(Over)Work.

I've been missing from this space but all for a good reason!

Since I tendered my resignation, I've been handed a good two months worth of work to be cleared in the next three weeks, so that things won't go haywire if they can't find someone suitable to replace me before I join my new company. There are moments when I've been very tempted to complain (whether in my heart or out loud), but God is good and always reminds me of how kind He's been with providing a new opportunity. I'm leaving my current workplace at one of the busiest times for retail businesses too (Great Singapore Sale starts tomorrow!), so it's definitely hard on my boss to miss a staff from the already understaffed office. So, no complains. I shall complete all my work with joy and thankfulness. :)

Thank you all who left such encouraging comments at my last post. I read every one of them (as I slogged in the office) and I'm very thankful indeed. :) I'd gladly reply each one now but I'll have to be up by 3:30am (that's 3 hours from now!) to catch my flight to HONG KONG! 

Finally, a break! :D Short but still, I need all the rest I can get. 

I've been there some 5 years ago, so I'm pretty excited to see how things have changed. I'll do a post on the best shopping places and eateries when I'm back! :) Any readers from Hong Kong? Please feel free to suggest your favorite haunts! :D

Okays, now time for bed! Yay!

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Roller-coaster.

It's been an exciting two days, because:

1. I got rejected from a job application.

2. I got an offer from another job application.

3. My boss counter-offered something even better.

All in two days! 

I'm very thankful for all that has come my way. God first humbled me with the initial rejection, and then encouraged me with the subsequent offers, so that through it all I may remember that all good things come from Him and Him alone. It wasn't by my own ability that I got anywhere at all. All wisdom and knowledge comes from God Almighty. He knows what I need and lovingly provides for me.

All that you have comes from God too. Have you thanked Him for the people who love you, for the job that sustains you and for every little joy in life?

One of my favourite psalms from the Bible says:

When I was younger, I thought this verse means that I shall not want the Lord as my Shepherd haha. Very poor language skills I know! But no, it means that the Lord is my Shepherd and because He is taking care of me, I will not be in want, because He will make sure I have all that I need. :)

Here's a song that Ling and I recorded for our parents' day project thats inspired by this lovely verse:

Lyrics here! :)

Are there any of you also facing a dilemma or a difficult situation? Are you going through rough times in life? God can give you peace too, just like how He has given me. He is just a prayer away. :)

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
- Matthew 11:28

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Thankful for the new opportunities that God has placed in my life, boyfriend and I had a celebratory dinner, Singapore style.

Love having simple fare at traditional hawker centers and old markets. Good food doesn't have to come with big bills. :) Singaporean readers who love fried hokkien mee, you have to give the old Bukit Timah market a visit!

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Even though it is tempting to stay, seeing how much my boss wants me to stay, and how I've grown to be so comfortable with my current job, I have made up my mind to move on with a heart to learn and grow. Though the new job would be full of challenges and uncertainties, I know wherever I go, God is never far away. He will lead me as I go along. :)

Here's to new beginnings!

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Happy Date!

It's been a long time since boyfriend and I had time for a day-long date. The last time was... I don't even remember!

Ever since I stepped out of university and into the work life, it was goodbye to the precious fun-from-breakfast-to-dinner dates and hello to just-dinner dates. Now that he is out of university and into the noble (but undeniably sad) life of a teacher (who has to climb out of bed at 5:30am from Mondays to Fridays), it is "noooooooooo it can't be!" to dinner-while-trying-to-stay-awake dates.

Yay for work life.

But seriously, besides this little shortcoming of a full-time career, I am enjoying work much, much more than schooling. I'd gladly write a report than study 24/7 for an exam any day. (All those who scared me with the horror stories of employment while I was approaching graduation, thank you very much for the unnecessary nightmares.)

Anyways, back to our happy date! :) I took a day of leave on this precious day that he doesn't have to work.

He smiled through the hot, hot day. He smiled even when our breakfast became lunch. (Yes I overslept sobs.) He kept smiling even while I shopped all around the mall. (He takes an average of 2 minutes to buy whatever he needs at any store.) He offered his opinion on the dress that I liked. (Never happened before, first time ever!) And he waited patiently at Starbucks with all our stuff while I had to run some last-minute errands.

Besides all the smiling, I recall lots of laughs too. :)

yes he closed those eyes on purpose -.- there's a little boy trapped in that man.

I prayed and prayed for a happy date to remember. Thank God and thank you boyfriend! :)

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A Letter To My Sister and All Mothers.

*The elder sister, that is Sen, not Ling, whom you guys know.
*Matthew is my sister's son aka my nephew.

Hello Big Sister!

