End of 2007

Spend the last few days of 2007 with my cell at EC chalet. And here i am typing this entry while some of them were playing PSP, sleeping, stoning etc. =P

The BBQ will be starting in another few hours. And while am unable to catch a decent nap, i'll blog here ;)

It's yet another season to think about plans for 2008. Actually, everyday is an opportunity to really reflect/review plans, its just that today is an "official" time to think about it. Ha.

Been very thankful to Him for 2007, work and studies are doing good. Efforts and all hard work was worth it. Relationships with colleagues & friends are great as well. Though there are trying times and all..it is fine. Looking back on my many "little impossibilities" in 2007, He has brought me here after all.

What's my resolution for 2008?

To do what am supposed to do, called to do, do it right with good attitude and not missed out the opportunities He has opened. (Note: not all doors are opened by God)

ok, shall stop here. The rest are exclusive to myself and Him only. Hee.

Happy 2008 ! And may you have greater stamina to complete the 2008 race well :)

Gift of Friends - Unknown

There are days when bubbling from us comes the innocent child within,

who giggles at the little thingsand wears a silly grin.

There are days when melancholy comes to visit for a while;
the mind feels tired, the body weak;

we have no strength to smile.

There are days when joy abundant grabs a hold of you and me;

wraps us up in all it's splendor, lifts us up and sets us free.

There are days when sorrow wraps using its cloak of grief and fear,

'till our hearts ache to the breaking,

'till our eyes can't shed a tear.

There are days when love bestows us with its wonderment and light;

with its beauty and its mystery, its power and its might.

And there are days when life rewards us and

seems to make amends by granting us a marvelous gift,

the precious gift of Friends.

Thank You

Again, i woke up today and didnt feel like getting up from bed. The weather is so cool these days (and i felt like i was in genting) and the bed was calling out to me.. Arghhh...

Counting down to Christmas is another 12 more days.. 12 more days to tie up the loose ends of 2007..

Looking back.. i asked myself what have i achieved and completed this year? What i have not start or complete yet? What is it that i have to improve on? Where will i go in 2008?

While i spend my time typing here waiting for the network connection to be back in my office.. i have much to say. Cant express it here so i'll just shorten it.

Thank God for all and all.. :)

I think my 2007 is not too bad? What about yours? We still have a long way to go though :)

Time for lunch :)

Rainy Monday

I didnt wake up today feeling great like some other days.

Felt spaced out. It seems i've been missing out sth for the past few days. I'm so tired? But i cant stop. I have to keep running. Its the end of 2007 soon.

So many things have been happening and there is not enough time for these to sink in..
Feel like retreating back to the little hole i once was.

Its one of those days where you just dont see yourself getting anywhere.

Nevermind.. I'll get back to normal :p

Mistake

I could see the red warning signal.

Something is wrong inside.

Something i need to release.

I was wrong.

Teach me to love. To learn to see from the heart.

Matthew 25 v 40 - "Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me"

Forgiveness

Found a booklet on "Forgiveness" this evening when i came back home. Some books which i left unread some time ago.

I'd always thought to myself there isn't anyone whom i have not forgiven yet. But i guess, He always speaks to me @ the right time. Yes, well...

Some extracts from the booklet that I would like to share..

"True Forgiveness begins by dealing with sin honestly. "

"Many things may irritate, annoy or upset us about someone else. Those things may require enduring, they do not involve forgiving. Sometimes we feel that someone has wronged us. But the truth is that jealousy, insecurity, or ambition easily distort our perspective. "

"Someone disagreeing with us or hurting our feelings does not necessarily brings us into the realm of forgiveness. Not all wounds are created equal, Proverbs 27 v 6 tells us that.. "wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses."

I like this best from C.S. Lewis :-
"Real forgiveness means steadily looking at the sin, the sin that is left over without any excuse, after all allowances have been made, and seeing it in all its horror, dirt, meanness, and malice.."

Its not talking about burying sin under the naive assumption that "time will heal your wounds".. wounds that are not tended do not automatically heal.

"The pains we dare not remember are the most dangerous of all. We fear to face some horrible things that once hurt us, and we stuff it into the black holes of our unconsciousness where we suppose it cannot hurt us. But it only comes back disguised. It is like a demon wearing an angel's face. It lays low for a while only to slug us later, on the sly. " -- Lewis Smedes

"We need to let go of the offense even when the other person won't"

"Forgiveness doesn't mean forgetting to remember, but remembering to forget"

Yup.... i've heard You..

Write

I caught myself writing lately. Perhaps am trying to remember the things that I went through this year. Now that i've aged... i tend to be forgetful. =P

E shares some of her favourite quotes today.. thought i may paste it here so i'll be able to remember what some of my friends shared...probably some of them may apply to what you are facing today :)

"If you do not wish to be prone to anger, do not feed the habit; give it nothing which may tend to its increase."

"Anger makes you smaller, while forgiveness forces you to grow beyond what you were."--Cherie Carter-Scott

"It’s not about you. The purpose of your life is far greater than you own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness. It’s far greater than your family, your career, or even your wildest dreams and ambitions. If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God. You were made by God and for God, and until you understand that, life will not make sense." --Rick Warren

I like Rick Warren's quotes best.

Back to JW

Going back JW for service on a Sunday felt good. Feels like home :) Brought back the good old memories when He brought me back in 2004.

It was also the first time that am serving in Chinese service. Something new. Nice experience. More to discover. Realised there are many things to take note of. To coordinate at the same time while worshipping and praising.. generally am happy to be given this opportunity. To find out more what it means to be serving Him. To find out what am able to do. To be stretched.. to expand my capacity.

Love the msg by Pastor Kong today.. on Confidence. Not on self confidence. But the confidence that comes from what you believe in what God had said. He talks about Christians.. no matter how talented and creative they are, if they are detached from God.. they will never bear the kind of fruit that God wants them to. It is an absolute necessity to be connected to Him. (John 15 v4)

Goes on talking about having Fear. It makes it much easier for us to blame others for our own failures. Yes it is. But i do think there is this fear of being the Greatest too. Fear that you would be able to achieve more than you could think of. Why is it so when we all knew that we are more than conquerors in Christ?

Are we being shaped to be small-minded? And we tend to think God is small at times.. (Sorry Father, I confess)

Believe that this isn't what He intended when He had me in mind :) I'll move to a greater 2008 with the Confidence!