Phatfish

is a band, a christian band. Chanced on them at NWA08 in Wales. Found the band name "Phatfish" abit strange, but at one of those NWA nights (they called it "After Hours") where you could just go to the big tent and listen to a christian band jamming, I thought it was such a cool idea. So went with HW and KY who came especially for NWA since during their student days they would try to attend it. And KY told me her favourite song by Phatfish was "There is a day" and after I heard it, I was truly encouraged and made me long for the day Christ returns to set all things right.

Check out what blogger Adrian Warnock blogged about them and their new CD "In Jesus".

Creator God

whom people say did not create them, but it's their father and mother who created them. Something my colleague said - about parents creating her - as a health topic came up between us, due to a month long pain in my neck and back. Probably also embedded in chinese culture where alot is attributed to parents who gave them life and even after parents pass away, prayers are said infront of parents' urns, and a huge respect goes to ancestor worship because without them we won't be here. But, is it really the case where it is really bad/disrespectful if there is no ancestor worship (not referring to respect for parents)? Is it really disobedient then to not give parents credit for giving us life (not referring to parents bringing us up painstakingly)? What about abortions? Those who didn't actually want to have children, be it for adults or teenagers, but decided on ending life. Are we really true life givers, creators of life? As long as we want to and in our ability, we can create life? Are we really the ones who can fuse cells together to create life? I wonder, I really wonder, so many things to consider in totality. We're not really in control, even if it seems what we do does give us a sense that we are, and indeed God did give us rule over creation. Yet given other situations, we realise we can't and what do we do then? How do we explain it when we can't?

And, what about married couples who can't have children, isn't that evidence that humans can't create life?

If illness takes over, why people don't turn to God who created/made them and rely on Him and not on themselves? Would they consider? if not, why not?

Would people just take a wee bit of their time to hear what God has to say, from his Word, and not assume that we know him? Its abit like hearing from the horse's mouth, if only a chance was given.

Truly, only the Lord opens blind eyes and stubborn hearts like mine.

121 with Dad

enjoying those times with Dad, just him and me having a meal or going to sinseh (chinese physicians) or museums. Even though he talks loudly on his mobile like those coffeeshop ah-pehs ("uncles"), even though he wears his mismatch blue slippers with dark trousers, even though his front teeth has cracked and refuses to get it repaired, even though he uses toothpicks after meals to clear food residue in-between teeth, even though he sometimes behaves like a gangster and sounds like he wants to fight, even though he has aged alot and prone to falls, even though he gets excited about explaining to me technical engineering details which I don't understand, I'm still happy he's my Dad, strangely. Please pray for the Lord to be merciful and gracious to my Dad, to open his eyes that Dad will repent and turn to the Lord. Still think there's a niche ministry amongst those in their 70s, making friends with those who sit in coffeeshops, who talk about anything and everything happening under the sun. Through Dad, I get to know his friends' lives (what they used to work as, their family's makeup, etc) and what they do with their time and talk about. Asking the Lord to provide a christian friend to befriend my Dad.

Excruciating pain

happened when I did some stuff during a week.

the week i did stuff: mon 3 Aug - did wrong crunch/sit-up exercises on hard floor, tue 4 Aug - slept with head on my arm, fri 7 Aug - moved, carried 20/8kg of books.

sat 8 Aug - woke up with excruciating pain from head to neck to back, and radiating pain in arms to tips of fingers, couldn't get out of bed. (trivia: did you know we use our neck muscles when we get out of bed? each morning, not only thanking the Lord for sunshine, a new day, also for neck muscles)

sun 9 Aug (singapore's national day) - 2 friends/couple, sports doc & physiotherapist, came to give me pain killer/anti-inflammatory pills and a neck brace to wear for 3-4 days. assessed root problem, taught me how to get out of bed, bought din for me, etc. thought of going to A&E, but doc said hospitals were on stand-by for mishaps at national day celebrations, so i'll have to wait a long time at A&E which i knew what the wait was like since i brought parents there on separate occasions. conclusion was that i'd strained spinal cord. worse case if pain doesn't go away, paralysis. i thought maybe this is all part of growing old, but doc says even sports people get it as well. haha, is it a relief to hear that? hmm...

