Expectation management

Feeling rather disturbed today... Started the day feeling very very emotional..

Started off with the build up of emotions and irritation and pressure from this trip... Honestly I never felt like I wanted to go home so much.. I miss my home, my poshie, my husband..

But at the same time, I learnt a important lesson today...

Not everyone is willing and able to share how you feel.... Some people can only share your joy and when things are going smooth and where nothing deep are shared.. And when u really share some things that mean a lot to you, they don't reply or reply with sweeping statements that actually makes you feel worse.. This is why, you cannot share everything with everyone..

What are we really looking for in our sharing? A listening ear, where you know that they really did read your msges... Not feeling like the msges ended up no where... or even, some times replies sounds like it doesn't even require them to have read your msges.. Hahahaha!

Is it really possible to expect others to understand what I am going through? Hahaha I know it is not.. But some times, we just need to feel that we are important and cared for.. And at least there's a reply after reading...

But at the same time, I learnt that people's importance to us in our lives does not equal to our importance to them.. And this is where expectations got to be managed.. Disappoinent happens when we expect something and it doesn't happen..

Expecting a simple reply, a simple reassurance, a simple message to know that you are remembered.... Can result to great disappointment...

Is it possible to live a life with no expectations?

Does it really make one happier?

Should priority be rearranged so that with the drop of importance, the effect and expectations will also be lowered?

And this is not the end... Going for the last dinner together on this trip soon and hoping and praying that it will turn out to be a fine experience... So that I can at least some a bit of good memories with me at the end..

Looking beyond

Looking beyond what meets the eye...

Today is the 9th day of my Europe trip... The past few days traveling through Barcelona to Madrid and now in Paris, cause me to think a lot..

The rich culture and art from the places inspire me to start designing again and motivated to make my designs appear when I visit Paris again next year!

Being on this trip with a combination of interesting people cause me to think... What do I want in life? And what is it that I'm trying to achieve...?

On this trip, there are the rich who do not flash their wealth; there's the rich whom I don't know if they are really rich cause they hang their riches on their lips..

There was a lady whom I thought she was quite indifferent and do not want to talk to anyone, but to discover that she is very warm and friendly but was sensitive to people calling them mainland china Chinese..

A group whom I knew of before the trip but never had the chance to really know them.. Thought they are bossy people but to realize how friend and sincere they are..

There's also one whom I always thought was a really nice person even before the trip, and got to know her better during the trip.. And realize the pride that is subtle but yet sharp...

I haven't been perfect either.. I tried my best and prayed really hard that I will not end up judging.. But just simply observing people.. Throughout the trip, I prayed that I will be a good testimony and not judge anyone for their actions or words.. And that God will open up doors for me to know them in a different way...

Most of them are quite well off and like any other Europe trip... Combing the brands are like a ritual that cannot be missed.. Then the comparing begins as they see who could afford a more expensive branded item.. The comparison kinda irritates but I choose not to be affected nor to be part of this rat race.. It is inevitable for them to compare but I just don't care.. Not that I don't have, but I choose not to depend on these branded items to define my self worth and value.. Though I admit, thoughts do run through my mind, on where will I be in 5 years time...

Today we went on a business dinner on cruise. It was suppose to be a very class and fine dining experience where we got dressed up for.. Then a group started singing and talking and laughing loudly... Then another loud roar of laughter from another table.... And then people start getting drunk from yet another table... At the beginning the embarrassment was overwhelming.. But then I saw the sorrows in their laughter and smile.. And I realized.. They may have everything they need or want but they are not truly happy.. They have wealth and riches but they do not have true joy and peace.. Their pacing up and down with more cigarettes and more alcohol only reveals their deepest sorrows.. Speaking very much of the opposite of what they are going through...

Sitting there... I understand that yes they may seems to have all that they want and could afford anything.. But true joy and peace only comes from above...

