Allow me to introduce you to the brain of Christmas 4 Kids. This bunch of creative, committed and (some) crazy people collectively pour out hundreds of hours to make the biggest Christmas event in the south west of Brisbane happen… fuelled completely by love in their hearts!

Churchill once said “we make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give”. And giving is truly a trait of every single person on this team! I’m particularly blown away by the sweet spirit of every single person on the team! The honour is really mine to have the opportunity to serve alongside such amazing people!

Take 1.

Hmm…. where’s the love?

Take 2.

Not getting any better…

Take 3.

Hehe… momentarily normal!

Listening: Lucky - Jason Mraz

Lisa walks into restaurant and asks a man for a table for two.

Man shakes his heads says ‘No’.

Lisa is puzzled and thinks to herself ‘Strange…why not???’

Man proceeds to sit down to dine with his family.

Oops. Lisa is embarassed (and blogs about it)

I’m doubly delighted tonight… you would be too if you had double the desserts! Here’s the evidence…

First stop… icey icey icey icey icey icey icey icey icey icey icey icey…. thanks J Lau for the shout!

Next stop… durian gelati with Sop…. mmmm….. mark of a true asian!

Here’s what was left of it…

Mmm…. i’m super satisfied! All in the mix of catching up with people and sharing life all day long!

listening: I’m yours - Jason Mraz
learnt today: the power of a nap
blonde moment count: 1 only

I can’t shake this thing about ‘today’. (For context, read my previous post). The thought that my actions, thoughts, words, motives - everything I choose to do today - will in some way, shape or form effect my tomorrow, and ultimately, my destiny.

I was meditating on Genesis 17 tonight, which stirred my curiosity about what it must have been like for Abraham of old. Putting myself in his shoes, I imagined he would have felt anything BUT the father of many nations - even when he heard it straight from the mouth of God. Goodness! He wasn’t even father of one at that time! To think that kings will come from him? That nations will be made from him? He must have thought: ‘Gee… how poetic of you God - to inspire me with metaphors of such grandeur!?’

But today, we know that Abraham IS the father of many nations. Thousands of years later, we are still talking about him. Songs are sung about him. Believers are inspired in their faith because of Him. What we need to catch is this: Abraham didn’t become the ‘Father of many nations’ over night. He too, had his every day life to live. He had his todays to reckon with too. To choose: to follow God or not. To obey God or not. To trust God or not. To live a blameless life or not. To love God or not. To uphold purity or not. To desire holiness or not.

Thank God Abraham chose what was right when he had his opportunity. He seized his today and made choices that led him to where he ended up - the sweet spot of God’s perfect plan for Him. Thank God he took heed when God told him: “walk before me and be blameless” (Gen 17:1). Jesus Christ literally wouldn’t have come about if it wasn’t for his godly and wise choices.

I’m reflecting on some questions over my life, and I invite you to think about them over your own life too:

What’s the condition of my heart (in the darkest private moments)? Do I give God and my leaders access there? Is this the kind of heart I want to have when I’m standing face to face with God?

Do I really trust God? (I mean really?) Enough to give something up entirely and willingly, no strings attached?

These questions hurt! But they are good for you and I. I pray that as we continue to examine our fundamentals this season, that we would allow God to do a deep work in our lives. May I encourage you to wrestle with these today. Don’t put it off… for you only have today once!

Our choices today are important. Destinies of people to come may just hinge on you and I.

(First of all, thank you Jesus I did not fall walking up the stage stairs at anniversary. And thanks also that I didn’t cry and make slobbery mess of my makeup!)

Vanity and self-absorption aside, PRAISE GOD for an AMAZING 15th anniversary celebration of our church last night! i’m SO proud of my church! If my heart was visible, you would have been able to see it luminating with pride for everything part of our church - the people in the congregation, the singers (go Jien Li!), the hot dancers (I so think you can dance!), the worship, my leaders who have invested so much! I could go on and on… but pictures speak a thousand words, so I will try and post photos up when I get a hold of them…. and yes, I must remember to include one of my red hot Dorothy shoes too!