mon 10 Aug - still had excruciating pain, went to neighbourhood doc to get medical leave, had 3 days of medical leave (tue - thu). changed pillow to have more neck support.

heard another friend, SW, had lower back problem and admitted himself to A&E, getting an injection of pain killer / anti-inflammatory and was discharged, going back to work the next day!!

fri 14 Aug - worked from home because it takes too much to get to office.

sat 15 Aug - still no relief from aching pain, went to physiotherapist clinic. had treatment and was taught exercises to move vertebrae which was stiff. met SW, who went to A&E for injection on mon, also getting physio treatment for lower back.

mon 17 Aug - didn't have excruciating pain when i woke up, but aching pain still there. continue to work from home, doing 4 types of physio exercises every 15mins.

wed 26 Aug - changed desk chair to have correct sitting position. stationary chair instead of the rolling one.

fri 28 Aug - been doing physio exercises everyday, and perspire from doing it. wake up in morning and pain still there. went to sinseh (chinese physician) during lunchtime and fainted. apparently, i was suppose to have eaten and after 1 hour, then see sinseh. my head was put in a neck brace to extend neck and needles inserted in upper back and neck. my hand was placed on a bell in case of anything. electricity was sent through needles and i would feel warm. think i blacked out in 5 mins because next thing i knew, i woke up and couldn't find bell next to my hand (might have fallen on the floor) and was leaning against doc, feeling weak and he was desperately trying to get my head out of neck brace, carrying me onto bed. then nurse gave me water and tissues because i was perspiring. lied down for 20mins and left clinic with medicine. i really don't like needles, although i bring my parents for accupuncture and have seen how its done. think i needed relief and wasn't getting any even though i did physio exercises. feeling tired as i haven't slept through the night (for almost 3 weeks) without waking up with aching pain and have to keep changing sleeping position.

i'm suppose to go back to sinseh next week after taking 3 days of chinese medication which tastes horrible. i should give the sinseh another chance to see if it works or change sinseh? hmm...

sat 29 Aug - went to get meds from neighbourhood doc and also ask if i need to get x-ray done. assessment concluded that i didn't have numbness in arms and hands, so don't need to. more meds to keep inflammation down and pain killers for relief.

visited godson cos he had surgery and was resting at home. his dad, a physio, treated my back and cracked it. strangely, there was less strain when i turn head left & right thereafter. apparently, if i exercise more, my strained muscles will stiffen up, no wonder! so, no lifting of heavy stuff and no exercise, need to lie flat on my back more often for relief. i can't sit for long in one position, as pain will take place. want to get stuff done, but so much involves the neck and back. sigh.

apparently, i'll need 8-10 sessions of physio to get better. turning head around still feels painful.

thankfully the Lord knows my body cos he made it and pain is truly a sign that something's not right, so many things to get done but limited and need to get relief/rest. wish there was a computer i could work on or get stuff done or talking to people while lying on my back.

Change for the better

is what colleagues were talking about. How a person after attending some course, changed for the better. Self awareness courses to understand yourself better and hence changes happen thereafter, where marriages are closer, others see the benefits and ask how to, the person's priorities changed as well (maybe become nicer which is subjective), etc.

Sounds so much like how God transforms our lives when we get to know Jesus, but is it really the same?

Do people really want to be transformed? Do they really want change in their lives? Or only when severe/devasting events happen, then change happens in us? But there're still those times when even after something terrible happens and recovery happens, all seems to be forgotten and your old self just comes back like nothing really did happen?

