Europe Countdown: Day 54

Finally, Putrajaya part was completed just now. Everywhere seemed so far away in Putrajaya. Thank God for friendly taxi driver who waited for me while I got my things done in the various locations. I'll describe more soon!

It's always so comforting to meet long-time friends. Apart from staying with Jennifer Lau whom I had not seen for two years, I met up with Kiwi for a long long chat. For the past 7 years, we did not really meet or talk to each other. After so long, he's still such a comfortable person to pour my heart to. A friend in need is a friend indeed! Shared a lot on our pasts, presents and future plans. More to chat about... I haven't really spent time to chat with Jenn though...

I'm so sleepy now, but really thank and praise God that He becomes the reason of my direction. No longer I'm so lost whenever unhappy and depressing things happen in my life.

Bible verse of the day:

"When you pray, go to your private room, shut yourself in, and so pray to your Father who is in that secret place, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you." (Mark 6:6)

Purpose of Sisters CG

Last night we had a good sharing on the purpose we're establishing a cell group specifically for sisters only. Here are what we hope to provide in our CG:

1. Encouragement to see and say. To have an ability to look within and examine our own heart.
2. We provide a simple, prayerful atmosphere where a person will feel welcomed.
3. Inner Healing - tears are a sign of inner healing. Healing from perpetuating the same sins over and over. We need healing from guilt, shame and inner condemnation. We need healing and restoration in our relationship with God in preparation for better and truthful Sacrament of Reconciliation.
4. We provide a place of trust, support, encouragement, inspirtation, motivation and learning. We also provide non-judgemental, safe place where we can open ourselves fully. When we can share our innermost secrets and sins, we are letting in the light of God and moving forward. A process of freedom begins.
5. Healing occurs. Issues are confronted. Forgiveness and mercy are received. Self-acceptance and knowledge of self begins.
6. Practice of honesty, understanding our own human frailties and failings, opening door for grace to come in.
7. Surrendering to God all our struggles. To have communion with God and one another.

Thanks to Josephine who came up with the details.

Our next CG night will be on 19 January 2010, Tuesday, 8-10 pm. Location will be informed via SMS. Hope those who are interested can give me a buzz and leave a message to me. All ladies are invited, age 19 and above!

God bless! ^___^

Always on My Mind

No man is an island, and nobody is called to live life without people around. Being a non-dating, single young adult working in another city and staying alone in a rented room nearby the workplace, there is often the challenge of "loneliness". I sincerely like the way I am now, being single is the greatest thing that's happening now... As I go through restoration and healing of my life, my faith, my very inner being. If I'm to be presented to my future husband one day, I hope to be the best for him, able to support and encourage him by being who I truly am. Even if singlehood is the call God has for me, I shall accept it willingly, though I'd love to have my own family when the time is right.

As I had dinner in Recipe House just now, I read a chapter from a book I recently purchased in Doulos. It answers exactly to how I was feeling at that moment. This is excerpted from "I'm Not Wonder Woman But God Made Me Wonderful!" by Sheila Walsh:

It's quite something when you sit with that truth for a while. The God of the universe, who holds everything together, who is sovereign over every ruler on the earth is thinking about you. Our president has the people of the United States of America on his mind on a daily basis. Occasionally, some are granted the priviledge of a personal meeting and a few exchanged words; then, it is time to move on. It is unlikely that as the president goes to sleep each night he is thinking of everyone he met that day, never mind the millions that he has never met.

But God our Father is thinking about us every day. When God thinks about us, His thoughts are 100 percent accurate. He doesn't think we are smarter than we are or less able than we are. He doesn't think we are as godly as the image we try to present at times when we are feeling spiritual or dismiss us as hopeless wretches when that is how we feel. God knows all that is true and loves us totally. So we don't struggle with what God thinks; we struggle with what we think.

God's Word never changes. He always sees us as beautiful and amazing; it is we who change as the world around us changes. Our challenge is to keep the image of the woman God sees more prominent than the image of the woman we see with our human eyes. The new hat that God offers for our wardrobe represents putting on His truth every time we look in our human mirror.

If Eve had never sinned, do you think that every woman born would have been beautiful by our standards? We can never know that. All I can be sure of it that no matter how we looked on the outside, we would have seen each other with our hearts, and a heart in perfect fellowship with God is beautiful. If we are to live as wonderful woman in this world, our call is to change how we think about our lives.

Perhaps the greatest challenge of all is to guard our hearts, for it is out of the heart that all the issues of life flow. We are most in danger when our hearts are not fully engaged in relationship with God. When we are not passionate in our life with Him, we look for something else to give ourselves to.

A Closet Prayer:
Father God,
Thank You that You are always thinking about me. Thank You that Your thoughts toward me are always good and loving and merciful. Help me to line my thoughts up with Your Word.

In Jesus' name,
Amen.