Praise for God’s Universal Glory

Monday, April 24, 2006
Something memorable, something wonderful …

We were told to line up in the basketball court … I thought “Oh, do they want us to do some morning exercise?”

No. But something better …

We were told to shout out our thanksgiving to God, our Heavenly Father … there were more than 10 of us and I thought what happens if what I want to say has been said by someone else …

I was wrong – there are lots of things to be thankful for – the weather, the nice scenery around us, the wide array of God’s creation, the people around us, the invitation from God to come for this retreat, someone is even thankful for the crockroaches - haha - thankful for our friends, for our family members, for God’s calling out to us while we were in darkness, for the food we have, the job and money in our pockets. Thankful for the trials that we are going through coz that is when we cling on even more to God.

It feels good to be shouting out to God our thanksgiving … if only I can shout out to God in my own room without scaring my neighbours .. *hiak hiak*
Psalm 148
 
posted by Francesca Cecilia at 7:50 PM, | 0 comments

Joan's Blog

Just came back after my retreat and my brother asked me if I want to read the newspaper.

I asked him, what's interesting? He said nothing much but there is a very sad story.

He showed me the Life's section - they featured the story of Joan - a young girl who has cancer. It saddens me to read that her condition has taken a turn for the worse. The newspaper also carried her blog address and her latest entry ... being curious, my brother and I went online to read.

She's intelligent, pretty and life ahead seems just so good but then cancer came and took away all her things.

I do not know how is her condition now but do pray for her.

Dear Heavenly Father, hear the cries of Joan. Calm her fears anf give her strength. Dear Heavenly Father, be with her family members. I asked this through Jesus Christ, AMEN.
 
posted by Francesca Cecilia at 4:22 PM, | 0 comments

Jesus loves you ...

“Jesus loves you …”

3 simple words that were whispered to me while we were exchanging sign of peace at the retreat.

This declaration of love was totally unexpected.

3 simple words but the meaning and its impact is far and wide. It is enough to reduce me to tears … to just stand there, hugging good o’ jean … hugging her as if Jesus is using her as His tool to comfort me, to say that “hey my child, everything will be alright…do not be afraid but just continue with the journey”.

This feeling is just too wonderful.

Lord, thank you for inviting me to the retreat. Lord, thank you for showing me your love for me. Amen.
 
posted by Francesca Cecilia at 6:27 AM, | 0 comments

Friday, April 21, 2006
We had our sharing on the Easter experience. It is good to hear that I am not the only one facing the same struggles. Each of us has our own struggles, and sins to battle with but we take heart that as long as we keep our focus on God – hang onto His every words – we will grow closer to Him.

Fellowship is very important. Open sharing is important.

I wanted to go home instead of attending the class as I was in Woodlands very early and walking up and down the shopping mall made me very tired. Somehow, a strength pulled me to attend the class. At the end of the session, I am glad that I went. The session had taken away my tiredness and had sort of renewed me.

Thank you Lord for sending to me all your wonderful servants. Help me to walk closer to you and help me to stay focus on you and your heavenly kingdom as I am approaching my own baptism. Let me not be tempted and deliver me from evil.

Lord, protect my friends who are in this journey as well. Protect us from all the “weeds” that are attempting to weaken our faith in you by sending out controversial messages about you for their own personal gain. Lord, help us to carry our own cross and walk with you just the way you want us to be. Though we may fall during the journey, just like Christ had fallen three times on to the hard ground, Lord, grant us to strength to pick ourselves up and continue on the journey.

I offer up my prayers to you through Jesus Christ my Saviour. Amen.
 
posted by Francesca Cecilia at 5:29 PM, | 0 comments

My Easter Experience

Monday, April 17, 2006

… hmmm, supposed to continue writing on the events but I am too lazy to write on.

In short, this Easter is very special to me.

It is easy to lost my focus on God and be side-tracked. I felt as though I had become Peter (maybe Judas?), who had (almost) denied Christ in the face of persecution.

I need God’s strength, grace and courage to continue walking closely with Him..it is tiring to be in the battle alone but with God, everything will be alright.
 
posted by Francesca Cecilia at 9:39 PM, | 0 comments

Good Friday

Good Friday

Pete: Which Mass you wanna attend?

Me: Kept quiet.

Pete asked again: Which Mass you wanna attend?

Me: Erm, the afternoon one lor since there is family makan session in the morning (plus I dun want to rush down to WDLs so early when I can sleep in)

Yup… for some reason, I am not so keen to go to Church. I just want a day to rest and not to appear so “on” and let others say. But somehow, I also know that “Happy are those who are persecuted because of me”….

I went to the Mass. Again, I do not remember much, except the sky is very gloomy and the Church is very cold (as if the air con is free of charge). I asked God to give me the strength – to walk on, to be courageous.
 
posted by Francesca Cecilia at 9:17 PM, | 0 comments

Holy Thursday

Thursday – went to church in a dazed.

