Tuesday, January 27, 2009

By the Way...

The link to Randy Pausch's Last Lecture, Really Acheiving Your Childhood Dreams, if you guys haven't watch it.

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Devo sharing - WHY NOT?

Hey! Would like to share a simple devotion that struck me as I did my Quiet Time with God this morning.

Many times people, when encountering a difficult situation or battling some issues with God, ask this question: WHY GOD, WHY?

Then I discovered today, the question was WHY NOT? Why not go through the painful situation? Why not battle that I-dunno-what-I’m-doing-here-anymore thoughts in your head? Why not go through pain so that we can learn from pain?

Too many times we’ve heard people say that God puts us through situations/problems to mould us and shape us. It’s as though that’s the BIG excuse we give God when He doesn’t answer our prayers the way we want it to be.

Personally I do believe that God has placed obstacles in my life to help me learn and strengthen me. And my devotion today helped me see how true it is.

MATTHEW 26:47-56

Jesus Arrested
47While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: "The one I kiss is the man; arrest him." 49Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed him.

50Jesus replied, "Friend, do what you came for."[a] Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. 51With that, one of Jesus' companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

52"Put your sword back in its place," Jesus said to him, "for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?"

55At that time Jesus said to the crowd, "Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. 56But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.


In the above verse, Jesus knew he was going to be arrested and go through the crucifixion. And die that way so that He may redeem us. He knew that if He called on His Father, supernatural things could possibly take place to rescue Him out of that situation.
However, He didn’t do that. Becoz He knew that was not the purpose God has intended.

When we battle problems, sometimes we hope and pray for something supernatural to happen. When it doesn't, we question God. Coz we do not know what God’s purpose for us is. And the difference between Jesus and us, is that He knew. His purpose was to “take up the cross”and go through the pain knowing that it was for the greater good.

If we have the perspective that God does have a purpose (maybe not as death-defining as Jesus’s) for whatever we’re going through, it would help us to see situations the way Jesus saw His.

So yea guys, chin up, look up, and know that there’s always a rhyme & reason for things happening in our lives (good & bad). It’s a lesson of trust and knowing our purpose to walk the off-beaten road with the Teacher who doesn’t just teaches in classroom settings.

Just a little reflection from me... Happy Lunar New Year!

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Dreams by Molecule

"When we are dreaming alone it is only a dream. When we are dreaming with others, it is the beginning of reality."

Matthias sent out an email to Prep all of us for a "Show and tell" Session. Everyone is suppose to bring something that represents our dreams for the future.
He believes that this year is a year
where we take each other towards our life's dream. We are going to enable the dreams of others!!

Each of us were given some time to share.
refer to the below listings for each of our dreams.

Theme song:



If we hold on together


Dont lose your way
With each passing day
Youve come so far
Dont throw it away
Live believing
Dreams are for weaving
Wonders are waiting to start
Live your story
Faith, hope & glory
Hold to the truth in your heart

If we hold on together
I know our dreams will never die
Dreams see us through to forever
Where clouds roll by
For you and i

Souls in the wind
Must learn how to bend
Seek out a star
Hold on to the end
Valley, mountain
There is a fountain
Washes our tears all away
Words are swaying
Somebody is praying
Please let us come home to stay

If we hold on together
I know our dreams will never die
Dreams see us through to forever
Where clouds roll by
For you and i

When we are out there in the dark
Well dream about the sun
In the dark well feel the light
Warm our hearts, everyone

If we hold on together
I know our dreams will never die
Dreams see us through to forever
As high as souls can fly
The clouds roll by
For you and i

Dreams by Ken

Ken
As a child, he was often bullied. His friends would punch him in the face and whack him like a sandbag, however, Ken retaliated not by giving them back a taste of his fists. Instead, Ken would go to a fruit shop and purchase a few ice Popsicles (also known as "Seng Bao") and hand it to them in return.

Ken has a character of kindness and love since young. He bares not grudges but returns it with love rather than pain.

