Friday, March 30, 2007
♥ 11:54 AM
Quotable quotesLove them or hate them, but children sure do say the cutest things...
On how a stranger can tell if 2 people are married...
"Married people usually look happy to talk to other people." Eddie, age 6"You might have to guess based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids." Derrick, age 8On deciding who to marry...
"You flip a nickel, and heads means you stay with him and tails means you try the next one." Kally, age 9 "You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming." Allan, age 10 "No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you got to find out later who you're stuck with."Kirsten, age 10On what people do on dates...
"Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough." Lynnette, age 8
"On the first date, they just tell each other lies, and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date." Martin, age 10And to think we actually believe that wisdom comes with age.
*~and you'll never know till you get there~*
Thursday, March 29, 2007
♥ 12:08 PM
SickWhen those stomach cramps appeared with a vengeance on Tuesday morning, I thought nothing of them, dismissing them merely as my body's complaint that food is needed.
So, when the precious chance came along, a hot cup of soya bean milk and a pancake was ingested.
And prompted thrown up not 2 hours later.
By that evening, I was weak, dehydrated, extremely feverish, and a visit to my favourite GP was no longer avoidable despite my half-hearted protests.
The diagnosis? Gastric flu.
It has been 2 days since, and although I am much better, my appetite's still less-than-hearty; my body is as receptive to food as an anorexic model at a dessert buffet.
Throughout this period, I thank God for the support and patience I have received from my loving parents, my sister, and also my Mr Sunshine, Clement.
Although those familiar feelings of loneliness threatened to resurface, my Lord and Saviour has been reminding me through various means and different people that I am far from being alone.
He will lead me to rest by the waters that are oh-so-still, and He will never leave me nor forsake me.
Thank You, Yahweh, for loving me the way You have.
~Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. *~and you'll never know till you get there~*
Monday, March 26, 2007
♥ 12:03 PM
Dawn of a new era2 hours of floorball after our monthly Leaders' Meeting yesterday has left me with an extremely sore back.
Maybe I am getting old.
Oh yes, although I have thus far chosen to remain single - due in part to my unwillingness to settle - it seems that increasingly, Yahweh has been indicating that this season of singlehood is coming to an end.
The Why Jesus? camp last December saw Pastor B, Pastor Peter and Uncle David addressing this issue separately after my sharing during one of our group sessions, with Pastor B encouraging a then-confused me to not be afraid to take the plunge should God create the opportunity.
Since that time, the Lord has been steadily preparing my heart, strengthening my relationship with me, dispelling the fears and doubts which have been nestled comfortably within the bosom of my heart.
While the old, unpolished version of me would baulk at committing to a relationship, the improved Li'en which my Abba is still working on looks forward to entering into a God-given period of courtship with excitement.
"22Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything."
This passage from the fifth chapter of Ephesians was brought to my attention during QT a few days ago - it just happened that my devotional for that day focused on the roles of men and women within a marriage blessed by the Lord.
Strangely enough, a chat with Uncle David after service on Saturday regarding the future of TNG and its members resulted in him commenting that I ought to be married by 2010; he concluded by asserting that faith is needed on my part - to trust that the Lord will provide His
perfect choice for me.
Amazingly, this peculiar exchange was followed by Clement's sharing of what a relationship between a man and his wife ought to be over lunch yesterday afternoon. It was random, but oh-so-appropriate. I learnt something new, and not a moment too late.
There was no way that my
Sunshine could have known about these revelations as I did no sharing on my part prior to his little commentary.
I remain extremely awed by the Lord's consistent, continual affirmation that a brand new chapter of my life will be opened sooner than I had expected.
So surprised that words have failed me.
Hence this less than articulate post.
~Could it possibly be you? *~and you'll never know till you get there~*
Thursday, March 22, 2007
♥ 1:23 PM
LoveLove is patient, love is kind.
Many of us are familiar with this oft-used cliche found in 1 Corinthians, but read on, and look at what else the chapter says about love.
I have, this week, found incredible strength in my Lord and Saviour to continue loving those who have hurt me, forgiving those who have done me wrong.
