The Sound Of Music

Don’t you often marvel at the power of music! I think it’s quite wonderful how different tunes and melodies could stir up such emotions from deep within – to be able to excite feelings of anticipation or contentment or romance.. Or often bring to mind a vivid recollection of an earlier emotion or memory. That was what I was thinking during the Kenya 29:11 concert held at Subi church on Saturday. There were so many different genres of music, (so much talent!), and each type of music is special in its own way. Hm.. maybe I should look into music therapy more.. heh. But if music on earth can be so influential and inspirational and breathtaking, can’t wait to hear what heavenly music must be like. Definitely indescribable I believe!

I’ve just ended my first full week of Uni and prac. Although must get used to ‘working’ full days each week again, so thankful to be kept busy like this and have a chance to try some new things in the school i’m working in. Will report more about placement soon.. Actually, the course aside, i’ve managed to make myself quite busy now. Besides OCF (we just had our AGM so the new term in the local committee starts now, with our first handover meeting this afternoon), I also have counseling training one evening per week, and have just joined the worship team in church. heh so finally my life in Perth resembles the one i have in Singapore a bit more ;) Know i shouldn’t take on more than i can handle, but ever more aware that time is precious and i don’t want to waste any of it.

Must say that i’m ever so thankful for all the members of the OCF Local Committee 2004/5. All that God requires is a willing heart, and i’ve been so encouraged by their faithfulness and willingness to serve, even just in the background in the kitchen washing up after a meeting.. Thank God for each one of them :) Hearing from them on the various challenges and struggles they faced through the past year, and looking ahead to what’s in store for the next year, just reminds me again how it’s all really the Lord’s work, and He will provide what’s necessary to accomplish it. Based on 2 Cor 12:9 (and in a sense often seeing more of my inadequacies as i grow older and think i should be able to handle stuff but really can't), i take much comfort from Steven Curtis Chapman’s song about God’s perfect strength, especially the second verse.

‘I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength’
But sometimes I wonder what He can do through me
No great success to show, no glory of my own
Yet in my weakness, He is there to let me know
His strength is perfect when our strength is gone
He’ll carry us when we can’t carry on
Raised in His power, the weak become strong
His strength is perfect
His strength is perfect

We can only know the power that He holds
When we truly see how deep our weakness goes
His strength in us begins where ours comes to an end
He hears our humble cry and proves again
His strength is perfect when our strength is gone
He’ll carry us when we can’t carry on
Raised in His power, the weak become strong
His strength is perfect

His strength is perfect

May this encourage all of you when you feel weak and inadequate as well :)

Count your blessings, name them one by one

1) Stan is safely back from Kenya. Thank God for His protection throughout the trip and for the opportunity to minister to the people there as well as see a little bit of what God is doing in that land.
2) My first placement has started!! I’m at an Anglican Girls’ School 10 minutes away from my house which is so amazing.. My first day there was great – it’s a really nice school and the psychologist i’m working under is really friendly :) Although i was worried about not having started earlier, if i manage to go into the school 3 days a week, i’ll be able to finish the required 30 days beginning November! Praise the Lord for His amazing timing and for this great place to work. Pray that i’ll learn much from my time there and not be afraid to try new things.
3) Also, i just heard some wonderful news about the possibility of doing my second placement in Singapore at the end of the year!!

...Just to name a few... Thank you Lord!

Wow. Not sure what else to say as a summary of my opinion after finishing Don’t Waste Your Life. It’s challenging, to say the least, and God definitely has a message for us through the book. Do others really see any difference in our lives when they look at us who profess to be followers of Christ? Is it apparent in our values, and way of life – how we spend our time and money? Do they simply see us as ‘good’ people who appear morally upright and happily living in our own words, totally satisfied with our own salvation? Or do we use all our energies to tell others about God, and encourage fellow Christians to do the same? I shan’t be presumptuous and try to summarise the book, so please do read it for yourselves, and prepare to be challenged. (Think my blood almost literally ran cold when i came to the subheading ‘Television, the Great Life-Waster’ :P)

And so many other things have come together to agree with the book.. Praying through the OCF Australia National Prayer and Missions Month booklet which includes one OCF centre and one country to pray for each day, also thinking of and praying for Stan and the team in Kenya, and then attending the OMF Discover Asia presentation dinner on Saturday night where we heard from people who had gone for mission trips to different parts of the world for different lengths of time.. Even Friday’s talk by Rob kind of re-iterated some key points. One particular thing Rob said really struck me though – are we changing to be more like Christ? He asked if we know anyone who hasn’t changed a bit every time we see them.. I fear i might be one of those people who don’t really change.. And think i’ve heard the phrase ‘being willing to step out of my comfort zone’ more than 5 times in the last few days alone…

Guess the key question to be asked, which Piper ends with, is whether i am best fulfilling the purpose of my life in the place where i am. For me, trust that UWA and this city is where God has placed me for this time, and what will come after that i have no idea. Meanwhile, will serve out my mission here, and ask the Lord to renew my heart and mind each day so i don’t waste any moment. It’s so encouraging to think of my dear brothers and sisters who are doing the same, and i thank God whenever i see an example of that in the people around me.

What's your shape?

Just wanted to share briefly a cool idea we learnt about during Friday’s talk at the OCF Public Meeting by Rob Robayna. He was talking about Service, and gave a really good way of helping us determine where we can serve God best. In a nutshell, you have to think carefully about your shape. Yes, SHAPE:

Spiritual gifts
Heart
Abilities
Personality
Experiences

I think all the terms are pretty self-explanatory, except perhaps for Heart, which refers to what you’re passionate about, and what the burden of your heart is. …Cool huh! So, what’s your shape? ;)

..Want to share more about Piper’s book, which I’m almost finished reading, but need to consolidate and compose my thoughts properly before writing about it.

making sure i don't waste my life

I’ve finally gotten down to reading John Piper’s Don’t Waste Your Life, which i bought during the mid-year break back home. After which, found out that it’s rather an OCF favourite, thanks to David Liaw who maybe bought 10over copies to give away (!) – so it must be a good book ;) Well, seriously, i’m only into the 3rd chapter, but already would highly recommend it. In a sense, the message is very simple – how not to have any regrets at the end of your life regarding how you used your time, and reminding me of my purpose here on earth. Really ties in with what i was discussing with Adrian the other day.. Being human, it’s so easy and automatic to be self-centred and focus on me, when it’s not really me that matters at all. But at the same time, it’s our responsibility what we do with the time we’ve been given. Comes at an especially opportune time for me since i still haven’t heard news about my placement and therefore am still relatively free.

Please pray for Stan who's gone to Kenya with a team from his church. Pray for safety for the team of 7 - there and back - and for joy in serving the people there, and that they'll be an encouragement to the Christians there. Look forward to hearing from him when he returns with all the stories of what God is doing in that part of the world! :)

The topic for yesterday’s seminar session for our module on Exceptional Development was “A child with a disability in the context of the family”. Our lecturer invited 2 mothers to come in to talk to us, and I found the session extremely helpful in understanding what it’s like from the parent’s point of view. Also from the video that was screened, finally was able to see a bit of the emotional roller-coaster of having a child with general delay. One of the mums who came in has 4 boys, 3 of whom either have been diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome or autism (!), and basically, everyday is a challenge. She mentioned something and emphasised that very much - that these are children first, so they should never be referred to as "austistic children" but rather "children with autism". Really challenged me to be more empathetic when dealing with the families of these children, to be more human and more sensitive. Feel as if I can’t do that on my own though and will take time to improve even in showing the right balance of empathy and professionalism I’m sure.