Wedding Surprises.

My first wedding surprises just came in this morning.
Not the pleasant kind.
My wedding photo booth vendor (Click It Photography) just cancelled 2 weeks before my wedding!
A bit stressful, but I try to maintain positive attitude.
Wedding surprises are expected.
I learned that after helping my friends' wedding.
Praying that God will give me another photo booth vendor that is nice and affordable.
and also for Groupon to refund me the money.
*sigh....
no more unpleasant surprises, please..........

I welcome pleasant surprises! like....... when I received big Amazon gift cards for wedding gift from my out of states friend a week ago =P

Narrow gate

Today's devotion by Charles Stanley gives me new meaning to the Narrow Gate passage in the Bible:
"Enter through the narrow gate ; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it." Matthew 7:13-14


I always thought it is just that God's way is always harder, and more strict. But, I have never thought about the passage when people mocked me as "narrow-minded Christian" I used to take it as an offense and challenged to broaden my view. This new revelation gives me assurance that indeed God's way is narrow (like how oxen usually have their eyes blocked on the sides so that they can focus) I will learn to focus more on God's way and less worry about the worldly opinion.

Most part of the Bible is hard to understand by reason, that's when FAITH the essence of Christianity comes in and relationship with God to bring you REVELATION that will keep your love and passion for Christ burning.


Source:
http://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/in-touch/in-touch-feb-2-2012.html

There is power in the name of Jesus!

Yesterday was a very hectic day at work.....
Many people came in for their last minute Christmas gifts...
The phone also keeps on ringing, my name keeps on getting called to do this and that....
Until...one time, my boss was a bit frustrated looking for a diamond certificate that he can not find anywhere.
I was on edge as well.
My boss finally said, "We'll just give them the copy, I think it's fine" I was relieved.
But, turns out the copy was blurry!!
He came in to my room and said "Can you make a better copy of this?"
Me: "OH NO!" (I almost cried. I was so scared, since I know I won't be able to make a better copy without the original)
I silently pray.... "There is power in the name of Jesus. Please help me find it, Jesus."
And...I suddenly remember that we have a cabinet in the back to keep all the old files of diamond certificates.
I went there...and there it is!
Voila! Thank you, Jesus :)

Found OUR home!

I am glad we have found our future home together!
The "home" search was quite challenging due to the option of "buying" vs. "renting"
More so because I want to live somewhere convenient busing to Downtown Seattle.

After researching the house market, evaluating the economy, consulting with several people,
we decided to rent, rather than to buy.
We were looking at several apartment complex close to the Overlake Transit Center within our budget of $1000.00 for one bedroom apartment.
We were quite settled with Archstone Redmond Court for $970/month and Jack would drive me every morning to the transit center. However, when we contacted them about a week ago regarding their availability for next month, the rent price went up to $1085/month!
We decided to look some more until we found some units on craigslist within our budget.
Sadly, those units did not include washer & dryer - which was a big turn down for me.

Thank God, last Monday, we found this apartment in downtown Bellevue for $1050/month.
We checked it out and we both like it. I like it more because of the 2 additional storage closets it has.
The only problem is just that the apartment is located down from a very steep hill.
If Seattle has bad winter like two years ago, we can end up getting lock in our apartment for days.

Despite the challenge, and the option of looking into more apartments, we have made our decision.
We pray that God will help us settle down quickly and build our home peacefully =)

Mini Honeymoon: booked! =D

Yayyyyy! I am so excited :)
We just purchased our hotel for our mini honeymoon next year.
It will be in Hyatt Regency Mission Bay
http://www.hautelook.com/getaways/home/show/556

I also purchased an hour long photoshoot just to document our mini honeymoon at the Balboa Park through Living Social with Alon David Photography.

Excited. Can't wait :D

phós : φῶς : Illuminate

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden." Matthew 5: 14

This morning, as I put on the diamond jewelries into the cases that have lights installed in them, I notice that the diamonds glare beautifully and the cases lit up against the gloomy Seattle sky today.

This makes me think about our lives as children of God. We should lit up like that cases because we have Jesus in our lives. We should shine. Am I shining against the gloomy world? What can I do to shine? - more Lights perhaps? (the diamonds shine more inside the cases because of the newly installed lights in the cases :P)

5457 phṓs (a neuter noun) – properly, light (especially in terms of its results, what it manifests); in the NT, the manifestation of God's self-existent life; divine illumination to reveal and impart life, through Christ.

The Importance of Friendship

"Self-sufficiency is prized in the world, but it isn't God's design for His children..."
InTouch Ministries daily devotional February 18, 2011.

My daily devotional talks about when Joshua fought against the Amalekites and Moses had to lift his hands up in order for Joshua to win the battle (Exodus 17:8-13)
In verse 12, it is said that Aaron and Hur helped Moses lifts his hands....
I am reminded that we need Godly counsels, close friends- accountability partners who can help us fulfill God's plan.

I pray that God will bring us friends like Aaron & Hur that would help us when we grow weary and encourage us to win our races on earth so that we can reach Heaven's crown.

Moreover, also for God to bring us Godly friends that reminded us for our calling to be Christ-like and help the world. This makes me thankful of Mike Shi, that reminded me to help the blind or poor people in Ecuador finacially.

I hope that we will continue to pray for God to surround us with Godly friends...

A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. Ecc 4:12 (NLT)