Makoto Muramatsu

I LOVE CATS!

I wrote about my passion in 吗哪月刊(church's chinese department's publication) many years ago, yes, it was in chinese... if I can find the script, I'll definitely post it here ;)

Makoto Muramatsu(村松誠), a Japanese artist who makes super cute images of cats (many kitties) and other animals with a lovely and silly expression. I love his works, they are all so sweet and cute!!

Images of cats:



Images of other animals:



My very first encounter with his work:



My profile picture:

Tiffany and Theophila wish they could go out and play.
Thaddea snuggling up with mommy.
Daddy has gone to church for prayer meeting.

I chose this as my profile picture because it protrayed our recent family adjustment to spend less due to a super-tight financial budget... no more going out on a Saturday: we saved about $50 for travelling out, lunch at the mall, coffee at the library, taxi to church, dinner outside and taxi home. Sure hope we won't have to be like this for too long... I miss Cafe Galilee and prayer meeting!

My favourite:

someone bought this for me...

Jigsaw puzzle for my sister's b'day

Tiffany wrote the birthday greetings at the back of the puzzle. She also drew something for her aunt - her all-time favourite skeleton-man(haha!) with a very colourful background!

Notice a missing piece at the bottom left corner of the jigsaw puzzle? We made-up by quoting this to her:

"Life is like a puzzle.
JESUS is the missing piece!"

My sister is also a cat-lover!

No Words. Just Tears.

My Life Testimony

Have been wanting to post this...

"My Life Testimony" is about how I came to know Jesus and why did I embraced Him as my Lord. It was written way back in year 2000 when I was being asked to share in a gospel evangelistic meeting about my faith.

It's amazing how God works. I started to re-type it 2 months ago because I lost the soft copy in my office computer. I was happy that I still have the hard copy with me... but re-typing it out is very time-consuming, so it was kind of 'abandoned'.

Yesterday as I was searching for Tiffany's earlier birthday photos in my home computer, I saw this folder 'LYDIA' in the C drive, because I seldom work on my home computer and, because it is screaming out my name, I open it out and saw my script!!

So, right now I'll just copy and paste and go through it again to fine-tune the words, you see, I used a lot of abbreviation which you might not understand ;) SO, here we go:

MY LIFE TESTIMONY

I am glad that you are reading about me at this God's appointed time. I would like to greet you in the Name which is greater than any other name, and that's the great Name of Jesus Christ!

I am giving you an account of my life testimony. That is to share with you how I came to know Jesus and why did I embraced him as my Lord.

I was born into a Taoist family. My parents pray to ancestors and worship a statue-god called "da-bo-gong". Mom would ask me to help her every 1st and 15th day of the lunar month to offer food and burn incense. I was just a little girl then and knew nothing much except that all these rituals were performed so that our ancestors and the statue-god would in turn protect and bless us.

A picture of my deceased grandma was placed on the altar and also a list of our ancestors' names. I was not close to grandma at all because she passed away before I was even born. I used to wonder where had she gone to and did she really hear us praying to her?

But as a little girl, I have more faith in my deceased grandma than the statue-god, because once my Dad was washing it and it slipped off his hands and was broken. Though I was still little, I wonder how this god is going to protect us when he couldn't even wash himself or protect himself. I remember Dad got to use superglue to fix him up before he gets another new one from the temple.

After I grew up a little. I was in primary school when I heard stories of a historical man called Jesus. I was fascinated by His stories. The 1st story I heard about Jesus was how He rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" He was in a boat when a storm broke up. With just one command, the wind died down and it was completely calm. I thought to myself, WOW-WEE, this Jesus must be somebody, because even the wind and the waves obeyed
Him.

Shortly after that, I got a chance to attend a children's Sunday
School with my sister, Sarah. From there I heard many more cool stories about Jesus. How He healed the sick, made the blinds see, the lame walk. The miracles He performed, feeding the 5000, causing the dead to rise and delievered those demons possessed. I don't know why BUT something inside of me just know and believe that this Jesus is for REAL.

My parents came to know about us attending church and they stopped us. They even beat up my sister because she had converted to christianity. I was afraid and I told myself never to become a christian, if not my Dad would definitely beat me to death.

Time passed and I grew up a little more, prettier and taller(haha!) and was in my secondary school years. But then, I was a troubled soul. I was bound by spirit of inferior complex. I tend to pity myself a lot. And I mean REALLY A LOT, so much so that I attempted
suicide.

Yes. I thought life was NOT fair, why my friends were all better off than me? Why A's parents were so rich? They could lived in a terrace house and had a garden, but mine was just a 3 rooms flat and could only put a few flower pots on our 5-foot-way. Why B was so clever and scored so well for all her subjects but I could only managed a pass and even fail some subjects no matter how hard I studied? Why C was so pretty but I was just a plain jane?? Why? Why?? Why???

It may sound silly now but then it was terrible, envious and jealousy and self-pity clouded my mind and I often hide away and cried. Once, I nearly popped 2 moth-balls which my Mom put in the wardrode to keep away crocoaches. I thought death could put a stop to all my so-called 'sufferings', but the other part of me was afraid, I didn't know where would I end up and what would happen to me?

I began to ask many questions about life and death. Why I was born into this world and into this family. Why people died. I mean it is so meaningless, the moment you born into the world, every minute that passed makes you closer to the day you died. *SIGH*

Then Jesus came into the picture. At the darkest moment of my life I would say, my sister, who continued attending church though my parents were strongly against it, had began to share with me about Jesus' 2nd coming and that how the world is preparing for His return.

The Bible predicted that there will be an increase of natural disasters like earthquakes, floods. Increase of wars and rumors of wars. How this world would become a cash-less society. Mark of the beast 666 on the palms and foreheads of men for transaction. I wonder whether you people heard of the recent development, a professor tried implanting microchip into his arm!

Hmmmm.. how interesting I thought. Whatever the Bible predicted regarding the events before the coming of Jesus, the newspaper was reporting on it. This created an interest in me that I wanna read the Bible which itself claims to be the Word of God.

SO, from my sister's sharing and from reading the Bible, I began to understand many things about life and death. That death is the result of sins. I realise I have sins, tons of it and that I sin naturally. I don't need to be taught how to tell lies, how to steal, how to hate, instead I need to be taught otherwise.

I learnt that it was appointed for men to died once and after that judgment. I realized that those who died could no longer protect us as they are waiting to be judged by God. Therefore, ancestors worship is totally out. About being filial, I think I should demonstrate it while my parents are still around, not only after they died.

