The Last Swing

Today I realise that most people's favourite month is the month of December. Indeed there are plenty of reasons to like December. The kids are on holiday, Christmas is on it's way, then right after New Year comes. I love December for all those reasons too but my personal reason for loving December so much is not even because my birthday falls on this particular month.

I love it because it marks the ending of another year and particularly this year because it was such a tough year in every aspect of my life. Every single time I think back to the month of January, I really had no idea so much things could come by in 12 short months. Almost every thing that happened were incidents and opportunities that had never even crossed my mind.

I won't deny it, it has been a terribly tough year and a part of me really hope that next year would be much easier. I mean, can more things really happen in a year?

Yet I know it has been a good year. Life can be tough but it is always a good life. Life is good whether you're going through it easily or so tough till we think we can go on no more because to be given life is good in itself and for that I'm thankful. I'm thankful I'm alive today making it through 2011.

Somewhere in the middle of this year I had a question that popped into my mind. I asked myself what will happen to me if all the pillars in my life was broken down one by one. And now I know the answer. I will still be standing tall (at 5ft only :) ) and strong because my God who laid His life down for me holds me through it all and that was all I needed to know.

Think and Do

"Good intentions doesn't guarantee right actions "

and how often we never get them right?

You are the Answer

There is nothing like your love

No exchange for all you gave

To be welcomed into life 

So I can know the love that saves

Awesome peach cake baked in my flat!

My flatmates and I

It's been a tough week so far as I have been very very busy. There are a few things that I have to settle like my fees, buying my textbooks, getting my assignment done and the list goes on. It was not so much about the fact that I was busy that bothered me, rather I fell into the pit of worry. I admit that I was worrying about mistakes that I cannot instantly fix and in return caused me to be even more careless. 

I worried when I should have trust. I had lost my focus.

And yet through all the mistakes and worry, someone was just waiting there to get me out of all the mess. All I had to do was ask. Despite the fact that it has been a difficult week, God has been showing me more evidently that He is real and that He will lead me to the right path. There is an easier way than the road of worry and the answer is simply, Jesus. 

Looking back to what has happened throughout the week, I thank God for His grace and strength to get through the week of hectic schedule, for the people He has brought along my path to encourage me to persevere and for reminding me of how much He loves me and also, you. 

I'm getting a 3 day weekend break as I will be going down to Gloucester tomorrow morning until Sunday! :D 

I hope that you too will have a great weekend!

P/s : I  really miss my Xabi boy and everybody back home .

Unseen Opportunities

So often we call upon Him to deliver us immediately 

when we are faced with difficulties and troubles.

Because we tend to forget that many a times our afflictions are 

actually opportunities for us to grow and be 

conformed to the image of Christ.

That is what He has reminded me today.

Therefore, we should not only be thankful for the good days

but also be thankful even during the bad times.

As a new phase in my life is about to begin,

I can't help but feel a little worried and even scared.

Well, I can say that I am very much excited also.

But today He has shown me that my circumstances are

opportunities in which His Name may be glorified.

For in my weakness He is made perfect.

Thank you for another day, Lord.

It is good for me to be afflicted

that I might learn Thy statutes 

Psalm 119:71

note : picture taken by vkwong at the peak, HK :)

' Revenge is Sweet '

Have you ever found yourself wishing another person 

to feel as hurt as you are?

Or silently said it in your heart, "you'll taste it one day"?

Or maybe you've seen someone going through a rough patch,

yet you can't help but feel a little good inside?

Yes, revenge is sweet - or not. 

When a situation hurts us so deep or frustrates us so bad

are we ready to take it as an opportunity to "turn the other cheek" 

or do we rather just hang on to 'sweet revenge'?

Honestly, it is just so much easier to do the latter but is it any good? 

God has given each of us the opportunity to be kind, to be courteous,

to be loving and to be forgiving in this life. It's definitely difficult to 

make that choice when the opportunity presents itself but 

He clearly did not intend for us to experience mediocre relationships

in our life, rather He has created us for far greater things and

He knows that we are capable of making that choice. 

I really didn't understand why i was going through what I was going 

through but now i know that it was an opportunity that He has given 

me to love. So, I have decided to forgive for He has forgiven me.

Forgiveness is not an emotion.

Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can

function regardless of the temperature of the heart

~ Corrie ten Boom

I am still learning . . .

Please, don't stop the rain

 ' In everything, give thanks '

A short and simple phrase, yet it is one of those phrases which is a totally different ball game when it comes to applying it. In this past month, i have been hearing the words, "give thanks", "be thankful" and "be grateful" from various people and i do not believe in coincidences. So, how are we suppose to be truly thankful when the circumstances around seems to be against us? and is it even possible to be grateful when things just don't seem to go our way?

The short answer is : Yes, it is possible.

God certainly did not ask us to give thanks for everything that is happening in our lives as many of the trials we face are consequences of our disobedience. But indeed, we should be thankful in all situations for He has already given us the greatest gift, which is the gift of salvation!  He has also given us more blessings than we could ask for and if only we would just pause to count them (which i doubt we ever could finish counting) would we realise how much we actually have.

I think the question now is, how can we not be thankful when we have so much? That we as sinners are blessed with undeserved favour from Him whom we have failed so so many times. The trials and hardships may come but one thing for sure is that His mercies are new every morning and His love is unfailing. For that reason, i am thankful. :)

Thank you for letting me know that you are always there for me

even though i fail you time and time again.

Thank you for helping me through this month even though

at times i feel like giving up or letting go. 

Truly all glory, honour and praise belongs to you alone.

Thank you, Jesus.

Have a thankful day today!

Good bye, February 2009 :)

picture : credits to vivien lobster