out of the window

a song sprang from within in the morning.
"...i will wait on You, Almighty God. in the beauty of Your Holiness. i will worship You, Almighty God. in the beauty of Your Holiness..." i went on and on for the next fifteen minutes.
"sticking with your family is what makes it a family."
"sharing tales of those we've lost is how we keep from really losing them."
"a day to listen, to love, to apologize, to forgive and to decide."
reached the last few pages of the book. i've enjoyed all three books by mitch albom during my holiday seasons. they are quite good a company, sitting by the window in quiet afternoons.

chatting with ruiz now. something funny i thought.

jasminwangshuzhen says:
STEP UP!!!!
this is she. * ~ says:
jasminwangshuzhen says:
oh my oh my
jasminwangshuzhen says:
you watch that show le?
this is she. * ~ says:
nope not yet
this is she. * ~ says:
x.x
this is she. * ~ says:
after exams bahhhs
this is she. * ~ says:
hahhas
this is she. * ~ says:
now i can only watch films that are tested in my exam

ruiz. jiali. puay. God's strength and wisdom are all yours to take when you ask :) gambate.

listening: When God ran by Philips, Craig and Dean

for one more day

saturday. sweetie yiyou passed me a book and two japanese animation dvds. she passed those to me as she knew that i am having my holidays now. how sweet is that gesture to me. went through lots of youtube music videos into the night. i want to be a rocker.

sunday. attended one of my cousins' 21st birthday at conrad. they are my maternal side of relatives. seldom get to spend time with them, only see them during lunar new year or birthday and wedding events. each time i see them, it brings much warmth and care to me, knowing that they are very much concerned for my dad and us.

monday. had a heart to heart chat with eevoon at subway (i ought to get myself a subway membership). encouraged so much to know her same love and compassion for people. she's someone i respect, her life speaks loudly. did my homework for hope sem too. the course helps me to yearn to chew on the Word more and more. there is so much i want to know and learn.

tuesday. "Children forget that sometimes. They think of themselves as a burden instead of a wish granted."

that line came to me while reading a book entitled in my post title. how often we need God's reminders to convey to us that He loves us alot, alot. if we take a little bit more effort to observe and see, we will find tons and tons of expressions of God's love for us in our everyday. when my eyes came to its last word in that phrase, i was reminded of an incident that moved me so much. during closet part two. 30 minutes into the service. i was in the media room. something cropped up which required me to make a decision there and then, right on the spot. time is ticking away. everyone was waiting for me to speak. that was my longest second that i ever felt. but the next thing that was to come came in split seconds.

(shuz' mind): wa...so stressed! how ah? how how??

(shuz' mind): i feel so lousy now mann..... haiz...

(His voice): do you know i still love you?

(shuz' mind): huh? *giving the look of can you repeat again*

(His voice): do you know my love for you have not change, even when you feel like the lousiest leader now?

i was sure i heard that. something moved in my heart. a lump in my throat. tears welled up. i told media IC what to do next and i made my exit immediately. all these happened within split seconds. man, i was touched by God. its like what pastor jeff usually says, "God is as real as you place your thumb in front of you now." He is that real. and i experienced it.

listening: Life by Yui

otosan wa daisuki desu

this entry is inspired by my good pal, shannie. weishan is someone who values family life alot. many pictures of her family were posted in her blog and i'm encouraged to build closer and stronger bonds with my family as well.

oto-san!
something i ate for breakfast.

had a very very well- spent evening time with philo. we walked around, ate cold cut trio and browsed around in borders. we talked and shared for a long time in subs before our lips shivered and hit the outdoor for warmer air. i really had a very good time with her today. the sharing was deep and encouraging.

listening: Carry the call by Danny Chambers and Integrity band

comeandfly in sentosa

spent a lovely afternoon at palawan sentosa. ordered favorite caesar salad and sunrise and dug in before settling down to pen down prayers and reflections. was looking forward to this personal retreat as i really desire to seek and hear from God, for my life and ministry.
luge. those were chairlifts. reminded me of the sentosa with pris, roys and eugene sometime in march this year. pris and myself were covering and shutting our eyes most of the time up there. suffered a stiff neck from it too.
wanted something cold.
rum and raisins! its melting as fast as it could.
looked up from my book and saw this sight.
heading back to main island after a fruitful time. as i prayed, a passage came to my mind. Nehemiah 1 and 2. penned down a few thoughts and my prayer. sum it up, Lord, i want to live for something bigger. i want to live out fully for your vision. count me in.

