Article: Nipping It In The Bud: How and Why We’re Celebrating Friends, Not Toys At Our Birthday Party

This is an excellent article. It really humbled me in my excitment to plan Sophie’s birthday party.

Sophie is definitely a people person. I think as much as she likes toys, she would prefer to play with someone more than toys anyday. It’s not just about the party. It’s easy to just plan a big birthday bash – expensive cake, lavish decor, presents etc. Nothing really wrong in that at all. But what started as a process of planning her party has got me thinking thru what we are building in her in the long run. The values that are inculcated in her subconsciously as we do these things like planning a birthday party.

It’s a long article but do give it a read in your spare time.

Psalm 1

BOOK I : Psalms 1-41

 1 Blessed is the man
       who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
       or stand in the way of sinners
       or sit in the seat of mockers.

 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
       and on his law he meditates day and night.

 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
       which yields its fruit in season
       and whose leaf does not wither.
       Whatever he does prospers.

 4 Not so the wicked!
       They are like chaff
       that the wind blows away.

 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
       nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

 6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
       but the way of the wicked will perish.

My current problem: I meditate on what people say/think more than what God says/think. Worry = Meditate

People who norm pray for me, pls keep me in prayer that I will get a breakthrough in this area. Thanks. I see breakthru coming coz God is faithful!!

When the world speaks louder, I become scared and insecure but I hear the Father saying:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

After watching SuperNanny, i think i too might have a problem next time with my quick temperedness. I really need to have a breakthru in this area and grow in patience and love. So this entry is really a reminder for myself:

TOO QUICKLY ANNOYED?

Pr 12:16 A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.

Take note of how quickly and in what manner you respond to an insult.

Jas 1:19  My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry

Furthermore:

Pr 29:11 A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.
Pr 25:28 Whoever has no rule over his own spirit Is like a city broken down, without walls.

In fact only a fool always expresses how they feel. The righteous should be dispassionate to a degree. In particular being slow to anger requires an exercise of one’s self-control. A person lacking in self-control has his defenses broken down and as such is open to the enemy’s attack.

Ok… here’s a little update on our TV situation…

We’ve got it up and running. The first programme I watched was Extreme Makeover. Oh my oh my… i never knew that plastic surgery could do so much. It’s scary. Really i think the word is scary. It’s amazing what people would put themselves through to look better.

But one thing i took home, i better look after what God’s already given me well rather than suffer the consequence of laziness and complacency – so a bit of exercise, more cleansing and toning, a bit more moisturiser. I think that a lot of times we reap what we sow. So if we’re lazy then we deserve to look the way we do – puffy eyes, dry skin etc. Of course, some have it better than others but we still need to do our part.

The second programme I watched was a documentary on 9/11. Thank God for CNA… at least there’s something worthwhile watching. It was interesting. I’ve read stuff on it but this was the first time i was watching a documentary. Looking forward to the part two. Erm is that how people get addicted to TV? Then there’s part 3, 4, 5???

I’m enjoying the TV… heh.

I fear asking questions.

I think it’s really an upbringing and culture problem that has become
my problem. I would think like for a really really long time about how
to make a comment or ask a questions without looking stupid and finally
when i figure it out, the topic has passed.

I remember someone telling once that in the Jewish family, parents do
not ask how well the kids do in a test but they ask how many questions
did you ask in sch today. I guess they know the value of raising kids
that are inquisitive and thirsty to know.

I think asking shows me what i don’t know and i don’t like knowing that i don’t know. But i really don’t know a lot of things.

Some things need to change around here if i wanna grow. I need to start asking questions.

Today’s first question was
AL: James, is Oswald Chambers dead?
J: Ya, very dead.
AL: Oh…. what a stupid question!
J: Hey don’t say that… The only stupid question is the question you don’t ask.

And that’s what triggered today’s entry.

I was just going thru some of my journals and realised that since
young, every mission trip i went on, i had mixed motives (somehow there
was always this guy on the trip…. yup yup) and my reflections were
all really shallow. And i was already 20 years old at that point.

Just made me think about how God is amazing and He can work with us at
any stage of our lives and allow us to grow. I thank God for that. If
an adult had just said, oh no, ailing is too immature to go on this
trip or do this or that, I would have missed out on so much. Of course
there were times when i got “disciplined” by my leaders and thru love
and guidance i learnt much but they somehow believed in me and did not
give up on me.

Maybe that’s why i’m so on about letting youths go on trips and letting
them try because you just don’t know what God will do and who will be
your next full time missionary. You really don’t know. Only God knows.
The first will be last and the last will be first. His eye is on the
sparrow.

Copyright @ 2006 Supermom Relief

All my life my life goal has been to be a super
woman. Totally organized, super executive at work, now that i’m married
i want to manage the home well, cook well, clean well, plus be super
wife to James n super mom to my kids.

