my 3 days of spiritual empowerment (:

This week was one of the most unexpected happening weeks for me! (: I had a list of church activities lined up for me from Friday to Sunday. Initially, I hesitated on going for all of them. But God helped me manage my time well that I was able to go for these events. It was an amazing 3 days of spiritual empowerment!

Friday, I had SP empowerment in church. I learnt about dealing with disappointment and disillusionment. It was very timely indeed. Considering what had happened in my family recently. Refocusing my eyes on God’s covenant and character are very important things that keep my hope alive.

Saturday, I went for the The Zone – Hillsongs United Concert (thank you, Brandon. Even though he won’t be reading this.) It was an amazing praise and worship experience that will never be forgotten. This experience is indeed very different from the ones we have in IGNYTE. Yes, the music by the worship ministry is excellent, but the peoples’ energy is completely different. I’m unsure if it was a hype thing that was going on in the concert. But I know that the pastor’s preaching changed it all. Yes indeed, Singaporeans, especially my generation, are lured into temptations after temptations set up by the devil.

Sunday, I went for PTF, Tenet class as well as service. Ah, all of them were wonderful experiences. There was a change in the atmosphere of the PTF members and I was so excited at the sudden change. It must have been God had spoken to Brother Andrew about the methods on bringing the PTF members to another intercessory prayer level. God works wonders!!! There is much undiscovered potential in PTF and it is up to the leaders and the members to uncover it.

Tenet class, which is very much coincidentally linked to Saturday’s preaching, is about dating and sexuality. It is obvious that dating is the limelight of all youths. But when dating is for the wrong reasons or dating when you are still insecure about yourself is dangerous. I do appreciate my singlehood. It gives me time to think about who God has planned for me, it allows me to exercise patience. Also, waiting for the perfect man allows God to complete me. I, as well as God, will not allow myself to start dating when I’m not completed by God. It is impossible for me to think that by finding a boyfriend means that I’m completed and a whole.

In secondary 4 (before I knew Christ), all my friends knew me as someone who was so anxious to find a boyfriend. I felt so insecure about myself and I wanted that one man to change my insecurity. I wanted that one man to give me love and acceptance.

But after I knew Christ, the desperation wore off. Yes, I liked a guy from church for 11 months. During those periods, God moulded me. From wanting that guy to notice me, to like me, to say that he liked me, it changed to another kind of motivation that activated my passion for Christ.

I can safely say now that I do not like anyone currently as it distracts me from Christ. I have not come to the level whereby I can focus on God as well as a man. Yes, there are sudden feelings that rushes back for the same man (because he is an honourable man of God) but it is better to wait as God has better things waiting for me!

I may not be experienced in dating. But I do know that courtship is not something to be meddled with. In my opinion, it is dating with an eye to marriage. Marriage? Serious? Why so dramatic?

That’s just my opinion, craft yours (:

During service today, I learnt a lot from Pastor Gerald. Yes, I have experienced God’s love and grace. But now it is time to be like the transformed Nicodemus and stand up for Christ especially when He is being persecuted. Nicodemus went all out for Christ even if it meant losing his popularity, losing his position, losing his achievements and the most important of all, losing his life FOR CHRIST!

Before this service, much is unknown about Nicodemus. But there is much to learn. Similar to Saturday’s preaching, these small stories in the Bible are overlooked. But when one carefully studies them carefully, s/he finds treasure.

Indeed, Nicodemus practiced what God said in a verse, “I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to Me, listens to My teaching and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays a foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built.” Luke 6:47-48

Amen. (;

Cheezemomeezel,
Cereal

Rev 21:4

There will be a day – Jeremy Camp

I try to hold on to this world with everything I have
But I feel the weight of what it brings, and the hurt that trys to grab
The many trials that seem to never end, His word declares this truth,
that we will enter in this rest with wonders anew

But I hold on to this hope and the promise that He brings
That there will be a place with no more suffering

There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more, we’ll see Jesus face to face
But until that day, we’ll hold on to you always

I know the journey seems so long
You feel your walking on your own
But there has never been a step
Where you’ve walked out all alone

Troubled soul don’t lose your heart
Cause joy and peace he brings
And the beauty that’s in store
Outweighs the hurt of life’s sting

I can’t wait until that day where the very one I’ve lived for always will wipe away the sorrow that I’ve faced
To touch the scars that rescued me from a life of shame and misery this is why this is why I sing….

