wow jen that was such a long post! but very good to read about how've you been and everything!
i really don't much time right now to post, so it won't be quite as long as jen's post below haha.
soon, i will have to make dinner and then go perform some student composition for their class.
i've been quite good. things have been more busy than ever though! but i'm enjoying my life here at Laurier, and making music and being a music nerd. i've pretty much been brainwashed into critiquing (my spelling sucks, i know, i also don't remember my times table!!) everything i hear, translating it all into solfege (do-re-mi system, which is a lot of fun and so useful!), clapping and speaking rhythms as a hobbie, and craving classical music all the time and shutting myself from pop music (well not entirely yet. haha. but honestly that stuff really isn't that great!!). jen actually visited me a few weekends ago and her and imelda saw some of the musicness that happens here =)
i'm very glad that i chose to come here to this very school and to study what i love. well not all of it is that good (ie. theory...sucks a lot!), but i'm doing pretty well overall.
i've also been trying to go to the gym!! (except last week, which was a week of endless rehearsals to prepare for concert). that i never thought i'd start doing, but i felt so disgustingly out of shape and unhealthy, that i finally dragged myself and a few friends there with me too.
(...i'm beginning to think that this is becoming really long...!!!)
anyway, in terms of spirituality, i'm doing alright. i'm not going to ccf here (and that will come with a longer explanation in the near future, i promise), but the church i go to here is great, and i also try to go home at least 2 times every month. i've been trying to do more devos and just putting post-it notes of bible verses around my room to remind me now and then of what i've read about for the past week and stuff through my devos. it's pretty helpful.
the friends i hang out with most are all non-christian, and we've had some pretty interesting conversations. they're amazing people and so fun to be around, and i guess it kinda saddened me to know they aren't christian and a few are like totally stubborn about it. i'm just praying now that God will do something with me, and use me somehow amongst this group of friends. please pray for that too - my friends Nancy, Vivian and Christopher (Jen, you've met them!)
Thanks =)))))
Anyway, I REALLY GOTTA GO NOW..eek. but it was really nice getting to post! hope u girls are all doing fantastic =)!!
Monday, March 26, 2007
thoughts as of late...
**beware of mad long thought vomit**
hmmm where to start.
the past two weeks have been.. very... interesting, for the lack of a better term
alrite, let's start off with the week of march 12th.. aka march break for the highschoolers (which, for the first time, no longer includes me :( ). For the past few years of my life, i've been participating / serving at Teens Conference, basically a conference for high school students during the march break that also poses as an opportunity to connect with Christians around them as well as an opportunity to bring people who have not heard of Christ, to experience Him. Well, last year, i was serving as a part of media, so this year, me and a few friends who's been serving there for years on end, were feeling mighty nostalgic and decided to see how the respective teams were doing this year...
So on thursday we trekked to t3c, entered those oh so familiar doors, greeted all the organizers and people, just a year ago, had been guiding us as we prepared to go on stage with the message that God has instilled in our hearts, and together we walked up to the balcony, where the visitors and the AV team sit, and there we sat for evening session.
As i sat there, i looked around. To see all the kids from all the teams... media, sycamore aka sr worship, jr worship team and people from AV. Waves of nostalgia were hit me full force. Just a year ago, we were all a little younger, all a little greener, at the first few pews, exhalting the Name of the Lord. All the teams were mingling with each other, just all ready and excited to serve God. And now, here most of us sit, as university students. Just to sit there and think of all the changes that occured in our lives, how we've all grown so much since then. Looking around at those pews, i just felt so blessed. To be able to be reuinted once again with this family, and a year later, still being able to praise God with these people, all united under the banner of His love and Grace.
Then there were the 400-500 brothers and sisters on the main floor. They were family too, all of us uninhibited, shouting and praising God's name. wow, what a sight. I think that's what fellowship should be, what a community in Christ should be, people gathered together, earnestly seeking, not caring about what the people beside them think, just hungry for more of Jesus. oh myyyyyy what a sight.