His dream is harnessed from his character, to give to the people around him, to be a tangible help by reaching into their emotional needs.

He hopes to have a Large house on a ranch, with plenty of space and even horses! A place where people can go over the weekends, to hang-out, share and relax.

To be a host and create a comfortable environment where Man can open-up emotionally and speak freely.

Dreams by Li-En

Li-En
From past to present, Li-En yearns to be a Missionary. She had been inspired by her parents and an anecdote from a young child in the Precious Moments Bible exclaiming "Hey! I want to be a Missionary!".
Travelling to various countries to do Missionary work with *preferably* her Spouse.
She hopes to achieve the below with her mission work:
- work with Children
- Love the unlovable (outcast/poor & needy)
- Start an International Student School

her 1st steps to achieving her dreams is by:
- Learning to love the little children, to have a inbuilt passion for them
- Aim to start opening her house to host gatherings in 2009 to steer her to her direction of starting an International Student School

Dreams by Lee Ling

Lee Ling
Being a quiet child, she longs for an enclosed area where she can have her privacy. She imagines being high up in a tree house made of timber and with hanging ropes to elevate her between the levels. To have a exclusive feeling of being able to see the activity below her but no one being able to see her.

She has 2 Dreams.
1 -> to have a Tree House
2-> to be a Baker:

Being a curious kid as well, she would watch the Baking process of a cake for the exterior Oven glass. Seeing the flour mixture rise from a liquid mass to a fluffy airy cake amazes her like Magic~!

She hopes to start off by continuing and advance in learning baking. In the near future when she gets sick of her current architecture job, she will set up a Baking school. The Baking School will be decked in Miniature furnitures and be a place to inspire kids.

Dreams by Kara

Kara

- Dreams to be a Portraiture Photographer and adding Sugar to the dream would be her having a Studio in her own home.
Quoting & unquoting from a top-notch photographer:
People say that "Seeing is Believing" but to me, i believe that "Believing is Seeing".
Kara feels that this applies to dreams as well. If you believe you dream will come true, you will See it coming true.

- Wants to have a Shelter Home where people with estrange problems or relationships can stay temporarily.

- To set up a Drama Ministry in church to supports the preacher by re-enforcing his message to the congregation through short skits, and also as a training ground for people .

Dreams by Jaime

Jaime
One of the listings in her Lifelist would be to adopt a Panda and name it 小 明.
This dream is actually adopted from her initial dream of being a Gynae, as the wonders on how a baby is formed and delivered fascinates her. She was amused and amazed by this as a kid.

She also hopes to write a Book titled "who 动 my Ham?!" (who touch my cockles?!") - The not so typical Singapore success story of a girl with PHD.
It would be a humor book citing little anecdotes of her life and her food recipes. Food intrigues her as eatting is an experience which engages all her senses.

Her dreams Anecdote would be:
"some people wait for things to happen, some people Make it happen"

Dreams by Adeline

Adeline


A Sheepdog:
- Abides by its duty in tending and rounding the strays to keep them safe.
- Is loyal and in 1 vision with the Shepherd.

Adeline wants to inculcate the character and the ministry of a Sheepdog in her life.
She wants to work hand in hand with the Shepherd, Lord Jesus to go after the lost and emotionally wounded people who are needing to find rest in a safe place. To restore and reinstate them.

This is her main personal dream which will channel her into the other works she want to establish in her life.

If given a chance, she would love to travel to New Zealand and study how a sheepdog herds sheep. It would be a refreshing experience for her.


She shared one of her childhood encounters which striked her and is etched deeply into her memory.
In Pre-school times, it was a routine for little Adeline to wait for the bus with her Grandmother. One day, a flight stewardess approached her with a bundle of goodies saying "Here, I just returned from London".

This experience of being noticed and being able to receive a Gift from a complete stranger strike little Adeline.
Even now, as Little Adeline had grown up and matured into a Lady, she still holds on strong to this sweet encounter of being able to receive something unconditionally.
She hopes to bring this blessed feeling onto people who are hurt and wounded.

