BEAUTIFUL DAY, WONDERFUL WEATHER, AWESOME GOD

I believe in the sun, even though it doesn't shine,

I believe in love, even when it isn't shown,

I believe in God, even when he doesn't speak.

- Max Lucado, He Still Moves Stones

One of my favorite verse in the bible is taken from Hebrew 11:1,

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see

This faith is embracing Jesus Christ as our one and only Saviour Lord. Having faith in something which you cannot see is indeed a challenge, even for someone like me who claims to believe in Jesus. Facing hardships in life often leaves me in exasperation and these are the times where I find my faith faltering. But during those challenging moments, I thank God for sending His angels/people to nudge me and keep me reminded of His wondrous love. It is really encouraging to know that God was always there, so that I can confide in Him again and again.

Thanks to Nexus(a weekly student bible study group I attend in Cardiff), the discussion we have as a group about the bible message often spells out the core issues we have in relation to our student life as as Christian. It keeps me reflecting on my life as a student, a Christian, a daughter and a friend. The best part is, everything you learn seems to be direct applicable to the current state of your life.

One of the things I've been reminded of from this week's bible study is that Jesus died for us once and for all. There is nothing more we can do to save ourselves but to believe in Him. No human effort would suffice for justification. No matter how hard we try to prove ourselves worthy to be saved by knowing the law(the word of God) in and out, it will never be enough. The only way to eternal life is nothing but to believe in Jesus Christ. Nexus is currently going through the book of Galations, and the theme of the message is 'JESUS + NOTHING = EVERYTHING'.

To non-believers, you might be wondering why we Christians still bother reading the bible and praying since we don't have to do anything to be saved. We're doing it because we believe in God and we love Him for what He had done for us. We love Him that's why we want to do things that are pleasing to Him. We refer to the bible as a guidance to live a life that is pleasing to God.

To believers, I would like to urge you not to forget the purpose of living a life that is pleasing to God. To be reminded that Jesus had already died on the cross for us and washed away our sins. There is nothing more we can do to justify ourselves but to believe in that truth. To do things out of the love for God but not out of self-satisfaction.

Christianity is not a religion. You don't get saved for being religious, you are saved if you believe in Jesus. We should live our Christian life by heart, not solely on works.

WHEN TRUTH UNRAVELS

'Law is a code of behaviour where certain actions had certain consequences' 

                                    - Nineteen Minutes, Jodi Piccoult.

In the same way, life has a law of its own as well,
containing certain consequences to be taken place with certain actions.

Tasted a piece of the law of life today.

Case: Life v Abigail Cheong 

Charged under the law of life of judging, cruelty, immaturity and an unforgiving heart.

Liable for emotional self imprisonment and self condemnation.

Because of the hatreds and immaturity that I've confined in my body,

I've put myself through six years of emotional self imprisonment.

Managed to face the issue for the first time in six years, 

Talked it out with someone whom I've locked out from my life for six years,

someone who used be a very important part of my life.

And finally, I conquered my fears and got back my life.

However, another offence of being judgemental has brought me the liability of self condemnation. 

When you discover that you've wrongly judged a person,

When its too late to take back the what you've said to that person,

When you've also realise how much you've hurt that person,

When it's too late for you to do anything for that person,

When everything becomes past tense,

and that person is someone whom you love so much.

And I'm left with self condemnation.

So the truth unravelled,

bringing happiness and sorrows at the same time.

To that someone I love,

I'm really sorry I didn't take the time to understand you.

Sorry for judging you without considering your point of view.

Sorry for judging your decision.

I've realised that you're still that perfect person I know.

I wish I could go back in time,

and be the first who would stand by your side.

I'm really really sorry.

For all you've done for me,

what I did was just judging you and hurting you.

It must have been really hard on you.

I'm sorry.

Love, your sister.

ONE AND A QUARTER CUP FULL OF HAPPINESS

I know people still don't get why I'd cried over 'Frozen'. For a person who survived 'Lion King'(which probably is one of the saddest disney movie ever), I never expect myself to be so emotional. Its like I'm slowly losing control of my emotions (excuse me and my long stories about my inner conflicts). But its like the first time in forever (Ermagarddd I'm so 'Frozen'ize) I'm having this sort of inner conflict. Oh! And Frozen was not too bad though I still like Tangled more.

Despite having such a hard time dealing with my emotions, I am much grateful for friends who've continuously shown love and care for me (Ngawww I love you guys sooooo much, I wish I was brave enough to tell <3). Knowing how bossy and stubborn I was towards my friends, I was so afraid that I would've soon be left out. I guess can blame it on the youngest child syndrome?

Naming this post 'One & A Quarter Cup Full of Happiness', I believe I have enough, or maybe more than just enough happiness. Felt as if I'd just ended another stage of my life, and yes of course 2014 just started and I'll be entering my twenties in five months' time (But I soooooo don't wanna turn twenty *sobs*)

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION

It has always been a tradition in our youth group to make a New Year's Resolution every year end (How I miss those youth days *sigh*). Well, my New Year's Resolution this time is 'Saving money'. Looking back at the amount of money I spent for the past few months since I arrived in the UK, I simply couldn't think of any other resolutions that can be more important than 'saving money'. Second in place would be reading the bible. It's not that I don't read the bible, it's just that I've never finished reading the bible on my own. It is quite a big challenge to me though, seeing how much commitment and discipline this takes. But nevertheless I would still like to give it a go. (Fighting? #koreanwannabe)