it is ReaLLi not ez to grow up... =o) I say this not philosophically but as a thinking person - true to her feelings & expressive wif her thots.
Sincerely, if I have a choice, I rather not grow up.
Ha, you must think that I am such a parasite.
=p there r many responsibilities - responsibility as a person, a worker, a daughter/son, a friend/girlfriend/boyfriend, as a mentor (to the younger ones), as a worker (where company politics is unavoidable and performance is regularly tracked), as a citizen, etc.
Sometimes I do wonder, having grown up/ growing up, do human beings become better or worse ?
I thank God and my parents. Am quite sensible. I do not easily lose direction/ myself (as in changing to suit the society/ having no character...) as my personality is such that I analyse. I will not change anyhow/ for any people/ for $money sake/ for fitting in to a group of people. I change for sincere reasons, especially when I know I am hurting people and myself.
[could also be my weakness; I used to evaluate always- too often. Now, I don't think so much.]
I am thankful that I have recognised and acknowledged that I need to grow up. Need to learn to change from being petty to generous; being too dependent to being independent; change to be a more loving person (as my family does not show love outwardly); change to be more accepting (my family does not express agreement/ words of affirmation- rather critical); learn to be bold and make firm decisions, etc.
It was tough, especially when nobody pointed out my weaknesses/ areas require change before I turned 20. (it's easier to change when one is young...)
I also thank God tat I have time and opportunities to be lazy. Haha, no sense of urgency. However, I need to do otherwise from now on. No more wasting of time.
It's definitely time to grow up.
The sense of urgency finally kicked in end of last year.......up to this year, now still.
It's perhaps the most painful process - i.e. to exercise discipline and enforce change.
Usual practices have to go; usual habits have to kick; usual thought patterns have to change - basically it takes effort and consciousness to no longer be the same.
I learnt that I want to be successful as a person - in terms of doing what I like and also responsible to my family.
It is v.tough as I do not want to be 'burdened' by my family - who is overprotective and very longwinded; sometimes too timid.
They don't encourage entrepreneurship; they don't encourage openness in sharing.....they like to be themselves (cannot be inflexible to accepting others/ other options).
I thank God, really, as He has given me many opportunities to change; given me Strength to change; given me joy to be in my family - how much God did bring changes & allowed a TurnAround in our communication & focus & miraculously -quality time together [even in extended family]. They don't believe/ acknowledge God really turned things around way back in 1996 till now. Aunt Rachel had really persevered i praying.
=0) That's all for now. I am going to rest, read, enjoy some music and sleepppzzzzzz.
Saturday, June 30
Friday, June 22
Day 0 --> 1st Nite in Taipei, Taiwan
My frenz - Julie, Ivy (J's sista) and Winnie would be my companions for the next 5 days (14 to 19 June 2007).
It was such an amazingly blessed trip filled wif gd foods and wonderful experiences wif my frens tat I must blog it.
Dun usually take time to blog everythg - tedious. But, I must blog tis time and, try to blog it chronoLogically >> (my) blog goes by most recent entries u see). We had gd food, quality lodging (worth the $ value & excellent locations -somehow God knew our travelling itinerary ahead and our online hotel bookings matched it acc'dgly ! =p ), made acquaintances wif cab drivers (who willingly gave gd info.), enjoyed appropriate-timely weather, gd company (one another, without argument! Yyeah)
and saw the big, pretty rainbow ! Yes, it's a v.fulfilling-blessed trip, even tho' we eventually didn't manage to go to Hualian, we had many gd experiences in the other spots and thus I recorded here.
{S'pore to Taipei - Thu 14 June 2007}
1040am arrived in Changi Aiport, Terminal One S'pore
1140am went into the Departure Hall.
Bought some food (hungry !) and cosmetics travel set for mum.
1158am boarded the Jetstar flight
[wat a hassle to put all bottles wif >100ml liquid in plastic bags !]
------------------------------- OFF to TAIPEI ! -----------------------------------
Finally, we endured 4plus hrs in the Jetstar plane - plane's seatsRquite cramped =p.
Haha. =>
Winnie and i were vvvvvvv excited to be on holiday, and we were really overjoyed coz we met my fren (XianHua) at the Taipei airport - wif her frens.
Can you imagine ? Meeting a fren overseas, after alighting from the plane and going in the same direction to Taipei city area !!! It was so thrilling to see her over in Taiwan International Airport and we had a gd time in the cab....u shall see why (read on).
Yea, we (XianHua & her 2 frens) shared the cab to downtown Taipei. And on the journey, we chatted wif the cab driver. Mr Xie. He willingly shared abt the places we shd go/ shd not go, and local foods to try. It's especially useful since we were doing a Free & Easy holiday, our first time in Taipei. He also gave gd directions.
Our new frens (3 frens) alighted at Xi (1) Men (2) Ding (2) area (their hotel is Rainbow Hotel - not bad coz it's right smacked in the middle of the XMD nite mkt!).
We arrived at our hotel - Cosmos Hotel safely and in gd timing.
Cosmos Hotel is a three-star hotel, but its location is excellent and quality superb (for the price$ we paid).
Located right in the middle of the Taipei Train Station area, where we cld take the Jie (2) Yun (4) public transport (MTR) to different spots and towns further away - if we took the Train.
We also were thankful that we would just need to walk down 100m to the underground mall. The best thing is that we could check out at the Taipei Main Train Station if we could get four tickets to Hualian (coz we failed to secure the tour package to Hualian fr. the Taipei tour operator) early morning the next day. Thk you brother Ash !!!
After unpacking, we freshened up and went out for a bite. Our other two travelling companions - Julie and sista Ivy had yet arrive. Their flight was delayed and thus we arrived earlier ha.
They took the EVA plane and alighted at Chung Cheng Taipei International Airport Terminal 2.
Ours is Terminal One, Chiang Kek Sek International Airport (same place; different names - actually it's just two different terminals haaha....it's such a boo-boo, as we wld later realise, that we were actually able to be together - coz it's the same airport).
Anyways, back to our food pursuit. After putting down our luggage, we went out to find food. Before Julie and Ivy arrive.
We found the underground mall (beneath the Taipei MTR station) - thank you Sharon !
and walked around. Found & ate the famous "Mister Donut" chain (yummy ! soft and crispy - just nice). They have so many flavours -> from choco to strawberry to soya to cream to salted, etc.....(unlike S'pore's donut outlets -hahahaaa) - I ordered the original, Angel Cream and soya; Winnie ordered chocolate & green tea 'nuggets'.
While waiting for Julie and Ivy, we found Mister Donut
Thursday, June 21
yest. was Day 0 & today is officially 1st day - full day -we in Taipei
15 June The weather's great wif breeze !!!!!!
We got up early and had yummy bread (it's moi...=p the rest had Tea Egg and Sushi rolls bought @7-11).
It was going to be a great day of shopping and YumCha-ing (for Julie's fren - JoyCe) ... coz we planned to go to Wu(3) Fen(4) Pu(3) - wholesale mkt in the morning (coz we wana noe wat's the price for the clothes, bags, shoes & such) before we started shopping elsewhere. Haa, we heard lotsa abt it (thk you Sharon !) before we even stepped onto Taipei land........the Taiwanese r very innovative & hv lotsa Japanese influence in their fashion. V. Jap-inclined.
Many bypassers (whom we asked for directions & chatted with) were polite & friendly. 3-stars for their helpfulness. =p
We started off feeling disappointed coz Wu Fen Pu was yet opened.....nobody was ard. Thus we left and went to Zhongxiao Dunhua + gotta get to see Joyce :Julie's fren - whom she had not seen in abt 3-4yrs (she's Taiwanese). She brought us to Ding (3) Tai (4) Feng (1) and it was surprisingly vvvvvvv.delicious (fresher ingredients and smehow the flavor is different) & their service was superb [their toilets hv indiv. special flushing system and 'noise-deflector' item if you r doing the 'big biz']. Ding Tai Feng in S'pore not as gd.
We enjoyed a long lunch & bought umbrellas (coz 2 of us didn't bring) !
=0) It rained, but nevertheless we had gd fun wif one another & nice foods & window-shopping along the way....................a long day walkin'; after an hr or so, we went bck to Wu Fen Pu (wholesale mkt) for the *real* shopping. By now, all the shops were open & bustling wif activity ! Yes... many 'gd-taste' /well-heeled shoppers come here too...there's so much to see, lotsa designs & patterns... The alleys are not dark, quite airy (there's much breeze today !!!) and much more space than tat in Bangkok (Chatuchak). Thumbs Up from me ! I bargained for the best price tat I cld get for the shoes I liked (haha, a 'cow-skin' ballet pumps) and also a few blouses.
Tink we spent just 2plus hrs there......then we took the MTR back to the city area. Met Julie at Tapiei 101 bldg and walked ard -in search of a gd makan place ! Somebody's Special Day =p. We celebrated Winnie's birthday in a gd, reasonably priced Italian restaurant (we were exhausted by then).
The head waitress (motherly and polite) graciously granted us a table wif comfy seats, we were chucked in a corner ~ able to relax and chat over dinner. { =>plus take many pics ! } We ordered pizza, soft shell crab wif soba, salmon fettucini, lasagne and salad+soups... The good service coupled wif freshly baked pasta & pizza really granted us joy joy joy. WINNIE, HOPE YOU WERE GREATLY BLESSED ! She was smiLing a lot...
Oya, after the dinner, we saw a Taiwanese guy buskering outside the grand dept. outlets - he looks like Cao Ge (Taiwan singer) and sang quite well. We sat down for a while and enjoyed the breeze, nitey stars as he serenaded us wif his songs. He had another 2-3 frens who sang later, but we walked off and went ard for sightseeing and late nite shopping ha. Bday gal Winnie bought a beautiful pair of shorts + belt.
Cheers !
16th June 2nd Day. Sat
Ha, our Ms "Perseverance Princess" is birthed.
We didn't noe how persevering Winnie can be till we went about wat we did today... Yups. {i was a bit unwell yet she cld persuade me to go on n on, that's how persevering she is !}
We went to Bei Tou via MTR aka the jie (2) yun (4); in S'pore known as MRT - did I mention this already ?
