Soapy Solution

What do you during Controlled Movement Order and you are not part of the essential services?

Hubby is always creative, and a whizz at trying out new things. One thing he does is make soap. Yes, you read it - soap. Apt at this time! Mostly fragrance-free which is what our son prefers. But this time I have three bars for myself with which I experimented by adding different fragrances... They take a month to cure but I am looking forward to it already!

 What are YOU doing at this time?

Purposefully Being Private

Restricted movement declared for two weeks. 

God speaks to us in all circumstances

A Special Night Out

Hubby has been involved in bringing this amazing artist over to town - Don Moen! What joy! 

Here he is, receiving a souvenier from a fan - the mayor! 

What an evening - a time of worship, prayer and he even released a special word for healing. He looked like he enjoyed himself - he went on for two and a half hours....! That was way beyond anyone's expectations. 

He brought a friend along - Lenny LeBlance. Honestly, Lenny sings like a dream. No special effects, no electronic gadgets, not even a keyboard. He just strummed and plucked his guitar... and melted our hearts, after taking us along on a journey with the lyrics and melody.  

May this be the start of more!

Just Enough

The message was linked with Holy Communion. So Hubby and I decided to have it during our cell group meeting. I borrowed the small cups and grabbed what I felt was enough. It was an odd number. "Would it be enough" I wondered. 

At the end of a good time of sharing, we concluded with the breaking of bread and drinking the cup. Bread was chapatti, home made by the host of the house. Lovely unleavened bread! The grape juice we bought was rich and unadulterated. Many commented how nice it tasted. No additives, not even sugar. 

The cups.... There were just enough. In fact, they were exactly enough. The Lord knew.

And I felt especially glad that I heard right and got the exact number. Thankful!

Scary Moment!

The usual car needed to be used so Hubby took another one from the office. Unbeknown to him, this one had circulation and overheating problems. We should have known there was a problem when we discovered many half empty and empty plastic bottles of water in the car!

Anyway, so we started using the car. A lovely reconditioned model of an overseas manufacturer.

Lo and behold as I was driving home one day, it began not only to overheat, but REALLY OVERHEAT. 

What a scary moment it was. I half expected the engine to explode or burst into flames as I drove up the road to my house. I called the house to ask them to open the house gates so I could just glide in if need be.

Needless to say, I had a raise pulse and was praising the Lord as I drew near the house! Glad that Lord kept me safe!

Special Message from a Special Person

A series of amazing events led to Arrow #3 and I making a special trip to see this special person. His message was simple but came from a life fraught with challenges. What an inspiration!

Born limbless, he says there are no limits. His faith in God was what keeps him going and he has such hope! Wow! A privilege to have seen him closeup indeed.

The Prophetic Curve Ball

When you throw a curveball, figuratively, you confuse someone by doing something tricky or unexpected or you surprise someone with something that is difficult or unpleasant to deal with.

Well that's what happened to me. Indeed a difficult and unpleasant moment, and I was indeed taken by surprise. Coming unexpectedly and at the eleventh hour, I was definitely confused for a bit. It was not a phone call to be expected. To be told that one hundred people couldn't do something which I was given to understand that they could with no way to could stop..... My initial reaction was to put my head in my hands and almost groan.

But then even as I felt tears began to fall, I sought my Lord. And He answered me. The thought came as below.

 

A peace began to settle. 

I intentionally sent the sms out as a prophetic declaration. It was only to one person, but it was enough for me. In my spirit, I knew it would be all right.

And so it was. 

I am so thankful. For godly friends. For timely help. And especially for the Lord's amazing shalom. 

God Decides

The intensity of prayer increases even as the General Elections draw near. This promises to be the closest yet. 

Many words are spoken. Many accusations are made. Many issues are raised.

Emotions are stoked. Dangerous to react.

Even the lay person who would normally not have an opinion, is being more vocal now.

So many emails, whatsapp messages, internet postings, twits.... One is almost inundated.

