Pulau Ubin/Tampines Mall with guidey gang today! A pity Grace and Shar couldn't join us, but we'll go there another time again! HAHAHA it was really really awesome. :) Seriously, cycling's never been this fun. (Workoutttt manz)
Hallelujah, God held the rain back. "All it takes is our 'Amen'". I'm so glad we all prayed as a group and seeing our hearts full of thanks towards God was really cool (lack of vocab, sorry:/)! HAHAHAHHAA we also...had fun being "naughty", playing pranks on Ms Lau & Mrs Lau! More another time.


From Henderson CC kid's camp on Sat: (Shyen, Fi, Si)


Better than the riches of this world, better than the sound of my friends' voices, better than the biggest dreams of my heart

AGM = successful. Praise God :D CC's always able to pull things together - we're bonded by the grace of God and our passion for fun, craziness & laughter! HA!
3Es from Ms Bong: Equip (be equipped), Empower (be empowered), Enrich (enriched lives)
3Ts from Ms Ho: Tough (life), Time (does not wait for man but is in God's hands), Talent (use talents/gifts)

PICK JESUS.

I love You,
I need You,
though my world may fall,
I'll never let you go
My saviour,
my closest friend,
I will worship you
until the very end

Praise God for all the reflection I've been thru, and the breakthrough/revelations I've received. With thanksgiving, praise and plea, I prayerfully hope I'll be emotionally, mentally and spiritually stronger thru' 2009. Troubles never vanish, but when I'm/you're walking with God, I/you have NOTHING to fear (except Him - just a diff. kind of fear). Just be in constant prayer, Gillian, constant prayer.

Cheers.:D

I think I've got something with animals.
Animals are rather much like humans (or homosapiens, if you'd like to be highly scientific) huh. God's speaking to me thru them now (very much like my monkey encounter).

Staying over @ Mom's - we went for an after-dinner walk at Upper Seletar Reservoir and...I saw 3 little baby frogs which were adorable! They were very lost tho. Mikki (my mom's dog) was 'playing' with the frogs while Mom was being a little bit more...bold I would say, placing her soles on the frogs' backs (consecutively, after each time the frog leaps a short distance). The baby frogs were alone, there were no signs of bigger frogs around. They looked stunned when we did what we did to them.
They're very much like us, kids, who are let off to go 'explore the world' because survival is key. We no longer hide ourselves in our parents' embrace, instead having to be daring and step out and discover new things. Yet what's most important is what's in our hearts. That our hearts still beat as one, still filled with that much love and care for one another. The only difference is - when we are to be independent (our parents let us be), that love and concern is expressed differently. You feel it, you no longer see it in their eyes (and actions).

Oh and plus, they believe they need to 'let you go' to be on your own in order to develop that security we (I) need.

I'll get over my insecurities.

"My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken."
Psalm 61:1-2

We all go thru' such phases in life and now's my turn. I'll be over it soon, I hope.

I attempted posting from my mobile on the bus (which is cool!)...but it didn't allow me to click 'publish post' even after I was done with it. So I wrote it down instead. Here's what I would have posted @ 750am:
Early in the morning I leave the house and it seems God wanted me to meet an adorable family of monkeys walking along the wall (narrow path on top) down the hill from home. One was carrying a rly cute & small baby monkey while the other (parent) tagged closely behind. As much as we stay 'attached' to our parents while we're 'young', after relying on parents for long and them nurturing us, there still comes a time when we can no longer be so 'attached', so spoilt & always have that want to be so cared for & treated so 'sweetly' (They need their own time too..., they certainly have their own lives to lead - their lives aren't all about the [one] child.) There comes a time we'll have to learn how to let go as adults and how to be independent as kids. That goes for me now. Being overly attached in between a relationship of mom & daughter and friendship (that's prob. what she doesn't want 'cos when I do 'lose' her one day I'll be so overcome) I know I can't always NOT be neglected. And shedding tears will no longer help. So I thank God for the encounter (with the monkeys), for answering my questions and prayers. Sth that'll stay close to heart now - "Friendship is such we go thru n learn to accept n move onto another level". You know there's always a reason behind every action someone else takes. And if s/he loves you, it'll be for you own good.