Bei Tou has two portions > one is the old area - called Bei Tou; whereas another portion is called Xin Bei Tou (newer and more commercialised?). It's famous for hotsprings and lotsa locals DO NOT come here. Haha. they go to Shi (1) Pai (2).
Anyways, we could not bother, as we were already in Xin Bei Tou and were quite happy just to go somewhere nearby for the hotspring experience !
It's a must since we are in Taiwan.
But the weather was said not to be suitable for a hot dip. The locals gave us a weird look. Yups.....
We found out there were mnany hotsprings within hotels, and shortlisted a few places after talking to the MTR staff.
There was a shuttle bus gg to the SPRING CITY HOTEL - with hotspring and thus we waited.
It was quite a short 5mins' wait yet we wondered several times - why isn't the bus coming ?
Ha.
We finally boarded the bus and were on our way to SPRING CITY HOTEL. But upon reaching, we were disappointed that they could not allow us to use different varieties of the hotspring pools at a reasonable price (would be more than NT 800 if we wanted so).
THUS, we left SPRING CITY and embarked on a 'search'. Yes, literally a search, down the hill (SpRING City was on the hill top - must be the more expensive one) and went on and on.....coz all of us - except Winnie, felt maybe there was no good place for hotspring after being challenged by the heat.
Nevertheless, Winnie led us on with enthusiasm and we finally found a place called Shui (3) Du (1) that could let us use several pools at NT 499 - with lockers and towels.
It was a good experience tis afternoon, and tho' there were many pple initially, there was NONE when we finally went into the pools (after our tea break - sipping tea and having thick toasts) > haha, God's divine timing for us, YEAH !
Julie and Winnie were so glad and refreshed that you cld see the glow on their faces. And yups, Win is planning to go for another one on the last day...
After the hot dip, we changed and went back to the City. [Oooppss, did we go Bei Tou and later Dan Shui ? actually as I am writing this, I am lost in the chronological order.]
So here it is (shd be accurately accounted here) ...
We proceeded to Dan Shui via MTR. It was a good ride. We enjoyed the ride to the end of the MRT line, chatting and also enjoying the scenery. It was the long weekend for the Taiwanese (Dumpling Festival/Dragon Boat Fest.) and the train was packed wif commuters.
*****
Dan Shui's famous for street stalls and also near to the Fisherman Wharf and Bali. Lotsa food and stuff to see. There were plenty of pple sitting by the benches just outside the Dan Shui MTR station. Much of the activities going on were craft-selling by the locals and caricature-drawing (jia lat, can't spell).
The weather was superb. We had reached ard evening time and there was a cool breeze. Lotsa food smells made it extremely tempting as we walked along. We were determined to stay focused [=p tho' sista Ivy ate lotsa of hua (1) zhi (1) wan (2), aka sotong balls (fried)] and eat only the famous foods (you see, as we chatted, we were told, hv to try the kong (3) que (4) ha (2) aka mussels and yam balls & Ah Gek (toufu stuffed wif beehoon).
To be honest, we dunno where to find all the delicious foods and famous local stuff. Just walked, walked, walked, bought and munched, tasted the different sorts together.
The first was hua zhi wan; followed by quail eggs (yummY !) and then Chou Toufu (smelly beancurd). Really yucky. Really.
ALL 4 of US agreed that we have had such bad experience wif the Chou Toufu that we frantically looked for something to get rid of the 'drain' smell lingering in our mouths thereafter, immediately.
Smelly Toufu is SUPPOSED to smell realli bad BUt taste heavenly. Guess wat ? the one which we bought DID NOT smell bad at all, BUT taste really yucky !!!!!!!!!
Gosh, after which, we all did not hv the courage to try smelly toufu which we saw along the way (even tho' the stall owners were v. persuasive in marketing their toufu).
Some more fried chicken nibblets for my frens.....and then we saw the 'magically tall' ice-cream (urgh, wish I knew how to post my pics now !) and had a go at it.
The queue was quite long, however, the servers worked hard and focused at 'churning' out numerous cones of 'magically tall ice-cream'. Ha, it was not tasty at all, tho' a sight to behold.
There was not much ice-cream flavour/taste at all. *Zilch* =P 'looks-nice-but-dun-taste-gd-at-all' item...
The best part is where we walked to a portion of the street, not knowing where else to go...and moi, yes - the greedy me said, "I am hungry, I need some rice ! Rice, not junky food or snacks !"
So, I pointed to the MacDonalds outlet just above my eye-level & said, let me go and buy a fillet burger. Ha, never tot that we would hv stumbled upon a reasonably gd and cheap seafood restaurant ! (it's just below the Macs) and upon my fren's Winnie's suggestion, we all went in [i forsaken my macs]
The restaurant was packed (forgot the name) and the mussels was a favorite dish among all the diners. We waited just a while and got a table -Yippee ! Food is on the way ! They ordered mussels, clams clear soup, fried rice (for moi) and kang kong. The three of them persuaded me to try the mussels and clams clear soup as well.
Tho' I did not comment much at the pt in time, I wana write here that the two dishes were rEALLY Gooddddddd. So fresh that I believe there's no fresher one that cld be found. Ivy said chirpily that she just felt like singing after eating the mussels ! haaaaaa. Yummy yummy, wished u were there rite ?
Thereafter, the four 'hungry ghosts' were so satisfied that we just walked on with renewed enthusiasm.
We also went for the boat ride to Bali (the queue was SSupppeeerrrr-super-long) Haaaaa, tis another story to tell...anyway, we managed to get into a conversation wif the boat assistant and managed to queue in a shorter queue and got onto the boat within 10mins. (The whole trip's really blessed lah)
Bali - read as Ba (1) Li (3) was just across Dan Shui and the nite was v cool as the breeze never stopped. We alighted and took a stroll along the promenade.....really gd after the dinner, coz after the stroll, we took the boat back to Dan Shui and ate MORE MORe more....haha, Ah Gek (not so fantastic) and shopped, shopped (they bought the 'tie (3) dan (4)' aka iron eggs and took pics wif the famous lady [best tie dan owner]. We walked on, and had beancurd wif yam balls much later in the nite. HAaaaaaa calories, late into the nite....fats.
O yes, we returned to the Taipei city area and went to another nite mkt ! We all became nite owls......
3rd Day in Taipei ! and....4th day
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17 June Sun.
zzzzzZzz we 4 gals are lacking in sleepppp haha. Gone to many places in 2.5days. Today's the day we rested more, as in went about sightseeing at a slightly slower pace. After all, we went to so many places in the last 3 nites and 2 days, incl. last nite's Xi (1) Men (2) Ding (1) (nite mkt).
We went to Yong Kang Jie (1) - a famous food street (lotsa local stuff and ice dessert).
The clouds over us pose an imminent threat. However, nothing cld dampen our spirits. We took the gong(1) che (1) aka public bus for the 1st time !
It took us somewhere near enuff to walk on foot to the Yong Kang Jie. There were many little cake shops along the way (incl. a yummy-looking; contemporary confectionery shop selling a variety of dumplings for the ongoing Dumpling Festival) but we stuck to our focus - noodles and desserts @Yong Ka Street.
It was not a letdown. Many tourists were seen going into different outlets - fr. local noodles; meat buns; intestines' snacks to soya bean to pearl tea & ice desserts... We managed to find a gd beef noodles place - XXX Dao (1) Xiao (1) Mian (4) [cannot rem the shop name now] selling a local chef's skill in using a big knife for cutting out noodles.
The chef - boss shared many gd eating places which we can go to and talked about his city; we chatted quite a bit. He even volunteered to bring us ard if we require his company. Ha. The noodles wif beef which he cooked are really nice. We finished everything and left none in the bowls. His mother also prepared many little dishes (sides like pig's ears, sea urchin/seaweed strips and salted eggs w tofu). Oishiidesu. He is quite young ! Not handsome but v. photogenic ha (sorry, no pic).
=p
We did some shopping in the area - boutique /niche shops (i bought a nice peachy-grey pair of shoes -supposedly imported fr Japan) and then quickly walked off to go to the MTR station......We wanted to go to the CHUNG CHENG JI NIAN TANG [their National Museum].
We went XI MEN DING nite mktafter tat (just when it's abt to rain, we got into a cab !
At Xi Men Ding, we went for dinner....searching for the famous Oyster Mee Sua (Ah Zhong Mian Xian). There were many kind souls who directed us (not to mention the taxi driver who shared wif us his story of how he lost US$200,000 and NT$2 /3billion together wif 5 other frens). Can't rem the figure.
Anyways, back to our Ah Zhong Mian Xian - aiya, havn't uploaded any pics, there were SO MANY,many pple eating it that the queue was just a sight to behold. Pple (incl. us) just ordered and stood near the shop area and started eating (or rather gobbling down).
Cannot really say if it's nice / delicious.....but the 'atmosphere' was unique, an eating experience so different. Everybdy just stood there and ate, happily. As if eating something that is precious. My verdict - ok, worth the search and mee sua quite comfy to gobble down. haha
After trying the Oyster Mee Sua, we went ard more leisurely, just shopping and window-shopping. Arghhhhh and this was when I bought my 1st wrong buy --> a blouse at NT 800 (abt S$40) - bought it after successfully bargaining it down from NT 1280. Why wrong buy, coz i felt the blouse ,must hv been priced higher... material cld hv been better ?!
Anyways, nevermind. My frens bought shoes and I just looked on......coz I wana save to go to the wholesale mkt - Wu (3) Fen (4) Pu (3) again.
Haha, there were so many shops to go to in Taipei that I just told myself tat it's impossible to buy everythg that nice's anyway. =0)
We had a gd time today once again, coz the nite scene is so vibrant n there were so many things to see n makan...heeeeee. Really need to detox tonite !
7-Eleven is an outlet wif lotsa local beverages & snacks as well. Winnie & Ivy love it ! And ya, Ivy ate the fried chicken nuggets ----- her favorite !
bck to hotel to zzzZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
{ more wld come tmr ! }
4th DAY.............
