The Beauty of Simplicity

`` my daily journey. [#] `-

Tuesday, 16 May 2006

Lo...guess what??

I am sick again. Yippee!!!=)

Haiz.

I'd felt rather cold while I was at work today, during the late evening. Putting it down to the air-conditioning, I'd brushed it aside (though I've an inkling that I may be sick, as the last time I'd felt this way, I reached home with fever). When it was closing time, it'd started to get hot. This time, I knew for sure that I'd caught it. Lol.

The heat is currently at 37.8 degree Celcius.

Thank God for the lessons that I'd learnt today.

Recently, I'd been feeling pretty down, spiritually and emotionally (now physically too), somehow, try as I might, I could not muster up a real smile for customers. All of my smiles were fake and merely a stretching of the lips. In addition, business hasn't been good recently. It was especially stressful to work in Suntec.

After I had poured out my feelings to the Lord in my journal, I flipped to my daily devotional-Our Daily Bread. Some title caught my eye, slowly, I turned the pages, trying to find the title that had caught my attention. I did not managed to find it, instead, I found something that answers to my cry. It was the devotional for 9th March 2006 - The Good Pain Can Do. It talked about affliction, that far from being an obstacle to our spiritual growth, pain can be the instrument of it. It can push us closer to God and deeper into His Word. It is one of the ways God uses to shape us into becoming more like Christ. the following words really spoke to me:

By faith a Christian an have poise

And rise above all that annoys-

sustained and strengthened by God's power

To live in victory hour by hour.

- Hess

I was further encouraged by the following verses:

"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."

-1 Peter 1:6-7

"The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray."

-1 Peter 4:7

In the end, thanks to God's grace and providence, the sales was better, more like the figure we get on normal week days. Thank God!!=)

He is always good. no matter the circumstances. Be it tears or joy, life or death. God is always good.

Has God set you apart today to receive instruction through suffering and pain?

Endure this training patiently.

He can turn the trial into a blessing.

He can use it to draw you close to His heart and into His Word,

teach you the lessons He intends for you to learn,

and use it to bestow His grace on you.

Light my path
10:45:00 pm

youdrovemydarknessaway`-//*

|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

Tuesday, 9 May 2006

Some stuff happened last Sunday. Family related. Old wounds were re-opened and the past re-visited. Sometimes, it is scary to realise the power of words. They can be used to show love or to draw blood. In summary, I had realised that I took after my family's ways even though I'd never wanted to. I am similiar to them more then I'd ever knew. That to me, was a blow. For I'd never wanted to be anything like them.

Seeing that I hadn't updated for quite a while, let me bring you up to light.

(Not that I'd done a lot of things.)

Last friday, I'd went to the Post Office to mail Jimmy's birthday present. Let's just say that I won't be doing any mailing overseas for awhile.

Today, I posted Danny's birthday present as I will not be seeing him this week at Alvin's birthday celebration. At this time for the year, I am always broke. For, somehow, from April to July, every month, there is a friend who is celebrating his/her birthday. Lol.

It is raining over at my area.

I'd bought some presents for my students when I went to post Jimmy's present. I guess, this is my way of saying goodbye. I do not know if they know that I am leaving (most likely they don't know), but in a way, I will miss them, especially the little angel......=) He is a sweet child. I hope he'll grow up untainted by the world's corrupt and perverse ways. He has started well, I hope he'll finish well..=)

Light my path
7:41:00 pm

youdrovemydarknessaway`-//*

|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

I am feeling lousy. Today is my day off and I am sick.

Lol.

Haiz.

Sniffling away, my nose is irritable and my throat is showing hints of getting worse.

