BEST TRIP IN A LONG TIME..

I label myself as someone who doesn't get to enjoy much out of life these days or people normally call it "I have no life". So yesterday I was like a freed bird out of its cage - finally got a chance to fly and just enjoy myself to the fullest!

The Jervis Bay trip was awesome! The beaches.., the white sand, the clear water, I was just in awe (without words!). God is an awesome and wonderful God, if His creation is this beautiful, what about the Creator Himself - God?

The whole trip had been great from the start, thank you to 3s and Joan for organising it so well. We all met up at 6ish am in front of my apartment, had Rose to pray for the trip and off we went, 12 people in 3 cars. Breakie @ Maccas for a start. To keep the trip on the road not so boring, 3s had a 'Jervis Bay Trip Quiz' game set-up for the first half trip, questions were sent to our mobiles every 15 mins and the first 2 teams (1 team/car) to reply with correct answers would collect 1 point, team with the most points would win. Up to this point, we haven't known who is the winner.. I reckon our team (Joan, Rose and me) didn't do so bad hehehe.

Some questions were quite "adventurous questions" if I could call them, like:
* In order of size from small to large, provide the price of a cup of latte in McDonald's! - We had to stop at Maccas to check it out, sekalian ke restroom. :) That was FUN.........

Our first stop (after so many stops on the way) was Hyams Beach, arrived at around 10ish (almost 11am), IT'S MARVELOUS!!!!!! We couldn't keep our feet off the water as soon as we arrived there. The sand was as close as to white, the water was the clearest I've ever seen. Some of us weren't quite convinced that the sand was white - coz we still had our sunnies on hehe. Anyway, so we just walked along the beach (without getting ourselves wet) enjoying the view, the sun and the air, and the company of friends, and some photo taking sessions, which I'm still waiting patiently to see.

Got bored with playing with water, so we played a volley ball, though I'm not the good one, but just played along, that was GREAT! I really enjoy getting active in an open air. Hadn't done this in a long while. So after a good 1 hour play, we were off to somewhere in the National Park (forgot the name of the place) for a lunch picnic. Lunch was chicken wraps (marinated thai chilli and lemon grass chicken, really yummmmm) by 3s and Jo; pasta by Imen and tuna by Ken. *Thank you all, chefs!* We all had a great time over lunch talking to each other, singing and playing guitar and just enjoying nature and birds singing. Everything was excellent, except for the 'angle .................' :P

I think our next trip was to Green Patch? Anyway we visited 3 - 4 beaches throughout the whole trip. Still quite impressed with the 1st one and perhaps the last one where we played our real volley ball game with the proper net which was set-up and left unattended, so we played there, not until we found out that it belonged to someoneelse hahaha, the guy said "guys, I'm taking this now!", oopssyy...!!! But we're quite lucky to be able to use it for at least 1 hour - score at the moment is still even, so when are we going to complete this game guys??

Afterwards, we found no where to continue playing, so the guys decided to go for a swim while the girls playing on the water side without getting ourselves wet of course (for many reasons!!) although the guys were attempting to get us wet, but was quite unsuccesful or just had pity on us hehe. The girls had a good bonding sessions, talking and sharing time, which I valued so much. Everyone was doing something except for Imen zzzzzzzzzz (recharging) time. It was quite funny and shocking when we found out that Imen was sleeping behind us (girls) while we were talking about some "girl stuff", ouch! But then quess what, he was complaining rather than being happy about it hahaha...

So that was quite a wrap for the trip, as the afternoon was nearly over soon, the guys got change and we headed off to Sydney. We stopped at KFC on the way for some dinner together around 7ish. By that time, all were looking pretty tired, red faces, red eyes, red arms, red necks - yep, pretty much everyone got sunburnt. After dinner it was quite dark already, we were hoping to catch some stars on our way back. Firstly, we were quite dissapointed as we could only see 1 or 2 stars, because it was somehow cloudy. Not until around 10ish pm, wooowww... stars all over the sky, some of us could name them by names, I wouldn't have a clue hehe, it's amazingly beautiful, again... they reminded me of how great our God is!