Wednesday, June 20
4th day...
Today is 18th June. Yipppeee, we were feeling great, even tho' it drizzled in the morning. [i really shd explore putting pictures in my blog to allow more pple to enjoy the description wif pictures/ vivid images to express Joy of the trip....hahaa] {exploring...}
{and i am attempting to write for each day of tis v.blessed trip =p}
We woke up early (ha, earlier then yest.) and embarked on my trip to Jiu Fen.
It is one of the last highlights for our trip as it was told to be in a mountainous area and we wld be able to drink tea on the mountaintop.
(ride wld be approx. 3.5hrs to & fro)
Thank God, we got on a cab and got to the CoRRect Bus-stop to catch the Gong {1} Che {2} aka public bus - the CoRRect one to Jiu Fen [further away from the city].
It's the best way to travel, coz it's cheap. =p
Rem., we are on budget. The scenery along the way is nothing to shout abt, but we enjoyed, and chatted.
Upon reaching Jiu Fen (drizzled), we took in the beautiful scenery instantly. Note, it was the Taiwan's Dumpling Fest.'s long weekend hols, so we were "joined in" by crowds, everywhere.
The beauty of Jiu Fen is the small streets, filled wif goodies, foodstuffs, novelties, souvenir shops and etc etc.
Hee, the four of us still have the bad experience of "Chou Toufu" and thus did not try again {tho' I did ask them to !}
We walked down the streets, amazed once again by the variety of foods and looked out for the "famous Xiao Chi" which we hv yet tried.
Once again, Winnie demonstrated perseverance. We were there to try two foods (i) yam balls and (ii) tea -.
Thank you Kar Yen for sharing the " Tian Kong Zi Cheng " - beri gd place to drink tea " high up in the air ". IT'S REALLY ReALLY WORTH IT !!! We had a great time of relaxation and trying to not relax is so difficult hahaaa (dun envy !). The air's really fresh tooooo.
{I took a shot of the sky - almost like a rare scene -aka sun rays shooting out of clouds}
Try imagining it first..... before I figure how to post my pictures here. =p
We bought lotsa foods, the famous pineapple tarts (Julie & Ivy) and "pottery flute" (amazing sounds fr. a small-medium-sized "flute" made fr. clay - tao (2) ci (2)) Three of us bought, we cld start practising in the hotel rm later....hehe, Ivy wld sing and dance.
Guess what ?
The highlight was truly upon going down the hill, amidst the rain, walked and rested at the bus-stop, while waiting for the bus.
WE SAW a HUGE RAINBOW......
nope, it's not a dream.
IT'S a HUGE RAINBOW, shining across the sky, above the buildings, the moutains, just in front of our eyes. Yippeee.
Truly, a demonstration of God's love and blessing for us.
WINNIE, it's FOR U !
=0)
Cheers.
All the way down, we chatted - Julie and Winnie; Ivy and me.
We have different stuff to share abt our lives. Ivy, hope u are truly blessed !
On the stop of SongShan Train Station, Winnie was veri quick to ask us to get down the bus (another prompting fr. God.....which we have had often tru'-out tis trip).
We alighted as we wanted to go to the WU FEN PU once again, to help Winnie check wif the shop owner to change a "rod" for her bag's handle.
On the way, we bought some more valuable bargains fr. the shops (Watson's)... =0)
Yeah. Women have eye for bargains and speed to accomplish much.
We finally reached Wu Fen Pu after being distracted along the way. Ha, I found the shop which Winnie wanted amidst the shops ! Hee, they all really found it my 'talent' - which I agree. =0)
Intuition as well.
Julie, Ivy and I bought nice blouse and dress. We BARGAINED... yes, it's a must, as the Taiwanese shop owners have priced the clothing & stuff much higher. Bargaining is not ez whoa....need perseverance, right timing to speak e right words, and motivation. =0)
Anyways, yes, back to the "rod" much needed for Winnie's bag, the shop owner was willing to change !!!!!!! And he was so nice abt it ! AND, we REALISED FOUR OF US wld be LEAVING fr. the same Taiwanese International Airport after all (sigh, long story, wld share another time.....the Taiwanese politics are in play...watever). And, after leaving the shop owner, we ate Lu (3) Rou (4) Fan (4) - minced pork wif nice sauce and Taiwanese flavoured rice. Oink oink... it was delicious [despite Julie's fren had said on the 2nd day it isn't so nice], thks to Winnie's suggestion, we went ahead. Ha, we are greedy ones, wif much appetite to chomp on.
Finally, after dinner, we were no longer hungry pple walking ard. We cld visit another nite mkt tonite !
Again....ha, ?!
{and i am attempting to write
We woke up early (ha, earlier then yest.) and embarked on my trip to Jiu Fen.
It is one of the last highlights for our trip as it was told to be in a mountainous area and we wld be able to drink tea on the mountaintop.
(ride wld be approx. 3.5hrs to & fro)
Thank God, we got on a cab and got to the CoRRect Bus-stop to catch the Gong {1} Che {2} aka public bus - the CoRRect one to Jiu Fen [further away from the city].
It's the best way to travel, coz it's cheap. =p
Rem., we are on budget. The scenery along the way is nothing to shout abt, but we enjoyed, and chatted.
Upon reaching Jiu Fen (drizzled), we took in the beautiful scenery instantly. Note, it was the Taiwan's Dumpling Fest.'s long weekend hols, so we were "joined in" by crowds, everywhere.
The beauty of Jiu Fen is the small streets, filled wif goodies, foodstuffs, novelties, souvenir shops and etc etc.
Hee, the four of us still have the bad experience of "Chou Toufu" and thus did not try again {tho' I did ask them to !}
We walked down the streets, amazed once again by the variety of foods and looked out for the "famous Xiao Chi" which we hv yet tried.
Once again, Winnie demonstrated perseverance. We were there to try two foods (i) yam balls and (ii) tea -
Thank you Kar Yen for sharing the " Tian Kong Zi Cheng " - beri gd place to drink tea " high up in the air ". IT'S REALLY ReALLY WORTH IT !!! We had a great time of relaxation and trying to not relax is so difficult hahaaa (dun envy !). The air's really fresh tooooo.
{I took a shot of the sky - almost like a rare scene -aka sun rays shooting out of clouds}
Try imagining it first..... before I figure how to post my pictures here. =p
We bought lotsa foods, the famous pineapple tarts (Julie & Ivy) and "pottery flute" (amazing sounds fr. a small-medium-sized "flute" made fr. clay - tao (2) ci (2)) Three of us bought, we cld start practising in the hotel rm later....hehe, Ivy wld sing and dance.
Guess what ?
The highlight was truly upon going down the hill, amidst the rain, walked and rested at the bus-stop, while waiting for the bus.
WE SAW a HUGE RAINBOW......
nope, it's not a dream.
IT'S a HUGE RAINBOW, shining across the sky, above the buildings, the moutains, just in front of our eyes. Yippeee.
Truly, a demonstration of God's love and blessing for us.
WINNIE, it's FOR U !
=0)
Cheers.
All the way down, we chatted - Julie and Winnie; Ivy and me.
We have different stuff to share abt our lives. Ivy, hope u are truly blessed !
On the stop of SongShan Train Station, Winnie was veri quick to ask us to get down the bus (another prompting fr. God.....which we have had often tru'-out tis trip).
We alighted as we wanted to go to the WU FEN PU once again, to help Winnie check wif the shop owner to change a "rod" for her bag's handle.
On the way, we bought some more valuable bargains fr. the shops (Watson's)... =0)
Yeah. Women have eye for bargains and speed to accomplish much.
We finally reached Wu Fen Pu after being distracted along the way. Ha, I found the shop which Winnie wanted amidst the shops ! Hee, they all really found it my 'talent' - which I agree. =0)
Intuition as well.
Julie, Ivy and I bought nice blouse and dress. We BARGAINED... yes, it's a must, as the Taiwanese shop owners have priced the clothing & stuff much higher. Bargaining is not ez whoa....need perseverance, right timing to speak e right words, and motivation. =0)
Anyways, yes, back to the "rod" much needed for Winnie's bag, the shop owner was willing to change !!!!!!! And he was so nice abt it ! AND, we REALISED FOUR OF US wld be LEAVING fr. the same Taiwanese International Airport after all (sigh, long story, wld share another time.....the Taiwanese politics are in play...watever). And, after leaving the shop owner, we ate Lu (3) Rou (4) Fan (4) - minced pork wif nice sauce and Taiwanese flavoured rice. Oink oink... it was delicious [despite Julie's fren had said on the 2nd day it isn't so nice], thks to Winnie's suggestion, we went ahead. Ha, we are greedy ones, wif much appetite to chomp on.
Finally, after dinner, we were no longer hungry pple walking ard. We cld visit another nite mkt tonite !
Again....ha, ?!
Fifth Day in Taipei
today is 19th June... our last day in Taipei !
Couldn't, just couln't help but feel so blessed tis trip, there were so much to eat and see and enjoy these few days.
(haha, even tho' at the back of mind is work, bck to S'pore, bck to work)
The people whom we met mostly shared accurate information with rgds to how to get to the places and which are the more interesting ones & places worth going.
Upon leaving the hotel, we just feel so fulfilled, all the way to the Airport. Ha, forgot to say how "sa-lah" my frens and I were, landed at the same Airport yet took different routes to the 1st hotel the first day.
Anyways, it shows how blessed we really are, bck to the first day's entry (if you would like to recall).
{o ya, yipee, managed to share abt Jesus to Ivy ! Praise God. Am going to pray for her and the valet-parking lady}
** On the plane **
Jetstar.......not exactly a nice plane journey wif the limited seat-space and narrow aisles. Ha, however, we were so overwhelmed wif joy that we just smiled all the way. And, also slept.Zzzzzzz.
There's no food given FOC (as mentioned =p) during the journey, and we paid for tis return trip. Yupz, $8 and $10 for a chicken foccacia and Hainanese chicken rices respectively......
