No more Honeymoon, forever my Honey

LDR.

Countless people have asked me about it. And I know, out of all who ask, most of them don't feel hopeful for me. I know, I can't tell. Thanks to the encouraging few out there!!

Some people ask me if its tough. Is it tough? DUH. But does it mean that just because its tough, I give up on this wonderful girl that I've set my eyes on? You know what: marriage is tough sometimes. Does it mean you don't get married forever?

True enough, LDR ain't always easy. We have our valleys, quarrels etc. And of course, some people think we're still in our honeymoon period. Dang find out the facts first!

But the most important fact of all, is that this is gonna be possible, and that I will stick to this darling always, is because of Jesus in our lives. More and more, we see why having a strong relationship with Jesus first is so important. Because sooner or later, we see the spots of the other person. The bad habits, the pimples and the white hair.

Yet, only God's love surpasses all these and loves the person exactly for who he or she is. And because we have a model to follow, that's what keeps a relationship going. When we imitate God's love, we come out of a quarrel sweeter than before; stronger than ever.

Love is about risk too. And we have taken the risk to open our hearts to each other. We were hurt by each other before, but God has miraculously brought us back together. And we look back and now realize that the period of pain, was perhaps, necessary.

We believe God has so much more in store, and we're opened to His leading. People show me a certain face when I tell them I don't know what to do after I finish my studies. 'How're you gonna earn money, provide for family etc etc' Yea sure the man's the provider of the family, and I will work hard in future. But deep in my heart, the TRUE PROVIDER and BREAD MAKER of my family is God. He has been providing for my own family and will continue to do so. And when we trust in His providence, it opens us up to so much more. It frees us to do His work and His will, and we no longer have the burden of thinking of how to make money, because God said to seek His Kingdom and it'll be added unto us.

So we think of seeking His Kingdom, not seeking money. Of course, my dear girl loves God so much and from her life, anyone can tell she's juz living for Jesus.

And look at my parents. More than 10 yrs w Dad in Vietnam. Now our family's probably closer than before.

If God is for us, who can be against us!

ARISE 2010

Wow what an experience it has been! Serving with the Clancys has always been so refreshing! Its so encouraging to see people walking by faith and giving their lives COMPLETELY to God, and the result is pure joy; living for Him and the miracles that follow when we open our lives to God.

The past 1 yr in Maju might have hardened me a bit. Perhaps I've had to deal with all sorts of people and slowly, my heart conditioned itself not to open up to others and perhaps, even to God. But finally, a mini- breakthrough. God simply touched me in the most unexpected place - in the shower. I was just singing ' Jesus You are my Lord, my God, You're my Saviour'. And then - my heart was strangely warmed. God's love just reassured me again, and perhaps broke down the barriers of fear that my heart would be hurt by others, and to let me not just know, but experience and let God's love sink into my heart, and live it out in my life. For Christians who grow up in church, its easy to know about God's love, and because of the judgmental nature of people (esp Singaporeans), we are sort of being forced to 'know' it. Yet what's the point if our hearts don't realize it. Only God can soften and change our hearts.

And so, I'm opened to God's leading. Wherever You lead, help me to go. Cos we Christians have nothing to lose!

WooHoo!

What's wrong with me?

Everywhere I go, something screams at me , telling me there's something wrong w me and I'm not good enough. There's always something to change; that I'm not doing enough.

People in camp don't seem to respect me and I get the feeling that they think I'm not a very good worker and maybe a slacker; nothing outstanding at all. I can't seem to click with some of church ppl anymore; I wish I could connect w people more easily. Is there somethin wrong w me? I come to God each time feeling unworthy and like there's always something to be corrected; is there something wrong with me. That's why I can't hear His voice; that's why I dunno what to do etc.

I'm tired of being corrected, not doing enough, not being good enough for anyone!!!

God is there something wrong w me?

I Will Be Here

I miss you. You know one thing good about God? HE DOSEN't HAVE TO MISS ANYONE, COS HE'S EVERYWHERE WITH EVERYONE!!!!!

Wish I could be there.

I Will Be Here - Steven Curtis Chapman

Tomorrow morning if you wake up
And the sun does not appear,I will be here.
If in the dark we lose sight of love,Hold my hand and have no fear,
‘Cause I will be here.

CHORUS
I will be here when you feel like being quiet;
When you need to speak your mind, I will listen.
And I will be here when the laughter turns to crying;
Through the winning, losing, and trying, we’ll be together,
‘Cause I will be here.

Tomorrow morning if you wake up
And the future is unclear,I will be here.
As sure as seasons are made for change,Our lifetimes are made for years,
So I will be here.

CHORUS
I will be here, so you can cry on my shoulder;
When the mirror tells us we’re older, I will hold you.
And I will be here to watch you grow in beauty,
And tell you all the things you are to me;I will be here.

I will be true to the promise I have made,
To you and to the One who gave you to me.

As sure as seasons are made for change,
Our lifetimes are made for years,
So I, I will be here.

We'll be together and i will be here."


What a lovely song! "Oh Lord, help me be true to the promise i have made to her and to You, who gave her to me. Help me to honour her more each day."


As much as I'd love to be there for you, no one beats God. As you listen to this song, first take it as a love song from God to you!! Cos He's always more reliable, more faithful, more patient, more everything that's goood!!!

