It has been over a year and a half that I've posted anything here. And how much have changed since!
Today marks the one year anniversary of my husband proposing in SH! Our marriage is a constant reminder to me of God's mysterious providence and how He can bring hope in the most unlikely places. My years of struggling to trust in God's plan for me in terms of marriage have taught me a lot -- especially in finding rest in God alone, even when I didn't necessarily got what I wanted at the time. I am thankful that God withheld marriage from me for that time so that I would not be content with just receiving the gift but rather to love Him as my God without the gift. It has also taught me that I can trust my Heavenly Father to order all things, even in marriage and in children.
May His abundant grace and mercy be evident each day!
Monday, September 29, 2014
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Not sure what got into me...
I might have been in the kitchen for 7 hours today! From reorganizing the tupperware/cookware/spices racks...
...to making granola...
...banana muffins...
...cinnamon buns...
and ...pull-pork...
...I've been busy from about 1 to 8pm. Even though
some granola got burnt, banana muffins look like mushrooms and cinnamon
buns misshaped, I had a great time exploring new recipes, how to make
homemade yellow cake mix and made a concoction I would call BBQ sauce
that I probably can't repeat exactly since I had no record of the
composition. Oh, and did I mention this was accompanied by good music? Can't do all this for so long without any music!
I do feel very accomplished :) and am ready to hit the bed!
One of my goals this semester is to cook more and to take care of the house a bit more. Hopefully, today's activities haven't burnt me out for the whole semester!
...to making granola...
 |
| yes, we need a whole tub of granola! |
...banana muffins...
...cinnamon buns...
 |
| to be baked tomorrow morning (they will chill in fridge overnight) |
 |
| still cooking |
I do feel very accomplished :) and am ready to hit the bed!
One of my goals this semester is to cook more and to take care of the house a bit more. Hopefully, today's activities haven't burnt me out for the whole semester!
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Wait, July is almost gone! How did that happen?
I guess I can join Joyce in the club of bad bloggers who are MIA for months!
January seemed like a long time ago (in a way, it is and in a way, it is not -- you know what I mean?) I have settled into the life and work here and often reflect on how it is that the Lord has brought me here and the things He had put in my luggage.
Today, we listened to a sermon by Tim Keller on 1 Samuel 1 & 2 (The Prayer for David) and was reminded anew of God's almightiness as the Lord of hosts and yet, how He takes intimate interest in each of our lives. I was encouraged to see how the Lord brought Hannah's gaze onto Him, where she can find real comfort and rest. I was also encouraged to see how the Lord has taught me the same, even a year ago, that I can go to Him with my inner turmoil and find rest. So often, we think that getting the thing we think we lack is the only way to be satisfied (and therefore have rest) -- but I am sure you and I both know that it doesn't take long for that to wear out and our hearts are once again seeking something else to fill that void. It is only in God, our Redeemer, do we find real and lasting rest.
May we echo with the psalmist,
"Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
~Psalm 73:25-26
Will try to be a more regular blogger but if you would like to receive updates about my work, please let me know!
January seemed like a long time ago (in a way, it is and in a way, it is not -- you know what I mean?) I have settled into the life and work here and often reflect on how it is that the Lord has brought me here and the things He had put in my luggage.
Today, we listened to a sermon by Tim Keller on 1 Samuel 1 & 2 (The Prayer for David) and was reminded anew of God's almightiness as the Lord of hosts and yet, how He takes intimate interest in each of our lives. I was encouraged to see how the Lord brought Hannah's gaze onto Him, where she can find real comfort and rest. I was also encouraged to see how the Lord has taught me the same, even a year ago, that I can go to Him with my inner turmoil and find rest. So often, we think that getting the thing we think we lack is the only way to be satisfied (and therefore have rest) -- but I am sure you and I both know that it doesn't take long for that to wear out and our hearts are once again seeking something else to fill that void. It is only in God, our Redeemer, do we find real and lasting rest.
May we echo with the psalmist,
"Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
~Psalm 73:25-26
Will try to be a more regular blogger but if you would like to receive updates about my work, please let me know!
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
A few hours before take-off
Been up trying to get some last minute stuff finished (yes, there is always last minute stuff left somehow...)
I still can't quite believe that I am leaving, but I guess that will be reality soon. My brain feels like mush as I don't think I've spent enough time lately thinking about the many ways I have been loved by so many and to thank the Lord for how He has showered me with His grace and mercy in abundance through so many at our church and beyond! These last few weeks of getting ready (especially this past weekend) has just flown by. I look forward to the plane ride where I hope to spend time reading through the many notes I haven't even gotten a chance to open and to reflect on God's faithfulness -- I don't deserve all this!!! BUT, I am thankful to receive all this!!!
