the meeting point

Elizabeth dressed as 'Aree' for my Speech & Drama class

It was my first time doing temperature check at the main entrance today ever since my toddler class started. I was there to help out my colleague who was on mc and assist my other colleague who was busy selling our school birthday celebration tickets.
There stood in front of me was a parent waiting. She made a passing remark about not being able to go because of her holiday trip with her family. Someone mentioned too then she was Elizabeth's mum. "Oh, you're beth mum" =) my sweet darling. pretty and sexy too. mum thinks she's terribly vain heh.
"Why can't you make it", I asked her.
"I've a church camp I signed up awhile ago but i'm no longer in that church"
"So which church do you attend?" " I used to attend...but currently i'm at NCC"
*shocked* =) "NCC??!!"
"i'm from there too". She was overjoyed too that she grabbed my hand so tight. Heh. Something about discovering someone from church. Their reaction are almost identical. This is my third parent I've met so far who goes to new creation too. The first being my own toddler, followed by Zion and now Elizabeth. The glory of God is evident in their mum too =)
"Who brought you to church...how long" "No one, we came ourselves 6 months ago"
"No one?" "It was after we met Pastor Prince in the airport at Japan and the bus there."
Wow :) she mentioned that Pastor even ministered to them. The husband was the first to notice Pastor because he happened to have 3 of his cds.
She'll be meeting me before service this sunday to share more about it:)
The other 'coincidence' was, this morning I was listening to a sermon where Pastor was sharing about his testimony at the airport too haha.. how his wife saw the time wrongly and was delayed for an hour. Angry as he was, his heart was immediately soften by the love of God when he found out later that the plane was delayed for an hour as the conveyor belt was faulty. The message he was trying to bring across was delays could be a way God can use to protect/bless us.
Another amazing thing happened this week too :) the hands of God was so evident in the whole process that it's hard for me not to see that He had ochestrated it. I'm still in awe by it. Will share when the time is right.
Truly every events and details in our lives is in His hands. What He has called you to do He'll be faithful to bring it to pass. Just rest in the events of life =)

What it means to restore?

This subject came about when I was looking at the the beginning of all story. When Adam & Eve made the first and 'biggest' mistake in the garden that brought sin to all man kind.
God could have acted as an Executioner to judge them for their wrong doing but he did not.
God could have recreated it again, but he did not.
He came as a Redeemer.
What is your greatest pain you've ever experience. Many times, is a LOST in our lives.
A lost of a dear one. A lost of our qualification. A lost of money.
The good news is Jesus came to redeem and restore that which was lost.
That's when the Lord said this, "My restoration is always greater than what was lost. Are you sure you want back the very thing you have lost. Look up the word restore.."
And when you look at the words used for restore, you cannot but rejoice for the lost in your live because of the so much god is going to do and the much more you're getting back.
Restore - excel, grow, increase, rise, mount up, prosper, peace, completed, reconstitute
Exo 22:1 If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it, he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.
Lev 6:5 Or all that about which he hath sworn falsely, he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering.
2Sam 12:6 And he shall restore the lamb fourfold because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.
Exo 22:7 If a man shall deliver unto his neighbour money or stuff to keep, and it be stolen out of the man's house, if the thief be found let him pay double.
This are just a few verses on restoration. And what does it mean when He tells us, "I will restore to you the years that the locust has eaten"?
It simply means you'll get back more than what you have lost. Sometimes even holding tight of losing something, you are not allowing god's redeeming power to flow through your lives. Because restoration can only happened when something is lost. Or do you still prefer to have back the very thing you lost than really trust His grace to give you something better and more. 
He came to redeem/set us free from the law, that we could become God's children.(Gal 4:5)
Will you allow him to..

It's closer than I thought

Do you know there's actually a swimming pool at tower four Suntec just right above our church? =D
My lao shi told me she went for a swim there last Sat at level four.
Cannot be I thought. Level four is our church office!
I was so certain she might have got the floor mixed up and it's probably at level five at NUSS. Even then I wasn't too sure if there was a pool in there.  The whole conversation was done in a 'foreign' language for both of us. She doesn't understand english and I dun do well at chinese either, but we somehow got to that topic.
Amazingly, she was right =) I checked the net just now if there was a pool at NUSS and it's really at level four haha..."Swimming pool : Access via the club to level 4"
I thought walking ten mins from my work place to my friend's town house for a swim was good enough, but now I just have to take a lift up after church for a swim! Just a few seconds away. How cool :):)
And yes, she is lending me the card and will be bringing me there this Sunday =) Right choice of partner. We had a hard time working at the initial stage because of language barrier but now we are best of friends =D Really love her. My boss did offered me the last time at the start if I wanted a change, but I decline. I felt the peace with her despite much misunderstanding. Now we hardly have any problems ;)
It's always good to follow his promptings. He'll work all things out for our good.
And I've always wanted to swim back. God is so good. Never would I have imagined that he made it so easy for me with my tight schedule.
Who knows after weeks of going swimming with her after church, I might be able to pull her to the Mandarin service one day. I guess then my Mandarin should not have been a problem ;)