There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more, we’ll see Jesus face to face

There will be a day, He’ll wipe away the stains, He’ll wipe away the tears, He’ll wipe away the tears…..there will be a day.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yesterday was one of the most tiring days of July. But God never fails to remind me of His goodness.

Yes, right now, I may face endless tears that never goes dry.

But God promises, Rev 21:4, “God will wipe every tear from their eyes and there will be no more death, or sorrow, or crying, or pain. All these things will be gone forever.”

AMEN! (:

Cheezelmomeezel,
Cereal

Disappointed with God? Don't be. [:

During the 18th to the 22nd of every month, it is always the most tiring week.

This month, I broke down.

I have a post-it plastered on my wall above my table. It says, “God will not let anything happen to us in our life unless He has a good purpose for it. Trust God with your circumstances!”

In the midst of all these disappointments, God had shown me a light.

Hebrews 11:13 & 16
“All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcome it… But they were looking for a better place, a Heavenly Homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.”

Even though circumstances never seem to be improving, the people in the bible embraced the tough future. Don’t dwell too much on the earthly promises that it causes you to rely on it.

Ask yourself, “What’s the point of having these promises if it causes your relationship with God to deteriorate?”

Woohoo! (:

Whenever something has caused you to be disappointed with God, know that you’re just a foreigner on earth, and you have a heavenly prize waiting for you!

My favourite verse that has carried me through since O levels (:
Isaiah 41:10 lays 5 promises that we should hold deeply in our hearts

1) Fear not, for God is with You

2) Be not dismayed, for He is your God

3) God will strengthen you.

4) Yes, He will help you

5) He will uphold you with your righteous right hand.

Above all else, in every season, in every trouble and circumstance, He is still God, you have a reason to sing and worship.


Cheezelmomeezel,
Cereal

please give me a new revelation..

On December 2008, I listed four things I wanted to do for God on my desktop, or promises that God had told me.

Things for God:

1.    Play guitar for God

2.    Water baptism

3.    Prayer Task Force Leader

4.    Spiritual Parent

All four things have been accomplished. But I ask myself, is it the right time? I asked Taby if I became an SP at the right time, because I really didn’t feel that it’s a good timing at all. Taby’s reply was, “I think it’s the perfect timing.”

Hopefully it really is.

After all these things for God are done, I feel as though there’s nothing left for me to pursue. I’m asking God to give me a new revelation or promise soon..

cheezelmomeezel,

Cereal 

ughh. i just spent my entire Sunday afternoon and night researching on fashion. the bad part is... all these research won't be added to my GPA! 

okay, i have to seriously get out of this addiction mode. 

i have a fetish for sweet pink items (:

credits to: voguefemme

i simply adore the pink ballerina pumps! 

hopefully, i can find the western fashion styles in bangkok as well as kuala lumpur. because it's too expensive and not financial advisable for me to fly off to australia or america to find these street styles. 

someone, throw a bag of gold in front of me. 

kidding. okay, focus. focus on more important things. 

i have 2 tests this week. God, pour Your blessings on this girl who wasted her day away. 

cheezelmomeezel,

cereal

die-hard shopping habits

Rotaract Induction and Installation was over yesterday. I didn’t contribute much to the preparations, I must admit. But during the registration period, it was seriously hectic and my alphabets were so jumbled up that I had difficulty spelling the members’ names. That certainly amused them.

