Christmas eve 2023

Grace and Linda in a video call to Korea chatting with her parents. 


This picture makes me smile when Grace just decides to pull out her phone and make a video call to her parents in Korea.  Although our communication (with her parents) is limited, Grace's dad is very sporting with his little, but expanding vocabulary of English. Apparently its very cold and snowing over there and he's gone to pick up his car from the service shop. That's the kind of spontaneity that technology connectivity  brings to us.

Christmas Dinner was very chilled affair as the boys decided to make their specialty food dishes which they took turns preparing at the kitchen,  meanwhile leaving us lots of time to  talk , and yes.. even a video call to Incheon, korea..
i ❤️ it.
This Christmas we got a coffee machine from Grace and the boys.  Even though we drink coffee everyday this seems a luxury, but it's a thoughtful gift and we are happy to receive their love .. they've pooled together to get us something we probably wouldn't ever buy for ourselves. I guess that's the practical side of Christmas "gifting".
In that sense the gift of Jesus afforded us the gift of forgiveness ie. something we couldn't afford (or produce for ourselves). He came to gift us the forgivesness (by his death) which brings us  'life' . So ya, we kinda  hv a loose analogy here.

But even if there is no gifts,  the gathering of family is already a-gift enough.
In a world that is increasingly polarised and brokenness in so many lives, we are ever more grateful to our family still intact and together.

Going by our new coffee machine, it does seem 2024 is going smell a lot better. (aah.. the smell of fresh ground coffee in the air! ).


Well, here's to wishing you a great and wonderful 2024. May our Lord Jesus' presence continue to bless our going out/ coming in , seek his guidance. Keep our focus on him. 



Peace out and signing off for 2023. 

Mike did this dish. Nice work and doesn't taste too bad either.  Actually it was very good. 

Bryan surprised us with this shrimp oil thingy with bread.  Good! 

Linda's pie of course is outstanding as usual. 

Lil Glenlivet on ice - Jared . 

The face

Not sure how much you heard about the whole episode of 'Passion the musical'. The fact that Jared even showed up to do the work on the tomb was already the first miracle of sorts. (much to our surprise he agreed when karen asked him for help). Wow. 

But prior to that the paper mache boulders which jared suggested to the team to create a 3D effect kept falling off (as told by marlina ) and they had to repeatedly put it up several times over the next few days b4 the day he finally came to do the shading of the 'boulders'. So the exact position of the boulders was already orchestrated even from the beginning.

When he did come along to do the shading , it took him quite awhile to get it right (3 hrs, and 3 cans of spray paint).
He told us he was exasperated as he kept re-doing the work however still didn't look 'quite right'. It was taking  rather long for something quite simple. Later, he (related to us) he said to the Lord, "why is this so difficult ( taking this long) and that HE should make it look 'cool' since the play is about Him".  Anyway, he did a last spray-over and finally satisfied with it he left, but he was standing too close (physically) to the boulders to really 'see' anything other than the immediate shading.

So he was quite surprised when Karen asked him if he knew about 'the face' everyone else was seeing. Apparently, some commented (as some others thought as well ) that artists have this desire/ ability to hide a subject in their work, but this was really not the case, it was NOT intentional.

Anyways,  in the few days after the event both Linda and I, separately on our own came to this conclusion; God was actually showing Jared how He was in the midst of everything he (Jared) was doing, EVEN WHILE he's unaware, God is there. 

God underscored that truth unbeknownst to jared,  He was directing him to do something special, creating a visual 'face' for everyone to see ( which added a further mystique and awe  to the entire production of Passion the Musical. 

The play went very well considering all the actors and singers were in house, a small limited budget, and furthermore,  required a integrated cooperation from all parties involved,  sound lighting, props, costumes, lyrics, sound tracks etc etc.. it was a gutsy move. A faith filled project. 

And God replied beautifully. 

The meticulous planning (kudos to karen n gang), teamwork (always a challenge) , the creative juice required playing by ear every challenge that came along (and I'm sure there were many!!!) . I'm surprised they pulled off a play of this quality in the short 2 months preparation. Starting with zero actors in mind, after many auditions ( all volunteers), ended up with a cast of amateur novices who not just successfully delivered  but punched way above their weight. 

Amazing!!

It was a faith filled project that paid dividends in many ways, from the various casts to the many different teams in the back ground, all were blessed in their own way.

This song accompanied me throughout my hike last week.  I caught some amazing shotsof trees and the play of sunlight on it. Recorded this one verse and chorus on my ukelele on my first attempt. PTL.

Sent of heaven God s own Son

To purchase and redeem

And reconcile the very ones

Who nailed Him to that tree

Oh that rugged cross

My salvation

Where your love poured out over me

Now my soul cries out hallelujah

Praise and honour unto thee.

The Grace ticket (you want)

Outside the dim sum place
all waiting to get in. 

So yesterday, I needed to go to the bank cos my ATM card was blocked (pls don't ask why!) and I needed to apply for a new one. The moment I entered the bank a sea of ppl greeted me , all are back with a vengeance after the Cny holidays.

Quickly I caught hold of the  bank executive  whizzing past me to get some advise and explained my predicament. He punched out a ticket number (3053) and dutifully told me to wait my turn. I looked at the screen of numbers  on public display and noted my ticket  was at least 30 numbers ahead.

Hmn, do I hv enough time to go for a dim sum brunch?   U bet.

(i had already sent Linda ahead to get a table) 

So off I went to join another crowd of  waiting  ppl all hungry and  wanting to eat  dim sum as well.

Another ticket, another waiting line (this is cny after  all) . But finally after 20 mins, we walked in to a table.

After fully satisfying the inner man, i walked back into the bank at 1pm (1.5hrs later, ) and saw i was still  another 10 numbers ahead.

I decided not to wait, instead headed on home as I had to leave   for an appointment at 2.00pm ( to get to Kota Kemuning at 2.30)

But at 1.40pm with the bank ticket in hand I decided once more
to 'try my luck' at the bank. I knew it was a looong shot as I didn't have time to wait at the bank (even if it was 2 numbers before) , and definitely a no-go if my number got passed.

But being a person who likes to challenge the odds, I just took my chance.

I reached the bank at 1.50pm. As usual, the area around the bank was filled with cars and I didn't bother to find a proper parking.. instead told Linda to just pop into the bank to see the latest '4 digit' on the screen. I found a lil bit of space in betwn the parking boxes and waited  to observe Linda. Almost immediately she rushed out and signaled to come out of the car (which was parked illegally btw! )

Stunned. 

Immediately just as  I entered the bank, and the automated voice called out TIGA KOSONG LIMA. TIGA 

(3. 0. 5. 3 )

Omg omg .. WooHooo!!!! Omg PTL!

I got my card replaced and was out of the bank in 10mins and  on my way at 2pm.

Do you believe in miracles? . Just a few days ago,  I was hearing a message about how God is actively 'working' in our midst, but many times we are oblivious and  we tend to dismiss it as 'coincidence'..
but no.. He is in the 'small things' as well as the big.
We just need to be cognizant and expectant that God's extravagant grace is CONSTANTLY coming at us.. all the time.

I feel so blessed even as I pen this 'mini coincidence' that fell miraculously in my favor. Some will brush it off as a chance of good luck, but to me this is more than luck , it's God way of arranging  things to remind me as a child of God, Papa is always looking out for me.

This kind of 'happenstance' , money oso kenot buy.. Haha.

His supply of Grace and favor is always, .. always  coming at us.

Just be a ready recipient!

Remember that andrew!