The faith I grew up knowing and still believing it.

'Love' is the purest thing that could ever come out from a person's inner being. 'Love' conquers everything. 'Love' was also well defined in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. 'Love' is pure. All because of 'Love', because of God's son who gave up his life and suffered terribly on the cross for ME (and everyone else in this world, I said ME to personalize things), I am set free from the curses of life and bondages of sin, and that I can become one of God's children; more than a conqueror; inheritance of the Kingdom of God. Even though I am not perfect, that I am a sinner, my Father still loves me for who I am. He still allows His blessings and promises to be on me because He wants to show me how immeasurably big His love is for me. This is His grace. But His grace should never be taken for granted of. The grace of God is that we repent, turn away from the wrong, change and live a new life. Not just one time, but throughout our lives.

There are standards to live up to once we're His sons and daughters. But they are never too hard for us, they are to help us live a wise life, a holy life, a set-apart life because God is holy. How can light and darkness live together? How can water and oil merge into one? Hey, God sent Jesus down to earth and died on the cross with a price to pay, and that was an innocent blood. Moreover, Jesus is GOD'S Son- only son and he was so precious to the Father. So, the price is not cheap. Not anyone can just die on the cross to take away everyone's sins so that we can become God's children and go stay with God forever, the God who is holy, pure and sinless. It must be done in a way that that person is a somebody. It must be God's Son. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one; just like water, ice and steam are one. No good work can make us enter heaven, or be good enough to make God loves us. God already love us from the very beginning, He is our Creator. But because of our error in sinning, He gave Jesus to die on the cross for us, so that we are set free from chains of sin and bondages. Through Jesus, we now have the pathway to come back to God. Even the best good work(s) we do to make us feel holy are like filthy rags. That's because we are sinners. Holiness and righteousness come from God, other than that is self-holiness and self-righteouness. Only by accepting the truth and purpose of the cross, and by believing in the power of the cross give us the authority to trample satan and his troop who try to entice us with pleasures of the world. What has been done by Jesus can save our lives on earth and our souls after we die physically here on earth, and that we will never have to die forever because our souls will live forever with God in heaven. The body is temporary. All will have to die but after that, where do the souls go? It's important to know where we are heading because we don't want regrets that last forever. Like it is better to ask someone who knows surely the way to KL rather than asking someone who roughly knows the way to KL. Who do you want to follow? Jesus says in John 14:6 :" I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." Jesus's blood on the cross has washed away our sins. How? We repent, change and believe! We are then new and clean again! The old cannot bind us up anymore! By His strips, when the roman soldiers whipped Him and tore off His flesh, those strips are the ones that, if we believe, we are healed from diseases and hurts. After Jesus died on the cross, He rose up on the third day and what happened? He didn't die physically to go up to heaven. He was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God! - says the Bible.

(Yesss, it's a long post because I'm so amazed with this love right now! I know that you are scrolling down hahahaha. Just read! :D)

The power of that cross shows us that Jesus has overcome death and we too are over comers. We are Jesus's brothers and sisters, co-heirs of God's kingdom. That is how much God loves us. As princes and princesses of that divine kingdom, we have to live like one. In that kingdom, God is King and Ruler. We are under that authority, that protection. It's like Aslan's kingdom in Narnia, the good one. But because the temptations and distractions of this world can be so overwhelming, Holy Spirit is given to us by God as a helper, to help us live that kind of life we ought to live- as citizens of God's kingdom. In that kingdom, there is power to do supernatural things. HS helps us to discern what God is saying to us, how God wants things to do, and what are God's way in doing things. God is good. He will not cheat us. He will not abandon us even when we made mistakes. So when we die here, our spirits know where we are heading to- God's kingdom, the spiritual realm. There, we receive the glorious crown and all kinds of reward because we made a decision here on earth to follow the kingdom of light and live like one. Saying that we're Christians is not enough, we must put our sayings into actions too. Faith without action is dead. There are only 2 types of kingdom- evil and good. We all know what's the ending of every story, the good wins! The choice is so clear! Time is running up when God won't be so kind anymore, when He decided not to tolerate with sins anymore and returns to bring only His children- the ones who endured life and live for Him, back Home forever. He is a winner, He won over the grave, He won over death! We are more than over comers!- says Romans 8:28-39. Nothing can separate us from God's love-neither death or life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present or future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God, that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God is love! Serving God is never a burden. "For My yolk is easy and my burden is light,". Joy comes in too when we serve with a genuine heart. Throughout my life, things of the world never satisfies me fully. Even after I got them already- a string of As in my SPM, done this done that, ate this and ate that, went here and went there, there is still a void inside me and that void needs to be filled. We are all created just like that. We all need God. We all need to love and be loved. It's in our DNA. How foolish it is to say we don't need a God like Him. We will die. No one like God can create the waters, or blood, or the sun. How can we expect to be citizens of Heaven when we don't live like one? I anticipate so much of moving in with God every now and then and have my bros and sis in Christ as my neighbours, who also ran the race of purity together, at the end of the day when we reach Home, we do what we love doing- painting, drawing, building, writing songs, decorating flowers, singing, telling God thank you for this awesome place in heaven, visiting each other, throw a party etc. and no more worries, sadness and crying anymore. That's the best part! This is a fallen world, where the word 'love' has been sometimes misused, distorted, abused, overused whatever you called and love becomes so cheap. But know that God's love is perfect. I don't understand His love sometimes, because it is too big for me to comprehend. All I know is that, every time I failed, He is there, ready to embrace me, dry my tears and fix things.

