S.M.A.R.T lifestyle

Everyday is a day of thanksgiving.

Tonight went for a seminar which include a talk by Dr Frederick Toke, a practicing psychologist. He shared on mental strategies to cope and overcome in these difficult times.

Dr Frederick Toke is teaching in Lee Community College.

I am truly inspired by his sharing on S.M.A.R.T lifestyle.

S – Self regulation
M – Margins
A – Adapt
R – Relate
T – Think possibility

S – Self regulation
Discipline. Extricate yourself from entanglements.

M – Margins
Not to live life on the edge. Give yourself buffer. Rest; meditate.

A – Adapt
Learn to adapt; learn to flow with people, learn to flow with time. Be resourceful.

R – Relate
Relationship vs Networking. Go for relationship, not networking. Relationship is for long term.

T – Think possibility
This is different from positive thinking. When the oil indicator in your car is pointing toward E. It is no point to say it has Enough.

Funeral preparation

Recently, the topics of death keeps coming up.
Even today in my paper (21 April 2009), there is a topic on making preparation for funeral. A thought came into my mind; the preparation for funeral is like the preparation for wedding.

After attending so many wedding, I find people put in much effort in preparing for the big day. But the big day is only a day while they have a lifetime to live together… hopefully in today context.

In order to prepare the couples to live together in harmony, there is marriage preparation class. So for the funeral, it is only few days. After that, it is the journey into the afterlife. Is there any afterlife preparation class?

Recently, I shared with a friend about how God saved my mother from death. He recommended a Japanese movie title “Departures”. It is a meaningful movie. In the show, one of the character professions is to burn the corpse into ashes. He said he felt that death is only starting into another journey. How true it is!

Before Jesus went to the Cross to die for our sin, He said in John 14:1-3 "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”

Bible also said in Hebrews 9:27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,

It is not necessary for neither Jesus nor the Bible, which is authorize by God, to lie. If that is the case, are we prepare for our afterlife?

When Christians share about eternal life, some people thought that is afterlife. So being not ready for death, they are not ready. But as my good friend who grows in Christ, in our experience, we shared a common thought that eternal life starts on the moment that we believe in Jesus.

I still remember that will little faith and self-righteousness that I am not a “bad” person, I received Jesus into my life many years ago. But Jesus took it and changes my thoughts. I only understand better how much I need the grace of God when I enter into His kingdom of love.

Another common thoughts that we shared are, after we receive Christ, we really did not afraid of death anymore. We know where we are going afterlife. We know Jesus is at the other end to receive us in Heaven. We know we will enter Heaven not because of our good works, but because of the blood of Jesus.

“Departures” is a good movie. Even someone in our church who works as a counselor recommend us to watch it.

Another good movie is “The Bucket list”. It provides us some thoughts on how we should live before we kick the bucket.

Resurrection of Grace.....'s blog

Wow! I did not blog for nearly 2 years.
So busy…

For all my friends who concern about me. I just want to share that my heart is filled with thanksgiving to God. In my imperfect walk with Him, He remains faithful and true.

In these 2 years:

Spiritual home
I left my former church of 13 years and join Covenant Evangelical Free Church in June 2007. When I joined them, I stayed in Pasir Ris and the church is in Jelapang (take MRT to Choa Chu Kang and take LRT to the 8th station). But it is an divine appointment that I met some Christians that also travel long distance to go to that church. Things just fall in place that I know this is the right church for me. One of our Christian friends said to go there is 跋山涉水 (over the mountain and the sea), but I felt God’s leading, so even for the nearly 1.5 hours of one way travel time to get there, it is worth it. Eventually, that friend also join our church.

On late 2007, my Polytechnic good friend become Christian and join me to worship there. She is growing steadily as a Christian. Her growth in Christ is my constant encouragement. Our friendship deepen as we walk with God together. Her 2 adorable daughters became my God-daughters.

I join the church 2 years discipleship program in January 2008. The program is called IDT (Intentional Discipleship Training). The program is great. Highly recommended. I am learning to grow as a Christian.

On August 2008, with the 400+ congregation, we enter the long awaited Promise land of our church; the second center in Woodlands. Our church is growing steadily. Praise the Lord.

Physical Home
I moved from Lavender that I stay for about 7 years to rent a flat in Pasir Ris for half a year and end up brought a flat in AMK. The flat is very close to what I envision. For the 20 requirements that I submit to God, He met all except one; the price. When the flat came along, God told me to take it as He will provide. I take it by faith and He did provide. Ever since I moved to AMK in December 2007, my health slowly improved. I think partly because emotionally I have settle down. Like stop wondering in the wilderness and enter the Promise land.

Work
I left my former company that I work for 8 years to join an Architectural firm in June 2008. It is a faith journey as I am leaving a place that my skill is acknowledged to go to another place to prove myself again. I had the assurance from Holy Spirit that I will be fine. It is an opening from God. To leave my comfort zone, I learn from Moses to pray to God that “unless He goes with me, I will not go” (Exodus 33:14-17). He gave me the assurance that He will go with me. In my IDT that need to memorize Bible verses, He gave me the promise verses in

Isaiah 45:2-3 (English Standard Version)
2"I will go before you and level the exalted places,I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron,3 I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you may know that it is I, the LORD, the God of Israel, who call you by your name.

I took hold of His promises and went. In Christ, His promises is always yes and amen.

My job is solving CAD problems. So I cannot say my job is problem free. No problem. No job. But God is good. In every new challenge, there is an opportunity to trust Him.

Family
God takes care of my family.

My mother had moved to stay in JB with my dad. It is a quiet suburban that has good environment for her health. I like to be there to relax too. Even the air is slower that Singapore. There is a small but good Chinese church in her area. She went for the Sunday service.

For those who know my brother, his whole family had migrated to Melbourne. God takes care of them too. They are coming back in few months time for a short stay.

Resurrection
One week after celebrating the resurrection of Christ, my blog also resurrected. Good timing?

God bless.

~ By His Grace