"How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" - Romans 10:15
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Wedding. Bridesmaid?
In Australia, I've witnessed 2 couples getting married..
First, it was Kelvin and Chia Yen ...
Second, Alvin and Jace...
In less than 3 weeks' time, I will be attending my first wedding held in Malaysia since I returned from Australia.
Also, my first time being a bridesmaid too.
Was told that I'm supposed to get my own dress...
Colour code, white.
Gosh, I am a noobie in searching for nice dresses. Where should I begin?
Gotta think of ideas for the "fetch the bride" bit...
I have less than 3 weeks.
Good Lord, help me.
Then again, sounds exciting! ;D
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Prayer Drive along Northern Perak
We covered 4 areas in total, Kuala Kangsar, Parit Buntar, Nibong Tebal and Bagan Serai. Seriously I have no idea how to start but I feel so so thoroughly blessed by this trip!
At the beginning of the journey, our prayer team leader shared her sensing and belief to us that revival IS going to take place in Malaysia! In order for revival to take place, the church has to be ready! And for that to happen, we have to make sacrifices eg. leaving our comfort zones, giving up our usual weekends spent with loved ones, hanging out in shopping malls, expensive dinners or just simply lazing at home.
We had about 12 of us in the team. "12 discliples" of Jesus! =P
Jo and I were in the same car with one very awesome couple that I used to notice from time to time in Tuesday nights prayer meetings. Ramesh is one amazing worship leader! I've always noticed how I enjoyed his spontaneity and sensitivity in leading the PnW session just alone with the guitar. Denise is just such a sweet beautiful lady with a gentle spirit and constantly prayerful. And guess what, Ramesh is indian and Denise is chinese! Talk about really living out the 1Malaysia 'muhibbah' -ness of our country!
When we started our drive, we were focused and prayed throughout the journey along the North-South Highway. We prayed for the simplest things like breaking the spirit of deaths, accidents on the highway, drivers to be alert and careful... etc
Oh yes, we also kept our missions team who went over to Sabah in prayer as well! I believe it is timely indeed that our church is sending out people in this season as I believe very much that through this season of fasting and praying for the nation, I sense that this is a season of awakening, that churches should not be content in keeping our faith contained within the four walls of our church buildings. Now God is indeed urging us to extend our faith beyond our boundaries of our city and nation.
We arrived safely at the church at about 4pm. We arrived at a small church among one the shoplots.
We were greeted by the Pastor and one of their elders. We gathered in the church to have a short briefing before we set off to drive around town of Parit Buntar. A church elder (He's Sarawakian, btw!! HURRAH to East Malaysians!) prepared a map for all of us before we set off. Check out his cool map! 7-pager "14 stop" map! I totally admire his admin skills!
Pastor was so grateful for our visit because he believed we were divinely sent there, in the perfect timing of God. He's been receiving several visions that this church is going to be used by God, they've been praying for an expansion in the church.
In the prayer service, Ramesh, Denise, Jo and I served as a team in worship. There was indeed a very sweet presence of GOD in this small church within the shoplots of PB.
Pastor mentioned that during the time of worship he could sense a strong presence sweeping through the sanctuary. He had wanted his congregation to rise up to this level of worship & prayer which ushered in the presence of God. He was thankful that we were there to give his people a demonstration of the kind of worship & prayer+ releasing the word of God which was hard for him to describe to his congregation. He told his congregation that our worship & prayer was a model for his church to follow.
When I was in the church elder's car with his kids, he mentioned something really interesting about PB. It is actually located around 3 state borders, Kedah, Penang and Perak! Indeed this place is one very divine ground and is in need of prayers for God's presence to dwell in this place as it is in the centre of the northern region within 3 states!I believe within my heart that this small congregation can be used mightily by God. As His people rise up in faith and step out as a team, they too could come together as a team to effectively transform their community. (The vision of this church, emblazoned on their church wall is to “BLESS AND TRANSFORM OUR COMMUNITY WITH CHRIST’S LOVE ).
Prayer for this church:
They do not actually have a visible banner or signboard that displays the church name. They have tried applying through the council but it was rejected.