Then, I came to know of this Creator God, the God of the Bible, and how He loved me by sending His Son, Jesus, to died on the cross for my sins. I felt the love of God for me is so real.

Whenever I read the Bible, I could almost felt like God is speaking to me. Like for instance, in Jeremiah 1:5, God said that before He formed me in the womb He knew me, before I was born He chose me! I felt so special and slowly that spirit of inferiority just left me. No longer I pity myself, I began to count my blessings which God so graciously bestowed on me through His Son, Jesus. I began to thank God for my family, my life, my friends and even my appearance.

In 1985, I was 15 yrs old then, I made up my mind to accept the sacrificial love of Jesus. I went to a rally. The preacher was talking about the narrow gate.

Matthew 7:13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

I know that if I become a chrisitian, my Dad would beat me to death. But I was certain that I need Jesus, who is the narrow gate, though it may be tough to walk on the narrow path, it leads to life and I wanna be those few who find it!

Hence, at the end of the rally during the altar-call, I slipped up my right hand and went forward. I confessed my sins to God and asked Him to forgive me. I believed and received Jesus into my heart, into my life. Instantly, I felt all my sins were washed away by the blood of Jesus. I was reconciled with God and abundant joy just flooded my heart.

No words could express how I felt. It was the glorious moment in my life, tears just streamed down. I remembered the song they sang at the rally: "He is Lord, He is Lord. He has risen from the dead and He is Lord. Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord." I tell you, I couldn't agree more with the song ever so strongly!

Yes, my parents got to know about my conversion, and Dad did beat me up badly(though not beat to death, but with water-hose, the bruise was on my right thigh for the longest time!) but I was willing to suffer for my Lord, because God is faithful; he never let me suffer beyond what I could bear. He always provide a way out so that I can stand up under it. Guess what? Slowly I was able to attend church.

Finally, I would like to conclude here that it is the love of God that draws me to Christianity. Christianity to me is not just another religion, it is a LIVING relationship with the God of the whole universe, which made possible by Jesus Christ who paid the penalty of sins on my behalf when he died on that awful cross.

I love Jesus very much and the fact that He rose from the dead, I believe He is the begotten Son of the Living God and that He is coming soon.

Now, God loves you and has given you ample opportunities to know Him. God wants you to know Him more intimately through His Son Jesus Christ.

With this, I end my sharing and may Jesus be so real to you, like He is to me, that you cannot, but to receive Him into your heart to be your Lord and Saviour.

Praise the great Name of Jesus. Amen!

Congrats! You've finished reading my very long testimony! Now you got to know a little more about me, ya?

Thanks for reading!

I will update this post again with a picture of myself at 15 years old, I hope I can find one!

Go Bible!!!

Last Sunday, a very kind brother uploaded a FREE Bible viewer in my handphone, with 2 translations NIV and KJV! I find it SO convenient for looking up bible verses and for reading.

Later I realised that it can be downloaded from the internet. The people who did this said it's for the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ and the furtherance of His Kingdom. And I think it's really COOL!

Also, there are 22 different languages to choose from!! You may wanna download it in your handphone too ;)

Click GO BIBLE!!! Some details:

Go Bible is a Free Bible viewer application for Java mobile phones (J2ME MIDP 1.0 and MIDP 2.0).

Go Bible 2.2.6 Features:
Christ's Words in red
SMS scriptures
Bookmarks
History
Coloured themes
Fast search


Enjoy!!

PS. Philip help me to download a chinese version too... hehe!

Not for us only...

My last entry was about God's timely message of Health and Healing for us as we all fell ill one after another, from the youngest babe, little Thaddea, to the oldest "babe" - mommy, haha! I have just recovered from Upper Resipratory Infection... Thank God for healing all of us and thank God for good health for everyone in the house now :)

2 days after the Fast and Prayer, we received a sms from the church's Prayer Band requesting us to pray for Ezra, a 7 years old boy, was diagnosed with first stage Luekaemia and is going for a bone marrow test.

Leukaemia is a type of cancer that affects the white blood cells. In leukaemia, white blood cells become abnormal, and divide and grow in an uncontrolled way. Ezra's mommy noticed that Ezra's hands and feet were yellowish and he seems to have increased bruising... so she asked elder Hong Choon who is a doctor and he recommended a specialist for her. That was how they discovered it. Doctor told them that Ezra had Acute Lymphocytic Leukaemia. "ALL" affects lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) so they cannot work properly. This may cause a serious infection. It also causes many abnormal lymphocytes to be made, which crowd out the normal red blood cells and platelets. ALL is the most common type in children.

In acute leukaemia, symptoms develop rapidly and the leukaemia can quickly become life-threatening if it's not treated. Thank God that they found out early and right now, little Ezra had undergone his first chemotherapy. Due to the side effects of the treatment(weak, nauseas & loss of appetite), Ezra is quite difficult to handle. He has also developed a fear for doctors. We are praying for the parents to be strong and that God would lessen the side effects of chemotherapy.

For the family:

2 Corinthians 4:8-10
"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body."

Ezra Lim, Jesus Christ heals you! Amen!!

The Great Physician

"Chief of the Medical Staff"
By Christian artist Nathan Greene

The only man in the house, Philip, was sick and needed to be hospitalised for a minor surgery.

During the week of his surgery, I took urgent leave from work for 5 days to care for the children. We didn't go for the prayer meeting on Saturday. When we went to Church today, it was a Prayer and Fast Sunday which we would stay back after Sunday Service and continue with the P&F till 5pm. I was pleasantly surprised that the Sunday message by our guest speaker, Rev. Johnnie Tan, was about Health and Healing.We needed to hear that, really! Thank God for a timely message!

I was told by SK that yesterday's Prayer Meeting was focused on healing too. The worship leader, sis. Apphia, led an opening song about healing. And the closing song led by Pastor was also a healing song.

God knows our need. God assures us of His Power to heal. Praise God for that! One thing for me to take note is that there are hinderances to our healing and one of it is "Idolatory". There are modern idols which we need to check ourselves and rid of it for healing to flow. Could 'blogging' became an idol to me?? I wonder.... Okay, I will make sure that I put God first before I blog ;)

Pastor taught us to proclaim this which I would like to make this my confession everyday : I confess that Jesus Christ is my LORD, the HEALER! Amen!

Oh yeah... the picture, that piece of artwork "Chief of the Medical Staff" by Nathan Greene, the christian artist which I mentioned in my last post.... When I prayed for Philip during the time when he was going into the operating theatre, I was praying for Jesus to guide the hands of the surgeon, after praying I was reminded of this artwork which I remembered seeing it while I was writing about "Ever Interceding".