It was becoz we were hungry ! ha, thus we ordered.
Reaching Singapore is a gd feelin'.
Home Sweet Home.
Thursday, June 7
Salsa---something fun & energetic
Something my colleague recommends - Salsa !
www.two-leftfeet.com
Something i found on the website: this article ! =p
SALSA: The Equivalent of a Relationship
Contributed by Kelvin (Yee)
The Leader
The dance lead must be clear, firm and consistent, and executed at the right time. Similarly, we don’t want the gal to get the wrong hint in a relationship. A good leader listens to suggestion and advice from his partner too. As always, the leader is responsible for everything that happens, good or bad; although sometimes, there are exceptions. Very important, the leader has to be right beside her when she is falling. In the dance, he can dip her to cover up her mistake (or it could be his mistake, throwing her off).
The Follower
Like in a salsa dance, the guy being the leader does not mean he is superior to the lady. He takes the lead, the lady helps/complements by following well. But as soon as she realizes he is about to make a fatal mistake (like cross lead turning her into the wall), it is time she puts her foot down. A good follower, just like a good wife or girlfriend, helps to cover up the leader’s mistakes on the dance floor/in public. She does not stop the dance/intervene the husband in front of his friends immediately, but gives comments and corrections in private.
The Learning Process
The learning process is as long as you keep dancing, and similarly, as long as a couple stays in a relationship. This is because, people change when he/she makes new friends, changes job, changes school, etc. Similarly, our dance partner tries out new moves, new styling, and even their tension changes from time to time; especially when he/she tries out another school, or dances with many different partners. So we must continually adapt to these changes. In the beginning you've got to take it real slow, so you two can face changes and deal with them better. Just like if you spent a longer time in your salsa basics, next time when you learn new difficult moves, it will be easier and faster.
Controlling Emotions
During a dance, sometimes when we let our emotions run wild (maybe due to the music or a bad day at work), we end up leading off-beat or too rough. In a love life, it is also like that. We start behaving “off”, rough with our words and actions, saying the right things at the wrong time (in parallel to being off-beat in a dance).
Moving On
After polishing your lead/dance, if many dancers say you’re doing much better now, and she is still the only one who disagrees, then you can skip asking her for a dance. Probably she is biased in her own mind, or has some problems with her own dancing. So go dance with other better dancers who appreciates your effort and are still willing to give you feedback and comments. In a boy-gal friend relationship, it is the same - some couples are just not meant to stay together. Move on. So be very careful when you commit to a marriage.
www.two-leftfeet.com
Something i found on the website: this article ! =p
SALSA: The Equivalent of a Relationship
Contributed by Kelvin (Yee)
The Leader
The dance lead must be clear, firm and consistent, and executed at the right time. Similarly, we don’t want the gal to get the wrong hint in a relationship. A good leader listens to suggestion and advice from his partner too. As always, the leader is responsible for everything that happens, good or bad; although sometimes, there are exceptions. Very important, the leader has to be right beside her when she is falling. In the dance, he can dip her to cover up her mistake (or it could be his mistake, throwing her off).
The Follower
Like in a salsa dance, the guy being the leader does not mean he is superior to the lady. He takes the lead, the lady helps/complements by following well. But as soon as she realizes he is about to make a fatal mistake (like cross lead turning her into the wall), it is time she puts her foot down. A good follower, just like a good wife or girlfriend, helps to cover up the leader’s mistakes on the dance floor/in public. She does not stop the dance/intervene the husband in front of his friends immediately, but gives comments and corrections in private.
The Learning Process
The learning process is as long as you keep dancing, and similarly, as long as a couple stays in a relationship. This is because, people change when he/she makes new friends, changes job, changes school, etc. Similarly, our dance partner tries out new moves, new styling, and even their tension changes from time to time; especially when he/she tries out another school, or dances with many different partners. So we must continually adapt to these changes. In the beginning you've got to take it real slow, so you two can face changes and deal with them better. Just like if you spent a longer time in your salsa basics, next time when you learn new difficult moves, it will be easier and faster.
Controlling Emotions
During a dance, sometimes when we let our emotions run wild (maybe due to the music or a bad day at work), we end up leading off-beat or too rough. In a love life, it is also like that. We start behaving “off”, rough with our words and actions, saying the right things at the wrong time (in parallel to being off-beat in a dance).
Moving On
After polishing your lead/dance, if many dancers say you’re doing much better now, and she is still the only one who disagrees, then you can skip asking her for a dance. Probably she is biased in her own mind, or has some problems with her own dancing. So go dance with other better dancers who appreciates your effort and are still willing to give you feedback and comments. In a boy-gal friend relationship, it is the same - some couples are just not meant to stay together. Move on. So be very careful when you commit to a marriage.
need to work hardddddddd ! => how hard ?
finally it's Lunch time !
=0)
yummy yummy, i am lazy and greedy bum these days......
wat shd i eat ?
thinking of chicken kebabs wif pandan rice, naan (cheese !) or some savory pastry/chi-ken pie........
Jia Lat, so fattening, yups, I am putting on weight.
=p
My work is actually quite a pilesome these days and routine paperwork stifles me. That is why i had felt stressed.....coz it's not so-me to do all the paperwork, for every case !
The main joy I hv now is not to tink abt work, but appreciate the processes at work, tat mould my character !!!
=0) Tata
=0)
yummy yummy, i am lazy and greedy bum these days......
wat shd i eat ?
thinking of chicken kebabs wif pandan rice, naan (cheese !) or some savory pastry/chi-ken pie........
Jia Lat, so fattening, yups, I am putting on weight.
=p
My work is actually quite a pilesome these days and routine paperwork stifles me. That is why i had felt stressed.....coz it's not so-me to do all the paperwork, for every case !
The main joy I hv now is not to tink abt work, but appreciate the processes at work, tat mould my character !!!
=0) Tata
two totaaly different stufff...
Haaa
i have many things to write about....
cannot really log in everyday to write in tis online journal liaoz. =0)
#1 today's weather is excellent....lovely clouds, the sky is clear, and sun is warm - not scorching ! Basically, a good day to be at the beach (ha, so lazy hor).
Been talking to my family - brother and mum more.....thus it's good !
Anyways, am gg for my holiday next week, counting down 8 days. Yippee !!!!!!!!!!
#2
i shall call my fren Cheeky Monkey
Hmmm .......tat guy got no further reply for me when i tested hIm so I am tinking of letting go for good. Haha, even if I like him, no point. Unless he is willing to commit. Becoz, it's difficult for a lady to keep thinking if the guy likes her or not. THE TRUTH. Yups, need to hear the truth. Though the truth can be harsh, it is necessary.
... he may have decided and just dragging on for my attention and companion-sake....
i have many things to write about....
cannot really log in everyday to write in tis online journal liaoz. =0)
#1 today's weather is excellent....lovely clouds, the sky is clear, and sun is warm - not scorching ! Basically, a good day to be at the beach (ha, so lazy hor).
Been talking to my family - brother and mum more.....thus it's good !
Anyways, am gg for my holiday next week, counting down 8 days. Yippee !!!!!!!!!!
#2
i shall call my fren Cheeky Monkey
Hmmm .......tat guy got no further reply for me when i tested hIm so I am tinking of letting go for good. Haha, even if I like him, no point. Unless he is willing to commit. Becoz, it's difficult for a lady to keep thinking if the guy likes her or not. THE TRUTH. Yups, need to hear the truth. Though the truth can be harsh, it is necessary.
... he may have decided and just dragging on for my attention and companion-sake....
Monday, June 4
Going Taipei and Hualian !!!!!!! ~ which one to choose..
