Joy

Happiness isn't joy. I'd say.

Happiness is an emotion, joy is a state of mind.

Happiness can come about because you're with good company, eating, drinking, merry making. But joy comes from suffering; joy comes from the victory over suffering. Joy is seeing the goodness in your suffering and hence, finding the meaning in life. Joy... Joy is living life for something or someone and doing your best at it.

When I was growing up, I could never understand how my parents work so hard for me. Slave their whole lives away to put food on the table, money in my pocket, the opportunity to take a major exam. But I understand now. And for reasons unknown to me, I brought meaning to their lives.

This meaning translated to joy. Despite the hardships, heartaches, pain. Happiness might have escaped us sometimes but joy has stayed.

So... I have to take back what I've said about being happy always cause you can't do that. However, you can be joyful always.

Taken from my blog: http://makingcents.livejournal.com

funeral??

I was talking to issac (log team for my glorious)
he reminded me bout what i wanted for my funeral..
and i thought about what he reminded me..

i wanted the song oh happy day by tim hughes for my funeral..

weird song to choose for a funeral right.. actually not so..
look closely to the second verse...
V2:
When I stand, in that place {i would bein heaven already!!!!)
Free at last, meeting face to face {i'm face to face with God)
I am Yours Jesus You are mine {i would belong to God permanently)
Endless joy, perfect peace {imagine the joy of reaching heaven}
Earthly pain finally will cease {no more suffering and sin!!!)
Celebrate Jesus is alive
He's alive

Kinda unique cos funeral mass supposed to be solemn but u have such a jumpy song...
i dun mind ppl jumping at my funeral cos they're celebrating that i've moved on to a better place...

Lost in Thoughts?

The fact is that I am Human the Fiction is when i become Human

The truth of living with ourselves is we become human in our own way either good or bad. Many times I find that being human is harder than i thought being a Christian would be, Being a Christian means to love God and others. Being human is to love yourself and you only. SO the real question lies in this: "Are you being a better christian lately? " or should the real Question be " Are you becoming more human lately?". Yeah, i am becoming more human lately, that's why this topic compels me to write this.

"If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" (Lk 9:23).

So in this all familiar verse it sums up why I am(we are) confused, confused as to how should i stop being human, I feel that this feeling can never be denied nor explained, somehow God is teaching us to be more like him and encouraging us to do the right things. At this point we can only do two things : Enjoy the hypocrisy or suck it up like a man/woman . I have chosen the 1st choice as i am tired with the second choice. anyone feeling the same? i am reaching with this tiny palm and fingers to my saviour once again under a dark blue sky to the moon up above saying " this could be my halo, when can i come and get it?"(this is definetely not a suicide note, I love my life that i have been given too much). I have pondered and Thought through that how we break out of this chain is to figure out where we belong while stumbling in our darkness for we know that there is light at the end of it. I have fallen but i have not forgotten the warmth in the darkness. Therefore let us embrace the fact that we can never stop falling or failing, in this way we can face the day again.

Contradictions and reasoning stand by each other with a thin line, however love and logic stand against each other, so how now do we comprehend what to keep or what to leave behind? One word solves the question "Yourself". Yes, we only need to keep or leave behind"Yourself". That's what i feel the bible tells me, everyone keeps and leave behind themselves everywhere. I feel that if you have lost then you would have gained, when everything is lost and forgotten, that is the time when we really have gained something. Something irreplacable and Precious. In this way we will be leaving "Yourself" behind and keeping "Yourself" for a new Mission, a Cross that needs to be taken up somewhere else. Somehow we would always be wondering what the new misson would be. If this is not too arrogant a comment, i think the mission would be "Yourself", People says to love others, You need the love yourself first. How true is it then? i think its quite true to build ourselves in what we want to be which makes us less human and more "Yourself".
I am still bulding a "Yourself" for myself, of course in a combination of what is right and wrong after all i am "human". I feel that living for the present is most important not how i have lived in the past nor how i am goin to live in the future. you need to be "Yourself" to be stronger, Stronger for a purpose more significant than any other plans aka PLAN "to enter the kingdom of heaven". I have no doubts I will complete mission "Yourself" at the end of this life as it will turn out perfect no matter the outcome. So if you are wondering why there is no meaning in your living on with this life, as you have lost your former faith,love,life,friends,memories,dreams or hope or maybe u can pick and mix these for more of the agony that you want to self inflict on yourself then maybe mission "Yourself" is waiting for you as you have definetely lost yourself.


