Links lately (May 2018 edition)

-This song "Oh My Soul" by Casting Crowns which Tristan shared in cell group last Friday.
"There's a place where fear has to face the God you know" <-this line hit me with a punch. It's so powerful to recognise that fear has no hold on us because Christ has won the battle and we are His redeemed.
-Bought tickets to Hong Kong last night for the BIG MOVE. It's scary (to be honest, more scary and sad than happy before) and exciting at the same time but I'm trying to instil a positive and looking-forward attitude to this big change. Yes, I can call it leaving home but that I've done when I went to uni years ago. Instead, I will call it moving to Hong Kong to start a new life, a new adventure. It's something to look forward to, not something to fear because fear is irrational and with God, there is always hope and peace. He has been guiding me and will continue to guide me as I enter a new season of my life and there's much excitement to it!
Of course I will be sad to leave my parents but like Vins said, my mom had to leave her parents' home when she got married to my dad too, and they've lived overseas faraway for a while too. It's okay and I will treasure the precious time with them more when I visit them in the future.
-I'm excited for GL & Ben's wedding reception this Sunday.
-This was inspiring for instilling gratitude
-This Kuching blogger. I discovered her while looking for dinner recommendations for my mom's birthday last year and only slowly warmed up to her content, and lately I've been inspired by her creativity.

Writing #4

I read from I'm Kristen's writing once that the moment you made your vows during your wedding ceremony, you would instantly feel married.
Looking back at our engagement/proposal photo, I do feel and see that--the instantaneous effect of the efficacy of the performative act of the proposal ceremony itself. It goes beyond the ritual and symbolism to effect a change in who we are. We were no longer just boyfriend and girlfriend. I said yes to him, promising that I would be on the road of preparing to get married to him. My face glowed, so did his without us putting on more makeup or a different outfit. We simply CHANGED. We were now engaged: fiance and fiancee.

This makes me think about the efficacy of God's salvation. When we laid down our self-righteousness to repent and turn to God for redemption, the moment we accepted Christ, we took on a new identity and our lives are not the same anymore. It's that instantaneous.

Even though everything had changed, a lot still remained the same and I had to claim this identity and remember who I am as I leave the Botanic Gardens on that wonderfully fairytale-like night, walking in the garden under the bright moonlight. "Dancing in the moonlight" came to mind while walking on the windy path next to the soft green grass. The Narnia-like lamps dotting the path, reminding me of Emmanuel--God with us. It was a night that changed me, even though I saw it coming. I am thankful for the effort Nick put into making the proposal one to remember for years to come, and grateful that our good friends Vins and Bert made the time to be there to capture the memories for us (as I am someone who treasures photos a lot).

Writing #3

Saturday morning：
阴天
阴凉
微风阵阵

感恩：
外婆和妈妈在厨房切切私语的“家庭声”
鸟儿在窗外唱歌、鸣叫着
爸爸在书房里尽力地在写书、预备明日的讲章

展望新的一天，
写了好长的一个to-do list
愿尽快完成

Music playlist：

Writing #2

Holy Spirit, live in me
You guide me and remind me of all Your Ways
Your Word is life to my weary soul

Holy Spirit, forgive me
I have forgotten Your power
Wanderer, I had been one

Dear Holy Spirit, thank you
You are the life-giver, You make me rejoice
In Your love

Revived, comforted, saved and safe
A sojourner who found solace
In the Mighty and Trustworthy One

Thank you, God. Three-in-One, Mystery, Beauty, and Love.

-> I was reminded by Lindsay and Mic, two very good sisters-in-Christ who have been constant encouragers and gentle presences in my life. When I felt misunderstood, they would speak gentle words of wisdom and truth into my stubborn soul and encourage me to slowly, just would you turn to God? And my hardened heart would slowly let the crack of light in. After a long period of negativity surrounding my transition to a new place, I have finally experienced the Holy Spirit's work in me in a real and immediate way! Seeing how He can change my heart and previously built-up perceptions about certain people and situation (related to HK) is so freeing and amazing! I suddenly reclaimed my identity as a child of God who is free to live a life that roots itself in the joy and peace God gives! No longer sulky and doubtful about what the future brings but full of expectancy in God's faithfulness and power to work through my life--if only I would have let Him!
Thank you Jesus! You are wonderful and beautiful and everything I need.

