Redeeming Grace

We are the recipients of God’s redeeming grace. We do not deserve His free gift yet He lovingly pours His grace into our lives. In the same manner, we must be free to extend this grace to people all around us. Those who have wronged us in times past may come to us to renew ties or pursue reconciliation. This is where the rubber meets the road; when we allow the love of Jesus to rule and reign in us, we will then be able to overlook the offence and extend love willingly. The redeeming grace of God is evident in a people that put His word into practice. We are His living testimony; the characteristics and nature of the Lord shine through us to bring glory to our most high God.

Marina Barrage

A couples of weeks ago, Monte (my husband) and I visited the spanking new Marina Barrage. We had such a relaxing time there. There are many places we can explore all throughout Singapore. It is a tiny and dynamic garden city.

The following is an article from Valerie Chew of the National Library Board Singapore concerning the Marina Barrage.

“Marina Barrage is a government-commissioned dam built across the mouth of Marina Channel to create Singapore's 15th reservoir, Marina Reservoir. Officially opened on 31 October 2008, it separates the water in Marina Basin from the seawater. It has been considered an engineering marvel because of its magnitude and complexity, and it was the subject of an August 2008 episode of Discovery Channel's Man Made Marvels Asia. The barrage is dubbed a three-in-one project as it serves three objectives: create a new source of water supply, act as a tool for flood control, and provide a new lifestyle attraction.

History

By 1987, the government had successfully completed its ten-year drive to clean up Singapore River and Kallang River. It was at this time that then prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, now minister mentor, mooted the idea of damming up Marina Basin to create a large freshwater lake. However, this was not yet feasible with the existing technology. It was only in 2004 that the government set the wheels in motion by calling a tender for the project. The contract was awarded to local contractor Koh Brothers and construction began in early 2005.

Description
The barrage works using a system comprising gates and pumps. It has nine 27m-wide and 5m-high steel crest gates spanning the 350m-wide Marina Channel, and seven drainage pumps capable of displacing a combined total of 280 cubic metres of water per second. Each gate weighs 70 tonnes and each pump 28 tonnes.

Under normal conditions, the hydraulically-operated gates will be closed. When there is heavy rain but the tide is low, the gates will open to release excess water into the sea. When heavy rain coincides with high tide, the gates will remain closed while the pumps will be activated to pump the excess water out to sea.

With this system, the barrage alleviates flooding in low-lying areas in the city, including Chinatown, Jalan Besar and Geylang. It also keeps the reservoir's water level constant, thereby making it suitable for water-based activities such as sailing, windsurfing, canoeing and dragonboating.

Visitors to the barrage can take a scenic walk on Marina Bridge, a pedestrian bridge that sits atop the nine crest gates and connects Marina South to Marina East. At the Marina South end of the bridge is the Visitor Centre, which has been designed to look like a seashell from the top. This two-storey building houses the pumping station, some food and beverage outlets, and the Sustainable Singapore Gallery. The gallery showcases Singapore's efforts towards achieving environmental sustainability and aims to educate the public on major environmental and water issues.

The roof of the Visitor Centre is completely covered with grass, hence its name, the Green Roof. It serves as a viewing deck and a venue for private functions and recreational activities such as picnics. It also doubles up as an insulation layer, lowering the building's indoor temperature and reducing its air-conditioning requirements. Singapore's largest solar park, measuring 1,200 square metres, is located here too. The 405-panel solar park converts solar energy into electricity to supplement the daytime power requirements of the barrage.”

http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_1387_2008-11-22.html

Kallang Roar

Monte (my husband) and I were at the National Stadium last Sunday night to catch the football match between Singapore and Vietnam. The staggering 55,000 strong crowd was amazing. We did a few rounds of the Kallang Wave and we had so much fun.

I felt the adrenaline rush when the Singapore team made many attempts to secure a goal. The excitement and fun can only be felt when one is immersed in the thick crowd of excited people. The atmosphere was electrifying.

When the match was over, we made our way out of the stadium. Along the way, a family was chatting ahead of us. The little girl told her father that it was sad that Singapore had lost. The girl's father told his daughter that it was alright because sometimes we win and at other times we lose. That was a lesson of life that that father had imparted to her daughter. After a failed attempt, we reassess our position, learn our mistakes and continue to move on.

Leaving Behind A Legacy

On 4 December 2008, Monte (my husband) and I attended Lo Hwei Yen's funeral service at St Theresa's Church. Ms Lo was the Singaporean who died at the hands of merciless terrorist at the Mumbai attack. Singapore suffered the loss of a precious life in the tragedy. Ms Lo's husband gave a heart-rending eulogy that touched many hearts that day.

