Captured by His Love

God awakens us each day to His love. Our hearts beat with joy and anticipation because we have an awesome privilege of journeying with our maker and master this new day. We burst forth with strength and vitality because He strengthens our feeble limbs and set us on an amazing journey of love. When we are captured by His love, our life and perspective has its bearing on things that are eternal. Our focus on the lover of our soul sharpens as we pursue the Lord with wholehearted devotion and abandonment. Lost in His love, we bask in His presence longing for more of Him because He alone can satisfy us.

Wonderful Kids

Yesterday morning, I was conducting a Public Speaking class to Primary five students at a school in Seng Kang. I was greatly encouraged by their enthusiasm and participation. They were such wonderful kids.

I thank God for allowing me to be an enrichment trainer. There is never a dull moment. Children are reciprocal; they are relatable and very engaging. I look forward to see them for the subsequent sessions.

Life is Beautiful

Life is beautiful. The Lord floods our lives with His love, mercy and goodness.

He draws us by the power of His Spirit. He empowers us to live for Him. As the Lord leads us deeper into His divine presence, we experience liberty and wholeness. 

His powerful presence engulfs us  His presence envelopes us. He sets us free to worship Him. 

He comes in His awesome power. He comes with His outstretched arms. He comes in love. He comes in mercy. He pours His grace on us.

We declare His Lordship over us. We have every reason to live life to the fullest. He has made all things beautiful. 

He Watches Over Us

Monte and my parents are in their golden years now. Our mothers are in their mid 60s and our fathers in their early seventies God has blessed us with wonderful parents. They never fail to encourage and look after our needs though we are both elderly

Our parents face health challenges and we daily bring them before the Lord. Often times, our mothers have to manage pain from arthritis or muscle ache which leave them with sleepless nights. Osteoporosis makes a fall deadly because their bones have become brittle.

We commit our parents to the Lord in prayer as often as we can. And Jesus is as near as the mention of His name for as we uphold our parents to the Lord, He watches over our loved ones. We continue to rely on Him to cover and protect them at all times. We love and appreciate our parents deeply.

That Special Day

Valentine’s Day is a very significant day for Monte and I because we started our courtship on Valentine's Day in 1998. We have never looked back since that special day. It brought back beautiful memories of our love. Those were the days of sweaty palms when we held hands probably because we were nervous.

Monte proposed to me and we tied the knot in March 1999. The rest is history. We thank God for each other. “Two is better than one”. We have gone through thick and thin together. Loving, believing, supporting, trusting, encouraging and spurring each other on to love Jesus are some of the important pillars of marriage. We continue to live in the glory of His grace in the household of faith for the praise of His glory.

Because Of Who You Are

Because of who You are, we can stand strong and tall. Because of who You are, we have reason to live each day with expectancy. Let Your praise saturate us through and through.

We are so unworthy of all that You’ve bestowed upon us and yet You have never chugged us aside. You’ve never condemned us to utter sin and damnation. You raised us up so that we can be strong in You and soar into sky like the eagle.

Because Of Who You Are

You spoke the words and all the words came into order

You waved your hands and planets filled the empty skies

You placed the woman and the man inside the garden

And though they fell they found compassion in your eyes

Oh Lord I stand amazed at the wonder of your deeds

and yet a greater wonder brings me to my knees

Lord I praise you, Because of who you are

Not just for all the mighty things that you have done

Lord I worship you, because of who you are

You're all the reason that I need to voice my praise

Because of who you are

One holy night you brought the promise from a virgin

And promise grew as he revealed to us your heart

Enduring love displayed through out his Crucifixion

And in the dark, you tore the grave and death apart

Oh Lord I stand amazed at the wonder of your deeds

and yet a greater wonder brings me to my knees

Lord I praise you, Because of who you are

Not just for all the mighty things that you have done

Lord I worship you, because of who you are

You're all the reason that I need to voice my praise

Because of who you are

Lord I praise you, Because of who you are

Not just for all the mighty things that you have done

Lord I worship you, because of who you are

You're all the reason that I need to voice my praise

Because of who you are

Here In Your Presence

Here In Your Presence

Here in Your presence, beholding Your glory

Name above all names, exalted forever

Worthy of glory, worthy of honor

Bowing in reverence, we worship You only

To Jesus our Savior, our lives we surrender

We give You blessing, glory and power

Standing before You

we love and adore You

Oh Lord, there is none like You

The best place that we can be in is none other than the presence of God. As life’s mounting pressure comes upon us, we press in into His presence. The Lord gives us peace, hope, strength and comfort in daily living. Hungering for His touch leads us to know more of His heart. As He unfolds His purpose and will for us, we can then fulfill His command by the power of His Spirit. Lord, grant us an insatiable hunger for You and You alone.