Supposed to play for the Mass but there was a change of plan as Father decided that there should be no music throughout the Mass. Thank God for He knows it would be impossible for me to reach church by 7pm.

Was rushing out report for the quarterly reporting and by the time I reached Church, I could not join my friends in the front row. The warden directed me to sit in the middle of the Church. Then after the homily, there was washing of feet. I saw my friends being offered and vice versa. So I just sat there, watching the events happening around me. Then V. came up to me. I thought she was going to ask me to sit in front since she saw me. But no, it feels as if she came by specially to look for me. She did not found me there by chance. She led me from my seat and said she wanted to wash my feet. Well, I was surprised – cos the Church was very crowded on Thursday and I do not think it is possible to find a familiar face in the sea of people. But somehow, I think God directed her to me.

I can’t remember much of Thursday’s night but I just feel very special and that God loves me…
 
posted by Francesca Cecilia at 9:13 PM, | 0 comments

God loves me

God loves me ….

God loves me despite my imperfections
God loves me despite my doubts
God loves me despite my questions
God loves me despite I have thoughts of not turning up

God knows what I am going through and He shows Himself to me in His time.
 
posted by Francesca Cecilia at 9:12 PM, | 0 comments

Qing Ming - Grave Sweeping

Monday, April 10, 2006

Joined my folks in the Qing Ming activity today.

Prayed for God’s protection and guidance – in case they want me to offer joss sticks to my late grandparents and uncle.

Thankfully, they understand and did not bug me. Thank you Lord for the protection.

Also, while getting to my late granddad’s grave, my dad could not find the way. I said a short prayer asking for His guidance and thankfully, we reached a junction and we asked the policeman on how to get to the place.

Though I did not hold the joss sticks, this day served as a day where relatives get together, to remember the dead and to catch up with the living.

 
posted by Francesca Cecilia at 5:59 AM, | 2 comments

My Journey of Faith

Joining a ministry has taught me to rely on God for strength, courage and wisdom.

I am no expert in fixing chords to a tune but somehow, I managed to do it for Credo (with the help from Holy Spirit of course!) What happened was that I tried to fill up the chords for the first page of the Credo but I just seem not to get it right. So I thought by SMS-ing my friend, she would help me – she’s an expert at listening and knowing the correct tune. I didn really ask her to help but just told her that I find it difficult.

The morning went by – no reply … then afternoon, still no reply … not wanting to pull the whole choir down, I prayed really hard – prayed that God will send forth Holy Spirit to help me…

Thankfully, God created a chance for me to figure out the chords and I finished it (about 6 – 7 pages) in a short while … Thank you GOD!!!
 
posted by Francesca Cecilia at 5:58 AM, | 0 comments

God - My Lord, My Saviour ...

Saturday, April 08, 2006
Easter is a busy period – lots to prepare especially when all the songs are new, coupled with busy work schedules (yea, it is my quarterly closing), my rusty skills and unfavourable situation at home that doesn’t allow me to practice openly. Also, things/plans are always changing.

However, thankfully, with God’s grace, I feel peace within me as I know He will deliver me through this. I just need to pray, be patient and do whatever I need to do.

With God’s grace, I am able to slip in a few practices whenever my folks are not around or when they are asleep. I can play with my ear phones on. For some reason, they are afraid (?) that all these hymns would ‘brainwash’ them.

I can only depend on God for the strength, and wisdom to pull through this ‘mad’ period.


SOLI DEO GLORIA …..
psalm27:1
The Lord is my light and my salvation ... whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life .. of whom shall I be afraid?
 
posted by Francesca Cecilia at 1:32 AM, | 0 comments

How to live a happy life?

Saturday, April 01, 2006
For some reason, I was feeling irritated, angry and frustrated at the beginning of the week – totally unhappy and in a mood to fire (at poor dearie of course :P). However, as I turned to the pages of the bible, Holy Spirit guided me to the following … Proverbs 15&16– maxims for happiness …. Well, Proverbs is one book that I rarely touched but with the guidance from the Holy Spirit, the following verses cheered me up and renewed my faith in Him and enable to see the world in a new light… Praise be to God!

Proverb 15
A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.
Plans fail for lack of counsel,
but with many advisers they succeed.

Proverb 16
The plans of the mind belong to mortals,
but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
Commit your work to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.
By loyalty and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
and by the fear of the Lord one avoids evil.
Better is a little with righteousness
than large income with injustice.
The human mind plans the way,
but the Lord directs the steps.
Those who are attentive to a matter will prosper,
and happy are those who trust in the Lord.

Thank you Lord for being here for me. Thank you Lord for all your blessings and your unconditional love for me. Lord, help me to love all those whom you sent to me (especially Pete) and help me to walk in your light. Lord, thank you for telling me that my fears are unfounded as you already have a plan for me and you are directing each and my every step in my daily life. Lord, I trust you and I believe that you are with me all this while. Thank you Lord through Jesus Christ, AMEN.
 
posted by Francesca Cecilia at 7:46 AM, | 0 comments