My prayer

Thank God for leading me. You have brought me to many crossroads, grant me the freedom to choose and most importantly assuring me of your presence regardless of whatever decision i make. Now that i am clear of what i want to commit into for at least the next few years, Lord i ask for your favour, your providence and everlasting confidence. Allow me to have also favour with people whom i'll meet along the way. All in all i cast all my worries and anxieties into your hands. I will not dwell in unworthy stuffs but i'll look towards you, with my very focus on you i know i'll never get lost. Make me stronger, independent and dependent on you. 

Yet another learning phase,

I know you'll hold my hand.

With many obstacles to face,

I'll not be afraid. 

I'll stand strong 

and witness your grace.

Thank you Lord.

Enjoy the Journey

I just started reading this book that i've bought few months back (when joel was still working at BBS) and God gave me another revelation. This book is an account of jars of clay and Brother andrew going vietnam and china for mission work. Though i've been to indonesia twice for mission work myself, i wasn't as impacted as reading just the first chapter of this book!

I began to think about the suffering children in the third world countries and all who are facing life's greatest battle. How small are my problems as compared to theirs? We count down every minute we spend in lecture halls and tutorials and hoping for holidays to arrive asap. Them? Every single minute for them is battling moment. Can they live past yet another minute? Will they be at the Heaven's door in a minute's time? We have the privilege to make decisions like what to eat for lunch, where to go after work, should i join this club...where they can only decide between persevering to keep that last breath and surrendering to death. Aren't we so much more fortunate?

Oh Lord, have mercy on these suffering children. We claim your promise, that suffering children are ALL safe in your arms. May your grace and love covers them, day and night. Lift their pain, their burden, their worries and grant them your very peace and happiness. Oh Lord...have mercy.

Enjoy the Journey, that God has set for you. Let Him unfold His wonderful plans in our life, with that trust and confidence. Many crossroads He'll bring us to. But be assured that no matter what decisions we make in life, whether big or small, He'll be there for you. He's always there for you...

Girly are u tired? Don't grow weary!

God, our God will make you strong.

He'll take care of you, 

He'll give you a better tomorrow. 

Don't give up, hang in there,

for God has promised good to you.

He'll surely make you soar on eagles' wings.

Love from above, love from your sides.

My dear friend, jia you ah...

With you, with love. 

My dear Friends

My words for you guys...

Packing up the dreams God planted
In the fertile soil of you
I can't believe the hopes He's granted
Means a chapter of your life is through

But we'll keep you close as always
It won't even seem you've gone
'Cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong

And friends are friends forever
If the Lord's the Lord of them
And a friend will not say never
'Cause the welcome will not end
Though it's hard to let you go
In the Father's hands we know
That a lifetime's not too long
To live as friends

And with the faith and love God's given
Springing from the hope we know
We will pray the joy you live in
Is the strength that now you show

We'll keep you close as always
It won't even seem you've gone
'Cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong

The granny operation

Older people usually take a longer time to make any changes to their life. My granny.
I went for dinner with my family, all my aunts who are Christian and my granny at this "zhi cha" stall. We ate really fresh prawns, fish and bee hoon crab! Ok, the point of this dinner was to persuade my granny to go for baptism. So, everyone was really praying in our heart even when we were eating. Haha. The "persuasion" starts when we finally finished our meal. Initially no matter what my aunts say, my granny will keep saying no because she cannot put down "something" that her husband, my granddad, has left behind(i dunno what) and also my only uncle. My only uncle is considered a staunch taoist and my granny is the traditional sort thus she listens more to the only male heir of the family. I guess it supposedly mean following that someone who can carry the family name on for her husband. Anyway, my aunt's husband started telling miraculous stories he read from a book to my granny. Slowly, her heart began to soften towards God. After much assurance from my aunts, she finally said YES! That one hour at the dinner table was worthwhile... It's so great! Really God's timing...i do pray that she'll not change her mind and God's peace will continue to be with her. Also that my uncle will be willing to release my granny to baptise and it'll be even greater if he'll notice the changes God has done to her! :)

Had a chill out time at lynn's place with the same bunch of us after lunch today. Somehow i just feel that the atmosphere is really different. It's the same thing that we've been doing for the past few years actually, like ever since we were sec 2. However i could feel something different, i don't know how to explain though. Maybe because we all seem to be facing different situations in our life...like the guys in army, few of us overseas for studies, some in uni/poly while the rest are working. Boo.

