Jos Jos

I had dinner with Jos yesterday. I thank God for this loving, beautiful, honest and banga friend. the older sis I never had. Sort of celebrating her belated birthday and catching up.

The sushi and sashimi was great, as usual. I LOVE salmon dipped in soy sauce and wasabi. The Himawari rolls, the soft shell crabs, the green tea ice-cream.

Jos is so transparent about her struggles with God. I keep remembering our first meeting in Unit 7, Sunita's unit at Sir Fred Schonell Dr. She knocked on the door. I opened it. She said 'Hi...I'm Jocelyn. Sorry, I need to pee.."HEHEHEHE. Hope she doesn't kill me for sharing this.She ran off to the bathroom.Later, she came and talked to me properly. We became good friends ever since [well, I lived with her for a year].

Jos has always been great to eat with[we usually like similar foods. So it's a lot easier to coordinate]. I used to make her eat all the cakes and bikkies i baked. "Aiya, you make me so fat,"She would complain.

Jos is teeeerrribly....most awesomely neat.Most fond of flowery, girly, artistic things.

And she's getting MARRIED!haih....to think when I first arrived, Fab and her were just getting together.We spent a lot of the night discussing the wedding and different experiences leading up to it.

Love ya heaps Jos. Remember...I am so going to stay inthat guest room in your house in GC....

Thank you for blessing my life so greatly by just being who you are. For being encouraging. For being crazy with me. For being a girl. For being a channel of blessing.

A Thursday update

It's thursday. My last working day[though i work saturdays but somehow i'm so used to it i don't see it as work]. Working for an Australian boss with Australian colleagues ha been interesting. They are highly professional and passionate about their work. They have great attitudes and often challenge me about my own attitude towards music teaching.

I have often had to talk to myself, "Charis. These are ppl who don't know God. You, however, know that this job has literally dropped into your lap because of God. He provided. You never really had to strive for any of your music jobs. Shouldn't your attitude be even better than them?"

Yes. I confess, since I was a young child, i've been prone to complaining and grumbling about duties. My parents reprimanded me a lot. And now, I really need to reprimand myself. To have a totally grateful appreciation for blessings and opportunities my heavenly Daddy has given to me.

I have been so much more free financially because of this job. Teaching about 28 students a week here alos means a lot more valuable experience in teaching and in dealing with different personalities/backgrounds, particularly Aussies.

I still work in two other places. One place is a like a comfortable old shoe. I have learnt to appreciate the flexibility and experience I get there.
The other is where God provides affirmation for just being a teacher and person that I get no where else. The family I teach just showers appreciation . "Charis, you're a fantastic teacher. You're excellent. The kids love ya...etctec". I always feel overwhelmed as I never think in such glowing terms about myself or anything much else. The power of positive words.....and this job also fell in my lap. I love this family. Of affectionate, positive ppl.

God. You are very good. I love you.

Someone safe...

My Lord,

Will you send me someone safe to talk to?Please?So many situations seem to create more and more masks over the true feelings of my heart and the true desires of my spirit. Will there ever be true, vulnerable fellowship with a person in my life that will last more than a year?

Love,
Charis

Run the race with perseverance

My friend blogged a reply to my friendship reminiscence post. God bless you.

http://jasonroag.blogspot.com/2008/04/my-15-year-old-self.html

One more for Jesus...

The appeal of reaching the lost has often grabbed tight at my soul and caused me to choke with tears over the past 5 years. I cannot forget the first time God spoke to me with such clarity. "EClub". "Join E-Club".

I obeyed and it has changed my life. It's not the club. It is finding out that God had deposited the gift and calling to evangelism into me when he formed me. It is the privilege of being used by God and partnering with God in his great quest for souls.

The wonder of it all. Because I am so unworthy. But it is a gift after all. I had no choice in it.I did not earn it. I just need to use it.

These last 2 months, 2 girls in life group accepted Christ at different times. Each time, the gift in me opened my eyes to them, made me leap at situation and seize the day to see someone make a decision of commitment to Christ. ..what an awesome privilege it is. Praise the Almighty God.

When I think of the journey of these past 5 years, and the 4 after God spoke to me, the many souls that have been won for Jesus, I can only say, God...let your will be done. My flesh SCREAMS all the time against the sacrifices, or the holy and narrow straight path, but Lord, don't listen to my flesh! Don't listen to my immature emotions and silly mentality sometimes! Listen to my spirit that is willing. My spirit will say, "O God, let your will be done that there will be always one more for Jesus. One more for the rest of my life...."

I cried when I first saw that clip of Rick Warren reminisicing about his dad saying "One more for Jesus" in his deathbed.

I cry in my soul still: Lord. Many a time I lack passion. I don't burn for the lost like you do. I don't pray enough. I am so weak. But God. Please, keep reminding me of what You put me on earth for--> To be your mouthpiece. To bring one more to Jesus.

I'm a foodie

I love good food. My close friends all know this. :) My not so close friends might know this as well. Not just any food, but good food.

well, come visit my food adventures from time to time at http://charislovesfood.blogspot.com.

Hehehe.

A story of friendship..Wanna know a little about my life?Here it is.

This is Wee Liem, my friend.

And this is Jason, my friend too. Both Guitarists. Both God loving. Both in bands of their own.

These 2 guys have been great friends of mine. They have showed me the meaning of edifying friendship between guys and gals. This is the story...hahaha:

I was 13 when I first attended my School Christian Fellowship Leadership Training Camp. Young, had hair like a boy, wore T-shirts and jeans everywhere!

I did not expect it to be fun but it was. the friendships i made there were fully enriching. And The teaching was good. First topic, VISION....by Jason Fong. I remember bits and pieces of it. I also remember the theme song being 'This is my desire".....Powerful anthem for teens.

But best of all were the people. Jason and Wee liem were 15year old boys. I had quite a low opinion of young teenage guys around my age, as most of them around me were wimpy, followers, troublemakers, and definitely cared very little about God. But Wee Liem and Jason were confidently playing guitar and leading worship at camp. They were good leaders of their groups.I saw them lead worship and was inspired that people our age could do that.

After camp, I kept in touch with many ones. Liz, Amanda, Jason, Wee liem, Aaron etc. But only Jason and Wee Liem faithfully wrote snail mail[long letters] to me once in a few months or so. Amazingly, We kept in contact for 5 years till I met them again when I was 17.

They were always writing the famous Paul to Timothy verse "Do not despise yourself because you are young but be an example in speech, in faith, in action, in purity...etc". They encouraged me to be faithful even though i was a kid to them.

They shared to me about their missions trips and school activities and their faith journey. They sent me photos.

I was always estatic to read my mail and write back about my own journey.I was seeking and rebelling during my 14th and 15th year. But these guys really set a good example....Thank you guys....

At 17, I met up with them in Melaka or Malacca, their state. They were excellent hosts and also gaped at the change in 'little charis' who wasn't so little anymore.:). I remember spending time testifying to each other about our journeys in God, about our future directions[i was going to go to Australia in a month]. Their girlfriends or lack of them, hehe.

Most memorable was a joke pact we made to consider marrying each other if we weren't attached 8 years from then. hehe....more than 5 years has past since. The clock is still ticking...

They are still people I remember in prayer, and catch up with when I can if I'm back in Malaysia. Everyone's working now. All grown up. Some attached, some not. We've all had our ups and downs. But I praise God for brothers who've been real brothers - in - Christ. Who have encouraged, admonished, edified and been honest about the failures.

Take care you two...keep being faithful like you've always encouraged me to be....