Jeremiah 29:11

Two years and two months ago, upon discernment and rather careful planning, plus a "YES" to God to venture into uncharted waters, I resigned from a rather stable 5-day job and bade goodbye to teaching career upon completion of the 3-month notice. It was a strange day where nobody seemed to care. Yet, I knew I was doing exactly what I was called to do, and going to exactly where I was called to go.

It was a miracle when a month after the scholarship results was out and I was on reserved list (which literally means, "with sincere apologies we would like to inform you that you are not selected to be in our scholarship program) that I was offered that very scholarship again. I could only attribute this miracle to God and His plans for me. I was on a roller coaster when I said the second yes.

The first yes was to attend World Youth Day in Madrid, Spain, when I didn't even have financial means to pay for my flights nor registration fees. The second yes was to accept the scholarship and stayed back in Spain rather than to fly back. It would be a brand new chapter in my life. Two sides of the same coin - adventurous and scary at the same time.

I'm a planner by nature, so I've decided that I should travel a bit before the studies commenced. To end the chapter of a working young adult and jump into the chapter of a mature student. By April 2011, I had almost everything worked out - where I would go after WYD, where to leave my 25 kg luggage (all that I could bring for my two-year or more stay in Europe), transportation and accommodations during the Eurotrip, etc. I got really good bargain for my Rome accommodation, and managed to visit a fellow Couchsurfer in his family home in Crailsheim, Germany, and my two South Korean friends in Freiburg. So my journey started on 9th August 2011 when I left Malaysia (with the rest of the WYD team) until further notice.

Upon arrival to Madrid, I took the train down to Cordoba and met with the flatmate of the CSer who housed my luggage for a whole month while I traveled with my Deuter 45L backpack. From Cordoba, I took a bus to La Linea and met up with the group and walked over to Gibraltar where we spent almost a week there for the pre-WYD event. It was spiritually awakening indeed. From Gibraltar, we all took a bus back to super hot Madrid for WYD and yeah, I met Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in Madrid during the weekend. After WYD ended, I bade goodbye to my church friends and started the solo travel to Barcelona on overnight bus. I arrived very early in the morning, took a train to Manresa and walked to the monastery where I stayed for three nights. I was blessed with the presence of an American Vietnamese priest, Fr. Tri Dinh, who guided me on personal retreat for a day. I never knew that the La Cueva was where St. Ignatius of Loyola stayed and wrote the Spiritual Exercises until I arrived and was given basic information of the monastery. So, for three nights I spent in silence getting enough rest, and be amazed by the love of God. After recharging myself, I met up my old classmate and her friend in Barcelona for two days to catch up and walked around the city of Gaudi. From Barcelona, I flew to Rome and spent four amazing days there. From Rome, I flew to Basel and took a train to Germany. Finally, I returned to Basel after about 5 days in Germany to fly to Spain again - to start my studies.

I'm on Erasmus Mundus Masters Course (EMMC) Scholarship, so every semester I moved to another country where my host university is. September 2011 we started in Madrid, by February 2012 we moved to Lisbon. I went back to Malaysia for the summer, spending about 3 weeks in West Malaysia and the other three in East Malaysia, and attended a close friend's wedding in Kota Kinabalu before I flew back to our 3rd country - the UK - in September 2012. I'm blessed with the opportunity to work on a project here in the UK so I'm here for the whole academic year. By November 2012, I started making enquiries about PhD vacancies. I know I have to get a PhD anywhere before I return to my homeland to start contributing again to the society, or anywhere God leads me to. Out of all the applications and enquiries, only Cambridge is all the way with positive answers...

Currently, I am shy of the financial assistance. I'm almost there, just the money which is stopping me from telling everyone that I'm going to Cambridge for PhD in October. It all got very exciting when Fitzwilliam College added me to the FB graduate group and started knowing who are the ones who would be in the same college as I do, and reading about the traditions of Cambridge. Yet, I'm right now in the 2nd phase of consideration for a scholarship which may fund my 3-year studies. I'm nervous, I'm worried, I'm scared. I'm just being human. Yet I know, I have done all I could. I had completed the documentation they needed, and emailed them right before I started writing this entry. Now, only God is left. If it is His will that I will receive some Cambridge education, there I will be, just on time, not a day early, not a day late.

