If I had to choose one of the five senses to be without, I would choose the sense of smell or taste. I don't think I could ever possibly manage without the sense of sight, having ears to hear, and absolutely not the feeling of touch. I guess you will never come to appreciate or realize how important your senses are unless you lose them. I'm sure we have all heard of the saying "You don't know what you have until it's gone," or something along the lines of that.
This past weekend, I was enriched through a powerful testimony. I don't think I could ever be in his shoes, and I definitely hope not. Just thinking about it makes me question how on Earth I would be able to cope with it. Yet, everything happens according to God's plan, and in this person's case, saying his circumstances is a living testimony would be an understatement-it is above and beyond. His testimony has changed lives, given life to the meek, and has delivered eternal life to those who surrendered their lives over to Christ.
I had decided to attend Breakforth one Sunday having found out that Nick Vujicic would be one of the main speakers. I didn't plan on going for the full weekend since I just wanted to here him talk, but since the group rate was for the whole weekend, I ended up attending Breakforth for the first time ever. To my surprise, I found out that it was the 15th anniversary of Breakforth and the 35th anniversary of the ministry. It was a light bulb moment as I remember how a few years back, I had a thing with attending events that had anniversaries associated with multiples of 5 or 10.
Anyways, back to Nick Vujicic, with all the buzz and hype surrounding him all over the media, on Youtube, in church, and from what I have heard, I had my expectations and he did not disappoint. Going into his workshop and seeing him for the first time was a bit surreal. I couldn't believe that that was actually him in his limbless frame. It was odd to see a person in a physique like that, but already, I felt a humbling and faithful presence about him even before he spoke. Throughout his talks, I sensed how blessed he was despite his physical circumstances and wanting to suicide as a little boy. God is doing miracles through him and it made me wonder, if God can do so much with Nick, what can he do with me? with you? with us? We can literally be Jesus' hands and feet and yet, I don't feel I have accomplished anything with what God has blessed me with. Seeing his works in Nick and the opportunities that he has provided Nick with made me a little jealous as Nick is able to travel all over the world, to people of all backgrounds, and share about his faith in Christ. It's astounding to see a person with so much positivity, so much love, so much humility, and so willing to do God's will.
If nothing else, what I really took away was in Nick's words "We don't need to know God's reasons for our circumstances," we don't need to know 'why this is happening to me, why that? why ME?' because he is God and we are not, and we will have our answers one day when we see him at the gate of Heaven.
Lastly, congratulations to Nick who is engaged to his beautiful fiance, a little boy who once thought no one could love him, and now, will be getting married in 12 days.
Check this faithful servant out! www.lifewithoutlimbs.org
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Friday, January 20, 2012
Timeless
Its been a while since I have had a break such as this. This period before I leave for Korea has made me appreciate being able to relax. I love not being driven by deadlines, not rushing to accomplish errands, and absolutely not being controlled by a power call time.
Since the start of my second year, my mind has been constantly occupied with work. From going from Fall to Winter to Spring term, to signing myself up for an online course that lasted longer than the summer months, to enduring through the most recent and time consuming term, there has not been an actual cut off from the academic world for me. Though I'm employed, retail is dead this month, thus I barely consider myself employed either. I would think I would start complaining about the lack of shifts and things for me to do, but I'm feeling quite the opposite surprisingly.
I adore the freedom I have and being open to the possibilities of each new day. I look forward to meeting up with friends, enjoying conversation over a delicious meal, accomplishing my errands at an unrestricted pace, and being able to reflect when I can, even in the middle of a yoga pose. My schedule is so flexible and diversely flamboyant- its lightness and easy going spirit surely delights me.
Its not like I have zip-o things to do either, I go about completing the course of my day,and believe it or not, I still wake up early each day to make the most of it (its drilled in my internal clock). I guess I'm more of an early bird than a night owl, but if this is what's in store for retirement, I'm anticipating!
May you be filled with the Lord's peace in light of the stress or worries you are holding on to. Let it go and let His work flow.
