i love catching-up. :)
Realised that I haven't talked much about friends I've made in London. There's Anna and Steffi, two of my pretty good friends and who're both Germans for some reaso. My coursemates and with whom I have lunch or coffee every now and then. Steffi's a riot, but in a different way from most people. She's Beckett encapsulated; wry, sarcastic, and incredibly absurd. We share many good moments. Anna and I possess similar weltanschauung, and we understand each other on a lot of issues even if we don't necessarily agree. A lovely, lovely girl to chat to, and though we don't meet all that often we make it a conscious point to, and enjoy our coffee chats very much. :)
There's Jun, a pretty good friend now I must say, after many random and arranged meetings over the past few months. Been to the flower market and Spitafields market with him; had a few meals here and there; ice-skating, rehearsals, etc.
There's my lovely cell group and other OCFers; and people like Guan, Janice, Jamin, Caleb, May Ling, Edward, etc. make such a difference in the fellowship. They're extremely easy-going, understanding, non-judgmental and very relatable. Very cosy and lovely bunch of people...
And there's random people I meet either in church or through friends, and I find out that in accordance with Singapore's 0.5-degree-of-separation rule they know at least 1 person from my primary, secondary, JC, uni days or from church. The most uncanny contact made was with someone who used to attend my home church (in Singapore) when she was young and whose parents are good friends with my godparents. In other words the world of family and friends conflate in this one person, hmmm.
In comes the new, but the old aren't forgotten. :) London's such a magnet for people around England and around the world. So many 'old friends' have been flocking down to London for the city's throbbing pulse, or for interviews, or for other reasons like work. Had a chain of people stay over at my place and it's been really lovely having them over. God blessed me with a big room, shouldn't hoard it to myself right? :) Hope y'all are blessed by it!
yay yay, A finishes exams tomorrow! w00t.
such a beautiful day today. Breakfast and a nice, long chat at South Ken's 'Paul'; a Hyde Park walk in glorious, glorious sunshine, with spontaneous prayer and song; going to his place to read, hear him on the guitar, cook... talk, talk, and sing. It feels so different this time. God's presence is upon every little thing, every word, every look and every smile - even manifested through the bluest of skies and the resonance of voices and guitar strings. It's more than a 'honeymoon' - it's something deeper, steadier, spiritual.
Alvin's such a blessing to me. Such, such, such an amazing gift to me: like a bouquet of flowers cast down from the sky, like a warrior-angel that's sent to protect me at all costs, like the Father's love letter written into my life. roars like the oceans at the sound of the slightest threat to safety but responds in such servant-hearted gentleness and love to my past, my needs, my future, my frailties...
I only, only pray that I may be able to bless and serve him in my best; to build him up and be the girl God can use - to increase his joy, his glory, his honour. To make him more of the person God intended him to be.
Psalm 45:11b 'honor him, for he is your lord.'
another sense of finality today - he called my mom, then my dad, then both his parents, to clear past conflicts and issues out of the way. My mom interrogated him (haha) and gave her blessings; his mom said a prayer for us and for me specifically; our dads were happy. :) yes, and a bangle of commitment. the words he said then were far more precious than the shiny studs on the bangle.
Words of commitment. such a huge word, I never realised...
God, thank You, thank You SO much...... help us keep our focus on You always.
6th jan 2008
talked, prayed, all out in the open
God's timing, God's protection
start of a long, long journey ...
but i know the One who holds my hand will not let us go
<3 <3 <3
'I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you and watch over you.
Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding
but must be controlled by bit and bridle
or they will not come to you.
Many are the woes of the wicked,
but the LORD's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him
Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous;
sing, all you who are upright in heart!'
[Ps 32:8-11]
thinking, rethinking, rethought. then I stopped thinking and just enjoyed the ride, like a little duck paddling along with the stream. just one term and perspectives have changed so much; just 12 weeks and things feel a lot more settled, a lot more steady - not circumstances, not situations, not people; it's a silent flame of strength that God's kindling and nurturing, growing. steadying. I know what I want now, at least a lot more than what I used to think; have seen God provide in miraculous ways, not in explosions of visions and fireworks, but in the surest most quietest ways; have seen more and more of how lovely, how faithful... and how steady God is.
and I don't have to run amock with my hair flying in all directions, don't have to sob empty tears, don't have to dry them on a sleeve that spurns; because He loves. He loves. :)
more healing received.
such sweetness. never would I have expected such an amazing blessing to come into my life, never. my heart warms, no, convulses, and throbs, at the awesome power that God has ushered into my life; a man who has shown me what Christ's selflessness, sacrifice, strength, wisdom and sense of duty might mean on this earth.
happy 2008 to all of you. :) thanks for the birthday wishes, they're muchly appreciated -hugs all-