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Saturday, December 27, 2008 @ 1:15 am Well, things changed uh? Yeah. I'm still shocked but I believe that after I sleep, things will turn better. Or at least I hope so. I will pull through this and will not wallow in self-pity anymore. Well, had good chats with many online. It was good. Thanks all for sharing though I won't say I'm the best counsellor. Makes me anticipate the counselling course I'll be attending next year! Can't wait! Just today I was wondering if it'll help me and will come in handy. I do hope so! Don't want to let the skills and trainings and nights I spend travelling to go wasted! Today was good. Spent the whole day at home. Read 2 BSF notes. Helped mum with a little cooking. Read the Love Language book. And complete most of the things I set out to do. Yay! Happy for that! And while reading the BSF notes, suddenly remember what John said over dinner this week. How he wanted to be more effective and systematic in studying the Bible. So wrote him a long email and let him know about BSF and encourage him too. Yeah. He said he'll consider. Hope he comes! But dinner with le jing still stays. But i wonder how to let him know. Oh well. when the time comes, we'll see! first, just pray that John comes! okay. want to show a Bible passage that I read today. "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone"
This passage speaks to me of several things.
So I pray that my speech will be so. Also made me repent of my sin in my carelessness of speech to many. And pray that I'll make use every opportunity to evangelise. To use my time wisely and for Him and not in self-pity. Build up on my prayer life. Okay. Tat's all. I'm tired and sleepy now. Nitez! --------------------------------- Friday, December 26, 2008 @ 11:58 pm I received a shocking news today
I was surprised when I heard it
But I believe I can pull through this
Thank you God for frens that listen
So from now on, I'll stand strong
--------------------------------- Thursday, December 25, 2008 @ 3:10 pm [Christmas Day]
So half a day has gone by. Where am I now? At home. Had a Christmas service and lunch just now. Glad that Shu Hui and Kelvin came for service and stayed for lunch! =) It was nice to be able to bring them to church and for them to meet my frens like Jeremy. Christmas service was good. Had a lot of visitors. Thank God for Ken and aunty Pat for taking a step of faith and obedience in water baptism. It's nice to witness a baptism again. Reminds me of myself 7 years ago. Boy! 7 years ago! So long ago! At the same season, just that I was baptised on 26dec. Hmm. Through these 7 years, I thank God. Though I had trying times, I learned much and grow in my faith and walk with God. I must admit that. Learning more about His Word and His plans and His character. Taking steps of obedience. And also falling down and picking myself up again. Learning to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. Learning to trust Him and not to forget, serving Him in many areas in church.Thank you God! Well, emo-ing again just now. Well, thinking about many things. Well, I'm 19 this year. Next year I'll be 20. I believe I must start to expect less for christmas. Especially expect to receive less gifts. Well, I really do love gifts. Every year, I always look forward to the gitst i'll receive. But as time passes, fewer and fewer gifts arrive in my hands. I guess it's a sign to accept reality, move past beyond gifts, accept that I'm aging and just be contended with whatever. Yeah. I'm not feeling good again because of the same old issue. But a broader picture too. Just felt a sudden loss of company. Like no one to turn to. No one who's free that I can go to. That I can call out to meet up or chat about issues. More of going out too. Don't know why but suddenly, I'm giving more focus on going-outs. I guess holidays since JC1 have done me bad. Every hols since then was filled with appts and meet-ups. So, when suddenly, this year seems more empty than usual, I feel lost and emo. Argh. Get me out of this mess man! Must really remind myself that going-out isn't everything. Find joy and peace and enjoyment in doing things myself and spending time with myself--doing things that need to be attended to and things that I've always wanted to do... --------------------------------- @ 12:58 am Blessed Christmas to all!