Couldn't find a spot to stop and watch the sky, so we drove all the way to Sydney and home. As soon as I got home, took shower (at 12am) and shut down on my bed.

That was the end of a great trip journey which I just admitted to a friend that this is my best trip ever that I haven't felt for a long time. I came home felt refreshed, not that tired, just sleepy. So thank you all for making this trip so fun and enjoyable!

CHRISTMAS with THANKS

In the midst of trials and problems - God has promised us strength to keep us going. I am to testify that I have experienced it time and time again. His strength is very real in my life. The presence of dearest friends around me is one of the so-many-ways God provides me strength to press on - these friends who love God very much, alot of times they have been great role models to me in their Godliness and faith in Christ. So I thank you(s) (my friends) who have been here for me, seen me cry, seen me go crazy, seen me get cranky, etc., you know who you are. :)

One of the best things that has happened to me, which I always acknowledge, since I was ever born into this world, is my family. Supporting me through thick and thin, praying for me endlessly. Also to know my Daddy got baptised this year, what an undescribable joy! Not being able to be with them in this time of Christmas (again) is quite saddening me. If God wasn't our foundation in life, I guess I would feel hopeless right now. But because He came to earth, died and raised from the death, now lives in each and everyone's heart, He bonds us together regardless of how far we are apart. I truly hang on to that, knowing God holds us in the palm of his loving hand, we are forever united.

Anyway, should call an early night tonight, as we are off to Jervis Bay early tomorrow morning (6 AM), gotta get fit.

Merry Christmas to all - sing your heart out !

DO THEY KNOW

I asked myself - if others can see Jesus in me....

-Steven Curtis Chapman-

I'm one of the chosen few
God chose to carry to
A hopeless and dying world - Good News!
I'm a disciple of a caring Father's love
A light to the world to show them the way

Chorus:
Do they know, can they see?
Jesus lives in me
Do they know, can they see?
Jesus lives in me

A vacant house comes alive
When somebody moves inside
A light in the window means someone's home
I say Jesus lives in me but can everybody see
The light of His love that shines in my heart

Bridge:
A cloud of witnesses surrounds us
Who long to share what we've received
Tell me where will they see Jesus
If not in you and me?

Chorus:
So we must let them know
Let them see
Jesus lives in you and me
Let them know, let them see
He is all they need
Jesus is all............... they need

Hmm, can they or can't they? It's a constant struggle....

HE IS CALLED...

Worthy One

The Shepherd

Light of the World

The Risen One

Prince of Peace

The Word

Emmanuel (God is with us)

PEREMPUAN

Dia yang diambil dari tulang rusuk. Jika Tuhan mempersatukan dua orang yang berlawanan sifatnya, maka itu akan menjadi saling melengkapi. Dialah penolongmu yang sepadan, bukan sparing partner yang sepadan.

Ketika pertandingan dimulai, dia tidak berhadapan denganmu untuk melawanmu, tetapi dia akan berada bersamamu untuk berjaga-jaga di belakang saat engkau berada di depan atau segera mengembalikan bola ketika bola itu terlewat olehmu, dialah yang akan menutupi kekuranganmu.

Dia ada untuk melengkapi yang tak ada dalam laki-laki: perasaan, emosi, kelemahlembutan, keluwesan, keindahan, kecantikan, rahim untuk melahirkan, mengurusi hal-hal sepele... sehingga ketika laki-laki tidak mengerti hal-hal itu, dialah yang akan menyelesaikan bagiannya... sehingga tanpa kau sadari ketika kau menjalankan sisa hidupmu... kau menjadi lebih kuat karena kehadirannya di sisimu.