I still can't quite believe that I am leaving, but I guess that will be reality soon. My brain feels like mush as I don't think I've spent enough time lately thinking about the many ways I have been loved by so many and to thank the Lord for how He has showered me with His grace and mercy in abundance through so many at our church and beyond! These last few weeks of getting ready (especially this past weekend) has just flown by. I look forward to the plane ride where I hope to spend time reading through the many notes I haven't even gotten a chance to open and to reflect on God's faithfulness -- I don't deserve all this!!! BUT, I am thankful to receive all this!!!
Monday, October 31, 2011
Am I Really Leaving?
I just landed at DCA and as the plane was descending, I couldn't help feeling a bit nostalgic at the idea as I overlook the city lights of this place that means so much to me -- that carries with it so many laughters and tears, hopes and disappointments and dreams -- a place which once I feared of one day leaving, a place where I came to know the Lord, the turning point of my life from one that is dead in sin to one that is alive by the grace of God!
As I land, I know that from here on out, I would be preparing to leave as going to LA was a marker for the next season as I informed my family of my plans and spent time with them.
I felt my heart descended with the plan at the thought of leaving. I am excited about the prospect of serving the Lord in a different context, but also sad to think of all the things I am saying "Good-bye" to.
Is it really true, am I really leaving? How do people do it? How will I do it?
As I land, I know that from here on out, I would be preparing to leave as going to LA was a marker for the next season as I informed my family of my plans and spent time with them.
I felt my heart descended with the plan at the thought of leaving. I am excited about the prospect of serving the Lord in a different context, but also sad to think of all the things I am saying "Good-bye" to.
Is it really true, am I really leaving? How do people do it? How will I do it?
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Being watchful in it with Thanksgiving...
Have you ever prayed for something and have forgotten that you've ever prayed for it because it was not answered at the very instant? I remember a few years back, a good friend of mine pointed out that Colossians 4:2 says "Continue steadfastly in your prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving." We were talking about the watchfulness that was called upon in our praying that is an evidence of our confidence in God to hear and answer our prayers.
To be honest, I am not often very watchful -- and even if I was in the beginning, time often wears me out as I don't see the Lord answering right away in the way that I've asked. So, I give in to thinking that the Lord is absent or uncaring -- which can lead to prayerlessness, or prayers that are not characterized by faith, but just moving with the motions and formulaic.
This past week, it strucked me as I was reflecting on this past year and the things that the Lord is currently bringing me to how He has been working all along behind the scene. When I quite teaching, one of the things that I was hoping for in my new job was a job that would allow me to think regularly outside of the job and also look into opportunities of going overseas -- when I was teaching I only thought of those things during spring break or summer vacation and just enough to bring me to the beginning of a new school year. As the Lord seems to be opening up an opportunity for me to go overseas very soon, it suddenly occured to me that my current job is an answer to prayer and this new opportunity is the result of the Lord working through all those different circumstances to bring me to what I asked Him for.
I was humbled to think that this whole time, I was working (and sometimes complaining) at my job, the Lord was working behind the scene to get me to this point. I was also ashamed that I was faithless in thinking that the Lord would answer, how the timing would be perfect and how I learned other things that I didn't even anticipate along the way. It was a good lesson for me to learn especially as I fret over so many different things in my life, hopes deferred, that my finite mind and faithless heart have concluded that the Lord doesn't seem to be answering. I needed to be reminded of the call to continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful -- and not only that but with thanksgiving -- because we know that our good and loving Heavenly Father will only bring about good into the lives of His beloved children! I am His and He cares for me, even in ways that I am not aware of my need for caring.
To be honest, I am not often very watchful -- and even if I was in the beginning, time often wears me out as I don't see the Lord answering right away in the way that I've asked. So, I give in to thinking that the Lord is absent or uncaring -- which can lead to prayerlessness, or prayers that are not characterized by faith, but just moving with the motions and formulaic.
This past week, it strucked me as I was reflecting on this past year and the things that the Lord is currently bringing me to how He has been working all along behind the scene. When I quite teaching, one of the things that I was hoping for in my new job was a job that would allow me to think regularly outside of the job and also look into opportunities of going overseas -- when I was teaching I only thought of those things during spring break or summer vacation and just enough to bring me to the beginning of a new school year. As the Lord seems to be opening up an opportunity for me to go overseas very soon, it suddenly occured to me that my current job is an answer to prayer and this new opportunity is the result of the Lord working through all those different circumstances to bring me to what I asked Him for.
