A special delivery

What's eating now

Breakfast :)

To my special colleagues,

B, J, G, D, J, T.

I thank God for each one of you in my life :)

Blessed Christmas to you and all your loved ones!

With love
Julia

Love, Bozzie

Thank you :)

True focus of Christmas

Presents
 Snowman 
Santa Claus
Christmas tree

Reindeer pulling sleigh

...

"But what do these really have to do with Christmas?"

I sat and wondered.

So that I do not use any secular decorations for our church's Christmas Lunch, I decided to do a little research through sermonaudio.com. I wanted to be cautious of not conforming to the world's standard of 'Christmas decor' and steal glory from God. I knew that Christmas is about the birth of Jesus but I hungered to know more!

After a word of prayer, I listened to a sermon by Dr Greg Mazak entitled 'The True Meaning of Christmas' and took some notes:

True focus of Christmas:

1. Because of Christmas, we can see what God is like
2. Because of Christmas, we can know that God loves us
3. Because of Christmas, we can rejoice that God saves us

John 1

¹In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

²The same was in the beginning with God.

¹⁴And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

¹⁸No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

• Before Christ came, no one really saw God. We saw what He did, we read about what He was like, but no one really saw Him.
• Jesus Christ 
• explained to us what God is like
• reveals to us what God is like
• for the first time helps us to see God.
• Christians should rejoice at Christmas time that we can see what God is actually like!
• We should be sharing with our children the wonders of Christmas is God came in the flesh
• Christmas is God in the flesh. It's Jesus Christ revealing to us what God is really like. It's hail the incarnate deity. It's God being pleased with men to dwell, Jesus our Emmanuel!

1 John 4

⁹ In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

• God sent His only begotten Son to die for us because of the sin (moral crime) we committed against God. (Christ died so that we could live!)

Luke 2

 ¹⁰And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

  ¹¹For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

• we can rejoice that God saves us!

Sorry everybody for I chose not to refine the material into a more 'reader-friendly' format. Same old reason none the truer - busy time of the year.

Despite my unfashionable notes, the sermon was a blessing to me AND will be to anyone wishing to find out the true meaning behind Christmas. I do hope with all sincerity that you'll find these notes helpful as you listen to the sermon :)

Thank God for this sermon, because of it, I have the confirmation of the theme colours for this year's decor:
- White, symbolises purity & righteousness - God is holy¹
- Red, symbolises the blood of Christ - God's love gift to mankind.²
- Gold, symbolises majesty - God is glorious³

ps. When I can find the time I shall post a photo of the (organised) mess in my room due to bags and bags of decorations. It was rather difficult finding good Christian Christmas decorations so a lot of things will require 'manual assembly'.

Any helpers free this weekend? Email me!

:)

What's exciting now

9:16 PM

Christmas is only 2 weeks away!

City evangelism tonight. Dinner provided :)

¹⁵So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

 ¹⁶For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Romans 1.

Sent from my iPhone

What's eating now

10:52 PM

Giant bowl of lolly jar to go with training!

A great change of diet after two days of iv drip.

A thought.

11:05 PM

Ahhh the painnn!!

But apart from feeling super tired and super full from Makan Makan, i am felling great ^^

It's time for sleep now, my arms are so sore that I must rest them or they will die.

Nighty night!

What's brain storming now + a thought

2:50 AM

Decor brain storming in progress.

This is my first time shopping for Christmas! Walking through the shops these past few days I noticed obvious festive cheer in the air. Shops after shops flog Christmas good; bright lights blinker everywhere.

I love Christmas. But it seems that society sees Christmas as a shopping holiday... The idea of Christmas being religious is a distant memory. In a recent survey, less than three-quarters of children knew Christmas was to celebrate the birth of Jesus, with 11 per cent believing it was the birthday of Father Christmas.

Christmas isn't about plastic santas and lights and presents. Many children are encouraged to write a list of the presents they want for Christmas. As the years go by we become greedy adults. Christmas for many people is money-making time!

Are people forgetting the true meaning, that is the birth of Jesus Christ, of Christmas?

Next post: The Real Focus of Christmas!

What's cooking now!

Tong 86 @ Northbridge

"But I would have you know,

that the head of every man is Christ;

and the head of the woman is the man;

and the head of Christ is God."

1 Corinthians 11:3

My friend - Get well soon

I don't very often post on my blog about my friends, except in general terms, mainly because I don't want to embarrass them and also because I have such great friends that it's hard to pick one out for a special mention.

But today I'll make an exception.

