God's boxes
I have in my hand two boxes which God gave me to hold
he said, "Put all your sorrows in the black box and all your joys in the gold."
I heeded His words, and in the two boxes,
Both my joys and sorrows I stored.
But though the gold became heavier each day,
The black was as light as before.
With curiosity, I opened the black,
I wanted to find out why,
And I saw, in the base of the box, a hole,
Which my sorrows had fallen out by.
I showed the hole to God, and mused,
"I wonder where my sorrows could be!"
He smiled a gentle smile and said,
"They're all here with me.."
I asked God, why He gave me the boxes,
Why the gold and the black with the hole?
"The gold is for you to count your blessings and the black is for you to let go."
An email sent to me which I found interesting to keep and because I don't like to spam mails, here it is :) enjoy!!
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Monday, November 03, 2008
random thoughts again....
at every stage of life, there is something to challenge us, something we need to overcome.
yet, God says "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful, he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear, but when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."
i guess at every point of life, there is something for us to complain about, something for us to be unhappy about. but we will only be in the same stage once and no one can turn back time. all we can do is store memories and learn in every situation. so whether we store happy or sad memories is up to us but in the end, he will always help us emerge triumphant in the situation. maybe not triumphant in the way normal people look at it, but in the way He looks at it. and also in His time!!
at every stage of life, there is something to challenge us, something we need to overcome.
yet, God says "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful, he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear, but when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."
i guess at every point of life, there is something for us to complain about, something for us to be unhappy about. but we will only be in the same stage once and no one can turn back time. all we can do is store memories and learn in every situation. so whether we store happy or sad memories is up to us but in the end, he will always help us emerge triumphant in the situation. maybe not triumphant in the way normal people look at it, but in the way He looks at it. and also in His time!!
weird dream
had a weird dream last night. dreamt that i was at my grandma's house, looking at her calendar and realised that my birthday was recorded as 4th november when everyone started urging me to start planning for birthday. hahas.
Saturday, November 01, 2008
Friday, September 19, 2008
update :)
some updates first:
1. I HAVE joined the hall committee and taken up one of the more shiong posts as VP in which I have at least one meeting a week which involves the special committee I'm ex-officio of = HAVOC. Not that I mind since I don't really have to do anything there, just be there, listen to them, maybe give suggestions and ideas, update them on any JCRC decisions that may affect them and update JCRC on their progress. wonders how often their tops meeting is since JCRC tops meeting has been quite often :) at least among the seniors. not that I mind :) enjoying myself so far :) knowing we are working as one, all for the good of hall to the best of our abilities. I know, on my part, I'll be giving (though some may not see) and giving up other things.
2. I will still remain in the committee for tuanqi. After talking to so many people, I know I have the support I need :)
now for some random things :) 1. just thought how wonderful if everyone cared for those around them genuinely and not just ask around for information to show off that they are updated and have something to disturb others about (gossip)
2. been feeling rather guilty. I guess it's my tendency to overly take up responsibility (don't really know how to be grammatically correct there as my Malay teacher would say) as my kor pointed out, but it's something I'm still learning. Why guilty? Just feel I've let quite a number of people down and it feels like my best is not enough. God, give me wisdom.
3. it's her sixth sense that's bothering me. The way she says it's always accurate, how it never fails makes me feel obliged to believe in it. But this is my own life, God's, but not hers. It may be a warning sign to me but I really don't see what she sees.
1. I HAVE joined the hall committee and taken up one of the more shiong posts as VP in which I have at least one meeting a week which involves the special committee I'm ex-officio of = HAVOC. Not that I mind since I don't really have to do anything there, just be there, listen to them, maybe give suggestions and ideas, update them on any JCRC decisions that may affect them and update JCRC on their progress. wonders how often their tops meeting is since JCRC tops meeting has been quite often :) at least among the seniors. not that I mind :) enjoying myself so far :) knowing we are working as one, all for the good of hall to the best of our abilities. I know, on my part, I'll be giving (though some may not see) and giving up other things.
