Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Merry Christmas everyone! Isn't it truly the most wonderful time of the year? Oh I love, love Christmas time. Yes, all the presents, the sumptuous Christmas dinners, and special Christmas services. But the most important reason why I love Christmas, is because "unto us, this day a Saviour is born" and His name is Jesus. Well if you haven't got it, He is the reason for the season!

It's a joyous season because what greater gift can we receive besides the gift of Salvation and to be given the privilege and honour of being called sons and daughters of the Most High God? The gift of access into His marvelous presence and into His eternal Kingdom. This is what I call a real gift! That on this day, Jesus Christ was given to us, to live only to die as a redemption for our sins, so that we might have life. He is truly Saviour, Christ and Lord!

So here's to the One who saved my life with His, Happy Birthday!

We had a lot of Lasts this week. Our last net outreach for the year, last TheEdge service, last morning service at Futsing etc. and all these Lasts always sets you reflecting and puts this nostalgic feeling in your heart. What I experienced was no exception.

2011 has been an incredibly fast year. With so much going on this year, both good and bad with its equal share of ups and downs, I still wanna close this year by thanking God for His faithfulness throughout. His fingerprints have been so evident in every area of my life for this past year, and I'm absolutely thankful for that - my God who never leaves me nor forsakes me:)

This year I would say, is a year of testings and trials, also one of consistent molding and learning. It's been a bitter-sweet journey, but one that led me so much closer to God. For every valley experience, I began to draw closer to God and emerging from these, find myself another step ahead in this race. My prayer is that God never stops working in me this way, because I know there's so much more to be done in me.

I also began to reflect on all my relationships and thank God for the many blessings He placed in my life; individuals who have been my encouragement and strength throughout this year's journey. Just people so dear to my own heart. Nonetheless, I have to admit that I need a lot more wisdom from God in my dealings with relationships, specifically friendships. This is not a place to elaborate, but I believe I do need God to teach me His way of relationships. Eager to learn and work on some of these in the coming year. Till then, dear friends who stuck through with me, thank you thank you thank you. You've been a bigger-than-you-could-imagine-blessing to me! :)

The God Chasers

Observing a trend? You're probably noticing the cycles of my blogging tendency. When I catch on the blogging fever, you can definitely anticipate a train of fresh postings. Well, this time I seem to have rediscovered the joy of blogging, of penning down my thoughts without being restricted by word limitations.

Many years ago, I picked up a really good book but never got around to finish it before I had to return it. It was such a good book that I've always been wanting to read and re-read it again. Borrowed it from Grace not too long ago and I'm hooked on it! The God Chasers by Tommy Tenney is really some goodness packed from cover to cover (I haven't exactly got to the back cover, but you know what I'm driving at)!

To sum up what this book is all about, simply a call to grow deeper in intimacy with God; not just knowing about God, but knowing God. Not just dancing at the veil of the Holy of Holies, but being drenched by the glory of God. Reading both modern and Bible-time accounts just makes your heart hungry for more, almost a sense of spiritual dissatisfaction knowing your greatest encounter with God, is actually minimal.

We're merely eleven days away from the new year and I can smell it; it is going to be a good year! I want 2012 to be a year of of just drawing ever-closer to God and that this one thing be all that matters. Reading His word just tells me there's so much more to Him. Nope, not His blessings or His grand plans, but just knowing Him - as a Father, a King and a Friend. The work of His hands comes naturally as you seek His face and His heart first.

I want to know what is God saying to me today. Tommy Tenney in his book highlights that we should walk so close to God and know Him personally that it doesn't talk halts of thunder for us to know that God is speaking. But to have such intimacy with God that you're certain even when He whispers to your heart.

We should constantly ask ourselves this: where are we in our relationship with God? Is that really it? Or is there more? Don't stop at where you are at with God, I can assure you that there is MORE. If what we have had was just the tip of the ice berg, can you imagine what beholds if only you'd press in and keep pursuing Him with all your heart? Getting all excited just imagining how beautiful it could be!!

2012 is probably gonna be a good year but also a busy one. But from here forth, I want to keep my focus on the right thing, the one thing - Jesus. So there we go, a mega note-to-self for the coming year!

A New Chapter Unfolds

It's been so long since I last posted on this blog. Now with the prevalence of Facebook and Twitter, I really wonder if anyone would still have the patience to read through blog posts. After all, we're starting to be accustomed to everything short and sweet, and thoughts of no more than 150words.

So why the sudden urge to blog? On a random night like this, I thought about someone who has been a great inspiration to me in more than one ways. My form teacher in secondary 3 and English/Literature teacher for 2 years in to my graduating year - Mrs Joann Tan, and visited her blog (www.mrstanjoann.blogspot.com). Then I thought, I should blog too! Haha.

I still remember during one of our last few lessons, Mrs Tan asked us where were we planning to go after graduation. When she asked for my response, I recall telling her I wanted to be a nurse (I don't know what came into me, that I actually thought I was going in to nursing!), but who would have guessed that today I'm on my way to becoming an English teacher. Give it a couple more years down the road, I might just find myself repeating the things I heard her say in class to my students.

That being said, Mrs Tan was an excellent teacher and a life inspiration. She had the magic in her to make a boring and dreadful subject fun! You know how they always say that your command of the language is something you either had or lacked. Under her guidance and drilling and making English lessons interesting, many improved! She knew when to be stern with us, and when to let loose and joke with us. Simply put, she's truly the best teacher I've ever had and I want to be just like her (a lot to work on, and yours truly is truly still a work in progress)!

But well, whatever comes, comes.

Anyway, here's my first post as a twenty-one year old adult, and a happy one for that matter. It's still unthinkable that I have been living and breathing on this planet for 21 years! That sure sounds like a long time where so much has happened and so much more could have happened. Thank God for His quiet, guiding hands that has kept me till this day. Even before I knew who He was, He knew me and called me by name. Even before one of my days came to being, He had ordained all the days of my life - this is the God whom I worship, whom I have chosen to give my life to for as long as I shall live and beyond.

So as I welcome a new chapter in my life, here's dedicating my every moment back to the One who gave me this life - Jesus, the love of my life.