IF YOU JUST BELIEVE

I haven't been thankful these past weeks about anything, been whinging about everything.

I have no desire to do anything today although there are alot to be done.....

Instead I'm laying on my couch reading a book called "Dissapointment with God" by Philip Yancey. I bought this book 2 months ago for a friend of mine, but didn't get it sent for some reasons. So it's been sitting on my computer desk so I decided to read it now.

Also my stomach hasn't been feeling that well..

Everything seems to go wrong. I feel like sleeping and doing nothing, thinking nothing.

Oh, I'm also listening to "Believe" by Josh Groban.


"Believe" from 'The Polar Express'
by Josh Groban

Children sleeping
Snow is softly falling
Dreams are calling
Like bells in the distance
We were dreamers
Not so long ago
But, one by one
We all had to grow up

When it seems the magic slipped away
We find it all again on Christmas Day

Believe in what your heart is saying
Hear the melody that's playing
There's no time to waste
There's so much to celebrate
Believe in what you feel inside
And give your dreams the wings to fly
You have everything you need
If you just believe

Trains move quickly
To their journey's end
Destinations
Are where we begin again
Ships go sailing
Far across the sea
Trusting starlight
To get where they need to be

When it seems that we have lost our way
We find ourselves again on Christmas Day

Believe in what your heart is saying
Hear the melody that's playing
There's no time to waste
There's so much to celebrate
Believe in what you feel inside
And give your dreams the wings to fly
You have everything you need
If you just believe

If you just believe (x3)
Just believe (x2)

A FABLE

The Two Crabs

ONE fine day two Crabs came out from their home to take a stroll on the sand.

"Child," said the mother, "you are walking very ungracefully. You should accustom yourself to walking straight forward without twisting from side to side."

"Pray, mother," said the young one, "do but set the example yourself, and I will follow you."

"EXAMPLE IS THE BEST PRECEPT."

SO WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING?

Okay let me start with KYC! It was fun fun and fun. I was a first timer, the talks were encouraging, uplifting. Btw the topic was "Looking for relationships?". It just wasn't all about BGR (Boy-Girl Relationship), but also GHR (God-Human Relationship => yep, my own term :p), and also relationship with human's authorities; well basically any kinds of relationships. It's interesting that as christians, whatever relationships we are in, God is to be our focus, eg. when we submit to human's authorities, we are doing it for His sake - we are doing something for God in our submission. Well alot more to discuss here which I think I'll need to refer to my notes. I truly sincerely humbly thank God for such an opportunity to go to KYC this year, and to see thousands of people willing to come and listen to His word, it's an encouragement in itself. It encourages me to be more anthusiastic in my understanding of the Bible.

Some of us had to miss a couple of sessions as we had to attend a wedding on the 2nd day of KYC which was pretty sad case, but happy on the other hand, coz we got to see our beloved friends got married, and not to mention... good food! :) Congratulations again D&A! God bless you, we love you.. hehe..

I had particularly enjoyed the fellowship at KYC, it was cool. There were times to be busy in the kitchen, times to relax playing actionary and plus other games (we laughed/screamed/sang like crazy!!) and times to share with 3 beloved sisters in Christ until 2:30am (how exciting the sharing went).

Pokoknya... THAT WAS ALL GOODY! :)

Went home with J's car, I slept all the way from Katoomba to Rockdale (ga peduli hehe). Got home around 5:30pm, unpacked stuff, cleaned up then went straight to bed again at (.. I think ..) 6pm straight through to 9pm. Got up and had dinner (I felt like pig! :D). Got on internet for a while then off to bed again at 12am. Plenty of sleep there! But it wasn't enough that I got up at 12pm the next day (how bad was I? What's wrong with me?). O well....

Today was another wedding, it was an outdoor wedding, how niceee! The place was really really nice, the view was breathtaking! Anyway, that was the first time I sang at an outdoor wedding, what an experience, it's very different, especially when you are singing something about God and looking at all His beautiful creation surrounding, it's awesome! Huh.. except I got sunburn pretty much all over my shoulder and my back and neck! Well I don't mind to be tan really, item manis? :p

Okay... 4 more days before I'm back to teaching business, have missed my students alot, I hope they won't forget that their first lessons for this year are starting next Monday the thirty-first of January, two thousand and five, same time.. same place.

All I can say is that.. I am too satisfied with my holiday this year (and end of last year), it's full of meaningful events and blessings to me.

QUIZ FOR FUN: WHaT KinD of BoYs dO U LiKe?

