Saturday, December 12, 2009
krystalite.wordpress.com
2:03 AM
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
John MacArthur wrote:
You don't hear much about contentment these days. In fact, it's practivally a foreign concept in our society.
People today are perpetually in search of the next luxury or new extravagance. They cultivate insatiable appetites for self indulgence and spare no expense to pamper themselves. Then once they acquire whatever they were craving, they immediately begin coveting something more. Life has become a desperate and never ending quest for the immediate statisfaction of every whim and the insant fufilment of every fantasy.
Everyday, we enjoy comforts and conveniences of our grandparents never even dreamed of. But the thousands of amenities that make life easier for us in the high tech age have not brought us more contentment. Indeed, there are probably more discontented people today than ever.
Ironically, the very technology that provides so much conveniece is a major catalyst in making people discontented. Television, radio, magazines, newspapers, the Internet, and even the highways we travel are festooned with advertising. No matter where you look, you are assaulted with images and slogans designed to provoke you to covet what you do not have. They tout the next device you need to purchase, that vacation you should give yourself, or some newer, bigger, better thing you need.
In a culture where most people are relentlessly chasing for the next fleeting pleasure, the concept of contentment barely registers. People cling to the faint promise that they can eventually accumulate enough possessions that they'll achieve perpetual happiness. For them, contentment is always a future goal - something that costs a great deal of money - and they will spend the rest of their lives trying to find it.
But true contentment has nothing to do with the things you own. You can't buy it - in fact, the kind of wild, unchecked spending that defines our society only further insulates your heart from ever knowing true satisfactio. There's always a faster car, a bigger boat, or a more luxurious house. Or on the other hand, there's always the possibility of a global financial collaspe that could take it all away overnight. Seaching for lasting happiness in the things you own only guarantees you'll never truely find it.
Neither is contentment found in your circumstances or relationships. You can't rely on your situtation, events surrounding you, or other people to ever bring you real, lasting satisfaction. While family and friends are sources of happiness and blessing, they can also let you down. And if your contentment is tied to anything as flexible or fleeting as your career, your health, politics, entertainment, or even your favorite sports team, disappointment and frustration are inevitable.
True, lasting contentment comes only from knowing and trusting the Lord. It's an unyielding confidence in God's providence and provision. It's the freedom from worry you and I enjoy because we know the Lord is at work in all our trials and joys. It's not a question of poverty or prosperity, or any external circumstance. True contentment endures in spite of our circumstances; it does not rise and fall with every turn of providence.
The only real statisfaction we can hope to have this side of eternity is found in a right relationship with GOd. Contentment means relyinh on His promises, trusting in His provision, casting your cares on Him, and having a vision to see and rejoice in the blessings He pours out in your life. When you're walking faithfully and biblically with the Lord, you can't help but be content, no matter what immediate circumstances you're dealing with. Real, lasting contentment isn't the product of your earthly situation - it's the freedom from worrying about day-to-day issues because you're resting in the supreme peace and confidence of God's care.
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I'd like to remember this letter he wrote... Thought it would be nice to post it on the blog as a keepsake... haahaa. It kinda sums up what God has been teaching me and reminding me... I am reminded to pursue a Godly life with faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.. And not place my trust in this world, but in God who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Guess the keyword here is need...
"True religion with contentment is great wealth. After all, we didn't bring anything with us when we came into the world, and we certainly cannot carry anything with us when we die. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content." 1 Timothy 6: 6-8
5:13 PM
1 I look to the mountains -
does my help come from there?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
who made the heavens and the earth
3 He will not let you stumble and fall;
the one who watches you will not sleep
4 Indeed, he who watches over Israel
never tires and never sleeps.
5 The Lord himself watches over you!
The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.
6 The sun will not hurt you by day,
nor the moon at night.
7 The Lord keeps you from all evil
and preserves your life.
8 The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go,
now and forever.
What an assurance that God has given me... that He will never let me (us) stumble or fall.. that He is always there.. because He never tires nor sleep.. Well, that's why He is God isn't it? If I don't get enough sleep.. my whole day just doesn't function properly.. (and the people around me need to watch out...)
"You go before me
You shield my way
Your hands upholds me
I know you love me..."
"At the cross I bow my knee
Where your blood was shed for me
There's no greater love than this..
You have overcome the grave
Your glory fills the highest place
What can separate me now..."
2:25 PM
Monday, November 30, 2009
Blast from the past
Looking through the desktop now... and I see the folder called "huiyi21".
I opened it and saw some photos that are really sweet...
These were probably my dad's fondest memory of me when I was much younger... hence, he handpicked these photos and made my 21st birthday video! He looked through all the photo albums, scanned the photos and made the video. How sweet...
I opened it and saw some photos that are really sweet...
These were probably my dad's fondest memory of me when I was much younger... hence, he handpicked these photos and made my 21st birthday video! He looked through all the photo albums, scanned the photos and made the video. How sweet...
I know, my mum is pretty. :)
my brother's favorite photo of us. mine too. :)
we learned how to play the organ last time before my dad changed me to piano classes.
LOL.
Probably my dad's favorite photo of me. I remember seeing it on his office desk. Think last year my mum told me he still has this photo on this table. haahaa.