Jika ada makhluk yang sangat bertolak belakang, kontras dengan lelaki, itulah perempuan. Jika ada makhluk yang sanggup menaklukkan hati hanya dengan sebuah senyuman, itulah perempuan. Ia tidak butuh argumentasi hebat dari seorang laki-laki... tetapi ia butuh jaminan rasa aman darinya karena ia ada untuk dilindungi.... tidak hanya secara fisik tetapi juga emosi.

Ia tidak tertarik kepada fakta-fakta yang akurat, bahasa yang teliti dan logis yang bisa disampaikan secara detail dari seorang laki-laki, tetapi yang ia butuhkan adalah perhatiannya... kata-kata yang lembut... ungkapan-ungkapan sayang yang sepele... namun baginya sangat berarti... membuatnya aman di dekatmu....

Batu yang keras dapat terkikis habis oleh air yang luwes, sifat laki-laki yang keras ternetralisir oleh kelembutan perempuan. Rumput yang lembut tidak mudah tumbang oleh badai dibandingkan dengan pohon yang besar dan rindang... seperti juga di dalam kelembutannya di situlah terletak kekuatan dan ketahanan yang membuatnya bisa bertahan dalam situasi apapun.

Ia lembut bukan untuk diinjak, rumput yang lembut akan dinaungi oleh pohon yang kokoh dan rindang. Jika lelaki berpikir tentang perasaan wanita, itu sepersekian dari hidupnya.... tetapi jika perempuan berpikir tentang perasaan lelaki, itu akan menyita seluruh hidupnya... Karena perempuan diciptakan dari tulang rusuk laki- laki, karena perempuan adalah bagian dari laki-laki... apa yang menjadi bagian dari hidupnya, akan menjadi bagian dari hidupmu. Keluarganya akan menjadi keluarga barumu, keluargamu pun akan menjadi keluarganya juga. Sekalipun ia jauh dari keluarganya, namun ikatan emosi kepada keluarganya tetap ada karena ia lahir dan dibesarkan disana.... karena mereka, ia menjadi seperti sekarang ini.

Perasaannya terhadap keluarganya, akan menjadi bagian dari perasaanmu juga, karena kau dan dia adalah satu.... dia adalah dirimu yang tak ada sebelumnya. Ketika pertandingan dimulai, pastikan dia ada di bagian lapangan.

NAMES + XMAS PRESSIES

Some people at work call me JENNIFER; today my Director accidently called me JULIE (alriiiggghhtt).

Anyways, there's actually another Jenny (Manager) - she's been there for a while now. Because my role is a receptionist, a lot of clients have mistaken me with her, sometimes I don't know what they are talking about. Some clients whom I have never talked to are suddenly so friendly to me (sok akur!), I thought.... hmm must be it!!! So I have to keep telling them that I'm not Jenny the Manager...

But work has been fun I reckon, people are nice, they are all Directors and Managers, I'm the only one in the lowest position in the company. Sometimes I feel intimidated, very small. But then after a while, they relate to me just like another colleague of theirs.

I can't believe I receive so many gifts from work and from my students as Christmas gifts. Them being '$100 David Jones gift card' from company, 'some chocolates and chocolate candies' from music school and students, 'a picture frame' from another student. I was suprised to have received a picture frame, do you know why? Because I was just thinking this morning on my way to work that I'd like to get myself a picture frame so I can place it on my work desk. Oohh, wish came true! So now I don't have to buy one out of my pocket, hihi.

It's always good to give/receive gifts on this time of the year, but never forget the BEST GIFT we've ever received that is JESUS CHRIST - He is more than any gifts we could ever wish to receive - that is ETERNAL SALVATION through Him.

BY TIANA ROBERTS

On Saturday, I attended I&J's wedding. The wedding ceremony was beautiful, held at an old church in Rosebay wonderfully decorated, simple, sweet like candies, weather was great, sunny but not hot. The reception venue was great, romantic and nice. It was a coincidence that I met my alumni from AIM, he was playing for the wedding reception, playing jazz and salsa and disco and.... you name it! He's great!! Most IPC-ers commented on how he's such a good keys player. And of course I agree, proud to be his friend.

