Jan 26 2012
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day to day

brain train

I have always wanted to increase or improve memory and got attracted by a Harvard Business Review article on training your brain to focus – visit this to read further. Instead of the pretty normal and predictable suggestion such as eating well, sleep more and work out generously, it suggests us to stay positive coz an improved emotional balance will improve our performance. And there is a short quiz for you to measure your current positivity ratio: take the test by clicking here. It’s amazing how this article gels with God’s teaching – in Proverbs 23:7 it says: For as He thinks in his heart, so is he. If we truly believes God will carry His promise, then all things will work out ultimately. I love the saying I heard from a Christian radio channel in New York he says: God may not be early, but He is never late.

Daily Quote
God has begun a good work in me, and He is well able to bring it to full completion.
Philippians 1:6

I pray to God that I will wait, and wait and wait for God’s promises for me to come true. Coz He promises me.

Postscript Quote
Your past does not have to be your future.
Anonymous 

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Jan 25 2012
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after thought

you are what you do

Visited a friend at his house today, he is passionate about growing plants and in his house – he grows all kinds of plantations! And happened that another friend at his house asked me: do you have a hobby? I then have a quick scan what I did over this holiday and realize I don’t really have a solid ‘hobby’ like this friend of mine has. But where did my time go? Thank Lord I caught up with my Bible study one year plan – i finally caught up with day 25!! But where our time goes determine really a lot where we would end up, we have a choice in spending the time on our plants, on our hobbies, on our children, on our pets, on our food, on our look, on our investment, on our family? What you do determines who you are, staying positive and hopeful and trustful of God: will bring you where you hope to be.

Daily Quote
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Philippians 4:8

I pray to God that I will rely on Him and stay positive about life!

Postscript Quote
Excellence is not a singular act, but a habit. You are what you repeatedly do.
Shaquille ONeal

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Jan 24 2012
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after thought

stoned-heart

I read from the newspaper that there is this heart shape ‘land’ dimensioned of 7x6m made of small stones specks in a local beach at Ma On Shan. It’s man-made. Who made it? It’s done by a retired uncle, every day between 10am to 4pm he would work non-stop by cleaning the beach and bring forth the stones to make sure the heart shape is maintained because the high and low tide would cause the water to blur the heart shape and flushing trash to the heart, so he has to work on it every single day. This is a completely self-initiated ‘project’ and whenever this uncle sees people taking photos with this heart-land, some couples take their wedding photos here – he feel accomplished and happy. After reading the piece, I am completely stunned that someone in Hong Kong in 2012 would spend the time to do something that needs so much physical labor which in most people’s standard or definition, would be seemingly so ‘useless’, for so many years! The heart-land took 2.5 years to build, and after the construction, requires every day work to make it in shape. He refused to reveal his name to the reporter, and just said: a person’s hard work is many people’s joy. When he said that, there are people laughing next to his ‘heart’. This uncle is rewarded in a way not many of us would experience or understand. When you believe in something for a good cause, carry on and God will empower you to move on.

Daily Quote
Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:3-4

I pray to God that I will trust in God and do not stay conformed but transformed.

Postscript Quote
Faith has to do with things that are not seen, and hope with things that are not in hand.
Saint Thomas Aquinas

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Jan 23 2012
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day to day

let the dragon roar

It’s the 1st day of Chinese New Year today – wish you all a very prosperous and auspicious year of the Dragon! Saw soo many fortune tellers forecasting each sign’s fortune for this year on TV, my curiosity drove my ears closer when my sign’s commentaries are announced…SORRY GOD! It’s just so interesting to see what they speak about you making you all think it’s so accurate and specific. I know this is a long standing art and culture – but when you think deeper all things they quote are universal such as: drive more carefully, beware when you are in the water, there could be another person getting in your relationship so be patient with your partner, an opposite gender would give you a lift in your career, mind the big mouth and so careful what you do etc etc. These are all time, life long ‘wisdom’ day in and day out no matter where you are and what you do. I am sure everyone is wise enough to understand this but we just all want to know the ‘future’ in advance. We want to feel prepared and secured. But we forget the utmost important rule of thumb is that if you are following the truth & path – which God has commanded, then we all would arrive at the same destination – the eternal land of God. It’s just our process will differ, but we will land our feet at the very same place, so basically we know our future already. Happy New Year!

Daily Quote
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Matthew 7:7-8

I pray to God that I will rely on Him and trust that He will give me the best, if I obey, follow and submit.

