ONLY BY GRACE

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 ...

UNBELIEVABLE! I'm on my way to becoming a first time home owner. And the process has been nothing short of Daddy God's provision and direction. PSALM 131 : SIMPLE TRUST IN THE LORD "Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor my eyes lofty. Neither do I concern myself with great matters, nor with things too profound for me. Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel (Grace), hope in the Lord from this time forth and forever."  A PLACE OF REFUGE, STRENGTH, JOY & HOPE.  A PLACE TO HOST HIS SWEET PRESENCE.  A PLACE WHERE HIS LIGHT WILL SHINE.  Was inspired by the feature on the couple who opened up their home to troubled youths and in my heart, I prayed I too can be like them. The house hunting journey started with exploring a private property and the lure of a luxurious lifestyle was so confronting. Upon deciding to give that up and continue searching for a resale fla...

A picture paints a 1000 words. Using scrabble tiles, I got the group to sum up their Outward Bound experience with words that symbolised their 5-days journey. Rather than to form bombastically intellectual words, they chose to form the names of every of the member in the team. It was a very heartening sight. This spoke of the connections shared amongst them and the extent of the inclusivity that surprised me as well.  #BOSENG2018 A group that wasn't mine to start with but quickly grew to adapt to one another pretty quickly. It helped that they were rather mature in their thoughts and able to also adjust to a new instructor within such a short span of time. Indeed, the only thing constant in life is change. This bunch did not just show me they had depth in their thinking but also the ability to accept and embrace different ones. I guess they would now be able to better appreciate the overall objectives of this MOE-OBS collaboration i.e. it's not just for one's...

A brand new post after 2 years to jot the milestones of 2018 - a year in which I embarked on a brand new journey in my career. Jan - June : Basic Instructor Training (BIT) What a deceiving term! It wasn't at all basic! Many times during the course of the training I found myself questioning if I did the right thing to make a switch. It has been such a long time that I felt so inadequate and I realised that feeling of incompetency can be what deters people from stepping out to try something new. It didn't help that every Friday was an assessment of the modular we had to go through during the week. It was literally CONTINUAL ASSESSMENT! Nevertheless, I bit the bullet and hung onto the promise and hope that all these too shall pass! Some snapshots to mark the grueling trainings that turned us from "zero to hero". Needless to say, our skin colour also changed. July - Sept : Co-Instructions & Assessment Plunging into the life of being an instru...

First holiday with my brother and the 9 days were absolutely memorable, albeit went by too quickly. As the saying goes, time flies when one is having fun. Indeed. It may not have been as epic as my 2014 Easter Europe escapade, but this trip was significant in strengthening the sister-brother bond. As much as having 2 trips in succession has its toll on my bank account, I don't feel that a single cent was wasted.  Great help to have! On our way to Jeju & the wind was crazy! There were many highlights in this trip but I'm just going to put down the Top 5: #1: MT HALLASAN HIKE via Eorimok Trail Summary of our unforgettable hike in winter.  One of the many breathtaking scenes that welcomed us during the trek.  We weren't even sure if we were able to complete the 3hrs trek & catch the last bus as there's a cut-off time period and limited shuttle service during winter. But God truly knows the desire of our hearts and upon reaching th...

What is most rewarding about teaching is to be able to embark on a journey with the students. I have had the best 3 years of walking with these kiddos who have now officially graduated. I will miss them dearly.  All good things must come to an end and as I prepare to close this chapter, I hope I will continue to be that ONE teacher who will be able to influence young minds. I may not have a close attachment with all of them but I do know that each of them has left an indelible mark in my life.  Greater things are yet to come! :) 

NIKE. ADIDAS. KATE SPADE. MACDONALDS. STARBUCKS... All are world renowned brands that transcend almost all communities globally. These brands are able to strike a chord with us because they mean something be it our social status, earning power and essentially our identity.  Not that these brands determine who we are but there's this connection that makes us want to be associated with these labels.  What will the 'brand of Christianity' be and look like then? If I were to create a logo/symbol representing Christianity, what would it be? When we share the gospel or tell of who Jesus is, how will these pre-believers envision what Christianity is and ultimately, who will they become when they put on this brand? a) Ephesians  5:1 - " Therefore be imitators of God as dear children." 5:8 - "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord . Walk as children of light. " b) Philippians 1:27 - "Only let your conduct be...