Marriage breakthrough weekend @Mercure

Marriage breakthrough weekend was great. Hubs and I first signed up without expecting much except to take a break and to recentre ourselves and the marriage upon Christ. Our father in heaven is forever gracious and works in his mysterious ways. He surprised us with glimspes of his love through the 3-day retreat in Mercure Palm Resort in Johor.

Different testimonies shared, sermons led by different leaders, time to process your walk with God and then dialogue time with spouse. It was such a great way to spend the Thanksgiving weekend and the anniversary.

These were my take-aways from the retreat. They are not new to me but at times, is so easy to forget them or to live by them.

First day, god spoke to me in the issue of submission and also providing the space for the other half to grow in his spritual leadership. Mistakes are inevitable and is important to provide the space for that to happen so that the man can grow.

Second day, god spoke to me about submitting to him in all areas of my life , whatever i do , whatever i think, whatever I say and be more steadfast in my walk with him. AS i obey him in all things, I will learn to grow in his love.

Third day, God spoke to me that he is in control and that I should draw my strength in him as I imitated him in-love.Hubs and I did our very first memory verse 1 Corinthian 13:1-13, While it was easy to memorize it , it was definitely not easy to practise them in our daily lives. Just over last week,there were several occasions that we had to remind each other that "love is patient. Love is not irritable".

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, [1] but have not love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; [2] 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Paul and Silas Interactive Bible Story

PAUL AND SILAS - Interactive Bible Story
Written by Betty B. Robertson

Acts 16:16-40

Instructions: Assign reading parts (1 judge; 2 soldiers; Paul; Silas; jailer). The rest of the class is the crowd. Every time the teacher holds up her/his hand, the crowd says: "Arrest these men!"


Teacher (holds up hand): Arrest these men! Arrest these men!

Judge: Order! Order!

Teacher (holds up hand): Arrest these men! Arrest these men!

Judge: What is the charge?

Teacher (holds up hand) Arrest these men! Arrest these men!

Judge: What have they done?

Teacher (holds up hand): Arrest these men! Arrest these men!

Person 1: They are teaching people about Jesus.

Teacher (holds up hand): Arrest these men! Arrest these men!

Person 2: They are doing things that are against our Roman law.

Teacher (holds up hand): Arrest these men! Arrest these men!

Judge: Hummmmmmmm...

Teacher (holds up hand): Arrest these men! Arrest these men!

Judge: Throw them in jail!

Teacher (holds up hand): Arrest these men! Arrest these men!

(Soldiers take Paul and Silas to jail.)

Jailer: Who do we have here?

Soldier 1: Prisoners.

Soldier 2: Lock them up and see they don't escape. If they do escape, you're apt to lose your head.

Jailer: I'll keep them safe.

Teacher: So the jailer unlocked the big door of the jail, put Saul and Silas in the dark, smelly inner dungeon. He put their feet in big wooden frames called stocks that locked by putting big bars in the slots. Paul and Silas were left alone in the dark. Hours went by. Then it was almost midnight.

Paul: Silas, are you asleep?

Silas: Are you kidding?

Paul: I can't sleep either.

Silas: Are you scared?

Paul: No. God never sleeps. I know He's watching over us. I know what might help.

Silas: What?

Paul: Let's sing.

Silas: I don't sing very well.

Paul: That's okay. God doesn't care how it sounds. He just likes us to sing praises to Him.

Teacher: So, Paul and Silas began to sing songs. Maybe they sang, "God is So Good." Let's sing it together: "God is so good, God is so good, God is so good, He's so good to me."

Silas: What's that?

Paul: I don't know. Sounds like thunder!

Silas: Yeah! And the ground is shaking!

Paul: And look at the prison walls!

Silas: They're shaking!

Paul: It's an earthquake!

Teacher: The stocks that were holding Paul and Silas' feet jiggled until they came undone. The prison doors flew open wide. The jailer thought all the prisoners had escaped. He drew his sword to kill himself.

Paul: Hold it! Don't kill yourself. We're all here.

Jailer: What must I do to be saved?

Paul: Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved. And that goes for your whole family, too."

Teacher: And Paul and Silas told everyone about Jesus.
Posted by BETTY BENSON ROBERTSON

Flowers Galore!

