Sometime last month, my mum’s photo was captured and uploaded on STOMP- Singapore Seen by a driver. 

Her photo drew some comments that got my mum hopping mad! Visit the page here>>>

Actually there are two collies on her bike, not one. Ho ho…

My Mum so cool rite??? =P

Since the start of this week, my two precious nieces contracted some virus that had them running a fever with vomitting and diarrohea.  

Seeing them like this my heart just went aching cos I couldn’t do anything except see and pray. Somehow, they had to go through it on their own and recover from this experience.

From this I understood a little how God feels when we go thru difficult patches, but just as much as He yearns to intervene, He refrains (out of His great love and wisdom)  even when we blame Him or question His goodness cos He knows that what we’re going thru; that experience though painful, would benefit us much long-term in the end (c.f. Romans 8:28).

And like my brother and his wife who were with my nieces round the clock in spite not being able to do much except assuring them of their presence, it is the same with God. He is with us and never forsakes us especially in our times of need when He seems distant. (c.f. Hebrews 13:5)

His Word is with us and for us; given in the form of the Bible.

With our hope in His glory, we will one day see the fullness of His grace and mercy as we look back, just as how my nieces are now towards full recovery and smiling yet once again =)

Two days ago was my youngest brother’s big day. Now that two has walked down the aisle, there’s only one more left- ME! =p

This was a huge family coming together and more bigger than the first (with my younger brother). I guess that as a family we had learnt from the first experience and this time round had it better planned and managed.

For a positive change, not only was my mum much more involved in this wedding, even I was roped in to contribute. I produced their photo montage and played host/emcee for the wedding dinner. This wedding somehow got the family together. Thank God!

Apart from the sabo-ing my brother as emcee and catching up with my relatives, my personal highlight of the event has to be God.

God made His presence known when He led me to give thanks or grace for dinner before everyone. There were approximately 18 tables in total.

Initially, I was contemplating against it for respect to the muslims and non-believers who were presented. But I reckoned that there wouldn’t be much harm since in Singapore, there is a high level of tolerence towards other’s religious belief. So with faith, I gave thanks (with my brother’s approval) but tactfully saying, “On behalf of the bride and bridegroom, I would like to give thanks or say grace for the food.”

And so I did, “in Jesus’ Name.”

Phew… though thankfully no one walked out offended, but more importantly God was glorified. 

I sincerely believe that the prayer part was something unexpected in a normal wedding dinner programme for those presented. And I want to believe that somehow it left an impression in their minds and God in their hearts.

Quite amazing what is unfolding within my family after the prayer for my family during the GDOP.

Yesterday I learnt that my sister-in-law, Jeslyn was hospitalised. She was warded after she had passed out. It was only then she was suspected to have a prolonged serious illness when she had lost much feeling over her limbs.

Personally I think this is a serious case.

But remarkably, my mum who was there actually rallied my brother and me to pray over her. And prayed we did.

It was my first time hearing my mum prayed or praying with her. Not bad leh…

I cannot doubt that God has been working much in her life over these passed 2 years. Especially lately, I have even noticed how she has calmed down alot with her hot tempered-ness. She’s now more patient with me and my brothers =p 

Back to my sis-in-law, at least last night we managed to get her connected with God. That’s a good start. 

Please pray with me that she will not only miraculously recover but encounter our living and loving God too.

The weekend over at Melaka was fruitful though tiring from the travelling up and down.

Another reason going back besides taking a break was to spend time with my family; visiting my roots.

I remember my childhood days where visits to Melaka were frequent for my family to spend time with my grandma and other relatives. But most of my relatives have already made Singapore their home.

Re-living my childhood memories is easy since most of the things in Melaka remains almost unchanged like the home my grandma lives. Even my aunties and uncles do not seem to age over the years.

This visit was primarily to celebrate my grandma’s 85th birthday. She has 9 sons and 1 daughter, so a grand total of 10 children. Grandchildren got aleast 13 and great grandchildren 5 and more on the way… Ha ha…

They say visiting your roots is good and I totally agree. When you study the past, you can understand the present and thus, be better prepared for the future.

For instance, most of my uncles love to drink. It made me realised why I picked the drinking bottle so easily in the past, cos I see them do it commonly when I was growing up. Indirectly, I modelled after them so that I could be part of them in order to be accepted as family.  

But of cos, family influence is just one factor. Ultimately, it’s the choices that we make in life as we assume responsiblity for our own lives.

In retrospect, now I see why God had commanded me to quit drinking; to free me and to change the curses to blessings on my family in the generations to come.

The future generations: My cousins, Jacintha and Aaron with grandma

In my own future family, I pray that I will be able to set an example of loving and serving God and His Church so that the generations of the next can model after and carry this lifestyle into their own families. Amen.

These are my two beloved nieces, Jacklyn and Jamie =) 

And here’s why I just adore them.

Watch the clip and see the make-funny-face dance…