As much as me being a stubborn mule, this time, may God's will be done in my life. For I know that His plans are greater than mine, more intricate and better than what I have in mind. And all His plans are to prosper me, not to harm me (c.f. Jer 29:11).

Lenten Reflection: 26th February 2013, Tuesday

Hear the word of the Lord,

you rulers of Sodom;

listen to the command of our God,

you people of Gomorrah.

'Wash make yourselves clean.

Take your wrong-doing out of my sight.

Cease to do evil.

Learn to do good,

search for justice,

help the oppressed, be just to the orphan,

plead for the widow.

'Come now, let us talk this over,

says the Lord.

Though your sins are like scarlet,

they shall be as white as snow;

though they are red as crimson,

they shall be like wool.

'If you are willing to obey,

you shall eat the good things of the earth.

But if you persist in rebellion,

the sword shall eat you instead.'

The mouth of the Lord has spoken.

(Isaiah 1:10, 16-20)

Today's first reading reminds me of all the sins which I committed in the dark behind close doors, and within my heart. What really struck me is the Lord's openness to "talk this over" about our sins and how we are redeemed if we are "willing to obey", and the prophet Isaiah included both the consequences of persisting in our sinful ways and when we turn back to God. It reminds me that I have a choice, and a decision to make. To follow Him or not is up to me, really... I guess I'm more comfortable to try following Him, despite multiple falls, I live. His will is my mission in life. Though not knowing fully the plan God has for me, I still believe that His plans are the best.

Right now, in the midst of rejections of the PhD applications which I made earlier, I could only trust that His plan is greater than mine. And I am trying to "talk it over" with God about my intentions and let's see where He will lead me to. Besides the further studies intention, I, too, am intending to fuel the starting of Catholic Society in University of Lincoln while I am here. I find this an issue which is very close to my heart and hope that it will materialise. And of course, the plan is to start off with Student Alpha next week and see if it will work out :)

Europe Countdown: Day 17

Suddenly, it is less than 3 weeks before I leave. I have another 5 working days and then it is the end of my working life for the time being. Being a student is always both a challenge and leisure. I do hope being far away from my homeland will make me a stronger person. I know I shall enjoy the moments of learning and absorbing knowledge, and also the exploration of Europe herself.

As I move towards the end of July, I find myself with so many unsettled things - transfer of billing and mailing address, unpaid bills, phone package transfer, things to buy and pack, things to bring home and give away... the list goes on and on, and most of them require a sufficient amount of money (which I don't have right now). The smart organization which I am working now decided to pay my salary only on the last day of this month (my original pay date is 22nd of the month). This leaves me broke and stuck without the ability to do anything else this weekend. I guess at the moment, I can only pack my stuffs which are all over the room, and see how it goes.

I know that this challenge I will be able to pass, and God is with me. I can't describe what it means to me at the moment, with so many voices telling me that things are failing and I sometimes am disappointed with things at work etc... but I am certain that my God is a faithful God, even when I am faithless.

So, here I am, done with day 17. With 16 days at hand, many things have to be done. May I be strengthened as I journey through the final two weeks in Malaysia...

Europe Countdown: Day 49

Another 7 weeks to my Europe trip. Frankly speaking, I am lacking of confidence that I would get everything settled on time. Another 6 weeks in school. I am trying so hard now to forgive those who had intentionally informed everyone in the school, including the students that I am going away. In fact, I don't need such promotions. All I want is some serenity to get things done instead of delaying things because of unwanted questions from everyone. I am just tired of explaining myself all the time.

I left KL with a rather heavy heart. I have friends who are battling with something tough and stressful right now. I could do nothing for them, except prayers to be offered for them daily now. Yeah, I wasn't really a good friend, like what she said, when I told her I felt awkward with the silence. I've never really been good with silence, due to my boundaries issues. I really hope that after a while, things will be alright for her and her family.

Yeah, speaking about boundaries issues, now I know I'm at the peak of it. Or am I in the valley? Either one, it means I am struggling with boundaries. One end of it, I want to just be on my own and I can do my stuffs according to the timing I want. On the other end, I hope I can experience kinder and more considerate people. Perhaps I just want some concern from somewhere that is. I am contradicting myself at the moment.