As to why i have selfishly repeatedly sayin "Yourself" without god being in it lies in this song:

Hillsong - You are Here (the same power)
The same power that conquered the grave
Lives in me, Lives in me
Your love that rescued the earth
Lives in me, lives in me





So do you have "Yourself" now?

jesus take the wheel

i remembered this song while watching the movie flywheel
the movie is about a man whose life was totally messed up until he put Jesus as Lord of his life.
totally amazed by this song and how its chorus relates to the movie which i was watching.
the chorus goes something like
Jesus take the wheel
Take it from my hands
Cause I can't do this all on my own
I'm letting go
So give me one more chance
To save me from this road I'm on
Jesus take the wheel

i think each time when things get tough, i will resolve to make Jesus Lord of my life again.. no matter how many times i fall or fail, i will keep putting Him Lord of my life. no matter how many time i sin, He is still Lord of my life.
I will let Him take the wheels and lead me because i know i am weak and cannot go the long journey of life by myself. So Lord Jesus, take the wheel..

struggling christian

i find myself a struggling christian.. trying to live in both the material world and the spiritual world.
i've given up alot on both sides but also held closely on both side as well..
still i find things quite ironic
we want to grow closer to God but we seek the approval of those around us.
we want to be individualistic but also want to be part of a crowd.

sometimes it's hard to know what path to choose or what road to take,
the bible does give some useful guidelines but ultimately it's our choice

fashion, the lastest anime, tv serials, events, all these will pass and be forgotten
even friends, we tend to forget old friends as time pass.. hard to hold on to everything.. we only keep close those who are either dear to us or got some ability that we can tap upon.

we are called to be simple people, called to love but in this increasing complex world, but love has taken on many meanings..
we can say "i love you" or "i love this" or "i love that" but are we really using the word love correctly?
love is NOT about liking something very much, it's really about caring about something/someone and wants its welfare taken care of (taken from 1 cor 13).
love is not about judging.. it's patient, kind and it forgives all the time.
simplicity in this complex world is just difficult, with competition and needs to complete this and that just gets on our nerves. as soon as we complete someething, another thing pops up.. luckily we have God to sustain us

well, this is just another raving from me so i hope u dun mind and if u have any comments just tag it up

festival of praise

i went for the sunday festival of praise with baby rach. it was awesome to see so many christians from 142 churches uniting for this event to praise God.
though it's a christian event, i took back quite alot..

there was reuben morgan and his hillsong team together with the parachute band..
started off with break free and other worship songs.. it was pretty awesome seeing so many just jumping and hands lifted high to God..

also the Word that was shared was pretty inspiring.. the speaker talked about about 3 things that the world is spreading that is momentary and 3 things that was eternal.. the 3 things that the world was spreading was pleasure (that is fleeting cos it takes u high fast, and low even quicker), possession(u are born with nothing and u go with nothing), and prestige(first will be last and last will be first).
the three thing that is eternal is a friendship with God, love (1Cor 13) and investing your gifts,talents and resources for the good works of the Lord..

ended off quite high with jumpy worship songs like tell the world, salvation is here and the perennial favourites, one way..

well, had a little souvenir from this, which was a parachute band cd which i shared cost with baby rach (we bought 2 cds for S$30, mine was parachute band, hers was hillsong latest album)

jude meeting

hey jude members
long time since we meet up

let's all meet on 16th august in church? pray together then go for lunch nearby?
11am? sounds cool?
let me know?

