Tiramisu-making success!..

this is the final product... :) Made it with 3 other girls.... and I learnt some important lessons about "shouldn't over whisk double cream or egg whites, else they will become destabilise and break"... Never know about this before.. hehe.. Well, hope to make again soon... hopefully, then, it would be better!.. hehehehhe........  

the Big Church Day Out... May 29th, 2010...

yippeeee..... goin on a bus too!.. lol... looking forward to this as we are going to have picnic.. worship.. and lots of jumping... lots of girly chats... lots of photo-taking... Please pray for sunny weather... thank you... *wink*

Bye bye...

I waved bye bye to Mr Procrastination.. well, more like, cast him out in Jesus' Name last night.. and today has been so fruitful for me.. able to get on with my work.. *grin* I think I have to keep at it.. Praying and asking God to help me to overcome this everyday.. to build the good habit of discipline... 

Good night.. :D

Everything in its Time...

Got this song from a friend whom I met only once.. Spent one weekend with her and others... and this is the song that she would be using for her wedding march in a week's time... so sweet.... and what a lovely girl she is... even though I do not know her that well... 

Everything in God's time.. :) This song just touches me.. hehe.. *grin*

Sometimes I wonder what lies ahead
How long till my hunger is fed
They say it's hard to make it in this part of town
So many people on this merry-go-round

Some folks try astrology
Some turn to crystal balls
To find an answer,
To get through it all
I just fall on my knees and I try to pray
In the silence I can hear Him say

The river runs and the river hides
Out to the ocean and under the sky
I promise you, the answer will come
Hold on to patience and watch for the sign
Everything in its time

I often feel like I'm two steps behind
Somebody must have moved that finish line
There are a thousand reasons
Why I should give up
But I'm stubborn in the things I believe

The river runs and the river hides
Out to the ocean and under the sky
I promise you, the answer will come
Hold on to patience and watch for the sign

'cause maybe there's another plan
One I still can't see
A little surprise, like your love in my life
Funny how time changes how we see

The river runs and the river hides
Out to the ocean and under the sky
I promise you, the answer will come
Hold on to patience and watch for the sign
Everything in its time
Everything in its time
 

Procrastinated again?

think this is really my biggest enemy..... and I know I have failed tremendously the past few days..... procrastinated and procrastinated..... ish... it feels like I am having a disease or something.. 

but there is HOPE!.. I know I can overcome it with God's strength.. 

Well, here I go again.... get up and try again.. Pray for me, ya... *grin*

Sandwich?

Just a picture of the tuna-mayo sandwich I made and other food that we had for the picnic.. didn't have time to do the egg-mayo sandwich... Timing calculated wrongly today!.. lol.. more photos coming up.. hehe..

A question in my heart that is answered & re-affirmed...

Question is "Why am I still in the UK?"...

Pleasantly surprised to be finding myself reading this reflection this morning in this link....
http://thebcec.wordpress.com/2010/03/22/why-am-i-still-in-the-uk-by-junny-chan/

and from there, I found myself writing the below comment for the write-up...

"be a missionary for England? hmm.. interesting phrase and food for thought..

Thanks Junny for your reflection and sharing... This is the exact question that I have been asking the past weeks/months...... how interesting that I am to find myself reading your reflection today.. It is like.. a re-affirmation in my spirit... of what God has been saying..

Read two books recently.. one by Martin Goldsmith and the other by his wife, Elizabeth Goldsmith.. was truly blessed and encouraged by their writings..particularly, the one written by Elizabeth... (titled God can be trusted).. Amazing stories... and I haven't met this couple yet.." 

And speaking of which, I remembered that before I came over to the UK, this same couple was in DUMC (my church back home).. but I didn't get to hear them... and this time, when they were in Birmingham, I didn't get to go and hear them as well.. However, their books, in God's special way, came to me!.. and I had the privilege of reading them and was truly blessed!..  now, am listening to Martin Goldsmith's sermon online.. 

http://thebcec.wordpress.com/sunday-messages/

Indeed, there is that affirmation in my heart today.. at this very minute... *grin* God is good, all the time!... :D

That day will come..

Praising God while I wait.. Praising His Awesome Name as I wait.. Serving Him and His people.. there are so much to learn, to do.. to serve... to grow to be stronger in Him.. and before I know it, that day is here!.. *grin*..

*inspired by the song I am listening to... well.. the same one in my previous scribbling*

If God is with me...

whom then shall I fear? this phrase stuck in my head today as I listened to this song in my previous scribblings.. 

http://seasons-of-lives.blogspot.com/2009/11/god-will-never-let-go-of-me.html

I realise that sometimes, I just need to be reminded again.. and again... coz I am forgetful.. especially of the good things that God has revealed to me.. the promises He has promised.. and I do find that going back to my journals and even my previous scribblings help me to remember.. Well, this is one of those times!..  *wink*

Sandwich Making Day..

Today is the day that I am making sandwiches... for a picnic later... simple sandwiches.. all fattening food though.. coz everything is with "mayo".. lol.. Mayo does the trick!.. tee-hee-hee.. So, I am making Tuna-mayo sandwiches... Egg-mayo sandwiches.... to make it a little healtier.. there will be cucumber!.. 

Well... I have decided to scribble a little... each day from now on.. whenever I could.. Even as I scribble now, I am reminded of the movie I watched yesterday night, "Sphere".... It is about people's fears being manifested into reality... scary to think that whatever fears we have, it will become real... ewwww.. oooh.. I wouldn't like to be there when that happens!... Guess all of us have a problem with fears.. But I am again reminded that with God, there shouldn't be any of the wrong kind of fears.. unless we don't trust Him enough.. Where there is FAITH, fear should be thrown out of the window.. but is it easy to do so? well, face it with God, it would be.. that is how we build up faith in Him... we have the key, why not use it? *wink*

er.. how I end up scribbling about this when I am suppose to scribble about sandwich making? lol...  that is typical... very typical, I think.. lol.. well, time to go shopping for the ingredients for today!... *grin*

全新的你...

Just want to share this song with everyone.... :)

你说阴天代表你的心情

雨天更是你对生命的反应
你说每天生活一样平静
对于未来没有一点信心
亲爱朋友你是否曾经
曾经观看满天的星星
期待有人能够了解你心
能够爱你赐你力量更新
耶稣能够叫一切都更新
耶稣能够体会你的心情
耶稣能够改变你的曾经
耶稣爱你耶稣疼你
耶稣能造一个全新的你

耶稣爱你耶稣疼你
你说阴天代表你的心情
雨天更是你对生命的反应
你说每天生活一样平静
对于未来没有一点信心
亲爱朋友你是否曾经
曾经观看满天的星星
期待有人能够了解你心
能够爱你赐你力量更新
耶稣能够叫一切都更新
耶稣能够体会你的心情
耶稣能够改变你的曾经
耶稣爱你耶稣疼你
耶稣能造一个全新的你
耶稣能够叫一切都更新
耶稣能够体会你的心情
耶稣能够改变你的曾经
耶稣爱你耶稣疼你
耶稣能造一个全新的你
耶稣能够叫一切都更新
耶稣能够体会你的心情
耶稣能够改变你的曾经
耶稣爱你耶稣疼你
耶稣能造一个全新的你
耶稣爱你耶稣疼你
耶稣能造一个全新的你
一个全新的你
一个全新的你

(歌手：赞美之泉)

Lovely.. what snow could do...

This is where I am living... see the effect of snow... *grin*

Who would ever thought....

Vivien doing what she is doing now... 
Vivien taking risks?
Vivien stepping out of rat race of life... to do something else...
Vivien having so much free-time...
Vivien meeting so many different people from different parts of the world and different phase of lives...
Vivien eating food she normally doesn't eat; like eggplants...
Vivien baking a cheese cake... and more cakes to come... 
Vivien can cook!... 

and the list goes on and on...

How could this happen? all because of One Person... and that is God who loves her very very much!.. *wink* With God, all things are possible... With God, Vivien could fly and will fly....... and be who God wants her to be..... How awesome that is, isn't it? hehe... Belt of Truth buckled on; ready and go.......

Josh & Tiff...

hehe.. with my two little munch-kins..... how I miss them.. 

Tiff & I...

Think this is one of the best pictures taken with my little niece.... and she just turned two recently.. and, I got to sit on the "merry-go-round".. lol.... 

My family!.. :D

yup.... 

Being blogged!...

BLOGGED!!!

I was wonderfully amused to find that I was being blogged by a former colleague few years back.. two years? maybe lesser than that.. the stuff that he wrote of me was rather interesting.. I find it interesting to read what people wrote about me.. LOL.. and glad that I had made a "good" impact in someone's life.. even when I was just being myself.. and what a better place to be reflecting that other than in the work place.. 

As I scribble about this now, it just brings to mind of that time when I was so vulnerable and yet it was truly God who saved me.. who used me and still using me through every life experiences He brought me thro; to speak into lives.. Lives that God wants to touch.. Lives that God loves.... I am so thankful to be part of this adventure with God.. and it just brings such great joy to be used by God with whatever little that I have.. He is the One who multiplies... He is the One who touches... Amazing, isn't it?

So, dear former colleague, continue to blog, ya? with all the many pictures and words.... stories of lives... *grin*

Feeling Weak?

This is the topic of the daily devotion that I received for today.. hmm.. think most or all of us do experience moments like this before in our lives or will experience in the days to come.. I just felt that this is a good reading to share here with everyone.. Never know what God could do to the hearts of my readers.. as you read and reflect... It is just amazing to see over and over again how God works in our hearts.. *grin*

*******

Feeling Weak?

      By Mary DeMuth

For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God.

1 Corinthians 1:26-29

I didn't know that when those older boys pinned five-year-old me to the earth, my backside poked by brambles, that someday God would choose that frightened little girl, sexually abused for a year, to shame the wise. But He chose a shattered me.

I didn't know that as my childhood home filled with drugs and unsafe parties, God would rescue weak and scared me. But, eventually, He salved my fears.

I didn't know that as I ran from other predators, the boys' marks on me like a beacon, I'd someday limp into the arms of a Savior. I felt debased, unworthy, ugly, dirty, ruined. But He welcomed me.

I didn't know that as my earthly father slipped from this earth, my Heavenly Father stood nearby, open armed. Though my earthly father's death left me fatherless, my Heavenly Father didn't orphan me. He grafted me into His family.

I didn't know that as I considered different ways to kill myself in junior high, as I faced a third parental divorce, that Jesus' own beautiful death provided a way of new life for me. He rescued me from taking my life.

I was all the things the apostle Paul wrote about in today's key verse, and then some. Neglected, needy, pained, lost, small, frightened. And yet God took those negatives and beautified them with Himself. That's the great paradox God brings to all of us, no matter how "easy" or hard our upbringing. It's not that we're strong and sufficient and wise, it's that He is.

Perhaps you've looked back on your past and shuddered. Perhaps you've questioned God about why He'd allow atrocities in your life. But consider this: God gets the most glory in the life fully surrendered to Him, and it's hard for a self-sufficient person to submit. He does the most work in our helplessness. (See 2 Corinthians 12: 9, 10).

Our weakness and frailty are not merely places of desolation; they are dance floors—holy places where the God of the universe is allowed to freely move in our lives. Our own lack allows for and welcomes this sacred dance where God's talent outshines our capabilities, where only He receives the glory.

Will you lay down your past today? Will you trust Him with the mess, the memories, the mayhem? If you do, He will take the marred pieces of your life, reassemble them, and make you fly. So you (because of Him) can shame the wise.

Suggested Prayer:
Lord, I confess I've seen my own injuries as reasons to blame you and keep You far from my heart. I'm sorry. Help me instead to see my weaknesses as a place where You can demonstrate Your strength. I welcome You into the painful places. Do something new and miraculous. I don't want to be embittered. I want to be free. And I want to give You all the glory. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Reflections:
Look back on your life. When have you felt closest to God? The most distant? What were your circumstances at each time?
In what ways are you afraid to surrender your past to God?
How can you choose today to believe the truth that God's strength is stronger where you're weak? 

Isaiah 43:18-19

Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past. Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

And He has said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.' Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore, I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake, for when I am weak, then I am strong.

*******

Indeed it is comforting to know that it is not that we are strong and sufficient and wise, it is that He is... Alot of times, we think.. or rather, I think that I have to be strong and sufficient and wise... Sometimes, the flesh still desire to do so.. It is just so easy to do so, actually.. 

The culture; the day & age; people's expectations... just set us to be such.. to be independent on our own.. Yes, it is good to be independent.. Yet, we are called to be dependent on God who loves us so much.. How does this match one another? o_O? I remembered sharing about this recently.. to be independent and to be dependent on God.... Sound contradicting? 

but actually, it does work... It really does... Don't believe me? well.. Try it and then tell me.. *wink* 

coz Jesus said in Luke 9:24, "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will save it." 

Why did Jesus say that? 

Think about that..... 

baking spree... :D

    

me in action.. 

cheese cake before it flattens... :D

voila.. first attempt.. and I baked it with another girl.. Sarah....  we had lots of fun!.. our next attempt would be tiramisu.... hehehehehe.

Sarah & I.. my partner-in-crime for cake baking.. :)

Tiramisu coming up!... *grin*

Am I being tested? ^_^

Yesterday, received this devotion that says below...

****

It's A Test Of Faith

You tested us,... refined us like silver... brought us to a place of abundance.

Psalm 66:10-12 NIV

When Jesus explained the cost of following Him, some of His disciples walked away. Yet the impact of those who didn't is still felt in the world today. By the time they wrote their epistles, His apostles had learned to see every test in life as a chance to strengthen their faith and multiply their effectiveness.

Tests of faith are opportunities to surrender something of value to God, even when we have the right not to. In a test of faith you'll feel assaulted and stretched by circumstances, yet not distant from God; tried by them, but not judged or guilty. The Psalmist writes, 'For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver… you brought us to a place of abundance' (Psalm 66:10-12 NIV). A test of faith doesn't really test anything unless it pushes you beyond your last test - past what you've already proven! If you try to run or pull back each time you reach what seems like your limit, you'll never know how much you can trust God - or how much He can trust you. The fire that refines us like silver can come as a job lost, a relationship lost, good health lost, or a reputation lost. But with God, the end result is never in doubt. If you're wondering today, 'How much more can I take?' listen to the words of Bishop JC Ryle: 'This only we may be assured of, that if tomorrow brings a cross, He who sends it can and will send the grace to bear it.' In God's kingdom it works like this: 'Faith tested, character refined, abundance given.'

****

I feel that I am being so... and I am not trying to run or pull back this time.. well, am rather conscious about it in fact.. I am so assured by what Bishop JC Ryle says... "This only we may be assured of, that if tomorrow brings a cross, He who sends it can and will send the grace to bear it."  Nothing is more assuring than this.. that He will send the grace to bear it... *grin* and I am looking forward to the time when I get to look back at this time with hindsight.. and say, "with God, all things are possible!"..... praising Him even more.. walking stronger in Him; in all circumstances..... *wink*

lol.. seriously.. I think I am beginning to love this life I am living at this junction.. the excitement of uncertainties.. the knowing of the unknowing that is in God's hands.. the sense of trust in God.. the sense of rest in God even when things are super duper uncertain.. Who would have thought that I could walk thus far.. and still walking.. Not me, in my logical thinking.. It is definitely of God and from God.. It is He who has provided.. It is He who has guided me.. It is He who has assured in my heart... "Thank You O Lord"..