I'm not exactly in a Merdeka mood today. In fact, I'm not much of any mood. But I had to post this anyway..
Happy 53rd birthday Malaysia! I love you! Never will there be another you... :)
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Have you looked at the sky today?
I did.
I love morning walks. The thing that motivates me to wake up at 7am in the morning is so that I can look at the sky.
If you like colors, you will love the sky. Especially in the morning and evening. I wake up to a different sky each day, not one time did it ever look the same. Sure, it's still the same sky, but it's painted differently each day.
At times, I am left breathless at the sight of the vast canvas painted with a bit of purple, a bit of orange, a bit of white and a whole lot blue. At times, the canvas looks really blue with polka dots of white. Yet at times, there are patches of gray with a line of orange.
Today was no exception. In fact it was the most The sky looked like a vast carpet made from wool. AMAZING!
Sometimes when I feel overwhelmed, it's those little things that remind me that God is in control. He still is the ultimate painter whose artwork nothing can compare. Those nail pierced hands are still leaves little previews of His glory. And those same nail pierced hands are holding me, keeping me safe today...
So...have you looked at the sky my Father painted today?
I love morning walks. The thing that motivates me to wake up at 7am in the morning is so that I can look at the sky.
If you like colors, you will love the sky. Especially in the morning and evening. I wake up to a different sky each day, not one time did it ever look the same. Sure, it's still the same sky, but it's painted differently each day.
At times, I am left breathless at the sight of the vast canvas painted with a bit of purple, a bit of orange, a bit of white and a whole lot blue. At times, the canvas looks really blue with polka dots of white. Yet at times, there are patches of gray with a line of orange.
Today was no exception. In fact it was the most The sky looked like a vast carpet made from wool. AMAZING!
Sometimes when I feel overwhelmed, it's those little things that remind me that God is in control. He still is the ultimate painter whose artwork nothing can compare. Those nail pierced hands are still leaves little previews of His glory. And those same nail pierced hands are holding me, keeping me safe today...
So...have you looked at the sky my Father painted today?
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
The paradox of weddings
Ah weddings. Happy and blissful occasion. Church weddings are always joyful and everyone who knows you can attend. Wedding dinner/lunch on the other hand, remains an irony.
Here's how paradoxical wedding dinners can be.. I'll try to make it as simple as possible (in Malaysian lingo)..
People invite you via facebook events, you say they not serious..
People invite you as a congregation, you get offended and don't want to go...
People give you an invitation card, you complain and say too many weddings.. and too many ang pows to give..
People don't invite you.. you think that person does not treat you as a friend (see you no up.. hHAHAHHAH)
If I'm the bride, I'd say: WHAT THE HECK DO YOU WANT FROM ME?!
LOL. No seriously. These scenarios really happened. And you guessed it, it's all because of 'face'. I have honestly read about the theoretical aspect of face (yes, there are studies on it) and it is complicated. But let's not go there..
Anyway, the reason why I am talking about weddings is that I realized how complicated it can be. Not just the planning but the inviting... I have no idea what's going to happen when it's my turn (uh.. IF I do find my 1 in 6 billion). But anyway, I'm still at that stage where I feel that it's an honour to be invited. I was surprised that a friend who is not close and who I have not seen in ages (although he's pastoring a church in JB) invited me to his wedding in Sept.. I have no idea what is going to happen then, if anything's going to crop up, but I told him I'd be there.. and I will. By hook or by crook.. LOL.
I'm starting to collect wedding cards.. at the moment I have two :p Maybe someday I'd be sick of weddings... but getting invited shows that I'm starting to socialize a lot more now. And talk a little too much too.. hehehe.
Here's how paradoxical wedding dinners can be.. I'll try to make it as simple as possible (in Malaysian lingo)..
People invite you via facebook events, you say they not serious..
People invite you as a congregation, you get offended and don't want to go...
People give you an invitation card, you complain and say too many weddings.. and too many ang pows to give..
People don't invite you.. you think that person does not treat you as a friend (see you no up.. hHAHAHHAH)
If I'm the bride, I'd say: WHAT THE HECK DO YOU WANT FROM ME?!
LOL. No seriously. These scenarios really happened. And you guessed it, it's all because of 'face'. I have honestly read about the theoretical aspect of face (yes, there are studies on it) and it is complicated. But let's not go there..
Anyway, the reason why I am talking about weddings is that I realized how complicated it can be. Not just the planning but the inviting... I have no idea what's going to happen when it's my turn (uh.. IF I do find my 1 in 6 billion). But anyway, I'm still at that stage where I feel that it's an honour to be invited. I was surprised that a friend who is not close and who I have not seen in ages (although he's pastoring a church in JB) invited me to his wedding in Sept.. I have no idea what is going to happen then, if anything's going to crop up, but I told him I'd be there.. and I will. By hook or by crook.. LOL.
