Rejoice for God is good!

During the church camp and for a period after that, I was on spiritual high. All the worries that always nagged at me no longer seem to matter anymore. I was able to give all my problems to God and trust that He will take care of them. All this because my focus wasn’t on earning more money or some other worldly concern but on maintaining the closeness and the joy of experiencing God. But few days later, the usual emotions of day-to-day living started to seep in. Though I wasn’t back to square one, life doesn’t seem as victorious as it felt during the camp and the few days after. I felt worries and burdens tightening around my heart forcing out the sense of euphoria and victory I felt in my life few days ago. Mornings didn’t seem to be something to look forward to as opening my eyes meant opening them to a day of repetitive work and facing problems that have to be solved. I asked God why? There must be something to be learnt and maintained during the church camp. And God spoke.

James 1:11
For the sun comes up with a scorching heat and parches the grass; its flower falls off and its beauty fades away. Even so will the rich man wither and die in the midst of his pursuits.

Actually the basic principle in life to be happy is to live for God. If we were to live for any of these things; career, family, money, pleasure, we will never be always joyful. I mean these things do matter to us but what I mean is, if these are our main focus in life, we will never be happy. The only way to be happy is to live for God. Whatever position we are at in life, whether we have this or that, whether we don’t have this or that, we should have the basic understanding that it is natural for us to be joyful. For we have the greatest gift of all, Jesus Christ.

Why then are we still not able to rejoice? We are so quick to be negative and slow to recognize the blessings in our life. When was the last time we felt immense gratitude for what He has already given us? Contrast this with ‘when was the last time we feel depressed about the lack of something that we yearn for but has not been given to us?’

If we live for God, it wouldn’t be so difficult to be joyful. If the purpose of our life is to glorify God, is to be His messenger of good news, His servant to be a source of blessing to others, our eyes will not be turned inwards to our own lives and we automatically stop seeing how pathetic we are because we don’t have this or that. Conversely, as we continuously share of His goodness to people around us, singing His praises, glorifying His name and sharing the gospel, we are constantly reminded of the blessings He has given to us. As we share the gospel, we are reminded once again of how we were slaves to sin and dead in our transgressions and the amount of love and grace God has on us to sacrifice His one and only Son to suffer and die for us on the cross so that we can be glorified and redeemed. When we are able to do that, there is really then nothing to be sad about but lots to rejoice about.

Romans 12:2
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

If we do not follow the pattern of this world, but are transformed in our mind - that every breath we take is to live for God, then we will be able to test and gain experience and evidence of what His will is. His good, pleasing and perfect will. We no longer share with people by empty words that mean nothing when we say that becoming a Christian is the best thing that can happen to us, but we can say it with conviction and really mean it with our hearts.

Matthew 6:33
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

God also reassured me that whatever I’m concerned about, He is also concerned about. But I really need to realign my focus in life. Otherwise, I cannot genuinely claim to be a follower of Christ. I cannot genuinely claim to live for Christ when my emotions are still governed by my problems and worries. As I align my focus back to God, He can then mold me to Christ likeness, and all the other things will be given. Solutions will just come automatically by inspiration. I really don’t need to fret or to let matters hog my mind because as I look to Him, He will give me the best.

My mind is still undergoing the renewal process. I need to constantly remind myself that to live is to live for Him, and nothing else. I can’t fully understand yet, that’s why I keep falling back. But by faith I cling on and meditate on His words, that one day I will truly understand and be transformed. As I meditate on all that God has spoken to me in answer to that one question, I can truly feel it in my heart; God really is good!

Church camp '08

I'm back from church camp. And I'm blogging. Finally. Late as usual. But better than never! Some photos to share just a fraction of how much I've enjoyed myself at this year's church camp. So sad the next combined church camp is going to be 2 years from now. Ah!!! I really really really hope it's gonna be at Times Square again. I still enjoy the ultra big hotel room with it's living area, bedroom, mini kitchen and mega toilet, the shopping, the street food, the Starbucks, the everything and everything.

At Foot Master

Clockwise from top left corner : Before our fish-foot experience, fishes feasting on Andy Quek's feet, hubby and me getting our feet washed so that we wouldn't poison the fishes too badly with our dirty feet.

Foot Reflexology after that My hubby, the sacrifical husband cum masseuse

Wendy's Cell, gathered here...below the Wendy poster...

Pearlyn piggy-backing me.

I was so worried that her bones would break! Look at how skinny her arms and legs are!

Me n hubby in our hotel room

Char Kway Tiao and Haams...Sedap.....

SIA gal very very happy with her haam

Family photo of our cell @ Supper!!!

Home Sweet Home!!!

Overworked hubby

We got our Subaru Impreza a few days ago. Finally. Since then, hubby has been trying to get used to the car and driving me around.

Today we went NTU. So happy. Graduated almost 5 years ago and have been wanting to go back there but it's like almost on another island. Now got car, everywhere also can go. NTU not only brings back memories of my school days but also brings back memories of when we first got together. We went to visit the places where I spent most of my time dancing and studying, visited my hostel and went to all the canteens that we gorged at.

Many things in NTU has changed. New blocks have sprung up, others are undergoing renovation, and sad to say, many of our favourite food stalls are no longer around. But the school has still retained most of its culture and "feel". Canteen 2, famous for having the best food in NTU is still the best canteen but most of the food stalls have changed. Now most of the food stalls are some famous food from different places. Hubby tried the chicken rice from (forgot what place) and I tried the Western food from Old Airport Road. Feels so good to eat sirloin steak at $4 and iced milk tea at $0.60. Really enjoyed myself in this trip down memory lane.

Canteen 2

Us with our 'Old Airport' Western food

After dinner at 6 plus, hubby said," Bi, can we go home? I'm really tired and I miss home." Felt so tickled and touched at the same time when I heard it. Hubby is still relatively new in driving and being on the road so much has drained him of his energy, yet he is still so willing to drive me wherever I want to go to make me happy. Thank you hubby. And thank you God for the car. After we came home, hubby washed the car while I sat inside and played hp games to accompany him, then watched 'My Girl'. Definitely a fun and relaxing weekend =)