Chocolates...

My favourite confiserie shop is called sprüngli in down town Zurich. It is one of the best shops around. Every summer they create new chocolates and truffes (chocolates refined with fresh cream, smothered in Swiss chocolate and sprinkled with a dash of cacao powder) creations.

So I have pasted some pics of their mouth watering creations .... Today they annouced that they have actually managed to create a rose truffes, with real rose petals and rose water. I would definetely give myself a treat soon. For those of you who would like to see their collections, here is the english link http://www.spruengli.ch/index.php?lang=en

And these Grand Cru (dark chocolates) are my other favourites, I will savour it with a cup of strong arabicca coffee. anybody want to join me ? ;-)

New vineyard

Moving and uprooting has been a constant companion in my life. Eversince I was young, we moved nearly 10 times around Penang and then we moved to 3 different countries (India, Malaysia, Switzerland). The past 20 years, we have moved twice. I moved out a few years ago to live on my own and then moved back to my parent's appartment after my year in Malaysia.
This time moving has proved strainous as the it has been 18 years since our last move. All those memories from the past surfaces, the books, stamp collection during my secondary days from Penang and many more items which bought back the past. I remembered me and my brothers had to decided what to take over to Zurich, at the time we had to give up our house in Penang. Each of us were only allowed 20 kg. Can you imagine, 20 kg of bagage to migrate to Zurich. It was a painful process for us, as we had to be very focus on what is precious to us. So all those precious things we bought over from Malayisa has been again discovered in our store room in Zurich. Mum kept them for us all this while.
We never knew where home is, and therefore I am accustomed to give away and bless others with what I have and not hold on to things. But this "giving up" has proved more difficult for my parents to let go of the past and look forward into the future. As we were sorting out all our things, and had to focus once again to let go of the old, I could feel the pain my parents felt as each piece of these memories builds up a picture of their journey and scarifice they had laid down for our future in this country. We even found books which my mum had been using while she was in Bombay University and we used it in Malaysia. That book is 40 years old !! I know most of you would have just thrown it away, what is the big deal.
All this sentimental memories like these gives us a sense of comfort and security to dwell in, as we never really know where home is, living in a foreign country and feeling like a foreigner in Malaysia as we have been away for too long. Well it is true that Home is where the Heart is, but what if the heart is undecided where Home is. It is a major uproot for my family as the tree that was once planted in this country 20 years ago is going to be replanted in new soil. All the scarifices my parents did had paid off. God you are so faithful and true to my family. Thank you for your protection, love and blessings. I want to give you all glory and honor, as you take your place in our "new vineyard " Lord.

What a great God we have !

Luke 9:49.
John spoke up, "Master, we saw a man driving out demons in your name, and we told him to stop, because he doesn't belong to our group."
50."Do not try to stop him," Jesus said to him and to the other disciples, "because whoever is not against you is for you." (Good News Translation)

A new foundation, a new step

Yesterday I was ask to lead our second prayer meeting within our international cells in my local church. There were cell leaders representing the English, Tamil, French, Phillipino and Thai cell groups. Our aim was to get together to seek God and to establish a prayer base and to unify hearts and visions once again. The international cell group in my church has grown in the past 2 years and we have not had a fix prayer group. I was very surprise that the pastor and regional leader ask me to prepare what was on my heart to the group.

I prepared a small sharing about the priveledge of being watchmen for God and I put 2 challenges for the leaders there. The first challege was that each will have a song, psalm or a word of prophecy during prayers and the second challenge is to be free to move or approach someone if they need to pray together for a common prayer request. I wanted to change the group mode into an anticipating instead of a consuming mode.

As I was sharing what the Lord put on my heart to share, I really felt that His presence moved into the room and I was just bold to say what I wanted to say. Before we even "officialize" the meeting, God was in our midst and we flowed so beautifully with His Spirit. I just wanted to give God all glory and honor for His presence and the work He has begun in all of us. Next weekend i shall be taking a topic for our women's meet God weekend. It is a weekend for women in our group who wants to know God better. A few times ago, when I attended this sort of weekend, I was so touched with God's presence and much deliverance and healing happened in our meetings.
The english group has been moving more into healing and deliverance, as we have a vast number of africans. They come from a different background and therefore needed to be delivered and healed before they can mount forward with God. I was able to be in the midst of manifestations and much grace from God. I am really excited to be in this weekend again. And after the prayer meeting our prayer book has been filled up with pictures, verses and songs !! The group felt free to move around and just be as they are before the throne of God. How wonderful !! I am so encouraged and touched that Jesus never ceases to grant us fresh manna filled with revelation. The only thing we need to do is to just listen and be still, and most importantly.... Ask!

Here is a bookmark I made for the prayer meeting to remind all of us that we are pillars. Pillars to carry others and to have a deep love for the lost. "Father erect pillars in our lives again, erect the pillar of love, hope and most of all faith in our lives and hearts again. Help us to stay watch and teach us to stay connect in unity you and with each other. Father... I pray that you wipe away all arrogance, pride and ugliness in our lives and cause us to be that beautiful pillar of grace and strenght" Amen.