blogging again

Hey guys!
Was just procrastinating trying to study for my test at uni tomorrow morning, and I just decided to click on one of my tabs, and ended up on my old blog haha!

Well I'm going to try blog again because it's kind of my way of journalling and reflecting on my life and my walk with god. I don't think anyone's going to read this, but i don't really care :P

Well, i can honestly say that God has been moulding me over the years, and has never left my side. sometimes in life we may feel like we're going downhill or backsliding, and it may be true, but i believe that god uses those times in order to produce peaks in our life. without troughs, there cant be peaks. I hope that our life isn't a roller coaster, however. But i do encourage you to not be discouraged during difficult times, or even times when your walk with god is actually taking a toll. I encourage you to get serious with god and fear him, because that's what produces results and changes in character.

I really do feel like something changed in the last month or so. i realise i used to be kinda anxious and insecure a lot of the time and didnt really enjoy life to its full potential. recently i just feel like there has been a noticeable change in my life. when your foundations and core are set correctly, every other area of your life will flow on. I don't think it's effective to try and address every small "symptom" that is going wrong in your life without treating the underlying cause or "disease". The core is our walk with god, and our spiritual integrity. If we have a flourishing relationship with jesus, every other area of our life WILL flourish. I believe that god doesn't want us to live a normal life; he wants us to flourish in every area, whether that be spiritual, emotional, psychological, friendships and physically too.

Right believing produces right thinking, which produces good character, which produces right living. i think it's so important to know the promises and truths of god, and to stop believing the lies of the enemy. so often the lies of the devil are subtle and may seem believable. for example: living a normal life. i believe that is a lie, because god wants us to flourish. so declare that over your life and really believe that your life CAN and WILL flourish. Don't think you cant be as influential or have as much integrity as one of the great pastors/leaders in the world, when the truth is, you can, because our heavenly father is the same, and will mould you if you believe he can and allow him to.

that's my prayer for you guys, that your lives will flourish. i pray this in jesus name

cya guys! I'm gonna try to blog like every day that i am home

As of today, I've finally completed my first ever semester at uni (well technically trimester for me). After two weeks of exams, I'm finally on holidays. To be honest, nothing equals the satisfaction of finishing a VCE exam. It's almost ridiculous how chill uni exams for me; not that I ace it, but there fact that I only need to pass. So I have essentially left 12 weeks of work to learn in the span of a few days. The whole term felt a bit like a holiday to be honest ahha!

2012 is a big year for me:

- I've started uni and made some amazing friends
- Started gymming regularly. It makes such a big difference
- Going to Hillsong Conference from 1-6 July. Genuinely looking forward to it
- Fungus camp 2012: "Imagine". I pray that God will move in a big way this year

Staying away from home has been a huge change this year. It really helps me to appreciate my parents and friends more when I don't get to see them for most of the week. Sometimes we just need to take time out and really reflect on our lives, and look at things from an objective perspective.

As a Christian, I find true purpose in life through God. I can't imagine how I would live without Jesus. Who is our anchor in the storms of life? What gives us the hope to go through each day? Who teaches us love and humility? The only one that I can think of is God.

My mentor Bryan Seow really challenged me with something: "imagine if we could think about Jesus every moment of the day". How awesome would that be! To be honest, I've been living life on my own strength and leaving the last 10 minutes of my day for God.

In any relationship, we talk and we listen. God is indifferent. So often we just read the bible and pray and that's it, but we forget about the most crucial part: listening to God and waiting on him. That's something that I'm gonna implement into my life.

Anyway, just blogging my mind
Laters everyone! 

Praise

"Let everything that has breath praise the Lord"- Psalm 150:6

Sometimes it seems so difficult to praise God, especially in the midst of trials, and when our lives seem out of control. But the truth is, Jesus never changes, and is the same yesterday, today and forever. Amen!

In all honesty, this week has been chaotic. Exams are creeping around the corner, feeling homesick, and in the process of moving places in Geelong. So often, we get so consumed by what's happening around us, and forget to look to God, who's in control of it all. It makes me wonder why these events even make me anxious or stressed, when in reality, these situations aren't actually that "stressful". It's all a mental game, and we need to learn to take control of our minds. 1 Corinthians 2:16 tells us that "we have the mind of Christ". How does Jesus respond in times of trial? He looks to God the father.

