Be at home in My love

John 15:7-11

But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon.
This is how my Father shows who he is--when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples.
"I've loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love.
If you keep my commands, you'll remain intimately at home in my love. That's what I've done--kept my Father's commands and made myself at home in his love.
"I've told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. (Msg)
...Even as the Father has given me his love, so I have given my love to you: be ever in my love. (BBE)

What does work means to you

"Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth...3John1:2"

I was deciding if I should write this entry earlier. As much as I wanted to, I told myself not to for today and should just rest. Later to realised that I actually fell asleep unconsciously on my bed after being awoken by a message on my phone. My friend asked me to check the final draft of our art assignment. Man, was I impressed at our work =) It sort of inspired me to write what the Lord has showed me. Of how I view work and material possessions.
I had an encounter with a couple recently at a friend's gathering. They were people I knew when I was still a young girl in my home church. Many people we can see from afar and admire but only the ones that you spend time talking with, shows you what's truly inside them. They were well known people both in my hometown and here. A mansion with everything you would dream of, be it inside or outside of it. So far, I've not seen one like this here. Maybe because of the limited land =)
The lady was very pretty in her picture when she was young. She still is but there was no life or glow in her eyes. The husband somehow looked different from last year. I almost couldn't recognise him. As we talked, I realised his memory has fail him. He told me he was flying to two places this week and was feeling tired. Together someone beside me said, "You should rest". "I cant, I need to work". My heart hurts to see this. I wished they knew there were more to life.
At that moment, I understood what true riches really meant. A life without a relationship with Him is empty. Your priorities change. I lie on my bed that night in my rented room feeling rich. Jesus IS really all I need.
That's when it got me thinking...
I save money to buy the things I want, to pay the bills...and when I get married, to save up for my children's education and to get a bigger house or better car...the list goes on. We are always striving more for a better quality of life. Ever wonder when will it ever stop? Don't it all suddenly seem meaningless to be going after things and not people...
Those things are not bad in itself but when working for it takes priority over spending time with God and loving His people, it reminds me of the person who had everything but the glow in His eyes. The life of God.
I just saw this. You will stop wanting for more when Jesus IS really your everything. You are rich where you are when you have Him. My boss once told me, if not for her youngest son, she would have quit her job and reach out to the needy. I never really did understood but now I do. In loving and giving we find life, in striving and in wanting we look to our needs and fail to see the world around us who needs Him.

someone who believes in you...

I had a good time of sharing with my boss last Fri when she came up to help with the infant side and so did I. Thought I'll share with you some things she said that speaks to me. She had mentioned earlier to me that she had wanted to speak to me. She drew the baby she was rocking to the middle of the room, while I took mine too to face her =) And the rest of the babies surrounded us, while my other colleagues stayed at other rooms.
She corrected me on something and gently explained to me the reason why. Others would have thought she would have sounded me for that. I thought so too and was prepared for it, yet I know her a little better now that she's not that sort. After all she 'scolds' or corrects us quite often. I believe Esther and Jofid would have gotten a share of it even though they'll only part time staff. Heh-
The one thing she said that really touches me was when she told me she likes me. It really didn't occur to me for a boss to tell that to an employee. One may be very careful with telling this as the employee may take advantage of it having known it. Instead of feeling important I felt loved and humbled. I thank god for wonderful colleagues who makes me laugh and that helps me a lot when I'm really tired. I'm certainly not someone who have it all together, she tells me that too. In fact lots of area I still need to work on. I love it when she told me that to really love a person, she'll tell them their mistakes. And she's very direct. I think no one has ever been so direct to me like her before. It hurts at first but I'm used to it now and it helps a lot to correct on the areas she highlight. She once told me I have saving grace haha- Grace :) 
She said she have higher expectation on me esp more when I've studied physio before and am a Christian. The next thing she said that amazes me more was because I'm ambassador of Christ in my work place. And our body language speaks the loudest. Wow. Little did she know that I serve in Ambassador(Befrienders) in church. And that spoke volume to me. How true that our non-believer frens sees most how we interact with them and others around us. For a man looks at the exterior.
I shared to her too about what I've learnt during the four days I was back with my nephew(previous post). She shared to me her life story too and it confirms it. That when Jesus is the center in your life, nothing can move you.
"Do you know how I can handle the centre everyday", she asked me. "I pray every morning before I come to work" =)
Awhile later, the person in charge stepped in and looked worried as we were going to be shorthanded for closing. With calmness, she told her to pray. Have faith =) And the lady is actually from New Creation too. Heh.
I'm grateful to know I'm in good hands. For me to be extended mercy in my mistakes, have taught me to extend it to others as well. It's not easy at times, but what makes me think that it was easy for others as well :) But they did it anyway.