Unexpected

                                      
Life has been filled with surprises.
Just as I was about to leave the Rock yesterday after serving for second and the crowd had dispersed, Jessica Prince came out and walk towards my direction. wow...is that really her :) it's not something I had prayed for or would had expected but it's definitely a blessing to be able to meet and talk with her. Someone I know whom Pastor holds dear in his heart.
All I could say is she's such a darling. Sweet in nature.
This morning as I was clearing the mess the construction worker made after reconstructing my flooring, I saw a flying in my room!
I was more happy than terrified seeing it:) It was part of my lesson plan on insect for this week =D In fact, I'll be teaching specifically on bees this wed. I asked my chinese teacher who's attempting to kill it to catch it for me instead. Heh. I quickly grab a container and there it was - a specimen for my lesson =) Awhile later, she found another insect for me.
As I sat down to prepare for breakfast, I saw a number of crawling all over my table. I dun usually see them...and ANTS was what i'll be teaching them today haha...
In the afternoon, while I was taking care of the older kids, they were playing with a large puzzle that is similar with the book I'll be sharing this Thursday =) "The Hungry Caterpillar ". God you're so good. There's not a need to find for extra teaching materials. But he supplies me with creative ways to present it, better still, real LIVING ONES =) Heh~
It's fun when you see God in everything you do. Surprises like this gives a spark and add life to the things you do.

it's over!

           my darling :)

great sigh of *relief* =)
It came as a surprise for all of us. One of the directors came down to do an observation of us today.
Only then I found out there's two each year. One will come as a surprised and the other will be informed.
But looking back, God IS definitely behind this.
Early this morning, I was hoping to find a book on frogs, being in line with my theme frogs. The whole week I tried searching our library but still couldn't find one but strangely I went in to my office again today and reached out to a green box. It was like god narrowing it down for me. In it was books with a frog character! :):) The other day, my colleague happened to also leave her set of toy frogs in the water play and I saw it while thinking about it. It was really a magical moment. They'll really cute.
Before the assessment, she asked me for my lesson plan for the week. Gosh..I hardly follow them. Yes I plan but like the one today, the idea just come this morning and then I'll decide to change. So usually I'll go to work much earlier in case I feel like changing them or just relax and have my coffee:)
The mum that sat in with her boy today commented, "The children gave you face".
"How did you make him sit so still today", I asked. She showed me the packet of mentos he finished. Cool mum:)
"The kids were like watching a performance", the director said.
I laughed. It was a really funny sight. Never have they sat STILL for 20 mins! More so toddlers. One or two will usually fidget around but they were miraculously obedient today. One by one they took turns to do the activity. The girl that cries non stop was absent?? It must have been God. Haha.
I think she was rather impressed. Said that I had a sweet voice for singing and to use it for my benefit in story telling by reading it in different voices =) giving character to the pictures or puppet I was using.

I feel so happy and blessed. I told my dad last week, since I've transferred here I look forward to work. Sounds silly but it's possible to believe God for such a place. I never knew this until i'm in it now. I used to dread Mondays, but going to work now feels like going to church. People are great. Now I understood why no one leave this place and everyone here worked about 5 to 15years, except for me and my friend who just started last year.
It's great to hear when a parent message you to say they have faith in you. Why complain when you're in there. My take is give your fullest trust to where you place them, if not go find somewhere you can trust. But thank god for supportive parents who takes good care of me too :)
They feed me. When I'm loosing my voice, they'll boil barley and pear juice for me. The grandma who can't cook will buy them instead =) The mum while baking my favourite banana muffin messge to ask if I prefer it with of without walnut. How not to love my job=)
Lastly, God answered my prayer :) Zoe, my ex-baby is transferring to my class in July. I wanted very much for her to come but it seems so impossible because no one leaves and the waiting list is long. So happened, a boy withdrew because the mum can't send him anymore because of morning sickness. My wish was granted again when my boss agreed to take her in, given that transfer has higher priority.
May I see more of his zoe life in the days ahead!

