Beauty shines from a healthy mind, soul and body

For quite a while, I didn't weigh myself cos the last time I weighed, I was more than 1 kg heavier than my usual weight.
I was like so sian and well, I carried on my usual routine of swimming once a week and eating as per normal.
I don't believe in dieting for vanity but I do believe in cutting down on food consumption and exercising more for better health.
With better health, we naturally look better and can function more efficiently for God's work.
I didn't notice the changes in myself, as in I try to eat healthier food when I'm alone. 
I didn't even notice that I have stopped buying that favourite brand of potato chips.
Potato chips had been my favourite junk food since I was a child.
Now when I do grocery shopping, I would buy cherry tomatoes and of cos grapes n fruits.
They become my 'tidbits' when the mouth is itchy.
My cell leader who is a doctor has this practice of not putting the gravy when ordering economic rice and I followed him cos the gravy from the other dishes is more than enough for the rice.
I was and still am aiming to swim twice a week, at least once a month cos to swim once a week is truly not enough!
But the after-effect of swimming is really challenging.
I would be in a panda mode: mind and body slow down and I have to try very hard to stay awake throughout the day since I swim in the morning.
During these months, when I'm with friends, we tend to eat rich food. 
I was like, aiyo, surely gain weight and it didn't cross my mind to weigh myself since I can't imagine my weight exceeding even more than my usual weight.
I came a long way from being nearly 10 kg heavier than my weight now before I learnt to swim.
That was my miracle!
Then my sister suddenly commented that I seemed to have slimmed down.
So today I weighed myself and to my surprise, I lost slightly more than 1 kg and is slightly lighter than my usual weight.
Yeah, back to normal and yes, I think it's possible to lose more weight if I persevere in exercising and being careful with what I eat.
I do eat as per normal when with friends as long as I make sure that I'm consistent with exercising.
I thank God for taking away my cravings for snacks so naturally and subtly that it was not a struggle. 
I don't have the urge to buy tidbits now though TimTam can be a little tempting :D
I'm now a social eater when it comes to eating tidbits.
Thank God that through Him I learnt to swim and it's because of Him that I will never give up this gift that He has given me.
Because of Him, I learnt to be consistent in exercising.
Now that's another miraculous story of how I learnt to swim because of my baptism.
Truly, life is a series of beautiful stories that can only be found in Christ! 
Suddenly, I'm reminded that assumptions make us not dare to do something or to make changes in our lives.
When I assumed that I was gaining weight, I didn't want to weigh myself.
And the outcome is so different from what I have assumed!
We assume that because God is loving and merciful, He will not discipline us when we sin.
We assume that we know God's word when in fact we don't even know Him.
We assume that when we stay in our tiny world and not venture out, we are safe but in truth, we have not lived life and are in a greater danger.
We assume that the lies of this world would not deceive us but with this assumption comes the greatest lie: we are already deceived.
What do we do with assumptions?
Test them with the word of God!
I'm so glad that the authority of God is in His word such that we don't have to look right or left but look straight into His word and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us.
My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.
What I do with my body reflects how I value this body that God has created.
For vanity or for health?
The latter anytime.
And then beauty shines from a healthy mind, soul and body.

Comfort food

Grapes has such a great sentimental value to me.

I don't think anyone peels away the skin of a grape now. 

After my surgery, my mum would peel the skin of a grape and put it against my lips as I wouldn't be able to eat or drink after the surgery. 

It was always sweet and refreshing and I guess the love of my mum made it so much sweeter and the pain a little bearable after the anesthesia.

After her death, suddenly I love to eat grapes. 

It is a comfort food for me, acquired over the years. 

It reminds me of my mum's selfless love for me.

It also reminds me of Jesus describing Himself as the Vine and we His branches. 

We can do nothing without Him.

Milo is my comfort drink.

When I was at my lowest and couldn't eat, Milo made my heart warm, at least for a while.

Now that I have Jesus, He is the ultimate source of comfort. 

Everything, everyone belongs to Him, including my mum whom He has given me.

Praise be to Jesus!   

Singapore is 50!