The Lord has personal passion in all of us. Including you & I.
you and I were made to worship, you and I were called to love, you & I were forgiven and free. you & I embrace surrender, you & I choose to believe, you & I will see who we were meant to be

Bear in the love of Christ, Gillian. Bear in the love of Christ.
"Friendship is such we go thru n learn to accept n move onto another level."

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.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
John 16:33

"I'll make sure you wouldn't even realise I'm gone when I'm about to leave."
When you love someone dearly, you can't bear to say goodbye. You pray hard and hope so much that she wouldn't ever leave you and you'll never lose her. When you love someone so dearly you can't bear to see her in any way hurt (physically/emotionally), you know that's someone you treasure above all your other friends.

God didn't give us the opportunity to be mother and daughter, but we will be what we are now. I love her so much I don't wanna think of the day I need to live without her.

But till eternity in heaven, I'll remember her as my best mother and friend.

Finding joy in smallest, simplest things


(I'm a true blue Hokkien^ Ha!)

Blessed Christmas yall :)
Many thanks to all who've put in the effort to send/give christmas cards, texts and gifts!

For this day we give thanks to the Lord most high, for (traditionally set date) today more than 2000 years ago Jesus Christ was born, sent to redeem all of us sinners. Evangelistic service (Hokkien) saw about 950 in the congregation and more than 12 saved! Praise the Lord, Amen! :D (As heard from Van), D24 saw many many more being saved too! Hallelujah. amazing. The Spirit's work in congregations.

K, I think I'll have an early night.
God bless!

His love and beauty covers the earth

Every Time I breathe - Big Daddy Weave

I am sure all of heaven's heard me cry
As I tell You all the reasons why
This life is just too hard

But day by day
Without fail
I'm finding everything I need
And everything that You are
To me

Chorus:
Every time I breathe You seem a little bit closer
I never want to leave
I want to stay in Your warm embrace
Oh basking in the glory shining from Your face
And every time I get another glimpse of Your heart
I realize it's true
That You are so marvelous God
And I am so in love with You

Now how could I after knowing One so great
Respond to You in any way
That's less than all I have to give
But by Your grace I want to love You not with what
I say
But everyday
In a way that my life is lived

Chorus:
Every time I breathe You seem a little bit closer
I never want to leave
I want to stay in Your warm embrace
Oh basking in the glory shining from Your face
And every time I get another glimpse of Your heart
I realize it's true
That You are so marvelous God
And I am so in love with You

Wrapped in Your mercy I want to live and never leave
I am held by how humble
Yet overwhelmed by Your majesty
Captured by grace and now I'm finding
I am free
You are marvelous God
And knowing You is everything


Awaken - Natalie Grant

Sometimes I feel like I'm just existing
I'm not really living
I'm only watching the time slip away
I've forgotten who I am in You
I'm not who I'm meant to be
I'm drifting farther away from my destiny

Awaken my heart, awaken my soul
Awaken Your power and take control
Awaken the passion to live for You, Lord
Awaken me

My soul is longing, my heart is searching
I'm desperate for You to move
give me a hunger, pull me closer
I'm crying out to You

Awaken my heart, awaken my soul
Awaken Your power and take control
Awaken the passion to live for You, Lord

Open my eyes so I can see Your presence
Dwelling inside
wake me up, 'cause I can't live another minute
If I'm not shining Your light

Awaken my heart, awaken my soul
Awaken the passion in me

Lord, awaken me to live my destiny
Lord, awaken me and shine Your light through me
Lord, awaken me to live my destiny
Lord, awaken me and shine Your light through me

"For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God." 2 Cor 1:20
My soul finds rest in God alone, my refuge and strength. All his promises won't let go of me, I'll be at peace. We really can't ask for more, God being EVERYTHING in our lives? That's just an amazing feat we can't fathom enough.
I shall grow up and not just grow old. Heehee.

