The highlight of the day must be our guest-of-honor, Vincent Ng, MediaCorp artist, who is a Worldclass Double Gold Medalist for Wushu, who is also an ex-pupil of our school! Mrs Sankar introduced us hahahahaha! And he signed my Gold trophy for one of the races I took part in!

I painted on the kids’ faces and painted on my arm 3-4 suns. Now I literally have a "sun"-tan after I washed the paint off. My shoulders are so dark now.

Was so inspired by the Team Singapore music video. It captured those moments of triumph and victory during the Sea Games. Althletes throwing their fists into the air, hugging one another in estacy, wrapping each other in tears, executing every move with precision, striving for excellence in every stride, never giving up. These moments I took in. This must be how it must feel at the end of a race of life too, when we meet our Maker face to face.

Meanwhile, endure this race of faith. One day, we will celebrate this victory.

WOWO! This is how Freckles sounds like when she barks in excitement when playing with Orli. It got annoying tonight as I tapped furiously away at my keyboard finishing up my paper. I repeatedly disciplined her, when I finally told her off, "Freckles, STOP barking! Don’t you understand English!!" HAHAHA! Obviously she doesn’t! Occupational hazard! Mine, that is.

In the last 13 weeks I probably turned on the TV like a maximum of 5 times, and out of those times, probably about 2 times I actually sat down and watched a proper program. So much pollution coming through the set: secular views of women, men, teens, marriage.

terry thinks teri should just stick to her car

if not teri may want to keep terry’s car

so it’s better that terry drives his car

and teri drives her car

that way both terry and teri will be happy

and then it will all tally

Bits and Pieces From Covenant bulletin by Ps Kay Kiong

Complete Powerup

For Difficult Circumstances

Steadfastness and endurance means to remain unsuccumbed under difficulties. This has to do with the battle of the mind and belief system rather than persecution and pain. Ignorance is the mother not of devotion but heresy.

Conclusion

We live in an age where we can be unprepared and untrained; indifferent and ungrateful. We forget His redemptive purpose that we might WALK WORTHY of Him. To bear fruit, to know Him, to be strengthened and giving thanks.

I sustained a very bad road rash some 2 weeks ago. Blacked out from the pain. It’s healing nicely now with the care I gave it. Plus anti-biotics from the doc.

The process of tending to the wound didn’t come without pain: cleaning the wound, applying the cream, dressing the wound every other day, exposing it to more pain as I peeled and pasted the dressing over the wound. I had to sacrifice my exercise, not being able to sit comfortably without feeling the acute pain, not being able to walk normally. Felt so incapiciated. I needed to keep the wound dry and out of the sun to speed up healing and minimise scarring. Did it make me fear rollerblading again? Nope. Not at all. It taught me, though, a great lesson in HOW NOT to fall: the precautions I need to take if I still want to continue with the sports. I probably should wear crash pad but I don’t want to look like a Ninja Turtle!

Don’t mistake the pain for suffering. Healing process hurts. The pain is the bad news. The good news is I was healing and am healed. It just takes time lots of common-sense care. Meanwhile the anti-biotic medicine did the job I alone couldn’t do inside my body.

Meanwhile I was facing the frustration of not being able to function normally. Couldn’t sit and get up without feeling the wound being opened. Some days I forgot about the wound and would plan to exercise. It annoyed me majorly to remember I couldn’t, especially on days when I needed to let some steam off. Some parts of wound were superficial cuts while another part the skin was broken to expose the raw flesh. Sometimes it got itchy and not being able to resist the itch, I scratched it. It was a big mistake. It stung with a vengence.

I suppose this contains a parallel to the healing process for our emotional wounds as well. We need to tend to it as much as we in our capacity can with tenderloving care, and leave the healing to complete its process after that. The rest of it leave it to the Holy Spirit to do its work in us. We can’t feel Him working in us but it doesn’t mean He is not working in us. In time, the wound will heal, surely, though slowly. Don’t rush the healing process especially when the wound is deep. Frustration is inevitable. Take your focus off it and channel that energy into something else.