Things will not be the same again - nor do I want it to be - but I know that in my future, God remains my shepherd.
Amazing how He just takes over and right all the wrongs when I finally allow Him to.
Marvellous how He has restored in me a sense of long-lost peace.
Comforting how He has promised never to leave me nor forsake me.
The world may fall away, but my God, He will always stay the same.
~love keeps no record of wrongs...Oh oh! Happy belated birthday dearest lil' sis!
*~and you'll never know till you get there~*
Monday, March 19, 2007
♥ 1:27 PM
Heart of fleshGod gives, and He also takes away.
With the passing of every trial which we will all go through, renewal takes place. We grow stronger.
To love. I have been challenged by God these past couple of weeks to love.
Though I am hurt, I am not destroyed. God is my strength and my song. He alone will enable me to sing His praise and shout "hallelujah" regardless of the situation.
Some relationships have been broken, and others, mended. I might not understand God's intention in allowing this to take place, but I am secure in His love.
His plans are flawless, and He will prosper me, if only I would allow Him to take the reigns over my life.
Yes Lord, You are my master. Yes Lord, please take control.
I guess, at the end of it all, you never really understood me. *~and you'll never know till you get there~*
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
♥ 11:35 PM
Hush now, don't cryYou know how it is: you pretend nothing is wrong, you smile, you suppress those feelings which are getting harder and harder to control.
Then all of a sudden, the floodgates burst, and you collapse. You drown in the overwhelming emotions which have engulfed you.
My breaking point came on Monday. It was blessed release.
The acknowledgement of my brokenness, my great need for Him and His divine strength enabled me to stand up again.
As the tears coursed down my face, as I lay on my bed sobbing, I knew that my Father was there holding me, making sure that noone and nothing can harm me anymore.
Hush now my darling, do not cry. Dry your tears. I love you my daughter. You are made perfect in me.And so I am. Fearfully and wonderfully made.
*~and you'll never know till you get there~*
Sunday, March 11, 2007
♥ 10:43 PM
A change of tidesMany thanks to Clement AKA Mr Sunshine for the honest sharing, fabulous dinner, and lovely time at the movies yesterday. He saw me through my first Giant Yankee Burger (pictures can be found on my sister's blog), my first post-midnight movie, my first emotional slip-up regarding that particular someone.
I marvel at the easy camaraderie we share, the manner in which we seem to be going through similar trials, and how we have just "clicked" since the day we met.
There is nothing romantic about our relationship, but the bond we share is genuine, created and sustained by the God whom we love and serve.
Clement truly is my little ray of Sunshine.
In taking away a priceless aspect of a friendship which I once held dear, God has, in return, gifted me with another wonderful brother in Christ.
I once found security in that mellow voice, assurance in that bright smile, hope in the open sharings and strength in those encouraging words. I once believed that things will somehow always stay the same.
How did things ever come to this?
There are no tears, no bitterness; just a tinge of sadness which does not seem to fade, and my heart has started to bleed that little bit all over again.
Where everything once seemed rosy and promising, not unlike the manner in which the world bursts into life during spring, the tides have since changed.
The magnificent picture of spring has faded, robbed of its ephemeral beauty and life by the harsh cold winter which has descended without preamble, without warning.
I feel like a part of me has somehow died.
Will spring ever come again?
~though my heart is torn, I'll praise You in this storm *~and you'll never know till you get there~*
Friday, March 09, 2007
♥ 12:37 PM
UphillEver trudged up a steep hill under the merciless glare of the blazing sun without any water to moisten your parched lips?
If you have, can you remember how each step becomes increasingly hard as the heat begins to disorientate, how you pant as your lungs struggled to draw that next painful breath, how your legs threatened to buckle under the strain?
As you attempt to complete that arduous trek, is all that is keeping you going is the promise of rest, blessed shade and perhaps that little bit of fluid to quench your thirst?
Or is it something more?
My uphill climb began some time ago, but for the past couple of weeks, I find myself becoming more and more tired. The sun has appeared to torment me, and my supplies have run out.
The culmination of the little things which I have tried to avoid and side-step has taken its toil on me.
I am so exhausted but there is no energy left to cry.
I long for a strong pair of arms to hold me, but there is no one there.
I yearn for a friend to talk to, but there is nobody to call.
Alone. I feel so alone.
As I look at the seemingly impossible, gargantuan task of completing my journey, I finally recognise that my Saviour is the sole motivation keeping me going. He is the only one who can satisfy, the only one who will never disappoint.
Even if the stars shine no longer, even should time run out, my Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever.
I am hidden in the shadow of His loving, benevolent hand.
I am safe. I am home.
Through the storm O Lord, I will choose to praise You.
*~and you'll never know till you get there~*
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
♥ 3:18 PM
A half-full mug, a half-empty cupA businessman bought popcorn from an old street vendor each day after lunch. He once arrived to find the peddler closing up his stall at noon. "Is something wrong?" he asked. A smile wrinkled the seller's leathery face. "By no means. All is well.""Then why are you closing your popcorn stand?""So I can go to my home, sit on my porch, and sip tea with my wife."The man of commerce objected. "But the day is still young. You can still sell.""No need to," the stand owner replied. "I've made enough money for today.""Enough? Absurd. You should keep working."The spry old man stopped and stared at his well-dressed visitor. "And why should I keep working?""To sell more popcorn.""And why sell more popcorn?"
"Because the more popcorn you sell, the more money you make. The more money you make, the richer you are. The richer you are, the more popcorn stands you can buy. The more popcorn stands you buy, the more peddlers sell your product, the richer you become. And when you have enough, you can stop working, sell your popcorn stands, stay home, and sit on the porch with your wife and drink tea."
The elderly man smiled. "I can do that today. I guess I have enough." The world teaches us that we can never have enough, that we should never be satisfied and content with what we have.
Our Jesus warns us to "watch out" and to "guard against all kinds of greed". (Luke 12:15)
Whom will you follow, to whom will you give your life to?
Is your life half-empty, or is it filled to the point of overflowing with God's grace?
~Lord, You have assigned me my portion and my cup; You have made my lot secure. (Psalm 16:5)
*~and you'll never know till you get there~*
Monday, March 05, 2007
♥ 12:10 PM
Sushi, tea and meI've been eating a whole lot of Japanese food these past weeks but no, there are no complaints on my part.
Japanese food's good.
After a greasy lunch of nasi padang yesterday afternoon before BTW, it was refreshing to ingest something light and healthy for dinner.
The company was fantastic as well might I add.
Over Sakae Sushi, Glenn reminded me of the need to come to a decision on an issue which has been weighing heavily on my mind.
Although it pains me to admit it, the choice has been made a long time ago.
God has already directed my path.
Letting go is never easy, but I have faith that my Shepherd will never lose me.
Where God guides, there He will also provide.
*~and you'll never know till you get there~*
Thursday, March 01, 2007
♥ 12:29 PM
There's no easy way outClement managed, in a verse he shared a couple of nights ago, to encapsulate all the answers I have been seeking the Lord for in a simple verse.
Psalm 32:8"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you."Instruct. Teach. Counsel. Watch over.
The past few days has been trying, but our God is the same faithful God yesterday, today and forever.
I made it through a stressful interview, followed by an exam I did not prepare well for (all in the same day), totally reliant on my Lord's strength.
Although I have been rendered physically weak due to the fever I have been battling these past few days, His hand has been there, holding me upright.
I staggered into the JP Morgan office on Monday morning utterly drained of energy, my throat hurting so badlyI could barely speak, my body aching so fiercely that I could barely keep myself erect. As I sat at the waiting area, icy, clammy hands clenched in my lap, a realisation washed upon me.
I had come to the end of myself. I had reached my limit. Nobody but God could help me.
Submitting it all to Yahweh, I breezed through the inverview. The words just flowed out of me, and I was amazed at the answers I proffered.
What the outcome will be I know not, but I am certain that whatever happens, happens because my Beloved has commissioned it.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ~ Jeremiah 29:11 *~and you'll never know till you get there~*