I miss Adulto already.

"Learning is activity in itself. All agree? Then why do we resist learning and change? For many of us, the source of change seems to be external and not internal and yet, the key to the changes that are happening is within everyone's grasp. But we don't seem to grasp it at all. It is a matter of recognising that our own perceptions of what life 'should be' are not fixed, are not carved in granite but are rather like movies playing in our minds and projecting out into our lives. Imagine, everyday of our lives is a played movie! Gues wat? Every time changes take place in our lives, we feel powerless and feel we need to look back to the 'original' self. The truth is that we can choose to rewrite our inner 'movie' scripts and change our perceptions with a very different interpretation of our reality so that our lives are more meaningful and whole." - someone v dear to me :)

So maybe I haven't been too willing to learn from my mistakes, and improve even when there was room for improvement. Where has humility gone to? If I've surrendered my life to God and prayed for his guidance, why should I not accept what's been given as guidance? Having a heart of thanks' great, but once it becomes pretense (mind not filled with thanks?), guilt falls into place. But that's why God gave us brains and ability to reason. There's always this ongoing battle between the heart and the mind and I'm gonna allow both to work in me - and 'out of me'. I'll strike the balance with wisdom, doing what's right at the right time and not doing what's wrong at the wrong time.

Apologies for the more emo posts of late, I guess this holiday has been very very restful and spending more time for myself (rather than for others and school or whatnot) meant much more reflection. Which sometimes makes me feel I have a failed as a person (even though that's too exaggerated a response and there's no direct link). But whatever it is, it's time to change. I must and will change. (I don't even know if psyching myself has worked out - for as long as I've been doing it, but I'm gonna have faith in what is unseen)

I also believe I've done something against my conscience tho' out of good will. Now should I allow myself to not be burdened by that and not worry because I have a God I trust in and rely on? Yes yes, of course. :)

Woah, blogs are really meant for rants. I think mine is tho' sometimes I get annoyed when it's all about 'I', ha.

"Temptations, trials, sufferings, disappointments, failures...we've all experienced them. Even as Christians n specifically bcoz we're Christians. We must endure pain, whether thru loss, broken relationship, disappointments, hurts etc. While no one is immune to hard times, believers r empowered thru the Holy Spirit to endure them. Psalm 46:10 says it beautifully n most assuringly.."Cease striving n know that I am God" indicating our best response to disappointments n helplessness is to trust in the Lord."

"When my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I." Psalm 61:2
When troubles come, we can cry, "Lord, hear me! Lord, lead me." Our storms can become a time of victory as we let Him lift us up to the Rock that is above all storms, our Rock of Safety, Jesus Christ.

Sabrina gave me a surprise (or shock, rather :P) in church just now! THANKS FRIEND, hahahah! (Be honoured, I think it's one of the highlights of my day, ha!)

'Study' date with Clauds today was more of...a HOMEWORK date. At least she (we) managed to do MOST of SS, so we'll say it was fruitful. I had beef noodles while Claud had fish bee hoon (Okay I don't know why I'm telling you this, but hahah anyhow!) -- "I'll have beef noodles today."-me ; "HAHAHA! We take turns ah. Last last week you had fish bee hoon while I had beef noodles." -Claud
Thanks for your time buddy! BEST FRIEND rang me up (was a surprise too!) and hahaha Claud commented she was speaking excessively loudly! But it's k, it's good to be heard dear!

We had lights turned off with the congregation & singers waving their glow sticks during 'silent night' and 'the gift'. Was really pretty. I like the dark but SOME people don't! HAHA, inside joke, but some of us couldn't really read our scores properly without the lights.

Good day. And we all know that every good thing comes from our Loving Father so thank you Jesus!

