Meeting with God

I'd been feeling very happy recently because I'd attended cell group meeting last week & prayer meeting yesterday. For all you singles & childless, you'll never understand that it is really a privilege to attend them. So when I am able to serve this week for JAMs big day, I am delirious! Feels connected again :) But of course I really appreciate those people around me for never letting me lose that connection. & for James for putting in the effort to serve so that one of us still stays connected even though I know he is tired out from work, taking care of Charis, & doing housework (yes, he's a good hubby who does housework! =)

For those single & childless ones, please really appreciate & enjoy church service. I never knew how blessed I was when I was in the main auditorium enjoying God's presence every week until I'm stuck in nursery with Charis. There's lots of distractions in nursery, e.g. parents talking to each other, babies "talking" to each other, babies crying/wailing, parents talking to babies... & I'm guilty too :p Every time Pastor preached a good sermon or there's a good worship, I wish I was out there in the main auditorium & I'll feel so sad being stuck in nursery. People are lying when they say there's no distance in God. Main auditorium is the holies of holies; nursery is the outer court. Though there is still the presence of God everywhere, but distance still determine whether you are in holies of holies or outer court.

Jolly good news!

I received a superb awesome piece of good news this afternoon!

This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice & be glad in it! :D

Pets

Some people likes to collect pets.

I know of one person who does. He likes it because pets to him, are easy to maintain & easily disposable.

I walked into his pet shop yesterday & there were:

1. Dog
Loyal, although not a very smart animal. Always sincerely believing, but sincerely wrong.

2. Cat
Not loyal, but still a little adorable because can cuddle well at the right time.

3. Snake (I got phobia of snakes, so no image here)
Sly, & no loyalty. But survives because it knows where the wind blows.

4. Bull
Hot tempered, but beyond the temper, has a simple heart.

5. Fishes
Always kept in a tank, so had no idea how the outside world functions.

What an interesting pet shop!

Too bad, I'm not into pets.

World's Shortest Man Died

AFP - Tuesday, March 16

The world's shortest man, He Pingping, who stood just over two feet five inches tall (75 cm), has died, Britain's Guinness World Records said Monday. He was 21.

He -- a native of China who had a form of primordial dwarfism and measured 74.61 centimetres -- was in Rome taking part in a television show when he suffered chest problems.

He was taken to hospital, where he died over the weekend.

Craig Glenday, editor-in-chief of London-based Guinness World Records, recalled measuring He in the northern Chinese region of Inner Mongolia in 2008.

"For such a small man, he made a huge impact around the world," Glenday said.

"From the moment I laid on eyes on him, I knew he was someone special -- he had such a cheeky smile and mischievous personality, you couldn't help but be charmed by him," he said.

"He brightened up the lives of everyone he met, and was an inspiration to anyone considered different or unusual."

I had watched videos of him on TV before & remembered him as a cheerful fellow despite his differences. He is a great inspiration of how we can live life depending on how we perceive it.

Life is not complicated. It is only complicated when we perceived it to be.

Happiness is a pursuit. It is not a destination, but a journey.

Maid or Mad?

My maid arrived last Saturday. I was overjoyed because I can finally have the time to be able to work & do my own things now.

I am also overjoyed because mainly, I don't have to change diaper for my brother anymore! 2 months ago when he was just discharged from the hospital, he was still very weak & not able to walk. He will poo-poo 2-5 times/day! & I will have to clean his diapers. I loathe it, but I never complained about it (Just like you don't see a mother complaining about cleaning up her baby's poo-poo right?).

However he has recovered quite a fair bit & is less dependent compared to 2 months ago. He now tries to walk to the toilet a few times a day now to make our "cleaning" job so much easier. Even bathing him has also become much easier. But my maid complaint to me yesterday night about how she has to clean him when he "couldn't make it in time & poo-poo in his diaper in the toilet". She has not seen how I had to clean the soiled bedsheets twice a day & even the sofa & the trails left behind from the living room all the way to the toilet! A maid complaining to her Madam when her Madam had seen & done even more dirtier job than her! She must be kidding me?!

On Tuesday when I was not at my mom's place, my brother complained to me later that the maid had been receiving phone calls numerous times a day! First time I wasn't at my mom's place & only her 4th day into her new job & she is so bold already!

Then yesterday night, when I returned from Vanessa's house, my brother said he almost fell down! He was walking with his walking frame, and the maid was looking everywhere except at him, & wasn't even holding him. His legs started to wobble & the walking frame gave way. He almost fell down but the maid managed to catch him before he did. My sister, Serene, scolded her big time. My brother cannot afford a fall because it may cause him to be paralysed. How can we ever trust her?

Haiz... maid or mad? It rhymes.

Finally, My New House!

Finally I can have a place that I can call home again! Today, my pastor finally announced our new home & it's Suntec Convention Centre! The best part is that we are not going to rent it; we are going to co-own it! Wow, our next miracle building!

I teared when Pastor announced it. Felt that after 4 long years, we finally don't have to be like Moses & his people gathering in "tents" anymore. Not only can we have a place of our own, we can now earn revenue from the rent collected from the rental of those convention halls (especially for IT shows) & use it to extend our humanitarian works etc. I never imagine we could own a convention centre, or even the nation's pride (equivalent to U.S. World Trade Centre?), but we did. Isn't my God amazing?

I wish I could share with James the good news, but he's offshore & uncontactable again. I believe it will be a very pleasant surprise for him too. I can't wait to share with him the wonderful news!