If you will like me to compare Botanical Garden and Aruluen in Perth, there is definitely a vast difference with each of its own beauty. Gardens and parks like these are always my favorite and if I get to stay in Oz, Aruluen will be my favorite hangout. Just like how central park with its huge swan pond is a great hangout for me when I am in the Big Apple.

Admiring the vivid colors of the tulips, roses, caledonia with the accompanyment of my dad and enjoying the light fragrant scent of the flowers in the sunny blue sky ignited a fresh new breathe in me. What a great beginning to start our first day in Perth like this!

Two weddings

Within the past two months, two beautiful weddings took place for two of my good friends. Looking at how they brimmed with joy as they looked into the eyes of their love ones, it brought me back to 4.5 years back when I was celebrating my new chapter of life.

A new milestone, a new beginning ,a love called by heaven and earth to vow love till death do us apart...marriage is a sacred relationship to be nurtured, nourished and constantly ..never loose faith, trust, respect, patience and love.

To Ellie and Elvin, enjoy your new chapter.

Sunday School: Joshua and Caleb

I am thinking if I would be able to note down the different ideas of Sunday school lessons I have been doing that would be good reference for the future.

Story telling: 15 minutes
Teaching Suggestions:

Point 1: As they neared the Promised Land of Canaan, the Lord told Moses to send spies to go and check it out. Twelve great men are chosen, however, great men are not always wise.
Point 2: The spies go up to see the land. Two of the spies, Caleb and Joshua, see the land for its tremendous possibilities knowing that God will be with them; they bring back a true report of the land as well as a sample of its bounty.
Point 3: Caleb and Joshua were not fools. Even though they saw the enemies and great cities of Canaan, amidst it all they saw GOD and His Faithful Word. The ten other spies discouraged the people with their report because they saw the GIANTS rather than a God who was far greater than them all.
Point 4: God was provoked with the Israelites that wanted to return to Egypt. As a result, He told them that they would never enter the Promised Land due to their unbelief. After hearing this, some tried to enter the land anyways and were met with death. The remainder of the people of that generation wandered in the wilderness until they all had died.

Notes: The majority of the people saw the abundance of the land, but they never got to enjoy it. God's promise to Caleb and Joshua, that they would be able to enter the land because they had been faithful, came true as God said it would, but even they had their hopes delayed for many frustrating years.

Reference : http://gospelhall.org/teaching--preaching/sunday-school-lessons-and-activities-for-kids/sunday-school-lesson-224-joshua-and-caleb-and-the-mission-of-the-12-spies.html

Questions to ask:
1. How many men went to look at the new land
2. How many men brought back a good report
3. Do you think Go

Activity:
Dramatization Joshua and Caleb looked around the new land to see what it was like. Together, they are going to look for good foods that are hidden in the classroom.
After the children have found the snack items, they will share the snacks with everyone. Spread honey for anyone who wants to taste it and have grapes.

Closing Prayer:
Remind children that the lord is good and he cares for those who trust in him. Thank you for taking care of us everywhere we go. Amen.

Ramdom thoughts

I often will like to think myself as a very reflective person, constantly thinking about the things that are happening around me. I like to think and think and think..sometimes i felt my head maybe bursting with ideas and thoughts throughout the whole day. Since work has becoming a little hectic, it has been hard for me to pen it down as well.

I will like to commit myself to start putting little messages for my time spend with the lord over at this space again.

You know, the one where He calls us to an assignment and instructs us to head out, not knowing where we're going (Heb. 11:8).I like to think god always has a plan for me and hubs especially as we journey our path in seeking his purpose in our lives. Sometimes like what the author has mentioned, it may take a while to understand that the lord is taking us to greater heights or territories.while the journey maybe a bit bumpy, unclear ,challenging, i must rest in him to know that he will guide us.

Remember when Joshua entered into the Promised Land, and he had to fight battles to gain what God promised him and his people? Joshua had to depend upon God for every unique strategy for victory along the way (Joshua 5:14). So too must we. This is the key to a success that is greater than we can achieve on our own.

Sometimes, I tend to whine about what i am missing out in life.Being a mother, having a house of my own Sometimes, i think i need to remind myself about what i have in my life. Nice family support, nice in-laws, a good maid and husband, supportive colleagues, a job which I am learning and growing in it.

I pray that my life can be a constant support to my love ones, first to my husband,next to my children to be and thirdly to my father,brother and in-laws to come. NOt forgetting those who has treasured and love me .