Yes joey, i learned ballet before.Guess to him, the young lady he sees everyday will still be the little girl in the photos..
Dad has written the first 22 years of my life book. I must say it has been an interesting one... I must say it has been wonderful..
The pen is now in my hands... and I am going to write the rest of the book myself. heh.
The pen is now in my hands... and I am going to write the rest of the book myself. heh.
I pray that I'll make wise decisions... I pray that I'll be sensitive to the Lord's leading. :)
11:00 PM
Mummy's Birthday Photos... November 2009
Photo's a little blurry.. but still captured us all. :)
Happy receipient of the blender my bro and i got for her. haha. looks like we won some lucky draw or something.
10:54 PM
Can't wait for the short getaway this weekend. Whooo...
It has been a painful month.
I should deal with my same-old-problem soon.. else I'll never be able to move on..
"in this place, you have clothed yourselves with a brand new nature that is continually being renewed as you learn more and more about Christ who created this new nature within you." Col 3:11
10:28 AM
Friday, November 27, 2009
Another recession? *yikes*
11:01 PM
Monday, November 23, 2009
Brick Walls
"Brick walls are there for a reason.
The brick walls are not there to keep us out.
The brick walls are there to show how badly we want something.
Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don't want something badly enough, they are there to keep out the other people."
Quote by Randy Pausch from The Last Lecture
8:22 PM
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Watched the movie with the girls yesterday after the morning paper. It not bad I must say. Digested economics into 2 hours. Might be too difficult for the younger ones. In my opinion, the movie was slightly biased towards the poorer people, but nonetheless, it did bring the message across - the workings of capitalism - what economics is all about.
And so it made me think about Economics (my MAJOR in school) and God (my MAJOR in life)...
So, things I learn in Economics goes against what I learn in the bible.
The World's economy is different from God's economy.
The World teaches us that everything to love ourselves, God teaches us to love one another.
The World teaches us to be money minded, God teaches us to be kingdom minded.
The World teaches us to amass wealth (short term gains), God teaches us to build our treasures in heaven (short term losses, BUT long term gain, very long term - ETERNAL gain).
The World teaches us to be successful, God teaches us to be humble.
The World view of success is different from the successes in God's economy.
"An earthly father puts money aside for rent, food, clothing and recreation. A heavenly father works differently; He determines life's essentials and provides for them by setting aside peace, forgiveness, companionship, understanding and guidance. God tells us not to worry by giving us the solution in Matt 6:33." says a very wise man JAT.
The bible tells us to live in this world, but not be of the world. It's hard I know. It has been a constant struggle and going to be a struggle in future. Reality bites. In the next year, I will be stepping into the world, I will no longer a child living under my parent's wings, under the comfort of their success... In the next phase of my life, I will be left on my own and my future husband to make a living and survive in this world where money talks.
In God we trust.
"Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." Job 1:21
10:06 PM
And so I took the paper that i dreaded most.
I went for a war yesterday morning.
And I think I might have lost the war halfway through the paper.
WHY DID I EVEN ALLOW IT TO HAPPEN?
Why didn't I trust God enough?
I studied the hardest for this paper.
Yet, it might have felt like the worst paper ever.
Why did I even let the mid terms affect my enthusiasm for the module?
I find no answer.
But I think I trusted myself more than I trusted God.
It was a mistake.
Distraught, but I am still gonna work my hardest for my next 2 papers and my last semster. May I do this not by my own strength, together with God.
2:00 PM
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
I am inspired by an email cons sent to me last night. Something that her friend blogged about - school and grades.
As I approach the end of the semester (my first paper starts tomorrow), I reckoned it'll be nice to do some reflections.. since this blog has been pretty much dead...
The semester started off with excitement. I was excited to start school, to meet my friends, to learn new stuff. I was given ALL the modules that I registered for.
Then came all the email blasts on recruitment talks. I applied for the first one just to expand my horizons and expose myself to what was available. It started off with a pure motive, but it ended up "killing" me. I became obssessed with it and find myself registering for every available recruitment talk. And at the end of every talk, I become disappointed and disillusioned. I became unhappy with my grades... The more I spoke to my friends, the more I was gripped by fear. I feared for my future.
It didn't help that my friends around me were all excelling in school. And I was just mediocre. Mediocre by the world's standards. I remembered getting Bs for my first sememster and I was elated. I was literally jumping for joy. But when I started to compare with my friends, discontentment set in. Bs wil never be enough.
This semester, I was reminded of God's faithfulness. I overlooked the things God has done for me... How I entered STC (if it wasn't for this, I wouldn't have known the three musketeers who brought me to church)... How I ended in NJC (and survived)... How I got offers from all 3 universites... and ended up in Economics... How I was chosen to go to Shanghai and how I secured and internship with Standard Chartered... Whao, as I look back, how could I keep from singing God's praises? How could I ever say enough? Why should I worry about my next phase in life?
I will never be good enough if I benchmark myself against the world's standards... I learned to find my security in God, not in my grades. I may not be doing well in school (based on what I feel is good enough), but I believe in God's purpose. I want to boast not about my own strengths, but God. I am still going to study hard in school, I am determined to do my best for the 2 final semesters. I am going to continue to seek God for my future. Pray with me.
Here's my short testimony of God's faithfulness and goodness and God's grace. :)
7:04 PM