But more and more i realise that as long as my life goal is that, i
will never be able to fully focus on my Super God coz i’m always
focusing on how to become super woman.

So i give up.

I give up my super ideas to get it all right and together. The
temptation is to look at other women and think wow she’s got her home
business going plus raising 4 beautiful smart kids plus she’s
volunteering at this and that commitee or that auntie who told me on
Sunday that she didn’t have a confinement maid during the confinement
period but she cooked for herself, look after 3 kids all by herself,
and that pastor’s wife who is amazing at running the household etc….
and think i need to model my life after them and live my life like
that. Talk about super pressure!

Heh but i’m not gonna be stupid and try to get it all right. I give up.

I’m changing my life goal to fix my eyes on my Super God and let Him do
the super things and i’ll just enjoy. Like just giving thanks that my
super mum-in-law cooked and brought over all the yummy cooked food
frozen in tupperware so that i don’t have to cook, just defrost! That
is amazing. At first i felt like such a failure that i needed to depend
on mum-in-law to cook for me but then i realised she loves me and wants
to help me.

So Lord please teach me to depend on you and the people around me.
But give me the heart to learn as you teach me.

Your grace is sufficient for me
Your strength is made perfect when i am weak
And all that i cling to I lay at your feet
Your grace is sufficient for me

I’m no longer striving to merit your love
I rest in your promise to me
That all of my sins have been washed in your blood
Your mercy is all that i need.

I had a sudden inspiration to write while i was in the shower.

I heard some very happy news today and i’m very happy for someone. (*wink to you*)

I’m also very happy to have been able to stand at that place of doing
the BGR workshop w Vic n Andrea. Although it was not perfect and all
but somehow sensed that God just wanted the three of us to stand
together and just be there. Somehow just being there was warring
warfare in the heavenly realms. While the whole world is telling us
lies, we need to stand at the place to teach truth and display truth
and just intercede for this generation.

I’m very happy that most of my girls are happily settling down and
finding man of great integrity and strength, God fearers! Felt God
reminding me that it is like some scatter seeds, some water but God
will cause the growth.  It’s like i’ve been with the girls since
they were in JC and now one just got married and the rest are all
attached. Been with them thru their past relationships etc and finally
see them happy and growing. It’s tremendous joy for me.

It seems like i’m completing my season. I’ve been here for almost 11
years. This is my 12th year as a youth leader in church. A bit like Nanny Mcphee w
the children. The girls have learnt lessons and grown and for me like
Nanny Mcphee, maybe it’s time to move on… i don’t think i’ve taught
them much but have definitely scattered some seeds and God has used
whatever and He has grown them. Maybe sense that it is time to move to
a different season of looking after my own kids and growing them.

I went to Geraldine’s site and got to Pastor Fu
Man’s site and found this entry on his blog. I’ve been thinking about
this on and off and i like what he wrote. There is a sense of freedom
as i read this because at times i struggle with how much time and how
much energy i have or want to give to God as if i have the right to
decide but when i remember that i am a servant, i find my place and i
find freedom.

I don’t struggle anymore coz i lay it down. It’s not about me.

From Pastor Fu Man’s blog:
VOLUNTEER OR SERVANT

A Volunteer determines how much time,
effort and resources to the one who calls. He or she comes from a
position of strength. There is always an uncertainty whether there is
enough manpower to get the work done.

A Servant is obligated to
give all the required time, effort and resources to the one who calls.
He or she comes from a position of sacrifice. There is always certainty
that there is enough manpower to get the work done.

In the
Church of Jesus Christ, there are no volunteers but servants. Look
around, one can see the majority of Christians behaving more like a
volunteer than a servant.

This is the first time i’m actually thankful for the season of Lent. In
the past i will go like… oh… it’s LENT, with sort of a serious tone
and oh… it’s fasting and prayer season.

But somehow this year, maybe i’m more aware of its significance or just
tired of clutter in my life and just glad for a time to refocus and
even fast from things that have become addictions (in my case, sweets
in particular gummies!) or complusive behaviours in my life (like
stress and hard work!). It sounds superficial to fast from sweets but
each time i am drawn towards the little packet of gummies in my
bag(right now, Haribo cola sweets) i am reminded to think of praying
and drawing away.

It’s really strange how it all works out. And trust me, i’m seriously
addicted to these things. It’s almost complusive behaviour. Don’t
believe me, ask James.

Anyways… i’m thankful to take time out to reflect and slow down and pray and just be humble and in awe of God.

Today’s passage from Eccl 5 – Go near to listen rather than to speak/offer the sacrifice of fools. 

(Erm… while writing this entry, i actually went to search for Haribo
online…. drool………….. temptation island……………. you
must check it out! AHHH!!)