Hallelujah

The Grace, laid in a manger,
A life led for a purpose,
The sacrifice that came after.

Nail scarred hands He had offered,
A life we now walk in earnest
This gift, we did not know we hungered.

A renewed life through forgiveness,
And every year, come near or far,
We honor this day of Christmas.
As our hearts sings out, Hallelujah!!

A Testimonial (written together with Jiaxin)

以前的我，看天父的好为理所当然。
Reflections, of how I had taken God's goodness for granted,

现在的我，知道我不配拥有天父的爱。
Realizing, I did not deserve His Love and Grace,

以前的我，以为我已很懂得天父。
Recollecting, a belief that I knew Him well, my pride demanded,

现在的我，想要知道天父的跟多。
Renewing, my hopes of knowing, once again His embrace,

以前的我，不用加以思考就回答“因为主，所以我… …”。
Remorseful, in my many thoughtless prayers unanswered,

现在的我，想要以我的真心为主做… … 。
Reclaiming, my heart to serve Him in this time and place, 

以前的我，只是心灵上的感动。
Recounting, my joy in Him that never lasted,

现在的我，是万分的感恩。
Reaffirmed, my gratefulness in the lessons I had faced,

以前的我，会隐瞒。
Reliving, how I had hidden the very person I became and doubted,

现在的我，会惭愧和努力地悔改。
Rekindled, my soul, my shame, my heart to repent in Grace,

以前的我，人在心不在。
Reminded, of the person I was, half-hearted,

现在的我，将会变成人在心也在。
Reconnecting, my desire to commit to Christ in glory and praise,

我不想再变回以前的我。
Through it all, to never return to the person I had created,

不想是短暂，而是长久。 
Moving ever forward, to the day I will meet my Lord face to face.

The Lord, my strength

What not can I grasp with my hand,
Not water nor the winds,
Nor the thoughts or hearts of men.

Such strength, have I not,
I look to the Father for such,
In Grace, my shield and sword.....

Grace

Caged am I, in my folly and pride,
Hands seeking through sin's gates,
What is that beyond my reach? that light,
Unable to move in my helpless state.

Someone seeks me from across,
Hands grasped mine as I cried,
I would not let go, Never!! else I'm lost,
Held firm as my heart pounded inside.

What is this I felt?
Thankful? no, grateful? I cannot decide
His name came to my lips as I beheld,
Given in Grace, Christ my savior, for me He had died.

Thankful and Grateful

Thankful for the week,
Grateful for the days,
Honored for the friends I meet,
Joyful in all the ways.

Baptism

Water trickled down,
Faces drawn in silence,
Knees to the ground.

Hearts humbled, eyes closed,
Hearing the words spoken,
Within, their spirits roused.

Bold in their declaration,
Risen together in Christ,
A witness to their Baptism.

Amongst an audience for all to see,
For there is none more beautiful,
Then welcoming one into God's family.

Mocking-jay (tribute to 'The Hunger Games')

Mocking-jay straight and true,
Resolute against defeat so cruel,
For Hope lights through the darkest hour,
May the odds be always in your favor.

Faith, Hope and Love

Passed down, taught, seen, done,
Lived within the heart,
From Father to daughter and son.

Lessons learned, to a way of life,
Written down, through sacrifice,
Taught each day the life of Christ.

Down the generations, spoken of...
Through the ages foretold,
This gift of Faith, Hope and Love.

In the Lord I trust

Looking up a canvas of white,
Wings flutter as birds flew by,
Atop a building, a cross in sight.

Staring as I looked out the bus,
Lost in my own thoughts,
Passing people and lights in a rush.

Soon, the journey stopped at last,
But mine has just began,
Walking ever on, the Lord I will trust.

Quiet Prayer

Quiet thoughts each day,
Reflecting within,
Forming words to say.

Solitude, far away place,
Intimate, to the heart,
Seeking that grace.

Whispered rhythms,
Music to the soul,
Eternity in that moment.

God, none is greater,
Faith, Hope, Love,
Keeping this in prayer.

