I am free

Everything happens for a reason
Every day I'm alive is a blessing from above

I am free, to live.

Take-back from mission trip.

I'm back from Pahang, Malaysia. I was on my second mission trip and I feel that I've taken back so much.

Christmas 2008 is going down in history as one of the most memorable ones. Let me ask you a question - what did you do on Christmas the year before? Two years before? I can't even answer that.

This Christmas changes everything.

Lesson one: Everyone deserves the right to be loved for who they are, not what they have, or what they look like. And by saying this, I mean everyone. More than two thousand years ago, God sent His son to die for us because He loved us. Today he still loves us the same - each one of us has the same worth in His eyes, despite the economic downturns. We never depreciate in value. I think I've been given yet another wake-up call, even before the trip to never look down on those less fortunate than me. They aren't lesser people. They are human. They are part of my family. We love because He first loved.

Lesson two: This one I've learnt from my teammates. Even though they started puking/diarrhoea and burning up with fevers, they did not utter a single word of complaint and were still joyful. Shawn Tay for example. She goes into the toilet, pukes, then comes out grinning "I feel a lot better". Ryan and Bobcharlie. My teammates demonstrated what it truly means to be more than conquerors

Lesson three: God is in control. No weapon formed against us can remain. Though we were down, not all were down :) And I believe that something has been done when we were in Malaysia.

It has been a meaningful Christmas, spent with some of my closest friends. I have acquired a deep admiration and respect for the villagers who can cook large quantities of good food. (Kids as young as 8 were chopping onions with parangs!) I love the kids there - they appreciate the simple joys in life - paper aeroplanes, colourful balloons, bouncy balls. And the little monyets (monkeys) put a smile on my face.
-
(this song kept me alive on the bus trip back home, as well as talking to God)
There's a reason

There's a reason that the sick can say that You're the Healer
Why the ones who've known great failing find the arms of a Redeemer
There's a reason we can say
That no weapon formed against us can prevail
For our God is good and He will make a way

Chorus1:
Here in the name of the Almighty God
Is our strength and peace; our comfort is
In the face of the eye of the storm
We declare You rule and reign forever

Verse2:
There's a reason that the needy can say You're their Provider
And a reason we believe through every battle we are fighting
There's a reason we will rise
As a city on a hill that cannot hide
We are ruined for all else but Jesus Christ

Chorus1:
Here in the name of the Almighty God
Is our strength and peace; our comfort is
In the face of the eye of the storm
We declare You rule and reign

Chorus2:
Free from all shame and the weight of the world
Every curse of sin is beneath our feet
Through the grace of our Saviour and Lord
We are heirs to rule and reign

Bridge:
Our hope will be the singer, Your Word the song within us
As we believe we know that chains will surely break
Our faith will be the dancer to trample fear and cancer
We'll dance on every lie, injustice, doubt and shame, yeah

Final Chorus1:
Here in the name of the Almighty God
Is our strength and peace; our comfort is
In the face of the eye of the storm
We declare You rule and reign forever

A random update

Leaving for Malaysia on Tuesday,at 9am in church. Going on a mission trip that I am excited for, though I'm a bit sick now.

Benzi the dog is at my house, somewhere in my kitchen now. He's my mum's friend's dog. I have nothing much to update already, so longgggg.

Shadow & Sunshine

And time and again, the shadow proves the sunshine. I suppose this is all about trusting and knowing in His character.

One little miracle, could turn it all around. The Shadow Proves The Sunshine :)

Greater things have yet to come

God Of This City - Chris Tomlin

Finally online after slightly more than a week of absence. Had a great camp - can't describe it here, you'd have to ask me yourselves. I love my cute group, Amore Romeos. Update later. I have 52 emails to read. My gosh. 42 notifications, 6 friend requests on Facebook.

The Web misses me.

Whenever I fall down, you hold me

Amazing Grace

(Foreverandever Etc. by David Crowder Band)

My life just went through an entire paradigm shift and things are never going to be the same, ho-hum. Why do the shifts always occur in December? Pretty interesting thought...

Your grace has found me just as I am

Empty handed but alive in your hands :)

From today onwards, I'm going to do this whole tag thing, which I think is refreshing. I went on a get new music spree today and I'm looking to expand my collection. Did an iPod backup with Sharepod yesterday so all my music is safe now. Mission training tomorrow, we are going to learn songs in Bahasa!

Get Fit

I have to start a fitness regime to whip myself back into shape. Even if that includes torturing myself with horrendous cardio. I've been snacking too much that I'm seeing muscle mass convert into non-muscle mass, which means, fat. And by the way I'm not really fat, but I'm just not used to not having a super low body fat percentage.

Whoooooo. Exercise is good for the body, mind, spirit.