What will I do without them.
Maria...
She's the one who embraces me when my soul is all bruised and battered. The princess with an inner core stronger than she would appear to possess, yet tender enough to understand the needs of a sensitive soul. Loyally fierce. In her arms I find warm hugs no one else can give, the kind lovingly given, dearly needed and greatly appreciated.
Shwing...
With our feet in the pool, with our hair flying in the face of the wind on the swings, we sing songs of worship to our God. With light-hearted giggles, we fall all over laughing about the sweet things God reveals. Timid and shy maybe, but you don't know her until you've watched her come alive in the presence of girls. She is God's gentle reminder to me that sensitive spirits are never alone.
Joylynn...
Steady as the river winding between the lush greens, a joyful sound, flowing with waters of life. Trustworthy, faithful and always there. The obvious distance does nothing to lessen her intangible presence. Through joy and through tears, we were there, upholding one another, seeking God together. Her friendship made possible the two tumultuous years.
Yan Hui...
Like a Springtime bud blossoming under rays of warm sunlight, she makes me come alive. Like a streak of lightning, she unknowingly surprises with occasional revelations. With her, words flow freely and there are no inhibitions. She enters the room and suddenly, the world is filled with colours again.
Joanne...
Strong leader, faithful counselor, constant guidance, a source of wisdom. She lends strength in my moments of weaknesses, reassures with her standing in my life, directs me in my states of confusion, shows love even when her own strength fails.
Girlfriends.
Each one of them precious, each one of them God sent.
Bonds and ties to last a lifetime.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Random thoughts
Thanks Sam I really love this quote you shared :)
Brokenness is realising He's all you have.
Hope is realising He's all you need.
Joy is realising He's all you want.
I really want to get to that point where Jesus a.k.a. God is all I have, want and need.
----------------------------------------------
If it takes a thousand little deaths each day, nailing all those little bits of self onto my cross...
If that's what it takes to enter the Holy of Holies, to 'see' God face to face,
then that's what I'll do.
Brokenness is realising He's all you have.
Hope is realising He's all you need.
Joy is realising He's all you want.
I really want to get to that point where Jesus a.k.a. God is all I have, want and need.
----------------------------------------------
If it takes a thousand little deaths each day, nailing all those little bits of self onto my cross...
If that's what it takes to enter the Holy of Holies, to 'see' God face to face,
then that's what I'll do.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Do Not Fear
The dark clouds just lifted. The silver lining I'd been waiting upon broke quite suddenly into a full blast of glorious, consuming light.
For the longest time, I'd been obsessed with doing God's Will.
Am I at the right place at the right time?
Saying the right words?
Doing the right thing?
It wasn't until God started tapping me on the shoulder did I realise all that had been stemming from the wrong motivation.
I was doing it less because I loved Him, but more out of my own fears.
Fear of consequences.
Fear of His wrath.
Fear of a wasted life, wrongly lived.
"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."
-1 John 4:18
Unknowingly, I'd reduced my space to a tightrope instead of the luxurious playground we all have in the grace of God.
The truth is when I am more concerned about consequences, fear is my motivation. When it becomes all about loving Him and pleasing Him because I love Him, now that’s a different story!
For the longest time, I'd been obsessed with doing God's Will.
Am I at the right place at the right time?
Saying the right words?
Doing the right thing?
It wasn't until God started tapping me on the shoulder did I realise all that had been stemming from the wrong motivation.
I was doing it less because I loved Him, but more out of my own fears.
Fear of consequences.
Fear of His wrath.
Fear of a wasted life, wrongly lived.
"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."
-1 John 4:18
Unknowingly, I'd reduced my space to a tightrope instead of the luxurious playground we all have in the grace of God.
The truth is when I am more concerned about consequences, fear is my motivation. When it becomes all about loving Him and pleasing Him because I love Him, now that’s a different story!
Monday, November 12, 2007
Short Story
"Behind Doors"
written by Avelyn
Knock knock.
I peered through the viewfinder and saw Jesus standing outside.
"Child, will you let me in?"