2. I will still remain in the committee for tuanqi. After talking to so many people, I know I have the support I need :)
now for some random things :) 1. just thought how wonderful if everyone cared for those around them genuinely and not just ask around for information to show off that they are updated and have something to disturb others about (gossip)
2. been feeling rather guilty. I guess it's my tendency to overly take up responsibility (don't really know how to be grammatically correct there as my Malay teacher would say) as my kor pointed out, but it's something I'm still learning. Why guilty? Just feel I've let quite a number of people down and it feels like my best is not enough. God, give me wisdom.
3. it's her sixth sense that's bothering me. The way she says it's always accurate, how it never fails makes me feel obliged to believe in it. But this is my own life, God's, but not hers. It may be a warning sign to me but I really don't see what she sees.
post HW210 tech comm e-tutorial
sighs....all was going fine until the last question where my teacher missed out on some properties of the page he created for my group and just left us hanging in mid air :( it was really an emergency since we were running out of time. here's what i posted for the entire class to see. he didn't reply to my message on one of the threads asking for help before that. became desperate :(
EMERGENCY: GRACE'S GROUP IS STUCK NOT BEING ABLE TO DISCUSS IN OUR OWN GROUP WIKI FOR QUESTION 4 AND SOME OF US ARE GOING FOR OUR OTHER LESSONS NOW!!!
i was really desperate...and he replied:
Hi Grace, I've changed your wiki. Please try it now. You can finish this section later. Sorry
sharks. now i'm lost. i apologised:
Ok. Sorry for the outburst. May we know when we have until to complete this section?
e-learning sucks because you can't see the body language of others through their words. people take time to refresh pages and type their replies which can be avoided in class since thinking doesn't take as long as typing and listening doesn't take up extra time like reading does.
i don't know if i offended him. i don't know if i presented myself as a little rude university student. i didn't mean to shout. just wanted the attention so something can be done. all in all, it was an emergency.
lesson learnt: if possible, always talk face-to-face to have complete conversations including body language. importance of body language. food for thought -> how about conversations with God?
EMERGENCY: GRACE'S GROUP IS STUCK NOT BEING ABLE TO DISCUSS IN OUR OWN GROUP WIKI FOR QUESTION 4 AND SOME OF US ARE GOING FOR OUR OTHER LESSONS NOW!!!
i was really desperate...and he replied:
Hi Grace, I've changed your wiki. Please try it now. You can finish this section later. Sorry
sharks. now i'm lost. i apologised:
Ok. Sorry for the outburst. May we know when we have until to complete this section?
e-learning sucks because you can't see the body language of others through their words. people take time to refresh pages and type their replies which can be avoided in class since thinking doesn't take as long as typing and listening doesn't take up extra time like reading does.
i don't know if i offended him. i don't know if i presented myself as a little rude university student. i didn't mean to shout. just wanted the attention so something can be done. all in all, it was an emergency.
lesson learnt: if possible, always talk face-to-face to have complete conversations including body language. importance of body language. food for thought -> how about conversations with God?
Friday, September 05, 2008
i don't know if i'm making the right choice. i guess it's the first time i'm really commiting myself totally to one thing. it's the first time i really really wanna go all out for something. but in order to do that, i must give up. if i know this is His path for me, I'll go all out. i may have to give up sunday school, i may have to give up service in fellowship. i guess in the past it was easy to say, must balance your time when you wanna serve god. this time round, i know quite sure the sacrifice will be big. in order to maintain my scholarship grades, there's something else major i must give up. i can give up all my other social activities. i can give up my personal rest time. because of the scholarship, studies is something i cannot give up. but i will give it up if it is something that God really wants. need to talk to people. it's somethingi've been seriously thinking about. in the past, when i saw how others decide to leave tuanqi, it was always a matter of not being committed enough to me, or just choosing other things over fellowship. i don't know if it was the same level of commitment to the other things they had. i don't know if it was as shiong. i don't know if i can cope. i can't put down my brothers and sisters. it makes me think, did the reason that He gave me to run all fake? is it just a scam? i don't believe my God will forsake me. just need to know His path...
