i ♥

Brandy Snap Peter Pan Collar Dress

The Foxglove Party Dress

50s Style LBD - Also by Isabel Knowles

Illustrated by Oslo And Alfred

Illustrated by Amy Borrell (Cake with Giants)

A reminder to set my mind on things above

"Why do we have to go so far back into the archives of our lives to look for that one time we recognized God moving in our lives? I dare say that we miss the glory moments that flash before us and even linger around us because we don't expect them to be there. David recognized what God was doing in his own life. He listened to what God was doing in other people’s lives. And then he invited all to join together and tell about the glory moments in a grand celebration." (Taken from GIG Devotions)

David wrote in Psalm 145,

“I will exalt You, my God the King
I will praise Your name forever and ever
Every day I will praise You and extol Your name forever and ever
Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise
His greatness no one can fathom



One generation will commend Your works to another
They will tell of Your mighty acts
They will speak of the glorious splendor of Your majesty
And I will meditate on Your wonderful works
They will tell of the power of Your awesome works
And I will proclaim Your great deeds
They will celebrate Your abundant goodness
And joyfully sing of Your righteousness"

A close friend passed away on the 20th of October. Though always fit and healthy, Yen was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer around her 31st birthday last year. It had spread to her bones and doctors gave her three to four months. The news was devastating and the past fifteen months incredibly arduous, but God spoke clearly about bringing joy into the situation, and so she believed, clung to Him in faith and continually gave thanks.

Yen allowed God to have the last say on how a life-changing event was really going to change her life. She could have lost hope and wavered in her faith or simply chosen to pull back on ministry for the purposes of recuperating, but she pressed on with tenacity to see God move powerfully. And He did.

People may hear of her story and say she lost the battle with a relentless disease. But I say she came out victorious by holding onto God's relentless love. Yes we mourn our loss and grieve for her family, but they too celebrate her getting to be with Jesus far ahead of us all. We rejoice in what she gained through surrendering her fears and burdens to God and choosing to love, serve and honour Him and His people fully no matter what condition her body was in.

People may see a life taken prematurely and call it unfair, but I see a life that was fully given to God and who, in exchange, received emotional healing and blessings beyond what is temporary (such as her parents' salvation). And we are grateful that God gave her far more time than the doctors predicted.

Yen's father, though still young in his faith, spoke to her one day about taking the journey one step at a time with God's grace. He said that while he and her family would fervently pray for her physical wellness, they were ready to let God choose how and when to answer their pleas. Yen's father recognised God's sovereignty and decided to let God be God.

When I read of her father's conviction on the matter, it occurred to me how I always pray with conditions attached. I do this because of fear and the need to protect loved ones, myself and all we have. Despite having experienced God's faithfulness, mercy and generous provision, I am still afraid of getting hurt, and my lack of trusting in His goodness and plans means I try to dictate what should and should not happen in the future.

Yen's testimony has impacted more people than I may ever know because she never gave up believing in who God says He is and in His perfect will. But what I do know is that her legacy of pursuing God wholeheartedly and, in return, experiencing true joy and fulfilment will continue as those of us who had the priviledge to call her friend retell her story and build on the spiritual foundation she has left behind.

I pray that her four-year old daughter will grow in her knowledge of God on a deep and personal level, that she may carry on what Yen started - a declaration of God's wonderful character; proclamation of His mighty works and uninhibited praise for His unending and unfailing love.

[Songs: Set a Fire and I Want to Know You]

Instagram - Life in Pictures

'Transformed' - Church camp has set many of us on a new course

Using our annual pass to enjoy the view from Q1

A spontaneous drive to the Tweed Heads
uncovered an eye-catching place

Tweed Heads - it was still too cold to swim

Vietnamese lunch with the cute couples from Church

I test out my new i-Phone app

The weather has turned ridiculously hot so soon!
Time for iced teas, freshly made juices & yummy smoothies
This one with banana, peanut butter and organic soy milk

A special find at Kingscliffe beach yesterday 

We're going to invest in a nice beach umbrella one day!

Excited that I found pretty striped paper straws at the discount store

"Go in that might"

While no man is perfect, Daniel lived a blameless life. He loved and obeyed God, and was above reproach. For this, Daniel was highly esteemed by the Lord. Yet he fell with trepidation when encountering an angel. All strength left him and he was helpless. No one else was able to see the angel but they fled in great fear, perhaps from sensing the angel's presence. If it was due to their sin and lack of repentance, then it would be fair to say that Daniel could have stood upright before the angel for he had nothing to be ashamed of and no reason to tremble. 