I finally received my Rotaract name cards. It makes me sound oh-so-professional (:

I’m finally done with my Marketing Project as well as Mai’s America Movie Review for my intercultural communication lesson. It’s about a Vietnamese girl who goes to America to further her college and university education. She tries very hard to fit into the American culture and hence experiencing a downward spiral of emotions. I must say, I bow in admiration to those who are able to go to a foreign country alone to study.

I seriously cannot wait for this 3^rd semester to end! In September, I’m going KL with my sister for a few days and in December, I will be going to Bangkok with Jazreel and Meiping. I haven’t taken an airplane in over 12 years? Wish me luckk.

This brings me down to my next point, MONEY. I have to start earning money so that I can spend it on my KL and Bangkok trips! I have to stop shopping in Singapore, since almost everything in imported from Thailand, Hongkong, Korea and more.

I’m dying to go to New York to shop! I was talking to Angela and she was saying that during the sale periods in America, all the big sizes were normally sold out and the Asian sizes are left on the clothes rack. This is so opposite for clothes boutiques in Singapore. All the size 8 and 10 are normally sold out. Pshh.

Singapore girls are seriously getting skinnier. This is frightening.

I’m signing off here. I have to rush through my International Trade Project.

Cheezelmomeezel,
Cereal 

a light to guide the nations

Isaiah 42: 6-7

"I, the Lord, have called you to demonstrate My righteousness. I will take you by hand and guard you, and I will give you to My people, Israel, as a symbol of my covenant with them. And you will be a light to guide the nations. You will open the eyes of the blind. You will free the captives from prison, releasing those who sit in dark dungeons."

amen. (:

i'm going to let my light shine!

Hillsong Kids - Let Your Light Shine Lyrics

 

Verse 1:
Crep, creep, creep in the dark fear comes to blow out all your lights.
It doesn't want you telling everybody that Jesus rules, all right!

Chorus:
Let your light shine Whoa
Let your light shine Whoa
Let Your light shine and let Jesus shine through you

Verse 2:
Giant fears are really small when all you see is God
Don't be afraid to stand up tall and give a great big shout

Bridge:
I'm not scared, I'm gonna let my light shine
You're not scared, you're gonna let your light shine
We're not scared, we're gonna let our light shine
Cos Jesus is Lord, and He's gonna let His light shine

i think this song is really cute. (:

it is similar to matt 5:16

"In the same way let your light shine in front of people. Then they will see the good that you do and praise your Father in heaven"

cheezelmomeezel,

cereal

this is His command

Hillsong - Through It All

You are forever in my life
You see me through the seasons
Cover me with Your hand
And lead me in Your righteousness
And I look to You
And I wait on You

I will sing to You, Lord
A hymn of love
For Your faithfulness to me
I’m carried in everlasting arms
You’ll never let me go
Through it all

through my difficult times, Lord, i trust that You'll never let me go. 

"this is my command - be strong and courageous. do not be afraid or discouraged. for the Lord is with you wherever you go."  joshua 1:9

"fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes I will help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand"  isaiah 41:10

these are His promises. IM NOT AFRAID OF THE GIANTS IN MY LIFE!! 

FANG MA GUO LAI BAAAAAA!! 

because my God will protect me! 

cheezelmomeezel,

cereal

i want to fall in love with You.

Love Song for a Saviour - Jars of Clay

...

Someday she'll trust Him 
And learn how to see Him 
Someday He'll call her 
And she will come running 
Fall in His arms, the tears will fall down 
And she'll pray

I want to fall in love with You

i'm going to make my strong stand.. for God.

I’ve encountered many disappointing issues. One of the issues was regarding philandering fools. I can’t... no, I abhor men who can’t seem to draw a boundary with their girl friends. Worse still, I despise men who treat girls like items... they date several girls at one go, trying out to see who is the most suitable for them.

 

But I realized, through these disappointing issues, that I’ve grown too comfortable with my CCA friends. I did not make my strong stand for God. Due to this closeness, I asked myself, would I allow myself to conform to these worldly patterns?

