New Year Eve

New year eve on Tuesday, after work, we meet at westage for tim sum dinner.

nice tim sum

Lucy,Grace,Mom, Joo  and me


the tim sum is delicious but we have to queue about half an hour to get a seat ,
after dinner, we had ice cream, buy one get one free!

Crib at Novena church

On 27/12/13, pick up Joy and Ian from airport and sent them to Novena church, take this opportunity to took the nice crib of baby Jesus.

       

             Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!

Today is Christmas day, the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ.

We attended  11 am mass. Then went to J cube for lunch, after lunch, P decided to take MRT to
Changi airport for a walk.....we walk, we sit, we drink, we eat... it was a joyful moment...

our church SFA

Thanksgiving prayer for everyone

Thank you, God.  I’m grateful, God, for so many things. Now, I know I’m not the most grateful person you know, God, so let me take some time to tell you what I’m thankful for.

I’m grateful, God, for the gift of life. Without you I wouldn’t be here. Without you nothing would be here. Without you nothing would be at all.

I’m grateful for my parents, God. Even if they weren’t perfect, or completely functional, they loved me the best they could, and they worked hard to make sure that I had enough to eat, that I was clothed and that I had a place to sleep. I’ll never know all that they did for me, like the things they did for me when I was a baby, but I can be grateful for the things that I know. Help me to be a grateful child, and remind me to be grateful in person. If my parents have ended their time on earth and are with you, help me to be thankful for their lives, and fill me with the hope of meeting them again in your company, where I’ll be able to say thanks again.

I’m grateful for my friends, God. Even if I have only one good friend in my life right now, I’m so grateful. God, you show your love for me through my friends in ways that I sometimes overlook. They give me advice, sometimes when I need it, sometimes when I don’t, which in both situations is a sign of their care for me. They listen to me complain, which I do too much, and they celebrate with me, even if things aren’t always going well for them. They help me to laugh. And they help me to laugh at myself. That alone is reason to be thankful. Help me to be a good friend in return.

I’m grateful for my family, God. Yes, I know that all families are a little nutty, and mine is no exception. Even Jesus’s family tree had its share of complications. But I’m thankful that, even with the nuttiness, I’m part of a family that has helped to make me the person I am. I know that they try to love me the best that they can. Help me to be a good family member, trying to help out when I can, make the phone call or pay a visit when they’re lonely, and keep my mouth shut when I should be listening, or when I don’t have anything sensible to add to the conversation.

I’m grateful for my job, God. It’s not always a bed of roses, but at least I have a place to work and I am able to make ends meet. That’s more than many people have. And I know the people I work with can drive me crazy, but they are doing their best, too. Help me to be a good co-worker, to give people the benefit of the doubt, to care for the people with whom I work, and not to take everything so seriously on the job. And help me remember that all work done freely and with a loving heart is worthy in your sight.

I’m grateful, God, for all the things that I know many people in this world don’t have. And that’s a long list. So I’m grateful for food. And clean water that is easily available. And clothes. And heat in the winter and air conditioning and screens in the summer. I’m grateful that I can go to the doctor and get a check up and even get shots to help me avoid illness. That’s a lot more than most people have. Help me to be grateful, and help me remember that I can help those who have less by being generous. That’s one way of thanking you.

Did I mention how much I appreciate all the things you created? For the color of orange autumn leaves against the deep blue sky? For the smell of the sidewalk after a thunderstorm on a hot summer afternoon? For the way that the frost makes crazy patterns on windows in the winter? For the amazing smell of daffodils in the springtime? While I’m at it, I’m also grateful for the beach (that’s a pretty great thing you created); the mountains (also great); and sunsets (really great). And hamburgers, too.

Most of all, God, I’m grateful for your presence in my life. You’re everywhere, and if I remember to pay attention I can see your invitation to meet you in every moment of the day. I know that it is you who turn my mind to thoughts of gratitude. And when I’m tempted to focus only on the problems and worries and fears, I know that I’m being led away from you.

Now, I’m not always as thankful as I should be, but today I am. Today I will try to be grateful all day, since you are generous all day to me, like you are every day.

Amen.

http://thejesuitpost.org/site/2012/11/a-thanksgiving-prayer-for-everyone/

Peter Birthday

Today is Peter 68th birthday, we had dinner at suntec, simple and meaningful...
May God Bless you Peter!

