#awesometnt

(Photo credit: Evonne Teng)

After a year of preparation [maybe longer], I think it really paid off for Timmy and Tania for all their hard works in planning and getting everything sorted out for the most memorable day of their life. Not to forget all the great helps from their wonderful friends who partnered with them side by side since the first day of the planning! Well done everyone!

(Photo credit: Evonne Teng)

It was amazing to see how Timmy and Tania chose to honor God by putting God above their wedding! It wasn't easy at all to see the stress and tiredness that both of them had go through during the preparation especially all the obstacles that they faced. But they prayed and trusted God in every way for their wedding and also putting Jesus at the center of everything, from their marriage to their wedding ceremony! During the wedding ceremony, I was quite stressful because I wanted everything to go smoothly although I was just in-charge of smaller part but I was thankful that everything went well and also to see how God blessed their wedding, from good weather to every blessings that they received! After all, it is all about God and He deserves all the glories and praises!

 (Photo credit: Rodman Lim)

Timmy and Tania's wedding also knitted our family closer especially with our siblings and cousins. Not even Chinese New Year can gather all of us just like how this wedding ceremony did. I spent so much quality times with my brother, Kelvin; and being there to witness our dearest brother moving on to his next chapter of life together as siblings indeed it was a beautiful moment and also reading those beautiful and touching comments with full of appreciations and loves by our cousins on Facebook and Instagram showed that we spent our time together beautifully and bonded well during the wedding ceremony especially with all the beautiful pictures that we took together.

(Photo credit: Rodman Lim)

Timmy and Tania's beautiful Thank you speech touched my heart and brought so much tears to me [and also to our dearest family members], it reminded me so much about our struggling during our childhood especially how mummy had to go the extra miles to make sure that we grow up well and also our popo [paternity grandmother] as Timmy's role model and 'hero' who always make sure that there are foods on the table for the family. And he also shared some of his beautiful memories with daddy. After listening to Timmy's Thank you speech, my heart was full of gratitude to God for seeing our family through, from one season to another season. While Tania's testimony about praying specifically had impacted many of us!

Not to forget the beautiful wedding message by Pastor Gilbert; simple but powerful, a message with great reminder for Timmy and Tania and all the married couples who came on that day, to be thankful and do not complain and compare. But guess what, it spoke to many of us too that in our life, we must learn to be thankful and no complaining! How it could not be the wedding of the year when the guests went home not just with beautiful memories but also beautiful messages?

(Selfie with my brother's iPhone 6)

[CONGRATULATIONS again to both of you, Timmy and Tania! Have a blessed marriage ahead with lots of love and joy! :)]

p/s: post wedding ceremony; the cousins went for karaoke session! :P

 [Amazingly at 3am, we all still managed to smile! :))]

It Was SO GOOD To See Them Again, The Godchasers!

When I was a college student, I was attending my brother's cell group, a young adult cell group, known as Godchaser. I was suppose to visit and join the campus youth cell group which is for people like my age but I chose to settle down at Godchaser cell group after my first visit.

Too young for a young adult cell group? Not at all! Looking back, God had groomed me well, shaped my characters and I had grew so much in my relationship with Him through this wonderful cell group for three fantastic years. After I graduated, I went back to my hometown to work and I moved on to new season of my life then as young working adult.

Today, I am not longer with the Godchaser but my heart is always full of gratitude every time when I see any of them at anywhere, whether in church or short catching up at mamak for supper or meeting up virtually at Facebook. Early this month, I got to meet up with some of them, beside than gratitude, my heart filled with great joy and it brought back so much memories. Some of them are parents now, some of them are husband and wife now, some of them are attending different cell group, some of them are migrated to somewhere else and some of them already moved on to a different phase of life. "Godchasers [you know who you are], no matter where you are right now, keep on chasing after Jesus and keep on shining for Him!"

Being the Youngest in the Family.

Out of so many blessings that I received, having Timmy and Kelvin as my sibling is one of the BEST!

(from the left; my eldest brother, Timmy Lai and my second brother, Kelvin Lai)

Being the youngest in the family, I get a lot of attentions from them and also from my mum. I tend to have the attitude of wanting-to-get pampered but I wasn't brought up in such a way, therefore, ain't no pamper-ness here in my family!

Seriously, I missed growing up with my brothers. I don't have much childhood memories of growing up with them, maybe due to the age gap between both of them and I. Sometimes I wonder, how do they feel for having another younger brother? Do they feel excited to have another brother? Or do they get disappointed for not having a sister? My mum told me that actually my family was hoping for a baby girl but instead of getting what they were hoping, God gave them another boy and that's me! I know I wasn't in their plan but I wasn't an accident because I was fearfully and wonderfully created by God with a great purpose! And also because God wants to have the relationship with me, that's why He brought me to this world to enjoy His unconditional love.

(from the left; Timmy, Kelvin and I am the one on my mum's lap)

 

(from the left; me, Timmy and Tania)

My childhood memories with Timmy; He was the one who taught me how to cycle. One night, I remembered that I was with him on a bicycle and we were on our way to get something; suddenly we saw a snake on the road and both of us were so terrified! I am truly thankful and blessed that he brought me to Christ when I was 11 years old and my life was transformed gradually since then. 

Today; We are the bestest buddy! Sharing jokes and laugh out loud together, jokes that only both of us will understand. He always make sure that I have a proper meal and he even fetch me out to get McDonald's every time when I am hungry in the middle of the night. I thank God for the courage to make the decision to moved to Petaling Jaya to work and what a blessing indeed that I get to spend so much quality times with him before he is moving to his next stage of life of being a husband. Frankly, I am not ready to let him go but I know that he will be in good hands, someone who loves him very much and will take really good care of him!

(Kelvin and I)

My childhood memories with Kelvin; One very memorable moment with him was when we saw some kind of flying object that looks like U.F.O. that flew above us and we were chasing after it. No one actually believe on what we had saw as we were told them especially the adults. I used to play with him quite a lot especially with my toys.

Today; He is someone whom I miss very much especially spending time together. We are staying 349.7km away from each other. Thank God for technology where we get to keep in touch from time to time. It is always my mum's desire that I can go over to Singapore and work, so that I can accompany him, which is something that I wanted to do too but sadly it didn't come to past because I wasn't granted with the work permit to work there. Anyway, I am truly thankful that last year, God blessed us two special occasions where we get to spent some quality times together, one was our Hong Kong trip and another one was celebrating his birthday at Singapore and I am looking forward to more of it.

 (We are very much the Disney Kids!)

My dad didn't do much for his part as a father but I am thankful for both of them to fill in the gap in modelling me. Although I always refraining myself from getting pamper by both of them but I do enjoy getting their attention, well, being the youngest in the family, I always have the tendency to be pampered and spoiled at times. :P

 (from the left; me, Kelvin and Timmy)

Holding On

Bidding farewell to May and welcoming June in really soon; [time flies!] 2014, what an interesting year for me! By my own strength, I already feeling so fearful to continue the journey because of many uncertainties that surprisingly took place and some happened probably due to the decision that I might had wrongly made.

Such a long time I never felt so defeated and tired to journey on the destination! Rushing to catch from one train to another train can be really tiring especially with heavy luggage of uncertainties and worries. Sometimes, I felt like I just want to stop at one particular station and stop moving!

[Stop moving.... To catch my breath!]

Well, life is full of uncertainties and for some it can quite terrifying! If I am not careful, I might letting the uncertainties of life to paralyze me with fears! This year, I learned so much about being patience and wait upon God. When He started something in me, He will definitely bring it to completion according to His perfect timing. [He will never too early, never late but always on time!]

I always remember that someone had wrote this for my brother that also speaks to me so much that I remembered it until today...

"God didn't promise you a smooth journey in your life,

but He promised to walk with you every steps of your life!"

Recently, due to some uncertainties that I am facing, God never fails to show me that He is faithfully keeping His promises. And I am clinging to His faithfulness. My future is in His hands! The race is on and I am hanging on to His strength to journey on this race.

[Ting... Ting... Where is my next destination? I don't know but I am trusting the *Train Driver to lead me to the destination that He always wanted me to go!

*(The Train Driver who is my God who loves me unconditionally)]

[PRE-Twenty Fourteen] What a GREAT Lost!

[I wanted to write this post before Christmas but it was so difficult to put into words. Therefore this post was delayed until today]

It wasn't nice and it was painful when I received a sad news early in the morning, that one of my ex-radiologist from my previous work place passed away due to myocardial infarction [heart attack]! I wasn't really that close to him but there was two incidences with him that had make me harder to accept his sudden passing!

I didn't have a good working relationship with him at first; he made me so upset one day on the phone and I was so disappointed with him. Until one fine night, I dreamed about him! I was so surprised and it was really strange [strange not because I dreamed about him but the dream changed my perceptive about him!] I even wrote a post about it [http://jackyltroy-morethanwords.blogspot.com/2011/10/strange-dream.html] Personally, I don't believe in coincidence, therefore the dream wasn't coincidence, God was preparing me to see a different side of him in real life! Guess what, few months after that, something took place and changed our working relationship! To my [and also some of colleagues] surprise, he came to me and talked to me like a friend! From then onwards, I really enjoyed working with him.

A month before I left to a different work place, I came across a case where I was working with him. Due to some miscommunication, he became a little agitated and he scolded me! I was so upset and I knew it was just some miscommunication in between. Since it was my last month of working, so I didn't take his scolding seriously where I just accepted it without being angry at him. Shortly after the case finished, I continued with my work, suddenly he came in into the examination room to check the radio-graphs, then, he talked to me nicely regarding the incidence that took place and he reassured me.

[His assurance was one of the many great memories that I had before I left; also cherished and missed!]

Sadly, I left my work place without saying goodbye to him because he wasn't around on my last day! Thought of going back to meet him but now, it will be something that I can't do it anymore!

[You'll be deeply missed and always remembered!]

The fragility of life is way beyond our imagination! Don't take things for granted especially your loved ones and friends. Therefore, here is my suggestion, why not take this year as the opportunity to spend more quality times with your loved ones and also your friends!

Blessed New Year!

Left Too Long...

My last post was so long ago! Many things to write about but some are very difficult to put into words. Recently, I went through many emotional roller-coaster rides. I will, surely will, will write it down but maybe not now because my thoughts are still pretty messy and everywhere which I need to put it down one by one and also arrange it properly. It definitely requires a little bit time to do it.

Please bear with me and I will surely come back again!

Tiny Life [Miniature Effect]

[These snapshots were taken with my iPhone 3GS 
and edited with Snapseed]

[But sometimes I think it's such a simple thing

I close my eyes and I realize

All I really need is the love I have

And the love I have to give

Anything else there is, is insignificant

In this TINY LIFE.

- taken from Danny Gokey's song, Tiny Life]

...just a [Vulnerable & Imperfect] HUMAN

["I'm a writer. An amateur photographer. An actor.
I'm human, just like anybody else" - Ben Affleck]

I watched so much celebrities interviews recently on a famous talk show. What I have learned from what I have watched is that celebrities are just a human, someone who are also as vulnerable and as imperfect as we are. [Yes!] They are very much a human like you and I, who is also come from the same Creator! There is only one difference between them and us is that their career or job require them to be on TV, magazine or newspaper quite often and eventually making them a famous person.

[With Elvis Presley wax figure at Madame Tussauds Hong Kong]

Just because they are somebody famous, always on headlines, but does it mean that they are someone who is 'mistakes proof'? [Nope!] Sadly, people set a very, very high expectation on them; expecting them to be perfect, say the right thing, do the right thing and make the right choice. If you say that they are someone on the TV, therefore they have to [always] set a good example for everyone who are watching them, then, how about us? Well, we are not famous like them because our career or job do not require us to be on headlines or on TV but some of us are working in a very professional job [like doctor, engineer, pilot, bus driver, teacher, tutor, a church pastor, manager, businessman, etc] does it mean that we don't need to set a good example?

[Leave the celebrities alone, they are human too! We can make mistakes and so are they, therefore, we have no right to judge anybody! Everyone, including myself, should take responsibility to set a good example and making a difference in someone's life!]

To begin, it has to start from us! ["Be the change that you wish to see in the world" - Mahatma Gandhi] Secondly, don't lose heart, keep showing your compassionate by bringing love to the people around you. ["People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care" - John C. Maxwell] Sometimes, life can be bad, unwanted circumstances can happen to anybody, therefore, with a compassionate heart, we can be the instrument or an agent for God to bring joy and comfort to the needy!

Don't underestimate yourself, what you are just a play a small role but who you are is more important; your character and your attitude is crucial when it comes to setting a good example and making a difference in someone's life and to the world! Yes, no doubt we are very much a human, often times a vulnerable and an imperfect one but if we begin with our willing heart by allowing God to make us as His vessel, don't be surprised, He can use us to do mighty great things for Him!

[Always begin with willingness and top up with LOVE!

"So no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love. 

- 1 Corinthians 13:3b (MSG)"]

God bless! Cheerio :)

The Red Velvet Cake

Seriously, [nothing to be ashamed of] my first time eating red velvet cake was on last year! One of the patients from my hospital blessed the whole radiology team with her handmade red velvet cake or else I wouldn't have known about this cake. I was so touched and felt blessed by this token of appreciation from this lady [it might seems so little but it was a BIG thing to me]. First time eating red velvet cake and yet it was so meaningful to me. Therefore, from that day on, red velvet cake is not just a mere chocolate cake that tinted with red food coloring, it has become something significant to me!

[I was so excited; felt so touched and blessed, immediately, I took a picture of it and post it onto my Instagram account and shared the picture with my followers]

I know, sometimes our little act of kindness are very much taken granted for. But don't lose heart, keep doing it, keep showing your kindness because you will never know that this little act of yours might bring a GREAT joy in someone's heart, just like this lady who brought so much joy to me through her handmade red velvet cake but of course her act of kindness wasn't little at all but a BIG one for me!

So, are you ready to do the red velvet blessing? [Hahaha...]

I mean, don't lose HEART, go out and start making a difference, a HUGE one, in someone's life today!

God bless! :)

[p/s: Guess what, on my 27th birthday this year, my Besties got me a slice of red velvet cake for my birthday!]

Jacky Lai Snapshotography

I just started my little humble photography blog [More Than Many Words; Jacky Lai Snapshotography]:-

http://morethanmanywords.wordpress.com/

[Hehehe...] Nothing to proud of, just want to share my simple snapshots [Instead of PHOTOGRAPHY, I used SNAPSHOTOGRAPHY because I am still very much an amateur photographer!]

I love photography and always want to use this passion that I have to serve God and give Him all the glories through the photographs that I captured.

Passion Above All Else

["The purpose of a doctor or any human in general should not be to simply delay the death of the patient, but to increase the person's quality of life." - Patch Adams]

Last night, my friend, who is a medical student, felt really sad when she aware that sometimes the medicine that she studying couldn't help the dying patient. And I completely understand how she feels...

..........

Whether you are a doctor, or a nurse, or any medical worker, your passion in your work must be always above anything else! But sadly, when someone is too immune to their job and make it into a routine task or make their job to earn more money instead of earning a living, slowly their passion will be replace! I am a human and can be very easily caught up with my duty as a Radiographer, nothing but scanning and making sure that every examination done on time and also there is no delay in any appointment! But I really thank God for constantly reminding me about my purpose of life as an ambassador of Joy for every suffered ones especially the cancer patient.

