Peace

In all my years, I can honestly say, that NOTHING has ever compared (and will ever compare) to the peace of Jesus. Again and again, right in the middle of my storms, He steps in and releases an overflow of love. Tonight was no exception, a step up even. I don't think that I will ever stop being amazed at how my Papa brings healing just like that. Just one encounter with Him, just one amazing, overwhelming encounter, and that is all it takes to make everything okay again.

"Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
- John 14:27

God is good, all the time. :)

P.S: Testimony for the day - This morning Sam woke up because of a phone call from me, and she claims to have spent a few minutes saying "HELLOOOO" until she put it down. Funny thing was, I didn't intend to call her, but my pocketdial ended up waking her in time for her exam after her alarm failed. God is so good. :)

Believing,

Dice

In Search Of: Sanctuary

Secret getaway

New favourite place to study

Looking for sunshine,
Candice

Gonna Make You Stronger

Perhaps the last emotion on my mind this afternoon was to be thankful. Frustration definitely, anger maybe a little.. but thankfulness.. nah.

Still, this shows that I have so much more to learn about life, and God. To understand that His plans for me really are for good and not to harm me.  A friend described today her much more unfavourable conditions and confidently said at the end "but I still choose to praise God".

Conviction washed over me like a flood. How often had I immediately turned to blame Him when something bad happened to me? And after all, today could have gone much much worse for me. What happened to the spirit in me that used to love singing "blessed be Your name even when there's pain in the offering"? So I walked home alone, singing softly "Joy unspeakable that won't go away, with just enough strength to live for the day, so I never have to worry what tomorrow will bring cause my faith is on solid rock, I'm counting on God." I sang until my pain was replaced with joy, and hurt with lasting peace. God is good, and attitude really is everything. Now my focus is back on tomorrow and scoring the best that I can, instead of on my regrets from today.

And once more, I remember that I am highly favoured and blessed beyond measure.

Today, I am thankful for precious girls I live with who all helped me practice my OSCE's even till late in the night. I am thankful for friends that pray with me before exams and for those who encourage me afterwards, reminding me that God is still good and that tomorrow will be a better day. I am thankful for kind acquaintances who offer a hug just because they thought you could use one. Most of all, I am thankful for a God who believes in me and is always looking out for me.

I am thankful. :)

So blessed,
Candice

Find Rest in You

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love."
- 1 John 4:18

"We are pressed but not crushed, persecuted not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed, I'm blessed beyond the curse, for His promise will endure, His joy's gonna be my strength."
-Trading My Sorrows (Adapted from 2 Corinthians 4:8-9)

Change Your Perspective

I stood at the entrance of the library today, under minimal shade as I stared at the rain, contemplating if a warm dinner was worth a very wet walk. I chose to walk, thinking that this was such bad luck, and as I was getting soaked from the rain because I forgot my umbrella yet again, I felt kinda bummed out. Where was the sunshine spring promised?

Yet, as I sat facing the large window and ate my warm dinner ten minutes later, I was reminded of how blessed I am. I looked out at the pouring rain with different eyes this time and saw how beautiful it was. Once I really got that, my spirits lifted and my quiet joy returned to me. Attitude is everything.

I faced my textbook today, and figured "I will never be able to remember all of this" "I can't do this" "I'm such a failure".. The abusive voice in my head has been taunting me, trying to convince me that I'll never succeed in this.

Yet, I started writing my notes. I began small, and learnt things bit by bit. As my page filled up and my mind started to remember more things, peace descended on me, and I knew, that God is and will always be on my side. I know that if I give Him my best right now, He will honour that. Attitude is everything.

Yesterday I walked home coughing, and I was feeling extremely frustrated with God. Where was this healing I was believing for? I know it was promised to me, and that God gave me the authority to heal the sick and raise the dead through Christ Jesus, and yet.. this ailment just would not go away. I didn't want to talk to Him anymore, so I went to sleep.

Yet, at night, I sat down with my Bible once more, despite how much I did not want to. And those words spoke right to me, and offered a comfort that surpassed all understanding. I felt my anger and exhaustion melt away as God gave me the strength to go on for just one more day. I'm still believing for amazing things to come my way, for I spent all year listening to those promises. I've just got to make a choice every morning, to give praise anyways, to see the beauty in life anyways, and to give my best in all I do now anyways.
Maybe, the biggest gift He had planned for me all along was.. me, an older, stronger, tougher version that has finally learnt to thank God for even just a single ray of sunshine during a raging storm.

Attitude, is everything.

"Anyone who trusts in Him will never be put to shame."
- Romans 10:11

On another note, I've been catching up with a really dear friend lately, and she offered me such encouragement in just two sentences. It really makes me wonder, who do people see when they look at me? Is there more to me than I let myself believe sometimes? For a while now, the words that I've been using to describe myself were more along the lines of struggling, waiting, tired, fearful, weak, stupid. Not always, so don't worry too much! But still, those words are quite constantly at the back of my mind. And yet, people have been telling me words like strong, with much potential, self-sustaining with God, encouraging, amazing, highly favoured, steadfast.

Perhaps, in life, when we begin to lose faith in ourselves, we should allow ourselves to rely on the positive things that others say. When the eyes looking at ourselves are full of judgment, maybe then, it is time to close them, and believe in what other people see instead.

"You are good, You are good, and Your love endures."
- Let Your Glory Fall by Matt Redman

"And Joshua said unto them, "Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow, the Lord will do wonders among you."
- Joshua 3:5

With love,
Dice

You Never Let Go

Walking back home from the library today, I thought I walked into something, cause I suddenly felt something hard hit my left hand and it was very wet. It took me a while to realize the people jeering from the car were jeering at me, after having thrown an egg at me. I'm not too sure why they did it - road rage, racism, or drunkedness maybe, but even if they intended it for evil, I think they picked the wrong target cause I didn't get upset. I was really shocked, but surprisingly, not angry at all.

When the egg hit me, the words playing through my iPod speakers were "Oh no, You never let go, through the calm and through the storm, Oh Lord, You never let go of me."

Perhaps the most frustrating part of this incident was the egg that spilled into my carry bag, onto my books, keys, tupperwares etc. When I was cleaning it out back home, I picked my Bible out of the bag and saw that it too was covered in egg.

That was a bit upsetting, cause well, it's my Bible and I really like my Bible. But then it reminded me of such a powerful message:

"And the King will answer and say to them, "Assuredly I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.""
- Matthew 25:40

Not to mention the lyrics of the song! "You never let go".

In my devotions over the past few days, I have been going back to my basics and learning about Jesus in Hebrews, what He did for us, how He willingly took off His robes to come on earth, be tempted and then die so that we may live with Him in eternity one day. That we may be set free.

Today, I am reminded of a Saviour so close that He felt everything that I feel, and received every blow I have ever received. I am reminded that what anyone does to me, good or bad, they do to Him who paid for my life. And whatever I do to others, I do to Him as well. I remember this one time whereby I was journalling my frustrations. I was penning down how much I didn't like myself when I heard God say to me clearly, "Take it back. If you hate yourself, then you hate Me."I took it back for sure, if I could that is. I could never hate my Father in heaven, even if it meant having to learn to love myself for my imperfections as well.

God, You are so good. Thank You for being such a personal God, closer than a best friend. I know that one day we'll look back on this incident and laugh about it together (over popcorn and hot chocolate maybe? :D). Love you long time Papa.

With sunshine,
Candice

Inspired

"But Jesus looked at them and said, "With men this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible."

- Matthew 19:26