Happy Birthday Peter
May God Bless you

lovely meal

Trivia

It   (the problem) has been there for almost two years, Olive and Lucy were very close, and Lucy has been looking after Olive's two children since they were born,( DJ is 21 and JJ is 20 now) their relationship grow when years go by, and Lucy was very attached with the children, until the day the volcano erupted....last year just before CNY, Olive chase Lucy out of their house, luckily, Lucy went  to WL and stay for a few day before Olive call her back due to strong reaction from DJ, we advised Lucy not to go back because the problem was not resolve but Lucy cannot let go of DJ....
Almost one year later, the volcano active again, this time it is beyond repair........
on 15/10/13 Haji holiday, Lucy moved out from CL...she stays at WL for the time being....
sigh...Lucy cannot let go the children, keep thinking of them and felt so depress to leave them....
It is almost 2 weeks now, things slowly change to the better, Lord, we need you, send your angel upon us to keep Lucy company and touch her heart,help her to be more forgiving and turn a new leave of life...Jesus help us!

sea and mountain

Happy Sunday

Start sunday with Pete go for mass at 9 am, I have RCIA ,today is my sharing with the catechumens, with few of the sponsors went for pilgrimage in K L for feast of St Jude, we have a smaller group today,but it turn out good.
Today gospel is about the pharisee and the tax collector, it about humility....

lovely bear

friendly lion

Good News Reflection
Wednesday of the 25th Week in Ordinary Time
September 25, 2013

Ezra 9:5-9
Tobit 13:2-4, 7-8 (with 1b)
Luke 9:1-6

Time to stay or move on?

In our efforts to help others grow closer to Christ, and in our desire to change our parishes or workplaces when God's will is not being done, we don't always succeed. God's not asking us to. Sometimes, all he wants us to do is plant seeds that new people will fertilize and still others will harvest.

Look at what's frustrating you today. Do you know if God is asking you to stay or leave?

Jesus makes it clear in today’s Gospel reading that first we try – it's our responsibility, our mission as members of the Body of Christ. And if the message he gives us to share is rejected, we are not supposed to keep trying. He's not telling us to be quitters; he's saying: "Don't force God and the Church upon those who are not ready to hear the truth." Forcing them is not loving them, it's diminishing them. Remember, God never forces us to do anything that he asks of us.

I'm not speaking of situations in which God has placed you in authority over others. For example, parents are called to take the children to Mass even when the kids prefer to stay home to play. Employers and pastors have a right to demand that duties are fulfilled according to what the workers were hired to do. But wherever Jesus sends us to proclaim the kingdom of God, we have to pay attention to whether or not the hearers are open to receiving the truth. If they are not, we have fulfilled our responsibility by making the truth known; now it's their responsibility to act upon it.

To discern correctly if it's time to move on, we have to ask the Holy Spirit if what we're doing has been commissioned by God or if it was our own idea. If it was God's idea, then we have to ask if this is still what he wants us to do.

Keep your eyes on Jesus and notice the doors of opportunity to which he leads you. See Jesus knocking on the doors of people's hearts. When a door swings open, walk through it. When a door slams shut, know that Jesus will either help you find a secret passage that will get you inside, or he will tell you to clean off the person's dirty life from your shoes and he will lead you away from there.

If the latter is true, God already has another plan in mind for that person, and if we keep banging on their door, we'll only get in the way. And if we bang harder, our hand begins to hurt, so then we beat our heads against the door and get a head-ache. This is not God's plan!

Moving on could mean literally leaving, or it could mean redirecting our efforts to other people and other ministries while we stay and quietly pray and give unconditional love. If you're not certain which you're being called to do, talk to a spiritual director or Christian counselor.

www.usccb.org/bible/readings/092513.cfm

Friday the Thirteen

Today is Friday, and it is 13/09/2013.

Melvin wedding day!

Was planing to send mom to Melvin's house for the ceremony, but our plan is not God's plan, my van cannot start after mass, I guess is battery flat, quickly make arrangement to bring mom to Hougang, and Sharon has to take bus to work.

After breakfast, I walk back to church waiting for rescue, Fr Lau was walking around the church , he saw me and greeted me, I told him my vehicle cannot start, he offer to jump start my vehicle, Praise the Lord ! He said someone just donated the set of jump start wire to him, and it work perfectly well, how wonderful the Lord is !

There must be a reason why I won't be able to bring mom there, only God knows, and I praise Him for the event that happened , God knows the best for me. Thank you Lord.

Chilli Plant

So happy to see the chilli plant grow fruit---the chilli

Ice-cream treat

After Dinner , Sharon gives me a treat to a home made ice-cream at HV, it was a quiet place, and I choose avocado flavor, yummy !

48 National Day

After the morning mass at 7 am, took Pete and Pepper for breakfast at McDonald B L...

sunrise

Mac at Boon Lay

pepper refuse to take breakfast

beautiful blue sky facing the south

beautiful sky facing  the west

35th Anniversary

Today 14 July 2013 is our wedding anniversary, 1978 to 2013...it is a long road...thanks our mighty God for the love and mercy for us.

Just a memory, we had a simple lunch.

May God Bless us for many year to come!

Father's Day

 we celebrated father's day  at home with steamboat dinner...

                           


                                        simple and meaningful

Breakfast at McDonald

Sharon on leave today, she decided to wake up early , bring daddy and pepper for breakfast at McDonald, we went to BL park, so that pepper can go together...

The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

Feast of the Holy Trinity

Today is Trinity Sunday, one week after Pentecost Sunday.

Pentecost Sunday

50 days after Easter Sunday, we celebrate Pentecost Sunday

A day out at the Changi Beach and Pasir Ris park

It is a beautiful Sunday, the weather is good.
Attended yesterday sunset mass, so today is free to bring the Pepper and Pete out for a walk...
we decided to go Changi beach first, because we are going to have lunch at changi hawker centre....

Clear blue sky and clam sea

We had lunch at about noon, all car park around there are full, we waited for about 15 min to enter the car park, and I queue for the nasi lemak for another 15 min, half an hour wasted....

After lunch we took a drive to Pasir Ris park, we landed at car park C.

pepper is so tired after a long walk from the car park to this resting place, Peter is so thirsty, he finished a big cup of sugarcane with ice....

the park is not crowded... it was quite hot but under the shade is breezy ..

After a while I called Rebecca who is staying around here, she came and meet us for a while..

She cycle here to the park from her house about 15 min.

photo taken by Rebecca 

Rebecca has to leave because she has to attend a birthday party, we also ready to go back because pepper and peter are both tired...

What a lovely day!

Praise the Lord!

Useless Anxieties...

"Which of you, by being anxious, can add one moment to his lifespan? - Matthew 6:27

So it is useless to worry. A short person cannot, by any amount of anxiety, make himself an inch taller. Why, therefore, should he waste his energy and fret his life away in wishing he were an inch taller? One worries because he is too short, another because he is too tall; one because he too lean, another because he is too fat; one because he has a lame foot, another because he has a mole on his face. No amount of fretting will change any of these things.

People worry, too, over their circumstances. They are poor, and have to work hard. They have troubles, losses, and disappointments which come through causes entirely beyond their own control. They find difficulties in their environment which they cannot surmount. There are hard conditions in their lot which they cannot change.

Now why should they worry about these things? Will worrying make matters any better? Will discontent cure the lame foot, or remove the ugly mole, or reduce corpulency, or put flesh on the thin body? Will chafing make the hard work lighter, or the burdens easier, or the troubles fewer? Will anxiety keep the winter away, or the storm from rising, or put coal in the cellar, or bread in the pantry, or get clothes for the children? Even wise philosophy shows the uselessness of worrying, since it helps nothing, and only wastes one's strength and unfits one for doing one's best.

Then religion goes farther, and says that even the hard things and the obstacles are blessings, if we meet them in the right spirit; stepping-stones lifting our feet upward, disciplinary experiences in which we grow. So we learn that we should quietly, and with faith, accept life as it comes to us, fretting at nothing, changing hard conditions to easier if we can; if we cannot, then using them as means for growth and advancement.

http://www.thevinetoday.com/

Sharing

THE END

“Do you believe that this is the end of days?” That was the question a friend wrote me a few days ago. It is a question that I have gotten a lot of times over the years. With all the wars, tornados, earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, fires, and nuclear meltdowns we are facing these days, it is easy to understand why people would wonder and ask as well.

The truth is no one knows when the last days of this world will be. No one knows when their own last day will be either. All that we can do is to live each day we have here to the fullest with love, kindness, goodness, joy, and oneness with God.

This is why I start each day by saying, “Good morning God, thank you for my life!” This is why I watch every sunrise and sunset I can. This is why I stop to smell the flowers and listen to the birds sing every Spring. This is why I hug my grown up children every day and tell them that I love them. This is why I always take the time to bend down and pet a dog or cat. This is why I lend a hand to a neighbor who needs my help. This is why I share a smile and a friendly wave with the people I pass on life’s road. This is why I do what I can to house the homeless, feed the hungry, and care for the sick. This is why I write my simple words and share them with the world. I want to do all I can to show others that they can choose life, share love, and spread joy. I want to show them that every day is precious, that every act of kindness is priceless, and that everyone of them is a powerful person who can make this world a better place.

None of us knows when this world will end. None of us knows when our own lives here will end. What we do know is that we can love today. We can learn today. We can laugh today. We can help each other today. We can bring a little Heaven to Earth today. Live today then and when the end does come you will be able to face God with a loving and happy heart.

By Joseph J. Mazzella

http://www.Godswork.org/

Jesus said: I am the Way, the Truth and the Life

Friday of the Fifth Week of Easter
May 3, 2013

Today's Feast: Saints Philip and James

Today’s Readings:
1 Cor 15:1-8
Ps 19:2-5
John 14:6-14

Doing greater works than Jesus

In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus says, "Whoever believes in me will do the works I do, and greater far than these." What does he mean – greater than HIS?

Let's start with the basics: If you and I really do believe in Jesus, we want to be his apostles. The word "apostle" means "one who is sent." We want to be sent by Jesus to help others get to know him and experience his love. Our faith drives us into ministry and outreach. And Jesus gives us the power of his Holy Spirit so that we will be successful.

What are we sent forth to do?

Each of us has been assigned apostolates by the Father. Just as the Father accomplished his works through Jesus, so too does the Father desire to accomplish his works through me – and also through you! He has given you a set of talents and gifts that make you uniquely capable for your particular divine purpose in life. You also have training and experiences (both good and bad) that God wants to put to good use.

Our Father has assigned an apostolate to you that requires your special combination of personality traits and spiritual attributes, right where you are right now – in your job, your home, your relationships, your church, your neighborhood. Because of your uniqueness, he cannot accomplish this through anyone else!

Jesus said that if we believe in him, we will do the same works he did "and greater far than these." Through his humanity, Jesus did human works. These are the same works we do matter-of-factly as good people. Human works include loving each other, teaching what we've learned, sharing what we've been given, listening to those who need someone to talk to, working hard on the job to our fullest potential, offering a helping hand when we see a need, etc. But even atheists do that.

Through his divinity – his unity with the Father – Jesus did supernatural works (the "greater works"). Through Jesus, you and I are united to the Father, and the Father extends himself to the world through us. Through us, the Father continues working miracles, the humanly impossible works. Only someone who believes in Jesus and relies on his Holy Spirit can do this.

In doing our human works well, we give Jesus to the world. But sometimes our human works require supernatural aid, such as when loving someone becomes very difficult during a long trial as they continually sin against us.

What does the Father want to accomplish through you? Listen for his will to become known to you. How does the Father want to improve the world through you? Like Jesus, we do supernatural works when we do the will of the Father. Wait for his instructions with open ears.

Meanwhile, dedicate (or rededicate) your gifts, talents, resources, skills, and experiences to God for use in his kingdom. Pray that the Holy Spirit will strengthen your virtues and empower your giftedness so that when others encounter you, they will experience the human works of Jesus and the divine works of the Father.

http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections

Chapel of Our Lady Guadalupe Melaka

I have the desire to visit this little chapel in Melaka Our Lady of Guadalupe, our church organised twice to visit this chapel, due to personal reason, I cannot join them. During the lent season, I suggest to my goddaughter  that second week after Easter, we drive to Melaka to do a little pilgrimage to this chapel, she agreed, so we start our journey on 6/4/2013 Saturday morning around 9 am. We stop for breakfast then continue our journey, by the time we reached Melaka, it was almost 12.30pm. We are not familiar with the location, we asked the people for direction, after almost one hour, we finally found the chapel... It is a very peaceful surrounding, the gate was locked, so we stand outside the gate for a little prayer and taking photo... suddenly there was a car coming near to the church asking us where are we from and he open the gate and the church door for us to go in the church, Praise the Lord !The man is send by God to open the gate for us, he came to the chapel to check the contractor who is building the extension of the chapel.God is Good!
Our wish come true. There is only one mass on every Sunday 7 pm , other then that, nobody is around because it is a industrial area and no residence nearby.

on the way to JB

Breakfast  stop

on the highway

on the way

Outside the chapel

in the chapel

chapel garden

grotto

garden

view of the chapel and garden

Happy Easter

Happy Easter!

I have two goddaughters this Easter, Elisabeth and Magdalene, they are baptised on Easter vigil 30/3/2013.Praise the Lord!

Happy Easter

Elisabeth Nittaya

Magdalene