Today's bible verse for reflection:
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you or forsake you." (Deuteronomy 31:6)

Portrait of a Godly Woman

Last night we had our second Sisters CG night and three of us made up the group - Josephine, Lydia and myself. Jesus Himself promised "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." (Matthew 18:20, NIV). I don't have my personal bible with me in school, so I'm refering to the school's NIV bible instead. I was so encouraged by Lydia's presence in our CG last night, knowing that God is exactly doing what He wants to do to us all. Praise the Lord for His presence in our lives!

Let's get going about Proverbs 31:10-31... You can click here (NAB version) and here (NIV verson) for the reading.

The woman who was described in this passage is an idealised woman, a composite of many capable woman. As we read this passage, we start to discover that the ancient biblical idea of womanhood does not consist of a stereotyped housewife occupied with dirty dishes and laundry, or her daily life wholly dictated by the unreasonable demands of her husband and children, nor did we see anything of a hardened, overly ambitious career woman who does not care for her family.

What we discovered from the material written by Sheila Graham according to the bible passage was a woman who is strong, dignified, multitalented and caring. She's also an individual in her own right, etc. Most importantly, her primary concern is God's will in her life. She is a woman after God's own heart... So let us go through the characteristics of this woman who is a role model for all Christian women today:

1. Strong, capable woman with strong convictions. A woman who does not agree with those who associate feminity with weakness and passivity.
2. Trusted by her husband to manage their resources, and her industriousness adds to family income.
3. Her character is stead. She is reliable and dependable. She does not base her actions on how she is treated by others or by what others think.
4. She plans ahead for what she needs in order to accomplish her responsibilities.
5. She goes extra mile for quality items.
6. She sets the pace of her household, taking responsibility to take care of those under their authority as one of her top priorities.
7. She uses her mind, logically analyses a situation before making a decision. She envisions the long-range benefits of her decisions.
8. She keeps herself healthy and strong by proper health practices - good diet, adequate rest and exercise.
9. She knows that her merchandise is good and takes pride in doing a good job. No one ever worries that her responsibilities are not taken care of.
10. She develops her talents and hones her skills through education and diligent application.
11. She shows personal concern to people around her.
12. She provides clothing for the family, taking it seriously and plans ahead. She does not practise crisis management.
13. She has high standards and dresses properly for the occasion.
14. Her man does not have to spend half his time trying to straighten out problems at home, and his success in the social world comes partly from her support, just as her success comes partly from his support. He trusted her to manage the estate efficiently.
15. She runs a business from her home, where the efforts and industry add to the family income.
16. This woman benefits each day from her wise and diligent actions. Long-term lifetime benefits and rewards lie in store for her.
17. She is well-read and has the facts. She knows what she is talking about and she is able to express herself intelligently, tactfully and diplomatically. People come to her for good advice.
18. She is an organised, energetic person who carries out her responsibilities.
19. She is honoured in her home and her husband teaches their children to respect her and the virtues she personifies. She is not a doormat, slavishly trying to appease and please her family, no matter how unreasonable their demands.
20. She is a role model for women of all time.
21. Her priorities are determined by God's will, not her own. She is concerned about what God thinks, rather than with what other people think. If a woman's beauty and charm are the extent of her virtues, what happens when time and the trials of life take their toll? This woman depends not on beauty and charm for her success, BUT her need for God.
22. This woman is actively doing, not merely talking. She does not boast about her plans for the future or her successes of the past. They are obvious.

Well, these are the explanation I derived after reading the article written by Sheila Graham. This woman seems too good to be true, isn't it? Well, we have to recognise and accept that no one excels in everything, and not everyone has the same skills.

It is important that as a woman of God, we realise that regardless of our natural talents or acquired skills, or all our accomplishments, our strength comes from God. So, a virtuous woman is a woman who put God first. And this ideal woman should encourage all women everywhere.

Culture changes, but this woman's God-inspired character still shines brightly across the centuries.

R.I.P. My Beloved Dad

This is an overdue entry... I should have written this long ago, but I never really talked myself into really writing it. Anyway, to start with it, I think my mom is going to kill me if she ever finds out that I took photos in funeral parlour. Finally I feel at peace of writing it, because his death is a symbol of eternal life with Christ, and with this, we should rejoice and cast out the fear of death. Of course, that doesn't mean I'm not grieving or I'm alright and able to move on from the loss of my beloved dad. I know where he is right now is definitely better than what he had been through for the past 6 months battling with advanced gastric cancer.