Loved ones

Forgetting, that is what time does,
Hands to my head as I try to remember,
Holding on to these memories I treasure.

Surrounded by my loved ones,
Never far are my friends,
There always, constant, as the sun.

Though I may forget who they are,
May I always remember where I belong,
Warmness and closeness felt, never gone.

That is what it is meant to be,
Given in life, shared through trials,
True and loving, they are simply "Family".

Home

In all the world, valleys and cities, 
nothing would compare to the place,
Your heart longs to be.

Venice

Side streets through the city,
A surprise at every corner,
What sights and sounds to see.

A flow of people and history,
Carried through the waters of life,
As I watched, a smile came upon me.

Romance felt as couples posed,
Universal in their love of Venice,
Such tenderness as the day draws close.

Sitting by the edge with my legs out,
Water lapping at my feet,
In my mind, thankful without a doubt.

Bordeaux

The sun rises above the rooftops,
Buildings that defy the ages,
Standing by the window as I watched,
A blend of old and new to create such wonders.

In this city that I have walked,
People passed me by,
Children running to the top,
Riding down with joyful cries.

An artistry to the chaos,
Through the seasons, autumn to fall,
Witnessing this, I feel small and lost,
Thankful to experience it all.

In life, in love, in all that we offer as such,
A beauty that cannot be easily described,
Little wonder, these memories have etched themselves forever in my heart.......

Light at the end of the darkness

I awoke to the dark,
Shadows in my room,
Trapped for I know not what,
Not knowing morn or noon.

Walking to the corner,
I sat with my head held high,
Never a thought or bother,
Witnessing a grace in the sky

A promise I hold dear,
Even in this cave, such vastness,
A light at the end of the darkness.

Work of Art

The Labor of many determined hearts,
Though never seen and seldom told,
Of tenderness, patience and such,
Allowed to ripen and aged till old,
Created to stand as a work of art!

Lover's Bridge

The locks that hold your hearts,
A promise kept within, safe,
The bindings till time do part,
Forever held in trust in Faith.

Scottish Highlands

Awed, Humbled and Inspired,
That is what God has given me,
What giants! As I stared quiet,
Laid amongst the valleys and seas.

My eyes closed as I listened,
Chill winds across my face,
My soul stirs in motion,
Birds chirping to nature's grace.

Indeed there is no greater love than this,
For I am humbled and inspired to rise,
Lifted to the peace that Jesus has given me in Life.

Dusk

Night has come,
As day has gone,
Never to meet,
Till the break of dawn.

Beauty in the clouds

What view though worthy,
Can match the sights,
Of clouds that move so artfully......

Hope

Bound unable to leave,
Trapped in a failing body,
Only to despise and grief,
Yet in the darkest hour..hope..truly.

A voice that comforts,
A new journey begins,
A voice that carries through the hurt,
Trusting in the word of God that reigns.

Memories

Through all the years gone by,
Memories flood us fondly,
Good times and those we cry,
Never to be traded or be done with.

These made us who we are,
Bittersweet, never to be forgotten,
A life that brought us this far,
Full of such memories we have earned......

Dedicated to LP young adults

In the lives we lead,
The joys, pain and doubts,
Lost to the world within,
Drowned by noise, piercing loud.

Blinded to believe we are alone,
Yet hold on to the road we trust,
For we are who we are,
Because of what HE means to us.

Renew your minds with HIS promise,
Great is our shepherd, our Lord
Mighty is the one whom we call,
Our Father and everlasting God.

Awaiting that special someone.....

Within, it simmered slow as a fire,
Formless, an eternity in the making,
Guided by a hand that never tires,
Imagined as a whole, never forsaking,
Sprinkled with the stuff of kindness,
Peppered with the honor of love,
Layered with a destiny to long,
Patience, chiseled and carved,
A melody that accompanies the song,
To await that special someone,
Trusting in the Lord, till that day comes.

1,2,3,4....

4 words that are timeless,
3 words to the heart,
2 words to a promise,
1 word led from the start.

Christ,
I promise,
To love you,
Rest of my life......