Gideon did not flinch when an angel found him in a winepress threshing wheat. The winepress, a place to crush grapes for the purpose of celebration, had been turned to a place of hiding. Gideon's identity, too, was lost. Instead of fighting in the time of war, he took on what was traditionally the role of a woman and cowered from the enemy. He hid as he was afraid the powerful Midianites would steal the harvest since they had been oppressing his people. Yet he had no reverent fear when the angel appeared. In fact, Gideon looked the angel straight in the eye and asked why God had abandoned his community after leading them out of Egypt. He expressed his anger and disappointment to the angel without so much as batting an eyelid. To this, the angel encouraged him to direct the zeal he had to question God's character towards conquering the Midianites. 

The angel could have put Gideon in his place for dishonouring God, particularly considering all God had done for Gideon's people. Despite instructing them how to live righteously, they blatantly disobeyed and landed themselves in a great mess. Instead, the angel gave Gideon a high calling. God wanted to restore Gideon's identity and free his people. 

I look at Gideon's response to the angel's visit and recognise my pride. I too have not claimed my identity, and am more fearful of what man can do to me than I am concerned about where my heart stands with God. Daniel dropped to his knees out of reverent fear and awe. He was humble before God and cared most about what the Lord thought of him and how he led his life. Gideon had lost the knowledge of who was truly sovereign. Unlike Daniel, he did not have a clear and life-changing revelation of God's love, grace and power. Gideon's encounter with the angel was the start of his transformation.

For years, I have asked God to reveal His heart in a way that completely convinces and convicts me of His love. I believe if I can just absorb the truth of how He sees me, my life will never be the same again. I will have real joy, peace, hope and the ability to love others. I have had personal encounters of His presence and goodness but while I understand I will never fully grasp the depth of His love, I need an insight that will give me the breakthrough my life so desperately requires. 

Do I fail to experience Him the way others do because of the unwillingness to surrender totally? To let go of  my doubts, discontentment, unforgiveness, fear of people's opinions and consequent actions; resentment towards perverted and violent men? If I made the decision that it would be perfectly fine to appear undignified or be a Jesus freak, would that enable me to connect with God? 

It's interesting that God gave Gideon a smaller 'encounter' or experience each time. First came the angel, which you would think is a pretty big and scary deal, then came said angel proving himself by setting Gideon's offering on fire commanded with a staff. Next were the signs of the wet and dry pieces of fleece, and lastly, an unbelieving foe telling a friend about his dream of wheat rolls descending from the hilltop to destroy their camp, which the friend immediately decided referred to them dying by Gideon's sword. 

As Gideon took steps of obedience, he needed less convincing and was able to lead his people to victory. What about me? Do I keep seeking for a greater encounter without stepping out to pray for another to experience God? Am I withholding from blessing others with what God has already given me? I just feel I need more to be able to give out though. How can I take someone to where I have never been myself? But perhaps it begins with me using the tenacity with which I question God to fight the enemy so his lies of my identity and the situations I perceive in the natural no longer overwhelm me. 

Like the angel encouraged Gideon, I too must "go in that might". 

[Points above adapted from Pastor Lance's teaching on Daniel 10 and Judges 6 at prayer meeting tonight]

Reflecting on the Word

John 7: 17-18 "Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but the person who seeks the glory of the One who sent them is a person of truth; there is nothing false about them."

These verses stood out because I have often caught myself covering the truth to protect my "reputation" and avoid "human consequences" such as receiving a look of disappointment or reprimand. This passage challenges me to place God's will above my own so I may live as a person of truth and integrity. It reminds me that knowing God's heart more requires consistent reading of the Bible and delving deeper to understand what He's trying to tell me. When I speak and act, I want to do so out of love for God and people, not selfish ambition or fear of the opinions of others. 

John 7: 37-38 "On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”

It's interesting that Jesus should talk about being thirsty after a great feast, but the context allows us to see that He clearly wasn't referring to natural thirst. So then, if we aren't to take Him in the literal sense, what exactly did Jesus mean? I'm just coming out of what I term a "spiritual dry spell" because I made an active choice at our recent Church camp to not just let my relationship with God fall by the wayside. It has been a challenge for me to remain true to His devotion because my usual routine is to gravitate towards the television and fill the spaces in my time with non-constructive activities and "noise". Still, I want to be a blessing to others, which means I need to refuel by drawing strength from God. Only then will life flow and I won't continue to run on empty, dragging my feet to work and begrudgingly participating in ministry. 