Postscript Quote
Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. Buddha

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Jan 20 2012
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day to day

angry bird

I told my colleague that she should read or at least listen to the topic “How to live beyond your feelings” as both myself and her all live super emotionally. And I have a friend who has problem with anger. She could be lit up like a matches striking against the match box, she would go horrendous and sometimes I joke saying if there is weapon or knife in front of her, I would see her behind bars. She just doesn’t know how to deal with her emotions and I told her to check further about anger management. But I don’t know how to help besides praying for her. I pray to God that He can bring her to follow Him and it would be such an amazing conversion if she accepts Him as her Christ, coz she is an atheist as she believes in herself and will power only. She is a great sportsman because she spends her energy drilling her skills and that is her persistence that she relies on, but nothing else. However, I tried to explain to her that she could also use her strong will power in managing her anger, but I don’t know the tricks to doing that. It’s like you have this super powerful machine in front of you, but you just don’t know how to operate it. I told her she can do it – managing her anger if she wants to. But we got stuck at the point – how to make it happen? Joyce Meyer in her sermons says we just have to use the peace, but where is the peace and how can I get peace I ask myself. I know I have to pray but what if non-believer don’t know how to pray? Then Joyce mentioned that peace already is in us, we just have to use it coz God has given the peace in us ALREADY. I am stunned at this point, coz I think that is actually the case. It’s like we all have wisdom, just use it. I am yet to get there to see how further I can manage my emotions, but I think this is a good start! I hope my Angry Bird friend will one day master her anger and transform the power into something positive.

Daily Quote
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Ephesians 6:13

I pray to God that I will be able to use His gifts to manage my emotions and use it with wisdom.

Postscript Quote
You can feel wrong and still do what is right.
Joyce Meyer

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Jan 19 2012
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day to day

able to be stable

It’s not a very encouraging news in the new year to get to know a dear colleague has decided to move to Shanghai and explore a new career course, plus the person our studio has been waiting up on from New York since last August, he suddenly decided not to join us after we have applied and successfully gotten his working visa in HK. It’s not the end of the world but it’s just not very encouraging. My little colleague said we must hate her for her decision, which is totally not true as the studio’s ultimate goal is that we use our creativity to make an impact on the society which at the same time will fulfill us, and the most obvious outcome is that we all would feel happy with our work. If my colleague will feel happier elsewhere, then she needs to move on and get there. But what my learning through the situations is that, me and my boss are extremely calm and stable. We just sit down and think things through and find out what the quickest solution and what could be done to make things better. Joyce Meyer’s sermons this morning for me on Podcast is about how to be stable. To be stable, we cannot let our emotions overtake us and bring us where it wants to be. To be stable is to feel joyful even we can’t land at where you want to be. This requires extreme discipline and submission of ourselves to God and let Him handle the situation. I never realize it’s so important to be stable, not until I recall I used to work with a person who is extremely moody and emotional, every time when I sense that there are things which could set her off, I felt terrified coz I just hate to see things explode and she gave me that pressure. This will be a reminder to me that I can never let myself behave similarly, we have to make ourselves emotionally stable, and that is one of the best way to show our love.

Daily Quote
The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.
Exodus 14:14

I pray to God that I will remain calm and stable and He would empower me to keep my temper in place.

Postscript Quote
Always remember that the most important thing in a good marriage is not happiness, but stability.
Gabriel Garcia Marquez

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Jan 18 2012
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after thought

new balance

I attended my church’s “Work/ Life Balance Panel Discussion” last night, and it’s quite interesting to hear how some senior management people approach that in their own ways with God’s guidance in this subject. 4 panelists in general believe they have gotten that balance and to me, they have done extremely well as they could swim twice a week, play basketball, stay with family all weekends, and only choose to fly during weekdays etc. An audience responded saying she’s in Investment Banking field, and she cannot cope with people who outline a lot of limitations as her colleagues coz simply the industry does not allow her to be that accommodating, and she quoted ‘slaves’ as analogy of people who work in this discipline. To me, I agree with both sides of the story, some people really have to be slaves and some could choose to live more freely. I worked in advertising field before and life or personal time is a luxury – and I know people who died of overworking – and that is not uncommon at all in advertising. It boils down to people’s mentality – both client and business owners if they allow you to rest. If client expect crazy deadlines, then bosses commit and staff have to be slaves. It’s a cynical cycle and I have chosen to drop this insane game by leaving the field. But how many people out there have such luxury to choose, a lot of times, not many. If God’s value of love and grace are more widespread, I don’t think getting a balance between work and life will be such a hot topic anymore.

