Welcoming 2011

In a few days, I will celebrate the New Year -2011.

Today I read a newsletter from Pastor Charles Stanley- In Touch Ministries- and it talks about how to prepare for 2011.

"The question we must ask ourselves if we want to make 2011 the very best year possible is: Where does the Lord fit in the decisions that we make?"

How can we be sure to stay on track in obeying God and leave all consequences to Him?

1. Recognize that your willingness to submit to the Lord depends on what you believe about Him

(Romans 8:28)

2. You must continue to trust the Lord regardless your circumstances

3. Growing in your love toward the Father.

4. You do not just talk to God, but also listen to Hi,

5. Finally, obeying God, require courage and full surrender.

I pray that I will learn to depend on God's strength, wisdom, power, and love in every situation

Taking Inventory::

Approaching the end of 2010, the words- "taking inventory" echoes in my ears.

As I pray, I feel that God wants me to take inventories of my life in 2010

Taking inventory means:

1. Writing down items

2. Evaluating items - throwing away obsolete items.

1. Writing down items:

I need to recognize what God has done for me in 2010...

Treasuring "the items" -successes, milestones, or memories that happened in 2010.

2. Evaluating items:

Evaluating on the productivity of days in 2010

Learning to trim and prune my time. Anything that is not bearing fruits, I should let God cut it.

Trusting that God will continue to supply my life with "items" that is best for my life.

Love from Kids' persectives

The following question was posed to a group of 4 - 8 year-olds:

"What does love mean?"
Below, their answers were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined!

"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other."

"Love is when mommy gives daddy the best piece of chicken."

"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love."

"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs."

"Love is when someone hurts you. And you get so mad but you don't yell at them because you know it would hurt their feelings."

"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired."

"Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My mommy and daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss."

"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth." Billy - age 4

"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK." Danny - age 7

"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate," Nikka - age 6

"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday." Noelle - age 7

"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well." Tommy - age 6

"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford." Chris - age 7

"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen."

This is also very entertaining: http://www.marryonamountain.com/childs-thoughts.htm

kids are too cuteeee...... =)

Taken from:
http://www.axioo.com/blog/2010/11/30/love-story-by-jan
http://gferenczi.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!1pDo4lgjTu6i0oXQ0HIS6UpQ!1084.entry

Swing Dancing

Yes! I went swing dancing :P
Not something that I imagined I would do, but i did it.
It was kind of fun + some kind of exercise, of course I enjoyed it ;)
We went to Halo Room- 500 E. Pike St last Saturday.

Going there, we were talking about how dance is similar to playing instruments together.
Both people need to be in sync.
Both has to know when to create spaces for one another......
follow the rhythm...eye contact- communicate-and have fun!

My lesson learn from Saturday night dancing: I need to trust my partner more- follow his lead...
*sigh...i realized how strong headed i am...

++ Happy Thanksgi\/ing ++

I was reading an excerpt from a friend's note earlier on Thanksgiving:
"Thanksgiving is a spiritual exercise, necessary to the building of a healthy soul. It takes us out of the stuffiness of ourselves into the fresh breeze and sunlight of the will of God. The simple act of thanking Him is for most of us an abrupt change of activity, a break from work and worry, a move toward re-creation."

This morning, on thanksgiving day, I choose to give thanks to God for my life: for His never ending love (Romans 8:38-39); for my family and friends.

I give thanks for I am wonderfully and fearfully made.

I give thanks that He ordained my paths (the ups and downs- all of my dreams and all my regrets)

I am even reminded this morning that I really thank God for the snow these past three days..

While others have problems with their commutes, God is gracious to me, that I don't have any problems at all. In addition, I even has super great time spent with Jack! Thank God for his 4WD car-Panda- that takes us everywhere safely, and of course, it's all God's protections...

Regardless, even if I got stuck for hours in the snow, I will still be thankful that in those moments, I can reflect on God's awesomeness. He created the Heaven and Earth, complete with the 4 seasons in mind...He is a detail-oriented God! and I can be sure that He has intricate and awesome plans in my life if only I am willing to lift it up on His hands :)

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever. -Psalm 136:1

"There is no sight on earth more appealing than the sight of a woman making dinner for someone she loves." Thomas Wolfe

Weak Willpower :: Self - Control

There is a charm about the forbidden that makes it unspeakably desirable. ~Mark Twain

I think it is innate in human - inherited from Adam & Eve's curiosity combined with their rebellious attitudes....... We desires the forbidden. It is harder to resist or flee from something we know that's wrong or unhealthy for us.

Today, I listened to a sermon that being Christians aren't just saying no to sins.....but it is saying yes to pursue God's purpose & calling.
.......in being made into the likeness of God- His holiness
I realize it is like shifting the focus from us (we have to resist, our own willpower)-
and focus to God -to chase after His heart, after what He wants in our life.

I desperately need self control in:
- Physical Boundaries, eating habits, managing money and time well.....

While thinking about this, i googled a bit on the topic... and this article came on top:
http://www.paulstips.com/brainbox/pt/home.nsf/link/21082006-Five-simple-exercises-for-improving-your-willpower
From this particular article.......
I agree in one point strongly: "self-control is a skill worth developing"
Self control needs to be developed.......
It is not an instant thing. It is like a fruit........needs time to grow and mature....

I also talked to a friend earlier about self control.....
and she asked me "Did you pray about this?"
She reminds me that...unless im rooted deep in Christ.....
I wouldn't be able to bear the fruit of the Spirit- which is this self-control.
I realized that self control is not from ourself (like many motivational book would suggest)
But it is more spiritual than just that.

I need to pray more specific. and...just more.

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you (James 1:5)