Since the start of my second year, my mind has been constantly occupied with work. From going from Fall to Winter to Spring term, to signing myself up for an online course that lasted longer than the summer months, to enduring through the most recent and time consuming term, there has not been an actual cut off from the academic world for me. Though I'm employed, retail is dead this month, thus I barely consider myself employed either. I would think I would start complaining about the lack of shifts and things for me to do, but I'm feeling quite the opposite surprisingly.
I adore the freedom I have and being open to the possibilities of each new day. I look forward to meeting up with friends, enjoying conversation over a delicious meal, accomplishing my errands at an unrestricted pace, and being able to reflect when I can, even in the middle of a yoga pose. My schedule is so flexible and diversely flamboyant- its lightness and easy going spirit surely delights me.
Its not like I have zip-o things to do either, I go about completing the course of my day,and believe it or not, I still wake up early each day to make the most of it (its drilled in my internal clock). I guess I'm more of an early bird than a night owl, but if this is what's in store for retirement, I'm anticipating!
May you be filled with the Lord's peace in light of the stress or worries you are holding on to. Let it go and let His work flow.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
What's on your mind?
Today marks a day short of my car accident two years ago on January 16, 2010. Last year, I had made note of it as a remembrance day, so if the you thought that post was short on detail, now you know.
Reflecting on that accident, I felt it was a preventable one, but only because it had occurred. If it hadn't occur, I probably would've never learned my lesson, nor would I acknowledge God's plans down the road for me. Last Saturday, I was just recalling that incident and realizing how close I was to be accident-free for two years now (if nothing else, my insurance would be happy). That night I also went to junior high fellowship and we had a spontaneous night of literally "breaking the ice" in the parking lot, setting up a fire pit, and burning/eating marshmallows. I also slipped quite frequently despite the teens salting the ice... and feeling like my toes were about to ice off (for that I blame my poor circulation and wearing keds and not proper footwear). Otherwise it was a pretty good night and I had a pleasant time fellowshipping with the youth.
On my way home, I made a quick stop to my friend's house to drop off the sewing machine she had lent me since mine was giving me difficulties (during the times I needed it most, but that's another story). As I was reversing the car out of the driveway, I checked my side and rear view mirrors as usual and started reversing. I was backing out of her drive way much more than needed as the street was wide and I didn't see any cars coming. Reversing, reversing, reversing, and BAM!, my mind totally screamed 'NOT AGAIN', quickly switch gears back to drive, that car's alarm went off outrageously loud, and I parked in front of it on the street. I saw my friend come out of her house and every cell in my body was freaking out.
What if I hit and run? (To be honest, the devil just kept tempting me)
Why am I standing here.. why don't I just leave?
Why didn't I see this car? (Why had I reverse so much?)
How did it happen?
Blame the darkness? (Why didn't I see it?!!!?!)
Blame the icy street? (should've been more careful as I had slipped earlier)
Oh no..my insurance! ..
PARENTS!
What next... What now... I'm never driving again..
I suck. WHY WHY WHY
So... sensibly, I remained calm and discussed it with my friend. There was no one around (though I was pretty sure the neighbors all heard the alarm and may have peaked out of their window to see what was going on),the alarm had turned off after two minutes or so and my head was not clear at all. I just felt so miserable, like come on... I was so close to having a clean record of two years and now this.. WHY GOD WHY?!?! WHAT in the world are you trying to teach or show me? AND WHY NOW? Why less than a month before I leave? There goes my savings for Korea =(. What was I going to do?
Fast forward, I left for home without writing a note or anything, the damage was quite severe though: front left bumper dented, scratched and light broken. My van only had minor damage on the back right bumper. I didn't tell anyone, but the guilt was unbearable. I called my friend when I got home, and automatically, the sensible spell had broken, and the emotional side was erupting. I was crying and scenes from my first accident was reappearing and rewinding in my head. The guilt kept building, and though I knew I could probably get away without doing anything-I didn't. I told my friend over the phone to write a note with an apology, my number and name on it. That felt better, but I was very unsettled about the issue. I had prayed with my friend and I knew she would be praying for me as I was praying for forgiveness myself that night. I think the fear of the consequences was holding me back all weekend, and I'm sure some of you had sensed it last Sunday. I decided that I wouldn't say anything about it until the mysterious party called back.