 

I was irate about the situation, but at the same time, dismal as well. But as I was praying, I realized that Jesus is control over all situations.

Just as how Jesus had loved Judas who had betrayed Him, I shall learn from His grace, mercy and love.

Help me to see things in Your perspective, God...

my love for pasar malam (:

Woo. I really should consider starting my pastry shop cum drinks stall. HAHA. I just spent 1 and a half hours boiling barley for my family (due to Singapore’s blistering temperatures) My sister commented its one of the best barley drinks she had ever drank. (:

Also, on some days, I would serve my dad black coffee and my mom green tea. -.- You can call me the drinks girl.

Woo. My dream is to set up a bakery stall after I graduate from University (: Many people in the world work just for money alone. When you see their fatigue and stress, you realize it is not worth it at all.

I rather work for my passion and enjoy what I will be doing for my next 30 years. :D

Ohhh. Do you know I really love Pasar Malams xD there’s one just outside my estate now! You can imagine how elated I feel. WAHAH.

My favourites are the RAMLY BURGER!! AND THE CUP CORN!!

I really love pasar malams because of the stalls sell unique (and amusing) items. Winnie the pooh alarm clock, sesame street uno cards, funny looking bears and hand puppets, cute pyjamas and the list goes on... But my favourite part is the food!! :D

Roti John, Roti Jala, Muah Chee, Colourful Steam Cakes, many kinds of Sausages (black pepper chicken sausage, char siew sausage, cheese sausage, Taiwan sausage), fried fish fillet, Cotton Candy, Popcorn and many more!

Also, the blinding lights coming from the food vendors’ stalls make me feel a little nostalgic. Shunfu estate had only held pasar malam twice. On both occasions, my maid would follow me down and buy the different types of food so that we can try them together. But today, I went down alone, wishing that she was there with me. But i guess not...

What a weird way to end this entry.

Anyway, God bless! :D

lalalalelelelololo

recently, i keep on breaking several glass items.. firstly, a brand new strawberry jam, then i went to NTUC to buy another type of jam. and i broke the brand new raspberry jam again. -.- yesterday, i broke a cup. aaaand today, i broke another cup whilst spilling my cereal drink on myself ): eesh. 

feeling very tired.. im going to have 3 cca meetings this week. monday, thursday and fridays. ughh. i was telling God that, i really desire to be His leader. even if i get a high position in my cca, so what? i don't feel the fulfillment. 

but i believe, if i do God's works, there's such a pleasure and excitement of accomplishing it. 

i do know that God has placed me to be a community service director for a reason. so no complaining, cheryl. :X

hoohoo, good news, i think ive finally flee from the infatuation i had for 11 months through God's grace! :D i've been struggling for a long time. but when i surrendered it to God, He took it away from me. (:

"we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weakness, but we have One who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin. let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (heb 4:15-16)

keep my heart pure for God :D 

it wasn't easy. but i know that God wants me to let go of him so that i can focus on God alone and realign my direction back to God. 

and its great to know that this testimony of mine is able to help another church friend of mine. there's this particular sentence i love a lot, "if God is not center of your life, the guy you like would be more of a burden than a blessing."  

as my favourite phrase goes, cheezelmomeezel!! 

God bless you all [:

thank you, dad.

Today, I had lunch with my dad. It’s been a long time since I actually dared to. If I eat with my dad, there must at least be a person accompanying us. (eg. my mother, brother or sister)

My dad is the only person who remembers all my food likes and dislikes. I never appreciated this point until last year.

We were talking and he was really proud that I made it into the Director’s List. Initially, he was scolding me for being really lazy in the past and that I had never took my work seriously. But, his tone suddenly changed. He said, “But your mindset suddenly changed. And I don’t know why.”

I smiled. (It is true, ever since I rededicated my life to God in August 2007; I suddenly changed from a super lazy student to a girl who worked for her grades. All the teachers and family members noticed that change. But I never expected my dad to notice, since he was never around.)

