Graduation Pics! :) 23rd Dec 2008

Graduate! And returning back home...

Well 4 years have come to an end.. and I will be returning back to Singapore for good tomorrow. Having mixed emotions now, feeling happy that I have finally made it after 4 years of hard work, yet sad to leave all my friends here in Adelaide, and maybe the freedom I have :P lol. Looking back, I can truly say God put brought me here for a reason, and I wouldn't be the person I am today, if not for Him, and if not for the experiences I have gained while studying here in Adelaide. I will definitely bring back the good points about Australia, and maybe have a better appreciation of how other cultures work.

Anyway Praise God for all He has done for me, bringing me through the good and bad times, as the bible says God makes ALL things work for the good of those who love Him. Indeed God has blessed me abundantly thoughout my life here, and I wouldn't be graduating today with such excellent results without Him, cos I know I am not a smart student, but God uses the weak and that really humbles me, knowing that He chose me to do His work, no matter how small or insignificant here in Aussie!

This will be my last night in Adelaide, boo and Yay @ the same time. Haha. I just pray that I will continue to walk in faith, truth, hope and love as I did here, and not get caught up in the rat race and materialistic life back in Singapore. It will not be easy, and its easier said than done, but I believe I can do it! I pray I get my dream Job in JADE soon and also have the opportunity to catch up with old friends and classmates! How time flies indeed! Anyway, here's also wishing everyone who reads my blog a very merry and blessed Christmas and an excellent 2009 ahead! God bless! My next blog onwards will be in Singapore! Muahaha.. hot hot hot.

P.S Reminder: I must come back to Adelaide again soon, not just to meet my friends, but for the WINTER. cold weather. is soooo niceee.. free air con.. ahaha now going back home to Sing, have to PAY for air con in terms of electricity bills.. Bleh

The Church

The church is the plan of God on earth
Always in her father's eye
Cherished, beautiful, mysterious and potent beyond measure
She emerges triumphant, limitless with potential
A harbour for the hopeless and an answer for the ages
The church with splendor, A bride for His son
She grows with wisdom and stature
With victory on her lips and freedom in her hands
Hers is an unstoppable cause
She embraces the world with dignity, honour and compassion
Gives vision to the sightless, life to the dying
The church is the family of God on earth
Within her compass the hungry find sustenance, the weary receive strength
She is a haven for recovering humanity
Enthralled by grace
She invites the broken, the vulnerable, the outcasts to be immersed in love
The church is the house of heaven on earth
Called out to serve the world, calling out to welcome in
Like her master, the church is pursued and persecuted
Yet she rises with strength in her heart, fire in her soul
She is the bride of Christ on earth
Prepared and presented before the lord, the Lamb for whom the world waits
Who comes like the rising sun, majestic and magnificent beyond description
While she dazzles with reflective glory
spotless, perfect and mature
She bows low and to cast her crowns and passionately worships Him
She is the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ

Final Year Dinner 2008

My 25th Birthday Pics! :)

My 25th Birthday

How time flies!! Last Nite, I had a wonderful celebration with all my good friends for my 25th birthday .. it was truly such an amazing experience to have a big turn out.. I only expected to celebrate my bday with 4 of my friends, but turns out there was double that no.! I was indeed surprised and touched by what my friends have done for me.. at the same time, I reflected on the years that went by, and how our friendships were built.. truly time flies! I would be graduating and returning back to S'pore at the end of this year, and who knows when I might see all the friends I have made here in Adelaide again? Most of them are not Singaporeans, so it will be kind of hard to keep in touch. Sure there is the internet, email or msn, but it will be so different. Furthermore we will all be working soon, what are the chances of us keeping in touch that often?

That said there is not excuse not to at least TRY. It would indeed be a waste to let these awesome friendships die away like that.. of coz new ones have to be made.. but old friendships should never die!

Looking back at my birthday, some ppl say 25 years represents a silver anniversary.. well a bday is not really an anniversary but come to think of it, it also is in a way.. its an anniversary of how faithful God has been to me for the past 25 years. And I also believe its no coincidence that silver in the bible symbolizes redemption. Its a stark reminder to me that I am who I am today becoz of God and God alone. His redemptive work in my life has brought me to where I am today, as well as my relationship with Him.