Tml's bidding again! I really hope i can get the modules i wanna take!!! :)

Get well soon girly :)
Missing you :)

Looking back,
i miss the times we spent together.
Without much concerns and worries.
Will we be able to walk on together?
Will we be the pillars of our lives?

The sand will leave the waves one day,
to join the rest on the shore.
The leaves will wilt,
die away, so long.
The show will end one day,
the applause will fade away.

100 cranes for you

Your cheery smile, your positivity.
Your endurance, your pain.
Your suffering, your weakest times.
My friend, i'll support you till the end.
Be strong, persevere.
Please, do not give up.

I pray for greater weapons for this battle,
greater protection,
peace and grace to be upon you.
May the 100 cranes bring you love, from us.

I'll remember your smile, your love,
the times we have fun together,
we train, we ate mango ice, we suffered muscle aches,
we gossip, we go crazy and made everyone mad,
we encouraged and supported each other,
we sing, sleep, eat, shit.

I'll wait for you on court,
wait for you to take modules together,
wait for you to go taiwan together again,
wait for you to craze together.

You'll pull through.
With you, 'nua-sai', fellow bimbo.
With love.

We'll face this

The earth will not stop revolving, no matter what. So, get up, go on.

Ever since i leave raffles hall when year one ended for me, events after events filled my schedule totally.
First was the taiwan trip i went with my block friends-just the 6 of us, girls, without tour, on our own. It was a release from all the stress and busy life in Singapore!


Photo at the airport before boarding the plane to taiwan



Great bubble tea in Taiwan!


Then i came back Singapore for 2 weeks of handball training before going off for church camp at KL. A great refreshing empowering session i ever had. It was one of the few times where God really came and spoke to me, touched me and renewed me, in and out. :)

After coming back from church camp, i had another 2 weeks of handball training before setting off to Taiwan, again, for my handball training and competition! It was all about independence and dependence. Independent in a foreign land, without church for 16 days. Dependent on my only confidante, supporter and counsellor, Him alone.


Group photo of the girls and guys team



Singapore NUS handball team(Taiwan trip group)



We even went to "Guess Guess Guess", famous taiwan variety show by jacky wu



Photo with some of the taiwan girls team players


The taiwan team was a really great host! They brought us to good places to shop, eat and sing! We had fun playing around with each other, training together in the cold indoor court although the weather outside reaches more than 35 degrees, gossiping till late nights and exchanged jerseys for memory sake. I really miss those times in Taiwan, the people there, the food, the fun places and the late nights. It was even more assuring when i realised some of the Taiwan girls are Christians! :)

Now that i'm back in Singapore, it's time to get use to life here. The hustle and bustle life, the many commitments to consider and never ending tasks to do. With my new youth cell, i'm beginning to learn adapting to new environment fast. It's time handball comes to a pause in my life and odac is soon to an end. Besides handball, i would say that NUS odac has not failed to provide me with fun and great experiences in many adventures i've gone through. Great peeps in the committee and committed people, sorry for leaving the comm for a while for my handball competition. Thank God i made it for Race 6 and Desaru cycling trip so that at least i can contribute some help for odac. Desaru cycling is really fun! Made great friends, many pro cyclist and a seriously pro blader who bladed through the 100km rough and uneven terrains while we were all cycling! Salute! 11 out of 14 of the exco were there and we kinda had a mini gathering. Glad to have my passion for outdoor activities back! :)


Group photo at Changi village


More photos when my friends upload them! :)

A new stretch, a new start.
I commit them in your hands,
all over again.
May you come and take control,
may i not be weary.
For it is no longer i live,
but Christ who lives in me.

Skeleton man?