My dad was rested in a pure white coffin, and everything was just so pristine.

His sufferings were joined with Christ's. I liked the arrangement where the Cross was in front before my dad's coffin. It is like my dad laying down to rest at the feet of Jesus.

Though it seemed bare, but my dad had lived a dignified life for sure.

His favourite flowers were orchids, so I got Aunty Kat to put orchids for his basket of flowers and around his photos.

Now it's story time... My dad's name is Augustine Chan, and he was born on 12 November 1947 and died on 26 August 2009 at the age of 62. A teacher by profession since the age of 19, he had many students as a government school teacher would have. Besides teaching, he also did counselling and discipline, and had been a full-time counsellor before for about 4 years in government school.

Here's a snippet of what I had written during on of those mornings of 17 August 2009 (about 10 days before his departure). I did not do a eulogy for my dad during his funeral mass, and I felt I owed him this...

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All girls' first love is their fathers! And how my dad is will always be a guideline of how I should choose my future husband.

My dad is not a perfect man, but he's a man worth my utter respect and love. All these years, both my parents persevered to keep the family together. There were endless arguments, but never physical fights, only hurling of words (not-so-nice ones). There were frustrations, but there were also many happy moments. I remember the fishing trips to the rivers, the trips to Tioman Island where my dad would catch us tiny crabs and put them in glass bottles, the fireflies he would catch for me and kept in cassette boxes, the visits to his school libraries to borrow a stream of Enid Blyton's books. Not only that, the visit to Sabah in 2004 was pure fun though there were "situations" (the Kancil I rented broke down half way to Pekan Nabalu and had to ask for help from a lorry to tow it to the workshop in Kundasang).

My dad never failed to amaze me with his talents -- he could dance, probably sway and jazz and cha-cha and quick steps and samba, he could play music - organ, guitar, harmonica, probably drums and tambourines too. He could write lovely essays as an English teacher, he draws water colour drawings without the need to use a pencil to sketch. He too has green fingers, where all plants come alive with his touch. He's an athlete - swimming, chess player... My dad has a heart of gold, will never leave a person who needs help behind.

All these are basics for me to look at a future husband material. Besides that, that man would have to love his parents and family too. Where do I find such a man? Only God can give me such a gift. No one else but Him alone.
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Yeah, my dad was a talented man, jack of all trades for sure. He knew a lot and many friends of mine who had the encounter talking to my dad would say that he's a wise man with a lot to share. Of course, my relationship with my dad sometimes could be more sour than sweet... We're so alike, and shared the same stubbornness that will make a mule faint. LOL! Well, despite the clashes, he's still my loving ol' man. It was painful for me to let him go, especially after the Inner Healing & Transformation Seminar, I was ready to set into the "building & renewing my relationship with my dad" mode, only to find him diagnosed with advanced gastric cancer (stage 4) confirmed on 3 March 2009 via intraoperative method. But I knew that the Lord has a plan to prosper me and not to harm me (cf. Jeremiah 29:11)... And definitely for all others too, including my dad.

Oh yeah... To my friends who are concerned about me being single and all who happened to be reading this... Yes, I AM searching for a life partner, but until this moment nobody actually comes up to me and tells me, "Know what, Cindy, I like you and would like to enter into a courtship for marriage with you for who you are." I would love to have this kind of marriage proposal, but God decides, God leads the right man into my life lahh! Hence, stop being curious about me. Ahakz! I will trust in the Lord my God continuously, who brings me through it when He brought me to it. Whatever circumstance it may be, because He had proved Himself a Loving Father, a faithful God.

If a person asks, "How are you?" or "How have you been?", there is always an answer of "I'm ok" or "I'm not ok". Don't be cheated by my composed outlook at many times, somewhere deep inside me, I'm as human as you are. (In case you think I'm an alien in disguise. LOL!)

