This song just reminds me of the Rainbow again – God’s promise… that HE will see me through, he will be my strength, my stronghold, my deliverer.. when I’m feeling far, He is my friend… When I’m feeling down, my comforter.


Your Grace Is Enough
Chris Tomlin

Great is Your faithfulness oh God
You wrestle with the sinner's heart
You lead us by still waters and to mercy
And nothing can keep us apart

So remember Your people
Remember Your children
Remember Your promise Oh God

Your grace is enough
Your grace is enough
Your grace is enough for me

Great is Your love and justice God
You use the weak to lead the strong
You lead us in the song of Your salvation
And all Your people sing along

So remember Your people
Remember Your children
Remember Your promise Oh God

Your grace is enough
Your grace is enough
Your grace is enough for me (x2)

So remember Your people
Remember Your children
Remember Your promise Oh God

Your grace is enough
Your grace is enough
Your grace is enough for me

Your grace is enough
Heaven reaching down to us
Your grace is enough for me
God i see your grace is enough
I'm covered in your love
Your grace is enough for me
For me

Somewhere over the Rainbow

Oh i forgot about this. This morning, we saw a rainbow.. me mum and dad... and we were all marvelling at how beautiful it was from the car. It was somewhere near the Singapore Flyer.

And then today upon reading the TGIF daily devotional for today, the words below really made sense to me:

You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms His covenant, which He swore to your forefathers, as it is today (Deuteronomy 8:17-18). Acknowledge the Lord as the provider of every need you have today. He is a faithful provider.

I'd been thinking and kinda "mulling" over the fact that I don't seem to be heading anywhere... especially in terms of wealth. While people are all keen to make loads of money, i'm sitting here like a duck enjoying life... I'd been worried that I was not good enough, and lacked many things. But this verse just confirms that God is really still there, listening to all my needs. Now then, I just feel a bit ashamed for not trusting Him even more.

The RAINBOW Is a sign of God's covenant to His People. This verse above, which says "it is He who gives you ability to produce wealth, and so confirms His Covenant" really just tells me that God is really the source of my survival. If I wanted to, I could find the strength and motivation - IN HIM. If not, I will survive on my own - which is being not very self-motivated lor.

So then... I think of this song... one of my favourite songs when I was a kid:

Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
There's a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby
Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dreamReally
do come true
Some day I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where troubles melt like lemondrops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me

Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, oh why can't I?
Some day I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where troubles melt like lemondrops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me

Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, oh why can't I?

If happy little bluebirds fly
Beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can't I?

Exciting world of social media & JAZZ Strings

Maybe my role is not as bad after all.. being an 'online community executive'...

"More companies are diving in to the new media space as opposed to just dipping their toes. They are also asking "How" as opposed to "Why", ie the work of blog evangelists have started to bear more fruit. A new role - community manager - is also emerging, evolving from that of an evangelist. Corporations are becoming like media companies, disseminating and sharing information through a wide variety of channels. Measurement also takes greater precedence."

http://coolinsights.blogspot.com/2007/06/exciting-world-of-social-media.html

And came across this today - absolutely fantastic: http://www.tisq.com/ I'm so going to get their album!

And there's another cool electric string quartet: http://www.fourplay.com.au/




Anyway.. other news... Pauline starts her new job today.. i'm so outdated only got to know about it recently.

And poor Audrey got injured on Sun wee morning.. 3am.. bike skidded... I really hope she gets well... what internal bleeding and all... too much for a gal to bear... but she's a strong gal!

Reflection – 23 June 2007

I have finally set up a Youth Arise Ministry blog! Yippee. Well, so that takes off much of the God/Church reflections from this blog, but nevertheless, you’ll still see some here – will still share the personal reflections here, coz I believe everything can be a learning lesson for everyone.. and I’m not afraid to point at myself and examine myself!

Well, today I reached home at 2am after a long day. We had a farewell lunch for my marketing colleague.. aw.. so sad another one leaving.. had lunch at Waraku at Marina. Nice place!! Much better than others.. I liked it. Not to mention, the Ben & Jerry’s dessert at Suntec after that!!!