We tend to worry too much, about what tomorrow is going to bring, how we are going to handle something, whether we're good enough, or if we can win the race against time. Remember, God is in control of our lives. He promises in Romans 8:28 that "all things work together for good to those who love God, and are called according to his purpose". In our weakness his strength is made perfect, and in the midst of our trials, he is glorified. So, why worry? We know that God is in control of our lives. As humans with finite wisdom, we will never understand why certain things happen, but we know that God works every single event/trial/victory/failure for the greater good of those that love him. In Christ alone, our hope is found

I'm just gonna trust in Jesus in every trial that I go through; that's the way it should be

God bless you everyone!

I'm dead tired from playing basketball/gymming today, and am gonna have a good rest xD

Random Quiz

Hi peeps! I was looking over old posts and saw this quiz which I did in 2008 (4 years ago). Gonna be interesting to compare responses

http://aweakcow.blogspot.com.au/2008/08/random-quiz.html

Rules:
1. The rules of the game get posted at the beginning.
2. Each player answers the questions about themselves.
3. At the end of the post the player then tags 5 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves a comment, letting them know they got tagged and to ask them to play and read your blog.


Starting time: 9.58pm
Name: Jon Lee
Sisters: -
Brothers: 1.
Shoe size: 9.5 UK
Height: 178 approx
Where do you live: Australia.
Favourite drinks: Water
Favourite breakfast: Hash Browns and omelette
Have you ever been on a plane: yes.
Swam in the ocean: yes.
Fallen asleep in school: *yeah, and in uni regularly
Broken someone's heart: hope not
Fell off your chair: all the time
Sat by the phone all night waiting for someone to call: nope
Saved e-mails: yeah ( i just don't delete)
What is your room like: really messy during the week, till I clean it on weekends :)
What's right beside you: iTouch, phone (Motorolla V3)
What is the last thing you ate: Cashew chicken stir fry which mom made
Ever had chicken pox: yehhh! I like infected everyone too
Sore throat: ya
Stitches: nope
Broken nose: nope
Do you believe in love at first sight: no way. That's pure folly
Like picnics: yes!
Who was the last person you danced with: Sebbie g X and fungus dudes
Last made you smile: Mom
You last yelled at: Mom

Today did you:
Talk to someone you like: nope
Kissed anyone: no.
Get sick: yeah i have fever/sore throat.
Talked to an ex: ermm no
Miss someone: yeah: mom
Best feeling in the world: the joy of the Lord!
Do you sleep with stuffed animals: used to, but lack of space on bed
What's under your bed: the floor :P
Who do you really hate: nobody
What time is it now: 10.05pm

Randoms :
Q: Is there a person who is on your mind right now: yeah
Q: Do you have any siblings: yupp: 1 older bro
Q: Do you want children: yeah
Q: Do you smile often: :) i try to
Q: Do you like your hand-writing: i cant even read it (nothing has changed from 4 years ago)
Q: Are your toenails painted: heck no
Q: Whose bed other than yours would you rather sleep in: none
Q: What colour shirt are you wearing: red (free XS tshirt from Apple)
Q: What were you doing at 7:00pm yesterday: Watching Futsal in vermont
Q: I can't wait till: the weekend!
Q: When did you cry last: today
Q: Are you a friendly person: try to be
Q: Do you have any pets: used to have a Guinea pig


Where is the person you have feelings for right now? - dunno
Did the last person you held hands with mean anything to you now? – never held hands
Do you sleep with the TV on? – I dun even watch tv lol
What are you doing right now? – struggling to stay awake
Have you ever crawled through a window? - yeah
Can you handle the truth? - yes. the truth sets us free
Are you closer to your mother or father? - Both equally
Who was the last person you cried in front of? – haven't
How many people can you say you've really loved? - With God's agape love; not many, but I strive to
Do you eat healthy? - I actually do. SInce i cook for myself, I steam tonnes of veggies
Do you still have pictures of you & your ex? - never had ex
Have you ever cried because of something someone said to you? - i think
How often do you go to church? – twice a week man
If you're having a bad day, who are you most likely to go to? - God
Are you loud or quiet most of the time? – Quiet
Are you confident? - Becoming, because of my identity founds in Christ

5 things I was doing 10 years ago..(2002)
1- i was 9 years old
2- I was in grade 2 at St Bridgets Primary school
3- Watching ronaldo dominate the korea/japan world cup, and brazil rise to victory
4- watching tonnes of cartoons
5- Going to kids church

5 things on my to-do list today
1- Do my hw. far out -.-
2- Read the bible and pray
3- Sleep early
4- Eat my grapes
5- Blog

5 snacks I enjoy
1- Sushi
2- Doritos!
3- $2 Double cheeseburgers
4- Mildura Sunrise apple/guava juice
5- weis mango ice cream


5 things I would do if I were a billionaire
1- Donate to church
2- travel.
3- Sponsor tonnes of kids
4- Give to friends/family
5- Buy a Lamborghini Aventador


5 of my bad habits
1- I annoy people with spam :P
2- I come to conclusions too early
3- I always sleep late and procrastinate
4- I'm ALWAYS late for things
5- Poor form on the bench press

5 places I have lived in
1- mum's tummy.
2- balwyn
3- Geelong (renting room)
4- -
5- -

5 jobs I've had
1- Student.
2- Self employed bodybuilder
3-
4-
5-

2012

Hey all!