第一天 台北→花蓮→白鮑溪溯溪→飯店
台北火車站搭乘觀光列車08:00出發~北迴鐵路風光~11:06抵達花蓮火車站~請從前站出口~接往飯店辦理CHECK-IN~13:30白鮑溪溯溪體驗營(約3-4小時)
白鮑溪早期因開採豐田玉，每逢大雨過後，常會見到翠綠的豐田玉靜靜地躺在溪裡，這項特點也增添了白鮑溪美麗的色彩。雖然是大眾化的A級溪，有時還需手腳並用、連滾帶爬才能夠通過。遊客可以雙手抓著救身衣，平躺在溪流裡隨波逐流，來趟清涼無比的「人肉泛舟」。而終點瀑布一帶，因地形關係而形成多處天然清澈的深潭，如果膽子夠大，還可以挑戰約一層樓高的「石頭跳水」，刺激度百分百，相當過癮。
◎年齡限制：10歲以上，身心健全者
◎人數限制：平日4人成行；假日7人成行
◎提供裝備：防寒衣,防滑鞋,安全頭盔,救生衣,防水袋(春夏季依水溫及需求取消防寒衣裝備)
◎個人裝備：請多攜帶一套內衣褲及自備乾毛巾
※美侖、中信、統帥、洄瀾、香城、國廣興大飯店有提供免費火車站至飯店服務
TOP▲
第二天 晨喚→早餐→5選1行程→台北
◆ 太魯閣國家公園一日遊：飯店出發＞太管處遊客中心＞布洛灣台地＞燕子口＞靳珩公園＞慈母橋＞走訪綠水合流步道＞天祥晶華午餐＞走訪九曲洞步道＞長春祠＞經七星潭＞名產巡禮＞返回車站
◆ 花東縱谷田溫泉養生一日遊：飯店出發＞鯉魚潭湖光山色＞經兆豐農場＞富源蝴蝶谷森林遊樂區＞午餐＞瑞穗牧場或瑞穗溫泉＞光復糖廠品嚐冰淇淋(自理)＞經兆豐農場＞名產巡禮＞返回車站
◆ 兆豐休閒農場一日遊：飯店出發＞鯉魚潭湖光山色＞新光兆豐休閒農場深度之旅＞午餐自理＞名產巡禮＞返回車站
◆ 花蓮海洋公園一日遊： 回程時間：15:30 及17:00 二班次
飯店出發＞海洋公園園區內暢遊海洋村、探險島、海洋劇場、嘉年華歡樂街、海盜灣、布萊登海岸、海底王國、水晶城堡、晴空纜車…等，盡情享受海洋歡樂探險之名＞午餐自理＞返回車站
◆鯨生有約賞鯨豚：飯店出發＞公司說明會＞前往碼頭登船＞展開精采刺激的海上賞鯨豚之旅＞返回碼頭及車站 【班次時間：8:00、9:00、10:00、13:30】(航程約2.5-3小時)
◆秀姑巒溪泛舟：飯店出發＞專車接往泛舟起點服務站＞行前說明＞秀姑巒溪激流泛舟＞欣賞峽谷風光＞奇美午餐便當＞長虹橋終點站＞梳洗一番＞返回車站
＊花蓮火車站搭乘觀光列車18:36出發返回台北，21:26抵達台北，結束二天愉快的花蓮之旅。
台北火車站搭乘觀光列車08:00出發~北迴鐵路風光~11:06抵達花蓮火車站~請從前站出口~接往飯店辦理CHECK-IN~13:30白鮑溪溯溪體驗營(約3-4小時)
白鮑溪早期因開採豐田玉，每逢大雨過後，常會見到翠綠的豐田玉靜靜地躺在溪裡，這項特點也增添了白鮑溪美麗的色彩。雖然是大眾化的A級溪，有時還需手腳並用、連滾帶爬才能夠通過。遊客可以雙手抓著救身衣，平躺在溪流裡隨波逐流，來趟清涼無比的「人肉泛舟」。而終點瀑布一帶，因地形關係而形成多處天然清澈的深潭，如果膽子夠大，還可以挑戰約一層樓高的「石頭跳水」，刺激度百分百，相當過癮。
◎年齡限制：10歲以上，身心健全者
◎人數限制：平日4人成行；假日7人成行
◎提供裝備：防寒衣,防滑鞋,安全頭盔,救生衣,防水袋(春夏季依水溫及需求取消防寒衣裝備)
◎個人裝備：請多攜帶一套內衣褲及自備乾毛巾
※美侖、中信、統帥、洄瀾、香城、國廣興大飯店有提供免費火車站至飯店服務
TOP▲
第二天 晨喚→早餐→5選1行程→台北
◆ 太魯閣國家公園一日遊：飯店出發＞太管處遊客中心＞布洛灣台地＞燕子口＞靳珩公園＞慈母橋＞走訪綠水合流步道＞天祥晶華午餐＞走訪九曲洞步道＞長春祠＞經七星潭＞名產巡禮＞返回車站
◆ 花東縱谷田溫泉養生一日遊：飯店出發＞鯉魚潭湖光山色＞經兆豐農場＞富源蝴蝶谷森林遊樂區＞午餐＞瑞穗牧場或瑞穗溫泉＞光復糖廠品嚐冰淇淋(自理)＞經兆豐農場＞名產巡禮＞返回車站
◆ 兆豐休閒農場一日遊：飯店出發＞鯉魚潭湖光山色＞新光兆豐休閒農場深度之旅＞午餐自理＞名產巡禮＞返回車站
◆ 花蓮海洋公園一日遊： 回程時間：15:30 及17:00 二班次
飯店出發＞海洋公園園區內暢遊海洋村、探險島、海洋劇場、嘉年華歡樂街、海盜灣、布萊登海岸、海底王國、水晶城堡、晴空纜車…等，盡情享受海洋歡樂探險之名＞午餐自理＞返回車站
◆鯨生有約賞鯨豚：飯店出發＞公司說明會＞前往碼頭登船＞展開精采刺激的海上賞鯨豚之旅＞返回碼頭及車站 【班次時間：8:00、9:00、10:00、13:30】(航程約2.5-3小時)
◆秀姑巒溪泛舟：飯店出發＞專車接往泛舟起點服務站＞行前說明＞秀姑巒溪激流泛舟＞欣賞峽谷風光＞奇美午餐便當＞長虹橋終點站＞梳洗一番＞返回車站
＊花蓮火車站搭乘觀光列車18:36出發返回台北，21:26抵達台北，結束二天愉快的花蓮之旅。
Live with Enthusiasm
Living your best life now is living with enthusiasm and being excited about the life God has given you. It is believing for more good things in the days ahead, but it is also living in the moment and enjoying it to the hilt!
Let’s not be naive. The pressures of modern life constantly threaten to take a toll on our enthusiasm, causing it to quickly evaporate if it is not continually replenished. You probably know some people who have lost their passion. They’ve lost their zest for life. Once they were excited about the future. They were excited about their dreams, but they’ve lost their fire.
Perhaps even in your own life you’ve seen evidence of dwindling enthusiasm. Maybe at one time you were excited about your marriage. You were deeply in love, so full of passion, but now your marriage has become stale and stagnant. Or maybe you were excited about your job. You loved going to work, but recently, it’s become dull, routine, and boring. Maybe at one time you were excited about serving God. You couldn’t wait to get to church. You loved reading your Bible, praying, and spending time with fellow believers. But lately you’ve been thinking, I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I don’t have any drive. I don’t have fly passion. I’m just going through the motions.
The truth is, much of life is routine, and we can become stagnant if we’re not careful. We need to stir ourselves up, to replenish our supply of God’s good gifts on a daily basis. Like the Israeli people in the wilderness who had to gather God’s miraculous provisions of manna afresh each morning, we, too, cannot get by on yesterday’s supply. We need fresh enthusiasm each day. The word enthusiasm derives from two Greek words, en theos, meaning “inspired by God.” Our lives need to be inspired, infused, filled afresh with God’s goodness every day
Make a decision that you are not going to live another day without the joy of the Lord in your life; without love, peace, and passion; without being excited about your life. And understand that you don’t have to have something extraordinary happening in your life to be excited. You may not live in the perfect environment or have the perfect job or the perfect marriage, but you can still choose to live each day with enthusiasm. The Scripture says, “Never lag in zeal, but be aglow and on fire, serving the Lord enthusiastically” Do those terms describe your life? Are you aglow with God’s presence in your life? Are you on fire with enthusiasm? You can be! When you awaken in the morning, do you get up with passion to meet the day? Are you excited about your dreams? Do you go to work each day with enthusiasm?
“Well, I don’t really like my job,” Darlene complains. “I can’t stand driving in the traffic. I don’t like the people I work around.”
If that sounds familiar, you need to change your attitude. You should be grateful that you even have a job. You need to appreciate and stay excited about the opportunities God has given you. Wherever you are in life, make the most of it and be the best that you can be. If your assignment right now is to raise your children, do it with passion. Do it with enthusiasm. Don’t get up and say, “Humph! My friends are out doing something significant, something important, something exciting. All I’m doing is taking care of these kids.”
A mother’s work is one of the most important jobs in the whole world. But you have to keep up your enthusiasm. You may not have somebody patting you on the back or cheering you on. Your day may not be filled with extraordinary events. There are diapers to change, children to feed, clothes to be washed and pressed, housework that needs to be done; routine, mundane chores that seem to start over the moment you complete them. But in the midst of the ordinary, you can choose to have an extraordinary attitude toward your work. The Scripture tells us to do everything we do with our whole hearts, “to never lag in zeal.”
If you work outside the home, don’t give your employer a halfhearted effort. Don’t dawdle on the telephone, wasting your employer’s time and money. If you are digging a ditch, don’t spend half the day leaning on your shovel; do your work with excellence and enthusiasm!
“Well, they don’t pay me enough, anyway I shouldn’t have to work very hard.”
You won’t be blessed, with that kind of attitude. God wants you to give it everything you’ve got. Be enthusiastic. Set an example.
We should be so excited, and so full of joy that other people will want what we have. Ask yourself, “Is the way I’m living attractive and contagious? Will my attitudes, the words I speak, my expressions, the way I handle challenges and setbacks, cause anybody to want what I have?” In other words, are you drawing people to God, because of your joy your friendliness, your enthusiasm, your attitude of faith? Or do you alienate people, turning them away because you’re perpetually negative, discouraged, caustic, or cynical? Nobody enjoys being around a person like that. If you want to point people to God, or simply to a better way of living, have some enthusiasm and be excited about life.
I love the fictitious story of Tom Sawyer. As a young boy, Tom was told he had to go outside and paint the fence. Well, Tom didn’t feel like working; he wanted to go play with his friends. But instead of getting all negative and sour, he decided he was going to make the best of that situation. He went out and started painting that fence with enthusiasm and excitement, as though he were enjoying it. His friends came around, and when they saw how much fun Tom was having, they became envious of him. They said, “Hey, Tom! Would you let us try painting that fence?”
“Oh, no,” Tom said. “This is my fence. This is my project. You could never do what I’m doing.” He played it up real big. And you know the story. When it was all said and done, Tom Sawyer was sitting back watching his friends do all the work, simply because he approached his chore with excitement and enthusiasm.
Who knows what would happen if each of us lived with more excitement in our eyes, with our hearts full of passion, our faces filled with enthusiasm? Instead of dragging around, complaining that you don’t want to mow the lawn, put a smile on your face, a spring in your step, start acting as if you’re enjoying it. Maybe somebody will come along to help! If not, at least you will feel better about your work. You’ll have more energy, and you will get the job done quicker. You will be amazed at how God will pour out His favor, and how the “breaks” will start coming your way, when you start living with enthusiasm. Employers prefer employees who are excited about working at their companies. Your boss is much more likely to give you a raise in pay or a promotion if you have a good attitude and are excited about working, than if you just show up and do your work in a perfunctory manner. In fact, studies show that enthusiastic people often get promoted over other employees who are actually more qualified. The upbeat person is promoted simply because he or she has a good attitude.
Other People Will Notice
Hundreds of people work with us at Lakewood, but regardless of how talented or skilled a person may be, we don’t hire anybody who’s not excited about our organization. We don’t hire a person who doesn’t believe in what we are doing. Moreover, we don’t encourage employees to remain on our staff if they don’t think Lakewood is the greatest place in the world to work. We want only enthusiastic coworkers.
For several years, I noticed Jackie sitting down front at Lakewood Church, week after week. She was always excited about the service, attentive to what was going on, participating with tremendous enthusiasm, and radiating joy from her very demeanor and countenance. I didn’t know who she was, but she always looked like she was having the time of her life. When we sang, she would sing with her whole heart. When I’d be bringing a message, I’d look out at the audience, and Jackie would always have a smile on her face. She’d be nodding her head, as though she was encouraging me, “Come on, Joel. Tell me more. You’re doing a good job.”
When a staff position became available in our Women’s Ministry; the first thing I said was, “Somebody go find that lady who sits down front. There’s nobody I would rather have represent us than somebody like her!”
We hired Jackie, and she continues to inspire and encourage people. That door of opportunity opened for her simply because she was enthusiastic. She was excited. When you live with passion and are excited about your dreams, other people will notice. It may not even be your own employer who promotes you, but somebody else will notice Your positive attitude and will offer you a position that you weren’t expecting. All kinds of advantages and opportunities will come your way if you’ll simply do everything you do with enthusiasm, with your whole heart.
Growing up, I was fascinated by a traffic policeman who worked over by the Galleria, one of the busy shopping areas in Houston. He directed traffic at one of the busiest intersections in that part of town. During rush hour, the traffic would be so badly backed up, it was not uncommon to have to wait ten or fifteen minutes just to get through that one light. Observing people in their cars, it was plain to see that they were irritated about having to wait so long. But when they approached the policeman, their whole attitude changed.
This officer didn’t simply direct traffic. He put on a show! He was so enthusiastic, just watching him was entertaining. It was obvious that he loved what he was doing. He was practically dancing as he directed that traffic, with both arms waving wildly, his hands gesturing, his feet shuffling all through the intersection. He could direct the traffic and moonwalk at the same time!
Amazingly, after inching along in the traffic jam for ten or fifteen minutes, many drivers would pull over into nearby parking lots just to watch the traffic officer perform. He was enthusiastic. He wasn’t just showing up for work. He wasn’t just going through the motions. No, he was passionately fulfilling his destiny.
That’s the way you and I should be. Don’t just go through the motions in life. Have some enthusiasm. Choose to be happy; live with excellence and integrity, and put a spring in your step. Put a smile on your face. Moonwalk if you want, and let the world know that you are enjoying the life God has given you!
Friend, if you want to see God’s favor, do everything with your whole heart. Do it with passion and some fire. Not only will you feel better, but that fire will spread, and soon other people will want what you have. Do you want your life to make an impact? You can change the atmosphere of your home or your entire office with a little bit of enthusiasm. Don’t live another day defeated and depressed. Stir yourself up; rekindle that fire.
In the New Testament, the apostle Paul encouraged his young coworker Timothy: “Fan the flame. Rekindle the embers. Stir up the gift that is within you.” Paul was reminding his understudy to live with enthusiasm. Give it your all. Don’t settle for mediocrity.
You may have to live or work around people who are prone to being negative, who tend to drag you down. But don’t let them throw water on your fire. Don’t let their lack of enthusiasm squelch your passion. If you live with a deadbeat spouse, make a decision that you’re going to be happy and enthusiastic anyway. If you work around people who are always negative, try to overcome that negativity by being positive, encouraging, and uplifting. Fan your flame more than usual to make sure the fire doesn’t go out.
When everybody else is down and defeated, when you are all alone with nobody nearby to encourage you, simply encourage yourself. Your attitude should be: It doesn’t matter what anybody else does or doesn’t do, I’m going to live my life with enthusiasm! I’m going to stay on fire. I’m going to be aglow. I’m going to be passionate about seeing my dreams come to pass.
People who see me on television sometimes write to me, Saying, “Joel, why do you always smile so much? Why are you so happy? Why are you so enthusiastic?”
“I’m glad you asked!” I respond, and that opens the door for me to tell them about my relationship with God, and how they can have a relationship with Him as well.
Some guy stopped me on the streets in New York City and said, “Hey; aren’t you that smiling preacher?”
I laughed and said, “I guess so. That’s me. I’m the smiling preacher.” I take that as a compliment. Yes, I’m guilty of being happy! I’m guilty of being excited about the future. I’m guilty of living each day with enthusiasm.
God Has Great Things in Store for You
Prior to reading this book, you may have been down in the doldrums or stuck in a rut. Perhaps you were ready to give up on your dreams. You weren’t excited about the people in your life or your career. But now you know better! Now, you know that God has great things in store for you. It’s time to relight your fire; recapture your enthusiasm and adopt a fresh, positive, happy attitude.
“Yes, but Joel, I’ve had a rough year. I’ve gone through so many disappointments. I’ve lost a lot of good things.”
Maybe so, but have you considered this? If it were not for the goodness of God, you might have lost it all. You might not even be here today. Why not be grateful for what you have? Quit looking at what’s wrong and start thanking God for what’s right. Get up each day expecting good things. Start expecting God’s favor. Start expecting His blessings. Be excited about today.
This could be the day things turn around. This could be the day you get your miracle. This could be the day you meet the person of your dreams. This could be the day your child comes back home. That’s how you stay enthusiastic, even in tough times. You expect good things. You stay filled with hope.
“What if I do all that and nothing happens?” I hear you saying. “I’ll go to bed all discouraged after another disappointment.”
No, you can go to bed saying, “God, even though it didn’t happen today, I’m still trusting. I’m still believing for good things in my life. I’m still excited, knowing that I’m one day closer to my miracle. I’m one day closer to things turning around. I’m one day closer to a breakthrough.”
That’s what it means to stay full of zeal. Stay passionate about seeing your dreams come to pass. Stay on fire and aglow. Whatever you do, do it with enthusiasm!
The Bible says, “If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.” Notice, we have to be more than obedient; we must be willing—willing to do the right thing, willing to live with a good attitude and with enthusiasm.
It’s interesting to watch when the offerings are taken in church. A lot of people will give, but they’re not really willing. Their attitude is: Here, God. Here’s the money I owe You. Another hundred bucks. I could have bought a new truck by now.
Technically, they may be obedient when it comes to giving, but God desires more than mere obedience; He’s looking for a willing heart. The Bible says, “God loves a cheerful giver.” (One translation says, “An enthusiastic giver.”) This truth does not simply apply to money. We should cheerfully give of our time, cheerfully serve other people, cheerfully do good to those around us.
I don’t enjoy people giving me things out of obligation or duty, simply because they feel they have to. What if on my birthday my children came up to me and said, “All right, Daddy, here is your gift. We had to spend all our money on this, so if you really want it, you can have it”?
As much as I love my children, I’d say, “No, that’s all right. You just keep that gift.”
What if Victoria came up to me in the morning and said, “All right, Joel, let’s get it over with. Let me give you a hug. Okay, I did my duty for the day”
No, we all want somebody who wants to love us, somebody with a willing heart, somebody who’s enthusiastic about being around us. God is the same way He doesn’t simply want us to obey Him out of fear or even respect; He wants us to love Him as our heavenly Father. He wants us to do the right thing because we want to!
He looks at your heart. When you pray talk to God with a willing attitude. When it’s time to attend church services or take part in other opportunities to serve in the community be excited about it. Don’t do it out of obligation, merely because you have to. No, do it because you want to please God. Do it with enthusiasm. Learn to be more than obedient; learn to be willing. Develop a habit of doing the right thing with the proper motives, with a right attitude, and out of a grateful heart.
One of the main reasons that we lose our enthusiasm in life is because we become ungrateful; we take for panted what God has done for us. We let what once was a miracle become common to us. We get so accustomed to His goodness, it becomes routine; it doesn’t really excite us anymore. I heard somebody say “Don’t let your miracles become monuments.” A monument is a piece of wood or stone that reminds us of something that once was alive, vibrant, and exciting.
Maybe you used to be excited about the home that God helped you to buy but now that you’ve grown accustomed to it, you forget to be grateful for it; you’re not excited about it anymore. That’s old news.
Maybe you once were excited about that person God supernaturally brought into your life as a marriage partner, but now all the excitement has worn off. Don’t allow that sense of a miracle to slip away. Don’t get so familiar with each other that you take one another for granted.
During the first year that Victoria and I dated, we were on cloud nine. We laughed. We had fun. We didn’t need to do extravagant or expensive things for entertainment. We were happy doing ordinary things. We were in love; we were excited, so everything we did was exciting as far as we were concerned.
On one of our first dates I picked her up a bit early, so we had a few minutes to spare. As we were driving down the highway Victoria said, “Joel, let’s pull into that new office building over there and take a look at the lobby I’ve heard that it is incredibly beautiful.”
Now, normally I would think. Why do I want to go into a building and look at a lobby? I can think of much more exciting things to do.
But no, I was with Victoria. As long as she was there, it didn’t matter. I would have gone and looked around a power plant as long as we were together!
If you are married, you probably felt the same way about your spouse. You were head over heels for that person. You knew God brought you together.
But too often, as time goes by, we take for granted what God has done for us. We get up in the morning and say “Well, that’s just my wife (or husband). No big deal. Sorry honey I don’t have time to give you a hug. I’m in a hurry I don’t have time to do anything fun tonight. I might miss my favorite TV show, or the ball game.” What we once regarded as a miracle has now become commonplace. We’ve grown cool to it; we take what we have for granted.
But the good news is, that fire can be rekindled. In your marriage, in your career, in your personal relationships, in your life! If you will initiate the changes you’ve learned about in this book, the excitement will come back. Rekindle that fire. Don’t take life for granted.
Don’t take for panted the greatest gift of all that God has given you—Himself! Don’t allow your relationship with Him to become stale, or your appreciation for His goodness to become common. Get your fire back. Fan the flame more than ever. Live with enthusiasm. Whatever you do, do it for Him, with your whole heart.
Friend, God doesn’t want you to drag through life defeated and depressed. No matter what you’ve been through, no matter whose fault it was, no matter how impossible your situation may look, the good news is that God wants to turn it around and restore everything that has been stolen from you. He wants to restore your marriage, your family your career. He wants to restore those broken dreams. He wants to restore your joy and give you a peace and happiness you’ve never known before. Most of all, He wants to restore your relationship with Him. God wants you to live a satisfied life.
