A public holiday~

Well well.. it's been a while since I last wrote something bout a day's event.. So I shall write something in favor of God's goodness in my life today.. Really appreciate the life He gave me this day..

Started the day by engaging in a 24 km run.. I thot it was suppose to be 32km.. I ran with my iras team consist of alan, tee ming, wai san, wei ling, joe, pat, danny and sing yuan.. We ran from lower pierce reservoir all the way up north via old upper thomson rd, then past nee soon camp turned into madai rd and all the way till mandai orchird garden.. I was so so close to going to Zoo for the 1st time in 12 years.. but didnt make it.. (dun worry i will have a shot there in Nov.. i hope) We made a pit stop there to hyderate ourselves and when I approached the counter.. Guess what the auntie said..

Isaac: "Hi Boss, how much is your drink here?"
Aunt: "Can drink $2.. And mineral water cost you $1.."
Isaac: "Wow.. like that I'll have the can drink then.."
Aunt: "ok, do you want to seat down to drink or packet away?"
Isaac: "Does it make a difference?"
Aunt: " Of course it does, if you seat down here.. I'll provide you a cup of ice as well.. And that will cost you $3 instead.."
Isaac: "hmm.. ok.. I will have it packet instead..."

Haha.. cant believe that it cost $1 to seat there to relax.. but since I am on the run with the rest.. No time to rest.. So in the end we complete our mini 16km run and 5km walk with a bottle of 1.5 litres of 100plus.. thanks to Sing Yuan.. yeah.. it was refreshing..

And then Pat & Tee Ming got ho-lanned in Upp Pierce Reservoir.. so funny.. waited for nearly an hr for them.. but save that on the embaressment scheme.. so skip.. next, I, Wai San, Wei Ling, Sing Yuan & Tee Ming went to Ang Mo Kio Ave 1 Blk 232-233 to eat the Kuai Chay (sp)..
it was good.. commendable.. ask me for more next time.. haha

So after that went home, rest for a while then go out for dinner.. this time is at Bishan eating house, I had Yong Tau Foo as well as duck rice.. also equally good.. but what is best is the Chicken Rice whose line does not seem to shorten in my 45mins there dining.. Must try it next time.. haha.. Yeah =) oh.. And guess what.. I went dinner with someone out there again.. Yeah.. it was a good 2 hrs meal.. although i must say i plan so much but hardly come to use.. haha.. still it's worth the effort.. makes me think that sometimes in life if we have some motivation spearing us forward.. Life will never be the same again and it can be fun..

So better put the focus on the correct Person.. why!? Because my God is also a jealous God and I love Him for being so.. A wonderful public holiday.. good stuff.. thank God for that in between break.. haha..

Devotion Time #9~

The topic today is on Evil, Pain & Suffering..

What is it like to be living in this world today?
>> As easy-going Christian;
We might be too pre-occupied with our work/pleasure
To live life to the fullest
The adversity of life

In Psalm 88.." it speaks of the pain of rejection.. And that.... HIDE Your face from me.. " -- this shows that darkness is the closest friend to the psalmist..

So question.. Where is God when it hurts? Why is God silent? Why is He hidden?

In Romans 8:18-29.. Describes how the groaning.. it shows a few aspect of reality that:
1. suffering is a fact of our existence
2. pain is personal - every experience is temporary
3. it is dangerous to think that experience is the final authority

Look at the life of Joseph:
It has the longest passages devoted to him in Genesis.. He suffered a lot.. but yet in Gen 45:4 -- .. despite that, God sent me... " shows that he still trust and hope in God even though he suffered a lot.. at times of his innocience and even when he's forgotten in prison.. yet he perservered on.. and His reward.. a whole nation under his rule..

A bit of knowledge: There are 400 years since Joseph to Moses -- which God is silent
And also 400 years between Malachi, the last prophet and Matthew...

In Exodus, God spoke and revealed Himself, yet the Israelites continuously grumble & sinned against God.. the ultimate rebellion >> the golden calf

A problem with us is that... we think that we dun need to pursue after God when He has revealed everything to us..

So some of us will be thinking this.. Why bad things happen to good people >> which results in much of life suffering have no obvious reason(s).. like in Job 13:15

The ultimate plan is revealed in Psa 22 -- ".. why have you forsaken me.." when good things happen to bad people.. But a passage in Psa 73:17 says this.. "till I enter the sanctuary, then I understood.." so its only when we experienced suffering then we can learn to rejoice.. in our weakness.. God's strength is therefore made perfect.. Like the Heros of faith.. as commonly found in Hebrews 11.. God is a God of all comfort >> 2 Cor 4:8-9

For what we seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.. God comforts us when we are in trouble so that we can comfort those who are in trouble..