One day, you and I will also leave this earth. Very likely, someone will be reading our eulogies. People will not mention how much we have acquired in our life time; how many properties we have, our cash position, the great career or business we have built or the assets we have accumulated. But they will remember how we lived our lives, how we carried the fruit of the Spirit, how we shine through our attitudes. They recall how we had touched their lives while we were alive. They will reminisce the good old times they had spent with us; cherishing and recalling the fond memories. We would have left behind a great legacy.

If we live each as though it is our last, we will then be conscious to put things in perspective. We will live fully for the Lord without reservation. And we offer our very best to our maker and allow Him to flow through us in whatever manner He so desire. He is our primary focus. He is the one and only reason for our existence.

Poor Mickey

Mickey has been nursing a sore, he is down with an infection. He is much toned down as he is not so free with the plastic head cover to prevent him from licking his wound. Poor Mickey.

A Caring Community

Over the years, I am aware of the kindness and generosity of some Christians who voluntarily offer to support poorer Christian brothers and sisters through their studies. There was this brother in Christ who was then in a Polytechnic. His family was struggling to pay the course fee. A brother in Christ came to know of the need. He supported this brother for a season.  This is a very tangible act of love.  The brother-in-Christ could have spent his money on a well-deserved holiday, electronic items, clothing, bags or other necessities.  But he chose to bless.

There were instances when I caught wind of individuals who quietly paid for someone who could not afford to attend church retreat.  It never fails to warm my heart.

The Lord demonstrated sacrificial love to us when He was nailed on the cross. In our small ways, we pattern our lives after the model He set for us to follow. We are reminded of the blessing from on high when we are blessed to give. With heartfelt thanksgiving, we give of ourselves, our time, energy and resources to Him. He deserves our very best. The love of God spurs us on to be a loving and caring community for His glory.

On Christ The Solid Rock I Stand

The turmoil and uncertainty of this global meltdown hit the whole world so hard that this could be one of the bleakest Christmas for many. The truth of the matter is that we have not hit rock bottom and the worst is yet to come. We receive bad news when we open up our newspapers daily. The doom and gloom continue to plague country after country. Fear, despondency and desperation gripped the hearts of people the world over.

In spite of the hopelessness and despair, the believers have a hope that is not determined by the failing economy. Our faith in God is recession proof. We continue to put our faith in a faithful God; He provides for our every need. God blesses us miraculously so that we can be a blessing to people who are in need. In bad times in the past, Christian businessmen and women had testified on how God shielded them from the economic calamity and blessed their businesses in spite of the terrible economic climate. Our God works on our behalf, He works in ways that blows our minds. We have peace that passes understanding when we fix our minds and hearts on God and God alone. We are not standing on shifting sands but on the solid Rock.

On Christ The Solid Rock I Stand



My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name

When darkness seems to hide His lovely face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil

On Christ the solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand
His oath, His covenant, His blood
Support me in the whelming flood
When all around my soul gives way
He then is all my Hope and Stay

On Christ the solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand

When He shall come with trumpet sound
Oh may I then in Him be found
Dressed in His righteousness alone
Faultless to stand before the throne

On Christ the solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand
On Christ the solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand

Broken And Spilled Out

Broken And Spilled Out

Driven by love for her Lord
Recklessly poured out a valuable essence
Disregarding the scorn
And once it was broken and spilled out
The fragrance filled all the room
Like a prisoner released from his shackles
Like a spirit set free from the tomb

Broken and spilled out
Just for love of you, Jesus
My most precious treasure
Lavished on thee
Broken and spilled out
And poured at your feet
In sweet abandon
Let me be spilled out
And used up for Thee

Lord you were God's precious treasure
His loved and his own perfect Son
Sent here to show me the love of the Father
Just for love it was done
And though you were perfect and holy
You gave up yourself willingly
You spared no expense for my pardon
You were used up and wasted for me
Broken and spilled out
Just for love of me Jesus
God's most precious treasure
Lavished on me
Broken and spilled out
And poured at my feet
In sweet abandon
Lord you were spilled out
And used up for me


This life that we live is not our own. Jesus paid the price for our redemption. In actual fact. we cannot give anything to God because all we have is His. Everything we call our own belong solely to the Lord. We give of ourselves completely to our master. He first gave of Himself to us; He was broken and spilled out. Our life and liberty came with a very high price; the Lamb of God was sacrificed for you and I.

Face To Face

Seeking the face of God is an empowering facet of Christian living. It speaks of an intimacy that our loving God extends to all who desire to draw near to Him. 

In the book of Exodus 33:11, we learn that Moses spoke to God face to face. This relationship is intense. This relationship is intimate.

God repeatedly assures us of His love. He sought us out while we were yet sinners. He reaches out to us and lifted us from death and degradation.

We seek the face of God. We draw near to our maker. 

As we draw near to the Lord, we become more and more like Him. 

The people around us will say: “They have been with Jesus.”