Blessed 50th birthday, Singapore! 
I remember praying with the kids for Singapore and quite a few prayed for Singapore to be prosperous. And so I added on...
Let our nation be a righteous one, always looking to the welfare of the poor, the elderly and the underprivileged. 
Let every life be counted as precious, from the unborn to the frail. 
Let more come to know the authentic love of Christ, that lives will be transformed, that our nation truly prosper in the love for God and His people. 
Let truth be told in love, let love be with purity and sincerity. 
Let us treat others as how we would want to be treated. 
Let us remember that we can receive nothing unless it has been given from heaven. 
Let the fear of the Lord be in each heart, that we choose life and not death, good and not evil. 
Thank You Lord for blessing Singapore all these 50 years. 
From this moment on, let us bless You, Jesus!

The sanctity of the family unit

This letter was sent to ST Forum but was not published.

The national policy that supports parenthood in the context of marriage needs to be weighed in as the government reviews benefits for unwed mothers. ("Review of benefits for unwed mothers"; July 29)  

In the White Paper on Shared Values (1991), "The sanctity of the family unit is not a value unique to Singapore. All major faiths consider this a cardinal virtue. The family is the fundamental building block out of which larger social structures can be stably constructed. It is the group within which human beings most naturally express their love for parents, spouse and children, and find happiness and fulfilment. It is the best way human societies have found to provide children a secure and nurturing environment in which to grow up, to pass on the society's store of wisdom and experience from generation to generation, and to look after the needs of the elderly. 

In recent decades many developed societies have witnessed a trend towards heavier reliance on the state to take care of the aged, and more permissive social mores, such as increasing acceptance of"alternative lifestyles", casual sexual relationships and single parenthood. The result has been to weaken the family unit. Singapore should not follow these untested fashions uncritically."

In view of that, benefits that are intended to support marriages and births within the context of families are given only to married mothers. The government recognizes that an intact family enhances family stability that in turn enables a child to thrive in a conducive environment. Such benefits should be differentiated from help rendered to unwed mothers.  

The family is the first line of support for anyone needing help. Whenever possible, the father should be actively involved in parenting the child as no mother can replace the equally important and yet unique role of a father. 

Unwed mothers can also seek help from private, religious and non-governmental organizations as the help needed can be wide-ranging. It is when the larger community is involved that people bond together and build a caring society. Governmental help is the last resort.

A child's well-being is affected powerfully by the structure of a family. When marriage is promoted and families are strengthened, women, children and the underprivileged would not suffer needless emotional and material hardships.

Adopt child-centred approach to maternity benefits

I refer to the letter “Benefits review a lifeline for single unwed mothers, who need more help” (July 31).
I, too, welcome the review of the benefits that single unwed mothers are eligible for as the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) seeks to enhance the support for the most vulnerable in society, namely children.
Unlike adults, who have more control over their circumstances and choices, children cannot choose the type of family into which they are born. The Government recognises the pre-political institution of marriage to support the right of every child to be raised by a father and a mother wherever possible. Marriage protects the needs of children and is a stabilising force in society. In cases where one parent is missing, children may develop academic, social and emotional problems, such as difficulty in developing relationships and forming families in future. Some may develop depression and exhibit behavioural issues.
The review is thus guided by the continued promotion of parenthood within marriage, where both parents play complementary roles in raising a child in a stable family unit.
In single-parent families, to what extent are the fathers involved in the responsibility of caring for the child? The family is the first resort, the first line of support for anyone needing help.
A father should not be excluded from his responsibility in the issue of single parenting. A child’s welfare is top priority and does not stop at physical benefits.
A child longs most for the love, care and guidance of both parents. No amount of benefits can replace the father’s unique role, nor a mother’s great love.
Furthermore, no one is penalised or discriminated against by not being given benefits. Singapore is not a welfare state, but that of a community helping one another and progressing together.
Single unwed mothers can approach private, religious or other non-governmental organisations for help, since the help needed can be wide-ranging. When the larger community is involved, people bond together and build a caring society.
Governmental help should be the last resort. As adults, we should take responsibility for our choices, bearing in mind that children suffer the most when one parent is missing.
Marriage should be upheld and families should be strengthened for the sake of our children and the larger society.
http://www.todayonline.com/voices/adopt-child-centred-approach-maternity-benefits