It was a great time being out with colleagues, and chatting about churchy stuff with Charissa (our intern). Amazingly… it’s amazing how the Lord brings healing to a person. I have an old time friend of the same name, and we kinda parted ways when we went to secondary school. For some reason or other, we didn’t manage to keep in touch, and I was very very very upset. I was afraid to keep in touch.. I dunno why.. I felt she no longer wanted to be my good friend.. and found other more ‘cool’ friends around. So I was very upset during my early sec 1 days. Not that anyone really knew I think. So it’s funny how this lil intern brings me so much joy.. she’s so much in love with God and with praise & worship.. plays the drums… and she’s called Charissa. Brings me back to the good old days with my friend – I still remember everything we did in primary school… really.

After work today, it was the surprise farewell party for Susan, our olps youth coordinator. It was a really nice event… so well done.. so good job.. kudos to the youths there with so much potential. I was really glad to be there. I was glad to help. Glad to be part of the community there and increasingly wishing I could know the youths better.

Then at 10pm, Abi and I jetted off to Eugene’s place for our YAM gathering..tonight was relaxed, just chilling out… talk about ministry, about the recent YISS camp, and all their experiences. Good time to bond once again. It was sweet..!

But on the way home, I was struck by a feeling yet again of inadequateness. Leadership – has never been my cup of tea. I mean.. we have all the aspiring leaders.. who are good at so many things.. why not let them lead? Why me God? It brought me back to asking – why do I serve God? Even if no one praises the work I do, do I still serve God? And Do I even need the praise of men?

Then, I thought another debilitating thought: that how can I be a leader if I don’t really want to listen to God and sit down each day trying to be obedient.. and seek His will in everything I do? Sometimes, I’d rather just count on common sense, worldly wisdom/experience, and even just flagrant disregard for what a leader should be doing – leading his people.

Then I just got all upset… with myself. Leadership. Is so difficult. I wish I weren’t one. I wish I could just shy away and hide and disappear from the Earth. I just want to go Home.. in Heaven.. now..

But like what was talked with Charissa today at lunch… sometimes, those who ask God to call them home.. never do. Until they finish the mission that God has intended for them to do.

And for me? This is my mission. This is what I was here for. I was made for a purpose. I was made for God’s glory and God’s kingdom. So I better just do it!

Then I thought… ok perhaps, I ought to think that if the Spirit can speak to me, he can give me a verse now. And this verse floated into my mind... So I went to check it out on the net, later, and found it to be the one from ROMANS 8:28-30 –

Romans 8:28-30
We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the first-born among many brethren. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.

This article expounds this verse even more: READ

I felt that if God called me, HE will justify me. So I don’t need to worry about not being ‘qualified’.

Then while reading the article (above link) another verse then strikes me again (as it did last week TOO at the Planetshakers event):

1 Corinthians 1:26–30
For consider your call, brethren; not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth; but God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong, God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom, our righteousness and sanctification and redemption; therefore, as it is written, "Let him who boasts, boast of the Lord."

Let me Boast of the Lord.

Well, another thought: Transformation is easy to preach.. but not easy to do. Today mum just passed me a newspaper article entitled “Transform yourself” – and I looked at it with dread.

What about those people who are not too interested in God then? even worse. So I can fully understand the feeling.

So well… all I can do now is thank God for giving me the understanding… widening my horizons. … and for the opportunity to prepare for the 30th July YAM session, the Revival Seminar, and the 7th July Archdiocese Youth Day.

These are certainly challenges that I am glad to be a part of. Certainly we do not serve the Lord in vain.. for our God is a prosperous God who will reward all our good deeds and service done in Love.

Ephesians 2:10 continue to sustain me. I like the numbers, it’s like Feb 10, my birthday:
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

And I found out about this verse today too, from the article above too: 2 Timothy 2:10!
I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which in Christ Jesus goes with eternal glory.

Isn’t it exciting!

Time Flies!

Ju's come and gone again ... back in boston since last week... so now it's another 6 months in Boston!!

Ju & Mummy at the shop


And the car's gone too! Sold yesterday at 3:20pm. Mama feels quite sad... and suddenly me too! Aw...


