A Meaningful Day

Monday, September 25, 2006
A meaningful day.

Thank you, Lord for granting me the graces to play along with the Choir.

Though I was feeling nervous and totally not confident, You helped me along and the Mass went well.

Thank you Lord for being ever so faithful to Your child’s prayers for help.

Thank you Lord, for the talent that you have given to me and thank you Lord for surrounding me with so many wonderful friends.

Thank you Lord for giving me Peter who is ever so organized and focused to balance my messy nature.

Lord, make me humble. I offer up to you my pride and anger so that I can grow to be more humble.

Lord, thank you for allowing me to take part in the choir practice for Brother Gerard’s ordination. The songs were so beautiful. I guess these are just glimpse of Your beauty (oh yes, and also thank you for the fellowship).

Lord, I know that the coming two weeks will be very busy for me. But Lord, I trust that You will clear my way so that I can make it to attend the practices for Brother Gerard’s ordination as well as the actual ordination. Lord, help me to work efficiently and effectively during the day so that I can have more time to focus on other areas of my life – preparing myself for the sacrament of marriage, attending church activities etc, activities at developing my spiritual life.

Lord, You are a really beautiful God. Lord, help me to radiate Your Light in all that I do and speak. Guide me to make decisions - according to Your definition and not the world's.

Thank you Lord. In Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN.


 
posted by Francesca Cecilia at 7:15 AM, | 0 comments

Swimming in the Sin of Anger

Oh no. I have been swimming in the sin of anger since dunno when.

As I was going through the reflection sheet, I realize that I am guilty of many. Just take the recent case of me being accused of not doing my work. Of course I was mad but I failed to turn to Jesus or did not try as hard to turn to Jesus to take away my hurt. Instead I let it control me and turned me into a monster. =(

One scripture text struck me:

Eph 4:26-27
If you become angry, do not let your anger lead you into sin and do not stay angry all day.

Ok – I got angry, very very mad and refused to be pacified and I was holding on to this anger for more than a day.

these other passages struck me as well ...
Proverbs 29:11
Stupid people express their anger openly, but sensible people are patient and hold it back

Yup, I am one of those stupid people – thinking that I am being smart.

Proverbs 29:22
People with quick tempers cause a lot of quarreling and trouble

Yup. I agree. Lately, I do not know if it is work stress, marriage stress or what. I just seem to get angry easily with the people around me. Easily irritated.

Hmm, the topic of sin of anger comes at the right time. God’s timing I suppose?

Well, Heavenly Father, thank you for pointing out to me my flaws. Lord help me to get rid of my sin of anger before I hurt more people. Lord, grant me your peace.

Lord, help to me see that all other things do not matter as long as I am pleasing you with my actions.

Lord, I commit the new week ahead to you. Lord I promise that I turn to you for strength and to conquer evil with good. If my enemies are hungry, Lord, grant me an open heart to feed them. If they are thirsty, that I may be generous to give them a drink. Lord, I turn to you for strength and patience. Heavenly Father, I have been going round this cycle for too long. I want to get out of it and move on.
Lord, help me. Thank you Lord, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
 
posted by Francesca Cecilia at 7:00 AM, | 0 comments

Something Happened!!!

Saturday, September 23, 2006
Something happened.
on the way back from our shopping with my mum, I shared with her on some funny incidents during our last retreat ... i usually avoid sharing this topic with her as she may turn sensitive.
somehow, this time was different and also, she asked me abt my baptism - when it will be. So I just causally told her that it will be next year. Ok - no violent objection from her so far ... then I asked - would u be coming to witness it? She said - no, for what .... ok, I stopped there ... then I asked her - what about your grandchildren - she said no too ... then I said, oh.. the grandchildren would feel sad....
anyway, i am leaving it to His time... in the past, the topic of baptism wasn't even brought up.
anyway, dearest bros and sises - pls pray for me, OK?
=)
 
posted by Francesca Cecilia at 1:49 AM, | 0 comments

Something Happened!!!

Something happened.
on the way back from our shopping with my mum, I shared with her on some funny incidents during our last retreat ... i usually avoid sharing this topic with her as she may turn sensitive.
somehow, this time was different and also, she asked me abt my baptism - when it will be. So I just causally told her that it will be next year. Ok - no violent objection from her so far ... then I asked - would u be coming to witness it? She said - no, for what .... ok, I stopped there ... then I asked her - what about your grandchildren - she said no too ... then I said, oh.. the grandchildren would feel sad....
anyway, i am leaving it to His time... in the past, the topic of baptism wasn't even brought up.
anyway, dearest bros and sises - pls pray for me, OK?
=)
 
posted by Francesca Cecilia at 1:49 AM, | 0 comments

down, down, down

Wednesday, September 20, 2006
i am feeling down

i am undergoing lots of stress

why dun the people around me seem to understand me but gives me harshed/impatient remarks

i am very tired

my mood plummeted to its lowest point when i returned to work on monday and till today, it is still not very bright.

haiz.
 
posted by Francesca Cecilia at 6:13 AM, | 1 comments

My Weekend

Monday, September 18, 2006
This retreat was something different.

Firstly, the pace was very fast and it is one of the shortest retreat. Instead of being heavy-going, we were energized throughout the two days.