I feel compelled to write you a letter because Matthew just called me and said that he couldn't sleep the whole night because of his upcoming exams. I prayed with him over the phone.

I love your family and I love you and so I feel I must speak out against the direction which you are all headed.

I know I am not qualified to give any parenting tips for obvious reasons. But as a sister in Christ, I want to tell you that God is. He loves you and your family more than anyone else and wants to free you from all your burdens.

"31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:31-33)

You love Matthew and worry for his future. Does God not love him more than you? Will He abandon your child because he is not achieving school expectations? Will He not provide for his needs because he does not do well enough in school? God knows what he needs and He will provide them. The burden is not yours alone.

"28 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)

God is in control of all things - how well your son learns, how well he expresses, how well he does in school. Your friends who do not know God do not know this, and so they run around anxiously, looking for answers at the wrong places - tuition centres, assessment books, motivational seminars etc. You don't have to follow their lead. Commit everything that is out of your control to God and rest in Him. Then you can have peace and sit back and watch Him work in your family. I assure you that no tuition centre can bring such peace. They only add to your burden and anxiety.

God is the best person to go for parenting tips. Have you asked Him how He wants you to bring up your children? Just as He loves your children, He loves you. Will He not provide you the strength and wisdom to lead the family if you ask Him? He will gladly use you to do great things in the lives of your husband and children.

Lastly, "Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?" (Matthew 6:25b) Are Matthew's results the most important thing that determines his life? Is your children's success the most important ting that determines yours?

This is a prophecy yet to be fulfilled in the Bible -

" 1 See, the LORD is going to lay waste the earth
and devastate it;
he will ruin its face
and scatter its inhabitants—
2 it will be the same
for priest as for people,
for the master as for his servant,
for the mistress as for her servant,
for seller as for buyer,
for borrower as for lender,
for debtor as for creditor.
3 The earth will be completely laid waste
and totally plundered.
The LORD has spoken this word." (Isaiah 24:1-3)

Smart or not, successful or not, we must all face and be accountable to God at the end of time. Is your family's faith not more important than worldly success? Ask God what He wants for your life and your family's. He will answer you with love.

I have been praying unceasingly for your family. Join me in prayer! God is good and He listens.

Lots of love,
Your Little Sis.

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To all other mummies out there:

I don't mean to offend anyone with my letter. I do not want to trivialize the stress of being a Singaporean mother, whose children has to compete hard in the flawed education system. I acknowledge the difficulties and pains of motherhood. I long for the joy of it as well. It is a noble and beautiful task. And for that, I pray that this letter would bring you to God, for He is love and the only source of peace. May He bless you and your family abundantly.

Love,
Shu.

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Romance in the Hands of God.

Feeling sort of bummed out and poetic today, so this shall be more of a thoughtful post than the usual noisy ones with all the exclamations marks haha. :)

"No man is an island!" was my primary school teacher's response to my journal entry about feeling left out among my friends.

It remained just a fancy phrase to me until I read that this was how God intended things to be, right at the beginning.

The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." - Genesis, 2:18

Then, God went on to create animals and more people. :)

Deep inside we all yearn for attention, for recognition, and for love. That's how we are created to be.

(Of course, God's love is sufficient to fill all emptiness in us, as we are ultimately created to worship. There's a long explanation of how these work out in God's plan but that'll take up a whole other post!)

In my life, I've always been dependent (in varying degrees) on different people, at different times of my life.

When I was young, it was my mother. I remember how terribly sad I felt when the time came for me to walk myself to school, without her holding my hand. I would set out into the dark, barely-breaking dawn with my unreasonably heavy school bag and feel so bad for myself.

A little later, my attention turned to friends. Suddenly, I didn't feel like staying at home all the time anymore. I want to be out with my peers, my confidants who could relate to my every problem.

That lasted till the first taste of betrayal came. Back to family I go! These are the people who would love me to end.

That still remains :), only now there's a new person involved.

He's sort of family, yet not really there yet. He relates with the understanding of a friend and the love of a family. How wonderful the feeling, to have found someone who would hold my hand again, as I brave the darkness of everyday life in this world of weaknesses and temptations.

I bet Adam felt just as great the moment he woke up to see Eve by his side. :)

Who is this special person for you? What have you done to show that he's (or she's) special to you?

It was God who placed him (or her) right there beside you. Have you given thanks for such a lovely gift?

You are loved. Rejoice. :)

Peace,
Shu.

P.S. In case you're in the mood for some music, here's a lovely song that makes me cry on such days. A perfect song for weddings.

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Worthy of a Song.

Owww ate too much. PMS still going on!

