. We read the same bible passages together daily, share our daily encounters with each other whenever we have the time, and now we also pray together.

Thank God for my "best friend". I will treasure his friendship now while I can. For I know that there will come a day that someone else will replace me, in God's time. My blessing will go with him and his new "best friend" when that happens. Take care.

Sandwiched

It's been 3 weeks into my new work by now. I hope my enthusiasm won't die off as I encountered many man-made obstacles. I have been sandwiched between 2 'political parties' (my bosses). Each party tries to tell me their side of the story to win my 'vote'. That's how I felt. In so doing, my work got stuck. *sigh*

Anyway, I still like my job because I know I have contributed something in bringing my colleagues (not my bosses) together to work as a team and they feel more united now than before.

I attended a training workshop last night and the whole of today. It's a workshop on how to share Bible stories to children in creative ways. The lessons were very interesting, but the session today was too long for most participants. We reached our absorption limit after lunch. *yawning*


I have to disappoint someone close this weekend. I feel really sorry but I can't held it. "I'm SORRY". :(

Purpose In My Work

Talk abt God's purpose in your CCA (work).

Not just the CCA (work), but the position.

For every individual, there will be a different purpose.
What is yours?

Maybe you won't realise it till you get your calling.
Coz if He hadn't called me to this, I would never have identified and understood the purpose behind my CCA (work).

Don't just accept things as they are.
THINK.
Why are you where you are today?

- Eliza, 15 year-old blogger

The above blog thought makes me ponder. Why did God put me in the various positions I have been in so far?

I went away from my education career, but within 3 months I am back again. Not only that, I am put in a position of influence where I can change situations and lives, though it's a delicate task. I am there to be the change manager and leader. I need all the wisdom of God to say and do the right things.

I look forward to work everyday though I stay back late everyday too. I am excited by the tasks I have to perform and the challenges ahead. But one thing I dislike is politics at my workplace, even amongst those who claimed to be Christians. :(

So now it's my season to be where I am. I pray that I will bear many fruits in my season.

Yes, my present work occupies most of my waking hours. So during the weekdays, I really don't have much time to blog, other than doing my devotion blog. There is no time for me to think or feel too much or miss anyone. Isn't that good? No need to feel the emotional pain that most 20s or 30s feel. Weekend like now is my blogging day. It's good that I am not bound by the PC but have more time interacting with people at work.

That aside, I can't take leave for the Conference I mentioned, but I will try to attend the Seminar at night, "Affluence and Influence".