rotten roots

20:57:00 Kikoprincess 0 Comments

This little orchid is the first orchid I bought myself, with the help of a few friends- I was in the orchid section for a LONG time choosing. To my utter disappointment, the orchid started to weep shortly after it came home with me. All the roots had rotted. Being sentimental, I trimmed a couple of the rotted roots and repotted this little baby before I moved up to Brisbane. Now, a few months later, the baby wasn't looking too flash. So today, once and for all, I cut off every single dodgey root. And there really wasn't much left to support this plant. Oh well, better than having rotten roots. 

And this is a strong reflection of what I learned in church today. We were covering the book of Judges in the Old Testament during Sunday classes. The pattern was that the Israelites sinned, they suffered, then they would cry to God for help, and God would forgive them (God would send them a judge to lead them), when the judge died, again the Israelites would sin again (this time worse than the last). This is because the root of the problem stayed, they couldn't drive out their enemies and became influenced by foreign Gods and intermarried with foreigners, turning away from the will of the one true God. 

It's a strange parallel to draw from the book of Judges to my little orchid baby. I know I should have cut off all the roots, but I couldn't' bear it, and so I came up with re-current problem of a weak plant. Can my little baby survive with only 2 tiny roots? In hindsight it was so blindingly obvious. If it's going to cause long term damage cut it off, get rid of those rotten roots. The Israelites couldn't do it. I couldn't even do it with a plant. I was really really compelled to address a rotten root in my own life today. It had been sitting in the background for a while now, and if it stayed in my life for any longer, it would just affect other areas of my life. Maybe this fresh start would be for both my plant and I, a big risk to take for us both. 



Walk hand in hand with you

20:11:00 Kikoprincess 0 Comments

One of my favourite things to see in the morning is this lovely couple. Rain, hail or shine, they would be walking, hand in hand. I want to love like that!

To me, their love is patient, their love is kind, it is giving...

The sermon at church on Sunday was quite interesting, it was about Aquila and Priscilla. Whenever they are mentioned in the bible, it's always together, sometimes with Aquila first, sometimes with Priscilla first. The couple led by example, their faith in God, their dedication spreading the gospel, their warm and gracious hospitality. At the end of the sermon, the speaker got up and held his wife's hand. They have spent 3 decades together, and the gel that keep them together is their love for God and each other. I want to love like that.




I want to love like that. #walkhandinhandwithyou
A photo posted by Karen Li (@kikoprincess) on




My top 10 songs of sympathy in times of grief and loss

21:43:00 Kikoprincess 0 Comments



A few of these songs were played at the funerals of my family members, best friends, and loved ones. I hope they give you as much comfort as they have given me. The central themes behind these songs are so similar. It's a blessing to have known these wonderful people, they have touched your life and allowed you to experience. We will see them again in heaven. And we we have hope in a future God has planned for us. 






1. I can only imagine (MercyMe)


2. Untitled (Chris Rice)


3. With hope (Steven C Chapman)

4. Nearer my God to thee


5. What a friend we have in Jesus


6. In better hands

7. 

當你走到無力


8. 

我知誰掌管明天



9.

每一天




10. Amazing Grace



Cherishing those who are dear to us

20:54:00 Kikoprincess 0 Comments

When I went to visit her by her bedside on the weekend, I knew it would be the last time I would see her for a while. It wasn't the first time I had stood by her bedside while she had ailing health. Yet, it's still a little surreal to receive news that one of my best friends at church passed away.

When I saw her, I had to leave the room, tears automatically streamed down my face. I recovered enough to join the group prayer by her bedside. Yes, if God was willing, he could heal her. And if it wasn't part of God's plan, we were ready. My fondest memories were running away from her giving me gifts at church, yes, I wasn't being chased around the church hall by a 2 year old, but a 90 year old lady. She would always be the first one to greet me after the church service with my full name. We would hold each others hands and feel a deep connection. Not like the handshakes you get by half-hearted strangers or acquaintances but of best friends.

Seeing her in my mind's eye still brings a smile to my face. She was a rebel. She was naughty- when we told her not to go for huge walks in the sun, she refused, despite her health and age. Growing old is compulsory, growing up is optional.

As everyone said their goodbyes on the weekend, I wasn't saying my goodbyes. I was saying "see you later". God has rooms prepared for us in heaven, and I hope I will see her there, with all her smiles and quirky love.

"My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?" John 14:2




RIP Grandma Lee.

The 36 Questions That Lead to Love

20:37:00 Kikoprincess 1 Comments

This has been circulating on the web for a while, and finally saw it on "big bang theory". The original study suggested that you can make 2 strangers fall in love in a little under 90 minutes using 36 questions, and getting strangers to stare into each others eyes for 4 minutes.

In the spirit of science, and for my love of the TV show, Mr MK and I tried part of this experiment over the past week. Am I in love? Not sure, but certainly the questions do help to build intimacy. This sense of asking questions and getting responses is not unique to this experiment. It's about the fundamental importance of communication: It's a two way street. Sure, a relationship can develop without it, but I believe a relationship would flourish with great communication.

What about the most important love in my life? Do I spend enough time to build the relationship with God, and communicate with him? We talk to God through prayer and listen through reading the bible. If you love someone, can you stand having their letter sit on your bedside without reading it over and over? If you love someone, can you stand not calling them up when the phone lines are free?

It's never too late, God is waiting.




[http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/11/fashion/no-37-big-wedding-or-small.html?_r=0]
Original questions:
Set I
1. Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest?
2. Would you like to be famous? In what way?
3. Before making a telephone call, do you ever rehearse what you are going to say? Why?
4. What would constitute a “perfect” day for you?
5. When did you last sing to yourself? To someone else?
6. If you were able to live to the age of 90 and retain either the mind or body of a 30-year-old for the last 60 years of your life, which would you want?
7. Do you have a secret hunch about how you will die?
8. Name three things you and your partner appear to have in common.
9. For what in your life do you feel most grateful?
10. If you could change anything about the way you were raised, what would it be?
11. Take four minutes and tell your partner your life story in as much detail as possible.
12. If you could wake up tomorrow having gained any one quality or ability, what would it be?

Set II
13. If a crystal ball could tell you the truth about yourself, your life, the future or anything else, what would you want to know?
14. Is there something that you’ve dreamed of doing for a long time? Why haven’t you done it?
15. What is the greatest accomplishment of your life?
16. What do you value most in a friendship?
17. What is your most treasured memory?
18. What is your most terrible memory?
19. If you knew that in one year you would die suddenly, would you change anything about the way you are now living? Why?
20. What does friendship mean to you?
21. What roles do love and affection play in your life?
22. Alternate sharing something you consider a positive characteristic of your partner. Share a total of five items.
23. How close and warm is your family? Do you feel your childhood was happier than most other people’s?
24. How do you feel about your relationship with your mother?
Set III
25. Make three true “we” statements each. For instance, “We are both in this room feeling ... “
26. Complete this sentence: “I wish I had someone with whom I could share ... “
27. If you were going to become a close friend with your partner, please share what would be important for him or her to know.
28. Tell your partner what you like about them; be very honest this time, saying things that you might not say to someone you’ve just met.
29. Share with your partner an embarrassing moment in your life.
30. When did you last cry in front of another person? By yourself?
31. Tell your partner something that you like about them already.
32. What, if anything, is too serious to be joked about?
33. If you were to die this evening with no opportunity to communicate with anyone, what would you most regret not having told someone? Why haven’t you told them yet?
34. Your house, containing everything you own, catches fire. After saving your loved ones and pets, you have time to safely make a final dash to save any one item. What would it be? Why?
35. Of all the people in your family, whose death would you find most disturbing? Why?
36. Share a personal problem and ask your partner’s advice on how he or she might handle it. Also, ask your partner to reflect back to you how you seem to be feeling about the problem you have chosen.