Failure VS Detour? A blessing in disguise.

My past two weeks can easily be summed up with one disappointing event- failing block 2 prac.
However, it would not do my weeks or my God justice to assign such an awful description to the whole experience because there's so many things I'm thankful for. It far outweighs the things that upset me because I keep being reminded that I am so blessed.

1. God spoke time and again even before the day of the bad news: be still and know that He is God. He is with me and He is in control, even when I feel like I'm thrown in the flames, the fire will not consume me. The rivers will not drown me. Do not worry. He who watches over the sparrow watches over me.

2. Phonecalls with mum and dad while they were in Singapore. Reminded me how blessed I am to have such loving parents who take time out to talk and make sure I'm OK. We got to talk and laugh and bond through the phonecalls.

3. Friends who pray for me/ encourage me and are so ready to listen and show support .. I feel so blessed and undeserving of all this love!

4. My dad's return in my final week of prac. I was convinced that I would b fine living alone.. but towards the end with the failing prac thing on top of my isolated nature, I must say it was timely moral support and company. Even though placement was 5mins free bus ride away, I got driven to and picked up from prac everyday hahaha.

5. My birthday - I'm so limited with my vocabulary... yes I know u know.. I feel so blessed haha. And undeserving of very kind friends/family. Even though it was a day of placement and school and studies, I was fortunate to have dinner with dad and have some ocfers pop by for a surprise visit! I miss having ocfers at my house!

6. Supportive supervisors and fieldwork coordinators. Even though it was a fail grade, I'm fortunate to have had my placement experience, to have met my super patient supervisors from whom I've learnt much. Also patients I've met and skills I've picked up have been a great gift. (And I get to do 7 more weeks of placement for free!! Aka supplementary placement hahaha) and my sups were so kind to request for the fieldwork coordinator to let me continue with goglobal Cambodia placement :D

:D I guess that's why I really think I'm OK. Haha. Plus I'm looking forward to my upcoming break!!! Excitezzz!!

Tough times in life have never been my favourite periods.. ever..
Yet, I can't deny God's blessings and causes for joy in the midst of these challenges.
Thank You Lord, for people who know me better than myself. My extra sets of eyes where my blindspots are located. They vocalise what my mind tries to hide under covers. I choose to think and tell myself that I'm solid like a brick, but really, I'm just a pavlova...seeking comfort from my parents' counsel.
What does it mean to not worry? Have I truly truly surrendered my life to Christ? If so, why worry?

I want to share this message from Daily Bible Devotion: When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, "I tell you the truth, I haven't seen faith like this in all Israel!" Matthew 8:10, NLT What an honor it is to impress Jesus with your faith. But faith means believing in Jesus beyond human reason. Are you keeping your faith separate from your struggles in life? Invite Him in. Rituals and obligation do not amaze Jesus. Instead, it's trusting Jesus with your problems, asking for His help, and believing He will provide. Get this Free Daily Devotion App: ANDROID: http://bit.ly/pE4x0C IPHONE: http://bit.ly/uJvpEW

I don't know about tomorrow, I just live from day to day. I don't borrow from it's sunshine, For it's skies may turn to gray. I don't worry o'er the future, For I know what Jesus said, And today I'll walk beside Him, For He knows what is ahead.

Many things about tomorrow, I don't seem to understand; But I know Who holds tomorrow, And I know Who holds my hand.

Ev'ry step is getting brighter, As the golden stairs I climb; Ev'ry burden's getting lighter; Ev'ry cloud is silver lined. There the sun is always shining, There no tear will dim the eyes, At the ending of the rainbow, Where the mountains touch the sky.

Many things about tomorrow, I don't seem to understand; But I know Who holds tomorrow, And I know Who holds my hand.

I don't know about tomorrow, It may bring me poverty; But the One Who feeds the sparrow, Is the One Who stands by me. And the path that be my portion, May be through the flame or flood, But His presence goes before me, And I'm covered with His blood.

Many things about tomorrow, I don't seem to understand; But I know Who holds tomorrow, And I know Who holds my hand.

Let your words be few

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen instead of offering the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. ecc 5:1-2

My mum as been acting weirdly lately. Here are some of the things she's been repeating to me these days:

1. Are you at home alone?
2. Are you eating dinner alone? Again?
3. Seriously you need to be more active with your social life..you have to take initiative.. dear..
4. Watch your waistline. Have more veg and fruits
5. (i told her i was teaching in church) ok dating all the 4 and 5 years old.. remember to start dating the right age group (to which i responded.. they are 2 and 3 years old, and we are holding hands. HURHUR)
6. No social life for you? need to arrange matchmaking soon (-.-|||).. like the Korean mum.. but Jodie might bring back a Japanese boyfriend anytime now which is another worry

I shouldnt have shared with them my excitement about Conzy being pregnant... unnecessary baggage came along with it :(

On another note, I've limited myself to fb on Tue, Thu and Sat only. I think I have withdrawal symptoms now....

i saw gentleness in action yesterday. it was cool.

Thank You Lord, for bringing me through tricky situations.
Thank You for sustaining me since 16 Jan, I AM SO LOOKING FORWARD TO MAY!
Thank You for understanding supervisors who care about my learning experiences. Thank You for mocha and choc. rasp. cupcakes. 
Thank You for Barney's company and cooking so that we could prevent each other from sliding into insanity
Thank You for healing some of my friendships that had suffered because of my bitterness and selfishness
Thank You for the grace that I never deserved

My security guard doing her rounds. Hired by my neighbours. Doing a good job of keeping baddies away I must say!

Search me, God, and know my heart;
   test me and know my anxious thoughts.
 See if there is any offensive way in me,
   and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139:23-24

Easter Camp 2012.
Theme: Higher | Deeper | Stronger

Thank you Father for your cannot-be-better-timed reminder. A call to surrender my cares and concerns, trusting in Your faithfulness, grace and deliverance. Although it wasn't a quick decision to make at the  beginning to attend camp, I've been blessed abundantly. Thank you God for loving a sinner like me.

Easter camp

Some days I feel ready to conquer the world...
Today is not that day.

Eventful april fools weekend

My eventful weekend began with bible study on Friday about being united as the body of Christ.
A wonderful sleep in Saturday morning, opportunity to clean my room. It looks slightly more decent now.... but I probably shifted the mess to jodie's room temporarily.. EXCO meeting, Subi service about God's big partyyyyyyy - everyone's invited!, movie screening/Easter camp fundraiser: Courageous. It's a must watch ((: brief catch-up with glennapoopoo, headed home.
Attempted to make soy milk. All was good aside from it being a bit bland so I added a bit of brown sugar from the sugar shaker which was kinda congested, so I took the container of white sugar and poured a generous amount in because I'm so good at estimation.. next thing I knEw, I was spitting out a mouthful of salty soy milk :(((( WHYYYYYYY... MY SWEAT AND BLOOD... All that effort of pouring water onto the beans and pouring the beans into the soy machine, filtering the pulp out of the liquid..... FOR SALTY SOY MILK????!!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!? So I slept my frustration away.
This morning, jumped out of bed to zoom to work to realise that they had not put my name on the roster. I was happy though. Nice and relaxing morning, lovely time of reading the papers for the first time in 2012 in a cafe in cottesloe so I'm a little bit updated on what's happening in Australia. More time to talk to God!
Thank you Lord (: