Alright. So it's the start of the new year 2009! As I reflect on 2008, I must say that I thank God alot. This time round, my reflections are more structured and organised (wonder if it's good but it did help me). Splitting into 5 columns--events in 08, thanksgivings, lessons learned, confessions and what I want to work on/continue. Quite cool eh? And I prayed over every single item written down.

I specifically wanna mention a few here. But to give a broad picture first, 2008 has been a very eventful year for me. I had many milestones in my life. Working at JTC, giving tuition, BSF, A level results, uni applications (overseas and local), scholarship applications, NTU MSE, Hall, uni exams, results, chances of evangelism...many more. So you can see, many changes took place eh?

Okay. To name a few things I'm thankful for: Thank God for giving me a chance to do Bible Study/follow-up with Shu Hui. Her enthusiasm, her willingness and God's preparation on me as I lead. Thank God for the time we can have and for both of us being able to take time off. Thank God for the lessons learned.

Next, thank God for the wonderful clique of friends I found in uni. The core 4 of us--wanting, peter, john and I. The wider circle which also includes lester, yichen, terence and jue xuan. They are a great bunch of people! Thank God for them. Esp my brothers and sister who really encouraged me and work alongside with me and study tgt! I really thank God for such wonderful and unique fellowship. A privilege and very rare.

The third thing. Thank God for friendships forged this year. letting the friendship between Khalis and I continue on. the friends I made at JTC though I've lost contact with some of them. To name specifically the friends are zhiwen, alvin, jia wen and yichen. well, in particular, thank God for the friendship i had with zhiwen. and alvin.

Fourth: Thank God for BSF. Giving me wonderful sisters and fellowship. Talking to me through the notes and qns. Letting me learn more about your word in a more disciplined and clearer way. Thank God for convicting my heart of things I learned in Matthew.

Fifth: Opportunities to evangelise and testify for God! Nothing makes my heart jump more than these! To be used by Him as an instrument! Amen! Thank God for such opportunities whether it's subtle or open.

Well, there are many things to thank God for--NTU acceptance into MSE, A level and uni results etc. So can't name all of them here. But perhaps I would like to say some of the life lessons I learned?

First, understood one of the principles why God does not allow Christians to have non-Christian partners. Second, learned more and rest in God's love. Esp through Psalms 100...

Confessions? Hurt that I caused to people, carelessness in speech, impatience...

Okay. I guess the last column that I didn't write here, I just keep it for myself k? A bit tired to type them out.

In any case, I hope that the new year will be something great! That it'll be something that God's plan will be laid out in my life. Hope that I'll grow closer to God, work on the things I've written down and persevere on the things I've already started out.

When I fall, stand up and run to Him
When I am happy, give thanks to God
When I'm troubled, lay my worries down at His feet and receive His peace
When I cry, cry out in honesty and desperation to God
When I'm drifting, may God not give up on me and draw me back to Him

Yeah. My little poem. Anyway, as I was transferring some data into my new calendar and marking out some dates, I noticed it's quite empty. Quite contrary to the 2008 calendar I was flipping through. Hmm. I wonder what will fill the pages and the boxes. Events? Meet-ups? Meetings? Activities? Test dates? Well, I just pray that as I fill them up, going about them, I will be sensitive to God's leading, yielding to His plans and not mine, and following Him. Amen.