CNY pics!

CNY celebration 1 - Preparing to Lou Hei!


Its supposed to look like that..


But it turned out like that.


TOo hungry so we attempted to eat plasticine


Ken,Michelle,Kareeann,Bec


Playing "pass on the action" game..


Jasmine , Michelle , Sarah


Fan Face! - Kareeann


Big Face - ..............


Fair Face - Michelle


Food Galore! - All prepared by Michelle! Power rite?!


Gong xi ah Gong xi - Lauren!


Our Chef taking a much deserved break.


So Long Farewell!


Smile!!

Cheena New Year!

Spending my first CNY overseas is not easy..
the eve of CNY began and ended like any ohter day. I guess the saddest part was when my mum asked :" What are you doing for reunion dinner tonight?"
At an instant, my thoughts were flooded with yummy food!, Angpaos! and most of all the family togetherness. Made my eyes water man...

Perhaps some may think, "aiya what so sad about not spending CNY at home?"
To most it may be visiting "once a year" relatives, sitting around watching tv. BUt its different when you have a close knitted family,bonded by a common love for God! We have no much fun just Lo Hei-ing, telling jokes, playing silly games, taking pictures and just enjoying one another's company.

Just as i was about to wallow in self pity and think about the FOOD that i'm gonna miss, the Lord reminded me about the reason why i stayed here. My theme this year is about Faithfulness and obedience. Obedience to his voice, faitfulness in what he called me to do!

However, Thank God for friends that he brought around me, to comfort as well as to write off CNY as not such a big deal haha..(you know who you are..!!).
Its not that i'm having a hard life or anything, currently enjoying the joblessness (Disclaimer: but dosen't mean i don't want one and not looking for it.lol!).

As the chinese saying goes..To rest is to prepare to walk a longer journey! (Excuses..)

Praise God that we can rest in him even when we're ON the journey.
Our Refuge, Our Hope :)

Jumpy Jumpy

We're gonna expect 80-100 people for the CNY gathering on saturday..

*wide eyed* appearing calm on the outside but going crazy in the inside.
From 50 to 100 people. ahhhhh! *runs around*

Thoughts going thru mind : we have only 1 week!oh wait its less then a week! , we haven't done the invites,the food is not planned out yet..how are we gonna gonna fit 100 people in a 3 bedroom house??! Not mentioning cooking for 100 people! Oh goodness! How how how?!?!

The flesh is restricting and giving all sorts of excuses that it cannot be done.
But the Spirit knows and knows that we serve a supernatural God and that all things are possible with him , if the Lord gave the word, he will bring it to pass!

Obedience to what the Lord has said, Faithfulness in doing and carrying out all that is needed and of course

TRUSTING in the character of our Almighty God!

Take up the cross

Your Mercy everlasting
Your grace i cannot comprehend
My heart you have captured
Lord take me as i am

I wanna run to you
run with my arms open wide
what am i holding on to
to live in your light

Your draw me to your throne
Set apart for you
You tell me to take up my cross and follow

Your draw me to your presence
Your love i cannot comprehend
Your fill my heart with gladness
My lips will sing your praise

I wanna run to you
run with my arms open wide
what am i holding on to
to live in your light

Your draw me to your throne
Set apart for you
You tell me to take up my cross and follow

Stretch stretch stretch!

Hi Peeps!

I'm back with a new look!! (I meant my blog..)
I forgot to save the previous template!!
Now i dun have a chatbox and imeem is gone.
BOO!!

Simply decided to go with a blogger template coz i couldn't find any nice and suitable one on blogskins.com (come on all you blogskin authors! come up with some nice ones for poor old dunno-anything-about-HTML person..)

Update!!
Status : Unemployed but still holding a valid student visa and Uni Card.

Have been gathering all my documents for the working visa and thank God i'm almost done with that. Have been sending out resumes for jobs as well. Pray that i'll be able to get one. (Doraemon i am gonna to get my visa ok.)

Been feeling the stretch in this new year as new challenges have been put to me.
New responsibilities, new level of relationship with people, meeting new people
Feelings of inadequacy, thinking perhaps there has been a mistake in all of it.