But what makes people gauge that the effect of change in a person is better? Is it a personal gauge? It may differ from person to person (eg, friends may think it's good, but family don't think so), right? And how God truly transforms us, our minds, our lives, opens our ears and reveals himself to us in the person and work of his son, Jesus Christ, and everything culminating for us to all be like Jesus, what does that mean then? The benchmark is God's alone, not differing between persons, and all for his glory and his purposes since he created us and as we return to dust in the end, having been impacted and having impacted people around us. It's relationships in the end which God had established with us from the beginning....thank you Lord for taking the initiative to reconcile us back to you.

messed up...

Forgetful
No appetite, but have to eat, and feel nauseous after eating
High stress levels
Wake up middle of night or wake up in early morn although slept late
Can't verbalise though its all in the mind
Bad decisions or can't make decisions
Not rational or objective
Emotional
Giving up easily, no perseverance
Snacking alot more, snacking as main meals
Increase in weight
Drown in loud music, dvds, retail theraphy as temporary relief though silly cos all temporal and of the world
Running out of ideas of where to go
Getting dressed stressful/tiring
Dread being in a crowd of people to get to know or just a hi/bye to those know by name
Tired of questions being asked which equates to productivity/usefulness of person, or ask for sake of asking or for sake of making conversation with no interest in person's relationship with God
Inconsistencies
Ignore God sometimes, not listening to him or even wanting to when waking up in the morning or before going to sleep at night or all day-time
Not able to maintain discipline, goes hay-wire or done once and it stops until months, possibly years later
Guilt
Passive
Withdrawn
Frustrated
Enjoy alot of time alone
Can't follow-up on people and what happens in their lives
Tendencies to latch on yet resist cos man will fail
Impatience with people who only think about themselves or think they're right
Can't think for people
Switch off when advice given with good intentions but with no real understanding of situation
Keep quiet when know can't converse or person not listening
Rage/Anger
Do not like empathy from people or people trying to give/show value to other
Convoluted

somethings not right but even normally is everything really alright? when things go too smoothly, have to ask if its too smooth? or is that like seeking out something just for the sake of it or its too good to be true or just plain pessimistic? complicated. confused. need clarity! need big picture which only our gracious God can give. nobody is as strong as they look. greatest man fall too and pride sometimes is the reason. and it could be facing so much opposition to fight against, sometimes it gets blurry.

sin in me

long for Jesus' return, long for God's discipline, long for judgement to be meted out so can move on and not swing between now but not yet

scared of God letting go

truly recalcitrant

falling quite badly

those who plan for their own funeral...

is it morbid? is it positive thinking? why do it? why worry about it? so bizarre!

But what about planning for retirement? Isn't that the same?

For those in Singapore, at CPF (Central Provident Fund), we still need to always come back to the question of whom to nominate to inherit our CPF $ when we die. If we get married, we again need to revisit the nominee question again. So if that's the case, seeing death around us, not really that morbid, right? Why then do people around me cringe and think i'm weird when I say that I've thought of what songs to be sung at my funeral?

Health forms

I've yet to think which passage for my funeral where all will hear and want to come to know the Lord Jesus. Hey, maybe the best is to just give out free bibles to all at my funeral since the whole of God's word echoes of him who came to reconcile us back to Him, giving us an eternal hope of his return to set all things right in this world He created which is ruined by our rebellion against him? Haha! Free bibles at a funeral, I can feel those eyebrows around me being raised yet again.

What do you think of Christmas?

Probably slightly similar to what Singaporeans/Asians think Christmas is...


That's Christmas! from andy pearce on Vimeo.

London Underground Station Supervisor

I met at Warwick Avenue tube station, which is near my host home in London, whom I've asked Cornhillers and some friends to pray for...remember Tim Pinn, the Station Supervisor? The ones who stand around at the tube gates where you tap your Oyster cards? The ones who open the bigger gates for those with big luggages and buggies/prams? The ones who help you to figure out the "complicated" tube map and also know the streets outside the tube at the back of their hand?

Recently, my host CH, had the opportunity to have lunch with him!! I was SO happy upon hearing that. CH got to know Tim better and plans to do a bible overview with him, something which is much needed, after the few chats with Tim on my way home or going off via Warwick Tube station. Appreciate your prayers for Tim.

