Challenges

In life, challenges are bound to be around. it may be in studies, family, ministry, career and many many more. there are people who rise to the occassion and overcome like a champion, whereas some found themselves in the pit, and worse still choose not to stand up and continue to sink, ending up in misery and depression. When i think through this, i begin to ask myself, which one do i wanna choose to be? and what are the key factors of becoming a strong person?

after living my life for 23 years and 4 years being a christian, i learnt and realised that 2 factors leads to a victorious life: mindset and character.

mindset: a lot of people are wondering, why mindset? mindset translates to your attitude and actions. if you begin to think positively, even when tough times come,the positive thoughts will drive positive attitude and action.

character: your desire and constant stand to do the right things and not wanting to go down easily in defeat. There is a saying that goes: you may have the talent to go to the top, but it is the character that will sustain you.how true is this. i mean, you can be a top student today, but if you have a character issue, the tumbling down on the ground will be a hard one. i have seen top students because of character, have fallen from grace.no wonder the journey is ALWAYS more important than the destination. it is the JOURNEY that builds the character.

I must say i am not the most talented, but really where i am today, i am thankful to God in building me and also sending people in my life to see me grow n develop. of course i am not perfect and my character is still gorwing, but i must say it's a lot stronger than i was not a christian=D Praise the Lord.

At times i do feel for those who just stays down after a defeat or setback. All these people have got a great future and i know that if they choose to face it with courage and belief, they can come out n live a greater life!

SO to all people out there, if you r facing challenges, remember, have faith and belief that YOU can overcome it( we are called to be more than conquerors, Romans 8:37) and look at it as a chance to grow and develop your character!Dun give up just like that!

Let me end of this entry with 2 quotes:
1)what does not kill you can only makes you stronger!
2)A champion is someone who NEVER quits!
Jia you and enjoy growing up!

Update + word of thanks

FInally i have a chance to blog! after a long long while! been really busy in sch, training with TeamNUS and church. simply unbelievable. To be able to still keep on going till today is really by the grace and strength of God. I am thankful for God and the friends around me. the cell grp, the NUS chem people( teck hean, cheng yao, rachael, kar ling, huimin, agnes, seng wee, edwin, bridget, kee wei and others), TeamNUS cross country mates and also my sec sch friends. all of them have always been my driving force and inspration to keep on going. Not easy at times, especially when i get really tired.But i know with God and my friends supporting me, i know for sure i can only get stronger and keep on going.

Some updates from the long long "blog break"
1) I have been quite involved with races with TeamNUS, since my return to training. before my 1st race on 14th feb, suffered a morale drop due to lack of confidence and frustration with my progress (due to IHG soccer i think). have made a decision to fully focus on IVP and my studies n reduced my involvement with cg affairs. though it's gonna be a 2-3 yrs project to train n study, i believe that it will work out for me and gonna make it count, especially this is my LAST competitive HURRAH and what a chance n privilege to do it at varsity level(just 1 level below national level).

2) now staying in NUS hostel (king edward VII hall). so hopefully can better utilise time to study and train.

3)going for my next race on 7th Mar ( akira/swift x-country). Hoping for a good timing(looking at below 18 min 30 sec). the next step to edge closer to my personal best for x-country.

4) Recess week is now over, this is THE season for exams and intensity is building up by the day. every day is a build up to the finals. so needa stay focused for the "war" ahead. It all boils down on who's more focused n ready for the fight.

it's NOW or NEVER!

Thoughts!=D

I read this entry from someone's blog. Very powerful.
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Clearing a lost pathway. (This ain't th title. Story extracted from a book.)

I recently ventured into my front yard to trim back th vastly overgrown hedges. It was hot, muggy Gulf Coast day in th middle of August. (...) But nothing was going to stop me on this day - not even 100 degree heat with 100 percent humidity! I was on a Lewis an Clark expedition. They were commissioned by th government to find a passageway through th overgrown bush to our backyard.

Ever since we had purchased th house several months earlier, I had wondered why th original builders had not put in a sidewalk or path of some kind to link th front yard with th back. I talked to a carpenter about it and he agreed with me. Since th house sits on a sloping hillside, he told me that if I would clear away th overgrown bush and trim back th native azalea bushes, he would build a wooden stairway to connect th two yards.

I thought, Great!