However, in the the midst of it all is a quiet confidence that the Lord is in control and bringing me to another level in him.
No 1. on another level.

.................

How fast this year passes, after Christmas then the new year and then the start of 2008!

I’m not really one to make new year resolutions but I guess one can’t really live without an aim in life. Can u imagine and living each day with no purpose , no motivation. Quite sad rite. Had a really quiet Christmas and new year. Nope not because I’m in Adelaide hahaha.. They had the whole package of count downs and ridiculously LOW fireworks. People thronging the streets with beer cans and bottles. Personally I’m not really into all these and it doesn’t help that I dislike crowds. Maybe I’m getting old?? (some people would be nodding their head vigourously..loL!)

Currently feeling a bit under the weather, multiple things vying for my attention at the same time. Application for Visa, looking for a job ,finding a new house. Many times I don’t FEEL like spending time with God, I don’t FEEL like talking with people. Sigh.
Trying not to let my emotions get the better of me.

Its funny rite..how can I view spending time with God as a task?? Prob I never valued that time spent with him. Need to get my perspective back. Time to look upwards.

In Adelaide

I'm back down under!! in teh southern southern state..Guess where it is?!?! Sars...
trying to amuse myself after a long day on the road. getting easily annoyed. (what a brat..loL)

yes i know i'm out sightseeing and playing BUT...well well stuff happened......:(

anyways...
Its been great having Mum and Sherm around. Dad's coming tomrorow..WoohoO!
HAd an opportunity to spend sometime with lilian as well. Politest gal in the world man! haha..We went to harbourtown for a bit of shopping and later on up to a Suburb called Lobathol where a majority of the houses in that suburb put out elaborate christmas lights! its actually a tourist attraction and throngs of cars travel up there each year to soak in the christmas atmosphere. Will post pics soon!!


Been thinking about Faithfulness. Its something that i want to continue in this coming year. Faithful in what he has called me to do. I had a misconception in the past about goal of faithfulness being in doing work or stuff for God. I learnt today that faithfulness is HE being able to work his way in us.

We can sing songs every week in church about How great God is, how we wanna surrender our all to him.
then when things happen, we wanna take control, we get angry with God.
we forget about all we have sang.
I always wonder why these situations arise but i guess if it dosen't, there is no "opportunity" to exercise that faithfulness.

DOn't you thank God that he dosen't give up on us??

BAck here and BAck there again.

Been raining like crazy in singapore as opposed to Adelaide which is scorching now.
I don't know my way around singapore anymore!
Put me in the middle of orchard road and i might pass off as a tourist.sars!!

Been running around with Dazz and Gloria the pass few days trying to get materials for Christmassing (www.christmassing.blogspot.com)Costumes. From Concourse to Plaza sing and finally we got it at stationary stores just around church! we had fun didn't we gals?? lol.. had an opportunity to hear dazz order cai fan in english wahaahaha! HILARIOUS.
It has just been great hanging out with them, hearing about what happened in the past year, to sharing about our plans and what God has placed in our hearts. Whats more encouraging is just hearing their concern for the youths and their desire to help them in their walk with the Lord! i can leave assurredly now. hehe..

I've got 3 days left...ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Anticipate my retun..LOL!

Psalm 16

Psalm 16
1 Keep me safe, O God,
for in you I take refuge.
2 I said to the LORD, "You are my Lord;
apart from you I have no good thing."

3 As for the saints who are in the land,
they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight. [b]

4 The sorrows of those will increase
who run after other gods.
I will not pour out their libations of blood
or take up their names on my lips.

5 LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup;
you have made my lot secure.

6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.

7 I will praise the LORD, who counsels me;
even at night my heart instructs me.

8 I have set the LORD always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.

9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,

10 because you will not abandon me to the grave, [c]
nor will you let your Holy One [d] see decay.

11 You have made [e] known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.


PRaise the Lord! :)

I'm back!

MahJulah Singapura.......
i am back on the Sunny Island!!
Just when i thought that its cooler then Adelaide, the Humidity hit me!!
Thats something i really can't take it this time.
Not to mention the mosquitoes!! arghh!

