rainy afternoons under cloudy skies

One of my favourite things to do
on rainy days is staying at home,

lounging around in my comfy jammie pants and having
noodles for lunch with a spoonful of peanut butter
and jelly as dessert.

xx

photos found in Kisses and Cross Stitches
and AutumnLove's flickr

a dustland fairytale

Totally wishing I could attend Leeloo's Once Upon birthday party tonight! (:
It's a fairytale art exhibition, where 38 artists have each been given a fairytale to interpret. Eep! I love, I love. Calling all Sydneysiders: do go! ♥

xx

struggle

Lately, I've been telling myself that... I'm tired of studying. I'm tired of feeling bad. I'm tired of worrying about my bank account. I'm tired of misunderstandings. I'm tired of writing my Anthropology essay. I'm tired of thinking I'm not good enough, yet I struggle with pride. I'm tired of unappreciative attitudes. I'm tired of working so hard only to reap mediocre results. I'm tired of holding my tongue. I'm tired of waiting for God who sometimes takes a while to show me the way, even though I know that He will show me at the right time. Sometimes the wait is frustrating.

I guess it all boils down to wants. I'm just tired of wanting; wanting an easier solution, wanting a better answer, wanting things I can't seem to achieve, wanting to retort, wanting to be a better friend, a better daughter, a better student...

I've always been aware of Psalm 23, and read it numerous times, albeit merely taking it at face value, not really diving into the depths of it, not unlocking the treasures of God's Word. To me, it was just "the" psalm to be read at solemn events and such. But upon listening to Ps Kenneth's message that expounded on this passage, and after searching my own heart, it means something different to me now.



♥ The LORD is my shepherd;
I shall not want.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.

He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD
Forever.

Now I finally understand it better. The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. God is not trying to say that as a Christian, I cannot want things. A nicer handphone, a better grade, an easier life. He does not desire to with-hold any good thing from us. "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want." I understand that from this psalm, God is trying to tell me that because He is my God, He will give me the desires of my heart and everything I need. His grace is sufficient for me, my cup overflows with His blessings. Therefore, I need not want. He has already provided and will continue to do so.

This personal revelation sounds exactly like how I interpreted this psalm in the past, when I took it at face value. The difference is, now that I'm experiencing it, and now that I'm going through it, it pierces so deep into my heart, my soul, that it's different. It doesn't make my situation any less tough, but at least I know I have Jesus, my Shepherd, guiding me. That's my peace, my comfort, in the midst of my struggle and search.

xx

photos found in We Heart It

sugar pie honey bunch

I tried to do handstands for you
I tried to do headstands for you
Every time I fell on you, yeah, everytime I fell
I tried to do handstands for you but every time I fell for you
I'm permanently black and blue,
Permanently blue for you-ooh-ooh-ooh



I grabbed some frozen strawberries
so I could ice your bruising knees;
But frozen things they all unfreeze, and now I taste like...
All those frozen strawberries I used
to chill your bruising knees.



Hot July ain't good to me
I'm pink and black and blue for you.

Hello sweets! Meet my very happy animal family: Lion the lion, Elephant the elephant and Giraffe the giraffe! They were random little gifts from Boyfriend - aren't they precious? Heartheartheart! And the box of kiddy plasters - sooo adorable and I was so happy when one of my besties bought it for me just because. I've always wanted 'em! Ladidum.

xx

lyrics from the cute-as-pie song Bruises by Chairlift

we'll have the sub-of-the-day, please

Sunday service was excellent today, as per usual! Was really blessed by what Pastor Kenneth shared as it really hit home for me. Because we know that He loves us, we can wake up every morning feeling confident about life. God is not one who will punish us for the rest of the day because we sinned the night before. He doesn't go out of the way, scheming and thinking of ways of how to punish us. That's just not His character. Many a time I've gotten all worked up, thinking that God won't help me when I pray, because I've done so much wrong.

click to keep reading...

That does not mean I can sin and still be blessed by God, but it means that God is a god of many, many chances and of love; ever so patient and wanting to forgive and bless me despite my flaws. And once I recognize that, I will turn away from my old, sinful ways because that doesn't please the God I love.

There was this supernatural peace that came upon me as I went out to pray and to be prayed for today. It's amazing, because for the past month I've been feeling a real spiritual wreck, unable to even just talk to God in prayer. Reasons? Right above - the last sentence of my first paragraph. I felt that He didn't want to help me or answer my prayers because I've been so proud, so unworthy. But today God pushed away all those nonsensical thoughts and gave me peace. Nothing profound, no tears or loud prayers needed. Just total surrender and letting God take control again. I'm not perfect; I don't have perfect grades or a perfect life. I may be nothing special in the eyes of the world, but my extraordinary God cares for me and knows we're special anyway (Psalm 139). Hey, He created us, He should know, right? ;) Amazing grace indeed.

So after service Chrys and I went for lunch at Subway. We've both been suffering from a very nice sore throat who seems to love us so much, it doesn't want to leave us. Oh, oh! And I'd really appreciate your opinion - should I keep my hair curled or go back to my naturally straight hair again? I've had soft curls for the past half a year. Last night I decided to blow dry my hair straight to see how I looked like with straight hair again. Well, because it was a digital perm my hair wouldn't blow dry completely straight and ended up wavy at the bottom. See photo evidence above. Hehe.

In any case, while it was nice to have my straight hair back for a day or two (ahhhh, being able to run my fingers through it without getting tangled! bliss!), I've decided that I really do prefer having curls, so I'll prolly get it permed again early next year (it needs a break from all those hot tools). Errmm yeah that's about all. End of my narcissistic moment. Hehehe.

Happy Sunday, every buddy! :D

xx

c is for cookie

I was in the mood for baking last night so I got crackin' with some soft and gooey chocolate chip cookies! Today I'm currently recovering from chocolate overload. Tee hee. Boyfriend hasn't been feeling too well for the last coupla days so I made him some chicken porridge this morning. I'm quite proud of myself 'cos this year I finally learnt how to cook a few dishes! Hehehe. And learnt, er, to not be afraid of switching on the stove. OH and taking the heat that emits from it. Hehehehe. Yes I used to have stove&heat phobia. Very prissy of me, please ignore. Hopefully Cheryl and Yin Mun will finally stop reminding me about my very funny first maggi-mee incident when we were 13. Epic fail.

But aha! I'm getting better. Took me six years, but better than nothing, I say! Ho hum.

xx

p/s: this is too cute! *points below*