So who is TOMMY?

Right! I forgot all about introducing him. Ha. Went for a Tommy Emmanuel concert and this guy was just amazing. I totally enjoyed almost every bit of his music. Some are just a little to zen for me but still impressive. There is just this particular one - Stay Close to Me, which made me teared. It was such beautiful music. Check this guy out on his official website. BREATHtaking! He plays the guitar like a piano man! Note for notes... when the guitar is in his hands, it seemed like no music was impossible. Wah! I was so impressed! Nothing beats seeing it live! Johann, next year front row! ;) Thanks for introducing. :)

God Loves Variety.

For you. :)

Was reading a book while on my way to Tommy's concert. Who's Tommy? Will introduce him a little later *grins* Pastor Kieran gave me that book some time in Jul and sadly, I could only get started on it yesterday. Came across this sentence that went, "....God loves variety..." Eims went on to illustrate on that point as he brought his readers to the way Jesus selected His 12 disciples. He was talking about how God chooses ORINDARY people for ministry. He chose people with differences; different personalties and giftings etc. If we were to take a closer look at his disciples, we really do see alot of differences. Eg. Simon the Zealot hated the Romans but Matthew the tax collector worked for them. Men from different walks of life, men who have different level of faith in God etc.

Life is so boring without variety. Isn't it? Different seasons in our lives spices things up too. We learn to appreciate the various seasons though at times we might think that winter is so cold but imagine the fun we can have with snow. Why on earth is Summer so hot? But Oooo... imagine the boyenberries, strawberries and wah lalala cherries!!!!

Who cares if you are a Sanguine, Choleric, Phelgmatic or Melancholic? OR Why am I so loud? Why am I so task-oriented? How come I so Bo chub huh? Oh man! Why am I sad again? :) Temperament doesn't define you, God does! And like David says in Psalm 139, "...for I am fearfully and wonderfully made..." In essence, let's appreciate how the Lord has created us and learn to accept the way that we are made and then constantly moving towards becoming more like Jesus.

You are not alone on this METAMORPHOSIS journey, many are and I am too...God loves variety and I love you :)

Divine Opportunity? See it? GRAB it!

Many a times I overlooked what God has placed in my life for His purpose because of how hectic my life could be. However this year, God has trained me in this area rather specifically, and I am still learning not to wait for opportunities to share agape (unconditional) love with people instead, I look out for God's divine opportunity for me each day to do that.

Don't you ever ask:
Why am I here at where I am...?
How come there are like a million and one people and yet you could meet a certain group of people / particular person somewhere, some time?
Why do you see what you see and hear what you hear?

The world defines it as coincidence! I would define it as God's divine opportunity. Nothing escapes God's hands and sight. That is how Soverign He is - in every aspect!!

The past week, I did PSLE paper 1 marking at a neighbourhood school and Jurong and my grandma lives just opposite it. The first day, I mislooked the opportunity. By the second day, I asked God, "hey why was I sent here and not anywhere else?" I believed it was the Lord who reminded me about my grandma. I called her on Monday night and said that I would be popping by on Tues afternoon for lunch. As expected, she was thrilled.

For the next couple of days, I made it a point to eat with her during lunch since I had a 1 hour lunch break. Instead of joining my friends, I decided to visit ah-ma. We had good chats, though I listened more than I spoke since I am really lousy with my hokkien. Why would I say this is a divine opportunity? Cos grandma isn't a believer yet and grandma and I are not naturally close. I wanted to bridge that gap, I wanted her to feel GOd's love and know that Jesus existed before all else that she believed in.

When I was there, I was pleasantly surprised by all that she cooked for me. Simple dishes with extravagant effort and love. I think I would have so regretted it if I did not grab the opportunities to bond with her and let it just slip me by. Whats my joy at the end of the day? When I thanked ah-ma for cooking for me, she went, "come back tomorrow, I'll cook you something else." Its not mainly the food but rather, her looking fwd to seeing me again. With these couple of hours I laid a brick of the 'bridge'. Its worthwhile.

Xiaoli's 10/10.

She made it! :) Just before school started, she came to me and asked me to test her all the spelling words. I was so thrilled to see that she could spell every word! WOW! What an achievement!!! Check out the way she spelled "Friday". She could not even get that right but she managed to get all 10 spelling words correct. Truly FANTASTIC! Ooooooooo lala! Going to Zap it and put it on the board of honour!

That Roller Coaster Ride.

