Day # 338

"2012 will be a year of changes and challenges. Like it or not, I still have to face them. So I gotta face them with joy, and in the Lord!! My new year resolution will be based on the sermon on 01/01/12 by Kin gor - 人在，心也在.

I also want to pick up my guitar to play again."

 

Above was what I posted in my other blog in January 2012. It has been truly a challenging & fun year living sort-of-alone. But I think so far, it has been a good year :) I don't know how to describe, but I just feel that this year has been a very, very meaningful year. Grown closer to God, desiring to know His word better, and loving His presence in my life. Though sometimes I may stray away, but He is still so faithful in loving me, caring for me, giving me strength and joy each day. He also put people in my life who are capable of building me up, encouraging me in my walk with Him :) I feel so very blessed.

 

One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.

Ps 27:4

Day # 337

:) I really thank God that I am out of uni and have a stable job, because now I can use the money that I earn to buy gifts for my cousins! Also lately, my heart has been closer to family more than ever. They always make me stop in my pace to think about how wonderful a family God has blessed me with, and I love them all so dearly :) May God continue to be the center of it all!

Day # 336

03/11/12

Thank God for a wonderful catch up with friends :)

Day # 335

I thank God for a friend who challenged me in my view of who God is -- 自己觉得神是一个怎样的神，不是从小到大听别人说/别人的意见. What are my personal thoughts/opinion? Who is God? What kind of God is He? Made me think real hard, and I realised on the spot, that I actually do not have an answer that I could call my own.. except God is a God who loves me. "There has to be more than this", I thought. And I've been thinking & praying for the past few days. Last night during shower, I thought about what I went through one of the days before an exam - it was a subject that I hated the most, one that I feel most hopeless with. I was at the stage where I thought even if I studied, even if I understood what I read, applying them in answering questions won't be easy, and that is what I struggled with the most. I wanted to give up so much I even thought of not going for the exam. Trust me, I wailed on my bed like a baby, telling/complaining to God "I really do not want to go for this exam. I really hate it, etcetc." Then and there, I felt God comfort me - God is my comforter. I quieted myself and decided to get back to study, and while studying, I felt peace - God is my peace. The worry & fear was gone. I also asked God to show me what I should focus on, and He did because they came out among the exam questions (whether I did focus on those topics or not is another story though, and I've learned my lesson)! - God is my help.

In my previous posts:
Day # 334 - God is my protector
Day # 333 - God is a faithful God, He is my companion, my comforter, my strength. He gives me hope and fills me afresh each day.
Day # 331 - God is my teacher. God is my potter.

And more, I'm sure :)

Day # 334

Ahhh super fail new year resolution! To think I stopped updating this blog since last year! Tsktsk

Anyway, I'm so close to accomplishing it so I think I should continue :) mmm, thinking about it, there are actually a lot of things that I can thank God about. Big and small alike :) even for things like protection - the one thing that I actually ask of the Lord everyday - and God has been so faithful and consistent up until now. There may be times when I feel danger and fear, but whenever I pray, "Lord, help me!" - He will turn situations around, and He has kept me safe - each and every day. With this, I praise Him and I thank Him.

The LORD protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me. Ps 116:6

Day # 333

HI! :D It's been awhile :) Turned 23 a few days ago. 23 is a nice number, I like it haha. Someone told me this - "Sam, you'll be 30 before you know it". *shudder shudder* It is quite unimaginable... I was once a little child, oblivious of the world, carefree, enjoying life as it comes... now, I am a young adult, working, not as carefree, but yet, still enjoying life as it comes :)

23.11.11

Birthday dinner @ North Melbourne Town Hall Hotel

26.11.11

Birthday breakfast @ Manchester Press

I thank God for making my birthday so meaningful this year. Had a great time with everyone in the pictures above! Indeed, having a few close friends where we can share most things together are better than having a multitude of hi-bye friends. To friends far away who remembered: thank you, and to those who forgot: don't worry, I understand :)

Thank you daddy & mummy, for giving birth to me, for pampering me, for loving me, and for caring about me. *sayang* :)

Most of all, thank You God, for being so faithful. Thank You for walking with me in this journey of life on earth, for comforting me when I am down and for giving me strength to face every challenges that came my way. Thank You for giving me hope and filing me afresh each new day. Though sometimes I wander away from You, thank You for finding me and bringing me back to You. Father, continue to pour Your love and blessings into my life, so much so that it may overflow, to those around me. :)

Day # 332

My chains are gone, I've been set free.
Unending love, amazing grace.