1. Our room was located on the 4th floor and the room where we did our session was on the 3rd - can you imagine the amount of climbing I have to do ....

2. On the first night, we get to play a game - boy, we all went mad running round one another. In this game, we were all given a candle and we are suppose to keep the light burning while the faciliators (aka the distraction/obstruction) tried to blow our our candle. I guess this is one activity that we all enjoyed. We know who are the protective ones among us. Ha ha ha. Through this game, we realised that our faith is fragile and if we are not careful, the flame may just get blown out by the distraction. Also, we need to help each other to grow in faith as we all tried to light our friends' candles.

3. Art and Craft. There were more than a usual share of arts and crafts that we need to do. I felt as if I have gone back to my childhood. Really good. No stress, just fun fun fun in the midst of reflections.

4. The mood of most of us are HAPPY. In the previous retreats, I would either be bogged with other matters or faced obstruction. But when I attended this retreat, I was really happy. I felt JOY. =)

5. Also, we have come a long way from our first retreat. Our faith level have definitely increased over these period. Praise the Lord. Also, we get to know one another better in this retreat.

6. Oh yes, one last thing, we were told to tell people about Jesus. Wow! What an experience. We were told to do it in busy Orchard Road. Some were interested to know, others just shunned us like we have some germs. Well, I hope the leaflets I gave to the four people will touch them in His time. =)

Hmmm, really a wonderful retreat! Praise the Lord!


My drawing

Any idea what we were suppose to do?


Our dao geis, Our Life, Our Faith


Searching for Light in wilderness?
 
posted by Francesca Cecilia at 9:42 PM, | 0 comments

An Enriching Weekend!

I feel so happy.

There are so many thoughts in my head, I just do not know where to start.

This weekend has been fruitful.

Thursday
Wanted to go for RCIA but I was advised by many people to seek a second opinion for my cough. So I went to see the doctor. The wait was so long – two hours plus. By the time I finished seeing the doctor and made our way to church, I saw my friends waiting at the bus stop – I was like – huh, today’s class ended so early???

Friday
Was on MC. The perfect day to rest at home. The weather was cool. I ate my medicine, slept, woke up and packed my messy table. At night, I went to meet some of Dearie’s friends for a drink – yea, I know I am sick and shouldn’t drink but I think I need to pick up my man. Haha

Anyway, being a directionless person on the road, I wasn’t sure how on earth I am going to get to liang court. At the junction, I was wondering if I should make a U-turn or turn right. So I asked God for a sign – just show me a sign – indeed, God is ever faithful. All the cars ahead of me turned right and I just followed. Indeed, it brought me near to liang court. =)

Saturday & Sunday
Spent the two days at FMM for a Faith and Life Retreat. It is really enriching and fulfilling. I shall blog more about it later when I have gathered my thoughts. Though we have sharings throughout the two days, I feel that there are still many things going on in my head, in my mind and I just do not know how to say them out.

This is a good break for me and dearie as we were both very tired about planning for our wedding and our house. This is like a refreshing break – a shower that washes away our tiredness and just forget about all this nitty gritty things and just focus on God, and fellowship.

A big thank you to the facilitators and Fr for making our journey so enriching. =)
 
posted by Francesca Cecilia at 6:21 AM, | 0 comments

Busy

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Busy week

Why? I also dunno.

There seems to be more things to do than I can finish – guide new staff, help with closing and doing my own closing. Things seem to be in a terrible mess …. I am so swarmed and the stupid cough is still lurking.

But I managed to survive by the grace of God. It so happened that Father talked about why we need to go church on Sunday. It is to partake in God’s feast and to thank Him for His graces that He had showered on each of us during the week. It is a time to give thanks, sing praise, to lay our yoke on him and to be recharged to take on the tasks for the coming week.

Thank you God. For keeping me sane in the midst of a mad world.

 
posted by Francesca Cecilia at 12:46 AM, | 0 comments

Sophie Scholl

Saturday, September 02, 2006
It has been quite a while since I watched a decent movie. The last one I watched was “Click”. It’s nice but I would prefer something more substantial, more meaty. Haha – it is probably due to the expensive movie tickets and hence I am more selective in how that ten bucks is spent on (anyway, dearie paid for the tixs – but still – his money is also my money – ha ha ha).

If you are free, go and watch Sophie Scholl. I am drawn by her strength and her courage to stand by what she believes in even if it means death. I am sure she felt tremendous fear but she relied on God for strength.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/reviews/2006/sophiescholl.html

http://www.sophieschollmovie.com/
 
posted by Francesca Cecilia at 7:57 PM, | 0 comments

When all else fail, turn to Jesus

When things are beyond our human control, it is pointless to try to keep everything in rein by trying to think how to best salvage the situation.

When things keep coming to you non-stop till you feel that you are so swarmed and want to cry, it is pointless trying to salvage the situation.

The best thing is to go away from the messy situation and turn to Jesus. Ask for His comfort, ask for His strength and ask for His guidance.

Thank you Jesus, who never fails to answer my prayers and tends to my needs. Thank you for being such a superb shepherd who takes such good care of His flock. Thank you Lord in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.


Matthew 11: 28 - 30
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

 
posted by Francesca Cecilia at 1:10 AM, | 0 comments