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
just organising my thoughts...
i used to think that problems arose due to misunderstanding, miscommunication. i used to think problems arose because people didn't understand each other's position, that people didn't put themselves in other's shoes.
i don't understand. if everyone was unhappy with the old system, why do they not welcome change when they don't even have to work for it, when there are others willing to put in the time and effort to work out a new system? perhaps they are afraid of the additional responsibilities, perhaps they are afraid the new system may not work out. but what's the point of staying in the old system and keep complaining when you have a choice of going for the new system? it may be an uncertainty. it may turn out to be a failure. but no one can guarantee it won't turn out fine!! the HAS system is a relatively new system compared to the old Points Award Scheme. i guess as with all new systems, there are bound to be hiccups and these hiccups are things we have to do something about in order for them to disappear! i don't like the idea of people walking into a meeting with the mindset that they are going to object no matter what. why must they be so stubborn? why can't they be more open towards things? i believe at the end of the day, everyone's intentions are good, that everyone wants to live in an active hall, that when we graduate, we all want to say, "I'm really proud of being a fiver".
sianz. all of the above are purely my opinion (the opinion of a neutral party in hall)
i don't understand. if everyone was unhappy with the old system, why do they not welcome change when they don't even have to work for it, when there are others willing to put in the time and effort to work out a new system? perhaps they are afraid of the additional responsibilities, perhaps they are afraid the new system may not work out. but what's the point of staying in the old system and keep complaining when you have a choice of going for the new system? it may be an uncertainty. it may turn out to be a failure. but no one can guarantee it won't turn out fine!! the HAS system is a relatively new system compared to the old Points Award Scheme. i guess as with all new systems, there are bound to be hiccups and these hiccups are things we have to do something about in order for them to disappear! i don't like the idea of people walking into a meeting with the mindset that they are going to object no matter what. why must they be so stubborn? why can't they be more open towards things? i believe at the end of the day, everyone's intentions are good, that everyone wants to live in an active hall, that when we graduate, we all want to say, "I'm really proud of being a fiver".
sianz. all of the above are purely my opinion (the opinion of a neutral party in hall)
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Dr. Stephen Tong Q & A Session at NTU
Dr. Stephen Tong came to NTU last friday for a Q&A session after a supposed 7 years or more. He answered questions for about 2 hours. Even though it was a Q&A session on life, I'm amazed he actually managed to bring in the gospel!! :) It was really amazing how God brought people to the session. From the booth manning when we kept giving out flyers but not many people signed up, to the actual starting when not even half of LT1A was filled, till the ending when even the counsellor' section was filled!!!!amazing how God works, not through ways that man can think of...
One thing he said that really impacted me: If one day, oxygen was to tell you, "I know you can't see me, but I'm telling you, that you need me. Try not believing in what I say, emperiment with not breathing in air." Will we stop breathing? Air is something we need, we can choose to breathe or not but it's like choosing to die or not. In the same way, Jesus tells us, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) We can choose not to believe in him, that's when Satan rejoices and starts planning our path to death. He blindfolds us, leads us along the path, telling us all the time what a great choice we have made, to be able to enjoy all the short-lived happiness he can offer. At the end, when we take off the blindfold, it's too late to make the right choice. Spreading the gospel is simply informing others about the truth, the real situation. Whether the person accepts and decides to "live" is their own choice. It seems really cruel but I guess when we really look around at creation, we'll find the answer.
One thing he said that really impacted me: If one day, oxygen was to tell you, "I know you can't see me, but I'm telling you, that you need me. Try not believing in what I say, emperiment with not breathing in air." Will we stop breathing? Air is something we need, we can choose to breathe or not but it's like choosing to die or not. In the same way, Jesus tells us, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) We can choose not to believe in him, that's when Satan rejoices and starts planning our path to death. He blindfolds us, leads us along the path, telling us all the time what a great choice we have made, to be able to enjoy all the short-lived happiness he can offer. At the end, when we take off the blindfold, it's too late to make the right choice. Spreading the gospel is simply informing others about the truth, the real situation. Whether the person accepts and decides to "live" is their own choice. It seems really cruel but I guess when we really look around at creation, we'll find the answer.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace
Lord, help me to focus on You alone, that the rest of the things in life may take their own place, that You may reveal to me the path to take, the best path you have chosen and opened for me.