Well.... this IF I HAVE TO choose one of the answers... here they are:

1. Handsome or gentle?
GENTLE

2. Confidence or shy?
CONFIDENCE

3. Cute or cool?
CUTE

4. Chinito or big eyes?
BIG EYES

5. Friendly or picky?
FRIENDLY

6. Fashionable or casual?
CASUAL

7. Interesting or funny?
INTERESTING

8. Mysterious or out-in-the-open?
OUT-IN-THE-OPEN

9. Intelligent or witty?
WITTY

10. Conversationalist or more than words?
MORE THAN WORDS

11. Rich or middle class?
RICH (of course.. bukan being matre loh hehe)

12. Romantic or buddy type?
BUDDY TYPE

13. Intellectual or sporty?
SPORTY

14. Cuddly or has to be a good kisser?
CUDDLY

15. Nice teeth or nice eyes?
NICE TEETH

16. Understanding or patient?
UNDERSTANDING

17. Musician or athlete?
MUSICIAN

18. Smoker or non-smoker?
NON SMOKER

19. Drinker or non-drinker?
NON-DRINKER

20. Traditional or go-with-the-flow?
GO-WITH-THE-FLOW

21. Adventure seeker or laid back?
LAID BACK

22. Long or short hair?
SHORT HAIR

23. >170cm or <170cm?
>165cm (yep, that's my height!) :)
>170cm is preferable

24. Wear glasses or contact lens?
GLASSES

25. Good listener or good teller?
GOOD LISTENER

26. Is there a boy like your type?
HOPEFULLY... NO ONE IS PERFECT RIGHT?!

SONG LYRICS

JESUS WILL STILL BE THERE

by Robert Sterling & John Mandeville

Verse 1:

Things change, plans fail

You look for love on a grander scale

Storms rise, hopes fade

And you place your bets on another day

When the going gets tough

When the ride's too rough

When you're just not sure enough

Chorus:

Jesus will still be there

His love will never change

Sure as a steady rain

Jesus will still be there

When no one else is true

He'll still be lovin' you

When it looks like you've lost it all

And you haven't got a prayer

Jesus will still be there

Verse 2:

Time flies, hearts turn

A little bit wiser from lessons learned

But sometimes weakness wins

And you lose your foothold once again

When the going gets tough

When the ride's too rough

When you're just not sure enough

(back to chorus)

PUZZLED

I'm not sure if you guys feel the same as I do..

Often I try to grab something in life (which I am pretty sure I can and am able to achieve it), but I often lose it in the end! Contrarily, when I give up trying.. it comes my way.

I seriously don't know what to do..

I guess when you wait "unconciously", you have less expectations than when you actually reach out to the things you want in life with effort.

Well for me, I'm kind of puzzled by what God really wants, sometimes He closes doors and opens them (it feels like it). Not blaming God here though, I know I should be thankful in any circumstances (as what was preached today at Sunday AM service). So, I surrender fully to what God really intends to do with my life, afterall it's all His.

GROWING

I was away for a week, and my chilli plant has grown a couple of chilli, I was so excited to see it, it's cute! :) You can say this is the first time I've grown something on my own hehehe..

How beautiful if we as christians bear fruits for God. After the Aceh incidence, how much more desire inside us to see more people accepting Jesus as their personal Saviour and Lord. 1 soul is worth something that nothing can buy.

I often feel like I haven't done much in bringing people to God, I am not good at talking and convincing people. But I talked to a couple of friends about it and in fact, it's not so much of a talking, it's so much of praying and being living testimony most of the time. I can sing, I can write something (not that good either!), maybe through these things Jesus can be preached. Although wish to be able to be out there, be brave to talk to people (like missionaries and pastors and evangelists, etc.), just feel like I don't have the talent.

God uses us in different ways obviously. So I encourage everyone including myself to keep bearing fruits for God, keep growing in His word of truth. :)

2004 - 2005

It's a new year! My heart is full of thankfulness to God for all His goodness that I tasted in 2004, and there won't be any difference in 2005, He is forever faithful. I'm not sure what to live for if it isn't for God. So thank you Lord Jesus for the new year... help me to be faithful and be changed into Your likeness, everyday.

My end of year was spent in Melbourne (for a week). We left Sydney on 27 Dec, 0500 hours. We went there driving, as expected.. it was a long drive about 15 hours. Cut the story short, all we did was eating and traveling, ooh and shopping (somebody did lots of shopping!!!). We visited the Great Ocean Road, 12 Apostles, Phillip Island, Crown (we didn't play of course!), what else..? Well alot.. ooh.. winneries. Nice place, nice food, nice people ... everything. We spent time watching the fireworks on the New Year's Eve. Huh.. couldn't help missing my family in Indonesia, especially at these times with all the disasters happening. But one thing I know that 'God is in control'. The whole trip was great. Thanks also to Ken's friends who had been so generous in helping us throughout the whole trip. *Katanya orang Bandung emang bae2*. Hmmm.... hehe, but truly.. they are HEAPS nice!

We were then back to Sydney on the 2nd (yesterday), I have already missed Melbourne *weird*. Btw the weather in Melbourne was so bad, it could get really cold one day, hot the next, hailing abit later and so on. I got a bit sick then because of the changing weather. But overall, I think it's worth it. I'm very very satisfied..!!

Went ice skating as well today at Macquarie (1st timer) with Gentong and the gang, it was so fun to be able to slide on the ice. I fell 4 times. As I was finally getting it right.. then I fell for the last time and it was the worst! I hurt my elbow, it got swallen straight after. Sadly I had to stop skating and went to find some ice at Hungry Jack. It was fun fun fun but..

I think I've had too much fun during this holiday. Very very happy.. :D :D :D

Another month to go before its time to be back at work. Gotta enjoy it as much as I can, coz these moments may not come back. So still looking forward to KYC and a couple of weddings to attend this month.