Yeah. So it's Christmas day already! Boy! It sure is fast! What are my feelings about it? Mixed. Happy and sad. Well, the good things fist! I must say tat I'm really blessed this christmas! or rather, leading up to christmas. It's the first time i did much more than just buying and giving presents. I had many opportunities to share the gospel! My Hope party. Tat one, I was truly blessed and encouraged. The next one was the outing with Kelvin to talk and discuss about Jesus and the gospel. I must say it's cool! And it's divine! Thank God for opportunities such as these. Thinking about it now, I feel that it's just the right timing! Only after I'd grown and learned more about God and His Word then I could share the gospel to others and tell others more about Christianity. Yeah. Thank God for His divine plan! Well, this week was quite hectic. Went out almost every night. First was meeting kelvin for dinner and watch an esp performance, li peng for dinner and movie, john for dinner then the other 3 for supper at starbucks (made a new fren call dennis). so only tonight free. oh. not to forget khalis for movie and "should i buy another ticket?" haha. okay. well, but i must say, amid all the busy meet-ups, i do feel a bit empty. the whole emo thing again. then, i have to remind myself that Christmas isn't about going out with ppl or having an elaborate christmas eve dinner or going out with the special someone to somewhere, anywhere. Christmas is about Jesus; about God and His redemptive plan. I rmb Khalis mentioned this to me recently: you had alot of heart-breaks this year. And how true it is. Hmm. I went through alot this year. no wonder i have mixed feelings about this. Sigh. And as I see my good fren getting attached, it jus makes me think more of "what could have been". How I could have been with him and go out on Christmas eve. Making Christmas this year extra special. Spending more time, the time when i can't throw out during sch term. Christmas would be spent with more meaning as we reflect tgt... Do I regret? I don't know. I don't think so. But it does make my heart ache. Well, but God has been faithful. reminded me time and again not to make relationship a "must-have" and an idol in my life. not to covet and to wait. to be patient and to pray. yeah. dun lose focus Sharon. trust in God. Don't emo anymore about this matter... And just got alot of worries on my mind. time to lay them down at God's feet. As I was telling Charles just now, may i repeat it to myself. About 2000 years ago, God sent His Son Jesus to earth and to be borned. So that through His death, we can be reconciled to God and we can freely lay our worries down at His feet. So, let go of your worries and take the peace He gives. Thank God for the Holy Spirit! "But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned...But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you." --------------------------------- Saturday, December 20, 2008 @ 9:52 pm [back frm camps, end of hustle-and-bustle]
Yeah. Today marks the end of the youth camp and my 2 weeks of camps and hols. The youth camp was great! I really enjoyed myself. I think this will be the last one i'll be heading. Yeah. Though I won't say it' a blast but at least it went well and we all enjoyed it. I was encouraged too! Thank God for the wonderful sharing among the girls grp. I really thank God for their boldness in sharing and being open. At least it wasn't silence all the way. It was good in the sense that I get to know my sisters better and that I am able to learn something from them too! =) They all also commented that the sharing session was beneficial (: And though it was hard to think on the spot the different styles of sharing, but I'm glad they didn't get bored. I feel today's one was more informal and interactive. Got them to draw a picture that represents the point that speaks to them the most (: The other parts of the camp went well too. Like the games. I was sad that I couldn't take part in the dry games because I need to help Jethro prepare the wet games :( but at least the preparation was worth it. The wet games was fun. So was the dry games. Thanks Reuben and Jethro! And, as usual, I got a whole bucket of water poured on me. When that happened, I felt that I could almost be thrust forward! haha. BBQ that night was good. Thank God for holding on to the weather. Giving us good and abundant food too. Not forgetting the mashmallows, ice cream and watermelon! =) yay! Thanks adult! After that, on the last day before the grp photo, we entered the world of "narnia"! There was this wardrobe that swings. So it acts like a door! So you can play, "now you see me, now you don't"! So what's behind that secret place? It's a staircase up! And then, when you go up, it leads to an attic where there are about 5 bedrooms and mattress for people to slp on! We were told that we would be slping there if the bungalow is taken up. Yeah. Haha. Actually it's quite cool but there's no windows. Hmm. But still, it's cosy :) all in all, glad for the chance and opportunity to bond closer to my brothers and sisters in church! So after this, no more. Just meeting up with frens and movies and Operation A&E. Well, I just hope my keyboard "s" will work soon! Which i don't think so. Sigh. I need to go sch and send it for repair! Oh no! No laptop for a few days! ahh..i think it's still better than it spoiling during sch term! Hope the warranty paper procedures will be smooth! --------------------------------- Monday, December 15, 2008 @ 5:42 pm [in phuket--last day]
