We always say “A picture paints a thousand words”. This is a picture that fully described why I accepted God in the first place. Many people have their own conversion stories, why they accept God as their Savior, Leader, Teacher. God showed me light. When I was losing hope, God surprised me and helped me in that situation. That was when I really experience the existence of God and that God can hear my prayer.

There were many instances where people introduced me about God, about Jesus. If I really want to trace back the very first time I knew about Jesus, was when I was in primary school. I used to join the dance club – Dance Ensemble Singapore (if you heard before).

Back then, my very close dance buddy was sharing with me her children bible. We were at the backstage of the Victoria Theatre and having our break. She showed me about what she learned from the book and told me to pray with her and thank God for the food. To me, I was very curious about Christianity as it sounded “interesting”. But not long after that, this dance buddy of mine quit the ensemble and my interest about Christianity ceased.

The very first time I really believe that there is a god when I was waiting for my JAE results and things seemed to be hopeless. One day, my mum called me and told me that I will not be accepted to this particular school. I was very disappointed and really believe that no one can change the fate. Just then, this friend of mine noticed my disappearance from the group and came to look for me. He told me not to give up and taught me how to pray to God and he prayed with me. Immediately after I prayed, the school that I wanted to get in finally called me and told me that I’ve been accepted. I really want to thank this friend for introducing this god to me.

Many moments proved the existence of God and the power of prayer. Two years back(university year 1), my grandpa (gong gong) was hospitalised because he slipped and fell on his head while he was bathing. The doctor said that it was due to stroke that caused him to lose the ability to control his movement. The scan on his head showed that there’s a blood clot in the hindbrain. Surgery could not be done because of my grandpa’s old age. That time I was very worried because there was nothing I could do to remove the blood clot. If the blood clot cannot be dissolved, my grandpa would be in danger.  I’m not a magician who can make the clot disappear. Really, there wasn’t anything I can do but to pray. Again, God made me a miracle. A few months after the first brain scan, my grandpa went for the scan again and the doctor said that he could not locate the blood clot anymore. AMEN AMEN!

I think it is important that we know why did we accepted God in the first place. I accepted God because He gave me hope. When times are bad and everything seemed so bleak, God never fail to open a door for me. The door that God closed, no one can open. The door that God opened, no one can close. What about you? Why did you first accepted Christ?

I look at your smiling face,
Your so weak, yet you have such strength,
You take a glance around this place,
You make the best of everything

You give me hope, in spite of everything,
You show me love, even with so much pain
So I’ll take this life and live like I was given another try

We laugh, we cry
Sometimes we’re broken and we don’t know why,
I’m tired and I lose my way,
you help me find faith.

You give me hope, in spite of everything,
You show me love, even with so much pain

So I’ll take this life and live like I was given another try
Just give me another try

Reflection Station: Key things/areas I’ve grown in and had experienced God:
- less judgmental towards people around me, more compassionate to the less fortunate
- less emotional
- secure in God, not the things around me, the comments from people

Last Saturday(21 August), we had our ESS service. Early in the morning, I went to MSC to pass my macbook to the multimedia team and then went to Plaza Singapura to meet Ophelia. Remember the notebook that I made? So I managed to present it to Ophelia. It was so pleasing to see the smile on her face when she first saw the notebook.

And guessed what? That time when I went to get the materials for the notebook, she already guessed that I was going to make the notebook for her. So we spent the rest of the time to write something on the book, something that we want the other party to know about us. After that when the rest of the caregroup members came, we went to the food court for lunch and headed to MSC for service after that.

I want to take this chance to affirm and applaud each and every one of the crew/cast of the whole ESS team for putting up such a wonderful skit, song presentation, anything and everything that they have done. They started everything from scratch, then had numerous meetings, rehearsals just to give their very best.

After service, the whole unit went Park Mall for dinner and then some of us had meeting afterwards. On the way back home, I was very burdened.

On Sunday (22 August), it was a very bad day for me. For those who followed me on Twitter should know what happened to me on that day. (That’s the reason why I privatised my Twitter account because I do not want too many people to know that much) I had a hard time understanding and digesting what had happened. I broke down and cried in front of my family members. *classic* because I do not cry in front of them.

