At the Airport

We are leaving Langkawi shortly.
Sitting at Starbucks now and using their free wifi.
Thank you wifey for holidaying with me. Hope you have had a nice vacation.

Last Night in Langkawi

We are at Starbucks in Cenang Mall.

Watching Sunrise in Langkawi

First Morning in Langkawi

I am blogging on the go. It is 7:10am now in Langkawi and we are at Cenang Plaza Beach Hotel for a much needed vacation.
It is meant to be a simple retreat to just fill our tank once again.
Wifey is resting now while i am at the balcony typing this against the sound of those crashing waves. The seats of our balcony is wet after a rain last night i suppose. So i cannot sit.
We had a rather sumpteous seafood dinner last evening at Orkid Ria for just 202RM (close to sgd70).
Had a good night sleep as well after a tiring day. Hope day 2 at Langkawi will be nice and relaxing too. 

Taking Small Steps...

Last evening (14 August), we went to Labrador Park for a stroll. It has been a very challenging time for us, these past 2 months and  we are re-learning how to refill our tank once again.

We are taking small steps and feeling our way around.. God, be with us. 

   

 

Soccer and Night at Orchard

Last evening (31 May), dearie met her ex -colleagues Cheryl and Tin Chua from GS for dinner at Itacho Sushi @ ION Orchard.

So I took the opportunity to go for a short (but intense) soccer game workout at Tiong Bahru Park.

It was the first week night session that I have joined and it was just a small group so the atmosphere is a wee bit different from the usual Saturday sessions where they were mostly packed with a lot of players.

Thank God that it was sunny throughout the day so the ground was good.

After the game which lasted for an hour, I took a bus down to Orchard to have my dinner and wait for dearie.

Week night at Orchard is nice, somehow a Christmassy vibe to it. Don’t know why…. Less busy but still beautiful…

I have a bit of craving for Japanese food (udon in particular) so I decided to try Isetan Lido to see if there are anything interesting there. I chanced upon Wa Dining clearing stock at 50% off since its near closing time so I grabbed a 3 in 1 bento set consisting of minced salmon, a piece of grilled chicken and minced tamago on rice. It was fresh, delicious and cheap at only $3.90. After buying my meal, I sat at the slab near the underpass to eat.  

After that I bought a chocolate Danish and Freen Tea Chocolate bun from Johann ( I first tried Johann’s pastries when my colleagues bought to share ) so I am glad that I can do so and let dearie try too.

I then wanted to walk over to ION but just then, I spotted  Menmaru Japanese Udon & Ramen at The foodcourt… hmmm… there is still some allowance in my stomach so I decided to have a 2^nd round of dinner.

However, I ordered wrongly and got the dry instead of the soup version and the staff was not willing to add some soup unless it’s a dollar more so I decided to just forgo it. I also bought a fried vegetable and pumpkin to go with my udon.

It cost $9 in total (udon $6, fried vege $2, fried pumpkin $1) . Reasonable and I finally satisfied my craving somehow.

I walked over to ION and while looking at the Mall Directory and midway as I was keying in “Itacho Sush…” dearie and her friends were already standing behind me. What a coincidence…

New Sofa

Last Sunday, our new sofa arrived. We got it at Novena for $1554. Our first sofa has served us well faithfully for 8 years and it is time to retire it.

We hope this one can be as lasting.

KAINOS – A New Beginning (Vision Sunday 2016)

Year 2016-2020 will be the next lap. Text: Isaiah 43:14-21
Ps Jeff

1. Remembrance – God’s Work in Our Lives (V16-17)
   Exodus 14:21-22 , Exodus 14:26-27 (Moses, crossing the red sea event)
   Remembering how the sea was separated, remembering how God snuffed out the enemies completely.
    
   Dismember (take apart) v.s. Remember (assemble the broken separated parts)
   Because God doesn’t write fragmented short stories.
    
   The same God who brings us from where we were to where we are is going to be the same God who brings us from where we are to where He wants us to be.
   From glory to glory.
   God’s purpose, heartbeat never change.
    
