Well, i guess ive never posted such things on my blog before, but yeah, i seriously thk God for my family. Everyone is born into a different family, and i am truly grateful for mine. My parents know what is best for me, and they try to provide for as much as is possible. During the A-lvl period, my parents cared even more for my wellbeing - how i was eating, whether i was prepared. They did not need me to help out around the house, but just to study hard, they were just really understanding. And most of all, they love me the way i am, just like God loves us the way we are. Sometimes, things are not meant for our own understanding, but God and parents alike do things for our good. Lord, help me to just love and honour them all the days of my life.

This is what Pat wants: a huge breakfast tmr!
Sadly there is no food for her to cook at home...

this is wad u do when ur bored!

This post is dedicated to all the people out there who asked me to update

Well, the major battle is finally over. I have perhaps gained more knowledge and all, but the most important thing learnt is the importance of prayer and true dependence on God to lead and guide all the way. Was having a small conversation with a friend what she says is so true: we are so fortunate to have a God whom we can place our trust in as we prepare for the exams (to paraphrase). Thank God for the peace and calmness He placed in each and everyone of His children's hearts as we did our papers.

Its really wierd once you finish your papers, you just feel like its any other normal day. There is no rush of happiness... perhaps just a sigh of relief...followed by a sense of lost. Well, i guess the ending is just hyped up by many before us.

Now, need to spend my time wisely, plan my timetable for the long hols ahead.

On a different but heavier note, i dunno why this always keep happening. Now there's no more school, but yet... Im really confused...

The Road Less Taken

When you are at the crossroads of life, and you can't decide which path to take. There are a million thoughts in your head, telling you to do this or that. I would choose to follow God's will, and walk the road less taken. God never promised it would be all smooth-sailing. He never said that there wouldn't be trials. But He has promised that He will be carrying you all the way through. On eagle's wings, you will soar above the storms, and there will only be 1 pair of shoeprints along that road. The Road Less Taken - God's guided path to success. A wrong decision, and it's going to be hard to turn back. Will you decide now to follow Jesus?

The Road Not Taken (Robert Frost)

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth.

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same.

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

We that seeketh God today,
find His perfection so great.
It is high as heaven, deeper than the sea.
And when we trust and obey,
We ask and pray that God will show us His way.

We that seeketh His will and pray,
find His presence so near today.
He is closer than a brother or a friend.
For Jesus washed our sins away,
made our garments white as day.
God sent His son and on the cross He lay.

We know that Jesus rose again.
We shall never be ashamed,
to share the gospel and speak of His name.
In hope that many will say,
"I know I am born again,
for Jesus is my saviour today"

So we'll lift up our eyes towards Him,
lift up our face so clean.
We will shine forth so bright,
as bright as the morning light.
For we don't have to fear,
there is hope we know for sure,
for we can rest secure in Him.

Empty me of myself today, Lord. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit...
Do i really know what it means to love You?

James 1:2-4
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Grow up, Pat, grow up...

Chris Rice: Come to Jesus

He's waiting for us with opened arms...

I really do miss my morning runs so much. There is this deep longing to let my legs do their job, to push myself to the limits, while enjoying the cool breeze racing through my hair. I was feeling rather upset with myself for not be able to qualm that urge in me to just go for a run. It does not feel good to be cooped up in the house all day long after school, and the desire keeps growing, especially when I see my friends running.

In retrospect, I realised something about this desire. Why can't we all long for Jesus in our lives the way I long to run, the way we all long for things of this earth. Is not Jesus greater than all of these?

I made a choice today, hopefully in His will. All these things happen for a reason, for a greater plan.

I'm so glad to be home the whole day for once. The past 5 days have been very exhausting, going to and fro to NTU, but I'm thankful its over for now. Actually its pretty amazing how God has guided me through the past 5 days. I felt surprisingly relaxed despite having to study for common tests during each and every break. Yes, I was indeed tired and sick as well, but there was no stress, no breaking point, which I am ultimately grateful for. Thank God for even the chance to go over to camp for worship, despite the crazy schedule (eh jumzy, thks for the rides man, really appreciate it).