After settling down, I started to write some bible verses to encourage myself. I know no matter what, God is with me and He will not abandon me. He is going to help me overcome all these.

The initial plan was to meet Jesline for our first shepherding at town. But in the end she came down all the way to my house. I really felt much better after that. Always seek for Godly Counsel!! and guys, so sorry that I didnt come down to watch soccer.

24 August Tuesday, met up with LiPing for our last shepherding. We went to kallang leisure park to have facial together at Epi Treatz. Epi Treatz has gained the attention and trust of many through their excellent treatments, high service quality and exceptional level of customer service. Their treatments are affordable and widely-praised. Of all the facial salons I went, I really like the services and the treatment Epi Treatz provides. Both liping and I got into the couple room(which is a bigger room and can house two of us in). The staff were very polite and meticulous. For every step that they did, they explained to us the product that they are using and the use of it. They are using the US product called Dermalogica, which is a very well-known and highly raved products on the spree websites.

Let me take you through the steps taken during the facial process. It is taken from this website iCOMPARE. So you guys can take a look at the other packages that Epi Treatz provides.

Step 1: Double Cleanse – Double cleanse to thoroughly remove makeup and grimes.
Step 2: Exfoliate – Exfoliate the skin using an Enzymatic Scrub.
Step 3: Ultrasonic Mist – An ultrasonic mist is used to soften the pores for professional extraction.
Step 4: Extraction – Professional comedones extraction & eyebrow trimming.
Step 5: Ampoule – Apply treatment specific ampoule for advanced corrective facial.
Step 6: Photon Light Therapy – Photon Light Therapy enables better absorption and penetration of the treatment ampoule for advanced corrective facial.
Step 7: Mask – Apply a treatment specific mask for the skin.
Step 8: Shoulder Massage – Shoulder massage relaxes and soothes tired muscles.
Step 9: Scalp and Head Massage – Scalp & head massage releases tension and completes the pampering.
Step 10: Serum and Sun Block – Moisturising serum hydrates the skin, while sun block protects it from harmful UV rays.
Step 11: Back Massage – The final step is a back massage which helps release back tension.

26 August Thursday, met up with Sher and Claris for karaoke. Initially we wanted to sing at Cineleisure but Sher was suggesting to go the *Scape branch since it’s new. While we were karaoke-ING, I was busying using the laptop and stalked the UOL website for my results. But in the end, the website was still down. We sang for three hours and had like 6 pages long of songs uncleared. We are really hardcore singers..

After karaoke, we went to pop by the 987fm studio and saw The Muttons. Vernon saw us and waved to us!

Shopped around after that and went back home. Around 730pm, I got to know that the results was out so immediately went to check my results. A few days back, I was sharing to some friends telling them how important this result is to me. Year 2009 and 2010, a period that I started serving a lot in the ministry, getting busy with church stuff. My mum was also aware of it. And I want to prove her wrong that I can actually juggle well with ministry stuff and studies and that my studies will not be affected just because I keep going service or caregroups. And indeed, I proved her wrong!! AMEN! I can still do well academically and at the same time, serve God. She was quite happy with the results I got and that night, I tried to help her understand that I can serve God and not neglecting my studies.

I got two modules thats of the 2nd upper honors grade. I know this is really from God. Really want to give thanks to God especially for my Psychology paper because the day before my paper, my pet passed away and I was very upset. I thought I will screw up the paper.

5 May 2010: Principles of Accounting
Before paper (my target) – >50%
After paper (my estimation) – >45%
Actual – 56%

7 May 2010: Management Mathematics
Before paper (my target) – >50%
After paper (my estimation) – >50%
Actual – 66%

17 May 2010: Principles of Marketing
Before paper (my target) – >60%
After paper (my estimation) – >40%
Actual – 37%

26 May 2010: Elements of Social and Applied Psychology
Before paper (my target) – >50%
After paper (my estimation) – >50%
Actual – 64%

From my Encouragement wall:

2 Corinthians 4:16-18
16Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

After lunch, we went Big Bookshop. I pretended that I want to make notebook for my friends and asked Ophelia for her opinions and suggestions for the type of notebook to get, the color of notebook etc. Haha.. it sounded like a con act So after meeting her, went back home and spent the rest of the day to make the notebook. Why I got the idea of this notebook was from one of the teaching during ID Conference. Pastor Jeff talked about disciplemaker journal. So I decided to make the journal. The first book I made was for Sherlynn.