A vision:
Black skeleton man (stick man), without flesh, walking wobbly and weakly.
God said:
What's more important? Your body which i've created or the pleasures of the world?
Is all that you have sufficient for the rest of the journey in your life? Am i not your sole provider?
I say:
Yes Lord, i admit sometimes i push myself so that i may enjoy the best of both worlds. This time, i choose to answer your call, not to do what i want to do but what you want for me. Grant me courage.

Add flesh with bones.
Now a complete man creates.

Planting.

Just had my quiet time...having quiet time at 2.30pm?? Haha...yeaps...not for my loads of work and training at night, i would gladly spend that time at night. Well, nonetheless, its not when but how right?! Heh...yea. Anyway today's my free day...soo...boo!


All i have for God were all the WHYs. God was firm with me...gave me a picture and spoke to me. I was totally in awe! Seriously!
He gave a picture of someone planting. To plant u gotta dig a hole, put the seed and cover up the hole. To make sure the plant grows, you gotta need water sunlight and all the scientific stuffs. Yes, thats what my God has been doing in my life for the pass few miserable yet beneficial months... He told me," I've planted a few seeds in your heart, it's all the digging that's making your heart ache. But since you have pulled through the pains, now come the reward. Before enjoying the rewards, you gotta reach your hand towards me, so that i can pour forth my blessings into your life and so the seeds can grow." Awesome.

"...You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth..." (Mark 12:14) -Woooaooo how i wish i can be like that too...

Well, yesterday went to this abandoned railway track with my ODAC friends for recee at sunset way. Pretty cool! We climbed through tunnels and walk the dirty big drains (picture below). It's really cool and fun and...yeaps...i fell on my butt cause of the slippery ALGAE!! Though i think i won't go back again...not to cause my fun experience into a dreadful one! (You know when u get too sick of something when u eat them too much...yea...)





Yups...time for work and training! :)

Facing Your Giants

Amazing battle David had with Goliath. Many read it as a novel or just another fantasy story. But the fact is, it's a real life story! From how he was chosen and how God prepared His way. Despite commiting one of the bad-dest sin, God named him-A man after His own heart.

To be truthful, i did not start my year well, which all along i wanted to and i thought i am going to. Aftermath of bad experiences and all that i do not wish to happen all happened to mean right at the start of the year! :|

Seriously, there are also times when i really cannot do my QT at all. It seems like God is trying to let me out in the wilderness myself for a while to learn some stuffs! But i gotta admit, things are just so so hard without Him. Tried having days in your life having training in the morning, studying in the noon and training again at night? Who on earth will have the strength to do QT? Yeaps...life has been like this for me for the past 1 month. I know clearly that the tradeoff would be my r/s with God. No doubt through this experience, i've made awesome friends from hall and i don''t regret. But i want God...more than anything else. I want that passion and all the great times i had with Him everyday again!

Yeaps...people in life do teach you lessons or two. One of my friend did. I learnt so so much. All that i thought i'm good at was proven wrong in this incident i had. All along i thought i had enough experiences and skills to deal with this issue...but i was so wrong. I need God. I need to trust Him all over again.

In Christ alone,
I place my trust.
And find my glory in the power of the cross.
In every victory,
Let it be said of Him.
My source of strength,
My source of hope,
In Christ alone.

God led me to a book in my sister's cupboard. Facing your Giants-Max Lucado. Though i'm not done with it, the first 3 chapters impacted me a lot!

Actually my blog speaks alot...since i stopped blogging for a while, yeap thats the period of time where i really had my uuppps and ddoownns.. Boohoo. But now I thought to myself, i must stand up and answer His call again. And Joanne will never be the same again! :)

Finals!

Never in my life did i went into finals for any sports competition! Yes, Raffles Hall's handball team(girls and guys) got into finals! :D :D :D Who says Raffles is weak. boo! Haha. Final's this friday evening...to be realistic, the chances of winning is like 20%? They all play like men! Tall, big and strong! Oh my gosh....seriously man.



Yes lah! RHandball girls rocks!! :P

You gotta increase the SPEED!

Lord, help me smile once again.
Find me under my bed.
Let me start all over again.