But after that, I can sing this song to you also la hahaha:)

Take care u:)

I will be here.

God's Jigsaw

We're all living in an age of uncertainty, and anything can happen. And the scary part is that anything BAD can happen. So it helps to remember that we, Christians, have a God who's in control and knows the full picture of the jigsaw of our lives.

The truth is: we'll only see the jigsaw of our lives completed when we reach heaven. There'll be plenty of mysteries, questions and stuff we won't understand while we're here on earth. Perhaps we look back and see the few pieces fixed already, but what lies ahead and HOW God places the remaining pieces; we don't know. And what's in the past may even look boring, plain, or even WRONG on their own.

Or maybe the first few pieces looked alright, even beautiful. Yet one day Satan comes along, picks up a piece and tries to fit it in a wrong position. Maybe the final piece to finish the jigsaw, but at the wrong time. Or simply bringing a cup of milk and spilling it all over, messing up our lives. Or so it seems.

Yet we need to get this: that Satan is no feat for God. God says," Give me back that piece, that's the wrong one." And satan, with trembling hands, returns it to God. Or God simply takes His ADIDAS IMPOSSIBLE IS NOTHING towel, and wipes off the spilled milk.

Are you worried about how your jigsaw will turn out?

Or can you trust the One fixing the jigsaw? Can you live life freely without worrying, as if God has already completed your jigsaw? Cos He will.

1Co 9:24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.

Ps: For a lesson on life, sign up for the Standard Chartered marathon. Its a sermon on the run, literally. :)

A Place of Thus Far

“Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and said, ’Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?’” 2 Samuel 7:18 (ESV)

Devotion:
Have you been in a place of “thus far?” A place where you find yourself in the constant misting of God’s blessing and favor on your life. Not blessings and favor by the world’s standards of materialism and wealth, but by the Lord’s standard of provision, protection, providence, and peace that come from walking with the Lord on a daily basis.

You arrive at the place by faith, following the Lord’s leading and trusting His ways, not your own. One day, as you meet with the Lord, like David, you sit and take summary of all the Lord has done for you. With compulsory praise and complete humility you say to the Lord, “Who am I that you have brought me thus far?”

Oh the places David had seen in his lifetime! From the grassy meadows, to the splendor of palace life, a drafty cave, back to the throne itself. Yes, King David had arrived at a place of “thus far” in his life. He had experienced every emotion that exists, from confidence to fear, love to hate, and sadness to joy. After all that King David had been through I can certainly understand why he needed to go sit before the LORD and ask, "Who am I?"

He was overwhelmed at the goodness of God and the faithfulness he had experienced. He had been through some of the toughest situations a person could go through, yet because He remained faithful God was allowing David to receive his just reward. I have to think the reward of kingship and royalty paled in comparison to knowing the goodness and faithfulness of God.

Have you been there? Life has taken twists, turns, and changes at every bend, yet somehow for a season you have arrived at a place to receive abundant blessings from the Lord. You realize your place of thus pales in comparison to knowing and experiencing the goodness and faithfulness of God.

No matter what current circumstances you find yourself in, with our Living God there is always a place of “thus far” awaiting around the next bend. This is a place of celebration, praise, complete humility and gratitude before the Lord. I have discovered the hardships we go through are all worthwhile when we get to our place of “thus far.” In compulsory praise, with a humbled heart, we can pour our blessings back out to the Lord in praise and cry, “Who I am Lord, that you have brought me thus far?”

Dear Lord, forgive me when I fail to sit and take summary of Your tremendous favor in my life. The misting of blessings and favor are far superior to anything this world can afford me. Help me to remember my place of “thus far” when Your plan for my life leads me to another season that may be risky and cause me to walk by faith and not by sight. I offer this praise of thanksgiving to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen



Wendy Pope

Live in the Present

CONTENTMENT avoids:
o the desire for things more than God
o the desire for pleasure more than godliness
o the longing for more things than for Him who is to be all in all
o the desire for what others have when they have more or better things or situations than we have and the constant thoughts about things over the spiritual world

Dancing Past Regrets

From crosswalk.com....

The Writer of our story and the One who has ordained all our days loves us intimately. The number of precious thoughts He has toward us cannot even be measured! That means God not only has our life story planned out, but because He loves us immeasurably, that story is truly a good one…one of loving kindness and hope. So we don’t need to be doubled over in disappointment and shame, thinking our lives are past the point of ever turning out well. We don’t need to live with regrets that we made certain choices that messed up our lives. We can, instead, dance past those regrets knowing that God is still in charge and He knows the plans He has for us, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11b).


Will you go through this day differently knowing that the Writer of your story has precious thoughts of you too numerable to measure? And will you trust Him today that He has this chapter of your life already resolved and is waiting for you to see the benefits of trusting Him as you live through it?


You can rejoice today knowing that your circumstances are no accident in the eyes of an all-knowing, all-seeing God. And because your days were written out in His book before you were born, He has already planned the “happy ending” that still lies ahead of you. Don’t’ give up on God because your story in His book is only half-lived.

Trust the process.

Trust your Maker.

And rest in the fact that the Writer knows exactly what’s ahead and can get you safely to the “happily ever after.”