Yes. So it's the last day now. Using the internet before the van comes and takes up off to the airport. After breakfast, went to the beach a while but it was so hot that I didn't wanna go down. Then, we split up. Mum and I went to a massage centre while the rest went back to hotel. There at the massage centre, I did mani and pedicure!! Mum did pedicure! I didn't decide to do nail art cos it's simply too expensive leh. Compared to what I paid for in Vietnam..So jus clean my nails and paint a colour. Pretty! After that, we took a taxi down to Patong beach area. Shopped at a very large shopping centre for a while and bought some things. Carrefour is there! Had lunch there. Went to see the beach a while. Well, all beaches almost look the same. Except this beach is totally jus sea in front of you. No other island in view. So now, I'm waiting for the taxi to come. So fast, the holiday has come to an end. I was just thinking the other day: so fast it's back to reality. But as I think further, it's not really back to reality because, in the first place, this holiday isn't a dream. It's just a phase in my life, or a chapter in my life that is a break and I'm living and being in someone else's reality. I shouldn't view this holiday as an escape but as a break. If I view it as the former, it won't do me good. I would feel reluctant to go back and keep thinking of the whole pile of work. Rather, I should be energize after this trip. Some interesting photos:
--------------------------------- Sunday, December 14, 2008 @ 10:36 pm [in phuket now--1st and 2nd day and 3rd day]
great! So i'm here in Phuket and I have internet access here in the hotel for free! Except, I'm feeding the mosquitoes for free all my blood while using the com. bleah. Well, the hols so far was good. It's ending tml. Been arnd here for 3 days already since friday. On the first day, touched down, rested in the room then head down to the beach. Went to dine at 2 different restaurants. The place where I stay in is a very small town. Not the city area but the outskirts. So we walked arnd on foot to many places. The beach near our hotel was not too bad. Crowded but typical. And surprisingly, there are no seashells! It was full moon on that first night too. Nice. When we came down for dinner, I saw the moon against a very nice scenery at my hotel. The swimming pool at the bottom of the scene, the 4-storey high building, the black sky and the bright moon. Sweet. It totally takes my breath away. 1st day photos:
well, had a good time on the beach. Just sitting on the mat. Well, that was the last stop before we head back to the pier. The crew are very nice ppl. One European and 2 Thais. They all can speak very good english. Joke with us alot and take care of po-po alot. Nice and fun. Makes the trip very enjoyable. Also befriended another famiy that is on the boat with us. They are frm Columbia! Spoke in Spanish but also know a bit of English! nice! haha. then, i wished I learnt some spanish frm wanting then I can communicate with them! Haha. Wanting wld be thrilled if she hears this! =) at night, I got dizzy frm the long boat trip. Even when I'm on land, it feels like I'm still in the sea. Well, the day ended off with me going for a shoulder and neck massage. Not too bad. Finally got my therapy though I muz admit she used a bit too much strength. Ha. After all the activities, I was too tired so din go online to talk on msn :( Yeah. Forgot to add! There's an interesting thing! We went to a Italian restaurant recommended by others online. So we went there and ordered a large pizza, one baked rice and one lagsana. And when the pizza came, we got a big shock! The pizza was my one arm's length in diameter!! It's that large! We all got a big shock when we saw it! Wah! It was quite a something!! So, there, we had to try to finish it tgt with 2 other dishes. Haha. The lagsana was good. Well done. In the end, we had about 3 pieces of pizza to take away. Haha. after dinner, reuben and I just walked arnd the town ourselves while the rest headed back to the hotel to rest. We walked all the way down to areas we never been before. While heading back to the hotel, we walked along the beach. At night. Nice. The full moon wasn't above the sea but on the other side. Still, it was in view and nice to see it on the right (the sea on the left) and just walk. 2nd day photos:
So, today, went out shopping and sight-seeing. First, went to several look-out points that we can view the sea, the yatchs on the sea and islands. Nice. Quite a nice scene. Took a photo with all the children and dad. Pretty. It's not everyday that we have a photo like this together. After that, went to shop at Expo. And, unlike our Expo concept in Singapore, it is actually a shopping area. Air-conditioned, one level, like a market place. Just that the environment is good. No loud music, not so crowded and cooling! Sweet. So shopped alot and bought many things. For myself, not really. But for mum, yes. Before Expo, we also went to a shopping centre to have lunch and to shop a while. Well, there, i bought 2 dresses! Haha. Yeah. A spree but I've been wanting to buy them for some time. Yeah. Oh well. Hope it'll fit well and looks nice on me! =) At night, we went out for dinner and for the first time, it rained here in Phuket! The first time during this trip that it rained! It rained while we were having dinner somemore. Haha. But okay lah. Still managed to eat and find a space indoors. My bro tried a chili and got himself tearing. While my mum accidentally ate a green chili in the tom yam soup and made her feel really bad. Bleah. Photos for 3rd day:
Okay. So that's it for now. Tml will be a free day. No plans at all. Wonder what we are going to do. Quite sad I didn't get to do much shopping like buying presents and souveniors. In this trip, well, I feel sight-seeing and looking at all the limestones formations start to become normal for me. I feel I don't appreciate them as much as I did the first time I see it last year at Vietnam. I don't know. Seen so many. They all look the same. What's more, I also know how they are form from my geography knowledge. But as I was writing this down yesterday in my diary, I guessed I can still thank God that I have a 2nd chance to see His handicrafts again. Yeah. Somehow, in this trip, though I didn't talk much to my siblings, or not as much as I hope to, I still like and enjoy their presence and company very much. Mm. Thank God! And glad there's internet here so I can talk to some of my frens. Like Daniel and Kelvin! =) --------------------------------- Friday, December 12, 2008 @ 12:44 am [back and away]
Right. I've only just cane back on the 11th. And now, I'll be flying off today on the 12th dec to phuket. Packed. Rushed. So I dun have much time to write down my reflections in detail here. So below is jus an entry i written on my diary. so thought of just writing it here. But I must say that I really enjoyed this camp. Not only do I get to make new frens and know my future co-workers (if we all stay on), the messages spoken across touched my heart deeply and i made a re-commitment to God again. Thanks for the climax on the 3rd night. Thanks worship team for creating that atmosphere. I went forward to ask for prayers and I was so close to tears. Seriously. My tears welled up and I really wanted to let the tears flow. But I controlled and told myself no because I want to be conscious of wad I am thinking and hearing clearly what the pastor is praying for me. Crying at the altar in these times is definitely good; an expression but perhaps not good for me now. Okay. So here it is: Thank you God for the camp! Thank you God for:
As for the good sermons, here's some key things that pops out:
That's all. Take care all. I'll be off for my phuket trip today till next mon, 15 dec! --------------------------------- Monday, December 08, 2008 @ 10:30 am Before anything, just want to say that I'll be travelling to msia from this afternoon all the way to Thursday, 11dec. Will be back in the afternoon. So, please do not call me. I can receive any sms.
[reflection] "But God" These 2 words are so ironical. How often do we say use these 2 words when God calls us to do something? How often do we list all our weakness, fears, inexperiences etc? Sometimes, we can end up telling God that we are not eloquent, that we fear the impression we give to others, that it may tarnish our reputation, the risks is too high, have a family to take care of etc. This is what the "but" refers to--all our fears and human logic. Where the telling of human wisdom just impresses on our heart so strong that we began to voice out in argument and rebellion. Yet, look at the next word "God" which refers to the all-knowing, all-possible higher being! He can do everything and make the impossible possible. He protects us from harm and danger. He has plans that man cannot fathom. He loves us so much that He does the good for all who loves Him. Even if it means allowing some danger to get to us so as to teach us lesson(s). He has the whole world in His hands and is sovereign over all things. He is in control of everything. So doesn't that call for us to trust in Him? Doesn't that call for faith in God? Doesn't it emphasize that the word "but" is uncalled for? Haha. See the catch? Well, I'm not saying that arguing with God is wrong. It is ok and right and honest to express to God our fears and weakness. But it's the response after voicing out your feelings that matters the most. Just look at Moses and how he argued with God that he is not eloquent in speech to lead God's people out of Israel. Yet, God uesd him mightily to fulfil His purpose. Then, let's look at Mary, the mother of Jesus, and how she feared God and trembled when she is called to a duty. But she walked in faith and trust in God to bear baby Jesus. What about Peter who had a failure in the past (the denial of Jesus) but Jesus still restored him and lead him in His divine purpose and plan? What about the turning of a persecutor Saul to a sower Paul? Despite of all the wrong and murderous things he had done, God still turned Paul's life around. There are still many examples to be cited. But the point here is that no matter who we are previously, the failures we had, the bad experiences we received, the in-born weaknesses we have, the smallest in the eyes of the society...God can and will use us. So, may our 2 words in response to God's calling forever be "I will". --------------------------------- Saturday, December 06, 2008 @ 11:51 pm [a drama in reality]