---
last week.
was the worst week academically, i've never had so many things due, and at the same time, i was struggling with my nomination. (on the wednesday of the week before i had been invited over by the vice chair of ccf to her place for pie... and was told that i was nominated, but i didn't know what for.) Therefore for an entire week and a half, that had been at the forefront of my mind. lots and lots of prayers were prayed for God to save me from "skule"tm and make my decision for me for nominations.
honestly, when you draw closer to God, God draws closer to you
even in such a short period, i felt that God was so much more prevalent the more you earnestly seek Him. i wish i could be like that all the time... i feel that nowadays my heart is not half as sincere as it should be, half as longing as it should be. I wish that i could be in that place all the time, that place where i bring EVERYTHING back to Jesus. all decisions, all worries, all trials and all happiness. Even with this week, though it's only monday, i feel that there's been less of that, less of that yearning, even though there should be ten times more than last week.
why are my affections so fickle?
i know what it feels like to have God close, why isn't that desire greater?
to earnestly seek, to be humbled before God, to long for more of Him, all the time, and never EVER settling for anything less than Jesus.
that's where i'm gonna try to be.
...to finish off my nomination story
i emailed the vice chair again on thursday night as to what i was actually nominated for.
cuz throughout praying i was drawn to female devotions leader, and i wanted to see if that's what they saw too
it wasn't.
she replied at 2 in the morning, telling me i was nominated for large group coordinator, which was really administrative and really... not where i'm gifted.
so at 3 in the afternoon friday, after talking to my school small group leader, came to the conclusion that i was only even tempted to say yes because i feel that God has bulit me up this year for something more, all the struggles of this year was for something greater, that God does indeed have a plan for me but more of building relationships with people on a personal level, rather than administration. and me thinking about saying yes was jumping the gun. it wasn't the time, this wasn't the position was meant for.
so i called the vice chair again.. told her no.
but at fellowship that night, the social coordinator said "i heard you turned down your nomination"
and as i explained to her why, she asked me if i had a vision for the fellowship, to which i replied yes, and what would i say if i was nominated for female devotions leader. and i said it's not my call...
and on saturday after getting off work i checked my email
and the vice chair sent me an email saying the social coordinator has found someone to nominate and second me before 11:59 friday night.
and if i wanted to, i can run for that
....i said yes.
but we'll see what happens.
it's all God's call
but if you guys would pray for me, that would be great :)
just for protection against satan's attacks, for discernment as to what i'm supposed to say on friday when i have to do a speech, for guidence of the Holy Spirit throughout this week, and for God to work in my life :)
thanks for reading (if you actually read to the end, GOLD STAR FOR YOU!
:D
have a blessed week!
ps. here's one of the two songs that have been running through my head for the past few weeks, in tune with shelby's post about hymns...
I Surrender All
All to Jesus I surrender,
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.
I surrender all,
I surrender all.
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.
All to Jesus I surrender,
Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken;
Take me, Jesus, take me now.
All to Jesus I surrender,
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel Thy Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.
All to Jesus I surrender,
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power,
Let Thy blessing fall on me.
All to Jesus I surrender,
Now I feel the sacred flame.
Oh, the joy of full salvation!
Glory, glory to His name!
the past two weeks have been.. very... interesting, for the lack of a better term
alrite, let's start off with the week of march 12th.. aka march break for the highschoolers (which, for the first time, no longer includes me :( ). For the past few years of my life, i've been participating / serving at Teens Conference, basically a conference for high school students during the march break that also poses as an opportunity to connect with Christians around them as well as an opportunity to bring people who have not heard of Christ, to experience Him. Well, last year, i was serving as a part of media, so this year, me and a few friends who's been serving there for years on end, were feeling mighty nostalgic and decided to see how the respective teams were doing this year...
So on thursday we trekked to t3c, entered those oh so familiar doors, greeted all the organizers and people, just a year ago, had been guiding us as we prepared to go on stage with the message that God has instilled in our hearts, and together we walked up to the balcony, where the visitors and the AV team sit, and there we sat for evening session.
As i sat there, i looked around. To see all the kids from all the teams... media, sycamore aka sr worship, jr worship team and people from AV. Waves of nostalgia were hit me full force. Just a year ago, we were all a little younger, all a little greener, at the first few pews, exhalting the Name of the Lord. All the teams were mingling with each other, just all ready and excited to serve God. And now, here most of us sit, as university students. Just to sit there and think of all the changes that occured in our lives, how we've all grown so much since then. Looking around at those pews, i just felt so blessed. To be able to be reuinted once again with this family, and a year later, still being able to praise God with these people, all united under the banner of His love and Grace.
Then there were the 400-500 brothers and sisters on the main floor. They were family too, all of us uninhibited, shouting and praising God's name. wow, what a sight. I think that's what fellowship should be, what a community in Christ should be, people gathered together, earnestly seeking, not caring about what the people beside them think, just hungry for more of Jesus. oh myyyyyy what a sight.
