A week with food, gifts and blessings

Monday
As I just returned from KL at 3.30am so I took one day off on Monday itself. And by God’s grace, mum had her off day on Monday and then as usual, I had a wonderful chat with her =) Love mum very much. Then I went for a haircut at Phase Saloon.

Then I went to meet Serene 姐姐to pass her a box of donuts, Ipoh white coffee (esp. for Brother Wilson) and some chewing gum for little Brian. I then had a wonderful chat with Serene 姐姐, with some nice sour sop and rock honeydew. Slurp!

Rushed off to Changi Airport Terminal 1 to see brother Cam off as he’s leaving for Thailand to attend a business seminar and meet a client. My brother Cam’s ultra busy schedule has always been a burden in my heart. It pained me to see this brother rushing here and there, working so hard for secular work and God’s work. I’ve been reminding him abt Martha and Mary (Luke 10:38-42) but still bro got some much to do with so little time. Keep you in prayer bro for a restful season.

Bro Cam was also very affirming, when he touched down in Bangkok, he dropped me a sms to tell me that he has safely reached the destination. Then we exchanged a few smses, in one of the smses, he wrote me a sms which touches me so so much:”…You are very dear to me. I feel comforted and real loved. So keep bubbly and keep smiling…”

Then I went with my gang of brothers to celebrate our darling brother kiddo’s 21st birthday. We had a great Indonesian cuisine buffet at Rice Table, Suntec City.

Tuesday
An extreme down day with upsurge of hormones so badly and the soulish-ness got over me and I went ahead to do what I am not supposed to do. Yes, I got what I wanted from my dear brother who I love much as I knew he was also having down time too. I was so detestable. But I had so much for this brother… so much…

Wednesday
I had a great time at work although I told the team that next Friday is my last day of work.

I wanted to concentrate on my final year project. Too laggy. Besides this, I wanted to spend some time alone to communicate with God for thanksgiving, present my prayer requests and feel His heartbeat to chart out the roadmap He has for me in 2006.

At work, I witnessed the synergy and wonderful team spirit that Chelsia and her team are putting together for the organisation. I believe that the organisation is fortunate to have a team of dedicated HR personnel who look at balancing the interests of both the organisation as a whole and the individual employees. I am also glad that the team sees me as part of them and takes my opinions seriously.

Then I went out with my GIP Shanghai gang – the Royal Family. =) We celebrated Laura, Celia, Sunny and Dajie’s birthdays at one go, as we feasted in Country Manna Restaurant. After a few months since we returned, we still enjoy each other’s company. So glad. Thank God for that. =)

I am so happy that Sunny really treasures me as a friend. The way he talks with me and communicated with me, I know I am truly his friend. I find so much comfort in that. He really knows how to take care of me and we have quite good 默契 together. Sunny, I look forward to spend more time with you =)

Thursday
Saw EM early in the morning, as I alighted from IBP shuttle bus. “Good morning EM! Just came back from Shanghai?” I said. Shocked but elated. As usual, he gave a big grin. One thing about EM that struck me was that humility that was in him. He is definitely a very humble man, given his position in the organisation today. He took IBP shuttle bus, instead of taking cabs.

Given his status and pay, he could easily afford cabs to and fro. But he chose to be humble. When Gerald drove us to Toh Guan Rd for lunch, at the multi storey carpark, he asked us to alight first as he stopped in front of the coffee shop. EM told him that we all should walk together to the coffee shop together from where Gerald parked the vehicle. I was utterly impressed by his humility. As a HR director holding authority of the chief people officer of the organisation, he is really an exemplary for all to follow. Salute to you, EM! You deserved all my admiration for you. You’re my role model.

In the evening, I had a great dinner with Bro. Rich and Sis Marie. It was a sumptuous Thai cuisine at Bugis. Slurp! Thanks Sis Marie for the treat… hee… not cheap leh… I just had my craving satisfied. So happy. We then adjourned to Han’s Café at the new NLB across the street where the Thai restaurant was located. We had some Portuguese tarts over earl tea and Snapple. The Snapple were cheap as compared to some leading cafes in Singapore. A bottle of Snapple cost $2.50 instead of $4.00 elsewhere. For Snapple fanatics, it’s definitely more worthwhile visiting Han’s! Of course, we had a good time chatting and laughing over some jokes… Haha.. It was a very blessed evening. Thank God for that!

Friday
Came Friday, I had a great dinner at IKEA with Bro Sean. We had meatballs, salmon, fried chicken wings, garden salad, a piece of chocolate cake. Bro Sean also gave me a Christmas deco which he personally made. Didn’t get a chance to take a picture of it yet. Show you later. It was extremely well done. Then over dinner, we actually chat quite a fair bit and knew abit more about his family situation. God bless you brother, I’m sure you’ll do what pleases the Lord! =)

Had a chat with Serene 姐姐 and she counseled me about my willful behaviour this week. She was very serious and came quite direct. I was upset of course, but I knew extremely where she came from. She was used by the Lord to speak forth His warning to me. Why I said so? I was praying early this week (esp. on Wednesday) to the Lord, “Lord, if You want me out of this, I want to hear You loud and clear.”