Ever watched those taiwan/jap/korean shows where there is a girl sitting at the bus stop, then a guy jogged past her? And suddenly, the guy turns around and jogged back towards the girl and chatted with her? Yeah. So typical drama but it happened to me! What's more, the guy is a korean. So that makes it more drama. haha. so the story goes like this: I was sitting at the bus stop waiting for my bus after tuition. then, i saw this guy jus jogged past me. I din take much notice of him. Then, I saw that this guy suddenly jogs back and retraced his steps. I was surprised. So i turned my head to see who he is going back for. No one. Then, I began to wonder if it was me. So, as I look at his face more clearly, it looked familiar. then, i started calling out the name of the person i thought I was seeing. and ah-ha! it was that guy! someone i knew before! he was my mum's student. at the tuition center. as i had went there to teach previously, i knew him. ha. was surprised to see him. so he sat down beside me and chatted a bit. asked abt my mother. told me he jus shifted to the nearby area. nice. unfortunately, my bus arrived not long later. so we parted. ha. it was so coincidental. and so drama. his hair was even long until the shoulder. so like jap/korean eh? (: interesting happening. --------------------------------- Friday, December 05, 2008 @ 11:37 pm Would you go if I'd ask you along?
Would you spare the time for me? Are you willing to spend a red and green note? And bask in the music with me? Would you dance along the riverside? Smiling and posing with me? To have a cup of drink after that? Before you send me home? I miss you. Thank you. --------------------------------- Thursday, December 04, 2008 @ 1:02 am [bored]
yes. holidays now is really boring. i am super idle. i bet if zhiwen hears this, he'll be shaking his head. it's so unlike me hor? lol. well. i really have no one to meet during the weekdays! the guys are in NS, the girls--i dun have many girl frens to begin with--so not many meet-ups. recently met up with hui ming which was good. had a good chat. then yam wenn and shu hui has to wait till after shu hui finishes her exam this sat. so i'm bored. totally. everyday it's jus reading and reading, watching tv and having my eyes glued to the tv. so painful and so different. i've longed kick the habit of watching a lot of tv shows. so suddenly i'm not used to it. and i dun like to watch tv early in the day cos it makes me restless. ha. so it's just books. yeah. i know i'm owing one christian book. but after reading the BSF notes, i really didn't feel like reading another a christian thing so quickly. can be quite saturated you know. thankfully i jus borrowed a storybook. so got something to entertain me. but i must say, it's something i haven't been doing a long time and it does take up quite an amount of time from me and i can't stop myself frm reading it! haha. i was so bored today that I sms khalis. and then he said this "okay. i'll pick you up at 3pm. we go play pool at bukit timah". haha. i was surprised but on for it. anything to occupy the time while waiting for the children's party to start. yeah. so we started to head down to bukit timah. thankfully this time we had a place in mind to go instead of going aimlessly. so played for an hour. sigh. i still lose in every game and do get demoralise easily. bleah. but khalis said i improved. thanks. but i must say, playing pool today reminds me alot abt yu xin. then it made me sad. ha. oh well. time to put it behind i guess. well, next week will be the start of camps and events and holidays. not exactly looking forward nor don't want it to come. somehow, in the midst of this boredom, i've learnt to just take it as it comes. oh well. and tml and friday will be empty days. maybe call up on zhen guang who has jus returned frm brunei! yay. well, no doubt, these few free days do make me think alot abt him. i bet he'll be happy to hear this and we could have spend alot of time tgt and having alot of fun and trying out alot of new things. but i guess it's over it's over. the past is the past. no more thinking of what-ifs and making wishes. i can only let go... an idle mind is the devil's workshop. don't fall into this trap again, Sharon --------------------------------- Tuesday, December 02, 2008 @ 11:05 pm [better]
