So many interesting things have happened, be it positive or negative, it's GOOD.
It's good because I know God is in the midst of every moment of what I'm going through.
GOOD minus GOD = 0 (ZERO!)

Why do you call things good?

That's why I'm happy, because I have God, and by this, everything is good, and by this, I know how to cheer myself up.

Words have often failed me, and I don't think I can adequately express everything I have to say.
But really, sometimes all we need is the silence. Then we'd be able to hear more than just the words.

We need others. We need others to love and we need to be loved by them. There is no doubt that without it, we too, like the infant left alone, would cease to grow, cease to develop, choose madness and even death.

But yet, all of our unhappiness comes from our inability to be alone.

Am I contradicting myself? No, I'm not.
It's who we choose to be alone with that makes all the difference.
It's who we choose to be together with that makes all the difference.

It's what Robb Thompson shared about Solitude.
It's last week's cell group message about Sabbath.

It's what the bible says about the Still Small voice...


In the end, it's all about Him.

Trusting and Following

Saw the letter on the table, and I was so nervous when I opened it!
Yay! I passed the notoriously difficult property agent exam!

Government funded, and I think they up-ed the standard. Thankfully everything is over now.
I'm now CERTIFIED!

I need someone to work together! A place where I can work!
My mentor (nice person who brought me in) is pregnant, so can you imagine that from now till the baby is out and grows up, I doubt she has time for me!
And I almost vomited blood because of my director (the person over my mentor) who is one of the most irresponsible person I've even met!

So now, I'm thinking of jumping over to a new director, my cg member, Clarence's team.
Qi Zhi (CGL) is under him also and others as well. Seemed like a decent team!
I can't work alone all the time man! I need to work with people, and someone who can push me at times.

Wendy shared with me something that Jeff, her boss, shared with her.
"Motivation has to come from within. What is your motivation? Your leaders, mentors and family cannot be more interested in your success than you are!"

I'm not desperate for money. I just want His will to be done in my life, and I believe I am where He wants me to be.
I know how to abound and to abase, and it's never about me.
It's about my family, and the people God wants me to impact, and that needs money.

Hope I hope I can be paid to impact the youths around me everyday!

ANyway I've prepared my offering msg for tomorrow's CG, and I'm thoroughly blessed myself.
Excited already to share it tmr!

Nobody knows, but actually now I'm going through one of the worst phrase of my life with my family, and I'm thankful that Justin called yesterday and I'm thankful that I could share a bit.
God-sent. God knows.

Through all these things, though I feel so choked, to the point of suffocation and of breaking down many a times recently, there's this peace; a peace that surpasses my understanding of my situations, of everything.

I'm thankful that I can GENUINELY be joyful and not be affected by these things when I'm with my friends! Worrying doesn't help! Hope and faith coupled with actions do!

I don't understand it, I hate what I'm going through, I don't know how to deal with it, but I'm trusting and following.

If I live, I win.
If I die, I win.

The joy of the Lord will be my strength!

Hahaha... I saw this in facebook. So funny~ Lolz...

Dream

I had a dream...

When I woke up just now after a nap,
I thought everything was reality in that dream, and everything that had happened in my reality was a dream.

I sighed and wondered while covering my face under the blanket, "Why was it just a dream?"

It's like the joke of dreary novels you might have read, and the readers would have been disgruntled...

How many thousand times had I imagined this ridiculous scenario?
I have never wanted it this much.

If everything was only just a dream...

Now, let's exchange our promises, God, the One I love so much...
I've been broken for far too long...

Just came back from cell group. Had a fun time leading praise, and of course, eating the food!!! Joelle led the cg too as Justin is overseas standing in for Darren.

Wah, heard how Angel and Joelle shared about their iphone, and my hands are itchy to get one!

Anyway Edward and Angel bought some VERY NICE Char Siew and Duck with packets of rice for us! Woohoo!!!

Cut away Joelle's face as she looked.. funny inside. Haha.. See, I'm nice ok. I filter away ugly pics.

The food! The rest of the people were still inside, so we STARTED first! Hahaha...

It may look "chao da", but the black colour is actually the colour from the marinate.
It taste very NICE!!!