My friend Yi San is in hospital where she had appendectomy this morning. Always the bubbly and joyful child of God, Yi San jie mei has an upturned frown in all those years I've come know her. So when she behaved lesser than her usual big personality on Sunday, the alarm bell began sounding.

I remember we were walking side by side when she asked me whether if the pain in her 'stomach' was caused by this particular issue. "No." I said, in my then weak and croaky voice. "Do you need to use the bathroom?"..

Now my friend is in hospital feeling the recoil effect from the evil appendix attack. I really praise the Lord for the timely diagnosis and speedy surgery availabile for Yi San. Thank God also for the successful appendectomy! Indeed, nothing about His creation is overlooked; God cares for the sparrows and He cares for us. Blessed be His Name for ever!

Let's unite in prayer for our sister in Christ, Yi San.

世人无能，主是万能！

Hallelujah

Inspirational Video Sharing - History of Traders

Abraham traded his home in Ur to become the Father of all nation; Ruth traded her homeland to become the great-grand mother to a king; Moses and David traded their sheep to become the Leaders of Israel; Peter and Andrew traded their nets to become fishers of men; Mary traded her housework to sit at the feet of Christ; Saul traded his prestige to become Paul, a leader of the church; St Augustine traded the life of the (?) to author over 100 works promoting the Gospel of Christ; Albert Schweitzer traded a successful career to train as a doctor and establish a hospital in Africa; Rachael Saint traded her grief to dwell among the Natives who has killed her brother; Corrie ten Boom traded anger and resentment to forgive a brutal Nazi guard who put his faith in Christ; John and Betty Stam traded their lives to testify Christ in Communist China; Cameron traded the money he spent on Starbucks for fourty days to raise money for water wells in Uganda; Dale traded extra hours of work climbing the corporate ladder to mentor fatherless boys in his neighbourhood through basketball; Sarah traded her teaching career in Dallas to teach Muslim children in Morocco; Heather traded confident routine to be a foster parent to children in need...

History of Traders - RightNow.org

Sacrifice is trading something you love, for something you love more. This inspirational illustration shows the significant things Biblical and historical people have traded in to serve Christ.

Our ministry is passionate about this message of being a TRADER. It's reflected in our mission to help people trade in their pursuit of the American Dream for a world that desperately needs Christ.

We believe the American Dream has been hijacked. It's no longer simply about opportunities and potential to raise a family Sadly that dream is now driven by consumerism. Its a me-centered dream that says Im number one and nothing else matters.

Christ has asked us to trade in our pursuits for His pursuits. What are we, as followers of Christ, really pursuing? Can we be bold in living and leading people to trade in the pursuit of the American Dream for a world that desperately needs Christ? We believe that God is calling us as leaders of the church to become trader-makers. To disciple followers of Christ who are willing to trade in their time, their money, and even their comfort for a world that needs Christ.

By Brian Mosley

"What are you willing to trade?"

What's watching now

2:48 PM

Caramel popcorn and 3D glasses go so well together!

What's exploding now

8:11 PM

Fireworks light up the distant sky!

iPhone bokeh.

禱告 I Pray

Source : Youtube 

禱告，因為我渺小；

Dao gao, yin wei wo miao xiao

I Pray, because I am small

禱告，因為我知道我需要明暸，你心意對我重要。

Dao gao, yin wei wo zhi dao, wo xu yao ming liao, nix in yi dui wo zhong yao

I Pray, because I know I need understanding, Your will is important to me

禱告，已假裝不了；

Dao gao, yi jia zhuan bu liao

I Pray, I can no longer pretend

禱告，因為你的愛我需要； 你關懷，我走過的你都明白。

Dao gao, yin wei ni de ai wo xu yao, ni guan huai, wo zhou guo de ni dou min bai

I Pray, because I need Your love; You care for me, You know all the paths I tread

有些事我只想要對你說，因你比任何人都愛我； 痛苦從眼中流下，我知道你為我擦。

You xie shi wo zhi xian yao dui ni shuo, yin ni bi ren he ren dou ai wo; tong ku cong yan zhong liu xia, wo zhi dao ni wei wo ca

There are some things I just want to say to You, because You love me more than anyone; pain shed from mine eyes, I know You will wipe the tears away

在早晨我也要來對你說，主耶穌今天我為你活； 所需要的力量你天天賜給我，你恩典夠我用。

Zai zao chen wo ye yao lai dui ni shuo, zhu ye su jin tian wo wei ni huo; shuo xu yao de li lian ni tian tian ci gei wo, ni en dian gou wo yong

In the morning I will pray to You, Lord Jesus, I live for you today; all the strength I need You give to me each day, Your grace is sufficient for me

Waking up this morning, I felt the best since the day of surgery.

