LOVE is patient. LOVE is kind.

REVIVAL IS NECESSARY

2008-11-10T19:16:00.002+08:00

HELLLOOOOO! What is this dead blog doing here?? It shouldn't be dead. Anyway, just here to liven things up and at the same time post up the lyrics for Dawn & SK's wedding song! :D

God's Love Will Bring Us Through

Verse 1:

When I look into your eyes

I thank God for His grace

For bringing you into my life

Here in this place

Bridge:

On this very day

This very moment

I cannot help but smile

At God's goodness

Chorus:

Never let go, Lord, your love binds us together

Keep our hearts as one, let us worship you forever

No matter what the weather, despite the harsh endeavours

I know God's love will bring us through, no matter

Verse 2:

When I look into your eyes

I think about my sorrows

They disappear like melting ice

Brings me hope for tomorrow

Bridge:

Take my hand

Let's walk this journey

Our pain and fears in God

Unfounded

Those who still haven't memorised, please do! In case the reality hasn't hit you yet, the wedding, in other words our performance, is this coming saturday, in less than, hm, let's see 5 days time?? Haha, I'M EXCITED.

Oh well, see most of you tomorrow at the rehearsal! :D

Love loads, VANESSA!

sick as a dog

2008-10-15T00:32:00.000+08:00

I FEEL SICK. MY NOSE IS CLOGGED AND MY VOICE IS HOARSE. GAHH.

FREEEEEEEDOM!

2008-10-14T20:24:00.003+08:00

VANESSA-ESSA-ESSA HERE! (:

With the exception of Joline, Shirlynn (who would probably have finished this by the time you read this since your papers are tomorrow) , Gayle and Cass, our exams are O-V-E-R!!! :D Haha sorry dears, really don't mean to gloat. Haha so yeah we can finally let loose and relax after mugging so hard the past few weeeeks! YAY! hahaha. And anyway this blog is so dead. :/ Exams I guess, so yeah. Since we're slightly free-er now, why not post more and share a little of our lives with each other yeaaaah. :D

Got back 4 papers already. not very well done. ): Chem and e math were better than expected but still not very good. English and bio weren't up to mark at all. ): sigh. but then it's over soooo. i'll just work harder harder harder next year! Jia you Joline, Shirlynn, Gayle and Cass yeaaaaah! Soon we'll all be free and have lots of fun together and at Dawn's wedding! :D EGGXCITING!

SEE YOU ALL ON SUNDAY! LOVE LOADS AND LOADS.

Transformation

2008-09-22T22:31:00.003+08:00

Praise God for everyone and what you have done in faith the last week to bring the kingdom of God in the marketplace!

Praise God for all you and God has done:
- giving exam blessing cards to your friends!
- giving exam blessing cards to your whole class!
- praying for a teacher that you dislike!
- praying over sms for friends!
- asking more people for prayer cell!
- praying for your friends to know God!

Hi Joline, you said you wanted to pray for your friends and then ask them to church. I was suddenly struck that God has already started answering your prayer already Joline when you said that your friend asked you to go with her to a friend's church. =)

Bless all of you with the following verses. Although the kingdom of God where you are placed may start small (like a mustard seed), but God promises that it will grow and expand! So exciting! =)

Matthew 13:31-33
31He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches."
33He told them still another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount[b] of flour until it worked all through the dough."

teamwork

2008-07-26T22:21:00.001+08:00

i think that this is really cool(:

let us work together as a cell
to play the beautiful music of god

choir duty

2008-07-26T20:57:00.003+08:00

OMG VANESSA!!!! same same!!!!! bio test was really ok you know! i was really calm before the test. and i was really awake! (though i was late for school and have to do CWO) HAH! i was really happy you know!!!

its really amazing. i was late for school but i wasnt really angry or anything. then i sat for my bio test! the teacher said we still have about 10 more mins before the test would start. everyone took out their bio textbook and tried to cramp it in. i was so calm i just sat there. and started telling my friend jokes. she was like mavis you not studying? i just replied, huh no la. haha everyone was so panicky except for my another class mate. hah, then, AMAZING. all the small details i studied came out!!! hahaha omgg i was laughing to myself in the test. i could remember which experiment it was and all the stomata thing!!! i was really happy. i wasnt even scared!

then i just had another 2 more lessons before school ended. there was early dismissal because of speech day. then, i told my friend to get a cake for veneetha because it was her birthday the next day, which is today. and ask her to walk in while we are practising to surprise her. then she went off to go get the cake. at the rehersals i told my teacher about it then she said cannot because there was no lunch! i was really panicky because i could not contact her, i didnt have my phone with me. then i ran down to ask my other friend to call that friend to tell her she cant get it. hah are you guys confused?

haha then back at the pracitce session i was really sad. the trainer kept on scolding us and i kept on making mistakes when the performance was later. she called us in and gave us a talk. she said you guys have to work faster. we are going to break later at 1 30 for lunch. i was like WHAT?!?! so i hurried back to my bag to sms my friend to go get the cake. i could not even read her reply because the trainer continued prac. i was like really 'hands and legs all over' hahaha translate to chinese.

then 1 30 came. i ran all the way to the canteen to try and call her. and woooph, before i took out my phone i saw her walking in. HAHA i was so crazy! i was jumping up and down. we hurry lit the candles and went to surprise the birthday girl. haha she was really shocked but happy la. (: glad she was. (she was quite sad that she wont be in singapore on her birthday and we couldnt celebrate it with her)

oh well then after eating the cake we had to start to rush for the performance, make up and everything we were so scared we could not finsih it on time. haha in the end we waited for more than a hour before we were called up. we kinda rushed in the performance, and were so scared the trainer would kill us. we walked back to the training room. sat there and was so emotional. she came in, sat down, and kept quiet. then she stood up and said. lets have a group hug! HAHA WE SCREAMED LIKE CRAZY haha so overjoyed. i was stoning there for a moment. until 5 seconds later i realised what was going on.

WEE i was really happy later. and i realised that it was all god's grace. and that i honoured him. everything turned out really well. enough though i only studied for bio on the bus, had so much problems to get the cake and it was unplanned. also to finish off the day with a good performance, though i didnt practice much for it and it was a last minute change. oh ya i forgot to tell you all that they only changed the dance on thursday! so yea. i really thank god for it.

oh yes at choir practice! i was so prominent. like usual. hahhaa but oh well. GOS LOVES ME AND I DONT CARE.

mavis

God will make a way

2008-07-23T23:45:00.002+08:00

I am currently posting with a blocked runny nose (don't ask how that's even possible) and sore throat and when I spoke to my mother on the phone it sounded kinda like this "Hello, bubby, do lah it's all de dust (sniffs) cause i'm packing de stuff into de boxes (sniffs) yub i'm finde. (sniffs)" really. okay maybe not that drama lah haha i'm exaggerating a bit but yeah it's terrible.

Anyway, wanted to post today, I'm Vanessa, by the way haha, about choir. (: Want to let all you darlings know that when we honour God and put Him first in our lives, He will put in His 100% for us and make a way, even when there seems to be no way. He works in ways, we cannot see. He will make a way for me. (:

That day, I might have shared with Mavis, i think. haha forgot sorry. I had dance and of all days that day was torture day. I emerged from the hall dripping from every pore in my body, my head spinning and throbbing all at the same time, my eyelids droopy, my muscles aching, my limbs weak, waves of nausea pulsing through me... (okay so i kinda exaggerated, heh but i really felt like throwing up all over the car and just lying on the bed to sleep)

so ya I felt so sick I was so tempted to tell Dawn that I was sick and couldn't make it. Add to the fact that I had A math test the nest day and A math is my worst subject. I felt so terrible that when I reached home, I couldn't even make it to the toilet to bathe. I sat on the floor with my head between my knees for five minutes to stop myself from fainting before rushing to finish bathing in 15 minutes. Rushed through my dinner too, and was so dazed I took mismatched clothes that made me look like shit to wear and rushed off after an equally rushed dinner.

In the car, my father was still telling me that if I felt so tired I might as well not go and I really felt SO SO SO tempted. I was so tired I fell asleep in the car halfway through while talking to my father. My father said a quick prayer for me and A math textbook and little else in hand, I got off still a little drowsy to meet Gayle at TCT auditorium. Went inside and felt kinda lethargic-ish.

Then the worship leader guy, Thomas was like how many of you here are not fully ready to worship God? and i was like oh my gosh. ME! he prayed for us and everything and then we went off to learn the actions and albeit some muscle aches, I can proudly declare I was more awake than Gayle! haha. And really amazingly, all the tiredness seriously left me and most amazing was, the A math test the next day was actually MANAGEABLE. like :0 praise God! hahahahaha.

so yeah, just want to encourage you guys that sometimes when we feel like shit and worshipping and praising God is the last thing on our minds, that could be a sure method to make your day and clean you up of all the shit. Even though mine was kinda forced, I'm glad I was 'forced', because I know God worked in a very special way for me (: and Mavis I know you're very busy on thurs and have bio on friday, but it's okay, God will lift your spirit and energize you to do exceedingly well for your test, yes? <3

Love all of you dearies, and see you on sunday! :D

VANESSA!

Thanksgiving for 40 days fast and prayer! =)

2008-07-20T21:23:00.004+08:00

Hallo everyone,

As most of you know, I am going to Legal Aid Bureau to work in August and it is a government agency to help those who cannot afford lawyers but need legal aid.

As I am reading the 40 days fast and prayer booklet, I am really thankful that God is so good to me, and has planned my life and my career. As most of the 40 days fast and prayer booklet is about God's heart for the poor and needy, I was affirmed that it is indeed God's call for me to go to Legal Aid Bureau at this time, to serve the poor and needy and make a difference for His glory.

God is indeed good because He is preparing my heart to go into my new job at Legal Aid with this 40 days fast and prayer. I had wanted a longer break between jobs so I could among other things prepare for my wedding and also prepare myself for my new job, but I did not get a long break. But God had planned it that he was preparing my heart now (before my break and better than I can ever plan the preparation of my heart) with the 40 days fast and prayer. He is giving me His compassion for the poor and needy and also building my faith that He will do more than all I can ask or imagine in my new job.

Wanna bless everyone that indeed God is good to you and He plans every detail of your life. =)
Wanna bless everyone too that we will be givers of God's love and compassion (and not be like the container that keeps receiving though it is full and becomes useless). =)

Dawn

MAGICBOX!

2008-07-15T21:03:00.002+08:00

Hello my dear family! Vanessa here! You should all post more, you know. Can you hear that? Listen really carefully.

"creee, creee..."

Can't you hear the sounds of the crickets chirping at you so joyfully?? Tsk tsk. We should all be ashamed of ourselves. Let's put on sackcloths and repent. Okay okay, I should stop being stupid. heh. :D anyway.

I'll be going to watch Magicbox with my parents this coming saturday, and I'm really excited about it. Thing is, I heard from my cousin that things have beengoing a little wrong with the sets and cues and stuff. Something like, the spikes did not fall as planned in one of the shows and it's obviously NOT a good thing.

I really feel that the evil one is doing all that he can to wreck this show and make a mess out of it because he cannot stand seeing pastor khong 'invading his territory' since that was the main media he wanted to win the world by. Can I please solicit for all your prayers in this time.

Not just because he is our pastor and we're afraid it will make FCBC look bad but think about the adverse effects of this if people start to look at this pastor as if he's unprofessional and feeling that his God can't be so great after all if He can't even help him make the show a success.

That would be really sad. So come on, let's all rally together and pray for the rest of the shows and for pastor khong and everything okay!

oh yes, there's a whole 2-page article written about Magicbox, ps khong and priscilla in 8 days! it's 'the sexist issue' the one with christopher lee, joanne peh and dawn yeoh on the cover. READ IT OKAY! i'm really proud of them! :D heh.

okay so yeah, do keep me in prayer as well, please? i have ting xie tomorrow. hahaha. trying my best to study for it! :D thanks you all, have a terrific week ahead yes yes? MUCH LOVE TO ALL YOU! <3

Love, VANESSA!

P.S. HAPPY BIRTHDAY JASMIN! GOD BLESS YOU IN EVERYTHING! HE LOVES YOU MORE THAN YOU COULD EVER IMAGINE! WE LOVE YOU VERY MUCH TOOOO! (:

CELL OUTING!

