Tell Me How Books Helped You Succeed and I'll Give You Free Books.

Hello, friends. Thanks for dropping by my site.
To celebrate my four years in the book publishing industry, I plan to give away two free books.

Here are the mechanics:

1. Write about how books have helped you succeed (in life, work, love, etc).
2. Be honest; no fiction please. No limit to word count but entries must be in English.
3. You can send them as a reply to this blog post, as a comment on my Facebook link, or as a private message through email (jules dot yap [at] hotmail dot com).
4. Please help spread the word.
5. If you were chosen as the winner, you must promise me you will read the free book (or give to someone who will) =).

Two winners will be chosen randomly and they will receive these books:

Creative Writing and Art History

Adobe Creative Suite 6 Design and Web Premium Digital Classroom

I will ship the books to the winners' mailing address via normal post but overseas recipients may have to bear some custom charges or taxes.

Thanks and I really look forward to reading your entries. ^_^

Because life comes in daily doses...

BLOG writing has been neglected. Apologies to my three avid readers. But there hasn't been

photo nicked from guardian.co.uk

any exciting thing to write about recently.
What would you do when the everyday grind leaves you exhausted, when work becomes stale, when the most adventurous thing you could do is take a selfie, when aging manifests itself in so many body parts, when most of your prayers go unanswered, and when certain things you used to look forward to stop giving you the tickles?

Well, here are the things I'm planning to do:
1. Recharge by doing something significant for someone.
2. Be grateful for the blessings that work gives me.
3. Exercise to release endorphins.
4. Wait patiently while humming a tune.
5. Bask in the glory of my youth or at least what remains of it.
6. Enroll in a course for self-development.
7. Get over myself and refresh others.

What about you? What would you do during this season?
Hope we come out more motivated and inspired to take that daily dose (whether it may be of lemons or cherries).

Have a great weekend, everyone! =)

The Bride and Our Bridegroom

Last night, we threw a bridal shower for our dearest friend, Nips. She is getting married in three days and we couldn't have been happier and more excited as we blessed her with touching messages and meaningful bridal gifts to "send her off" to the next season waiting for her. Joanne, Nips' best friend since college, facilitated and gave a message centered on Revelation 19. Jo used the upcoming wedding of our friend and all the phases leading to it to create a beautiful metaphor of what our relationship with our "Groom" should look like. She asked us tough questions and I sensed my heart coming undone. 

  

You see I've been going through rough valleys these past few months. I was filled with negativity, anxiety and weariness. Things were not looking up and I sensed myself to have fallen behind this race. The prayers coming out of my mouth never seemed to get past the ceiling. I was close to the Fire but my heart's never been this cold.

Jo reminded us last night that Jesus performed his first miracle in a wedding (at Cana). Why of all occasions, a wedding? Because a wedding or a marriage is the closest depiction that we will ever have of an invitation from God. Jesus has sacrificially and lovingly chosen us to be His bride. He redeemed us and clothed us with white garments of holiness and righteousness - qualities impossible to attain.

As I sat there listening to Nips talk and witnessing her prepare for one of the most important events in her life, my tears fell as I also witnessed God's love and beauty. He has truly made everthing fell beautifully into place for Nips. The mistakes, the heartbreaks, the waiting, the struggles - God used all of these to bring her to this point. Right at that moment, I felt Him so real again and I couldn't help but worship and fall in love all over again.

What have I been doing all along? Wallowing my life away because of the things I do not have when I needed to prepare for a special event myself? His coming.

Last night, I felt something within me opened up, and for the nth time in my tender age of 29, I surrended to Him again. God is really mind-blowing. He has this uncanny way of putting you in seemingly dry areas but always providing sweet, romantic oases along our deserts' way.

Yes, I am head over heels with the One who has been head over heels in love with me first.

Are you head over heels in love, too?

Before the world ends. . .

 

thechristmasexpress.tumblr.com



KNOW an important truth that I've learned. A creation entails a Creator. The creation won't have any knowledge about its Creator unless the Creator reaches out and presents Himself to the creation.

Every day we are witnesses to this presentation-- the shining sun, the changing clouds, the chirping birds, the ability to breathe and live another day.

Yet this was not enough for a creation living in constant oblivion. From the creation's perspective, a Creator won’t have the ability to empathize with His creation unless He became part of the creation Himself.

And that's what He did. 

From the cradle to the grave, He went through what you and I went through and about to go through. He knows and He understands. He is no longer a passive God. He has become a friend.

Give Him your heart today. I bet you my bottom dollar that He won't give it away the very next day ;-)

From my heart to yours - a blessed Christmas and may your New Year be filled with laughter, love, and grace.

Giving Thanks on Thanksgiving

ONE week to go and it's Thanksgiving Day. Thanksgiving is a festival started by the early settlers in North America to celebrate a good harvest. But I wonder how it was like when there was famine or when the harvest wasn't good. Did they ever think about having a Moan-Day or Whine-Giving Day?  Truth to tell, I feel like grumbling instead of giving thanks. There are so many things that I am anxious about right now. One only has to read the news and the most optimistic spirit can become dampended.

But as a counterflow, I decided to do a stock take. This year actually consists of answered prayers, lessons and God-given favors that are nothing short of miraculous - something that can be easily forgotten unless I strive to remember. Maybe that's why traditions are important. They give us access to a flashback button which transports us to when the harvest was more than good.

That missions trip in General Santos City, Mindanao was truly memorable. Our team of volunteers was able to provide medical supplies, food and vitamins, and some clothes to four communities in the city. It was a manifestation of God's love and His just-in-time provision.

What about the house that I've been praying for for five long years? Last year, my mom became friends with our neighbor who is an engineer. He offered to complete our house at a very affordable price. We didn't even need to loan from a bank anymore. Awesome or what?

                         

And that pipe dream to go to the US, watch a Broadway play and celebrate with my close friend on her wedding day? Well, I asked and I received!

I wish I could show you pictures of the other things I am most grateful for, but they are either too abstract or complicated to photograph  - my family's good health and mine, new and old friendships, my job, our church, my skin (oh yes! it tightened when I went to NY haha), daily struggles that teach me a lot about humility and character-building, and everyday reminders of hope and God's mercies.

What about you? What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?

Press that flashback button now :-)



Peanuts Cartoon by Charles Schulz





Creativity Sparks Creativity

One of the things I learned in our creative writing class is that a creative mind can ignite another. Like an electric current, inspiration comes to those who are exposed to another person's imaginative work. It's actually quite obvious to miss - how many times have we been captivated by a landscape painting, which captures the perfect creative work of nature's Creator? How many classic love songs have been composed which talk about a woman's physical beauty? Therefore, if we want to have more creativity, let's soak ourselves in another's. 

Painted by Jen and Cliford @ EN Central
More prophetic paintings at  https://www.facebook.com/Kree8SG

Rainbow Love

As I abandon myself in worship

I sense the sweetness of heaven drips

As I yield in adoration and praise

I feel the fresh morning dew dampens my face

I close my eyes to listen to a melody

And suddenly I begin to notice Your beauty

A flood of colors come from nowhere

Showers my dim space which was once bare

Pastels of glory invade the air

The rain flows like a river from my eyes

But crystals of sunshine balm my heart.

Creativity = Ctrl + C?

Photo from www.creativehuddle.co.uk

Apologies in advance, my friends

If I'll be raising up a lot of questions and problems

I've been troubled by them last night while in bed

And I also want to know the thoughts in your head

How do we remain creative in times like these

When greater concepts and ideas 

Are only at arm's reach?

How do we develop an entirely new thing

When all's been recycled, rehashed and repeated

Can we just add to it a bling?

How can we draw the line 

Between your idea and mine?

How do we determine originality from mimicry?

When everything is as easy as Ctrl + C.

Is there anything else yet to be done

When the wisest King had said -

There is nothing new under the sun?

Can we really create something new?

When ours is a generation 

Of something borrowed,

Hand-me-downs,

Ripped off and glued?

I see parents encourage their kids

They give them crayons, canvass and paints

They tell them to create something nice

To let their imagination run wild

But when they grow up, a dilemma arises

"Mommy, Daddy, I want to be an artist!"

Oh sweetie, can you think first before you do this?

What about being a doctor, an architect or a lawyer?

A dentist, an engineer or a banker maybe?

I think an artist will only earn nuts from peas!"

From what I'm reading it's great to be creative 

But make sure what you do becomes lucrative. :-(

Hang on a minute, a bird just whispered in my ear

If there is nothing new under the sun

Then should we stop looking for ideas here?

If what we can think of under the sun has already been done

Then should we look above and beyond?

Human wisdom is limited and what we'll conceive - others have seen before

So shall we step out of ourselves and knock on Heaven's door?

The important thing is not to stop questioning.

- Albert Einstein, 1879-1955