To top a great weekend off, the senior leadership of Hope Brisbane and Ipswich gathered with Ps Wilson for a day of equipping and fellowship. I consider it a real honour and privilege to be able to sit in a room full of young men and women who are so sold out for God and for His Great Commission. Today was all about revisiting our foundations to make sure that we are truly made of God-substance, not just external traits and charisma. There were a lot of great sharing and teaching… but one particular point that stood out for me was this:

What is needed for me to serve God with longevity?

I was reminded that the key to longevity starts today. What choices I make today. What condition my heart is in today. What thoughts I entertain today. What investment I make into God’s kingdom today. What foundation I’m building today. What my walk with God is like today. How much I’m in love with God today. At the turn of 15 years of Hope Brisbane, I believe the church is where its at because my spiritual leaders made the choices they made and lived the lives they lived many todays ago. And they are still making those choices today.

I don’t want to just serve God for the next 10 or 20 years… but I want to last with full intensity until my last breath! Not only that… the intensity of my life must be so strong that others I do life with will catch alight too, for this is the only legacy I can leave behind. There are no shortcuts or quick wins in this. I’m working on my heart and life today because I want to last the distance. And I want others to serve God with longevity too!

Side note: Had the honour of sharing about the Great Commission with my cousin (a 1 month old believer) tonight. It was a special moment for me (and yes, i nearly cried!) because I was moved by her hunger to find out more about it. (Do you know how exciting it is to share about the Great Commission with someone?) It was also because it hit me that the Great Comission is no longer a statement on a banner for me as it was years ago. It is now my personal mandate and responsiblity - a direct assignment given to me by my Lord Jesus Christ. The purpose of my life is to do my God-given part in it.

MSN excitement: Thanks to Wyn’s crazy emoticons during our chat, I had the time of my life on MSN tonight. Don’t think I’ve ever laughed so much sitting in front of a computer in a long time. Thanks babe! And of course, I’ve plagued other conversations with them too! Love it! (Ahh….simple minds!)
Listening: Mr Jones - Counting Crows
Consuming: Soy custard with peanuts (yum!)
Braces timeframe: Exactly 4 months today! Only 66.66666 reoccuring % to go!

I got together with the other hosts last night to work on our script (note to self - scripted jokes never work - don’t ever try it!). (Side note - May is an a-may-zing cook! Had three servings of her tom yum mee hoon! Could have eaten more but I didn’t want to eat more than Justin! kehehe) Amidst our hussle to get through the script and program, there was one special moment for me. And that was when we were writing up an introduction to welcome Pastor Wilson on stage on Saturday.

As May was describing Pastor, I almost teared as I imagined what the journey must have been like for him for the past 15 years. Truly, Wilson and Lai Ling are heros of the faith - heros who have persevered through thick and thin and remained consistent and resilient through the harvests and doughts. They’ve remained faithful, zealous, intense with the love of God and for people. In my 10 years in this church, I have never seen once seen them live their lives for themselves. My heart wells up with gratitute (and awe!) for such humble servants of God who have chosen to forgo the comfort and luxuries that an alternate choice of life could have offered them. Instead, Wilson and Lai Ling have decided with all of their hearts to serve God and live for His kingdom fully.

As we celebrate 15 years of our church this weekend, I am remembering that the harvest I see before me is the direct result of the hard work, tears and sweat of so many exemplery leaders - like Wilson and Lai Ling - and many others. I’m so thankful that I have such an incredible man and woman of God to model after. Our movement and churches in the Hope family are full of people like that. I’m sure our forefathers of the faith beam with pride for such saints! These extraordinary men and women inspire me to live fully for the Kingdom. So, to the cloud of witnesses that surround us, I say:

I’ll run my race. I want to continue the work you started, I want to do our King proud. I will not live for myself - not even one moment for I realise the brevity of my life on earth. I will run with endurance, for the cause the King Jesus has set for me. I will not take my eyes of the eternal Kingdom, and I will serve the King with my everything.

Listening: For those who are to come - United Live
Unspiritual goals this Saturday: 1) Don’t cry, 2) Don’t trip up the stage stairs

We’re all crashing at Ablaze HQ tonight after a long but wonderful day of rubbing shoulders and sitting under God’s word and priceless leadership impartation today. This is definitely a new chapter in the life of our church. As I sat amongst faithful young (and generation plus… hur hur) men and women, I could sense the alignment of our hearts as we listened to and caught the vision and direction God had placed upon the heart of our supe-of-a-leader - Torch. More about the exemplery sacrifice that this young (yes, young!) man shows in his life next time!

I chose to write this entry now (despite my eyelids being heavier than an elephant) because it’s a special, special moment. It’s special because I’m sitting next to a young woman who I’ve watched blossom over the years. One who was reserved and timid by nature, now leading and giving direction to a team of foyer hosts and greeters on a weekly basis. One whose heart for God is so simple and sincere. One who sees the need around and responds to the discontent in her heart, and against all odds, courageously rises up and steps into a place of discomfort and unknown. But she knows its a place of God’s will. As I write, she is penning down the ‘one thing’ upon her heart to share with us tomorrow. I can’t wait to hear it.

Seriously, what an honour! I’m sitting next to a world changer.

Listening: sound of the boys downstais playing DS against muffled Hillary Duff (wrong, Tim!) when they should be sleeping
Consuming: unfortunately nothing

…that this weekend ain’t going to be normal weekend or yet another leadership conference. When I look around at the next tier of upcoming leaders, i am reminded by what John Wesley of old said:

“Give me one hundred men who love only God with all their heart and hate only sin with all their heart, and we will shake the gates of hell and bring in the kingdom of God in one generation.”

God is definitely doing something in our midst. The wineskin is definitely being prepared for greater things to come! This weekend will go down in the history of planet earth! I can’t wait to be in the thick of the place where callings are going to be awakened, potential are uncapped, and dreams & visions unleashed!

Harvest…. here come your reapers!!

“Clear lots of ground for your tents! Make your tents large. Spread out! Think big! Use plenty of rope, drive the tent pegs deep. You’re going to need lots of elbow room for your growing family. You’re going to take over whole nations; you’re going to resettle abandoned cities.” (Isaiah 54:2-3, MSG)

Listening: Name - The Goo Goo Dolls
Consuming: Mum’s chicken congee… mmm….a Friday night post-church tradition!

Read this in Pastor Rick Warren’s toolbox for leaders which resounds with me deeply. All the more, I am super keen to hold my ministries with open hands, to work myself out of my job, to make myself redundant and move on - fast!

“Saddleback outgrew me a long time ago. If I tried to control everything, the church would have stopped growing at about 300. Your ministry needs to outgrow you. You must be willing to share and delegate your ministry. D. L. Moody said, “I’d rather put 10 people to work than do the work of 10 people.””

Jesus got it right (duh!) - discipleship is the key. We’re going to be talking about this all weekend at our leadership conference. There are a whole bunch of new ‘champs’ (leaders in training) attending! Can’t wait to see new and younger leaders rise up and run with the baton! I truly believe they will go much further than I ever could! The church of the future is in their capable hands! Woo-hoo!!

Listening: The Thief - Brooke Fraser
Consuming: Camomile tea (cold though.. yuk!)

I’m also succumbing to peer pressure… but since its Shirls who tagged me, i’ll do it just for you, babe!

A. Answer the questions below, do a Google Image search with your answer, take a picture from the first page of results, and do it with minimal words of explanation.
B. Tag 5 other people to do the same once you’ve finished answering every question.

1. The age you will be on your next birthday

Disclaimer: I’m not endorsing the mag & please don’t make your crush want you.

2. A place you’d like to travel to:

3. Your favourite place:

Three Monkeys!

4. Your favourite food:
I like just about everything! So I’m doing the reverse… my LEAST fave food:

5. Your favourite pet:

6. Your favourite colour combination

Brown and black

7. Your favourite piece of clothing

8. Your all-time favourite song:

A song called ‘Name’

9. Your favourite TV show:

I’m a closet nerd!

10. The town in which you live:

11. Your screen nickname:
I’m boring… i don’t have one

12. Your first job:

13. Your dream job:

14. A bad habit you have:

(In case you can’t guess from the picture, I like to smell everything. I mean EVERYTHING!)

15. Your worst fear:

16. The one thing you’d like to do before you die:

There you go! Having been out the blog world for a long time, I’m just going to assume that most of you have done it!

Listening: Waste Another Day - Brooke Fraser
Consuming: Chicken Feet.. yumm….