Have I mentioned I'm beginning to be fearful about what's to come? What will O's do to me, what CAN I do in prep for it? While anticipating the greater things that have yet to come in God's perfect timing, it's tough to not go out of track and forget that there's only one pair of footprints 'cause the LORD carries us through every season.There's so much to do and so little time, but what's new? I'll do my best to break thru'. Soon I shall no longer be pessimistic about being unable to focus and complete work but rather rely on my big God and work well toward deadlines under pressure. I must and must, no 'xceptions. Maybe one day I'll be look back and proclaim "Hallelujah" because I've succeeded in what I've planned to do. I'll trust that day'll come and y'all will be there with me, also having succeeded (tho' success is highly subjective).

There's no place like home. (where your heart is)
Currently v hopeful about spending quality time with Adulto tomorrow (tday). I need it.



Sometimes you can get very amazed at words you've once spoken, at others you can't help but laugh at.

It's not always you get to feel God's touch more than ever but YPM camp did it. :) V thankful I took the step for signing up for it with much courage from God & for sending Vanessa to ask me along (It was an answered prayer, thanks!). The theme was utterly appropriate for me, especially in the current stage of my christian walk. It answered many of my questions, and God spoke to me on different things that bothered me. And to all the campers too I believe! All refreshed and with spirit renewed, I know what I'll be embarking on from this day on in my walk with God. I know now who exactly I am (identity) and how I'm gonna be working towards my destiny. It was an amazing experience, seeing revival among us youths (I see a near revival, stirring as we pray and seek, we're on our knees, we're on our knees) Thank God. What more can I thank Him for - made many new friends (yay!), games were really fun & got to know Van much better!
All that's needed now is more earnest seeking, more and more prayers, more and more praise and worship. God is my love, my strength, my redeemer, my refuge, my big God, my all.

Quoting from Van's blog:
"CAMP.J-a-c-i-n-t-h!Jian En, Jerome, Jovian, Yong Seng, Joel, Caleb, Jachin, Michelle, Gillian, Sabrina, Eunice & Vanessa!

Camp was really a good time to take a step out of the secular world and really to refresh and renew my relationship with God. plus i came out of the camp knowing who i was and what i was to do for my destiny(: i was glad that i could just be soaked in God's presence and have a good time of fellowship with my brothers and sisters in Christ (:"
I was extremely heartened by how God touched Van right when she seeked His face, when her heart was filled with expectancy. Van, you've encouraged me a big deal thru' the camp seeing how close you are to God & how you're getting closer! Press on :)

Go read Esther if you haven't! Quote Pastor Glenn Lim, "If you haven't read Esther, go read it. Short 10 chapters. Beautiful book."
"For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" Esther 4:14

We had the first ever Hokkien carolling sessions @ homes of two people who attend hokkien service & are currently sick last night after rehearsal & dinner! (Uncle Stanley, Aunt Eve, Ivy, Uncle Henry, Jovial, Aunt Kaylee, Dad & I) It was a sudden suggestion that Uncle Stanley brought up over dinner. Led by SPIRIT - that's what it's called. One's terminally ill (He & his wife were really cute! Clapping and filled with expectancy to sing praises to God & getting hold of candles - those white long big ones － we held in our hands while singing 'silent night‘. I really think those elderly ah mas and ah gongs are very cute, attend Hokkien service in COS(MP) once & you'll get what I mean!) while the other has been diagnosed with cancer & will be going for an op tomorrow. I think it was really fulfilling to bring joy to the sick. I was so heartened by their faith in the Lord tho'. They have so much faith and don't worry about sickness nor death because they've got God. I think that's really cool, they are. Letting go and letting God. Mhm!