Some friends wondered how this all happened. Well, when you're always passing the same place and always meet the same person, you're bound to (with curiosity) say abit more, aside from a nod and a smile. If you ever see Tim, you'll know what I mean. He's one of the rare Station Supervisors who smiles and I mean really smiles alot, and writes funny quotes on the white boards about the weather or something when all the tube stations are running without problems. Love reading his funny quotes.

It all started one Sunday, I was rushing to church and took the tube (normally I take the bus), and there he was on duty. Asked me where I was heading to, since it was a Sunday. I said I was going to church, then he said "oh, you're such a good person, going to church", which I responded "No, I'm not a good person, hence I need to go to church". Thereafter, he was puzzled and I had a chance to explain why its not about being good that you go to church.

Romans 3
10"None is righteous, no, not one;
11no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
12All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one."

Then I asked him a question as I've always been wanting to ask...whether he was a christian. He said his relationship with God is up and down. There are good days when he looks at the vast and beautiful creation/nature, then when he sees people suffering, he questions God why it has to be so and those are the bad days. In the subsequent chats on and off, we talked about the bible, life, people, a church he attended, christians who passed through Warwick Avenue tube station who talked to him, God's law, his holidays, etc. Amazing, now that I think about it, how God enabled me to meet Tim. Please pray for Tim and CH in the days to come. So many opportunities to share the gospel/good news with people around us when they want to hear!

so difficult to love and understand

one another...that's why Jesus asked his disciples and us, believers, to love one another. We really messed up our relationship with God and with each other, see Genesis.

We hurt each other with remarks, we don't hang around with people we don't like, we gossip, we don't want to even understand or get to know the people we don't like but confirm in our own mind that we know them thoroughly by comments through third parties and what we observe, we have no compassion for each other. And I'm guilty of it too. How could I?

The breakdown of relationships with each other, all because we don't know what our loving Creator God has done for us. Loving us when we're unlovable and when we have ignored/offended/hated him. Why are we like that?

Keep remembering Ephesians 6...
10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.

"Nothing is free in this world"

my colleague said recently...because we were talking about something in the news, I think. My instant reaction in my mind was "But, but...there is something free in this world!", then I wonder what they'll say.

Romans 5
15But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

Hmm, now how do I let him (and those around) know about this? Do I write an email and mention about it? I'm so not good in thinking on my feet and responding at that very instant. I ponder and think about the conversations and pray for more opportunities later on to tell them about Jesus. Will I be too late? Will they even want to hear and ask more out of curiosity?

Voicebox affected

Can't believe it! I've been sick for almost a month/4 weeks!! I've never been sick for so long. Sigh. Started with my usual inflammation of the tonsils, then dry cough, then lost of voice. ARGH!

Saw neighbour doc 3 times, and was on medical leave for 4 days in span of a month.

Want to catch up with people, yet I think I need to not talk for 3 days then voicebox will recover. Maybe I should do the stuff which singers do before their mega-concerts...ie, wrap their necks with scarf to keep it warm. Wonder if that will work?

So sad, realised that I need my voice to meet/catch up with people, get things done, solve computer problems at work, communicate what I want to order at the hawker centre, relate to loved ones, etc. There's only so much SMS or online chats can do and sometimes can be misunderstood. Makes me treasure the spoken word and also makes me realise how much I *do* talk. haha! Helps one to listen more, but it also restricts what you want to express because I've to rest my voice.

Wonder if I'll have a permanent hoarse voice from here onwards...hmm...

my teacher's coming to Singapore!!

Yippee!! My teacher, CA, will be coming to Singapore!! I'm SO excited!!!

Sat 18 Oct, 9am - 12.30pm at Singapore Bible College
"Married for God"...uncovering God's purpose for your marriage.
Click here for details and you can read a snippet of his book of the same name "Married for God" from here.