The sheep you see is designed by me, so I would proudly use it for every journal I make. And this has a story behind it.. It started from my journey in SIM, having the first shepherd of my lifetime.. Anyway, I really very grateful for my ex-shepherd, LiPing. She really invested her time and effort to teach me, guide me. 如果不是她, 就没有今天我.. I always remember how rebellious I was when I got to move from my brother’s caregroup to the SIM one. Headache ah..

Anyway, here’s some of the photos I took:

God reminded me the persevering spirit of the people who have been taking care of me when I first got to know God. In the past, I was an irritating and troublesome girl who defied the leaders a lot – skipped caregroup and service, gave excuses to run away from church activities, shun people away by not talking to them and sharing lives with them. Someone who took very long time to adjust to the new ministry, new environment with new people. After shifting from the NUS to SIM group, I took nearly six months to adjust myself, being opened to the people. I remember I gave a lot of problems to my shepherd – LiPing at the time. I think if I were Liping, I would not be as patient as her and would just give a tight slap to ask myself to wake up.

She took effort and pain to “tame” me. It is because of these people around me who did not give up on me, that I can be who I am now. Touched by their never say die spirit, I learnt to be open to the people, started sharing lives, let go off past hurts, kicked off my bad habits. If not for these people, I would still be slacking somewhere, direction-less.

God reminded me that no matter what happen, whatever that I’m going through right now, I should press on and not wave the white flag. Be it parental persecution or taking care of people. So for everyone who is reading this, if you are struggling with certain issues of your life, let us hold on to God tightly and not give up. Let us not focus on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18).

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord,
Open the eyes of my heart;
I want to see You, I want to see You.
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord,
Open the eyes of my heart;
I want to see You, I want to see You.

Hee hee.. enjoyed myself organising and playing. One thing I forgot to do was to take photos of Sentosa, walk the bridge etc. It’s okay, at least I enjoyed myself with the people I love. When the sun set, we packed our belongings and went back to vivo for dinner. Bentay, Ona, Jon and I took Benson’s car back. After dinner, some suggested to watch Soccer. Really wished that I could go but my mum objected. It is okay, my spirit was with them.

Really hope I can go back Sentosa again, not for any events or activities but for R&R.

Greeted by the gentle sun,with the tears of joy coming down from the Heaven.
The never-ceasing waves crashed against the rocks, giving the melody for the song of the ocean.
The short bursts of laughter, from the children playing along the beach.
Walking bare-footed on the beach, the sands filled the gaps between my toes.
Drawing lines on the sand, with the flip-flops we wore.
Digging in the sands with bare hands,to bury the paper underneath.
Taking the slippers off, to build our own slipper castles.
A wonderful day we had, was the loveliest gift from God.

Are you starting to roll your eyes after reading the first passage? HAHA.. I think I’m expecting some to give me the “huh?” face. From 2007, I started to enjoy traveling along ECP expressway. I do not know why but it is a kind of special attraction I have to the flyer. It will not fail to make me smile just by its gigantic structure which is warmly embraced by the clouds and the sky. Without fail, I will always take out my camera and start snapping.

This describes the number of blog entries I have for Singapore Flyer:
http://www.simplyjas.com/blog/2007/07/20/singapore-flyer-snapshots/
http://www.simplyjas.com/blog/2010/01/05/singapore-flyer-snapshots-2/
http://www.simplyjas.com/blog/2009/05/09/singapore-flyer-on-a-friday-night/

On Friday 13 August 2010 morning, I accompanied daddy and mummy to ICA to collect their passport. We drove along the ECP expressway and I took a few snaps. This is how it looks in the morning up on the expressway:

The collection of passport only took us 15 minutes. After that, we had our breakfast at Lavendar. Not wanting to go home so early (it was like 930am), I suggested them to go some places before heading back home since we’re out. Then, we decided to go to Marina Barrage. It’s a place that I have not explored yet. Along our way, we drove past Marina Bay Sands.

See the sky garden? I wanna go!! I think it would be great to have a bird’s-eye view from above at night.

Reached Marina Barrage.

Photo of the day: