Have a little Faith

God works in wondrous ways. Sometimes things can seem really bad but God never fails to pull you back up whenever you feel that you're falling. Today was my first attempt at my driving test, and i screwed it up right from the start. Mistakes like striking the kerb, positioning my car wrongly, causing my engine to stall, cost me 16 demerit points while i was in the circuit alone. It was truly by God's grace that i still managed to pass, with the tester closing an eye on my minor faults while out on the main road.

Now that i've passed my driving, i'm looking for new activities to do. Will be working on my guitar and maybe picking up Japanese. Gotta make the most of whatever time i have to myself.

This coming week will be a tough one, with a route march, outfield, and lots of mortar drill with standards to meet. Just hoping that God will help us through it all. After this week it'll be CNY, a time of fun and gathering. I'm so looking forward to it :) Till then

For His Glory

Do you believe in miracles? I surely do. Sometimes it's really more than a coincidence that things happen, and what might not appeal to you could just be part of God's plans for you to greater things to come.

How much is enough when it comes to giving? Today my church pledged all the offerings it receieved to the Haiti relief effort. I'm really proud of what my church and its members had done and contributed to the cause. Quoting what i had learnt in bible study "a good church is one that does and acts out God's words". For God and His people, no sacrifice is too much, we must have faith.

A friend of mine was sharing about the power that simple words have on our daily lives. Quoting Mother Teresa "kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless". Guess it's time to start speaking more loving words, happy words, positive words, beautiful words and cease using swear words, evil words, poisonous words.

Sometimes, God shows you things, leads you to contemplate about certain matters, guides you to certain conclusions. It's really wonderful how God speaks to us in so many different ways.

twinkle

Very often at night, while lying on my bed enjoying the air con and music, i'd get this sudden urge to pen down my thoughts. It has been like that since my secondary school days when blogging used to be a more frequent affair. In the past i used to write for others, posting many photos and adding an entire playlist of songs on the blog, just so to entertain and keep my friends updated on the going-on in my life. Nowadays blogging has become somethig much more personal, with me tending to write for the sake of making myself feel better. My blog has become more of a diary, something more personal, though still open to the public and whoever that cares.

I was on facebook just now, and there were all these photos of birthday celebrations for my friends who had just turned 20 or 21. It suddenly struck me that very soon i'd be celebrating my twentieth birthday too, sort of a milestone as it would mark the end of my teenage years. How time flies, we're all entering into adulthood, with greater responsibilities to come.

As i was walking home alone under the dim street lights and enjoying the cool night breeze, i thought about the new year resolutions that i had set for myself slightly more than a month ago. It seems to me that i should add on to my list of new year resolutions, for it seems to me that there is much more room for greater results. (+ indicates the add-on)

- Attend church weekly as well as cell group meetings as far as possible
+ attend bible study sessions regularly and prepare myself for theological studies in future

- IPPT Gold and SOC pass
+ focus on gymming and buffing up once i've achieved my primary aim

- Get my driving license
+ on my first try date 080210

- Grade 1 guitar (6 months course)
+ start immediately from February if possible

- Save minimum $500 every month from my allowance
+ i'm cutting this down to $400 due to feasibility

- Exercise greater self-control and discipline
+ Exhibit a greater sense of maturity in speech and act

- Cut down on computer gaming and engage in more outdoor activities (2 hours cap)
+ Learn how to skate professionally

- Read at least 12 books over the year (one per month on average)
+ With at least half of them being non-fiction books

Alright now, it's kinda late at night, will write again. Goodnight folks

2010

My 5 day new year break has been rather enjoyable.

Went for steamboat at a friend's house on Thursday afternoon, after which i went to the singapore flyer to countdown with my buddies. We made a last minute decision to stayover at Jeremy's house that night and spent the wee hours of the morning playing mahjong.

Friday, the first day of 2010, was spent shopping around for new clothes and stuff. This is the best time to shop, with prices being slashed by up to 50% at sales islandwide.

Saturday was spent mostly at home as my relatives came over for steamboat. It's nice to see all my uncles and aunties as well as my cousins after so long. My maternal cousins are mostly still in primary school, with only one or two exceptions. I was talking to the oldest one in Sec 4 this year, discussing about her study plans in preparation for the O Levels. It seemed so long ago that i myself was in her position, fretting over exams and stuff. Haha well i guess i'm getting old.