Praise God that it was a successful operation!! In fact, it took only 5 minutes. Even though it was a minor surgery, I admit that I entertained the fear of losing my husband... what if he couldn't wake up from the GA? With GA, there is always a risk... Thank God that not only Philip woke up from the GA, he is recovering pretty well, just need some times for the wound to be completely healed. And thank God for assuring us with His wonderful Word through His servants. Indeed, Jesus is our Great Physician! Hallelujah!

During the Prayer and Fast, Pastor also led a prayer for healings and encouraged us with the following verse:

Isaiah 58:8 "Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard."

We were so comforted and re-assured when we came home from church today. *BIG SMILE*

Ever Interceding

of Jesus praying...

Lydia! Lydia!

Satan try to destroy you with cancer,

but I have prayed for you,

so that you would not died.

So that your husband, Philip,

would not be deprived of a wife.

So that your young children

would not be deprived of their mother.

I was sitting right at the back of the church as Thaddea was sleeping in my arms, when I heard over the speakers, right from behind the pulpit, this prayer which Pastor mimic what Jesus would have prayed for me. It was so loud and so clear. It was so touching. It sent tears to my eyes and still does...

Pastor's message for that Sunday was: Jesus is praying for us, what are we going to do about it? It was a revelation given by the Holy Spirit to Pastor in the last week of August, that Pastor realised that we must say "Thank You Jesus."

Pastor shared that even though he knew this doctrine of Christ interceding for us, he never did say thank you to the Lord, until the Holy Spirit revealed to him. That's why Pastor stressed that just by knowing in the head is not enough, we must be touched by the Holy Spirit. The other thing is : We must ask Jesus to pray for us.

Acknowledge.

Appreciate.

And Appeal.

Lord, please continue to pray for me, I really appreciate that, I really need that!

After the service, I went up to pastor and said, "Pastor, may I shake your hand please? I want to thank you for the message you shared today on Jesus interceding for us. All this while I only thought that the church had prayed for me and you, pastor, my husband and my children prayed for me, but I never thought that Jesus would pray for me too. And I thanked everyone except Him..." Pastor reached out his hand to shake mine and said, "Oh, I also didn't know until the Holy Spirit showed me."

Ever Interceding

Now, what do you think of this piece of artwork? I think it is very very nice, lor! I was searching for a picture to go with this post and found this piece of excellent christian artwork by Nathan Greene! The moment I saw it, I wanted so much to purchase it for my dear pastor... but then hor, my budget too tight, lah.... anyway, if you are interested to own one, you can buy it from here or here

Though I may not know how to appreciate arts, I think this piece of artwork really portray what the Lord is doing even right now... It reminds me of how Jesus Christ is Ever Interceding for us... I could almost see the intensity! What a wonderful High Priest we have!

"Oh Jesus, our High Priest in Heaven, please pray for us."

"Thank you Jesus for praying for us."

Romans 8:34b "Christ Jesus, who died - more than that, who was raised to life - is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us."

Answered Prayer

Tomorrow!

Yes! Tomorrow is our 11th Wedding Anniversary!

11 years ago when two had become one, my prayer was answered so beautifully ever in my life :)

This morning I took pictures of our wedding pictures, blurry but great for looking back :)

Exchanging vows

Rendition of our wedding song
~ Answered Prayer ~

Philip & Lydia

To be exact, we have been in love for 21 years! 10 years of courtship and 11 years of life together as husband and wife, with 5 years of being parents to our beautiful girls, the 'fruits' of our love together... Wowwee, definately a 'Love-Long-Run' (爱情长跑), haha!

Still remember the wedding song we chose? Yes, it's "Answered Prayer" by Lisa Beville & Bob Carlisle.

Still remember how I was quite disappointed that the song does not have an accompaniment track? Yes, we need to make do with just the guitar.

Still remember how you surprise me when Desmond and Denise sang with the accompanied music track? Yes, George managed to get it oversea at the very last minute!

Still remember I was almost in tears half way through their singing? Yes, when I suddenly realised they are singing with an accompaniment tracks!

Yes! Yes! Yes! God made everything so beautiful, it was answered prayer upon answered prayers!

Hey look what I found here: An Interpretative Dance of our wedding song. I believe it was at a Filipino Wedding. The dancer so beautifully danced out the words of the song. I like especially these few lines:

It's times like these I thank the Lord for the life that we share... I like the way she looks up to the Lord :)

And every day I spend with you is another answered prayer... I like how she puts her hands together going up to Heaven.

When your heart touches mine... so so beautiful and touching!

You have shown me the power of what love can do ... powefully stunning!

I see glimpses of heaven with your simple 'I Love You' ... so so sweet!

Simply beautiful! You got to watch it!!



Here is the lyrics of the song:

At the end of a long day, can't close my eyes
Watching you as the sun sets as it slowly waves goodbye
It's times like these I thank the Lord for the life that we share
And every day I spend with you is another answered prayer

Answered prayer, when your heart touches mine
We've found a love only few ever find
Answered prayer, now that you're here
Our love grows richer year after year
And if life should end tomorrow, I'd leave a millionaire
'Cause in my heart, I'd take with me
A life of answered prayers

You have shown me the power of what love can do
I see glimpses of heaven with your simple 'I Love You'
And every time I think of you, it almost seems unfair
For a man like me to have so many answered prayers

Answered prayer, When your heart touches mine
We've found a love only few ever find
Answered prayer, now that you're here
Our love grows richer year after year, after year
And if life should end tomorrow, I'd leave a millionaire
'Cause in my heart, I'd take with me
A life of Answered Prayers

Answered Prayer


老公，能够嫁给你是我一生所想的。
感谢上帝应予了我的渴望。

Thank God for fulfilling my desire.
Philip, you are an answered prayer to me.
I love you, forever!

我爱你，永远爱你！


I just can't get enough of our Wedding Song! Here is another one sung by the chipmunk/chipette, Simon Seville & Jeanette Miller, it's a classic! Enjoy!! :)



Here is my post last year on our 10th WA.

Finally, our wedding verse:
Song of songs 8:7 "Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away. If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly scorned."

《 耶稣是谁？》Who is Jesus?