Last tots on this topic. If keeping the wound out of the sun has minimised scarring, does being in the valley help us heal in our emotional wounds?

30 Mar 06 10 a.m.

Authentic. I can PC this word forever. It’s so packed with meaning. On its own, it speaks volumes as it is.

Sometimes I wonder how God sees us, imperfect, unholy, sinful beings. When we make a mistake, or sin, what’s God’s first reaction? He is not quick to judge but quick to forgive and love and embrace us back into His fold.

I don’t look for perfection in people. I’ve learnt over the years to hold back my judgement. I look instead for authenticity. In friends. In a mate. People. I look for that moment of awareness when they realise they are imperfect. And learn from that moment. Teachability, I suppose.

We don’t have to try to be spiritual or holy or assume this pompous holier-than-thou posture. Because we are saved by grace. Not by our own merits. Because at the core of our heart, we are imperfect. What’s important I find is the gravitation of the heart. We need to get real with ourselves first before we can do that with people. See ourselves and people through God’s eyes. Only then can we appreciate His saving grace. For what are we saved? His authenticity for ours. Cleansed in His blood.

You are human.

Saved. By. Grace.

30 Mar 06 9.35 a.m.

It’s Thursday and it’s Japanese Day for my class. I was very stern when I stepped into class because they couldn’t stop talking on the way back from the hall. Dead, fatally so, silence fell into class when I stepped in as 38 pairs of eyes focused intently on my (non)expression. I could turn a man into ice at that point. I greeted them in English and sombrely they returned the greetings, dragging out every word with their seemingly last breath. They knew the verdict that was befalling them. That is until Wan Ting asked, with her ever innocent smiley cheeky face, "But Miss Ho today is Jair-pair-neese Day lei!" I broke out into laughter and greeted them once again and this time in Japanese. The class came alive after that! My 38 darlings! *contented sigh*

Had breakfast with Jo at the lounge to the view of our garden. Ivan made us Mushroom Quiche!! Yummy! I gave him 7.5-8/ 10! It was yummy! The filling was!! Had great conversation with Jo of course! Deep conversation, as always.

Godma popped by and she loved my black cheong sam. She started picking out the lint and fur on my dress. I told her, it’s all over my dress, don’t bother! hahaha! Jo thinks I’ve lost a bit more weight cos the dress looks loose. Or maybe it got stretched! hahaha! Nora, Angie and Mrs Lee loved it too. Told me I should wear it more often. Ladies, it’s $170! And I intend to wear it for all formal functions this year! hahaha! A silk one will set me back $300. My next costume will be a silk sari. An off-white sari will be fabs!

Spirituality is a direction. It’s not a status. 

Discipline leads to celebration. Which means that before we can celebrate any victory or triumph, there must be toiling. This is another beautiful paradox in the Bible.It follows the parable of sowing and reaping.

Toss you guys a thought.

The Bible contains paradoxes. Beautiful paradoxes. Which reflect the reality of life. That there is never one (legalistic) way to live life or look at life. Some people live in the grey areas because well life is filled with not only black and white. Yet, one must still choose either black or white. Or do we? For how can anyone pursue a life of paradox? Can we live paradoxically? What does that even mean? Do we need to take a side and live in absolutes? Or do we simply balance black and white? Is the key to life simply a balance, that it all boils down to this basic logic that too much of a good aint good. What is our guiding principle to sieve out theories and concepts? How do we find clarity? Will there be an absolute answer? If we live in absolutes, are we then legalistic. How do we find our balance in such paradoxes and apply it in our own lives?

This reminds me of Ecclesiastes 3.

9 What does the worker gain from his toil?

10 I have seen the burden God has laid on men.

11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

12 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live.

13 That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God.

 22 So I saw that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot. For who can bring him to see what will happen after him?

 

Short of belaying the obvious, I think to everything, there is a season, and each season is determined by God. In whatever season, we should find joy in it, for it is to the delight of God. God is still good even when we find ourselves in bad circumstances.

