Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire

... That's the title of one of the two books my seminary mate (Roland) gave us for a wedding present. A book by Jim Cymbala. I hope to glean some refreshment for my faith from his writings.

I figured that I'd better get down to doing my daily reading again. Sad but true, seminary assignments have taken away much time for leisure reading. I suppose it's partially my fault - any free time I have, I have done everything but read. Blog, Facebook, Twitter, watch TV, exercise, eat, date, sleep, go out with friends, preparing for the wedding, etc... You name it.

Today, Ben reminded me that every small heartfelt expression of love we offer to God - yes anything - even if it's a simple song, a love note, alabaster jar of perfume, etc. God will treasure and remember. That encouraged me. Recently, my song-writing attempts have suffered greatly, thanks to sleep-deprivation, my overwhelming load of assignments, lack of reading, lack of time to wait upon God, lack of patience, burnout - and subsequently a lack of musical creativity... While it is not all lamentation in my heart, there are just no words to worship. However, it seems to me that my fingers have not lost their ability to express gratitude to their Creator. When placed upon the smooth black-and-white keys of even the broken-nest piano, they can express what my heart can't through words. Running, gliding and striking. Sometimes the music makes me cry. And I'd quietly understand that it is a divine moment. Today, my songs are still pretty much wordless. But I am comforted that God will treasure and remember those songs too.

Well school is kinda over for me. I have 3 more "wonderful" assignments to plough through at home. Then it is finished. As in my Masters in Christian Studies. I do not know what is next. Should I continue my theological education part-time, while I write... or what? And if I want to write, how should I best write? As a freelance? As a column writer for a magazine? As a blogger from our home office? Or as a non-clinical medical writer? If not writing, should I work as a church staff, in an inter-denominational mission field ... or what? Or should I be more radical, and enter the performing arts field? Or start a ministry cafe? Or join a business venture, so that I can be salt and light in the marketplace? O God, I am waiting. Please show me. Let me be a blameless housewife in the meanwhile. 

(Btw, if any of you, my dear readers, have any suggestions, advice or tips - please feel free to write to me.)

Anyway, the following is random...

It is amazing how nature has its own way of drawing man closer to its Creator. During our honeymoon, we spent loads of time enjoying God's beautiful and yet mysterious creations. The different hues of green, the diverse species of flora and fauna, the grandeur of mist resting upon the mountain-tops, the brilliance of a sunset and the rhythm of falling rain. Each shines God's glory and yet reflects the intense concentration of its Creator in creating perfection. Purposeful perfection. Nothing in the design bears redundancy. Indeed, God is a purposeful God. And so, we are called to live purpose-driven lives.


Grace