2008-07-07T21:42:00.003+08:00

hihi all you! Vanessa, here to post bout cell outing! hahaha. first one that Mavis did not attend (:D) though she really should have. (:

okay that was after shirlynn pushed me into the water and i was trying to get back at her. heh. pulling like mad. elkan snapped it. hahaha.

self-timer! hahaha. the four pretty girls (: joline, shirlynn, gayle and me (frm left to right)

Bryan being buried in the sand!

That's us again! Elkan took this picture too. He took pictures of infected oily toes on his own camera. HAHAHA.

okay anyway, cell outing today was, hmm. quite fun! hahaha. but kinda annoying toooo. hmph. Bryan lahhhh. And Shirlynn Tan! Grr. ANNOYING THE TWO OF THEM! See, I brought extra clothes but forgot to bring extra undergarments. So i did NOT want to go into the water because i was going out after that with my mother. But stoooopid Bryan who obviously could dive in and swim around like a fish because he brought extra everything (even towel and shampoo and soap and stuff) decided that he was lonely.

And stoooooooooooopider Shirlynn who is supposed to be my darling sister, helped him drag and shove me into the water. :s thanks a lot, Shirlynn! i later just HAD to take revenge on her and succeeded in dragging Shirlynn into the water, shrieking and flailing her arms like a madwoman, with Bryan's help. hehehehe. so ya then joline and gayle emo-ed a bit while we built some sandcastles and stuff. then cause the girls were lazy so we sat around and played with sand while the guys went to cycle so ya. then we were all SO SANDY!

except joline and gayle cause they refused to let us pull them in, and bryan who showered. so it was really gross cause my undies were like. Dripping. oh oh and we all got these weird oil stains on our feet! ): it was really gross and culdn't come off! D: Elkan thought it was some disease or infection or smth. hahaha. he's got pictures of it on his camera. anyway. so then yeah that was about it. we left soon after. so yup that's all, haha. Good night all you! Have a great day at school tmr! (: LOVE YOU ALL LOADS AND LOADS! :D

VANESSA! <3

2008-06-22T18:33:00.002+08:00

hey! wow. havent posted for a while.. haha

oh i guess TMR is school reopen. stress like crap now. haha i really really hate first weeks. so much to do! and no mood to do. hah. anyway. during the holidays, i guess there was lots of activities going on. which is fun! haha though its sad that there isnt a camp!! got the muar one, but in malaysia.. so i guess not every parent allows.. hmmm hopefully there is one during december! ((:

lets see. first.. it was the chalet? i think?
hmm only julienne and i could make it. plus dawn la huh. but it was all good. though we didnt stay. pretty much fun, especially seeing how the guys work, and bbq! hahah its really funny. well wasted most of my time bbqing the marshmellows, trying to make s'mores. ahahha but its good! and nice! agree? yup. we played fresibie?(sp?) like PE. hah! then i had to play with the guys. kinda embarrassing. (i was really scared i hit them!) and they were so quiet, erm.. yong hong and joash i guess. OH then i was surprised that we had to get the food, because i thought the food was all ready and there! we had to marinate the chicken and stuff. haha when it was frozen! but everything turned out well! lucky no FOOD POISONING! god blessings. HAH

then it was.. movie outing!
julienne, joline, gayle, bryan and me went to watch kung fu panda! and went to bowling.
oh wait, i think julienne has covered most of this. HAH but she didnt write in the part where she EATS ALOT. haha she ate bk student meal and the yam pie thingo and subway cookies and yam puff. is that it? oh but haha she ate much more than us! julienne dont be offended kay! hahah we still love you!

next! the.. sports fiesta

dawn, joline, gayle, vanessa and me! haha we went for the hip hop lessons! haha i thought it was fun, but gayle and joline didnt. i think its because they dont dance, they do sports! hehe. i enjoyed it. learning a new style was cool.((: haha dawn was really cute when she dance. hahaa^^

WII CARNIVAL and MINDS CAFE (most recent, yesterday)

hah! me again, and vanessa. we were like really late! reached there around 2 plus. played one game! ONE game of mario kart!(oh oh! i beat vanessa!) (DIDNT GET TO PLAY THE RABBITS GAME! AND GUITAR HERO) and eat icecream. hmph. they cheat our feelings la! say end at 3, they closed at 2 30, because of the finals of the soccer match. haha vanessa and i were really lost. we just shouted goal when everyone did, basically, following the crowd. so game ended, and so we waited for samuel to finsih his duties, then we left magicbox. we were practically trying to call anyone who came along. so funny. then we got kevin to come along. so we bused down to town, and trained to dhouby. walked all the way to the place and finally started playing. we played snorta, taboo, and some voting game. i think snorta was still the funniest. vanessa won the game though! tsks. hah! then.. vanessa had to leave first, so she left me with the 3 guys. hah. we played a little more then we left to cathay. walked around. and then kevin and samuel left. bryan and i went for dinner. and then home!

HEH OK. i just realised, i m always there for those outings. hahaha!!! oh wow. hmmm no wonder there is a hole in my pocket. money all gone. oh but i have to thank bryan for paying for the GST and service charge (: haha thanks again!

i really got a chance to bond with bryan and samuel over this period of time. the rest too la, but mostly with them! hurray interdependence! great bonding.

mavis

Jesus rose again from the dead - John 20

2008-06-21T00:03:00.005+08:00

John 20 relates the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.

When I read John 20 today, it was struck by the simple truth that we all know - which is that Jesus rose from the dead!

I felt that God told me that He is a God who brings life and who has the power to bring life to the dead.

John 20:30-31 says
30Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Just want to encourage everyone that however dead or messed up you feel your life may be, Jesus can bring you life.

However dead or messed up an area of your life may be - be it your studies, relationships, family, etc, Jesus can bring life.

Mary Magdalene was crying outside the empty tomb of Jesus.
John 20:10- 11
Then the disciples went back to their homes, 11but Mary stood outside the tomb crying.

She must have been really sad and discouraged because she thought that her God was dead.
There are times when we feel like Mary - we are sad and discouraged over circumstances in life.

However, Jesus rose from the dead and came to her.
John 20:16 -18
16Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher).
17Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' "
18Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them that he had said these things to her.

Jesus is our God who rose from the dead!

I pray:

Jesus come and bring life to our lives.

Jesus come and bring life to every area that seems dead and does not seem to be doing well.

Jesus come and bring life to our families and spiritual family.

Jesus come and bring life to our tribe blog too. =P

dawn

THE outing

2008-06-19T21:40:00.006+08:00

i thought this blog was dead already (!) but it's still alive and kicking (and there's a new skin, too!)... and since i haven't been here for a very, very, very long time and samuel has asked for a post about the most recent outing(mavis, joline, gayle, bryan and I)!

i thought it was kind of weird at first, you know, having a thorn among some very pretty roses... (joking!) but it turned out okay! we went to watch kung fu panda and it was so, so funny. i was sitting beside gayle and she laughs very gayle-ly. right, joline? heh heh heh. don't worry gayle, it's so you and if you laughed like joline you just wouldn't be gayle.

oh i think before that we ate at burger king. don't ever ever ever go for the student's meal because the portion is so miserable. i was hungry very soon after that. oh pish, i was hungry the whole day! xP

and we went BOWLING. bowling is fun when you don't bowl gutterballs. i bowled many, many gutterballs. and bryan and joline are good at bowling! joline does look like the bowling kind, and likewise for bryan. (how do i know what is a bowling kind?) heh, i think they just look good with a bowling ball. like the roundness of the ball totally compliments their face and their hair and their clothes and what they had for lunch... sorry, corny! we bowled two games.

after bowling, we walked around a bit, had more bites to eat!

anyway, we all still had fun! and let us have many many many more outings to go!

oh, a text from dawn that i'd like all of us to remember when our inbox runs out of space

Hi gals today's bible reading is on john 19, where John relates Jesus' crucifixion on the cross. Whatever circumstances in life you may face, bless you that you'll trust Him and His love for you. God loves you so much that He sacrificed His Son for you; He'll take care of you and your every need :)

Julienne (:
oh. by the way, my blog isn't dead... anymore! xD

Hip Hop Dancing Class - 14 June 2008

2008-06-14T22:30:00.003+08:00

Thank God for the hip hop dancing class today during Sports Fiesta! =) It was fun!

Vanessa and Mavis, think you all can dance really well.

for the rest of us (especially me), we are still special and God loves us even if we don't dance so well.

Dawn =P

Jesus is the Vine and we are the branches

2008-06-14T21:49:00.005+08:00

John 15:4-8

4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

I have recently been very busy with work and with wedding preparations. My thoughts and time were consumed with the things I need to do at work and my wedding. My QT has also been rushed and was mostly in reading the book of John.

The above verses reminded me that I need to draw near to God, because Jesus is the Vine and I am the Branch/es. I cannot do anything without him - a branch without the Vine will die after a while and can never bear fruit. Also, how much fruit grows on the branches is not dependent on how good or strong the branch is but on the vine who gives life to the branch.

When I remain in God, He promises to remain in me. The responsibility is on me!

He will then make me fruitful. When I remain in God, He will bless me in my wedding and marriage, my work and my ministry.

Bless you all to draw near to God and remain in Him even as life is busy and there can be many things to do. Because our life can only be fruitful and bear life through God.

Love,
Dawn

MAGICBOXXXX!

2008-05-26T00:08:00.003+08:00

here to do some ADVERTISEMENT! this is the exact same thing i posted on my blog so yeah. hahahaha. okay so, some of you MIGHT know my church's senior pastor, Ps Lawrence Khong cause he's like the coolest 55 yr-old i know? hahaha. not that i know many to begin with, but. yeah. heh. so anyway. he's doing this really cool show with his daughter priscilla called MAGICBOX at the esplanade (see, told you it's really professional!) from the 12th to the 20th of June. go check out their awesome website at http://www.magicbox.com.sg/ for details, cast and stuff like that. NOT TO BE MISSED.

for us students, it IS kind of pricey, but i think it's TOTALLY worth it. i've watched the smaller scale and slightly different show that ps Khong and Priscilla put up before the 'Magic of Love' and it was already amazing. So now, MAGICBOX is going to be MUCH better and SOO much cooler. some of you, especially christians, might doubt that what ps Khong is doing is of any good. because magic is always associated to black magic, and magic of the occult.

ps Khong always repeats this phrase in his show the 'Magic of Love' and in his own words "Remember, the basic principle of magic is that things are not what they seem!" what he is trying to say is this, quoted from the book he wrote 'Give me the multitudes' (a very good book which i own that you can borrow from me if you're interested) "...I have found that while many church people and leaders have no problem with Christian magicians pulling rabbits out of a top hat - something which is abviously a trick 0 these same believers cannot accept the illusions which I use to levitate my daughter on stage, fly up to her in the air and cause her to vanish into thin air! The fact is that I have accomplished the latter with the same mechanical means and principles that I use for the former."

Nothing ps Khong is doing, has anything whatsoever to do with the occult, or black magic. He is simply using sleights of the hands, professional fishing line, and whatever else they require that I have absolutely no clue about judging by the fact that it took me 12 years to discover that my daddy's infamous egg trick, performed yearly at my birthday party to amuse my friends, was done with a toothpick. (mavis would know it XD) so yeah, he's using magic, combining it with song, dance, theatre and a heartwarming storyline to share the love between the father and daughter.

The father, though not explicitly spelled out as this is a non-religious show, symbolising our father in heaven and the daughter, representing us. An absolutely amazing show. If you're interested, please do not hesitate to tell me k, there is 15% discount for tickets bought by this sunday. i know for a fact, that you will be greatly blessed by it. ((: LOVE LOADS, DARLINGS. <3

if you haven't realised yet, i was, using the colours of magicbox for the font. heh. :D oh and i'm Vanessa, here. hahaha.

OPERATION REVIVE DEAD BLOG.

2008-05-13T20:27:00.002+08:00

heeelllooooooooooooo! THIS IS ONE DYING BLOG. ): i shall attempt to revive it.

CPR! *pump pump pump, "1... 2..." pump pump*

I'm picking up a pulse. A very slight one! Keep going at it!

*pump pump pump*

It's getting stronger, victim's regaining conciousness! Just a bit more!

*pump pump pump*

Almost stable! Heart rate's almost stable! Victim's almost saved!

"Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep."

*silence*

"heh, sorry, my pager."

THE VICTIM'S ALIVE! WE'VE SAVED IT!

