Remembering

What makes this year's  Father's Day a special occasion is that it also falls on my birth-date.

It is with a very mixed feeling that I am celebrating my birthday together with Father's Day today. For dad, it will be just like any other day. No special feast, no going out and he will be just as contented.

For me, I have come a milestone in my journey in life. Am feeling melancholic because recent events have taught me to re-evaluate my priorities in life - not that any major crisis had happened. I do not wish to remember God only when I'm in trouble, stuck, hurt, confused and worrying and needed Him to come rescue me from whatever tight spot that I'm in.

God is good and has always been good to me even on those tough and hard days when I'd forget Him and complain, whine, wail - forgetting that He is faithfully watching over me.

I'm learning to remember God daily; to know His presence and to feel His peace.

Happy Father's Day

Sophie: Did you have your showers today?
Dad: Yes.
Sophie: Who helped you to shower?
Dad: Those two. (Meaning my bros.)
Sophie: Do you smell nice?
Dad: Yes.
Sophie: Do you feel good?
Dad: Yes.

Sophie: Pa, do you know what day is it today?

Dad: It's Sunday. (Because he had just showered. On weekdays, Ma will sponge-bath him.)

Sophie: Do you know what date is it today?

Dad: No.

Sophie: It's June 20th. What can you remember about the date?
Dad: No, nothing.
Sophie: It's my birthday. Say 'happy birthday' to me.

Dad: Happy birthday.

Sophie: Do you know that today is also Father's Day?

Dad: No.

Sophie: It is Father's Day today. Happy Father's Day.

It may be just another day for you but you have come a long way since those early days.

In the quietness of your thoughts, I hope and pray that you know we all love you.

My Life, Your Song

Oscar led us this song during worship team's sharing session two weeks ago.

Been playing this song over and over again. Tears just stream down my face whenever I sing the chorus. 

These lines strike a chord in my heart:

Let all earthly crowns,
Fade in the shadow of the cross.

There seems to be so many other 'priorities' in my life that fill me up - our earthly crowns. How often have we been blinded by earthly pursuits that God takes the second or third or maybe the last place in our life.

I want to be reminded always that God is my first love.



(Youtube uploaded by iunspoken, Jan 4, 2009)

City Harvest Church - My Life, Your Song
Words and Music by K. C. Gan
© City Harvest Church

VERSE 1:
Whose hands are these, holding my trapeze
When I fly, You carry me
Whose eyes are these, watching over me
Eyes of love, that set me free

PRE-CHORUS:
Unafraid, what's ahead
You are always there before me
My whole world, Your design
You are always there, just right behind

CHORUS:
My life is Your song
To You my heart belongs
Let all earthly crowns
Fade in the shadow of the cross

My life is Your song
I'll sing for You alone
Nothing in this world
Can take me away from You
Our love goes on and on

VERSE 2:
Whose arms are these, shelter me from harm
In the storm, You are my calm
Whose voice I hear, whisper in my ear
When I'm lost, You're always near

BRIDGE:
In all my life, be glorified
With Christ in me, no longer I
So take my all, consuming fire
Your light in me, I'll let it shine

Facing my Fears

Have been plagued by fear recently and I'm not the most optimistic person.

This sharing spoke to me.

Overcome your fears by…

• Face your fears, don’t run from them ~ if you don’t confront fears you will never overcome them. It’s okay to be fearful, that is normal, but it’s not okay to let that fear control you. Recognize you are afraid then ask yourself, “How do I overcome this?”
• Failure is an event, not a person ~ remember that failure is an event it is not you! We all make mistakes in our lives, we all fail, but it doesn’t mean we are failures. Even if you do fail, pick yourself back up and try again knowing that you can always do better and learn from each experience.
• Stop thinking negative & envision the positive ~ Don’t focus on the negative things that can happen. What you think is what you become. But when you think, think positive, envision success and how you see yourself overcoming your fear and being great! What you see, is what you get!
• Practice and Preparation calms your fears ~ many times we are fearful because we are not equipped. When we practice and prepare for what we are called to do, it will calm our fears because we know that we can do it and we know how to do it. Much fear is based upon a lack of preparation.
• Prayer & Meditation ~ There is no better way to get your eyes off yourself and on to God then through prayer. It is through prayer that we realize we need help from above to do the impossible. When we pray, it calms our soul and gives us faith that we are not alone, but with the help of God.
• Go with your heart & let doing your best be your success ~ You only fail if you don’t try. If you do what is in your heart and you do your absolute best, no matter what the outcome, it’s not a failure it is a success. Knowing this, you will not be afraid to fail.

Thank you DD for Your timely reminder. Am still learning to capture my thoughts.

Sick

Just got back from my trip to Manila last Tuesday and was immediately assaulted by a mild cough and sore throat the very next morning. I thought that I am coughing and sniffling more this morning. Hopefully it won't turn into a full-blown coughing frenzy.

The trip has been a very enjoyable and eye-opening experience for me. I am still missing the sight, food, culture and shopping - not that I bought a lot. There are just so many things to look at since it was my first trip to the Philippines after all.

Will try to update my quiet blog soon with more pics from the trip. For now, here's a pic of Philippines' famous food - Lechon (roast pig).

Lechon on a pit

June 5: Laloma Street