This thought kept flashing across my mind as I sat listening, "if God can do something so great for my church, why can't He perform something as great for me in my life too?" Maybe He can, but it all boils down to "am I willing to walk that path & sacrifices that comes along the way?"

I need a miracle, & I'm sure God known it too well. His miracle for my church was not a "from Jurong West to Jurong East" miracle, but a "from the end of nowhere to the centre of influence" miracle. He is not limited in bringing me the miracle breakthrough, but how can I have it? By giving out of my lack? By giving what I really needed? Can I really be like the widow woman who gave her all out of her lack?

I do not know & I did not pledge today. I wanted to be sure. James wanted me to pray about the amount which I still am not sure. This is the most challenging & difficult Arise & Build thus far. I hope I will hear the amount from God soon. Am I ready to obey? I know as difficult as it would be, I have to. Without obedience, He would not accept it.

Do I have faith in my giving? Well... I would not need faith if I have no doubts. It is so easy at times like this to look at your own needs more than anything else. But I must believe. & I must believe that HIM alone deserves all the glory (& all that I have)!

God's Angels

There are times during this difficult period when I wondered where is God? & recently, upon reflection, I realised He has been showing Himself to me through His angels.

I have heard a lot of people comment about the poor service & attitudes of staffs at SGH & I have experienced much personally. But during this difficult period in my life, many of the angels that appeared in my life are actually staffs of SGH too.

Angel #1: Ms Chew Li Ling (Medical Social Worker, SGH)

The first time when I knew my brother's condition, I was very depressed & feeling lost. She was there for me even though I was not a patient. She met me especially to counsel me, & provide me with advice on resources to take care of my brother when I was feeling lost & do not know what to do. She is the one who made me realised my brother & my family are never alone & he is just as normal as anyone walking along the street.

Even though my brother had been discharged from the hospital, she is still just a phone call away, & even met up with us on Wednesday to help us appeal for financial aid. Although she could only managed to get a little aid from the appeal which may seem insignificant (only 5% of the total outpatient bill), the time & efforts taken to help us all the way warms my heart greatly.

Angel #2: Dr Tan (SGH)

I have always thought that doctors are stuck-up creatures who are always so busy that they have to rush off somewhere. Dr Tan was an exception.

When my brother was in critical condition, he came after his work hours just to encourage my brother. When he comes to make his rounds every morning, he will spend some time updating my brother about his condition & encouraged him. When other doctors reported negative updates to my brother, he will visit him again to reassure him & encourage him. He even called us at home after my brother was discharged to find out how is his patient getting on at home after discharged.

Everytime my brother goes back for follow up visits, I can tell he is very happy to see Dr Tan. Dr Tan save lives not just by treating them medically, but also by instilling "I will live & I will live a normal life" attitude in his patients. He also refused to let them feel discriminated about themselves.

Angel #3: Ee Ling (Physiotherapist, SGH, Ward 64)

She was supposed to knock off her work at 5pm, but most days, she will stay behind till about 8pm. It isn't because she's a slow worker, but because she wanted her patients to recover faster & better by giving them longer physiotherapy sessions by sacrificing her own personal time. Instead of the usual 15-30 minutes physiotherapy sessions as required by the hospital, she easily spend 1-2 hours per patient. Her cheerful countenance easily brightens up her patients' day.

Towards the end of my brother's hospital stay, I was so drained emotionally & physically. I was walking towards the mrt station after visiting my brother one day, when Ee Ling saw me from behind. She ran to greet me, & when she saw my tired face, she immediately showed her concerned & encouraged me.

Angel #4: Yong Lily

She visited my brother & me in the hospital despite her busy schedule to show concern & encourages me. Whenever I needed to buy stuffs that Charis needed, she would often tell me that she has them at home as her kids used to use them. Then she would drive specially down to my house even in the wee hours just to bring them to me. She not only helped me save lots of money (when I need it the most), but this is also her way of showing love when I needed it the most.

When I visited Ms Chew's office on Wednesday, I saw post-it notes of bible verses scribled on her desktop. Ee Ling wore a cross pendant on her necklace. Lily is my cell group leader in church. They had been testimonies that God is real when doubts filled my heart. Of course, Dr Tan may not be a Christian for all I care, but he would definitely have been a testimony of his religion or belief too.

I never like to wear a cross pendant as I used to think that it is over religious & old-fashioned. Now, I think if in some ways I had been an angel to someone, & he saw the cross hanging on my necklace, he would know that God is real too. The cross pendant may not tell a thousand people anything. In fact, it is simply another accessory. But it may just be that message that one person needed.

I will be hunting around soon to buy a nice cross pendant, & am thinking of having a crystal-studded one as I love crystals!

Real Love Works @ Fort Canning

This is the 1st time I have signed up for a couple activity event, somemore it's organised by our very own government (or rather named marriage central)! They are expecting up to 1000 couples, so think it's gonna be a massive scale.

My 1st thought was "wow, sure have lots of mosquitoes, people, ..." I still remember lying on the grass for our wedding photoshoot & I ended up with lots of bugs bites for the day. But I was so enticed by the $100 pinic basket offer! Heck, I decided to give it a shot. Anyway, it's a new experience for us ;) Though I'm can't help wondering if it's gonna be romantic or "you look at me, I look at you = boring! + feed mosquito" on that day... well, we never know till we try it anyway...

If you are interested, you may join the event by registering on the website by clicking below:

Do let me know if you have joined too!