Daily Quote
Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.
Philippians 2:14-16

I pray to God that I will seek Him in the midst of my hectic life and let Him reflect on me.

Postscript Quote
Shakespeare is the happy hunting ground of all minds that have lost their balance.
James Joyce

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Jan 17 2012
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after thought, volunteering

he knows

I received an email from my pastor last week with a subject line “How’s it going?” and I thought to myself, what would pastor ask? I thought he is following up on a church course earlier, coz I went once and did not go on and join further ( i was bad! ). As I read further, I realized he is asking if I would be interested to serve the Lord by being the usher/greeter at the Sunday service. I was astounded and starred at the email coz the other day, I was just reading in more details the service sheet what the week’s notices are and read that Church is recruiting for help in different areas, such as the band, the technician team and also the usher. I was thinking: the usher shouldn’t be too hard to do, and I am always on time coz getting to the church at 10.30am is a piece of cake for me. And even if it requires me to arrive earlier, that is still fine as sometimes I even go to the studio to work a bit before I head to the service. Plus it’s just once a month! Not bad – I think to myself and then – I put down the sheet!!!!!! And walked away doing something else. Then a few days later, I received my pastor’s email about the recruitment, thus I was stunned. God has a plan, and when He sees that you are nearly there, sometimes he would give you that little push or give you that hand in doing something. When you should not do something, you could actually hear that voice telling you not to, and it’s just a matter of second when you decide to do something. Pray to God when you are confused or unsure, step back and stay put, and just speak to Him for direction. We don’t have to be that quick, spend a while asking Him for clarity and you could move on and try things out.

Daily Quote
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
Galatians 5:16

I pray to God that I will seek every moment and in everything for the strength to walk His path to do His will.

Postscript Quote
I seldom ended up where I wanted to go, but almost always ended up where I need to be.
Douglas Adams

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Jan 16 2012
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charity, day to day

if he can, so can you!

Some of you might know I go visit elderly from time to time whenever I am free. Yesterday I happened to tag along my church to do a Chinese New Year visit to around 260 old buddies. The experience is quite different as the scale is huge this time and quite a key portion of the elderly are Christian. There was this old man in wheel chair whom I spoke to, he looked at me with kind smile and told me in loud strong voice that “THANK YOU LORD”, I was shock. Not that I don’t think he should not thank Lord but I did not expect him to be announcing it. And I feel kinda guilty afterwards. I mean, this friendly old man is in wheel chair, he is nearly 90 years old and he has no children, no wife but all his relatives living elsewhere and he got a stroke not long ago. By my logic, not many people would think they are blessed or grateful for what they ‘have’, but this old buddy screamed ‘gratitude’! How can I not move by him and he even kissed my hand saying thanks to me for staying around him. I am moved, and I know the Holy Spirit is in motion and action. I just need to be better, if this old friend could, why couldn’t i?

Daily Quote
Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
Colossians 3:16

I pray to God that I will let Him warm me and I will warm the others, just like what He does to me.

Postscript Quote
Silent gratitude isn’t much use to anyone.
Anonymous

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Jan 13 2012
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after thought

gracious words heal

Last night I got to know that a young talented HK illustrator whom we collaborated earlier got a chance to work with a key local retail brand to design their Chinese New Year promo visual communication, coz he put his proud work up at LinkedIN, and I immediately congrat him coz this is a big chance that he gets exposed and not under the radar anymore. But when I spoke to him, he showed me what the retail brand actually used is a modified version of his work and without his consent has all gone to production. He told me he was sad and shock and discouraged. But I explained to him the situation and what he could do such as speaking to those who commissioned him and expressed his concerns. But more importantly he shall not be discouraged because this is such a small part of his drawing journey, and he just have to keep up, live up but not give up. Slowly I feel that his spirit revived and he feels there is hope, and it’s just not a big deal at all. We just have to spend the energy to do some more uplifting things if this is letting us down, don’t let this or these to let us down further, if we let it, we are just letting Satan take the chance and feel successful. We all can be encouraging when we want to, and it will brighten things up the way you never expect! God encourages us through different sermons, pastors, medium – that is exactly the same thing He wants us to do to others. Live it and breathe it!

Daily Quote
Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
Proverbs 16:24

I pray to God that I will encourage to all those around us with positivity such that we can enhance our faith in God.

Postscript Quote
Nine tenths of education is encourgement.
Anatole France

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