Writing #1

Having a routine, keeping it simple. These are what I most admire in the bloggers and instagrammers who inspire me nowadays. I wish that I have this quality in myself now.
The ability to write well, without fearing what I write is not presentable or inaccurate.
The ability to have consistency in photo taking and editing style. Sharing my work and hobby with the world without worrying about what others think of what I put out there. I would always have periods of when I feel like posting on IG or writing a blog post. Then there would be a hiatus when I do not feel like posting at all. It's like I have a social media mood swing.

I was happy to have written something yesterday morning (it was for a jobs questionnaire). I just let my words flow instead of thinking too much and when I proofread it to edit it, I was surprised that the sentences were put together quite nicely. I still have it inside of me to write and to produce worthwhile things even though I've been feeling like I lack talent and skills in doing anything since I've been jobless. All those applications sent out with no replies do add up to discourage a person over time. It's ruthless like that.

I had started a reading project and I am kind of at the low point now where I do not feel the motivation to keep up with it but I will pick it up at a fuller speed soon, I believe I will. I stopped my 365 photo project because I started feeling the dread of posting things that do not inspire me.

Tending a garden

Heart-shaped leaves

I am back in Kuching after spending several days in SA for Chinese New Year this year. This year's CNY was similar to past years, not as exciting as CNY used to be when I was younger but family stayed a strong bond for the cause of CNY. The one very different thing this year was how I would hear people saying "this is your last year of getting an ang pao! ;)" Coming back to Kuching, we went to several old church friends' homes and I was impressed by each of their well-tended gardens. They are all so knowledgeable in pruning, watering, giving fertilisers, and growing their plants--fruit trees, vegetables, and flowers. Once I walked into their house compound, I could feel the joy and beauty of a garden that has been taken care of, inspiring me to learn to grow a garden too! Here are some photos I took of our little balcony garden, using my Canon dslr which had been sleeping for a while since I have just been using my phone camera.

Mom planted paddy!

Vegetable which we have harvested and eaten

A life well lived

News of deaths always jolt us awake from our everyday routine. Why do we always wait till a thunder sound to jolt us awake when we should be living alert, being watchful for the day Christ returns? Billy Graham, a name that no doubt will evoke a picture of "a good and faithful servant" of God. A role model for us living Christians, to press on towards the goal, keeping our eyes on Christ.
A young adult cell group brother whom I've only met once briefly. He was a doctor, only two years older than I am. I do not know much about him except that he was friendly and made a good impression even though I've only seen him once at a cell group event, and his facebook post about God. We do not understand why God called him home so early, and in such a tragic car accident too, but he did live a good life--for God and loving people.
May we live each day with a worshipful attitude, letting God be the centre of my life, so that our days will be counted worthwhile.

Links lately

A beautiful day in Hong Kong

-This coffeeshop jazz playlist has been great for keeping me focused while working and reading lately
-Loving the new layout on the Cakies blog and her honest sharing of living life by God's grace
-These really helpful sermons/talks by 余德淳博士 related to EQ, how to deal with anxiety etc
-This winter song by Roy Kim that has been on repeat
-This Krist Soup pantry organisation video because I love organisation and those mason jars
-My rediscovered twitter account where I share my thoughts and reflections on history, music, and theology
-Other than that, I've mostly been on instagram

03.11.2013

A typical day in my postgraduate studies day in Bristol. Looking back, I miss these days. The roads I always took, the seasons, and the mundane.

The gym is next to the arts and social science library. 

 Walking over to the local food store to buy some fruits. Actually I rarely went to this store but I did that day to treat myself to some healthy options instead of my usual Sainsbury's haul.

A walk around York after Sunday service

Sing Yee is also from Kuching/Sarawak so it was so lovely to meet her in the UK. These photos were taken on a typical winter day in York in January after church. ps: I miss York.