the true meaning of Christmas

this year, as usual, christmas starts really early for me. i start dreaming about it since the start of exams. i can't stand christmas songs playing while i'm studying: probably because christmas = holiday? and studying obviously is not a word to describe the holidays.

So, christmas.. father asked me one of those common questions- to a Christian-a few days ago: What does Christmas really mean?

And i just feel that this being an apt period of time to share it with you ardent fans of my blog (hehe).

i read in one of those articles by those columnist in the Today newspaper regarding christmas, she said her friend always complained about Christmas because it just wasn't complete without the snow; of which she replied " the last time i checked, Bethleham was bright and sunny when Jesus was born, and there was no sign of snow." that comment got me in stiches!

Christmas, father said, was about love. as mundane as that sounds, have u ever wondered deeper into that matter?

"for God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever who believes in Him will have eternal life and never die." - John 3 :16

With that great, undying love He had for us, he gave us other gifts that came along with it as well: Hope, Peace and Joy. Will we ever be happy without these gifts? the answer is No.

So today, i acted as Mary in church for the children to watch. true, the story commonly told, would probably not be anything new for most of us. But today, i analysed the scenes we acted. To conclude, this is the start of the greatest love story ever told.

i feel that one of the most important points out of everything, including the amazement, the wonder, the awesomeness of how the whole event took place- has got to be the very fact that Jesus was born in a manger, in a stable. Like as if taking on the form of man and going though this life on earth was an easy thing to do, the King was born in a stable. the humility, none can deny.

As we performed roughly what happened in the story to the children,by faith i believe that the msg was effectively being communicated accross. and by faith, the children will grow up to be men and women of God.

so, Merry CHristmas, beloved. May you really feel the real spirit of Christmas this year. May you not dwell in what the world thinks of santa claus, reindeers and talking snowman- but you'll think of a baby in a manger, in a stable filled with animals, where the 3 wise men and their royal gifts and the shepherds- on their knees- in front of the manger; the choir of Angels singing "Glory to the new born King!"; the brightly shining stars that filled the night sky; how the whole world rejoiced; what a magnificent sight it had been! =D

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Christmas isn't Christmas till it happens in your heart

Somewhere deep inside you is where Christmas really starts

So give your heart to Jesus, and you'll discover when you do

that Christmas, is really Christmas, for you. =)

you + BKK + photoshoot + random

i think you hate me now. its really painful not being able to talk to you. but if that helps you, i guess i won't say anything. i don't think i'll ever take initiative to msg you anymore unless needed. i really don't want you to hate me more.

and my only wish is that we'll still be friends without being awkward. well, it takes 2 hands to clap.

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Bangkok was a blast. =) i shopped and spent all of corn's money. heh. think she's unhappy i bought more stuff than her. but i'm sorrrrrrrrryyy!! i can't help it. i promise to return u money when i start earning laaah. =/

saw a dominatrix outfit in platinum, and i started running away, from the shop. it was too scary. too many tikos were in the shop. and tris scolded me for not getting it because he said they have to go online and find one. shit. i'm damn scared on what i'm gonna wear.

on the other hand, we had another photo shoot on monday night. i think i still look fat and gross. its all Tris fault for treating us pizza before the shoot (but i'm not blaming him) anyways, i just have to exclaim that photoshop is the best technological invention ever. Not only does it make me look REALLY thinner, it provides entertainment to everybody who saw how my stomach went big and small continuously.

SOMEONE, please tell me why rag needs publicity shots for? i'm so sorry, but it quite pissed me off because nobody could think of why they needed to shoot at that hour; causing me to miss the train and my dad had to risk the rain and pick me up all the way from home. SOMEONE, please enlighten me.

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finishing school is quite helpful. and i just have to wonder about networking. well, i guess i'll go wrap christmas presents now. remind me to give my 2 cents worth on that matter.

its going to be a crazy 2 weeks before the week ends.

and xj is back!! yay!! when's adrian coming back? hmmm.. =)

dear you...

i just want to tell you that your letter touched my heart.

you're the sweetest. you know that. =)

i've been cooking lunch fo 3 days already( with father's help, but i did 90% of it because he was on the phone like throuout). haha =) proud of myself! =)

i can't wait for bkk. gawd. can't the days like pass faster..

ooo..sp rehearsals.. gosh i'm so excited about that too lah. haha hope it wun die down.

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resume finally done.

life is good.

yay.. each day draws nearer = bkk trip is nearer.

haha.

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Jamie sent me the exchange list yday or the day before or sth lah, but i opened it today. i am so excited! *jumps ard

anyways, despite being s excited, i still had a tinge of disappointment when i saw the UK unis has quite limited spacing. and i'm quite sure they are quite popular, so i might not get a place in UK. =( nvm la. go sweden. ehhhehehehehe...

oh wells. going to have a fun filled week. whole week filled with darlings to go out with. i have yet to contact my KC darlings. =) all of a sudden i feel like i have so many friends..

hahah.. yay. life's good. life's really good.

*smiles.

exams: OVER + jo + ...merry christmas. =)

WOW!! my exams are finally over!! woohoo!! *jumps ard

i think i studied hard this semester. of course, i have not much of an excuse except for jo- no hall activities or whatnot. haha..

ok i hope my CAP can be pulled up-i really need to pul it up, it can't go down much further. haha

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So sometimes, we asked God why. amidst of all the praying and the faith that we all had, things still happens the way they are. so why did she do badly? and why did they change their mind then?

so it is of human nature to question God, and most of the time, it tests our faith. But, what are we going to do about it? That, that is the most important question.

So, i recall that particular MKC session we had, that bex was telling the children about how God answers prayer.

Amy Carrmicheal had brown eyes and she always wanted her mother's blue eyes. Having heard about God's faithfulness in answering prayers at a young age of 8, she prayed to God with all her heart, mind and soul that He'll make her brown eyes blue the next morning. And so, she went to sleep.

She woke up the next morning, obviously disappointed and couldn't figure out the reason why.

Amy was in her twenties when she became a full time missionary to India. As controls were quite strict among the villages, no outsider- except Indians- were allowed to live in these villages. Thus, Amy applied cocoa and coffee powder all over her face and covered her hair with a scarf. It was then that Amy thank God for her brown eyes. Without her brown eyes, no amount of change can make her look like an Indian and reach out to the people there.

(of course la, lets not talk about contact lenses)

So, there is a reason for everything, and everything works for the good for those who love Him (Rom 8:28). Sure, we are dissapointed. but we can't do anything about it, but pray that woman knows how badly she's done and strive to change her stream next year, which i overheard her telling her fren on the phone the other night (THANK GOD)

So apart from relying on the sports school, we still had to choose 6 other schools, for just in case purposes. as we chose, we realised that she over qualified for many of those schools. we figured out that if she had done a lil better, she would only be able to qualify for the schools that were not as good. being the top of the stream now, she was able to apply for the better schools!! =)

Well, as we said, if it is not His will, we shall just continue to put our faith in Him. Besides, He has proven HImself to be good and true over my last 20 years.. and i love my Jesus so much. =)

well, i figured out something else too: my sister, she, teaches me to be humble.

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christmas is here, i can feel it! =) i look forward to a white christmas next year... father gave the green light to exchange, and i'm sooooooooooo soooooooooo soooooooooo looking forward to it!!

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yep, i told u i read ur blog and i really want to tell u this:

dude! where's ur confidence!!! wat life changing all!! HARLO. if you don't think u are, you won't be! sheesh.. =\ a bit sad that u said such things.. anyways, yea guess will settle it after ur exams, meanwhile study hard k. =)