Bro. Spidey Calvin didn’t have the chance to talk to me about this issue because he was very busy and strained with other clients. Brother Daryl wrote me an encouraging sms after reading my earlier blog entry. Brother Rich, as usual, kept checking on me, asking me how I am doing, sending me sweet smses. Brother Ramesh also encouraged me through his smses, he has his way of humour but message was very clear too! Brother Chun Rong also encouraged me to hang in there. Brother Cam had to show me Proverb 16:17 “The highway of the upright avoids evil; he who guards his way guards his life”. I thought it was clear enough.

Serene 姐姐 then called me at 12midnight to counsel me. Speaking forth the Lord’s message for me, gently warning me that His patience is wearing out and it could be real nasty if His disciplining hands had to come hard on me.

I was so tired, and I knew all these head knowledge WELL enough to be a full professor on this issue. Haha… but one thing my heart heard so clearly from the conversation with Serene 姐姐 was that: God wants me to stop all my nonsense and do His will as I prayed for His clear message on Wednesday. I know God is answering my prayer request. Awesome Lord!!

I was so disturbed, then brother initially promised to come over to hostel to spend the night with me, then decided that he could not come over. I was very upset and disappointed. But I know the Lord has His Divine arrangement why he chose not to come. I thank God for preserving us and this friendship. =)

I was so upset because I could not have my way and so many clear messages to stop this!! I was so mad and I even responded to brother’s sms that the Lord will hold me in the night. My reply was: “Not interested now”.

I was so confused but my spirit is discerning enough to ask the Lord for forgiveness. Then I went to bed. I didn’t manage to sleep well. I kept waking up to check for smses and curbing my hormonal upsurges…

Saturday
I woke up feeling better… although I loved to have more zzz but I promised to meet brother to go swim and then Queensway to buy some tee shirts. But ended up, we sang 1.5 hours of praise and worship songs unto the Lord in his room. It was the first time that I had such great peace in his room. Hee… Praise the Lord, there is no Eros feeling throughout the 1.5 hours of praising and worshipping the Lord with our new songbook… I simply and purely enjoyed that moment of worship to our Lord Father with brother and presenting unto the Lord with our crooning. Haha…

However, I was reluctant to pray with brother about our issues. But then I told him in a sms to him late at night: “Dear bro, I wanted to talk to you today to tell you that we help each other out of our Eros feeling. You’re a very dear bro to me. I don’t know why but you definitely are. I don’t know how to put it verbally across to you because I wanted very much to retain the opportunity to do something intimate with you. But we need to stop, cos I really don’t want to grief God and hurt you in the end. Worse off, I don’t want to lose you as a friend and brother in Christ. Love you bro.”

As brother said, we’re both vulnerable and we couldn’t rely on our own strength and might. We have to come before the Lord and ask Him to take control of the situation. Father, all over to You! Give me the courage and strength to pray with brother about our issues and surrender every thought, feeling and want unto You and ask You to be in control of the issues. Thank You, Lord!!

Bro Chun Rong was so sweet to send me back from Boon Lay to Tampines. Hee…

Then I went to Changi Sea Sport Center for a sumptuous meal with my cell group by the beach. It was a very relaxing and serene environment. We were in time for the sunset. I went to the breakwater with little Brian. At that moment, staring at the extremely mesmerizing sight of sunset as the backdrop at the horizon, I was thinking of brother again. Gosh, every moment of my life, I must have something to associate with him. I thought to myself, how nice if brother could be here with me right now. All the wrong intentions, I now surrender to the Lord and ask for right attitude toward brother.

Then we went to sing karaoke and had a cup of beer each. Then Sis Huifen gave us a Christmas gift each as she is leaving to Shanghai for an audit job. So actually this dinner is a pre-Christmas dinner for her! God bless your trip sister!! You’ll do a good job with the blessings of the Lord, we fully trust and obey Him!

Overall, it was a great week with many gifts and blessings from so many people. Too many thanksgiving and praises to the Lord, and too many prayer requests to present to God! But I know one thing: God already knows what we need and what we would ask of Him. He is the Alpha and Omega. He is the Great Author of my life. All I need to do is not to keep presenting to him my issues and struggles but walking right with Him. Love God, seek first His Kingdom and His Righteousness and all things (that God knows we need) would be given to us as well (Matt 6:33).

Last but not least, Father I pray You Lord that You'll bless my parents and my sister's salvation, good health and safety at work, Brother Wilson, Serene 姐姐, and little Brian, my cell group members, and my brothers in the support group. Uphold them unto Your Holy Hands. =)

Finally, God Father, I also pray You Lord to bless my beloved brother for his last leap of thesis writing, for his health, for his job opportunity, for his own struggles, and for his relating with me.. I am kinda worried for his health also cos he has been staying up very late to write thesis and became quite stressed up.. Help him Lord, give him strength and let him find rest and comfort in You.

In Jesus' loving Name, Amen.

Thanksgiving and Praise be to God!

Daddy, I am looking forward to worship You & partake Your Word later at service! =)