多数不同信仰的人都承认耶稣基督是2000年前生活在以色列的一位好人。有人认为他是一位先知，也有人认为他是一位道德家，还有人认为他是一位宗教改革家。但是透过《圣经》的教导，我们不得不承认他不仅仅是一位先知，一位道德家，或是一位宗教改革家。

实际上，如果我们仔细查考《圣经》，我们便不会只把他当成好人，而必须承认他在这世上的存在是整个人类历史的中心，对他的适当的回应是我们永生的盼望。

您想要更了解谁是耶稣基督？他将如何改变你的生命吗？籍着唐崇荣牧师2008布道会《谁是耶稣？》，我们诚挚地邀请您与我们一同分享福音的好处！

People of different faiths generally accept that Jesus Christ was truly a good man who lived in Israel about 2000 years ago. Some consider him a prophet, while others regard him as a moral teacher; yet others see him as a religious revolutionist.

But when we honestly look at what the Bible tells us about Jesus, we would realize that he was definitely more than a prophet, a moral teacher, or a revolutionist. In fact, if we were to closely examine the claims of the Bible, we will no longer see him as a mere good man. We shall have to acknowledge that his presence on earth was the central event in all human history, and that our eternal destiny has everything to do with our response to this event.

You are sincerely invited to come and gain a clear understanding of who Jesus really is, and to learn what Jesus has to do with your life.


The speaker Stephen Tong is a servant of God who is powerfully used by God, you can take a glimpse of him preaching the Gospel, also a testimony of a man who was touched by God through the ministry of Stephen Tong, watch it by clicking here.

Though the message will be spoken in chinese, there will be English interpretation along with it. I have invited my dad to go on this Friday night... he hasn't give me an answer yet. If you sincerely want to find out who this Jesus really is, but ain't want to go alone, you may like to join me, a group of us are going on Friday. Send me a sms 97928159 :)

Venue : Singapore Indoor Stadium
Date : 11 - 14 September 2008 (Thursday till Sunday)
Time : 7.30pm

Also, there is a Q&A Session on 13 September, Saturday, 6.30pm to 7.30pm. You can ask the speaker whatever question you have concerning Jesus.

This is gonna be great!

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

My Father's World

Hymn: "My Father's World"

Last Thursday I completed my birth story and at the ending I inserted a welcome note to my little baby Thaddea. I typed:

"Welcome to the Father's world!"

And guess what?! This hymn, "My Father's World" was led by the worship leader, bro. Paul, at the Saturday Prayer Meeting. Pastor himself also led us to sing this hymn again at the closing of the Sunday Service. It was sung twice shortly after I welcomed Thaddea to the Father's world. Cool~

Baby Thaddea's hand on the song book.

Thaddea joins in the worship too, except that she "slams" her hand on the song book more than singing the song, lol! And here's the lyrics:

This is my Father's world;
And to my listening ears,
All nature sings, and round me rings
The music of the spheres.
This is my Father's world;
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas,
His hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father's world;
The birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white,
Declare their Maker's praise.
This is my Father's world;
He shines in all that's fair;
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass;
He speaks to me everywhere.

This is my Father's world;
O, let me ne'er forget
That though the wrongs seems oft so strong,
God is the Ruler yet.
This is my Father's world;
Why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King; let the heavens ring.
God reigns: let the earth be glad!

Yes, I like this hymn a lot. It reminds me that the world belongs to God, my Heavenly Father. And I'm glad to bring forth children(together with my beloved/charming/God-fearing husband, Philip) to this world - my Father's world :)

Welcome to the Father's world,
Tiffany, Theophila and Thaddea!

"This is my Father's world." Such simple words, the simpler things like "rocks and trees . . . skies and seas", all are masterfully created by God. God's creation is so, so beautiful! Philip and I, we love to visit places like New Zealand and Australia. We travelled on my own driving through the National Parks, stopping by the coasts, taking time to bask in God's creation.

We went whale watching twice in Australia, one at Warrnamboo Logans Beach(Great Ocean Road) which is known as “Victoria’s Southern Right Whale Nursery”. From the Whale Viewing Platform we spotted a mom and her calf!

about 100 metres from the shore and 150 metres from the lookout!

The second time we went to Moreton Bay(Brisbane) for a whalewatching cruise out on the Redcliffe Peninsula, I still remember the Captain is the only woman captain. We saw a few southern humpback whales, all so magnificent!

Captain Kerry!

We went snorkeling in the most incredible underwater world of the Great Barrier Reef at Lady Musgrace Island.

Lady Musgrave Island in the background

In New Zealand, we drove all the way up to the northern tip of the North Island, the lighthouse at Cape Reinga and saw where the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean collide.

The top bit of NZ!

We climbed up and slide down the amazing sand dunes! I still remember God led us to drive by Te Paki Giant Sand Dunes and we were the only living souls there! We had a blast playing and taking numerous photos at the giant sand dunes! That's how crazy we are, going places to see God's wonderful work! Ahh... memories!

Te Paki Sand Dunes, in Northland, New Zealand.

I must add that all these pictures are copied from other sites. Even though we took pictures too but they are not digital. They all look the same though, except that we are not in the pictures, haha! Thanks guys for the contribution! :)

We just love to admire the wonder of God's creation! And this is also one thing I want my girls to do: To know that God created the world, to love and admire the beauty and wonder of it all and hence, to adore and worship God alone, the Creator of heavens and earth!

The second thing I want my girls to know is about God's Sovereignty. "This is my Father's world." speaks of God's ownership. I want my girls to never forget, that even though the wrongs may seems often so strong, God is the Ruler yet. God reigns: let the earth be glad! Our heart should not be sad because the Lord is King! King of kings and Lord of lords!!

I remember when I was young, I told myself that I will never want to bear children, because I don't want to bring them into this world and suffer. The second they enter the world, as time ticks away, they are nearer to their death bed... Yes, I was that negative, haha. But no more now, I have hope in God. Maybe my next post would be "My Life Story"... how from a hopeless girl to a hopeful Child of God ;)

"This is my Father's world, I rest me in the thought." Take that rest my girls, knowing that no matter what happens in this world, your Creator God is in control. He is sovereign.

I found a music video from YouTube on this hymn, in fact, quite a few of them, but I like this particular one. Besides video and pictures of scenery, it has pictures of the 911 tragedy and such, it also has pictures of lovely children and cute babies... it sure goes well with what I have just shared here :) Go ahead, listen to this beautiful hymn!



"The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it." Psalm 24:1

Blessed Assurance

Stunning! Isn't it??

Can you believe this, I snap this stunning picture with only my K530i Sony Ericsson Camera phone($0 for 2 years' contract with M1), compared to Philip's Sony's Cyber-shot DSC-H2($700+) which he used to capture the first Sliver Lining. Also, I took this picture through the window of a taxi!

