A queensland experience

I am missing Brisbane and its awesome people already!
What a privilege and blessing to have met great friends.

On another note, jojo porridgebrother loi wen tian you are my darling. Your courage amazes me and it is a gift from God. Be strong in the Lord! Miss youuuuuu <3

Women are complicated beings.
A yes could mean a yes, but a yes could mean a no. A no could mean a no, but a no could mean a yes. It all depends on context and tone, and requires one with strong discerning capabilities to decipher the differences.

Obviously, communication is not my strength. There's an elephant in my room.

Make me an instrument of Your glory

Even without words, looking at this shell made me stand in awe of its brilliant Creator. How intricately designed, even if it might be one of millions on the shore.. it played its part and made a difference in someone's life.
How are we, as children of God, showing the world our Father's love and goodness in our speech and action? We may be small, insignificant and think that we are painfully normal, or totally unworthy to be an instrument of God's  glory. But what are we proclaiming or boasting about? Someone who made skies and seas that take our breaths away. Someone with an extraordinary love for sinners like us. Someone who calls us His children and speaks to us.

(2 Cor 12)

Effort

Back in the days when i just started driving, phones weren't smart enough (or I wasn't smart enough to realise the smartness of a smartphone), GPS were only for the super rich, and the street directory was my best buddy... I took time and effort to plan my directions from place to place. Now it just seems somewhat ridiculous yet amusing. I wonder how cab drivers found their way out after dropping a passenger home... that is real talent...

The Prayer of Freedom

Because holidays are here... I get to continue reading books that I've started months/years ago!
 
Here's a challenging yet necessary prayer (:

O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, hear me. Deliver me, Jesus,
from the desire of being esteemed,
from the desire of being loved,
from the desire of being extolled,
from the desire of being honored,
from the desire of being praised,
from the desire of being preferred to others,
from the desire of being consulted,
from the desire of being approved,
from the fear of being humiliated,
from the fear of being despised,
from the fear of suffering rebuke,
from the fear of being forgotten,
from the fear of being wronged,
from the fear of being suspected.

And, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire
that others might be loved more than I,
that others may be esteemed more than I,
that in the opinion of the world others may increase and I may decrease,
that others may be chosen, and I set aside,
that others may be praised and I unnoticed,
that others may be preferred to me in everything,
that others may become holier than I, provided that I become as holy as I should

Return to vomit

I want to share this message from Daily Bible Devotion:

As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness. Proverbs 26:11 NLT

Our body vomits when it rejects food. There are habits and behaviors that we form that are not healthy. Even after recognizing the unhealthiness, we still return to those behaviors. A faith with Christ requires us to continually renew and better ourselves. Are there any foolish behaviors you continue to return to even when you have already rejected it?

Good stewardship

I want to share this message from Daily Bible Devotion:

Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip.  He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. Matthew 25:14 (NLT + more versions)

Have you ever loaned out a tool, your car, or serving platter only to find the item broken, dented, or chipped when it was returned?  This is a reflection of the stewardship of the other person.  If you think about it, God has made us stewards too.  He blesses us with food, shelter, and even relationships.  One day we will have to account for the things God blessed us with.  Are you the person who will return an item in better condition than when you received it?

Oh be careful little lips what you speak

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen instead of offering the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.
ecc 5:1-2

Failure VS Detour? A blessing in disguise.

My past two weeks can easily be summed up with one disappointing event- failing block 2 prac.
However, it would not do my weeks or my God justice to assign such an awful description to the whole experience because there's so many things I'm thankful for. It far outweighs the things that upset me because I keep being reminded that I am so blessed.

1. God spoke time and again even before the day of the bad news: be still and know that He is God. He is with me and He is in control, even when I feel like I'm thrown in the flames, the fire will not consume me. The rivers will not drown me. Do not worry. He who watches over the sparrow watches over me.

2. Phonecalls with mum and dad while they were in Singapore. Reminded me how blessed I am to have such loving parents who take time out to talk and make sure I'm OK. We got to talk and laugh and bond through the phonecalls.

3. Friends who pray for me/ encourage me and are so ready to listen and show support .. I feel so blessed and undeserving of all this love!

4. My dad's return in my final week of prac. I was convinced that I would b fine living alone.. but towards the end with the failing prac thing on top of my isolated nature, I must say it was timely moral support and company. Even though placement was 5mins free bus ride away, I got driven to and picked up from prac everyday hahaha.

5. My birthday - I'm so limited with my vocabulary... yes I know u know.. I feel so blessed haha. And undeserving of very kind friends/family. Even though it was a day of placement and school and studies, I was fortunate to have dinner with dad and have some ocfers pop by for a surprise visit! I miss having ocfers at my house!

6. Supportive supervisors and fieldwork coordinators. Even though it was a fail grade, I'm fortunate to have had my placement experience, to have met my super patient supervisors from whom I've learnt much. Also patients I've met and skills I've picked up have been a great gift. (And I get to do 7 more weeks of placement for free!! Aka supplementary placement hahaha) and my sups were so kind to request for the fieldwork coordinator to let me continue with goglobal Cambodia placement :D

:D I guess that's why I really think I'm OK. Haha. Plus I'm looking forward to my upcoming break!!! Excitezzz!!

Tough times in life have never been my favourite periods.. ever..
Yet, I can't deny God's blessings and causes for joy in the midst of these challenges.
Thank You Lord, for people who know me better than myself. My extra sets of eyes where my blindspots are located. They vocalise what my mind tries to hide under covers. I choose to think and tell myself that I'm solid like a brick, but really, I'm just a pavlova...seeking comfort from my parents' counsel.
What does it mean to not worry? Have I truly truly surrendered my life to Christ? If so, why worry?