Teach By Example

"If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight.
If a child lives with pity, he learns to feel sorry for himself.
If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy.
If a child lives with jealousy, he learns to hate.
If a child lives with shame, he learns to feel guilty.
If a child lives with encouragement, he learns to be confident.
If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient.
If a child lives with praise, he learns to be appreciative.
If a child lives with acceptance, he learns to love.
If a child lives with approval, he learns to like himself.
If a child lives with recognition, he learns to have a goal.
If a child lives with sharing, he learns about generosity.
If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice.
If a child lives with honesty, he learns what truth is.
If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith in himself.
If a child lives with friendliness, he learns that the world is a nice place to live in."


(Dorothy Nolte, "Children Learn What They Live," Scouting Magazine (April, 1964), page 31, as quoted in The Teaching Ministry of the Church, page 114)

From Light to Darkness

Have you ever walked around with your eyes wide open but you can't see a thing in front of you, not even your own hand placed before your face? Today I participated a session organised by Dialogue in the Dark, Singapore. It was a very, very interesting experience with various emotions set in my entire being.

At the very initial point of entering total darkness, I have to admit that fear gripped my heart as my eyes were opened and yet I could not see. Few minutes into the 'darkroom', I found that it felt more comfortable to just keep my eyes closed. Equipped with a walking cane, we were led by a blind guide named Jason who was simply amazing. He knew exactly where we were in the room, gave clear instructions on where we should be walking and what we should be looking out for. What I was moved by was his confidence and cheerful disposition with us.

Some points to highlight based on today's experience and 'observation' would be:

1. I remember thinking loudly in my head, 'Thank you Lord for the gift of sight. Thank you, thank you, thank you.'

2.  I have learnt that we need to listen more and speak less, especially when we are in a situation in which we do not have much control or information on.

3. In your moment of 'darkness' in life, it is normal to be fearful of the unknown, the unseen, the uncertainty. We just need to remember to keep our focus on the voice of the One helping you through it all.

I would highly recommend Dialogue in the Dark to all to attend.

It will help you 'see' things in a different light.

Life In The Spirit

I've been on a spiritual low since the Lenten days and now that it's Easter, I thought I'd be okay but somehow deep within, there's still this gnawing tug that draws me in to succumb to feeling even lower. And so reading what Fr William Goh had written yesterday, it had hit me spot on nail on the head. Here's what he said:

"Today, the gospel reminds us that the Spirit is free, for Jesus said, “Do not be surprised when I say: You must be born from above. The wind blows wherever it pleases; you hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. That is how it is with all who are born of the Spirit.” We must be open to how the Spirit is moving and acting in our lives. This does not mean that the Spirit is against the institution. No, the institution is meant to protect, and not stifle the Spirit. But we cannot reduce the Spirit to an institutional mode.

How then can we recover this Spirit, if it’s not the need to strengthen our personal relationship with the Holy Spirit? We need a renewal of the life of the Holy Spirit in us, especially for those of us who are active in Church ministry and not merely those who are inactive in Church. If we feel that our enthusiasm for the Lord is lacking and that we are simply working for the Lord or for the Church, accomplishing our work as tasks and forgetting the real objective of bringing the love of Christ to others, then we will find Church ministry burdensome and stifling. We need a recharge and a rebirth in the power of the Spirit. There is no other way to do this then to deepen our prayer life, our love for the Word and the Sacraments. For those who have been working in the Church, either as volunteers or full-time workers, an annual retreat is indispensable. If not, we lose our focus and Church ministry will become no different from secular work. Unless we constantly remind ourselves of the need to build and strengthen our relationship with the Lord, we will lose our fervour and faith in Him. We must pray for a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit so that our faith will neither become institutionalized, nor our relationships with Him become ritualized. Once we lose the Spirit, we lose the power of the gospel to effect transformation in the lives of people whom we minister to."

By Rev Father William Goh
Read his full writings here:
http://csctr.net/16-april-2012-second-monday-of-easter
(2nd Monday of Easter, 16 April 2012, Readings taken from ACTS 4:23-31; JN 3:1-8)

A Wonderful, Blessed Surprise!

