That free day

I had brought the laptop with the purpose of blogging and doing some work but unfortunately or fortunately, depending on how you see it, I didn’t get to use the laptop at all until I am on the plane now. It was an awesome break spending the few days at Gold Coast. I also had the opportunity to show the love a snapshot of Brissy and she likes it. That is good if we ever get to live there for a few years.

After she left on Sunday, I had the entire day by myself, something I didn’t mind at all. I really enjoy time alone for a day or two though I really enjoyed her company and missed her when she was gone. After sending her off to the airport, I walked the coast back towards the accommodation, on the beach. It was wonderful because I was plugged in and while different thoughts went through my mind, I could feel the spirit communing with God.

After about 45 minutes, I found a pavilion overlooking the ocean and stayed there for about another hour reading and meditating on what I was reading from the worship devotional that I had been reading periodically since September. I felt strongly convicted that every worship leader and musician serving in the worship ministry should read this devotional. The worship leaders shared about different aspects of the worship ministry, their ministry and lessons learnt about God. The common thread is the message on how we really need to spend time in the presence of God, getting to know God through the word, through communing so that we will have something to give to the congregation. Our skills, gifts and talents that God has given us can only bring us that far. If we do not experience first hand what it means to be ministered by the presence of God, how will we be able to bring that presence to the congregation. And so I will get one for every worship leader in church. If I could afford it, I would have gotten one for every musician in the worship ministry but alas, I am not that rich.

After another 20 minutes of walking, I finally arrived at the accommodation. I completed half my stack of marking in 2 hours and spent the next 2 hours frolicking in the water and letting the evening rays warm my sun-deprived skin. I could feel  work beckoning me after an hour but I decided that I needed to soak in the last bit of the horizon before the sun sets. After that, I showered and went to Macs to get some free wifi and uploaded some photos and replied to some messages. Then I packed some food and spent my time at the balcony having my dinner. I spent another 2 hours finishing up the marking whilst watching Brokeback Mountain on telly before going to bed.

What a productive but relaxing day!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving 1: My research got approved by the ethics approval board. Finally! Now I can start my research. Yay! I am still hopeful to graduate with the rest of my classmates. Committing that wish to God

Thanksgiving 2: A car made an illegal turn and hit the sweetheart’s car. Thankful for God’s protection. Thankful I didn’t drive my car (I usually do but the sweetheart had insisted she wanted to drive that day). Thankful that the timing was just right. A second sooner and the car might have been crushed or it might have flipped. Thankful that both of us escaped unscathed. Just thankful that God preserved our lives. What an evening.

Thanksgiving 3: Thankful that in the midst of all the hustle and bustle, the stress and tasks needing to be done, there’s a quiet assurance guiding from within as I go about my work; that still small voice. It’s like a bubble which sets aside that communication channel from the outside world. It’s super awesome.

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Resolution 2014

I did not make any resolutions in 2014, but I felt God providing more opportunities to me to give of myself to people around me. This came from that feeling of restedness in the midst of all the hustle and bustle, I feel the stillness of voice speaking to the spirit quietly; to be patient, to give time and allow things to happen, to meet needs that arise. I also feel more inclined to help others connect back to the vine, to look out for those in need of fellowship and accountability. How to find time for that? God will lead and I will follow.

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Gifting

I like giving gifts to people, especially to my family and loved ones. I am thankful that God has provided generously through my work to enable me to do that. However, I also realised in the recent months that whilst giving gifts is a good thing, that shouldn’t replace words; words and expressions of love, affirmation. I don’t want to come to a stage when I am paralysed by my inability to express myself anymore. It’s so much easier giving gifts rather than express what those gifts mean to me. And I realise that in expressing myself and my feelings, I am giving a part of myself  and allowing myself to feel a bit more, that in expressing myself and how I feel, I am giving the other party a hold over me. I guess that’s why it’s always good to cultivate compassion from going down to the ground to serve in mission work/community work other than donating money. Random thought.

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A tiny dip

It was an exhausting week to say the least.  I was tempted to take the day off on Tuesday after the accident on Monday. Moreover, I didn’t really want to attend the course I was signed up for in the afternoon. I needed to go through the hassle of going home to change into appropriate attire. Thank God home was just a 5 minute drive away.  But I was thankful I didn’t take the day off because I managed to achieve heaps at work, and I had 2 and a half hours of teaching time with the kids. It made me less guilty attending the reunion dinner with the cg mates. I remember the nice warm feeling in anticipation of eating with the spiritual family while driving there. I am continually thankful for this spiritual family that God has led me to.

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