love through prayers

during my jog just now, i was recalling a few recent events and i thanked God for them. i began to pray and be thankful to God. after praying (half panting to catch my breath), a thought just struck me. love is shown through prayers. we love the people in our lives so much and that reason leads us to pray for them, to cover them in prayers, to ask God to bless them, and to protect them. i was praying for a few people too. one of them was my dad. dad is recovering from fever and i asked God to heal him. back home, i casually asked dad about going to church this weekend, he thought for awhile and agreed without much hesitation. i was overjoyed! my dad is desiring for more spiritual things in his life.

listening: Majesty by Planet shakers

rock it tonight

alternative rock just reminds me of my secondary school days. my top three rock classics:
goo goo dolls' Iris http://youtube.com/watch?v=B9F4LjSb_Cs
puddle of mud's Blurry http://youtube.com/watch?v=7iiDP4O_Ba8
third eye blind's Semi charmed life http://youtube.com/watch?v=jRMHbKW0w7k
enjoy the music videos and rock it tonight!

listening: Iris by goo goo dolls

The Main Builder

hebrews 3: 3-4 "Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. for every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything."

God builds everything from scratch. at this point, i was reminded of our christmas production last year. everything starts with God. He gives life, He brings everything into being. everything that i am, belongs to Him. everything that i have, comes from Him. at times, i am tempted to live my own life and do it my way. things might not be obvious, yet subtle. many times, i struggled to surrender to God my thoughts and attitudes. yet once again, today, i'm being reminded that He is the Main Builder of my life. i will not build my own dreams and do what my carnal heart desires. i want God to build my life, to pave ways for me into my future chapters in my life.

God is the Builder. as long as we keep our courage and hope fixed on Him, he called us his house.

listening: Goodbye days by Yui

first man in my life

11 jan 2007. i will never forget this date. it was the day that my father received Jesus into his life. this is the first unbelievable event that happened in the year 2007. memories and flashbacks rushed through my mind as i thought about all my eagerness, my desire and my prayers to see my father receiving my Lord into his life. i'm thankful to God for keeping me alive in hope for my dad's salvation all these years. *a big shout-out to Jesus!*

21 jan 2007. it was my dad's birthday and his first time to our church as a believer of Jesus. our whole family met together at 8am for a breakfast at killiney kopitham before we went for the first service. during the holy communion time, i tilted my head and i saw my dad taking the holy communion together, wow! this sight was unbelievable and i was so filled with gratitude towards God. celebrated dad's birthday together with aunt jane's cg. it was a very happy occasion! my aunt's caregroup mates were very warm and sincere people. i can see that my dad really enjoyed being in the caregroup.

daddy, i really love you, i really do.

listening: Amazes me by CCC

pictures' time!

our beloved puay on her birthday at Ben's and Jerry's!
my kawaii sheep with me at our christmas service!
behave or else...!
the hammers in kukup!
chun siong, veron, shuz, aunty, pat, roys and ps LO
what more can i say... shannie, you rocks!
girls just wanna have some fun!
min! thanks for your sms after the dinner :)

listening: perhaps love featured in goong ost

I love WAM

i cant contain any longer. i need to blog about my wonderful Wam retreat 311206 to 020107. together with Awam and Twam, we made our way to Kukup, somewhere near Johor Bahru Malaysia. first of all, i'm very thankful for my worship pastor, ps Lawrence and his wife, Pat for organizing this trip. since the start of the two months of planning, they have been very hopeful and eager to have this WAM retreat. i'm glad to be part of the planning team. *winkz veron and roys.

