updates on my week

i realised that i haven't been really blogging abt recent happenings.
it's mid-way through the month of january for the new year.

school's ok.
i'm lagging behind quite badly for my readings.
so i've got to buck up and seriously do something more constructive.
this blog may somehow be neglected in the process.
oh well.
haha.

had a good time catching up with gloria on monday.
it's been so long.
and i'm glad we had a good talk.
i'm just thankful.
that despite having not sit down and talk to her for so long.
it's always so comfortable to talk to her and share.
it was a light-hearted lunch.
and i'm truly blessed. :)
let's have more! hehe.


anyway.
i've got my first guitar!
went shopping for it for a really short while on tuesday.
thanks to my 'shi fu' nic.
i got one that's nice.
and it was a good deal.
235 bucks.
a nice acoustic guitar.
came with guitar bag, tuner, picks, beginner's guidebook cum cd, dvd.
and it's really time to get down to some serious practicing!
i realise i've happily thrown back what i've learnt.
hehe.
whatever it is.
i'm just very happy.
having planned for so long.
finally i've got my very own guitar.
yippie!


and for the first time ever.
had breakfast with weisin and teeseng at ntu.
teeseng happily 'skipped' tutorial.
to makan with us.
hehe.
i had hotcakes from macs!
it's been some time since i had macs breakfast.
hehe.
after that we went crashing teeseng's hall.
popped by his hall only to realise how messy it is.
haha.
played with his mac and took loads of wacky multi-shots.
haha. we look so happy, don't we?
decided to post one of the rare few nicer ones.
and we scanned through the pics in his mac.
only to see how 'toot' we look when we were in secondary school.
goodness.
super embarrassing.
i would never want those photos circulated!
haha.
it'll be so hilarious.
it was quite a good time catching up.
hehe.
rare opportunities to do so.
and i hope there'll be more.
it's gonna be harder once i start work.
i can't imagine.

more catching up with ppl next week.
i need to better manage my time.
so that i can be a good student.
and i can be effective in the different things i'm doing.

God, help me be a good steward.
the time you place in my hands.
help me to use them wisely.
to do Your work.
and excel in all that You've called me to do.

second chance

second chance

You called my name

reached out Your hand

restored my life

and i was redeemed

the moment You entered my life

amazing grace

Christ gave that day

my life was changed

when from my shoulders

fell the weight of my sin

so it's with everything i am

i reach out for Your hand

the hope for change

the second chance i've gained

on You i throw my life

casting all my fears aside

how could greater love than this

ever possibly exist

consume my thoughts

as i rest in You

i'm now in love

with a Savior

bearing the marks of His love

so i'll wait upon You now

with my hands released to You

where a little faith's enough

to see mountains lift and move

and i'll wait upon You now

dedicated to Your will

to this love that will remain

a love that never fails

i can never imagine.
how my life has changed.
since that very day.
it's just amazing.
His love is amazing.
and i'm thankful.

how privileged.
to be given this second chance.
ask me again what i would choose that very day.
i can proudly say.
i'm so glad i took that step of faith.
and i never had regrets about that.

though i may face mountains.
but i know.
He reassures me.
a little faith's enough, My child.

there's surely more in my life that needs refining.
i'm sure He has more goodness in store.
and i can only stand.
amazed by His grace.

i love Jesus.

the rain - thomas kinkade

i saw this from an email that was being sent to me.
it was incomplete.
so out of curiosity.
i went google-ing.
and found this.
and i thought it would be interesting to share.
read on what i've got from a website.


one rainy afternoon i was driving along one of the main streets of town,
taking those extra precautions necessary when the roads are wet and slick.
suddenly my daughter, aspen, spoke up from her relaxed position in her seat.
"dad, i'm thinking of something."
this annoucement usually meant she had been pondering some fact for a while,
and was now ready to expound all that her 6-year-old mind had discovered.
i was eager to hear.
"what are you thinking?"
i asked.

