thank God for His mercies and grace!

it is scary to see how for a moment the evil one seemed to prevail.
it is scary to see how for a moment you think all is lost. including hope.
it is scary to begin to wonder for a moment "Has God's mercy ceased forever?"

but...

He is abundant in mercy.
Great in faithfulness.
He is a God whose thoughts are deep that no one on earth could fathom with earthly logics.
Oh, My God! He is my God, my Heavenly Father, my Depender, my Hope, my Joy, my EVERYTHING!

You are beautiful beyond description.
Too marvellous for words.
Too wonderful for comprehension.
Like nothing ever seen on earth.

Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom?
Who can fathom the depth of Your love?
You are beautiful beyond description.
Majesty enthroned above.

I stand, I stand in awe of You.
I stand, I stand in awe of You.
Holy God, to whom all praise is due.
I stand in awe of You.

PRAISE the LORD!

long while since i last blogged. significant week but not yet to say. (sorry man, i'm doing it again.) um yup, everything's quite well. i need to get my heart and mind right and back. :P

shall say more when my internet is quite fixed.

pastor shared this verse at youth conference committee meeting last saturday.

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
~ Romans 15:13

in nov 11 entry, i wrote about this joy i have, that it is not always the laughing, smiling joy. but o think it is one with tinge of peace and hope, perhaps with the sanity of mind.

the verse that pastor shared, summarized and confirmed what i think about the joy that i have. when you hope and place in God the faith and all that you have and own, this joy and peace comes... and this hope multiplies even more! (: how true is His word! (:

i still miss you.
i think that explains everything else? actually not quite.

Growing up

while i was walking along the corridors before reaching my house, i remembered peiyong. cant quite remember why. but whenever i try to think about God, i remember peiyong & what she would say. and you know, along the corridors, i thought i've grown up alot and i think peiyong once mentioned something like that. grown up spiritually because i realised everything i do and think, it relates back to the spiritual aspect.

1) i think i have grown up spiritually because i realised i no longer feel super uncertain about life. even at crossroads where there are tonnes of paths to choose from, i know that when i choose to wait upon the Lord and listen to His still small voice, He will prompt me to go in the right way. and even if the road is not the ultimate right way, i know He will still be there.

2) i think i have grown up spiritually because i know how to yield to God whenever i am hurt. and yes, i do find joy in difficult times, even in situations like now. this joy isnt always the laughing, smiling joy. but i think it is one with the tinge of peace & hope, perhaps with the sanity of mind too!

3) i have grown up chronologically because i have many responsibilities which werent around just a while ago.

4) i have grown up chronologically because i realised many things indicated i have come of age secularly. e.g. i am old enough to be a mother to my childcare kids.

i am glad that i have grown up. it feels good to know that i am growing in the light! (:

went to botanic gardens with my kids yesterday. got a little sunburnt. it was quite fun walking around. there was something new - evolution garden. it showed the evolution of the plants since Earth began. it's like exhibit style but in real form. i always like that style and i think that's why i like going discovery centres and science centre. the evolution garden is a trail to go through.
i think we can call for a outing at botanic gardens one day. there is so much to explore!

what's up with evolution these days? evolutions about human & plants are interesting but complex & untrue. well, that comes from a christian perspective. if anyone is going to arguing against this, so sorry that i wont be able to.

anyway, travelling to botanic gardens, we took the PIE-Jurong way (i think). of course, we passed by Ah Hood Road and the then-ACS(primary?) school building. Just passing the area made me think of the past. many many fond memories although we were only there for 2 years. it was during those times we learnt to be faithful, to grow even more. it was the time when i was going through O levels, working @ Mt Elizabeth Hospital & 1st year of Poly. there were the times we did car-washing, YPG Sales! It was sooooooooooooooo fun! wish we were back in those times! of course, ugh! there were embarrassing times which til now i find it hard to erase from my mind... and it is those times that made me really cautious nowadays. oh well, it serves good purpose but i think it cripples me at times.

can we pass on a legacy of faith?
from glory to glory...

Celebrate the hope,
celebrate the love,
celebrate the treasure sent down from above!
Celebrate the peace that's offered unto men.
Celebrate the Child of Bethlehem.

that's what i am talking about. Christ is the hope, love, peace. He is such a treasure! (:

everything else beyond imagination burdens and hurts me. but i will choose not to dwell on these.

thank God for hope.
thank God for love.
thank God for truth.
thank God for strength.
thank God for joy.
thank God for understanding.

i must hold on in the Lord's way. i will not let you evil one win. this is a battle i must fight!

jermaine, you too!