His wife will be giving a talk to women on "Being God's women in God's world" at my place on Sat 18 Oct, 2.30-4pm (8 Oct 08: time changed). So, if you're interested, insert a comment in this blog entry and I'll contact you.

CA will also be giving talks here as well....

Tue-Wed, 21-22Oct, 7-10pm at Orchard Road Presbyterian Church
"Grappling with God: Expositions from Job"
Click here for details and you can read a snippet of his book on Job "Out of the Storm" from here.

what's a gobbet?

"what have you been doing in the past year?"
"what certificate did you get?"
"you're not working for church?"

Many questions were asked. To some, I got excited telling them what I'd learnt and one led to another, and thought it's good to share the preparation work/where I begin when I receive a passage to lead bible study or to give a talk . It has affected my reading and you'll start to observe and hopefully listen carefully to God's word, with your mind blown away, going away repenting/rejoicing/thanking. Alot of hard work!! And lots of prayer!!

LOOK AT VARIOUS VERSIONS of the passage…

NIV (gives thought for thought words)

New Living Translation (gives sense for sense words)

ESV (is word for word)

CONTENT

What type of literature is it: parable, narrative, letter?

What’s passage about? Is there a clear argument, structure or theme?

What’s emphasized or repeated?

What are the difficulties – thing you don’t understand, or need to check?

What are the surprises – things you didn’t expect?

CONTEXT

Where does it come in the immediate context? How is it linked to what comes immediately before and after it?

Where does it come in the book as a whole?

Where does it fit in the bigger Bible storyline?

PURPOSE

Why did the author write this passage to these people?

Why did he say this, and not something else?

Why did he say this here, in this part of his letter or book?

FOR EPISTLES…

What are the ISSUES?

Any FACTS/ENCOURAGEMENTS?

Any OBLIGATIONS (to) ACTIONS?

BIG IDEA (form a sentence of 10 words or less)

This is the tough bit, as you'll keep thinking what the Big Idea is of the passage. By this time, you would have memorised the whole passage and thinking about it day and night, teaching yourself, struggling with your sin, asking God to help you with your stubborn heart, your dense mind.

AIM (to teach)

TEACHING POINTS (from passage which can become talk outline)

Dear friends, hope the above helps. Let me know if you have any questions.

Gobbet - In Cornhill, that means a chunk of a passage given to us to work on. It's not a full blown talk, but a passage to work on

so many plans...

starting work

tomorrow....time sure flies!

At this time last year, I was depending on the Lord for his providence financially and as I settled down in London, trying to know where things were, how things worked and getting my bearings. And I was so thankful to the Lord for the host family, Hawthornes.

Now, I'm back to the same company, same job with the same team-mate I'd worked with, and I'm again amazed and thankful to the Lord for what he has provided yet again.

Prayer point: that God won't let my heart wander and like Ezra "set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel" (Ezra 7:10).

I'm SO thankful for Jesus and what he has done for us! Still awed by what Jesus has done on the cross to restore us our dignity of being made in God's image.

What's Singapore like?

Many overseas friends have asked me...

Click here as I found a website of photos taken by people who have visited Singapore. Good perspective from their end.

Back home

...it has been around a week since being home. In 10 months, Singapore has changed in many ways. Have to adjust to new buildings, road divertions, latest happenings like the museum festival, etc.

Aside from feeling like an oddball once again, ie, a local yet not local cos I enjoy angmoh/foreign things like picnic in parks, walking, showing foreigners the local stuff, etc. I'm definitely more sensitive to things around unlike before...

• Went to Bugis to activate my mobile, and was struck by how materialistic Singapore is, especially the change in the layout of the shopping centre at basement of Bugis with all the advertisements and signs say it all. Marketing certainly shows what entices and attracts the society/culture


• There are alot of cars in Singapore, went to Singapore General Hospital for mum's accupuncture appointment and all the carparks from Carpark A to I were full around 10.45am


• Prices of food have increased in air-conditioned food courts. Not possible to find $3 meals.