Clarifications

I didn't know my last sentence of my previous post misled my dear friend kevin...
I don't meant i'm in a r/s or i'm thinking to have one or i'm having someone in mind...i just meant that whether it's now or in the future, i wouldn't want this to be an interference to my r/s with God as i've seen too many people falling apart because of this. Yea, kevin? Haha.

DON'T GIVE UP PERSEVERING! I believe in you and i know God is holding on to you too! :)

Anyway, i feel like changing my blogskin...or maybe the whole webpage itself. Probably creating a new webpage for my blog since i've learnt how to make websites and all the more i should be applying what i've learnt before i forget! Heh. :P

Long long ago...

Yes...i realised i haven't blog ever since i entered NUS. Boo! God has been dealing with me for the last four and a half months. I'm indeed greatly challenged. A great turning point of my life, i must say. There's simply too many too many stuffs in my mind, in my life. God is testing me and many a times all i can do is to break down in tears. He answers and He speaks. Yeap i know He's reasons and intentions...I can't do all these alone! :|

A new year ahead, a new start, a fresh challenge. Many ask me so how's your 20th birthday...i simply got nothing to say. All i can think of is that at least 1/3 of my life is gone! Have i done all that God wants me to do? What are the takeaways? Hmm. Addition to this are the various STUFFS i "have to" think about. Saying good bye to teens and hello to adulthood...i need to grow up. I need to get out of that shell of mine and be bold to shoulder all that's coming my way. Many issac-s to give up... one of which is love r/s. I'm praying that it'll not be a hindrance to my work for Him, i can't deny my struggles in this area... what can i say?

Evan Almighty!

Went for a quick movie at vivo with vennie chingyee gilda and joel who didn't watch but shopped. haha. IT's nice! Though it contains a few lame stuffs..haha

But i guess those who don't know the story of the Noah's Ark wouldn't understand as much as those who know. One of the part i remember is at the end where they show a dove with a fresh olive in its peak. It shows of God's covenant with Noah! Just like what it's shown in the movie, Noah was the ONLY faithful one who listened to God to build an ark despite the situation where an ark is completely unnecessary. It indeed proves of how God understands our situations much betta than we do. Perhaps sometimes things may look weird, feel weird and doesn't make sense. But actually, all it takes is the little faith of ours to believe that God is in control of ALL THINGS. Just like in the movie, evan wanted to give up believing that there'll be a flood...but God appeared just in time so that evan and his family, including the neighbours can be saved.

Another interesting point that i didn't realise is the part about how the building of the ark can be also a form of bonding and trust within Noah's family. According to Gen 6:13, God spoke only to Noah...i believe it takes alot of courage and believe for the family to believe in Noah and support his idea of building an ark. God was concerned about the whole family as well.

Many people would regard this story a myth or a legend...something that is impossible to happen. True enough we don't have sufficient proofs that are tangible now to say that it existed. (Or maybe there is already.) Whatever it is, God is indeed still and will be evident in the lives of many..those who are being called and CHOSEN. He's not any other God that we worship and thats it...He's one who talks to us, encourages us, rule us and live within us. Even that gentle touch of His will melt our heart and refresh us already...someone who's unavoidable, impossible to live without. :D

3 days of rest

What's the feeling of having lessons at 8am on 4 out of 5 school days? Ans:Bleah. :| Well, i think i will get used to it in no time. Haha

The past week had been rather hectic for me...for the fact that i got loads of tutorials to clear!!! Sleep only at 2+ 3 and wake up at 730...ha. So much so that my QT lasted for 10 mins only and day by day i can feel my strength being sucked. Lost and empty.

God's graciousness and faithfulness never fails...when i went for cell on friday, i could feel His presence recharging me...on sat and sun, He continued speaking to me and even used me for His work despite my lack of zeal. I was reading Exodus 5...the part about Moses and Aaron going to the Pharoah asking for 3 days break for the workers to go and hold a festival for God. Pharoah disagreed and even says that they were trying to find excuses to skive. After which Moses went to the Israelites to convey the Lord's message. However, the israelites did not want to listen to him due to the discouragements and harsh labour they received.

