Blessings ... In Disguise.

Bumped into Clarissa today. My ex-student. She's currently in YJC now. She used to be so much of an 'ice queen' towards me. Didn't exactly expect her to run up to me and tap me on my shoulders to say a big "Hi!". =)

I'm glad to hear her sharing that she actually misses me ... as in my teachings and my lessons. My lame jokes and stuff! =) But ... sigh ... She's failing Maths like crazy now. Why? She used to be one of my best students.She is one of the 2 girls in Sec 5 N(A) who were offered A-Maths and she aced it with an A2! I was so proud of her! But now ... why? She even mentioned that she is thinking of quitting JC. =( All I could do then was to encourage her to hang on ... just 1+ year more and it'll be over... and she can graduate with a good ... or maybe decent 'A' Level cert and enter Uni to further her studies. I know she can do it. It will be such a waste if .... sigh... I dunno. =(

"Father, there is only so much that I can do. And I understand that it is never by my own works or abilities ... but it is by Your grace and Power that lives can be touched and changed. Please do something about Clar's situation right now, Lord. She needs a lot of help ... and encouragement. I pray that You will use me and the many others around her as Your vessel to work in her life. She seems so discouraged ... feeling that it is easier to give up than to continue with her studies in YJC. Father, you said in Your word that Your grace is sufficient for us... give her this grace that she needs to overcome the current obstacles she is facing in her life at this moment. I really dun wish to see her quitting and giving up just like that, Lord. I commit her into Your hands ... knowing that it is in Your perfect will for Clar to live a successful life! Take good care of her and help her attain that success You have in store for her." =)

* * * * * * * * * * *

Below is a simple story that I've once read ... sharing about how we would often miss blessings that were coming our way because we were not expecting them to come in the manner we had expected. This reminds me that I must not ... and will not ... take any (possible) blessings that are coming my way for granted. That includes people that I meet ... persons that I am drawn to. You have been a blessing in my life. I thank you for that, dear ... and will not take you for granted.
Never.
Ever.

BLESSING ... IN DISGUISE

A young man was getting ready to graduate college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted.

As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the morning of his graduation his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautiful wrapped gift box.

Curious, but somewhat disappointed the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible. Angrily, he raised his voice at his father and said, "With all your money you give me a Bible?" and stormed out of the house, leaving the holy book.

Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his father was very old, and thought perhaps he should go to him. He had not seen him since that graduation day. Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take care things. When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart.

He began to search his father's important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. As he read those words, a car key dropped from an envelope taped behind the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words ... PAID IN FULL.

How many times do we miss God's blessings because they are not packaged as we expected?

"The Final Analysis"

"The Final Analysis"

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centred;

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of being selfish and having ulterior motives;

Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and true enemies;

Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;

Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy it overnight;

Build it anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;

Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget them;

Do good anyway.
Give the very best that you have, and it may never be enough;

Give your best anyway.
You see ...

In the final analysis,

it is between you and God;

It was never between you and them anyway.

Something you can share with your little girls...

Though I'm no cell-group leader, I can understand what your heart desires for your sheep... you do desire that each one of your members grow to love God more and have an intimate relationhip with Him, to have a strong and deep understanding of His Word and His will and probably to be a radical and bold Christian who is not ashame to proclaim her faith. Ya? =) Hugs. I understand that it's never an easy task to do this. Juz continue to do your best k? God will do the rest. =)

Here's something I came across last week and I thought you might find it useful to share it with your little girls. Though it is simple, it does illustrate the point that He loves us all. Here it goes ...

John 3:16

A little boy was selling newspapers in a corner. People were walking in and out of the cold, ignoring his presence and pleas to buy the newspaper. After a while, the little boy was so cold that he wasn't trying to sell many newspapers.

He walked up to a policeman and said "Mister, you wouldn't happen to know where a poor boy could find a warm place to sleep tonight would you? You see, I sleep in a box up around the corner there and down the alley and it's awfully cold in there for tonight."

The policeman looked down at the little boy and said "You go down the street to that big white house and you knock on the door. When someone comes out, you just say John 3:16, and they will let you in."

So he did. He walked up the steps and knocked on the door, and a lady answered. He looked up and said, "John 3:16."

The lady said, "come on in , son."

She took him in and she sat him down in a split bottom rocker in front of a great big old fireplace, and she went off. The boy sat there for a while and thought to himself: John 3:16 ... I don't understand it, but it sure makes a cold boy warm.

Later, she came back and asked him "Are you hungry boy?"

He said,"Well, just a little. I haven't eaten in a couple of days, and I guess I could stand a little bit of food."

The lady took him to the kitchen and sat him down to a table full of wonderful food.

He ate and ate until he couldn't eat any more. Then he thought to himself: John 3:16 ... I sure don't understand it, but it sure makes a hungry boy full.