If I had thought being honest was tough, waiting for a response was gradually tearing me apart. That whole night and Sunday, I kept jumping to conclusions and wondering if the other party had read my note yet. Why hadn't they call? It was utterly painful waiting, and I was about to blow with all these unanswered questions. The devil really had his fingers wrapped around me too, I just felt so depressed about the whole situation and I had no self esteem at all. I wanted pity, I wanted assurance, I wanted an answer from God and a call back, but at the same time, I didn't. I didn't want to face the consequences, I didn't want to be responsible, and I didn't want to deal with any of it at all. I had really wish I could rewind time or pretend it was just a bad nightmare.
After service that Sunday, my parents picked my brothers and I up, and as my dad tends to walk around the car before he drives everytime...crap!, before I even sat my butt down, the first question when we got into the car was, "Did one of you get hit by a car or did you guys hit a car? The bumper is broken." I knew then I couldn't lie, I had to let my parents what had happened. Surprisingly, they didn't take it as bad as I thought they would, and the only thing we could all do now was wait it out.
All afternoon, I religiously checked my phone and there was no message or missed calls. I went to fellowship for jeopardy, but I couldn't concentrate, my mind was obviously else where. Finally, half way through the game, I checked my phone and there was a missed call, I called my voice mail and hesitantly called back the soft, heavy-accented, Asian, middle age, male voice from the message. I be lying if I said I wasn't scared, I was just bounded by so much fear of what was to come. Our conversation was another shocker, I carried it better than I thought and the other party on the line was very understanding and caring about it. I told him of an auto body shop he could take his car to and that we would pay for all the damages. It didn't occur to me to mention about the insurance part, but my happiness was cut short when he brought it up. Unexpectedly, my happiness soared again because he had read my mind and assumed that I probably didn't want to contact insurance or else it would stay on my record for ten years. PRAISE THE LORD.
I'm still bitter at myself and I'm not exactly sure how God's work will kick in this time, but I have acknowledged all the support I have from family and friends and for that, I'm grateful.
Honesty is definitely the Best Policy
Reflecting on that accident, I felt it was a preventable one, but only because it had occurred. If it hadn't occur, I probably would've never learned my lesson, nor would I acknowledge God's plans down the road for me. Last Saturday, I was just recalling that incident and realizing how close I was to be accident-free for two years now (if nothing else, my insurance would be happy). That night I also went to junior high fellowship and we had a spontaneous night of literally "breaking the ice" in the parking lot, setting up a fire pit, and burning/eating marshmallows. I also slipped quite frequently despite the teens salting the ice... and feeling like my toes were about to ice off (for that I blame my poor circulation and wearing keds and not proper footwear). Otherwise it was a pretty good night and I had a pleasant time fellowshipping with the youth.
On my way home, I made a quick stop to my friend's house to drop off the sewing machine she had lent me since mine was giving me difficulties (during the times I needed it most, but that's another story). As I was reversing the car out of the driveway, I checked my side and rear view mirrors as usual and started reversing. I was backing out of her drive way much more than needed as the street was wide and I didn't see any cars coming. Reversing, reversing, reversing, and BAM!, my mind totally screamed 'NOT AGAIN', quickly switch gears back to drive, that car's alarm went off outrageously loud, and I parked in front of it on the street. I saw my friend come out of her house and every cell in my body was freaking out.
What if I hit and run? (To be honest, the devil just kept tempting me)
Why am I standing here.. why don't I just leave?
Why didn't I see this car? (Why had I reverse so much?)
How did it happen?
Blame the darkness? (Why didn't I see it?!!!?!)
Blame the icy street? (should've been more careful as I had slipped earlier)
Oh no..my insurance! ..
PARENTS!
What next... What now... I'm never driving again..
I suck. WHY WHY WHY
So... sensibly, I remained calm and discussed it with my friend. There was no one around (though I was pretty sure the neighbors all heard the alarm and may have peaked out of their window to see what was going on),the alarm had turned off after two minutes or so and my head was not clear at all. I just felt so miserable, like come on... I was so close to having a clean record of two years and now this.. WHY GOD WHY?!?! WHAT in the world are you trying to teach or show me? AND WHY NOW? Why less than a month before I leave? There goes my savings for Korea =(. What was I going to do?