I haven't been blogging much recently, because I've been using Tumblr to publish posts. But I figured that I should use Blogspot since I'm technically blogging :P

It's amazing that it's already 2012. Some highlights of the year so far:

- Unforgettable holiday in KL and Singapore in Jan/Feb

Had one of the best memories in KL with grandparents, and in Singapore with awesome relatives! There is no substitute for family. Universal studios, Sentosa Island, eating.. just to name a few things.

- Started uni in Geelong

First year of uni for me, and 5 weeks have already gone by. For those who don't know, I'm studying Optometry at Deakin University in Geelong, so I'm actually renting a room and living away from the comfort of home. But by the grace of God, I'm coping :)

- Started driving on L's

Been driving heaps since I finished year 12 . Now 60 hours to go! I try to find every excuse to go driving :)

Next step I need to learn manual!

- Learning to appreciate my parents more

This is something significant in my life. It's human nature to appreciate someone/something more when it's gone. Now that I'm living away from home, I can stand back and really see how much my parents love me. It is so heartwarming. So often we're caught up focusing on their flaws, and rarely appreciate their goodness. Lesson learnt: do appreciate your parents/family/friends, and have some empathy!

- Gotten to know some of my friends a whole lot more

It's ridiculous how much Facebook and social networking has changed the way people interact. I personally am not a big fan of talking to people on Facebook, and would much rather chat in person, but somehow I find myself talking heaps online lol! But yeah, since i'm much more free in uni, i've managed to catch up with friends and am so thankful for each and every one of them!

- Met some really cool people

It's interesting how people meet each other. I've made some friends at the most absurd of places/times, but am glad I did. This reminds me of some first impressions of people. Seriously, you can't judge a book by its cover, or anyone based on first impressions. I thought some people were cocky pricks, but once I got to know them, they turn out to be really nice people. As I always say, there is good in everybody. Show them God's love

- Forgotten how to study :P

K i'm sure all you uni students know what I'm talking about. 3 months holiday post-vce....... what do they really expect of us??? xD I hadn't picked up a single book or used my brain properly the whole holiday, hence, I've forgotten how to study. Just finished mid sem holidays, and I've clocked up 1 hour of homework LOL

- Hit the gym heaps

Been gymming regularly in Geelong and Melbourne, since i'm now a legit gym member. I used to gym only on the holidays because I was short for time, but now, I go at least 2-3 times a week. Started off benching 40kg last year, now I'm benching 65-70. It's all about gradual progression.

- Helping in Kids Ministry!

I've been helping in the X-Cite kids ministry at my church for quite a few years, since 2008, so this is my fifth year!! I can vividly remember the day when I volunteered to Sonja (the kids pastor at the time). Today, Qynnie is doing an amazing job juggling both the youth and kids ministry. Serving in a ministry has helped me to develop a servant heart, and constantly reminds me that life isn't all about ourselves, but true contentment comes from sharing God's love with others. I was born in a Christian family, and was raised in church all my life, attending kids ministry and subsequently Fungus, the youth ministry.

- Getting to know God better

To me, being a Christian isn't all about rituals, but the condition of our hearts, and ultimately, our relationship with God. It is definitely important to read the bible and go to church in order to stay close to God, but some people seem to think that doing that makes them a Christian. I only really knew God and earnestly started seeking after him as I begun to serve in ministry. Gradually over time, I begun to understand who Jesus truly is, and made that personal commitment to follow after him.

Take care all! Keep pursuing God! True happiness in life is found in him

Seasons of life

Hey all!

It's been over 2 years since I last blogged. I know that blogspot is kinda dead amongst my friends, but I hope to kick it back up :)

So much has happened in my life over these past 2 years. I've completed year 12 and I'm now commencing a new season of my life; university. I've gotten a wider perspective of who God is, and how my life would be utterly meaningless and purposeless without him. You know, as time passes by, change is inevitable. Change can be constructive or destructive. We write our own lives through our actions, so write it well and never forget to center Jesus in your life.