Been on a "meeting up with people before they leave" mode.
haha..Its been great just meeting up with Old frens..
eating all the unhealthy but scrumptous SG food..Chicken Rice, Hokkien Mee, rochor beancurd,Prata,teh Cino Ice,NAsi Goreng, Thosai etc etc etc..

Of course not forgetting people in Adelaide...I'll be back soon! muahhaha..
16 days left..

Birthd..there's something even more exciting.

ladies and gentlemen.......I finish my last exam!! (Hopefully for the rest of my life!) I'll tell u when i really really graduate. Results are coming out on 10th of December. Shivers!! lol.. (Guess who i learnt that word from..ha..)




This year felt longer then last year. However, it has been more fruitful too!
Been really blessed to be part of Edge church and growing together with a fantastic group of gals in the connect group! The Lord has blessed me through each of you.

Almost everyone is leaving for home today. Sob sob..

however, i'm looking forward to see what the Lord is gonna do in our lives even during the hol's . We serve an awesome God!!

So it goes

I have finished the last of my assignments!!
I'm only left with 1 exam!
*Applause*

I must tell about my drama filled day.

I was on my way to the city at about 3.30pm..Ok i was on my way to the gym(dun ask me why i went to the gym all of a sudden..haha..)
i was at the bus stop waiting for the bus and it took longer then usual, i think i waited for about 20 mins. There was another lady there too..
She was reading some documents and i was there reading a newspaper.

Suddenly i heard a big vehicle drive past the stop, when i looked up
THE BUS JUST PASSED THE STATION WITHOUT STOPPING LOH. POK!

after watching helplessly, i immediately turned and the lady and i stared at each other.

Lady : Did we just miss the bus? (In utter disbelieve)
Me : Yeah! it just drove past us! (In UTTEREREST disbelieve)
Lady : ahh! I'm rushing for an appointment!! I thought you were looking out for it!
Me : I thought You were looking out for it too!

She immediately stomped off to try to hitch a ride from a car parked by the side of the road (Whoa this woman quite daring ah..i thought this only happened in movies) T
The drama dosen't end here.....

I immediately called Mich to complain coz i really couldn't believe it.
Immediately after hanging up, i suddenly choked and kept coughing..I thought that i had like choked on my saliva or something and felt like an Loser hahahaha!
thereafter i felt something in my mouth and spit it out on my hand Guess what it was??

It was a fly. YES A FLY! YUCKS!!!!! (x10000000000000000000000000)
What a day.

Lesson to learn:
DUn depend on other commuters to look out for the bus
and in the state of utter disbelieve, dun open your mouth too big

END.

It has been a crazy crazy week...One after another assignments were due
I just finished one that was about Australian politics and the different policies that the parties promised for the coming elections..*Clueless*
The only thing i know about it is John Howard!!
Anyways..After trudging through that i'm finally down to my last one due on MOnday!
Then its just the exams left!! not that i'm really excited about it but at least i can take a break from the continous brain wrecking and frantic googling and reading.
for a while..for a short while. i promise!! haha..

typing my thoughts aloud.

sadly in the midst of all the busyness, i;ve given God the backseat. When i sing, my mind is somewhere else, when i pray its always about God help me in this and that. Its so conditional and hypocritical. HOw can i be asking and leading others to worship and to love him when i myself dun show it?? Lord how can you love people like us, when on one hand we can be singing that we love and trust and have faith in you and when we turn around we worry where our life is going, about finances, condemning ppl, thinking the worse of them etc.I'm guilty of that too.

i fail to recognise sometimes that its a JOurney that we're all on, i don't just get instant results. When i sing i love him, there would be situations for me to exercise that. Trials come to prove that our faith is genuine. If we just bailed out on God during difficult times, we never really believed at all i guess.
Having to think of many adult things now is taking a toll on my mind.ahhh

Nevertheless...

I will bless the LOrd at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth
(Psalm 34:1)

Thats what frens are for..

I can actually the massive eyebags that feels like 2 oranges stuffed under my eyes.
its due to this disease called ER-Sigh-N-merns (Read it out loud..) anybody know a cure for it?? haha..

just been thinking about Friendships.

