This Wonderful Thing Called 'Life'

Allister and Elston eating laksa and telling me about 'The Hunger Games' and 'Algae' and packing for Malaysia.

Boys from class 1.3 calling me before I'm near enough to greet them.

Isaac Ling asking me, "Ms Avelyn, do you remember my name?" and breaking out into the brightest smile when I said, "You're Isaac, right?" and smiling again when I remember Zhi Rui's name.

Random boys asking for canned drinks and packets of chips to be opened.

Funny variations of 'Ms Avelyn',

He Zheng Yuan calling his mum to get permission to borrow twenty cents for a popsicle.

Gabriel asking me, "Do you know where I'm from?"

Ryan Lim, whom I recognized when I thought I wasn't going to, eating prata.



They are the reasons why I go to work.

His Beautiful Love

"Unashamed" - Starfield

I have not much to offer You
Not near what You deserve
But still I come because Your cross
Has placed in me my worth

O Christ, My King of sympathy
Whose wounds secure my peace
Your grace extends to call me friend
Your mercy sets me free

And I know I'm weak
I know I'm unworthy
To call upon Your Name
But because of grace
Because of Your mercy
I stand here unashamed

I can't explain this kind of love
I'm humbled and amazed
That you'd come down from heaven's heights
And greet me face to face

And I know I'm weak
I know I'm unworthy
To call upon Your Name
But because of grace
Because of Your mercy
I stand here unashamed

Here I am, at Your feet
In my brokenness complete

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Papa,

You amaze me.
That You would accept what little I have to offer.
That before You, I am complete when I am broken.
That Jesus, Your Son, my King, would die for me.
You never sleep, never slumber, but You also never tire

Love,

I am...unable.

I wish I was stronger. I wish I didn't fall so often. I wish I gave way to distractions and temptations less. But I am not and I can't.

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
2 Cor 12:9

His power is made perfect in weakness. Not better, but perfect.
It's a mind-boggling thing.

Maybe, just maybe, I am getting there where God's power can be perfected, when I am able to boast of my weakness.
I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
Psalm 121:1-4
He does not slumber.

Adventure. Significance. Restlessness.

This was written a long time ago, but it's coming to me now, the need for adventure.

Restless. Restless. Restless.
Give me something more, please.
Life can't be just about...this.

Going out to meet a friend.
Saving grace of God.
__________________________________________________

19 Nov 2010, Friday, 1947hrs

I want to remember this moment when something in my heart is telling me which way to go and I know it's True North.

I love the story of Sinbad because it's a story of courage, valor, honor, adventure and love. The hero is an unconventional, smart-mouth, proud, slightly obnoxious sailor who is right at heart. He knows what he's about and loves the life he lives, and at the end of the day, he has the stuffing in him to give up his life when the story calls for it, only to find himself liberated through the sacrifice.

Then there's the beauty who does't sit around waiting to be rescued, but who dares to go out there and make her own story happen. She is bold and beautiful, smart and courageous, and at the end of the story she found the life her heart was pointing towards. And, of course, she found love.

The book of peace symbolically the peace of God that will someday reign unchallenged. But for now, Aries is out there attempting to spread her chaos, like the thief who steal, kills and destroys, exactly Aries' favorite sport.

Interestingly, despite all her chaotic powers, the one thing she couldn't do was over-power the moral strength and courage of good and honorable men. In order to bring about the reign of chaos, a larger plan than temporary destruction was needed. Instead of destroying the face of the city, she sought to tear down the fabric of the human world by removing strong, sound leadership. And that's where the real battles are - in the moral and spiritual realm. There's only so much damage the Enemy can do; with courage and strength, faith, hope and love, we have been granted the ability to rebuild our world. But when the moral fabric is torn apart, that kind of damage is much harder to undo.

Maundy Thursday/Tenebrae Service

I am even more broken than I think.







That's why I need a Savior.
_____________________________

My Savior loves | My Savior lives | My Savior's always there for me
My God he was | My God he is | My God he's always gonna be

We Are Beautiful Messes

You and I, in this fallen, broken, depraved world, are beautiful messes.
Beautiful, because we were created to be.
Messes, because we are fallen, broken and depraved, like our world.

But the story doesn't end this way, thankfully.
One day, we will be what we once were again.

If I were a window, what would you see if you looked through me?
Perhaps you'll find something that resonates with you here. You are under no obligations, but if this intrigues you, read on.