zoe = God's kinda life

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Plain White T's - 1234

Love how they used the sites & scenes of Chicago in this vid! :)

Zoe @ 9:20 PM | comment link here

Friday, August 06, 2010

Philippians 4 v 6-7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Zoe @ 6:49 AM | comment link here

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Sunday, February 21, 2010

From the inside out

A thousand times I've failed
Still your mercy remains
And should I stumble again
Still I'm caught in your grace

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
In my heart, in my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Your will above all else, my purpose remains
The art of losing myself in bringing you praise

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
In my heart, in my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
From the inside out Lord, my soul cries out

Zoe @ 7:48 PM | comment link here

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Sunday, January 10, 2010

Without You, I am nothing

So, it's the new year again... in fact, it's a new decade altogether! for some reason, this year, many ppl asked me what my new year's resolution is.. i've answered some, brushed off some :P... truth is, most of my resolutions this year are just continuing unfinished resolutions from previous years!

But i guess one of my major "themes" for the year is to be "intentional" about my relationship with God. one big thing i realize from last year is that time just goes by.. day by day, week by week, month by month.. i've become more of a reactional being instead of a person of action. I kinda wanna be like what this one guy shared at church – that is to live your life like a thermostat (to control the temperature), instead of a thermometer (affected by his surrounding). Kinda cool illustration I think.

Along the same lines, today’s sermon was about how impt it is to “withdraw” ourselves from the hustle n bustle of life to pray and spend time with God. (Luke 22v41; Psalm 46v10) … something I have to do more – quiet time!

Haha, and just to share some little things that happen to me right at the start of new year’s. So, most of you know, I headed back to M’sia and S’pore for the holidays. And during my second last day in Singapore, I was suddenly hit by this pounding headache in the afternoon. I guessed that it was the heat, or maybe just the lack of rest since I’ve been going out so much. But during my last day in S’pore, things got worst, and I had a very bad diarrhea. I literally had to run to the bathroom every 20 mins. And guess what? I’ve organized this huge meet-up with all my JC classmates that night, and if I don’t show up, it’ll be really really bad. I debated for a long long time if I should still go… In the end, kor prayed for me and I’ve decided to go. Just when I stepped out of the house, my stomach started to churn again. Sure enough, I had to run back to the bathroom. At this point, I felt like just giving up. But there was this voice in my head really urging me to go. So, I stepped out of the house again. This time, I told myself, I have to claim the healing prayer, and have faith! Step by step, each time my stomach churned, I laid hands on it and say, in Jesus name, leave! Guess what? I didn’t have to go to the bathroom a single time that night… Isn’t God amazing? Oh, and my headache totally disappeared before my flight to Chicago. Praise God I came back healthy and ready to fight the bitter winter cold… FYI, the temperature is about -20C to -10C nowadays. And it has been snowing non-stop.. I think we have almost 10 inches of snow now.. hahaa..

Anyways, back to my topic of New Year’s resolution. I’d like to make every step of my day to be an intentional act for God. Because without Him, my life is meaningless. And it will just be like chasing after the wind….

Haha, oh, and totally unrelated to this… This year started off with a burst of good news! My good friend Laura is engaged! ! hehe.. and Ashley is expecting her first baby!! This year seems like the year of many weddings and babies.. haha.. congrats!!! So happy for you guys.. haha, and just to sum up my holiday back home.. it was really nice and relaxing.. away from work was a huge plus! and of course spending time with family and friends were priceless moments to me.. :) i'm glad i went home..

Zoe @ 8:23 PM | comment link here

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Sunday, September 06, 2009

You Watch Over Me

I was lonely
You came waltzing over to me
And Your eyes they saw right through me
And You heard each one of my cries for help
And You came to rescue me
I was broken
Every prayer that I had spoken
Reached Your ears and all my tears weren’t cried in vain
You carried all my pain
And put me back together again
You watch over me in the darkest valleys
You watch over me when the night seems long
You help me to see the way before me
You watch over me; You watch over me
Always faithful
To be leading, at this moment
Interceding for Your children
Though I’ve wandered astray from Your infinite ways
You’ve never left me alone
Take my frozen heart; awaken me
Never once have You forsaken me
Even though I walk through this shadow of death
You will guide and defend me
You’ll guard and protect me
Even though I walk through this shadow of death
You will lead me home

Zoe @ 10:11 PM | comment link here

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undeserving love

When i opened up pandora (an online radio station), this song played. i paused, i listened, and it is exactly how i feel at this moment. & it reminded me once again of how God knows about every single detail of my life, anytime anywhere.

I shall be honest. Life has not been easy the past few months. I've been working 12 hr days, early mornings, late nights and even weekends. Meeting one deadline after another, life became a blur. While physical tiredness was getting to me, I didn't realize it was more draining on my spiritual life. With the hectic schedule, speaking to God, praying and reading the bible became a rare occurrence. I neglected God. And everything just went downhill from there. It's like my life was in a desert. I felt lonely.

So, when i took a break for a trip to Toronto, I really felt like I need to get out of my current situation. I thought maybe if i moved back to TO, everything would be better. More friends, better working environment etc. But somehow, I felt like God was saying no (at least for now). At the lowest lowest point the past past Friday, God provided me with the support I needed badly. ~~Coincidentally,~~ we had a few get-togethers with some girls from my small group that weekend. It was nice, relaxing and filled with warmth. i felt loved.

