New Year Reflections and Ramblings (3)

Family

Thank God for family. I am glad we make it a point to celebrate birthdays together! The kids are so adorable and they are growing up fine (must continue to pray for them to grow in wisdom and in stature, in favour with God and men just like Jesus re: Luke 2:52).






Friends
Thank God for friends (and teachers and students) too!

I still try to keep in touch with my school friends from primary school to secondary school to JC to Uni and NIE! God is truly good - He has provided for good friends all through my life.

And I also keep in touch with a few of my secondary school teachers. I think teachers are important people in the lives of their students. I endeavour to play my role as a teacher well.

And I do have students that I keep in touch with. Thanks to Facebook too!


Concluding thoughts

This life is temporal. I must attend to things that have eternal significance. This became more apparent especially when a few people in my life had medical conditions, some of which could be considered a struggle between life and death. I was reminded not to sweat the small stuff... Money can always be earned back. Work will not end. People will always be entitled to their own opinions etc etc.

May 2010 be another year filled with God's blessings!
May there always be love, joy, peace, comfort, hope, loads of laughter, good friends and good health!

Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which GOD, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Phil 3:13-14

New Year Reflections and Ramblings (2)

Ministry

I thank God for the opportunity to be more active in His Kingdom work.
I am part of the small group BRICK (Be Rich in Christ the King) and we are journeying with one another to be aligned with God's will.

I also serve in the Wesley Wind Ensemble and the John Wesley Choir. I am glad to be part of the ministry which enhances the worship experience. I have been much enriched myself - many of the songs touched me e.g. 'You are mine' and 'Stand up and be counted'.

For the coming year, I hope to be more disciplined spiritually.

New Year Reflections and Ramblings (1)

2009 has passed all too quickly. I was too caught up with a lot of things especially work to be faithfully blogging, so here is a quick summary of significant events that took place this year.
God has been truly good to me.

Trips
I made a few special trips in 2009.
1. USA/Canada - April
My first time to east America. I got to see Niagara Falls! And I experienced some snow!
2. Cambodia with students - April
My first time taking a group of polytechnic students on an overseas community project trip. Lives were touched!
3. Melaka, Church Camp - June
My first church camp! It was on the theme of faith and I learnt that other than having faith, it's important to pass the baton and to pray for the Joshua Generation ...
4. Kuching - October
The last time I went to Kuching was my trip with Grandma more than 12 years ago. But this time I actually went to the Bako National Park and did some trekking. I survived the trek and got to see some wonderful views! :)








Work
The caregroup I inherited when I went back to teaching graduated! Woots!

I was involved in a few projects - Dreamweavers, LAW, Coffee with Com etc. Busy busy...

And lots of marking! Marking is really tedious - but at the Covenant Renewal Service, I was reminded that Jesus also did what he had to do, living with his earthly parents (Luke 2:51-52), carrying out chores that could be deemed as a drudgery but He did not complain... I must learn to take it all in my stride.

I had the opportunity to be involved in adult learning at the Institute for Adult Learning. I even joined the Adult Educators' Network. I have completed 5 out of the 6 competency units for the Advanced Certificate in Assessment and Training.  I hope to get the full certificate in 2010.

Visiting Guat

Guat was having headaches and then she was vomitting consecutively for a few days end of June. She went for a scan and was found to have a tumour in her brain. She has had two successful brain ops and the tumour is cleared. However, it was found that there was some growth in the pelvic area that had to be removed. It was removed on 28 July and now she is home resting.

Some thoughts:
1. God is a faithful God. He's been looking after Guat, protecting her. Likewise, God is holding us in the palm of His hands. Everything happens for the good of those who love Him.
2. Life is fragile. Are we living life to the fullest? Are we victors and overcomers? Or are we just being complacent and busy with routine and accumulating material wealth?
3. God says to "bear" one another's burdens and to edify one another. Are we doing enough of it?

New job scope: Attending weddings...

Betty and Chee Kiat's wedding on 27 Dec 2008

Weiming's wedding on 17 May 2009

Eileen's church wedding on 31 May and dinner on 1 Jun 2009

A teacher's job is never done... attending students' weddings is all part of the job :)

It's a great feeling to be able to witness the wedding of my students whom I have seen grow up, to be part of their joy.

The spate of wedding attendance started with Betty and Chee Kiat's end of last year. They have known each other since secondary school days and they have finally tied the knot. Both of them belong to the last form class I took before moving on to the polytechnic.

Then it was Weiming's wedding. I don't know Geraldine but she sure is a lucky girl. Weiming was my drum major when I was in charge of the band and I still remember him as a little boy wearing shorts... and now he's a husband!

The most recent wedding was Eileen's and Matthew's. Eileen was my very first class rep when I joined the polytechnic. She is very forthright and candid and I remember her for that and even in her wedding gown, she still looks and behaves the same.

And there is more to come...

Pentecost & How much?

Pentecost comes from the Greek word "pentekoste" which means "50th". It refers to the Jewish Feast of Weeks, which Greek-speaking Jews called the Day of Pentecost (Acts 21:1). Pentecost also commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles and the followers of Jesus (Acts 2). The liturgical colour is red which symbolises the fire of the Holy Spirit and the blood of the martyrs which the seed of the Church.

Today's sermon is entitled "How much?" by Rev Melvin Huang. I record some of my thoughts based on the sermon below.

A question was asked if one who goes kayaking would put one foot in one kayak and the other foot in another. Of course not, right? Who in the right mind would?

But do you know that as Christians, we do? We have one foot in God's Kingdom and one foot in the world, and we end up being tossed about. And if we are "double-minded and unstable in every way", we "must not expect to receive anything from the Lord" (James 1:6-8).

God has a rightful place in our heart and life. Do we surrender all that we have to Him? Our family, our work, our finances, our leisure, even our food? If we seek first God's Kingdom, all the other parts will fall in place.

Where is my treasure? (Matthew 6:21)

Do I press on to the goal, forgetting what lies behind? (Phil 3:13-14)

Do I surrender ALL THAT I HAVE? (Matthew 13:44-46)

If God is not the Lord of all,
He is not the Lord at all

Hymn of Dedication - The Kingdom of God
(lyrics written by Rev Melvin Huang, sung to the tune of Foundation, UMH 529)

The Kingdom of God is why Jesus was sent
The gospel for all who in Jesus believe
It's living and knowing God, Father and Son
Be born from above and God's Kingdom receive

Live His life in this age and the age to come
Righteousness, peace, joy in the Spirit of God
Choose God as your treasure, His Kingdom seek first
Your heart sure will follow, be right with the Lord

Whatever you treasure your heart there will be
So seek first God's Kingdom, His righteousness, too
Like field hidden treasure, will cost all you have
But all in God's Kingdom are added to you

Phoebe turns 5!

The little girl has turned 5 - she is really adorable and is sometimes rather cheeky.

Pictured here is her choice of a 3D mermaid birthday cake and her K1 friends at her birthday party.