We were on our way to church in a taxi when I happened to look at the sky and saw this magnificent sight! The cloud, the sliver lining, the ray and the silhouette trees, simply breathtaking! I thought I won't be able to capture it's beauty so why bother, just admire it will be good enough, but somehow, since I have my handphone with me, why not give it a try... and SNAP! There you go, a good shot! Praise God!!

More...(I was asking Philip why I have been so longwinded in my blog recently and you know what he said? That age is catching up with me, that the older you are, the more lor'sor(longwinded) you'd become! Oh noooooooooo... :P) Yes, more to write on this picture. Who cares if I'm really getting old... mind you, OLD is GOLD! haha

I was pondering why the "silver linings" we have been seeing so shortly one after another, 1st was Philip, then me. For me, I was in the midst of a "suspected" health's crisis. I was down with a recurrent infections and doctor suspected that I might have diabetes, so she sent me for blood test last week. I am very sure that I do not have this problem because I passed the blood-glucose test during my 30th week of gestation.

Another part of me was worried, this infections occured more than 10 times now, if not because of diabetes(which I strongly believe I'm not diabetic) what could it be?? So I googled and found some horror suggestions that it could be the infamous cancer! Oh no, not again, please!

My mind went back to Nov'2007 when I was heavy with child (Thaddea) at 25weeks gestation, I discovered a painful lump in my left breast and the lump was H.U.G.E. Thought it was pregnancy-induced and would go away so I didn't bother until Philip felt it and alerted me to better get it checked.

Here is what I posted in the 3rd Trimester Forum that I frequent throughout my pregnancy :

Title: 29 wks and found a 4cm lump in my left breast
Posted By: Lydia fr Singapore Mommy to Tiffany 112503 Theophila 102705
Wednesday, 28 November 2007, at 02:54AM

Yup, I need your prayer support, ladies.

4 weeks ago on 1 Nov, I posted in 2nd tri board that I woke up with quite a bad pain in my left breast, which felt like blocked ducts that I had before when bf'ing my DD1 in 2003. I tried to massage it while taking hot showers when I notice that there is actually a lump there. I thought it might go away if I just massage it during every shower. Until my DH felt it and advice me to go see a doctor. So yesterday I went to see a GP and she immediately refer me to see a specialist at NCC(National Cancer Centre) tommorow. Now that got me frightened...

I did a research over the internet and now we are praying that it is just a cyst which can be drained using a fine needle. Pray with me that if I need a biopsy, it would be just a mininal procedure and that it is just a benign lump. Will post again tomorrow after my appt. Thank you for your prayer support :)

Lyd

Yes, the doctor was VERY concerned when she felt the lump and immediately refered me to the specialist at the earliest date available! They call up KKH, CGH & SGH but their available dates were either 2 weeks or much later. Finally they called up NCC and they could get me in within that week, which was 2 days later. It was then that I became aware of my situation... that I'm going to the National Cancer Centre... that the doctor is suspecting I have breast cancer. Oh NO!! What am I going to do if it is for real?? What will happen to my baby? I cannot and must not have breast cancer, because I have 3 girls and I don't want them to inherit this if I really have it. Many things went through my mind...

I googled on breast lumps, breast cancer, breast lumps during pregnancy, characteristics associated with lumps - cancer or benign (non-cancerous), breasts ultrasound scan, biopsy, etc... and found that 70% and 80% of the breast lumps detected during pregnancy are NOT cancerous(happy but sober), could be cyst or Fibroadenomas. The next day when I went for the checkup I requested the Wives' group of my church to uphold me in prayer.

And here is the next post I posted on my checkup at NCC :

Title:Thanks for the hugs and prayers, guess I need more...
Posted By: Lydia fr Singapore Mommy to Tiffany 112503 Theophila 102705
Thursday, 29 November 2007, at 05:23 AM

Firstly, thank God that it was a female senior consultant who saw me so I know I'm in good hand. Also, I had priority due to my pregnancy, I had the consultation and an ultrasound and a biopsy done within just 3 hours.

She felt 2 lumps measuring 6x4cm and 5cm in my left breast (both are huge!), the right breast is OK. She was sure that both lumps are not cyst because they are not round-ish but oval and felt bumpy too. (Not good...)

The ultrasound findings are suspicious for malignancy. The mass is rather ill-defined with a round lymph node which is not good. They scanned the right breast too but thank God it is OK.

The biopsy result would be out next Thursday. If it is malignant, they would have to deliver my baby early (at 30weeks) inorder to remove the lumps in case it spread. I really don't want that to happen, I want my baby to stay-put till full-term. Please pray that the lumps are benign despite the u/s findings. I need a miracle! If benign, we would wait till baby is born to remove the lumps.

Right now, I am not afraid for myself, except for my unborn baby and my children and DH's future if anything would happen to me...

SO, keep me in your earnest prayer.

I'm trusting God to lead us step by step :)

Lyd

Changed into NCC's suit for ultrasound scan

Biopsy specimen

The nurse was so nice to allow me to snap a picture of my (ahem) extracted breast tissues, 5 strips of the fatty tissues soaked in some preservative solution. With all the negative findings, the biopsy result would be the final to tell whether I have cancer or not.

I went back to work with quite a heavy heart, I didn't know what to think of... My mind was still in a swirl when I receive a sms from my sister :

"Lydia，已从 Philip 知道你的事。无论怎样，大姐鼓励你去面对，主给我一个最大的安慰就是你永远在主慈爱的手中，我无需担忧，教会与牧师也必定会为你祷告，相信主必成就美好的事在你的生命中。"

My reply to her was :

"谢谢大姐。其实我不怕，只是担心腹中的宝宝，还有放心不下孩子。Please pray that God will lead us step by step as we trust in Him."

After the reply I realized what was going on in my inmost being.... one part of me was not afraid because I know my God will see me through, be it removing the lumps or the breast, be it having to go through chemotherapy, be it losing my hair, come what may, I would be OK with God by my side. But the other part of me was anxious of what would become of for my family, my girls still need my attention, my husband, and my 30 weeks baby(2 more months to go) who is still in my womb!

It took one week for the result to be out, and I tell you, that one whole week was the most difficult week of my entire life! I googled on the staging of cancer, and it was very frightening... according to the tumor size which is more than 5cm, with Lymph Node Involvement on the same side of the breast, I would be in Stage III! And 5-year Relative Survival Rate for stage III cancer patient is 54%!! How scary was that! I was devastated!!

