A New Appreciation
I used to dislike my name when I was young and the fact that it rhymed with anything that ended with BELL and thrown into the lyrics of the familiar Christmas carol "Jingle Bell" just made it worse. In primary school, the teasings were endless. Everyday i had to go through the ruthless distortions of my name. It even came to the point of my shedding of tears over it.(LOL...i think i was too sensitive back then as well. But what can i say? I was only 10!haha...but don't worry, I'm ok with it now) I remember wanting to change my name so badly, dreaming and wishing that I was given a nicer name.
But as the years went by and the teasings died down, I began to appreciate my name, especially when my parents told me the meaning and story behind my name. What's more is that in the past year, the meaning of my name has become a treasure that is really close to my heart. I want it to be more than just a meaning, I want it to be a reality.
Consecrated to God, that's what it means.
oh and just for the sake of saying it, haha....Isabel is the Spanish name for Elizabeth. Cool huh? haha...I love my name!!!
Living for the smile of my Prince
Thanksgiving and Goals for the New YearThe year 2008 marked a turning point in my walk with the Lord. As I look back on all that has happened, I can not help but feel a sense of joy bubbling from within me. I see His fingerprints all over the things that had happened this year, be it trials, testings or blessings. And though I did not get into the course i wanted in Ngee Ann Poly or into the public stream, I know that God still has his best for me.(To know more abt what happened, go ahead and read one of the April blog post for this year)
To cut a looooonnnnngggg story short, I shall list down my thanksgivings in point form with a little bit of commentry here and there.
I thank God for/that...1) giving me opporunities to serve Him--
Such as the YA survival camp, in YA club, helping my mum do the housework while she's at work, Hospitality Team Sector I/C, etc.2) my $100 birthday miracle--
see one of the March post3) not letting go of me even when I contemplated giving up on Him
4) putting a desire within to live a life set-apart for Him and to know Him more.
5) the christian books, daily devotions and sermons during service that challenged me to live a life set apart for my Lord
6) I finally owned the decision that I'm home-schooled
7) the starting of my online business
8) the time spent with my grandparents during the december holidays
9) the YA Malacca Trip--
Got to know the kids and their parents better10) The Muar Prayer Retreat--
Got to know the rest of the network people more.11) putting me into situations that forced me out of my comfort zone--It
helped me grow a lot. Especially the part of coming to the end of myself and totally relying on the strength of God.12) not granting my desire to go to NP--
I really thank the Lord for this. If He had granted this, I would not have so many amazing opportunitites of serving him and I definitely would not have grown so much spiritually.13) My two cell leaders--
XIAOWEN! and LIJUAN!14) My cell members
15) Network People--
Syl, Sky, Andrew, Vivien, Bryan, Caroline,etc.16) YA volunteers--
FEEE! Jasmine, Vicki, GaoMin, Pris, Stef, Ben1,Ben2, Melvin, Angela, Samm, Wilson, etc.17) My Hope Party and Jasmine's salvation
that's about it. There's many many many more. But these are the main ones. =)
Thank you, Lord, for all that You've done. Indeed, You are the one who has brought me thus far.
Well...2008 has gone and a new Year has come.
4 areas of growth for 2009:
Relationship with God-continue to maintain that initmacy with the Lord ~ initimacy with Christ is a life-long pursuit of Him, not just for a season
-continue to work towards living a set apart life for the Lord.
-have solitude with the Lord at least once every 2 months
Ministry-to get to know the YA kids on a more personal basis
-to get to know my cell members more
-More opportunities to serve the Lord and to be a blessing
Family-spend more time with my grandparents
-pray for my grandparents salvation
-help out more with the housework without being calculative and with no complaints
-build a better relationship with sis and bro
School-finish up NCSC level 3 (hopefully before April)
-sit for SATs
-pray and trust God for directions for my future
-put my heart and soul into glorifying the Lord in my studies
Living for the smile of my Prince
A New Appreciation 
