Life Buoys

I was really blessed yesterday. I'm really proud of the youths in my region. They are really, really a god-send and I'm so blessed to be working with them. :)

Ever since the youth ministry embarked on the vision of seeing 300 net leaders raised up, I can sense such a dramatic change in the spiritual atmosphere of the ministry. Even in my region, I'm so excited to be working with a bunch of young people who are sold out for God. I've been so blessed to see their enthusiasm to see multiplication take place like never before. Even the seemingly immovable mountains are starting to shift in their places. God is doing an exciting thing in this generation. Did I mention how blessed I am to be a part of it?

Yesterday, the youth ministry was tasked by the region to handle a whole bunch of handbills. And somehow, we got some stuff mixed up and ended up loading 20 packs of handbills into Jonathan's car. And just when we thought that was all, in the evening, the RA came and told me that was only for half the youth ministry's strength. (??!!??) But you know what? While we were fretting over how to finish this, some of the guys and the girls got together and decided that there would be enough mumbling and they would just go down and get it done.

Mobilisation Mass SMS and Handbilling.

They all rallied together and decided to do it not because of anything but because:

1) it needs to get done

2) people need a miracle

3) people need life buoys

What an example... and what a great testimony. I'm so blessed that they just pulled together and decided to just do it. I'm so impressed by their initiative. You're wonderful, guys... and girls... (aiyah, you know what I mean) You're a GREAT bunch!

Life buoy to me... to this generation.

Someone out there will be so blessed... because as they wait upon the storms of life, you will be offering them a life buoy.

Good Times

Today wasn't such a bad day. Thank God. I've learnt to thank God for every day that went well. Good days are hard to find... and I found one today!

Had a great time at Edge UC. Jeremy preached a sermon about our baggages in life and how we carry them everywhere we go, and let it cloud our lives. It was a good reminder of my life and where it stands now. I'm actually very happy with my life right now... and I feel kinda proud about myself. 

"Explain, Pam... explain."

I found out the truth about something rather inevitable, actually. And when I found out, I was pleasantly surprised to evaluate that it affects me less than how I expected it to. In fact, it was of little consequence. Ha. I'm so happy! The baggage of "Past" is running on empty! YAYE! 

After Edge UC, I had a great time at dinner and after Prata and Teh-Tarik, a few of us went on to McCafe at West Coast to have another drink and I had the most hilarious times laughing at the state of our army... and the cost of national service. It was mostly: sip coffee, listen to stories, laugh very hard, wipe tears off eyes, sip coffee, listen to stories, laugh very hard... etc. It was a lot of good fun that I haven't had in a long long while. I'm very thankful for that. It's like fuel for your heart and your soul. Haha... extremely therapeutic!

Then I come back to find my sister posted on my blog wondering why I'm not back yet... and it moved me. I know, I know... she probably didn't mean to show that much care but nonetheless, it felt good to be thought of in your absence. Thank you, sis. Your comment was the icing on the cake... I'm so thankful for you. Please don't ever LOSE yourself (haha)... I'll be very sad. 

So there, a light-hearted post cos someone told me today my posts were very 'emotional'... and I'm determined not to be an emo blogger. 

Thank God for good times...

Time Lines

This was meant for yesterday... but I just didn't have time to pen it down. So, here it is, the overdue post.  Yesterday, dad took me to get some official documentations done for my own survival. (If i tell you what it is, I'll have to kill you...) So it was kinda cool... but a bit weird for me cos me and dad aren't the talking sort. He's the stern father and I'm the, well, daughter of a chinese family, with an older brother... you get the drift. Cafes, pam and dad don't go well together. So, we did the errand and I decided to be brave and ask dad to take a coffee-break with me since I haven't eaten lunch and we went to Coffee Club to grab a bite and a drink.

Silence... coffee machine grinding... clinking utensils.... loud business man.... foreign waitress trying to speak English... silence...

Food came and then the talking started. At first, it felt kinda strange. It was strange to hear dad 'talk' to me... as in the 'chatting-voice' dad. I didn't recognise that voice, but it felt good to hear it. It sounded gentle, comfortable, nice... like my coffee did. 

Dad talked about his experiences in missions, his thoughts, his feelings... things you don't tell your daughter... but it was nice to be chomping down alfredo pasta, sipping coffee and listening to this new voice. As he spoke, I was looking at dad's face and it suddenly hit me: dad's getting really old. I don't say this with distaste or humour. It's true. Written on this face before me were years of life's hard knocks and sweet moments. I never realised it before, but on the lines of dad's face was an experience, an encounter, someone, a tragedy, a comedy.  

Dad was growing older... so am I. And I realised that I haven't taken time to appreciate fully the face before me. There isn't much time.

The time line is getting shorter.

I think I've missed dad for far too long... and it's probably time to redeem what's been lost.

I wonder if that's how we are with God (no matter that He's ETERNAL). 

Maybe we need coffee moments with God too, like me with dad.

Missing You...

Love and Friendship

Love is like the wild rose-briar,

Friendship like the holly-tree—

The holly is dark when the rose-briar blooms

But which will bloom most constantly?