During that week, I was assigned to be the worship chairman(to lead God's people in praise and worship with songs and exhortations) on that Saturday's prayer meeting, even though I was weak emotionaly and mentally, I didn't call up Pastor to get a replacement, I still went ahead to prepare for it and I was glad I did that because it was then that God strengthen me. Songs I choose were "Healing Grace", "Your grace is sufficent for me" and "Awaken my heart"

Merciful God and Father
Loving us like no other
Hear our prayer the cry of our hearts
As we come to You
We acknowledge our transgression
We confess to You our sins
Show us mercy and compassion
Touch our lives with Your Healing grace again

Release us from our past
As we seek Your face
Wash us free at last
We receive Your love
We receive Your healing grace


Your grace is sufficient for me
Your strength is made perfect when I am weak
All that I cling to I lay at Your feet
Your grace is sufficient for me

I'm no longer striving to merit Your love
I rest in Your promise to me
That all of my sins have been washed in Your blood
Your mercy is all that I need

You see me as righteous because of the blood
That made the atonement for me
Your mercy has triumphed where I should be judged
So now by Your grace I am free


Awaken my heart
To love and adore You O my Lord
Awaken my heart
To pour out before You O my Lord
Awaken my heart
To know Your love and to love You in return
Freely flowing from an awaken heart

God spoke to me through the songs and ministered to me, before I could even minister to His people in leading the worship. It is so comforting to know that God will touch me with His healing grace. No matter what the outcome might be, God's grace is sufficient for me, His strength is made perfect in my weakness. All that I cling to , my baby, my children and my husband, I just have to lay them at His feet, He will take care of them. His grace is sufficient for us all. I cried through the worship, through the songs, through the exhortations but I emerged victorious and comforted and strengthened. I was brave to face the outcome in the coming Thursday for the result of my biopsy. Thank God for that!

Here is the post on the result of the biopsy :

Title: Negative for malignancy! Hallelujah!!!!
Posted By: Lydia fr Singapore Mommy to Tiffany 112503 Theophila 102705
Friday, 7 December 2007, at 12:44 AM

(Thank you Christina35 and Laurie for praying and asking about me)
Praise be to God who heard and answered our fervent prayers. The lumps are benign which means not cancerous. Indeed God is good and merciful. he has filled our hearts with unspeakable joy. Thank you all so much for your prayer support and words of encouragememnt. May the Lord bless you richly. Amen!

Yesterday I got my biopsy result and when I saw those 3 wonderful words "Negative for malignancy" my tears immediately flood my eyes and I was soooooooooooooooo very thankful to God for His mercy upon me and my family!

God heard my deepest cry, my greatest desire is to carry my baby to full-term (I'm 30wk now), and be able to breastfeed her. I'm granted my wish and this, because of His great mercy. I'm so full of thanksgivings!

I felt I was given a new leash(sp?) of life. That God has forgiven all of my sins and healed me of all my diseases. Now I want to live my life anew first for Him and then for my Dh and children. I want to love God more each day and show love to Dh more too. I'm so thankful to God that I can live to enjoy my children and to see my children's children.

Waiting for the result with a "suspicious for malignancy" u/s findings was like walking in the valley of death. I cried at every kick of my baby girl in my womb, I cried when I look at my children sleeping peacefully, how my heart ached to think that I might not be able to see them grow, to love them, to cuddle them and to care for them. I felt sorry for DH. I was so down in the pit... The only things that kept me hopeful is the word of God and the prayer support of my church and you ladies.

I trusted the Lord that He is good and that all He does is good. I took authorithy in Jesus' Name and prayed against the lumps. My DH fasted and prayed for me. My children held my hands and prayed with me.

I was quite peaceful on tues and wed. Until thurs when I was on my way to the clinic and waiting for my turn outside the room, I felt like I was waiting for my sentences: Life or death penalty, I was expecting the worst but hoping for the best. Afraid but courageous. All mixed up. Then when I saw the report, I was so so thankful to God.

Sorry for being so long winded. So many things went through my mind just for the past few days...
Another prayer request here, they did a Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy on my lymph node which appeared to be adnormal and they just want to rule out cancer completely. As for the lumps, either they will shrink if not I'll have them surgically remove after my delievery. The lumps could affect my milk production, so we are praying that the lumps be gone so I can fully breastfeed my baby.

So, continue to pray along with me please. I really appreciated that :)

Praise the good Lord!

Lyd

PRAISE THE LORD! Such good news! Before the result on Thursday, every night I would stay awake and hope that all these was just a nightmare and that when I wake up all would be fine, no lumps, no cancer, no need to deliever my baby early.... Indeed, thank God that it is just a nightmare, I am so thankful to wake up from it!! I really felt so relief that my nightmare is over. Later I receive another good news that my lymph node is fine, no cancer is found in there. Praise God!! It is a miracle no doubt about that and I am very thankful to God for His mercy upon me and my family. HALLELUJAH!

I finally gave birth to my beautiful baby on 5 Feb 2008, a full-term baby and she is purrrrrfect! She is now a healthy(8kg!) 6 months old baby :)

The lumps did affect my breastfeedings and that requires another story which I might write about it much later, along with what happen to the lumps which are now G.O.N.E! No traces of them, no surgery, no medication, they just disappear! God is Good!

Phew~ This is the longest post ever! (I'm getting old really) Anyway, thank God that I could just copy and paste my former posts which make it so much easier to share my story. And these posts contain my actual feelings at those tender moment of my life.... the best way of sharing, don't you think so?

I've always wanted to write about this, thank God that I did it! This Silver Lining(x2) has moved me to write about God's great mercy to me, the miracle that God performed in my life.

More... haha! Remember the blood test I was advised to take to test for diabetes? It was out yesterday : I HAVE NO DIABETES! Hurray! The infections were treated with double dose of antibiotics and I'm trusting God for complete healings! Out you go, infections of whatever kind, in Jesus' Name! Amen!

So, once again, thank God for a clean slate of health! Looking at the 2 pictures of silver linings we took, I cannot but have to exclaim : What Blessed Assurance!

"Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits -

who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion"

Psalm 103 : 1 - 3

Thank You, God! Thank You so much!

Children in Heaven

Baby Even with 妈咪和爸比

Last week I happened to come across lyrics of this song My Pride (Proud of You) - Fiona Fung and listening to it again brought back memory of 2 years ago when Theophila was only 5 months old. Strangely, this time when I listen to the song again, my baby is also around 5 months old... I wonder if I ever have another baby, that will I hear the same song again when that baby turns 5 months?? haha!