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace
Lord, help me to focus on You alone, that the rest of the things in life may take their own place, that You may reveal to me the path to take, the best path you have chosen and opened for me.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
who am i
i am not defined by what i wear
not by what i do
not who i hang out with
who then am i?
defined along the single constant yardstick
that is God
His child
loved by Him...
not by what i do
not who i hang out with
who then am i?
defined along the single constant yardstick
that is God
His child
loved by Him...
Thursday, July 24, 2008
update update
hahas..its been so long..1.5 months..so much has happened, let me see..
end of bike rally, start of special semester (ee8085 - electricity for modern society), preparations for ntuCCFfoc, HAVOC senior camp 2, CCFfoc, ee8085 examination..in 1++ weeks, sch will start..all this is sch..
church, fellowship new comm, new programs, new start, new energy..youth hour new plans, new structure..
now watching tv and thinking abt stuff..was just thinking abt e mails i cleared, one i didn't clear, how satan and his little devils plot to keep inserting new things into our brains to keep us occupied so that we have no time for God and our families..just realised it's so true!!with new technology which can sposedly contain more information, run at a faster speed, we are so occupied by learning to use all these things that we don't stop and reflect on what has happened in our lives..like the new blue ray technology, new tv serials coming out next week, new cds to listen to and explore, learn, discover, new seasons of clothes and styles to try out, new games in our PSPs..all these has taken over our lives and when we stop thinking, we become controlled by all these..and sadly, become their slaves, living for them, without our own purpose, our own beings..
end of bike rally, start of special semester (ee8085 - electricity for modern society), preparations for ntuCCFfoc, HAVOC senior camp 2, CCFfoc, ee8085 examination..in 1++ weeks, sch will start..all this is sch..
church, fellowship new comm, new programs, new start, new energy..youth hour new plans, new structure..
now watching tv and thinking abt stuff..was just thinking abt e mails i cleared, one i didn't clear, how satan and his little devils plot to keep inserting new things into our brains to keep us occupied so that we have no time for God and our families..just realised it's so true!!with new technology which can sposedly contain more information, run at a faster speed, we are so occupied by learning to use all these things that we don't stop and reflect on what has happened in our lives..like the new blue ray technology, new tv serials coming out next week, new cds to listen to and explore, learn, discover, new seasons of clothes and styles to try out, new games in our PSPs..all these has taken over our lives and when we stop thinking, we become controlled by all these..and sadly, become their slaves, living for them, without our own purpose, our own beings..
Sunday, June 29, 2008
just realised what they mean by when u have no hope, u'll think of treasuring every single moment n just letting urself go.
when u have a hope for the future, i'll know that tmw is in my God's hands and everything is in His control :) even if I die tmw, it's part of His plans and He will take care of thse around me :)
Sunday, June 01, 2008
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Friday, April 11, 2008
i'm a princess inside, one injured and hurt inside.
having all the wishes of a young girl, wanting to be protected.
one day meeting the one who'll find me beautiful.
blocked by all my masks, i wonder when you'll see the true me.
i wonder if the masks will ever be peeled off totally.
i wonder if you'll still find me beautiful.
i wonder if the wounds would ever heal to become scars forever.
only to be remembered and only there to remind me of my growing up.
having all the wishes of a young girl, wanting to be protected.
one day meeting the one who'll find me beautiful.
blocked by all my masks, i wonder when you'll see the true me.
i wonder if the masks will ever be peeled off totally.
i wonder if you'll still find me beautiful.
i wonder if the wounds would ever heal to become scars forever.
only to be remembered and only there to remind me of my growing up.
