God is too wise to be mistaken

God is too good to be unkind

So when you don't understand

When you don't see His plan

When you can't see His hand

Trust His heart.

This week I've learnt to be all the more thankful for the circumstances around me. I thank God for blessing me with manifold blessings that span my great friends, classmates, colleagues, work environment and family. We may have our differences but I know that at the end of the day we really try our best not to hurt one another because of the love and respect that we mutually share. When I hear stories that trace a similar path to mine but veer off-course at a latter point, I learnt that it would only be wise to stop thinking about how my situation is bad. No, it's not schadenfreude, laughing at others' misfortunes or gloating. It's being thankful and a reminder to be prayerful about the things that have come my way and to pray for His hand to be seen in the lives of others.

It's strange how non-Christians tend to reflect such wonderful personalities and be the very people who shower love and care, and have a disposition that renders me speechless because they've so much hope. Yet we, as Christians tend to lose that anchor in Christ when we shouldn't because God is already the most High Priest who will never waiver, cannot lie and can swear by His own name that He will keep His promises. Why then do we suffer the trials and tribulations, injustices and fail to see the light that God will provide at the end? It befuddles me.

One thing I do know, that is, God loves us all. And for those who have gone through so much more pain than myself, though they manage fine, I pray that God fill the hole deep within that tries so hard to overlook the pessimism in life to get on by. I learn from them, but He too shows me just where the gaps can be filled with His love. I'm beginning to see just how my life may somehow be able to impact others though I always feel so comfortable and that nothing needs to be done. Never underestimate God's capability to use us small fries in big ways. We just obey and do His will.

And when we can't see His hand, let's trust His heart, even in the things of late that have silently been plaguing me. One day, Father, in Your time will I see the bigger picture and one day, will my Jehovah Jireh provide nothing but the best for me. Trust.

Isaiah 55:8-11

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts,

Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD.

"For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

So are My ways higher than your ways,

And My thoughts than your thoughts.

For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven,

And do not return there,

But water the earth,

And make it bring forth and bud,

That it may give seed to the sower

And bread to the eater,

So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;

It shall not return to Me void,

But it shall accomplish what I please,

And it shall prospoer in the thing for which I sent it."

I think this passage in Isaiah rightly highlights the faithfulness of God in that whatever He says will come to pass, in His own timing, and it may not be as and when we expect it to happen. No matter how long it takes, we need to be patient and wait because God's word always bears fruit and will not return to Him void. Somehow, it's very comforting to know that when God speaks, He means business. There are no empty promises and failure to adhere to whatever comes forth from Him simply because He is God. There will be no heartaches or dull pains, no anguish nor salt added to wounds because His word is consistent like rain that falls and waters the earth to bring life; so the Word brings us life. And, it brings us hope.

What's our hope for this time, and what's our hope for the future? What does God desire for what is to come? If it be bad, indeed let us be granted the wisdom and discernment to know what to do with God being our Shepherd.

Let's wait on God.

Checking back only not to answer the questions that were set out previously but with more to add.

Have I been giving God my all in my work?

Where have I placed Him in the midst of it all?

This week, I aim to surrender it all, to leave everything at His feet and to just be a good servant who will serve well in the marketplace by having the right attitude and by doing well in work not for any other purpose but because it's a God-given blessing and duty. And then, maybe I will be able to answer the questions set out earlier.

Defining marks

What are the defining marks of a Christian?

What are the defining marks of a Christian in the workplace?

What am I portraying in my workplace?

I will check back over the next few days as I ponder and examine these important questions. Just WWJD?

It's either:

1. I'm not having enough to do; or

2. I'm trained to do way more such that I feel like I've nothing to do.

It's a strange feeling at work, I must admit, but good in either sense because God has allowed me time to explore things, interact with people and just building up bonds and observing techniques that I may not be able to should I be thrown directly into the deep sea.

V say that it's good to start in a place like that, small and cosy where people know one another and there's space for learning while not being discredited for our work. It's also a good thing that whatever I'm doing seems all too familiar and is literally what I've learnt put into practice. (I do miss my conceptual frameworks though.)

All that said and done, in just beyond two weeks, I can already say that God has put me where He knows it's best for me. I remember always fervently praying that the job I land would be the one where I can serve Him best in, yet at the same time, a place where I can enjoy my work... I know He's defintely heard my prayers and again I affirm that God is an awesome God.

I can't wait to see just how much more He will reveal to me in the workplace.

A week at work and a very poignant reminder at this point in time - we are called to shine like stars in a crooked and depraved generation.