Her Dream would be to set up a huge building compound where people can have their gatherings and fellowship in the main block. She describes the building as having various rooms with different Themes and settings. The main block will be for the guests, whilst the extension block will be her cosy home with Ken.

Her overall goal in her life is to be a useful person on a whole.

Friday, January 16, 2009

in memory of Uncle Sank

Yesterday, Uncle Sank passed away. (Uncle Sank is the first staff of Singapore Campus Crusade).
He was 82 and it was time to go home. While i am sad to say goodbye, i also stand inspired and encouraged by him. He taught us not by great speeches or many scoldings, but by his humble and gentle ways, quietly modeling for us dedication, perseverance and faith. He lived a long life of faithfully serving God, he was doing CP long before us (knocking on doors and sharing the gospel), and recently, while in his 70's, he started a evangelistic website to help people around the world about Jesus.

I had the chance to interview him for an magazine article last month, and i am amazed at the privilege, of just hearing his life, his story.. and seeing God's loving hand so clearly. you know, when i asked him how God first called him, he teared as he related his story. the experience was so seared into his heart, that it was as fresh as yesterday. and that simple fire, deep passion and dedication for God has stayed with him all his life.

in today's obituary for Uncle Sank, they printed a verse from "I'd rather have Jesus". As i looked at the words of the hymn, i knew they embodied the drive of his life.
i was touched by the words and the commentary i found after that, because it reminded me of the cost of following Jesus. and yet what cost is that... if i lose nothing of value, and gain the one most valuable thing in this world.

"Lovers make better workers than workers do."

below i've attached the lyrics and a short commentary of the song "I'd Rather have Jesus"

I’d Rather Have Jesus
I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold;
I’d rather be His than have riches untold;
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands,
I’d rather be led by His nail pierced hand.

Than to be a king of a vast domain
Or be held in sin’s dread sway,
I’d rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.


I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause;
I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause;
I’d rather have Jesus than world-wide fame,
I’d rather be true to His holy name.

He’s fairer than lilies of rarest bloom;
He’s sweeter than honey from out of the comb;
He’s all that my hungering spirit needs,
I’d rather have Jesus and let Him lead.

This hymn is about dedication and commitment. To follow after Jesus is costly. Matthew 16:24-26 says: “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?’” I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold. . .

Philippians 1:21 reminds us: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” I’d rather have Jesus and let Him lead. . .

Philippians 3:8 says, “What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.” I’d rather have Jesus than world-wide fame, I’d rather be true to His holy name. . .

Thursday, January 8, 2009

God spoke to me through Tyra Banks

i was on the way home and the tyra banks talkshow was on TV mobile.

it caught my attention... coz they were talking about sex on the show! haha... actually what was going on was that tyra had 4 ladies as her guests, and they were talking about the issues they had- about not wanting to have sex. heh...

what really caught my attention was this.. heart-wrenching really: A pretty lady was talking about how she wouldn't let husband touch her, because she just felt too ugly.
and i was sitting there looking at her.
She's really got a pretty, sweet face. She's a mom to 2 cute kids. She had a husband who really loved her. but she felt she was so ugly, and she hated herself so000 much, that she wouldn't let her husband touch her.
Then what she said next hit me hard.. "my husband tells me i'm beautiful everyday, but i don't believe him."

She couldn't accept all of herself, because she focused on the flaws she had. stretch marks from pregnancy and scars from the C-section she had. that's all. but it made her feel so ugly, that the pretty lady couldn't see that there was more to her than the scars on her belly.

