Recently my younger brother whole family of four came from Melbourne to Singapore for holiday. They stayed in my place for one week. On the last day, he asked when is the government going to upgrade the toilet under the Home Improvement Programme (HIP). To him, it is very rare to use squatting WC at this era in Singapore.
I understand his perspective. When I studied in Melbourne in 1991, I did not see squatting WC.
Initially, I am also not use to the 30 years old toilets. I did not renovate the toilets as the PM announced in 2007 National day speech that government will do it. So I left it during my renovation of the flat as I did it during the time where construction business was booming and the renovation cost was really expensive. The supply and demand issue.
My two old toilets teach me to manage my expectation.
Is it okay to live with less?
It teaches me to be patient. My time will come when government will schedule to renovated the two toilets with affordable cost.
I am thankful for my flat. It is my Daddy God’s loving provision for me.
I am thankful that I can reach AMK Hub in 5 minutes. The NTUC Hypermart is in it. I enjoy marketing there.
I am thankful that the government upgraded the lift. Thus the lift stops at my floor.
Ever since I moved in, the water pipe is upgraded; the electricity item is upgraded.
Recently, the external façade of the flat was repainted. It looks so much better.
I am thankful for the effort put in by the government in upgrading the flat.
I count my blessing. He is a God of so much more. And I am very thankful to Him.
My two old toilets is a minor issue. If they seriously need to be renovated before the HIP, I will do it.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV) give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 13:5 (NIV) Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
Update in 31 Dec 09: The floor screeds outside my flat unit is recently make new.
Showing posts with label Thoughts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thoughts. Show all posts
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
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.
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.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Timely message on avoid the debt trap
These 2 days, I had started looking for 3 room flat to buy in Khatib MRT.
I could not find suitable flat and feel a bit discourage.
There is more 4 room flat selling than 3 room flat.
I wonder will I end up buying a 4 room flat if there is no suitable 3 room flat.
But I am debt adverse.
All I need is a simple 3 room flat.
I do not need a 4 room flat.
Nor I want to pay more than what is beyond my comfortable financial level.
Holy Spirit reminded me to trust in God's provision and timing.
Stay focus on those flat that meet the requirements that I had set before God.
That is a 3 room flat on high floor (not top level).
Near to MRT but not next to it. (due to noise)
On the quiet side of MRT so that my parents no need to walk the overhead bridge or walk a long way to my flat.
Simple flat. Not over decorate.
Today went to http://www.trinity.net/.
The Sunday message is timely. It is on "How to avoid the debt trap".
It is to avoid debt as much as possible.
As debt robs us from the freedom of choice.
When we borrow more than our means to repay, we:
i. Lose sight of God as the Source of everything.
ii. Deny God the opporunity to bless us.
Pastor shared about contentment.
To whom little is not enough, nothing is enough.
A simple 3 room flat is good enough to me.
I do not need bigger or more expensive flat to prove anything.
I do not need many things to fill the house.
Simple with God's presence is the best dwelling.
God had taught me His grace is sufficient for me.
Hebrews 13:5 (NIV) Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
Contentment is a choice. When God said He will never leave us nor faorsake us, He means He will take care of every dimension of our life; including finances.
Be contented with the amount that we earn as per the ability and talents that God has given us.
Why should we give when we have not have enough?
Because if we follow the law of giving as stated in the Bible, other men/women will be the channel of God to us what we need.
Luke 6:38 (KJV) Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
How much we want God gives to us depend on how much we willing to give to God and others.
Teaspoon giving, teaspoon receiving.
Cupful giving, cupful receiving.
No giving.... no receiving. ;)
We are created to give generously of our time, talents and resources.
When we give, we are set to fly on our Heavenly Daddy's eagle wings.
I can testify that.
The flat that I co-own with my brother and his wife is sold recently in a real good price.
We are simple people with humble income.
It is God who provides us this good flat.
He is the One who meet our every needs.
Now that I wonder will God answer my prayer for my incoming needs. I recall this verse that I like:
1 Samuel 17:37 (NIV) The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you."
Thank God for this verse that lift up my faith.
My God who is faithful to me in the past will be faithful to me in the future.
Because He is a faithful God.
When I look to God, my heart is at rest.
He is my best Housing Agent. =)
I could not find suitable flat and feel a bit discourage.
There is more 4 room flat selling than 3 room flat.
I wonder will I end up buying a 4 room flat if there is no suitable 3 room flat.
But I am debt adverse.
All I need is a simple 3 room flat.
I do not need a 4 room flat.
Nor I want to pay more than what is beyond my comfortable financial level.
Holy Spirit reminded me to trust in God's provision and timing.
Stay focus on those flat that meet the requirements that I had set before God.
That is a 3 room flat on high floor (not top level).
Near to MRT but not next to it. (due to noise)
On the quiet side of MRT so that my parents no need to walk the overhead bridge or walk a long way to my flat.
Simple flat. Not over decorate.
Today went to http://www.trinity.net/.
The Sunday message is timely. It is on "How to avoid the debt trap".
It is to avoid debt as much as possible.
As debt robs us from the freedom of choice.
When we borrow more than our means to repay, we:
i. Lose sight of God as the Source of everything.
ii. Deny God the opporunity to bless us.
Pastor shared about contentment.
To whom little is not enough, nothing is enough.
A simple 3 room flat is good enough to me.
I do not need bigger or more expensive flat to prove anything.
I do not need many things to fill the house.
Simple with God's presence is the best dwelling.
God had taught me His grace is sufficient for me.
Hebrews 13:5 (NIV) Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
Contentment is a choice. When God said He will never leave us nor faorsake us, He means He will take care of every dimension of our life; including finances.
Be contented with the amount that we earn as per the ability and talents that God has given us.
Why should we give when we have not have enough?
Because if we follow the law of giving as stated in the Bible, other men/women will be the channel of God to us what we need.
Luke 6:38 (KJV) Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
How much we want God gives to us depend on how much we willing to give to God and others.
Teaspoon giving, teaspoon receiving.
Cupful giving, cupful receiving.
No giving.... no receiving. ;)
We are created to give generously of our time, talents and resources.
When we give, we are set to fly on our Heavenly Daddy's eagle wings.
I can testify that.
The flat that I co-own with my brother and his wife is sold recently in a real good price.
We are simple people with humble income.
It is God who provides us this good flat.
He is the One who meet our every needs.
Now that I wonder will God answer my prayer for my incoming needs. I recall this verse that I like:
1 Samuel 17:37 (NIV) The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you."
Thank God for this verse that lift up my faith.
My God who is faithful to me in the past will be faithful to me in the future.
Because He is a faithful God.
When I look to God, my heart is at rest.
He is my best Housing Agent. =)
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