What I bought. Woohoo!!!

Appreciate

Still feeling sickly, but despite of it, I still couldn't resist going to the gym yesterday. Did 3 heavy weight repetitions for the whole body.

My arms ache, legs ache, butt aches, abs ache, chest ache. Even my neck aches.
Thankfully my fever has subsided quite a bit yesterday, though I think I'm still training my abs by coughing. Highest level would be to cough my lungs out, and I'm not far away, still.

Went to meet E.V.E. later that day. And Elwin treated me to milk shake! Saw lots of people "obsessed" over participating in the monopoly stuffs there.

___________________________________________________

Met up with Pei En just now. Hahaha... Laughed over some silly and lame things happening in her life as she shared. Hope it won't get diverted to me. Lolz...

Anyway ever since Justin told me that I'll be promoted to MM, it really set me thinking.
The things I say and the things I do... I got to rise up to a greater level in my life.

During the 'ceremony', it felt really great to hear the people cheering out loud for you when your name is being called.
My close friend from my ministry told me when he heard my name, he screamed!~
I guess it's this kind of simple things that touches me, and I really cherish it.

I ever heard a friend saying, some friends say things like, "Hey, you're really a buddy to me, and I really appreciate it!" , and he feels that it's quite fake.

But I know of another friend when people blesses him, says nothing at all and acts indifferent. Super disappointing.

Sweet words VS not saying a word. I'll choose the 1st one anytime!
Saying sweet words doesn't mean that it's not real at all. What? You rather people hurl vulgarities at you when you bless them?
Rather, when people feel indifferent, you know that what you're doing means nothing to them at all...

I've experienced that recently, and it reminded me of one thing - The opposite of love is not hatred, it is indifference.
Of course it doesn't mean that I will stop sowing, but rather I hope that person will wake up and learn to be more appreciative of others, because that, is part of loving.

To me, the only kind of people that I find it hard to stand are those people who are does not appreciate close friends in their lives.
Even the most challenging of people, if they know how to appreciate others, can you imagine how different it would be?

Heb 12:2 - "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Even Jesus did things, for the joy of receiving something back.
In His case, it was us.


Some photos.

Went to Scarlet City @ AMK Hub to sing K on Sunday.
Was sick but I enjoyed myself.
Took the rest of the pics with Molly's digital cam. Waiting...


My MM present! I was totally surprised! In my life, I've never seen my previous cg celebrating MM promotion so was really thankful that my cg celebrated the small victories in my life.


Matching blues. Totally love it!!!

Platinum

Just researched Shao Liang's version of Job 23:10 - "But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as 'PLATINUM'."

Wah, I didn't know it's more precious than the noble metals, gold and silver.
As of 5 June 2009 (2009 -06-05)[update], platinum was worth US$1263.00 per troy ounce (approximately US$40.09 PER GRAM)


The alchemical symbol for platinum (shown above) was made by joining the symbols of silver and gold.

Certain platinum complexes are used in chemotherapy and show good anti-tumor activity for some tumors as well.

Platinum's rarity as a metal has caused advertisers to associate it with exclusivity and wealth. "Platinum" debit cards have greater privileges than do "gold" ones. "Platinum awards" are the second highest possible, ranking above "gold", "silver" and "bronze", but below diamond.

Ok, now here's my version of Job 23:10 then - "But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as 'DIAMOND'."

YAY I WIN!!!

Recently my dearest friendss are like going through different trials in their lives, and I'm sad about it.. SIgh... But when they have gone through the fire, I KNOW, they shall come forth as gold, purified!

Love demands a lot, but it doesn't force the demands on others.
At the same time, it gives time and faith in them, for them to change, while accepting them for who they are.
Don't say that they have not changed, because everyday, it's not the same.
Everyone is changing in a subtle spiral UP way.
Changes take time...
Love them and let the person know what you feel is lacking, or what they have done wrong, and if the other party truly cares for them, he/she will change. And for our part, we have to learn to love them for who they are now.

It has to be both way. You ask a person to change, then reflect upon yourself what you can do for them as well.

TO me, if it doesn't come, I'll have the realization that probably the person doesn't really cherish me as much as I would hope so. I would just let go.