Shaun

HELLO EVERYONE ONCE AGAIN!!!!!

I AM HERE TO INFORM YOU GUYS THAT THERE IS JUDE MEETING NEXT SUNDAY 6TH JULY 2007. SHAUN KOH SUGGESTED IT AND WANT ME TO INFORM YOU GUYS ABOUT THIS MEETING.

Time: 1130 am
Venue: Not confirmed.

I need to know who can come or who cannot come so please message me!

LAMININ

Heys pple.. Pls do check out this video. Its amazing, mind blowing!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e4zgJXPpI4

loves
rachee

My Glorious

YISS was simply amazing. My failing faith was renewed by the wonders of God again.
Logistics and kitchen teams were simply like a never stopping production factory that keeps working to make sure everything is ready and for the Glory of God.
Was simply great to work with Shawn, Sylvester, Min Lun, Issac, Martin, Justin,Raymond..
Kitchen team, u people are wonderful too :P Alex, Evan and the 6 ladies :P (lazy to type all the names)

I arrived on wednesday night, after i booked out and rushed home from camp.. Was simply exhausted but something inside told me the best is yet to come so tahan a bit.. Everything was set up by the time i arrived so there wasn't really much for me to do..

Thursday was really a good day.. Woke everybody up with the CANTO YMCA.. got ready everything for our morning prayers.. Could feel the expectations of everyone that God was going to touch everyone who is coming for this camp. Did preparation for the games like water wars. During the afternoon, some of us refilled the water for water wars while i handed the napkins out (Your life is in my hands). Logistics and kitchen combined to formed a final team to compete against Marion's team. It was simply fun as we just chiong arh... Finally after the games, we packed everything up in record time.. (half an hour
Also,People said i was very very high. A lot of memorable stuff happen also (eg. like cooro asking me for chilli and i went to the nearest table, squat down and went chilli chilli and also phyllis keep forcing me to sit down and eat. She can be auntie after this )

Okay, think people will find a bit long winded after this so i just summarise everything lor then conclusion...
NOT IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER
we set up quiet time stations and took it down for friday and saturday.
Helped out with kitchen team (clear rubbish and more lonely walks with the opposite gender {i'm referring to the trolly}, played P&W during breakfast and certain other meals and during wash up, made syrup and took lotsa lotsa photos)
Prep for mass.
Prep for sessions
Took lotsa photos of log and kitchen in action
Lotsa P&W (jumping praising and worshiping)
Sleeping
Spiritual prep and Healing(Friday)/Outpouring of the Holy Spirit(Sat)
Wake up P&W music for both service team

I think this was one of the best YISS i ever been to. The service team was great and fun working in logistics for YISS again. I know linus keep asking me to be a facilitator but i guess i dun have time for the prep to be a facil and still not ready to be one yet. Hope to serve in Kitchen next YISS and maybe next year, with the help of the Holy Spirit, be able to serve as a facilitator.

Think Logistics guys were simply awesome, it's like the few of us working like crazy and with our humour and optimism and under the powerful influence of the Holy Spirit, achieved so much within so short a time. Set up and cleared many things so quickly and managed to do so much despite being so tired ourselves. Really think we were very high lor for YISS.
Kitchen was simply great with their services. They put the food and drinks on every single table before the participants came and cleared up everything and washed up everything (with the help of a PSP and speakers). Alex was simply wonderful, always calm regardless of what happen and always in for some fun (thanks for the great photos). But the best part is that they still have energy to be the A-Team, providing energy for everyone during P&W... Think the Holy Spirit was working to strengthen them.
For the rest, think they were simple marvelous too, working non-stop for everyone under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Think the most memorable times were the times we spend playing while setting up/clearing the logistics and everything else.
Prayer Prep before healing/outpouring was really really good. Really felt that God wanted to give everyone a tangible experience to know Him and then go out to TELL THE WORLD!!!
Think Fr Paul Yeo the mass was really really good.. It was about the jezebel in our life. How we allow sin into our lifes and that symbols can be a good sign to remind us about God.

can't wait for the Next YISS...