Till the day of promise

In my dreams, do I walk the valley,
Feet on the grass that parts my way,
Sky that shines ever so brightly,
On a hill sits a house of clay,
There always, waits someone surely,
Yet before the door, does my legs fail me,
Recalling that I am not yet done,
Opening my eyes, as I spoke softly,
Till that day comes, 
I shall await that promise.

Sleepless night

Through the window I looked,
Roads empty, quiet night,
Leaned back on my chair as I wrote,
Staring up, not a moon in sight,
Sleep does not stay, try as I might,
Wondering to myself, what verse to say,
But in the end, sleep returns to take me away.

Christ, my lifelong example

The footprints I step on,
The hand prints I marvel,
The life whom I follow,
In Christ, my lifelong example.

God-given Family

3 sounds to this word,
Deep in meaning, no small effort,
Felt, no matter how far,
Through the oceans and deserts,
Bigger, larger then just me,
Beautiful to behold, truly,
Have you not guessed?
3 sounds to this poetry,
The grace of God that has given us, FAMILY.

Christ my mason

Streets darkened,
Lamps in the distance,
Heart feeling burdened,
Memory, uncertain,
Yet one thing remains constant,
I am my Father's creation,
Hands to his chisel, molded by Christ, my mason.

Nature's beauty

Humbled by such beauty....
Butterflies in flight,
The woods, where insects feed,
A sunset's glorious light,
Walking bare feet along a beach,
Breathless, hearing horses stampede,
Such creation, a work of art,
Awed in the presence of my Father, deep in my heart.

Living

A journey I took one day,
Never looking back, determined, on my way,
Lacking purpose, meaning, with nothing to say,
Walking through this life, wondering as I go,
Somewhere out there, that is all I know.

Yet, I was found one Easter,
Lost and lonely, at the door, ever closer,
Warmly greeted, alone, no not for a moment,
Such peace, never to be forgotten.

To be blessed, to be living,
Guided on my way, joy in knowing,
Lead me oh God, so that I may see,
My Savior, my Love, my King.

This life I live,
Precious is the gift,
For this I know, I would walk where HE leads,
Till the day, my sweet love, I meet.

Where would this journey lead,
Remembering once it was me who sought,
Now in turn it is I who greet,
For those who pass through this door,
That is what they would meet,
A life transformed, by my God, complete.

Life inspiring

Spoken, yet nothing heard,
Stumbling, as the mind worked,
To reach out and connect,
Failing to say the words.

Closer than once imagined,
Speechless, though I am writing,
Grateful for the chance,
In life, God my Father, inspiring!

Brokenhearted

Standing at the precipice of Life,
Defiance shown in the eyes,
But there is no turning back,
The choice to live or die.

Though I speak in spiritual,
Yet this choice be crucial,
Only God can save me,
For in myself, defenseless, utterly.

Broken again and again,
Within me, a crack, a flaw, a stain,
God, my potter fashioned me anew,
And in this life, in HIM I pursue.

Inspired by John 4:10

Eyes seen through covered scarf,
In the desert, begging for water I asked,
These eyes to the sky, I prayed,
Where fore is this water that last.

I thirst heavily, this I do,
I traveled for miles on a whispered clue,
Seeking this living water that I heard,
With that water, this pain I hoped to soothe.

A figure comes walking to me as I lay.......

Grace shown that I could never repay,
That is what I feel is coming this day,
The water I have hoped to drink,
It comes through the one walking to me today.........

Dedicated to all Mothers

Carried in arms of love since birth,
Eyes that spoke volumes and worth,
Cared for with loving tenderness,
When sad, cheered us with such mirth.

That is the person whom we love,
One that we would always speak of,
Till the ends of our days,
To honor, respect, all these we must.

Always there for us, forever,
Though we may not always be together,
The thoughts of her are never far,
To remember all that she had done, our Mother.

This life I live

Through the pavements of a field,
Pass corridors of hawkers selling meals,
Sunset on the horizon,
Night crept in, a thief to steal.

I stood waiting for the lift,
Watching the leaves fall and drift,
Looking at the school I once went,
Memories flood of teachers missed.