I always go for low expectations, because if I don't get it, I won't be as sad, and if I get it, I'll be overjoyed.
If you like high risk, Pastor Meng shared about how expectation is the seedbed for miracles. I guess we just need to know when do we need to activate which kind of expectations.
That's why life is so exciting.

You know, letting go is one of the hardest thing to do, but I know there's a Person who would never let me go. I'm more than contented already.

Yay, my commission is coming in a month's time. A client called me just now to commission me to start looking for a home for him.
Though now I'm at my lowest point (I've cut down on my tuitions = lower income, and future income has not yet arrive), but I enjoyed every single day for the past 2-3 weeks.

At first I wondered if I was procrastinating, but I really felt affirmed when Edward (Angel's husband) prayed for me, and shared with me that he felt it was not the case, but rather it was a time for me to reconnect with the youths, encourage each other and impact lives. It's something so much more important than money.

I really felt that I was not being lazy, but there was a Kairos moment for me to do something. I have not even regret a bit of it. I told myself that I will learn how to abound and abase.

I don't want to go into the promise land, if God's presence does not go with me. What's the point of gaining all the riches and honor and glory, and you end up losing your own soul?

I don't wish to be blinded and failed to listen to God's leading to what He wants me to do.

Now all of the youths are back in school and my crucial property exam's result should be out this week. (Accreditation and also power to make my job easier)
The timing is perfect! I know everything was according to His plan.
It's all in season and in His timing.

Now, it's back to work, and I'm going to work hard and prosper so that I can bless my family and others!

SAMUEL LEON!!! WORK HARD FOR THE KOG!!!
Woohoo!! I LOVE THE PEOPLE AROUND ME!

Let's Forgive

Love never gives up.

Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.

Love never dies.

Went out with Mitch (yesterday), Yuan Yuan, Hui Hui, and Joseph (Today).
Talking scandalous with Val and Evan today. Hur hur hur...

The N380 peeps never fail to make me happy. I really love them lots!
Last week marked my life as a landmark as well, being able to go out with many of them.
Waiting for the sec 4 students to finish their Os, then I can meet up with them once again!

Nothing better to do.

Just finished my exams. Not easy man...
At Yishun Library now waiting for 4 little missy - Val, Pei En, Pris and Hui Ling...
Think I'm going to wait like 1 hour for them, but thankfully I still remembered my username and password to log on for internet usage in the library.

Can you imagine my username is "youngdidi"? Now you know why I always say I'm young? It's born in the genes.

Anyway that was like when I was in sec 1.
Tried to request (or threaten) the counter staff to change my username, but they say I CAN'T!

I'm stuck with "youngdidi" forever...

Anyway I went to Clark Quey with Eileen and Siew Ling yesterday! It was a great time man!
Glad that I was able to meet the "Kwan" sisters together. Planning to go to Timber next. The pizzaaasss~ YUM!

Want to upload the photos here, but can't seem to have time for it.
Still have Andrew and Xinni's balloons, some funny crappy photos with the youth cg, and photos that goes months back with my adult cg when we went to Malaysia etc...

We're planning a trip to Kukup (pronounced as "Ku Kop" next month!) It's gonna be fun man! Will be there for like 2-3 days!
Seriously I think one of the most exciting place to be, is to have friends like N380 and my adult cg pp around you, no matter where you are.


Anyway I really want to thank God for people like Eileen, Shaun, Shao Liang, Val, Elwin, Andrew, Xinni and Ryan for being my beloved friends whom have given me so many wonderful memories this week. Life is worth living because of friends like them.
I'm blessed.

Sometimes it's so near yet so far... But I'll cherish every moment I have with them man.

P.S. - All the best to you O level students!

Stayed up and toiled the night away, "chewing" the THICK bits and pieces of information into my brain...

Going for the exam now, and I heard it's not easy. My cg member failed! Many failed! AHHHHH!~

However, I'm feeling quite confident, and Joelle sent me a sms, saying she had visualized me passing it!

Needles for keeping my eyes open
- checked!
Lighter and candle wax to keep me awake
- checked!
Flying daggers for the teachers in event that the paper is difficult
- CHECKED!!!

It's all for You!