James 3: 17-18 "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness."

This is a good yardstick for me because I often wonder if what I have in my head to say to someone is godly wisdom or just me talking. I question myself because my motives aren't always good. I have a tendency to want to speak my mind in a way that I am "offering advice" when really my heart just wants the person to be put in their place. True wisdom (i.e. wisdom from God) is pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit. It is impartial and sincere. I cannot rely on my emotions and skewed thinking anymore if I am to demonstrate these attributes. I need to renew my mind with God's truth.

Deuteronomy 7: 9 "Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments."

God has indeed been faithful to my family for generations past and present, and I know He will continue to be faithful for generations to come as Fab and I choose to continue in the godly heritage we have. We want to leave a legacy for our children and their children and their children's children. A legacy that is good, everlasting and in line with the will of God. 

Blessed 12th Anniversary!

Banga & Biga aka my sister and brother-in-law

i ♥

Nomuu Art

Apple Papple and Pirum Parum
by Elisabeth Dunker of Fine Little Day

'Transform' - Camp 2012

Day 1:

Image of a person sifting for gems in a river with a flat basket (similar to gold panning) - I felt God tell me that we need to go deeper and be patient. It takes time to sift for jewels and we should not just skim the surface of the river but get past the layers of water, sand, gravel, broken shells.

It takes time to recognise when we've found something valuable because it may not stand out to us at first but as we realise what we have found, it motivates us to persist.

God's word (in the Bible or in rhema form) is like an unending supply of gems hidden for us to uncover as in a treasure hunt. When our fingers are finally wrapped around the precious stone, our hearts are delighted and so it goes that we look forward to digging up the next piece of treasure (revelation of His word and character) God has in store for us. 

This never gets dull unless we allow our minds to be sullied by the water, sand, gravel and broken shells, representative of the busyness and distractions in our lives; of our frustrations, hurts, unforgiveness and guilt. 

We need to make time to encounter God.

Day 3:

Vision of a hot air balloon still tied down - the people in the basket began to cut the ropes and release a few sand bags but each time they took one step towards allowing the hot air balloon to rise fully, they hesitated as the cutting of the ropes and letting go of the sandbags brought instability. The shaking of the basket brought discomfort to the people and they began to let uncertainty of the journey ahead hinder them from going further so the hot air balloon remained just suspended from the ground.

The ropes and sandbags represent different things to different people. It could be our need for control, our fear of the opinions of others or our lack of trust in who God says He is and what He says He can do. We prefer to remain grounded as it doesn't require leaving our comfort zone and what we feel is more sure.

This limits how far we can go in our walk with God. It limits us from experiencing what God wants to bring into our lives. It prevents Him from showing us more (imagine the incredible view from a hot air balloon).

It may seem frightening at first but the adventure is one of a life time and it will bring us much joy and fulfillment. We need not be afraid because God will take care of us. His love is unfailing and His sovereignty unparalleled. He is a good and trustworthy God, and His plans to prosper us and give us a future far surpass anything we could ever dream of.

It is time to let go of what is holding us back and give God our complete trust. It is time to let Him steer the balloon and not try to determine the course. We are safer in the air with God than on the ground without Him. It is time to let God take us higher. 

*****

Our recent flight from Singapore was the most turbulent I have ever experienced. The shaking and rocking went on for a good six hours or so of the eight-hour journey. As usual, my anxiety level rose and I looked over at Fab with great concern. 

Turbulence does not unnerve Fab in the slightest but he knows all too well that I'm a terrible traveler. My heart starts racing and my palms get clammy. I can't eat or focus and every ounce of energy is devoted to pleading for God to make the dropping sensation go away. Fab advised me to relax, which sadly is unhelpful in such situations but I did my best to pace my breathing and adjust myself in the seat to be as comfortable as possible. To my defense, I did notice other people on the plane looking quite uneasy too.

It has upset me that my mind and body respond this way, and that though I have prayed over this for more than two decades, history would repeat itself each time a plane or boat entered unstable territory or the car went over a large bump a little too fast. 

I wanted breakthrough badly so my prayer that night turned from begging to commanding this stronghold in my life to be broken. I may have stayed silent and still so as not to alarm any fellow passenger but there was warfare taking place on the inside. My anger grew louder than my nervousness and I said whatever I could think of to cut the wretched fear out of my life. 