Saturday, April 05, 2008
still there in my mind
somehow i try to cut u out, but to no avail.
no matter what i do, something u said would pop up in my mind.
i don't know if i choose to remember with my mind or with my heart.
u're just there.
talking about e way i smile, talking about e way my uni life will be.
no matter what i do, no matter what i say or what i think, magic and u are there.
i can't do anything about it, can i?
i don't know. just trying to not think about u.
trying hard not to live in the shadows of the past. but i can't seem to do it...
relapsing back into that part of the memory..
no matter what i do, something u said would pop up in my mind.
i don't know if i choose to remember with my mind or with my heart.
u're just there.
talking about e way i smile, talking about e way my uni life will be.
no matter what i do, no matter what i say or what i think, magic and u are there.
i can't do anything about it, can i?
i don't know. just trying to not think about u.
trying hard not to live in the shadows of the past. but i can't seem to do it...
relapsing back into that part of the memory..
Thursday, April 03, 2008
Raised to Run SESSION 1 - Ravi Zacharius
Genesis 25:19
two NATIONS are in your womb, not foetuses/chemical substances
Isaac loved Esau while Rebecca loved Jacob.
- potentiality in the babies, while we are using technology to snuff out millions of potentialities.
- we are each unique entities, as we praise God together, we praise in symphony, one chorus towards God.
[FW Boreham; the sword of solomon]
1 from 3 is not equal 2!!!in the crisis of life, one's fate and figures breaks down hopelessly
a child has an immense capacity to believe, to wonder, to have on impact on people.
part of God's infinite beauty is manifested in a child's immense capacity to exalt in the monotonous.
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Thursday, March 20, 2008
DISC profiling
just did yet another DISC profiling test. hahas. cos i found it in the sch fellowship's yahoo group files.
anyways, here's the result.
D - 4
S - 8
C - 7
so i'm officially not a D anymore!!last time i did it was in sec3/4 and i was a D. now i'm S and i read e descriptions which quite describe me now :)
it's all in chinese though :) will try to translate as best as i can :) since im S and C, i'll put e C characteristics after a slash / :)
i'm one who puts relationships as my priority. / i'm a thinker.
Category - Steadiness / Compliance
Personal motivations - relationships, friends, friendship / quality, accuracy
Leadership strengths - working with people / excellence
Leadership style - humanity / organisation, steps
Ideal environment
- opportunities to work with people
- familiar environments
- clear roles
- chances to help others
/- clear job description and boundaries
/- low risk
/- plan
/- emphasises method
Response to stress - give way / escape
Improvement methods (help me)
- change is a chance
- more decisive
- must learn to lead more
/- try more
/- express my feelings more
/- make known my stand more often
My ideal world - peaceful / perfect
I will follow easy / correct methods.
I like to observe / research.
When you want to convince me, I need to know WHY / HOW?
My greatest fear - losing my friends / failure
reading all these again, i realise how God has lead me through all these years, how He has changed me, how i have grown.
thank you Lord.
anyways, here's the result.
D - 4
S - 8
C - 7
so i'm officially not a D anymore!!last time i did it was in sec3/4 and i was a D. now i'm S and i read e descriptions which quite describe me now :)
it's all in chinese though :) will try to translate as best as i can :) since im S and C, i'll put e C characteristics after a slash / :)
i'm one who puts relationships as my priority. / i'm a thinker.
Category - Steadiness / Compliance
Personal motivations - relationships, friends, friendship / quality, accuracy
Leadership strengths - working with people / excellence
Leadership style - humanity / organisation, steps
Ideal environment
- opportunities to work with people
- familiar environments
- clear roles
- chances to help others
/- clear job description and boundaries
/- low risk
/- plan
/- emphasises method
Response to stress - give way / escape
Improvement methods (help me)
- change is a chance
- more decisive
- must learn to lead more
/- try more
/- express my feelings more
/- make known my stand more often
My ideal world - peaceful / perfect
I will follow easy / correct methods.
I like to observe / research.
When you want to convince me, I need to know WHY / HOW?
My greatest fear - losing my friends / failure
reading all these again, i realise how God has lead me through all these years, how He has changed me, how i have grown.
thank you Lord.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Sunday, January 13, 2008
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