In Luke 8:22-25, the disciples were looking for the power of God to deliver them..This power is missing..but the Presence of God, Jesus was with them, yet the people were afraid.. only when Jesus demostrated His power, then they acknowledged it..

In closing.. what happens if both the power and the presence of God are missing??

Then it will be God's promise with us that will take us through.. For He has promised..

A lesson unfolds~

Ok.. today things started out quite well for me.. although my whole body is aching.. after a trial IPPT where I clocked in..9:18.. and 2hrs of badminton session after that.. I went for a outing to survey.. Nothing much to report on that..

But here's a point.. I was late for cell group today.. There are many reasons why I was late.. But there's one thing that really struck me later.. Aunt Mei Yoke, in a casual conversation.. informed me that she enjoyed such an informative explanations, but she cautioned me that there would be someone who disliked this actions and think that you're boasting..

My reply to her is, "yes, that I understand.. I wasnt like that b4.. I used to be an extrovert person..but now in church I'm an introvert.. not by choice but by circumstances.. I at many times have to control myself.. and tell myself that it's alright.. they made a mistake let them do so, it's better than for me to tell them off.." For that moment, I felt that I was really not at home.. My cell members don't really appreciate my presence.. And I was like obivously treated like an outsider.. ok I am becoming more emotional and this is not what I wanted to say..

In short, as fellow brothers and sisters, we should learn to edify each other not only with our words, but also by our actions.. To demostrate what is God's love for us.. to be able to appreciate and give compliments to one another and to open criticize others with our actions/words.. Only if we are able to give others our compliments and stop pin-pointing on people's weaknesses will we be able to Love our neighbor as ourselves.. Ask yourself this question, "when is the last time you gave a compliment to others" and compare with the time you criticize others.. You will see a different prospective of Godly lives.. to think like the mind of Christ; ie. True grace and humble..

Our weakness is made perfect in God's strength when we are weak..

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.. Psa 23:1

An memorable event~

It had been a long long time since Singapore ever have something new to talk or walk about.. After all, I had been walking in out of places like within months.. less the tourist attraction spots.. So when the Vivo City opens, I was like oooh.. something to do.. at last.. Heh.. Initially, I was thinking where was this place.. Harbourfront.. how can they build something new nearby.. then slowly I think I think.. then it came to me that Vivo City IS built on the former Expo.. haha.. silly me.. ok ok let's move on..

So then came this opportunity.. whereby I went there with Jasmine there.. I was fascinated by the sight of infrastructure.. I thot it was pretty beautiful.. in the form of a cruise itself overlooking the sea.. there's even a 'pool' over there that says " NO Lifegurard on duty".. the building itself.. although only 40% of the shops opened.. but the atmosphere is so different.. in fact, being as the Biggest shopping mall in Singapore.. it does live up to the hype.. the space there is simply big.. if there is a word to describe it.. I'll say it incredible.. haha..

As for dinner, we chose to dine-in into Sushi Tei.. For the 1st time, I dine-in a place where it's a class above the normal restaurant.. the food there was awesome.. ambience was great.. I felt it had a terrific view of Sentosa overlooking at night.. We had a good dinner there.. our budget covers a wide variety of food.. from unagi, ebi, egg, chicken katsu, cha soba, chuka hotate(sp) .. haha.. all within $40.. furthermore, I think we got a 10% discount.. I think it's because of grand opening..

So at the end.. I would say it was a good one-time experience.. I seldom felt that good, excited and relieved.. It had been a real long time.. And really really I thank God for this day.. I dunno why.. but it seems like most 12th October.. has a significant impact on my memory.. It was another day that I dun mind exchanging for..

Everyday I lived, it was a blessing that I can never count enough.. I am always so fortunate and so blessed to be able to wake up everyday.. To God be the glory, great things He hath done..

What more can I ask of Lord.. But for You, to show Yourself real in the lives of others.. For it's Your heartbeat that longs for people to experience You, in an intimate relationship.. So I pray and I pray that one day.. Your light will shine through in their world..

I did my part.. And I place my trust in a ever-answering God.. Trust in His time.. The battle belongs to the Lord~~

In moments of weakness~

Things always go for the interesting.. When everything seems alright and good, then here comes the bomber..

