GenEsiS’s ThOugHTs

How can I keep from singing

A desire to serve, not for fame, not for glory, not for fun, not for recognition but for God Himself, will definitely see His miracle working in your life. Even the mute will open his mouth to praise God.

Nothing is impossible. With Him all things are possible.

Don’t give up and don’t rush. Remember that God desires a broken spirit and a contrite heart.

Be humble. Continue to hope and grow.

He often uses people of no abilities to do great things. So that we will not boast of it but give glory to God. Amen?

Keep that eagerness to serve Him burning. Might not end up where you want, but definitely the place where you can serve Him best.

Happen to chance upon this encouragement on a small yellow post-it, hidden at the very last page of a neglected notebook. Has it been there for more than a year? Couldn’t remember exactly. Didnt really think much about these words then, but it does speak to me now, so clearly this moment.

"To be humble, continue to hope and grow"… …  Yes, Lord

‘Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves’   – Philippians 2:3

‘Now faith is the things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen’                                                     — Hebrews 11:1

Great day today!no no, it was not so much of the shoppin I think cos I have been shoppin ever since sch hols starts n buying LOTSA things!!! n I do really mean A LOT!More things than I ever bought for myself in the past many many years within these 3 mths! So I come to the conclusion that what makes todays shoppin special unlike previous ones was that Mum was shoppin with sis n I today! yaya,its the 1st shoppin with her since my hols started n ending in 3hrs+ time… Bought her a black short-sleeved top that comes with gold necklace and another that comes with a greyish sliver necklace, a 3/4 sleeved casual top with some lined pattern and lastly, one with translucent cloth but with printed pattern so it looks Young n fashionable!!! Hope Mum enjoyed herself as much as I do. On the way back, I popped her this question," Mummy, when you were young, did you ever think that one day you will have two daughters shopping with you?" Her reply was a sMile, a beautiful one… … Love you Lots, Mummy!!!

As for myself, SO euphoric, estatic, jubiliant when I found another pleated skirt that I wanted to buy all along at This Fashion!cldnt buy it the previous times I went cos they ran out of medium sizes. Was really disappointed then cos I dun own any pleated skirt n love the one I saw. So every subsequent visit to any This Fashion, I wld keep a lookout for that pleated skirt. The 1st time I cldnt get the skirt, I asked God,"Why? This skirt is not only nice but cheap too. But why God? Why didnt you prepare a medium size aside jus for me?" However, this verse strikes me immedaitely "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11    n all I had to do was to trust n wait… n God ended my long wait today!!!! I tot 18 bucks was cheap enough but God had better plan cos I got a nicer one at 11+ bucks only!!! My God is a Good n awesome God!because He is interested even in my simple daily life, my desires n wants, my hopes n dreams, my everything to be exact….Thank you SO much, Dearest God!

My other harvests today:

a pair of long jeans, two 3/4 pants,  a white top with brown laced pattern, a black racer-back with laced hem, 2 necklaces(gold n black….Im sure its irene’s influence that im buying gold stuff…right, shimei! hee), casual long sleeved top, orange top, slight off-shoulder white top.

Sis bought a pair of pants, then a few Beautiful blouses too! n I paid the Bill! hee, good sis n Daughter I am right…haha, jus think that its the least I can do for a fantastic mUm who ensures I have clean clothes everyday n sis who always puts the family before herself…..

Sch reopens tmr, an end to my Carefree 3-months Hols…sigh sigh…but that means Im another yEAr closer to bein Sinseh Ng!haha… jus a silly wonder  moment ago: do I still rem the way to get to NTU?

JuSt the suDden interest to BloG in the NumBer of RoSes I’vE received. JUst In Case I loSt CouNT? haha….. mAyBe One dAy… gee~

1st - froM alEx CheNg (to tHe GeRs He noes ; valentine’s dae ‘04)

2nd - fRom CTS (to thE GeRS He nOes; valentine’s dae ‘05)

3rd - fRom Ching (valenTine’s Dae ‘05)                     

4th - frOm ChiNg (mArdigRA)

5th - frOm MIao XiN (grAD Nite)

6th - fRom CTS (to thE ClAss gERS; grAd niTE)

7th - fRom DhANA (grAd nItE)

                                                                                       waiting for my 8th… ….