*everyone cheers*

umm. okay now what. :D hmmm. ooh. yes.Dawn and SK are getting married on 15th November! hahaha. so exciting right??!? i can't wait to wear pretty dresses! hahahaha. ooh! but sadly, quite a few of them won't be around. ): it won't be complete anymore. sighh. anyway. let me just share with you all. my PPR (report book) this term sucks. i already know it. i'm doing horribly in almost all my subjects. I WILL STRIVE HARDER IN TERM 3! I WILL I WILL I WILL! please pray for me. thanks! (:

okay shall post again some other time. JIA YOU JULIENNE who's only starting her exams this friday if i didn't remember wrongly! LOVE YOU ALL MUCH MUCH!

<3

Vanessa! (hee)

Happy Birthday Jasmine!

2008-04-26T15:50:00.008+08:00

Jasmine! - the birthday girl! Who is godly and beautiful. =)

Jasmine with her daughters and granddaughters -that's us!
All who are very pretty! =)

dawn

science?

2008-04-17T22:43:00.002+08:00

here is an email sent by one of my good friends. just take about 5 mins to read this. if you had any doubts about god before, oh well doesnt have to be scientific,but you should really read this.((: god bless you!
[mavis]

Science and God

'Let me explain the problem science has with Jesus Christ.'

The atheistprofessor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of hisnew students to stand.'You're a Christian, aren't you, son?''Yes sir,' the student says.'So you believe in God?''Absolutely.''Is God good?' 'Sure! God's good.''Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?''Yes.''Are you good or evil?''The Bible says I'm evil.'The professor grins knowingly. 'Aha! The Bible!' He considers for amoment.'Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and youcan cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?' 'Yes sir, I would.''So you're good...!''I wouldn't say that.''But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person ifyou could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't.'

The student does not answer, so the professor continues.

'He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, eventhough he prayed to Jesus to heal him How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can you answer that one?'The student remains silent.'No, you can't, can you?' the professor says. He takes a sip ofwater from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax.

'Let's start again, young fella Is God good?''Er...yes,' the student says.'Is Satan good?'The student doesn't hesitate on this one. 'No.''Then where does Satan come from?'The student : 'From...God...''That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is thereevil in this world?''Yes, sir.' 'Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything,correct?''Yes.''So who created evil?' The professor continued, 'If God createdeverything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil.'Without allowing the student to answer, the professor continues:'Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?'The student: 'Yes.''So who created them?'The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats hisquestion. 'Who created them? There is still no answer.

Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized.'Tell me,' he continues onto another student. 'Do you believe inJesus Christ, son?'The student's voice is confident: 'Yes, professor, I do.' The old man stops pacing. 'Science says you have five senses youuse to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seenJesus?''No sir. I've never seen Him''Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?''No, sir, I have not.''Have you ever actually felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus orsmelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?''No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't.''Yet you still believe in him?''Yes.''According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that,son?''Nothing,' the student replies. 'I only have my faith.''Yes, faith,' the professor repeats. 'And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith.'

The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking aquestion of his own. 'Professor, is there such thing as heat?''Yes,' the professor replies. 'There's heat.' 'And is there such a thing as cold?''Yes, son, there's cold too.''No sir, there isn't.'The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested.The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to explain.'You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat,mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but wedon't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit up to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There isno such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than thelowest -458 degrees. Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter haveor transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat.You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal unitsbecause heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just theabsence of it.'

Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer.

'What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing asdarkness?''Yes,' the professor replies without hesitation. 'What is night if it isn't darkness?' 'You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is theabsence of something. You can have low light, normal light, brightlight, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you haveNothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use todefine the word. In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be ableto make darkness darker, wouldn't you?'The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him.This will be a good semester. 'So what point are you making, young man?''Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed.'The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time.'Flawed? Can you explain how?''You are working on the premise of duality,' the student explains. 'You argue that there is life and then there's death; a goodGod and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as somethingfinite, something we can measure.

Sir, science can't even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, muchless fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of lifeis to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it.

''Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that theyevolved from a monkey?''If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do''Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?'The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as herealizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed. 'Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at workand cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are younot teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?

'The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until theCommotion has subsided.

'To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean.' The student looks around the room. 'Is there anyone in the classwho has ever seen the professor's brain?' The class breaks out intolaughter.'Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the professor's brain, touched or smelled the professor's brain? Noone appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules ofempirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir. So if science says you have no brain,how can we trust your lectures, sir?'

Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at thestudent, his face unreadable.

Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers. 'Iguess you'll have to take them on faith.''Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith existswith life,' the student continues. 'Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?'Now uncertain, the professor responds, 'Of course, there is. We see it everyday. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man.It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil.'To this the student replied, 'Evil does not exist sir, or atleast it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God.It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God.God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens whenman does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the coldthat comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light.'

The professor sat down.

2008-04-06T23:03:00.001+08:00

Hi gayle,
bless with the following verses - God's promise for you to claim.

God is the one who gives you a new heart - ask Him for it.

Ezekiel 36:25-27
25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.

dawn

song? hee hee.

2008-04-05T01:10:00.003+08:00

hey i remember telling you guys that i would let you hear (see rather) the song or acrostic poem i wrote? okay i shall post it now. :D

ALPHA AND OMEGA

Almighty Father
Best Friend I could ever have
Come fill my spirit
Down on my knees I fall
Enamoured by your radiant face
Fully know that
God loves at all times
However low the situation
In Him
Through Him
Jesus, my Lord
King of my heart
Lean not on your own understanding
Make God the one
Never turn away from Him
Of all the great things in this world
Powerful are you alone
Quarter of the way I have come
Reflecting that bit of your love
So much more, so much more
Take me as you find me
Under this cover, a broken heart
Vulnerable
Weak
Xin1 shi4 shu3 yu2 zu3 de4
Yuan4 yi4 wei4 wo3 er2 si3 de4 ba4 ba4
Zui4 ai4 wo3 de4 zu3

i know some parts dont link and dont make sense haha. but it's really quite hard cause some letters like V, W, X, Y,Z especially! hahaha. the tune is kinda in my head lah haha. but it's really strange too. anyways, hope all you guys had a great week! (: SEE YOU ALL SOON! :D

love you all, and God bless loads and loads! <3

today i am fufilling my responsibilities

2008-04-02T21:18:00.002+08:00

hellos!!!!!!! :D

I OWE YOUR TWO POSTS CAUSE I HAVEN'T POSTED AT ALL YET/;
okay so here goes nothing hahas :D

I'm gonna talk about PSALM 91~ which is the psalm of 2 days ago which is the psalm of Monday the 31st of March!

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."

3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare
and from the deadly pestilence.

4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,

6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.

8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.

9 If you make the Most High your dwelling—
even the LORD, who is my refuge-

10 then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.

11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;

12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation."

erm to me the psalm is God's promise to us :D

in this psalm the psalmist tells me that:

1.GOD LOVES ME AND YOU AND EVERYONE!
2.GOD HAS THE AUTHORITY OVER US.
3.trust in the lord and HE WILL PROVIDE FOR US.
4.BECAUSE OF HIM WE NEED NOT FEAR stuff like snakes and lions or even the darkness.
5.GOD WILL LET NO HARM BEFALL US if we find shelter and stay with him all the rest of our lives

all this points equate to:

God will provide and protect us as long as we love him and honor him and call to him.

so now i'm very happy cause i know God will always be there when i need him :D
AND he;ll be there when you need him too!

*********

SONGS TIME :D

Casting Crowns - Praise You In This Storm

Praise You in This Storm
words by Mark Hall/music by Mark Hall and Bernie Herms

I was sure by now,God, that You would have reached down
and wiped our tears away,
stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say amen
and it's still raining
as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain,
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away.

Chorus:
And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to You
and raised me up again
my strength is almost gone how can I carry on
if I can't find You
and as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away

Chorus

I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth
I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth

to tell you earnestly, I've been feeling GREATLY disappointed with myself.
i feel i have lost my purpose and the heart to serve GOD.
THAT'S WHY I FEEL LIKE KILLING MYSELF FOR NOT GOING FOR THE SANCTIFICATION WEEK.
i've missed out just so much D:
i want to renew my heart to god but i just don't know how.

when jasmin told us about that session in the sanctification week,
the one on whether i would still love GOD even though he may not bless me forever.
I REALISED THAT THIS IS THE QUESTION!
the question I've been avoiding all my life.

you know what was my answer then?
I DON'T KNOW/;

i don't know, can you believe it.

i guess i took GOD for granted, took God for someone who i could turn to when i needed help.
what happened to my love for God? D:

I KEEP TELLING MYSELF I LOVE GOD I LOVE GOD!
but some how i don't feel god's strong presence in my life anymore.
MY HEARTS HARDENING!!! D:

it's time i stop avoiding the question and face up with it.

i guess this song some how relates. read the lyrics :D i lazy explain .

tatas!

2008-03-24T21:43:00.003+08:00

Pastor YC "Psalm 84: Evaluation"

Evaluation time.

We've gone through an extended season of fasting from food, TV, computer games (among the more common activities that suck up our time) in order that we may return to the fundamental building blocks of our lives.

How much do we truly DELIGHT in the Lord after this extended season of DISCIPLINE?

I found myself asking this question late last week and today's psalm is so timely. It paints for us a picture of pure and unadulterated delight in the Lord. A picture of intense longing and deep hunger to be in God's presence

PS 84:1-2 How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
PS 84:3 Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young--a place near your altar, O LORD Almighty, my King and my God.
PS 84:10 Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

I have grown to delight in God's Word more after this season. I'm reading and meditating on it throughout the day. I ask God not to let me go until He has given me revelation from His word. And I've committed to blog my reflections everyday.

There is still a temptation to just be lazy and go about my daily life without intentionally seeking His inspiration and guidance, but I think on a scale of 1 to 10, I've moved from 5 to 7.

I've grown to depend more on prayer after this season. In my heart there is change, and the actions are slowly changing according to what is inside. I pray more on my own, pray with more people, in more places than in the past. I am thinking about how we can make prayer central in the ministry again.

On a scale of 1 to 10, I think I've moved from 4 to 6.

Still far from the psalmist in Ps 84. Yet seeking God is a lifelong journey.

Oh Lord, make me hot for you. Do not allow me to remain in a lukewarm state and become statisfied with cruising along.

__________________________________________________________________

Dear everyone,

Consider evaluating your life presently:

How much have you grown in terms of intimacy with God? How would you rate yourself before and how would you rate yourself after?

For myself, I have grown throughout this period and am closer to God than in the past. nearing the end of the fast and prayer, I have however allowed busyness to overwhelm me and give me an excuse not to spend time with God. I rate myself from 4 to 6.

dawn

going to the hairdresser

2008-03-23T22:26:00.014+08:00

dear everyone,

I will post about what God did for me for sanctification week another time...but this is about when I went to the hairdresser.

As I told some of you in church just now, I wanted to go and rebond my hair tonight to try something different. I prayed to God to direct to the hairdresser who will do a good job because I did not want ugly hair and spend a lot of money in the process. I was going to go to parkway parade to do the rebonding job because there were a number of hairdressers there and I could pick and choose.

while I was waiting at the busstop to go to parkway parade, i suddenly thought I should go to another area near parkway to cut instead. when I reached the parkway busstop I felt that I should go to the area, which is the Roxy Square shopping centre, to rebond my hair instead.

At first I was quite hesitant whether that was God speaking. I finally thought 'I can never be 100% sure it is God speaking anyway - it is also faith. I shall walk by faith and not by sight - and not think of many of my own wisdom why I should go Parkway instead. I shall follow what it appears like God speaking and go Roxy Square.' So I went to the shopping centre and walked around praying that God will give me a hairdresser.

I decided on this hair salon. When I went in and sat down, they were playing chinese christian songs in the background, which is the first time I hear christian songs being played in hair salons. I thought to myself that 'cool..this seems like God.'

While I was at the hair salon, I started talking to the hairdressers there. There were like 3 of them - they took turns to talk to me, depending on whether they were busy with other clients.

Praise God for the testimonies that I heard from them and also what they shared with me from their own lives.

I shall share some here...

one of them while rebonding my hair told me that one side of my head was a bit different from the other (i get that very often from hairdressers - my head shape kinda unusual) and she told me to pray abt it. then she shared with me that they had a customer who had jutting out ears and she prayed abt her ears and the hairdressers in the salon prayed for too - after a few months, God answered their prayers and her ears moved closer to her head.

another of them was sharing abt her daughter and how God helped her in her exams. during her a levels literature exam, she complained to her mum that she had a lot to study and could not finish. Her mum told her to pray and she did. God gave her the names of 4 (or is it 6?-cannot remember) out of the 9 books. when she finished she had a bit of time and prayed some more and God gave another 2 books to study. finally when the exams came, the topics were on the first 4(or 6) books God told her to study and she got an A for A levels literature. the mum shared that the daughter was doing badly in the school exams in JC and the teacher kept wanting to see the mum and told the mum that it is very difficult for your daugther to make it to Uni. In the end she got A,B and C for A levels and is going to go NUS! - the teacher after that called it a miracle.