The blood that speaks better things [Mount Zion]

It happened again. It's the word Zion again. As I was walking back after my work, I just felt led to put on a sermon from 2001, How to live successfully in the last days" and I further forward it to the middle section. To my surprise, Pastor preached a large portion of it on Mt Zion. Mt Zion again??! gosh...(read my previous post if you're clueless),
I just feel that God really wants to bring back the message of grace to great height. For the church to radically know and understand this truth. I'm guilty of having mixed law and grace but I've witness the beauty of falling into His arm of grace in my deepest moments.
I love the verse quoted in the sermon from Hebrew 12:18-24
(Mt. Sinai)For you have not come to the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor to blackness, and darkness, and tempest, And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard entreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)
But you have come to mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaks better things that that of Abel.
I love the example quoted by Pastor. "If a person murders someone, the victims blood cries for vengeance. But in the blood of Jesus, it cries for mercy, for forgiveness, prosperity, supply, intimacy and protection. Jesus blood don't warn you, but loves you."
Just saw this. For a sinner who does wrong, ie. murder, there's a voice of vengeance in the blood of the victim. That voice will condemn your wrong actions, remind you of your sins...but in Christ we are now covered in his blood. For the failure, we 'deserve' to be punished, condemn but instead we receive forgiveness, protection, supply and grace....everything that Jesus has died for us...simply because we are covered in His blood. The voice that calls out now is His voice of love. Dun reject the voice of grace. Dun accept the lie the devil plays in your mind that you are not forgiven of your sins. You are the His beloved. In you He sees no fault.

wow moments :) [Zion]

I think it's been a day of wow...what do you call such moments? heh. grace?
I checked my mail early this morning before I head for work and was rather surprised to see the daily devotion send by our church. In fact, it was only yesterday I was telling ann in service that I've not been receiving them for months. But what really shocked me was the word Zion and also because it was further emphasized in BOLD letters.
"...So if you want to be blessed, make sure that you are on the right mountain. You see, the law was given on Mount Sinai, but the Spirit on Mount Zion. That is why the Bible says that “you have not come to the mountain [Sinai] that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest… But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels”. (Hebrews 12:18, 22) The Lord blesses you out of Zion (Psalm 128:5), and not Sinai!"
It was yesterday in my showers that I had a conversation with god about this word Zion that kept appearing in my spirit.
It was first mentioned by my colleague's dad who's a Pastor after we had a divine encounter.
Pastor Benjamin gave a verse with the word Zion on it during Genrev.
On Sunday, Pastor Prince mentioned it again.
And because it was alive in my spirit and I clearly knew it was the same feeling I always had, I checked the name Zion before I slept last night. I had even off my lights.
Just now at work, one of the girls shouted,"Zion is out there playing in the hall because the mum is around" "mum?" :)
I quickly went out to see who she was. On the day that I kept seeing his name, the mum appear before me for the first time. And rightly so she's from New Creation. Curious I asked her how her husband and her got the names independently, and she said they both were reading a daily devotion. Daily devotion??:) wow. I shared to her what happened this morning :)
I wonder at times why these things happen...does God wants me to meet the person or does he wants me know more about the word.
One thing I'm clear is that Zion is where grace lives. And as I was doing my work this afternoon, even now...I have mountain of work piling up waiting to be finished...I knew God was telling me to trust His grace. If I try to figure it all out, I'll get all stress out. But if I live trusting His grace to see me through, I learn to rest and enjoy the moment.
A clear example he showed me was what I encounter this morning at work...
"Your wish has been granted" my VP held a plastic bag with 13 round sitting mats for my kids.
"Woww...*beams* :):):) I was thinking about it the whole weekend"..it's been something I've been longing for the longest time since the day I started work here. The round mats worked well the last time to make my babies to even sit through the lesson. But instead, I had to make do now with the carpets because it was too expensive and was out of budget.
Last Fri, when I've given up hope for them to buy, I voice out to my Principal that I'm willing to pay for them and to help me get them if she's going to IKEA.
Now I get them for free. Amazingly, the "baby' who never seem to sit through my lesson, sat through it today on the mat! It worked =D

Dainty Sophia :)

A new girl called Sophia came today. Her names means wisdom. Always love the rich meaning found in this name. She's so dainty like a princess and BRILLIANT. She's only two and could recognized the letter A to Z. Definitely unlike a toddler. What's really sweet is when she initiated to give me a kiss on the cheek before she left. What a darling :)
May I see more of His grace and fingerprints in every detail of my life in the days ahead =)