Heres something I’ve written to thank my parents. Just want to encourage all you out there to take some time to think about the things that your parents have done for you (even though its undeniable they can be real harsh,strict,naggy etc at times). Think deeper and you will find there can be a never-ending list ya. When you pause to think, you’ll find cause to thank.Parents are amazing. Really.

Thank You for having me although i wasn’t in your plan

Thank You for all the nourishment to ensure I grow well in your womb

Thank You for the smile when you first saw me

Thank You for the warm when you carry me

Thank You for teaching me call you "daddy" & "mummy"

Thank You for holding me make my first step

Thank You for bringing me to kindergarten on your motorbike

Thank You for all the sleepless nights when I fall ill

Thank You for the all the moral values you inculcated

Thank You for the spanking to make me learn

Thank You for the silence when I displeass you as i get older

Thank You for the ceaseless prayers during my exams

Thank You for all the sacrifices you have to make to provide for me

Last but not least, Thank You for letting me be your joy & being the most perfect parents God has for me

Your daughter,                                                                                       

Serene

My significance… in Your eyes:

mum & dad didnt wan me initially cos i was causing mum a lot of pain. betwen her womb and hip hurt real badly. extreme pain. in the first mth, mum had a deliberate fall while mopping the floor, hopin to lose me. well, i survived that fall. she too (oops!).ha.

2mths old plus, 6-year-old sis n 3-year-old bro even "jump" on me and "hit" me to help mum alleviate the pain. i asked mum, ‘dont you feel hurt then? as in physically? n maybe emotionally?’ she replied, "the pain was really torturous. beyond that caused by the all the jumpings and hittings on my stomach. " Despite all these ‘external turmoil’, i still lay in mummy’s tummy in perfect health. You want me to live.

3-4mths old, the pain was simply unbearable. the doctor recommended abortion. he claimed that it was because i was developing outside the uterus; risky. mum and dad were left with no choice. they signed the documents to go ahead with the abortion. mum changed into the operating gown. then a ‘big doctor’ came along and gave her a final check-up. he said that there was no need for abortion! i was ’sitting’ on one of mum’s nerves that caused all the pain. definitely not outisde the uterus as what the other doctor had claimed. However, there was no way to reduce the pain. medication would harm me. In Your flawless plan to be born, destined*

5mths old- this relative had a quarrel with 3rd aunt. she tried to attack grandfather with a stick. mum tried to help. relative was fumming mad and actually attempted to kick me. (how dare she!!!). a heavy slap from grandfather across her face saved me. the last major obstacle i had to overcome before my arrival to this earth. I am always on Your mind every single moment, wasn’t I?

I am not an accident. And I believe everyone isnt too.Help each of them realise their significance in Your sight too.

Some might be mad with their parents for not wanting them. Well, I don’t. All these revealed my significance more than anything else. So blessed with a loving dad, a doting mum, an adoring sis,a caring bro, all the friends (YES you! :> ) around, little darlings (Snowy, chichi boy, happy, crytal) and all my possessions, i wonder God, is it becos… … i had a tougher 5mth-start as compared to others?

Regardless, I thank You for knitting me in mum’s womb, and also the many others in their mummies’ wombs.

Thank you for the first breath of life.

Hi Serene,

Glad to learn that you are getting 1 year older again….

It’s always a joy to cross from 1 age to another…something that we can give thanks to the Father for.

On this special occasion, I want to express and pat you for such a friend and sister in Christ you have been to many of us.

It’s always assuring to know someone will hold your hands, when you are lost.

It’s always a privilege to have someone to hear and share your joys.

It’s always a comfort to have someone to hear you play all that junk music and sing stupid songs.

It’s always wonderful to know someone who will lend a helping hand when you need someone.

It’s always inspiring to know someone who constantly live and seek the One.

It’s always amazing to thank Him for giving friend like you who brighten life when storms come and darkness reigns.