I am really really not prepared for this common test. There is so much to be done, yet so little time. But I'm just surrendering it all into His hands. I was recalling a song I used to sing in sunday school when I was a kid. It goes:
Give me oil in my lamp,
keep me burning burning burning,
give me oil in my lamp, I pray.
Give me oil in my lamp,
keep me burning burning burning,
keep me burning til the break of day.
So i will sing hosanna,
sing hosanna,
sing hosanna to the King of Kings.
And i will sing hosanna,
sing hosanna,
sing hosanna to the King of Kings.
I really miss singing these kiddie songs that convey such a simple message: He will sustain us.

Psalms 71:3
Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.

I need that mountain moving faith...
Help me, Lord. I'm feeling quite lost this week.
I can't do this on my own. I need You more than ever...

Matthew 21:21 Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this [which is done] to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

A learning journey

A bus ride really got me thinking...

Well, a friend and i were going to hougang for class CIP and we werent sure which stop to alight. My friend then approached the bus driver for directions, but was denied an accurate reply. He proceeded to ask the bus driver permission to get off the bus to check the bus guide at a busstop. The bus driver however, DROVE OFF WITHOUT HIM, leaving me on the bus with no idea where to alight, and him stranded at the busstop without his belongings. In the end, i alighted 2 stops away from my destination while he alighted 2 busstops before. All this while, we were fortunate to have communication by handphone. To cut a long story short, we finally met at the correct busstop, with him spotting me from about 300m away to guide me there.

There is so much to learn from this quite interesting episode. As i was walking back to the correct busstop, i thought about the Christian life. This is exactly what happens when we are lost, undirected and unguided, just like how i was on the bus. We dont know where to go, what to do and how to live our lives because we have forgotten about God. But then when we remember to rely on Him, He provides us with maps, signs that will lead us in the right direction, just like the bus guide. But, even with the bus guide, we could still go the wrong way, just like how i alighted 2 busstops away from where i was supposed to go. It is then that we should just ask God in prayer to show and lead the way in the right direction, just like how i called my friend to ask him how to walk back to the right busstop. Moreover, as mentioned how my friend spotted me 300m away, God will spot the lost from heaven and guide us back into His loving arms. Just like my friend was a call away, so is God a prayer away. Will you then ask Him to guide you back into the path of righteousness. Im thankful for His guidance.

Newsong - Trust His Heart

All things work for our good
though sometimes we can't see how they could.
Struggles that break our hearts in two
sometimes blind us to the truth.
Our Father knows what's best for us;
His ways are not our own.
So, when your pathway grows dim,
and you just can’t see Him,
Remember He's still on the throne.

God is too wise to be mistaken.
God is too good to be unkind.
So when you don't understand,
when you don't see His plan,
When you can't trace His hand, trust His heart.

He sees the Master plan.
He holds the future in His hands.
So don't live as those who have no hope.
All our hope is found in Him.
We walk in present knowledge,
but He sees the first and the last.
And like a tapestry, He's weaving you and me
to someday be just like Him.

God is too wise to be mistaken.
God is too good to be unkind.
So when you don't understand,
when you don't see His plan,
When you can't trace His hand, trust His heart.

It's the little things that make the BIG difference

Yesterday's Uth was different.
Nope...not the worship, despite the fact that james was singing without a mike. Neither was it the message, although it was important all the same.
It was the ending prayer of a very special child of God in the midst of everyone - Japheth. The very mutter of words emerging from the mouth of a boy disabled since he was 1. Ian asked and he agreed, so readily. Many people in his shoes would definitely not dare to speak in front of everyone, let alone pray. But yet, he did not care how others would view his stuttering, his inability to express himself for others to understand.
Yes, it was this child-like faith that moved me. I could not understand anything he said at first except the words 'dear God' and 'amen'. But as christopher translated for us after the prayer, his words hit me hard. 'Despite my body, i will still walk with You'. I was moved. This guy, wheelchaired since 1, did not let his disabilities bring him down, but is continually living a life for God!
I really thank God for Japeth being such a blessing in the Uth ministry. Why cant we all have this child-like, mountain moving faith? Indeed, a wake up call as well...

