~pure joy~

o/~ Salvation belongs to our God who sits upon the throne. And unto the lamb, be praise and glory, wisdom and thanks, honour and power and strength. Be to our God forever and ever. Be to our God forever and ever. Be to our God forever and ever amen. And we the redeemed shall be strong, in purpose and unity. Declaring aloud praise and glory, wisdom and thanks honour and power and strength o/~

Thank you God for reminding me of so much today! I guess this week being back in Waterloo has been hard. I'm not sure of truely why...maybe the time difference, maybe missing ppl in HK...or most likely just cuz I've let myself be bleh. <-- for this is how i've felt throughout the week.

I went to CCF in Waterloo today and we were reading James 1:1-18....about perseverence and about trials and temptations. James 1:2-3 says "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." pure joy. <--joy just from trusting and knowing that OUR God knows and OUR God will take care of it and that He is sufficient enough for us to endure and persevere to the end.

I haven't been doing this...though i've been faced with trials and temptations in the mind as well as in action..i've let myself settle for a lull, passivity...in life... settling for much less than what He has called us for. This has made me realize just how much I need the Lord to work the good work in me for i realize how i just can't do it. But praise him that despite of my lack of faithfulness and trust and obedience..that He never leaves and never lets me go. Thank you that it is not by my works that I can approach God ...for i would never make it..but that it is always by Jesus Christ that I approach you Lord and that Satan has NO Place to convince me otherwise! thank you for that reminder.. =)

on another note, just wanted to thank two of my Brothers in Christ who sent me this package in the mail with a note :) It really did bring a smile to my face and encouraged me in ways you may not understand ^_^ THANKS

~Hong Kong...looking back~

i never ended up writing much about Hong Kong so i guess I'll write a little bit... I really thank God for the opportunity to go back. As I think I've mentionned before, I went back mainly to visit my relatives and to spend time esp with my grandparents as i haven't been back for 9 years. It was just really nice to get to know my mama, my popo and my gong gong better as well as my aunts, uncles and cousins. God blessed me so much more than I could've imagined. I really enjoyed the quiet moments...where I was just able to talk to my mama in her appartment...or go to the market with her to buy groceries for dinner...or writing on little pieces of scrap paper to my gong gong who cannot hear very well..or playing with my 2 little cousins at their home or having dinner with my friend from childhood and hearing and sharing what has been going on. These are just a few of the memories that I will cherish and remember. I didn't go back to HK to shop...and though I did shop ... i'm glad i didn't spend most my time doing that...cuz...i know...i won't remember those times..

I'm reminded that my relationship doesn't stop when I left HK...but continues on... The one thing I really wanted to do in Hk, I did not do...I feel that this is something that God still wants me to do and I musn't let myself squirm away from obeying. I miss the people in HK so very much but I find peace and joy in knowing that they are all in God's loving hands and that He is caring for them :) To everyone God has blessed me with in HK: I Love you and miss you and am praying for you all continually. Take care. And God Bless.