I woke up early that Sunday morning in order to get a jump on th project before heat index hits its peak. By eight O'clock I was drenched in sweat. If Lewis and Clark had been trying to find a passage to th Gulf of Mexico instead of a path to th Pacific, I am pretty sure they would have died of heat exhaustion somewhere in th vicinity of my front yard.
By eleven O'clock great piles of branches, thorns and thistles had accumulated, but still no sight of th backyard. Then at two O'clock, my tree trimmer made a loud scrapping sound. Thinking I had bumped into a rock or a concrete marker of some kind, I pulled back more branches to investigate further. What I saw amazed me. There before me stood a brick retaining wall!

I began to cut frantically along th edges of th wall, and within an hour I uncovered an architecturally designed retaining wall that bordered th entire side yard of th house. By cutting back even more bush, I discovered my "PASSAGEWAY to th Pacific"! For lying hidden under that vegetative rubble was a brick stairway that led down into th backyard.This handsome, long forgotten brickwork has once again become what it was designed to be - a useful pathway that leads from one landscape to th next.-----This is exactly like A forgotten Blessing.

In Jeremiah 6:16 it says, "Thus says the Lord: 'Stand in the ways and see, and ask for th old paths where th good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls'(...)"

Many times we face situations where we wanted it our way. We search for help rather than looking into it ourselves. And at a certain point in life, where all seems to be going well, it happens; BANG! Like as if a heavy load drops out of no where bringing us to our limits. For centuries - people have struggle finding their way, usually of th question of "Why?" on our lips.We ask,Why is it so hard to walk in paths?Why does it take forever to realize a promise?Why did this happen to me? Why is life so miserable?

Genesis 25:22, (...) 'If all is well, why am I like this?'

Have you ever asked this question? "Lord, if all is well, why am I like this? If all is well, why do I still feel th pain of rejection? Why do I feel shame, insecurity and isolation? If all is well, why do I feel this gnawing emptiness and loneliness? If all is well, why am I like this?"Sub-consciously, we are actually block by expectations, our standards. "If all is well, why am I not good enough? If all is well, why don't I feel happiness? Why do I never EVER measure up? Why I ...?" We see that most of th times where we ask why, we've brought ourselves down to looking at things from our own perspective. It's ME, MINE, MY POINT OF VIEW! Everything's about me. It's just an emotional instability that we experience, an experience that is DIRECTLY LINKED TO OUR PAST.

Psalm 13:2,5
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have my sorrow in my heart? (...) But I trust in Your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in Your salvation.

Everyone experiences pain and hurts. Emotionally, mentally or be it physically; we've been through abuses in our past. Be it verbal abuse of just calling someone stupid, or be it th actions someone did; everyone been through hurt in one way or another.BUT, look at Psalm 13:5, it says "BUT I trust in Your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in Your salvation!" It begins in your heart, we got to choose and say 'GOD! I choose to trust YOU! YOU know what I'm going through! YOU know my pains and hurts! YOU know what's hidden! No one else knows, BUT YOU MY LORD! and GOD! now I'm clearing th bushes to find YOU! YOU are my pathway! GOD help me!'And through it all, we know God is there."I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5)God tells us th most valuable possession on earth is our hearts. It begins with th issues in our hearts. Choose to give your problems to God, or let it remain unknowingly hidden behind th bushes? 'Above all else, guard your heart' (Probverbs 4:23)Don't let go of a forgotten blessing, don't stop finding your pathway; Because,It is there. Help is around th corner! Start by clearing up your mess (bushes). And God's just a calling away. Pray!

One way we can do if we lost our spiritual appetite,"If I have lost my spiritual appetite, I open my Bible, repent of laziness, and then with anticipation seek to hear God's voice. I continue to read until something speaks to me! Usually it doesn't take long; as I continue He is always faithful to speak. Read and pray until I am saturated (with a Spirit of willingness to change from old and bad ways)."

Lastly, I end with this."God will not quench th dying ember, but would rather fan it back into flame."Trust in God. In His Unending love!
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As i read this post, God made me a more convicted person with the verse Jer 6:16, like all the more i need to be a cool-headed, calm n composed person, especially when it comes to making decisions n handling people n their issues. Jesus was someone that really personify composure, a cool head n calmness. As i am typing this, i just recalled a story: when He saw a lady prostitute about to be stoned by the religious leaders for adultery, Jesus stepped out n said this in John 8:7-8:
"He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her 1st."
I am like, my goodnes! How come Jesus was so composed, when a woman is about to be stoned? oh my goodness! i can't imagine myself me doing this, especially me being an aggressive fella. if i were to be in that situation, i would just shoot down the religious leaders! wow! wat composure n a cool head in Jesus! This shows 1 thing: if Jesus can do it, I can do it! though today I tried n struggled quite a bit, but it's a good start. probably i am not used to it. At least this is encouraging and i will, by the grace of God strive on to be a cool head n composed person!=D

n thinking abt the rest of the blog, it's also time to expand my mind n see things from God's perspective, coz tat's all it matters and as Heb 13:5 says HE will NEVER FORSAKE OR LEAVE US!


