Journeying with John online ...

Yup, I am giving another shot at an online course this term. Gave so much thought about whether I should pick up a course this term,  with all diligence and my new 'trainer' (Ken ... haha) ... I have decided to give another shot. All study schedule well planned ... cutting down leisure (no more youtubing at night), adding exercise, using my annual leave ... hope to take another course down my list!

Taking online course is quite stressful, especially if the prof demands a particular amount of online activities. I remember when I was taking my counselling ethic's course, the whole class almost got internet-addiction after 4 months of torture. Literally, we had to reply and to response to those who commented on our response within 24hrs, or else marks will be taken off from us. Plus endless readings and writing on ethical cases ... wow!! Well well ... we filed in a complaint after this course ... I mean a REAL official complaint!! 

This course doesn't seem as brutal, but can't underestimate it at all. Gotta read the whole book of John in a total of 8 times in the upcoming 10 weeks + reading reflection. Plus, weekly lecture ... plus about 50 pages of writings. Though there's no rigid time limit for my to reply those responses of my thread, I still have to respond in a timely manner to get the marks going. So, I guess less of a chance for internet-addiction, but still reply within the same week. 

Well well ... beyond all these, I actually hope this class serves a devotional purpose for my own walk with God too. As long as there's no more 'crazy and unexpected' thing happen in the coming 10 weeks or so ... I think(hope) I can finish well on this!!! 

The more exciting thing about this class is that I met my old-time counselling buddy in this online class. She gave birth to a baby boy last year and striving to finish the degree by next year. So so so ... hopefully, maybe we could walk across the stage in the same convocation next year!!!

Gotta get back to reading ...

p.s. Gotta thank my 'handsome and wise' boss for checking out books for me from library ... saving me big bucks!!!! hahahahahha ... rubbing shoes ah! hahahahahah 

There is a higher throne

This is another song that keeps playing in my mind lately ...

This is such a heavenly song ... 

A foretaste of what it is like in heaven praising our Lord in eternity ...

How good it is to worship our Lord ... 

Worshipping Him in quietness, in calm and sunny days, and in stormy nights ... 

 

Words and Music by Keith & Kristyn Getty

Copyright © 2003 Thankyou Music

There is a higher throne

Than all this world has known,

Where faithful ones from ev'ry tongue

Will one day come.

Before the Son we'll stand,

Made faultless through the Lamb;

Believing hearts find promised grace—

Salvation comes.

REFRAIN

Hear heaven's voices sing;

Their thund'rous anthem rings

Through em'rald courts and sapphire skies.

Their praises rise.

All glory, wisdom, pow'r,

Strength, thanks, and honor are

To God our King, who reigns on high

Forevermore.

And there we'll find our home,

Our life before the throne;

We'll honor Him in perfect song

Where we belong.

He'll wipe each tear-stained eye

As thirst and hunger die.

The Lamb becomes our Shepherd King;

We'll reign with Him.

1st anniversary

It was our little pak-tall anniversary last Saturday! What a year (in good terms)!

We drove around some of our favorite places to brainstorm for places where we can take our engagement shots next month with nice autumn scenery. We are different in many ways, but yet, we can somehow compromise in many other ways. He was an alien to me (I guess I was one to him too), but now we can just  sense each other's needs without much words ... a funny feeling indeed. 

Had a nice and simple dinner our on Kingsway, no fancy food or restaurant, but good enough to fill our empty stomachs with satisfaction. 

Monetary expenditure for that day: $20 + Gas

Sweet memory engraved: priceless ^_^

Somehow, I have a few songs playing up in my head these days ... this is one of them ... 

 

一同事奉

剛從staff retreat回來 ... 這幾天一同相處，一同玩wii，一同開會(from dawn to dust) ...

其實，我覺得一同事奉合作最美的就是要懂得走位，

意思就是說，我見到你有不足，我就補上；

我有不足和乏力，你就走上來補充。

一同事奉，不一定是同聲同氣就一定行，

相反，因為在team裡有好不同的想法才會令圖畫更豐富。

一個看macro的，另就看micro; 

一個看事，另一個就看人；

一個看夢想，另一個就看有多實際。

要有這種合拍不一定單是用時間就能孕育出來，

卻是加上對自己和彼此的認識和信任並由聖靈帶領來成就的。

因為我們很「肉緊」這的世代的年青信徒能否作一生跟隨上帝的門徒 ...