Thrive in adversity [elaine]

I went to the pantry yesterday during lunch time to get myself a drink after the crowd had dispersed. To my surprised, I saw five temp staff line up sited in a row facing my boss. Haha. It's really a funny sight. It was one of the 'imparting' sessions by my boss. You could see that they were listening intently =) I then quietly stood at the side to join in the discussion. After which Elaine msg me, "Your boss is very special" =) Yes, no person in their right mind would love being called to the office and talk to their boss but this boss is just...yep special haha. Elaine however went home to type out most of what she has said =) Thanks so much! I usually write down what she tells me, but I realised I'm not good at remembering the details as much as she did. I think it's really a gem whatever she has written because it's not only what our Pastors and leader's had been telling us in the recent career seminar, it's the key that has made them where they are now. Enjoy!

----------------------------------------------------

Had a chance to chat with our boss over lunch today! together with a few of the other temp staff.. really can learn so much, and i think it's more of her spirit than anything else.. she's a woman who lives out what she believes in, and leads by example. (just like how everyone talked abt catching the spirit of the guy who spoke at last ywa =))

just to write down the things she shared.. we somehow mentioned 'leaders'.. and anita spoke and said, to be a good leader, you have to be a good follower, and good servant. you've gotta go down to their level and try out the things before you ask others to do them, otherwise how can you be sure that it's a good method, or that it even works? be willing to do hands on work, and there is nothing to low for you to do.

what she feels has blessed her is the time she was born - just before the hi-tech age came about, and till now where so many things have become hi-tech, computers and all. for some of the more senior folks, it's difficult to learn the new technology. and for us younger ones, we're in tune with the Singapore system of getting results, of striving to be always at the top. what's gonna happen in the future when everyone wants to be at the top, and no one's happy doing the so-called 'low-level' jobs? everyone naturally has their place, but if all are striving for the same high positions, there's gonna be imbalance and discontentment.

so what can we young ones do? one of the things we can do, as she suggests, is to just hone our relational skills, and to work with a purpose and a meaning in everything we do..becoming the best in smthg isn't what life's about; lots of people in their 30s-40s actually start going more and more on mission trips bcos they found that out, that to give is better, and life is about giving. singaporean parents fret when their kid has a slight cut, but what about kids in India who have to lose a leg? so it's quite easy to spot a singaporean anywhere haha.

for example, if you're doing sales, you first gotta talk to the person and ask questions instead of saying what you think.. find out about their problems, then you can actually effectively suggest to them the materials they need. otherwise they'll just say 'thank you' and 'gdbye' when you're done talking. =)

also was qt surprised when she mentioned she cleans up her own bed in hotel rooms! hahaha. she feels that all people should be treated with respect, not needing them to clean up after u if you can do it yourself. You don't over-dirty your home even if you have a domestic helper, so that when she sees that you respect her and try to help with her workload in that sense, she will respect you in turn. anita doesn't have a maid btw.. haha. a school principal, mum with 4 kids, and having to do all the housework..so many things to do, yet she could still find time to talk and share with us. when i asked her, she just said it's time management, prioritising things you need to finish, and not rushing things that don't. cos there'll never be a time when you actually complete EVERY task you have. i liked that, like Jesus.. always got time to stop just for the Samaritan woman in the midst of a busy day.

also realised that there are people who seem busy and stressed, even though they don't have much work. conversely, people who are somebodies are able to come down to other people's level, to serve, and not act like they are somebodies even tho they are. they are busy people who don't need to show that they're busy.

so we know when it's wise to keep a low profile.. no need to tell the whole world everything, no need to try to be everything, or make your presence known, or even to say too many words, but when help is needed, you're there. my side will be the flip side - to talk more and be socialble haha. she said that many tend to be reserved and on their guard when they talk to new people (that's me..).. and that's not gd. even if you consider office politics.. as long as you're not conscious of politics as you act, it'll be okay. just be yourself, and learn to be more open, more childlike. spending time with the kids now is a great way to develop all these.. learnng how to relate to people.. becos in many senses, adults are not that much different. 