I asked one of them how was business in the salon. she said that it is alright - she said that when business is quiet, they will proclaim that God will bring a lot of customers to them (I am one of them), and there will be many customers that willcome thereafter. then she shared with me that there is power in proclaimation and I can do the same for my work.

they also shared that this hair salon was really a ministry started by God. they were all previously housewives. then some time back, God planned it such that they all separately on their own started to gain some hairdressing skills. then one of the ladies' husband suddenly told her that he could give her a shop space to a business. then they got together to start the hair salon and they would share their testimonies about God to their customers.

anw one of the aunties encouraged me a lot to pray. she said to praise God and pray the first in the monring. she was like 'God answers prayer.' and 'Satan is afraid of the weakest Christian on his knees. she also asked me 'how many people have you won to Jesus?'...I said 'a few.'...then she encouraged me to share my testimonies about God to others.

Praise God for bringing to the hair salons to meet the aunties. It is very humbling and encouraging to hear these aunties' simple faith and testimonies of God's love and power and how He uses them. I don't think they are much educated - they dun speak much english. I am like much more educated than them but they have more faith and commitment to God than me and God uses them more.

I want to have a heart that is teachable and believes God's word like a little child.

dawn

2008-03-23T19:23:00.003+08:00

YO DARLS!♥ ♥ ♥

just as i've said, im here to blog :D
though its been a few weeks late i guess.
YEP.

cos yup i've been away from God for like 3 weeks?!?! and wads there to post when i've been so far away from Him.

anyway, thanks to God's grace he has brought me back to calvary! :D
YAY.
and i shall share it! :D

its pretty long, so just bear with me (if you can) :D

anyway, good friday, went for the sanctification thingy. and i knew how far away from Him i was, and when the video of Christ crucified was shown, it was so gross, i really didnt dare to see it, i felt like vomitting, but that was all i was feeling, and i wasnt touched by Him at all. i didnt know why, i was so surprised at myself, how many times i have seen such videos and stuff, but it was the first time i felt nothing. and God asked me quietly in my heart, 'why have u gone all cold, why has your heart turned away from my love?' i just didnt know why, i tried, i tried to think about God's love and Jesus' sacrifice, but i still did not feel loved or touched or anyway, and people all around were like sniffing and crying but i felt so ashamed of myself.
& so i went home on Good Friday night, still pretty much far away from God. and i prayed, tried to spend time with him, but like every other night, i just couldnt feel his presence there anymore. God had called me to come back to him just like 2 weeks ago, but i guess i ignored it. and now i just couldnt feel Him anymore.
ok so saturday, i somehow knew i needed to go, i needed to get things right and get back on track with God. so i went. and i was late. OOOPS. :/ and they were singing like praise songs and celebrating that they were sanctified. and BLAH and i was like i had no mood to do so, like really whats there to celebrate when my relationship with God isnt there. and so i just sang along and blah blah, and even the song which always makes me cry couldnt move my heart. i realised how hardened my heart was. and then after that pastor started talking about some love thingy or is it the spirit of rejection? i cant really remember now, something about God's love. and then they started singing this song which i never heard before, and i just closed my eyes i could hear vanessa singing behind me i think, and my tears just started to fall without control. and i really had no intention of going up there for the altar call, but somehow i dunno why i just went up.
and i was kneeling there surrounded by people crying and i was crying also. and the what really touched me was wad pastor nina said. what God's decree or something, i cant really rmb it, but what i know is something like 'when you pray, i will be there to listen, and when you seek me with all your heart you will find me, i will not disappoint you.' and really that was just wad i needed to hear so badly. after all those nights where i laid on my bed crying and asking God whether he has forsaken and forgotten about me, and how disappointed i was in Him, that he always didnt turned up when i prayed.
it was the affirmation that i needed so badly, to tell me that God still cared for me. it just felt so good to be back to God's side once more.

and when i reached home, God somehow revealed to me, what sin perhaps i was commiting that i didnt realised. YEP. so i'll try to change, no i WILL change(:

So what could I say?
And what could I do?
But offer this heart oh God
Completely to you

I’ll stand
With arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the one who gave it all
so I’ll stand
My soul Lord to you surrender it all
I am is yours

oh i love this song! HAH. and i wanna dedicate it to the Lord. :D

anyway, GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD FOR HE IS GOOD, AND NEVER FORGET CALVARY & HIS LOVE FOR US COS HE WILL NEVER EVER FORSAKE US! x3

love,
JO.

(back to hissssstory! russian rev!)
OH and remember to pray for me and shir! if you see this. we got common tests!!! AHHHH i got 3 tests tmrr!!!! my brain is stuffed with stalin & revolutions & physics formulas!)

2008-03-20T18:10:00.002+08:00

i have always wanted to share this song, but i didnt find it.

today, god has brought me to it.

you all should listen to it. though the video might be a little 'scary' at times.

i guess you all should be making your way down to expo now. i will join you all tmr! (: have a great time with god.

mavis

2008-03-17T21:16:00.009+08:00

hi everyone,
this is dawn here.

I just read Mavis's post. Thanks dear Mavis for sharing so honestly your thoughts and struggles
(and songs) with us. Love you. =)

Wanna encourage everyone and mavis to: KEEP ON MOVING AND PRESS ON!

Even if you have not been spending that one hour with God or reading the psalm a day (or done as well as think you should have), dun give up on it. It is very easy for us to give up halfway cos we think that "anyway everything has gone badly", "I have not been spending that one hour with God for so long. Let me give up." - that is a lie!

Just come before God and confess whatever that you have not done well. He forgives you and He gives you a new beginning because of what Jesus did for us on the Cross.

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

2 Corin 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Also, I know that God has brought all of us a long way since we started the Year of Sabbath. We have read through more of the bible and read through a lot of the psalms and prayed more than we did before it started. You have grown! =) It is also encouraging to see you all post on your thoughts and what God has been teaching you all - the Jasmine tribe blog was started in the Year of Sabbath and we have posted and blessed one another through it. It is a Victory! =)

At the end of the day, God is seeking for a relationship with us and He loves us. The focus is not on the 1 hour with God (though it is important), but drawing close to God. =) Yes, and I believe we have done it as we read the psalms and prayed and just being obedient to do what the church and God is leading us to do. =)

Wanna thank God also for touching me with His love. I was reading my bible on the part that Jesus was crucified on for a couple of day last week. Then on Saturday night I was suddenly struck by God's love for me - I cried and cried for really long because I was so touched that Jesus who is God would die on the Cross for me - me who is so small and sinful and unworthy.

Jia you gals.

Also HAPPY BELATED 16TH BIRTHDAY CASSANDRA! =) WE LOVE YOU! =)

dawn

surrender all

2008-03-17T00:26:00.003+08:00

honey bunnies!

its time for...

MAVIS DJ ON THE ROAD.

haha yes! i am here to share a song again.

you know i was so scared that you guys didnt like the song. haha until dawn said its nice! hahha i felt so relieved. phew!

but anyway it doesnt matter. i am rushing my work now, but god is asking me to share this with you guys because its just rings in my head. even when i went to bathe! omgosh i was humming it all the way without realising. until my sister came and asked me to shut up. haha its a nice song.

i also felt that this meant quite a lot. like with today's sermon.

how can we recover from the lost of faith?

i guess it really spoke to me. i kinda felt that i have lost the faith, as its so distracting in the holidays. like the fasting and the one hour thing, i havent prayed for an hour at home yet, only last week in the combined service. but i will try! try try try!

i felt that it is quite meaningless to go for sanctification if we don't even have the heart for god right? it really shocked me when i was in worship. i was really distracted by the people around me. and i was just singing the song, but the thoughts in my head, was just running wild. nothing about god at all. i just sang and sang together with the rest. (something like what pastor said huh!) SO i have decided that i will forget about those horrible 30 something days, if i am not wrong, and i will give my next four days whole to really spend time with god. i really hope i can do this. if not i know when i go for the sanctification, i wont feel anything. so yup yup. GOD, NEXT FOUR DAYS, ALL YOURS!

BUT anyway, i really want you guys to hear this song.

surrender it all to god, be honest and humble.

god of mercy,

show your mighty hand.

god of wonder,

breathe on us again.

you're my king and all-consuming fire.

heavan shakes,

your might tears up the sky.

surrender all,

surrender all,

i am dead to sin,

alive within.

god almighty,

change my dark to light.

god of passion,

gave your blood as life.

you're my king

and all-consuming fire.

strip away the flesh and take me higher.

ALL THE BEST IN TERM 2!

god is gonna be there!

A BROKEN HEART, i will not despise

2008-03-12T14:22:00.003+08:00

hey dears(: i told you guys i'd be blogging about smth that God broke my heart about this week and so sorry have been rather busy so here to share with you guys now. (: recall sometime last yr, i wrote yo guys the SUPERRR LONGGG email about my thanksgiving for youth camp and the whole year of victory thing. haha. yeah. i don't want it broadcasted on the WWW yeah so i shall just refer to it as 'the incident' oh and this is Vanessa here by the way. heh :D

so anyway. the incident last year as you guys know hurt me quite a bit and i always tried to tell myself that God has a reason for doing these things and i kept thinking what the reason could be. and that night before i slept i tried to spend the hour with God. i was quite tired so i didn't really feel like praying much so as pastor said, just sit there (or lie on the bed in my case!) and listen to what God tells you. so anyway. not many of you all know but there was one service where pastor was talking about the psalm written in acrostic form right. then mavis and i were trying to write also and i did. and i actually made it into my song for God lah. And i was feeling so good about myself and how i so "holy" can write song to God. i shall show you the first few lines of the song. haha.

Almighty Father

Best Friend I could ever have

Come fill my spirit

Down on my knees I fall

and just fyi the last three letters X Y Z very hard to find a sentence so i made it chinese heh. anyway. so as i lay there trying to think solely of God and waiting for Him to speak to me, the song popped into my head. i thought at first, cool man God gave me a song to sing to worship Him so i started singing it. And try your best to recall the email i sent you all. it had smth to do with a person right. well, God suddenly just grabbed me and told me to listen to what i was singing. I was singing "...best friend i could ever have..." and it struck me. Tears just poured down my cheeks and couldn't stop. You know how hurt and upset i was when the peron ignored me and everything right. Then i treated the person as a best friend but the feeling probably wasn't mutual. the person would call me a best friend and then spend more time with others than this best friend. had more fun with others than me. i could not understand then. but i think i finally understand what having a broken heart is like.

i was asking for a broken heart at the altar call and to me it's like i don't know what it means and everything just okay lah want lor. but the words best friend slapped me in the face. i was singing that God was my best friend. God asked me in a very quiet voice " why do you call me your best friend when you'd raher spend days playing with your other friends and find it so hard just to spend one hour talking to me? why are you so passionate for me on sundays and when you pray but completely ignore me the rest of the week and day?" I was overwhelmed with this sadness and guilt because i knew that God was right. I was being totally hypocritical and stupid. i caused the Lord the same hurt and sorrow that the person had caused me and i thought God was mean for letting me experience it. but i saw now, that God felt how i felt. and knowing how many days i cried myself to sleep, i felt so terrible that i could have done the same thing to our Lord. I just kept crying and crying and the words "best friend" just kept replaying in my head. I felt so bad about it and kept apoloigising to the Lord and i know He forgave me because He dried my tears and gave me a really good sleep.

but i know now that God has good plans for my life and i should not question his actions or blame him for my unhappiness. i hope this is an encouragement to all of you, my darling sisters. i'll see you guys tmr! :D LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!

vanessA!