Read the Bible!! It's like a treasure! Where you will find creativity, insights, inspirations, healing, comforts, wisdom, knowledge, whatever you want to find. This is because, it is God's word. He breathed life into those words, just as how he breathed the breath of life into dust and it formed a man- Adam. And those words in the Bible contain power and authority to help us in life, to bring us up to our feet again when we fall and we can't get up, to give us hope again, to give us life. I have to stop now, otherwise, this doesn't end hahaha. Yeah, pick up that book and read. After that, views about life and God will never be the same. No regrets ;)

OMG.

Loved.
Even though I know I don't deserve.
Saved.
All because of my sake.
Healed.
He wants to pay off all my bills.
Taught.
So that with people I won't find fault.
Without You, what will I do? What will become of me? Nothing, but a waste waiting to be thrown into a dump.
With You, I am forever safe. I am forever healthy. I am forever Yours.

My sister, Esther

The morning warmth fills my room. By then, me in my pyjamas, I know that it's time to wake up.

Half awake, I walk down the stairs with my glasses on, I step into the White Myvi undoubtedly.

It's time to fetch my sister to work.

Nope, not on the wheels.

I land myself right on the passenger's seat.

Sometimes we have small talks, other times we have the HTHT session- Heart To Heart Talk. But most of the time, I would rather snooze in the car while she's driving. Thinking about how much more time left for me to spend with her, before she heads for work and the only time I get to see her is at night, late night; and knowing that I won't be long anymore in Malaysia, I choose to be awake and talk.

I'm gonna miss her, my best friend, when I leave for Boston next year.

We do argue, but we patch up later onwards, knowing that keeping grudges in our hearts is the most silly thing to do. A simple sorry erases mistakes. That of course, comes together with the willingness of heart to change for a better. Even if we try, or tried, that is good enough for me. To me, whatever we do, it's the heart that matters most.

My sister is the person I like to share with most of my stuffs. She offers good advice, biblical ones, practical (but sometimes, it's just her opinion), and I trust her. She gets teased often by me, and I know that sometimes it just gets on her nerves. I get teased from her too, she's really good in talking, champion. But in the end we both just laughed over whatever embarrassing stuffs we can recall.

She's the outspoken one, and I'm the more careful, reserved. Anyhow, we both learn from each other- from our personalities, characters, insights and many more.

December 2007
Christmas Carol
Sis and I

If I were to pen down every account about her and how we grew up together, I could write a book.

:)

21 stuffs about me

Some 21 random things about myself that I can think of right now :) The likes and dislikes may vary from time to time.

1. I sneeze every time I eat durians. I don't know why, but that shows that they must be bitterly good. I have a friend who sneezes every time he sees the sun LOL.
2. I once got choked on a hard rectangular chocolate-from-the-fridge, coughed on my food and my parents scolded me (coz they didn't know), they thought I was spreading the germs or something. I'm okay! God saved my life that's why I'm blogging now.
3. I got a silver and a bronze medal for swimming competition when I was 8! There was only 3 participants.
4. I still remember my first art class project. It was a huge green frog with its mouth open. I can make one right now.
5. When I was in primary school, I love joining story telling competition in English, Malay and Chinese, poem reciting competition, public speaking, choral speaking and drama. But I still have stage fright.
6. I'm afraid of using the lift. What happens if I get stuck and dieee there?? Plan B : Run for the escalator!
7. I used to climb mountains, wander in the forest alone, hunt for snakes in the mountains with my friends, climb trees for rambutans, collect rubber seeds and simply ring my neighbour's door bell and dash off before I get screwed.
8. I like seeing old photos and switching on to my favourite music.
9. If you ask me to choose a holiday place that has good food, shopping or nice scenery, I can't choose. I want all! But, food is still on top of my list.
10. I once travelled all the wasy to Ipoh just to eat Taugeh KaiFan and came back in one day; to Melacca for Cendol and then back in one day; from Kuantan to Kemaman (T'gganu) for crab and coffee, and then back to Kuantan. For food, I would do anything for it!
11. Tea or coffee? Coffee makes breath stinky ;P Tea is good for health.
12. I like guys who love photography, sports, food, and music. Gotta be a little picky when choosing a life partner. Hey, it's like, for the rest of your life you're putting up with the other hahaha. He who reads and writes well, and is a foodie (ohmnomnom like me) would be a bonus.
13. If I would to receive a gift, I'd like something useful. Or something that feeds my happy stomach.
14. Time, actions, gifts and touch are some love languages. When I spend my time with you or did something for you, it means that I care for you.
15. When I was young, I don't play with Barbie dolls. My toys were dinosaurs, T-Rex, plastic cooking utensils, flash cards and books. Not so girly after all. I only got my first Barbie when I was 10 before moving down to KL as a farewell present from my best friend.
16. I have a huge scar on my left knee. It was because I fell down on the road while skipping on the road. The next day, I couldn't go for class year end trip to doughnut factory with my friends. Been waiting for it for 8 months :'(
17. I like riding the bicycle with my hands held high, like a boss. One evening it rained and I sped like lightning, couldn't break on time and was thrown off from my bike 270 degree. Head was on ground first. No injuries. Miracle. Just... shocked.
18. Why am I scared of dogs? Let me see. I was chased by a black fluffy dog. The one with its 'hair' fully covered its eyes. I ran for my LIFE with my two slippers flying in the sky. I decided to turn back at it and reprimand it : "In Jesus name I bind you!". It turned and ran away!
19. I like to drive, but I have problems parking my car.
20. I eat my vegetables not because I like it, but because it is healthy for me.
21. I always forget to check whether my car is locked after walking away from the car. And I have a hard time remembering where did I park my car.

Just some warm up blog post.

:)

A Prelude

"Here I Pen Down" is a series of emotional brainwork occurring that captures the very essence of this blogger . Be it a thought that tickles her bone or a heart-warming scene witnessed by her, in fact, anything that is random, encouraging and insightful- all these will be pen down right here.

It's a place where everyone can look through my lens :) -daphne