PLAYFUL MIND

I read through the book of Solomon’s Song of Songs. I could not really comprehend the thought of what I read. Though I used the New International Version (NIV), I finished the 8 chapters of the book quite confused, mystified and curious. Questions popped in my mind…what is this book all about? Is this really included in the Bible? I find it quite sensual in a sense that it mentioned and described parts of man’s and woman’s body in a whole range of images. My thoughts were racing and my imagination gone wild. Think…think…think… Ü

Good thing Gordon and Douglas were there to help me. (Who are Gordon and Douglas? FYI: Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart are authors of ‘How to Read the Bible Book by Book’ and the best-selling ‘How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth’.) Actually, I used to consult their book first before reading a book in the Bible for me to have a little background on it. But, I changed my strategy lately, I read through the whole book, try to figure it out by myself then consult them later. Hehehe…just trying to feel how to be a Bible scholar huh?! ('Pasaway' strategy!)

Here’s the orienting data for Song of Songs (by Gordon and Douglas)…
Content: a love poem of several episodes, celebrating the sexual love between a woman and a man.
Date of composition: unknown; scholarly guesses cover a broad range
Emphases: the proper love of a woman and a man for one another; the unquenchable nature of pure love; the delight in and longing for each other that pure love engenders.

I have this habit of marking my favorite passages in the Bible that somehow made an impact on me. In the entire book of Song of Songs, I only have one marked passage – chapter 3 verse 5b – “Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.” It was also mentioned in chapter 2 verse 7 and chapter 8 verse 4. Interestingly, it was rephrased by Gordon and Douglas as “to let love take its own course.” Whoooa! Such a good principle, huh?!! Though I’m currently in love (with my Savior who first loved me!)…the ‘love’ in me is still sleeping. Why worry about it when God is in full control and has the best plan for me! Ü Anyway, I got to learn a new meaning of love…aside from popular slumbook’s definition of love – “love is blind” and “love is lovelier the second time around.” Hehehe… “Love is as strong as death.” (chapter 8 verse 6) Wow!

Why was the Song of Songs included in the Bible? Gordon and Douglas said, “Song of Songs fits into God’s story as a reminder that the sexual love he created is good and should be embraced with godly fidelity and delight.”

With that, I’m reminded again to be an ambassador of purity! Ü Jia you!

patient with us

I really thank God for He is soooooooo patient with us. =)  He allows us to learn in our own way and pace, gently guiding us and lovingly bringing us back to the right track whenever we are lost.

I’m monitoring a new officemate of mine on handling calls.  Oh, I’m getting impatient early this morning.  I think I am assuming and expecting too much.  I want her to learn fast and absorb all the things I’m teaching her.  Oh again, impatient me!  I’m really grateful to God that He is willing to wait for me to grow…  I just hope God would give me a bagful of patience today and the strength to walk/run to and fro every time I notice an area that needs improvement… God, please help me to be patient today and always!

attached?

I’m sad because my favorite watch was broken yesterday.  The broken portion was the connection of the strap to the body of the watch.  It is made of plastic so I think it would not be repaired anymore… *sob, sob, sob*  It’s the second time I’m feeling this way.  Last month my trusted folding umbrella bid goodbye when a strong wind broke its metal skeleton leaving me drenched by a pouring rain.  It’s a funny feeling how I’ve become attached to inanimate possessions.  Can you blame me?  My favorite watch was with me since I’m in high school.  My brother originally owned it but he just left it unused and went for a more trendy watch.  It’s just a simple small black Swatch watch.  I just change the straps whenever it was broken.  It was my watch for almost a decade.  Also, my trusted folding umbrella was with me since high school days.  We’ve been through a lot of storms (literally!).  I always brag about its durability considering it’s a folding-type of umbrella. 

This made me reflect that we cannot keep materials for a long time no matter how good we take care of it.  I have this trait of keeping things (quite sentimental about it) for a long time – e.g. bookmark since I’m in grade one, pocket dictionary since grade three, pairs of shoes since grade six, second year high school, etc… (that still fit to my feet!)

I guess I have to learn how to let go of things, much more of people.

I don’t like goodbyes but…

For now, it’s really time to say…goodbye!

Sino pa ang mamahalin ko ng ganito?
Ikaw na buong buhay mo'y inilaan
Nagbigay sa akin ng kaligtasan
Nagdulot sa akin ng kapayapaan

Ano pa ang hahanapin ko?
Pagmamahal mo'y iyo ng napatunayan
Mga kailangan ko'y iyo ng tinugunan
Pinagkalooban mo ng ibayong kaligayahan

Hindi ko masusuklian
Ang iyong dakilang katapatan
Alay ko sa 'yo'y kapurihan
Pasasalamat ay walang hanggan.