---
last week.
was the worst week academically, i've never had so many things due, and at the same time, i was struggling with my nomination. (on the wednesday of the week before i had been invited over by the vice chair of ccf to her place for pie... and was told that i was nominated, but i didn't know what for.) Therefore for an entire week and a half, that had been at the forefront of my mind. lots and lots of prayers were prayed for God to save me from "skule"tm and make my decision for me for nominations.
honestly, when you draw closer to God, God draws closer to you
even in such a short period, i felt that God was so much more prevalent the more you earnestly seek Him. i wish i could be like that all the time... i feel that nowadays my heart is not half as sincere as it should be, half as longing as it should be. I wish that i could be in that place all the time, that place where i bring EVERYTHING back to Jesus. all decisions, all worries, all trials and all happiness. Even with this week, though it's only monday, i feel that there's been less of that, less of that yearning, even though there should be ten times more than last week.
why are my affections so fickle?
i know what it feels like to have God close, why isn't that desire greater?
to earnestly seek, to be humbled before God, to long for more of Him, all the time, and never EVER settling for anything less than Jesus.
that's where i'm gonna try to be.
...to finish off my nomination story
i emailed the vice chair again on thursday night as to what i was actually nominated for.
cuz throughout praying i was drawn to female devotions leader, and i wanted to see if that's what they saw too
it wasn't.
she replied at 2 in the morning, telling me i was nominated for large group coordinator, which was really administrative and really... not where i'm gifted.
so at 3 in the afternoon friday, after talking to my school small group leader, came to the conclusion that i was only even tempted to say yes because i feel that God has bulit me up this year for something more, all the struggles of this year was for something greater, that God does indeed have a plan for me but more of building relationships with people on a personal level, rather than administration. and me thinking about saying yes was jumping the gun. it wasn't the time, this wasn't the position was meant for.
so i called the vice chair again.. told her no.
but at fellowship that night, the social coordinator said "i heard you turned down your nomination"
and as i explained to her why, she asked me if i had a vision for the fellowship, to which i replied yes, and what would i say if i was nominated for female devotions leader. and i said it's not my call...
and on saturday after getting off work i checked my email
and the vice chair sent me an email saying the social coordinator has found someone to nominate and second me before 11:59 friday night.
and if i wanted to, i can run for that
....i said yes.
but we'll see what happens.
it's all God's call
but if you guys would pray for me, that would be great :)
just for protection against satan's attacks, for discernment as to what i'm supposed to say on friday when i have to do a speech, for guidence of the Holy Spirit throughout this week, and for God to work in my life :)
thanks for reading (if you actually read to the end, GOLD STAR FOR YOU!
:D
have a blessed week!
ps. here's one of the two songs that have been running through my head for the past few weeks, in tune with shelby's post about hymns...
I Surrender All
All to Jesus I surrender,
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.
I surrender all,
I surrender all.
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.
All to Jesus I surrender,
Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken;
Take me, Jesus, take me now.
All to Jesus I surrender,
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel Thy Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.
All to Jesus I surrender,
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power,
Let Thy blessing fall on me.
All to Jesus I surrender,
Now I feel the sacred flame.
Oh, the joy of full salvation!
Glory, glory to His name!
Monday, March 12, 2007
it is well with my soul
Hello Ladies =)
I hope you're all doing great! Like I wrote in my e-mail, I shared this with the small group leaders at Hallelujah, but I thought I would share it with y'all as well ^_^
This past week has been rather interesting for me, God brought a lot of things to the forefront of my mind that I needed to deal and come to terms with; It seemed that big or small, there were things which God pointed out as needing resolving and offering up to Him. And after each incident, I always felt great peace with God.
Some things that I needed to give up to God were easier than others, some were particularly painful, but even if I had doubts, I knew I couldn't talk myself out of giving these things up because God asked it of me, and I love Him. Just as you all do. We have chosen to follow God, we pick up our crosses daily, and we are reminded daily, hourly, every minute - that He is worth it.
Sometimes, we give things up and we get to keep them, like Abraham and his son Isaac in Genesis 22; other times, we offer these things up to God permanently.
but the Love of the Lord keeps us going =)
I learned of this hymn at Western around 2 years ago; our counsellors of the Asian Christian Fellowship open their house up to us on Sunday nights for Holy Spirit led praise, prayer, worship and sharing - as well as learning from scripture - and this is one of the many blessings received from those times...
Now, you may not like hymns, and think them too slow or boring - but while the melody may be simple, its words are powerful.