Previously I was hurting a lot at the back of my throat and from the left jaw bone all the way up to my inner ears. When the throbbing pain hits, it means serious business! On bad days I'd be in so much pain I could hardly take much food in as every time I tried swallowing it felt like I was swallowing barb wire.

This morning however, I felt really good. The pain in my ears have calmed down heaps and my uvula looks like it's back to normal size. My throat feels less swollen though it still hurts when I drink water but I am truly grateful to God for His sustenance. Through much prayers the Lord gave me grace to endure the pain instead of relying constantly on pain killers. This trial has helped to me to gain a renewed appreciation for the power of prayer.

I remember few days ago I woke up in a coughing fit in the middle of the night. I was experiencing tremendous amount of pain, I felt utterly helpless. Immediately that weakness translated into strength to bow down in prayer and I started thanking God for what He did so that I could undergo surgery. I thanked God and remembered His goodness and miraculously at the end of the word 'Amen', the pain improved significantly and I fell asleep not long after praying.

Another time I ate a tomato for breakfast. BAD IDEA. My throat swelled up to the point that I began gasping for air. The pain was just incredible! It felt somewhat like large amount of salt dumped on a gaping, tender wound! When I told some sisters about my situation they began to pray for me from where they were and shared with me Bible verses for encouragement.

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Isaiah 41:10

Praise my Lord, what a wonderful promise He gives to His beloved children. About 10 minutes later the swelling and breathing reverted back to normal. I will stay far, far away from tomatoes for the remainder of the recovery period :)

Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name 

Psalm 103:1

Thank God for privileging me in the witnessing of His power and His wisdom revealed through prayer.

 

Hosanna in the highest

What's eating now

1:46 PM

Goodbye porridge, hello dim sum!

What's reading now

5:05 PM

Sun siblings spend time with God.

Encouraging Christian Quotes

 

C. G. Trumbull 

Those who are readiest to trust God without other evidence than His Word always receive the greatest number of visible evidences of His love.

上帝给我们的祝福中间，有两个是我们所最不欢迎的：一个是迟延，一个是苦难。上帝常用迟延和苦难来试验我们；但是在这一切中间却站着上帝的誓约--祂在基督裡与我们所立的新约。所以让我们为着迟延和苦难来讚美祂罢，因为这是祂给我们的祝福。

C. H. Spurgeon 

Charles Spurgeon was once asked, "How do you defend the Bible?" "Very easy" he responded. "The same way I defend a lion. I simply let it out of its cage.

The Lord gets His best soldiers out of the highlands of affliction.

Sin is Christicide.

He that deserves nothing should be content with anything.

If any of you should ask me for an epitome of the Christian religion, I should say that it is in one word - Prayer. Live and die without prayer, and you will pray long enough when you get to hell.

Elisabeth Elliot

God is God. Because He is God, He is worthy of my trust and obedience. I will find rest nowhere but in His holy will, a will that is unspeakably beyond my largest notions of what He is up to.

The God who created, names and numbers the stars in the heavens also numbers the stars of my head. He pays attention to very big things and to very small ones. What matters to me matters to Him, and that changes my life.

Elisabeth Elliot, at Urbana 76, told of her brother Thomas Howard. Their mother let him play with paper bags she'd saved if he put them away afterwards. One day she walked into the kitchen to find them strewn all over the floor. Tom was out at the piano with his father singing hymns. When confronted, he protested, "But Mom, I want to sing." His father stated, "It's no good singing God's praise if you're disobedient." 

Our vision is so limited we can hardly imagine a love that does not show itself in protection from suffering.... The love of God did not protect His own Son.... He will not necessarily protect us - not from anything it takes to make us like His Son. A lot of hammering and chiseling and purifying by fire will have to go into the process.

The will of God is never exactly what you expect it to be. It may seem to be much worse, but in the end it's going to be a lot better and a lot bigger.

John MacArthur

As Christians we accept one foundational truth - God - and everything else makes sense. An atheist denies God and has to accept incredible explanations for everything else. It takes more faith to deny God than to believe in Him.

The cost of true greatness is humble, selfless, sacrificial service. The Christian who desires to be great and first in the kingdom is the one who is willing to serve in the hard place, the uncomfortable place, the lonely place, the demanding place, the place where he is not appreciated and may even be persecuted. Knowing that time is short and eternity is long, he is willing to spend and be spent. He is willing to work for excellence without becoming proud, to withstand criticism without becoming bitter, to be misjudged without becoming defensive, and to withstand suffering without succumbing to self pity. 

