Truth or Dare?

i played truth or dare with my cg today.. and it is something that came to me when i went to sleep after praying to God for creative ideas for cg.. haha.. it didn't turn out the way i expected it to be.. it turned out even better i would say.. my intention was to just to help each of us get to know one another better and maybe challenge them to do something.. lol.. in the end everyone answered a truth question and almost everyone accepted a dare from me at the end of it.. cos qin yan left early so she didn't get a dare.. the dare is accustomed to help them grow in areas that they are struggling with or is rather stagnant in.. not that they haven't been challenged in these areas before.. but i guess this dare thing brought out the motivation to help one another in them and be there for one another to overcome those strongholds or areas that they need to grow in in their lives.. some of them wanted it de.. lol.. some took it up out of peer pressure.. but i am sure God will definitely make a change in them the moment they said yes to the dare.. i will be very happy to see a breakthrough for each and everyone of them.. jia you bro and sis!! i am also doing my own dare with God.. let's all jia you together!!

it also made me realised one thing.. the amount of influence i have on them is greater than what i thought i have.. lol..

God is amazing!!! =) outright challenges given that people willingly take on.. You work in ways that amazes me..


Breakthrough comes when the moment you take on the challenge..


Love,
Naomi

interesting poem...

Waiting is our destiny as creatures who cannot by themselves bring about what they hope for.

We wait in the darkness for a flame we cannot light,

We wait in fear for a happy ending we cannot write.

We wait for a not yet that feels like a not ever.

Waiting is the hardest work of hope.


- Lewis Smedes -

Waiting is indeed the hardest work of hope...


Love,
Naomi

I'm Forever Yours...

Im Forever Yours - Planet Shakers

I'm Forever Yours
Planet shakers

I give my all to You
Send me and i will go for You
To the ends of the earth
I'll follow after You
I want the world to know
Your love endures forever

Tell me and i'll obey
This is far greater than sacrifice
Trusting You and not myself
Will always lead to blessing
Lord have Your way in me
Not my will, Yours be done

Here i stand within Your presence
Longing for Your touch
A thousand days cannot compare
To one day in Your courts

Hold me now
And never ever let me go
My Jesus, my precious Saviour
I'm forever Yours

I will worship You forever
I will worship You

thank You for loving me God.. hold me now and never let me go.. i only have You and nothing left.. if not for You, whatever i have done and going to do, and whoever i am, would mean nothing at all.. God, You gave me the purpose to live.. cos of Your love for me.. i can't stop thanking You..


God hold me close and never let me go


Love,
Naomi

Thanks dear...

To Sihua, my BFF,

Thank you for:

1) loving me for me being just me..
2) reminding me that if you can love me so much, how much more is God capable of loving me..
3) spending time with me..
4) listening to me when i needed a listening ear..
5) talking to me online and over the phone till late at night..
6) the times that you gave biblical counsel to me..
7) the times of discussion and the hypothetical questions that we talked about..
8) helping me to make sense of things..
9) the prayers that you have prayed for me..
10) the care and concern you have given me when i am sicked even though at times you needed them too..
11) the encouragement you have given me when i needed them..
12) sharing my burden as my peer..
13) talking rubbish together with me..
14) loving me the way i feel loved..
15) seeing the best of me and my potential..
16) the initiative you have taken to build this friendship and sistership..
17) sharing in my happy times, my sad times, my difficult times and even my secret..
18) playing a part in my life and also in my walk with God..
19) giving me the chance to love you..
20) letting God move in your life..
21) being who you are..

i love you, dear..

i really thank God for putting you in my life..


God, thank You very very much..


Love,
Naomi

Humbled or Exalted?

^"9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: ¹⁰ "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. ¹² I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'

¹³ "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'

¹⁴ "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." "

- Luke 18:9-14 -

was reminded of this parable while worshiping God and doing my reflections..

there are times in my life that i was like that pharisee.. taking pride of the things i have done and how good i am.. there are also times that i was like the tax collector.. reminded how sinful i am that i need to repent and be shown grace and mercy by God..

i want and hope that the times that i exalts myself to become lesser.. cos it can become a subtle sin in my life as i grow up spiritually.. so i need to be on the watch that my mind is not slowly being invaded by the so-called harmless thought that i should be quite zai to have come thus far.. i must not leave it as it is.. or else one day, that thought becomes a permanent residence in my mind.. it will take a long long time to remove it.. imagine the kind of damage it would have caused.. whether to me or to the people around me.. so scary..

so i will try my best to safeguard my mind and heart.. pray that i will be able to do so taping on God's power within me.. i hope that we all brothers and sisters will help one another in this area of our lives to watch each other's backs..