• There're alot of conveniences here, like you just have to walk 5-10mins and you'll reach places you can get stuff done. Having walked so much in UK, walking here made me aware of the conveniences. Strangely, maybe now I'm walking at a slower pace, I don't perspire as much as I did before I left. And the trusty umbrella is well needed, so I don't bother if some think it's really "aunty" (local term associated to being old) to carry one


• Bus drivers here are kind and I truly appreciate them. They see you running and they wait for you. There was even a bus which was full and the bus driver stopped for me to get on, but I dared not because it was full to the brim, though I could have squeezed myself in, but I didn't. In UK, the bus driver wouldn't even open the front door if it's full (capacity restriction/safety law)


• Have to get used to air-con. From leaving an air-conditioned building, getting out to the humidity and heat, then into an air-conditioned bus, only to drop off into the humidity and heat, and walk to another bus stop and get onto another air-conditioned bus. Have to positioned myself in the bus to not sit under the strong blow of the small air-conditioned pipes/holes, or keep adjusting those small pipes/holes to get less of the strong air-con wind. Need to keep a cardigan in my bag now


• Really miss the variety of food! Have to limit myself to eating 1 favourite dish during each meal time, less my tummy grows in size again! haha!


• Familiarity of understanding all the dialects around me


• Being able to call older folks/workers aunty and uncle, though they aren't related to me in any way (in UK, aunty and uncle means they are your relatives). Also the strong understatement that older folks are wise, have all the answers and they will gladly tell you the answer. If they don't know or have question, it shows their inability and they'll lose face infront of a younger person...never knew it was that strong before.


• Trying to fight off conformity and not be so sensitive that people are looking at me


• Was amazing meeting ex-colleagues from Finland who were here on business trip, and hearing all the familiar names of other ex-colleagues. Also visiting the office and seeing all the familiar faces!


• A trait of kay-poh-ness (inquisitiveness) amongst people here, wanting to know what were my plans from here onwards and knowing that I'm trying to find a job, their minds start rolling on how they could help and whom they know. It's really all about networks, an asian thing


• When I took the MRT trains, I noticed the large space between the 2 opposite rows of seats. I remembered in London's tube trains, the standing space inbetween opposite rows of seats were really small/tight, only 1 person can fit inbetween


• Segregation of society between the english-speaking and chinese-speaking is very wide though both look chinese by skin color. The acceptance of each other isn't there. It shows in their dressing and their body language of the great divide. You'll see it in the bus.


• There are lustful old men here just as they are lustful youths in UK who eyeball girls


• Alot of girls follow latest fashions and currently it's off-shoulder tops/dresses


• Asians are really small in size! I towered over some
  
• We're a sensing culture. I hardly bummed straight into a person whilst walking unlike in London.
  
• Busy-ness with time flying fast here, you get sucked into it and before you know it, the important things like reading God's word has been replaced by tasks or TV drama serials
  
• Seems like everywhere in the crowd, whether its downtown or where your flat is, there're foreign workers and space-wise, it's getting packed. London's Oxford St is busy, but once you go to the outskirts, it's less busy. Friend told me that Singapore govertment plans to increase population by 6 million! *jaw drop*


• Alot of drinks are sweet here, like teh peng (tea with milk), can drinks, fruit juice, etc. Think I only drank tea without sugar or water in UK, and the occasional Bulmer's cider =P


• Not many wide open parks accessible by walking. Labrador Park which is one of my favourite because it's near the sea, you'll have to drive there, as it's a long long walk from the main road


• I don't get many hugs here. Only if I see a really close friend, I'll dare to give a big hug. Otherwise even if I see friends whom I've known for more than 2 years, it'll just be a wave of "hi" standing right infront of the person


• Conclude...Singapore is a truly modern city which pampers its citizens alot! Its citizens are truly materially rich, seeing from the food restaurants.