28 Mar 06 10.28 a.m.

Was in my cool pink shades in the fitness corner doing my recess duties when the boys came over and chatted with me. Before I realised it I was on one of the stations playing with them! I was like, eh! I am supposed to be doing duty you know! You all come and disturb me! We all broke out laughing! The boys from my class always visits me every Tues during my recess duty. I enjoy their company a lot nonetheless though I tell them they disturb me every Tuesday. LOL!

To a certain someone, I am in high spirits and no I don’t look like a panda this morning!

Ben bends Bim’s broom.

28 Mar 06 1.40 a.m.

Luke Luck likes lakes. 

Luke’s duck likes lakes.

Luke Luck licks lakes.

Luke’s duck licks lakes.

Duck takes licks in lakes Luke Luck likes.

Luke Luck takes licks in lakes duck likes.

27 Mar 06 4:32 p.m.

A surprise awaited me this morning!! The kids made GET WELL cards for me. So touched while reading them that my heart was bursting with some fuzzy feelings and eyes bit teary. Told them so and they went aawwwww. What a bunch of grrrreat kids!

Went to Science Centre to recce the place for learning trail. Right in the drizzle! So romantic! Try playing and laughing in the rain! hahaha! Anyways, I saw the nicest thing on earth! A tree house!! Right on top of a Banyan Tree!!!!! The die-hard romantic in me kicked into high gear! Couldn’t wait to climb into it. When I eventually was released from the reccing, I went to explore the most dangerous route to scale the mighty tree! hahaha! Too bad it was sealed. So it was up the spiral stairs I went. What a view from the tree house.

A thought occurred to me. Why does it have to be the most "dangerous" route I was looking for? I think it appeals to the sense of adventure and romance in me. I think I would enjoy the destination more if the journey was an exciting one. Is this what Jesus mean when he mentioned the path less travelled, the narrow path? This is how I see my journey on earth. An adventure with my First Lover!

25 Mar 06 12.54 p.m.

At 6.15 a.m. I will wake and await Shirley’s cab pickup at 6.45 a.m. at my carpark. We are heading off to the beach in the morning for breakfast and quiet time. Can’t wait! Thereafter, I will be heading to the airport to send YC off. Just wanted to be there for Wen. Then it’s back home for tuition before heading off to Angie’s wedding. Gotta be there at 4 p.m. for briefing. Bought 2 dresses for it. Have not decided which to wear yet. Depending on my mood, if I want to look like a lady or fairy. hiak hiak hiak! O What a GLORIOUS DAY IT ALREADY LOOKS!!! 

This word is pronounced as spon-ter-nay-er-ti and not spon-ter-nay-ti! HAHA!

Had a really great time at CG tonight! Isaac had to stop me from contributing to give other people a chance! hahaha! We discussed Col 1:11-12

2.07 p.m.

Sing Of Your Great Love

All that is within me Lord

Will bless Your Holy name

I live my live to worship You alone

You brought me out of darkness

And into Your glorious light

Forever I will sing of Your great love

Forever I will sing of Your great love

I love to see You glorify
To see You lifted high
I yearn to see all nations bow their knees
It’s You alone Lord Jesus
Who can cause the coldest heart
To find Your love and everlasting peace
To find Your love and everlasting peace

Chorus:
Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord

Bridge:
Your trumpet will sound
And all heavens will know
That the time has finally come
For the bride to take Her place
And we’ll hear the angels sing 

2 doses of Laxaton knocked me out. I am still feeling oozy. Work is killing me. Dr Soh said, it happens to the best of us. Yesterday alone, 5 teachers were on MC on the 3rd day of school! No one can understand the work stress of a teacher until you’ve become one. Turn-over rate is very high. When you think you are coming for air, you get pushed down again with more demands. I enjoy teaching and my colleagues. My main concern is educate the children well. The main impact is the teacher. How can teachers perform when they are unders so much undue stress. Every dateline is important. But have we forgotten what is truly most important? We are just spread too thinly in many different directions. Give us space to breathe so we can be more effective. Are we just chasing programs after programs?