ONLY BY GRACE

In Every Circumstance "God’s ideas about our flourishing are different than ours. We think flourishing means eight hours of shut-eye, a good job, being surrounded by people who treat us with respect, being given the opportunity to succeed at something, good medical care, a loving marriage, and happy children. Those are good things, but they are not the things God is most concerned about supplying us in this life for our flourishing. In God’s economy, we flourish when our need for Him is met in Him.  There is no circumstance under heaven that God isn’t using to grow us into oaks of righteousness. There is no need that He won’t fill with Himself. The promise is really true: God really will supply all our needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus ( Philippians 4:19 ). There is nothing we truly need that is not found in Christ . Even more, the circumstances of being denied an earthly need or desire are often His tailored means of accelerating our holin...

Newest additions : Gabe & Shane Leong  I AM OFFICIALLY AN AUNTIE TO 2 NEPHEWS!!!  When asked how I feel about the arrival of the twins, I really didn't know what or how to feel. To some extent, there was a mixture of jealousy and envy because having twins was something I wished for myself.  Truth be told, I wasn't that excited as I had to adjust to the house being more crowded, messier and my personal space became smaller. All these nagging thoughts and feelings were a struggle and I was thankful for my camps as they became like mini retreats for me.  In any case, I had to accept the fact that the family has expanded and I had to take stock of my own emotions and to commit them to God appropriately. Took my time to be familiar with the twins and learnt to carry these fragile little things. There's something magical about having a tiny bub in your arms. The feeling is especially warm when the little one snuggles near the bosom (the position of security a...

My 2nd RAC course turned out to be a memorable one. What I initially thought will be a disastrous week actually became one that will stick with me for a long time to come.  A motley all-boys group comprising of St Pats, GMSS , Deyi and HCI. The first impression the group gave me wasn't a very positive one with a few whose body language clearly told me that they really did not want to attend the camp. A sinking feeling hit me as I started my first get-to-know-you conversations. It wasn't as pleasant nor positive like my previous few courses. Nevertheless, I had to just press in and do my best to liven up the atmosphere and to have the boys buy into the programme slowly but surely.  If anything, I believe Simon and myself had divine favour as we heard of other instructors dealing with scuffles and defiant students who had to eventually be dealt by the higher management. In comparison, I believe we had a reasonably manageable group. Not only were we able to have control over ...

Change can be refreshing although daunting especially when we don't know what the change will bring. Change is not always something that we look forward to. Not when we are in our comfort zones. But it is a necessary disruption to shake us out of our comfort and subsequent complacency. 2018 has been a year of change personally. The most significant one has to be the switch in my work environment. What beholds me after the 3 years? A question that has been posed to me several times by different one. I still have no answer at this point. One thing I do know is the mission to be a "Guard-Post" remains the bedrock of my stint in OBS; regardless of my duties and roles in time to come. I can only cling onto the ONE who has led me thus far and the ONE who clearly knows my future and the paths I have to tread on. He will never fail me. If anything, this is the assurance and promise that will keep me trudging forward no matter what the days ahead may look like; be it sunny or ...