Again and Again... A Decision to Make

"Another day has come to an end. What fun is there if there's no You in my life? I guess no fun at all though I probably will be having "fun" yet don't feel it at all. Numbness shall surround my body and I'll go looking around for the reasons to live. Yet, with You, all things become possible, all things become holy. You alone becomes the rock that I stand firmly on. You alone becomes the alcove of refuge when I am lost and sad. Yes, only You will come for me, again and again... THANKS, LORD JESUS."

I'm still procrastinating to do something drastic. Yupe, due to uncertainties, fears, and endless "what-ifs". As I came back from daily mass, had wholemeal bread with tuna while waiting for my ABC soup to heat up in the wok, I checked my MSN and my blog to find two particular individuals who had posted a message which I think is from God to me. A friend on my contact list posted a shoutout of "Do not fear" and Emily Sutherland blogged an entry entitling "Live Fearlessly".

What was posted that really hits me is this part:

Looking around, it may seem that no one else has insecurities quite like you do. But believe me, they do. Very likely, they believe you are the one who is fearless. So rise to the occasion. Live fearlessly. Be the bold, hopeful voice the world longs to hear. It starts with looking people in the eye, making decisions that give you room to grow, choosing not to use the filter you once used that stopped you in your tracks. Choose a new filter… one that does not allow insecurity to be a deciding factor. Just do what you know you need to do. Live moment by moment, don’t worry about where the next ounce of courage will come from. It will be there when you need it.

What I highlighted really empowered me to do what I need to do. I think it is time. And I pray it will be according to God who wills all things to happen because He loves me so. And I pray this decision will give me room to grow. When time is ripe, I will disclose what decision I made so far.

Till then, you-who-read-my-blog, please keep me in prayers for strength, courage and faith to follow the Guide, who is the Holy Spirit, who was there with Jesus and God in the beginning.

The Real World at Real Time

"Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD."
~ Psalm 31:24 ~

I guess the phrase "do not be discouraged" is more appropriate for me at this moment. Something happened this morning that caused me to be late to school today. I arrived in school at 11.50 am. Another mistake made when I saw the principal... It was super late and I felt very bad missing class with my F5 students. I hope none of my students have my blog url, but I'd just like to apologize to all who were affected because of my absenteeism this morning. I guess I need to go for confession soon~~~

Yet, this phrase seems to comfort me. Knowing that God is still with me even I made a huge mistake here. As I searched for the verse online (wished my bible has such an index like a search engine at that moment), I was given so many verses on the keywords I used. In fact, another verse which helped to pacify my uncertain emotion is from the book of Tobit...

"Do not be afraid, my son, because we have become poor. You have great wealth if you fear God and flee from every sin and do what is good in the sight of the Lord your God."
~ Tobit 4:21 ~

For once, I really want to be the teacher God calls me to be at this moment. I don't know where He's going to lead me next, but if He's asking me to stay until further notice, He must have a plan that will prosper me, helping me to be who He's preparing me to be in future. I can only continue trusting in Him who created me in my mother's womb, cradle me when I'm in fear, hug me when I'm discouraged, love me when I feel unloved.

"I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."
~ Joshua 1:9 ~

I pray that you who read my blog will not lose hope in this God who sometimes we think play a fool with our lives, because He does it right so that we can learn to be disciplined, well-behaved, loving children of His.

"Sanctify yourselves; for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you."
~ Joshua 3:5 ~

The Gift of Self

Today is Epiphany - the day when the three wisemen from the east paid homage to little Baby Jesus in the manger. As usual, I was busy jotting down the points of homily during mass this morning. I was filled with joy when I knew that the mass was to be celebrated by Archbishop John Lee. I'm always in awe with his homilies, knowing that it is a call to grow deeper with God. Last time I used to dread his homilies... Now I'm always anticipating his homilies... I guess the biggest impact Bishop had made in my life was the sermon he gave somewhere in July. I remember his question was simple, yet so difficult to answer - "What do you bring to offer to Jesus at mass every time you attend mass?" His explanation was exactly how the song "So You Would Come" by Hillsong is... "Come to the Father, though your gift is small, broken hearts, broken lives, He will take them all..." All we need to bring to Jesus everytime we attend mass is ourselves, our desperations, our disappointments, our joys, our happiness, our sorrows... Everything in our lives is what Jesus wants from us... Yeah, from that day onwards, I knew my life changed. Well, at least my perspective towards Mass changed.