我們在使者就是這樣事奉了 ...

突然掛住我的好同事們 ...

（話說回來，我跟Ken的'partnership'也好像如此）

回來了

有朋友仔問我點解近日無mud Blog，唔係我唔想寫或無野寫，而是真係沒時間唷！

忙得來又跟天父keeping in pace, 所以也不算drain out ... 只是要更好好protect安靜的時間 ...

但係真係有點少少迷路的感受唷，因為我的degree好像永遠都不回完的樣子，

有時想，不完成也沒什麼大不了 ...

如果這是天父對我說的，我就不會有那些不安 ...

可是，我心底一早就知道這卻不是天父的聲音吧 ...

再加上我不停convince自己相信要放棄時，

那些迷失感就在此產生了 ...

天父又給我遇見好幾個counsel過好一段長日子的clients，

見到她們生活也比已前好時，也對我是一些無聲的鼓勵，

我同學生談天時，也有同一的感覺唷 ...

自2006年因為身體不好而停下讀書的momentum，

我就開始掙扎。

前晚，也跟Ken說到流淚 ... 

問了我很多問題，

也勁challenge我從前有那份幹勁和耐力，

我好奇怪他點知以前的我是如何，

因為我倆相識才一年半多，

他的observation and intuition也比我強吧。

And now ... he became my coach to finish this part of the race ...

要去朋友仔的婚禮了 ...

再寫 ...

A pray for simplicity

Lord,

I praise you for how simple your love is for me. 

I thank you for things and tribulations that you allowed in my life. 

Hurdles from yesterday became strength for me today ...

Father, I beg for your enduring strength in my to finish off my degree which I dedicate of your use. If this is still the path you want me to walk on, please anchor your affirmation in me. "The song' came to me in just perfect timing again ... 

as I grow, you taught me how to choose, how to make choices that pleases your own eyes. Father, I pray for a heart of simplicity in me so that I can completely surrender myself in your Hands and abandon my dreams and desire in You. 

Grant me a simple heart trusting that my today and my tomorrow are in Your creative hands. 

Grant me a simple heart surrender ability and talents to you when I feel most capable.

Grant me a simple heart trusting that you creativity will lead me out of the maze when I feel like being trapped in one.

As I am learning to keep in pace with Your spirit, grant me a simple heart to love and to follow You ... 

Grant me a simple trust in You when things just don't make sense in my limited knowledge. 

Dad ... may my soul dwells in You ...

Love, Long 

The hope that saved me

Life is filled with things that carry us away from fully abandoning and surrendering ourselves to Our Saviour. The road is narrow ...

At times, we hold onto our sense of self so tight that we worship our needs and that 

At times, we are overwhelmed with detours that jolt our faith in Christ and filled our soul with doubts.  

When the slightest sense of hopelessness knocks at our hearts, we easily let it into our hearts ...

that's when it starts to turn corrosive that eats up our sense of Hope ...

How easily we choose to forget about the Hope that He has installed for us through the Salvation ...

His hope saved and delivered me ...

Elpis ...

... is the greek word for HOPE. (as in 1 Peter 1:3 - "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living HOPE through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade - kept in heaven for you.) 

... Nothing is more strengthening than knowing that there's is a hope in the midst of suffering and hardships. Our Hope is rooted in Christ ... and not myself ... and that changed my life. 

... this is still the word in my heart, if one day God allows my dream to come into live. 

Thanks to lo-sai brother for this song ... tears washed away the sense of hopelessness ... and slowly filled with a sense of strength that calms my heart.

"There is a hope that burns within my heart,

that gives me strength for ev'ry passing day;

a glimpse of glory now revealed in meager part,

yet drives all doubt away:

I stand in Christ, with sins forgiv'n;

and Christ in me, the hope of heav'n!

My highest calling and my deepest joy,

to make His will my home."

"There is a hope that lifts my weary head,

a consolation strong against despair,

That when the world has plunged me in its deepest pit,

I find the Saviour there!

Through present suff'rings, future's fear, 

He whispers "courage" in my ear.

For I am safe in everlasting arms,

And they will lead me home."

"There is a hope that stands the test of time,

That lifts my eyes beyond the beck'ning grave,

To see the matchless beauty of a day divine

when I behold His face!

When suff'rings cease and sorrows die,

And ev'ry longing satisfied.

Then joy unspeakable will flood my soul,

For I am truly home."