oooh and how could I forget!!...

Happy 22nd Birthday

to my dearest, most beloved and precious friend
~ AQL!! ~

You lousy one.. go on NZ tour with other friends...
without me... coz I have no M and T power...
*boooooo .... hahaha..
but hope u still manage to have much fun without me :P
(but I think there'll still be something lacking.. hahaha)
Enjoy the nice scenery there..
and share with me the pics one day
And we'll go back there again when possible!!!... :P

Ephesians 3:20

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us"

- NIV

"God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us."

- The Msg Bible

"Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think."

- NLT

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us"

- NKJV

so what's with this eph 3:20... hmmz, it's actually one of the most significant thing that happened to me on my last trip in Melb... but I didn't get down to blog it... to start off with.. for my 2 weekends in Melb, I made it a point to attend service at Planetshakers for 2 sundays without fail. And on the 2nd sunday, they had a special exercise thingy.. where they handed out slips of papers to each individual to claim the promise on the paper.. and pray through it.. mind you.. it's random.. and I got Eph 3:20... then I wasn't really sure what this verse means.. the 1st time I read it.. was in NIV... but I kept the slip of paper still in my bible.. well, my melb trip was meant to be a personal spiritual retreat as well.. so I really appreciated alone time.. when my dear friend had to go to uni etc.. it really didn't affect me.. I just spend time with my Heavenly Father.. well, there were some goals that I set out to do on this trip, but didn't accomplish.. so I was pretty upset.. but all in all.. God still bless me with that special svc in Planetshakers.. and left me with this special promise.. that he spoke to me.. and is now so REAL in my life... on hindsight, it was a really fruitful trip and I thank Him for the revelation... I was just browsing through my posts in Aug 2006 and chanced upon the post titled My Princess (do click on it.. and read it.. then you'll know what I'm referring to)... and little did I realise.. the last line of what sheri rose shepherd wrote.. refers to this verse as well.. Woah!.. He's been repeatedly speaking this verse to me... and yep.. I've been meditating on it as well..to truely grasp the meaning... And interestingly after I started internship in church.. one fine thursday, at pastors & interns devotion time.. Ps Benny also shared from this verse..

the true meaning is pretty clear cut if you read the 2nd version.. the msg bible translation... And true enough.. He's been doing so much more than I can imagine or request in my dreams... And I just want to thank Him and praise Him... it's been the best season yet in my life, during the past few mths that I've dedicated to Him to serve Him wholeheartedly.. Many pple and even those dearest and closest to me may not understand.. but it's my commitment to God to spend these "6 mths" after graduating.. to serve the wider church as a whole.. the community and just waiting upon the Lord.. And He's been speaking to me and just helping me to pave the way and assist me in my planning for the next 3 yrs down the road... And I believe, He will grant me the desires of my heart... He will let His will be done in my life.. All I've got to do is exercise my FAITH... mmmmz... And of coz.. how dare I say I'm from faith community church (fcc) if I have little or no faith.. :P

so I decided to pick up the book again...

no particular reason...
but when I 1st started reading this book
maybe earlier on this yr
it was "not captivating at all"
I'm dead serious..
so after the 1st 2 or 3 pages..
I dropped the book..
And read other stuff

But I've seen tons of pple
quoting from this book...
And really loving this book
And wondering why it doesn't
touch me the same way?


I guess it just wasn't the book for
the season of my life then...
not the right timing :P

well last nite..
I felt God's prompting to come back to it...
But I only physically flipped the pages this evening

Chapter One - The Heart of a Woman

1. long to be romanced


2. long to be an irreplaceable part of a shared adventure


3. long to possess a beauty to unveil

I can totally relate to that now
somehow just a couple of months ago
when I 1st bought the book...
and picked it up to read for the 1st time
I couldn't... or perhaps
this discovery of the mystery of a woman's soul
wasn't that appealing

it's funny how I just can't comprehend something that Eunice once commented to me about... that becoz of my capability.. well Aunty Cindy and Ps Melvin likes to call it multi-gifted/talented... and all the little life/survival skills that I have... it kindaf "put guys down"... & it could be one of the reason that "scares guys off"... resulting in my current singlehood...

I can safely say I'm not really bothered by this current singlehood-ness..
not because I don't like the opp. sex...
not because I've decided not to get married...
not because I'm not anxious to meet my life partner...
It's just because I fully trust that God will provide...
And in due time... the desires of my heart will be fulfilled

And this period of singlehood..
God is using it to draw me closer unto Himself
Find total dependance in Him
Embrace Him and Love Him passionately
Preparing me physically, emotionally, spiritually
for what's up ahead...
It's the best season in my life
Where I can totally dedicate myself to doing His work
Letting God use me fully...
Discovering the will and purpose He has for me...

sweet

And I just love the intimacy of our relationship
I just can't help falling deeper and deeper in love
with Him each day...

Til God thinks I'm ready and it's about time...
I will just wait upon Him and worship Him :)

life is complex

but not complicated...
we are the ones who make it seems complicated...

challenge: Live simply for others to simply live

Arrows Pastors Retreat 2006

before we go into a whole lot of photos..
I'd just like to blog a bit abt the event..
It took place at the end of Sept..
and the mth of Sept was a really hectic mth
Most of us interns.. just volunteered our service
so I was practically stretched to the max..
driver cum visual cum videocam
switching roles as and when..
totally pooped out by the end..
but greatly refreshed spiritually
coz gleaned much from sharing of
Rev Edmund Chan and Irvin Rutherford
and had a fantabulous time
working with the whole team of drivers & helpers
new friendships forged

lovely, funny and unforgettable moments...

me&simon, me&ian...@ one of the pastor's apartment resting in the arvo...
(thanks to their trust and generosity... we could take power nap)


the drivers early in the morning at the left bank having breakky..
vernon's treat.. great food and company...


vernon & daryl... douglas & me


the bunch of us who stayed over on sat nite at the quest
(special room coz some pastors left early), photos at dinner at atrium in burswood... just us.. and with the speaker (rev EC & IR) & Ps Benny etc..



totally pooped by the end.. vernon sleeping on the couch at Ps Benny's place on Sunday Night... Douglas posing like Cleopatra on the nice fancy european style sofa

Uncle Yew Beng and Aunty Serene's kids.. shevonne and sisters and Asher.. what adorable and sweet kids..