Anyone tell you that teachers are very often placed on a roller coaster ride? Here I would mean emotionally. At a split second, you could shift from being angry to a smile. From a grin to near tears. Today I was on that ride.

Haowen and Nasirah
They fought and I had to speak with them during recess to do conflict resolution. Tough but I could feel how God led me to ask them appropriate questions that got them thinking. They made up and Haowen offered Nasirah tissue while she sobbed. Rather heart warming when you see children made up. They too have their pride but they are just more forgiving and magnanimous as compared to us adults.

Xiaoli
She is one of my weakest pupil in class and for a period of time I noticed that she kept scoring 0 out of 10 for spelling and just a month back i got her to study just 3 instead of 10 words for spelling and if she gets all of them correct, she still gets her star. Apparently, that worked! She studied for those 3 words and have been getting her stars. Today I went through the spelling list again and told her that this time I would increase it to 5 words for her. Her smile from afar assures me that she was going to study hard for it. Just before the class ended, this was what she said:

"Miss Sim, I try the 10 words can?"

I was pleasantly surprised by her enthusiasm. Just after supplementary, she came to me again and this time she said:

"If I get 9 marks can?"

I know that she wasn't confident and so I told her:

"I am sure you can get 10. But even with 9, it is a great achievement!"

This got me quite happy knowing that my children want to learn, to excel and has the desire to know more.

Cecilia
Just a couple of minutes later I had a talk with Cecilia and that got me down a little. Just before supplementary, this girl was found crying outside class while the rest of her friends were seated in class getting ready for lesson. I went out to class and asked her to come in but from her unusual sobbing i somehow gather that she fears to walk into class. I said, "come with me. I will protect you!" She followed on.

After class, she mentioned that the class accused her of doing something and no one believes her when she tried to explain. With a mere, " i believe you", her sobbing stopped.

Then I noticed cane marks on her hands. I probed and she shared. Its the first time she spoke so much. But after hearing, I realised I can no longer say, "Come I protect you." anymore. I can't. Its beyond me. I realised my limitations and I wished I could do more.I prayed.

"Missing?"

Cecilia strikes 3! This time she was mild, but I guess proper correction should still be done. Brought her to the office after school and she was really guilty of what she did in class just a couple of minutes ago. After all the talking...

Soowei: So Cecilia, what are your thoughts? What do you have to say?

Cecilia: Sorry Mis sing (miss sim)

Soowei: My dear, I am still here, I am not Missing. I am Miss Sim. :)

We both laughed.

One of the most beautiful worship experience.

Today I had fun with Norman and Joey as they educated me on PIRACY. Gosh!! We are just so much in it that I dun even know it. Anyway it was fun just having these guys around. Each of them is funny and with both of them, HILARIOUS is the word. :)

Whats it got to do with the Blog title? WORSHIP experience? With them? Nah..During Youth Service? NAh... During YA yesterday? Nah... All were good but about 5 minutes ago, I truly had one of the most beautiful worship experience. Not alone! Not just with GOD! But together with my MUM!!!! Since the time we came back from the Malacca trip, I openly asked her if she would like to join me in worship. How did I do that? I picked up my guitar, strum the chord and began singing and told her to join in. With the limited chinese songs and chords that I know, I could only play 真真好. This went on for quite some time.

Tonight was just different, the Lord brought to my remembrance the song 我要赞美耶和华. I realised I know the chords and so I just medley it with the 真真好 and finally ended with the simple 'Hallehlujah' song. So why was it beautiful? Cos my mum worshipped. She raised her hands!!!! When the song went, " ...我高举双手宣扬..." I could not believe it. Though, by the time we reached the 3rd song she started walking around, its ok... I prayed and spoke in tongues while she was walking. Thank God for His marvelous work. Do I hear salvation ringing? YES i do!

Do you know them?

Princess 1.
Princess 2.

Princess 3

Zayan.

I have a mildly audistic boy in my class and everyone loves Zayan now even though it din start off that way at first. :) He is such a pleasant boy, I mean he has problems with his school work but never with behavioural or attitude. When I first took Zayan, he scores 2 or less out of 10 for spelling. Because of his condition, I make a conscious effort to affirm him in every little thing that he does well in.

I gave him a certificate for being the most determined boy in class. He is! During one of the Art classes, they were told to draw a picture based on the theme of 'Environment'. After an hour, all kids handed in but Zayan was still drawing. He can't finish not because he was slow, rather, he was being meticulous. He drew every little details. I sent that picture in for competition. He was beaming with this wide grin on his face when he received that cert from the Principal. I was so proud of him.