Anyways, I love the poem on the wedding invite, written by one of I's friends - which would be this:

At the old church our meeting was fate
Unaware that we are soul mate
Our Saviour put our hands together
And it will bind our hearts forever

Our love is a flower in full bloom
Like a rainbow in beautiful spectrum
The golden circles brought by the white dove
Are symbol of the pureness of our love

You and I are nothing but sincere
Singing the beauty of our soul for all to hear
Blessing of the Almighty is all we need
Because we are giving our love a creed

May God caress our heart
Till death do us part

~Tiana Roberts~

I FELT STUPID

Yea I did, but my sister didn't think so, everybody else didn't. I still do... oh well, the best is yet to come, I guess, reminded by 'THE FORK' story.

Don't worry if you don't know what I'm talking about, it's not a big deal. Just to spill out my thought in order to clear my mind a little bit. Argghh.....

I FELT SORRY

On my way to work this morning, I saw a dog on a walking path, bleeding on his left eye and from his mouth. I think he must have got run over by a car. There were people surrounding trying to get some help... I felt really sorry for the dog and the owner crying on the phone. I didn't stay for long, because the fact that I can't stand watching blood. It makes me feel dizzy and feel like throwing up, almost did faint. Pray that the dog is doing okay... T_T

BEEN 2 YEARS

Very happy today that I met H (my little angel) again, she was stepping down the church stairs towards me and giving me a BIG hug. I still remember the first time I saw her, she was so little, pretty and cute little creation, walking passed the side door of Talbot Hall where we were cooking our BBQ. From then on, we were so close, she always looked for me and waited by the door until I finished practicing choir every Sunday, that her dad had to always search for her to get home when it got late. S and I, we adored her alot, often got her parents' permission to take her to S's place just to play with her. She was so happy!!

I realised today how much she's all grown up, her voice has slightly changed to a maturer and pretty voice. Guess what, we've made a plan to meet next Sunday at that side door of Talbot Hall on midday, coz I've got something to give her as Xmas pressie. Hope she'll like it.

Then also met her little brother, H, also all grown up, he gave me a shy little wave from afar. How cute's that? I wonder how he could still remember me, it was like 2 year ago when I saw him and he was quite little then and still wet his bed :)

UPDATE ON JEN--JEN

Hi readers out there, sorry about my dissapearing from blogging for the past 1.5 months (if you've been wondering). I've been so much busy, juggling with 2 jobs has been tough and challenging. Though I thank God for every opportunity in life He's given me, every one of it. :)

Not much I can update you really, I'm still same old.

But umm... I came across a few incidents these past few weeks where people just commented about myself, on the things I do, the way I look, something really discouraging. I came home feeling down, and thinking... should I be affected by these comments? Should I just ignore them? But then.... I realised it is simply not my choice to ignore or to take them seriously, it just happened to be very discouraging already the moment they said it to you, honestly! I don't aspect people to always say good things to me, but I didn't see the necessity to comment on something about me when it's simply not true!!! They appeared to be joking, but they never apologised (something like... "just teasing you/just joking"), and by the look of their face, they really meant it, but in a joking way. It's more like... "spiritual blackmailing". Tried to make me feel insecure of the things I do? Jealous of me? Or...? I don't know...

Though I learn something for myself which I promise I won't do to others (I hope I won't, if I accidently do, I will apologise), that is NOT TO SAY ANYTHING WHEN IT IS NOT HELPING THAT PERSON AT ALL. Perhaps our mouth operates 2x faster than our mind, we say things without thinking it through firsthand.

Maybe I'm taking this too personally, but it's getting to much to bear.

However, I'm fine now, I have surrendered everything to God, may He guide my heart to the right place that is to keep dwelling on His promises and truth. People can say anything they want, but God knows my heart better (much more than I do).

Until then...