I would think I am no stranger to valleys, to down moments in life, through the valley of shadow of death. Yet, it still feels like death. What has enraptured me? What has derailed me.... 

Why shadow? Because it only feels like you are dying, only an image of what death feels like. There is hope. It is not an actual death, because in Him is life eternal. 

Yet, when it feels like death, His rod and His staff, they would comfort me. Rod - which also translates to the word the king’s scepter. A rod of authority, rod of protection, to know I am His and He would protect me, that He is God, and has all authority. Staff - a supporting stick. He is always someone I could lean on. Lean unto Him and He shall direct my paths out of the valley.

With the feeling of death looming around you, fear kicks in, fear of the darkness, fear of the evil - yet David said with assurance, I will fear no evil. 

I call you Jesus.

Silence is such a precious commodity in a loud world. Someone or something is always trying to get our attention and screaming at us. Roles, responsibilities, voices in our heads, inadequacies, insecurities, media, music - you name it.

To be silent - to be at peace with who you are, and at peace before Him. To be held and comforted, to be made whole and strengthen, to be transformed. to be silent in Your Presence. to listen to Your heartbeat.

Philippians 2:5-8 (KJV) 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

We have asked God to give us the mind of Christ. But what exactly is the mind of Christ?

It is that in our minds, we make ourselves empty of godhood as Jesus made Himself of no reputation.

kenoo: to empty, make empty - of Christ, he laid aside equality with or the form of God

and the evidence of that - obedience.

Genesis 15:1

Would you just be comfortable laying broken without trying to fix it?

We see a broken vase on the ground, and the first reaction is to sweep it up.

We all somehow desire to be seen as perfect. Having a perfect image, a perfect life, having it altogether. 

Never thought Sunday sermon would stand out to me so much. Not that I want it to stand out, but I guess - let’s just say God has a great sense of humour. 

My world is falling apart since Sunday. hahaha. getting irritated by hyphen members, having a short fuse, having to apologise and pray hard they forgive me because I said the wrong stuff, drowning at work - you name it. 

Then SOMEONE JUST HAD TO REMIND ME that I was being broken to find connection. 

Then my frustrations in that moment made sense. 

Breaking perfection, forming connection. 

Our Saviour - surrounds.

Our future - secure.

Our joy - certain.

When we know Christ, we always know how things are going to go - always for our good and always for His glory.

Somehow Love can lodge light into wounds.

- The Broken Way, Ann Voskamp

when every line is so quotable. opened up the book and there you go - word.

suffering, brokenness, pain

don't understand so many things. don't understand.

which comes first? egg or chicken?

A week with two tales. 

First story: Last Monday I had lunch with one of my colleagues. I had initially planned to stay in to get some stuff done but decided since I was quite free at work, I would go with her. When we returned, she popped by my table and saw that I had used washi tape to tape up some of my stuff. She never used washi before so she asked me for some to try. In my heart was like, “Jesus help me.” I was totally being selfish. When I was pull the washi tape out, my heart was like literally in pain. I held my art and craft stuff quite dear to heart hahaha. Afterwards, I really felt lousy, I knew I was being selfish. 

Second story: that week I had stocked up some chocolates in my cupboard. So after lunch, I just randomly popped by my friends’ cubicles and gave them away. The smile on their faces. It was priceless. 

Fast forward to this week: I found out that the girl who asked me out had recently broke up with her boyfriend. And surprisingly I think we have grown close. Found out that she asked around for my number today because I wasn't in office and she wanted to text me. 

Heart full. Thankful for these small things. We are really a beacon of light to the lost world out there. Never doubt that. No matter how small our actions are, it build bridges of God’s love into their lives. And you never know which bridge would open that door for God to step into their lives. 

I am just so thankful.