And that was not it! During the past week, i've had quite a few sharing sessions with my roomie (altho, i shud technically call her my landlady/housemate).. I know i've said this umpteen times, but God is so good, He always blesses me with the BEST roomates :) anyways, it's good to be able to have someone to talk to at home.. just sharing your life, your day.. & what more, one that reminds u and encourages u with the word of God.

And den this weekend, which is labor day weekend, i kinda felt left out, cos everyone went out of town. haha.. even things like that, God knows.. hehe.. so the whole weekend, God provided me with a whole bunch of new friends i could hang out with. we had brunch, played ping pong, played bridge (i finally found ppl who can play bridge!!!) ..

And most most imptly, i finally had some quality quiet time with God.. borrowed my roomate's keyboard... worshiped, prayed and listened. :) Oh, and today's sermon was another one of those that spoke directly to my heart. 2 Corinthians 12v9 says "I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." which reminded me that.. God shines through our weakness.. :) phew!

new small group is starting up a week from now.. for some reason, i feel kinda excited! hehe.. it's like opening a new chapter in my life.. stay tuned!

Zoe @ 8:43 PM | comment link here

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Sunday, August 16, 2009

Eventful trip back to Toronto

Wa, I can't believe it has been almost a year since I was back in TO! & I almost forgot how much i missed it! haha... anyways, this trip was an eventful one. but first, i hv to give you a prelude. so the few weeks before i took off, work of course, was crazy busy.. to the point that, i became such a blur queen.. getting off wrong subway stops, forgetting to bring home my portable hard drive etc. Haha, and i had to travel to Buffalo to get my Canadian visa done before I can get into TO. So, I prayed really hard that i will remember to bring everything i need to get my visa done. Which i did! But of course, there's no such thing as a smooth journey without a surprise..

When i was walking happily to the immigration office, this big buffed up guy walked up to me and said this with a booming voice.. "miss, no luggage is allowed in this building... which includes this lobby.. it is stated very clearly on our website" my heart sank. it's 10am already, & i need to get in before 11am to get the visa back within the same day. otherwise, i can't attend ashley's wedding the nxt day. called my cousin for SOS cos i knew he has some frens in buffalo (but deep down in my heart, i knew he couldnt do anything, it was more just for calming myself down). panicking, i went over to this convenience store and asked if they wud hold my luggage for a couple of hours, but they wouldnt. (obviously, cos it could be a bomb in there).. ran over to HSBC, and said something stupid like "i'm a HSBC client!! could i store my bag here for a few hours?" and of course, greyhound station took ALL their lockers out after 911. in the end, i even called the cab driver who dropped me off to ask (or more like beg) if i could pay him to store it in his trunk.. NO! was the answer.

In the midst of all these running around, i prayed. God, you're the only person who can help me now.. I was so desperate that when i saw a few chinese ppl, i wanted to ask them if i could store my luggage in their trunk. but they were leaving... so i ran out of the building.. saw this bar & grill restaurant & headed that way. but it looked like it was not open for business yet. fortunately, though, there was this guy (in t shirt & jeans) sweeping the patio. slightly out of breath, i told him my situation. and without hesitation, he was like, "walk in thru the main doors, you can store it at the staff locker".. and what's more, he's the owner of the place!! altho i was kinda scared to leave everything, that statement calmed me down. i was thinking, since he's the owner of this place, he wont be able to run away with my stuff :P thank God there are still kind ppl in this world :D and sure enuff, when i got back, everything was exactly where i left it. haha, i bought him & his staff tim hortons donuts & had lunch there to thank them (with extra tips of course). hahaa.... so ya, that's how i got back to Toronto for Ashley's wedding...

More pics here

Zoe @ 8:25 AM | comment link here

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Monday, August 03, 2009

Work, For I am with you

Read an 'interesting article' on Boundless that talks about the book of Haggai. "Returning from Babylon, Israel had been charged by the prophet Haggai to stop neglecting God's work in favor of their own and get the temple built."

"But now be strong ...' declares the LORD. 'and work. For I am with you,' declares the LORD Almighty"

Zoe @ 11:34 PM | comment link here

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Thursday, July 30, 2009

"But I said, 'I have labored to no purpose; I have spent my strength in vain and for nothing. Yet what is due me is in the Lord's hand, and my reward is with my God.'" Isaiah 49:4

Zoe @ 7:04 AM | comment link here

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Monday, July 27, 2009

My first baseball game

Went to a baseball game with my small group frens. Wasn't bad, but don't think I'll ever be a baseball fan. Kinda slow initially, but got a little bit more exciting towards the end :)

Zoe @ 8:47 PM | comment link here

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Sunday, July 19, 2009

THE cousin visit

So, my cousin, Lik Xiong visited Chicago. Haha, my chicago frens started calling him THE cousin. kinda funny.. hehe.. Thanks for cooking for us, driving us around during the road trip, and just being u!

Notice how clean the plates are at the bottom right pic! Compliments to the chef.

So we covered 3 states during our road trip: Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa! So, first stop, Horicon Marsh. Suppose to be a good spot for bird watching.. But not many birds la :P