I used to find it somewhat tougher to really play this out, but after listening to colleagues, watching their actions and all, I begin to see the reality in the need to live out a full Christian life that really stands out. I guess on Friday alone I made my stand clear enough when we were out. I appreciate the company, and for them asking me along to the gatherings, and of course I am grateful and appreciative of their respect for my decisions. Be it whether I'm young or new, it's good to know that they're not forcing me. Also, watching V take her stand was also good though I don't know what happened the rest of the night after I left.

It isn't easy trying to be 'different' in a non-wordly wayin the workplace. Suddenly everything I do stands out even more. At least, they appear more stark to me. It is just my prayer each day that God keeps me shining for Him and that I will always be a living testimony for Him. I pray to find colleagues who will also keep me going and accountable, someday, somehow.

As the new week beckons, I really ask God for a whole lot more of mercy upon me to do my things and to learn, as well as unending grace to fall back on. Keep me faithful and keep me going for You, O God.

16 years over and a new one to come

Dear God,

Thank You for seeing me through my 4 years of university life, and 16 years of formal education. It's been one amazing ride, with all the ups and downs. Through it all, I've witnessed Your hand at work at many points in time and I've been greatly blessed by You. Thank You so much for all that You've done.

I recount how it all began after PSLE when I made the choice not to go to any other school but back to Fairfield. For that reason alone, I grew to love You more, and to love the school and everything it provided for the 10 years I spent within her walls. The friends I made, notably since Primary School, were the ones who've always stood by me, and the ones with whom silences are never awkward and I know that I can always count on them to be there for me and to uphold me in prayer. It wasn't too easy making the choice to stay, but in hindsight, it was a very, very good plan.

I chose not to go to ACJC after that for varying reasons and ended up at NJC for the 1st three months, then moved on to SAJC where I remember being so upset. Truly though, "no one is here by chance" and You gave memuch to be thankful for in the 2 years within those school gates. It wasn't the best time of my life, where most of my close friends were just all over the place. But, You exposed me to enjoying the company of new friends, and new activities that caused me to find myself in a different area and to learn more about myself. In due course, a tough first year brought me back to You in a way that I can never forget. I started serving You and from there I know that I never want to turn away from You ever again. The grounds of that school was again, defiance on my part, but part of Your greater plan to show me who You really are. Of course, the dreaded 'A' levels were really scary and I knew not what to expect. As with many times, things I expected to do well for, I didn't but You continued to reveal Your sovereignty in other ways.

Thank You for bringing me to NUS where I toiled and played for the past 4 years. Honestly, in all of my education, these were the best and worst 4 years, but I wouldn't trade them for anything else. I'm glad You gave me a passion that I could follow through despite the times at end of year1 and in year2 when poor grades caused me to wonder if I should just do something I'm good in rather than what I loved. I'm glad You helped me pull through to discover the wonders of Geography in everything. My Department and friends will never be replaced because these were the two groups of people who sustained me in different ways. Undoubtedly, Your hand was in it all to give me nothing but the best, and the best, I can say, it truly was. In grades alone, I watched my good start lead to a drastic drop and a hard climb back to the top which wouldn't have been possible without You. To obtain my 2nd Upper was truly no fluke but by the grace of Your hand. And it showed me that I'm really not that bad in Geog after all, thankfully because I do love it. I also saw how in uni You gave me burdens to carry that I will continue to bear in years to come and I hope to be able to serve You well in whatever ministries I may be involved in, especially with that pertaining to migrant workers. In the last 2 years, one of my greatest prayers was for You to break my heart for what breaks Yours. It holds a lot of meaning and I want to continue to make that my prayer.

Now, I've come to the start of a new phase of life as I begin work tomorrow. Again, thank You, Father, for opening this door for me. I watched others close in my face many times and with the peace that rests on my heart at this point, I am certain it's here that I should be, and here that I can serve You well. I remember wanting to pursue my interests in heritage but NHB and MICA wouldn't respond to me. I thought urban planning would be it, but URA rejected me and well, I didn't apply for Jurong again. Somehow, it just didn't feel right. NPS came as a surprise, fairly out of the blue... but by that point I recall telling You that I just want a job where I can make use of what I've learnt (go geography!) and serve You best. If this is where I am, then God, now I pray that You'd show me how to serve You in my workplace.

I don't know what to expect, and I don't know what will come. I just pray that the years ahead will be filled with a God-given passion for my work, and for His work within my job and outside. God, You've always been faithful and I know that You will continue to be. When the going gets tough, remind me to turn only to You first. When things seem to be going well, help me to continually give thanks for it all. All that said and done, I pray simply that You take my hand as we walk down this path. And God, don't let go. Don't let me let go of You either because I want to keep running after You wherever I go.

For everything that was and is and is to come, thank You, Father.

In Jesus' name, 

Amen.