Went to church on Sunday, and had dim sum wth some church friends for lunch. We had this interesting and somewhat funny conversation about different thought processes between guys and girls.

No plans for today, Monday, guess i'll just be slacking away at home for most part of the day. Maybe i'll attempt to finish this new book i borrowed from the library hmm...

Anyway i was thinking about the new year while sitting in the bus the other evening on my way home from town, and along the way i came up with a few new year resolutions. Some of these targets are unlikely to be achieved within the year due to time constraints, but i would like to at least start working on them.

In point form and not according to priority:

- Attend church weekly as well as cell group meetings as far as possible

- IPPT Gold and SOC pass

- Get my driving license

- Grade 1 guitar (6 months course)

- Save minimum $500 every month from my allowance

- Exercise greater self-control and discipline

- Cut down on computer gaming and engage in more outdoor activities (2 hours cap)

- Read at least 12 books over the year (one per month on average)


I believe that it will be manageable and achievable so long as i have faith, work and pray hard. Let's hope that 2010 will be a good year yea :) Happy new year friends!

Christmas :)

My Christmas break started from Thursday afternoon, and it had been an eventful one.

My army friends and i went to play dota immediately after booking out on Thursday. I think i'm getting addicted to the game, playing it at home whenever i'm free. After that i took a nap at home before going to my friend's house at Changi for a stayover. There, we played mahjong for a little while, talked about life, had a brief karaoke session, played some card games and had turkey and ham for supper together.

Friday, Christmas day, was mainly spent at home with my family. I went to town in the early afternoon for brunch with some friends and found it surprisingly empty. Guess everyone's holed up at home with their loved ones.

Saturday morning was spent on my weekly driving lesson, the afternoon was spent watching television and stoning around at home, and in the evening i went for my council's Christmas gathering at one of my friend's house. About 15 people turned up for the gathering, which is about half the total strength of the council. Really nice to see them again after so long. It's really interesting to see the girls talking about university life at one corner and the guys talking about national service in the other corner. One of the girls came to sit among the guys and after a long time suddenly asked us why we're always only talking about ns. We told her, to everyone's laughter, that our life is such and teased her to sign on with the army. Also watched a super funny movie called "Mind Your Language". We were all laughing like mad at the silly remarks of the actors.

Sunday morning was the first time i went to a megachurch, city harvest, at the invitation of my friend. The number of people there was astonishing, filling up the entire expo hall. It's somewhat like Monday chapel in acjc but on a grander scale and corporate like. Went to east coast park to cycle and hang out with my friend and his cell group thereafter.

I went to watch Avatar 3D with 2 of my friends who were also on leave today, Monday. It was a fantastic movie i must say. Also went out with my mum and aunt in the later part of the afternoon. And here i am now, trying to jot down memories of this eventful Christmas break.

Alright now, gotta go, will write again when possible :)

sunshine please

I'm just hoping that life in camp will take a turn for the better and praying that life outside camp will be more fulfilling. Things aren't going really smoothly right now, and i'm just hoping to ride out the storm. Pray that this stormy season doesn't last for too long.

God send me a rainbow. How i long for sunny days ahead.

rest

My 4 day long weekend which started on Thursday night will officially end in about 2 hours time. It has been a fun and eventful break from NS life. Over the past few days i went out with my bunk mates for late night supper and lan-gaming, met up with other friends here and there, watched a movie or two, went shopping around and bought this shirt which reads "i don't care about this year", had dinner by the beach with my family and relatives, managed to pass 12 driving subjects, and most importantly i took the chance to rest well.

I'd be confined in camp the entire of next week due to SAFCA INDOPURA, a joint exercise between my unit and the Indonesian army, and it will be my first time being the guard commander come this Friday's duty. The coming week is gonna be rather exciting though hectic.

Recently, i'd been thinking a little about life. I've been thinking about what i want to achieve, what i expect of the future, and the means to get there. I've been thinking about the person i want to be, the image i want to portray, and the ways in which i should carry myself. I've been thinking about relationships, with my family, my friends, and with people i have yet to meet or befriend. I have decided to allow God to live through me, to work through me, and to let his will be done through me. All i pray and seek for is a peace of mind, and wisdom to do what is right and what is necessary. I pray that in all i do i do it for the glory of God, regardless of how difficult things might be. Amen