“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. ” ~Ephesians 2:8-9

Happy Sabbath. 

Inspiration

I would like to share this with you for today.

This excerpt was taken from "Life Without Limbs":

"I believe that if you have the desire and passion to do something, and it's within God's will, you will achieve it in good time. As humans, we continually put limits on ourselves for no reason at all! What's worse is putting limits on God, who is well able to do all things! We put God in a "box". The awesome thing about the power of God is that if we want to do something for God, we must refocus. Instead of concentrating on our capability, our attention needs to shift to our availability. For, the Word of God is clear; it is God working through us. Without Him, we aren't capable of doing anything on our own. Once we make ourselves available for God's work, guess whose capabilities we rely on? God's! Philippians 4:13 highlights this point well, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." God has a truly great purpose for your life!"

"Never give up on God because God will never give up on you."

Happy Sabbath.

This time, I made it!

Second hike this week, and I made it to the top this time! It feels great to be able to stand on top of the hill! The haze set aside, the view from the top was awesome! I thought it was going to be a little harder this time since my legs were a still a little sore from Tuesday's hike.  It did feel like it was going to be harder at first, but as I made my way up, I realized that it was actually easier this time.  

I didn't even realized that I was already at the spot where I stopped and almost gave up.  

I passed that spot. 

Then I reached the spot where I finally decided not to continue to the top.  

This time I didn't puke.  I didn't stop to sit down.  

Stopped for a little while to take picture of Tamparuli.  I can see my house from here, hehe. 

With the State flag in sight, it suddenly seemed like my legs were not tired at all.  

Finally, the top. I made it! Woohoo! 

I set a goal of reaching the top and I did.  I'm so proud of myself! 

Planning to hike at least twice a week.  Wanna join? Hehe.  :D

I need to exercise...

Bukit Perahu - a decade ago, climbing this hill behind my house was not that hard to do, but yesterday, I only managed to climb just a little more than halfway to the top.  My goodness, I'm so not fit!! Ha ha! 

Jerebu oh jerebu!

The picture above was taken from where I stopped and almost gave up.  But, after a few minutes, I decided to go a little further up.  People where coming down - kids and adults alike. I decided I was not ready to give up yet.  So, ever so slowly, I forced myself to go a step further.  I kept telling myself "another step... another step..." until I decided, that was it.  I just couldn't take it anymore, my head was spinning and I felt like puking (for the second time).  Haha! Hopefully tomorrow, I will be able to go all the way up! :D

Btw, not too long from now, paragliding will be available in Tamparuli (read Soaraway future for small village). This is exciting! Go Bukit Perahu! 

"Fireproof"

I watched "Fireproof" this afternoon.  If you haven't watched it yet, I'd recommend you to watch the movie. :)  

It's a movie about marriage but as I watched this movie, I began to see the relationship between the two main characters of the movie as a reflection of my own relationship with God. It's a personal struggle that I'm currently facing and I have been working on it, and I tell you, it's not an easy task.  

This movie inspires me to challenge myself as I work on fireproofing my relationship with God.  

Enjoy the song. :)

I came home today and the first person I saw when I opened the door was Bob! Bob is in the house! Haha! 

Catching up with MC (or should I say AIU) news. Hihihi.. :D

Just a thought...

I feel like I need to get away from home for awhile.  It's strange because in college, there were times where all I wanted was to be back home...badly.  But now, being home for two years now, I just feel that I need to be somewhere.  

Maybe not need, but want.  

I want to be somewhere else aside from home at the moment.  

But where? 

Hmm.

Faith

"As your faith is strengthened you will find that there is no longer the need to have a sense of control, that things will flow as they will, and that you will flow with them, to your great delight and benefit."  ~Emmanuel

Have a blessed Sabbath Day and a very good weekend! 

"When we can't piece together the puzzle of our own lives, remember the best view of a puzzle is from above.  Let Him help put you together." ~Amethyst Snow-Rivers

Happy Sabbath. :)

The Last Lecture by Dr. Randy Pausch

Below are some of the things he said as part of the lecture series he gave on the Oprah Winfrey show:

"The brick walls that are in our way are there for a reason.  They are not there to keep us out, they are there to give us a way to show how much we want it."

"You better decide early on whether you're a Tigger or an Eeyore.  Tiggers are energetic, they're optimistic, they're curious, they're enthusiastic, and they have fun.  And never, ever underestimate the importance of having fun.  I am dying soon, and I am choosing to have fun today, tomorrow, and every other day I have left."

"If you want to achieve your dreams, you better work and play well with others.  And that means you better live with integrity.  Simple advice that you find hard to follow, just tell the truth."

"We all have people that we don't like, that have done things we don't like, and what I've found is that no one is pure evil.  If you wait long enough, they will show you their good side.  You can't make them do it in a hurry, but you can be patient."

"If you live properly, the dreams will come to you."

---

Are you a Tigger or an Eeyore?

You decide. 

Happy Sabbath.

What happened today...

Imagine this:

You are second in line to pay for your groceries.  The person in front of you is a boy, probably 11 or 12 years old.  