I'm starting to collect wedding cards.. at the moment I have two :p Maybe someday I'd be sick of weddings... but getting invited shows that I'm starting to socialize a lot more now. And talk a little too much too.. hehehe.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
When the going gets tough, the tough gets cookin'!
I was a tiny bit stressed and a whole lot bored. There was nothing on cable tv. NOTHING. I have no idea what the people in charge of axn, Star World, HBO etc etc are thinking, but it's Saturday... people with no freakin' life stay at home. Put on some good programs PLEASE.
Anyway, enough about that. The good thing about me is that once there's nothing on tv, I don't go play games on the computer, nor go facebooking... I cook! Yay! And I decided that it's time to be adventurous! I'd make potato pancakes and tomato soup! I was actually browsing through pancake recipes when I found out there was such thing as potato pancakes.. and it was EASY. Just potatoes, onions, eggs, salt and pepper.. so needless to say, I was itching to try to make it (more than I was itching to try to eat it.. lol). It turned out better than I expected! Tastes like a potato omellete actually.. hehehe...
Sorry..... I got too excited and ate half of the first piece before taking a pic :p
Anyway, about the tomato soup.. i was watching tv (when there was just 1 good show on) and found how they made tomato soup. And it was easy too!! So I decided to find a basic recipe for instructions, and pretty much wing the rest... hahaha. So, my tomato soup consisted of 1.5 tomatoes, 1 small carrot, 1/4 of an onion, 1 little clove of garlic, and some lean pork. And then when it's all boiled up for 30 mins.. I used my handheld blender to as they call it 'blitz' it (without the pork) and then added tiny little bit of butter and salt, pepper and dried herbs to taste.
Very shiny and shimmery huh.. hehehe.. tasted good too.
when Grace gets bored, Grace eventually gets dinner on the table... maybe I should get bored and fed up with life more often then :p I'm still bored and there still isn't anything on tv.. but I guess it's a little too late to bake anything.. HAHAHAH.
Anyway, enough about that. The good thing about me is that once there's nothing on tv, I don't go play games on the computer, nor go facebooking... I cook! Yay! And I decided that it's time to be adventurous! I'd make potato pancakes and tomato soup! I was actually browsing through pancake recipes when I found out there was such thing as potato pancakes.. and it was EASY. Just potatoes, onions, eggs, salt and pepper.. so needless to say, I was itching to try to make it (more than I was itching to try to eat it.. lol). It turned out better than I expected! Tastes like a potato omellete actually.. hehehe...
Sorry..... I got too excited and ate half of the first piece before taking a pic :p
Anyway, about the tomato soup.. i was watching tv (when there was just 1 good show on) and found how they made tomato soup. And it was easy too!! So I decided to find a basic recipe for instructions, and pretty much wing the rest... hahaha. So, my tomato soup consisted of 1.5 tomatoes, 1 small carrot, 1/4 of an onion, 1 little clove of garlic, and some lean pork. And then when it's all boiled up for 30 mins.. I used my handheld blender to as they call it 'blitz' it (without the pork) and then added tiny little bit of butter and salt, pepper and dried herbs to taste.
Very shiny and shimmery huh.. hehehe.. tasted good too.
when Grace gets bored, Grace eventually gets dinner on the table... maybe I should get bored and fed up with life more often then :p I'm still bored and there still isn't anything on tv.. but I guess it's a little too late to bake anything.. HAHAHAH.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Distorted
If you're a potter, imagine how it feels when someone ruins the shape of your clay after you lovingly and thoughtfully shaped it...
If you're a painter, imagine how you feel when someone adds an ugly stroke of paint on your work of art..
If you're a baker, imagine how it'll feel when someone cuts a piece out of your beautifully baked cake and then putting some plastic replica to cover it up...
Even if you're none of the above, imagine how it'll be like for someone to ruin what you have done..
I'd imagine that's how God feels whenever someone undergoes cosmetic surgery.......
I was at church the other day, and I saw this lady in church looking all weird. I knew something was wrong... just didn't know what it was. And then mom told me she *thinks* that that lady underwent a nosejob. I somehow felt sad for her. Why wasn't she happy with the way God made her? She was naturally beautiful.. until she did something to her nose.
I always get irritated when my mom starts messing with the cake that I baked. So much effort, so much time, so much passion put into that one cake.. and if someone starts messing with it, I'd get angry. So, I'd think it's pretty much the same with God. But I think He'll be sad, rather than just plain angry. We're made in His image, each different, each of us beautiful.