"the rain!" she began,
"is like sin, and the windshield wipers are like God wiping our sins away."
after the chill bumps raced up my arms i was able to respond.
"that's really good, aspen."
then my curiosity broke in.
how far would this little girl take this revelation?
so i asked...
"do you notice how the rain keeps on coming?
what does that tell you?"
aspen didn't hesitate one moment with her answer.
"we keep on sinning,
and God just keeps on forgiving us."
i will always remember this whenever i turn my wipers on.

in order to see the rainbow,
you must first endure some rain.

hope the water flows when you get the picture.

if God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
happy moments, praise God.
difficult moments, seek God.
quiet moments, worship God.
painful moments, trust God.
every moment, thank God.

how beautiful... :)

marching into 2008

501st post for the 1st post in 2008.

entering into 2008.
and i just have so much to be thankful for for 2007.

in 2007 has been an eventful year.
with quite some changes in my life.

things that happened that brought tears.
and some that brought joy.
i continue to stand amazed by how God has brought me through.

i'm thankful for all that has happened.
i know that i wouldn't be where i am today if all that has happened didn't happened.
the things that broke me within.
though upsetting, yet i see myself strengthened in the process.
this year. it's not hiding my hurts and pains behind a false strong front.
but really learning to overcome with God's strength.
daring to cry out. daring to say i'm hurting within.
daring to say i need Him. daring to admit that i'm weak.
2007 - things went through change, which i thought was a negative change.
but looking at how things unfold, i saw how God turned things for good.
i've given up little and gained much.

defintely good things have happened.

i saw my family's love. one of my source of joy and strength.
my 21st birthday was a blast. though i can faint at the sigh of the number of people.
but it was my sister that did all the preparations.
catering. planning. booking the place. etc.
my mum who entertained those who came.
and i saw how much they spent just to get me the very present that i want.
i treasure it.
not because it is a material good.
but because it was from them. my dearest family.

i saw my friends being a great support.
those that came for my birthday made it special.
those that comforted me when i was grieving.
those who encouraged when i was discouraged.
those who walked me through the really tough times.
thank you.
thank you peishan for being the friend that i don't get to catch up with often, but i know you're always ready to be around and spend time with me.
thank you linda for being the friend that always support me in all that i do. you never question my decisions and just support me. thanks for the care. thanks for the company during lectures. thanks for way you are just so bubbly. it is contagious.
thank you chiewlin. i'm truly sorry that we don't get to interact that much ever since i'm out of hall. but i thank you for being a friend. i've always loved your company. :)
thank you beelian. you are one who really knows what i've been through - the good and the bad. thank you for mentoring me, but more importantly, walking through with me as a really close friend. you see the times when i'm weak and you're just there to align my focus back to God, who is strong. thanks for being the person i know i can turn to any time.
thank you christabel. you're a friend that i've gained this year. i'm just amazed how much our friendship grew this year. i'm thankful for the support all this while. daring to just speak the truth and point out the things that i need to note. thank you. a truthful friend is rare.
and of course, many others who have made a difference in my life.
thank you.

i saw how God preserved me and moulded me.
though there was the breaking, the stretching.
He was the one that sustained me.
through the times i felt i was running out of time to do things.
He gave me strength.
through the pressure of schoolwork, adjustments and exams.
i saw God's hand of blessings and His provision.
my results from the exams this year was way beyond my expectations.
God did it. not me.
through the new challenges.
i saw how God used me and the extent of His grace.
He provided all that was needed.
more responsibilities in the cell group.
publicity co-ordinator for youth rally.
team leader on my first mission trip.
leading and guiding people.
i walked through them all.
it wouldn't have been possible with my own strength.
it was only possible with Christ.

i saw how God relighted dreams and passion.
i've lost them along the way in 2007.
but God brought them back.
i was down. but He picked me up.
i was sad. but He brought joy.
i was weak. but He was the strength.

there's just so much that mere words cannot express.
i'm thankful. and this is only a summary.
i was just taking time today to reflect.
and i saw so much that God has done.
i continue to stand in awe.
i give thanks. to my loving Father in Heaven.

2008 is going to be more glorious.
i believe in all things. God works for the good of those who love Him.

and i simply love this song now.
somehow it speaks to me.
and brings such reassurance that i'm in good hands.

with all i am

into Your hand
i commit again
with all i am
for You Lord

You hold my world
in the palm of Your hand
and i'm Yours forever

Jesus i believe in You
Jesus i belong to You
You're the reason that i live
the reason that i sing
with all i am

i'll walk with You
wherever You go
through tears and joy
i'll trust in You

and i will live
in all of Your ways and
Your promises forever

i will worship i will worship You forever