That was a cute cool car.. :) I'll miss it! JU I bet you'll miss it too!! We'll save and buy another one yah! hahaa.. maybe a better one.. Roadster TT.. haahaha..

Message of Grace & Righteousness

Today, Planetshakers rocked at the Expo! But what blessed me further, was the message by Paster Prince... many things he said tonight meant something to me. He talked about how we have been saved by the death of Christ - in which Christ became the 'lamb' to take away our sins. In the old testament, people usually came to God with a lamb as a 'sacrificial' lamb, which is then killed as an atonement for their sins... This is because God loves man, but hates the sin and God is a righteous God, the sin must be punished. So people in the old testament did that back then, to be able to worship God (u had to wash your sins first before you can worship God last time), and so it sounds almost barbaric today. But since 2000 years ago, we have JESUS who became our sacrificial lamb for all eternity, so that we may become God's righteousness - to stand before God without feeling condemn by our sin - all because Jesus took it for us! Jesus has washed us clean by His Blood!

So that was the message. Yes I remembered it loud and clear. It really helped me understand the teaching about righteousness. But though there's still countless bible studies we could do even more, I am glad now that at least I brought back one thing - that God loves me so much and that the Devil hates us, the children of God. So i should be a winner, not be defeated.

AMEN!!!



For me, in the shoes of a young adult, this night absolutely worked. The music, media, sound effects, hip-hop dancing.. was fabulous. Nothing could have been better than merging all these modern-day inventions together towards an event that truly praises the Lord.

But ultimately, it all depends on the mind and state we come in. If it's to receive, we'll receive. If it's to condemn or be critical, we'll do just that.

I was very sad at a point. At one point, I was brought to think about how we catholics (me included) can be so closed up to how God is working, that we totally miss the presence of God.

Yes, we may have our ways, but we need to be open to observe other methods of reaching out to people. Firstly, we do not have to be self-righteous. If we expect that any our non-catholic brethren coming to our church should maintain proper silence & behaviour, when we go to their church, don't we have to exercise the same respect and reverence as well? Rather than condemn and make fun of their ways of service? Secondly, we do not have to be proud - yes, we may be the first church, but like elder brothers, aren't we always thinking we are right and others are wrong? Isn't every occasion - a time to listen to God and ask - God, what do you have to say to me through this event? Rather than a time to point out funny ways the pastor talked, or incorrect statements. Same goes for protestants towards catholics. It works for all.

I feel that at the end of the day, God is the same, yesterday today and forever. I was indeed sad at the end, because there is disunity. And this disunity among people of God is something that also breaks God's heart. And so I told and acknowledged with God, that this is indeed his call - i mean.. why do I feel that sadness? heartbreak? Like Nehemiah who saw the broken walls of Israel, I see that broken wall, and i cry inside.

I told God tonight - that yes, I am for him and that my life would have no meaning if not for Him and that everything I do, it's for Him. I felt His everlasting Love wash over me once again, convicting me that I am never alone, never doing all these for nothing, and that He loves me! Praise the Lord!

So anyway, the day ended with a lovely meetup with old friend Carmen from KC! With her fiance to be, Andrew. Wow! So happy for her..

Finally, went for supper with my mama penny - we never had supper before! Can you believe that? Today since she was out, we stayed out for hokkien mee at bedok interchange. Sweet :)


2 Cor 5
11Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. 12We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. 13If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

16So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21God made him who had no sin to be sin[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Discovery - M&M peanut butter

Some cool discoveries.. though they might not be entirely new...

Firstly.. it's M&M Peanut butter. It's amazingly soft.. the peanut butter.. and this combination is really good!

Meiji Noir. Nicely packed thin black chocos. if i get a box, the whole thing will be gone in one night.

Thirdly.. that JunJie & Ruyi from VJ String/99 batch are related by blood! I never knew they were brother and sister.. same goes for Remus and Mel chia from OLPS youth mentors / KC.. gosh!!! amazing...

Well, this week is gonna be a crazy frenzy string quartet month.. practising for 2 gigs - 1 short one at SMU event, on 28th June, and another for a friend's wedding on 21st July!