Where had all the time gone,
Chasing dreams many years long,
I stopped to ponder,
Feeling tired and worn.

In my mind's eye,
Surrounded by crows of the night sky,
Each a choice made in the past,
Of happiness, anger, love, lies.

Yet I speak out of turn,
Regret? no that is a bridge long burned,
I know not what the future holds,
Relying on what I had learned.

For this life I live,
Was never mine to begin with,
Head against the wall, making a promise,
To honor this life I had received.

Waking up (a limerick)

I woke wondering where I was,
My eyes looked up and the ceiling held me,
I shifted to my side, back aching just because,
Looking out my window, why is it not the sea?
My mind thought back to the past,
I hunger for breakfast,
Is it time to get myself out of bed?
6:15am my clock rang angrily,
I reached out and thought better than smashing it,
The bed held me like a piece of cloud,
Yet I wonder if I've grown old as I toss about,
My pastor told me he is older,
That may be true, but we shall keep that a secret,
I finally got up rubbing my eyes clear,
Bowed my head and prayed to God,
Asking what humor he has in store for me,
A tale for another time or perhaps not.

Striving for that impossible

Light that never fades,
Life that does not wilt,
Striving for the impossible,
Lacking as we stumble in guilt.

Mourning as our loved ones pass,
Screaming on our follies flawed,
Striving for the impossible,
Questioning the purpose, oh help me God!

In our struggle for direction,
What purpose is there to seek,
Striving for the impossible,
In Christ, do I beseech.

Yet it was said to me so very clear,
A passage that stirs my heart,
"I am the resurrection, and the life",
Walking forward on the promise of such,
Seeking the impossible?
Nay, for I shall tell you now,
For thought I may fail or doubt,
As I look up above the clouds,
My heart sings like a choir loud,
Striving for THAT impossible is what this is all about......

Family

Family, simple in word,
Never in meaning,
To the son that honors his mother,
To the daughter that loves her father,
Love flows, never ceasing,
That which the Lord has given,
None may separate,
For in all the world,
Never should it be said,
A parent would ever forsake....

Dedicated to Yiye & Jasmine

She came in the night,
Songs sung and friends around,
Yet it beckons to her sight,
She tuned its strings and hums to the sound,
Fingers caressing as she held it tight,
Familiar to the touch as her heart softens,
Like an old friend that she had never forgotten,
Voices on high as she sings to the crowd,
To the harmony of the chords she played,
In the Lord will she always be proud,
For all that it is said,
The Lady and her Guitar,
What a sight, what a joy as I watched on from afar........

Driven purpose

To run, to soar, to go, determined to act,
Holding on to that which we must,
Never looking back,
Towards a God driven purpose..........

Patience

To seek yet it always eludes,
There is nothing to do but patience,
Never as simple as it looks,
Grounded in all but this very lesson,
Wondering when it would ever take fruit,
For my heart is set on this path,
Will I last the journey?
This question that I ask
It remains to be seen, walking forward I must......

Dedicated to Melissa Manikan

A million stars in the night,
A thousand candles above,
A hundred people huddled in the light,
A single person we Love,
A blessing to the heart
A reminder to all of us,
A friend that we have,
A journey at the end,
A homecoming we hope,
A Love that God has sent,
In this I pray......Amen.

Love is patient, love is kind

Love that came without,
Love felt within,
Silent yet it shouts,
Intangible never to be seen,
A marvel, given freely,
Yet taken, hurts deeply,
This love i speak,
This love i write,
Would not do justice,
Feeble is my attempt to describe,
The love of a father to a child,
The love of a Man to a Woman,
No matter the distance or miles,
Formed since the time of creation,
A gift eternal, a gift divine,
And as it was written,
Love is patient love is kind.....