Its funny how in primary school we think that we'll be best frens forever with the best fren of that time. then you have a new bestie in secondary school, and in Junior College/Polytechnic then Uni or at work or at church etc.
The somehow along the way after graduation, everyone goes their seperate way with tears and hugs..and promises of "hey i dun care we must find time to hang out la.." then after a period of time when you call them, they HANG UP.
ok i'm exaggerating. but i mean how many frens from Pri and Sec sch do you still keep in contact with? I guess everyone just finds new frens in different seasons of their life. BUt Thank God some frens are really here to stay for life man.. its that kind that no matter how long a period of time you are away , you still Remain besties! Thank God that i have a few frens like that.

I am a person that thrives on friendships and being with people. Many say that i have lots of friends..correction!..the matter of fact is that i have lots of acquaintances..but few friends.

Friends are people that

1) can Pour out my heart to
2) can Share my Joy with
3) when i'm frustrated will hear it first hand haha..
4) Can winch and whine when i'm not happy

i think these are the typical criteria that most of us have..
In fact..To me..Friends are people that..

1) will Spend time with you (talk serious or talk nonsense also can..haha..)
2) Share weaknesses with and wouldn't judge
3) Can laugh until stomachache,cry until eyes pop out,sarcastic but won't get offended (Speak for youself sarah! lol..)
4) Encourage you not boost your Ego
5) Listen to your frustrations but Do not feed your self pitying or self condemnation
6) Allow you to have other frens and not get jealous
7) Challenge you to grow in God!

Issit too strict? I guess i can't expect everyone to be perfect, but by far all my Friends have been like that..Really Thank God for them
Well i really hope that i would be a fren like that most importantly Love at all times.

Sorry for the random and unorganised thoughts..that is whats been happening in my mind. sigh..

Think i'm having the i'm-gonna-graduate-soon-so-what-should-i-do-next syndrome.
Dun worry all of u sure kena one way or another..loL!

Sure we all have goals and ambitions of being this and that..But how about what God wants? I had or should i say i'm having that "dilemma". of course getting a job would be necesary..haha..But seriously.
Lord what do u want me to do?

This is a time where all the advice i get seem to be feasible, mind you they are not answers that are clearly right and wrong.(I wish.)
However not all answers that sound correct are God answers.

Praise the Lord for allowing me to witness that.

Read an email today that reminded me again to get on my knees before the Lord.
Not to just seek him for what he can do but seek him for who he is.

On another note, just seeing lives transformed by the Lord is so encouraging!
There's just a new sparkle, new bounce in that person's steps as they realise that the LOrd has a customised plan for their lives and everything that they go through is directed by the Lord.

Discipleship is not a ritual, its a relationship.

My Anchor

In the past week i've been waking up with a sense of fear and loss.
My mind is going in all directions ahhhhhhhhh!

Must be what i prayed the other day.
In my heart of hearts, LOrd i'm giving you my all,
laying it all down, whatever it takes Lord.
Mould me shape me.

Feeling the effects of it

Lord! the Mould is in a very odd shape la!
Very pain already.

After struggling to quieten myself down to hear what the LOrd is saying..

He's holding my hand :)

Another Post.

Guess who are frens 1 and 2! haha..
This pic is taken at Glenelg during Jeb's bday!

Fren 1 : Hey faster go buy that Louie Giglio DVD leh..that INCREDIBLE presentation
Sarah : Its INDESCRIBABLE.............whahahaha!
Fren 1 : Aiya similar la...just couldn't think of the word!
Sarah : This is so going on my blog!!

Fren 2 : Hey wat do you call those cars with the rounded backs..
Sarah : Huh?? wat rounded backs?
Fren 2 : aiya that one la! the wat ah..Hunchback isit?
Sarah : hunchback??? HATCHBACK LA! ahahhahahah!

