I saw these few Christian comic strips on fb and instantly fell in love with them. Love the way the expression were captured on these pics.

# 1

# 2

# 3

# 4

#5

#6

and my favourite (other than the one I posted previously):

#7

I feel that I'm like the kid in the picture! hahaha! frustrated and tired with so many things yet not talking to God and only seeking him as the last resort. Sometimes we are so frustrated with problems that we forgot that God is just beside us, offering His hands to share in our burdens. Don't put God as our last resort but always seek Him first yeah!!

which comic strip do you like most?

forgiveness

forgiveness that reaches out to the undeserving. just as Jesus forgave those who mocked him, humiliated him and rejected him.

(Ephesians 4:31-32) “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

Happy New year!

haha I know this is a super belated post as it's already 23 days post new year. I was reading my blog entry 2009 new year's and thought to myself, what did I do on new year ah and nearly couldn't recall. so before I forget, i better write it in this blog.

it was just like any other days I guess. New year's eve was on Friday, there was no cell group and we did not prepare a proper meal. We went to L&V house for thanksgiving and watched London fireworks on the telly. On New year day, we were rudely awakened by Steph who was annoyed because she missed her bus to London as her iphone alarm clock did not ring (others around the world were also affected lol). what a way to start new year!!

That evening, we went to L&V's house again for a steamboat and celebrated two church members' birthday! there was a game of mafia (in which everyone falls asleep and a killer wakes up and kill people).

Just a recap of 2010, it started off quite badly with lots of downs but thank God that looking back, I have not become weaker but stronger from all the struggles. Friendships were strengthened and spiritually I was more stable than the previous years. However, 2010 saw the leaving of many friends in Leeds and the breakdown of many relationships.

Last year, my specific goals were

1. serve in church

2. master the guitar

3. read 12 books

and I achieved no1 as i started playing keyboard for sunday worship in april last year and am now more involved in cell. Still got lots to improve on though because the confidence and the trust I have in God are still lacking. speaking of guitar, ironically, I told myself 2 years before that I would never play guitar but ended up liking it more than keyboard. I haven't yet mastered the guitar lol but thanks to my sifu, grahammchoo.blogspot.com and Esther who started the weekly guitar lesson in April (which unfortunately have to be discontinued because the sifu left :( ) ,I have started playing guitar for cell also! :D :D all glory to God

din manage to achieve no 3. don't think I even managed to read 5 books last year.

This year, my goals will be:

1. to learn to play by ear

2. to learn to sing!!

3. to maintain current weight (meaning no more losing weight :D)

4. read 6 books in a year (decided not to be too ambitious)

5. save a certain amount of money

Spiritually, I have made a few 'one-year deals' with God and pray that I will keep to the promise :D it will be a year when I learn to have full dependence and submission on God. good night!!

Past Christmases

How I spent my Christmases in the UK for the past 5 years:

Christmas in Edinburgh 2006

Christmas in Buxton 2007

Christmas celebration in Leeds when Andrew came and on Christmas day itself, went to Kyle's 2008

Christmas fine dining at CF's and dinner with the Spenceley's 2009

Christmas 2010

how will Christmas 2011 be?

"follow me"

i'm inclined to share with you my quiet time which I did on my way back home from Bradford. It was in the book of Matthew, chapter 9 where Jesus called Matthew to be one of his disciples and although it was short passage, it spoke to me.

Matthew 9:9

⁹ As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.

I wonder why of all people, did Jesus see a tax collector?

What caught Jesus' eyes?

What was Matthew doing? was he crying or waving at Jesus that caught Jesus' attention?

The bible is very quiet about this.

Jesus must have seen something that other people can't see.

Perhaps Matthew wasn't crying or waving at him.

Perhaps he was sitting at the booth counting coins, performing the daily duties of a tax collector. But deep within inside his heart, he feels that empty. He feels that there's something more to life than just collecting coins. He feels the pain and hurt from rejected by people.

He wonders if there is someone who could close the gap in his heart and perhaps at that very moment of the time his heart might be crying out, 'if there is a God, reveal yourself to me and I'm willing to let go of everything to follow you!!"

Jesus knows the condition of his heart and I think that's what caught Jesus' attention.

That was when Jesus approached him, "Follow me". In Matthew's mind, he must be so amazed and so surprised because someone heard his cry for help and it was God! Jesus came seeking for him!

and that's why he stood up, left everything he has and followed Jesus.

I would like to imagine Matthew feeling hopeless and meaningless about life and his spirit broken. Because in Psalms 51:17

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

By being broken, we can approach God humbly; not proud, not arrogant, not relying on our strength and not being selfish.

Supposedly if Matthew was at the top of his world, at the peak of his career and success, he wouldn't have left everything and follow Jesus. He would be thinking, 'why is this mad man asking me to follow Him. No way!!'

But Matthew was humble and broken when Jesus called him. Life has disappointed him, it has broken him down to the point where he can't pick himself up anymore.

God knows the condition of our heart even when we are trying to hide from everyone else.

I thank you God for seeking me when I was lost and hopeless. You picked me up when my life was broken and you called me. I did not respond instantly as Matthew did because I have doubts and did not have faith in you.

I realised I can't do things on my own strength and will but to fully depend on Yours. I have to let go of things that are dear to me because it's Your will and not mine to be fulfilled.

***

my birthday!!

Very happy and very touched.

Thank you all who came to surprise me. Thank you Van who organised everything (and the cake too). Thanks Sonia and Van who did the make up. Thank you to those who came for dinner at Red Chillies. Thank you Steph for the kuey tiaw and the paitesserie cake and the necklace. And thank you all for the handbag! I am kinda bad at expressing my emotions but I really like the bag!!!!! so soft and it smells like leather hahaha

I din dare to hope so much for fear of disappointment. But am really grateful and appreciative of all the efforts you guys made, especially for coming all the way, braving through the cold and rain to surprise me.

T.T