I sometimes get paranoid with the way I look. My butt's too big, my arms are too flabby, my thighs are huge. But, I'd stop wanting to go on a diet. Why? Because I need food. And I eat food. I put butter in my breads, drink whole milk everyday, and eat cheese as well. They nourish me. I have stopped wishing I had smaller thighs, smaller butt.. because that's not going to happen. Not unless I stop eating all together, or exercise until I drop dead.
I still get insecure sometimes, but I've generally accepted that I have a big butt. I have accepted that my thighs are big. So, I can't fit into those jeans, I'd buy a bigger size. So I'm not super slim.. but I'm healthy. So I'm not pretty enough.. To my Creator, I'm more than beautiful - I am just the way He made me to be. And His opinion matters to me far more than anyone else's.
If you're a painter, imagine how you feel when someone adds an ugly stroke of paint on your work of art..
If you're a baker, imagine how it'll feel when someone cuts a piece out of your beautifully baked cake and then putting some plastic replica to cover it up...
Even if you're none of the above, imagine how it'll be like for someone to ruin what you have done..
I'd imagine that's how God feels whenever someone undergoes cosmetic surgery.......
I was at church the other day, and I saw this lady in church looking all weird. I knew something was wrong... just didn't know what it was. And then mom told me she *thinks* that that lady underwent a nosejob. I somehow felt sad for her. Why wasn't she happy with the way God made her? She was naturally beautiful.. until she did something to her nose.
I always get irritated when my mom starts messing with the cake that I baked. So much effort, so much time, so much passion put into that one cake.. and if someone starts messing with it, I'd get angry. So, I'd think it's pretty much the same with God. But I think He'll be sad, rather than just plain angry. We're made in His image, each different, each of us beautiful.
I sometimes get paranoid with the way I look. My butt's too big, my arms are too flabby, my thighs are huge. But, I'd stop wanting to go on a diet. Why? Because I need food. And I eat food. I put butter in my breads, drink whole milk everyday, and eat cheese as well. They nourish me. I have stopped wishing I had smaller thighs, smaller butt.. because that's not going to happen. Not unless I stop eating all together, or exercise until I drop dead.
I still get insecure sometimes, but I've generally accepted that I have a big butt. I have accepted that my thighs are big. So, I can't fit into those jeans, I'd buy a bigger size. So I'm not super slim.. but I'm healthy. So I'm not pretty enough.. To my Creator, I'm more than beautiful - I am just the way He made me to be. And His opinion matters to me far more than anyone else's.
Friday, July 16, 2010
My God is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!
Thought I'd spell it out loud and clear. It's a good thing spelling as always been my forte (other than correcting other people's grammatical mistakes.. heh.) But hey, I know I make mistakes too, but that's not the point. And PLUS... this is MY blog you know, so I have poetic (or is it bloggeric?? LOL!!) justice!! So excuse my French (or Italian or Spanish or Latin or.... er.. you get the point don't you?), if any.
Anyway, after a load of introductory crap as always, let's get down to blogging business. MY GOD IS SOO AWESOME! And I tell you why He is.. no, not just because He is well, God, but here are some real practical ways He's been kinda awesome to me (yes, to me ALONE... hahaha jk.. to everyone lah!):
Case #1
I was baking a cake for my sister's birthday.. And me, being overambitious, decided to decorate it with peanut butter frosting. BIG MISTAKE. Anyway, frosting is sticky and ants love it.. in fact, I came to realize that ants that live in/over/under/on (AHAHHAHA.. lame mood today) my house are too hungry that they carry just about anything back to their nest... so, anyway, ants are all over my house. I know that they're tiny, but I can see them everywhere. There isn't a day when I don't see ants (in fact, there are 2 crawling on my computer now...)
ANYWAY, sorry for digressing. I was frosting the cake on my dining table (which is usually the first place ants look for food), and I had other things to take care off. So I prayed that there will be no ants attacking my frosting (or else, my sis would be eating extra protein.. hahaha). And GUESS WHAT.. even though I was skeptical, I never exactly trusted God 100%, but on that day itself... there was not a SINGLE ant on the dining table! Here's why I find it unbelievable..
Case #2 (don't worry.. this is a short one.. hahaha)
I've been taping lectures for the corpus and will be paid RM20 for each taping session. And if I transcribe, I get RM300 per transcript. Sounds great doesn't it? It does. But problem is, I haven't been admitted as an RA (Research Assistant). And as long as I don't get admitted as an RA, I won't get payment from the grant. So flashback to a few days ago.................