A new creation

What life yonder brings,
I yearn for something unseen,
I walk in that belief,
I do not know where it leads,
Yet I dream it always in my sleep,
My heart wishes what my mind knows,
The void that I must fill,
In this journey that leads me on,
Seeking that which I long,
Every corner, every nook,
Down the road, up the chimney,
Hands bleed, filled with soot,
Can it be that I will never find,
Crying as I bow in defeat,
Hands on the ground, head down,
Lost in strength, tired in feet,
Yet I clearly heard a sound,
Songs being sung......
Hands came to lift me up,
New robes put over old,
Water given in a cup,
Leading me on in my journey,
Hope filled my despair,
As I move ever forward
No longer alone, but placed in God's care.

Dedicated to my mum

She sat by the side, quiet in her thoughts,
Into the distance her gaze went,
Regal as royalty holding court,
A scene, as those of old sang,
Broken by the sound of laughter,
She came back from her reverie,
Watching the children in their banter,
A smile, slight that no one can see,
Her eyes, warm around the edge,
Old in her age? I would say never,
For it is quite clear,
My mother is loved by everyone around her......

Inspired by Romans 12:4-5

Far to the horizon as the sun sets,
There above a lone figure walks,
Humming a tune as he falls in steps,
"Christ my Savior, Christ my Lord.....",
Is he alone? this you would think,
Yet he strides bravely like an eagle that soars,
For over the horizon, marches his family,
Ten thousand and more!
And in turn they sing in voices free,
"Christ my Savior, Christ my Lord!!!".

Cherished time with my family

Sitting across my mum, eating together,
Memories flood me from the time I was younger,
Running in my mind all the faces,
Through the times of my life,
Never would I ever trade places,
For all that God had given, I would give them over twice,
And even If I had to start all over again,
This story that I pen would always remain.......

Inspired by Dr Han

Resolute through the storms,
A bastion from the cold,
Beneath burns a fire that warms,
A gathering for the weary soul,
Yearning for shelter,
Through it all,
We may fail and falter,
Yet deep within us,
In our hearts cherished and safe,
Grows a pure and simple truth,
Faith......

Inspired by our old church sanctuary

Unassuming, that is what it is,
Walking through pavements that lead to it,
Through glass doors that open unhindered,
To the peaceful vastness within.

Fingers outstretched through my sleeves,
As I stepped gently down the hall,
Feeling the weight of ages beneath.

My eyes looked to the beauty of it all,
Each and every pew that stand like guards,
Down the generations that poured their hearts.

The child whose father grew within these walls,
Now sings the songs the mother had taught,
I am humbled by these as I recall,
The honor of sharing this household of God.

I paused in front of the stage,
My eyes looked up at the Cross,
For there I am found and never again lost,
The clouds seen through glass panes,
Herald the majesty of the Lord,
For here is home and where my heart remains......

Walk in Life

Wind in my face,
Cars in a jam,
Leaves falling in such grace,
Wondering to myself as I stand,
Where is God leading me?
A path I cannot yet see,
My heart would never let it be,
Though I will tell you this,
That no matter the road I take,
Through obstacles that come or cease,
I shall walk forever in the knowledge that HE is with me....

Dedicated to Annabel Ng

In the darkest room over distant heights,
Even there, the smallest candle will light.

In the ever teeming bustle of life,
Even there, we will hold on to the hope that is Christ.

Like a child that reaches for her Father,
Even then, we will hold on to the everlasting promise!

My Lord & Savior

In the depths of misery,
Striving to claw through mud and filth,
Hands reaching out to be free,
Seeking the life that never wilts,
Stretching, for the hand of my Savior,
Stretching, for the hand of my Lord,
Clawing, ever clawing towards a life that is greater,
Never straying from the path dearly bought,
To one day stand in the joy of my eternal God.

Procrastinating - topic given by Belicia Teo

Staring out the window,
Raindrops falling in a pattern,
Waiting beside a candle's glow,
Anticipating my father's return.

My books scattered in a mess,
The night draws close,
As I shiver from the cold no less,
Holding my blanket tight as I dozed.

Procrastinating on my work,
As I waited patiently....
A sound of a car, as my ears perked

My father came in,
I stretched my arms towards him,
And he carried me in his arms,
Drifting off to sleep,
All the night washed in a calm.