I scanned the roomful of clothes, shoes, bags, magazines and every other imaginable material comfort I'd purchased carelessly in the past few years.
A small voice was still trying to talk me out of letting my Savior in, putting up the last bit of resistance it could muster.
It took a few seconds of hesitation before I flung the room door wide open. Jesus came in,
"It's Yours now, Lord."
Knock knock.
Without looking, I knew who I was going to find standing outside the door.
"Child, will you let me in?"
This time, it was a room filled with hourglasses, each one representing the amount of time I'd wasted on an array of meaningless activities. I spotted online chatting, mindless surfing, trashy television shows and aimless bumming amongst them.
It seemed easier to open this door now that I'd let Jesus into the previous room.
"It's Yours too, Lord."
Knock knock.
I tried to shut out the sound of knocking by losing myself in the music playing from the speakers, the only object in the room.
It didn't work.
"Aww c'mon! This is such a trivial thing! Surely a bit of good non-Christian music wouldn't hurt?"
The excuse sounded even worse once I'd put it into words.
"Child, it matters to me. Besides, are you certain it's not hurting you?"
I got up from where I was sitting and crossed the room to open the door.
"This is Yours too, Jesus."
Knock knock.
Out went my personal reasons to dance, in came Jesus.
Knock knock.
Out went the hurt from broken relationships, in came Jesus.
Knock knock.
Out went my addiction to food, in came Jesus.
Knock knock.
Out went depression, in came Jesus.
Knock knock.
Out went the security of paper qualifications, in came Jesus.
Knock knock.
Knock knock.
Knock knock.
One by one, the rooms in my life got cleared out as I opened up more and more doors to let Jesus in.
Some opened quite easily; others were heavier and required more strength. A few had been tightly shut for so long the door was jammed on its hinges and refused to budge despite my greatest efforts.
"Lord, I can't open this one!"
"Child, you lack the strength."
"Please help me open it!"
"Are you sure you want me to?"
"Yes I'm sure! Please open it!"
At his touch, the door swung open. Jesus stepped through the doorway, seeming not to notice the state of disarray the room was in. It took awhile, but with my Savior's help, the room was eventually straightened out.
"Child, be careful what you let in."
I nodded silently, knowing how easy it would be for the room to fall back into its previous state if I let my guard down, even for a short while.
Knock knock.
I struggled with the handle and threw all my weight against the door to make it open. It didn't budge a single inch.
Knock knock.
"Lord, I can't get it to open!" A note of despair crept into my voice.
"This one's going to hurt," came the familiar voice from the other side of the door.
"I..." My voice faltered.
Slumping onto the floor in exhaustion, I started crying. The pain that gripped my heart was so severe I hadn't noticed that Jesus had opened the door and entered until I felt his arm around me.
"Come..."
I allowed myself to be led out of the room by my Savior.
Suddenly, I realised I was looking down one end of a corridor. On either side were scores of opened doors leading into rooms now marked by the presence of Jesus. Turning around, I saw more closed doors leading down to the other end of the corridor.
"How many more to go, Lord?"
Jesus smiled and pressed a bunch of keys into my hand. "Let's unlock those doors together."
I nodded; deep within me, bubbles of hope and joy were rising, meeting with the warm embrace and solid love of my Savior. Perhaps this is what they meant by "a new creation in Christ".
Peering down to the end of the corridor, I saw a door that looked vastly different from the rest. A warm, inviting glow emitted from behind it, and the moment I saw it, I knew in my heart it would lead to the place where I belong.
I searched through all the keys in my hand, but found that none of them were made to unlock the last door. Curiosity piqued, I turned around and found Jesus gazing into my questioning eyes.
"Lord, how can I unlock the last door?"
"You can't," came his reply. "Because I AM the key, and I will bring you through it."
With that, Jesus took my hand and together, we started down the corridor to the next door.
written by Avelyn
Knock knock.
I peered through the viewfinder and saw Jesus standing outside.
"Child, will you let me in?"
I scanned the roomful of clothes, shoes, bags, magazines and every other imaginable material comfort I'd purchased carelessly in the past few years.
A small voice was still trying to talk me out of letting my Savior in, putting up the last bit of resistance it could muster.
It took a few seconds of hesitation before I flung the room door wide open. Jesus came in,
"It's Yours now, Lord."
Knock knock.
Without looking, I knew who I was going to find standing outside the door.
"Child, will you let me in?"
This time, it was a room filled with hourglasses, each one representing the amount of time I'd wasted on an array of meaningless activities. I spotted online chatting, mindless surfing, trashy television shows and aimless bumming amongst them.
It seemed easier to open this door now that I'd let Jesus into the previous room.
"It's Yours too, Lord."
Knock knock.
I tried to shut out the sound of knocking by losing myself in the music playing from the speakers, the only object in the room.
It didn't work.
"Aww c'mon! This is such a trivial thing! Surely a bit of good non-Christian music wouldn't hurt?"
The excuse sounded even worse once I'd put it into words.
"Child, it matters to me. Besides, are you certain it's not hurting you?"
I got up from where I was sitting and crossed the room to open the door.
"This is Yours too, Jesus."
Knock knock.
Out went my personal reasons to dance, in came Jesus.
Knock knock.
Out went the hurt from broken relationships, in came Jesus.
Knock knock.
Out went my addiction to food, in came Jesus.
Knock knock.
Out went depression, in came Jesus.
Knock knock.
Out went the security of paper qualifications, in came Jesus.
Knock knock.
Knock knock.
Knock knock.
One by one, the rooms in my life got cleared out as I opened up more and more doors to let Jesus in.
Some opened quite easily; others were heavier and required more strength. A few had been tightly shut for so long the door was jammed on its hinges and refused to budge despite my greatest efforts.
"Lord, I can't open this one!"
"Child, you lack the strength."
"Please help me open it!"
"Are you sure you want me to?"
"Yes I'm sure! Please open it!"
At his touch, the door swung open. Jesus stepped through the doorway, seeming not to notice the state of disarray the room was in. It took awhile, but with my Savior's help, the room was eventually straightened out.
"Child, be careful what you let in."
I nodded silently, knowing how easy it would be for the room to fall back into its previous state if I let my guard down, even for a short while.
Knock knock.
I struggled with the handle and threw all my weight against the door to make it open. It didn't budge a single inch.
Knock knock.
"Lord, I can't get it to open!" A note of despair crept into my voice.
"This one's going to hurt," came the familiar voice from the other side of the door.
"I..." My voice faltered.
Slumping onto the floor in exhaustion, I started crying. The pain that gripped my heart was so severe I hadn't noticed that Jesus had opened the door and entered until I felt his arm around me.
"Come..."
I allowed myself to be led out of the room by my Savior.
Suddenly, I realised I was looking down one end of a corridor. On either side were scores of opened doors leading into rooms now marked by the presence of Jesus. Turning around, I saw more closed doors leading down to the other end of the corridor.
"How many more to go, Lord?"
Jesus smiled and pressed a bunch of keys into my hand. "Let's unlock those doors together."
I nodded; deep within me, bubbles of hope and joy were rising, meeting with the warm embrace and solid love of my Savior. Perhaps this is what they meant by "a new creation in Christ".
Peering down to the end of the corridor, I saw a door that looked vastly different from the rest. A warm, inviting glow emitted from behind it, and the moment I saw it, I knew in my heart it would lead to the place where I belong.
I searched through all the keys in my hand, but found that none of them were made to unlock the last door. Curiosity piqued, I turned around and found Jesus gazing into my questioning eyes.
"Lord, how can I unlock the last door?"
"You can't," came his reply. "Because I AM the key, and I will bring you through it."
With that, Jesus took my hand and together, we started down the corridor to the next door.
Sunday, November 4, 2007
3 dollars' Worth of God
We don't go up to the box office and ask for a ticket to the first 24 minutes of the show.
Neither do we buy a car without wheels and a sound system.
It is equally ridiculous, if not more, to ask, "Would you marry me for the next 7 and a half years?"
So why do we not find it ridiculous to ask God - "Can I just have 3 dollars worth of You please?"
Not enough to change my life radically, so that I won't have to give up the luxuries I'm used to, the habits I'm comfortable with, or work too hard in school.
Not enough to compel me to give up my favourite television shows, support missions, love the people I find unlovable, or clean out my ipod of downloaded music.
Not enough to convince me to help my mother with the chores, think less about myself and the things I want, or to die for my faith.
Oh no.Please, just give me 3 dollars worth of You, God.
Just enough for me to sleep well at night, feel like a happy person and destress from work.
Just enough so that I don't have to do anything more than go to church every Sunday, read my bible and pray once in a while.
Just enough for me to have a vague idea of the purpose of my existence, get by difficult times in life and scrape pass the gates of heaven.
I am so amazed when people tell me,
"Religion's all very good when you don't get too extreme about it. It helps when you face a crisis and meets your spiritual needs. Oh but don't go too far now!"
So you put God into a lamp and rub it every time you need to have three wishes granted.
Who wants a god like that?
Not me.
My God is Big, Powerful, Almighty and Sovereign.
That means He rules everything, including my life.
Now that's a God worth living for.
Neither do we buy a car without wheels and a sound system.
It is equally ridiculous, if not more, to ask, "Would you marry me for the next 7 and a half years?"
So why do we not find it ridiculous to ask God - "Can I just have 3 dollars worth of You please?"
Not enough to change my life radically, so that I won't have to give up the luxuries I'm used to, the habits I'm comfortable with, or work too hard in school.
Not enough to compel me to give up my favourite television shows, support missions, love the people I find unlovable, or clean out my ipod of downloaded music.
Not enough to convince me to help my mother with the chores, think less about myself and the things I want, or to die for my faith.
Oh no.Please, just give me 3 dollars worth of You, God.
Just enough for me to sleep well at night, feel like a happy person and destress from work.
Just enough so that I don't have to do anything more than go to church every Sunday, read my bible and pray once in a while.
Just enough for me to have a vague idea of the purpose of my existence, get by difficult times in life and scrape pass the gates of heaven.
I am so amazed when people tell me,
"Religion's all very good when you don't get too extreme about it. It helps when you face a crisis and meets your spiritual needs. Oh but don't go too far now!"
So you put God into a lamp and rub it every time you need to have three wishes granted.
Who wants a god like that?
Not me.
My God is Big, Powerful, Almighty and Sovereign.
That means He rules everything, including my life.
Now that's a God worth living for.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
When God writes your love story...
Jesus I surrender the pen. I admit I could never write a love story better than you can.
'Everything About You'
Darlene Zschech
You chased me, I caught you
So glad we found each other
We whispered forever
To share our lives together
To watch our dreams unfold
And I love everything about you
Everything you are
You'd catch a falling star
If I asked you
And I couldn't live a single day without you
You hold me in your arms
And once again, I know
That I'm the only one for you
The way you laugh, the way we dance
The way you hold my hand
The way you give, the way you kiss
The way you look at me
You make life beautiful
I love the light that shines in your eyes
When you talk about our girls
And love the way you smile
When they walk into the room
I love how you care about brokenness
How injustice moves your heart enough
To make a change
You give all you are
Everyday
'Everything About You'
Darlene Zschech
You chased me, I caught you
So glad we found each other
We whispered forever
To share our lives together
To watch our dreams unfold
And I love everything about you
Everything you are
You'd catch a falling star
If I asked you
And I couldn't live a single day without you
You hold me in your arms
And once again, I know
That I'm the only one for you
The way you laugh, the way we dance
The way you hold my hand
The way you give, the way you kiss
The way you look at me
You make life beautiful
I love the light that shines in your eyes
When you talk about our girls
And love the way you smile
When they walk into the room
I love how you care about brokenness
How injustice moves your heart enough
To make a change
You give all you are
Everyday
One Way
If we claim that "all roads lead to the same destination", or that Christianity is but one faucet of a multi-faucaeted God, we make God out to be illogical, contradictory, untrustworthy and in general, a liar.
"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6
If the god you believe in is neither infinite nor sovereign, then there's very good reason not to believe in such a god at all.
At least I can count on the sovereignty and infinite might of my God.
"Cause I wanna hide in You
The Way the Life the Truth
So I can disappear.
And love is all there is to see
Coming out of me
And You become clear
As I disappear"
"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6
If the god you believe in is neither infinite nor sovereign, then there's very good reason not to believe in such a god at all.
At least I can count on the sovereignty and infinite might of my God.
"Cause I wanna hide in You
The Way the Life the Truth
So I can disappear.
And love is all there is to see
Coming out of me
And You become clear
As I disappear"
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Is there a reason to blog?
After disappearing from the blogging scene, if there ever was one, for a good 27 months, I am back. Not by personal interest, nor out of obligation, but by Someone calling me out of my comfort zone.
Is that weird?
I don't know.
I am, without a doubt, overly reliant on technology, but I still find it hard to fit all the new inventions that it produces ever so frequently into this (maybe out of date) system of mine.
Bottomline?
Blogging, friendstering and facebooking are among my least favourite activities.
Honestly, I find them a waste of time. Not that they are, just that I have greater priorities than that.
Like dipping my feet in the pool after a long day.
Or reducing the semblance of my room from a tornado-hit disaster zone.
Not forgetting my impulse to curl up with a good book every night in the air-conditioned comforts of my room (indeed, I am one blessed person).
Even taking a stroll via the longer way home from the bus stop.
Especially stopping in my tracks for a few moments to take in what God has painted on His canvas high up above - always breath-taking, always inspiring, always reminding me of something greater, something beyond myself and mankind.
Things like that are alot more appealing to me.
Barely has the notion of blogging entered my head before a thousand questions start surfacing, questions like
"Can I get a decent blogskin that not a million other bloggers are using?"
"Will I spend precious time in front of the computer, absorbed in the java world, neglecting the real one?"
"Does it mean late nights again?"
And perhaps, the most crucial of all - "Is anyone even going to read it?"
There is a strange connection between the things we do and our self-worth, things like blogging.
I am, after all, only human. It is natural to look to others for validation, to desire receiving their affirmation and recognition.
But if I am to do this much dreaded thing known as blogging, I must detach my validation from it and bring it to the One in whom I was made, and in whom I will be complete.
Is there a reason to blog?
Oh yes there is.
For a glory that surpasses myself, and for the love of One who gave me my life and a reason to live.
Is that weird?
I don't know.
I am, without a doubt, overly reliant on technology, but I still find it hard to fit all the new inventions that it produces ever so frequently into this (maybe out of date) system of mine.
Bottomline?
Blogging, friendstering and facebooking are among my least favourite activities.
Honestly, I find them a waste of time. Not that they are, just that I have greater priorities than that.
Like dipping my feet in the pool after a long day.
Or reducing the semblance of my room from a tornado-hit disaster zone.
Not forgetting my impulse to curl up with a good book every night in the air-conditioned comforts of my room (indeed, I am one blessed person).
Even taking a stroll via the longer way home from the bus stop.
Especially stopping in my tracks for a few moments to take in what God has painted on His canvas high up above - always breath-taking, always inspiring, always reminding me of something greater, something beyond myself and mankind.
Things like that are alot more appealing to me.
Barely has the notion of blogging entered my head before a thousand questions start surfacing, questions like
"Can I get a decent blogskin that not a million other bloggers are using?"
"Will I spend precious time in front of the computer, absorbed in the java world, neglecting the real one?"
"Does it mean late nights again?"
And perhaps, the most crucial of all - "Is anyone even going to read it?"
There is a strange connection between the things we do and our self-worth, things like blogging.
I am, after all, only human. It is natural to look to others for validation, to desire receiving their affirmation and recognition.
But if I am to do this much dreaded thing known as blogging, I must detach my validation from it and bring it to the One in whom I was made, and in whom I will be complete.
Is there a reason to blog?
Oh yes there is.
For a glory that surpasses myself, and for the love of One who gave me my life and a reason to live.
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