It is also the church's desire to expand and they have been praying for one particular building within the Nibong Tebal area. They would like to reach out to the local university students which is also near that area.
During our prayer drive, we went to the building location and laid hands on the building walls to believe and claim that place for God. We also prayed for the releasing of provision in finances to obtain the building. Before we left the church, we blessed them with a small token of faith gift as a sign of its first seed of sowing into its building fund. They mentioned that by faith, when they expand, they will invite us back for the opening of the new church location! I am so totally waiting for this DAY! It shall come to past in Jesus' name!!!
Next day, we went on to visit 3 anglican churches within the areas of Nibong Tebal and Bagan Serai under Canon Charles. Canon Charles overseas 5 churches in that region. All three services that we attended were in Tamil.
The first church we stopped by was in St Andrew's Anglican Church.
This is my first time setting foot into a Tamil service. During the time of worship, we all sang in Tamil. Although I didn't know what I was singing and I was just reading out from the literal pronunciation from the little green hymn book, I thoroughly enjoyed myself especially during the time of Praise, as you can imagine, Tamil songs ARE catchy and I just couldn't help it but started dancing around with my feet. Of course, Joanne was already doing her own Indian dance! LOLOL... Truly, It's just so so so so... amazing and it just blows my mind to hear God being worshipped and praised in another language! It is really not about the language, but it's all about God. Couldn't help but really imagine and dream that one day, every knee will bow and confess that JESUS CHRIST is LORD! In ALL languages irregardless of colours and location!
Our dear brother Ramesh, shared a message from the passage in 1 Samuel 17:34. His message was about whether we as God children, do we see God's faithfulness, or do we focus on our "Goliaths"? Canon Charles did quick summary of Ramesh's message and he said this is indeed a very timely message to the church and the analogy that he used to share the message was really something that they have never heard before.
We had to quickly rush off as Canon Charles had to preach in another church. Next stop, we went to the Holy Trinity of Nibong Tebal. God certainly visited that church that morning! i believe through the message heard at the previous church, something really stirred Canon Charles' heart.With that, he offered to sing us a song, and as he broke into singing accompanying himself on the guitar, he definitely was experiencing a personal revival that morning. I can’t remember the words of his song, but it was really amazing and I was so so blessed to just enjoy the song of worship.
Canon Charles experiencing a personal revival...
It was also a timely visit for this little Nibong Tebal church because we were informed that the very next day, they would be beginning renovations as the building was too old & shabby.
During the end of the service, one lady actually came up to us to ask to pray for her salvation! She was deeply moved by the message that Sister Sharon shared during the service as she was sharing about the Lord's prayer. As we prayed for her salvation, tears just rolled down her face. She was totally filled with God's spirit and she went down the ground. Before we had to rush off to the next church, I took out one of the worship CDs I brought along for listening. I gave it to her as a gift as I sensed very much so that she's in a lot of pain and is in need of a lot of healing. I followed up on her via SMS after the trip and she mentioned vaguely to me about what happened in her life (she had to leave her home because her family is against her new belief in God) and she has been listening to the CD non-stop for the whole day and she could sense God's love overwhelming her. Indeed God is a gracious and loving God to his children and let's keep praying those who are persecuted for their faith!
Next stop we went to St Peter's Church in Bagan Serai. This is probably one of the newer churches as it was actually built within a housing area - a house converted to a church. The congregation here is much bigger with a mixture of people of the old and new generation. I was personally very excited to see a large number of youths in that church. We were going to just drop by the church at go straight for prayer drive around the town, however, Jo and I decided to stay back to join the service.
After the service, we were offered to join them for lunch which was prepared by one of their church members. We had the opportunity to fellowship with the church members. Canon Charles had some personal time with the rest of our team. Jo and I sat with their 16 year old youth leader, Sharon. She's such a sweet beautiful girl. She shared with us about her ambitions in life. She desired to be either an Air Stewardness or a Policewoman. Jo, of course, had the opportunity to share with her about her experience as an ex-air stewardess. She asked us for advice about her career path. I mentioned to her that she has the heart to serve people. noticing from the choices she picked for a career path. She admitted that she loves serving people. With that, I somehow had a thought and shared a sensing that she will be a good nurse. Maybe she should consider that. Through this career, she can use this skill to touch and serve many lives and bring glory to our Father. I could see that her heart was lightened up and she shared with us that recently her teacher suggested to her that she should be a nurse too! Wow... could be a confirmation.. hehe.
