The Gift of Walking - My Gratitude and Agony

Many years ago, I came across a story about a man who always complain to God why he cannot own a pair of expensive shoes until God showed him a man without legs. 

To many people, walking is as natural as breathing. But to me (a Polio survivor), the fact that I can still walk normally everyday is a gift from God. I was born in Malaysia and I had Polio when I was a baby. I do not remember anything that happened. There was not a single impression in my memory. I only knew that I had this condition when the nurses came to my primary school and my mum brought me for referral medical checkups about my spinal curve shown on the X-ray films. And then, I remember seeing documentary programmes about people with Polio conditions. Most of them were unable to walk upright and normally.

When I am out and walking, somtimes I become aware that people are noticing me. I do not know the reason for them giving to me such special attention. Sometimes I choose to ignore when I am too busy to care. Sometime I just go along and enjoy the special treatment given.

A few years ago, suddenly I could not walk. I could not even walk across the road to have lunch with my colleagues. During that time, I was helping out in my church preschool and we (teachers & parent volunteers) were suppose to bring the children to an animal farm. I could not walk even for more than 5 mins upon reaching the farm. I was depressed. I was advised by the doctor to make in-soles and wear special shoes (comes in 1 colour and design). It got me back to walking normally again. But people still notice me.

Just 2 days ago, I was shopping with a friend. I chose not to drive to the shopping mall because it was linked directly to the MRT station. I walked for about 1 hour around the mall. When I finally reached my home MRT station, I felt my right foot started to become painful with my every step. I was only about 8 mins walk away from my home. The pain was so unbearable I almost wanted to hire a taxi that would bring me right to my doorstep. Thank God, I managed to walked home!

I really do not know how many more steps I can make tomorrow. Sometimes, when I am overwhelmed by the attention that passerbys gave, I got depressed. Sometimes, I questioned God why wouldn't He give me a normal pair of legs like everybody else. Sometimes, I choose not to walk but took a vehicle, simply because I want a break from the unwanted attention and sudden pain in the foot which is just too much for me to bear. Just for a while.

Lord, let me take...........One Step At A Time.

Chinese New Year Shopping Trip

Every year our Residents' Committee organises a Chinese New Year Shopping Trip for its residents. This year is the first time my husband and I have signed up. It was held on last Saturday, 29 Jan. On Friday before, it was raining cats and dogs until my husband said, "...hopefully it will not rain for tomorrow's shopping trip." When I heard that, I just uttered, in my heart, a simple prayer to God that He will grant us an enjoyable trip the next day.

On Saturday morning, the weather was really good. We started our itinerary at 8.30 am. The first few places that we shopped required us to walk from one building to another without any shelter. The cool and clear sky really made the walking a bliss. I could not imagine what the experience will be like if it was under heavy rain or hot sun, especially having to mingle with the big CNY shopping crowd. The marvellous thing is that it only rained when it was time for us to shop at the sheltered multi-storey industrial building. After this, at the last few stops, which was around West Coast, Fishery Port and Kranji nursery area, the rain stopped again. At the nursery, we were trying to finish off our buying of CNY flower and mandarin orange plants when our bus driver jokingly said, "The rain came to tell us it is time go home." We ended our itinenary at slightly more than 4 o'clock in the afternoon, which was very closed to the planned ending time 4.30pm. All in all, we  visited more than 10 places/shops during this trip. To me it was enriching, 真的是满载而归. I shall not mention how much I have bought during this trip :P.

The reason I am blogging this is because I am so thankful for God's goodness. I marvelled at His unmerited favour. He hears and answers my prayers, no matter how small and insignificant they seemed to me. Did I mentioned it rained the whole day on Sunday, until it was reported it was flooded in some car parks? Lord, I pray in Jesus' name, that You will give us good weather on our CNY visitation and outing days. Thank You!


As one my favourite songs says, "Nothing you can do to make Him love you more. And nothing you have done to make Him close the door." His love is so unconditional and unfailing.

Cartoon Characters Get Together

This should be my last batch of CNY cookies making. I think I have almost used all cookie cutters that are in my collection, at least for those not used before. My daughter and son continued with what they did best yesterday. One did the Pooh faced cookie (cookie mould was originally meant for making Pooh face on breads) while the other made more star cookies with smiley faces (he said star is his favourite shape). Oh by the way, my daughter's Pooh faced cookie was better than mine. The 3D car cookie, shown here, was done by her!