Thats all folks till we meet again on....
"My hilarious frens who crack me up with words they use!"
*music fade out*




Well on a serious note again..haha
This 2 weeks of holidays have been quite "eventful".
Firstly we had connect group for once without the leader! *runs ard like a mad pok*
honestly i felt very inadequate, unsure whether or not i would be able to handle it.
People might say "aiya, its not the first time you are doing this wat.."
But its different la really! As i thought back, i realised GOd is just answering what i prayed for..haha!- being able to work with my peers.
We had a good meeting despite my inadequacy,technical difficulties, all because the Lord was the one that orchestrated it!
There's still a lot to learn and the devil has a way for getting to me mentally about my weaknesses but in all circumstances i know that the Lord is moulding and shaping me.

It is kind of a inward battle to remind myself of who i am in Christ and that despite my weaknesses God can work in and thru me for his glory.
Ok it is official that i have shingles and that is what have been messing me up mentally and emotionally. PMS has been wrongly accused of being the culprit haha..
The funny thing is that i had the rash for quite sometime already and i thought i badly strained my waist muscle..
Thank God for frens who are doctors!!and of course doctors to be. and! pharmacist And! of course the property valuer..haha..
Doctor Khow and Doctor Lau unanimously diagnosed shingles with just one look! haha..
They graciously allowed me to stay at their place and brought me to the hospital
THANK YOu!! The rashes are starting to dry up but the pain is coming..wierd..but the Lord has been sustaining me. Praise Be to Him!!

In the midst of changing circumstances, i have a hope , an anchor for the soul,firm and secure - in Christ.

Leave it all behind now..

Its funny how the past comes to haunt us again.
Past experiences, relationships etc..
while its nice to reminisce on the past is it robbing you of your future?

Sentimental? i dun think so.. clinging on to the past? haha most likely..
As doubts keep coming into my mind on whether i want to stay on.
At the back of it is the voice that says, "why do you still question? Step by faith into it!"

uncertainty, fear.

Where is God in all of this?
he is there waiting for me to give it all to him, waiting for me to stop rattling off with the "what if's" and sit still to listen to him.

I guess i've been too concerned about "where" he wants me to be in the physical, but rather i've missed out the most impt part - He is more concerned about my relationship with him and building my character.

ALWAYS Shouting at myself endlessly..."come on Sarah!!!! Just do it LA~"

Hopefully my response will not be.....*walking around in circles* Again..

Holiday! Celebrate!

Friend: yeah next week i'm on holidays already!
Me: why so good one?!?
Friend : You also on holiday wat..
Me:issit? Oh i knew!

It sounds so cliche but i've to say it..
Time FLIES............FAster then the the bullet train in Japan.
Before i know it, i would have graduated, started working, find a husband settle down, have a few kids. hahaahhaha! ..yeah rite....
Well, i'm waiting for SOME ppl to get married before me *hint*

Kinda worried about whats gonna happen in the next phase of my life.
I have an idea of what i wanna do etc..BUT lotsa questions still flooding my mind , whether or not its the right decision, then Family how?
Yes asking God for more confirmation..(haha some of you are gonna laugh at me again loL!) Horrible rite..when God dosen't say things that we want, we keep questioning asking, finding excuses. The ultimate response its just to believe and Obey.
So easy yet so hard. Hard because we do not fear God to obey at once.

THank God that he is patient with us, but lets not take it for granted..

wahahahah!

Another series of funny words pronounced by my beloved frens..but i won't say whoM!
Enjoy!


Fren 1 :Don't you find that when you do very exciting things rite..You get a Hydraline rush??
Sarah : What?!?!? Andrenaline la!!!! wahhahaahahahha!
Fren 1 : Oh issit? but got such word as Hydraline rite??
Sarah : -_-"


The next one needs a little background..
One of the Pastors in the church is moving to a place called BRISTOL in UK , to plant a church and he recently went there to settle some stuff and check the place out.

Fren 2 : Who preached at evening service?
Sarah : Pastor Nick..
Fren 2 : Oh Pastor Nick is back from Brittle already ah?
Sarah : wahhahahahaha is BRISTOL la!!
Fren 2 : Oh....*sheepish look*


Lastly.......

All : Hey did u all see the eclipse yesterday?
Fren 3 : Yeah we did , we saw the belt of Orizon also!
All : Orizon?? Belt of ORION la!

wahahhahah! all these happened in a span of 1 week. Imagine how strong my stomach muscles became after all of it loL!