Every Year Will Always Be A Good Year!

It is the last day of the old year; eve of the new year. I just read that this year has a leap second - an extra second added to 2008 to complete the cycle of the earth's rotational pattern. Glad I can enjoy this year a little longer. Haha. Just imagine at the countdown we have to say "3, 2, 1, 1... Happy New Year!!!" This is a first for me. :)

This year seems to fly by so fast that I am still lagging behind, wondering what have I actually done in the past 364 days.

First and foremost, all thanks and praise to God for bringing me thus far; for His grace and mercy; and for His sustenance.

I guess there are regrets of the "could haves" and "should haves" but they should not put me down since life is always a learning process. Every step taken in life, though sometimes may put us a few steps back, is still a progress when one does not give up. We always learn from our mistakes.

I am still learning and I am praying that God will continue to be my Teacher so that I can learn from the Best and live my life for His glory and be a blessing to those around me.

I have not really taken time off to reflect and evaluate the year 2008 but there have been some areas which I want to thank God for:-

1) For my family as in how God has sustained mum who is diabetic and how He is controlling her sugar level which went quite high two months ago; for helping grandma cope with old age (I guess she is going through "second childhood") and for allowing her to let go of some unpleasant events which she has experienced in the past; for helping my brother's business to expand even though the economy is not doing well and for allowing me to work quite closely with him in some areas of his work; for dad who is trying to play a bigger role in the family and to see that he can still be a contributing factor to the needs of every one at home. For a while I guess he has been feeling a little insecure now that he is retired and sometimes feels that he is not doing much to meet the needs of his loved ones.

2) For my work where God is opening new options for me but I have decided to put them aside for a moment to care for my family. I am still seeking Him as to the next step I should take in the new year. I am not burdened but excited to see where He will lead me.

3) For the missions ministry in church which I am serving in where I can see God moving powerfully in the lives of the members. I give thanks to Him that more and more individuals and small groups are interested to play a pro-active role in the Great Commission. This is a good sign that the church is moving on in the right way where she should not be too inward looking but more to meet the spiritual and physical needs of her neighbours in this island-nation and across the world!

4) For the relationships with my family and friends from and outside church. Being a human, I have failed some of them and I seek their forgiveness for my shortcomings. Sometimes I want to build closer ties and help those in need but my human ability can only last me that much and in the process, I have disappointed a few of my friends, some of whom I was closed with.

I am also learning to forgive some who have disappointed me. Every time when I struggle with that, I would just look at myself in the mirror and be reminded that we are all the same. Grace which God has shown to me must now be shown to my neighbours. If not, I have not experienced grace at all. It is tough, no doubt about that, but I have to put pride aside and do what is right in the eyes of my God.

Well, prayerfully in the new year, I will be a better friend to another.

Of course when I speak of relationships, another area which I have always been pressured to look into (by my parents, grandma, aunties, uncles and also friends) is that of a life-time partner. There is no doubt whatsoever that I want to settle down one day but as always I will not let pressure cause me to choose someone just out of no where.

There are one or two sisters-in-Christ in mind but I will continue to let God move me accordingly. If He so approves of one of these persons, He will make it happen. :)

Well, I guess that is all for now.

Resolutions I have for 2009 but I shall leave that to another day when I have given careful thoughts to them.

Here's giving all thanks, praise and glory to God for 2008 and here's also looking forward to another brand new year of adventure in my pilgrim's journey. I pulled through 2008 and the past 36 years of my life!

Whether there are more to come, I shall leave that in the hands of God and not take for granted that I still have many years to enjoy or toil (if some might see life that way). :)

Here's wishing everyone a Happy New Year! :)

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

The Light Of Christ Always Shines!

On Monday, I armed myself with my camera and headed for Orchard Road to take some shots of the Christmas light-up. From Tangs Shopping Centre I walked to Plaza Singapura Shopping Centre. Along the way, there were lots of events lined up for shoppers of all ages; people of different races and religions.

I was standing in front of Ngee Ann City Shopping Centre listening to some children carolling. Next to me were these two ladies. As they listened to the carols, they questioned what is there to celebrate when the economy is so bad? What is there to sing when there are many who are down and out?

Then came this afternoon and evening when I heard a couple of people commenting the wet and overcast weather depicting the current situation of the world where there is much doom and gloom.

It is true that there are many affected by the financial downturn; there is no doubt the next one year or two the economy may be gloomy. But all these should not stop Christians especially to celebrate the birth of Christ, who is the light of the world and to bring the message of hope to those affected.