The wild-rose briar is sweet in the spring,

Its summer blossoms scent the air;

Yet wait till winter comes again

And who will call the wild-briar fair?

Then scorn the silly rose-wreath now

And deck thee with the holly's sheen,

That, when December blights thy brow,

He may still leave thy garland green.

                                                                        

- Emily Bronte -

Ok... I'll admit. Yes, I'm missing Esther. ha. Just because I didn't bawl at the airport when she left doesn't mean she's not important to me, or that I'm not gonna miss her. Last night I had dinner with the gang at Simpang... and her absence was sorely felt, especially on the way from food to mrt. And today, when it's MONDAY.... it's worse. Ha... Allow me to explain...

I work at the church office. Off-days are monday (but NO ONE ELSE'S OFF-DAYs are Mondays) so Esther was kinda always there and available for me to ask out for a movie, to chill, coffee, whatever...

So, now that you're far away in Aussie-land (*super jealous*), I'm left to fend for myself on Mondays.

I can't wait for two things: your return, and our journey back to Melbourne in 2010 (fingers-crossed). Hope you're doing well, my friend. 

Cheers, and a toast to friendships! :)

Cradled

Yup. That's what I felt happened to me today. I felt cradled. 

cradled: to hold gently and protectively

The whole day felt like I was cradled by God... He was holding everything in His hands.

1) My two-week long project at the office was FINALLY done! Yaye!

2) I had to do a game and a skit at the Edge service. Someone handled the games for me ENTIRELY so I could concentrate on the skit. Another friend was willing to help me put music, powerpoint and be the last minute leading man (due to an event I will elaborate in 3) for the skit.

3) I nearly lost my life (along with 2 other friends, one of whom was supposed to be the initial leading man) today in an accident. No one was hurt, but it was a harrowing experience. All I can say is that it all happened too fast, too blur, too shocking. As I look back, amidst the screeching tyres and brakes, the jaw-dropping stares from passers-by, the feeling of shock from the impact and the fact that the car was leaking, I felt God cradling us all. This is why I can sit here in my room, typing this post.

GOD REALLY LOVES ME! He really protected all of us. None of us felt the impact from inside the car. It was like there were cushions all around... and miraculously, both vehicles weren't travelling at high speed, even though one party should have in normal situations. No one was hurt! 

Epiphany: 

I'm so glad God didn't just take me home! He's not done with me yet! Which means there are things that I need to accomplish here on earth before I float up north. And I cannot wait to see what these things are! 

4) Gladys Soh randomly gave me a hug and wished me Happy Valentine's Day. How sweet! 

Thank YOU.... the Lover of my Soul.

Peek-a-boo!

This is officially the FIRST entry I'm posting on my FIRST blog. I'm kinda excited... I know, I know, I'm a bit slow. Pardon the old mechanism, hah! But as I was thinking about how to go about doing this in the most fitting way, I thought about what to post, how to say the things, what info to offer and such. And yes, I've decided. "Peek-a-boo" because this is exactly the place I am in now. I'm peeking into the world of blogging; I'm peeking into different areas of my life; I'm peeking into the plans that God has in store for me; I'm peeking in his blessings and His work in my life. It's an amazing sight. (partly cos there's me involved. HAHA! cut me some slack. What's MY blog without singing my own praises? :P)

Anyway, I'm just gonna start like it's been many many entries... 

The week started off kinda on the wrong foot. It's like the entire week woke up on the wrong side of the bed. It's been a whirl wind of events, things to do, datelines to meet, friends leaving the country, yada yada... and I could not help but to complain, and ask questions that really should be banished from my mind - Why am i doing this? What am I doing here? Why? How come? These questions hit me a lot of times, especially when the going gets tough. The ugly face of doubt rears its monstrous head...

But you know what? One day (must have been Wednesday) I couldn't take it anymore and I went to my secret place, a.k.a Ladies' toilet in Toa Payoh and prayed just TWO words, "God... seriously..." And suddenly, it didn't matter anymore. Well, the stress is still there, the people, the things to finish, but it just didn't matter anymore. It's going to be OKAY... It's like GOD took up all the space and Doubt has not where else to go but out.

And so starts my good week.

The whole week, a friend kept talking about silver linings... and you know the thing about silver linings is, that it gets missed out if you're not looking closely. And so when the cloud of things didn't matter anymore, I saw my silver linings: No rude students, No exam papers, No 400 scripts, good friends, coffee, Hong Kong, Seattle, Mondays, seeing Esther Foong teach ME the net lesson (ultimate role-reversal)... and you know what? I'm alright! :) I finished what I had to do for the week... and it's ending well!

On my way to net I heard Starfield's Shipwreck... and here's what spoke to me:

I am just a beggar here at Your door

I am just a shipwreck here on Your shore

I come empty-handed ready to see

your life in me changing who I am

To who I need to be

And that is what I want... I want to 'NEED to be' what God 'WANTS me to be' - His wants as my need. So, here, God, at Your door and on Your shore... peeking...