Anyway, Jo and I met up with the youths after lunch and had a short time of sharing and fun with them. They were initially very shy so we started off with an ice breaker, "blow-wind-blow". We sure did have fun! After that, Jo gave a short impartation to encourage the youths. She shared about how the youths in churches with in this region should rise up together to reach out. Eg. through organising community events etc. I can sense so much in my heart that these youths are very capable and are very hungry for God's word! Whenever Jo quoted a scripture or shared something related to the bible, some of them would quote it out together. They were so so so attentive to us when we shared our hearts out to them. I believe that they are so able, if only someone would guide them! I really hope that one day soon, we can go back there to reach out and build the youths!
St Peter's Church @ Bagan Serai
Canon Charles introducing the prayer team to the church
And yes, that was our last stop for the trip. =))
I just really wanna say that I am so so so thoroughly blessed by the experience throughout the prayer drive. Just to share the truth, I was initially very reluctant to go for the trip due to my heavy workload at work. I remember during the prayer meeting the week before, I did not stand up to receive prayer when Pastor called to pray for those going for prayer drive.
Throughout the week as I was doing my devotion, this verse kept showing in my mind...
"Awake, you who sleep,
And Christ will give you light"
- Ephesians 5:14
I also read the book "God Chasers" by Tommy Tenney, something really caught my attention, he said this:
"A word of the Lord has come to me about "old wells" that applies directly to cities as well as to older mainline denominations and churches. God is going to redig or uncap the old wells first, before the newer artisan wells break open . Genesis 26 tells us that Isaac had his men redig the wells that his father, Abraham had originally dug many years before in the Valley of Gerar. Although his father's enemies had filled in the wells after Abraham's death, Isaac still called them by their original names. He found so much water there that he constantly battled with Philistine raiders and finally moved to Beersheba, or 'the well of oath'. It was here that Jacob encountered the living God and discovered his true birthright in God's plan."
I felt so gripped in the spirit and I know that God's really telling me something.
That really got me thinking. Before bringing in new wells, He will be revisiting the old ones.. He will probably visit the historical places of revivals again. And of course, remembering that Malaysia has encountered 2 revivals within a short span of 53 years, I would like to believe that our country is within His 'itinerary' of visitation. Revival will take place in our nation. But firstly, how ready are we? Are the churches willing to make room and time to prepare their hearts so that God can lead us on further? Every revival grew out from prayer meetings: Wales, Azusa Street, Bario, Wesleyan England, Argentina, etc. If this is true then we should continue to pray unceasingly. I really believe that it is by no coincidence that God has called the prayer drive team to visit the older Anglican churches in Parit Buntar, Bagan Serai and Nibong Tebal, which have been around since the early 1900s. Also, timely that our church sent a team to Sabah to serve the churches in the interior (WELL DONE, Yew Teck and Colin!)
I sense that God has brought us to redig the old wells... to revive the churches who needs a spiritual push and encouragement to WAKE UP.
For a moment there, I felt so caught up and jaded about work. I don't know if you ever felt it before, I felt like as though I didn't know where I misplaced my sense of purpose and priorities. I felt, well, spiritually DEAD.
I started to question, who is going to move and revive the churches that needs encouragement? Who is going to step out to rebuild the broken walls of these churches? Who's going to help them to be ready??? That's when I knew I had to go. That's probably why some of you noticed that I was missing from cell on the Friday before the prayer drive. I decided to stay back at work to complete as much as I could so that I could devote my weekend for this Prayer Drive.
Seriously, I have no regrets at all. I believe more should have participated! WE NEED MORE YOUNG ADULTS! When I was there at throughout the prayer drive, I felt that I could feel more of what God's heartcry is for these churches and what's really happening outside of our comfortable church walls even more! As crazy as it may sound, I felt that as though I myself, was personally "RAISED FROM THE DEAD". By just being there, not because I have done much, my presence have made a difference. If I have declared so many times that I want to be an agent of change, I should be living out what I have declared. Just being there, I was thoroughly blessed too! I felt a personal revival within myself! I felt ALIVE again!
