Monday, October 31, 2011

the hopeless romantic

... knowing that sometime over the next few years, my love story will begin with 'Hi I'm Candice! What's your name?'

And he'd smile and say 'Hi! I'm _______'

Hahaha :P after exam (sort of) bliss. :)

Love,
Candice

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Baptism 301011

I did it! Finally, baptised in water as a public declaration that I believe there is salvation through Jesus Christ. :) and it feels awesome, i feel awesome right now. hahah.

Going in the water was a surreal experience, and even the entire time leading up to it. I was praying while waiting my turn, speaking in tongues, praying for the Holy Spirit to move powerfully in the service. I am also so thankful to Nicole who offered me a hug as I cried and for praying with me, believing with me and standing in the gap with me as an extra prayer warrior. And to have so many people I love there as I was immersed, to have them praying together with the pastor upholding me to the kingdom of God.. supernatural indeed. :) I guess my only regret was not having my whole family there too, like my dad, mum and ta jie, but still.. an immense honour to have bea che and my second family there for me. In retrospect, I'm glad I got baptised today and not any other time. :)

And to immortalize their beauty..


These are the GORGEOUS flowers I got today from my sister, chris and sam, my urban life (i think), and gladys! :) Thanks heaps guys, they are so beautiful! :D

Still, I think the part of today that seems so embedded in my mine was watching qui get baptised. I rushed into the baptismal part of first service to see him get baptised (lucky he was first) and managed to get there in time. Man, the atmosphere was incredible! God's presence was so thick in that place and as I stood alongside urbies to pray for him from the side as he got baptised, it was just so amazing i can't even describe it. The God in that moment, i tried to think of another word, but it seemed only 'God' befitted how supernatural that moment was. but yea, the God in that moment.. just.. brought tears to my eyes. It was such a moment of honour and faith and the overflowing of the goodness of God. just.. wow.

but yea, had an amazing AMAZING time. :)

much blessings,
candice

Thursday, October 27, 2011

humbled

today i stood with a few people i didn't know to encourage an old friend. and in reading the responses of those people, i feel so incredibly.. humbled, and blessed. these few people, they loved and encouraged SO extravagantly, and it reminded me of all my Christian brothers and sisters out there who i have yet to meet even, who are willing to walk beside one another through life, to pull people up and carry them when life gets too tough to bear. and.. in all humility i can say, i've never been more proud to be a Christian. to witness the beauty of honest, humble hearts standing together for a common goal, to feel the immense love of God Himself flow through them.

i stand amazed and in great awe of You Lord, of how beautiful You are, a beauty that stretches from the setting sun to the hearts of your humble servants. :)

Blessed,
Candice

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

a time of 'becoming'

check out what i went through today. :P

http://hammeredwoundsplasterednails.xanga.com

well from the obvious first, gosh i used to be such a geeky figure. hahahha.


like.. spot me. hahahh the NERDIEST looking one there.

but then again, it's not like i turned out all that much better. hahhaha.


but, jokes and stupitness aside, it's pretty surreal reading the words of 13 year old me, surprised at the relationship I already had with God then, just completely forgot i met Him that early on in my life. and yea, i'm reading myself tell lame jokes and do 'XD', which i so don't do anymore, and i'm pretty amazed at how far i've come. guess 13 year old me never thought i'd actually make it to nearly 18. which is still, in the words of everyone around me, SO YOUNG. hahahha. sometimes i feel like an old soul in a young body. sometimes. ;) anyways, it was nice to re-read those posts and see how my life had unfolded since, realize the new friendships i have forged and treasured since, watch the family ties grow and remain strong despite circumstances and above all, reminisce about how far i've come with God, and feel how much stronger my love for Him now is than it used to be, from spending more time with Him through various circumstances over the years and know without a doubt, that there's still so much further for me to go. :) life's been good. :)

and so, here's to the 23 year old candice that will one day be sitting down (hopefully preparing to graduate from uni already) reading this, and saying the same thing all over again. may you have a nicer picture of yourself then, but more so, have more stories of love, hope, life and faith to share. :)

love,
candice

Ecclesiastes 3:11


The image that's been in my mind all day. :)

Love,
candice

Friday, October 21, 2011

train therapy

There's something about long train rides that soothe me, and bring me peace. I'm typing this as I sit at huntingdale station tonight, a quiet night so far, awaiting the train. And most of the time, I love being surrounded by people, friends, family, but some moments, I like spending alone, on a long train ride, especially when I have not yet even decided on my destination. Not all who wander are lost. :)

But for now, the world is still, and all is good. I'm not scared, anxious or stressed, like I've been the past week and will be next week. It's funny how in the simplest of moments, God chooses to reveal His beauty and presence to me. That a bench by the train tracks is not a place He will not go to spend time with His daughter. I'm here listening to words on my music player like "but the voice of truth tells me a different story, but the voice of truth, says do not be afraid, and the voice of truth, says this is for My glory, out of all the voices calling out to me, I will choose to believe the voice of truth" and "You tore the veil, You made a way, when You said that is done", I feel myself really listening to the words He chooses to speak to me instead of passing them by like I've been doing all week, letting my worries cloud my faith.

Anyways, the train is here, and I'm gonna enjoy the bliss of my long, quiet train ride, proof to me there's still much beauty in the little things in life. :)

Much love and blessings,
Candice

Monday, October 17, 2011

He cares

" "Give all your worries to Him, because He cares about you."
- 1 Peter 5:7

Maybe you don't want to trouble God with your hurts. After all, He's got famines and pestilence and wars: He won't care about my little struggle you think.

Why don't you let Him decide that? He cared enough about a wedding to provide the wine. He cared enough about Peter's tax payment to give him a coin. He cared enough about the woman at the well to give her answers."
- Max Lucado Daily Devotions

It's scary how much the daily devotion i get in my email sometimes speaks to me so specifically.

Just the other day i heard God say, "Now that you believe I can, do you believe I want to?"

Being molded for more,
Candice

Sunday, October 16, 2011

set apart for more

"A woman's heart should be so hidden in God that a man has to seek Him just to find her."
- Max Lucado

So true. :) And on the days i start whining to God again about when it'll be my turn, i hear Him say, I'm saving you for someone special. And lately, I guess I've started believing that even more strongly, letting his promise overwhelm me with confidence that I don't have to ever settle, but to just trust, and an interesting thought occurred to me today on this topic. I thought, "God, what if i don't like the guy You picked out for me?" Hahahha, stupid question, but it ran across my mind. and i heard Him reply, "don't you think I know what disappoints you and what makes you happy?" Hahaha, that was.. eye-opening. :P but yea, for now, being single is really a gift I think, I'm falling in love with God again, growing, loving, developing, becoming the woman of God He desires me to be, and one day, when He knows the time is right, the right person'll come along. :)

i like how pastor sergio said to the guys that when they are about to begin a relationship that God is trusting them with His daughter.

but gosh, Mighty Men conference sounds amazing, it feels so awesome to just be in the atmosphere today where God was ministering to people but not particularly me, not this season, but still, to be in His awesome presence as He moved.. blew me away. imagine seeing Him move, amongst men, desiring to rise up to greater things, to step up to the call He has over their lives. wow. AIYA I'M SO JEALOUS NOW, I WANNA GO TOO! :(

anyways, gotta run. bye! :) <3