311206

games few hours before the countdown. its my greatest discovery of this trip to know that our hope twin, gerald and geoffery are super fun and spontenous pair! we had such a great time of playing simple CG games, with most holding onto our stomachs, laughing away at one another. at ten pm, we walked to the jetty to do our fireworks. it was exciting to have different ways of positioning our fireworks, which some ended up went into the sea. LJ and i went out further to the end of the jetty, looking out to the sea. it was almost pitch black. the water reminds me of scenes from FF. it was so computerised, beautiful! 3 2 1, happy new year, WAMers! :)

010107

learnt much from the quiet time passage. the greatest expression of love is simply to notice people and to pay attention to them. many times, we often find ourselves going to people asking if we could help in any way, yet, the most loving thing we can do is to give our fullest attention to the person. its about living in the present. we may be in the present, but not living in that moment. another thought that hit me was for me to cultivate a spiritual attitude that wants to be surprised by God. things are at times, monotenous. yet, living in God's love daily should be a journey of surprises, discovering more and more about our Maker. a refreshing morning worship led by rachel. ps LO taught us something from the bible too. afternoon was basically filled with ice creams and card games. a visit to the fish farm too. finally...... the night of talents showcase came! a whole lot of characters. thundercrabs. mudskippers. deedadee dancers. angie the emo. fen the eccentric. daniel the pastor. just check the photos out. had a time of heavenly music with daniel on lead worship. it was an awesome time of running towards God with our arms wide open, lifting our voices and hands to worship freely. the last thing before the night ended was my time with jiayi. we sat outside the house under the pale moonlight for some chats. its chats like this that spurred me on and moved me even more to serve God.

020107

ate auntie' super nice fried rice for breakfast. its time for us to pack our bags home. as each one of us took turns to share our thanksgivings and affirmations, my heart was so filled with thanksgivings. i was so glad to be at the retreat, meeting and knowing my fellow wamers more. i've been watching my fellow wamers fenny, hope twins, junxiong and the rest played on stage ever since i first stepped into Hope. i'm just so happy that i can know them at a personal level and i really salute all of them for their commitment and love to God and this ministry for so many years. this encourages me to stick to the WAM vision and give my best to it.

thank you Lord, i love you and i love wam.

listening: a song by Beyond

ah zhong

a big shout-out to my kor kor.....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

*ps. ah zhong is my cousin.

listening: One more night by Phil collins

for the first time

what makes my first day of school happy... :)

walked into the lecture hall. winston: "Hey! Jasmin!" *waves*

handshakes with addie and winston, greeting "happy new year!"

shannie(whispering): "oei...jasmin...jasmin...." *did her little wave*

first lecture ended and i went for a dinner at kap macs with favorites dian shannie and joy. we gave one another airtime to update one another on our lives and all. it was really enjoying! and we all agreed and gave the most convicted nods that dian is the love guru. hahaha! *winkz*

listening: Mysterious Girl by Peter Andre

菊花台

妳　的淚光　柔弱中帶傷
Your tears glistens with weakness admist the pain
慘白的月彎彎　勾住過往
The ghostly white curved moon hooks onto the past
夜　太漫長　凝結成了霜
The night is too long and has crystallised into frost
是誰在閣樓上　冰冷的絕望
Who is in the attic [filled with] cold hopelessness
雨　輕輕彈　朱紅色的窗
Rain gently bounces off vermillon window
我一生在紙上　被風吹亂
I have (written) my life story on paper (only to be) blown into a mess by the winds
夢　在遠方　化成一縷香
The faraway dream has become really faint
隨風飄散　妳的模樣
The wind has dispersed the image of you
＊菊花殘　滿地傷　妳的笑容已泛黃
Chrysanthemum destroyed A whole floor of pain your smile has become faintly yellow
花落人斷腸　我心事靜靜躺
People are heartbroken when the flower falls My thoughts lay quietly (aside)
北風亂　夜未央　妳的影子剪不斷
The north wind is chaotic the night is still young your shadows can’t be cut
徒留我孤單　在湖面　成雙
Just leaving me lonely doubled (when I stand) by the lake
花　已向晚　飄落了燦爛
The flower has already come late, drifting down brillantly
凋謝的世道上　命運不堪
the wilted morals an unbearable fate
愁　莫渡江　秋心拆兩半
(If you are) sad don’t cross the river worries* broken into two
怕妳上不了岸　一輩子搖晃
In fear that you can’t get back on shore and will sway for a lifetime
誰　的江山　馬蹄聲狂亂
Chaotic sounds of horse hoofs (in) whose territory?
我一身的戎裝　呼嘯滄桑
My armory shouts out the wear of time
天　微微亮　妳輕聲的嘆
The sky is starting to light up your voice is sighing
一夜惆悵　如此委婉
A night of disappointment is (said) in such a roundabout way