She took him upstairs to a bathroom to a huge bathtub filled with warm water, and he sat there and soaked for a while. As he soaked, he thought to himself: John 3:16 ... I sure don't understand it, but it sure makes a dirty boy clean. You know, I've not had a bath ... a real bath in my whole life. The only bath I ever had was when I stood in front of that big old fire hydrant as they flushed it out.

The lady came in and got him after he was cleaned up and took him to a room, tucked him into a big old feather bed, pulled the covers up around his neck, kissed him goodnight and turned out the lights.

As he lay in the darkness and looked out the window at the snow coming down on that cold night, he thought to himself: John 3:16 ... I sure don't understand it, but it sure makes a tired boy rested.

The next morning the lady came back up and took him down again to that same big table full of food. After he ate, she took him back to that same big old split bottom rocker in front of the fireplace and picked up a big old bible.

She sate down in front of him and looked into his young face.

"Do you understand John 3:16?" she asked gently.

He replied, "No Ma'am. I don't. The first time when I ever heard it was last night when the policemantold me to use it."

She opened the Bible to John 3:16 and began to explain to him about Jesus. Right there, in front of that big old fireplace, he gave his heart and life to Jesus.

He sat there and thought: John 3:16 ... Don't understand very much of it, but it sure makes a lost boy feel safe.

Hey dear ... Hope this simple passage could help your girls understand that they must never ... and should never take His Word for granted. As simple as it is ... John 3:16 ... it is capable of winning souls to Jesus. It need not take an eloquent or famous preacher conducting a grand evangelistic campaign to reach out to people in order to win souls for God. All it takes is someone with a sincere heart, showing His love through his/her deeds, and having the boldness to share His Good News to people around her.

Tired ... Whew ... Marking is truly draining ... =P

So tired. Marking is definitely not an easy task. Someday, you will understand what I mean dear. =P It's definitely very Very difficult to have your marking being 'current'! Whew ... but much was accomplished today! Yay!!! =D



Understand that you could still be worried about your granddad. Hugz. He will get better okie? If you want to, I can go with you to visit him tommorow evening? Erm ... that is if you get to read this by tonight la! But doubt you will cuz you are probably busy playing host to the guest speaker's daughter today. Bet you'd be really drained and tired by the end of today. Hugz ...

Will continue to pray with you ...
for your granddad, mummy, family and you.
I trust that his guardian angel will keep him safe and sound.
So, try not to worry k? =)
Stay strong champ! I know you will! =)

NDP Celebrations - Definitely A High!

8th August (Tuesday) ...


Seeing everyone assembled according to their CCA groups does seemed a bit strange for a morning assembly. =P Looking at the line-up of Sec three students taking over the leadership positions from their graduating seniors, I realised that there were at least 6 girls from my class who are in such positions! Wow! Great man raise Great leaders, I suppose?!! =P Oppsie! Sounding a little cocky again! Hehe! Nah... juz kidding!






Seeing the students performing and showing their many talents and gifts really helped to lift up my spirits!


Aww ... these girls .. though really naughty at times ... but they have many undiscovered or untapped giftings and talents that are waiting to be discovered and developed! Guess that's something we as Teachers gotta do. Ya? ;)

Someday, should I get really jaded (God forbid!) ... but if I really do, do remind me of all the positive attributes of being a Great teacher k?

"A Good teacher teaches.
An Excellent teacher invites.
But a GREAT teacher INSPIRES!"

Did Teddy Help To Cheer You Up? =)

4th August (Friday) ...

Yep! That's Mr Teddy from the Teddybear Workshop at Esplanade! =P
Hey ... Didn't know that you could actually guessed that!

Send ya this pic to help drive away your grouchiness ... and hoped to put that lovely smile back onto your face! Hope it did helped! =P

Hugz.

You are such a blessing. =)

Talking to you last night was another "high" of my life yesterday. Princess, why are you always so incredibly sweet? =P Hahax! It was very interesting to listen to you share what you irritates you! Learning that ... err ... doubt I'll ever be late should we ever get to meet up. =P Anyway, it's never my habit to be late. =)

Today has been quite a fruitful day. Lessons were good! Very well taught I would say. =P Errr .... am I sounding overly-confident again? hehe! But hey ... they were really quite good! Could see that I'm getting better in 'layer-ing' my teaching of topics / segments of topics! Truly hope that I'll get even better as the days go by. Read a quote on a bookmark today ... "A good teacher teaches. An Excellent teacher invites. But a GREAT teacher INSPIRES." Really hope that I could be a great inspiration to my students someday. =)

how was your day today? You made me smile when I got your sms about you having the gym all to yourself to work out. =D And you even remembered that we had our contact time at 2:30pm and dropped me a message to remind me. Awww ... how sweet can you get my dear? Hugz. Thanks. You've been such a blessing in my life. Thank you for being who you are. =)

Hugz (again).