Chris Tomlin's Amazing Grace

Woah, this has to be one of the best versions of the song out there. The bridge is especially amazing.

Sometimes we are not meant to understand everything...
Its just so wierd.
At the moment, im just confused.
Am i doing stuff my own way?
Is what im going through right?
I have this feeling that this just wont turn out in a good way.
Maybe i should just stop it as it is, get over it and move on with life?
Man...i really dont know.
Not my will but Yours be done, Lord.
I need Your guidance.

2007

As the year draws to a close, i wish to reflect upon all the significant events that have impacted my life this year. Just really want to thank God for his great blessings this year. This year has indeed been a very different school year as compared to last year. JC life i should say has been a pretty enriching, yet fulfilling experience. The school term started off on the wrong track, with many things not going well, but as it is said, God will close doors that He does not want you to open and open many more doors for you to enter. This has been so true, following all the failures at the start of the year. Firstly, He blessed me with floorball friends like Jon Muk and Marcus who brought me to church. This was the highest point of the year. From there, His blessings have flowed abundantly, and my spiritual life has changed for the better. His great and mighty works were seen clearly in my common test results, in my application for bio olympiad, in friends that i have made, etc. When the going gets tough, the tough gets going. Yes, the start of the year was a trying period, but He has pulled me through, with many miracles in so many areas in my life. I never even thought i could have made it for the first round of the bio olympiads, but i did! Obviously it was not always about school work, and God opened doors for me to serve in the worship ministry in Uth. I was fearful, inexperienced, new and everything, but a step of faith was all i needed to prove that His strength was made perfect in my weakness. Then came promotional exams. A stressful studying period made me a blessing to so many of my church friends when He inspired a song of praise, which i wrote in 20 minutes while i was studying. The song really expressed by feelings that whatever my grades would be, i would still love Him, as He loved me. He was with me the whole time, and in the end, my grades were more than satisfactory. This was the first time i composed a song, and with another bigger step of faith, i proceeded to compose songs for children's ministry. Now i know the true meaning of the verse, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. With His help, 5 songs were composed. It was during the holidays, and i was working, there were rehearsals, i had homework and i was not coping well with all that i had to do. It simply was the busiest holiday i ever had, and i really wanted to give up, but im glad i did not. Nothing is impossible with God, and children's musical was the biggest blessing to me, to the children and to all those who watched. Thank God for how He raised each and everyone in the musical to be a blessing to the unsaved. Right after the musical was camp. First church camp for me. Was a trying period... tears of frustration, and tears of joy all shed during camp. He showed me so clearly the power and importance of prayer, and how He can answer them in a matter of minutes. Thank God for His amazing work in camp. It was definitely not a coincidence of how He placed various people in various teams, and how He brought many unsaved souls to receive Him. Now, as Christmas approaches, let us remember how God sent his son Jesus to be born to save us from our sins. The true meaning of Christmas is in Jesus' birth. Oh how great are His love, His grace, His sacrifice and His blessings. To God be the glory.

I am so fortunate

Met this boy around the age of 15 diagnosed with tuberos sclerosis which is an autosomal dominant disease that affects many parts of the body. It caused him to have seizures and fits since he was diagnosed at the age of 2, and caused him to have severe mental retardation, autism and many other problems. Some of them included anaemia, gastroentritis, vitamin deficiencies, and they manifested in areas such as the eye, where he underwent operations to correct them. He is now wheelchair bound, and when i met him today, i just felt so much for him. His case is just so sad. It was then that i realised how fortunate i was. I have been piled with a lot of things to do these 2 weeks, and i just felt a quite stressed. But here i was complaining, when this boy was under so much more suffering and pain then i was. I was just so moved by his conditions and how much he had gone through that i muttered a silent prayer for him and his parents. Oh, I thank God for giving me great blessings in my life, and for just helping me to realise that all the stuff that im doing is nothing compared to how He has put that boy through the trials and tribulations. Now, I know Lord. Give me more Lord, to do great and mighty things for Your glory.