At the end of the day, as someone said, prophetically I believe, "We vote, but God decides".

Amen!

Special Surprise

What I didn't know - 

She had been planning this for days. Observing me for weeks.

She had recruited my husband to be co-conspirator. And he obliged of course!

She had thought the details out and wanted to do her best. This meant she missed the original deadline. But hey, I didn't know about it so it didn't matter.

She took days to do this.... 

This then, is my birthday cake. It shows me blowing the shofar. Butterflies? That is my signature. They are special to me. I even have a website called Metamor4sis. 

Isn't this an awesome gift? Love the thoughtfulness, the detail, the kindness and love. 

And oh yes, they shouted "SURPRISE!" as I stepped out of the car that evening, unaware of the gift she was bearing in her hands.... Surprised indeed. 

Special Season

The nation celebrates entering the jubilee year. We turn 49 years old. And so to launch and celebrate, we blow the shofar. 

This is what was determined as the jubilee sound. I have to learn it. 

Soon to be presented to the nation. Wow.

The God of More Than

Can it be that more than half the year has already gone? Certainly the past one month has been eventful. The most significant was the development of pain in my knee. It was hard to walk and on some days, the entire right leg swelled up beyond recognition!

I got myself a knee guard.
But what really helped was having Arrow #1 back home for holidays and he put to good use what physiotherapy he had learned (He's second of a four-year degree course) I learned some pretty good exercises which strengthened the area around my knee. I also trimmed up, got good cardio workout and felt overall much better.

So good that I went for the 7K Charity Run!
Yes, I did the entire 7K, unlike some folks who took shortcuts! Of course the next day was pretty bad.... but inside me I felt good! Haha!

Then the next significant thing was the second event in the church's 10th anniversary celebrations. (The Run was the first of three)

We had a banquet!
It was a pretty grand affair - 99 tables in a 5-star hotel.

But the heart of the church remains with the special, the torn, the oppressed, the poor (called the STOP people)

So the ultimate celebration will take place this weekend, where in one morning, everything we give will go towards specific projects/organizations. Each year (except for the 7th) the elders set a target and inform the church. Each year (except for the 7th because it was taken from savings instead, giving the church a rest) the church has given in one morning, by God's grace, amounts that exceeded the set target. Called the Anniversary Gift Day, this is our past record. Blue is the target. Green is the actual.
So what is our target this year?

More than a million... Because He is the God of the more than...

Humility

He is one of the leaders of an organization that represents the largest collection of churches. Membership to this organization requires a submission of statement of faith as well as references from other member churches.

He travels extensively, covering not just the churches and organizations in this land, but also in other places. Most times it is overnight stops that he makes.

One such stop was here, just recently. A busy man, he was constantly meeting with others. I did not want to presume that he would remember me. Nor did I want to impose on his time to greet him. He was a busy man, on a short visit. In any case, it was his wife I knew more.Hence it was most unexpected to turn around from packing my things at the end of the huge gathering to see him standing there, with his gentle smile saying, "I saw you earlier but couldn't get to speak with you."

Who am I that you should leave the crowd of leaders and peers to come over and greet me. I am humbled. I have much to learn from you.

Thank you.

Being Fit

I set it my heart and mind that despite not being fit, I would attempt to complete at 7K Charity Sunset Run. Not that I would run. But at least complete as close to the 77minutes target as possible.

This event was held yesterday. In aid of thalassaemia (see this for more information) it was the first time I had ever tried this.

This is the scene more than half way round the course.
I have to confess to being glad that I was not too far behind the bulk of finishers even though I had started right at the back! Even though I was just outside the 77minute mark by their timing, by my own reckoning, I might have just made it. Next time (did I say "Next time?") I will be more prepared!

At the end of the day, I must say I felt good to have completed it in the manner that I did. I was concerned that my health was not good enough.