I think it was in a baby forum that I was led to this site 上帝的宝贝- Even. A heart-broken mommy lost her baby at 8mths. Baby Even was born with a heart condition and needed immediate treatment. But he was doing well after that and was able to go home. For 8 months the parents were able to love and enjoy taking care of baby Even until that fateful day.

I still remember seeing pictures of Even 妈咪 giving her baby the last bath, trimming the fingernails for the last time, hug and kiss the baby for the last time... my tears just couldn't stop flowing! An eight months old baby, so chubby and adorable, but was no longer alive... it was my first time seeing such pictures and it rended my heart. I remember I went home that day and hug my Theophila, then a baby, the longest time ever!

It was reported in the taiwanese broadcast too as the site hits 500,000 readers.

The death of a loved one is always a time of great sorrow, but the death of a beloved child is perhaps the keenest sorrow of all. Everyday I would go to her website and read her diary and sometimes I would leave a note of comment to encourage her. Even 妈咪 has long stop writing for more than a year now. The last was that she had a miscarriage...

Now for the song, My Pride, it was been mentioned by someone who was encouraging Even 妈咪 in one of the comment, that Baby Even knew and felt his mommy's love and he is now an angel, flying and singing in the sky... I remember that I listen to the song for over a 1000th' times, I like the piano, guitar & violin playing, the girl's vocal was pretty nice too, but most of all, I thought a lot about baby Even, and many other babies who are transported into heaven because of death.

Yes, baby Even, who died before the age of accountability, is now in heaven. Children in heaven, although there are few specific Scriptures on this subject, what we do know, both from the love of God and the Word of God, suggests that the souls of all deceased little children, including the stillborn and those who have been cruelly aborted, since the world began, are with the Lord in heaven.

May all the mommies who had lost their precious baby be comforted. And may all of us who still have our little ones, love, hug and cherish them every moment in life.

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14

I was sick...

I was down with an infection on Monday and took half day off work to go to the polyclinics and they gave me a queue number that was 40 from the now serving number... plus a mask. I was having fever, 38 degree celcius. I choose to go there as I wanted to collect my girl's Vaccination Certificate, even though I know the waiting time would be loooooooong.

On the second day when I was really weak and feverish and all I could do was lay on the bed, I felt so useless... couldn't take care of baby, couldn't relief Daddy of the girls, couldn't go to work, couldn't do anything at all! It was awlful! Daddy was so sweet and understanding, he comforted me that I should just rest since I was sick. Come to think of it, I was the heartless one who expected him to help with the children when he was not well.... :P

Right now I'm feeling much better, even went back to work (I miss my work! hehe) but I stayed home (with baby) while the rest went to Faith Jiejie's house for CG meeting. The house is so quiet now with baby finally sleeping (I carry and rock her, then place her on the bed and pat her, she cried so I carry and rock her again, then place her on the bed and pat her again, sang lullaby, all for almost an hour! Oh my aching back... and Daddy told me that she would definately sleep early tonight as she didn't sleep well in the day... Really huh?) I kinda miss my little song bird and Miss Enfa A+, lol. Daddy wanted me to rest so I better go lay in bed now.

Dear Lord Jesus, how you healed the sick 2000 years ago, I believe You are able to heal me today. Because You are a God who changes not. Thank You for healing and making me whole. Amen!

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Hebrew 13:8

Tour Israel

I have not been to Israel, yet. My pastor did. He went to Israel, the biblical Holy Land of God, with his family in May this year. They joined the local tour group Pilgrim Tours together with international tourists. I think it was the 15 days package known as "The Exodus" touring from Egypt, to Jordan & finally Israel. How exciting! I wish I can go too. I wonder why it was not in my plan to tour Israel on my honeymoon(we went to Europe instead)... probably due to the security. But I believe it is safe, many went and came back still in one piece. At least for my pastor :)

Anyway, thank God for the internet! I did a search on Israel tours and found many nice sites where people post their tour experiences on YouTube, Apple.Mac, etc, and by looking at the pictures they took and videos they taped, it was as good as "Been there. Done that." haha.

Going through the itinerary, they would have an early morning walk up Mt. Moses, pastor said only his daughter who is physically capable climbed Mt. Sinai, while he and his wife went by bus. I wonder how on earth did they make it by bus? Any way I found this video clip "Walking down Mt Sinai in Egypt". I would love to go for the hike! Right near the end of the video is the St. Catherine's Monastery, claimed to be built around the area of Moses' Burning Bush. Pastor said some of the tourist tried to grab some bushes for souvenir, oh man....

After which it was followed by a short ride to the Red Sea. I found this very very very interesting link on the finding of The Red Sea Crossing... They even found Chariot Wheels, human and horse bones at the crossing site in the Sea. From the link I also saw this fascinating documentary on Sodom & Gomorrah where the ash and brimstone remain from when God destroy the cities. Good readings!

I went through the itinerary day by day and search the internet for the places, I was like touring Israel by the World Wide Web instead, haha. I finally found this photo album of Rev. Neal's 2006 Pilgrimage to Israel which has all the pictures of the places :

• Caesarea - where Gentiles first heard the Good News from Peter and were baptized.
  
• Mt. Carmel - where Elijah challenged King Ahab and the prophets of Baal.
  
• Megiddo - the Armageddon Battlefield, where archaeologists have unearthed 20 levels of civilization.
  
• Nazareth - the boyhood home of Jesus.
  
• Sea of Galilee - where the Disciples worked as fishermen, where Jesus walked on water, and where our Lord "calmed the stormy sea." A relaxing cruise brings to life the experiences of Jesus and the fishermen disciples.
  
• Capernaum - Jesus taught in the synagogue in Capernaum on the sabbath days. In Capernaum also, Jesus healed a man who had the spirit of an unclean devil and healed a fever in Simon Peter. See ruins of an ancient synagogue and Peter’s home.
  
• Caesarea Philippi - where Peter made his confession of Jesus as the Messiah.
  
• Mount of Beatitudes - the multiplication of 5 loaves and 2 fishes. Traditional site of Jesus' "Sermon on the Mount."
  
• Jordan River Baptism Site - This site is believed by some to be the actual site where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist.
  
• Beth Sheanthe - most magnificent archeological site in Israel.
  
• Jerusalem, the City of God - overview shots, taken from different places around and within and above the city.
  
• Garden of Gethsemane - Gethsemane was the garden where Jesus watched, prayed, and suffered for the sins of the world the night before he was crucified. It was also where Christ was betrayed by the disciple Judas Iscariot.
  
