Sunday, January 31, 2010

Eliza got into JC and Renfred turned 21



It's just the beginning of Feb 2010 and thus far life has been quite eventful.


We thank God for :
1) Our daughter, Eliza's good GCE 'O' level results. She studied hard and the LORD blessed her with good results, granting her desire to study in a junior college as she did not want to study in a polytechnic. We are glad that through this journey, Eliza sees GOD's faithfulness and committed to HIM her posting when she was one point short of getting into the JC she wanted. We appealed to the JC she wanted but chances are quite slim. But praise GOD she got her second choice of JC and today, being the third day of her orientation, she has decided to purchase her school uniform.


2) We celebrated our son, Renfred's 21st Birthday yesterday at Aloha Changi. We rented a huge bungalow with a nice seaview, had our relatives, his Youth Pastor and wife and his CG over to celebrate his entering into adulthood. It was the shortest birthday party we had ever organized. We took the bungalow key at 3pm yesterday and he had to book into the army at 7.25pm. We had hardly 4 hours on top of that, the guests came late and we started our worship at 5.30pm. Thank God the food and program turned out well.

His Youth Pastor gave a short exhortation on Joshua 1:8 and then his father asked him to give an impromptu speech and to sing solo the first stanza of "Father let me dedicate". Before he sang, he testified that when he was a baby his parents (we) dedicated him to the LORD and at that time he had no say because he was still a baby but now that he is 21, he choose to sing the song "Father let me dedicate, mean what he sings and dedicate himself to the LORD. In other words, he finds Jesus Christ real in his life and owns up to his faith in Him. I was touched by what he said and am sure many who were present also felt the same way as I did.

Father let me dedicate all this life to Thee
In whatever worldly state Thou would have me be
Not from sorrow, pain or care, freedom dare I claim
This alone shall be my prayer, glorify Thy name
V2
Can a child presume to choose where or how to live?
Can a father's love refuse all the best to give?
Let my glad heart, while it sings, Thee in all proclaim
And, whate'er the future brings, glorify Thy name

Chorus:
Be glorified in me, be glorified
Be glorified in me, be glorified

Saturday, January 30, 2010

5 Lessons from Habakkuk


Last week at Bible Study, we learnt 5 lessons from the book of Habakkuk.
1) Habakkuk did not pretend problems do not exist when during his time GOD raised up the Babylonians to attack Judah, the southern kingdom of Israel because they have sinned against GOD. Habakkuk faced the problems squarely.
2) Habakkuk went straight to GOD first with his problem. He did not turn to other ways or anyone else but he went directly to GOD.
3) He waited on GOD to hear what He has to say to him after bringing the problem to Him. Habakkuk did not "dump" the problem to GOD and leave.
4) He was willing to be reproved by GOD, desiring to walk uprightly with GOD.
5) He was determined to walk above his circumstance, embracing and clinging on to GOD by faith.

Frankly, I felt lousy during the end of 2009 and beginning of 2010. I did not look forward to the new year, not knowing what lies ahead. But I cling on to GOD despite what I went through, choosing to believe that there must be something GOD wants me to learn and believing with all my heart that He is Sovereign and is still on the throne.


This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas
His hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father’s world, the birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white, declare their Maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world: He shines in all that’s fair;
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass;He speaks to me everywhere.

This is my Father’s world. O let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world: the battle is not done:
Jesus Who died shall be satisfied,
And earth and Heav’n be one.

This is my Father’s world, should my heart be ever sad?
The lord is King—let the heavens ring. God reigns—let the earth be glad.
This is my Father’s world. Now closer to Heaven bound.
For dear to God is the earth Christ trod.
No place but is holy ground.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Pineapple Cranberry Tarts



I love berries - especially cranberries. So I added cranberries to the pineapple filling - see above. It gave a sweet and sour taste to the whole tart - simply delicious :) A really nice variation from the normal pineapple tart.



A couple of customers ordered a few tubs each plus other cookies.
Each tub contains about 30-32 pieces of Pineapple Cranberry Tarts.

One of them, whom I delivered a couple of tubs of Pineapple Cranberry Tarts and Cookies to yesterday afternoon, just smsed me to say her "supplies are depleting" and asked if I am planning to bake more :) I also brought some to church today for a few friends to try and they like them too :)

Am feeling very happy because the people eating my bakes enjoyed them - they are happy - so am I :)