Upon pondering, i realise how we can be so like Pharoah where we denied God's invitation to worship Him due to the unending tasks on hand in life. Sometimes we 'postpone' our worship for Him where it should be a 24/7 thingy. Also, we could be like the
Israelites, having so much discouragements and disappointments in God in life that we just wouldn't want to listen to anyone whom God sent. Doesn't all these sound familiar? Friends who are going through period such as this? Personally i feel that everyone will have a pharoah period of time in life where we get so occupied with so many stuffs that we chuck God aside. Since I wouldn't want to be chucked aside by someone i love so dearly, I believe God will feel a million times more than i do.

I seriously cannot live without Him...He's my only source of strength and the reason to live, to study, to do tutorials!! If not i wouldn't work so so hard already..haha. Friends out there who aren't christian probably wouldn't understand what i mean...it's simply the drive for me to live my life well...the very reason why i even existed.

Right...gotta choing my tutorials already!!! :| Oh but the happy thing to look forward to is movie at vivo!! Evan Almighty! :)

Oh, just remembered, blk 5 really got loads of people with funny and unique laughter...haha!! I must record all of them down one day and make it my alarm ringtone. Haha!!! :P

Nite

A river flowing against gravity?

Over the mountains and the seas, your river runs with LOVE for me.

Part of the song, I could sing of your love forever. Sang this song in cell today. Though i've been singing this for like the last how many decades (haha), i've never seen or imagine this image in my head before; a stream of river literally going through the sea and over the mountain, UP and down. UP! God gave this unrealistic yet real image. Speaks clearly of His Love despite situations...a gentle reminder that He's always there, and will never leave. Whenever we're thirsty, we can get a drink. Whenever we are tired, sit in the river and the current will carry you. Whenever you are tired, rest by the river and remember He's there to give you a pat. God seriously never fails...no one understand me better than He do. I didn't know how to tell my friends some issues i'm facing...hoping to get some wise advice...He came and spoke to me, PERSONALLY. Tremendous encounter. Who says you can only encounter God during great events?

Oh my gosh! Just when i'm typing this entry, my itunes played i could sing of your love forever by delirious! So unplanned man! I played Love Me by colin raye, next song was all the love in the world by the corrs and pop, goes the song! :D Double confirmation.

Anyway, i forgot to post this super duper cute photo of me and my roommate. Haha! Do we look like marios? Hee...



Cute? Ha! Good night!

Updates...

Life's full of challenges, i must say. Now that i'm more or less settled in my hostel, the next thing i gotta deal with is my self-discipline and time management! First 2 weeks of lessons don't have tutorials and labs...so timetable is super slack...which leads to late nights...hee. BUT, i'll definitely try to learn to manage my time well! :|



This is my dearest roommate! :) And we do stupid and fattening stuffs in our room!!! :P We eat like a pig, take photos like some idiots and scream most of the time! Haha. The funny thing is, we always bump each others' butt! Haha...oh it goes to show our room isnt very big. HA. Shall take some photos of my room when it's better furnished! :)

Some photos of us crazy-ing!



Do we look like we're in a tunnel? Haha!



Oh man...look at my extended chin...Haha! Don't bite me xiuwen!!!

All thanks to the wonderful creation of MACBOOK! :) Yea macbook rocks! Haha.

Right, gotta get prepared for lectures soon...it's gonna be that china lecturer! Though his accent is more or less gone, i don't quite understand what he's trying to convey! :| He make interesting calculus boring and difficult...never mind! I believe things will turn out betta in future! ;)

Shall post more soon! Cya guys! :)

Philippians 1

What can i say bout PAUL? He's really worthy to be called a faithful follower of God! Are we ready to say that to live is Christ? Is Christ really EVERYTHING to us? Our one aim and purpose is to glorify Him and not to achieve knowledge, pleasure, recognition and fame? To paul, to live is Christ, first, last, midst of ALL, and ALWAYS Christ.

Read this from by Dr. Henerietta C. Mears:

Christ is the giver of life-"I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

(John 10:10)

Christ is life itself-"I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." (Gal 2:20)

Christ is the model of my life-"Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is

perfect." (Matthew 5:48)

Christ is the aim of my life-"I desire to make known "the power and coming of our Lord Jesus

Christ." (2 Peter 1:16)

Christ is the reward of my life-"Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!"