• Caiaphas' House - where Jesus was beaten and spit upon.
  
• The Via Dolorosa - According to one tradition, this path is the way Jesus took from Pilate's Court through Jerusalem and up to Golgatha.
  
• Garden Tomb - The alternative site for the crucifixion and burial of Jesus.
  
• The Western Wall - The Western Wall is the Temple Mount retaining wall that dates from the time of the Jewish Second Temple (515 BCE - 70 AD). It is the only part that remains from the Second Temple.

Thank you soooooooooooooo much Rev. Neal for all those nice pictures you took and posted with descriptions and notes! I really appreciate your effort! May God bless you!

Looking at some of the pictures, I find that some traditional sites are being idolized and "shrinified", like Bethlehem: The Church of the Nativity... True enough, when Pastor came back from the trip, he did commented that it was quite eerie seeing those places, he even had goose-pimples when he went in there! I think some of the places are just set up for tourism-sake. But of course, my Lord did walked the streets of Jerusalem. If I were to tour Israel, it would be more for the scenery and archeological sites.

And of course, the Dead Sea! How can I forget the lowest place on earth. I would love to splotch those mineral-rich mud all over my body and float on the sea with a newspaper in my hands ;)

I would also like to start the tour from Cairo, Egypt, where I can see the wonders of the ancient world, the pyramid Cheops with an original height of 496 feet! The Sphinx and tour the Egyptian Museum, location of Tutankhamen's treasures and ancient remains. Gee...good stuff. Got to be prepared for the heat though, pastor said he was almost "chao tah" (burnt) standing under the hot blazing sun for hours listening to the tour guide, haha.

I'd like to see PETRA too. Found a video clip on it :) Pastor said he walked the longest, to and fro, just to see it and it was SO hot and thirsty that he need to "ration" the mineral water just so to wet the lips! Well, still got to go see it for myself. Maybe would bring more $$ for a camel ride there.



Pastor's wife commented that going from Egypt, to Jordan and finally into Israel, she could literally see that the Promise Land which God gave to His people is really a "Land flowing with milk and honey." So much greenery compared to the dry and deserted land...

I wanna go to Israel! I wanna journey through the Bible while touring the actual biblical sites in Israel. Going to the land where Abraham, David, Jesus and His disciples lived, it will definately be a life changing experience!! Yes, Holy Land Tour! Until then... I will be happy to do just this :

"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: 'May those who love you be secure.' " Psalm 122:6

I Will Carry You

Baby Audrey in mommy Angie's hands

I chanced upon this blog Bring the Rain~The Story of Audrey Caroline by a mother who discovered at 20 weeks that her baby Audrey would not survive even if she is born. But she chose to carry her to full term and gave birth to her, only to lose her shortly after.

Here is a very touching letter she wrote for her baby : A Letter to My Daughter

And here is a very touching song she has written for her baby (with her husband and a friend). Listen and see pictures of her and her family in the slideshow.



I Will Carry You

There were photographs I wanted to take
Things I wanted to show you
Sing sweet lullabies, wipe your teary eyes
Who could love you like this?

People say that I am brave but I'm not
Truth is I'm barely hanging on
But there's a greater story
Written long before me
Because He loves you like this

So I will carry you
While your heart beats here
Long beyond the empty cradle
Through the coming years
I will carry you
All my life
And I will praise the One Who's chosen me
To carry you

Such a short time
Such a long road
All this madness
But I know
That the silence
Has brought me to His voice
And He says...

I've shown her photographs of time beginning
Walked her through the parted seas
Angel lullabies, no more teary eyes
Who could love her like this?

I will carry you
While your heart beats here
Long beyond the empty cradle
Through the coming years
I will carry you
All your life
And I will praise the One Who's chosen Me
To carry you

"Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I shall depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised." Job1:21

And I will praise the One Who's chosen me... to carry you...

Inflation

OUCH!

I felt the pinch of inflation. Finally. I had read news about it and saw pictures of people in other countries protesting against it, but it never felt so real until recently when the amount in my bank account is getting painfully lesser and lesser, and I have been receiving red notes and fines.

I thought we over-spent on something... but checking through the bills, we have been very careful in our spending, infact, it was as per normal or less. We stayed home the whole of June School Holiday, we seldom eat supper now and we never switch on the air-conditioner at night, ok, just a couple of nights when it was super hot.

YUPPERS! It was because of the rising prices of rice, breads, oil, vegetables, meats, fruits, milk powders, and so on. All are but our basic needs!

I thank God for the profit sharing my company gave, it kinds of ease the pocket for now. I am so afraid to think ahead, where can we find the money if we run out of it... Most of our gold were sold. Shares? I dare not even read the news on the market.

I find myself looking for cheaper lunch recently. Thank God for the $1.50 chicken rice! I also try to eat noodles which cost the most $2.50. I gave up my favourite malay rice which cost $3.50 and sometime more if you wanna add another dish of vege... Once I tried to order one vege and one tofu and it cost only $1.70 which I was so so so happy, as I can eat my favourite malay rice and still spend less!

I don't order drink anymore as I'll have it back in my office. Now I really appreciate my company which provide drinks like coffee, tea and milo.

Dear God, please heal the situation. Please provide for those who are in need. For Your Name is Jehovah Jireh, our Provider. God shall supply all our needs. Amen!

"The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want." Psalm 23:1

Simply no time...

Look, a year has past and I have not even posted a single thought. I simply have no time. The only time that I have I'll be at my girls' blog, posting pictures upon pictures, trying so hard to keep steps of their every moment that touched our lives... I left with only my lunch time at work, which is but a few minutes left after I come back to my desk from the hot afternoon sun.

Last Sunday I was suppose to memorised a Bible verse and present it infront of the church. This verse hit right into my heart....

"Blessed is the man who always fears the Lord but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble." Proverbs 28:14

I made a promise, decided, vowed, to fear God and love Him with all my heart.

That was last year when I was in the most difficult moment of my life, God delievered me.

I was at the edge of death and wished so much that it was just a nightmare.

I cried so hard and shouted out loud in my heart of hearts to God that I will fear Him and love Him with all of my heart, with all of my mind, with all of my soul and with all of my strength, if He deliever me from my distress.

God did.

God set me free from cancer.

7 months have past, and God reminded me of this promise, this decision, this vow that I made, to fear Him.

So here I am, Lord. I want to fear You. Whatever I do and wherever I am, I will be in reverence of God and to please God, my great Deliverer, my life Saviour.

I love you God :)