Jesus, be the Center

Jesus, be my center, now and forever. Amen.

Jesus, be the center
Be my source, be my light
Jesus

Jesus, be the center
Be my hope, be my song
Jesus

Be the fire in my heart
Be the wind in these sails
Be the reason that I live
Jesus, Jesus

Jesus, be my vision
Be my path, be my guide
Jesus

New Year 2014 :)

Was looking at some 2013 notes on my desktop :| This was what was written and my thoughts on them. Hmmm...

   2013:

- learn chinese 

(haha, verrryyy minute improvements)

- stop my habit of nail-biting 

(when stress comes... T.T)

- brush up on my guitar 

(still in the G, C, Em, D stage, improving in F though!)

- get grounded in my church 

(going to Korea took me away physically but my faith and love is renewed in new ways I must say)

- learn to cook :) 

(do instant noodles, pancakes, eggs count?)

- exercise 

(on and off)

- i am a ball 

(written by a certain cheeky brother)

- jangan senang merajuk 

(oh, emotions please calm!!)

- rejoice in sufferings :D 

(always in the process of learning to do this)

But 2013 was...

A year of rediscovering my faith and coming back to the core of it - the gospel. I came to realize how very self-centered my faith was at times and how I was so accustomed to that without even realizing it. It was new convictions and renewed love for Christ.

It was my final year serving as committee after being in it from second semester of first year until second semester of third year. All I can say, it was God's grace and sustenance that brought a group of ordinary young people who wanted to see men and women living out God's truth and having an impact on life. It was also passing on the baton after that :) I thank God for those who served and journeyed alongside me in this campus ministry. I thank God too for those who are willing to continue to carry that vision for our campus.

AGM 2013

I also completed my thesis :) God's grace and favor! It was such a blessing to serve and teach while conducting this study :) And there are times I miss my students dearly and wonder how they are doing, how their families are doing. And all I can do is pray and commit these lives, far and near, to God. Oh, this was also the reason my nail-biting habit is not broken yet. The stress!!

Motivation and Attitudes of Myanmar Refugee Students Toward Learning English - 2013.

It was also our 13th General Elections in 2013 and though the results weren't as we hoped for, we still hold on and stand true to the hope and fight for righteousness and justice to prevail in our land, Malaysia. It was an eye-opening, heart-moving sort of phenomenon. You see the ugly and also the good of people in so many ways. And you realize, change starts with us. Above all, we know that God is in control. Amen.

It was new experiences and a taste of the work I might be called to do for the rest of my life - teaching in secondary school. I was given SMK (P) Assunta, an all-girls school and students of 13 and 14 years of age. It was such a valuable experience and I thank God for the teachers, students, family and friends who supported and gave me good advice and encouragement along the way. I learned that it was not easy, but that it was worth it. These lives are worth it :)

Find me! Hehe.

Right after that, it was this Student Exchange Program to South Korea. It still takes me by surprise at time. I go, "I can't believe I'm here!!" But these four months have been an amazing journey with God and the people He has brought alongside me. I am thankful. And through it all, when all is stripped bare, God is enough :)

IVF :) Brothers and sisters who serve the same God though we speak completely different languages and come from various backgrounds and cultures.

People I've met and grew to love along the way. :D

I will remember and miss you all.

From my recent lone adventures in Busan :) I am pro in self shots! BAHAHAHAHA.
Lone adventures also meant alone time with God :) And those are always the best times.

And we're already in the new year :) Soon, I'll be home. New chapters, new seasons, new experiences. But the strongest and firmest foundation I will ever have is this:

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 

Hebrews 13:8

Though the days, months and years will pass, 

Though the seasons of life will come and go,

Though we find and lose the ones we love,

He remains the same yesterday, today and forevermore.

My Announcement! :D See ya soon, Malaysia!

10 days more and also New Year's Eve :)

Hello again :)

It's exciting! These countdowns and all. I'll be back next week! I can't believe that it's already coming the end of my exchange here in Korea :| Wow.