Something to think about: If you think u need a qualificattion to be a child of God, i wanna say this: God does not committ to talent n qualifications, but character n a heart that wanna follow Him. coz in Matt He has called us to Follow Him and HE will lead us into an exciting journey of faith n growth!=D

NO LONGER I, but CHRIST LIVES IN ME! I KNOW 2009 is gonna be a bumper year! JIA YOU TO ALL READERS!
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, ENJOY THE JOURNEY!=D

Resolutions for 2009

a lot of people say resolutions are just for fun. is it true?
I dun think so, especially this yr's a BIG, CRUCIAL year for me.
WHY?
1) My 1st full Year in NUS and ministry
2) crucial year in my personal growth in God
3)Big year to get my results right
4) A yr of character,fightback, faith n strength

so, i am looking forward to this new yr with loads of expectation for growth, results n fruitfulness!

so what am i looking for this 2009?

1) Greater intimacy with God by being more consistent in my prayer n reading of the word of God (no more excuses, esp next sem staying in hostel)

2) Higher capacity to keep my emotions in check by guarding my heart. when negative thoughts n emotions come, fill it with positive stuff with purpose n intent

3)Have a balance between hot-blooded aggression n cool-headed composure by slowing down when dealing with people, n do things with aggression n excellence.

4)better discipline and organisation in handling of things

5) stay balanced between God, studies, track n field training, friends n ministry

6) Closer friendship with cg mates n fairfield pple n of course also existing friends n being a blessing in their lives.

7) further growth of fairfield grp, in terms of number n quality

8) Greater capacity to serve God n CG

9) better financial management n completion of Building fund pledge

10) a tution assignment to help cover cost

11) a greater passion to win ppl for christ!

12) Greater desire to disciple n sheperd ppl

13) Constantly led by the Holy spirit n love of God

14)IF possible, obtain obtain a coaching license in football

15) Read more n extensively

Sounds like a lot, but really i dun wanna end 2009 as the same as 2008!

God as i lift these resolutions to you, Lord, u will organise n guide my steps. Lead me to greater growth, fruitfulness n strength for you glory n honour!=D

My good friends, i really hope we can work together to help fulfil each other's resolutions n keep other on track!=D

I REALLY DUN WANT ALL THESE RESOLUTIONS TO GO TO WASTE! ONE LIFE, ONE 2009 TO LIVE!

Updates

It has been a long long while since i last updated the blog. been busy with exams, singapore marathon and holiday in malaysia.

After a challenging battle in the exams front, finally could take some time off to prepare for my 1st ever full-marathon. was targetting for a 6 hr completion time, but did it in an unexpected timing of 4hr 50 mins. I thought it was pretty crazy and a big feat to do in sub 5 hrs esp it's the 1st time i am doing it. Really wanna thank God for this.=D

As i am typing this, i am now in my hometown with my mum, as we will be attending my cousin's wedding the next day(sat). looking back the past 3 weeks, have really been enjoying myself in terms of fun, relatives,shopping and food! I am really a very blessed man. Wanna thank God for such a wonderful time with my family and also all the shopping n food that my mum has paid for. Estimated amt spent: 700 to 800 ringgit( abt 350-400 sing dollars). new clothes(including 1 pink top), new slippers, new sandals, new shoes, a new watch and new sporting kit. what can i ask for? in addition, a tuition assginment coming in in 2009, what financial blessing i have received! what can i ask for from God? esp after giving an offering that i have never given before and being involved in building fund and serving Him?

of course in life, when there are good things, the not so good stuff will also come.fever last week, not so good NUS results(lower than my expectations). Looking at it, of course people will look at the not so good stuff. But i still wanna praise the Lord, as i knew it could have been worse and God has seen me through safely, especially in terms of my results.Fever have since recovered and back on track.

