The Last Day of November!!!

Tomorrow, we enter into the final month of 2014!

Looking back, it has been an interesting month.

The marathon was last Saturday.

The wedding was yesterday.

The island-wide mayoral and city council election was also yesterday.

Looking ahead, December will be interesting but hopefully not so packed!

I started the day with speaking at the New Beitou Baptist Church and sent the people out for their first prayer walk.  We were only to walk for 20 minutes, but we were actually out there for 30 minutes. I am believing that God's Holy Spirit worked while we marched and battled through prayer in His name.

Then we had our service at HOP and a delicious Love Feast.  I finally got home at 8p.m.

Tomorrow, I hope to sleep in!

Seek Him First!

Wedding Reception

I've been working on putting together a wedding reception for a dear brother from HOP.

And thank you GOD as everything turned out beautifully.

The weather was just perfect!

Here are a few photos --

The main entrance

The cake table (without the 3-tier cake)

The table for all the different beverages

The tables for the food

Hiding a broken AC unit

The Wedding Ceremony

It was a fantastic day! 

Seek Him First!

Abigail's Birthday

My daughter Abigail turned 15 today.

I got coupons for an Italian restaurant near our house.  You can get as many refills on the drinks, but the portion for the main entree was quite small.  But we had a great evening!

Seek Him First!

Abigail's Midterms

Abigail is very industrious and conscientious about her studies. For her midterms, she stayed up late and she asked her teachers for extra 'practice exams'. She worked really hard.

But the morning of her exams, she looked at me and said, "Mom, I didn't have enough time to study for my Science exam. I think I'm going to get a 40." She was about to cry. There she stood and repented and asked God to spare her. She had spent her time on all her other subjects that she ended up not having enough time to finish her preparation for Science. We bowed and I asked God in His mercy and goodness to give her a score above 60.

God is so faithful. He saw her heart and her intention. He saw her effort and her repentant heart.  He gave her a score of 64.  And for most of her subjects, she scored 90 or above.  

I do not care about the scores. It is her diligence that I applaud.  She really did try her best.  

And I am grateful to the Lord for hearing and answering our simple prayer that morning!

Seek Him First!

It's Time to Vote

This Saturday will be a big day in Taiwan.  The election for legislatures, district magistrates, and city mayors will all be decided on 11/29.  So, this week, the phone has been ringing. I tell the kids NOT to pick up as you'll hear a recorded message.  There are cars and scooters and jeeps driving around blaring advertisement for the different candidates.  And on the buses and street signs banners and posters are hung everywhere.  Even during the time for trash pick up, you'll see different individuals dressed in different color vests (depending on their party affiliation), passing out pens, tissue packets, etc. all in the hope of drawing more votes.  It's very interesting here... if not at times annoying!

But I am grateful for the truth of God's word --


Verse 20 says --
Daniel said, "Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, For wisdom and power belong to Him."

Indeed, let the name of God be blessed forever and ever...

Daniel 4:37 continues with --
 "Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride."

Seek Him First!

He's Back!

Isaiah came back at 7p.m.

He lost 2 kilos.

He brought home laundry. He actually did one load while he was down there.

He had a good time down there.

I don't think he missed us much.

In fact, I think he feels restricted now that he is back home, mainly because he has to buckle down and prepare for his midterm exams.  He was to take the exams on Tuesday and Wednesday, but the coach is helping to postpone their exams until Thursday and Friday.

I hope he does well as he has not even been at school for the last 10 days, not to mention opening his books to study!

Tonight after I picked Abby up from cram school, we celebrated his birthday.

The only candle I had was a 9, so we had to use matches.

The match went out when the picture was taken!

A friend brought over a piece of cake for each of the kids.

Abby's birthday is on Friday!

Seek Him First!

Looking Back

This week is always special for me.

I am reminded of the miraculous way the LORD worked in gifting me with my two wonderful kids -- Isaiah and Abigail.

Isaiah's birthday is tomorrow and he'll be turning 16.

Abigail's birthday will be on Friday and she'll be turning 15.

Right in between on Thursday is Thanksgiving in America.

Tonight Isaiah is not in his bed. He is still down south.  He won't be back until 7p.m. tomorrow night. I lined him to wish him a happy birthday.  I think back to the first moment that I saw him.  It truly was love at first sight!  It was the same with Abigail.




Seek Him First!

Able to Walk

It was difficult to sleep last night.

Not that I had cramps... but my whole body was just a little off... It was difficult to find a comfortable position.

I woke up this morning wondering if I can 'function'.

Again, God led me through.

From morning to night, there were plenty of activities going on.

No cramps... but my body was craving for salt.

I thought I'd be starving, but I didn't really feel hungry all day.


Psa 119:32  I shall run the way of Your commandments, For You will enlarge my heart.

Psa 119:35  Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, For I delight in it. 

These two verses express my thoughts today -- run and walk... 

Today, I am just glad that I can walk... and no matter if I'm walking or running, I pray that it will always be in the way or path of His commandments.

Seek Him First!

Crossing The Finish Line

What an experience!  This verse summarizes my feelings!



For the last 10 kilometers, it was by the grace and strength of God.  I had totally forgotten what it would be like from the 33 kilometer marker to the finish line!  How those last 10 kilometers felt like a life time.

Alan and Abby were there.  How wonderful it was to see them.

I sat down, took off my shoes, and washed off my legs. It just felt so good to have my shoes off.

Then to my utter surprise, I hear my name being called!

I hobbled over to the stage and was awarded first place in my division!  Amazing!

Seek Him First!

Shopping for Shoes

A dear sister at HOP gifted our kids some MONEY to go shoes shopping. My kids are thrilled.

Isaiah looked and tried on many pairs of tennis shoes and finally bought this pair --

And Abby looked and tried on several pairs (here is one example) --

And finally decided on this pair -- 

 
Both my kids made some very wise decisions.  What do I mean?  The shoes that they finally decided to buy fit these criteria --
1.  Comfortable
2.  Practical
3.  Stylish
4.  On sale (50% off)
5.  Under their budget

And while out shopping for shoes with them, I was reminded of this verse --


Seek Him First!