2008-03-10T20:29:00.002+08:00

lol. hi yall, my beloved.(: mavis honey is here to blog!! haha

-this is so cheesy, gee-

ok back to my point. i am going to upload music here. bring life. haha. mostly are from like parachute band, red rain. haha yea. they are really good. basically they are bands which i attended their concerts before. in the heart of god church. my sister's church or rather old church. i feel that music, is something that easily speaks to our hearts? i dont know why? oh well, the wonder of god.

hmm so hope you guys will enjoy the songs!

you are the only one who gave,

all that you had to cover my shame.

oh no one can deny,

that you paid this price.

you are the one who gave.

you have the only name,

with power enough to take all my blame

oh no one can deny,

that you have paid this price.

you have the only name.

now i see,

how much you love me.

constant one you wil never leave.

i will keep in you.

you remain holding me,

when i am lost and stuck out at sea.

though the world may despise,

this love in your eyes

you remain holding me.

let this just remind us, how much god is willing to sacrifice for us. that shame. upon that cross. he will hold us

2008-03-03T21:38:00.005+08:00

Dear family,

Wanna thank God for speaking a lot to me and healing me in many areas in the last week which I shared some during youth cell on Sunday. will blog it when I have more time. He is very good and most incredible. yay! =)

Ps Khong challenged us this week: TO FIND REST IN GOD EVERY MOMENT THIS WEEK, and also to spend the 1 hour with God a day.

Wanna encourage everyone to take up the faith challenge.

For myself, I tend to worry a lot and think a lot about my problems, potential problems and bad things that can happen. The week ahead looks a busy and challenging week, esp at work.To find rest in God every moment this week is going to be a SUPERNATURAL AND A ONLY GOD CAN DO IT TASK.

But our God is strong (able to me and us do it) and He is loving. =) =)

dawn

2008-03-01T23:55:00.000+08:00

cass.

Hey all.
Had to give church a miss last week for regatta. Weather was divine and if only i could take a pic out at sea to share the view. With the clouds, trees and the sea..absolutely heavenly. I felt so at peace and calm and amazed at God's creation.

Okay so my post have been long overdue.....I'm sure everyone is waiting breathlessly in anticipation haha but sadly since cny feels as if centuries ago, I'll share about others.

The 40day fast, do without a meal a day, I thought "easy" I could do that. Skip for lunch then have dinner.....no mean feat, plus I could use a diet. But how wrong was I, never knew how hard it was to fast and how much snacks in between meals I take. I felt tempted many times by my friends and the glorious wanton mee near school but I couldn't and I have a reason why.

Personally, I feel that fasting, is God's way of strengthening our mind and spirit. You see in life, you would meet lots of obstacles and failures, and temptations come to flirt with our mind and the only way to fight it is to be strong. Just think, if wanton mee could get to you....imagine how hard it would be to counter other temptations and distractions. So to me fasting is like a simple training, something small to start off with to build our resilience and trust in the Lord.

Yezzzz, about the No Tv rule. I know it's even harder, more so when its the award season and new drama serials..but as i said it's to build us up for smth even bigger next time. Its all in the mind....hahaha

Oh yes, I remember I had a tough time skipping lunch during regatta since I was scared I wouldn't have enough energy if I didn't eat but God is great and I did quite well. "No pain No gain" I suppose.

Yeah that's basically it..
Gd night and here's a song. I think it's a christian song..

here i m!

2008-02-27T18:06:00.005+08:00

HO! :D
our tribe blog is suddenly bursting with life(posts)
and im here to post again!

remember this song?

A heart of worship

you did want our sacrifice and offerings
but a broken spirit nd a contrite heart
you will not despise
you will not despise
Lord a broken spirit and a contrite heart

Lord a heart of worship is what you desire
a heart that burns with passionate fire
a heart that's undivided in love you

(in spirit and truth)

yea, the one we sang on sunday! :D

and ever since that day i heard it on thurs, i dunno why but it kept replaying and replaying in my head. and somehow i knew that God was trying to tell me something, to tell me to have a broken spirit and contrite heart, a heart that longs for him. but really, i tried to be 'broken' before Him but somehow i just couldnt, i have no idea why. perhaps it was pride, i really dunno. i have to admit really i wasnt that close to God during the past few days/weeks cos of stuff, and i would just quickly do quiet time with God and im off to dreamland. yea and on sunday though i went for altar call, perhaps it was only 'partly broken' HAH it sounds weird. yea but anyway, so yesterday i did my 1 hour and i fell asleep! (again!) :/ and God somehow told me that verse that jesus told his disciples before he was arrested, ' pray that u will not fall into temptation, the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.' though i really really wanted to spend that 1 hour with God that day, somehow i ended up falling asleep. and He said that he knows my heart, he recognises my effort, and sees how much i've tried. and somehow i dunno how i just broke before me, and it suddenly just dawned on me how tiny and how i m really really nothing without him, that all i m , what i've achieve, is not me, but Him. (ok perhaps cos of the Lord's great blessings, i've maybe taken things for granted, like aiya dunno how to explain) anyway, my heart just felt 'full' again, even now as im typing! :D and i think God speaks to me through songs/lyrics! :D cos after that, the song 'from the inside out' kept replaying and replaying in my head! especially the first 2 lines. A thousand times I've failed, Still Your mercy remains And should I stumble again, I'm caught in Your grace it speaks for itself right. ok, this post is getting real long.
ok anyway, today for my 1 hour! i was determined NOT to fall asleep! :D and ok i think my 1 hour is a bit warped anyway i worshiped for 1/2 hour, (if not there's nothing to pray) and then i prayed and i almost almost fall asleep! my eyes were closed on my pillow, and then i suddenly realised 'AHHH im gonna sleeep!!!' then i remembered the verse! :D and i decided not to lie down, HAHA. and congrats i managed to spend 1 hour with God WITHOUT sleeping!! :DDD

YAY YAY YAY YAY

im so proud of myself, and i know God is v proud of me too! :D

anyway just wanted to share how awesome God is, and how im caught in his grace over and over again! :D

LOVE LOVE,
JOLINE!

[:

2008-02-26T21:47:00.004+08:00

YO DARLS<3

okay my turn to post![: uh i think this is my 2nd time posting or sth heheheheh. anw i admit i was quite reluctant to post at first cos i've lost touch with blogging [comeon look at my own blog :l] plus plus everytime im online i cant watch dramas or mvs too! but for God, my darling cell and all the people who reads this blog uh im here to share the glory of God in my life :D

well the 40days fast and prayer thing was ok so far i guess[: although i will just gorge myself with food after i break fast and sometimes just fall asleep while praying that one hour(or skip the whole hour ;l)
the first few days of fast was hard! in school during recess and lunch everyone will be EATINGGGG. and its weird because suddenly everyone is asking me why am i not eating [because usually im always eating?] for me the hard part is not just the sacrifice of food for God, but rather how i had to explain to my friends that it was a corporate church fasting thing, the initial response i get would be "aiyoh why must fast?!" then i started to question myself that way too. at first it was rather hard to tell my friends that i was doing it for God. while praying one day, i set myself a resolution which is to make it a point to have the selfdiscipline to fast a meal a day and do it without anycomplaints or making myself think of other reasons why i should fast [dieting or saving time etc!] [its hard not to think that way but im still trying to!] then God told me i will survive this 4o days definitely, He told me that because i gave up a meal a day plus my favouuuuuuriiiiite drama and mvs for 40 days, He will provide me with everything else, all my other needs, and give me more than i expect for the rest of my life[;

since that day, i realised through this 40 days fast and prayer thing, God has blessed me with really dear friends who would encourage me alot, and even tell me that in 40 days they will watch this drama thing with me hehehhe :D and God has also blessed me with a dear friend in my class who fasts with me to encourage me and also not tempt me by eating infront of me. and while i (we) am fasting, she will chiong hw with me :D so i will be distracted from my hunger[: hence im reallly thankful for her. and i hope that God will bless her always [;

WE ARE DOING THE 40DAYS FAST AND PRAYER FOR GOD [: in the other 40-9 = 31 days to come, we shall let God know that it is possible to survive 40 days without a meal a day and uhh games/tv/drama just for him[: its hard but we will not give up, because God is here with us [:

LOVELOVE. SHIRLYNN!:D

2008-02-25T22:06:00.003+08:00

Dear everyone,

Yay yay yay yay! Cos God has been speaking to us. =) =) =)

God is very good...for the little steps we take towards Him and the sacrifices we made, He blesses us. =)

Hi Vanessa, I am blessed by your sharing. God must really love us to listen to all our complaints, many really petty ones, and record them down. =P

Just wanna share...

this morning, I felt quite burdened and unhappy at work - there was a lot of fear in my heart to go to work and face everything.

When I read Psalm 56 in the morning, Psalm 56:3-4 spoke to me
"When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?" It is repeated again in Psalm 56:11.

Cos I felt unhappy I went to spend some time with God during my lunchtime, and repeated this Psalm 56:3-4 a few times and prayed.

God also told me during that time that He loved me. I was reminded of John 3:16 but with "dawn" inserted in "the world".
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.

I felt much comforted at that time and was able to carry on the day. Praise God! =) =)

Things are not easy still but I can trust in my BIG GOD and HE LOVES ME!

BLESS YOU THAT YOU CAN TRUST IN YOUR BIG GOD AND HE LOVES YOU!!!! =) =)

dawn

MY GOD IS A BIG GOD!

2008-02-25T16:29:00.005+08:00

here to blog about the psalms now! firstly, i feel that doing this you must blog this wk cause it's your turn thing makes it a bit forced? i dunno. but i am not blogging cause i have to ok. but cause i want to. yes? hee hee. alright. anyways. the psalm i read today is psalm 56. to be honest, i think it's really hard to share about this first part of psalms cause they're all quite similar and straightforward lah. but this verse, although is straightforward really speaks to me.

Psalm 56: 8

'Record my lament;
list my tears on your scroll-
are they not in your record?'

okay lament would refer to complaints here, non? so although God says not to complain, as humans we always still do, conciously or subconciously. partly also cause we singaporean kids are sooo terribly spoilt every little thing requires complaint. like my aircon is not cold enough. the abalone not authentic. my maid so clumsy. the service of the waitress so slow. i mean compare ourselves to those in the not so fortunate countries. say, for example, the more poverty-stricken parts of indonesia. they are so poor, that they have to leave their families to come to overly blessed countries like singapore to work for us. what do they complain about? does your maid sleep in an aircon room? do they have maids? they "serve" you. if they dare to complain you'll probably scold them!

so can you imagine a great king like our Lord, we like His servants. We complain to Him all the time but does He scold us, punish us, or like dock our pay? No. In fact it says here that He actually listens to our complaints and records it all. Our God loves us so much that He would record each and every one of our complaints be it stupid ones or not. There are billions of people on this earth. And God listens to and records each one of them. Impossible for God? No. Because He is not human like us, but He is the God who created heaven and earth. He is almighty.

Being someone with overactive tear glands and a heart that melts like butter in a microwave, I am crying at almost the littlest thing. When I'm sad, angry, laugh too much, touched, anything! Ask my cousins, last time I was like a tap. Say no to anything only, CRY. play games i don't get to be leader, CRY. cannot go their house to play, CRY. and for the past 15 years of my life, God has been listing each of my tears on His scroll. No matter what the reason, ridiculous or serious. Each tear I cry, God sees and He comforts me and writes it down.

VANESSA
27 tears- Failed a test
129 tears- Hamster died
101 tears- Quarelled with mother
30 tears- Watched 'I Not Stupid Too'

Quite retarded right? But because God cares about every little part of our life, this is one way He cares too.

so anyway yeah. this is one song i remember i loved singing in children's ministry last time.
"My God is so BIG so STRONG and so MIGHTY
there's nothing my God cannot do
FOR YOU!"

we would sing the song soooo enthusiastically with actions and all that. haha. so fun. God rocks my world and He is there for me all the time. He's there for you too! Just ask Him yeah? He will not get angry with you, I promise!

LOVE ALL YOU DARLING PEOPLE! have a great week ahead fasting and spending the hour with our Lord. :D

loads of love and care with a CHERRY on top! VanessA!

2008-02-23T21:15:00.005+08:00

Though its my turn to share on the psalms. i wont share on it because honestly, i haven't been reading it, because i have been busy, very busy. its like having school till like late afternoons or cca till 6 or 7. and now i have to juggle with cheer, and seriously, my house cheer is only 30 seconds done, after today. and i have like 3 or 4 tests a week. but i don't want to give that excuse anymore that because i am busy, i cant spend time with god, i cant read a psalm a day because i have been sleeping late and waking up late, so i cant do this i cant do that.

i felt no point of sharing a psalm as i felt that i have lost that sensitive touch with god. even at the alter call last week, i didn't feel anything. and sometimes even at when people pray i don't feel much, i sometimes wonder why people can go so emotional and cry when i felt nothing, maybe it was because i was new and i didn't really knew god, i told myself. i ever asked myself if i was the problem, like if i was the one that didn't want to go too close to god, that i couldn't release everything to him.maybe it might be so. but then there were really times where i really felt god. i need to go encounter again! haha but maybe not now, sorry god but i am still very busy even if i go i wouldnt be able to concentrate.

back to the point.

