Frozen

Kin and I brought these 5/6-year-olds to Snow City over the weekend. I've been teaching some of these kids how to read every week since last year. You can check out my previous post on them here.  All I can say at the end of the almost 3 hours that we spent there is, kids are crazy! 

At that age, the one thing they value over anything else is FUN! Check out their frozen faces in the pic above as we were queuing for the slide in the subzero temperatures. But with mucus running down their noses and ears red from the cold, every time i asked if there were cold, they shouted "NOT COLD!" as they did not what to leave. 

We also learned that the song from Frozen could solve all 5 year old disputes. While the kids were bickering over who to go first on the slide, the Let It Go song came on, and they all burst into song in unison. They knew every single word in the song, and by the end of the song, they were friends again. 
With three children wanting to go on the slide repeatedly, one child refusing to go on the slide, one who seemed to live in his own winter wonderland, and one wetting his pants, they were truly a handful. At least they are incredibly adorable and nobody can fault them for anything. I am so grateful that Kin was there to help out. He was awesome at handling the boy in crisis and was even prepared enough with a stack of tissues for the children's dirty hands when we gave them choc covered biscuits for tea. (Side advertisement for Kin: tall, dark, handsome, smart, single and amazing with kids. Anyone interested?)
At the end of the day, I'm glad everyone had fun, and nobody got hurt. Thank God for His provision and protection :) 0 comments

at 4:07 PM

I HEART PUBLIC HOLIDAYS!

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at 7:54 AM

My Brother, Our Army. My Grandma, Our Heritage

Families of boys at my brother's army camp were invited to go visit the boys in camp last Saturday. Since we love my little brother very much, my whole family made the long journey to the far northwest of singapore. We knew this was the far northwest of singapore as we began seeing signs to the checkpoint to malaysia long before we got to the camp. Unfortunately, having been to the BMT tour, I was kind of disappointed by this visit. All we had was a lecture about the stages of training that my brother would be going through in the next few months. We were then told we could bring the boys home now. It seemed like just a ploy so that the boys could get their parents to pick them up. In any case, I was pretty thrilled to get to see their bunks. The moment we walked into the room, my dad declared, "smells like recruit!" I totally agreed. 

Since we were already in ulu land, my parents took us to the grave of my grandmother on my dad's side. She passed on before my parents were married so my brothers and I never got a chance to meet her. And surprisingly, in all my years, we had never been to the grave with my parents who make a trip there every year. But from what I hear, my grandmother was a pretty amazing woman, raising a brood of children who weren't even her very own. As I mentioned before, I come from a line of strong independent women. Dad said she would have been happy to see all of us, so we took a picture there. 

I love such family outings as it is only in such times when my usually reticent dad tells us stories of his family and each time we discover something new that he never thought necessary to tell us before. Hearing these stories now is like having read the abridged version of a literary classic as a child, then reading the complete works in all its glory later in life. The colorful details capture the mind and heart, and I learn to appreciate it so much more. My dad should really write a movie or a novel.

So I'm proud to say that this is my brother, our army and my grandmother our heritage. 

This is my family that I love very much.

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at 11:37 AM

One Heart and One Soul

We learned about the early church during Sunday school this week and we read this passage: 

"Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need." (Acts 4:32-35 NKJV)

We asked ourselves, what made the people of the early church behave the way they did. How did they give so freely to each other? Could we be like that too? And is there even a place for the church today?

My Sunday school teacher said that being part of a larger community was God's plan for Christians. For that is one of the channels by which we experience the love and grace of God. And as we receive, we too are compelled to give, and to be the vessel of Christ's love and grace to others. 

Being part of a community, we are involved in each other's lives. And it is through being part of other's lives that we also recognize the grace of God. If we did not belong to the church, we would only be able to see God's love and grace displayed in our own experiences. And how limited those experiences would be! But being part of this larger community, we celebrate as we see blessings poured out in another's life; we stand by those who experience loss. And we trace the Lord's hand together. 

This week, my dear friends Jerm and Hong Wee got married. And through their wedding, I caught a glimpse of how we too could be like the early church. Everyone was truly of one heart and one soul as they worked tirelessly and gave generously for the wedding. From the pastors, to the uncles who helped in the car park; from the choir to the decor team; from the contribution of the cake, to the contribution of the ice cream. Each person played their part because they had experienced the abundant grace of God in their lives. 

The wedding service was beautiful. But the testimony of God's love and grace in not only the couple's lives but the lives of each person involved was even more beautiful. 

It was a privilege to be part of the wedding. It is a privilege to be a part of their lives. It is a privilege to be part of this family of God. 

So my answer is yes, if God is real in each of our lives, we can be like the early church. And yes, there is a place for the church today.

Congratulations Hong Wee and Jerm. May Christ be the centre of your lives and may you always point others to Him. 

(p.s. Talk to me if you too would like to be part of this family of God)

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at 11:55 PM

Stand Up Comedy

We went to watch stand up comedy. Got stood up by the stand up comedians instead. So we took to the stage.
Just another episode of... The Gah-Men!  0 comments

at 2:21 PM

Easter

The easter musical was lovely. Everyone sang magically and I could almost hear the love overflowing from each heart. That's how the most beautiful music is made right? With hearts of love. This year's musical was on the life of Paul. How one man chose to live his life because of the love and grace extended to him. The story and songs were so wonderfully woven together and by the time we got to the penultimate song, I was close to tears. "One day all the soldiers will go home. They'll cease fighting for the battle will be won. As the captain says 'well done, you've fought the fight the race is won'. Wounded soldier, the war is over, welcome home!" It was my first time helping out in costumes for a production and it was a blessing to be included in the team. It was pretty amazing how the guys were transformed with their constumes and makeup. But what was more amazing was seeing lives transformed by the Lord's grace. The musical will be on again today. 8pm at Bethany Independent Presbyterian Church, 301 Upper Paya Lebar Road. If you have some time, do come by and enjoy the musical and find out more about why Christians comemorate Good Friday and Easter. Come early as seats fill up real fast. Drop me a note if you would like to come. I'll try and save you a seat. 0 comments

at 12:45 PM

Just a Closer Walk with Thee

I am weak, but Thou art strong;
Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
I’ll be satisfied as long
As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.

Just a closer walk with Thee,
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

Through this world of toil and snares,
If I falter, Lord, who cares?
Who with me my burden shares?
None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.

When my feeble life is o’er,
Time for me will be no more;
Guide me gently, safely o’er
To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore.

I was baptized about 15 years ago. I remember that when I wrote my testimony for my baptism, I quoted the words of this old hymn. I was young and my faith was simple. My simple desire was a closer walk with my Lord each day. 

During the Maundy Thursday service this evening, we remembered how our Lord Jesus was betrayed by one close to him, and how He chose to love despite the betrayal. Pastor spoke about how we must guard our heart from turning away and betraying our Lord. This could only be done with a close relationship with God. I was challenged to continue to seek this closeness with the One who gave His life for mine and suffered in my place because of love.  And I was reminded about this old hymn that I hadn't heard in years. 

15 years on, my prayer is the same. Just a closer walk with Thee.

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at 11:53 PM