A few days back, our tour guide shared with us a story:
There was once he was at the hospital waiting for his turn to visit the doctor with one of his cilent. On his left was a Aunty scolding and shouting at the top of her voice in Spanish.. Not understanding what she is saying, he just assumed she was scolding the husband, who walked passed her and patiently went to the public phone to make a phone call.. Everyone was looking at her but no one went up to her.. A policeman nearby just gently say "Aunty be patient".. Feeling annoyed like everyone, he just continued using his phone.. Suddenly when he looked up, the Aunty was sitting right in front of him and he realized that she was actually blind.. She is shouting because she could not see the husband..

Sometimes things may seems like one thing from the back and a completely different thing from the front..

Stay in Barcelona (Part 3) Architectures

Every building is a masterpiece. These are not museums, art house etc. These are just buildings along the road that i manage to capture as i go... Look at how beautiful they are~ the sculptures and detailings...

This is a church nearby my hotel. 

Went for a simple dinner on our own and came to the main entrance of this beautiful church.

Photographer: ME! 

Stay in Barcelona (Part 2) Montserrat Hill

Journey up the Montserrat Hill, also known as the Miracle Hill. From a far you could see this rocky hill that stood out from all the other hills in the land.

At the halfway mark, we took a stop to take photos so this is me and my mum! =) We are on the hill already so we could only see the surrounding of other hills.

This is the views towards the top of the hill, what you see look like a seabed but it is actually very very dense cloud!

The view is breath-taking right! wait till i reach the top! Scenic view~

Then we visited the church of Mary that was built because they found a statue of Mary on this mountain and no matter how they try, they could not transport the statue down the hill and therefore they built a church here to hold this famous statue of Mary know as the Black Madonna and the church is known as the Virgin of Montserrat.

Below is the image of this Black Madonna (Photo credit to Wikipedia) as we were not allowed to be taking photos in the sanctuary.

Want to take a look at the view without the clouds and some other features on the hill? In fact according to the guide, this is his first time seeing the clouds so dense and beautiful, in his 20 years of bringing people up this mountain! Miracle is coming! =D

Photographer: ME!

Bye Montsarret Hill~ Till we meet again~

Stay in Barcelona (Part 1)

Observing the city of Barcelona..

What attracted me most are the very colourful details, graffiti art and the beautiful architectures!

Photographer: ME!

Below is one of the famous building designed by Antoni Guadi.

I love his work so much! Every piece is a masterpiece!

Even the balcony looks like a mask and it reminds me of the theatre show that i always wanted to watch live! Phantom of the Opera!

Photographer: ME!

Antoni Gaudi was a Catholic and you can see how he puts details of God and religious images into his masterpieces that earned him his nickname "God's architect". I will be posting more of his masterpieces and you will understand why he deserve this nickname.

This building is now a museum and you can see big crowds already gathering early in the morning, queueing to enter this beautiful place. Due to the tight schedule i am on this trip, i gotta give this a miss. Looking forward to another opportunity back to Barcelona where i can visit this museum!

Fornicators

Photo is used for illustration only! By: 'the-love-prince'

This is a sensitive but very important topic! I am not a flaky or super ultra conservative person but yet I believe very strongly that this is a word that I have received and I have to share it! At the beginning, I felt the burden to share with a few people, and then the burden just kept growing... And I felt the need to share this to as many...

Don't turn away from this now.. Because it is important! We need to self-check.. Parents should get their children to read and children got to get their parents to read.. Friends should get one another to read..

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Cor 6:9-10 NKJV)

Just because this term fornicators are no longer often or commonly used, the meaning did not change. Some people term it as 'sex before marriage'. Here it clearly says, do not be deceived! For these shall not inherit the kingdom of God! Just because it is not often spoke about, doesn't mean it no longer applies.

You may think, but now it is not illegal right? I won't be punished by law for having sex before marriage... My friends are all doing it.. It's the cool thing now and they all boast about their experience! And it's not cool to be a virgin these days.. Not like my parents or church leaders will ever find out, as long as I don't tell them and don't admit NO MATTER what they say! God gave us freewill to do what we want.. Even my parents say it is ok as long as I use condoms... My school is teaching about the practice of safe sex.. The law says that as long as it's not with a minor (below 16), it is legally ok.. But what did the word of God say?