In these 'old wells', I believe God sees more than what we can see, there's more than this, Her beauty still exists,
His bride is still alive....
Malaysia is indeed a very special land. Now do you know why God has called you here?
Avail yourself. When God calls forth labourers, be one of them.
If only you GO OUT, then you will personally experience MORE of God's miracles, heartbeat etc. You'll understand YOUR FATHER better, FOR YOUR LAND.
Go people, GO!
Friday, August 27, 2010
By my side
Someone would run towards the gates to greet me...
When I take a seat on pink mammut, you lay your head by my legs to rest....
It just feels good that someone is excited to see me...
Someone welcomes me...
And just wants to lie next to me, because I'm just me.
And yes, this someone I am talking about is... my dog. Axel.
The 'garang dog' that I love.
you make me happy...
Still waiting for the man....
but Axel is good for me, for now :)
Sunday, July 25, 2010
THIS TUESDAY (27 July 2010) : CHANGE is POSSIBLE!
UBAH GAYA HIDUP (CHANGE YOUR LIFESTYLE)
Translation:
Dulu, hidup saya ok.
(Last time, my lifestyle is ok.)
Sehinggalah harga minyak melambung naik.
(Until the petrol price have been inflating.)
UBAH GAYA HIDUP.
(CHANGE YOUR LIFESTYLE.)
Tapi tol pun naik.
(But the toll price also increased.)
UBAH GAYA HIDUP.
(CHANGE YOUR LIFESTYLE.)
Segala bil semuanya naik!
(All bills are going up!)
GAYA HIDUP TU, UBAH, UBAH!
(THAT LIFESTYLE, CHANGE, CHANGE!)
Tepung, gula, susu...semua pun naik.
(Flour, sugar, milk... everything also inflated.)
Saya rasa.... elok awak pakai ni sahaja.
(I think.... it's best you wear this only.)
Ubah gaya hidup, atau ubah kerajaan?
(Change lifestyle, or change government?)
Need I say more?
HEH..... that's just to tickle you instead of writing a long lengthy message.
You WANT CHANGE in your country, whether is it change of government or not, it does not matter, what matters is whether you are willing to play your part.
Remember this message,
Don't come just to support, come because you want to pray!
I strongly believe in this:
Photo adapted from Esther Goh's blog
(Preach it, sista! heh!!)

Come to church
@ SIBKL, Sanctuary 2
27 July 2010 (THIS TUESDAY)
8.30pm to 10.30pm
To participate in the NECF 40-Day Fasting and Praying launch across Malaysia!

Tuesday, April 6, 2010
That smell....
Do you have a thing for smell? I do!!
You know, like when you smell a familiar smell...
Could be the smell...
of a room's carpet...
a person's laundry detergent on their clothes...
someone's shampoo or perfume..
The scent somehow reminds you of a person, a place, or even a specific time of your life?
Just a few minutes ago, I washed my hands with the soap at the guestroom's bathroom that I rarely use.
That soap smell somehow smelled familar and it brought back certain memories. It reminds me of a year ago, when the soap near the dining table sink was the same one.
It reminded me of the time when I was home alone for about a month or so.
when my family was still based in Penang
I was studying for my CPA at home.
The little rat used to visit the kitchen.. (it never came back anymore.. phew.)
When I was still struggling with work in audit.
The time when we just got Axel (my dog)
hurm.. anyway, yeah. random.
Surely, these were good memories. I smile when I think about it. Challenging when I was going through that period.. but really, recalling back, I wouldn't change a thing.
Ah... time flies. It's been almost exactly a year, i think.
Old smell.... replaced with a new one.
no turning back, no turning back...
Moving on ahead to a new season babeh~
Saturday, April 3, 2010
7 stations of the cross -- Pause and reflect --- capture the "MOMENT"
Hi everyone,
It's Good Friday. I am personally very blessed and touched by the 7 stations of the cross journey on Thursday night.
