Pressed but not crushed, Struck down but not destroyed (R&W)

Actually blogged this way back in end Jan, but have yet to blog it until end Mar. Lots of up and downs, victories & seemingly defeat, and testimonies to share bout God, but definitly my writings will not be able to contain them all, that is unless I'm a daily blogger. :P

This blog also serves as my journal to record my journey in life. Atleast excerpts & some milestones, before i forget them.
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Had a down start to the New Year 2008.
Right in early January, went through 2 downs in the 2 areas of my life (Relationship and Work) again.
Discontinued a relationship (1 week short of a 1 yr anniversary), and the day after, found my immediate boss shooting me down like a M16 on every single area of my new job performance during a evaluation debrief followed by the appraisal time. I thought those were training visits, but heck, i was evaluated even on my facial expression that i produced or back-fired by the question i asked my boss.?

(Duh..)
The technical stuffs alright i agree.
No doubt there are areas which i'm still learning on and to improve, and to speak, it was the first official feedback was given to me from the past 3 Co-visits at site, and it was during my appraisal. And they would argue they had feedbacked during the visits, but excuse me..No.
Had a meet-up with my bigger boss and he was more encouraging and supportive, though he speaks the same message - to buck up.

Many words were spoken for me to change - and supposed to be big words.
- Re-INVENT, SELF/SITUATIONAL AWARENESS besides INVESTing in yourself, THINK, in order to be effective and produce > RESULTS.

Time is the factor. Many things needs to be done at a short/limited time period.
Instead of minimising my time because i was handling few projects, i upped my time as generally we are encouraged to up your time billability to clients, which means revenue. But little did i realize I to do otherwise, overlooking the initial time budget - which sometimes practically doesn't match up to the real workload/task needed to be done.

However, i remembered God spoke to me 'FOCUS' when i was praying to him what/how to improve myself.
Well i was glad when another senior colleague told me the same thing, confirming it.
I definitly agree that my God knows me better than my boss, and myself.
haha. Praise be to God! A word from Heaven is worth more than a Million else where.

Lesson learnt: I realized that being encouraging (positive + negative) does more benefit to one than putting down (negative only).
Encountered with the 2 bosses (different style/way of communication)
and 2 CLs (feedback on my guitaring). It sure does make a hell lots of difference!


Recently, also found out that certain people cannot be 'trusted' with what they say to be the truth. And some people, which not uncommon, will twist and turn their words just to get what they want done. And i know it's not the real story. Some to make themself look good or knowleagable.
Just that i haven't encountered them for awhile already, and for the first time in 2 years plus. And that i didn't realize.

Anyway, not to blame them, the fallen world and human nature speaks for the many reason and motivation why certain people do or say what they do.


" I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes, and as innocent as doves" - Matthew 10:16

plus, last but not least,

"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed, perplexed, but not in despair, persecuted, but not adandoned; struck down but not destroyed" - 2 Corinthians 4:8-9



*Disclaimer: the story above reflects how i felt PERSONALLY in my own perception at the moment in time, and does not aim to critize any parties on the web.

God's Encouragement, Testimony of His Working, Spiritual warfare

Just to document some miracles that happened in December 2007 before it slips away due to busyness and procrastination if there’s time.

In Dec, when me and my CG has started the prayer and fasting chain, I found out through a conversation, or rather a question, that a colleague of mine have a father who’s a Christian (New Zealander) and a mum who’s Buddhist (Burmese).
And for herself, she is actually studying from both scriptures on the religion to find out which she wants, as she doesn’t want Just a religion.

As she was sick, I offered to pray for her as she was sick (down with flu, sore throat/fever).
Amazingly, God worked, and healed her of her fever and sore throat, as she excitedly told me. She asked me to pray for her again, for her blocked nose for 3 weeks already, but not healed despite much medication.
As usual, I didn’t ask her, but she told me that amazingly her blocked nose was healed and she could breathe again properly! Before this, she had to keep eating meals with soup, and she even lost 3kg due to that.
She asked me to pray for her work as well, as she faces some challenges/problems, and said she experienced peace after I prayed for her.

Another amazing thing was, she shared that few months ago she had a dream with Jesus in it, and how Jesus calmed a chaotic war like situation to peace, touched her forehead, told her He is Jesus, and went back to the bathtub which He was laying. I told her it is amazing and that Jesus appeared to her, as not everyone encounters this. I recalled I video I watched where a Muslim man who was sincerely seeking the true God where Jesus appeared to him in his dream at Mekah. Jesus also touched his forehead.
Well, as Pastor Jeff preached, there are many ways through which people come to know God. And for her was seeing Jesus in her dream, and experiencing God. Although is going for bible courses already. There must be a purpose.
I shared with her the bridge diagram and she said she already knows about the things I shared, but still has some unanswered questions/doubts.

She also wants to experience God more before she commits.

I invited her to out Christmas service. There she answered yes to want to know God personally. I was amazed. But I thank God accompanied her to the front to respond to God and pray the sinner’s prayer.
Again, I was very touched by the moment, with many people receiving Jesus in to their life.

I had no chance to speak to her more before she left to meet her sister.

Also in the auditorium, sitting on my left was a Philipino girl who walked in half way. She was separated from her other frens or family members coz there were not many seats left, or at all.
I couldn’t speak to her much as I was talking with my colleague and friend. But when I walked back after the response session, I greeted her again and asked whether she is new to Hope. Indeed she is, about 1 month new in Singapore, and her sister brought her here. I asked her carefully a few time whether she wants to know Jesus, she nodded her head/ say yes. I was so excited, I tried to get some help to talk with her to understand. But couldn’t find any. So I asked her to tell her sister instead.
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The story after this, is a story of spiritual warfare..
Where the devils tries by all means to stop a new believer/ new born spiritual baby from going back to God. And it happens.
There were many hindrances, just as how my uncle couldn’t start his car just when that particular time he wanted to go to church to worship, fellowship and learn about God.

We need to continue to pray for their protection and that they will continue to grow in their faith..