back to main island, had my first walk in vivocity. stepped into a bookstore called First Page. went through a few biography books on Tim Burton and Johnny Depp. something Depp wrote in the foreword in Burton's biography book goes like this: someone i would go to the ends of the earth for, and i know, full and well, he would do the same for me. give it a thought, wont you.

listening: Song for my grandfather (Live at Baked Potato 2000)

jessica wong simun

celebrated simun's 23rd birthday last thursday at heeren's village. known her for close to 10 years! we were in the same class from sec 1 to sec 4. after which she went to nyp and i went into np. however, knowing her and having her as my close pal has been a great blessing to me. she's been a great help and encouragement in my studies. she listens to my everything. thanks simun :)

listening: Dying young theme by Kenny G

tyler nora winztang

caught step up with jiali, gwen, puay and yiyou today. simple story plot, but it really makes me wanna groove to the music. hope to get my hands on the movie soundtrack soon.

chatted with my sim friend too. winztang.

jasminwangshuzhen says:
woww!! you been to my blog????
says:
oh yeah i saw some of ur bangkok pictures...haahah
says:
wah u left straight away after ur papers ah
jasminwangshuzhen says:
wow. i am honored
jasminwangshuzhen says:
yups. after the exams, left to meet my friend to makan and then fly off together
says:
honoured? ahahah, i should be the one sial....since i get to read ur blog...hahaha

the first friend i knew in sim. both of us were running late for our computing lecture and we sat next to each other and this was how we made friends. a sincere believer of God and have a hunger for His Word and the church.

listening: I am Yours by Jason Morant

Reminiscence (screaming from the inside out)

its been a week plus since i came back from my bangkok trip. i've been thinking through alot of things, thoughts have been flying here and there in my mind. i've set apart this wednesday for my gettaway with Him. the trip has left me with a full conviction of living out His plans in my life passionately. been thinking about my own personal walk with Him for the past years. been thinking about my ministry and the direction in my studies. i came back with "yes lord, this is really what i want to do with my life. lord, help me!" indeed, the calling is beyond my human capacity, i definately really need his leading.

at this point, i'm thankful for this person in my life. i was reading one of her emails a moment ago. that email (dated 30 nov 2003) spoke so much of her genuine love and care for her people. i kept that email for so long as a reminder for my own personal walk with God too. i've been together in her team for coming close to six years. she leads a very simple life. i once described in a birthday card to her, "a wanderer for God, living simply for Him..." sometimes, being close and long enough with a person can be too familiar in the friendship. which we called it taking one another for granted and all. yet, the recent bangkok trip showed me a fresh perspective of serving her. as i thought through my plans and directions for near future. countless of times, i thought about how i can serve and support her more in my ministry, with my life. seeing Hope Bangkok examples have left me great impressions of what does it meant by serving and honoring our leaders with our best. its more than just the humble nods or the yes and amen spirit. i believe this is the first step God is bringing me through my renewed vision and passion after the spoken words in the trip. her recent sharings in service further strengthened my conviction. i want to live for a bigger vision, bigger than my own goals and dreams. i want to trust in Him solely, as He never fails us.

listening: What kind of Love is this by Philips Craig and Dean

to Bangkok and back part 3

my fav bangkok food: green mango and chai yen! had a good time getting to know ps LO and Pat more too.





introducing my travel mates. from top: watashi wa shuz des. yunlong. veronn. guo ann. shirls. roys. had great fun travelling with them for the four days in street of bangkok. more than the fun, its the passion and spirit that keeps us bonded.


1111 happened to be guo ann's 24th birthday! we planned a mini secret bash for him. yea, a real bash.

*guo ann came out of shower*

guo ann(suspicious): "yes? what do you all want to do?"