Each time he reads aloud for the class, I would praise him though there are many words that he can't read well. But he is praised for the words that he can read. :) I din really think very much about the way i handle him to have such impact on the rest of my kids until that day when Zayan stood and he managed to read a paragraph, WOW!! the class applauded for him. There was also another incident when i saw that they were having PE lesson and the teacher told them to jump over a hurdle. When Zayan jumped over, the whole class cheered. When did my class become so encouraging? What happened to all the "stupid you" and "shut up la"? Did I know that encouragment is infectious? Now I know. :)

Today, I was marking their spelling book and as I was marking Zayan's book I couldn't believe my eyes, he scored 10 out of 10. I awarded a star and wrote, "SUPER JOB!" Just then I took a second glance and I realised one of the words was mispelt. So he had 9 out of 10 instead. I changed the marks but the star was still there. Who says that only pupils with full marks can get a star? :)

1st week of the month.

Every first week of the month is very often the most challenging week for me because there are just so many happenings on weekday nights. Production rehearsal, RL mtg and Prayer and Power night. Not that I dread them but I do feel the strain physically as i move through the week. Thank God that from next year on RL meeting will be on 2nd week. :) This week I am extremely tired, not as efficient in my work. However, amidst all, its still a great week cos of all these:

1. Surprise by Cheryl Baby and Johann + Pint of Haagen
In my most unglam moment, I had 2 visitors. I was halfway cleaning up after dinner in my pyjamas when these 2 notie ones knocked on my door. GOSH! However, I was so blessed by the HAagen.. haa nah, its by their companion. The haagen is great but they were the bonus. :)

2. Prayers.
I had so many people coming to me this week asking me for my prayer requests and some even prayed with me. I really appreciate it, I guess God just know when I need warriors to stand by me. Its really so many!!! Haaaa

3.RL meeting.
Do you know going for RL meeting is such joy? COs Suhui just let her hair down and be herself. Not that I am usually not but I behave slightly different when i am with a pool of leaders, i become the kid. Haaa... I wonder what makes me so hyper... Audrey, it could really be you. *wink* Actually, we all become kids when we come together BUT actually I think I can't beat them.

Look at how cheeky our dearest Liying smiled. Haaaa.... I think she is super CUTE. If there is a program call "超级 Super Cute", I will send her there. 　

Know what these girls were doing previously prior to my signal of "cut it out"? They were pretending to be super studious and working real hard. They expect me to take that studious pose lor. GOSH. Haaa .They are hilarious.

This picture is the only one that shows us doing some work. But its cos we FOUND a Sony Clie. Til today we still dun know whose is it. Anyone lost one? RLs = Random leaders? Haaa

Here! Our spiritual mother! Pastor Cuicui. See! Even she becomes a little berserk when she is with us. Guess at the end of the day who is the most sane one? ME! *grins*

Thanks for praying.

Thank you all for taking time to pray for my parents as we went for the Saturday's Evangelistic meeting at St Andrews Cathedral. My parents did not receive Christ but I thank God that they went. As compared to the Malacca trip, I was very much encouraged even when my parents did not received their salvation that day. Partly because I had learnt from the Malacca trip to be grateful for all that God has been doing in my family. And of course the presence of my Sis, BIL and my sis' parents-in-law, gave me alot of support. Their presence cushioned the disappointment as I know that I am not the only one in it.

I thank God for a wonderful night as my dad was really attentive and I saw how he nodded his head and agreeing with Dongfang Billy as he shared his testimony about how God turned a bitter man like him to one who is of love today. I thank God for my sis' parent in laws, they are such great encouragement to me as they often remembers my parents in prayers and occasionally calling on me to chit chat with me and find out how I have been. I feel blessed as I see uncle trying to strike conversation with my dad and helping him understand about christianity, feel loved when I saw how Aunty accepts my mum and loved her the way she is, feel protected and supported when BIL and Jie sits beside me and gave me those assuring smiles. I felt so blessed that night learning that I am really not alone in handling things back home.

Jie and BIL: thanks for being there. :) Love ya guys loads.

Look at how straight they sit? Haa.. Daddys are interesting. Uncle Alan with my dad.

Women are just naturally more natural with the camera. This is Aunty Esther wth mum.

Hunky BIL and sweetie Jie. Such a handsome couple eh? :)

Soowei with Dad and Mum.