Just because something is technically legal doesn’t mean that it’s spiritually appropriate. If I went around doing whatever I thought I could get by with, I’d be a slave to my whims. (1 Corinthians 6:12 MSG)

Just because it is legal, doesn't mean it is spiritually appropriate! It is not about whether someone is traditional, old-fashioned, religious etc.. It is about having the fear of The Lord and His word. DO NOT BE DECEIVED! Just because everyone is doing it, doesn't mean it is spiritually appropriate! For these shall NOT inherit the kingdom of God!

Yes you may be saved, you may enter the kingdom of God, but these shall not inhert the kingdom of God - pastor Derek Prince

Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. (I Corinthians 6:18-20 NKJV)

So now the married couples think that they are safe? But really the word fornication means 'sex outside marriage' and there is a double emphasis here in 1 Cor 6:9-10! Fornicators and adulterers!

Sex is a holy union of 2 person in the presence of The Lord! If you think that you are only sinning against your spouse, think again...

Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.” But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. (I Corinthians 6:15-17 NKJV)

If 2 has become 1 flesh, how then can you separate yourself again to go to another? And if one is joined with The Lord is one spirit with Him, how then can we be separate from Him in spirit and be joined with another?

Maybe you are thinking... But I never really have sex or intercourse with the other person.. We are just fooling around and having fun.. Sex means sex right? Means intercourse and ejection right? We don't go that far, so we are safe...

What is the definition of sex?

Physical activity in which people touch or kiss each other's bodies and physical activity that is related to and often includes sexual organs or structure.

Some even define it as any activities with the intention to arouse the other person. To be even more strict, Jesus said "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew 5:28 NKJV)"

And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. (I Corinthians 6:11 NKJV)

This whole passage in 1 Cor 6 is not referring to the non-believers, but believers who are already washed, sanctified and justified.. And if you still commit sexual immortality and fornication willfully... Do not be deceived!

Know that there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus. But true repentance is an inward change of heart, resulting in an outward change of action. There must be a change of action, when there is true repentance.

Kingdom of heaven (Part 1)

Was contemplating about this kingdom of heaven and was reminded of a few interesting aspects of it.

The first thing that I was reminded of is regarding money and wealth.
The world sees money as a very important thing in their lives and some even value it more than their own life itself.
I saw how people choose the establish relationships and friendships with people who are high flyers and so-called high key people, the rich; the wealthy; the famous; the well-known... And would very much want to be associated with them.

Yet, Jesus came and associated himself with the unloved, unworthy, unpopular.. To me, this is the kingdom of heaven - to love the unloved, to reach the unreached, to give a value to those who feel that they are not worthy, to bring those who are outcasted close.. And not be afraid to be associated with them. We are in the world, but not of the world.

The bible says, we cannot serve 2 masters, God and mammon, for if we love one, we will hate the other.

The world sets itself on a mode to get and store up for itself the riches of this world. But I was reminded of something I learnt back in 2006 when I was attending SOT. One teaching that impacted me till today.

When you need money, don't sell your things, give them away. For it's more blessed to give than to receive.

Many many many times in the bible, it was shown that as the man or woman of God put their trust in God, pouring out the exact thing they needed most on the altar, God will take care of their needs!
- the widow who is left with a jar of oil
- Elijah who poured water on the offering in the midst of a drought
- and many more

Yes, money is essential for survival in this world where everything is dollar and cents. I'm not saying that we should be on a extreme of not working and just trusting God to provide, because the bible says that, he who does not labor shall not eat.

But what I am saying is, are you motivated by money? Is money having it's stronghold in your life? If just like the rich young ruler, God is to call you to sell and give away all your possessions, properties, shares etc and follow Him, will you so gladly do it or will you be grieved for your possessions are much?