Thank you for being such a friend. I think you can take great comforts to know you have not live in vain for

You have touched someone, you have freed someone, you have played, you have laughed and you have learned to live to it’s fullest,

Of this the Father has given,

Thank you Jesus for such someone.

May this birthday of yours be a special one because of who you are to many.

Pray that the Lord will continue to mould you to see His Glory in this generation!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Little TIM!

Ber

ChIcHI Really looKS aS IF he Is A human Huh!!!Mb i shlD send this piC for some photogrAphy CONtest n WIn aTtrACtiVE pRIzes!! LooK At hiS HEaD, SO atTenTioN-caPTuriN ReD!HAhaA… he’s so ‘CHoR LoR’ Ya, STanD untIL liKe Tt!!!…. hee… He’s tHE one N OnLY In The wholE unIVersE !!!

Had the most variety of drinks today! Watermelon juice, papaya juice, honeydew juice, coffee bean’s ice mocha, vanilla coke, hennikin and yakult! Not to forget the inevitable ‘sky juice’ ya…ha… actually im rather amazed drinkin so many diff. types of drinks in a day….never before huh..hee..

oh ya! tasted a feast of different food too!!! prawn mee, char siew rice, bitter gourd soup, banana fritter, tapioca fritter, mud cake, toufu, chicken n egg salad, curry chicken, spicy crab, magosteen, durian, sesame ice cream!!!! Act its jus a bite of each but nevertheless, I tasted them all!!!ha~

Still feelin nauseous n uncomfortable in my stomach…argh! Nope, not wat u are thinking hor… its cos watched 10 tapes!!!of my mission trip to

Philippines

with my churchmates n all the forwarding (else its gonna take more than 10 hrs to view everything!…in the end, we took ard 4hrs to view the tapes… ) made me really really feel like puking!… guess tis is sth along e line of sea sickness ya, though I dun experience such out at sea…felt the same way when tj showed some student exchange program thingy in the audi n e whole video clip was taken so ‘unstabily!’ by students, my stomach was doin cartwheel as I watched…  zheng de heng bu shu fu then n now too L   wats e remedy, anyone? (dun give me e ans avoid such videos ya… I will appreciate tt..ha..)

Dearest sis bought me a white gold anklet J She’s the BeSt sis ever to me *straight frm the heart…*

Pride has many faces.

Stubborness is the pride tt causes us to shun correction. It renders us unable to to stop defendin ourselves.

Judgmentalism is the pride tt moves us to critize rather than to serve.

Competitiveness is the pride tt makes us not only want to be just smart and wealthy, but smarter and wealthier than those around us.

Self-centeredness is the pride tt keeps us living in a tiny universe where there is only room for one person.

It is often pride tt keeps us from acceptin our limitations and weaknesses.

Some time ago, I had a run of too much travel, to many meetings, too many talks, and I was fatigued. I expressed this to a friend, lookin for some sympathy. He surprised me by askin why I choose to live like this. the onli honest ans was tt, more than anything else, I was runnin on grandiosity (grandiose- plans tt sound v imprt/impressive but will never realli happen becos they are not practical.) I was afraid that if I declined opportunities, they wld stop comin, and if opportunities stopped comin, I wld be less impt, and if I were less impt, tt wld be terrible. I didn’t wan to admit my limitations. I didnt wan to admit my need for rest.

At the deepest level, pride is the choice to exclude both God and ther people from their rightful places in our heart. Jesus said tt the essence of spiritual life is to love God and to love people. Pride destroys our capacity to love. It leads us to exclude rather than embrace.

Heres some of the actions/attitudes with act. interestin possible hidden prides. Take

UR

pick ya

I’m a person of conviction n principle– I noe I’m right. I hate it when people challenge or correct me.

I see very clearly where those ard me need impronement– Others are never good enough for me; it’s easier to criticize than to serve.

I’m competitive– I’m not happy if I’m not better than others.

I choose carefully who I spend time with– I don’t like to be ard ppl who are difficult, draining, or diff from me.

I’m often overscheduled and have a hard time sayin no– I like to be seen as a person who can ‘do it all’.

I’m independent by nature– I can’t depend on anyone; I don’t need others.

                                              - reading adapted from a msg by John Ortberg