I never made my dad proud before, it was always my brother that did him proud.

Suddenly, there was a hawker that sat on our table. He turned to the hawker and beamed, “This is my daughter. She’s the youngest.”

will i dance for you, Jesus?

I can only imagine - mercyme

I can only imagine what it will be like, when I walk by Your side...
I can only imagine, what my eyes will see, when Your Face is before me!
I can only imagine. I can only imagine.
Surrounded by Your Glory, what will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you, Jesus? Or in awe of You, be still?
Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing 'Hallelujah!'? Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine! I can only imagine!

I can only imagine, when that day comes, when I find myself standing in the Son!
I can only imagine, when all I will do, is forever, forever worship You!
I can only imagine! I can only imagine!

Surrounded by Your Glory, what will my heart feel?

Will I dance for you, Jesus? Or in awe of You, be still?
Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing 'Hallelujah!'? Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine! Yeah! I can only imagine!

Surrounded by Your Glory, what will my heart feel?

Will I dance for you, Jesus? Or in awe of You, be still?
Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing 'Hallelujah!'? Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine! Yeah! I can only imagine!

I can only imagine! Yeah! I can only imagine!! Only imagine!!!
I can only imagine.

I can only imagine, when all I do is forever, forever worship You!
I can only imagine."

(:

come home running

chris tomlin - come home running

Oh heart of mine, why must you stray?
From one so fair you run away
And one more time you have to pay
The heaviness of needless shame

Oh heart of mine, come back home
You've been too long out on your own
And He's been there all along
Watching for you down the road

So come home running
His arms are open wide
His name is Jesus
He understands
He is the answer
You are looking for
So come home running
Just as you are

Oh child of God so dearly loved
And ransomed by the Savior's blood
And called by name, Daughter and Son
Wrapped in the robe of righteousness

So come home running
His arms are open wide
His name is Jesus
He understands
He is the answer
You are looking for
So come home running
Just as you are

my friend, jazreel, introduced this song to me. 

dear friends, if youre looking for comfort. Jesus wants you to come back to Him. 

come just as you are. 

He's waiting for you. He knows what you're going through. (: 

everlasting God. never changing God.

Everlasting God by Ross Parsley

one thing i know that i have found.. through all the troubles that surrounds.. 

You are the rock that never fails.. You never fail.. 

one thing i know that i believe, through every blessing ive received..

You are the only one that stays.. You always stay

You never change.. 

Youre the same.. 

You are the everlasting God 

You will remain after the day is gone and things above have past.. 

everlasting God. 

this song really touched me because when things dont go right in my life, i still know that God will never change and God is faithful to His promises (psalm 145)

whatever He has promised me before, it will never change, just because things dont look pretty.

i realized that yes, i can depend on my friends for comfort and encouragement. but God is the only one that will stay behind and look after me.

God: My daughter, everything will be fine. 

Young Cheryl: yes, Daddy. i believe. 

God. i will always believe in You. 

sad yet still trusting

today, as i was going to do my module enrolment. in the morning (during games day) i was depressed because i thought i could not be in the same class as my clique because they chose FIT (financial international trade) and i chose IEF (international economic and finance) last time. 

but another of my friend told me that the previous selections of IEF and FIT did not matter and now we can reselect again. i was filled with joy. hence i decided that i would forgo my passion, which is economics, and go ahead to join my clique. 

to my dismay, when it was time to enrol into the classes, my computer jammed. i could not get into the class (TB09) my clique was intending to go. everyone of them got in except for me. as it was still jamming for 10 mins, i was tearing and shouting, "God God why did you let this happen to me!" 

TB09 (FIT class) was filled and i just chose TB01 (IEF class). my friend, taby, told me, maybe God wants you to get out of your comfort zone. and i thought, okay, maybe she's right. 

i burst into tears when i finally realized that i could not be in the same class as my clique. i was going to be all alone. 

but God reminded me of Jeremiah 29:11 i believe God has plans to prosper me and not to harm me. it is going to be difficult to go through the next semester all by myself. but im going to trust in God's plans. 