I cannot say how long this went on for but a miracle happened. Peace entered and my thoughts settled. The plane continued with its rock and roll performance but my heart was unperturbed. I leaned back in my chair and ate the bun that came with the insipid stew (one must never expect much on a budget airline).

Sometimes I reckon God allows such experiences as opportunities for me to turn to Him, invitations to trust in Him and not try so hard to control everything in my life.  Reason being He knows it freaks me out not being able to determine the outcome of every event or prevent loved ones from getting hurt or sick. When I trust Him with my family and friends and with life in general, it takes the worry away.

*****

Church Service:

God reminded me of the passage about the seed being scattered but taken away and eaten by birds, and the verse in James that likens someone who merely hears the word but does not apply it to a man who looks at himself in the mirror but goes away and quickly forgets what he looks like. 

I felt Him tell me that we need to hold onto what God has begun doing in our lives and speaking to us about. It has been a long time since I have sought after God, and so naturally that long since I have heard Him through words of knowledge or prophecy or through impressions and pictures. God showed me His grace at camp this year by giving me three visions and messages. In the past, I have been satisfied with receiving such gems but then not making the effort to know God more or apply His word. This year I feel a greater resolution to follow Him more wholeheartedly.

With this last vision, God challenged me to not let the 'high' of our camp fade over time, but to make it the beginning of a new chapter. On a practical level, this means being a genuine Christian in my workplace. In other words, not gossiping or instigating gossip just so I can feel like I fit in. It means being an encourager and not being ashamed of my faith (which I can action by boldly praying for my colleagues if they are unwell or going through a tough time, instead of shying away and giving meaningless consolations).

I want to seek God for who He is and not for the blessings I desire. I want to behold His glory and be changed from the inside out. In this third vision, God also showed me a perfume bottle. He said it's pointless to leave the bottle of perfume on our table and not use it. We have to wear it in order to spread the fragrance. So too we need to clothe ourselves with the Spirit and live out God's word in order to make a difference where God has placed us. We were made to be atmosphere changers.

It can be very difficult to stand out from the crowd and be different from our peers. Who enjoys being the odd one out if it leads to ridicule and loneliness or persecution of an even greater degree? Yet God was encouraging us through the vision to remain firm in our faith by keeping our focus on Him. He will be our courage and give us the right words to say at the right time.

As we allow the seed of God's word to take root in our lives and become fruitful, our spiritual reflection will change. His love, presence and holiness will transform us from glory to glory.

i ♥

Alice Underground Dress by Minikin

Alice Underground Peach Pants by Minikin

Apple Cushion by Studio Meez

4 years since we said "I do"

23 August 2012

Anniversary Dinner at Eataly followed by "Bourne Legacy"

Us in front of the palace in Seoul, Korea

God has blessed us so much, Fab, and I'm grateful for having had you by my side for almost 12 years now since we met in 2001 and became best buds. Thank you for the beautiful bouquet and sweet card you surprised me with too :) Here's to a long lifetime of more wonderful and banga years together! 

Instagram - Life in Pictures

Saturday Breakfast at Elk Espresso, Chelsea Ave

Fab's maple sugar macchiato

Me having the smoked ocean trout omelette on sourdough

i ♥

Designs by An April Idea - snap of their cute blog above

Bunting by An April Idea

Belle & Boo mugs and stationery (found at Card & Caboodle) - Illustrator Mandy Sutcliff and her team have a blog here

Eating in Kuching

With Nick,

Miin and

Fab

I could barely digest my food by this stage of our trip. The stomach flu or whatever bug I contracted took over so I ate very little and most of what I did eat, I had trouble keeping down. Still, it was good to be with Fab's family. His mum very sweetly packed tissues, plastic bags and sour plum candies in my handbag as we headed out to the airport. She was very empathetic, which really touched my heart.

Phoenix Island, Jeju

8-course degustation at Mint for less than 30AUD

Gogonzola and Jeju Mandarin peel on squid ink dough
Not one of the 8 courses but very yummy

Overlooking the ocean towards the volcano crater

Made him pose with the bears :)

Fun Times with Mr Then

Phoenix Island - After lunch at Mint

Hallim Park

Ecoland

Everland, Seoul

Seoul Palace 

Insadong I think...

This cutie sure keeps me entertained :)