Starlight Smile

My Miyang never fails to brighten my spirit.

Problems may be many, time few, and resources even more scarce - but moments framed in darkness when they are visited by starlight never fail to amaze me.

For when hope seem lost, hope is found and despair is vanquished. Life remains difficult but then again, if life weren't - how can joy also be our companion?


My Anne and her starlight smile...

Just a little ditty...

There was a little town of Gullbarton
whose cats liked to run a marathon
but they neglected to state the case
their own mayor rigged every race,
the venue was switched to Torbiton!



Torbiton... now that's a smart name
for a pretty, purrrty town.

The moral: Cats hate cheats.

My Certainty

When I am uncertain, my Lord Jesus,
remind me always Thou art my certainty.

From my Journal 20130818Sun

During Holy Communion at Anticipated Mass yesterday, I was asked by one of our senior lay ministers in the EMHC to go up to the church loft to offer the Eucharist to our choir, which I obeyed even whilst in doubt because the rite was almost concluding.

A part of me was saying that the choir would have already gone down, a few at a time, to receive Communion during the length of the Communion Rite but a part of me, a stronger part, felt impelled to just go and do what was asked without questioning it (maybe because the most instinctive and unthinking part of me knew that sharing the Savior in the Eucharist is ALWAYS a good thing) and so I went and climbed what felt like a long climb to the church loft.

There I met our beautiful and talented choir, and it instantly dawned upon my mind how deeply Christ loves our young people...

and it suddenly felt profoundly good to be there... 

I felt my heart rejoicing like Saint Peter in the Transfiguration saying, "Lord, it is good that I am here!"

- selah -

We are a beautiful and amazing people, the love we profess in our hearts as a nation is capable of great and wonderful things, and I know no matter the depths of the darkness we confront in our times today, we shall in God as one nation prevail... unto better times for all.

Jesus Said

Jesus said, 

My son, in the midst of thy temptations... remember how I suffer with you.

Your temptations are measured by moments. Every one of them, from the least to the most fearsome, are numbered, all of them vicious and unkind, all of them as fleeting as each thy days upon the earth.

But I, my son, I will remain with you forever.

From my Journal 20130811Sun

In short, I think we're doing fine.

I'm doing fine. Work is good and my recovery is blessed. Family is still family - complete with tampuhan at dramahan - and my friends are the family who makes up for what my family lacks. We truly complete each other, good or bad, and I love every last bit of every last one of us.

I'm single and always in love, get to work full time with full hours, get to serve in Church every Fridays and Saturdays, get to find my own leisure every Sundays, and in a poor country, get to feel I am already rich.

Indeed, I outwardly go through a lot of adversity, but it will be quite difficult for anyone in my shoes to fathom a universe without a God.

Alhamdulillah. Alleluia. Bless the LORD.

A Night Prayer

Dearest LORD,
Thou art a generous and faithful Provider,
thank you so much for the blessings
You gave for me and my family this day.
Forgive us our sins, and keep us in safety
as we rest through the night.

Thou art a wonderful God indeed!
For it is such a gentle joy to serve
and belong to Thee, O Father,
so please keep us Thine forevermore
all in the Name of Jesus Christ Thy Son,
our Savior, and Blessed Lord.

AMEN.