All honour and glory belongs to our BIG BIG GOD. :D

The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever— do not abandon the works of your hands.
Psalm 138:8
Yeah, always remember that He'll fulfill His purpose for all of you! Don't ever be disheartened when you meet with obstacles that hinder your journey to fulfilling your calling, your dreams k! Pastor Glenn (along the lines of) repeated quite a few times, "Our problems/difficulties are PLUTO! They're PLUTO as compared to how BIG, how HUGE our God and his love is!" Truly, "with God, all things are possible." (matthew 19:26). :)

stir it up in my heart Father, stir it up

Let Claudia's blog do the talking :)

STUDY DATE WITH GIGI TODAY! (Friday)

it was fun and productive.we were stud(ying) at parkway's coffee bean.we were supposed to do geog and bio,but i guess you can only do one subject there,we didnt have time to do bio so we just did geog.and while studying,we heard this lady (L) [who's super singlish by the way] talking to the coffee bean man(CBM).

CBM: what flavour peppermint latte would you like?

L: isn't peppermint latte just peppermint?why got so many flavours? (read this in the singlish way)

CBM: mocha? vanilla?

L: what's not fattening ah?

CBM: erm...they're all fattening.

L: but i'd like something not fattening leh

CBM: get a cup of (warm) water, that has NO FAT.

L's friend: but she wants coffee

that's all we heard cos we spent the rest of the conversation laughing and laughing.so amusing.

Yeahhhhh now we can't get over it. Or rather, I. Warm water diet here we come, haha!

Mum brought me on the Singapore Flyer yesterday afternoon (Sorry you've got to turn your head!) She got complimentary tickets from China Insurance or something. It feels good being on top of the world and "closer 2 heaven". They've got this audio tour so the half an hour wasn't as mundane as it would have been before they added that. After that we met Ah Ma & shopped @ Causeway Point - woah, Mum spent loads there. Thank you mom for such a great day :) Got my waterbottle, running shoes and phone settled. Stayed over @ her place & she even woke up early to fetch me to church. Thank God and thank her!

To another good week ahead, give thanks and praise to our ever faithful Heavenly Father. :) Can't wait for youth camp with Vanessa!

P.S. I doubt I'll be updating any more about my family trip & USA, but it's okay. Details will stay as fond memories for me to reminisce. ;)


The song (which is pretty nice for rock) aside, I always remember sundays. I love sunday. It's my favourite day of my week besides friday.

CheapRich thrills.
Saw (part of) the team last night in church. My was I glad. To the max. Bethel Hall's the best place to congregate in. :) Service tomorrow, yay. Youth camp next week (with Vanessa :D). Batam on the 21st (How quickly has 2008 flown by? It seemed as though it's only been a few months since I was @ the Christmas celebration there).

STUDY DATE @ COFFEE BEAN with Claudia tomorrow! It will be fun and God will bless the session ie. it will and must be productive. Hahaha considering how much we always digress. Hehe.

Looking forward to everything that's to come.
"For greater things have yet to come, for greater things are still to be done in this city" - God of this city, Chris Tomlin

From a forwarded email (Thank you Aunt Eve):

We complain about the cross we bear but don't realize it is preparing us for the dip in the road that God can see and we cannot.

Whatever your cross,
Whatever your pain,
There will always be sunshine, after the rain....
Perhaps you may stumble, perhaps even fall;
But God's always ready, to answer your call....
He knows every heartache, sees every tear,
A word from His lips, can calm every fear...
Your sorrows may linger, throughout the night,
But suddenly vanish, by dawn's early light...
The Saviour is waiting, somewhere above,
To give you His grace, and send you His love.

Think about it. How true is it (to you)? Very true to my life.
It takes that one leap of faith on our part to step out (of Egypt- read Exodus). To be able to feel that God is real to us and Him not being just a religion. And I must say I haven't had enough courage to take that leap of faith. I'm not outta Egypt and in the Promised Land yet. Not yet.

Keep praying.

Universal studios sets are cool. I should visit the one in Australia soon.

HOME SWEET HOME.
Malaysia was cool (shopping in KL - Msia's end-of-year/season sale ends on 4 jan) yet boring (Genting/Cameron) at the same time. More updates another time. :)
I suddenly got reminded of this.
"Team Spirit: If anything goes bad, I did it. If anything goes semi-good, then we did it. If anything goes real good, then you did it." - Bear Bryant