Gals Night Out

Ivy and her sheep went out for dinner tonight.

Look at my dear shepherd~ she looks young forever

(The saying is true: appearance is deceiving!)

Here comes some of the great food!

(Volcano Satay Chicken + Rice Vermicelli + Volcano Combination)

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT

Ivy is looking for a Pastor-to-be to be her boyfriend/husband.

It'll be great that the candidate(s) is not interested in going for missions in Middle East (woohoohoo~).

If you happen to fall into this category, or you know someone does, please contact Ivy ASAP!

(Oops, don't tell her that I revealled the secret, if it is. She's shy~)

Ezekiel 16

I am reading Ezekiel these days. One of the largely quoted sections will definitely be Ezekiel 15 The Outcast Vine.

However, if I am to choose a chapter which impressed me the most, it'll be Ezekiel 16, in which a sad story of Israel's sin and unfaithfulness to the love of God was unfolded. Unlike other chapters where Israel's sinful deeds, as facts, are revealed and reproached, this chapter dates back to the very beginning of a sad love story, revealing the very cause of God's deep sorrow and anger upon His lover. It's a story being narrated by Him. I was so touched by what I read, and can truly feel the pain and sorrow in His heart.

If you haven't read it, I do encourage you to read it NOW!
If you have come across it but didn't pay much attention, I will encourage you to read it AGAIN!

It's a great chapter to read, which allows you to have a glimpse of His heart. Strongly recommended!

The Vision of Teeth

I had a very interesting vision of teeth when I was about to sleep. I was quite touched, for I knew that it was God who placed it in my heart, telling me that He knew it all...

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In the vision, I saw a deciduous tooth, which was loose and a bit decayed. I could have left it there and waited till it was naturally replaced by the permanent tooth. However, I chose to go to the dentist and have it extracted.

I couldn't feel the pain, for I didn't know when the dentist took it out.
I should have felt released, for the decayed tooth was no longer there;
I should have felt excited, for I knew that there would erupt a brand-new permanent tooth.
And yet when I looked into the mirror and saw the hole in my mouth, it was the feeling of emptiness flooding in my heart.
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This reminded me of a prayer that I dedicated to Him not long ago. I prayed that He would take away some things and some people, which and whom I found it hard to let go because I cherished them so much. I knew what I did was wrong in His sight, and yet I did them again and again due to my own iniquity and a selfish heart.

I didn't expect Him to react so swiftly; I didn't know what He did, and how He did it; but it happened. He heard what I prayed, and took them away from me.

I should have felt released, for my sinful desires are not there;
I should have felt excited, for I know that my soul is gonna be replaced by something new and better.
However, it is the period of time when the deciduous tooth was extracted and the permanent tooth is yet to erupt that suffocates me. There is an emptiness in those transient moments.

I hope and pray that I would be like a child with the expectation of hoping to find something new erupting everyday when I look into the mirror and look into the empty space.

I know that I made the right decision;
I know that I would not regret;
I know that I would look back with affirmation and appreciation in the future;
even though I cannot see it and feel it at this moment.

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I am blessed with many visions, which helped me have a better and deeper understanding of life. The reason I chose to share this one is that I believe I am not the only one who feels this way. For all of my dear friends, who are going through or are to go through a process of being rebuilt, I pray that this article can and will be an encouragement. God bless.

Be A Star to Shine in the Dark

When I was taught in the physics class that the light in the stars had travelled hundreds of thousands of light years before it reached the earth, I was amazed. Ever since then, I love to look at the stars in the heavens and appreciate their beauty, which is so distant and unapproachable. More importantly, I consider it a way for me to have a glimpse of the past. "The planets where the light came might not exist any more, but the light is still on its way to our planet, namely earth. How amazing is that!" I always thought.

Not long ago I was reminded of another fact of the stars through the song IN THE VALLEY, in which parts of the lyrics go like this:

In the daytime there are stars in the heavens

But they only shine at night

And the deeper that I go into darkness

The more I see their radiant light

I've been taking it for granted that sun is for the daytime, while stars and moon for the night. Till I listened to this song, I totally neglected the exsitence of the stars during the daytime, for the sunlight is far more brighter. However, I suddenly realize that they, all of them, are there in the heavens 24/7. In the daytime, the sunlight is so strong that the light of the stars can barely been seen. Yet it is when the curtain of night is pulled down, I come to appreicate the radiant light of the stars.

This reminds me of different seasons in life and in my walk with Him. When the daytime comes, I feel warm and blessed. But the strong sunlight may blind my eyes from time to time, and I begin to take things for granted. However, it is the very time when the night visits that the stars shine. It is the very time when I have to walk in the dark that my eyes are open wide and start to see the unseen.

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Walking in the dark is of little fun, yet full of dangers. And yet I know if there were only daytimes in my life, I would have missed out a lot of wonderful things in life, which could only be seen at night. Therefore, I thank God for the nights and the darkness that I have to walk through. Whenever I look up and look at the stars, I know He is there watching over me.

So let me learn that my losses are my gain

To be broken is to heal

That the valley's where Your power is revealed

Finally

Finally set up a special blog for my special world - J1~

Here I come!

My Love to You

When I was to be swallowed by the darkness in a tunnel,
Your voice came to me, "Keep walking, my dear."
When I was to analyse the situation and try to find a way out,
Your voice came to me, "Let go of your knowledge, and keep walking."
"What if I will die of exhaustion?" I argued.
Your voice came to me, "You won't, my dear, for I AM leading."

You brought me up onto the top of the mountain,
and show me Your majesty.
You led me to the most filthy part of my inner being,
and show me Your way.
You open up my eyes to see, and my ears to hear.

I know the moment for me to show how much I've learned is not yet given.
And yet I know that when it comes, I'll be ready.

The time I spend on waiting upon You is, and will be, worthy,
for I'm not waiting and doing nothing,
but I'm waiting and doing everything I can to climb to the mountain top,
from where I can see the world from Your perspective,
and from where I'll stand.