I know it is tough for Christians to be optimistic during this period because we are humans too but we must not let our understanding and wisdom to blind us from the light at the end of the tunnel where Christ shines brightly. We need to hold His hand and in turn hold our neighbours' hands and walk together. If we can do that we know we will still stand when the storm clears.

It has been 23 years since I knew Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. Not too long but too short either. One thing I can testify in these years of my pilgrim's journey is this: God never fails even at times when we think He does.

From not doing well in my studies when I was younger to having to battle an injured kidney when I was a young man to having to deal with many struggles of role-reversal in my family as a middle-age man, I am still running the race.

It is not my doing and ability that this is happening but Christ my Lord who is in front of me to lead; behind me to encourage; beside me to support; and inside me to give me hope and peace. At times I fell into discouragement and frustration but at the end of it all, joy rests in my heart. Hallelujah!

Jesus is the reason for the season - not our finances; not the economy; not the weather; not the shopping; not our friends; etc.

So here's wishing all who come across my blog a joyous Christmas and a blessed new year! :)

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6

Young And Old, God Uses!

I just realised I have not blogged for close to two weeks already. It has been a busy period for me - having to prepare and attend the Youth Camp (4 to 7 December) and also going on a mission trip with the Children's Ministry (10 to 14 December). Both I enjoyed myself thoroughly. Praise God for that!

Interestingly, for both events, I had to take care of the physical welfare of my siblings-in-Christ. There were cases of minor injuries at the camp and food poisoning cases during the trip to Cambodia. At the end of it all, I praise God for being the Healer to the affected ones. :)

I am still recovering from the trip. I have to confess it is tiring to handle 10 children and 14 adults but it was all worth it especially when I have got to know them better from the fellowship we had in the 5 days together.

As I reflect on the above paragraph, I have to say it is amazing to see individuals of different ages and characteristics coming together as a unit to let God use us for His purpose to the Khmer people. It is the love of God, no doubt, which binds us all together. There could have been cases of bickering and clashes but these were put to a minimal because we knew the enemy is not within the group but that of the evil one.

Up till now, I cannot stop praising God for what the team did in Cambodia especially the children. We went to an orphanage and a slum and both places, the children did most of the programmes. As adults, we might think occasionally that these young ones may not be able to do much but from this trip, I can testify God can use these little ones to touch the hearts of many. The youngest in the team is a five-year old girl and in both occasions, she led in the actions of the songs the team members were presenting. Thanks be to God for this dear sister-in-Christ!

The faith factor came in several times during the trip. What do I mean by that? Take for example, the third day when I was informed in the morning that 8 of the members were down with food poisoning and we were supposed to go to the slum, I was contemplating whether we should even carry on with the plans. The team and I prayed and many felt that we should go.

Though 6 of the 24 members stayed in the hotel to recuperate, the rest were able to execute the plans well. One brother-in-Christ, who was one of the 8 affected, chose to go and he shared that what he saw and did at the slum made him well. This is a testimony that God can and will equip and prepare those who are ready to do His work even if there is a physical barrier. Oh yah, adding on to that, two families in the team are still going through a period of mourning but they still chose to go for the trip and I believe in the midst of the pain, God has healed them emotionally as they did His work. :)

Well, I shall stop here for now and attempt to blog more often.

God is always good and His love endures forever!

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8

Saddened And Overwhelmed

I have just been informed in one evening that two members of the Children's Ministry Missions Team are now mourning the death of their loved ones - one lost her grandfather due to old age and the other lost his father after he collapsed suddenly at home.

My heart goes out to the two team members since these two incidents happen a week before the team leaves for Cambodia.

Whether all these will affect the trip is the least of my concern. I am praying that God will be with my two siblings-in-Christ and their families.

It has been a tiring day for me as I was out with the Youth Camp Committee to buy all the necessary items required for the four-day stay, beginning Thursday, in M.O.E. Adventure Centre.

Praise the Lord we managed to get most of the stuff needed. We headed back to church to drop off the items and also to discuss the camp groupings. I was quite troubled and burdened when the committee was cracking their brains trying to accommodate a difficult request made by a camper who wants to go for the camp but refuses to participate in the activities.

We all prayed for this dear sibling-in-Christ and hope we can be there for this individual.

I am tired but I am unable to sleep - burdened by all of the above-mentioned. I think the word should be "overwhelmed."

Anyway, I shall end here. I am still deciding how to schedule my time tomorrow, having to deal with my work, the matters of the camp and also being there for my two missions team members.