What a great way to spend my off day..=)

Light my path
1:33:00 pm

youdrovemydarknessaway`-//*

|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

Sunday, 7 May 2006

As all Singaporeans know, yesterday was the General Elections 2006. How had it been for you?=)

Personally, I was pretty excited as it was my first time voting. Though I do not know much about politics and all the political parties, I'd tried to keep myself updated by reading The Newpaper. After reading the news paper reports, I'd gotten quite confused, as there was a lot of hoo-ha over some matters. People doing what they were not supposed to. Some claiming that they had done what was required of them, only to be exposed, to the whole country, that it wasn't done. http://sg.news.yahoo.com/060503/5/singapore206082.html

To tell the truth, I am not particularly impressed by some parties' actions. In order to help govern the country, the leaders should have some pre-requisites, besides the usual requirements. As the country's leaders, first and foremost, they should and must have integrity. Integrity. Righteousness. Compassion. Honesty. Mercy. In my opinion, these are qualities every leader should have. For, how can we entrust the nation and her people to a person who does not come clean with what he had done? Politics, yes.... The desire to want to win..yes... Strategies...yes....but not to the extent of doing some pointless things.

"Integrity is very important on our part, that is a very important thing. If we don't have that basic quality, we should not be standing for elections."

- Mr Inderjit Singh

On a particular day (I'd forgotten which), there were some articles on people saying what matters most to them. I was shocked and disgusted by the selfishness and self-absorption of those people. When they were questioned (eh...I can't really remember the exact question they were asked), they'd said that all these (politics, elections...etc) doesn't matter to them. All they want to know is what the government has to say about employment, lift-upgrading, cost of living, one had even said all she wanted was to have a certain bus service rstored (as it is causing her inconvenience going to and fro from work), petty complaints over the progress package allocations and etc...

I was utterly disgusted by some of these people. I admit, cost of living, employment issues are pretty important. But, restoration of a bus service?!! Complaints over the allocation of PP?? Please!! The world doesn't revolve around you!

"...ask not what your country can do for you -- ask what you can do for your country."

- John F. Kennedy

I'd found the following on a site. Obviously this person is quite sensible:

"Stop complaining about President Bush, the way the government is run, taxes, etc. Find out how you can make a difference by helping a candidate run for office then when he is elected, support him/her. If you don't like America, leave."

Exactly! I couldn't have said it better than this lady from the States. Stop complaining! Stop thinking only of yourselves! If you don't like it, leave. Without a strong, united country and capable leaders with integrity, how will her citizens have the PP, lift-upgradings, improved amenities and other luxuries that they want? We have to make the decision to choose wisely, don't oppose for the sake of opposing! Can we entrust a nation and her people to parties who are not transparent before the country? It is not right and not wise to be 'bochap', whether you like it or not, as long as one is a citizen of this country, the nation's affairs concern you, because you are living here. If we do not choose good leaders to lead us, how can we have a better life, a peace of mind, to leave the affairs of the nation to them?

"We're not sitting here wondering what's going to happen, waiting for it to happen. We are going to make things happen and the way to do that is to have a strong team who can work together to make things happen."

- PM Lee Hsien Loong

I think this article is pretty good...-

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/060505/5/singapore206435.html

Another quote: "Every house has its own sorrows. And I think our sorrows ... I'm not saying they're not there, but compared to other people's sorrows, we're not doing badly."

Having said all that, I'd like to end with PM Lee's words:

"The future of Singapore is in your hands. Give me and my team a strong mandate to work with you for a safer Singapore, a stronger Singapore, a better Singapore. When you vote tomorrow, remember that this is our country, something precious and exceptional that we have created. Take good of it so that we can enjoy peace and prosperity in Singapore for many years ahead."

Light my path
2:26:00 pm

youdrovemydarknessaway`-//*

|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

Monday, 1 May 2006

Can Never Forget

Forget. Want to forget it all.
But can never forget this face.

Remember. Want to remember this forever.
But all are fading away…

Touch. Want to touch your face.
But all’s on fire.

Walk. Want to walk away from this snare.
But all’s entangled and hopelessly captivated.

Yearn. Yearning for his reciprocation.
But it never came.

Wait. Waiting for him forever.
Hope. Hoping that he’s worth this wait.

If only to see your face again.

Light my path
1:31:00 am

youdrovemydarknessaway`-//*

|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||