God doesn’t want you simply to feel a little better for a few days after you read this book. No, God is in the long-term restoration business. He wants you to have a life filled with an abundance of joy, an abundance of happiness. God doesn’t want you simply to survive that marriage. God wants to turn it around and restore you with a strong, healthy, rewarding relationship. God doesn’t want your business to merely make it through the murky economic waters. He wants your business to sail and to excel! When God restores, He always brings you out better, improved, increased, and multiplied. He has a vision of total victory for your life!
Hold on to that new, enlarged vision of victory that God has given you. Start expecting things to change in your favor. Dare to boldly declare that you are standing strong against the forces of darkness. You will not settle for a life of mediocrity!
Raise your level of expectancy. It’s our faith that activates the power of God. Let’s quit limiting Him with our small-minded thinking and start believing Him for bigger and better things. Remember, if you obey God and are willing to trust Him, you will have the best this life has to offer—and more! Make a decision that from this day forward, you are going to be excited about the life God has for you. If you will:
• Enlarge your vision;
• Develop a healthy self-image;
• Discover the power of your thoughts and words;
• Let go of the past;
• Stand strong against op position and adversity;
• Live to give;
• And choose to be happy...,
God will take you places you’ve never dreamed of, and you will be living your best life now!
Living your best life now is living with enthusiasm and being excited about the life God has given you. It is believing for more good things in the days ahead, but it is also living in the moment and enjoying it to the hilt!
Let’s not be naive. The pressures of modern life constantly threaten to take a toll on our enthusiasm, causing it to quickly evaporate if it is not continually replenished. You probably know some people who have lost their passion. They’ve lost their zest for life. Once they were excited about the future. They were excited about their dreams, but they’ve lost their fire.
Perhaps even in your own life you’ve seen evidence of dwindling enthusiasm. Maybe at one time you were excited about your marriage. You were deeply in love, so full of passion, but now your marriage has become stale and stagnant. Or maybe you were excited about your job. You loved going to work, but recently, it’s become dull, routine, and boring. Maybe at one time you were excited about serving God. You couldn’t wait to get to church. You loved reading your Bible, praying, and spending time with fellow believers. But lately you’ve been thinking, I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I don’t have any drive. I don’t have fly passion. I’m just going through the motions.
The truth is, much of life is routine, and we can become stagnant if we’re not careful. We need to stir ourselves up, to replenish our supply of God’s good gifts on a daily basis. Like the Israeli people in the wilderness who had to gather God’s miraculous provisions of manna afresh each morning, we, too, cannot get by on yesterday’s supply. We need fresh enthusiasm each day. The word enthusiasm derives from two Greek words, en theos, meaning “inspired by God.” Our lives need to be inspired, infused, filled afresh with God’s goodness every day
Make a decision that you are not going to live another day without the joy of the Lord in your life; without love, peace, and passion; without being excited about your life. And understand that you don’t have to have something extraordinary happening in your life to be excited. You may not live in the perfect environment or have the perfect job or the perfect marriage, but you can still choose to live each day with enthusiasm. The Scripture says, “Never lag in zeal, but be aglow and on fire, serving the Lord enthusiastically” Do those terms describe your life? Are you aglow with God’s presence in your life? Are you on fire with enthusiasm? You can be! When you awaken in the morning, do you get up with passion to meet the day? Are you excited about your dreams? Do you go to work each day with enthusiasm?
“Well, I don’t really like my job,” Darlene complains. “I can’t stand driving in the traffic. I don’t like the people I work around.”
If that sounds familiar, you need to change your attitude. You should be grateful that you even have a job. You need to appreciate and stay excited about the opportunities God has given you. Wherever you are in life, make the most of it and be the best that you can be. If your assignment right now is to raise your children, do it with passion. Do it with enthusiasm. Don’t get up and say, “Humph! My friends are out doing something significant, something important, something exciting. All I’m doing is taking care of these kids.”
A mother’s work is one of the most important jobs in the whole world. But you have to keep up your enthusiasm. You may not have somebody patting you on the back or cheering you on. Your day may not be filled with extraordinary events. There are diapers to change, children to feed, clothes to be washed and pressed, housework that needs to be done; routine, mundane chores that seem to start over the moment you complete them. But in the midst of the ordinary, you can choose to have an extraordinary attitude toward your work. The Scripture tells us to do everything we do with our whole hearts, “to never lag in zeal.”
If you work outside the home, don’t give your employer a halfhearted effort. Don’t dawdle on the telephone, wasting your employer’s time and money. If you are digging a ditch, don’t spend half the day leaning on your shovel; do your work with excellence and enthusiasm!
“Well, they don’t pay me enough, anyway I shouldn’t have to work very hard.”
You won’t be blessed, with that kind of attitude. God wants you to give it everything you’ve got. Be enthusiastic. Set an example.
We should be so excited, and so full of joy that other people will want what we have. Ask yourself, “Is the way I’m living attractive and contagious? Will my attitudes, the words I speak, my expressions, the way I handle challenges and setbacks, cause anybody to want what I have?” In other words, are you drawing people to God, because of your joy your friendliness, your enthusiasm, your attitude of faith? Or do you alienate people, turning them away because you’re perpetually negative, discouraged, caustic, or cynical? Nobody enjoys being around a person like that. If you want to point people to God, or simply to a better way of living, have some enthusiasm and be excited about life.
I love the fictitious story of Tom Sawyer. As a young boy, Tom was told he had to go outside and paint the fence. Well, Tom didn’t feel like working; he wanted to go play with his friends. But instead of getting all negative and sour, he decided he was going to make the best of that situation. He went out and started painting that fence with enthusiasm and excitement, as though he were enjoying it. His friends came around, and when they saw how much fun Tom was having, they became envious of him. They said, “Hey, Tom! Would you let us try painting that fence?”
“Oh, no,” Tom said. “This is my fence. This is my project. You could never do what I’m doing.” He played it up real big. And you know the story. When it was all said and done, Tom Sawyer was sitting back watching his friends do all the work, simply because he approached his chore with excitement and enthusiasm.
Who knows what would happen if each of us lived with more excitement in our eyes, with our hearts full of passion, our faces filled with enthusiasm? Instead of dragging around, complaining that you don’t want to mow the lawn, put a smile on your face, a spring in your step, start acting as if you’re enjoying it. Maybe somebody will come along to help! If not, at least you will feel better about your work. You’ll have more energy, and you will get the job done quicker. You will be amazed at how God will pour out His favor, and how the “breaks” will start coming your way, when you start living with enthusiasm. Employers prefer employees who are excited about working at their companies. Your boss is much more likely to give you a raise in pay or a promotion if you have a good attitude and are excited about working, than if you just show up and do your work in a perfunctory manner. In fact, studies show that enthusiastic people often get promoted over other employees who are actually more qualified. The upbeat person is promoted simply because he or she has a good attitude.
Other People Will Notice
Hundreds of people work with us at Lakewood, but regardless of how talented or skilled a person may be, we don’t hire anybody who’s not excited about our organization. We don’t hire a person who doesn’t believe in what we are doing. Moreover, we don’t encourage employees to remain on our staff if they don’t think Lakewood is the greatest place in the world to work. We want only enthusiastic coworkers.
For several years, I noticed Jackie sitting down front at Lakewood Church, week after week. She was always excited about the service, attentive to what was going on, participating with tremendous enthusiasm, and radiating joy from her very demeanor and countenance. I didn’t know who she was, but she always looked like she was having the time of her life. When we sang, she would sing with her whole heart. When I’d be bringing a message, I’d look out at the audience, and Jackie would always have a smile on her face. She’d be nodding her head, as though she was encouraging me, “Come on, Joel. Tell me more. You’re doing a good job.”
When a staff position became available in our Women’s Ministry; the first thing I said was, “Somebody go find that lady who sits down front. There’s nobody I would rather have represent us than somebody like her!”
We hired Jackie, and she continues to inspire and encourage people. That door of opportunity opened for her simply because she was enthusiastic. She was excited. When you live with passion and are excited about your dreams, other people will notice. It may not even be your own employer who promotes you, but somebody else will notice Your positive attitude and will offer you a position that you weren’t expecting. All kinds of advantages and opportunities will come your way if you’ll simply do everything you do with enthusiasm, with your whole heart.
Growing up, I was fascinated by a traffic policeman who worked over by the Galleria, one of the busy shopping areas in Houston. He directed traffic at one of the busiest intersections in that part of town. During rush hour, the traffic would be so badly backed up, it was not uncommon to have to wait ten or fifteen minutes just to get through that one light. Observing people in their cars, it was plain to see that they were irritated about having to wait so long. But when they approached the policeman, their whole attitude changed.
This officer didn’t simply direct traffic. He put on a show! He was so enthusiastic, just watching him was entertaining. It was obvious that he loved what he was doing. He was practically dancing as he directed that traffic, with both arms waving wildly, his hands gesturing, his feet shuffling all through the intersection. He could direct the traffic and moonwalk at the same time!
Amazingly, after inching along in the traffic jam for ten or fifteen minutes, many drivers would pull over into nearby parking lots just to watch the traffic officer perform. He was enthusiastic. He wasn’t just showing up for work. He wasn’t just going through the motions. No, he was passionately fulfilling his destiny.
That’s the way you and I should be. Don’t just go through the motions in life. Have some enthusiasm. Choose to be happy; live with excellence and integrity, and put a spring in your step. Put a smile on your face. Moonwalk if you want, and let the world know that you are enjoying the life God has given you!
Friend, if you want to see God’s favor, do everything with your whole heart. Do it with passion and some fire. Not only will you feel better, but that fire will spread, and soon other people will want what you have. Do you want your life to make an impact? You can change the atmosphere of your home or your entire office with a little bit of enthusiasm. Don’t live another day defeated and depressed. Stir yourself up; rekindle that fire.