That hit home, because while i sat there disbelievingly, i realize that i do that to myself too.

i think that i am unlovable, or maybe not so special.. because... i haven't been pursued by a man i would love. i was just thinking that on the way home, feeling a little down and a little disappointed that so many of my friends were getting married, and i haven't had someone special pursuing me. (okok i know.. forgive me.. i was having my own little pity party there)

Well God broke in on my pity party.
"you're a pretty amazing girl, you know that."
(haha.. He really did tell me that!)
"you're special to me, that's why I'm jealously guarding your heart."

God tells me i'm beautiful everyday, but i don't believe Him. i begin looking in the mirror, scrutizing my flaws and lamenting what i don't have. And i feel ugly and lousy because i don't have what i think i should have. worse still... i was looking for my identity and esteem from man's affirmation.

*bish*
and i realized i was no different from the pretty lady on the tv show.

Am i going to let the Lover of my soul love me? or am i going to push Him away because i feel too ugly?

on the talkshow, the lady's husband was crying backstage as she shared her struggle and what she felt about herself. i wonder how God feels when i feel lousy and unlovable, though He loves me so so much, and did everything possible to let me know that! am i saying that His love is not sufficient for me? oh man..

so yes.. No more pity-party! i want to walk in freedom, i want to walk in the truth of who i am.
and i need to choose to walk in that truth.
God's truth. God's daughter. God's beloved.


Which mirror are you looking in today?

Is it the mirror the world holds up, telling you that who you are is determined by what you do? Your career, your leadership positions, your martial status, or your good deeds?

Or is it the mirror of God's word, which tells you that who you are is determined by whose you are? That you are loved, bought with a precious price, and created for a special purpose.


For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
Psalms 139:13-16

Monday, January 5, 2009

Footprints of my everyday life.. With GOD carrying me on his Back

Okay,
Let me be one of the first to share/start the blog rolling ;)
Most of you know that i have my Blog called "Foot-prints of everyday life"

admittedly, i don't read the bible much. However, i always remember this story about foot-prints.
This story left a deep impression in my heart... and this is how it goes....

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Scenes from his life flashed across the sky and he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, one belonging to him and the other to the Lord. When the last scene of his life had flashed before him, he recalled that at the lowest and saddest times of his life there was only one set of footprints. Dismayed, he asked, "Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. I don't understand why, when I needed you most, you would leave me." The Lord replied, "My precious child. I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering when you saw only one set of footprints. That was when I carried you."

well, i may not be able to recite verses from the back of my palm or share very devotional materials. However, 1 thing i know is that no matter what, i will never forget that God is always there for me and he carries me on that sandy path.

I'm a simple person,
my faith = equals to the constant reminder that God is always there to be my
warmth in the cold and my light in the dark.

Past few days ago, i fell really hard. I questioned God and was daring enough at that moment to reprimand him and challenged him to appear right before my eyes.
yes, as the Neville story goes where the prison door did not flung open, same goes for me that God did not appear before me.

That night when i went Crazy and lost myself, i thought that i would stay that way and that God would abandon me as i had doubted him.

However, amazingly, God just let me weep in his shoulders till i was too tired.. I had a very sound sleep.. woke up next day as my usual self.
Yes, i still cannot forget the incident on the scar that had inflicted been inflicted onto me,and it still haunts me. But, when i read back my blog on the above story about the "footprints"
God reminded me that HE IS ALWAYS THERE.. Carrying me... even though i may not see... It gives me the strength to carry on.


-Yyn

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Hello Molecule!

A shout out to all the atoms of Molecule! Howdy do? While having lunch with Ken, Addy, Cynthia and Li-en just now, Ken suggested that we have an inspirational and devotional site to share out thoughts and journey with God with each other.

And I present to you - Every(other)day with Molecule.

Don't ask me how we got the name...

We can still change the name and the spiritual vitamin concept, cos you know, there are only a few things in my head: food, drugs, brains and rats. The more talented and artisitc people, like the one with a photoblog, can do more to enhance the blog. I like it white and plain :)

Please email angseokting@gmail.com if you want to be part of the blog.

And may I declare again: 2009 is gonna be a year of history making. And we are all history in the making :)