It's really such a blessing to even commune together with all of you as a body of Christ, looking to God and remembering His love for all of us. I love the transparency we show ourselves even as a body of Christ -- that we acknowledge that we are people with imperfections and we need God in our lives to constantly change us and mold us.
Seriously, thank you so much for sharing, everyone... you guys are the rocks for Jesus man.. ;)
As I mentioned in cell last night, I took that step to fast a meal for a few days before leading to Good Friday.
Honestly, I did it not because I was doing it as a spiritual act or trying to be "holier" than others. I did it because I wanted my time of reflecting and remembering what Jesus went through for me to be an act that would let me feel something -- perhaps at least cost me something. Serious, my fasting act is just nothing comparable to what Jesus had done for me. What I am feeling is just a tinge (or not even close) of it.
Surely, fasting on solid food still wasn't an easy act --to add to that, my colleagues went out to Midvalley to celebrate my boss's birthday and I had to give it a pass because I opted to fast for lunch time between the 12pm-3pm in rememberance of Jesus' time on the cross from the 6th to 9th hour. When most people were away for lunch, I did something that I never thought I would do in the office, I plucked out my bible, opened my journal, put my on iPod and incidentally, my iPod was on shuffle mode and it played the song, "Lord of Lords" by Brooke Fraser. I left it on repeat mode. I didn't do much, but let the song just minister to me.
"Now unto the Lamb
Who sits on the throne
Be glory and honor and praise
All of creation resounds with the song
Worship and praise Him
The Lord of lords"
Truly what a beauty... just that sense of adoration just came by and it felt so.. so...*WOW*. I felt like as though I didn't want that moment to go. Such holiness, such glory. It's like I could almost feel the transformation that's going to take place -- that Good Friday HAS to take place for that transformation to happen. And it was that moment, from the 6th to 9th hour when he hung on the cross, mocked, slashed, nailed... the transformation was taking place.
The 7 stations journey was definitely a very humbling one for me. I took off my watch, as I didn't want time to be a factor for me throughout the journey. I started some time at 7.50pm. I actually took almost 3 hours to finish the full journey. (Wow.. so long right..?? =P)
No, I am not trying to prove anything, like "wow, Miranda is so close to God that she is hearing so much from Him.." No.. surely not true. Far from that. Reason why I was there for 3 whole hours was, like I said last night -- I don't want to miss a moment.
I wanted to just have my "Selah" moment, even if it takes a long time of waiting upon Him to speak. Some time was spent longer at some stations, some less. And yes, His words to me at the "Lord's Supper" station was just, "Marry Me". Simple as it may sound, but these words just cut deep into my heart. It is something so personal that I wept. The words didn't come straight away, it came at a later moment with quite some time of waiting.
Have you ever remembered that last "moment" that you had hearing or just experiencing something from God? Often enough, because we are not willing to wait, not having the patience to just "Selah", we naturally give up and ought to complain and say that we don't hear from God. He doesn't speak etc etc. God, who's in control of all things, has the choice to speak at the moment that He desires. Sometimes God is just waiting for that "moment" to speak to you. Don't be in a hurry all the time that you miss your "moment" with Him. Many times He wanted to speak but our thoughts are rushing off elsewhere. Because we chose NOT to wait. That's why often enough, it is not because he doesn't speak, just that we refuse to pause and reflect, and LISTEN.
Even as it leads on to Station 6, the station that our cell prepared for, perhaps most of us were so familiar with the flow and also the layout of the station, we may naturally just make our assumption that we've already lost that "moment" and the experience won't be new anymore. Maybe we just get too distracted, like.. "OOooOh.. HAHAHA.. Desmond sounded so funny in the recording of the mockery, Colin's stupendous "PTOOOoI" was just so hilarious and I cannot stop giggling.." Have you ever thought that perhaps when you were too distracted about the laugh and giggles, you could have just missed a "moment" with God? No, I am not trying to say that we don't have a sense of humour, just pointing out a possibility...
Many times in our lives, we just get distracted by the littlest things, and we just don't hear him when he's trying to say something.
Sometimes, all it takes for you is just to...
