02.03.2010
Effectiveness and placements
categories: Personal, Random, Recollections, Revelations
tags:

I feel effective for God. Hahah I suppose there’s much more to go, but at this point, I’m happy that what I did is of positive eternal consequences.

Class today was interesting – we got to jot down our part-time jobs and volunteer work experiences and shared them with each other. And then we helped each other point out the skills we would have developed in those areas. Then we got briefed about getting placements and stuff. Yeah, I think.. no winter break in Singapore this year. Anyway, I’ve got a reply from a prospective work placement and I’m excited. :D

Okay 9 to 5 in school tomorrow. Goodnight. (:

23.01.2010
Influencers 2010
categories: Recollections, Revelations
tags: ,

.. is AMAZING. Definitely worth the money (and all the rest I’ve spent on buying books after.)

Seriously, I can’t justify not buying Christian books. They are always investments, and they are never a waste of money. And with that, it doesn’t help that the messages preached had been so spot-on, up-lifting, empowering and altogether awesome, and that the Beveres write books.

There had been downs, which on hindsight could very well have been the devil trying to hinder me from getting too much out of the conference. But the messages had been relevant, and mind-blowing, and encouraging, and inspirational all at the same time. Yeah, I suppose He has indeed planned for me to be there (of course He did, He planned everything).

What I loved, is that it was not all hype. They were not emotion-driven services, it was not all about the power and money and success. The pastors and speakers were sound in their theology, faithful about what they preach, and has a genuine desire to equip individuals and churches.

With that, how could I have NEVER seen this before:

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Cor 12:9)

GRACE = POWER.

Dude/wahlao.

Over and out. Time to crash.

Reading: Extraordinary – John Bevere

17.01.2010
You’re close enough to see that..
categories: Personal, Realisations, Revelations
tags: , ,

.. you’re the other side of the world to me.

Blogging here has been terribly sporadic. I’m sorry. You see, inspirations and ideas hit me in the day, but I’ve not had the little pocket moleskine that should contain these little gems. Maybe I should note them down, because they make excellent brain exercise and blog topics. Hmm.

I feel like I’ve let my intellect go a lot. Not that I have become more stupid, and no you cannot put being FOB on the same measuring scale. But yes, I’ve drastically reduced using the brain to rationalise, to justify, to put my point across. The days of writing SFTW was really a mental workout, and spoke to me very clearly that I cannot be a journalist that lives under deadlines – there will be nothing I can churn out.

Then again I’m glad. I have found using my intellect as a source of pride for me. Well, and on hindsight, there hasn’t been much to be proud of either. I read my open letter, which kind of launched SFTW into the near 200 posts we have written, and I cringed. My letter felt like a Christianized version of a Facebook group that talks about “102 things guys should know about girls” – guard our hearts brothers, please guard our hearts.

The girls cooked up dinner and had a North&South half-marathon that day (skipped the boring-ish bits and delved into the juicy bits with Margaret Hale and Mr. Thorton), and watching it again, Jas and I picked up how Margaret seemed to have led Mr. Lennox on very subtly, and ultimately left him heartbroken while she and Mr. Thorton had their happily ever after. That wasn’t fair to Mr. Lennox.

So here, I’m telling you, sisters, guard your brothers’ hearts. And respect them, and stop expecting them to do everything for you. In fact, not just your brothers, but any male friends you have. Because I know it’s different with guys in church and outside. Still, they need to be treated to be respect. Yes, educate them and help them develop to be the men God intended them to be, but they do not have to do your bidding in everything. And don’t look as their well-meaning service and say that they should do just because they are guys – they do it because they love you enough to do so. And I have no doubt that the brothers I have in my life right now will protect and defend me if the need ever arises. (Thanks guys by the way. You all are awesome, and you pretty much know who you are.)

So don’t lead them on in any way sisters if you do not desire to reach an understanding (to borrow a very Austen term), because these guys are good men who deserves the best ladies God have planned for them, and it would be dishonour to God to not guard their hearts till then.

Okay done with the very sober and rather non-emotional rant. Here’s the song that has been stuck in my head for the last week, for your enjoyment. :D

Goodnight. (:

01.01.2010
Summer nights
categories: Personal, Revelations
tags: , ,

So on New Year’s day (the quietest one in 7 years if I may add), I went to my window and breathed in the cold air. It’s 17 degrees outside right now, rather characteristic of summer nights apparently. That smell was exactly like what I smelt the first night I was in Perth – the smell of the cold and the grass. And the first album I’ve put on this year is an artist group I listened to in year 2000 (it’s a Chinese worship band).

It’s so reflective of how it feels like I’ve come around a full circle. I graduate this year, I’m spending my 3rd year in Perth. I’m 23 this year, but I’m listening to what I listen to at 13, and I’m here on a summer night again.

But everything’s so different now. I like to believe that I’ve changed. I met God for real, on an everyday basis, I fell in love with Him. And I’ve met people who challenge my walk, who appreciate me and loves me for who I am and who I can be. I’ve come to realisations and revelations of God’s love and the boundless limit of His love and grace.

I looked back with Him on this past decade, and it’s been life-changing. And I’m sure that being on the ride with a dangerous God can only be more exciting, challenging, life-changing. I look forward to 2010, the next decade. (Of which I kinda do wish to graduate, find a job, fall in love, get married and have kids, and do what He had specifically called me to do. But hey, it’s all up to Him. He writes the story after all.)

We’re indeed in for the ride of our lives.

Happy 2010.

25.12.2009
happy birthday Jesus!
categories: Personal, Revelations
tags: , , , ,

Listening to: Grace like rain – Todd Agnew

Hallelujah! Grace like rain falls down on me
Hallelujah! All my stains are washed away, are washed away.

Yes, it’s the first Christmas on potsandkisses.com! I’ve taken a break from last minute present wrapping and card writing to update this corner of the internet.

I have not been able to describe this feeling I’ve been having when I think about Christmas. It started when I was at Carols by the Swan. It was like the most mind-blowing realisation and feeling about that Christmas night, and how THAT night had launched Jesus’ life on earth to redeem us, and carry out God’s great salvation. All these mind-blowing things, it humbles me. Because it hits me so hard about His love and grace – one that I never deserved but has received.

Happy birthday Jesus, and thank youu for coming.

14.11.2009
God wins!
categories: Personal, Recollections, Revelations
tags:

So I had to give some conclusion to this week. Exams haven’t even started, and people have been out celebrating already. I’ve got quite a lot more to do, and it’s not looking fun at all.

But I have things to praise God for.

(Lemme sip a bit of my milk as I recount it again)

After the past few epic nights, I went for the group interview yesterday. read more »

13.11.2009
Stress
categories: Personal, Recollections, Revelations
tags: , ,

This was written two days ago, and I’ve waited to publish this ‘at the right time’. I suppose this is the right time. Where a certain hope has been fulfilled, faith has become sight, and the Love still lasts forever.

—————————————————–

I’m sure there is a certain quota of number of thoughts my head can contain on one day.

Well say I go by percentages, I suppose there are days where things aren’t as complicated and all I have to think of, or all that is in my mind is mainly what’s for dinner tonight, how many emails do I have to shoot off to the lecturers and stakeholders today, and what’s on this coming Friday night. (And a lot more stuff, surely my mind can do so much more.. like remember my own name.)

Well that was probably a month ago, where things were stressful on a manageable level. But guess what’s worse than that? Ans: Things that are stressful of which you can’t do much about.

Yeah I can send those emails, and cook those meals, but I can’t make money from nothing. I can’t make my PFC go away. (Yeah I hate that it’s always about money)

Yesterday was like an assault on the thoughts. Just when I thought I got it in control, that I surrender all the worries to God, sudden one conversation opened the dam of worries and everything once again. And believe it or not, at that point of time, I was trying to get down to studying. Really. It seemed like my mind, like my RAM and CPU usage both skyrocketed to 100% and then my system hung.

But instead of alike giving the computer some time to chill and catch up and restore back to working condition, it broke down and I had a blue-screen-of-death moment.

I had no choice, I had to. I cried out to the One with the only thought that overrides everything in me:

(for all the promises You have given and I have claimed)

Do not delay, O my God! (Ps 40:17)

Not that there’s any resolution at this point in time, but I don’t want to turn this into a soapy happy ending just yet either. Also helps that there isn’t a happy ending right now anyway. But yeahh I’d like to hope that this one true cry is the deepest of the depths that I’ve hit, and from there things will start picking up.

Hmm.. Where am I going with this..

At least I’ve been honest with God, and where He is is where I want to be. And that is good enough for now.

13.11.2009
I know that you are for me
categories: Personal, Revelations
tags: ,


You are for me – Kari Jobe

Can’t be even more timely than this. But stumbling into this song on iTunes may have been the most comforting thing that happened tonight. Every word speaks true into my heart, and at this point bring hope, peace and reassurance of who He is. And that is all I need.

I know that you are for me
I know that you are for me
I know that you will never forsake me in my weakness
I know that you have come down
Even if to write upon my heart
To remind me who you are

Kudos to Jon who introduced the song to me, and to the Almighty one who is for me.

10.11.2009
Psalm 37
categories: Personal, Revelations
tags: ,

7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.

16 A little that a righteous man has
 Is better than the riches of many wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,
But the LORD upholds the righteous.

18 The LORD knows the days of the upright,
And their inheritance shall be forever.
19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time,
And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

39 But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD;
He is their strength in the time of trouble.
40 And the LORD shall help them and deliver them;
He shall deliver them from the wicked,
And save them,
Because they trust in Him.

I feel so much better being poor (or say, having little) now.  Only because this God I know and trust (and love and adore) will uphold/sustain/help/deliver me, and my inheritance is foreverrrrrrrrrrrrr.

So yeah, I figure, take the focus off the depleting bank account, on to the Provider/Deliverer (of my Personal Financial Crisis)/Sustainer/Upholder/Helper/Portion/Lover God.

05.11.2009
Christmas casuals
categories: Personal, Revelations
tags: , , , ,

I’ve got a group interview for a certain retail store coming up for Christmas casuals, and I was just checking out if others might have documented their work experiences on the internet, also to find out how much they are paying (cos mum asked).

Boy, did I find stuff.

I found the blatant opposite of what I wished to find – 99% of reviews on forums raved on how bad the working conditions are, how Christmas casuals sometimes get only like.. 1 shift the whole holidays, and quite a few were able to list a whole pile of reasons why you should never work there.

And obviously I freaked out. I am putting quite a bit of hope on this job to deliver me from my PFC (personal financial crisis) but all these might come crashing down already. The heart just felt totally unsettled, and yeah thoughts of abandoning this interview and figuring something out proliferated my mind.

Just before turning in though, I spent some time conversing with the Big Guy, and all there was to it, is that He is Love and He is Lord. He is sovereign, He is in control, where He brings me and where I go, He’ll be there. So there was nothing I need to worry about, and perhaps I was born for this – to enter into the mess and bring God into the picture.

Also, it dawned upon me not to put hope in what this job can get me, but hope in Him who has all good things planned for me. He is my deliverer from my PFC.

Kk. I’m ready to meet the big giant and kill it. Next week.

Maybe now I should study.