  

A. W. Tozer

The unattended garden will soon be overrun with weeds; the heart that fails to cultivate truth and root out error will shortly be a theological wilderness.

Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshipers [meeting] together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be, were they to become 'unity' conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship. 

John White

A good witness isn't like a salesman, emphasis is on a person rather than a product. A good witness is like a signpost. It doesn't matter whether it is old, young, pretty, ugly; it has to point the right direction and be able to be understood. We are witnesses to Christ, we point to him.

You have established a new relationship with the powers of darkness. Whatever you were before you were a Christian... you are now a sworn foe of the legions of hell. Have no delusions about their reality or their hostility, but do not fear them. The God inside you terrifies them. They cannot hurt you, let alone hurt you, but they can still seduce, and they will try. They will also oppose you as you obey Christ. ... you are serious about Christ being your Lord and God, you can expect opposition.

Has it never dawned upon you that the essence of witnessing is just plain honesty? You are salt - whether you feel like it or not. You are not told to act like salt but to be what you are. You are a light. God has done a work in your life. Don't try to shine. Let the light that God put there shine out. It demands no more than honesty. It demands honesty before unbelievers. In fact such honesty is ninety per cent of witnessing. Witnessing is not putting on a Christian front as to convince prospective customers. Witnessing is just being honest, that is, being true to what God has made you in your speech and everyday behaviour.

Jim Elliot

No one warns young people to follow Adam's example. He waited till God saw his need. Then God made Adam sleep, prepared for his mate, and brought her to him. We need more of this 'being asleep' in the will of God. Then we can receive what He brings us in His own time, if at all.

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. 

God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him.

G. Campbell Morgan

A father and his young daughter were great friends and much in each other's company. Then the father noted a change in his daughter. If he went for a walk, she excused herself from going. He grieved about it, but could not understand. When his birthday came, she presented him with a pair of exquisitely worked slippers, saying, I have made them for you. " Then he understood what had been the matter for the past three months, and he said. "My darling, like these slippers very much, but next time buy the slippers and let me have you all the days. I would rather have my child than anything she can make for me. " Some of us are so busy for the Lord that He cannot get much of us. To us He would say, "I know your works, your labor, your patience, but I miss the first Love."

Waiting for God is not laziness. Waiting for God is not going to sleep. Waiting for God is not the abandonment of effort. Waiting for God means, first, activity under command; second, readiness for any new command that may come; third, the ability to do nothing until the command is given. Waiting for God means power to do nothing save under command. This is not lack of power to do anything. Waiting for God needs strength rather than weakness. It is power to do nothing. It is the strength that holds strength in check. It is the strength that prevents the blundering activity which is entirely false and will make true activity impossible when the definite command comes.

The prayer life does not consist of perpetual repetition of petitions . The prayer life consists of life that is always upward and onward and Godward. 

Katherine Walden

In my teens, I was approached by a total stranger on a crowded city street. She said. "You are Kae Cameron's daughter, I'd recognize her face any where!" And she was right. How I long for the day when people look at my life and say. "Oh, you must be a daughter of the Heavenly Father, I recognize His face anywhere!

When I find myself racing around, trying to fill a day with mindless tasks or petty entertainment, this is usually the time that God whispers to my heart to draw away with Him and to silence my heart as He wishes to speak.

Unforgiveness is like a scratch on an old record. The song never goes on to the end, it keeps the beautiful music yet to be released unheard and all that resounds are the same old three or four chords again and again and again.

While the Lord calls me to be wise and discerning, he reminds me often that his discernment cannot dwell in a cynical distrustful heart. With Him, there is no hidden agenda and no ulterior motive. His gifts are free for the taking but I cannot take these gifts if my hands are already full of my own weapons of self- protection. Therefore, He asks me to lay down the shields that I have forged for protection and to pick up the shield of faith in their place. He asks me to take Him at His Word. 

If, when searching for God's will and direction, you cannot hear clearly - ask yourself this. Have you obeyed the last task the Lord directed you to perform? If not, repent, go do the task if the Lord still directs and then pray again for direction.

John Wesley

When I was young I was sure of everything; in a few years, having been mistaken a thousand times, I was not half so sure of most things as I was before; at present, I am hardly sure of anything but what God has revealed to me.

Above all sing spiritually. Have an eye to God in every word you sing. Aim at pleasing him more than yourself, or any other creature. In order to do this attend strictly to the sense of what you sing, and see that your heart is not carried away with the sound, but offered to God continually; so shall your singing be such as the Lord will approve here, and reward you when he cometh in the clouds of heaven.

