When all hope fails...

Remember that I said I wanted to go for a full camp this year without worrying about assignments deadlines, leave application and all? Yea, I have not given up and am I still praying about it.

Sometimes, God works at the most unexpected ways to make a way. Last week, I sent in my leave application form for the church camp leaves. I planned to apply for a one and a half days leave (which was my maximum), allowing me to be able to attend a 3 days, 2 night camp instead of the full 4 days, 3 nights camp. Saturday leaves were considered as a day leave so I could only go for camp on Friday afternoon onwards with the leaves that I was planning to apply.

As I was submitting the form, I was informed that the particular Saturday of the camp was a public holiday. Still trying to comprehend what I was told, I quickly recalculate the days again. It was like BINGO! Now with that public holiday, I have enough days of leaves to allow me to attend the full camp! Weird, huh? Before this, I was calculating, cracking my head on how I could find ways to attend as many session of the camp as possible but all He did was just to smack a public holiday right in the middle of the camp duration and everything was solve!

This really encouraged me. It didn't just happenned. I was longing for a full camp since last year and God had all the details planned for me all this while. So much for trying to find ways to go for a longer camp my own way :)

Next, comes the money factor. Now that I can go for a full camp, means I would need to pay for the full camp. Another new problem? But He never fails...Just a few days after I applied the leave, God provided me almost the exact amount that I needed to pay up for the full camp. Someone was actually suppose to pass me a sum of money that I have forgotten. It was given to me just in time for me to settle the camp fees. Right amount at the right time. Two miracles over a weekend...what else can I ask for? :P When all hope fails, Jesus never fails...

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The Lord is my shepherd...(Psalm 23)

Church camp is just around the corner. The past 4 years, while I was still in college, going for church camp was just craziness as it always falls on my peak period. I have to rush through assignments & pass them up much earlier then all my colleagues just to make sure I can be there for full camps. My only thought from last year was this: "Next year I will not need to go through this anymore as I won't need to rush for assignments again."

Now the time is here. Guess what? No assignments, no crazy datelines to meet. But, this time, as I have started working, I was faced with a new issue: My limited days of leave. I am only left with 1 1/2 days leave for camp and that was definitely not enough if I want to go for the 4 days 3 nights full camp. Feeling quite disappointed, I signed up for half camp. Nevertheless, I was still not giving up, praying, keeping an eye for a chance for a full camp.

Things were just not going my way as I met with an accident just few weeks before the camp. It was a bad one for me as I was burdened with the payment of the damage. God never fails even with all that. In the accident, my driver side window screen (just right beside me) was smashed with such a great impact that shattering glass came flying into the car. The amazing part was this. My face, which was just inches away from the window was barely scratched. I had some scratches on my right hand but my face was protected. What's more amazing was this...During the impact, I was wearing my sunglasses. So, indirectly I had a layer of protection for my eyes from the flying, shattering glass. I believe all this was not a coincidence. God's shield was upon me even I went through the impact. It was to the surprise of many that I was barely touched by the accident but to me it another of His great work of 'art' on me…His miracle of protection.

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Heard from afar...

Feeling a bit down tonight. My family had went out, leaving me all alone at home. Mum wanted to get some things for my sister and was not keen for all of us to tag along. She seemed to be in quite an "easily-irritated" mood tonight. So, I thought if that's the case, I better not follow them.

I had a long week and was planning to rest at home tonight but suddenly I felt like it would be better to do something else. So I picked up the hand phone, SMS the rest of the gang for a hangout in our usual place in Starbucks. Turned out, most of them were busy with something or the other, so I had to cancel the plan.

Left with all the dishes and clean up to do all by myself since my family had left, I began thinking of other ideas to fill my evening. Its funny, on an evening such as this, when I really wanted company, I can't get anyone. I finished all the cleaning up and head up to my room. I figured out if I can't get anyone then I'll just find something to do in my room.

As I was just fumbling with some stuff in the room, my hand phone began to ring, indicating an SMS was received. It was from my close friend, Lydia. Right out of the blue, she asked me if I have taken my dinner. It was weird to me as I seldom got to receive SMSes like that from her, especially when I know that she was suppose to be attending a dinner at that very moment. It seemed that she was feeling bored during the dinner and had just decided to send me an SMS. I started replying her and we exchange replies a few time. It was then I began to realised something...

God was watching me all the while! He saw what an evening I was going through. He heard that I wanted company and everyone else was busy. I have just realised that having Lydia SMSing me was not a coincidence. God made her send me that simple SMS and from it, I actually had my company. I thought that was AWESOME!

Of course, before that, my mind was doubtful. I thought the SMS was no big deal and even wanted to continue to feel down. Then I thought again. This was my evening, my feelings, my decision! I am not going to let all the negative emotions pull me down. God already send my dear friend to speak to me, how can I continue choosing to be down again? Although it was just some short SMS exchange, I decided I have to appreciate what He is doing for me.

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Now is the time...

Work, sleep, eat...work, sleep, eat...work, sleep, eat...that how it is when you start working. Well, pass few months has been like a rat race. Yes, I did do other stuffs too but I am beginning to feel that it is quite meaningless if I can only do those minimum things once I start working. Is this how life suppose to be? DEFINATELY NOT! I would never want to become someone who is too busy to give God my time! 3 months plus has already passed, I think that's more then enough time for me to adjust myself to this working environment and still continue to serve God effectively. Its normal, being all tired, working whole day and then when you get home you just want to rest and probably be fast asleep. That was how I felt each day, but then again I asked mysellf, "What am I here on earth then?"