Ocean

Lately I've been thinkin' about you
And lately I've been dreaming of you
And lately I can't get you out of my head
Get you out of my head

Something about the ocean
Makes me rise up and praise
Something about the heavens
Makes me stand in awe again
Something about the sunrise
Reminds me of your faithfulness
Something about the ocean (your presence)
And I'm lost in love again

I'll sing until I sense a smile
Upon your great and lovely face
And till I know your glory's in this place
Your glory's in this place

© 2000 Lamont Hiebert Integrity's HOsanna! Music / ASCAP From the album Ten Shekel Shirt Much


Sounds like a love song...
So cool and refreshing to the ears. I first heard this song in a friend's church gathering around December 2002. I'm not into Christian Contemporary Music then. It's nice to be "reunited" with the songs you've just heard once before (no idea whatsoever with the singer, songwriter, or album) and made your heart sing... Can't imagine I'm singing this song again, it's been almost 3 years... (just getting sentimental...hehehe!)
(Sigh...) Something about the ocean... how romantic! How awesome is our Creator! It's just an indirect way of saying - I LOVE YOU LORD JESUS! Wo ai ni zhu Yesu!

wanna try

Out of the blue, I thought of listing the jobs I want to try (even just for a day…I mean, half day pala!)…

Copier attendant (taga-xerox), elevator operator (tagasabi ng “going up/down”), courier (tagadala ng mga documents at bagahe), school bus driver (parang cute kasi ang maghatid ng mga kids!), bookshop/library assistant (tagahanap ng mga libro na gustong bilhin o hiramin), photo studio assistant…

Wala lang, try lang…

touching lines

Something about your presence and I'm lost in love again… - from the song “Ocean”
I could search for all eternity long and find there is none like you… - from the song “There Is None Like You”
You mean more than this world to me…I couldn’t live one day without you, I could never go on… - from the song “You Are”

There’s a different “high” feeling when you’re in love with your Savior. But it should not end in just feeling it. Emotions are fleeting and most of the time deceiving. We can’t just trust our feelings. But then again, it’s good to know that you’re in love with your Savior. It’s inexplicable! =)

kind words

O kind words, you just don’t know how much your impact can do.  You can uplift a soul, motivate a person or even change one’s life.  I hope people will not hesitate to share you with others.  You are important as well as your friends – pat in the back, tap in the shoulder, a hug, and a smile.  I pray that I’ll be reminded to be generous in giving you to others and hope that I could uplift a soul, motivate a person or even change one’s life.

L-O-V-E

The strongest evidence of love is sacrifice.

This line keeps on crossing my mind this week.  It’s the text on one of the cards posted in our bathroom. 

Ah, love is such a strong feeling that makes a person does what seems to be impossible.  Parents sacrificing everything for the sake of their children; a person willing to give his life for a friend; a patriotic man who sacrificed his own life for the freedom of his fellow countrymen; a firm believer willing to die because of his faith; a guy/girl who decided to keep himself/herself pure while patiently waiting for his/her God’s perfect choice… Man, by nature, is selfish.  But because of love, one becomes selfless.  Just what a song says, “It’s love that makes the world go round…”

By the way, the illustration on the side of the text, “The strongest evidence of love is sacrifice”, is 3 crosses on a hill.  It comes with a verse, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

This is love!

I Will Sing

Lord You seem so far away
A million miles or more
It feels today
Though I haven't lost my faith
I must confess right now
That it's hard for me to pray.

Refrain
But I don't know what to say
And I don't know where to start
But as You give the grace
With all that's in my heart

Chorus
I will sing, I wil praise
Even in my darkest hour
Through the sorrow and the pain
I will sing, I will praise
Lift my hands to honor You
Because Your Word is true
I will sing!

Lord it's hard for me to see
All the thoughts and plans
You have for me
But I will put my trust in You
Knowing that You died
To set me free.
___________________________________________________________________

A song by Don Moen that speaks for those times when I feel dry spiritually. I can really relate to the refrain part. There are times when I don't know what to say to Him and I don't know where to start. It seems that I'm lost for words to express what's in my heart. But then I will still sing to Him and for Him!

All my life never I've been loved
Darkness I can see in this life I'm livin'
But there is someone who gives light
He offered up his life
He reached out
And gave me life

Lord I want to be
Your child who always sees
The desires of Your heart
And Your decrees
Oh I want to show
My love for You my Lord
For there is none like You
And you'll always be my Lord

It's hard to live a life
Pleasing in Your sight
In quiet times I sleep
My prayer life is weak
Though I always strive
But I always fail
You know I've tried
Please hear my cry
- October 18, 2000 10:25 PM

achi

as i understand it, achi means elder sister in Fookien.  i just got acquainted with the term because of my Fil-Chinese dgroup mates.  i find it so cute and sweet whenever i hear someone calling his/her elder sister achi.  i’m not really Fil-Chinese but i adapted the term and started calling one of my sisters in Christ achi.  though she’s not Fil-Chi but i just feel like calling her achi. i really treasure this achi of mine. yesterday was not a good day for me, i didn’t feel like doing my tasks at the office, i was feeling down.  she encouraged me even when we were miles apart, thank God for text messaging!  above all, God is our ultimate encourager and He uses people to make us feel His presence. i don’t have biological sister but i’m blessed with wonderful sisters in Christ.  this achi is one of them.  pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones (Proverbs 16:24).  tai ganxie ni achi!

er shi san

Er shi san…beinte y tres…di chap san…twenty three…dalawampu’t tatlo…

Dalawampu’t tatlong taon na ang nakaraan ng una kong masilayan ang mundo.  Parang kailan lang, kay bilis talaga ng panahon.  Isipin mo dalawampu’t tatlong taon na pala ang nakalipas.  Ano na nga ba ang mga narating?  Ano na nga ba ang mga natutunan?  Ano na nga ba ang mga nagbago?  Ano na nga ba ang mga napagdaanan?  Kahit ano pa man yon, isa lang ang hindi nagbabago, at ‘yon ay ang dakilang katapatan ng mapagpalang Diyos.   Walang makakapantay.  Walang makakapalit.  Walang makakatalo.

Salamat O aking Diyos sa dalawampu’t tatlong taon kong pamumuhay sa mundo…

Nawa’y magdulot ang buhay ko ng kapurihan sa Iyong dakilang pangalan!