Blessed Easter to all my readers! :) Hope the Easter joy of our Risen Lord Jesus Christ resonates in your heart!

Today is a very special day for me. After ten long years, I had managed to get back in touch with a special friend who had been like a mentor to me in my late teens. We had worked together to form a young girls' group called "The Mustard Seed" for girls aged 12 to 15. This must have been in 1998 and I had always been thankful to have her as my mentor and friend. In 2001, I started a job that required me to work shifts, hence I could no longer commit to the group and had since lost touch with her.

Just some short weeks ago, a friend was sharing with me about a 1-day Lenten retreat and that they had invited this lady to conduct the session. In an instant, I just knew it had to be the same person and immediately tried my best to make contact. So I managed to get hold of her email address, dropped her an email and she replied! 

So today was a really wonderful day as it was meant to be. After 10 years, God had intended for us to meet today as she's leaving for Wales in 2 weeks time! She's now a trained Counselor and a truly wonderful person. I am just really happy that we managed to meet today :) 

Thank you Lord!

P.S: I brought along my camera but I guess in my excitement and we were too busy playing catch-up, I had forgotten to have a photo taken with her!! oh well, hopefully I don't have to wait another ten years!! :) hehee..

All This Time

I felt love, I felt your grace

You stole my heart that day

You were walking with me,

♥ You've been walking with me all this time ♥

walk on the water! :)

Every once in a while, a song hits you at every angle that you simply know it's meant for you at this present moment of your life. At least that's how it is for me :) Being on leave this entire week is something I've always wanted but never had the chance to do so. After this week, I'll be moving into a new role in a new dept at a new cubi with new dept-mates to work with. Trying not to think about it only makes it worse cos then I think about it ALL THE TIME! lol. I trust the Lord will walk with me as I start the new chapter come Monday.

For now, this week has been blissful and blessed. Time is a gift from God, ya know and I am very thankful for this time right now in my life.

I finally had time to catch up on this movie called SOUL SURFER based on a true story of a 13yo girl's courage to live on after she lost an arm in a shark attack. One of those movies that really makes you feel like you can accomplish anything after watching it! :) A must-see for all! :)

You look around, staring back at you
Another wave of doubt, will it pull you under? You wonder
What if I'm overtaken? What if I never make it?
What if no one's there? Will You hear my prayer?

When you take that first step into the unknown
You know that He won't let you go

So what are you waiting for? What do you have to lose?
Your insecurities, they try to hold to you
But you know you're made for more, so don't be afraid to move
Your faith is all it takes, and you can walk on the water, too

So get out, and let your fear fall to the ground
No time to waste, don't wait, and don't you turn around and miss out
Everything you were made for, I know you're not sure
So you play it safe, you try to run away

If you take that first step into the unknown
He won't let you go

So what are you waiting for? What do you have to lose?
Your insecurities, they try to hold to you
But you know you're made for more, so don't be afraid to move
Your faith is all it takes, and you can walk on the water, too

Step out, even when it's storming
Step out, even when you're broken
Step out, even when your heart is telling you
Telling you to give up

Step out, when your hope is stolen
Step out, you can't see where you're going
You don't have to be afraid
So what are you waiting, what are you waiting for?

So what are you waiting for? What do you have to lose?
Your insecurities try to hold to you
You know you're made for more, so don't be afraid to move
Your faith is all it takes, and you can walk on the water
Walk on the water, too

"Walk On the Water" Performed By Britt Nicole

"A Hardhearted Harvest"

"When a person first sins," Chip Ingram writes in Holy Transformation, "there may be a short-lived thrill, but there also enters into the heart remorse and regret. But if the person continues in sin, there comes a time when he loses all sensation and can do the most shameful things without feeling at all. His conscience has become petrified."

May I offer you a word of encouragement?

While you can't go back and undo the past or avoid its consequences, you can make choices today that will improve your future. Even if you are living out consequences not entirely of your own making.

[Taken from the book 'Having a Mary Spirit: Allowing God to change us from the inside out' by Joanna Weaver]