The thing to note is that even times of weakness, there is always one person you can turn to.. And that is our Father in Heaven.. Just as He said in His word.. He will never leave you nor forsake you..

So my friends, I pray that WE, as brothers and sisters and we can have the faith of Abraham; that put our trust in God even when we know it's impossible..the perserverence of Joseph.. depsite suffering time and time again.. yet He chose to believe God was with him and he was rewarded when he was made 2nd in the rule of Egypt.. the courage of Gideon; when He believed that even with 300 men, He is able to overcome the 10,000 enemies with God by His side.. the meekness of Daniel; whereby being faithful in His prayer and devoted to doing what is pleasing only to God's eyes.. the heart of David; do what is pleasing to God and follow closely after His heart..

Our God is the author and the finisher of our faith.. Only if we let go of our weakness, God can make it perfect.. My strength comes from the Lord..

When we come out of the Ordinary.. God will come in the Extraordinary~~

What a Week~

Well apologise for the delay in the posting.. I was really busy with stuffs plus it doesn't help when my brother is using the computer so often.. There is so much thingy happen during the week.. I think I'll only summarize them..

Well many pleasant and unpleasant things have happened.. From good to bad.. from bad to good.. And for once I felt pressurized and critizising.. I mean I did not wanna be judgemental in my opinions.. but I felt if you are working; the 2 most important aspect of it are (1) work attitude and (2) timeline.. I cant imagine taking more than 8.5 hrs to key-in 1 day's of briefing data into the system.. And another key-in application forms into the system and filing them.. They made me sick.. And worse still, started to make me feel biased against a group of people.. I felt I am begining to be racist again.. After all the hardwork my friend made me think of them, this group of people started it again.. Thank God it's over..

But hey.. despite all these harsh thingy and uncertainty at work.. I thank God for placing friends around me to comfort me and to give me hope for a better tml.. There's someone special to me that has helped me seen through these days.. I was kinda touched by her efforts.. She even offered to buy for me dinner when I OT at work!! Haha.. it's been so so long since someone ever offered some help to me.. And in return, I brought her down this cold, wet and long journey on a Saturday afternoon to Bukit Timah Food Centre to have lunch..

It was fun and enjoyable.. Why was it so!? Simple, of all days when I dun have an umbrella.. it chose to rain.. so we had to walk from SIM there with a half-spoilt umbrella (oops not saying ur umbrella is lousy but.. ) yeah with the rain.. one moment heavy next moment stopped.. also with our lunch having additional ingredients too.. We had a nice walked down to Bukit Timah Plaza too.. What a way to spend a Saturday afternoon, hmm suddenly it reminded me of a similar situation back then when I went there to buy something for my kids earlier in my blogs.. It was surely a wonderful and memorable day for me.. maybe for her too.. although it was short but it was renewing and relaxing feeling I get when I am with her.. heh 30 Sep 06 is a day that I will remember.. she's the 3rd person that I... hmm.. let's keep it a secret and I will update you on the progress.. but let's take our time.. God is in control of everything..

I wanna study.. She wanna study.. That's a clue.. Ok i shall not continue.. Oh for your information, I register for RMIT's Bachelor of Business (Accountancy) program.. Do keep me in your prayers.. I wanna get a degree.. With work along the way, I am certainly unsure whether I can sustain both physically and finanically and maybe spiritually.. But I believe God will craft a path out for me in times like these..

Praise God, Almighty.. Worth of our highest praise..
I am Yours..

Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth
Will care to know my name, Will care to feel my hurt

Who am I, that the bright and morning star
Will choose to light the way, for my ever wondering heart

Not because of who I am, but because of what You done
Not because of what I have done, but because of who You are

I am a flower quickly fading, here today and gone tomorrow
A wave been toasted to the ocean, a vapour and the wind
Still You hear me when I am calling
Lord You catch me when I falling
And You told me who I am
I am Yours, I am Yours

Who am I, that the eyes had seen my sins
Look on me with love, and watch me raise again
Who am I, that the voice who calmed the seas
Will call out through the rain, and calmed the storm in me

Not because of who I am, but because of what You done
Not because of what I have done, but because of who You are

I am a flower quickly fading, here today and gone tomorrow
A wave been toasted to the ocean, a vapour and the wind
Still You hear me when I am calling
Lord, You catch me when I falling
And You told me who I am
I am Yours, I am Yours