listening: hmmming to the jay chou tune

not long forgotten camp pictures

i'm so taking a picture together with L!!!
my overseas friend from manila.
my lovely jia with her lovely twos.
perfect match!
look at yiyou!!!
this has to be my favorite pic of jia!
minops-toons!

listening: Forget me nots by Lee Ritenour

a christmas letter

it is still raining outside my window. recollecting my christmas bliss. it has been a wonderful week, a wonderful 2006.

had a very fruitful sakae dinner on christmas eve. i've been re- reading my christmas cards. they are so encouraging and uplifitng. thanks yao, ame, jiali, freedy, qianjin, yiyou, simon, ec, ben, aaron, wyn, debster, vi san, gigi, angela, gerald, little gwen, alanzo, ruth, voon, ting, zihui, jasmineloh, joyce san, bao, xiuzhen, jingmei, roys and guo ann. a very wonderful time of thanksgiving in our chalet after a wet bbq.

doubling and hitting 46 is a great statement to proclaim of God's goodness. it speaks alot about the heartbeat and vision of us. it speaks about the depth of our journey and growth in God and with one another together for this one year. we have experienced challenges, yet He brought about new breakthroughs in our personal walks and ministries. we have gotten some hard knocks from one another, yet He never fails to help us to see the strengths and love in one another. faith is what i'm very thankful for all of you. i anticipate for 2007 to come. lets ride in waves of faith into 2007. we need one another in this ministry to fulfill what has been called.

listening: a year ago by kenny G

hope of christmas

"...keep an eye always on hope, cos its why we press on. cos it gives our spirit a sense of possiblility..." these christmas words strengthened me greatly in the pre- eve of christmas.

listening: Gloria by Mercy Me

6 hours before 00:00

random thoughts...

i need to wash my hair. wa... mei got out of house so early in the morning?!? what should i eat for breakfast... i am so hungry. which bag should i bring out later? YPOP. jiali as the lambchop, shuz as the shepherd pie. where to eat for drama retreat? death note 8 bittorrent is downloading real fast!

enough of random fun blogging, to my bible now.

listening: Morning by Kenny G

It's all about Yui.....uuu....

Yui on "Life"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMOCLUA9aT0
Yui on "Rolling Star"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBDAiPNT-NI
Yui on "Goodbye Days"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnETQYRzL_E

listening: Goodbye days by Yui

Taiyou no Uta

She had been leading a life carefully placing herself beyond the reach of harm, with no intent to pursue a dream. However, Koji had shone a light on her heart making her want to sing once again. However, her illness which has quietly progressed, has started to pressure her nerve system, keeping her from playing the guitar at her will…

listening: Alone by Kenny G

running after "you"

after a day of setup at the youth campsite, after a simple yet fulfilling late dinner with old pals ruth dewen and zinc, i headed towards woodlands interchange for my bus home. from a distance away, i saw somewhat similar to my bus service. the bus came. i raced towards the bus, full of energy with my fat red crumpler hitting my back. i reached the bus queue and waited patiently for the remaining passengers to go up the bus. sat comfortably in my seat and began dozing off. woke up to an amusing shock and realised that i'm in tampines. i took the wrong bus home.

listening: Sentimental by Kenny G

thank God i have God

when the clock strikes twelve few minutes ago, its time to pick it up and be stronger.

i had a day of silence with God today. nonetheless, the verses, the smses, the msn chats really made a difference. they told me one message: God's love never fails and it is everywhere around me.