Looking back for the whole year, I do admit i have made mistakes along the way, in terms of time management, handling of relationships, carrying of image etc, but i am looking forward to 2009, reason being, it's a new start and i know it WILL and CAN ONLY get better!=D All the more, i still wanna serve God better and serve the fairfield guys n the cg better, loving people more and at the same time, studying n scoring better results, getting fitter for IHG soccer and be part of races with NUS X-country. OF course i can never forget n forsake time with the Lord, especially now being in hostel, no more excuses!wanna be more intimate with the Lord. In 2009, i also hope to improve myself in terms of seeing things in a bigger picture, living a balanced lifestyle and expansion of my mind and heart.=D

Things to do after holidays:
1) sort out hostel stuff
2) bid for my modules
3)get my textbooks
4)read n prepare for the modules involved
5)pray myself up for the new sem n year


Targets for 2009? next entry

meanwhile, happy holidays n have a blessed new yr ahead! jia you!=D

Thoughts of the past week and asia conference

one word: WOW!

1st asia conference and i'm blown away! though missed out tonight's finale and thu, i went for the rest! I mean, wat a waste if i didn't go! there's a lot of things i expereinced and most importantly,God refreshed me for greater things to come through Benny Hinn's session!
Lots of things i have learnt and received great impartation from the speakers, especially Dr. A.R. Bernard, Benny Hinn and Pastor Kong.

Indeed what Kee liang mentioned in the blog is so true, why be so cropped up with studies? To some may think: if i were to go to asia conference means less time for studies. Which is so not true. I mean as i am resting from my final preparations for tmr's CM 1101 paper, i realised tat i can concentrate better after going for the past 2 days of asia conference. Can do it with a less tense pace and doing it with the holy spirit really charges n refreshes me.

Calculus paper was yesterday, though i admit i am not too optimistic abt the result, but i pray that God will do a miracle to at least see me get a pass grade.I admit my preparations for calculus weren't the best, esp sickness struck me the past week, means less time for studying but in spite of it, i did what i could and even went for asia conference. I pray that God will see my heart n pull me through.

Based on what i have received from God through the conference, there are a few things i wanna set myself right once again:
1)Be more active my walk with God. Dec will be a crucial month as i am gonna pray n read the Word on a consistent basis.(especially).Wanna go in to the new yr right with God and doing more for Him.
2) gonna be more faithful in serving Kee Liang. Realised that I am at the stage where i am serving another man's ministry. It's part of the journey for me being a cgl. It's a price to pay.
3)Start to read up more things that is beyond christianity n sports. God spoke and asked me, why not u begin to read up more to expand my scope of knowledge? dun be so confined with just the things i am doing now. No harm knowing more.
4)BE MORE DISCIPLINED! esp in the mind, gotta bring it to the obedience of Christ.
5)Start to step out of my comfort zone more to engage the market place with spiritual insulation!
6)Be more organised in the way I do things! BE EFFECTIVE!

Can't thing of more now, but the above 6 is more crucial than anything else.
Just as like what Huiyu said, Just admit i need God n let God lead the way.
God, i really need You, and since i rededicated my life to u once again, I dun wanna waste the anointing u place in my life and help me to be right with You once again. I dun wanna grow the fairfield grp by doing ministry, but really wanna grow the grp with God's leading and trusting You more.

Recovery from illness

The past 3 days has been days of hardship in terms of difficulty for my body to cope with illness but great in terms of the amount of rest i have.
Unfortunately, friday was the day i got acute food poisoning and fever(some ppl say it's stomach flu). WHAT A TIME TO GET IT, ESP IS JUST BEFORE YOUR EXAMS WHEN WHAT YOU NEED MOST IS TIME TO STUDY!
So was spending time on sat and sun to fully recuperate from it and turned out it was to be a blessing. Really recovered from the sickness and the past exertions. It was good rest, really good rest and recovery.
Though revision was done in leisure pace, but i seem to enjoy studying more and somemore done in the presence of God, absoprtion and understanding is better. so really, revision is good to do it on leisure pace and do the best I can. I will let God do the rest.

Besides me doing my part to study and work hard, the rest are out of my hands, By God's hands, mercy and grace I will do well(4.5 CAP).God, i am depending on you as i continue to pray, seek Your face n study.=D

Asia conference is coming up, so for sure i will be there, esp for the sat session with benny Hinn. I pray and believe I can receive God's impartation from Him.=D

More on Asia Conference as i go for the sessions, but i really believe my life will be transformed through this conference. God touch me! God transform my heart for Your Glory!=D