John Wesley tells of a dream he had. In the dream, he was ushered to the gates of Hell. There he asked, "Are there any Presbyterians here?" "Yes!", came the answer. Then he asked, "Are there any Baptists? Any Episcopalians? Any Methodists?" The answer was Yes! each time. Much distressed, Wesley was then ushered to the gates of Heaven. There he asked the same question, and the answer was No! "No?" To this, Wesley asked, "Who then is inside?" The answer came back, "There are only Christians here." (1 Cor 1:10-17)

Though I am always in a haste, I am never in a hurry, because I never undertake more work than I can go through with perfect calmness of spirit.

Bring me a worm that can comprehend a man, and then I will show you a man that can comprehend the Triune God.

Lord, I am no longer my own, but Yours. Put me to what You will, rank me with whom You will. Let be employed by You or laid aside for You, exalted for You or brought low by You. Let me have all things, let me have nothing, I freely and heartily yield all things to Your pleasure and disposal. And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, You are mine and I am Yours. So be it. Amen.

Surprise

Thank you for the beautiful flowers

我真的非常非常感動，謝謝你們愛的關懷 (淚)

Home from hopsital

When you speak less,

you listen more.

Update from the hospital II

5am pain soothing agent - ice cream.
Taking a break from drips.

Mum's sleeping next to me on a chair.. I am an unfilial daughter.

媽，我愛你。

Update from the hospital

Surgery was a success, thank God for His preservation.

Thanks brothers and sisters for your prayers and SMSes and also those who came to visit.

Feeling drowsy and tired still..

Goodnight everyone

What's hurting now

Ouch..

Oct Murmur

明天就要開刀                                      Surgery tomorrow
心仆咚仆咚跳                                      My heart beats like crazy

緊張和興奮                                          Nervous and excited
摻夾著害怕                                          And a pinch of fear
五味雜陳                                              Mixed feelings
滋味不太好                                          I don't feel too good

心臓快超載了                                       My heart is overwhelmed
麻了                                                     Numbness kicks in

腦袋已關機了                                       My brain shuts down
睡了                                                     Sleep helps to forget

喉嚨咽得痛了                                       My throat still hurts
累了                                                     I'm weary

但是                                                      However
大過於恐懼                                          Greater than this fear I struggle with
其實是感恩                                          is a grateful heart toward God

因為去年這時的我                              Because this time last year
萬萬想不到會有今天的進展              I never expected progress such as today

我知道這是神的奇妙恩典                  I know this is all God's amazing grace
步步帶領我至如今                              Leading me step by step to this very moment

我要數算祂的好                                  I will count His everlasting goodness
我要敬拜祂的大能                              I will worship His almighty power
我要歡呼祂的慈愛                              I will shout His merciful love
我要贊美祂的名                                  I will praise His blessed name

我有一位奇妙救主                              I have a wonderful Saviour

祂尋我                                                  He sought me
祂救我                                                  He saved me
祂愛我                                                  He loves me



















詩 篇 23
耶 和 華 是 我 的 牧 者 ， 
我 必 不 致 缺 乏 。
他 使 我 躺 臥 在 青 草 地 上 ， 
領 我 在 可 安 歇 的 水 邊 。
他 使 我 的 靈 魂 甦 醒 ， 
為 自 己 的 名 引 導 我 走 義 路 。
我 雖 然 行 過 死 蔭 的 幽 谷 ， 也 不 怕 遭 害 ，
因 為 你 與 我 同 在 ； 你 的 杖 ， 你 的 竿 ， 都 安 慰 我 。
在 我 敵 人 面 前 ， 你 為 我 擺 設 筵 席 ； 
你 用 油 膏 了 我 的 頭 ， 使 我 的 福 杯 滿 溢 。
我 一 生 一 世 必 有 恩 惠 慈 愛 隨 著 我 ； 
我 且 要 住 在 耶 和 華 的 殿 中 ， 直 到 永 遠 。

Psalm 23
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.  
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: 
for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: 
thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: 
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

感謝主                                                  Thank God

What's eating now

Peking duck nom nom @ Regal on Roe

What's eating now

 

Maccas breakky all the way *smiles

October 14

Sunny.

God is so good to me.

God didn't forget me.

His silence is proof that He has heard my prayers.

God's presence is indeed everywhere.

He is always near.

Thank God for the confirmation.

Thank God for leave approval on such short notice.

Thank God for you, little Mazda, for being so supportive.

I could catch the bus hehe but I knew you would never let me.

Thank God lovely sisters for your genuine thoughts, prayers and funny words.

  + 

Thank God for peng you's offer.

Thank God for the green pass.

Thank God for good reading materials & audio sermon collection that I won't be bored during the week.

Thank God in advance for this time next week.