on leadership... the best leadership is that by example. and it's really true.. i was thinking of how Jen leads haha.. how he's such a meticulous guy, in music for instance, but yet doesn't impose this on others. this is smthg i'm learning haha. leading by example..

yup, so yes.. we can really thrive on 'adversity', because it's in these situations that we can really grow and be moulded. might be hard, but it just moulds you to be a better person. been reading on short biblios of many many film composers! most have such talent, but had a tough journey, especially during their time when everything was more difficult, tedious, without the current sophisticated softwares.. one of the common denominators is that they REALLY work hard. really really. work for hours, super short deadlines (cos music's apparently one of the last in many a director's mind). many also have great PR skills, having to work with various sorts of people who can't really appreciate good music, and they love what they do and really put all of themselves into it.. one of the many rushes is when the score they compose is finally recorded by super talented musicians who'll blow you off your socks. the feeling's just like magic. =)) wonderful. but they're also the people who stick with what they do, even though circumstances aren't always favourable.. they persevere, and also keep learning.

many things to grapple with! but a journey that will produce a sweet result. :)

Love gift

Three things the Lord imparted on me today. Three ways He showered His gift of love and opens my heart to know His heart of love.
I was also reading a book in class today that elaine had long borrowed and finally returned ;) Below in italics are the excerpt I got from the book.  
Undeserved blessing. Thank you to whoever you are :) for the love gift you have blessed me with =) You gave me more than money can. I was really surprised when I got a missed call from church twice last thurs. Elaine was with me then and I thought that someone from church might be looking for her but couldn't get thru and so they called me instead. Heh. Never would I have imagine that I would receive a love gift, moreso receiving a call from church for that reason. It was good surprised =D I was all prepared to pay the full camp fees by myself thinking that my previous incident of being blessed to Ben Gen would likely not repeat itself again. Because of this, it makes me want to bless someone else through this means :) The call ready did made my day. Even today when I went to collect, I ended work ten mins earlier (something out of the norm) and the bus came the moment I reached the bus stop. I reached the Rock 5mins before they close.
Michelle McKinney Hammond : Are you aware of the joy that can be found in feeding others with what God has planted inside you? Truly, producing fruit is the greatest part of the blessed life. I love to give things away, anything from a word of encouragement to a gift I know someone will enjoy. I love seeing the look that crosses recipients' faces as they receive. I am fed as I feed others. When I withhold from others, I rob myself of joy.
The reading above is a combination of blessing others with our gifts and also what I caught this week about feeding others. I never knew the joy of feeding in terms of correcting someone at the right time. I was afraid to correct until someone told me to address the problem if I see it. But to have the person telling me back that they have been so blessed by my words bring more joy than if I have kept it inside thinking that it'll hurt them.
Be open. I had a good talk with my boss again today while we had some free time. It's supernatural that I'm actually looking forward to spending time with my boss. She said something really sweet today.."I can be open to you because I know you are a lady after His heart". It so melts me =) what I caught was what Pastor has been preaching that anointing is caught and not taught. I would love to catch the spirit this lady carries. A women I greatly respect. To me, new creation is the best church and she is to me the best boss and this centre is the best place to be.
Regardless. I was sited at the last row in class today on the last sit available. Not too bad. I get to eat my dinner or close my eyes a little if I had to. I did both during the lesson and almost fell asleep. Heh. During break time as I was sited outside with my friends, the teacher saw me and mentioned something to which I heard it as 'Missed class'. My quick response was 'No I didn't, I was behind'. She laughed and said she actually said art class next week and at the same time came to give me a long big hug. My fren looked shocked and so was I. A little guilty after what I did during her lesson. I experienced grace. haha. guess what, I love her now =) Grace truly changes a persons heart =)
Link : Good sharing by Elaine and Esther on what the Lord showed them while working with kids and some funny lines =)
My favourite line from Elaine's post =) :
one new thing i've learnt.. responsibility and commitment. angie mentioned to me b4, to look for in a life partner, that you want someone who's responsible, that even in the times that emotions run dry during the relationship, he won't fail to send you home, won't leave u stranded somewhere, even though he doesn't feel like it.