Higher Standards?

Should we, as children of God, as disciples of Christ, be held to a higher standard?

Toddlers, kids go to school, learn new things, grow somewhat wiser, and expectations of us likewise increases. Parents expect us to know right from wrong, to take responsibility for our mistakes. Society holds us accountable for our crimes if any.

Before rebirth, we followed the ways of the world, lost, until He saved us. As children of God we learn our Father's ways, try to make our thoughts like His. With all that education, knowledge, guidance, shouldn't we be held to a higher standard? After all, we are no longer accountable to the world, but to God, shouldn't we strive to be men/women after His heart?

Perhaps its shouldn't be called "higher" standards, perhaps they are just different standards altogether.

Of Hanoi and Hope

Just got back from Hanoi 3pm yesterday. God has been beyond good as always. I've never seen or experienced the Holy Spirit move so massively, so powerfully.

The biggest takeaway I have from this trip is a new-found sense of who I am in God's eyes. His amazing love for us, all of us, is just breathtaking. I'm so very very loved and feel so very very very blessed.

So all in all, a fantastic learning experience accompanied by generous portions of awesome food and the nicest people ever! I am glad to be home though. I've missed this tiny island. :)

Will post in detail soon!

God bless ya'll.

The Someday List

1. Watch M rock out in front of a live audience

2. Catch Paul Anka's big band version of Oasis's Wonderwall, live

3. Hit up Cova

4. NYE

5. For M to meet with my girls, get interrogated and laugh loads.

6. April Fool's

7. Travel

8. To be able to make actual plans

9. A dog named boo

Yes, these may always be hopelessly romantic dreams of ours, but we have them anyway.

And this list can only keep growing for now.

This season in summary

Okay, this is a massive information overload, esp since I've already posted 5 entries before this, but I might as well fill this blog up with whatever I can, while I remember to do so.

I will do it quick, in brief points.

1. I will be leaving in 4 days for a mission trip to Hanoi, where we will be holding workshops for up to 150 youths and some 40-50 youth leaders. Please keep the team in prayer. Most of us have never taught anything before, much less spoken in front of that many people. We aren't leaders in church, with the exception of one Pastor Henry who's leading the team up, so the butterflies in our tummies are going kinda crazy.
2. Mission trip to Hanoi - God has shown His provision time and time again. We prayed for the right team to come together, and He brought forth the most eclectic team mix. It could only be God... yet it works in a strange and wonderful way. He's provided for us in terms of funds as well. We're covering our own air tickets, meals and accommodation of course, but we prayed for funding for the rental of the conference rooms in Hanoi, sponsorship for some of the youth, love gifts, etc and He sent someone to bless us with $3,000. Another team member's dad is sponsoring the printing of our team notebooks, and a friend stepped up to sponsor travel insurance for the team. How good is our Lord!!
3. I started seeing someone, M, then stopped it because of promptings from the Holy Spirit. Yes, the feelings are still there, and yes he checks off many of the things I want in a partner, but I trust in the Holy Spirit and I just want to be obedient to His leading. Only if we both walk closer to God will we ever be able to get closer to each other. I think M, needs to get closer to God first. I don't want to be a distraction, nor the reason for him to seek God. I know I can only be with someone who loves God more than anything else, me included. As much as it hurts us both at the moment, we both know that it isn't right by God right now. It seems to be a matter of time, however, God's timing works on a different clock, so we will see. I know He holds tomorrow, and I know He holds my hand.
4. I've started mentoring someone in church as well. Its a lot more difficult than I thought it would ever be. So if you get a chance, pray for me please?
5. I'm praying for what God wants me to do with my life. I think its about time I found out about my life's calling, not just my seasonal duties. Surely it can't be to teach?

I know who holds tomorrow

This song was just sent to me by a friend. God speaks beautifully through music. This may just be the song to carry me through this season.

Phew / Sorry everyone!

I've procrastinated about it for a year now, but finally all the journals from my trip to Laos/Ubon last year have been posted! I figured I had better post it before I go on this year's mission trip. It would be really spastic to wait any longer.

I really do apologise about the year's delay.

Back to BKK

We're on the train back to Bangkok now. Had a pretty good dinner on board. This is much more comfortable than the bus for sure though it takes a couple of hours more. My first proper train ride! Its such an eye-opener!

The team has really bonded and we pray that this bond continues to grow stronger even after our return.

We shared about meeting our individual expectations today during our last meeting with Uncle J. All our expectations have been met! Praise the Lord! For myself, I had listed four different ones and the Lord has met them all above and beyond. He's stretched me and we definitely have grown closer as friends. He was there for me every step of the way. Shown me His magnitude and unfailing love... how big is He! He's taken me out of my comfort zone and not only shown me how little I need to survive, but how much easier it is to draw closer to Him, to be still with Him when there are less material things, less distractions around me. There's a love for children that's been placed in my heart and for once I actually think that I can have my own children and not kill them.

How blessed we are to be in Singapore and how blessed Singapore is. Auntie M (Uncle J's wife) shared how she feels that Singapore has been blessed so that her and her people will bless others.

SY had a personal breakthrough today. While sharing just before we left the house, he cried for the first time in years. It really moved us all to tears too. God's amazing love is moving in his life in a very obvious way.

At the school today, everything was so powerful. We got to perform for and interact with 1,000 children. The girls were impeccably behaved and absolutely adorable. Some of the boys however... insanely mischievous! It was pretty hilarious. When we gave out the gifts we had brought for the kids, they were so appreciative of such small items like a pen, a pencil, a wafer biscuit and a couple of Mentos sweets. Many kids in Singapore would have complained about how it wasn't a PSP and thrown the little gift bags aside. How blessed we are to be able to take such things for granted growing up. There was a little girl I really connected with at the school. While they were organising mass games, some of us went amongst with the kids to encourage participation and I stood beside that little girl in her purple jacket. She was probably around six or seven years old. After receiving her Christmas gift, she came up to me with her chubby friend, opened up the plastic bag, took out her pen and wanted to give it to me as a present. She had so little and yet still wanted to share her gift with me! I had to stop myself from tearing. Both of them gave Jas, Z and I such warm hugs. They have so little yet they still try to share the best that they have with us. With hearts like that as non-Christians, imagine how much more brilliant they would be with God's fire in their hearts.

"I could sing of His love forever."