"ITS TIME TO WAKE UP MAVIS!" i think that is what god is trying to say to me, though it might sound a little funny, but i have to admit, i really do need to wake up.

i need to discipline myself, if not someone will do it for me and i don't like it, yet disciplining yourself is really hard. no matter how hard i try to avoid temptation, there is always a time where i cant resist and do something which i shouldn't. like breaking fast, once, in school. because i ate something accidentally, then i said to myself that, ah since i broke fast, never mind la, just eat lor. and watching tv, because the tv is just outside my room every time i walk in and out i will pass by and sometimes, i will naturally sit down and watch, then i will realise that i shouldn't be watching tv. ya. but i couldn't resist to watch the yog hais! i was suppose to be there to support. but it was the last day of Chinese new year so i ate at home. but oh wells.

BACK TO THE POINT.
ah hem

so i spent about 15 minutes, kneeling down, telling god that i am sorry and started to worship him. sadly it was only for 15 minutes as my aunt and uncle came. so they interrupted and i feel very conscious when they are around. so ya. i am very easily distracted.. but i am happy as i felt that as i sing, i felt something really different, i couldn't resist but my hand was moving to my heart (as i already had one hand there) and it touched my other hand, i felt that it was not my hand but god's. he was telling me 'i am coming back here'. i felt really relieved after that and was smiling. haha. lucky i didn't cry like terribly, if not my aunty and uncles will think that i got bullied or something.

haha i think this is rather the long. so i made my point and i hope that when you guys read this, something will apply to you!

♥ Mavis

GOD LOVES ME!

2008-02-23T19:31:00.004+08:00

hey. here to share too. as i had tagged, i fell asleep the first day spending time with God. Ifelt really quite bad lah. cause like joline, i was lying on the bed to pray. i was at the praying for the world part when i fell asleep cause i really dunno what to pray lah. aiya.then tues, wed and thurs i had cca reached home at like 7:30, by the time i ate my dinner, bathed and finished my work it was like 9:30. then i studied for my test till like 10:20 and my father came in to scold me and make me sleep so i couldn't spend the time with God. ):

In the word it says Honour your parents right? lol. okay lah i know that's just an excuse, but I find it really hard to spend that time with God leh. but really God told me smth that I really heard so clearly and has since con firmed God's amazing love for me. When I fell asleep that day I really felt so bad so I prayed and asked God for forgiveness and this strange thing just came into my mind, I think it's Jesus. heh :D He told me that it's okay and He loves me so much that when I was sleeping, He was watching me sleep and He takes joy in something even as small as that. I was really touced cause I know sometimes when people sleep they look so innocent and you feel like you love them so much and you could just sit there and watch them sleep so when I heard God tell me that I felt all fuzzy haha. cause i really felt so loved.

and this whole wk whenever i was walking from the track back to my class after assembly and I wasn't talking to my friends, i really felt (like ps khong said "He walks with me, and He talks with me and He tells me I am His own) like God was beside me and holding my hand and I was like tou xiao-ing to myself haha. anyway. I got into cheer! haha. and that's one thing I really thanked the Lord for! but now, with cheer, schoolwork, so many tests, cca and our funfair coming up, I'm sooo busy. i've been praying for a few things this wk and it's mostly, that I won't be a reserve for cheer, and that i'll be able to do well for my tests. I trust that God will help me cause He loves me and He wants the best for me. He has already shown it to me when I got 16/20 for my e math test and quite good for my eng compre test! thank you Lord! sooo yeah.

i gtg study and do work now, see you all soon! LOVES. hey my heart screwed it up too. why ah? anyway. LOve, Vanessssss-AH!

2008-02-22T18:41:00.005+08:00

hello sweeties!

( ahhh the heart just screwed up the blogger!! )):

ok i feel like blogging though it izin my turn!
so i shall just blog! :D

its just barely a week since the 40 days fasting/no tv no games/ 1 hour daily with God thingy. and im already struggling. its hard, ITS REALLY HARD. and really, 1 hour a day is ALOT of time. and on monday,(the first day) i was like really really tired, and i really didnt feel like spending that 1 hour with God, honestly i wanted to just go and sleep. then i was thinking 'ok i today just do 1/2 hour then i slowly increase'. but then, i felt really bad, cos after all i had stood up and promised God. yea so in the end, i decided that fine i just do for 1 hour lah. ok then i pray for like 20 min, i had nothing to pray about anymore. and so i lie on my bed and close my eyes and ask God to tell me wat he wants to tell me if there is anything lah. and pray in tongues for like 2 min. and after that i just laid there and after a while, naturally i fell asleep!! :X and when i woke up, btw, my mum came into my room, thats how i woke up. and BOOM the 1 hour was over, and so i just went to bed. but then, i guessed God really told me what he wanted to tell me. that is :
the real challenge is not just spending 1 hour with Him, the real challenge is when u are really really busy, and u still choose to spend that 1 hour with Him, and put Him first, more important then all ur other stuff.

YEA.

but still, i find it really really hard, theres really nothing much to do in that 1 hour. the most i can pray is just like for 1/2 hour, and there was this one day i spent the other hour learning the choir songs, so thats considered praising him right? :D YAY.

and the fasting thingy is also really hard. like FOOD is really very impt to me, when im hungry, i eat, when im not hungry, i eat, when i have nothing better to do, i eat. when i see other eat, i eat. so, really fasting is soooo hard for me. and my friends find it really really weird why im not eating, cos im practically always eating. and i dont spend recess with them, which is really SAD ): and they ask, 'why are u always fasting? fast for wad?' and honestly i dunno how to answer them. :/

and and the tv thingy. i accidentally watched tv! and i dint even realised. i was like just looking at the tv, and i totally forgot, and them i suddenly remembered, and i quickly look away. on the bus also, its just such a habitual thing to look at the tv. DD:

OK. enough of my ranting :/
since i promised God, i will keep my word, and i believe that GOd will help me through it! and HE will help u all through it too! :D

ok, gtg. my stomach's really really HUNGRY!

LOVE,
JOLINE.

2008-02-16T21:20:00.002+08:00

hi everyone, im here to fulfil my duty of blogging.
though my six sense tells me this blog is a little less than alive.
ok anyway, this week has been sort of a boring week. and my quiet time with God in the morn reading psalms did not really touch me that greatly this week yea. i have really no idea what to post, but i shall just post psalm 46.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
therefore, we will not fear, though earth give way, and the mountains fall into the heart of sea,
though its waters roar and foam, and the mountains quake with their surging.
there is a river whose streams make glad the city of God. the holy place where the most high dwells.
God is within her, she will not fall, God will help her at the break of day.
nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall. he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
the Lord Almighty is with us, the God of Jacob is our fortress.
come and see the works of the Lord. the desolutions he has brought on the earth.
he makes wars cease to the ends of the earth, he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shield with fire.
Be still, and know that i am God. i will be exalted among the nations. i will be exalted in the earth.
the Lord almighty is with us, the God of Jacob is our fortress.

alright, i think this psalm speaks for itself yea.
God is always with us wherever we go, though we may not feel like he is always there, though we sometimes doubt his presence, but he is always watching over us and always with us! and HE is our refuge and strength, some one we can always depend on, and he will never ever fail us. so thankGod that you, and I have such an awesome God.

God loves us ALOT ALOT! :D

anyway, late happy valentine's day darlings! heart heart!

choir duty tmr!

-joline

2008-02-09T23:28:00.000+08:00

Hi everyone,

Happy Chinese New Year! =)

Here to share God has been speaking to me through the reading of the psalms...

2 things:

1) Through the reading of the psalms, it helps me to pray to God. The psalmists are often very honest with God and pour out their feelings and thoughts and troubles to God. I am learning to tell God what I think and feel and worry about as the psalmists do.

2)
Psalm 33:10 -11 really struck me when I read it.
Psalm 33:10 -11
10 The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.
11 But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.

I am struck by the truth that it is only God's plans and purposes stand firm forever and have eternal value. All my own purposes and plans that are not in line with God's purposes have only temporal value.

It causes me to think about my life: am I living my life with God's plans and purposes? What is God's plans and purposes?

Psalm 39:6 spoke to me as well.
Psalm 39:6
Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro: He bustles about, but only in vain; he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it.

Psalm 39:6 describes A LOT of people, even ourselves, very well. We spend so much of our time on our work and our studies forgetting God when all of the 'wealth' will be left behind when we pass away.

God has really asked me to examine my own life and my purposes through His Word.

For myself, this past year since I started work, I have been distracted and caught up by work and have lost some focus on God's kingdom and purposes. I want to focus on God's kingdom and purposes in my life.

Some of the purposes of God that He has reminded me of is: winning people to know God, praying for people and for God's purposes in my life, spending time with people I love (and God loves), worshipping God, building and blessing my family and spiritual family.

Prayer: Dear God, I don't want to live my life and build treasures on earth that are temporal. I want my life to fulfil your purposes for my life. I want my life to be a meaningful one. I don't want to live my life and regret it. Please show me more and more Your purposes for my life. Thank you God.

dawn

2008-02-02T23:05:00.000+08:00

hey dearies!! :D

i've changed the erm blogskin, cos i was getting a little bored the ugly old grey one. YUP.
i hope that u all dont mind, this will be quite a common scence, cos as u all prob know, joline changes skin really really often. YEA. so until we come up with a permanent skin, i'll do my little magic! :D

anyway, u all have been complaining that the font is hard to read and stuff, i personally think that this one is even worse yea, so u all can change the template anyway u all want to i think. yep i shall try to edit it afterwards. ok so today reunion dinner was FUN :D

yep, see u all lovelies tmr!! <33

-joline

Psalm 33

2008-02-02T11:15:00.000+08:00

january's done a disappearing act a little too soon cos i'm not sure i want to leave 2007 behind so quickly! my ~~slow~~ brain has a some trouble digesting what just happened in between the transition from cresecent to nj...

anyway. i just popped in here (tuition at 2!!) to share a little of No. 33 cos i think it's really good!

16 No king is saved by the size of his
army;
no warrior by his great strength.
17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance,
despite all its great strength it cannot save.
18 But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him,
on those whose hope is in His
unfailing love,
19 to deliver them from death
and keep them alive in famine.

of course nowadays 21st century cool, sophisticated schoolgirls and lawyers and civil service workers like ourselves don't really depend on armies and strength in the literal sense, but in those days these things were the crowning glories of kings and warriors, things that made them great and powerful awe-inducing.

what are our crowning glories, then?—our friends, our savings, qualifications, talent, skill, ability, eloquence, our image and whatever else you can think of to add.
Are our securities, confidence and hope based on these? of course these things are very good and i'm sure all of us have at least two or more of the above mentioned x), but these things can neither deliver nor save.

finally, a solution. (rather much the same solution to almost everything else, but it is a good reminder nevertheless.) The eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His everlasting love. If God's eyes are upon us then we can certainly trust Him to deliver us from the JAWS OF DEATH (in our cases nasty teachers, nasty bosses, nasty office politics, nasty things)!

and then we have no need for the strength of warriors or the armies of kings from long ago to outwit, outlast, outplay! go survivors! ha ha.

so just a little of Psalm 33 to think about.

Love you guys, and see you all later!

<^)))>< Julienne

Hallo from across the pacific / atlantic! (depending on which way u spin ur globe)

2008-01-30T13:16:00.000+08:00

Howdyhowdyhowdy. Am currently typing this from my very cold hotel room in San Francisco, and feeling extremely uncool cuz I'm wearing a sweater and leg warmers and am all bundled up even though I'm INDOORS. You should see my surreptitious shiver. My toes and fingers do a little dance all on their own when I'm not looking. Am TERRIBLY bad with cold, so I make sure I'm covered with several layers from head to toe and if I had my way, my face would be covered too. Anyways!

Have been here three days, and I kinda like San Fran. (: I was horribly homesick for the first two days, but today's been more settled. What have I been up to? I 1.) shopped 2.) ate 3.) ate more 4.) continued shopping 5.) was very cold 6.) tried to do my work in between all the shopping and eating and wasn't very productive. Heh. Let me try to crystallize why I like this place in a few points:

1.) The people here are really friendly. Like really really friendly. And sales staff here rock. They're helpful, without being pushy, and they greet you ALL THE TIME. Regardless of whether we're in a high-end store or not. The first few times i got greeted with a genunie "how'd you do?", with full eye contact and what looked like genuine interest for my welfare, I was so startled I forgot to answer. Grin. Only serves to enforce what an unfriendly society we come from. I've learnt to smile more at random strangers here. If I do this back home I'd just look cuckoo.