Chinese New Year Cookies

These are my first 2 batches of Chinese New Year cookies. I started with the Kueh Bangkit last week, followed by Pineapple Tarts today. For the pineapple tarts, I've used another mould design. The sides are patterned with hearts and pineapple filling is smaller at the centre. As usual, I used the leftover dough to make cookies. That Winnie the Pooh faced cookie is made by my 2nd daughter. My son made that star shape cookie and he was so proud of its cuteness. They are looking forward to make more of these cookies tomorrow as I've told them there is enough ingredients to make another batch of butter cookies.

December Updates

Just a quick update here. Here are the food photos taken during the month of December. The Winnie the Pood pancakes were made with a Pooh-faced shaped pancake maker (2 sets available for sale, pls email me at playkeen@gmail.com if you are interested). On Christmas eve, my cell group had a Christmas party and I cooked the curry chicken. The birthday cake was for my daughter. 

Children's Day and Family Day

In my devotion today, I've read this verse:

Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children..." Matthew 11:25

1 Oct was Children's Day and I've made these cupcakes for the children and their parents in my cell group meeting which was on the same day. I thank God that we can enjoy the fruits of my labour. Then on the next day, my family, my mother and her sister (my Malaysian auntie) went on a 2 day 1 night trip to Malaysia. Before our trip, our cell group members prayed for our safety and good weather and our prayers were answered.

One Thing Is Needed

Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said.....only one thing is needed, Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her. - Luke 10:39,42

I am mostly a visual person. Sometime ago, I told Jesus that I want to see Him. I thought of buying a picture of Him from the Christian bookstore and put it in my place. But that picture would be someone's else image of Him. Then He led me to study the Book of Revelation. There the description of Jesus was very vivid. Even though there was no image in my Bible, as I spend more of my time studying it, my impression of Him grows deeper.

I also want to listen to His voice. I have to make my heart quiet enough to recognise His voice. I'm inspired by music and voices of people who love God. There are a few singers whom I have been listening to that helps me to tune in to Him. They are Kelvin Soh, Billy Wang, Don Moen,  Kathryn Scott etc. My purpose in my daily life becomes clearer each time I look and listen more intensely into His face and voice.

I am now reading a book entitled Success Kills, by Wayde Goodall. I like what Pastor Goodall said, "Strong, successful teams are made up of very talented, special people...they are strong where we are weak. We are strong where they are weak.... If people around you..., your spouse, children, can't tell you that you're wrong, give them permission.... Solitude, listening to our God, and receiving the wisdom and strength we need to do all that will be required of us is a "life truth" that will help us succeed in all we do."

Finally, I would like to share this song 作主的门徒 which is sung by Kelvin Soh in his album 作主的门徒. 

There is another song 一世人跟随祢 which is one of my favourite in his album 真爱. 

Homemade Sushi

Sushi is my family's favourite food, especially my children. This is the 2nd time I'm making my own sushi. My daughters like the ones with crab meat and mayonnaise while my son like the raw salmon ones. They had a good time making what they always loved to eat. This is what I call family bonding time which money cannot buy.

Encouragement In Extraordinary Time

Revelation 22:10-15
The time is near. Let him who does wrong continue to do wrong; let him who is vile continue to be vile; let him who does right continue to do right; and let him who is holy continue to be holy."
 "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
 "Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood..."

Psalm 141
O LORD, I call to you; come quickly to me. Hear my voice when I call to you. May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice. Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips. Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil, to take part in wicked deeds with men who are evildoers; let me not eat of their delicacies. Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it. Yet my prayer is ever against the deeds of evildoers; their rulers will be thrown down from the cliffs, and the wicked will learn that my words were well spoken. They will say, "As one plows and breaks up the earth, so our bones have been scattered at the mouth of the grave. " But my eyes are fixed on you, O Sovereign LORD; in you I take refuge—do not give me over to death. Keep me from the snares they have laid for me, from the traps set by evildoers. Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by in safety.

Counting My Blessings

• I am so fulfilled. I want to give thanks to God for blessing my family financially. My church pastoral staff and members in the choir, cell group and ushering ministries (the big family of God) have prayed for my husband to get a better job. The love from them was amazing, even my parents gave credit to God. 

• I am especially enriched by the love and warmth from the choir members. We had a karaoke session on Sunday evening and boy, it was really fun! It's been a long time since I felt such genuine love. 

• In my working life in the recent past years, I met people who were just concerned about getting ahead of others in the corporate race. They were rich financially, outwardly but poor emotionally, socially and spiritually. They were just concerned about showing people around them how great they were. They could take other people's ideas and claimed them as theirs. I am now so blessed to know I'm in this fellowship that aims to bring out the best potential in others instead of themselves. 

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:2

For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? Matthew 16:26