....switch off that radio in the car when you drive through the KL traffic jams and ...SELAH...
.... put away that laptop and just go out and take a walk near a park to ....SELAH...
....the list goes on...
So Friends, the journey of the cross did not end on Thursday night. The journey is continuing on throughout a lifetime.
Remember , during your journey, always remember too.... "SELAH".
Happy Easter everyone!
Psalm 32:5
Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD "— and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah
PS: - I just want to also thank all of you for being such an awesome and devoted bunch in doing the preparation for the 6th station as well. LoL... surely I would honestly say.. quoting Colin, "best station lah!" Seriously.. it did really speak to me! =)
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Obsession?
So... I wrote, singing. I love singing. I really do. I love singing love songs to my God. At least that's something subtly connected with my faith... a little secret that only I know about.
Been thinking about this word "obsession" lately.
It got me wondering whether I would be lying to myself or just faking a religious act if I really did write down "Jesus" as my obsession. Was I even "qualified" in my heart to declare such a bold statement.
On a random note, don't know if this relates.
I had a dream last night, which got me thinking.
A friend's dad was in it. One thing that I can remember clearly, the colour of his shirt. We were in a noodle shop. He was holding a tray of noodles and a few kids were around him. I was standing at the side, also holding my own bowl of noodles.
He waved at me and asked me to join him at the table.
I hesitated. Walked towards the table... took a few steps away and decided to take the table behind him. Sitting alone. And I ate my noodles. At that moment, I felt like I was too embarassed, unworthy, unqualified to sit with him. But I also knew, I felt sad, disappointed, discouraged that I chose to sit away.
Don't really know whether this dream meant anything. Don't really know how this makes sense but a friend mentioned to me that man seemed to be like "God".
Feeling unworthy to go near to God? Hmm.
I almost forgotten about the dream until I saw that Uncle from afar at church today. He wore the same coloured shirt.
Hmm again. What's with dreams and coloured shirts and me?! I seem to get that dejavu a lot.
Anyway, back to the 'obsession', I wished I wrote something else instead of just 'singing'. Instead of just singing to God, I really want to do more than just singing. Been reflecting upon the decisions that I have made to be where I am now. The church that I am in, the cell that I am in. In ministry, though I honestly miss the experience a lot, I chose not to serve in the worship ministry. i felt that my heart wants to get personal with people. The burden that I feel for, at the moment, is for my generation of young adults. I believe there's a whole lot of potential in this group of people that I am surrounded with. I always wanted to believe in the best of everyone even with the littlest things of how they can be a blessing to God through the simplest observations when I look at them. I couldn't help but believe. I have been carrying this feeling for a long time. I didn't choose this church because it is at an 'expectation' that I envision them to be so that I can receive or serve comfortably. I chose here because I am challenged to serve. I knew that it wasn't going to be easy. But I felt challenged to make a difference in this ground. There's a lot more that we need to grow in. I wish to see the YAs passion for God reignite again, more of us running back to Your throne, where we truly belong, hearts constantly filled with Your fire, surrendering all that we have and knowing what is Yours that we cannot give, inspired by You to rise up in spirit and in truth, desperate to have a glimpse of You, even if it has to cause us ourselves, people not living in this world waiting to be entertained but disturbed to do something that will glorify Your Name, be the difference maker that breaks down the walls of deception, wanting to walk the way that leads to Your heart, considering others above ourselves, living a life that echoes the declaration that Jesus is truly our Lord...
Honestly, my heart of little faith still does question my intentions, discontentments, frustrations etc., whether I will take the steps of Peter in denying God. Oh God may I be the faithful one.
I desire to be sold-out to Jesus. I want to be that difference. The difference maker. The difference do-er. I want that to continue to be my obsession. Even when my flesh fails me, let this be a constant reminder of my promise that I have given to Him, I want to take the road less traveled. Even if I have to face the reality of disappointments, watching others taking the other side of the road. Even if it breaks me, I still want to hang on and believe that nothing is impossible with God. Help me to hang on, dear God. It's Your business, I'm just doing my part to carry small parts of it. I know I'm not alone in this.