For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted


Love,
Naomi

really? or really!!

God is enough even when you have lost everything...

i ask myself.. do i have such a faith? i don't think i have.. but i trust that God will help me to have that faith one day.. the faith that Joseph had when he lost everything.. the Lord is with him.. that was what that kept him going.. i want to know God more each day to have this faith..

there is nothing more that You need to give me to make me love You more.. all You need to do is continue to do what You've done for me.. i will love you more each day as i get to know you more.. i know no matter what i've done or said.. would stop You from loving me.. and i also know no matter how much i do is also not enough and You no need me to do so.. but.. i choose and am willing to love You back more each day and do the best that i could in my human ability to love You..


God is gonna be enough even when i lose everything..


Love,
Naomi

Happy Valentine's Day...

Happy V-Day.. cum happy friendship day..

was told to wear nice nice today by my shepherd.. so i did.. lol.. then my cg people was wondering why did i wear until so nice.. lol.. wore a dress that i bought recently.. very worth it and very nice.. very proud of myself to have gotta that dress..

chocolate is a fave present to give on v-day sia.. especially Hershey's kisses chocolate is hot fave.. balloons and flowers are also very popular.. everywhere you go, you see them sia.. v-day is really a very commercialised thing.. haha.. but nonetheless, i just wanted to bless the bros and sis so i brought some chocolates to give them..

spent my v-day with my cg.. went to a turkish restaurant.. think they weren't very happy with the price.. lol.. $3 for a plate of rice.. don't think we will be going back there again eh.. lol.. but it was still quite fun.. spend the time laughing at people's love notes on the newspaper, chit-chatting and writing affirmation for one another.. the cards were done by wee boon, xiuhua, eileen and me.. it was fun.. reading what we wrote for one another.. then we went to hang around at lido.. it was fun.. to spend time with friends cum family on v-day..


Pics of gifts:

gift from Alvin
the chocolate behind is toblerone
idea is from Meijuan

Hershey's chocolates from Dorling
she also gave me a bottle of liang cha
thanks shepherd for the love

candy pack from xiuhua
and a card
so sweet..
=)

flower from the bros
thanks reuben for folding all the flowers for the sis..
u r good with ur hands..

balloon from huiying
thanks gal..
you are talented..
jia you!! =)

a heart shape card from sihua, my bff
thanks gal..

my card that i helped made..
thanks wee boon, xiuhua and eileen
=)

the content of what they wrote on my card..
quite similar eh..
lol..

new version of ferrero rocher
what i gave my cg and my nyc babes

thanks for all the gifts that have been given to me.. i feel very loved.. haha.. no need to have a boyfriend to feel love eh.. i have my greatest valentine with me and great friends around to bless me.. love is in the air.. lol..

will upload a pic of my cg that we took at the turkish restaurant once i get hold of it.. =)


My Greatest Valentine is JESUS!!


Love,
Naomi

meet-up with wei long..

met wei long up today together with wee boon and ruixia.. haha.. it was supposed to take place quite some time ago.. but everyone was very busy so we were only able to meet now.. it was quite a good time of catching up.. having a peep into one another's life.. we went to thaiexpress for dinner.. wee boon loves to go there.. so funny that all four of us ordered soft shell crab together.. except that wei long and wee boon ate the curry one.. while ruixia and me ate the black pepper one.. lol.. then we went over to mof (ministry of food) to have some dessert.. thanks wee boon for treating the dessert.. lol..


Pics to share:

ruixia and me shared macha sundae..

wei long's macha zen
aka macha ice cream in red bean with mochi

wee boon's macha kakigori..
he thinks its heavenly..

a pic of the 4 of us with our desserts..
lol..

it's been quite a while.. since i last chatted with wei long was during exam period of last semester.. lol.. really thank God for this brother in discipling me and helping me to disciple wee boon too.. thanks bro for the encouragement and help that you have given to me.. if not i don't know how certain things would have turn out.. lol..


Thank God for the fellowship..

