Bye, 2009. Hello, 2010!

It is the eve of the new year. I am now in church, waiting for a youth programme, "Surrender," to begin. It is a time for the youths to come together and evaluate on the year 2009 and for them to surrender their plans for the next year to God.

Time flies that we are now going into the first decade of the millennium which seems to zoom by so quickly.

2009 has been a year of turmoil (not necessarily bad if I may just add) for me - considering what is the next step God wants me to take and to actually obey Him regardless of whether I like the directions He is showing me, which usually are those that stir the comfort zone I have been in.

It has been 11 years since I entered the teaching profession - I have to say they have been wonderful moments especially in the many lives I have encountered each year. As much as I enjoyed being a teacher, there is still a void in me which has been causing me to consider the calling I have received from God many years back (when I was in the Methodist Youth Fellowship) to go into the full-time ministry.

I shelved this idea as I have been advised by my mentors to consider teaching in an academic institution as a mission field. No doubt it has been but after all these years, I felt it is time for me to consider the next step. There is no confirmation as yet but I shall make concrete plans to see how and where God is leading me. The year 2010 will be that period for me to search.

2009 has been a trying year too as I have to handle a lot of issues at home especially mum's health. All thanks and praise to God that she has recovered and is now up and running though I have to caution her once in a while to go easy. I had to also deal with grandma and dad who were very affected but God is always good to see them through their anxieties.

The last few months of this year have not been good for my walk with the Lord as I suddenly felt this sense of tiredness - not to the point of burning out but more so feeling very drained wondering what God wants me to do with my life. A lot of things I have to handle in the Missions Ministry also took up a lot of my energy but praise God the Missions Committee members were there to share the load.

The above-mentioned sometimes led to frustrations and it is obvious especially to those who are closer to me.

Anyway, I am looking forward to the year ahead. Whatever the Lord wants me to go through, I shall do so. I also need to start to get back on track again so that I can listen to God more clearly as I pray; as I read His Word; and as I be still and let Him speak.

I shall end here for now. :)

Have a blessed and adventurous 2010, everyone!!! :)

“This is what the LORD says— he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:16, 18-19

A Short Break I Need

I am now at the airport, waiting to board the plane to Kuala Lumpur to link up with a few friends who drove up to the Malaysian capital this morning. Though it is not a trip to a faraway land, I am still looking forward to a good break after a hectic two weeks of being away in Cambodia and also coordinating two dear friends' weddng which ended this afternoon. In fact it has been a hectic couple of months, having to prepare for three mission/Vacation-With-A-Purpose trips.

Praise the Lord the wedding went as planned. Indeed He is good! I enjoyed myself coordinating the whole event and I am happy that two more friends have tied the knot and now living their lives together as one. May the Lord continue to lead and guide them as they enter this new chapter of their lives.

As always, the parents of the bride asked when it would be my turn and my answer will always be if God so desires me to have a life partner, surely He will show me that someone who shares the same calling in serving the Lord actively. And for those who know me well enough, that also means praying for courage to make the move. I have regretted not doing so not too long ago - though I regret it now but I guess it is a lesson learnt.

Anyway, the mission trip with the youths was good as I got to know each one of them better but out of the 12 of us who went, 11 (including me) came back with suspected food poisoning of varying intensity. I had to see the doctor twice in order for my tummy to get well. Two youths had to be hospitalised as a precautionary measure but praise God they are now discharged and reccovering well.

Of the more than 20 times I have been to Cambodia, this is the worst of them all but God is merciful and good to restore us back almost to full health.

There were a few times during the trip when I wanted to call it quits in leading youth teams because it is a heavy responsibility having to take care of sons and daughters of parents who have painstakingly brought them up to who they are now. Sometimes the fear is there that something might happen to them and I am to be blamed for it.

Anyway, in the end I learnt that God is in charge. With that, I guess I will continue to lead teams up to anywhere in the world so that God's name may be preached to those who have yet to hear of Him.

Well, time for me to end here.

I shall write more soon.

Have a blessed week, everyone! :)

Compassion for My Neighbours

I have been busy the past few weeks that I did not have the time and energy to blog. I decided to do so today - better than never, I guess.

Anyway, on my way back just now, I saw this elderly man standing in front of me. He is probably in his late seventies. Ever had this experience where you see someone and suddenly you feel like crying? Well, that was precisely how I felt. I think he has cataract on both his eyes. He was frail and in his pocket was a slip of paper where the man's particulars were on it. I guess it is to allow strangers or the relevant authorities to send him home should he get lost.

Well, I was quite disappointed that no one in the train offered their seats to him, even for those who were sitting on the "reserved" seats for those who need them most. Anyway, I asked him whether he needed a seat and it was then that I realised the lady behind him was either his daughter or relative. She said it was alright.

As I continued on my journey, I suddenly felt the need to pray for the man. I asked the Lord to restore his sight so that he can see clearly again. I hope my faith in the Lord will cause the man to be healed. I guess I need not see it to believe so I shall leave it to God to do the healing process.

Well, tomorrow onwards I will be seeing more who are like this man when I go to Cambodia on a mission trip with the Youth Ministry team. Sometimes it can be emotionally draining when you see the injustices of this fallen world. I guess I shall channel my disappointment to one of hope as I pray for the Lord to remove the pain and poverty of many around us - our neighbours, those who are in need basically.

I covet the prayers of those who are reading this blog as 11 youths and I spend 6 days in Phnom Penh - these few days may not be enough to change the world but if we can make a difference in at least one person's life, all thanks to God! :)

Time for me to stop here and do some packing.

Till I blog again, the Lord bless and keep you all. :)

"On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live." But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.' "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise." Luke 10:25-37