failed to declutter

Piles of books and notes are still struggling for their survival on the desk; and the clothes are still on the chair...

Every thing is still messed up.  But I got a longing trip to London in July.  Though not a long vacation, just 9 days...including a day-long stay at Moscow's airport :-( .

Despite that I had never been to London...so familiar everywhere to me :-)  because the streets, the buses are so similar to that in HK.  Only the cityscape is more or less an old-HK style with tidiness and dignity.

7 July to 15 July.. and arrive in HK on 15.  So actually I stayed less than a week in London.  What impresses me the most is the Piccadilly Circus...a vintage venue of operas and more operas.  I felt drunk.  Eros...the landmark!  The first time I saw it, I couldn't help saying, "WOW!"  

God, I thank you for giving me a good vacation to the place I long for.     

really wanna to write more about the trip but due to the time constraints!  I have to stop.

July - another month to declutter

Reviewing the plan :- only little added.  On the whole it is blank.  Was I living a blank July life?

No at all.  Though stuffs are still locked perfectly at home, a stuffed house, I clear up my emotional cabinet. Accidentally I came across this blogs or comic writer who listened to this TEDx talk.  The couple started to declutter once every 2 weeks.  I should be the other one.

Focus on everything that remain and keep things that you love:-  Health, Relationship, Growth, Contribution and Community.

Give thanks to Him daily

As planned June - a month filled with gratitude.  Of course, it's never be only in this month.  But simply living in it : say and write it down every day.  A sort of meditation, period. 

Am I feeling better and relieved?

A monthly review:-

Thanks given to Sarah Fong for this nice shot!

1. "Count my blessing" at bed-time.  Try to exercise this... hardly succeed daily.  But managed for most of the days this month.  On 1 Jun, I thanked God's protection and provisions for Cherie's safe trip to Rome, Florence ... with her friends.  And she caught up with another trip to Shanghai for the internship even though she had to arrive at airport early the next morning with only a few hours of napping; let alone the jet lag! 
2. Qatar's crisis (the 1st week in June) added some careful rethought for my brother new family's plan . Thanks given ... to Him.  He made everything become bright and wonderful again.  At least He grants us a peaceful heart to embrace His blessings with renewed hope.
3. Say thanks for a baptism/birth of an 86-years-old to the Kingdom.  Lucy's mom was baptized on 7 Jun.  Love never fails. His love never ends.
4. Thanks for giving me a serene and humble heart that relies on His protection & provisions.  On 13 Jun (a.m.) my home came home tired and lost her mind -  without ...   Aya!  Thanks for His protection always!
5. Despite challenges in some relationships, I try to resolve in Godly way, I think, not to hide up and walk away.  I embrace the confrontations if needed and manage it with grace and gentleness.
6. I built up my faith in Prayers and just pray everything to HIM as a carefree chat with HIM.  But I listened to His counsel intensively not as stated in James 1:22-23 不要左耳入,右耳出.
7. A good coincidence all about Rahab and related women like Ruth & Naomi's stories are once again and again studied to give me insightful conviction:-  Faith & Action.  Kindness & Loyalty/Faithfulness.
8. LOVE never fails!

Rahab - a woman of my study topic

Rehab - a wonderful woman in Bible whose job was a dishonour herself or her family in worldly eyes!  Surprisingly she is mentioned again and again in Old Testaments & New Testaments.  It must be something valuable in the eyes of God that would be chosen to inspire and impact me and women.  What really counts in God's perspective rather than a career?

Firstly a full story in Joshua 2 about her conviction and then her action.   Later in Joshua 6:22-24 depicts how God saves her and her family and rewards them.  And further mentioned in Hebrews 11:31  By an act of faith, Rahab, the Jericho harlot, welcomed the spies and escaped the destruction that came on those who refused to trust God.

Her faith in action not only saves her and her family; but also her wonderful and beautiful future are unfolded to her.  She moved into the camps near the Israelite and then married to Salmon and gave birth to Boaz.   Boaz later became David's grandfather... this is also the genealogy of Jesus.

God looks at people's hearts not their appearance nor status nor career!

Boaz was a man's role model: backbone to shoulder up the responsibility and caring the weak!  He is was he is may be attributed to his awesome and wise mom: Rahab.  the mother-in-law of another wonderful Bible woman-Ruth. 

 時候將到，如今就是了，那真正拜父的，要用心靈和誠實拜他，因為父要這樣的人拜他。    約翰福音  4:23

Love in Action with a little bit of faith

As stated in James 2:17 : so you see, faith by itself isn't enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.

The theme of my Happiness Project resonates with the same momentum : Faith hand in hand with Action.

I planned to go to Tainan with Mom since last year.  But I could not made it.  I put it aside ...pile it up, store it up, stock it up....with tons of burden and sometimes grief.  For sure, I don't want to regret... This Apr, I myself felt steamed up and need to free it.  Luckily, my "cheer team partner" is able to fix a schedule - 13 to 16 May.  So I prayed and prayed to see if this time slot should be best for all.   Coincidentally the trip fell into the Mother's Day.

We went to Tainan in trio over 3 generations.  This is the first time I went abroad with my mom.  I need some time to compile a travel chronicle.  Though the time with my girl is somehow rough, it is cherishing as mom enjoyed the fun time.  

 

The hotel Cozzy is very good with supra-big room, we live a 4-person room and it is really spacious.  I love it... so does my mom.  She said the room is just as big as a small flat in HK. Crazy... but relaxed!!

We spent a memorable 4-day trip in a warm and seemingly familiar city that speaks our dialect.  Ordinary street people are so friendly that they greeted us on Happy Mother's Day!

retreat 2017042830

我神與我

最美麗的安排 – 中山屬靈之旅 20170428

387  我神與我 

我神與我結伴同行到永遠，我們並肩深交肝膽相照。天地世事一切都會成過去，但神我關係永恆不變。

原來我們不是顧念所見的，乃是顧念所不見的，因為所見的是暫時的，所不見的是永遠的。         哥林多後書 4:18

我相信屬靈的事，只有天天查考聖經、禱告、fellowship，才可以領悟出來。 Demographic House Church中活出信心的班，叫我們加深認識亞伯拉罕、以撒……更要求每人自選一個聖經人物，做專題作業(時限3分鐘)。就讓我們趁著今次退修，滿足心底裏追求屬靈成長的渴求。出發前，請大家選出一位聖經人物，男女老少不拘。如經上說：我們既有這許多的見證人，如同雲彩圍著我們 希伯來書 12:1 。當中有信心的榜樣，忍耐的榜樣，犧牲的榜樣，勇敢的榜樣，悔改的榜樣……；就讓他/她們的故事激勵我們，也彼此激勵。也使我們知(信)行合一，且看他/她的作為或不作為，從中學習活出屬神的信念，在退修會(4月29日 晚(第一部分)/4月30日 早上(第二部分) 補充) 彼此分享，互相鼓勵。也預備專題作業的練習。  

最美麗的安排暫定時間表

日期	時間	項目/地點	負責人
4月28日	晚 6:45	登車上中山 晚6:30在 旺角太子港鐵站 榮利車站等	Linda
4月29日	早上8 – 11:00	我神與我 一起早餐 然後獨自在屋苑內/任何自選地點靈修(嗎哪靈修—約書亞記24章)，享受獨有「我神與我」時間。 11點回到中山家，來個分享時間。	Sandy
4月29日	中午12:30 -	午餐	五月之星：Connie (主角) Wendy 選擇參與與否
	下午	最美麗的安排：姊妹放下自己，與主角盡情享受她最喜愛做的活動。與喜樂的人要同樂。(羅馬書12:15)
	晚上7:00	晚膳-法國餐廳	Connie
	9:00 à	聖經人物 (每人三分鐘)	Iris
4月30日	早上8:25 前	早餐暨靈修	Sandy
	8:30-9:50	主日崇拜 : Iris/ Connie/Sarah/Wendy	Iris Sandy & Sarah : Hymns
	10:20	回程	Linda

Walk in light and walk light

The theme of April :- walking in light (sunshine)

我們若在光明中行，如同神在光明中，就彼此相交，他兒子耶穌的血也洗淨我們一切的罪。   約翰一書 1:7

It was really challenging in April. 

Yes, repentance and hurt sucked in my life that also provokes lots of turmoil inside me and wanted a relief and a burst.

I knelt and prayed for a relief with His strength. 

Family

I feel unloved in my family as my girls seem to forget to speak my love language right; or perhaps not even care or bother or attempt to speak it.  L an overthought !!! At times!  Are they self-seeking?  Are they ungrateful for a giving mom (I claim myself as a GIVING mom!)? 

Pray :- Disappointment won’t seize me!  I count my blessings instead and stay in JOYful mode always.  Pray for His presence and my deep conviction despite the emotional turmoil at times. 我一生一世必有恩惠慈愛隨著我，我且要住在耶和華的殿宇直到永遠。

Work

I feel defeated in my job even though I tried my best to prepare the so-called agency intro within a partnership network for my Big Boss.  But it turned out to be a mess and this even triggered a resignation of an AD.  I have to rethink what my mission here, in my workplaceJ so as to regain my joy and happiness.  What lasts longer or even forever in my workplace?  Who is my BIG BOSS?  Is my talent really used and honoured? 

Pray :- Disappointment won’t seize me!  I count my blessings instead and stay in JOYful mode always.  Pray for His presence and my deep conviction despite the emotional turmoil at times. 我一生一世必有恩惠慈愛隨著我，我且要住在耶和華的殿宇直到永遠。

人在做，天在看。要改變別人，先改變自己。Keep it up as God is always with me to fight and strive!

The joy of God is my strength.

Spiritual Family

I designed an initiative “Collateral Beauty (最美麗的安排)” within my bt in a bid to foster the relationship with God for each of the sisters and of course to better understand each other.

A retreat was designed from 28 to 30 Apr at ZS as a collateral beauty arrangement for Connie!  Double meaning! For sure, double blessings.  In between, a sister refused to join after some time as she thought she was not feeling loved…L We talked, we prayed, we walked, we listened… and I let go.  After all, the theme of the retreat : 我神與我.  As I believe whatever or wherever it is, challenges are time we dig our faith in God deeper and deeper with His word and work inside myself.  Embracing this belief, I walk in silence, no groan, no moan and grasping His hand. 

In ZS, I traced back the trips I ever visited in a decade or more; with different sisters and even the next generation.  We played, we prayed, we ate, we laughed, we enjoyed every precious moment…and we coloured the hub of spiritual tank from 2006?

Pray:- To forgive; as you have been forgiven!  Meditate with the meaning and symbolic presentation of the CROSS : a vertical line – the capstone (GOD & me) and then the horizontal line – relationship with other disciples and people (I love you as Jesus loves me! 我用耶穌的愛來愛你。

R.I.P.E. to reap spiritual fruit

This will be my daily prayer in April : 行在光明中

“God, I’m asking for two things before I die; don’t refuse me—
Banish lies from my lips and liars from my presence.
Give me enough food to live on, neither too much nor too little.
If I’m too full, I might get independent, saying, ‘God? Who needs him?’
If I’m poor, I might steal and dishonor the name of my God.”

Pray that Lies and Liars will be banished from me! 
Pray that my life will be good enough...not too much nor too little.  I will be contented with what I have at present.

March Recap

Time elapsed as quickly as a flash : a month gone and so is first season of 2017! And here comes a quarter of my 2017 Happiness Project!

“Honour My Lord” is the theme of March. 

How do I employ my strengths to multiply my gain in workplace, my bt, my family, my dream…as a gesture to honour Him?  Ponder…a time to ponder!

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms…, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.  1 Peter 4:10-11

1.          Workplace – no doubt that work gets increasingly heavy; and in one way, I count I get to serve 9 outside committees apart from the regular internal duty (I used to serve only 1 or 2 when I first joined) that my Boss gets engaged for the time being and in which one or two are in hot kitchen that often drive her crazy and of course in turn drives me nuts!  Thanks God! I put Him the first and do my best.  I know I can’t earn full praise from her but I try and treasure the most from Him and only Him.  

Being a sincere assistant to my Boss is always my motto in work attitude – so I will put myself in her shoe in a bid to share her anxiety and burden, as far as I can.  I stayed literally next to her as “ah Si” throughout the event 3-legged charity walk event. 

What are my strengths God provides? 

Positive thinking…always optimistic!  I can empower others…igniting hope to others as what I always pray earnestly for: insight, idea, inspiration & innovation!  Pray that I see His blessings even in midst of challenges!  

2.          Bible – foster inter-personal relationship in the Kingdom with gospels.  I chose “Deeper into scripture – Proverbs”.  31 chapters for 31 days!  Diving deeper into bible by using the acronym - R.I.P.E. to study Proverbs.

“R” for Read;

“I” for Impress;

“P” for Pray; &

“E” for Engage.

Throughout the whole book of Proverbs, what impresses the most is the word of UNDERSTANDING which deems to be an important attribute of being a leader at home, at office, at bt or between interpersonal relationship.

Another phase that impresses is “A Happy Wife; A Happy Life.”  Proverbs 18:22; Pray that I see His blessings even in midst of challenges!  

Stay steadfast in pursuing His way : more understanding.

Pray for His meekness in dealing with relationships! 

A challenge in dp of C&S.  Pray for each of us learn His meekness in dealing with confrontation and relationship challenges. More patience and Holy Spirit are to be asked in abundance. 

3.          Interests/instinct :- reading club is not working well ;  movie connection is still working and I am still exploring Movie Therapy and share this with people around me.  All begin from a small baby step and is driven by interest and insights.  Dreamineering will embark on in a different arena.  Pray for His presence and may I be led by the Holy Spirit. 

The part 1 draft of the memoir writing is finished and sent out for comment on 21 Mar 2017. 

4.          A happy single mom à plan a trip to UK; I invite Cindy and Wendy to join me.  Pray that I do have a companionship if God desires. 

5.          Enjoy every moment in my work; even though it may be a failure.  I admit it as blessings of learning from it and I prosper and will be advancing to a higher level at last, I believe.