WILLIE LIM's blog

SPECIAL THANKS

SPECIAL THANKS
TO:

City Harvest Community Services Association (CHCSA)

Pastor Ming Jing (MJ) & Darryl

N457

Beloved ones

Dear readers,

I'm writing this with the intention of honoring these helping hands with thanks and gratitude as my semester comes to an end.
Apart from it, to testify the goodness of God in my life.
Also, I would like to thank friends around who have shown support during my tough times.

Upon the ending of Semester 2 and the release of the latest exam result, my hopes and dreams were dashed.
I had the intention of transferring from Diploma in Banking & financial Services to Diploma in Accountancy.
With my GPA at that time was impossible to slip through it, with an accumulated GPA of 2.7.
The requirement to transfer was:

1. GPA above 3.5
2. O level cut-off points is qualified for the intended course

I fitted the second criteria nicely but it wasn't as smooth for the first one though.
That semester, I gave myself to people, situations & ministry.
I gave my time to the out-cast in class, I gave up part of my revision time in exchange for ministry, I gave to friends around and be there for a friend whose O-level result wasn't ideal for most courses and spend 2 days from evening onwards with him, I gave it into friendships which I was troubled over and ate me up emotionally, I got affected by my family financial crisis as my dad lost his job.
These were where I got my time and energy into.

Thus, it probably resulted why my progress for Semester 2 was off-course.
On the last day of application of transfer date, I took the courage and tried applying to transfer despite knowing I wasn't eligible in a sense.
Amazingly, God showed up & answered my prayers.
He resurrected my situation which was as good as dead, alive again.
I got a call not long about a week later after applying.
It was a call to go down and have a interview. For that, I almost missed it as I were soundly asleep in the afternoon still when the lecturer called.
Ignorantly, I told my mom to tell whoever was on the line that I will call back later and continued sleeping.
Nevertheless, when I heard that it was from a lecturer, I jumped out of my bed and dialed in respond.
The timing the lecturer gave was on the same day with a tight schedule to catch.
However, I made it on time, got the interview.
The lecturer didn't gave me a very positive answer that the application would be success and vacancies in accountancy was beyond the normal intake in every class.

Weeks later, school reopened. I've yet to get the news after the first day of school.
I got disheartened as I've already continued my Year 2, day 1, as a Banking & Financial student.
Day 2, I went to school and halfway through my day I got a call from Singapore Polytechnic.
It was a call to ask me to go for collection of my approval letter of my transfer.
I was blankly surprised and thrilled with the transferring.

Sincerely, this was my first big victory after entering Singapore Polytechnic as the goal I've set before entering Polytechnic was,

"When I look back at the end of my 3 years in Singapore Polytechnic, I want to know that it was indeed a walk with God."

I made this goal because I didn't like Singapore Polytechnic, and Ngee Ann Polytechnic was where my heart was set on, in Business Studies. On top of that, I was inspired by this friend, Xiao Xuan.
She told me something during a casual talk with her. About how she felt of her Poly life was that when she looked back, to her, it meant a walk with God.

So, for my year 1, even when the class was a challenging one to be in.  Filled with insensitive people but intellectually cunning, arrogant and self-centered classmates, wanting the best all for themselves in results, projects & presentations. There is no wrong in all these desires until it is at the cost which is at the expense of others. Yet and yet, I survived my Year 1 in one piece.
Its more than success, more than climbing higher than your friends, stepping on their heads, but it is about living your life to the fullest with the good that you can do to benefit all those who are around you.

I rejoiced in my new breakthroughs, into the new course and also in my dad's new job.

Unfortunately, shortly after, my dad lost his job and health conditions arose in him.
On 07 June 10, the night before my term one, CA1, in Diploma in Accountancy, my family got into a big fight over some family matters.
My dad, my mom, my brother and I, all four of us, had a fight almost into violence.
My heart sank.
To make matters worst, on 12 July, my grandma was admitted to hospital and was suspected of having cancer.
Sadly, she was diagnosed with colon cancer, 3rd stage, in her late 80s.
Soon, my family sinked into financial difficulty with no income and used up reserves.
My mom even pawned her gold bracelet for $1400. I didn't know the story of the bracelet. But I do know it is something very very precious to her.
I asked her once about the bracelet and she said,

"If it possible, I would want to redeem back the bracelet."

In short, helping hands came in many ways and many ones.
I would like to thank them now individually of their concern and care towards my family and I.

1. Daniel Lee

He is an amazing leader being placed in my life as my shepherd. Many a time, I would go in circles taking things into my own hands. And I would sink into a depress level as my mood and emotions leads me. He has patience, very patience towards me and never doubted my ability as a connect group leader under him. Encouraged and helped me with my insecurity.

It was him that I was introduced to CHCSA.

It was also through him that Pastor MJ and Darryl got to know about my situation. And they began to get concerned about it.

Daniel had sowed love, care, help, spiritual and financial support into my life.
He was there by my side when I cried for one full hour about my results, skipping his lesson and just being there physically to counsel me and ensured I was alright.
For that day, he missed 2 hours of lesson in total if I'm not mistaken.
Also, he helped me in looking jobs for my dad and gave me many offers that my dad could try out.
Emotionally, he hears and advises on my troubles.
I'm at a lost for words to thank him for everything that he has helped me with.
He is a great mentor and leader to have!

Thank you for being the best leader for N457 and me!

Daniel, thank you for being there when there's a call of duty! Thank you for believing me! 

2. Pastor MJ & Darryl

Thank you for getting personally involved in my situation, helping me with the best that you know you could.
Thank you for sowing a seed of faith in me and encouraging me.
Thank you for noticing me when I'm just a member like anyone else.
Indeed, how big this zone can grow and go, at the same time, it is as close and as personally involved it is.
That makes it a family, a real big family.

Thank you for encouraging me and doing more than mere words and greatly backed with great actions!

Thank you Pastor Ming Jing & Darryl for your concern and help!
My mom says "thank you", for your seed of faith.

3. City Harvest Community Services Association (CHCSA)

Thank you for rendering your help to my family. Sums and sums of financial aid monthly, I am thankful for it.
Thank you for wonderful and sympathizing staffs, Victoria and Sheryl. Both of them were helping me in my case.
Every month, when I make visits to collect groceries or collect the cheque, CHCSA will finds out how's the condition of the situation, ensuring that that my family and I are still able to cope with the situation.

Thank you, City Harvest Community Services Association!

4. N457

I thank the friends in the cell-group of all age, from the youngest to the oldest, boy or girl, for tolerating and showing concern. During this long season of facing so many events after events, I had my frustrations. My times when I cannot continue to bear a good testimony and start behaving according to where my emotions leads me.

Sometimes, friends in the cell-group will ask and see if I'm alright. Some, gives me my peace and leave me be.
Different ways of caring, but effective means of help!

N457, thank you for your love!

5. Germaine Low

Germaine, she is a close friend who encouraged me when I was down and out. When I was facing so much pressure and hard-pressed on all sides, she is my listening ear. Sometimes, I might even have bad attitudes towards her, really bad attitudes. Daniel and her supported me morally when they came and visit my grandma when she was hospitalized.

She helped me dealt with emotional knots.
She's a tremendous friend during this tough time.

Maine, thank you for being a buddy!

6. Shirley Poh

Shirley, thanks for being there for me with Daniel when the hope of my results failed me. Thanks for staying up that day at SMU to encourage me despite after a long midnight of prayer meeting.
Thanks for having breakfast with me, keeping me companied and sending me home to ensure I was alright.

Thank you for looking out for the jobs that would suit my dad's age and qualification.
Continuously, looking out for me and my family.

Thank you for being a blessing!

Shirley, thank you for standing in the gap!

7. Sebastian Leow

Jia Hin, my lover boy! He is young but matured and sensible far beyond his age.
He is a man of faith! He went through many difficulties yet strong to face up to his challenges.
He may be young but this one young man is a man whose youth is not despised.

I shared with him the challenges I was going through some time ago and he gave no much reaction to it.
To my surprise, within the next 24 hours, he sent me a message filled with his encouragement was all that I could feel and in the message, was his sourcing of a job suitable for my dad.

Sebby! Thank you for being a wonderful brother to me. You really gave me the feeling of a younger brother for me. Thank you for helping me during my tough time! Continue to stay close & connected!

8. Jaime Chan

J! Thank you for all the times when you see me in Ngee Ann and concerned about my hunger.
For the every time that without fail you would ask when you see me in Ngee Ann, either,

"Have you eaten?"

"You got money to eat?"

"Help me eat, I cannot finished."

Thank you for your blessing and being a friend to me!

9. Chen Bing

Orange Biscuit! Thank you for being a loyal & reliable friend.
Always so ready to hear me out and encourage me afterwards. So generous with your allowance to ask me to have it when I'm tight.

12 years of friendship!

Let's keep it strong!

Chen Bing, thank you!

10. Fion Tan

Fion, thank you for listening to me closely when I was sharing with you once at Bedok 85 Market.

Thank you for going to CHCSA office with me.
Thank you for praying for me with Germaine and Gift in our prayer conferences.

Fion, thank you!

11. Angela Koh

My mama lecturer in school. She is one of the reason why do I like Singapore Polytechnic now. Even when the school is not so much of liking, she makes it my liking because of her. I went to her for economics help and advises on transferring. She helped me whenever possible.

Also, when my PTN failed to show up on a very important task for me to apply financial aid from school. She was like a angel who appeared at the right timing and helped with out with the part that should be filled by my PTN lecturer.

Thank you, Ms Koh!

In closing,

-today my grandma is declared to be freed of cancer after a successful operation.
-my semester in Diploma in Accountancy took a turn for a class that is totally pleasant and healthy to be in. Classmates are all friendly, helpful and enjoyable.
-my dad is under medication but he has started working for 2-3 days.
-I have found a accounting job and working full-time currently in my vacation when I should be disqualified in a sense during interview.

ALL GLORY & HONOR
TO GOD
FOREVER & EVER

AMEN! 

 

CHERISH

WHICH IS MORE DIFFICULT?

Hello Readers, concerning the previous write-up, definitely being lost in your head, heart and soul is more difficult.

WHICH IS MORE DIFFICULT?

For this next post, I've actually delayed for quite some time.
I  had in hand what to write as my upcoming post since the day of my new series. But all along, I didn't have the time and chance to actually blog about it.
So, here goes,

I was drawn to this thought about dynasty, girls and beauty.
Can you figure who or what I'm going to describe soon?

*DING-DONG*

Time's up!

It's PRINCESS.

I was thinking throughout the entire dynasty age or empire age. When we hear the word 'princess', be it in books, stories, dramas, movies or any form, we have this ideology that she is definitely gorgeous and almost like beauty of an fairy on earth.
Have anyone ever has this thought of a princess, fat, clumsy, dullish, when hearing call of the word?

Hardly I believe.

But I figured why are they all so beautiful.
Throughout these dynasty & empire ages, from a commoner all the way to the right hand man of the King, everyone thinks, believes or even confesses that the princess is definitely a beauty on earth.
That is why, with so much faith of the people, believing, speaking, confessing, visualizing, ignorantly working with the power of the 4th dimension. That it become true, that princesses are beauty of the earth.
That is also why I believe is very hard and rare for a princess to go off track, looking off its standard.

That is why I got this conclusion:

A princess grew up looking beautiful and compared to a commoner's girl growing up under the criticism of people from young, yet looking extravagant.

WHICH IS MORE DIFFICULT?

Friends, today I learnt from this that coming out of a trial from lack, compared with someone who go through a trial with all that is needed around him,

for example, going through a trial of financial difficulty with no backup and someone else going through a financial trial but having CPF, bank savings & investments as back up,

You are already a champion far beyond many many things and people even if you stagger out of your trial.

WHICH IS MORE DIFFICULT?

Love

Love

WHICH IS MORE DIFFICULT?

Dear Readers,

I would like to acknowledge & thank you for your love towards my blog.
Thank you for checking & following up my posts.

The time taken to view;
the effort inputed to key in the address;
the patience shown to await a new post;
the gentleness in commenting;
the graciousness in tolerating my rubbish posts sometimes;

Here's my notice for the upcoming plan for this blog of mine to you readers:

From the next post onwards, I'll be embarking on a new series of posts under the title of
"WHICH IS MORE DIFFICULT?"

I would like to make use of this to remind and guide myself into thinking
deeper & wider.
To make myself grow more in my philosophy.
Most of the time,
the post will be left dangling for one to
reflect & revise.

For you my precious readers,
I hope it will be something
enjoyable & meaningful
for you while sowing your time here,
reading,
"WHICH IS MORE DIFFICULT?"

With love,
XIANG

WHICH IS MORE DIFFICULT?

11th August 2010, out in the night, waiting for my bus to arrive.

My mind was brought to the remembrance of a particular incident out of the million thoughts twirling in my mind per second.
I remembered about this incident since I was in the area, Kallang.
A friend of mine sought help from me regarding a technical issue on an electronic device some time ago.
This friend of mine wanted to go and fix the device by bringing it to the service department.
Yet, unsure of its actual location in this vicinity, Kallang.
I turned in to aid.
Everything went smooth on the way to look for the place.
We found the place, we went in but the product wasn't under the charge of their service department.
Rather, the place we found was merely a common wholesaler for that product.
The end product of this thought was this: DIRECTION.

I understood that this friend needed a guide in the sense of direction physically back then.
But what led my mind thinking further was this,

Jesus says,
^{Matthew 16:26 (Bible in Basic English), "}For what profit has a man,
if he gets all the world with the loss of his life?
or what will a man give in exchange for his life?"

what if you are lost in your mind, heart & soul?

WHICH IS MORE DIFFICULT?

Find out more
on the next post of
"WHICH IS MORE DIFFICULT?"

10 CHARACTERISTICS OF A GREAT PERSON

1. Listen without interrupting.
Proverbs 18

2. Speak without accusing.
James 1:19

3. Give without sparing.
Proverbs 21:26

4. Pray without ceasing.
Colossians 1:9

5. Answer without arguing.
Proverbs 17:1

6. Share without pretending.
Ephesians 4:15

7. Enjoy without complaint.
Philippians 2:14

8. Trust without wavering.
Corinthians 13:7

9. Forgive without punishing.
Colossians 3:13

10. Promise without forgetting.
Proverbs 13:12

Somebody say,
"WOW!"

FOREVER REIGN

This is the new song we've sang yesterday:

Forever Reign

WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT

Dear friends,

This season may be tough for some of you.

This something I felt in my heart this week, it is a segment of a chapter in Isaiah.

As I was having my own devotion, I felt this verses was if rhema for my season, powerful & started to confess and minister these verses into my life.

I hope as you read these verses, you will be encouraged & blessed as well !

That's what I sensed in my heart so I'm going to share it with you !

Be it in your comfort, in your finances, in abundance, in sorrow, in affliction, in guidance, in graciousness as many areas as can be.

Isaiah 30:18-23

^{Isaiah 30:18} Therefore the LORD will wait, that He may be gracious to you; And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; Blessed are all those who wait for Him.

¹⁹ For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem; You shall weep no more. He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry; When He hears it, He will answer you.

²⁰ And though the Lord gives you The bread of adversity and the water of affliction, Yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore, But your eyes shall see your teachers.

²¹ Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, " This is the way, walk in it," Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left.

²² You will also defile the covering of your images of silver, And the ornament of your molded images of gold. You will throw them away as an unclean thing; You will say to them, "Get away!"

²³ Then He will give the rain for your seed With which you sow the ground, And bread of the increase of the earth; It will be fat and plentiful. In that day your cattle will feed In large pastures.

THE DEPTH OF THE LOVE OF GOD

Hello friends, today, I'm not going to start with an introductory paragraph or something like that. But I want to start with a question.

Does anyone know how deep and wide the love of God is?

To date, based on my own experience, honest and open with this very truthful answer:

   I do not know.  

But, I know and I know and I know that the love of God is definitely so unmeasurable and awe-striking!

Last night, while on Bus. 67, I experienced or had a revelation about God.
This is a powerful happening on the bus.
I don't know whether it might be for you as I go into details later, but it was sure impacting onto me.
I nearly cry out of desperation and out of the awe-struckness by God's greatness & love on the bus.
Indeed, yesterday, more than typical saying of "God is great", I found a deeper meaning, a deeper reason to say, "God is great!"

As I boarded my bus from Bedok, around Germaine's house area, it was packed and I hurried to try find a seat as people were alighting from my stop.
Happily and fortunately, I managed to get a seat with its side empty.
Thus, I sat on the outer side to prevent myself from being blocked later on for alighting.

Usually, for that bus trip my eyes would be fixed onto the guys around me and in the bus.
I'll be observing and enthusiastically awaits to look at the shallowness of man as the bus passed Geylang.
But as for yesterday, it didn't happen that way.
My heart was filled with compassion yet withheld. My heart, my eyes, my mind was fixed onto God yesterday.
I almost freak-out on the bus.

Before continuing any further, I would like to express my respect for JAMS volunteers and workers.
This is something I would do whenever I see a JAMS volunteer that I know.

 *Salute* 

2-3 stops or so after I have boarded my bus, a girl about 16-23 years old (my guess), "special", came up on the bus.
Initially, she was seated 2 seats in front of mine.
Later on, she started to move around, people who were kind-hearted on the bus pointed towards the seat at the end of the bus so she could seat alone.
She got off her seat and walked.
Just when she was about to reached the end, she turned and faced me, showed intention to have the available seat beside me.

Thus, I let her have it.
She looked kind of having the look that she's from JAMS church and autistic.

I mean no offence for the next feel thoughts to the girl.

The moment she sat beside me, I felt my heart sank.
Not because I needed a pretty girl to seat beside me, but because I felt scared.
After my first experience serving in JAMS, I salute all those who serve there regularly with deep respect.
Can you imagine me, taller than her, stronger than her, but I was scared of her.
The feeling was horrible.
Imagine an insane man seating beside you and you are seated on the inner seat.
That's was the feeling I had, and fearful that anything may happen just at any next moment.
However, I'm not saying the girl is insane.

In my heart, I was crying out to God. I earnestly had this pleading request in my heart, "God, let me reach the bus stop so fast as if I'm on bus for 5minutes."
But of course, it didn't happened.

I tried calming myself and be cool with it.
After awhile, the child took off her slippers, crossed her legs and started readjusting her skirt and again.
I felt for her, I was afraid of any perverse guy would take his chance on autistic child by having their eyes for bonus, yet I did nothing but seated there motionless. All along just hoping the bus would reach as soon as possible.

Moments later, she used her finger to poke me to get my attention and stopped when I turned to her and failed to interpret what she wanted to say.
She started readjusting her skirt again, lifted the piece of material and let it down, again and again.
Followed on, she started rubbing her nose, wiped it on her skirt and that was when I realized all those actions was just symptoms of her being cold.

My mind went again, "Ahhhh, please don't let her touch me, don't let her touch me, her hand's dirtied. She rub nose, scratch leg;"
I almost freak, literally I meant.
I was thinking if she touched me, I might just jumped off from and seat and freak-out in front of the entire bus.

In the end, she touched and I almost freak-out.

But that's not the main point.
Was it an experience on the bus for me? Yes, it sure was.
Was it a occurrence I never had before? Yes, it was.
Did I freak-out on the bus? Yes, I freak-out in my heart already. Fortunately, I was able to control myself from physically freak-out.

The main point is this:

I was so filled with compassion for the little girl.
How filled? So filled that when she lifted her skirt I wanted to protect her, so filled that when she was cold I wanted to adjust the direction of the aircon away for her.
But you know, I was afraid. This probably the first time I got myself so startled and shocked on a bus ride.
For what I was having on me, my compassion wasn't backed up by action.

A revelation jumped on me when I started realizing,

"God.. You're sure amazing. Yes, I say I love people and I do. But I do not love like the extent of your love."

His love was simply indescribably unconditioned.
I got reminded that even they may be autistic, whatever, God loves them, literally.
Furthermore, it is way above and beyond measure onto this autistic children of God.
God's compassion was filled love + actions, regardless who the person may be.
Then I realized, even though in my life there are people who are not so lovable as compared to that girl, it isn't anymore.

Friends, I don't really know how to translate how I felt and amazed by God all in words.
This is a experience, more than talking the talk, you got to have the feel of the walk.
That is then you will understand how I felt.
God's love, is just so.. incredible.

I felt so compassionate, so wanted to help yet I couldn't because I was.. afraid.

That bus trip, I learnt about God's love in a deeper level I never know before.

Want to know something more timely?

Just as I was having a revelation of God's love, I had my eyes caught on the surrounding.
To my surprised, all around me on the bus, for that trip, for that day, for that moment, were all filled with special people.
Right before my eyes, I saw this guy and lady communicating to each other specially.
One of them turned and gestured, then other gestured to respond. And know what, this group of people God loves them too, very much! It was just needs upon needs that they had. And I hope & wished in my heart that every single one of them to be healed in Jesus name.
1-2 stops before I got down, I felt that the world was so broken and fallen in need for God to be manifested greatly significantly.

I got across the road and to await my transferring bus, 985.
I got there and found 3 "beng beng" kind of people smoking under the bus shelter and thought to myself,

"What a fallen world in need of God.."

Truly, yesterday was a one-kind of experience for me even though I almost freak-out.
But it taught me the love of God and I need to explore it in greater deep as though like the depth of ocean.

The next time, you get to have this chance,
 demonstrate the love of God in your life onto them.

They Need Your Love!

Don't freak-out like me.

Otherwise, you might be missing out on God's great love, which may be intended for you as you minister to others.

LONGEVITY

Good morning friends!

Here's my latest revelation:

L ^O N _G E ^V I _T Y

I got this revelation while on my way home in the bus yesterday.
I was thinking about the Holy Spirit, I just wanted to know something new;
Or something that I can start thinking or learning about.

Nothing much really happen until when I was thinking so much in mind and stared into space.
Just as I was staring into space, the verse, "Honor your father and mother ..", jumped on me.

That really started my mind thinking.
It is true that the word of God says that longevity can be achieved by honoring our parents.
^{Ephesians 6:3} “If you honor your father and mother, things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”

I started working in mind why is it so?
Then, I marveled at this revelation:

"Because you reap what you sow."

Usually, when we look at this verse, it is a principle or condition to have longevity.

Or right now that I have said, "you reap what you sow", you might be thinking that you honor your dad and mom, so will you will reap the same thing also. Having your next generation honoring you.
It can be true but that's not where I wanna lead you today.

The reaping and sowing make me realized that when you honor your father and mother, you'll most likely do the following:

1. Filial piety
2. Controlled anger
3. Quality time
4. Act of service
5. Physical touch
6. Words of affirmation
7. Gift giving
8. Academic performance
9. Obedience
10. Maintenance (善养费)

And by fulfilling all these, I realized that our parents will have good health.
Why? Because they do not get angry; worked up; spiked; worried; disappointed; negative effects.
When all these which does not prevail cause of our actions, their health will be stable and therefore naturally it will lead to a normal physical healthiness.
All this leads to a sowing of one word, "L ^O N _G E ^V I _T Y".
They get to live long because we are sowing longevity if we succeed in doing the different possible means of honoring our parents.

This is why when they get to live to old age we will have long life because "we reap what we sow".

 We sow :  L ^O N _G E ^V I _T Y ______  We reap:  L ^O N _G E ^V I _T Y

Naturally,     | OR | Because,    

 We reap :  L ^O N _G E ^V I _T Y _______  We sow:  L ^O N _G E ^V I _T Y

Start honoring your parents today!

Thank you for reading =)