Exam is in about 2 hours time! I thank God for the nice weather today! and I can't wait for exam to be over! So many fun things to do after xD

Day # 331

How far have I come, from graduation to the unemployment phase to having casual part time jobs to having a full time job. Looking back at those times when I was down and struggling, there were many helping hands, many hugs, lots of words of encouragement, sincere hearts praying for me.. in these, I see God's faithfulness. Indeed, He did not leave me nor forsake me. He is with me through ups and downs. I am so glad. I'm finding work enjoyable and a blessing, being able to be exposed and to learn many new things that I wouldn't understand through theory, having a boss who is patient and willing to teach, and nice colleagues.. I've come from not knowing anything, to knowing something. I still make a lot of mistakes here and there, but I thank God because they bring me back to humility. He has let me see that life is a learning process. And through all these, I am being molded. I am not perfect, I will never be, and that is why You are the potter and I am the clay.  How beautiful is this picture - because the potter always mold his clay to what he sees as perfect and beautiful :)

Day # 330

Had a great afternoon with Angel, Eleven & Meei Xin today! Hahndorf Chocolates & Angel's place :) I thank God for wonderful sisters in my life :)

Day # 329

Hi! ^^

Had a meaningful lunch + coffee this afternoon :) had a great time at tea after that with 11 & Lichuan jie's daughter >< so much drinking! I felt so full I thought I won't be able to eat dinner... but around 6.30pm, I felt hungry! :( cooked myself a bowl of seaweed noodle soup. Now... I'm eating Kellogg's Sultana Bran Buds. and I still feel hungry :(( lolll. mmm, I want to hunger for God's love & Word like how I hunger for food x)

Day # 328

From Fb:

On This Day In 2010

Samantha Woon新的一天，新的盼望，新的希望，在主里得喜乐，喜乐成为力量，神是爱，[爱]爱你们！：）

3 people

Wow, didn't know facebook has this thing in the bar on the right side! Happened to see it when I clicked on "events" to view upcoming events. It translates roughly as "a new day, new hope. joy is found in the Lord, and the joy of the Lord is my strength. God is love, [Love] loves you!"

I feel quite encouraged, and I thank the Lord :)

Day # 327

Our new housemate moved in last Saturday. As she is a nurse, she's quite particular with cleanliness/tidiness [lol], which is good in a way because I've been wanting to tidy up my bookshelf which have been piled with at least one layer of dust (not that she noticed though, she doesn't come to my area) with books and papers and whatnots on top of each other - pretty messy and uneven and I super dislike it but haven't brought myself to do it because, of course, watching series are better than shelf-keeping [haha]. Anyway, long story short, it's tidier and cleaner now and I am happy and satisfied - for awhile xD Pending books were re-stacked and books that were read are in the box! And I realised, I have A LOT of books pending >< what am I doing, jumping from one book to the other and the other and the other... now I need to put them all aside and start reading that one dreaded "new" book - CPA. haha. Oh well, I'm hoping for the best :) I thank God for all His blessings in my life, a lot of things to be grateful about and some can't be put into words. Lord I give You my heart - I know You can see what's in there :)

Day # 326

“然而我要因耶和华欢欣，因救我的神喜乐。Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Saviour.” - Habakkuk 3:18

Amen! Thank God for today's sermon, for His protection on the road, and for a good company in the car - someone who can calm me down when I'm stressed on the road. Thank God for the lovely late lunch at Preston with Angel, 11, and Daniel :)

Day # 325

Praise the Lord, things seem to be working out better this time! No doubt He is working in each and everyone of our hearts :) Lord, help us to continue to move forward in unity and towards that one same goal - 合一敬拜 Oneness in worship.