Love,
Naomi

expensive health...

recently, i have been rather down with sickness.. lol.. had flu that developed into some sinus infection known as Sinusitis.. cos of my sensitive nose condition.. this stupid infection caused me to be unable to smell anything at all.. lol.. so whatever that i ate during this period of time, i can't taste anything.. except for the texture of the food.. cos 70% of taste in our mouth depends on our ability to smell.. then i really can't take it anymore so i go and see doc.. which cost me $115.. super expensive doc trip eh.. lol.. i was in shocked when i heard the amount i am supposed to pay for my consultation and medication sia.. my condition is improving now at least.. if not i would have wasted that money for nothing..

since young, i have had some health issues.. menses cramps, maigraine, sensitive nose, appendicitis and sprained ankles.. lol.. which a lot of them cost quite a bit to be treated.. so i really think my health is very expensive to maintain sia.. lol.. even though most of them are under controlled, no need to see doc anymore.. the greatest problem of all is my sensitive nose.. lol.. whenever i get flu, it will be very hard to recover cos of this sensitive nose issue.. but nothing much can be done about it.. except to keep it under control by the use of a nasal spray..

i hope i didn't scare you all.. lol.. no big deal now le.. my health is pretty okie.. just need to exercise more.. lol.. which i am trying but.. lol..

i want to thank those who had been praying for me for my condition of the nose.. i am recovering le.. thanks lots for the concern.. =)


Expensive temple of God.. lol..


Love,
Naomi

meet-up with zc n lq..

met laiquin up for dinner and shokudo(pizza and pasta) outlet.. we had the student value pasta.. both of us ordered the soft shellcrab pasta which we felt that it is the most worth it one.. lol.. it was really very nice.. haha.. so we didn't make the wrong choice afterall.. you all should go try it for yourself.. then we also ordered a mango kakigori.. not bad too.. it got even nicer when it got to the lower portions.. but laiquin say the one at the marche style shokudo is even nicer than this.. lol..

then we went for a movie together as requested by me.. zhen cong joined us during the dessert part.. lol.. he super sun tanned.. too bad we didn't take pic.. or else i can show you all.. lol.. we watched "The Curious Case of Benjamin Buttons".. it's a nice show.. you all should go watch.. 13 Annual Academy Awards nominations.. i would recommend it.. even laiquin that seldom watch such shows say it's nice.. lol..


2 pics to share.. didn't take much pics..

mango kakigori

quite nice

movie tics of the show

2 hour plus show..
nice.. should watch..

aging backwards is something interesting and yet sad at the same time.. cos you will be the only one who is aging backwards.. and you can only be looking around the same age as the one you love for only once.. it's a romantic and interesting yet sad show.. you all should go watch it and experience it for yourself..


aging is a natural process, what if it becomes unnatural?


Love,
Naomi

what is your opinion?

something that has happened recently made me wake up my idea.. lol.. i can tell you frankly i am quite a judgmental person actually.. which is what i have been reminded about myself and something i have been changing bit by bit.. and asking God to help me with it..

"1 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

3 "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."

- Matthew 7:1-5 -

i was also reminded by God about the story about Jonah.. let me give you all a brief summary.. Jonah was chosen by God to go to Nineveh to give them the message that either they repent or be destroyed.. cos God could no longer tolerate its wickedness anymore.. when the message was told to the Ninevites, they believed in God.. and they started fasting, grieving and repented of their wrongdoings.. when God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, He had compassion on them and did not bring upon the destruction He had threatened.. however, Jonah was not happy about what God has done.. and questioned God for what He did..

this story in the bible reminded me once again who am i to judge what God has done and why He chooses to forgive those that He said He would destroy.. especially i myself have fallen short of His standards and yet He chooses to take me back as His child.. i also was reminded that God is really a loving God.. He loves each and everyone of us so much that as long as we choose to repent and turn from our sins.. sins that He hates so so much.. He is merciful enough to have compassion on each of us.. and not bring about the consequences of our sins onto us..

"1 Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, 5 for each one should carry his own load."

- Galatians 6:1-5-

"22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."

- Romans 3:22-24 -

but then again.. we have to remember something.. which is that God really cannot be mocked.. whatever sins that have been hide will all eventually be brought to the surface.. but it is not because God didn't give you chance to change and learn.. just that you chose to forgo it.. and God has no choice but to make it come to light.. then you will have to bear the consequences of your sins..

"7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life."