In the New Testament, the apostle Paul encouraged his young coworker Timothy: “Fan the flame. Rekindle the embers. Stir up the gift that is within you.” Paul was reminding his understudy to live with enthusiasm. Give it your all. Don’t settle for mediocrity.
You may have to live or work around people who are prone to being negative, who tend to drag you down. But don’t let them throw water on your fire. Don’t let their lack of enthusiasm squelch your passion. If you live with a deadbeat spouse, make a decision that you’re going to be happy and enthusiastic anyway. If you work around people who are always negative, try to overcome that negativity by being positive, encouraging, and uplifting. Fan your flame more than usual to make sure the fire doesn’t go out.
When everybody else is down and defeated, when you are all alone with nobody nearby to encourage you, simply encourage yourself. Your attitude should be: It doesn’t matter what anybody else does or doesn’t do, I’m going to live my life with enthusiasm! I’m going to stay on fire. I’m going to be aglow. I’m going to be passionate about seeing my dreams come to pass.
People who see me on television sometimes write to me, Saying, “Joel, why do you always smile so much? Why are you so happy? Why are you so enthusiastic?”
“I’m glad you asked!” I respond, and that opens the door for me to tell them about my relationship with God, and how they can have a relationship with Him as well.
Some guy stopped me on the streets in New York City and said, “Hey; aren’t you that smiling preacher?”
I laughed and said, “I guess so. That’s me. I’m the smiling preacher.” I take that as a compliment. Yes, I’m guilty of being happy! I’m guilty of being excited about the future. I’m guilty of living each day with enthusiasm.
God Has Great Things in Store for You
Prior to reading this book, you may have been down in the doldrums or stuck in a rut. Perhaps you were ready to give up on your dreams. You weren’t excited about the people in your life or your career. But now you know better! Now, you know that God has great things in store for you. It’s time to relight your fire; recapture your enthusiasm and adopt a fresh, positive, happy attitude.
“Yes, but Joel, I’ve had a rough year. I’ve gone through so many disappointments. I’ve lost a lot of good things.”
Maybe so, but have you considered this? If it were not for the goodness of God, you might have lost it all. You might not even be here today. Why not be grateful for what you have? Quit looking at what’s wrong and start thanking God for what’s right. Get up each day expecting good things. Start expecting God’s favor. Start expecting His blessings. Be excited about today.
This could be the day things turn around. This could be the day you get your miracle. This could be the day you meet the person of your dreams. This could be the day your child comes back home. That’s how you stay enthusiastic, even in tough times. You expect good things. You stay filled with hope.
“What if I do all that and nothing happens?” I hear you saying. “I’ll go to bed all discouraged after another disappointment.”
No, you can go to bed saying, “God, even though it didn’t happen today, I’m still trusting. I’m still believing for good things in my life. I’m still excited, knowing that I’m one day closer to my miracle. I’m one day closer to things turning around. I’m one day closer to a breakthrough.”
That’s what it means to stay full of zeal. Stay passionate about seeing your dreams come to pass. Stay on fire and aglow. Whatever you do, do it with enthusiasm!
The Bible says, “If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.” Notice, we have to be more than obedient; we must be willing—willing to do the right thing, willing to live with a good attitude and with enthusiasm.
It’s interesting to watch when the offerings are taken in church. A lot of people will give, but they’re not really willing. Their attitude is: Here, God. Here’s the money I owe You. Another hundred bucks. I could have bought a new truck by now.
Technically, they may be obedient when it comes to giving, but God desires more than mere obedience; He’s looking for a willing heart. The Bible says, “God loves a cheerful giver.” (One translation says, “An enthusiastic giver.”) This truth does not simply apply to money. We should cheerfully give of our time, cheerfully serve other people, cheerfully do good to those around us.
I don’t enjoy people giving me things out of obligation or duty, simply because they feel they have to. What if on my birthday my children came up to me and said, “All right, Daddy, here is your gift. We had to spend all our money on this, so if you really want it, you can have it”?
As much as I love my children, I’d say, “No, that’s all right. You just keep that gift.”
What if Victoria came up to me in the morning and said, “All right, Joel, let’s get it over with. Let me give you a hug. Okay, I did my duty for the day”
No, we all want somebody who wants to love us, somebody with a willing heart, somebody who’s enthusiastic about being around us. God is the same way He doesn’t simply want us to obey Him out of fear or even respect; He wants us to love Him as our heavenly Father. He wants us to do the right thing because we want to!
He looks at your heart. When you pray talk to God with a willing attitude. When it’s time to attend church services or take part in other opportunities to serve in the community be excited about it. Don’t do it out of obligation, merely because you have to. No, do it because you want to please God. Do it with enthusiasm. Learn to be more than obedient; learn to be willing. Develop a habit of doing the right thing with the proper motives, with a right attitude, and out of a grateful heart.
One of the main reasons that we lose our enthusiasm in life is because we become ungrateful; we take for panted what God has done for us. We let what once was a miracle become common to us. We get so accustomed to His goodness, it becomes routine; it doesn’t really excite us anymore. I heard somebody say “Don’t let your miracles become monuments.” A monument is a piece of wood or stone that reminds us of something that once was alive, vibrant, and exciting.
Maybe you used to be excited about the home that God helped you to buy but now that you’ve grown accustomed to it, you forget to be grateful for it; you’re not excited about it anymore. That’s old news.
Maybe you once were excited about that person God supernaturally brought into your life as a marriage partner, but now all the excitement has worn off. Don’t allow that sense of a miracle to slip away. Don’t get so familiar with each other that you take one another for granted.
During the first year that Victoria and I dated, we were on cloud nine. We laughed. We had fun. We didn’t need to do extravagant or expensive things for entertainment. We were happy doing ordinary things. We were in love; we were excited, so everything we did was exciting as far as we were concerned.
On one of our first dates I picked her up a bit early, so we had a few minutes to spare. As we were driving down the highway Victoria said, “Joel, let’s pull into that new office building over there and take a look at the lobby I’ve heard that it is incredibly beautiful.”
Now, normally I would think. Why do I want to go into a building and look at a lobby? I can think of much more exciting things to do.
But no, I was with Victoria. As long as she was there, it didn’t matter. I would have gone and looked around a power plant as long as we were together!
If you are married, you probably felt the same way about your spouse. You were head over heels for that person. You knew God brought you together.
But too often, as time goes by, we take for granted what God has done for us. We get up in the morning and say “Well, that’s just my wife (or husband). No big deal. Sorry honey I don’t have time to give you a hug. I’m in a hurry I don’t have time to do anything fun tonight. I might miss my favorite TV show, or the ball game.” What we once regarded as a miracle has now become commonplace. We’ve grown cool to it; we take what we have for granted.
But the good news is, that fire can be rekindled. In your marriage, in your career, in your personal relationships, in your life! If you will initiate the changes you’ve learned about in this book, the excitement will come back. Rekindle that fire. Don’t take life for granted.
Don’t take for panted the greatest gift of all that God has given you—Himself! Don’t allow your relationship with Him to become stale, or your appreciation for His goodness to become common. Get your fire back. Fan the flame more than ever. Live with enthusiasm. Whatever you do, do it for Him, with your whole heart.
Friend, God doesn’t want you to drag through life defeated and depressed. No matter what you’ve been through, no matter whose fault it was, no matter how impossible your situation may look, the good news is that God wants to turn it around and restore everything that has been stolen from you. He wants to restore your marriage, your family your career. He wants to restore those broken dreams. He wants to restore your joy and give you a peace and happiness you’ve never known before. Most of all, He wants to restore your relationship with Him. God wants you to live a satisfied life.
God doesn’t want you simply to feel a little better for a few days after you read this book. No, God is in the long-term restoration business. He wants you to have a life filled with an abundance of joy, an abundance of happiness. God doesn’t want you simply to survive that marriage. God wants to turn it around and restore you with a strong, healthy, rewarding relationship. God doesn’t want your business to merely make it through the murky economic waters. He wants your business to sail and to excel! When God restores, He always brings you out better, improved, increased, and multiplied. He has a vision of total victory for your life!
Hold on to that new, enlarged vision of victory that God has given you. Start expecting things to change in your favor. Dare to boldly declare that you are standing strong against the forces of darkness. You will not settle for a life of mediocrity!
Raise your level of expectancy. It’s our faith that activates the power of God. Let’s quit limiting Him with our small-minded thinking and start believing Him for bigger and better things. Remember, if you obey God and are willing to trust Him, you will have the best this life has to offer—and more! Make a decision that from this day forward, you are going to be excited about the life God has for you. If you will:
• Enlarge your vision;
• Develop a healthy self-image;
• Discover the power of your thoughts and words;
• Let go of the past;
• Stand strong against op position and adversity;
• Live to give;
• And choose to be happy...,
God will take you places you’ve never dreamed of, and you will be living your best life now!
Saturday, June 2
Soooo Happie for Anthony and Arrinee !
Today is 02 June 2007, but I had just returned not too long ago from a fren's wedding. His name is Anthony (whom we knw as Antonio) and his wife, Arrinee (hope I spelt correctly !).
We are very blessed to be there, to witness their marriage - attend their wedding dinner.
It was a fun-filled nite, the food's good, the music was great (live band !) and their relatives ROCKKkkkkkk (were dancing....wif the music !) and mind you, they were all older than us !
=0) Congrats Anthony and rem., take care and jia you !
BTW, pls let all ur frens know that you love the flowers my aunt made and intro. her business !
My aunt really makes vvvvv good bouquets and she can do church deco. and flower arrangements as well.
=0)
See you all soon.
We are very blessed to be there, to witness their marriage - attend their wedding dinner.
It was a fun-filled nite, the food's good, the music was great (live band !) and their relatives ROCKKkkkkkk (were dancing....wif the music !) and mind you, they were all older than us !
=0) Congrats Anthony and rem., take care and jia you !
BTW, pls let all ur frens know that you love the flowers my aunt made and intro. her business !
My aunt really makes vvvvv good bouquets and she can do church deco. and flower arrangements as well.
=0)
See you all soon.
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