It is my prayer that these words, even when repeated to yourself, in whatever situation, can become your heart's cry. That whatever goes on, wherever God brings you - you can find strength and hope in Him, and all will be well with your soul.
It is well with my soul
I hope you're all doing great! Like I wrote in my e-mail, I shared this with the small group leaders at Hallelujah, but I thought I would share it with y'all as well ^_^
This past week has been rather interesting for me, God brought a lot of things to the forefront of my mind that I needed to deal and come to terms with; It seemed that big or small, there were things which God pointed out as needing resolving and offering up to Him. And after each incident, I always felt great peace with God.
Some things that I needed to give up to God were easier than others, some were particularly painful, but even if I had doubts, I knew I couldn't talk myself out of giving these things up because God asked it of me, and I love Him. Just as you all do. We have chosen to follow God, we pick up our crosses daily, and we are reminded daily, hourly, every minute - that He is worth it.
Sometimes, we give things up and we get to keep them, like Abraham and his son Isaac in Genesis 22; other times, we offer these things up to God permanently.
but the Love of the Lord keeps us going =)
I learned of this hymn at Western around 2 years ago; our counsellors of the Asian Christian Fellowship open their house up to us on Sunday nights for Holy Spirit led praise, prayer, worship and sharing - as well as learning from scripture - and this is one of the many blessings received from those times...
Now, you may not like hymns, and think them too slow or boring - but while the melody may be simple, its words are powerful.
It is my prayer that these words, even when repeated to yourself, in whatever situation, can become your heart's cry. That whatever goes on, wherever God brings you - you can find strength and hope in Him, and all will be well with your soul.
It is well with my soul
1. When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll;
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
Refrain:
It is well with my soul,
it is well, it is well with my soul.
2. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
let this blest assurance control,
that Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
and hath shed his own blood for my soul.
(Refrain)
3. My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
(Refrain)
4. And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
the clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
the trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
even so, it is well with my soul.
(Refrain)
Monday, March 5, 2007
Happy March :)
Hello ladies,
I figured I'll follow Shelby's pattern with the title of these posts. How have you guys been? How's cope-ing with going back to schol after our lazy mood from Reading Week? As for Noelle, it's alright March Break is around the corner, hang in there!
Can you guys believe it? Since my last post, it's been almost a month. Midterms are almost over (I still have 2 more to go), but after all this, only 5 more weeks of classes then it's exams. Time flies when....you're working hard (Time does also fly by when you're having fun, but it's not "fun" in this case).
I really don't have much to share this week. I just want to see how you girls are doing. I've got a feeling we won't be meeting up until after our final exams in April. So we'll probably be meeting in May. It seems like a long time from now, but we will survive.
I don't have much to write, it's just that this blog is getting lonely. With a few more notes:
Noelle, hopefully you're doing well in high school, if you need help, feel free to ask, we're gladly to help.
Catherine, good luck (or have fun, if you're going as an audience) at the Percussion Studio Concert this Sunday.
Jen, I MISS YOU LOTS! You have no clue. I miss you as much as I miss dee + Yvo combined!
Michelle, too bad I only caught a glimpse of you before you left. But at least I did!! K-BBQ was so random.
Shelby, thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to encourage us. Greatly Aprreciated.
_val :)
I figured I'll follow Shelby's pattern with the title of these posts. How have you guys been? How's cope-ing with going back to schol after our lazy mood from Reading Week? As for Noelle, it's alright March Break is around the corner, hang in there!
Can you guys believe it? Since my last post, it's been almost a month. Midterms are almost over (I still have 2 more to go), but after all this, only 5 more weeks of classes then it's exams. Time flies when....you're working hard (Time does also fly by when you're having fun, but it's not "fun" in this case).
I really don't have much to share this week. I just want to see how you girls are doing. I've got a feeling we won't be meeting up until after our final exams in April. So we'll probably be meeting in May. It seems like a long time from now, but we will survive.
I don't have much to write, it's just that this blog is getting lonely. With a few more notes:
Noelle, hopefully you're doing well in high school, if you need help, feel free to ask, we're gladly to help.
Catherine, good luck (or have fun, if you're going as an audience) at the Percussion Studio Concert this Sunday.
Jen, I MISS YOU LOTS! You have no clue. I miss you as much as I miss dee + Yvo combined!
Michelle, too bad I only caught a glimpse of you before you left. But at least I did!! K-BBQ was so random.
Shelby, thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to encourage us. Greatly Aprreciated.
_val :)
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