a serving of 'to-nies'

i seemed to have forgotten why i don't bake anymore. it's not that the end product [usually] doesn't come out right [or the way that it's supposed to] (well, maybe a tiny part of it might be the reason. but then again, the whole process of waiting and anticipating what it would turn out more than made up for the probable disappointment in the end :P) so, why don't i bake anymore? it's the washing up.

utensils everywhere (somehow during the whole process, i used more utensils than needed), there are flour everywhere, the spills and all that. urgh... just the mess itself more than put me off baking. never again. not in the near future anyway.

anyway, the brownie came out tasting like tofu and the marshmallows disappeared (or melted and became the gooey, sticky stuff on the brownie). so, i ended up with something that looked like a dark brown block of cheese (what with all the holes where the marshmallows are supposed to sit) that tastes as bland as tofu. now i understand the reasoning behind the WHOLE lot of sugar intended in the recipe. and i thought i was doing a WHOLE lot of good in reducing my sugar intake :\

anyway, my housemates were really cool. they actually tried the 'to-nies' (as it is now fondly called by my friends for its tofu-ly taste) without gagging while putting on a straight face. bless them! :)

i guess this reminds me that life is not always sweet. and when life tastes bland or even bitter, i still have reasons to rejoice and be thankful for, and on the top of my list - my family and my friends.

"give thanks in all circumstances..." - 1 thessalonians 5:18

-phing-

1 year 2 weeks

5 years ago, if you told me that i'll be living away from home, i'd laugh. fresh out of high school and just starting college, i wouldn't even dream of moving out from my home, let alone going overseas. 1 year and 2 weeks ago, i set foot on uk's ground. and i've been here since.

wanted to blog earlier (2 weeks ago, to be exact, my first anniversary here) but then, procrastination is such sweet escape. haha.

so, what have i accomplished in the past year that i have been here? well, i've got my bachelor's degree. and i've got a job. oh, and i've learned to cook a wicked spaghetti. haha. well, i guess all these are nothing without God's grace :) God has indeed been good to me.

in my year away from home, i've definitely learned to trust in God's grace and providence.

"... My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness..." - 2 Corinthians 12:9

-phing-

一碗汤的温暖

我超爱汤的。以前都不觉怎样；有汤就喝， 没也无所谓。可是现在，在这寒冷的天气里，如有一碗热呼呼的汤，那就真的觉得自己很幸福。

不记得从哪听过；一碗汤是没治病的功能，可是，它却能为个生病的人带来温暖，幸福感。那，身体也会较快好起来。突然间，好想念妈妈熬的汤。虽然，妈妈每次熬汤我都没生病，可是，只要是妈妈熬的，那碗汤总觉得很甜，很美味。虽说汤可自己熬，可是怎么熬，总觉缺乏一种味道。可能这就是他们所说的 “妈妈的味道” 吧。所以说呢，不曾失去就不懂得珍惜啰。哈哈。

现在，值得安慰的是，每一个星期在工作那儿，至少都有一碗汤喝。不是味精汤喔，是用真材实料熬出来的哟。想不到，我竟然可以在这儿找到小幸福 :) 真的好感动。

人在远方，没有家人在身边，这感觉真的是很孤单。好想家哦！

"疲乏的人，我使他饱饫。愁烦的人，我使他知足" - 耶利米书 31:25

萍上

"do you love Me?"

i remember a statement which goes something like this, "sometimes dying for Christ is easier than living for Him". i remember also, agreeing with this statement, though not in practical terms.

these past weeks, i've been having issues with a friend of mine. i'm not too sure whether who am i mad at more, him or myself. the thing is, he is not even aware that i am mad at him. i have been dropping hints here and there that i do not really agree with the things that he does, but somehow, it doesn't really get through the thick head of his. at times, i really felt like screaming at him and giving his behind a good, hard kick.

so, why didn't i just tell him straight? i don't know. it's not that easy. there are other factors to consider, like another of my friend who's involved in this. if i told him off, then it would be selfish on my part. sometimes i wish i could just be that selfish and not care.

"we bear the image of Christ. whatever we do, whatever actions we take, it reflects God", i remember telling this to my sunday school kids. maybe this is the reason why i care. and maybe this is why i'm finding it harder and harder to live, as Christ would me.

i remember one night, i was fuming and have been avoiding him, just in case i did something i'd really regret. i had my earphones on, listening to some music and trying to fall asleep. i remember a line of a song that was playing, "Jesus i love you" it sang repeatedly. four simple words and yet at that moment, i felt like i can't even say the words without blatantly lying. somehow, at that moment, i felt like Jesus was talking to me, asking me, "do you love me?", "if you love me, love him, because i love him". "i know you love him Lord, but it's so hard for me right now. it's so hard." my tears were pouring. but all i felt was Jesus' gentle words, repeating, "if you love me, love him, because i love him".

i have learned to forgive him but this doesn't mean that now i agree with what he does. i still don't. but, at least now i know i have a fruit of the spirit growing healthily within me - PATIENCE. and only God knows how much i need it.

"for to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." - philippians 1:21

-phing-

snow

it was pretty exciting, considering this is only the second time that we (me & my mates) experienced ACTUAL snow. we've had our fair share of hailstones ;P


"He has made everything beautiful in its time..." - ecclesiastes 3:11

-phing-

could i ever
by planetshakers

when i woke up today
and thought of all the things You’d done
i find myself here
feeling oh so overcome

You gave Your life away for me
truly my heart belongs to You
so let me say

how could i ever thank You for
what You did at Calvary
when You bled and died for me
how could i ever turn away
knowing that You paid the price
that i could never pay

when i think of the way
that You died upon that Cross
bearing my sin
even though my heart was lost

**************************************************
happy easter :)

-phing-

"put it on my bill"

there is no such thing as a free lunch. i am sure that everyone has heard of this statement before. indeed, there is a price for everything.

a boy came into the shop and ordered some food. minutes later, the boy's mom walked into the shop with a friend. after the friend had ordered her food, she asked that whatever the boy owe, put it on her bill. so, i took the boy's ticket (or bill) , put 'paid' on it and transfered the total owed onto the lady's bill. at that instant, it hit me. isn't this exactly what easter is all about.

each of us has a 'bill' - for sins in our lives. i know it doesn't sound nice, but we humans are not perfect (romans 3:23). and the total price on our bill - death (romans 6:23). and no, master card will definitely NOT save us.

and so, because of love, Christ came and paid our bills, in other words, die in place of us (romans 5:8). the story is far from over. after dying on the cross, Christ resurrected, which means that He has conquered sin as well as death. our salvation is now assured. and this, is the story of easter.

now, i have a 'paid' on my bill, and so is yours :)

"... the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." - mark 10:45

-phing-

His selflessness for our selfishness

“How on earth are you ever going to explain in terms of chemistry and physics so important a biological phenomenon as first love?” - Albert Einstein

God showed His love for us by sending His Son.
Jesus showed His love for us by dying on the cross.

**************************************************
weight of the world
by planetshakers

the sweetest sound i've ever heard
the sound of heaven calling out to me

before i ever called Your Name
You gave Your life for me
and all the things i'd ever do
You took upon the cross

You took the weight of the world on Your shoulders (x2)
You did it all for me (x2)

the greatest love i've ever known
that You would give Your life to set me free

before i ever called Your Name
You paid the price for me
and all the things i'd ever do
You bought a covering

You take me as i am
into Your new scarred hands
and when i run so far away
You always call me back again
into Your open arms
not matter what ive done
amazing grace has found me here
because of what You've done for me

**************************************************

-phing-