Although, at times, I can't do much for some of my patients but I know one thing for sure is that I can lend my ears to them and give them my best-est SMILE, prayerfully my little effort can bring them joy! I strongly believe that a CHEERFUL heart can does good like a medicine!

"A cheerful heart is good medicine,

but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."

-Proverbs 17:22

..........

You only have one life, do something about it by living it passionately! :)

God bless!

The Weakest Me

"Do you ever have a problem in your life?"

"Why are you always smiling?"

"I like your 'No problem' attitude!"

"He always say 'Don't worry, it's okay!'"

These are the questions or comments that often times I received from people around me. Well, this is just one part of me.

People seldom see my weakest side which I always hiding! Probably pride is the main reason why I am hiding them; not willing to show the weakest me! Secondly, my assumption also one of the contributing factors; assuming people will not understand my weakness and also assuming on how people is going to look at me with my weakness!

What makes me or give me the courage today to write out this post about my weakness? Maybe because I am too tired of hiding and little by little of the tiredness that built up slowly in me eventually it would hurt badly someday, as now it's already hurting! 

I never pretend to be someone I am not; what you see is what you get especially the bright side of me! Therefore I am not pretending to be positive by hiding my weakest side. Nope!

I always make mistake and I am learning from my every mistakes to be a better person. Meantime, I always encourage people not to be disappointed by the mistake that they made because it can help them to be a better person BUT every time when I make mistake, I allow people to penalize me and I allow myself to accept my failure uglily and carry the heavy guilt by blaming myself and keep apologizing! But why? Why am I so harsh to myself? When people make mistake and they don't even bother to care how someone's feel and yet they can live they life as if like nothing happen!

Sometimes, I need to carry the guilt of something that I shouldn't be blame for. Maybe it is my mistake to be a people pleaser and the 'yes' man! Always being kind and gentle and always genuine but yet my emotionally is abuse badly and often my kindness and my gentleness are taken granted for!

As an extrovert, love to mix around and like to talk a lot has slowly turning into myself into an introvert because I am not willing to risk another painful event!

I know that I shouldn't be living in my guilt but the pain is just too real. I know God will see me through, He will and all I need now is His strength!

The S.E.O.W. Retreat

Out of so many blessings that I received from God, belonging to this AWESOME Cell Group and meeting all these FANTABULOUS creations of God in the Cell Group, no doubt it is one of the best! And we called ourselves as 'The S.E.O.W.' What does 'S.E.O.W.' mean?

[S.E.O.W. pronounce as 'Siao' in Hokkien, means 'Crazy' - We're a group of believers who are Crazy for Christ!]

[S.E.O.W. also pronounce as 'Xiao', means 'Smile' or 'Laugh' - "The Joy of the Lord is your strength! - Nehemiah 8:10"]

[S.E.O.W.; S - Sanctuary; E - Edifying & Encouraging; O - Outreach; W - Worship in Spirit and in Truth; The Cell Group is our Sanctuary and it is also a place where we Edify and Encourage each other. And our Cell Group's vision and mission is to do Outreach, reaching out to the lost, poor and sick by bringing the Good News and the Love of Christ. And we Worship the Lord in Spirit and in Truth!]

Last weekend, we had our retreat to Malacca! We had so much fun and laughter during the two days and one night retreat! Personally, it was a great retreat for me and I really rested well in the Lord and physically also recharged! Not to forget all the yummy Malacca's foods that we had! [Thumbs up!] Oh ya, and also the WONDERFUL home stay that we stayed, 'Apa Kaba'; no doubt it is a nice place to stay and you might have the opportunity to meet people from different parts of the world! 

God bless! Cheerio :)