2.) The city has a nice mix of old and new. For example, there're these cute, almost cartoonish trolley cars that run by electricity and have tracks in the ground, along the street, that take u from place to place around SF city. They're adorable, and actually a very functional means of transport, and they've been here since.....I dunno when actually. Heh. But for looong.

3.) Erh. The shopping is good? Hahahahaha. i realized, after point 2, that the reasons why I like this place is just cuz i've been shopping, and what's there to complain abt that man!

Haha. There are other interesting things abt the city, like the fact that there are SO MANY ASIANS here, we blend right in. Like the fact that there are so many art galleries around, which appeals to my arty-farty hoity-toity side, y'know, being surrounded by art. Like the fact that the streets are laid out in such a perfect grid pattern it's sp easy to get around. Like, when the sun (occasionally) comes out during the day, that the weather is so lovely I feel like I can walk (not shop, just walk) for miles.

Okay, serious part now. I think travelling, much as I like it, has made me realize that it's really getting harder and harder, as I grow older, to adjust to being outside my comfort zone. When I was younger, it was easy to try new things, get used to new environments, not wish for the same, the old, the familiar method of doing things. Case in point: I hardly ever got homesick when I travelled without family. But I realize as I grow older, coming out of my comfort zone is a lot more painful, and my inertia is so much higher. So note to self, and to all, is to be more aware and more intentional, about doing things that continually, and yet wisely challenge the boundaries of my comfort zones, mentally, spiritually, physically, so that by the time I reach 30, 40, 50 and beyond, I will still be limber and adaptive to change and to God's plans, and I wouldn't be an old person welded to the same things and the same habits, i.e. tragically boring.

Serious point deux. There was a point yesterday, at the height of my shopping expedition, where I looked around me at all the things I could buy, at the fact that I had nothing more onerous before me but a fantabulous lunch and more shopping, and when I should have been happy, instead I felt a sudden stab of desolation. I think that's a small small glimpse of how people who have climbed the dizzying heights of success, with all the money in the world, feel. When you achieve all that life can offer, and still find that resounding emptiness inside cannot be filled. And if I didn't have God, didn't have much beloved family and friends, how horribly empty it would all be. It was a good opportunity to tell God about it, and a very good confirmation of my intuitive sense (not that anyone ever asked hehhh) that I'd really really hate being a tai tai. Some people can be, and like to be, but I cannot. Same logic for why I'm not a doctor, pop star, or, uh, nun.

So anyways! Did i mention that I've been trying to clear work here? Heh. Time to get back to work then. It's 10.08pm here. Peace, out!

Love Corrine

2008-01-29T22:22:00.000+08:00

hi family,

Just wanna share something good! =)

On sat during the cell advance I was sharing a bit on how I had some problems at work but God taught me to remember Him and how He is like. It is good to ask God for His perspective on your problems. I shared, among others, that one of the feedback the boss had about me was that I was careless, and also that I was worried whether I will get a pay increase this year.

I just knew yesterday that I had a pay increase and the pay increase was a lot more than what I had expected or asked God.

At that point of time, I was just very shocked and so grateful and I know that this pay increase was really BECAUSE OF GOD AND BECAUSE HE IS GOOD TO ME. This was not because I was smart or even because I worked hard. seriously, most of the lawyers are a lot smarter than me. Also, I did not stay late at work unless I had to because I had urgent stuff and I leave work earlier than the rest of the lawyers. I also more leave than them. And there is the feedback that I was careless. There are mistakes I made at work because I was not being responsible enough.
Yes, so the pay increase is really because of God.

When we read the psalms, it often says that blessings will come when we obey God. This is also something I am learning in my life. So often, I think I will be blessed in my work (in the past it was my studies) when I work hard or when I am smart. I think that it is those smart, eloquent, ambitious people who will go far in their career. However, God's word is that blessings will come when we obey Him.

This reminds me of my university days whereby God brought me to the end of myself in my studies to show me that He is the one who blesses. I worked really hard in my studies and kept doing badly - had straight Cs a lot of times. But when I put God first and though I spent less time on my studies, I managed to do a lot better afterwards and graduate with a good honours degree.

Many times God takes away what we depend on because He wants to show us that He is the One who blesses us. It may be that our intellect, our personality, or even our own hard work and the work of our hands that we believe will achieve sucesss.

God is our God who blesses us. =)

anw I laugh a lot (at my spiritual children most of the time) as Vanessa says because they are really cute and say and do a lot of funny things. haha.

dawn =)

those werent just words were they?

2008-01-27T20:32:00.001+08:00

ok hello lovelies! :D

im here to post a serious post for once! :D

ok anyway, cell advance was FUN! :D YAY. yup. and have u all seen the pictures? i look crap in it! HAHA

i have nothing to post lah.
anyway i just wanna say that i've been acting a little weird not like my usual self lately. i think its prob due to stress and blah blah blah. and my mood has been up and down for quite long now. emoing and stuff lah! *wink wink* SHIR u know wad i mean! :D

ok anyway i was just reading the bible this morning, was a little confused and sad. D:
yep and God just brought me to this verse.

1 john 4:4-6
you, dear children, are from God and have overcome them[spirits not from God], cos the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. they are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. we are from God and whoever knows God listens to us but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. this is how we recognise the spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

yep, so just reminding everyone to listen the the right voice! and we can overcome the other points of view, or maybe the devil's voice, or even our own thinking, cos the one is us is greater then the one in the world. YEP :D hope i interpretted the verse correctly. YEP :D

ok anyway, just wanna bless u all in this coming week! and hope yr week ahead will be great! WOOHOO. reunion dinner next sat! :DD

and this blog needs a makeover!! this temp skin is getting real boring! DD:

ok anyway, GOD LOVES YOU AND I LOVE YOU ALL LOADS TOO <33

♥joline

2008-01-26T21:32:00.000+08:00

HAPPY 15TH BIRTHDAY MAVIS! =)

Thank God for Mavis and your obedience and faithfulness to God. =) God loves you and we love you too! =)

and today cell gathering was great! God was there with us and it was fun! =) =) =) Thank God for the very good weather and nice beach and nice sea.

everyone was co-operative, and on time today!!! =) well done daughters. =) thanks especially to julienne and vanessa who were willing to help me do my skit!!! =)

to shirlynn, gayle and joline: I think I know the answer to that chem qn. It is 'add water, filtration, evaporation and sublimation'. hehe.

dawn

2008-01-24T21:59:00.000+08:00

DEAR dears,

how has the week been? i have been really busy! but no worrys i am still alive(: SORRY i haven done the blog banner. sorry :( i will try and do it by next week ok? though i might be as busy, but i believe god will make a time for me to do it. ((:

i hope you guys had a great week so far! i cant wait for saturday!!! YAYERS. haha 26 jan 26 jan. la la la

i am still worried for my aunt though. i really hope the doctor had a wrong diagnosis. i really cant imagine if this year would be our last chinese new year together. i tried not to think about it for this week, i cant anyway, too busy. its really upsetting.

oh dawn! if its ok, could we have cell before church, because after that, i want to go get new year clothes. :\ hope its alright with you?

p.s. i love you DEARS.

<3 mavis.

devotion

2008-01-23T22:58:00.000+08:00

Psalm 23
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

This is one of people's favourite psalms of the Bible and it is one of mine too!

I was rather worried about a number of things these few days and kept thinking about whether things will work out. God comforted me a lot with this psalm.

verse 1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

I remember that God is my Shepherd. I am not dealing with the things in my life on my own but God is watching over me as a Shepherd watches over his sheep. He is taking care of me and is guiding me and will rescue me when things go wrong. He will also supply all my needs.

verse 5 - You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

God is the one who chooses me in the position that he puts me in and sets me apart - as a Christian, a preacher of his Gospel, a cell leader, a lawyer.
He fills my heart, my emotional needs and spiritual needs such that I can give to and love others.
verse 6 - Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

It is amazing that just because of who God is and how He loves me, goodness and love will follow me in my life. It is not because I am good or because I am capable.

Dear everyone, just want to bless everyone that 1) God is your Shepherd and is watching over you. He supplies all your needs. 2) God fills you such that you overflow. 3) Goodness and love will follow us in our life.

God loves you! What a good and amazing God we have! =) =)

dawn

JASMINE TRIBE PROFILING! whoohoo! :D

2008-01-21T16:25:00.001+08:00

hello all you people who have come to read our lovellyyy tribe blog! hahaha. this is a simple profiling that i shall do to help you get to know US! and samuel, you really did come visit, haha HI! and thanks for tagging! ((: anyway. i shall intro the lovely people one at a time so that you can get to know them better and um, i dunno. hahaha. anyway. by the way i'm Vanessa, and my profile shall be the verrrry last one. (save the best for the last, you know! ;D hahahah!)

DAWN LIM. 24 GOING ON 25. DAUGHTER OF JASMINE, MOTHER OF THE 7 PRETTY LADIES. LAWYER. CURRENTLY SINGLE BUT ATTACHED TO PANG SZE KIANG, (though status about to change in about 11 mths time! :p)

Dawn is my mama and she is the Miss Gentle Giggler of our family. She's always giggling about little little things in her super gentle way. everyone knows her as being very guai it's quite funny. haha. Dawn is a very good and caring mama! but hor, her boyfriend very stingy leh. hahahaha. anyway, dawn very smart one but always laugh laugh laugh. But she's still the best mama to me! (((:

CORRINE CHIA. 24 GOING ON 25. DAUGHTER OF JASMINE, AUNTY OF 7 LOVELY LADIES AND SOON-TO-BE MOTHER OF THE MIA TRIO. CIVIL SERVANT IN CHARGE OF SOME FINANCE THINGY. CURRENTLY SINGLE )):

Corrine is a crazy aunt. She likes to do silly little things and laughs very cutely. hahaha. her style is super unique and cool man. haha. She is the Miss Versatility of the cell though she is also very funny and tells funnier and less cold jokes than Jasmine! hee hee. Corrine very nice one, treat us cafe cartel the other time. heh. :D my lovely aunt who i find super cute! (:

JASMIN YEK. 24 GOING ON 25. DAUGHTER OF JASMINE, AUNTY OF THE LOVELY 7. LAWYER. SINGLE (which will soon change if we keep her in prayer my dear sisters! ((: )

Jasmin is my lovely aunt who is super glitzy. i dunno i think it's her eyeshadow. she looks like the all i care about is my looks kinda person but she isn't. she super smart one that's why lawyer mah. haha. and her fashion sense is super funky. she always looks very preeety! ((: her laughter is very tinkly and funny. she reminds me of a larger version of tinkerbell. tee hee. the Miss Ditzy of the tribe! Jasmin also very funny and very niceeee! ((:

KERRY! sorry i dunno her surname. 19 GOING ON 20. FROM LAOS! YOUNGEST DAUGHTER OF JASMINE. YOUNGEST AUNT OF THE 7 LOVELY THINGS. SINGLE.

I didn't have a picture of Kerry alone, so there's a picture of Kerry extreme left of this photo. Kerry is from Laos and she very pretty one haha. Very funny also. Always make up weird stuff about what I'm wearing! hahaha. The Miss Funk of this tribe! :D

JULIENNE CHEW. 14 GOING ON 15. DAUGHTER OF DAWN. GRANDAUGHTER OF JASMINE. STUDENT. FORMERLY CRESCENT GIRLS', IP NJC. SINGLE. (pfft J&K!)

Julienne is my looooovely sister who used to not like me i recall! she LOVES me now though. haha. anyway. she is good at everything it's gross. She's smart in NJC! She's sporty. In canoe-ing. She's tall. 16-ish. She's pretty. tsk. Life is unfair. She's really really funny and cane tell jokes with an absolutely straight face. haha. very funny and nice to be around too! Joline's cousin by the way. Definitely Miss All-rounder of our tribe. (not all-rounded ah!) :D LOOOVE HER.

JOLINE GOH. 14 GOING ON 15. DAUGHTER OF DAWN. GRANDAUGHTER OF JASMINE. STUDENT IN NANYANG GIRLS' HIGH. SINGLE.