These two years have been full of ups and downs, full of regrets but also fulfilments. Ultimately, I've really seen the hand of God over my life, through the good and the bad times, and through the times that I didn't even realize that Jesus was walking beside me. It really blows my mind to comprehend the complexity yet simplicity of how God works. The reason I say that is because of how perfectly he crafts the paths of our lives, yet for a simple reason; because he loves us.

For those who don't know, I'm currently studying Optometry at Deakin University Geelong, and I think that it is a miracle that I'm here in this course at this time. It's a brand new course in 2012 (just in time for my graduation), and there weren't any retarded prerequisites such as the UMAT (so i'm darn lucky)
I've always asked God to have his way in my life, and committed to trust in him regardless of what happened. I know that God's work is far from over, and he is continually shaping me as a person.

To be honest, I was kinda disappointed with my VCE result and worried about Uni, but hey, look what God has done. I know that life is not all about study and VCE scores. Who said that a good ATAR score will get you in the course that best suits you? Who said that a prestigious job will be enjoyable? Who said that money equals happiness? It doesn't. Only God can satisfy or every hunger and thirst.

So then, what do you live for? I live to glorify God. I live to share the good news with others. I live to live selflessly. I live for Jesus; he is the reason that we live.

Do something real in life. Christianity isn't just some religion designed to save our own skin; it's more about looking outwardly to others in need. It's not just about rituals such as reading the bible and going to church; it's so much more than that. Of course salvation is sweet, but we need to spread the gospel to the ends of the Earth. We need to take steps of faith and be God's hands and feet, for we know that without faith, it is impossible to please God. Faith isn't about keeping within our comfort zones; it's about putting your life on the line and trusting in God.

God has challenged me to be a man of action rather than intention. What use is it if we intend good but don't actually do anything? Since i've started uni, I've met some really cool people, which I am thankful for. But really, what makes Christian's different from others? It has to be through the way that we act, and I must admit, I haven't been. I'm convicted to put Christ first in my life and really reflect him through my actions.

God bless you all!


Taste and see for yourself that the Lord is good.

Change

Hey guys!

This is my first post in nearly a year, and is the end of my longest blogging drought xD

Many things have changed since I last blogged in May 2009, such as my physical stature, to my spiritual maturity, and also the way I do my quiet time.

We all know that there are always ups and downs in life, and at times, peaks in our spiritual journey. It's a sad reality that our passion for God isn't always one that is fully pumped out and excited, and we often feel dry, but we've got to grasp perseverance, diligence and discipline.

All of my hope is found in him, and all of my true joy only comes from God. It's my aim to become more like Jesus each and every day, even if it is just a small step closer. The way we choose to pursue this goal as a Christian is utterly vital.

There is one thing that I've noticed over the years, that one of the keys to spiritual growth is discipline. You have all been through those times where reading the bible and spending time with God was such a thrill and enjoyment, and that's great. Except we also know that is not always the case. No matter how tired or dry we feel, it is imperative that we remain disciplined in seeking after God, by reading the bible daily, and also spending time in prayer or waiting upon the Lord. I truly believe that if we keep persevering to find God, he will fill us and quench our dryness, and touch us in a way that we would never comprehend.

I can honestly testify that his word is full of life and joy, just waiting to be discovered, and that prayer is a key of maintaining a relationship with God. It's an honor that he calls us friends, and just like any of our worldly friends, if we don't keep in touch we won't be close right?

I was reading the bible this morning, and stumbled across a verse in Philippians that reminded me about something I wanted to blog about. I forgot what I was gonna say when I blogged yesterday, so I just added this into the post xD.

In the book of Philippians, Paul teaches us to never be satisfied with our spiritual progress, but always to be content for what we have in Christ. While he was writing in prison, he expressed his contentment with life's circumstances because he entrusted them with God's care, but nevertheless refused to consider himself apprehended in his walk with God, instead tells us to keep on 'pressing towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus'.

Face it none of us are perfect, and in fact far from perfect. As mentioned before, we aim to be righteous just like Christ demonstrated when he came to earth in the form of a man. If we can balance life's contentment with an onward desire for excellence, this also is a key to our spiritual growth and advancement. 'Godliness with contentment is great gain.'- 1 Timothy 6:6

God is love, and this love was demonstrated on the cross, where he paid the price for sinners gain, and offered us the greatest gift of all; salvation.

What in life shapes you as a person? I find my true identity in Christ.

God bless bros!

Keep seeking after God, and pressing towards the goal.