Year 2006 is a new chapter in my life where new experiences are being brought into my life. It has strucked me much through the past year of 2005, especially going through the nomination for the AYA Award. The nomination was an eye opener as it has actually hit me to ask myself, "What have I done till today and how backtracked am I compared to the rest of the nominees?" I met different people from different walks of life, facing different obstacles but yet they did not let all those things stop them from achieving their dreams. Seeing many who are younger, achieving more then twice of what I have achieved in this 22 years has prompted me to start 2006 with a new challenge.

The theme of the Delirous latest album; "Mission Bell" was really inspiring as it goes very well with what I have put down in my resolution. Their new song "Now Is The Time" just strucked me as it was being introduced to us...(the chorus)

"Now is the time for us to shine,
Shine with the face of Christ divine,
No compromise, for all heaven cries,
Now is the time."

Having the theme reconfirmed again and again in my 2006 diary has cause me to start doing some things that I normally won't do in order to begin improving myself spiritually as well as physically. One of the example was this blog itself. Other where simple things like reading the papers, reading books, improving leadership and communication skill...I realised that I have to start somewhere and I believe that though I may not be so consistent yet, these are all my 'first steps' towards working out a dream...

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The road to Raub

Just came back from the Raub Mission trip. Went for a 2 days 1 night trip to Raub Assembly church. It was a good experience for me as this was technically my first mission trip. (Can't really say it's my first cause we are suppose to be missionaries wherever we go, right? :P )

It was more of a learning and experiencing mission trip as I was very encouraged to see the passion of the people in the small church, serving and worshipping God. The church is actually in an old banglo and the pastor, Pastor Eric, his wife, Elizabeth and their son, Isreal lives in that banglo itself. The spirit of the pastor himself, doing almost everything himself unlike churches of the cities reminds me of how sometimes I take for granted the convinience of serving in my church. It was not very encouraging for a pastor in his place, as Raub was a small town and every now and then people will leave the town for better choices in the cities. The congregation is small and the equipments were plain simple. But despite all those, what kept the pastor going on for God in Raub? I believe Pastor Eric sees the potential and importance of God's plan for this town itself. I was just wondering, if I was placed in his situation, will I still say 'yes' to carry on God's job? A very good thought to think about.

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It just happened

Started my full time job 3 weeks ago. Job was fine. Been abit of 'rush hour' experience in the office because I started the week before Christmas. I have never done so much cutting, pasting and laminating in a day. It was quite stressful at first as I have found out before hand that the girl that I'm assisting is good and fast with her work. I am quite slow when it comes to computer generated designs but I thank God the girl was very patience with me. She not only tolerated my speed but she was kind enough to even teach me new stuffs. It like I'm being paid doing my internship.

Apart from that, I was quite blessed with good meals during lunch times. Not that I really needed to have good meals, but once in a while I do desire to try them. Everyone had their "One day, when I can, I will do this..." The good meals were one of the "this" that I thought I won't be able to experience so soon because they were costly. Now, working in this office, I was indirectly given the opportunity able to try many of the different restaurant and do not need to worry about how much it cost.

All I did was hope that one day it would happen and God saw my heart desiring, He just granted them. Simple, small desires, He just made them happen...

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Beginning or the end?

Wuahaha!...Finally I’m officially having my break after all the assignments and part time job.

Finished college like 2 weeks ago but didn’t have a chance to really catch my breath yet because was offered a part time job right after the week I passed up my assignments. The job, something like a telemarketing job was obviously not something that I would ‘love’ to do, but thank God for the opportunity to earn some income. I was getting really broke that time and suddenly this job offer (which really pays high! :P ) came. I didn’t want to work long as Christmas was coming but in the same time I needed the money. The job was a so-called ‘fit to plan’ as it was for a short period and was able to get me the amount of money that I needed for December.

Anyway, the part time job ended two days ago. Right at the day I ended this job, another friend called me regarding a potential full time job in her office. Was told about it a week or two ago, not knowing if it was a confirmed offer. The call was to tell me more about the job and to confirm if I was really interested in it. Great isn’t it? One after another…Honestly, I haven’t even have time to send in resumes for the other companies that I was planning to. Praying very hard I have been asking God to open doors for me because if He wants me to serve Him still, He will have to make a way for me. I have heard many negative reports about people in the advertising line that has to work very late hours and I really did not want to be one of them. Normal office hours were never in a graphic designer’s dictionary and whatever my requirements for a job were almost impossible to meet. I don’t know if this offer from my friend would be the one that God has provided, but I believe some way or another, God will direct me…

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HIs Living Canvas...

Promise myself to start a blog once am done with my degree...and so, here it is! It's not going to be a daily diary thing but more of a periodical thing so don't expect to see new ones every now and then :)

Last week unofficially marks the end of my 4 year degree journey. I barely can believe that I'm done with the degree. Thinking back, those 4 years was crazy as well as fun. Met people from all kinds of background, learn alot about the design world and most of all, I have overcome much trying to living radically for God in the industry itself.

All this would never be possible if not for God's favour and grace. Truly it was ''The favour of God surrounds me like a shield...''
Its not easy trying to meet datelines while serving God but when you honour Him, He will honour you. As many of my colleagues has said to me,''...for Jennifer, there's no problem because she have Jesus...'' God has really carried me through stressful times.

Just want to thank God for opening the door and helping me finish my degree.

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