The challenge now is how to see our society from the gospel mindset, how has the world been brought into the church? I wonder what are the possible/common worldviews amongst Singaporeans...

Cornhill days coming to an end...

yesterday, we (2nd years and full-timers) spent praying from 1.30pm - 4.30pm with a tea break in-between. 6 people went up to share their prayer points on summer plans, short term plans and long term plans. After that in groups of 6 we prayed for those 6. Next 6 went up to share and we pray for them, until all 50-60 persons have shared. It was amazing! Exhausted and SO dependent on our great God in all that we do! Thankfulness to him and awareness of our weaknesses and how the devil can use it to steer us away and bring us down! Yet, God's work to bring all under Christ will continue, all to be made Christ-like. Such an assurance.

Going to miss my Cornhill days, the brothers and sisters whom I've learnt much from, who have impacted and challenged my life in various ways, the humility of the teachers before the Lord as they taught us, etc...especially the Lord humbling me and teaching me great truths about himself to me, how great is our God!

CA shared this verse with us which is really poinant for me! Reality of the world we live in, while we wait for Jesus' return...

1 Peter 5:8-9
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

God has been SO kind...

He has been SO kind to the Hawthornes, giving them the gift of life in a baby girl (Rebekah Gillian-Mei Hawthorne) just born this morning! The anticipation of waiting, wondering each night if maybe baby will be delivered tonight. She's been so active in her mummy's tummy that I thought maybe baby could be a boy, though deep inside I was praying, asking God to grant them a baby girl, then realising that I should just thank Him for giving them a healthy child whether boy or girl. But, I am content with whatever the Lord gives, truly content and very thankful to Him.

Her brothers were also excited, got them presents to congratulate them - Joshua being the older brother of 2, and Reuben becoming a big brother for the first time. It's so wonderful that they're brothers of a little sister!! During lunchbreak (between church and bible study), couldn't help it but as I tried to find lunch for myself, I ended up chancing upon charity shops opened on Sun, and found really nice girlie clothes for Rebekah. =) After bible study, went straight to hospital because doctor still wasn't there to discharge Helen, to accompany boys back home. She has jaundice, so mum & child staying in hospital tonight. Need to pray for speedy recovery for both mum & child.

I am SO happy for them! I've learnt so much from them (some theories were confirmed, some had to be re-learned) about pregnancy, delivery of child, bringing up children and now, how to care for the little one and how amazing it is how the child's body grows/reacts. Random fact: Did you know the initial poos by baby for the first week looks like black liquid tar? Also that the layer of skin round her is not washed off? It's rubbed into her skin cos it's natural moisturiser?

Lots to learn and rely on the Lord for his breath of life breathed into Rebekah.

Matt Redman's song sung at church this morn put a smile on my face just thinking about all that the Lord has blessed me with in the past year, especially my host family which includes being able to experience the joy of a newborn child:

Jesus Christ, I think upon your sacrifice
you became nothing, poured out to death.
Many times I've wondered at your gift of life,
and I'm in that place once again,
I'm in that place once again.

And once again I look upon
the cross where you died.
I'm humbled by your mercy
and I'm broken inside.
Once again I thank you,
once again I pour out my life

Now you are exalted to the highest place,
King of the heavens,
where one day I'll bow
but for now I marvel at this saving grace,
and I'm full of praise once again,
I'm full of praise once again.

And once again I look upon
the cross where you died.
I'm humbled by your mercy
and I'm broken inside.
Once again I thank you,
once again I pour out my life.

Prayer point: that Rebekah one day comes to personally accepting the Lord Jesus as her parents have and will teach her about the Lord Jesus Christ.

Proverbs 22:6
"Train up a child in the way he should go;
even when he is old he will not depart from it."

Ephesians 6:4
"Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."

And like Timothy learning from his grandma & mum, Rebekah will learn from her parents in the same way...and all through faith/believing in Christ Jesus! That Rebekah's heart will one day believe and with her mouth she confesses and is saved!
2 Timothy 3:14
"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. "