The boy's groceries sum up to, say for example, RM20.00.  He hands over RM100 to the cashier.   The cashier takes it, opens the cash register, counts the change and handed it over to him.  As you're observing the exchange, you noticed that instead of a RM50 note stacked below three RM10 notes, it was the same RM100 note that he used to pay for his groceries. 

You watched as the cashier counted the change for the second time before handing them to the boy and hoped that she would notice it.  But she did not.  She handed over the change to the boy, boy keeps the change in his wallet, boy walks out, and it's your turn to pay. 

So, instead of giving RM80 for the kid's change, she gave RM130.  What would you have done if you were in that situation? 

I should have done something about it.  But now when I think back about that incident, it's probably a RM50 note instead of a RM100.  I'm not so sure now.  But it was purple, not green. 

Oh my.  

He alone is the one true God...

No God, no peace.  Know God, know peace.  ~Author Unknown

God be with you. 

Happy Sabbath!

"I've Just Seen Jesus"

I love this song!

I've been listening to this song over and over again.  Every time I listen to it, it never fails to give me goosebumps.  Awesome!

I just feel like sharing this song with you.

I'm...

Sad. Shocked. Speechless. 

Praying for a grieving family. 

I would like to be in a cold, cold place right now.

It's just so HOT!

Every time the month of April rolls by every year, I think of the Songkran holidays I've had while studying at MC.  It never fails to bring back good memories!

Songkran 2004

Our dear Thai friend, Wanwisa Watcharakaweesin (Kip), invited the 6 of us to her kampung in Roi Et to celebrate Songkran.  I don't quite remember how many hours it took to reach her village, I only remember it was midnight (or past midnight) when we arrived.  

That was when, for the first time, I threw water at someone without worrying that that person will get angry at me for doing so.  That was when I had cold beer splashed right on my face. That was when I soaked myself in the Mekong river.  That was when I got my first sun burn in Thailand. 

 

Songkran 2005

This was when I had my first Songkran on campus.  Had water fights with friends - FUN!!

 

Songkran 2006

No water fights for me this time.

However, I was fortunate enough to be in the MCCC and MCSE because this was when we had our first MC Promotion Tour! Destination - Sarawak and Sabah.  Being a part of this group of people has taught me a lot of things.  The ten days of singing and traveling with this group of people also created a bond and a friendship so close among the members.  

I got to meet and get to know people.  I got to go to places I've never been before.  Lots of laughter.  Lots of fun.  I really did enjoy myself!

Songkran 2007

Another MC Promotion Tour, this time to Peninsula Malaysia and Singapore! 

I got to meet ex-classmates, ex-schoolmates, cousins, and friends in Penang.  In Ipoh, I got to meet the kid I babysat in college.  I got to meet my favourite cousin and spend the evening with her.  I got to step foot in Singapore again after 16 years.  

Post MC Songkran Holidays

Songkran 2008

A group from MC came to Sabah.  I had a good time hanging out with the group while they were here.  :D

Songkran 2009

I had a great time accompanying the group from MC to churches in Sandakan, Ulu Dusun, Telupid, Ranau and Tamparuli!  I'm so glad Pr. Konis requested me to accompany them because I had a really nice time with this group of people.  Lots of jokes, riddles, and laughter involved! 

I got to meet people who remembered me as a child.  I got to know a second cousin whom I never met before.  I got the chance to contribute my part in promoting MC.  :D 

~~~~~~~

I wonder what Songkran 2010 has in store for me. :D

It has been a while...

since I last posted an entry. 

It's 12.38 a.m. 

I just came back from having, what I can consider, a good time, just talking, laughing and catching up on things and also reminiscing about the past.  We just sat in the car and talked and talked until past midnight without realizing it. 

There's just something about the campus that makes you do that when you are with someone you were close with in your high school days. It is even better if you still feel close to that person until now.  Not many people I know maintain a good friendship after being hurt, and it does make me feel good, although this reminiscing-about-the-past thingy sometimes make me wish that I could turn back time.  Back to the good old days.  

Sigh.

Hmm... my eyes are closing even as I type and methinks it's about time I hit the sack.  Have to be up in a few hours.

Shabbat shalom, people.

Down with sore throat, flu, and cough.  I think the avocado juice had something to do with this. Hmm. 

Anyway, I really had fun yesterday! It was a long drive (took us about 3 hours to get there), but being there was just worth the tiredness.  The weather was nice to us too, it only drizzled for a while then it was hot, hot, hot until we decided to leave.  

Can you see the tip? 

I want to upload more pictures but somehow this time I don't know what's taking it too long to upload a picture.  Probably the size is too big, but I'm too lazy to resize them because I'm getting sleepy now even as I type.  

Drifting off to lala-land..... 

In approximately an hour or two, I will be driving to Tanjung Sempang Mengayau (The Tip of Borneo) together with Fiona, Lorena, and Sondang! This will be my first time driving there.  I've been there 3 times but I've never driven there, so this will be our little adventure for the day.  I will just have to rely on the signs and hope that we will go in the correct junctions that will lead us to our destination.  

It's gonna be fun! I just love it when friends come over for a visit because I get to do these kinda things!  One thing I haven't done but would really like to do though is climbing Mt. Kinabalu.  That mission is yet to come.  

Will post photos of our exciting little adventure today :D