I was humbled to think that this whole time, I was working (and sometimes complaining) at my job, the Lord was working behind the scene to get me to this point. I was also ashamed that I was faithless in thinking that the Lord would answer, how the timing would be perfect and how I learned other things that I didn't even anticipate along the way. It was a good lesson for me to learn especially as I fret over so many different things in my life, hopes deferred, that my finite mind and faithless heart have concluded that the Lord doesn't seem to be answering. I needed to be reminded of the call to continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful -- and not only that but with thanksgiving -- because we know that our good and loving Heavenly Father will only bring about good into the lives of His beloved children! I am His and He cares for me, even in ways that I am not aware of my need for caring.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Thankfulness
Have been MIA for the last almost 6 months as life has been taken up by ... well, life. And though there were many times when I thought, "I should post something," those times passed and ... nothing. But this morning, I felt this urge to post something as I have been thinking a lot about being thankful.
Yesterday, I had one of those days where life just seems to require more energy than I've got and after my chiropractor appointment, I was reflecting on one aspect of our conversation where he was encouraging me to believe in myself and love myself more. He is not a believer so I wouldn't count on taking his counsel in full but what the Lord did do was to use that to show me how I was carrying the posture of negativity. It was not one of those lightning flash moments since I am quite stubborn and I was at my own pity party for the rest of the afternoon. But the Lord did not give up on me and kept bringing that to my mind along with this verse...
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
I have not been doing that. On the contrary, I seemed to "grumble always, and complain in all circumstances." And it is so easy to give in to complaining, especially when I think that life is not the way that I want it to be. But the message that I am sending to others in my complaining is that the God that I proclaim to believe and find hope in is not all that good and that the things that He sees as good is not worth giving thanks for. It was also interesting for me to reflect on how something that I was thankful for at one time (when I first got it) can slowly turn into something I complain about -- how sick is that?
In my battle to grow in thankfulness, I hope to be consciously finding things to be thankful for in my life's specific circumstances as that is often the area I am blinded to.
Yesterday, I had one of those days where life just seems to require more energy than I've got and after my chiropractor appointment, I was reflecting on one aspect of our conversation where he was encouraging me to believe in myself and love myself more. He is not a believer so I wouldn't count on taking his counsel in full but what the Lord did do was to use that to show me how I was carrying the posture of negativity. It was not one of those lightning flash moments since I am quite stubborn and I was at my own pity party for the rest of the afternoon. But the Lord did not give up on me and kept bringing that to my mind along with this verse...
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
I have not been doing that. On the contrary, I seemed to "grumble always, and complain in all circumstances." And it is so easy to give in to complaining, especially when I think that life is not the way that I want it to be. But the message that I am sending to others in my complaining is that the God that I proclaim to believe and find hope in is not all that good and that the things that He sees as good is not worth giving thanks for. It was also interesting for me to reflect on how something that I was thankful for at one time (when I first got it) can slowly turn into something I complain about -- how sick is that?
In my battle to grow in thankfulness, I hope to be consciously finding things to be thankful for in my life's specific circumstances as that is often the area I am blinded to.
- So, today, I am thankful for my job -- it is not stressful, my co-workers are kind and pleasant and to be able to work with Jason who has been patient and forbearing with me even in my moodiness and independence. I am thankful that it is a job that is "self-contained" and allows me to invest more in the life and ministry of the church -- as I was praying for. It allows me to have lunches with people from church or elsewhere. It allows me to live here financially and has helped me to think more carefully about my time and my money -- as it seems to have given me the flexibility of directing them more.
My Heart Is Filled With Thankfulness
Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
My heart is filled with thankfulness
To Him who bore my pain;
Who plumbed the depths of my disgrace
And gave me life again;
Who crushed my curse of sinfulness,
And clothed me with His light,
And wrote His law of righteousness
With power upon my heart.
To Him who bore my pain;
Who plumbed the depths of my disgrace
And gave me life again;
Who crushed my curse of sinfulness,
And clothed me with His light,
And wrote His law of righteousness
With power upon my heart.
My heart is filled with thankfulness
To Him who walks beside;
Who floods my weaknesses with strength
And causes fears to fly;
Whose every promise is enough
For every step I take.
Sustaining me with arms of love
And crowning me with grace.
To Him who walks beside;
Who floods my weaknesses with strength
And causes fears to fly;
Whose every promise is enough
For every step I take.
Sustaining me with arms of love
And crowning me with grace.
My heart is filled with thankfulness
To Him who reigns above;
Whose wisdom is my perfect peace,
Whose every thought is love.
For every day I have on earth
Is given by the King.
So I will give my life, my all,
To love and follow Him.
To Him who reigns above;
Whose wisdom is my perfect peace,
Whose every thought is love.
For every day I have on earth
Is given by the King.
So I will give my life, my all,
To love and follow Him.
To love and follow Him.
Copyright ©2003 Thankyou Music
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