- Galatians 6:7-8 -

by the way, don't think whatever sins you think you have repented and changed of it then that's it.. God will allow situations and circumstances to test how much you have learned and changed.. if you failed, it only means you haven't learned or changed at all.. then God will just keep pressing the reset button until you learn it.. so that we can reach our fullest potential then can we lead a fruitful life and a life to the full..

so brothers and sisters.. let's really help each other to watch over each other's lives.. and make things right with God.. remembering that everyone has their fair share of sins to repent and turn away from.. so no one has the capacity to judge anyone.. except God..

God is just yet loving..

Love,

Naomi

heal the wound......

Heal the wound
Point of Grace

I used to wish that I could rewrite history
I used to dream that each mistake could be erased
Then I could just pretend
I never knew the me back then

I used to pray that You would take this shame away
Hide all the evidence of who I've been
But it's the memory of
The place You brought me from
That keeps me on my knees
And even though I'm free

Heal the wound but leave the scar
A reminder of how merciful You are
I am broken, torn apart
Take the pieces of this heart
And heal the wound but leave the scar

I have not lived a life that boasts of anything
I don't take pride in what I bring
But I'll build an altar with
The rubble that You've found me in
And every stone will sing
Of what You can redeem

Heal the wound but leave the scar
A reminder of how merciful You are
I am broken, torn apart
Take the pieces of this heart
And heal the wound but leave the scar

Don't let me forget
Everything You've done for me
Don't let me forget
The beauty in the suffering

Heal the wound but leave the scar
A reminder of how merciful You are
I am broken, torn apart
Take the pieces of this heart
And heal the wound but leave the scar

thank You, God.. for mending the pieces together of this broken heart.. healing the wounds that i got from hurts, rebelling, disappointments, discouragements, etc.. leaving the scar to remind me that You are the healer, how merciful and faithful You are.. as long as I choose to trust in Your willingness and ability..


Heal the wound but leave the scar.. A reminder of how merciful You are..


Love,
Naomi

new believer party!!

new believer party.. a party to celebrate the salvation of spiritual babies in our family.. which was held last friday (31 Jan 2009).. the name of the party was '2517'.. must be wondering why is it called 2517? cos they are magic numbers.. lol.. 2 Corinthians 5:17..

"17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone and the new has come!"

- 2 Corinthians 5:17 -

there were games, affirmation, gift presentation, reassurance of salvation and a time of worship.. had fun moments, had moments when we were all touched.. all sorts of gifts that meant tonnes.. umbrella, music box, etc..

my cg gave kemin a card.. i made it.. so proud of myself.. lol.. we had a song presented to her and all the newbies.. the song was edited by wee boon with help from ruixia and qinyan.. haha.. thanks lots bro.. good efforts.. and for rushing down to teach the rest the song..


Photos of the party to share:

Kemin with her card..
nice? i made out colourful part out of a piece of wrapping paper..
lol..
sihua said i can write a book on it..

our cg photo..
not full strength though..
qimin was so extra..
lol..

everyone doing their own things..
don't know why dorling took this photo..
lol

cg photo again
w/o any distraction behind..
btw qinyan said she will kill me if i pose this photo
cos her eyes are closed..
lol..

my cg taking photo with the banner 2 Cor 5:17

the butterfly very pretty..
my sheep drew one.. so proud of her.. =)

very glad that kemin can make it for the event.. what is a new believer party without a new believer rite? even though she wasn't the only new believer.. her presence was greatly appreciated.. =)

Home – Kemin’s New Believers’ Party special edition

Whenever I am feeling low

I look around me and I know

There are friends that will stay in my heart

Wherever I may choose to go

I will always recall the care group

That loves me forevermore

And I will serve with this family

Living out my walk with God

This is home truly

Where I know I must be

Where my heart belongs to

Where His Love will always flow

This is home surely

As my senses tell me

This is where I won’t be alone

For this is where I know its home

When there are troubles to go through

We will be there to walk with you

There is comfort in the knowledge

That our God is with us too

So we’ll share our lives together

Just like a family

And this is the covenant we all share

Living our lives for the Lord

This is home truly

Where I know I must be

Where my heart belongs to

Where His Love will always flow

This is home surely

As my senses tell me

This is where I won’t be alone

For this is where I know its home

For this is where I know its home

the above lyrics were of the song that we sang for kemin and the other new believers.. haha.. it was fun.. i was touched by the song myself too even though we went out of tune here and there.. haha.. everyone clapped along with us as we sang.. it was so special..

hope everyone enjoyed themselves and reminded of the very first time that they said the sinners' prayer.. i hope kemin will continue to grow strong in her walk with God and in experiencing God's love more and more each day..