Truly this year has been an exciting one, and I believe my future will be even more exciting as I step into a new phase of life and adulthood. God has guided and been with me thru the past 25 years, I have no reason to doubt that He will not continue to be faithful and relevant in my life! Truly Psalm 103 speaks so much of God's goodness and I praise and thank my heavenly Father as well as my earthly father for what He has done for me. May I live the next 25 years (and more) of my life glorifying God through whatever He has planned for my life! (P.S I will post some pics up soon as soon as I get them from my friends!)

Psalm 103:1-5
A Psalm of David.

Bless the LORD, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Shout Your Praise

Greater than this world that says
That I'm not worth much today
Is Your blood that washed my sins away
Stronger than the words of doubt
And the voices from without
Is Your word declaring you've lifted me up

So I, I believe
And I, I put my faith in You

Jesus, all my worth is found in You
Lord, I reign in this life
Cos You have bought me with the highest price
Now in Your righteousness, Lord I will stand
To shout Your praise
Lord, to shout Your praise

The Church I see...

FYP Team 2008 Adelaide Uni

S'pore Association NDP 08 Celebration @ Stamford Hotel Adelaide!

NDP 08 Planes! The black knights! So cool :)

NDP 2008 - Celebrating the Singapore Spirit

Shine for Singapore


Music and lyrics by Benny Wong
Performed by Hady Mirza

Have you seen a star,
One that guides you no matter where you are?
However vast the sky may be
Or dark it seems
You can be sure, it's always there for you and me

Have you heard a song,
One that moved you, one that made you sing along?
Your dreams and hopes will all come true
If you believe that every vision begins with you.

* Shine for Singapore
This is your song
Deep inside your heart where it belongs
It'll always stay, strive for your goals.
You will achieve with visions so bold.

# Shine for Singapore
This is our song
Reach out for the sky, far and beyond
As one we'll stand, we're Singapore
It's here that we belong

Have you heard a song,
One that moved you, one that made you sing along?
Your dreams and hopes will all come true
If you believe that every vision begins with you.

Nowhere i'd rather be, this is home to me
This star shines strong and free

Hhaa.. cute picture but is so true :)

"I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything but I can do something. Because I cannot do everything I wont refuse to do the something I can do."

Fresh Aesthetics

Hillsong Conference 08 Blogs and Summary

BLOG FROM ROBERT BARRIGER

July 7th 2008 - JUST BECAUSE WE ARE THE CHURCH

Have you every helped somebody and instead of coming back and saying thank you they just kind of sting you?
I asked John Maxwell one day, "what do you do about that? I know teamwork makes the dream work, but sometimes you just try and help people and instead of being thankful they don't say thank you, and I want to be the one that says thank you but sometimes people don't say thank you."
His answer to me was this, "People will be blessed just because your there, let them."

I didn't understand it until I woke up a few days later and God began to speak to me about the parable of the 10 lepers. You see, Jesus healed all 10, and sometimes we only concentrate on the one that comes back and says thank you, but those other 9 would have died if Jesus wasn't there.

Do you know, I believe just because Hillsong Church is here, Sydney is better. Pastor, where ever you are just because you are in your village, your city is better. They may never come and say thank you, but it doesn't matter if they say thank you. If all we do is take care of those people that come back and say thank you, if we only look after those that can say thank you, then we are no better than the pharisees, but if we can look after those that can't say thank you, then it doesn't matter if they can't say thank you because they would have died if Jesus hadn't healed them.

What matters is we are just the church and the church is the salt of the earth and we can make the world better. Just because we are the church.


BLOG FROM JUDAH SMITH
July 7th 2008 - THRILLED TO BE HERE

It goes without saying what an incredible, incredible privilege and honour it is to be here just to experience this, this is my first encounter with Hillsong Conference and I will already never be the same again.

This is absolutely amazing and you have to know that Pastor Brian is one of my heroes in the faith and I am so grateful for the sacrifice of Hillsong Church and their staff and their leaders, that we can be here tonight enjoying this amazing presence of God.

What a great place. Australia is just phenomenal. I'm proud to be an American, but this is my second nation in my heart, what an amazing place. I am thrilled to be here.