But at the back of my mind has been this phrase, "You must be fit for revival" and I expect revival to come soon. First the spiritual, then the physical..... I consider this a prophetic act of sorts!

He KNOWS

I was not supposed to go into the office. It was my Day Off after all.

But I could not find the document and thought that I had perhaps accidentally left it in the office amongst my other files.

So I went in.

For what would seem as a fruitless search. I felt strangely at peace though....

Then came the phone call. On my day off. Should I answer?

I did. And chatted awhile. The caller needed some help.

Later it occurred to me that IF I had not gone into the office, IF I have chosen not to answer the phone, IF I had ignored the call, IF IF If,,,,,'So many "IF's"

At the end of the day it is a measure of God's love because HE knows she needed it!

By the way, later on I found the document where I had looked at three times previously! At home!

Infertiltiy and Mothers Day

I haven't forgotten how it was. My oldest Arrow is going to turn 21 years old and I have been married for over 27 years. But I have not forgotten the difficult times, the awkward years, the months of disappointment.

I was diagnosed with primary infertility with no known cause. How difficult it was to see one of my best friends being pregnant. In her graciousness she asked me to attend the birth of her baby but I found at that time, it seemed like even looking at her caused me to struggle with emotions I never knew existed within me. To say that I didn't like her for being pregnant when I couldn't is putting it mildly.

These years of being barren, empty and feeling of incomplete helps me to understand and empathize those who go through this. I KNOW how they feel.

Of course, the Lord knows best.

But perhaps that is why He let people like me go through that too. So we can be a little extension of Him here. Especially on a day like this one coming up.

The Light Has Come

We went away, all of us expecting breakthroughs.

Many of us with dark areas in our lives, of which some did not even know existed.

The Lord met the hungry hearts. He had compassion on the seeking souls.

Liberty.

Freedom.

Deliverance.

Breakthrough.
It was as if a light came and shone in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Praise God!

What If

We had gone for a bit of shopping. The deals were good.

Then we left to go. Or at least we tried to go.

The car park was jammed.

There were cars behind us.
Cars in front of us.
It would appear that cars were all converging from at least 5 different directions.

To one outlet.

What if there was a fire....?

Anyway it was a good time to pray. I was glad to be stuck in the car (for almost an hour) with my two best friends - my Lord and my Hubby!

Results

You know that if you want to make a place look cheerful and welcoming for children, there is not substitute like having balloons.

What's more if there are lots of balloons.

And very colourful shiny ones too!

Like these ones!
The children ministry of the church did just that - they blew up and hung lots and lots and lots of balloons for the outreach they had on Christmas Day. The folks involved opted to run a simultaneous programme as the Christmas Day adult one.

The result?

More than twenty children made decisions for the Lord. More than twenty others rededicated their lives.

To God be the glory!

Christmas at the Mall

Christmas can often be so very commercial.

Buying and giving and more buying and lots of giving.

Shopping and sales and bargains and discounts.

Get this product, NO, buy that instead.

And so forth. I think you get the picture.

I get a reaction inside. I dread going to the malls. I get a bad taste when I see some of the advertisements.

This year, however, is a little different.

A non-profit organisation set up to help the poor with no strings attached has done something wonderful to benefit some needy causes.

With more than one thousand bears, shipped in specially for this season, they aim to raise money for these causes.

Buy a bear and get your name put on the tree.

Alternatively, you can also donate your bear to children, orphans, or hospitals. After you have given of course.

During this season, the local church is encouraged to go and sing carols and to highlight this wonderful event.

The response has been tremendous. The smaller bears are totally sold out an entire day in advance.

Christmas at the mall doesnt seem so bad now....

Christmas Decor with a Difference 2

Here is another kind of Christmas decor - found at the largest hypermall here.
This is taken from the Central Atrium of the 1 Borneo Hypermall. Their decorations are about 90% up at this time of writing.

Kind of commercial.... but wait for more news of how the church is going to touch the community but use this!