Day # 324

How irregular I am these days!

So glad to be at home since around 3pm today :) I need the relaxation... haha... mmm, watched series, chatted/still chatting with Bel, ate Sara Lee cheese cake and "kam", cooked for lunch boxes. Now, masterchef! xD though I must say, I don't glue my eyes on it whenever it's on anymore as compared to last season's (proof is, I'm blogging away over here while the tv is on. I'm not even watching, just listening lol). Anyway, tonight's kinda interesting... they are cooking for the Dalai Lama. Weird. Why don't they cook for a church... why don't... they cook... for me! hehe

Saturday, I thoroughly enjoyed Manifest Night Rally yesterday. Good testimony, good sermon (though I could hardly make out what the interpreter was trying to say some of the times lol), awesome praise & worship.. and I love the presence of God :) And having Eleven over for the night, wraps up an awesome night, teehee.

Friday night, dinner with Mich & Harry and frozen yogurt after! We were actually planning to watch Cars 2, but unfortunately, there was none showing in Melbourne Central! It was a hugeee disappointment to me :( but that's ok, I enjoyed my night with the lovely companies :)

So yes, I thank God for my awesome weekend!

Day # 323

Do not think about them, think about God.

The past had been good, and I thank the Lord. How much have I grown, is another question. It was good looking back at the past (ie. 2008 BOL 7th anniversary), brought back lots of sweet memories :) sometimes even wishing I could bring that past into our today. So much have changed, including relationships... some have been strengthen, some... weakened. How are we to mend it? I believe, not by our might but by God's. "Everything starts in the heart". May our next study of the book "The Relationship Principles of Jesus" teach us and guide us to Love God with all our hearts and love our neighbour as ourselves (Matt 22:37-39).

Day # 322

Drove to and back from a client's place at caufield today. Thankfully, i was not late. Also thank God for protection and smooth journey... almost went the wrong way a couple of times but managed to squeeezzzz in to the right lane each time lol... driving is pretty stressful, but it is good in the sense that i can arrive at a place quicker compared to taking the public transport, teehee.

Day # 321

Had a great time catching up with Trang over dinner at Footscray just now :) I thank God we are still keeping in touch with each other!

Day # 320

My weekend (which also includes Friday night), has been fantabulous! Friday night: Had dinner and watched Bridesmaids with Mich. Saturday: Had buffet lunch @ Kitchen Workshop and walked around the city (mainly flinders and yarra river) with aunt, light dinner and watched X-Man with Sab, Aileen and Nudge. Sunday: Church, lunch with Sab, grocery, cooked for our lunch boxes for the next few days, and now, relaxing :) I thank God for such a simple, yet eventful weekend!

Day # 319

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about His mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains”
(Colossians 4:3, NLT)

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria

When Paul wrote today’s verse, he was in chains in prison. He had been arrested for preaching the gospel. Everything in his surroundings shouted “limitations,” but instead of looking at his surroundings, Paul kept his eyes on the limitless God. He kept looking for the open door of opportunity that God would have for him next.

No matter what “chains” you may feel like you are in today, remember, we serve a God who’s in the business of setting people free. When you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, He fills you with His power. He promises to walk with you all the days of your life.

When doors look closed all around you, when your surroundings look limited, when you feel like you’re in chains, remember, God is still at work in your life. Like Paul, keep your hopes up. Keep expecting. Keep believing. Pray for those opportunities to be opened to you. If you fall, get back up and press forward with even greater determination to accomplish the dream that God has planted in your heart. The prayer of the righteous avails much, so keep praying because He promises to break the chains and open doors of opportunity in your life!

Amen!!!