Joline here is Julienne's cousin and has been my sister for hmm. 3, 4 yrs now? hahaha. Very fun girl to have around. She laughs at cold jokes so she's a very good person to tell cold jokes to, to boost your ego! hahaha. also crazy crazy and all rounder like Julienne. But I think she's more of a Miss Bouncy. haha dunno why also lah but she seems like a very bouncy person. hee hee. Love her a lot tooo!

SHIRLYNN TAN. 14 GOING ON 15. YOUNGEST DAUGHTER OF DAWN AND GRANDAUGHTER OF JASMINE. STUDENT AT NANYANG GIRLS' HIGH (another smarty pants) SINGLE.

Shirlynn is one of the newest and youngest members of our tribe! Joline brought her haha. So anyway, Shirlynn is very funny and cute and loves laughing and laughing. She has many different types of laughters. It's hilarious to count the various types she has. haha. She is Miss Laughable. Really nice sister to have and i love her a lot too!

MAVIS CHIA. 15. (just!) DAUGHTER OF DAWN. GRANDAUGHTER OF JASMINE. STUDENT AT ST. MARGARETS SEC. SINGLE. (if she's not ah, dawn strangle her man)

MAVIS CHIA WEI SHAN! the sister i've known for the longest time! ((: she was my p2 best friend! and we kept in touch all this while and though now in different schools we're spiritual sisters! hahaha. I LOVE THIS ONE A LOT MAN. haha. crazy, cute, funny, stupid, retarded. aiya too many things to describe. TOO PRETTY ALREADY LOR. that's why so many ppl like. hahahaha. must be like me mah, ugly a bit more then don't hv so much problems! hahaha. anyway this one is Miss Sunshine for sure. :D

CASSANDRA LOW. 15 GOING ON 16. DAUGHTER OF DAWN. GRANDAUGHTER OF JASMINE. STUDENT AT TANJONG KATONG GIRLS'. SINGLE.

All the pictures of her alone were really retarded so here's a nice one! She's the one on the extreme right. Cass! my lovely cousin of 15 yrs. hahaha. she's really funny and pretty too. her clothes and fashion sense veryyy good. haha. she likes to talk crap and always blame me for cheating her of her money. (i never okay!) haha. She is our cell's Miss Style i think. haha. :D love you cassiekins!

GAYLE LAU. 14 going on 15. DAUGHTER OF DAWN. GRANDAUGHTER OF JASMINE. STUDENT OF RIVER VALLEY HIGH. SINGLE.

Gayle. didn't have a picture of her alone! she's the one on the right btw. This one ah, aiyo. Always late one haha, but she already improve from last time lah. hahaha. Good work sister! Keep jiayou-ing okay! We'll all pray for you. She also very like anything also can one. Somehow that is my impression. Like, she don't mind wearing anything, or eating anything, just put on the first thing she finds and eat the first thing she can get her hands on so I'd say, a Miss Whatever. haha. LOVE HER TOOO!

NOELLE. 15 GOING ON 16. DAUGHTER OF DAWN (hasn't been coming for quite long though ): ) GRANDAUGHTER AND COUSIN OF JASMINE. STUDENT (sry forgot what school she's from!) SINGLE.

sorry also didn't have a picture of her alone she's on the extreme right. Don't really know her as well compared to the rest. hm. She's nice but verrry shy! hahaha. She's Jasmine's cousin and is totally opposite from her super talkative relative. haha. Anyway, she is Miss Bashful of our cell! (hope she'll come back soon!)

GLORIA ANG. 14 GOING ON 15. SOON-TO-BE DAUGHTER OF CORRINE. SOON-TO-BE GRANDAUGHTER OF JASMINE. STUDENT OF CHIJ ST. NICHOLAS GIRLS'. SINGLE. (hopefully! :D)

Gloria was my classmate and friend since sec 1? ya haha. that's her on the right by the way. She's really nice, funny and DRAMA QUEEN man. Her whole life's 'a stage' as Shakespeare once said. :D She's really fun to have around but her mannerisms are so dramatic they scare me sometimes! haha. anyway. i would say she's the Miss Photogenic of this tribe. She's really pretty and looks good on the camera unlike ME. bleh. LOVE HER LOADS. :DD

TAN WEI QING. JUST TURNED 15. SOON-TO-BE DAUGHTER OF CORRINE (unable to attend frequently due to parental constraints) SOON-TO-BE GRANDAUGHTER OF JASMINE. STUDENT OF CHIJ ST. NICHOLAS GIRLS'. SINGLE. (obviously. :D)

Wei qing has also been my friend since sec 1 and this is another dramatis thing. But i'd consider her not a drama queen but Miss Dramamonkey. She's such a retard this was the most normal photo I could find of her. Imagine. haha. she's really lovable and cute, very innocent too. sometimes. at others she's really sick. hahaha. but overall, totally fun to be with! LOVE HER SUPER A LOT TOO!

REBECCA WONG. 14 GOING ON 15. SOON-TO-BE DAUGHTER OF CORRINE (also unable to attend regularly due to parental constraints) SOON-TO-BE GRANDAUGHTER OF JASMINE. STUDENTS OF CHIJ ST. NICHOLAS GIRLS'. SINGLE.

Rebecca wong! also couldn't find a nice picture of her alone so she's the one in the middle ((: Rebecca's really nice and funny to have around, though she always bursts into laughter at trhe most inappropriate times. Her laughs are more like convulsions really. Soundless. anyway. i love her a lot for the darling that she is and she's the Miss Entertaining I should say. :D

VANESSA CHAN. 14 GOING ON 15. DAUGHTER OF DAWN. GRANDAUGHTER OF JASMINE. STUDENT AT CHIJ ST. NICHOLAS GIRLS'. SINGLE. (i'm an angel.)

LAST BUT MOST CERTAINLY NOT LEAST! that's me right there! haha. I'm Vanessa. I've been in dawns' cell since she first took over us few orphans. with priority being that the camera is mine, i actually got to choose who to take with, how to take, when to take, where to take and what to take in. haha. i dunno what i am lah, just Miss Me of the cell! Do suggest my dears, if you think i could be smth! haha. I REALLY LOVE THIS LOVELY TRIBE. we're all so bonded, it's so seeet. haha. I really pray for this tribe to grow greatly in the Lord and also to reach out more to others around us. yuppers. that about it. I LOVE GOD! <3

i gotta go now, 5 tests coming up this week. jeepers. KEEP ME IN PRAYER PLEASE! thanks and love you guys a lot a lot! :D

2008-01-20T22:18:00.000+08:00

Hi family! =)

Thanks to those who did up the blog! =)

Mavis: will pray for you and your aunt. God is with you and He helps you and will help you.

Bound by love is a good URL - it is because of God's love that we are together and a family. (as Vanessa elaborated too) =)

Yes yes...God bless everyone. =)

dawn

PICTURES!

2008-01-20T21:52:00.000+08:00

this is about our whole younger cell. there's GG jaszy in the middle. from extreme top left corner anti clockwise we have, mavis, vanessa, julienne, shirlynn, cass, joline and gayle. extreme right being gayle. yupp. this was taken during december youth camp '08 when ah ma came to visit us at night. haha. youth camp was FUNN!

whoo! 2008 countdown party! THEME: WARRIORS OF LIGHT top row from left to right, charmaine (cass' sister), cass, vanessa, mavis, julienne, gayle. bottom row from left, dawn, corrine, shirlynn, joline. THIS WAS REALLY FUN. FRONT ROW GOODNESS. WE TOTALLY SOAKED IN THE WORSHIP AND GOD'S PRESENCE. :D

Junhao, Elkan and Dawn's cells got together for a christmas harvest on the afternoon of the 24th of december. It was a really fun and interesting party with yummy food and 2 salvations! PRAISE THE LORD! anyway, we really owe the guys cause like they did allthe cleaning up and most of the planning. hee hee. we were just kinda enjoying the end products. but anyway! the Lord blessed the party lots! ((:

i shall post the profiling another day alright?? haha. gtg sleep now. zzzzzzzz. night night, love you all! MUACKADOODLES, the Lord be with you always! <3

Love, vanessA!

<3

2008-01-20T21:47:00.000+08:00

HELLO DARLINGS[:

yay finally a jasmine tribe blog;D grandmummy, ahyis, mummy, sisters l-o-v-e you all <3 ah vanny doing up the profile yay! :D and the blog is really so molihua-ish. thanks guys :D dawn came up with the idea! *yayyyyy [with the waving twist!]

today was ... terrible larh. sorry guys din go church today. yesterday was so busy then today alot of yada yada. but at home i spent a full half an hour with God. in my room. alone! ok thats a good thing. no more emoness for now. thankyou dawn and joline! <3

ah mavis's post is so D: jiayou dear<3

may God bless us all in work and in school this whole week!

I CANT WAIT FOR CNY!
LOVESHIRLYNN[:

2008-01-20T21:40:00.001+08:00

ok, just for trying out!
VAN! its works!
choose 'medium' size! :D

♥ joline

taxidermy

2008-01-20T21:30:00.000+08:00

i don't know what to put for the title leh. so i typed down my favourite hobby. stuffing dead animals! muahahahahah. eh i just realised it's quite funny. this blog is about love and i love... stuffing dead animals...?

anyway. almost everybody post already so i very kiasu must hurry up put one down also.
tomorrow is a school day, yay! can you guys believe it, i'm starting to LIKE SCHOOL!!

HAHA.

it must be God. julienne is a world renowned daydreamer. and school doesn't give her time to daydream.

julienne <^)))><

whee! JASMINE'S TRIBE BLOG!

2008-01-20T20:20:00.000+08:00

hello sweethearts! so excited man! JASMINE'S TRIBBBBEEE! aren't you proud of your growing family, GG?? hee hee. anyways. VANESSA HERE! the lovely, one and only, wonderful Vanessa! okay enough with the crap. just a bit of description bout the title and everything of this blog yes??

This is our family. Our spiritual family. MATRIARCH, JASMINE CHIN! also otherwise known as GG (glam gran) , going down the tree to her daughters, my aunts and mum, Corrine, Jasmin, Kerry and wo de ma ma DAWN! from dawn spurts, her 7 lovely and splendiferous daughters, my sisters, Cassandra, Julienne, Joline, Mavis, Gayle, Shirlynn and of course, ME! and there's also Rebecca, Wei Qing and Gloria under Corrine who joins us only on certain weeks due to parental constraints. WE'LL KEEP PRAYING FOR YOU, SWEETS! hopefully they'll be able to attend regularly and join this great, crazy and super funnny familllly!

so yeah i shall do a simple profiling in a while. but till then, see, this family is not bound by blood. other than me and cass being cousins and joline and julienne being cousins, the rest of us are not related in any way except by the bond that runs thicker than blood. And that is God's love. What keeps us together? Knowing that God loves us and gave us this lovely family to fellowship and soak up God's blessings for the rest of our lives. How else would 7 fifteen yr olds, and five twenty plus yr olds be linked together? I like this verse, and though I haven't asked the rest of the tribe, I hope this can be our tribe verse, at least for this blog! :p

1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not prud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails..."

I shall end here for now, so GOD LOVES YOU and have a great wk ahead! :D

LOTS OF LOVE, vanessA! <3

2008-01-19T22:57:00.000+08:00

my mother just today me that my aunt's cancer has relapsed again. the doctor says she has only a month left. we chose not to believe or rather told her not to believe it. its really hard now as my cousin has just recovered from her depression, and i think now she is getting it again. my heart really sank when i heard about it. though i am not really close to my aunt but i used to visit their house very often and always stayed over. now that we are older, we dont do that any more. i really dont want to imagine what is going to happen next. my aunty is really nice, and used to be very cheerful. but now with her cancer, her hair is balding. and her body is just going weaker and weaker. i am really scared that she might just leave.

she is a non believer and i really wish that she can get to know god. i want to offer but i m really scared. now my sister has stopped going to church-i dont know why- and also my parents and my aunty uncles are not believers. Whats more, they are pretty strong Buddhists. i dont dare to tell my mum. as you know my parents are not very happy that i am going to church.

she believes that i m too young and might make the wrong decision. but i want her to know that i am serious about being a christian. and i love god.

back to the topic, i hope my aunty will get to know god and also that she will not leave all of a sudden. and if possible that she will stay with us longer.

<3 MAVIS

2008-01-19T20:47:00.000+08:00

okay! the blog is finally UP! :D
YAY.

start posting bloodmates! o.O

that sounds weird!

and remember to erm sign off with your name so we know who u are!

OHYA tell u all the username and password sometime! :D

AND MEANTIME JUST BEAR WITH THIS DESIGN FIRST!

-joline