God's family is a place you and me can call home


Love,
Naomi

cg reunion dinner..

my cg went for steamboat reunion dinner on last thursday.. which was the fourth day of lunar new year (chu si).. it was a fun and hilarious time together.. haha.. it is fun to come together as a family to share the joyous occasion.. =)

the people who went were stanley (forgot to take his pic), wee boon, meijuan, eileen, xiuhua, alvin, guo feng, kemin and myself.. we had 2 pots of steamboat.. one whole table full of food.. scary.. lol.. but that's how people eat steamboat.. it was fun chit-chatting, talking crap, helping one another cook, eating, playing, etc.. haha..


Photos of the dinner:

guo feng, alvin, eileen and meijuan
guo feng stop trying to be funny..
lol..

xiuhua and kemin..

3 muskerteers
wee boon on the phone
guo feng falling asleep
alvin looks super tired
they all woke up when the food came..
lol..

tom yam on the right
corn plus ribs soup on the left
tom yam highly recommended by me..

ma la on the right
chicken soup on the left
ma la is highly recommended by wee boon..
he drank until his lips swollen.. lol..

aftermath part 1

aftermath part 2

aftermath part 3

guo feng gg (good game) aka game over in less than an hour's time.. you know why? cos he gobbled his food.. ate too fast.. after he gg, he kept entertaining us with his cold jokes.. lol.. it wasn't his jokes that were funny.. but the interaction between eileen, alvin and him that was funny.. lol.. can't stop laughing.. they even compete to see how to chew the super hard squid faster.. lol..

stanley ate super lots of fish.. our whole steamboat pot was full of fish.. think he cleared the whole plate of the shop.. no wonder he also gg very fast.. lol.. he was super fascinated with the hotplate that keeps the steamboat boiling.. no wonder he is an engineer.. lol..

while stanley aimed at the fish.. alvin aimed at the prawns.. he was non-stopped peeling prawns since he sat down sia.. don't know how much prawns did he eat.. to the point that wee boon said that any seafood give alvin he sure eat.. lol.. poor wee boon had to watch alvin eat the prawns which he loves but can't eat cos of allergy to the paste in the prawn head.. lol..

guess what was the favorite food of the whole steamboat dinner? lol.. it was golden mushroom.. haha.. i think we took more than 5 plates of that sia.. we all lover golden mushroom.. something you can't do without for steamboat eh.. lol..

meijuan was a slow and steady eater sia.. she said she din eat lunch.. lol.. she came prepared eh.. the one who lasted the longest was meijuan, alvin and me.. the others gave up.. lol.. then we decided to have some dessert.. must be thinking eat until so full still can eat dessert.. yeah.. cos people like to say that there is always a separate compartment for dessert.. haha.. so we went mac for ice creams and milkshakes.. haha.. sat there for a while and enjoy our dessert and chit-chat.. then we went home stomach full and happy.. lol.. yet tired cos after a long day..


Great company + food = great fun and fellowship


Love,
Naomi

thanks for the concern..

thanks for everyone who has been showing concern to me during this period of time when i fell sick.. =)

thanks especially wee boon and ruixia.. was very surprised that they came all the way to my house void deck to pass me liang cha and mr bean.. haha.. cos ruixia called me in the afternoon then know that i am still rather sick.. so she decided to come visit which she say wee boon copied her idea.. lol.. whatever it is.. thanks a lot.. very touched.. =) wee boon wanted to get liang cha one but my house there the shop closed liao so he got mr bean.. which coincidentally, last time we visited him when he was sicked, we also got him mr bean.. lol.. the liang cha ruixia got me is tasteless and bitter.. but 苦口良药 eh.. 苦在嘴里，甜在心里 (bitter in the mouth yet sweet in the heart)..

really appreciate them coming down.. cos i know how inconvenient is it for the both of them somemore next day still got to go to work.. so i know how much you all care from how much you all are willing to care.. yeah.. their visit cheered me up too.. feel more energized.. have been rather down cos of my sickness.. so tortorous.. had been sicked for 4 days already.. by faith, i will recover asap de.. =) as long as i trust in God's willingness and ability.. AMEN!!


A little gesture warms my heart..


Love,
Naomi