Just got back from a trip to Busan yesterday :) Got to meet up with some friends and do some sightseeing. But what I really enjoyed most was simply having coffee in Starbucks while reading back on my old journal, one which I began to keep since my first year as an undergraduate. And boy, was there much to read! So much has changed since then, how I was back then and how I am now. Life has changed and is continuously changing. The one thing that makes all the difference - God! 

Reading back, I saw His hand and His grace throughout the various seasons in my university life. From new beginnings, to preparations, to humbling me, to rediscovering my faith and God, to relationships and so much more, God was there.

So, as I step into the new year (2014) and as I prepare to go back to Malaysia, to my final semester as a TESL undergraduate, I ask myself what is this coming year going to be for me? What are my hopes, visions and resolutions?

And this one word came: 

URGENCY!!!

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, 

"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

Matthew 4:17

One of the Sundays here in Korea, the message was on that verse. The pastor said that to those who know Jesus and are looking forward to His coming, this is a message of great comfort. But to those who do not know or believe in Jesus, this was a warning and an urgent message to them. This message was Jesus' mission statement here when He walked the earth and so it is also our mission statement to tell others this message. 

So, next year, may eternity and urgency be etched upon my heart. That my thoughts, actions and words would reflect these in my life. Committing this year unto God. Amen.

Goodbye 2013, Hello 2014 :)

40 days - goodbye november, hello december :)

Hello, final day of November today and also 40 days more to home :)

Been a good past ten days :) Did some shopping to which my mom replied,"Great! This will keep you warm and happy and smiling." :D Bought three jackets and a pair of boots for the winter in less than two hours! Not bad for a person who doesn't really fancy shopping :P

Also, the snow came again :) And so we played with the snow, made a snowman and also my first snow angel!

Also, got to spend more time with friends here. Trips, coffee dates, homecooked dinner by the boys from IVF, a Korean movie with no subtitles but which we could understand (improvements!) and a lot of meet ups over some sort of food or coffee :) I'm going to miss the friends here and even some have become family. The conversations, the experiences, the lives.

This month has been teaching me where to put my focus on - Christ. And that as I look to Christ, my perspectives change which in turn affects the way I think, feel, act, speak, etc. However, I've stumbled about so many many times. Getting distracted, losing focus, messy emotions, and so on. :\ But His grace always finds me, picks me up and shows me again and again the way I should go. It's been humbling.

I miss home a lot, though.

Also there's been quite a number of people who have lost loved ones :( And it just keeps reminding me: Life is short. Time is so limited. You never know if today is your last day on earth. Are you living a life that is to His Kingdom and glory? And also the people in our lives, are we loving them?

Aww.. shucks. This made me emo.

Goodbye November, Hello December :)

50 days

So, I've been here in South Korea for almost three months now. And as I've said it so many time before (because it's true and it's a good reminder to myself) that this place and her people are beautiful in so many ways :) But I also miss Malaysia and her people very much, and my heart is definitely there. :)

So, here's the countdown! Fifty days till my flight home. FIFTY! 50! Five-Zero! (Haha, it's not really that big of a deal :P Every single day is indeed precious.) Fifty days till home, family, loved ones, friends, and so much more. I'm excited but I'm also so aware of how much I'm going to miss Korea.

I want to make each day count. Bless someone, do something meaningful, try something new, grow in faith :)

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

- 2 Peter 1:5-8

I want to be prepared to go home, refreshed in God. With the knowledge and assurance that He is enough. :) I want to look back at these days and thank God for them and for what He has done and is doing in me. 

So, here's to 50 days to come, with God, here in Korea! :)

Picture taken from http://blog.connectionthebestmedicine.com/?p=1674

Teach us to number our days,

that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90:12

Oh! Yesterday was my dad's birthday :) I am thankful to be able to call him "Daddy" and am blessed to be known as his daughter :) 

I love you, Daddy :) And I miss you truckloads here in Korea! Thank you for providing and caring for me all these years! For teaching us through your words and actions and for inspiring us is so many many ways. I love your heart for God and your compassion for people and pray that day by day you will continue to grow in His grace and refining. You're my hero, Dad! And one of the most important men in my life :) *BIGHUG* God bless you!

I love you :)