Ps Philip Huan's son.. sooo cute & chubby.. Keith Huan that's his name

Ian and Douglas acting cute... this is how u differentiate natural cuteness and fake "kawaiiness".. hahaha

27th Sept Central Zone Boardgames Nite

.. and Vibe Bullcreek - the ultimate winner!! woohooo.... :D

Photos

Alrightyo, my bad for flooding this place with a spate of recent birthday pics.. and not that recent birthday pics.. *grinz...

Appreciate it kiez.. as I decide to compile them.. and display them here.. @ such weird hr.. :P slept in the evening.. and am quite awake now.. *haiz...

Anyhowzie, enjoy the upcoming pics!! from most recent to least recent.. unfortunately, the picasa collage function cuts off some of the pics.. pls don't blame me.. those of you that got cut off..

Nov babies

marky's 19th & timmy's 17th birthday.. on 09112006... ( the 2 bros sharing same birthday but 2 yrs apart.. nv fails to tickle pple)

Casey's 22nd Birthday Dinner (my expensive cake!!.. hahaha..a shoutout to casey: thanx for the birthday dinner treat!)

vernon's 21st surprise

Albert's surprise :) oops.. no group pic...

Oct Babes

Hooi's 21st.. and her presents.. (oops.. excluding me lah.. hahaha)

hooi's 21st dinner (sorry for the cut-off.. :P picasa auto-generated.. I can't help it.. keke)

Janni's 18th Birthday cell pic and present

beloved jeanie's 19th surprise... (the only 2 pics I have.. there were tons of pple there @ mei'en's place)

Angie's 21st dinner (07102006)

Angie's 21st surprise (02102006)

Liang's 22nd surprise!! (looooong time no see)

Sept celebrations

Erlina aka Ailing's Birthday on 25th Sept ;)

SuAnn's & Eugene's surprise and birthday lunch (24th Sept 2006)

Here is my song

Here is my song that I sing to You O Lord
And I will come into Your presence forever
And I'll, I will praise You
And I'll, I worship You
O my Lord Jesus I will love You

As You come and see me in my life
I will surrender all into Your hands Jesus
As You come and save me
I believe I will be saved
Thank You my Lord
Thank You my Lord Jesus

random updates

so.. there were quite a handful of birthdays that just passed
and more coming up..

will upload photos..
when I got the full set of recent birthdays pics

well, something eventful happened today..
I literally misplaced my car keys @ a post office...
for a good 5 mins.. I was panicking..
trying to recall where I could've left it..
the 1st counter I went to..
the preparation counter?
but I couldn't find it..
tried going back to the 1st counter to ask the lady
but she was pretty unfriendly..
kindaf ignored me & just continue serving her customer
so I went back to the lady that served me last..
And seek her help..
so she went round to the counters
and asked whether anyone handed in a set of car keys...

*phew thank God..
that someone didn't run away with my car keys...

well, so I had records of misplacing house keys (long time ago)... countless times of losing wallets... and false alarms of losing wallets and mobile.. and now an addition to the list - car keys!

the most expensive birthday cake ever...

so yeah...
haven't been blogging much...
lotsaf birthdays recently..

yet another one.. today..
or rather yesterday..
since it's 1am already...

it was casey's 22nd..
so we were going to
east perth for korean bbq
and I was gonna get ice-cream cake from il gelato in nthbridge

I purposefully left church earlier.. so I could go home.. wash up.. get ready in time.. yet I still left home late.. well the cake is meant to be surprise item.. so yeah.. I had to reach dinner b4 7pm.. so he doesn't see it... but I only left nthbridge at 653pm.. and I may reach just in time in east perth at 7.. so I didn't look out.. and I didn't keep to speed limit.. and lo and behold.. I got flagged down by a police.. sheesh.. my 1st ever speeding fine!! in my whole life... be it s'pore or perth..
I was driving at 67km/h on a 50 road.. tada.. 100 bucks gone.. and 1 demerit point.. :( oh wells.. abt time lah... since I've been speeding quite a bit the past few yrs.. and nv got a fine.. but it's really just not the time coz my stash of savings running quite low.. and I'm planning to go east timor again in Jan.. lotsaf expenses.. change air tickets.. apply for bridging visa to leave australia.. all need money.. big sighz...seriously.. yeah... so all in all.. the ice-cream cake cost 133 bucks!..

once bitten twice shy.. I shall never speed again..!!...and the other day.. I accidentally bang into ps yoy's car.. to get it fixed it was another 150 bucks... arrrggghhh... and I broke my record in parallel parking.. usually I'm quite proud of my parallel parking.. once in.. but I tried more than 6 times I think.. to get in to the parallel parking in nthbridge, james st.. tonite.. after casey's birthday dinner.. aarrgghh.. so embarrassing.. + the fact that.. the big table of pple sitting across the road.. cheered and clapped when I got out of the car.. sheesh.. and they were still there.. when I went back to the car after gelare.. and they cheered again when I left... my oh my...

And quite a bit of happening stuff in church too.. hmmmz... pretty eventful day I'd say...