(2 Corinthians 9:15)

I was just reflecting how for the past 19 years of my life, or rather, the past few months, to be easier, has my life been spent such that i could really say that when i live, its all for Christ. Many a times i stumble upon difficulties in life and i failed to be the doer of His word. I believe things would be made much simplier if we really focus on God and God alone every moment of our life. Recently i went to the CCC camp, this sentence really strike me and woke me up-"We're first a christian, then a student on earth." Something familiar to all, yet not practiced in our daily life. The truth is that when we are students, we strive for great results, excellence, recognition and friends' attention. Once in a while we got a fresh anointing from God and got "woken up" yet again to the fact that we are called first a christan than a student. If only we can really spend QUALITY time with God DAILY to receive that fresh anointing, we won't have to stumble as much in life. It's a great lesson learnt from Paul...how he always had joy in every of his circumstances...singing praises to God when jailed and tortured, praying for others when chained. Not only is he others-centered, he's really God-centered.

Paul says:

When i travel, it is on Christ's errands.

When i suffer, it is on Christ's service.

When i speak, the theme is Christ.

When i write, Christ fills my letters.

I believe when that one day comes, where all people on earth will live like how paul lived.

Past 1 month...

Right...i realised i haven't been blogging for more than a month? Haha.

The past 1 month was really eventful and fun! I worked in HIS connection, went to a GREAT church camp and a FUN Nus sports camp! :D

Church camp was AWESOME! :) Really had a great encounter with God and hear from Him personally. I was not only refreshed but renewed totally, ready to do His mighty works. Not only personal encounters did i find joy in, but also seeing my sec 1 girls being delivered and receiving the gift of tongues excited me even further! It was a great breakthrough, an encouragement to me, a lift from God Himself. Who says God is intangible? He can be if He wants to be!

Sports camp was another high high for me! The camp lasted for 6 days 5 nights with less than 20 hours of sleep in total, having to be under the sun most of the time when the sun is up. (Duh...) Haha. I tried almost everything that's called sports!! Windsurfing, dragonboating, air rifiling, rock climbing, banana boating, archery...blah blah blah. One of the memorable ones is banana boating! Due to time constraint, only 6 people in my group gets to try it and i'm one of the honoured ones!! :P We're really really good at balancing man...we didn't capsize at all, though the driver keeps steering to the left and right. Haha. I've made loads of friends out there...really great friends who will do all sorts of boliao stuffs and talk real, and i mean REAL nonsense man. Clubbing? Yeap, our finale night. It was at the guild house in NUS itself, al alumni club. Definitely my first. Being someone who's quite against the idea of clubbing, i really did had fun there. I would say it's decent. There wasn't dirty stuffs, guys rubbing on girls or cigarette smokes which will kill me instantly. We were merely dancing to the music and talking most of the time. Haha. But i will still reserve my stand towards such social activites, knowing that things out there aren't as simple as that.

During the camp, God spoke to me real clearly with this verse:

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. -Romans 12:2

It was a timely reminder for me to stand out and be different and to remember His will for me in my life.

Up next i'll be going for the campus crusade camp with yurong, my dear tungling friend. It's tomorrow! One cool thing is that we'll be staying in the Price George Park's residence which is deemed to be luxurious! :) I'll definitely come back with loads of stories to tell!

time bombs

What's the feeling of carrying many time bombs with you wherever you go? Especially for the fact that you don't know when is it going to explode and blast off! : I guess faith and trust play an important role here...maybe they weren't explode, they would be switched off and removed.

I've finally came to a decision! Nus, faculty of Science...here i come! :) Mixed feelings though. Very much prefer ntu lifestyle and system. Oh well, too bad nus provides what i want. The important thing is...i'm not taking any science course ok!! It'll math math MATH! :P

He said, "Go and tell this people:

" 'Be ever hearing, but never understanding;

be ever seeing, but never perceiving.' -Isaiah 6:9

A man's steps are directed by the LORD.

How then can anyone understand his own way?
It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly

and only later to consider his vows. -Proverbs 20:24-25