good news. both my tooth and my heart feels better! somehow, on sat, my tooth stopped aching. but i still went ahead with a dental appt and did a root canal therapy. yes. the one that i blogged about in my previous entry. I was quite scared at first. let the dentist check then he passed electricity again. And it's confirmed that my nerve died. yes. quite a sad news. quite stunning. it had no reaction to the electricity passed through so it died. but the good news is that, because it's dead, I DON'T NEED TO GET ANY INJECTIONS! I'm so happy when I heard it! I was like "okay okay. let's do it". lol. wad a change of attitude. well, no pain means good. i jus don't want pain. so he did some drilling on my tooth where sometimes i can feel some pressure. he drilled several times and stuck coloured pins into my tooth. at one time, i had about 3 pins in my tooth. ha. must have looked funny. then, took an x-ray on that tooth before the dentist used another pin to take out the pulp from within. then he put in some antiseptic fluid into it. and i don't know why, that hurt alot! really stinging unexpected pain. ouch. but i would rather get it fixed. well, the thing is that the tooth may decolour (after a few years). so will see how it goes. At the end, he sealed up the tooth and i will have another appt to open up and clean up again. yeah. some time this month. well, yeah. emotionally i'm better. no more those italics words for now on that issue. i believe the turning point was Psalm 100. it really touched my heart. as well as the readings from BSF notes--reaffirm me of God's love to me. it jus adds on to what was revealed through ps 100. touched me totally. thank God. thank God for Khalis' and Le Jing's istening ear too! sigh. well, i was jus told that i still haven't changed much. sad. i wonder when will i learn to change or rather, when will i change? maybe i can't change my personality, but i can surely change my words and the style i use? sigh. when and how do i change so i will stop spoiling things around me? how can i learn? help me, Lord. oh well. on another note. here's a short story i came up with myself: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I had been born 5 months ago. Tough and strong, my lady kept me under her bed until recently. No doubt, I had many thoughts of whether I'm abandoned, whether I'm forgotten or whether I'm just useless. I looked around and heard of many stories on how my siblings and cousins have been useful. They are either used to carry household items in the house or clay. But me? Though I'm big in size, I'm of no use. I felt very useless then. Suddenly, on one night, I heard loud banging sounds coming from my side. I heard wails and screams of babies and hebrew ladies from the neighbouring house. It felt so frightful. I could almost hear the intense screams of pain and sorrow. However, this terror did not last only on that night. It actually went on for weeks and nights. It was a sad tale. It was not long after that I realised that the echoes of screams were of those who lost their sons to the cruel murder order of Pharoah. What tragedy. What sadness. But sadness is yet to come. A few days after this ordeal started, I heard loud crying sounds from my own house! My lady had given birth to a son! I started to tremble and rattle. This time round, it would be terrible for my lady's son will have no escape. As I peered out from under the bed, I saw my lady wrapped the baby in her arms. With tears in her eyes, she pressed the baby closed to her chest as she nursed her. From the frown on her face, I could tell that she feared the same plight of the other Hebrew ladies would also befall on her and her child. But as she held the baby's small wrist, I see a glimpse of confidence radiating through her face. "The God of Abraham will protect my son. I vow never to offer my son to the Egyptian River God" So for 3 months, she nursed the baby quietly and with as little suscipicion as possible. Every night, I could hear she and her husband talking about that baby and making plans. Suddenly, on an early morning, she dragged me out from under the bed. I was fearful. I began to wonder what she was going to do with me. Perhaps this is my chance to be useful? With jars of tar and pitch laying beside me, she put me down on her lap and rubbed them on me. It was very painful. I could feel the strong turdy hands going around me and coating me with layer and layer of tar. I totally hated the smell. I hated the rough hands. I hated the pushing and tugging on my sides. I struggled so much and wriggled so much that I slipped out of her lap many times. However, she still picked me up gently and rubbed layer after layer. As my lady was doing so, I caught sight of the baby. The lovely and cute face started smiling at me and the mother. I felt so comforted just looking at the baby. But the most amazing thing was that my lady suddenly placed the baby in my arms! I actually had the baby so closed to me! However, I was scared. What was she going to do with the baby and I? Where is she bringing us to? What is her plan? With so much inhibitions in me, little did I know it was the start of my joy... The lady put a cloth over the baby and everything turned to darkness for him. I saw that my lady started going through narrow alleys, avoiding any greetings by anyone. Walking hurriedly, she