Just felt like sharing with you all something I wrote last time, as well as this song: Holy Over Me by Christy Nockels and Lauren Chandler

Can't seem to upload, but do go check out the song and lyrics. =)

Some simple things to note:
When you're tired, Praise the LORD, for all the work that will make you stronger.

When doubtful, Praise the LORD, for he will clear your questions and deepen your faith.

Whether happy or sad, Praise the LORD, for he is there to share them with you. When you feel alone, Praise the LORD, for he is always with you every single second.

When the road is long, Praise the LORD, for he said, take the one step to me and I will take the rest to come to you.

When you feel broken, Praise the LORD, for he mends you whole again.

At all times, just Praise the LORD for our God is everlasting and almighty and nothing we do could make him love us any less.

loves
rach

healing rain

healing rain,
it washes away our stains regardless who we are..

Revolutionary love

simply amazing isn't it his unchanging love
fickle-minded humans, can't u make up ur mind whether u want to follow God?
but i'm one of them, torn between God and the world

This are the long awaited photos since april.

Shall post them up here to make the blog more colourful!






PEOPLE PLEASE BRING BACK JUDE BLOG BACK TO LIVE!

THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND GOD BLESS

Hey Jude,

HOW ARE YOU GUYS???

WHY IS THIS BLOG SO DEAD!!!

ANYWAYS, I SHALL MAKE IT ALIVE AGAIN!

I suggested to shaun that we should make a tee shirt for ourselves.

Shaun ask me ask if you guys are alright with it.

If you guys are alright with it, inform me asap, then I can come up with the designs.

AND AND AND

WHEN ARE WE GOING TO HAVE A JUDE MEETING AGAIN!

I MISS YOU GUYS!

MAKE THIS BLOG LIVELY AGAIN PLEASE???

Keep Posting or spaming!

hey Jude people,

In case some of you don't know about this coming sunday at my place.
Shaun suggested a gathering at my club house. I have no reason why of all the places in singapore he chose it at my clubhouse.
Also he has been bugging me to inform you guys about the time at my place.
It's 10am SHARP!

I hope after typing this post out, shaun will NOT bug petrina and me again!

Take Care

God Bless You

Devotions for Lent: Passion Week

The week of the betrayal
and crucifixion of Jesus: Holy Week

This is the week of Jesus' Passion. On Friday of this week, we remember the death of Jesus on the cross. But we also remember all those who were together with him in the last days. We try to put ourselves in the disciples' shoes during what was certainly the darkest period of their lives. Through the Scriptures, we will play the part of Jesus' followers as they fall asleep, betray, deny, flee, despair, and generally fail to "get it". With God's help we will imagine what it was like for them to watch their king, their savior, be arrested, whipped, humiliated, stripped naked, crowned with thorns, and hammered to a wooden cross. ... It's reasonable to ask, "If this is Holy Week, what would an unholy week look like?"

The horror of holy week is a stumbling block to the Jews, even for Jesus' own followers. They stumbled on the fact that this "King" was killed by the Romans when he was supposed to be conquering them! Instead of taking the throne, he was nailed to a tree, and forever cursed by it, they thought. But Jesus' way was not their way. He knew that by dying, the Jews could not only be saved from the perceived tyranny of any military power, but from a far worse tyranny, that of sin and evil. Jesus chose the path of suffering and death so that they—and we—could be free forever from the punishment due to us because of the evil in our hearts. He took our place on the cross. If we are able to "get" this truth, then suffering and death are no threat to us, whether at the hands of a Roman soldier, or in the hand of a just God. We don't need to fear death because of what Jesus did.