Amazing coincidences...wow:)

                                                  
I walked away from the place today not remembering how many times I mentioned "omg..". It must be God. Still amazed when I silently think about it. I do have "history" of 'omg' incidences to books, people or verses...but this one was a little special =)
My ex-parent invited me over for dinner just now at her place. It so happened to be just 15mins walk from my work place. Her daughter's name is Zoe. I would never forget the day she came. It was the day after Pastor preached an entire sermon on Zoe life of God on Sunday which I eventually wrote a post on it too.
                                                          
The moment I walked into her place, a town house...I was already like wow.... It feels like a dream house. Such place exist?? heh~It's three story with a roof garden over looking the city area.Thinking of it now makes me wants to stay there :) She did offered me to stay in her guest room if ever I want to:):) and it's next to the roof garden.
                                              
She brought me for a walk around her place..to the swimming pool :) asked me to go over for a swim if I want to. And it's always been my wish to swim again and now it's only walking distance =D and eventually we went over next door to the Bible School garden for Zoe to play.
As we walked in, she mentioned to me she liked the school. The school was altogether a different feel. Much older looking..like one of the non renovated colonial houses. In fact, I asked her several times about this Bible school. But she was quite clueless about it. I was kidding with her then maybe God is calling her to church.
As we were about to leave after spending a considerable amount of time there, a group of people came out. It must be that one of the classes has just ended. As I walked pass the main entrance, I saw a familiar face. It was my colleagues dad who always picks me up to work if he happened to drive pass me. "Jacqueline?" He even remembers my name! haha...
The boiling desire to know about this place has been answered. So I started asking him about the school. But of course the first questions would be..."You attend this school?"...To my utmost surprised, he's the Dean/Pastor of this school! *Faints* :) It started somewhere in the 60s. To get a better understanding of his school, I asked if he has a pamphlet. He came out with a few newsletter of his experiences travelling around and a book written by him titled, "Living Biblically in Marriage and at home".
"Wow...we were just sharing on this topic". The mother was telling me about her marriage and how they met. It was in one of her business trip and they sat next to each other. Heh. How movie like:)
He shared to me then another of this kind of 'coincidence' of one of my child in my school and how his parents got his name. The first thing he mentioned was he was from New Creation. The mum eyes now looked doubly surprised at me knowing I'm from there too. "I'm from New Creation" I told him. The boys name was chosen when both parent independently got the name Zion on the same day.
He shared to us a little bout his life...then it was already getting late. As we walked out, she asked me, "Where's New Creation".
                                                
And as we were walking back, we met her neighbours with her cat outside. We brought Zoe to have a look at it and later I found out that this lady has 6 stray cats living with her. The cats definitely dun look stray at all. One of which is called princess lives only on the second storey =) The funny thing was when I asked her how she got Casey, the one we met outside and she said CHURCH. The mum looked at me...she just laughed. I think God really wants her to go church. Think she knows that too =) maybe one day He'll bring her in His time.
On my way home, I randomly flipped open the book. And the first page was titled 'Singles and the opposite sex' gosh... how accurate can this be again when I thought it's a book on marriage. Haha. And it really did answer some question I had in mind.
I see the hand of God so evident in all this. Did I followed the life of God(hmmm...just realised her daughter's name means this as I write :)) when I went to her house.. Meeting her or rather teaching her daughter is not within my control. Could I have followed the life to accept her in my class. Not possible. Did I feel led to walk to the bible school. I didn't even know it existed. In fact, she led me. But it all worked out for good =) and it feels like I was a big part of it enjoying the free favours of God. Certainly His blessings is not because we had hear correctly or did the right thing but simply in receiving.
When we do everything out of love, His zoe life brings to fulfillment every area of our life. I've learnt that life exist only to know and rest on His love. Every purpose and plans that we so desire to know will fall into place. And it's all well and good =)

A heart with a purpose

                                       
When I remember my kids in my thoughts, I smile...I believe when Jesus thinks of us, his children, he smiles too.
I can't understand or be able to fully explained to you this phenomenon. I realised when I lose heart in something, when I'm weight down, being with my children brings back the joy that was lost. Enlivens me. Brings to life that which was dead. And brings back the purpose that He has put in my heart.
I bum into one of my ex physio supervisor in the train today whom I was very close to. She showed me the picture of her 2 1/2 year old daughter. You could see how proud she was of her child.
Maybe there's something about children or having a child. It adds an X-factor to your life and a skip to your step =)