I received a letter from UTM, and when I opened it, it was my exam results. I was a bit puzzled why they had sent it, because usually students are suppose to pick it up from the office (but I never do..), so anyway, I already knew I had passed, so I placed it aside.
Back to present day...
So today, I went to find out how to be admitted as an RA. They gave me a number of forms to fill up, and I took it home. When I came home, I realized I had to submit a photocopied version of the latest exam results along with all those forms! :) God's timing is so perfect, He saved a trip to UTM for me! He really takes care of me! :) *in the voice of a teenage girl who's admiring her hero* Now, don't you think He's just awesome? awwww.........
AHEM.. anyway............... AHAHAHHA, so yeah.. that's why my God is awesome! Apart from Him being the Almighty, Creator, Savior God that He is :)
Anyway, after a load of introductory crap as always, let's get down to blogging business. MY GOD IS SOO AWESOME! And I tell you why He is.. no, not just because He is well, God, but here are some real practical ways He's been kinda awesome to me (yes, to me ALONE... hahaha jk.. to everyone lah!):
Case #1
I was baking a cake for my sister's birthday.. And me, being overambitious, decided to decorate it with peanut butter frosting. BIG MISTAKE. Anyway, frosting is sticky and ants love it.. in fact, I came to realize that ants that live in/over/under/on (AHAHHAHA.. lame mood today) my house are too hungry that they carry just about anything back to their nest... so, anyway, ants are all over my house. I know that they're tiny, but I can see them everywhere. There isn't a day when I don't see ants (in fact, there are 2 crawling on my computer now...)
ANYWAY, sorry for digressing. I was frosting the cake on my dining table (which is usually the first place ants look for food), and I had other things to take care off. So I prayed that there will be no ants attacking my frosting (or else, my sis would be eating extra protein.. hahaha). And GUESS WHAT.. even though I was skeptical, I never exactly trusted God 100%, but on that day itself... there was not a SINGLE ant on the dining table! Here's why I find it unbelievable..
- the table was covered with crumbs
- peanut butter frosting was everywhere (apart from that big bowl of frosting)
Case #2 (don't worry.. this is a short one.. hahaha)
I've been taping lectures for the corpus and will be paid RM20 for each taping session. And if I transcribe, I get RM300 per transcript. Sounds great doesn't it? It does. But problem is, I haven't been admitted as an RA (Research Assistant). And as long as I don't get admitted as an RA, I won't get payment from the grant. So flashback to a few days ago.................
I received a letter from UTM, and when I opened it, it was my exam results. I was a bit puzzled why they had sent it, because usually students are suppose to pick it up from the office (but I never do..), so anyway, I already knew I had passed, so I placed it aside.
Back to present day...
So today, I went to find out how to be admitted as an RA. They gave me a number of forms to fill up, and I took it home. When I came home, I realized I had to submit a photocopied version of the latest exam results along with all those forms! :) God's timing is so perfect, He saved a trip to UTM for me! He really takes care of me! :) *in the voice of a teenage girl who's admiring her hero* Now, don't you think He's just awesome? awwww.........
AHEM.. anyway............... AHAHAHHA, so yeah.. that's why my God is awesome! Apart from Him being the Almighty, Creator, Savior God that He is :)
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Living on credit
I'm living on credit.
Everything I own is not mine,
Everything I have I can't bring Home,
Every breath is given,
Every step is owed,
The wisdom I have is Another's,
The strength I have is derived,
So strip it all away and you have...
The REAL me that's wretched, useless and worth nothing.
But thankfully I'm not alone,
I have One who's always with me.
He's greater and mightier than one could ever imagine,
Which makes me wonder... why does He love one such as I?
Yet He quiets my doubtful soul and whispers "I love you"
And I know,
I'm living on credit because Jesus has redeemed my soul,
And when I'm with Him,
I am precious, loved and complete.
Note: I don't know what this is, I don't even consider it a poem :p don't expect much lahh.. it was a spontaneous thing. Just had a sudden outburst. LOL.
Everything I own is not mine,
Everything I have I can't bring Home,
Every breath is given,
Every step is owed,
The wisdom I have is Another's,
The strength I have is derived,
So strip it all away and you have...
The REAL me that's wretched, useless and worth nothing.
But thankfully I'm not alone,
I have One who's always with me.
He's greater and mightier than one could ever imagine,
Which makes me wonder... why does He love one such as I?
Yet He quiets my doubtful soul and whispers "I love you"
And I know,
I'm living on credit because Jesus has redeemed my soul,
And when I'm with Him,
I am precious, loved and complete.
Note: I don't know what this is, I don't even consider it a poem :p don't expect much lahh.. it was a spontaneous thing. Just had a sudden outburst. LOL.
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