*the rest looked stunned at his response*

"ec did a high jump and landed on guo ann's back*

"and the birthday bash began*

listening: I'll be there for you by Solid Harmonie

to Bangkok and back part 2

friday. went to our mother church's rehearsal for their power of praise. simply luv the lightings over there! had an encouraging time of questions and answers with ps prayuth and his worship team during lunch time. one of their worship leader, sister chin kept asking us if we have any other questions. i could sense their warmth and eagerness to assist in answering any questions about our ministry. i was truly inspired by their spirit.

saturday. it was power of praise #4! one song that inspired me alot was the duet praise. it sounded so canto-pop! the whole stage was so filled with joy, so lively! and i must say, the vocals were really awesome! i was ministered to the core of my heart by their singing during the worship.


sunday. was at Hope Bangkok 25th anniversary service. lifted my feet to dance to the first praise, which happened to be one of my favorites too. "people just like us". the whole indoor stadium was so filled with people, full house! hearing ps PN's voice when he came on for his sermon was empowering and refreshing. "hallelujah!" "amen!" *people echoed back in response*

i felt so blessed to be in Hope Family. the most memorable incident of the trip was to meet sister noi again. sister noi took care of me when i first came to Hope Bangkok during 2000, along with pastor jeff and some other youth leaders. when i was at a LC in pattaya two years ago, i spotted sister noi when she was dancing on the stage. however, i tried to find her after that, she wasn't there anymore. this time round, i was looking forward to the start of the anniversary service, i turned my head to look around and i spotted her with her african friends at the end my seating row! left my seat immediately to greet her and she remembered my name! overjoyed i was. hugs and email addresses were exchanged and we spoke for awhile. her hug meant so much love to me. though we may serve in different countries, yet the heart and spirit run deep in the both of us. i love Hope.

listening: So Grateful by Hope Bangkok (featured in The Rock album)

to Bangkok and back part 1

what a wonderful way to mark the end of our exams. with favorite tangyuan and frog leg porridge at kallang market, and with favorite girl, prisie tan. we managed to swept her off from joo chiat for a lunch before flying.
try it soon, if you have not! hot caramel chocolate drink!
roamed around the airport and found this osim's isqueeze. awwwwww.........ticklish!
itadakimashi! yumz!
looking out from the plane's window. luv that orangey feel from the setting sun.

listening: Majesty by Planet Shakers

pre- leaving on a jetplane

was at bishan library studying for my last paper. took a short break to stroll around the new premise. came upon a huge book entitled "Humans". i often wondered to myself why do i tear easily? almost at everything. according to that book, crying is uniquely human. animals tear too, however, they do so in order to wash their eyes. it is the primitive emotional response and it is hard to fake it. tears are said to rid the body of stress hormones too. perhaps, that explains why people will feel much better after a cry.

bumped into geoffery (he and his brother, gerald are legendary musicians of Hope Sg) on my bus ride home. he saw me and greeted me with his smile. i thought that was really genuine. i once heard that it takes more muscles to frown than to smile. yet, smiles can create joy and bridge closer bonds. it brings warmth to the soul. words are limited to express, yet a smile can say it all. a real smile is can be known by looking at the eye. the fact: the muscles around the eye will contract, raising cheeks and gathering skin towards the nose. a real smile tends to linger and fades more evenly.

some sweet smses from fav girlfriends.

debster (11:08am): Hey shuz! LAST PAPER Tml! haha and u will literally go hm take luggage and fly off. how cool can tat be for a post- exam celebration man! Haha. omg how i wish i can do tat too. Juz hang on there ya? Aja Aja fighting!!

shannie (12:37pm): and i thank God for u jas! you have truly inevitably reinstalled in me a desire to seek God and to want to pray always. i'm glad we're such gd friends (:

shannie (12:44pm): (: and to think we met through HR!! haha. i'm v inspired to serve and i've promised God to serve Him next yr becuz i'm v burdened by your dedication to Him (:

these smses i shall save to keep myself encouraged, knowing that i've friends in high places. deb, a date with you when i come back yea? shannie, our lovely christmas dinner 2006! and of course, more starbucks hangouts.

listening: Angeline by Tommy Emmanuel

food for thought (yea, i am hungry)

thanks for dennis for the interesting link below.

http://ask.yahoo.com/most/2005/

some interesting ones for you.

If one person yawns, why does everyone else in the room want to yawn?

Yawning is extremely contagious -- 55% of people who witness someone yawn will yawn within five minutes. If a visually impaired person hears a tape of someone yawning, he or she is likely to yawn as well. Face it, the likelihood of you making it to the end of this answer without looking like one of these gaping maws is unlikely...

Is there any truth to the "five second rule" about food that falls on the floor?

...counted the number of bacteria clinging to various downed eats. Results? Contrary to what you might expect, the number of bacteria on "wet" foods like cheese actually decreased the longer the food was on the floor, seemingly making five seconds too short a time for wet foods, rather than too long...

on a studious note again, found this statement on my textbook: Speed without a destination in mind is merely haste.

listening: Give your Love by Abe Laboriel and Friends