Because of Jesus' suffering, we also have an advocate when we suffer. No matter what we are going through, no matter how tough or terrorizing, one thing is sure: Jesus understands. He has endured far worse, for our sake. When we are tempted to look up out of the dark holes we find ourselves in, to search the heavens and call out to God—we may wonder, "Where is God and why won't he rescue me?" Consider for a moment that Jesus doesn't gaze down at you from some great throne in Heaven. No. He is beneath you, waiting for you to let go and fall back into his arms. Jesus has experienced the limit of suffering and he is able to meet you where you are.

There is no depth of despair to which we can ever descend that is lower than Jesus went when he died under the weight of a worldful of evil. But no matter how low we have been, don't doubt that if we are found in Jesus when he ascends on Easter day, then we will rise with him, and will have no reason to fear death again.

---

Isaiah 52.13-53.12 (This passage foretells the Passion of Jesus by more than six hundred years.)

See, my servant will prosper; he will be highly exalted. Many were amazed when they saw him � beaten and bloodied, so disfigured one would scarcely know he was a person. And he will again startle many nations. Kings will stand speechless in his presence. For they will see what they had not previously been told about; they will understand what they had not heard about.

Who has believed our message? To whom will the LORD reveal his saving power? My servant grew up in the LORD's presence like a tender green shoot, sprouting from a root in dry and sterile ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. He was despised and rejected � a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way when he went by. He was despised, and we did not care.

Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God for his own sins! But he was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we were healed! All of us have strayed away like sheep. We have left God's paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the guilt and sins of us all. He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. From prison and trial they led him away to his death. But who among the people realized that he was dying for their sins � that he was suffering their punishment? He had done no wrong, and he never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man's grave.

But it was the LORD's good plan to crush him and fill him with grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have a multitude of children, many heirs. He will enjoy a long life, and the LORD's plan will prosper in his hands. When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of what he has experienced, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins. I will give him the honors of one who is mighty and great, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among those who were sinners. He bore the sins of many and interceded for sinners. (NLT)

---

Prayer
Father, teach me your way this week. Teach me how to leave my selfish, sinful ways at the foot of the cross, and teach me how Jesus my Savior is willing to bear those sins in his own body and be punished for them. Lord, how can I thank you for this great salvation? I worship you and your amazing power: Jesus is greater than death, and could not be conquered. When he died, I know that my sins were destroyed: it happened "once for all time". And when you raised him three days later, you taught us that we too could be raised. I confess my many sins Lord Jesus: I lay them down at the foot of the cross. I turn away from them and ask you to give me a new way of living in the world. Walk with me this week, Father. Teach me your way.

---

Practice
(See the page on fasting for some important considerations before you modify your diet. Remember that these are suggestions: you are encouraged to modify this practice in any way that will lead you more readily into God's presence.)

Friday is Good Friday, the day of the crucifixion of Christ, and is a good day to fast (from a meal or more) and reflect on the darkness that came over the Earth at Jesus' death. If you are following the fast as outlined on these pages then you have been eliminating more foods from your diet each week. Continue to seek out God's will for you this week, the last week of Lent. Here is a suggested list of foods to cut out of your diet this week (including all that have been suggested so far): desserts and sweets (including refined sugar); red meat, poultry and fish; alcohol and strong caffeine drinks; milk products (including cheese); and fats and oils.

You may eat rice and beans, fruits, nuts and grains, vegetables, potatoes, soups made with vegetable stock, etc. Breads that are simply made (no oil or refined sugar) are very good. Bagels and pretzels are examples that you can find at the store (remember, pretzels have their roots in Lent: they were invented to satisfy the prohibition on the oils and egg found in many breads, and named and shaped after "little arms" folded in prayer). You may eat foods that naturally contain sugar (fruits, honey) or oils (nuts): just avoid adding oil, butter, or refined sugar to foods to make them richer.

And, this week, be deliberate about not turning to the media to fill your time. Try not to watch TV (also a good practice for kids), or listen to the radio in the car. Try to avoid computers (as much as work allows it). Trade newspapers or magazines for the Bible or quiet contemplation. Meditate on Easter and all that was paid on our behalf to make it possible.