Today, the call is to recognize and follow Jesus. The readings for Epiphany are Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13; Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6; Matthew 6:1-12. You can click here for the readings... One part of Bishop's homily that struck me most was about the gospel reading of today... Here's a rough idea of the whole part...

... Many times we talk about ourselves attending pilgrimages. How many times did we also tell others about the quarrels, fights, criticisms, etc. right after the pilgrimages? Like us, the wise men from the East who went on a pilgrimage to find the little baby also have problems on their journey, yet they choose and try to see the signs and follow the star. When they entered the city of Jerusalem, the star disappeared. Being at loss, they went to Herod for help. Apparently, King Herod wasn't really the right person for help, because he didn't know much. At the same time, what Herod did when he heard about the birth of the new King of Jerusalem was to refer to the scribes who were the experts in scriptures. Based on the word of prophets, they predicted that the little Babe will be born in Bethlehem. Thus, the wise men followed the Word, left Jerusalem. Once they left the city, they saw the star again, and they were filled with great joy. When they met with the Baby, they fell down and worship Him. Only God will be worshiped in such a way. Besides that, the wise men gave him everything they have - frankincense, gold and myrrh. After paying homage, they went back to their countries using a different road after being warned not to return to Herod in a dream...

As Bishop continued... He disclosed that the lives of the three wise men were changed. In our current times, as he put it, "when we encountered God, our whole life is transformed and we don't go back to the old life again". We're on that journey, through Christmas, the feast of Holy Family, and now Epiphany... We pray that we can recognize Him and offer ourselves to Him.

Bishop's call to us was this: "Do I have anything to offer to Jesus today?"

He concluded that we should let go of our whole life to Jesus so that we can live in Him and Him in us...

I guess what really struck me hard was that our lives (the wise men) will be transformed after encountering Jesus (paying homage to Baby Jesus in the manger) and thus we should never return to our old self (returning to Herod) but to take a new route back to our home (alternative route back to their home country). It is very symbolic to me, the whole gospel reading, after listening to what Bishop said during homily. In fact, there are so much more in the homily which struck me, but this is what I would like to share with others at this moment. My life is no longer mine, but it is Christ who lives in me and I in Him... I think it is a verse written by St. Paul... It is really true to me now~

So, do you have anything to offer to Jesus today?

Thank and praise God, whose hands are in my life. Amen!

Time Flees, Love Stays

I wonder if I had a similar entry when I first started this blog... Well, this is just another of my ramblings before nesting in my dog nest. Anyway, tomorrow is Epiphany!!! Although it is the end of Christmas season, but it is the brand new start for us. Hence, this entry symbolizes a brand new start of the year... So MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY EPIPHANY!!!

Year 2008 brought me great joy, great sorrow. I wouldn't say I didn't receive the same amount of blessings as everybody did from God, but I would say this road had been a real tough one. I lost so much, gained as much too. This year (2009) is another year of the Lord. I don't know what lies ahead of me, but I know who holds all the tomorrows I have on His hand. Yups, beautiful Lord, wonderful Saviour. Sometimes it is hard to believe in His real presence, but at this moment there is no way I can doubt His presence in my life. Though great sorrow after great joy, I know the love that He brought to me will never change. People may not be able to understand what I had gone through or what I'm going through, but He knows me best. All that are happening is according to His will I hope.

I pray that you who read my entry at this moment will be blessed with a year of love, joy, hope and peace in the Lord, and that all that you do is according to God's holy will... The peace we receive in our hearts is the greatest treasure that one can keep within us. I pray that year 2009 will be a year to remember for us. Just like how year 2008 was. I know, time will pass, memories will be created, but this love that's been given to us from God, it will stay forever. And all I can do is to continue believing in Him, trusting that He will bring me to where He wants me to be, and to continue to grow deeper with Him. Amen.

What's The Secret to Happiness?

I got this from a friend via SMS long time ago...

I found the answer in my house.
The wall says be strong,
the ceiling says aim high,
the door says be open,
the window says learn to give and take,
the clock says time is gold,
the calendar says love everyday as if it were last,
the cabinet says keep in order,
the bed says take time to relax,
the lamp says be the light,
and GOD, who is found everywhere in my house says,
"KEEP THE FAITH BECAUSE I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS!"