Romans 8:28, i love God, i believe everything He has done is good.

hallelujah, Jesus. 

my exam results [:

the first sentence: ALL GLORY TO GOD. 

Thanks be to God, who always causes me to triumph and overcome (:

the day before yesterday, i was praying fervently for my results. God's peace was poured unto me. i felt calm and knowing that i would do well. it wasn't the confidence of my own abilities, for God said take no confidence from the flesh.

in the modules where i scored distinctions, BMGT and MAEC, they were hardly the modules i expected an A grade. 

in BMGT module, i didnt attend the lectures nor did i pay attention during the tutorials. (i tried, but it was too boring) plus, i only had 4 hours to study for the BMGT paper. i was so scared because i did not want to get below a B grade. i cried out to God to help me and i went to bed after studying. i believed that God will enable me to do well. during the paper itself, i could really sense that it was not by my strength that enabled me to do this paper but it was by the Holy Spirit that was teaching and guiding me.

God has heard and answered my desperate cries. (:

in MAEC module, the paper was incredibly difficult, it was the most difficult paper set in the past 3 years. and i thought, "oh great. there goes my A grade." but i prayed to God and submitted all my worries to God. i never expected an AD, but God knew how much i loved economics and i believe He blessed me. 

in DSS module, i didn't understand anything at all. i did not do my tutorials, i had attempt, but i didn't know how to do any of them. a few days before the project submission, i suddenly understood the concepts. and a day before the project submission, my group realized that we did not do 60% of the project and we had to rush through it. and amazingly, my teacher praised my group, telling us "your project is one of the best in the cohort." thanks to God. (: we also had a major exam on a monday. the day before (which is sunday) was the day for the preparation of exam. initially i didn't want to go for the first SP class, but i chose to because this verse struck me hard. "keep the Sabbath day holy. don't pursue your own interests on that day..." (isa 58:13) i was thinking, oh crap, fine. i will go for the SP class then come back to study for the exam. 

but God did bless me, because suddenly, i knew how to do all the tutorials. even the challenging ones. it really amazed me how God had changed an IT idiot into an IT genius on that day of the exam. 

initially, i was setting my expectations for my grades.

MAEC: A, BLAW: A, POA: A, BMGT: B+, LMS: C, IAC: A, DSS: B. 

GPA: 3.58

as i was looking at it, i was like.. aiyo, seems so impossible. tsk. 

but what i got for the results.

MAEC: AD, BLAW: A, POA: A, BMGT: AD, LMS: C+, IAC: A, DSS: A.

GPA: 3.875

my God is a God of possibilities. there's nothing impossible for Him. He has given more than what i had expected.

could i have done it myself?

i think not.

cheezelmomeezel,

cereal

(cheryl with the c)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_enkl4jCzMM

one of my cell group friends shared this video with the cell. as i begin to watch it, i started to cry. i realized that the devil's plans were so evident in this world. 

there's always a question that i ask God, why does evil seem to overpower the good? 

as you begin to watch this video, its about how the devil use busyness and the lack of love to create chaos in peoples' lives.

i've told someone before, that i may quit rotaract club and lose my position if i find myself losing my interaction time with God. people may argue that, why? aren't your cca points more important for your university admission? 

in the past, i used to always think about getting a high GPA and great CCA leadership position. but chasing after all those worldly status and recognition made me feel immensely tired. i asked myself, "so what if i attain these? why am i trying to gain my self-worth through these?" 

i'm not saying don't do well in your studies, don't do well in your CCA. yes, do well in them but don't put your focus on them because it will only make you very exasperated.

reflect through this word, BUSY.

B - eing

U- nder

S - atan's

Y - oke

i don't want to meet God and hear Him say, "you've been busy, you've been under the devil's yoke." but instead, i want to hear Him say, "well done, my good and faithful servant."

now that sentence gives me comfort and cheer. [: