One Year Later...

God has His plan in each and everyone of us. For every event that occurs in our lives, He has His own reason for allowing it; and in every event, we will have the opportunity to experience Him in different aspects of our lives...

As mentioned in my earlier entry, I have attended a visit to a children home a year ago, and there was one voice that encouraged me to attend the visit. I wonder, if I did not listen to that voice, what would have happened now?

A year ago, I found back my passion to serve Him. Although I was not sure whether He wanted to use me in the Youth Ministry, the heart to serve Him came back!

A year later, I really want to find out what He has in store for me. An announcement to Sg Ruan and again, a voice had encouraged me to go. However, this time I am more reluctant to attend, because, after spending about a year with the brothers and sisters-in-Christ, I find that I cannot really adapt to their world. I am quite adamant about my decision this time but...

JH asked me again few days before the trip and I can sense that God wants me to go. I tried to avoid but I know that when God wants to speak to you, there is no point to run away from Him. I tried to sms KY and tried to make her availability as God's answer to my prayer.

Yeah! KY said she cannot make it! So Lord, that must be Your answer! That was what I had in mind at that time.

For some reason, I spent some time to pray to God on that night. My heart felt really uneasy. I was drafting my sms to JH informing her that KY cannot make it and at the same time, was hoping to say that I would not be attending as well. However, I know it is best to listen to Him. Subconsciously, I just typed my NRIC and sms JH thereafter.

Oh, after I sent the sms, my heart was relieved! It was really a big relief, I could feel the burden was taken away from my shoulders! Praise the Lord!

Obedience to God will only bring goodness to us;
although in the process we might face with obstacles,
because we obey, God will make a way for us...

I thank God for not forgetting me. I did enjoy the trip! Praise the Lord! Thank You JESUS for not letting my hand go. It is because of You, I am here today!

The 6th day of September 20**

I remember posting on my Friendster Blog the events that happened about a year ago. A brief summary:-

An announcement was made to the Charis Home, and a voice encouraged me to attend this activity. I contemplated for quite some time as I was afraid that I would be 'invisible' throughout the whole trip. A sister said she could accompanied me if I wanted to attend and that was where the story began...

The 6th day of September 2008

Finally today is the day! I am going to visit Charis Home with other family members [church members]. I feel excited, at the same time I am worried because I hardly know anybody in the church besides CZ. I thank God that she had accompanied me to this event. However, she is not going to the home with me as she lives at the other side of the map. Oh no, hesitation fills me at this moment...

I was informed earlier by one Bro JL that I will go to the home by the church van. Oh, church van; meaning I will go to the home with other family members, a.k.a 'strangers'. Perhaps I should explain myself here: I came to this church some time in 2006 but hardly anybody approached me, so I was quite hesitant to participate in their events because I refuse to regard myself as an 'invisible' person.

On the van, I choose to sit beside a girl, by the name of WJ. Why? This is because from any perspective, she does not look like she is a high school student; meaning, she is probably in college. Hmm, the age gap would not be too big; great! I will just sit beside her then!

As I think that I will feel awkward if we just keep silent throughout the journey, I also feel awkward to start a conversation with a stranger. As awkward as it be, I tried to start a conversation with WJ and it is quite surprising that I am actually having a good chat with her.

So, that was how our friendship started...

Finally the visit has come to an end. Overall, I did not regret for making the decision to join this visit. It is time to go home! I called Pa to wait for me at church because I do not want to be left alone waiting with 'strangers' at the church. Surprisingly, KL asked WJ to go for a short tea session and asked me along. Hmm, why not? Perhaps I will change my mind about these 'strangers'...

So, that was how the friendship among the three of us began...oops, should I say four instead? As there was another Bro AY who was with us during the tea session. Of course, not to forget about KS as well, but he was quite quiet throughout the whole session.


The 6th day of September 2009

Today is the 1st Annivesary of our, hmm, friendship? Should we celebrate it like how lovers do? Do friends celebrate this event as well?

No, we do not have any celebration; in fact, no body mention anything about this. Perhaps there is nothing to celebrate about...

Before we were acquaintances
we were strangers,

Before we were friends
we were acquaintances,
 

Before we were good friends
we were friends.

Perhaps one would find that I keep on telling the same story again and again; well, maybe these events were significant to me at that point of time. However, things that were significant in the past might not be significant in the present.

Throughout this one year, many things had happened. There were up and downs. All I could say is, there is no more significance in any of these anymore, because I have learnt to focus on HIM alone. God allows things to happen because He wants us to experience Him more and more.

When our focus is right
everything is going to be all right!
Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life,
He is the focus of my life!


Many many years ago...

In a Bible class, the teacher asked us to write what is the most precious thing in our lives on a piece of paper. After everyone in the class had done so, she gave us a brief sharing on putting God as our priority. Subsequently, she asked us to look at our piece of paper, then to tear it and make a prayer that we shall make God the priority in our lives and He shall be our 'precious' from then on...

P.S. I Love You ~ Cecelia Ahern

"Holly is a young Irish woman has just lost her husband. She struggles with what to do with her life now that the love of her life is gone. She struggles to get up each morning. She doesn't leave the house anymore or talk to her family and friends. Her mother calls one day to tell her that she has a package and needs to pick up. Holly gets it and realizes that it contains letters from her husband that he wrote before he died.

There are 10 letters each containing some instruction on what to do nowthat he is gone. She is only allowed to read one letter a month and each one comes with instructions about what to do now that he is gone. These are things she wouldn't have done if he were still alive, but because they are from him she abides by his wishes. All the while she realizes that even though he is gone he is still with her in spirit and she must go on with her life.

Holly finds a job, meets new people and trys to keep life normal. She goes out partying with friends and goes on vacation. She wrestles with the possiblity of starting a new romance. All the while trying to stay true to her husband. In the end she realizes life does go on. Her husband wants her to be an independent lover of life. He wouldn't be disappointed if she went on to be happy without him."

I was contemplating whether to get this book when I went to the Bookfest on Saturday, 22nd August 2009. This book can be classified as "romance", not something to my liking; eventually, I did not buy the book.

I went back on Thursday, 27th August 2009, to get "The Last Empress". Again, I came across this book. This time, I just took it and finally bought it.

I was wrapping my books on Saturday, and my brother saw the book. He was surprised that I actually bought it because he said this book does not suit me. After reading "A Prisoner of Birth", I have decided to slow down, and to read a more relaxing book. I chose "P.S. I Love You".

Surprisingly, my attention was drawn to the plot of this wonderful love story. I never thought that I would really sit down and concentrate to read this kind of book. There is no doubt that there are some parts which I find it not that impressive but overall, this is a good book to read.

I was actually wondering what is love all about, which was why I chose to read this book at the initial stage. After reading this book, it makes me realise that we have to move on with life no matter what happens. Holly was lucky because Gerry did not leave her to deal with the grief alone. He was with her for almost a year and his last message was to encourage her to open herself for another relationship.

It was quite surprising at first, because I never thought that Holly was a woman who put love as priority. This story described Holly as a woman who put Gerry as her priority in life. Nonetheless, she did move on with courage. Towards the end, she did whatever that Gerry had told her to do; things that she would not do if Gerry was alive. It was a sweet thought that Gerry was being considerate to keep Holly 'accompanied' for quite some time before he let her to be on her own.

I would say that I did enjoy reading this. After all, I wanted a 'relaxing' read...