Happy Birthday, Monte

Today is Monte’s birthday. I have been blessed with a wonderful husband. He constantly encourages and challenges me to reach my fullest potential in every area of my life. I thank God for allowing me to share my life with him.

Our journey together has been so rich. God leads us daily by His love and grace. He pours His mercy and tender lovingkindness into our lives. We can only go as far as He allows us to venture. Every new day is a day of new beginning, a day of hope and possibilities. As we give each day to our Master, He never fails to show us His faithfulness and grace.

His Mighty Presence

Someone once said that “Tough times does not diminish the presence of God”. On the contrary, in challenging times, we persevere and trust God to perform a miracle. God grows and develops us exponentially.

We cry out to God in desperation because our God is our deliverer. He rescues us. He helps us in our time of need.

In the eye of the storm, God does His greatest work. God rescues us at the edge of the cliff. He is God of the eleventh hour.

He brings deliverance and hope in our darkest hour. God is alive, He has made us His habitation. He shines His glorious light through us.

We experience the mighty presence. The unseen hand of God reaches out to us. He beckons us to follow Him to the ends of the earth. He wants us to trust Him wholeheartedly.

As God pours forth His Spirit on us, we experience wholeness, healing and strength. He empowers us. He energises us. He pours His Spirit on us.

Lord, come like a mighty river and wash over us. We want to be completely immersed in the river of Your Spirit. Let Your river bring us to where we will flourish and grow. Touch our broken lives for Your glory.

    

Vocal Training Workshop on 10 April 2010

Vocal & Singing Techniques Workshop

Saturday,10 April 2010

Time: 10.00am – 12.00pm.

Cost: $30 per participant

Topics:

Body posture

Breathing

Voice projection

Expression

Singing Confidence

Tone

Diction

Resonance

Vocal Phrasing

Pitching

Voice control

Voice care

To register, please visit my vocal training website at http://vocaltrainingjeefong.tripod.com

(Kindly note that the workshop will commence with a minimum of four participants.)

***********************

Testimonials for Jee Fong’s Vocal Training

“I never realised how we can easily spoil our Vocal Cords without knowing it until it’s too late. I now know that taking care of our Voice is quite simple if we were taught the proper Vocal & Singing Techniques. Some of the Techniques you shared with us during your Demo Session was quite simple to practice & proved to be effective.

Thank you for sharing and I wish you success in your vocal training workshop.”

Richard Tan

“After the vocal training, I am now more confident in singing, at least I dare to sing louder then before and with more expression. Thanks for teaching us the techniques of singing. May God continue to bless you and your work.”

Rosie Lee

“I begin to enjoy singing with a louder voice. Thank you Sister Jee Fong.”

Paul Png

“We have definitely learnt a lot through this course. It has helped us to project our voice better and we have also discovered many new insights. We will surely look forward to attend such courses in the future. Cheers to you our coach!!”

Janet Koh

“A committed and dedicated teacher to her craft, Jee Fong believes that everyone has a singing voice that just needs the correct techniques to bring it out. I thoroughly enjoyed the training sessions with her and gained a better understanding on how to "stretch " my voice.”

Michelle Chau

“Indeed I felt that the training is fruitful and useful to me. Sis Jee Fong has made it so interesting and practical that I can put into practice right away. After attending the training, it has given me more confidence in delivering the songs and able to express better. Thank u Sis Jee Fong. Hereby, I would like to give thanks and praise to the Lord for giving me the opportunity to attend this training. God bless one and all!”

Cheralyn Lim

"I can feel the passion that Jee Fong has in wanting to impart all the knowledge that she has to the participants that comes to her class. Personally, her desire to make sure that her participants understood and grasped what she was teaching touched me the most"

Lilian Lee

“Hi! Your vocal training has helped me in singing properly and with confidence. I will continue to use the techniques to improve on my weak areas. I used to have sore throat after two hours of singing. I have learnt that I have exerted on the wrong muscle and lack warming up. Now with proper practice and knowledge of taking care of my vocal cord. I am able to speak properly after 2 hours of singing. I must thank Jee Fong for her Marvellous GIFT in Vocal Training."

Hong Demei

“It is most liberating to be able to sing with confidence without getting hoarse or worse, a sore throat. Now I can worship with greater joy!”

Frances Goh

“My greatest achievement is knowing Christ. And that He loves me and you.”

Goh Hong Eng

“After several meetings, I can sing loudly and confidently. It is an enjoyable experience to work with you.”

Clifford Mario

"Jee Fong's classes enabled me to learn how to use my voice better and to realise that good speech not only included using one's voice correctly but that it was necessary to have the right posture and use correct breathing techniques as well. Jee Fong's personality is also warm and engaging which made the personalised classes all that more enriching to attend."

Bhawani

"It was an eye opener for me. I was not aware of the intricate details of maintaining vocal quality. A great help for me, as a trainer."

Selvarajoo Vadivelu

"I've attended the voice training sessions with hopes of improving my foundational techniques and I have improved since. Now when i sing for longer periods of time, my voice does not feel the strain and tiredness. Praise God!"

Vincent Kwok

"Thank you for coaching us in vocal and singing techniques. It had been a fun time. We found the sessions refreshing, enjoyable and relaxing as we’re comfortable with you. You have been very helpful and patient.

May the Lord bless and extend this area of your passion and ministry for His glory."

Nancy Choo, Michelle Pillai & Pearl Yeo

The Beautiful Singapore Botanic Gardens

A week ago, Monte and I took a lovely walk at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. We love taking in the lush beautiful greeneries, the fresh air and all things natural. Monte often says that Singapore is so green and beautiful and it is so true.

Burn it Deep

The fire of God burns deep within us to purify and sanctify us. Through the fire of God’s love, He draws us into His inner chambers and pours His love into our hearts; renewing and remaking us continually. His zeal and power are unleashed into our lives as we lay everything before the throne of His grace. His fire consumes us increasingly as we yield to Him in total abandonment and love. His fire burns deep within our souls to keep us going in challenging and tough times. He strengthens and empowers us to persevere through His amazing grace. Lord, burn Your desire deep in our hearts.

A Lifetime is too Short

A lifetime may seem very long at a glance. We take a lifetime to build a home, a career or a business. But for a married couple who is deeply in love with one another, a lifetime is too short.

Some years ago when Monte was overseeing some cell groups in Church of Our Saviour, we were saddened to receive news of the death of a sister-in-Christ. She died of a sickness and she was in her 40s. Her husband was heartbroken. Monte and I were at her wake and funeral. This brother loved his wife dearly. He was at a total loss and disarray at that juncture. He felt helpless.

As I reflect on the incident, what surfaced is the love between this brother and his late wife. The pain of loosing someone so dear to ones heart is unimaginable. Only the Lord can heal and strengthen us in His love. In the dark hours of the soul, He breaks through and soothes our pain and agony.

With each new day, we grow to love and cherish our spouse. God’s love permeates into ours, builds and further strengthens our bond of love.

Consistently Good

God is consistently good. He never falters nor fails. He is fully reliable and dependable. Loving and serving Jesus is our main priority. Being recipients of His abundant grace opens the door for us to live through the glory of His grace.

A couple of months ago, I developed severe cough and sore throat due to some medication I was on. In the meantime, I had ongoing enrichment and vocal training which were drastically affected. It was disturbing as the cough and sore throat went on for several weeks. The doctor I was seeing was trying to ascertain if it was due to a reaction to the medication. Monte and I prayed and believed for the Lord’s healing. To cut the long story short, I have fully recovered.

This experience left me with overflowing gratitude for God is so good. During that time, I was able to honour every training session I have committed myself to. His grace is always sufficient. His resources never run dry. He picks us up from every inconceivable valley, strengthens and empowers us to climb another mountain with Him.

Wonderful Batam Break

Monte and I spent three wonderful days at Batam View Beach Resort on the 7 – 9 Dec 09. Although it was peak season, the place was quiet during our stay. Besides relaxing and soaking up the holiday. We set aside time to seek the Lord together in prayer.

"Because of the Lord's great love

We are not consumed

For his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning

Great is your faithfulness."

Lamentations 3:22-23

This powerful verse speaks of the Lord’s unending mercy and grace. His faithfulness never fails. As long as we have breath, we will proclaim His greatness and goodness through all generations. We continue to lean on His arms of love in complete trust and faith.

Lord, Am I Climbing

“Then the spiritual climb could continue when physical movement was impossible?” – Amy Carmichael

These were the words of Amy Carmichael (1867–1951), a Protestant Christian missionary in India. She wrote some time after she was badly injured by her fall in 1931, which left her bedridden much of the time until she died in India in 1951 at the age of 83.