2. Reliance – God’s Guidance for Our Future (v18-19)  
   Same God, different way.
   In the past it is dry land from sea
   Now it is Streams from wasteland
    
   Neos – new in terms of time, latest on the scene
   KAINOS – new in quality, fresh in development.
    
   Faith, NOT formula pleases God (vocabulary encapsulates concept)
    
   Why Not?
   Not Why?
    
   Weekday services.
   (4 Sept 2016-  First New Regional Centre)
    
   Darkness is not an entity. It is the mere absence of Light
    
3. Relationship – God’s Heart Towards Us. (v14-15, 20-21)
   Jer 9:23-24

 

Hydrangeas Surprise

Last Thursday (14 Jan ) , I ordered a bouquet of her favourite hydrangeas to be delivered to wifey’s office.

That was the first time I got her flowers since she started working in NEA.

I wanted to do that during our anniversary and Christmas period last year but did not really put my intention into action.

I am glad I managed to pull it off now. I am also happy that wifey was pleasantly surprised by it. I pray I will always be inspired to bring her pleasant surprises throughout our marriage… sometimes they may be delayed but by God’s grace it shall always be delivered… one by one.

Wholesome Dinner by Chef Marc

2 days ago (Saturday) I made pan-fried marmite-salmon for dinner.

It was a commendable effort as it was quite tasty.

However, the thick middle portion wasn’t too cooked, so towards the end,  I put it back into the pan and fried it awhile more. Need to improve on this.

Last Saturday, I steamed Hong Kong Style Cod Fish. 2 weeks of wholesome dinner (patting myself on the back) hehe… Hope dearie enjoyed both meals.

Leaving our Past Behind

Title: Leaving our Past Behind

Text: 1 Tim 1:12-17

Preacher: Ps Simon Eng

1. Be honest to face our past … and admit to God our wrong (v13,15)
   Paul was honest about his own past when he described how we was before, even though it was not something to be proud of.
   In order for us to find healing and grace of God from our past, we have to confront it.
    
   Top 3 negatives from the past

1. Regrets about things done and not done. Missed opportunities, mistakes made.
   Do not carry regrets into the New Year.
2. Difficult experiences resulting in bad memories, causing phobias, fears.
3. Painful relationships causing hurts, disappointments, regrets, bitterness or un forgiveness

Face them with God in the picture. Find room in our hearts to Glorify God! (v17)

God knows the amount of pain and tears we have shed.

Do not be defined, condemned by our past, instead, let it decorate our life. John 21:15-17

1. Learn from our past (v13b-14, 16a)
   Take time to do some reflections.
   Nobody has all the answers yet. Things are not perfect but God will reveal his answer and grace to us.
    
   Book Recommendation: The Calling Journey by Tony Stoltzfus,
   
    
    
    
    
   3 Major Areas of Learning

1. Learn about our journey
   We all go through 4 mountain tops and 3 valley lows
    
2. Learn about God
   God is both in our mountain top experiences and the valley deep lows.
   Exercise our mind, will emotion to be in tune with Him.
   Paul received God’s strength (v12)
   Paul received God’s grace (v13, 16)
   Paul received God’s abundant grace (v14)
   Do not glorify our past and pain. When we spend time thinking about those, we are glorifying it instead of God.
    
3. Learn about ourselves

• When in the valleys, allow God to deal with ourselves.
• Do not point fingers at others
• Look deep within our own being
   

1. Move on from our past (v17)
   Do not remain in the past, we must move on.
    
   Embrace:
   Faith: the unexpected good can happen!
   Hope: the better is coming, we’ve turned the corner, spring is coming the winter is over.
   Love: to believe and trust in people (again) ; to love with His love.
    
   Gen 41:51
   Joseph moved on; Joseph’s 2 sons:
   Manasseh: God has made me forget all my troubles and all my father’s household.
   Ephraim: God has made me fruitful.
    
   Believe that God will make me fruitful