a huge huge hug to shannie. the msn chat was really uplifting. it was so tearing and encouraging, that we ended like that:

jasminwangshuzhen says:
when i go heaven, i wanna be your neighbor
weishan passed BF! *CONFETTI!* says:
HAHAHAHAHA i wana be your roomie.
weishan passed BF! *CONFETTI!* says:
then we'll be like fwoah hey man which white robe are you wearing today huh huh huh to sing praises to God in the choir!
weishan passed BF! *CONFETTI!* says:
(after re-reading what i just typed, i think i am utterly pointless. haha)

listening: instrumental piece featured in IL Mare OST

waiting is a choice

Galatians 6:9 "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

When a stone sculptor is trying to sculpt a masterpiece, do you think the first time he hits the chisel with the hammer everything’s going to fall off and it will be a beautiful sculpture? No. He has to keep hitting it and hitting it, chipping away. And that’s the way life is. Nothing really worthwhile ever comes easy in life. You keep hitting it and going after it – and little by little your life becomes a masterpiece.

nothing worthwhile ever happens without endurance and energy. life is a mixture of good and bad. You can be realistic, but you also need to be optimistic because you are a Christian.God’s delay is not a denial. Just because you haven’t had the answer or the miracle yet, that doesn’t mean God isn’t going to do it eventually. It simply means not yet! Maturity is knowing the difference between, “No,” and “Not yet,” between a delay and a denial. (adapted from an article from Rick Warren)

Habakkuk 2:3 "for the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. though it lingers, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay."

thanks for the two words. they came timely and refreshed me anew. i will wait, Lord. i will, by Your hands You will take me.

listening: drizzling rain outside my window

a fuller day

scene one: been a full and packed holiday this time of the year. couldn't have been fuller than yesterday. woke up to a brekkie in town's subway. breezed around wheelock and taka's artfriend.

scene two: a drive down to ecp to meet with jiali for our cycling date. i was so looking forward to it. the last time i rode on bicycle was primary six. i need a refresher course! in my honest opinion, jiali can be qualified to be an instructor or tutor or any coaching position of sort. her instructions and encouragement came so naturally into the picture, as she gave some cycling tips to me. i gladly listened to her instructions like:

shuz (stopped for a rest): erm...jiali you go first la.

jiali (looked back with a grinz): no no... you go first. i'll come behind you.

shuz (paiseh): hehe. oh..okay.

we stopped by bedok jetty and had a good chat on one of the benches and macs. it was really good and it felt very good. i'm relaxing with her.

scene three: alone in hougang town, with my yong tau foo soup in front of me. whenever i'm with me, everything seems to be in slow motion to me. i looked and observed the people around me, listened to their conversations (they made it loud it enough for me to hear it anyway), wondered about their kinds of life. tonight was different, my mind was just constantly filled with one thing.

scene four: popcorn with lemon tea around me. open season in two minutes time. this came spontaneously. i ought to have some unplanned fun at times. it feels happy and exciting.

scene five: sinking into my first roti john and slurping milo dino away.

thanks for today, whoever were with me. i truly enjoyed my time with you.

listening: Walkin' on the sun by smash mouth

天真

simplicity. someone once told me that simplicity is something that the person will be attracted to. as man matures, coupled with experiences and fusing with others' experiences as well, thoughts, feelings and emotions well up in the being of him. often, man wonders, "why will i feel this way? why do i react that way?" in theory and books, such are termed as being more aware or having self awareness or the chim-est term called intrapersonal skills. the man wishes that things were simpler in his mind, and not be overwhelmed or choked by the rushing of emotions when faced with uncertainties in situations. which, in many times, left the man in tears, clueless on what to do next, or where to channel those emotions.

yet, the man desires to go out all the way. to love, to trust, to obey, to listen, to believe.

knowing that the One above holds his hand and He never fail.

"... for you are my God my Savior, for my hope is in you all day Lord." Psalms 25: 5b

listening: Last Christmas by Wham!