Amy Carmichael went to India in 1895, and served in India for fifty-six years. She served without furlough and authored many books about her missionary work.

Carmichael opened an orphanage in Dohnavur and founded the Dohnavur Fellowship. This mission society was devoted to saving neglected and ill-treated children. 

In 1931, Carmichael was badly injured in a fall, Yet after her fall she wrote, “Then the spiritual climb could continue when physical movement was impossible?”

Carmichael often thought of life with the Lord as “mountain climbing.” Prior to her fall she wrote these words, "God of the Heights, austere, inspiring . . . Loosen me from Things of Time; Strengthen me for steadfast climb. . . . Not for me the Things of Time; God of mountains, I will climb."

But then many years after her fall, she still wrote, “Then the spiritual climb could continue when physical movement was impossible?”

It is amazing that she was in her bedridden state that she said: “Lord, am I climbing?” 

She could not climb physically but her spirit man was so strong. Her deep desire to pursue God could not be stopped by her physical limitations. 

She kept the fire of God burning so strongly that long after she passed on, she continued to inspire people to love and serve the almighty God.

We want to climb every mountain that God presents to us. He leads us by the hand as we navigate through every crag and boulder. 

He who is faithful will keep us from falling. He will keep our feet from slipping. He keeps us safe and secure in His strong and loving arms.

Lord, let us climb higher. Grant us supernatural strength. Let us reach for the stars. Let us see Your plans And purposes fulfilled in our lives. Let Your dreams come true. Let Your will be done.

Sources:

Much of this information on Amy Carmichael was taken from:

“Amy Wilson Carmichael (1867–1951),” Theology thru Technology (http://www.tlogical.net/biocarmichael.htm).

Frank L. Houghton, Amy Carmichael of Dohnavur (North Harrow, UK The Dohnavur Fellowship, 1953; Fort Washington, PN: Christian Literature Crusade, 1979).

Perfection has its Price

The Lamb of God who was slain from the foundation of the earth is our perfect sacrifice. God gave us His very best, the perfect sacrifice of supreme purity and richness. A sacrifice that is packed with His great and boundless love. Every sacrifice that has ever been made can never be compared to this ultimate sacrifice because the Lamb of God is perfect. Perfection has its price. God in His love gave us His best because He first loved us with His everlasting love.

Encouraged by Every Testimonial

I have enjoyed vocal training immensely. God has opened doors that I could never imagine. On 23 Nov 2009, I received a testimonial from an attendee of my Vocal and Singing Techniques Training Workshop. It read:

“Dear Jee Fong,

I never realised how we can easily spoil our Vocal Cords without knowing it until it’s too late. I now know that taking care of our Voice is quite simple if we were taught the proper Vocal & Singing Techniques. Some of the Techniques you shared with us during your Demo Session was quite simple to practice & proved to be effective.

Thank you for sharing and I wish you success in your vocal training workshop.

Sincerely,

Richard Tan”

I am thankful to everyone of my vocal trainees or workshop attendees who took their precious time to pen down testimonials which I would put on my vocal training website. I am greatly encouraged by each one of them. God has helped me to grow and develop in my vocal training endeavour over time. I continue to rely on the grace of the Lord to offer what He has placed in my hands back to Him again.

The Elastic Band of Love

Monte and I were in courtship between 1998 to 1999 and on 20 March 99, we were united in holy matrimony.

One of the activities we enjoyed during courtship was bicycling. Monte bought me an elastic band (as shown in this post) to prevent my jeans from being dirtied by the bicycle oil. This elastic band of love is significant because it shows the care, concern and love in a tangible way. Oftentimes it is the little things we do for our loved ones that leave a lasting impression. I continue to cherish this relationship that the good Lord has blessed us with. Each day, we allow the hand of God to lead us on in this amazing journey of love.

God Works In Mysterious Ways

While Monte and I were off at Asia Pacific Theological Seminary in Baguio, Philippines between June 2000 and April 2001, the Lord opened doors for us to minister in unexpected places.

One Sunday morning, we visited the church near the seminary. After the time of praise and worship, announcements were made and a lady approached me to minister in song. 

I was stunned. Bear in mind that we have never been there and no one knew us. I accepted the invitation gratefully.

God often works in mysterious ways. He springs surprises on us when we least expected it. Serving the Lord is not cumbersome. It is fulfilling and enjoyable. It is an honour to serve the King of this universe.