Not to mention.. the Flash-actionscript class is starting in 2nd Week July. Plus the REvival Seminar will start in July 3rd week. Oh my gosh.. i'm feeling so overwhelmed.

Been sleeping late.. maybe should just drop everything.. like now.. it's time to sleep! :)

Disbelief?

Oh gosh... I can't believe how people can't believe that the picture was a cloud. Some even saying is that even a cloud? While most got the fact that it is a cloud and looks somewhat like a castle on the hill... I really think it otherwise. Especially why with God there are no 'coincidences' that have no meaning... and that we saw it after POWERHOUSE, feeling all charged up... and the fact that it ultimately looks like a fist to me that points upwards and says... YEAH!

Isn't it?? ;) (See below for pic)

Running for my life

Today at Mass, I was sitting alone... Mum had diarrhoea, and Ju was out. So no one managed to come. Then later at night, we had a good family dinner at The Straits Chinese, at Shenton. With all talk about investments, money, survival, life, I was wondering, why I do not have any interest in these at all. Either life is too good (indeed), or perhaps, I really do have a calling? I look at my work.. and while I am interested in doing the stuff,.. I have no ambition and no interest in really becoming more than what it is now. Yet, regarding spirituality, I am suddenly alive, passionate, and ambitious. I see the people who are far from God. And I know there's work to be done.

So there's some serious questions that I ask myself. Firstly.. is ministry a place for all the 'losers'? like we're here because we're not all that 'successful' with life and we are here to comfort each other?

Secondly, is ministry a place for just those who simply have more time or are more caring, and too nice - and too good - to get embroiled trying to help all these problematic people?

Thirdly, is ministry a place for the problematic people? People who are down, out, distressed, sick... those who need God and which means, for those who are ok with their lives, do not need to come to ministry?

Yet we are missing the whole point. Fact is, non-ministry people are also losers, problematic, and poor if not financially, sometimes, poor in character, spirituality, morality.

The reason why we go to ministry is because we want to serve God, because we have felt God's goodness. As simple as that. For me, I've experienced God's realness, presence, voice, direction, peace, love, and saving grace. What more can I do but return to God my time and gifts and talents, in everything I do? Every minute and day is with that goal, that mission.

My life is no longer my own, but it belongs to the Lord.

This is a cool devotion that I just read, from this website (CBN.com... just found out about this... )

It's called... "Running for my life": http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/devotions/noebel_running.aspx

An excerpt from it says... In Oswald Chambers book, MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST, he shares how we need to be as broken bread and poured-out wine to please God. We are to be "separated to the gospel" which means being able to hear the call of God for our lives. Our lives are to be used to preach the Good News to those around us, just like Paul in Romans 1:1.
"This letter is from Paul, Jesus Christ's slave, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News" (Romans 1:1 NLT).

For some of us, it is a literal call to become a preacher. Others may hear this Word of exhortation as a reminder to witness to those Christ puts in our paths every day. If God calls you to preach His Word, then we need to stay on the road that leads to becoming that man or woman of God He has called us to be. Oswald Chambers also said, " Once someone begins to hear that call, a suffering worthy of the name of Christ is produced. Suddenly, every ambition, every desire of life, and every outlook is completely blotted out and extinguished. Only one thing remains- 'separated to the gospel.' Woe be to the soul who tries to head in any other direction once that call has come to him. Beware of competing calls once the call of God grips you."

This part of the book encouraged me so much. For a long time I've struggled to be accepted by the church and organizations that don't understand the calling of God on my life. I have felt rejected and discouraged. But I know that no matter how long it takes, I must press on. I can not give up or turn away from the calling of God for me.

I'm thinking... beautiful reflection.

After POWERHOUSE yesterday (Saturday 9 June) - on the way towards Tampines Mall, we saw a huge weird shaped cloud that looked like a fist, going.. "POWER"!... At least that's how we saw it. Doesn't it look like a fist?


The participants at the Praise & Worship Workshop, POWERHOUSE, at OLPS on Saturday. Good crowd for our first public event in OLPS. I was hoping for more, but I am also pleased with this turnout!