started to head for...River Nile! That's where all the sons of the Hebrew woman are thrown into! Surely my lady isn't going to drown her son? I started to tremble inside. Then, my lady stooped down. She held me in her hands and looked at the baby again. Lovingly she whispered a prayer and begged God to preserve the baby from the crocodiles that swarmed in the river. Gently, she let me down and I felt the cold icy water touch my bottom. I started to have little control from the hands and I started to float according to the river's current. It is now just the baby and I. What would become of us? Time started to pass. Still, the baby made no sound. No crocodiles were yet to be seen. Everywhere was quiet until "bump" I hit my side against a rock. I started to shake violently. "Wahhh..." the baby started to wail out in tears. I tried to "shh" the baby and rocked as gently as possible but still the baby couldn't be quieted. Suddenly, a servant girl came towards me. Oh no! The baby is in trouble now! I tried to back away but the hands of the servant girl was too swift for my movement. I was in the girl's hand. Bringing it back to a pretty lady that looked like a princess, she opened up the lid and both of them stared at the baby. I started to shut my eyes for fear of what would happen! Yet, it turned out to be the unexpected. Instead of raising alarm, both ladies smiled widely, lifted the baby out of my arms and carried it in their arms. Lovingly, just like my lady, the princess craddled the baby and hushed him. She said to the servant girl firmly, "He shall be called Moses." Suddenly, a young girl rushed forward to ask for permission to get a Hebrew lady to nurse the baby. Wait! I recognise the girl! She's my lady's eldest daughter! Yes! There's hope for the baby! Soon, my lady appeared and carried the baby to safety...And the story goes on as tales are told that this baby grew up to be Israel's future deliverer and saved the entire Jewish race! What an amazing and wonderful joy! And how amazing that I actually took part in God's great plan! That He actually used an ordinary basket like me to carry out his extraordinary plan! How wonderful! Me? Of all baskets, me? And to think that I've been thinking that I'm abandoned, forgotten and useless when I had been under the bed! And to think that I resent the tough work of tar and pitch that were working on my body! Man...If it weren't for the thick layer of tar and pitch, I wouldn't have floated so far into the part of the river where the princess rescued the baby. And to think that I feared so much when actually, all is in God's hands! Wow! It certainly blows me off how God works! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Okay. That's the end of my story. Well, I got inspired when I read my article on the Mother of Moses in my devotion book. I was thinking: Why not write a story in the perspective of a basket? To bring out the point that God can use ordinary you and me to carry out his extraordinary plan and will. And as I was writing this, I realise I can actually bring out several more points. For example, the hard work and pain the basket have to go through is actually a perparation for the greater plan. So next time when you are going a hardship, don't shrink back. Dont' be sad. Don't give up. Rmb that God has a greater plan installed and the hard work and pain you have to go through is part of mouding you for that plan. You may not see it now and have alot of fears but always rmb God's promise that He has a plan for you and do what's best for us. Another point is that with God, there is no need to fear; there is no need to worry. So cast all your cares on Him for He cares for you! -The End- --------------------------------- Monday, December 01, 2008 @ 12:56 am Psalms 100 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. What attributes of God do you see in this Psalms? Creator, Shepherd, worthy of praises and adoration, good, loving, faithful. To me, the attribute of God that strikes me the most is His love. His enduring love. In this time of toughness, it reminds me that God still loves me and loves me so much to let me go through this tough time to be moulded and shaped. To learn a life lesson(s) from this. To teach me something. That He also loves me so much that He would see me through this tough time. That's the comfort I get and the lesson I learn. And it isn't the first time He's reminding me of His love. So I believe He is speaking to me and telling me this. Psalms 42:5-6a Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Saviour and my God.
May I be able to praise God soon. Cast aside your sadness, emptiness and emo-ness. Find refuge in God and not in activities. Don't give up, Sharon. Press on. Find meaning to life in God. It's not the end of life. Radiate from within once again, anchoring your faith and heart in Him. Put aside your dull face and sad heart. Persevere. --------------------------------- |
Yesterday, my 2nd day, I went to have breakfast downstairs and boy! the wind was blowing super strongly! But nice nonetheless. The spread was good. So, after breakfast, we headed down for a cruise speed boat trip. 