Fast forward, I left for home without writing a note or anything, the damage was quite severe though: front left bumper dented, scratched and light broken. My van only had minor damage on the back right bumper. I didn't tell anyone, but the guilt was unbearable. I called my friend when I got home, and automatically, the sensible spell had broken, and the emotional side was erupting. I was crying and scenes from my first accident was reappearing and rewinding in my head. The guilt kept building, and though I knew I could probably get away without doing anything-I didn't. I told my friend over the phone to write a note with an apology, my number and name on it. That felt better, but I was very unsettled about the issue. I had prayed with my friend and I knew she would be praying for me as I was praying for forgiveness myself that night. I think the fear of the consequences was holding me back all weekend, and I'm sure some of you had sensed it last Sunday. I decided that I wouldn't say anything about it until the mysterious party called back.
If I had thought being honest was tough, waiting for a response was gradually tearing me apart. That whole night and Sunday, I kept jumping to conclusions and wondering if the other party had read my note yet. Why hadn't they call? It was utterly painful waiting, and I was about to blow with all these unanswered questions. The devil really had his fingers wrapped around me too, I just felt so depressed about the whole situation and I had no self esteem at all. I wanted pity, I wanted assurance, I wanted an answer from God and a call back, but at the same time, I didn't. I didn't want to face the consequences, I didn't want to be responsible, and I didn't want to deal with any of it at all. I had really wish I could rewind time or pretend it was just a bad nightmare.
After service that Sunday, my parents picked my brothers and I up, and as my dad tends to walk around the car before he drives everytime...crap!, before I even sat my butt down, the first question when we got into the car was, "Did one of you get hit by a car or did you guys hit a car? The bumper is broken." I knew then I couldn't lie, I had to let my parents what had happened. Surprisingly, they didn't take it as bad as I thought they would, and the only thing we could all do now was wait it out.
All afternoon, I religiously checked my phone and there was no message or missed calls. I went to fellowship for jeopardy, but I couldn't concentrate, my mind was obviously else where. Finally, half way through the game, I checked my phone and there was a missed call, I called my voice mail and hesitantly called back the soft, heavy-accented, Asian, middle age, male voice from the message. I be lying if I said I wasn't scared, I was just bounded by so much fear of what was to come. Our conversation was another shocker, I carried it better than I thought and the other party on the line was very understanding and caring about it. I told him of an auto body shop he could take his car to and that we would pay for all the damages. It didn't occur to me to mention about the insurance part, but my happiness was cut short when he brought it up. Unexpectedly, my happiness soared again because he had read my mind and assumed that I probably didn't want to contact insurance or else it would stay on my record for ten years. PRAISE THE LORD.
I'm still bitter at myself and I'm not exactly sure how God's work will kick in this time, but I have acknowledged all the support I have from family and friends and for that, I'm grateful.
Honesty is definitely the Best Policy
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Happy New Blog
With a new year, comes a new blog.
After weighing the pros and cons of Tumblr and Blogger, I have chosen Blogger for my student exchange blog. I learned that you can have more than one blog on one account so having this new blog on Blogger will provide more convenience than having to make a separate account or keep track of a new one on a new blog cite. Also, I am able to control the contents more easily going back and forth from Full of Pho and...
Pho to Seoul: My Adventures from Pho to Toe
I officially cut the ribbon and invite you to follow me for my present posts and future endeavors.
Hello 2012! Here I come!
P.S. As you have probably noticed, I gave this blog a fresh new look too.
After weighing the pros and cons of Tumblr and Blogger, I have chosen Blogger for my student exchange blog. I learned that you can have more than one blog on one account so having this new blog on Blogger will provide more convenience than having to make a separate account or keep track of a new one on a new blog cite. Also, I am able to control the contents more easily going back and forth from Full of Pho and...
Pho to Seoul: My Adventures from Pho to Toe
I officially cut the ribbon and invite you to follow me for my present posts and future endeavors.
Hello 2012! Here I come!
P.S. As you have probably noticed, I gave this blog a fresh new look too.
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