BLOG FROM MIKE PILAVACHI
July 8th 2008 - WORSHIP, EVANGELISM & JUSTICE

I want to talk tonight about the relationship between worship, evangelism and justice. Because I believe that biblically they belong together, they were never meant to be separated, but over the years, much of the church of Jesus has kept them apart.
We've kept worship in the church - that's what we do when we sing in church. Evangelism is what we do out on the street, it's when we tell others about Jesus. And justice is what the liberals do!
But that is changing. And it has to change, and it needs to change. Because biblically they belong together - they have too...

...God is with the poor and we are with God when we are with them. That my friends, I believe, is an incredibly biblically statement. Let's go for it. The world knows what the church is against, we've been brilliant at telling them what we're against. It's time they knew what we are for. It's time they knew what we are for.


BLOG FROM PAUL DE JONG
July 8th 2008 - GODLY CONFIDENCE

Confidence is an attitude of belief greater than the obstacles we face.
Confidence is a spirit that prevails over the dominance of discouragement.
Confidence is what lies before and beyond the day of opportunity.
Confidence is an attractive aroma that brings great reward.

When you find godly confidence there is something attractive about it and so much of the church has got to rise into the confidence that God has set. I am not talking about a lack or an ungodly confidence. Confidence is not unattractive self-based arrogance, or an independent spirit. No, it is about realising we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. I love the Amplified Bible, it puts it like this, Paul says, "I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency".

A lot of the church has a problem with that, they say, 'well it's all about God', but it is about His grace that empowers us to realise that I am now self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency and the devil is saying, 'hey, don't you get confident'. All of the world understands the power of confidence. You don't watch things and get attracted to things because they lack in confidence, and yet so much of the church is saying, 'well we don't know if we should be that confident'. NO! You are self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency.

And I reckon we need to stand with our heads raised high, because the Christ that died 2,000 years ago now lives in us and there is a spirit of growing expectation that we've got to take a hold of.


BLOG FROM JOYCE MEYER
July 10th 2008 - COMPLETE IN CHRIST

We have got to stop spending our life trying to impress people and just be who we are.
I can't get up here and be like Judah.
I can't get up here and be like Brian.
I can't get up here and be like this one or that one. I've just got to be me and you've got to be you. God wants a little creativity.
I'm complete in Christ!

I'm glad I have a husband, but I don't have to have a man to be complete. For those of you who are single, you are complete in Christ. If you haven't been able to have children, you don't have to have children to be complete, because you are complete in Christ. And if you have been married and now you're a widower, you don't have to feel like the odd guy out because you are complete in Christ. If you don't have all the college education of your friends, that's OK, cause you are complete in Christ. You are not complete in your education. If you don't have their same financial level, or if you don't have their same kind of job, maybe you're a ditch-digger and they're all doctors and lawyers, well you know what, you're complete in Christ.

I remember when I used to always feel like something was missing and especially if I got around certain types of people and I didn't have what they had or couldn't do what they did, I felt like something was missing for me. But when I began to know who I was in Christ...!
It actually tickles me now to stand up in front of millions of people and say, "I'm a lady from Fenton with a twelfth grade education and people are listening to me all over the world everyday!"...

You know why, because God anoints you when he calls you and you're complete in Him and if you know who you are in Him, you don't have to worry about what you don't have. You need to get over not only what you think you ARE, but especially what you think you're NOT.
The Bible says we are strong in Him, but it also says in 2 Corinthians 13:4, we are weak in Him and even when I'm weak, I'm still in Him!

BLOG FROM JOSEPH PRINCE
July 9th 2008 - FEEDING ON THE BREAD OF LIFE

Everything we come to a conference like this, you know it is so easy to come with a mentality or a mode of trying to draw good teachings or sermons for us to us back home, and we are not feeding ourselves.
Jesus said, "if any many thirsts let him come unto me and drink." Not draw water for others, 'cause you can draw water for others and still die of thirst.
He says drink. Drink is a very personal, even a selfish thing. Just enjoy Jesus, enjoy the revelations for your own consumptions and then he says, when you do that, out of your belly say flow rivers of living water to bless multitudes. Amen!

John chapter 6, it says very clearly that Jesus said, "I am the bread of life, he that comes to me shall never hunger and he that drinks of me will never thirst."
Bread of life. Now what do you do with bread? You don't just admire it, you eat it!

We are here to feed on him...we can talk about bread all night long, it will not feed you. We've got to eat it!

BLOG FROM ROBERT FERGUSSON
July 10th - "The Church"

The Church is the plan of God on earth,
always in her Father's eye. Cherished, mysterious, beautiful and potent beyond measure. She emerges triumphant, limitless with potential. A harbour for the hopeless, and an answer for the ages.
The Church resplendent, a bride for his Son.

She grows in wisdom and stature, with victory on her lips and freedom in her hands. Hers is an unstoppable cause. She embraces the world with dignity, honour and compassion. She gives vision to the sightless and life to the dying.

The Church is the family of God on earth. Within her compass the hungry find sustenance and the weary strength. She is a haven for recovering humanity. Enthralled by grace. She invites the broken, the vulnerable and the outcast to be immersed in love.

The Church is the house of heaven on earth. Called out to serve the world. Calling out to welcome in. Like her Master, the church is pursued and persecuted; yet she rises with strength in her heart and fire in her soul. She is the bride of Christ on earth, prepared and presented before the Lord, the Lamb for whom the world waits. He comes like the rising sun - majestic and magnificent beyond description while she dazzles with reflected glory. Spotless, perfect and mature. she bows low to cast her crowns and passionately worship him.

She is the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ.
YOU ARE THE CHURCH OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

Back From Hillsong Conference!

Wow! Such a super long time since I've blogged. Well, I've just come back from an amazing hillsong conference in Sydney. It was my 1st time going to such a conference, and during the 1st day, I was already stunned by the no. of ppl that turned up from 70 countries and from 21 different denominations. The whole experience was simply amazing as the conference urged believers to champion the cause of the local church. The most important things I've heard and learnt are these words said by one of the Hillsong pastors during the conference.

May God give you the capacity to make a difference in your world
To bring salvation to your communities
To build a church by his grace with Him
The church of the Lord Jesus Christ
To extend His kingdom
To proclaim righteousness
To act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly before your God
Love God, love people, love life.
Change the world.

Truly, God was exalted during that conference.. It was an amazing experience that I pray will make me more passionate to love others, love God and love life. Now as I am awaiting my semester 1 results, and looking ahead towards my final semester of study, I can truly appreciate what God is doing through me, in me, and in the world. Praise God for He alone is worthy to be praised! :)

Happy CNY!

Wow, time sure flies.. n i guess i have always been saying it on my blog. Haha. It's been ages since i last blogged, and since i've returned to Singapore. Well 3 mths is almost gone just like that, and CNY has just ended too.. err although there r 12 more days left in the chinese calender. :P Returning back to adelaide on 25th Feb, abt 2 weeks frm now.. Feeling a bit sad again as usual, but at the same time excited of my final year this year. Can't wait to finish studying and return home for good. Haha, although i knw many ppl have been advising that studying is much better than working.. that's y i will definitley treasure and cherish my final year this year in adelaide.. and there have already been so many wonderful memories abt Adelaide.. thanks to good friends and aquaintences I've met over there. 1 more year to make more new friends and to meet more new ppl!

Anyway have been back in Singapore, and basically enjoying time with family, friends and loved ones.. since i was back in late nov.. and basically slacking till Jan. Haha, have been trying to find a temp job since Dec last year but it was so hard! I almost gave up, but thank God I've managed to get a temp job during mid Jan, and will be ending it in abt a week's time. God is indeed faithful to provide, and I have never doubted Him for not being able to give me what I want, and even if it's not given, so be it, it must be for a better reason! Just thankful that I am working now, getting some income and work experience as a bonus.. n thank God i got to work in such a comfortable and good environment too, at raffles place, the CBD area of S'pore.. To think that i was kidna upset when I almsot couldn't get the same temp job as I did the past 2 yrs, but God is good, and while He did not meet my "want", He met my "need", and exceed my expectations. This being my final "holiday" in Singapore, it's also my last temp job hopefully, so really thank Him for providing me such an awesome opportunity to see how working life really is after I graduate. It definitely isn't ez.. but I believe with His strength, and my passion and attitude, nothing is impossible!


That said, looking so forward to my graduation at the end of this year.. yeah.. final year will be hard, but believe can make it thru. After all, made it thru 3 years.. so what's the final year? Haha. Oops, gtg.. Anyway, wishing all my friends and loved ones a blessed and very prosperous new year ahead.. and may all yr dreams and wishes come true this year and for many years to come! God Bless!