Anyhow, as promised, I shall take some of my lunch time (I know its late sobs. Citi isn't the only company that never sleeps.) to post one of the songs that Ling and I recorded for our parents for Mother's Day. We thought it wouldn't be nice to just sing for mum so we're including our father in this too! :) You can read up a little more on the project here.

We were too concerned about working first during the recording that we didn't care much about photos. Still, I managed to take these:

Ling, who was very shy to sing in front of John for the first time haha.

And here's John. Thank you kind sir!

We did 8 songs in 5 hours! I wished we had more time to re-record all the flat notes (sobs) and adjust the volumes of various tracks but John (who offered his recording system for free!) was already kind enough to sit 5 hours with us for nothing.

I'll put up all the songs up on youtube in due time, but for starters, here's the first one:

Still

By Hillsong

Hide me now

Under your wings

Cover me

within your mighty hand

When the oceans rise and thunders roar

I will soar with you above the storm

Father you are king over the flood

I will be still and know you are God

Find rest my soul

In Christ alone

Know his power

In quietness and trust

When the oceans rise and thunders roar

I will soar with you above the storm

Father you are king over the flood

I will be still and know you are God

May this song bless my parents and all others who hear it, including you. :)

And may God be pleased! :)

Enjoy!

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Sunny day!

Have you been outside today?

The sun was brightly shining while I did my quiet time (which it the time that Christians spend alone time with God by reading the bible and praying), while I took the long train ride to work, while I took a cab from the train station to my office and while I walked a short distance from the taxi to the office building! :)

Couldn't resist taking some pics under the cheery sunlight.

In the sunlit cab.

In the sun!

Someone once said she loves the sun because when it shines on her, it feels like God is giving her a big warm hug.

I love the sun because it reminds me of God's goodness - "He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." (Mattew 5:45) It is especially comforting to remember this when I have done something bad and is feeling very guilty over it. Repent and God will be forgive. :)

What about you? What does the sun remind you of?

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Anyway, I love the dress that I'm wearing today! A lovely summer frock with slash neckline and frontal pleats:

Long enough for work too! :) Got it from Amber Avenue!

Enjoy your Thursday night, all! :)

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Jet-Setting.

Its been 4 months since the Bali trip in December and I'm feeling restless again! So many people have already made holiday plans and I'm itching to book myself a trip too.

Its funny, I never liked travelling when I was in my previous job, which required me to fly once a month. Now that I'm out of it, I seem to love going away! It isn't a case of discontentment though... flying for work and flying for leisure are entirely different experiences. When you fly for work, you work 24/7. When you fly for leisure, you play and rest 24/7! 

Going to HK with sister in June and I CAN'T WAIT. *bounces on seat with excitement* Travelling with family rocks 'cos there's really nothing much to get used to. We've had the worst fights and best heart-to-heart talks. Thank God that I have a friend in my sister. :) Its a blessing that I really cherish.

Back to travelling plans, there are plans for a trip to Aussie for all the '86-ers from church. 5 of us, a nice number for car rentals. :D Can't wait for that too! I've been to Aussie when I was in primary school but I remember almost none of it now. I've got the memory of a goldfish. :(

Anyways, boyfriend and I were talking about travelling over dinner yesterday and he kept harping on wanting to travel alone in June and I don't know why but I started crying. I suppose I felt worried but even I was amazed when the tears just flowed without warning. Sometimes I cry so easily!!! Must be pms. 

So I just sat there and teared for about 20 seconds while chowing on my bah chor mee. It was a ?! moment mixed with a good amount of embarrassment. Who cries in public while eating bah chor mee?! 

*smacks self*

Oh and happy easter! :)
Here's my favourite song on Jesus' glorious and joyous resurrection:

It's indeed worthy of celebration. :)

Thank you Jesus!

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Good Friday.

is good because Jesus took our punishment and freed us from the grasp of sin.



its a gift for everyone and anyone. Have you claimed yours yet?

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Our gift for parents' day this year is a fun project: a CD with 8 of our favourite worship songs, music by the talented people from church and vocals by us! :)

We spent an hour today recording the music tracks with music prodigy Huey. Minus the time to set up the recording system and settle down, she took only 20 mins to finish 5 beautiful piano tracks! In her own words, "God created me so He's the real prodigy."

Indeed He is. :)

We'll record the 3 guitar tracks tomorrow after service and the vocals *gulp* next sunday at John's with his power song system (which he usually charges $40 per hour for!).

Thanksgiving to God for planting the idea in our heads, for providing the people and equipment to make it work and also for the gift of music. :)

Shall upload the songs on youtube when we're done kays! Must pray for good voices on recording day. :)

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It was a Good Friday well spent.

Thank God for everything!

Time for bed!

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