Happy Chinese New Year

Image from WWW

It's quiet everywhere in Singapore.  Many shops are closed already and most people have either gone away for a holiday or returned to their hometown.

It's a nice change from seeing people rushing around.  Watching them daily hastened my steps and I found myself doing the same even when I did not need to.  Subconsciously I got caught up with the hustle and bustle of rushing everywhere.

This celebration reminds me that I should slow down.  It's a good reminder that life is to be lived, moment by moment. 

As today is the eve, the service at NCC had a Chinese theme and, as in the past three pre-New Year services, Pastor Mark appeared. He never fails to entertain even while feeding us with spiritual nourishment.  It was like having a reunion breakfast with God!

Left feeling so refreshed and ready to bless everyone!

Image from NCC web

HAVE A BLESSED LUNAR NEW YEAR!

2016 Epiphany, Vision and Mission

Image from NCC website

Three days into the new year and already so much has happened. 

2015 ended so well and we are still reeling from all the eating and merry-making.  Now to walk off and work out a bit to stay in shape.  Our aim is to remain healthy so we'll take it slow with our food until Chinese New Year and then really get down to better habits after that. No point to set goals which would go flying out the window when the next festivity hits us.

Today's church service was about Possessing our Possesions. Very apt for me and my family. I loved the message and found that I had similar thoughts without realising it.  Now everything ties in so beautifully.  

Last week we had written our three prayer requests and the entire church prayed together.  There's something so awesome about this. I like the idea that we are praying with and for each other. 

The last few months of 2015 turned out to be such a revelation of God's love for us.  Everything we did flowed smoothly without hitches.  Healthwise, it was also my best year since arriving to Singapore.  All the earlier quirky viruses I caught have been put to rest.  

I've taken down all the Christmas stuff except for the curtains.  No, I didn't wait for the Epiphany as I used to do.  That's what an epiphany is about, isn't it: that moment of sudden and great revelation or realization that we don't need to be bound by any tradition that doesn't suit us.  

For us, it's full steam ahead for the wedding of the year in late November.  This will keep us focussed on how we will spend this year.  

It's going to be an exciting and probably a very eventful 2016 so I remind myself to take just one day at a time.  

Thank you, Jesus, for everything.

Love Magnificent

So so very blessed to belong to a church that teaches about how wonderful our God is and that His magnificent love is for us.

We are ready for the first service at 8.30 am.  I can't remember when I had this kind of excitement for a church service.  

There has never been a Sunday service that hasn't left me awestruck and better informed about the Grace of God.  

We've been swept up by the Grace Revolution.  We just bought the book but I haven't started reading it yet.  I can't wait to start but I'm a stickler for finishing the ones I'm on before I begin a third book. Yup, I have two ongoing books at any one time.  I'm weird like that.

I can't wait for morning!!!!!  We can't wait for morning!!!!!

Singapore celebrates the big 50!

Image received via whatsapp

My day started with coffee made by my husband (Hebrews: get it!).

First thing on our agenda was to attend the 8.30 am service at NCC because we enjoy everything, everytime we are there.

We were early and while waiting, Stephen turned to me and said, "It's Singapore's celebration today and I want you to know how blessed and grateful I am that you're here with me.  I appreciate everything you do for me.  I'm so glad you're my wife". 

I found it very hard to concentrate after that.  His words touched me so deeply.  I'm writing this because I want to remember this moment and some others that really makes me feel so glad to be alive.

Yesterday, I had my Long Term Visit Pass extended for another five years and just like three years ago, it was done on the eve of the National Day.

The excitement began to grow when I saw this goodie bag with some cute stuff inside.  There are dozens of designs but I love this particular one because it depicts Singapore in so many ways.  Each household gets only one and Stephen gave it to me!!!

I took this picture!

AND we had free transport to and fro this morning.  Everyone was smiling and happy.  It seemed, to me, like a rather nice way to give back to the millions of commuters.

I took this picture

Today's church service touched on the jubilee year (Leviticus 25: 8-10) which is a nice and blessed co-incidence.  One of three already but the day is still young, I expect more and maybe a miracle too!

Image received via whatsapp

The best thing for me is that I get to celebrate it with a very patriotic Singaporean. We're ready for the National Day Parade which will start at 5.45 pm.  

As I reflect on what Stephen said to me, this morning, I cannot help but feel extremely blessed today. 

These two images received via whatsapp

Resurrection Sunday

It has been such a beautiful day.  The church service was exceptional and I am feeling especially blessed. Today's message just reinforced what I have known but sometimes forget.

Stephen and I went for a late Easter Lunch and indulged in a hearty meal and some desserts.  Now we have jointly declared that we'll only have fruits for dinner.

Thank you, Jesus.  Thank you for everything.  

Image from Crossroads Church

All things new and beautiful.

Pic from FB

Everything is looking new around me.  Our building was repainted just before Christmas 2013.  The corridors have  been repaved.  The sheltered walkway is now in the midst of getting a new coat of paint.  Everything is looking spick and span.

While I do love some old stuff, there's something to be said about new things.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In January 2013, an FB friend of mine from Oklahoma told me that I was so blessed to be living in the same city as Pastor Joseph Prince.  He suggested that I should go check it out and tell him all about it. 

I first heard of Joseph Prince from a young girl with whom I had many hours of sharing.  Both of us often talked about our faith and she had given me a glimpse of what she felt in her heart about God. Though very much younger, she was matured in her thinking and she impressed me with her philosophy about her life.

So curiousity got the better of me and on this day last year, I took the MRT to Marina Bay Sands to attend the New Creation Church service.

I was totally unprepared for the message that I heard that day.   It was like listening to an age old story but with a twist.  Somehow it made sense to me and I could relate to it.  I admit I was uncomfortable at first but I didn't feel out of place.  I didn't know anyone and nobody knew me so it was just being in the moment with God.

As I made my way home, it struck me that I was filled with a longing to know more.  It's a feeling that I had lost a long time ago and never even realised. 

When I was home, I shared my two-hour church experience with Stephen and he saw just how uplifting it had been for me.  However, that little doubtful gene in me wondered if Pastor Joseph Prince would be able to repeat his anointed preaching.  Maybe it was a one-off thing, I thought!  So I went again and once more I was so taken up by what he preached. 

Stephen was amazed at how excited I was about the church and as soon as he was able, he went to see what it was all about.  Since that day, we've not looked back at all.



Pic from FB

We are now regularly attending the Sunday service together and life has never been the same since.  Everything is new and beautiful.