my precious darlings...

My 1st week....
Day1 - My thoughts...now I know why Esther do not want to have a child so early :) playing and spending a full day with a kid or a dozen of them is not what I thought it was all about. Adoring them for a few mins or at most few hours does not equate knowing what is like having one or knowing them. Now I understood why new parents or even my own brother who never complains of being tired says that he is tired now because my nephew sleeps on him and climbs everywhere. My old job I sit too much, now I hardly get to sit! I went home feeling like I've work a whole week!
Day 2 - Help was needed with the younger ones from 14months to 18 months, so I was transferred over to help them. So instead of working with the 2 to 3years old who are less whiny and active,  I now have to bear a child crying almost every 5 mins. Then I understood why my Principal asked me during my interview if I could take babies crying. Without much thought to it, I happily said yes. She said that this experience would help me in my practicum in the future. ok...=)
Day 3 - I find myself helpless with the child. I asked one of the teachers how they come out with the ideas of playing with the child. She told me they learn from them sometimes. How true when I observed them longer. ie. putting a bean bag on their head and dropping it brings a smile to their face. Putting the bin over my head makes them laugh and try it themselves. The first day I wonder if they understood what I said, but now I never do question that cause being around them long enough shows you that they do. Even the way they cry...I've learnt to pick up if it's just a fake tantrum throwing moments or a real one. MOST of the time it's just for attention heh...I went home with a feeling of love attached to them. Not so tiring anymore...
Day 4 - My boss needed my help with the 4 to 18 months now! Why is it getting younger...I like older ones. More helpless. haha. They cant even say a single word. Their only mode of communication is to cry if they are unhappy. Playing with them is altogether different.
Day 5 - I realised that even as young as they are as a baby of 4 months old, it feels like I have 'known' them. Their temperaments, what they like and dislike...even in their NIL vocabulary, I seem to be able to communicate with them thru play, feeding, patting them to sleep. Simply their pattern. It's really interesting to spent a full day with a child. On my first day, the aunty told me she had been working for more than ten years with the toddlers, I never did understood why...but the joy and the warmth feeling I carried home with me each day, helps me to know why they stayed on. I understood why a mum who's child is adopted came in today for the first time find it hard to separate from her child. Children leaves a fingerprint in your heart when you spent time with them. Age does not matter after all...=)

funny acts of isaac

I called my mum this morning and she told me something about my nephew that still makes me laugh each time I think of it.
He's 15 months old now and he enjoys water play more than before. I remember when he was much younger he would scream whenever his mum sends his to the bath tub. Now my mum says he baths for an hour! more of playing with water I guess =)
There was this time during the week my mum asked my brother to take care of his son while she goes for shower. After she came out from her shower, while hanging her clothes, the neighbour from across ask her where her grandson was. To which my mum confidently replied,"He's outside playing water with his father."
"Your grandson got kidnapped already." Mum confused. =) "See who I'm carrying?"
Mum went to see where's dad and realised that he fell asleep! she found out later that they went to play in the room instead and that's where dad fell asleep.
Isaac saw the door open and walked over by himself to their neighbours house!(no one locks their door here in Marudi, Sarawak. even their cars. that's how much they trust each other haha) It's not a short walk. About 20 metres? by the grass or on the road? the funny thing is he could actually push the gate by himself and even knock on their door!
ok i know this is not suppose to be funny when it come to safety :) but we can't help but laugh over it. Thank god for his protection. I guess God has His sense of humour too. haha...a 'baby' of 15mo walking over to their neighbours house not flat =)

happy..good looking...peace

I never knew it was such a 'filled' experience bringing a fren to church =) she was one of the two names I wrote in my befrienders card and I never would have imagined that day would come. I believe the Lord's hand was in the whole process as I didn't try too hard(like I thought I had to) to bring her but it just started as a casual question I asked her one day in class. For the past month she had wanted to come but somehow something just pop up last min and she couldn't make it. Even she recognize that. So today she could finally make it. It was her second time stepping into a church. Having been for third service and hearing Pastor mentioned all the Hebrew words, I wonder to myself will she even understand all that has been said when I go in with her for fourth service.

 

It was more fun than I had expected. The questions that she asked me were question I wouldn't have expected and they were funny! =D I found that it's even more difficult to answer them as compared to the questions my frens in church ask me. Many times we already know the answer to our problems but somehow we just love to share them. So very often this happens yeah? =) but to them who are new, church is something that's really fresh. I came from a Christian family background so I never really had this kind of experience.

 

I must applaud the ushers for their friendly disposition. My fren was simply overwhelmed by their friendliness and asked if they were all christians too.Heh.As she step into the the audi and as the singers got onto the stage she asked me, 'What are they doing on the stage =) are the musicians chosen? Everyone is so happy' =)

 

I love this one the most. She pointed to Pastor and asked, "Is he a Pastor or Father?". For one moment I was quite speechless. Not that I didn't know the answer but I find it amusing. Heh. After I told her it was the Pastor she said, "Then who's the Father?". "God?" I pointed up. haha. She even said our Pastors were all very good looking. So of course I told her it was the effect of coming to church =)

 

I never knew the great sense of life and joy in bringing someone to church. She gave me more than I could ever give her. I learn to appreciate the things around me more especially the ushers who greets us each week. Sometimes we get so comfortable with things around us that we miss to appreciate them. At the end of it all, she concluded with this : "He's a good Pastor. Very enlightening. At least I didn't fall asleep" =) I ask her later during dinner what she receive most. And she said that in that moment she forgot all her problems =) Dun we too? =) i'm so so encouraged by her words. Moreso by her sms reply to me...

 

'Dont worry I really enjoyed it. I felt peace throughout..it was much better n i received much more than i expected to =) i hope i can come again soon too...May everything proceed smoothly this week!'

 

wow. peace =) thank you Lord for this experience. i feel so loved thru her. i see your hands of grace more evident in this. that is not about me, but your love made manifested in and thru them.

Wisdom is justified by her children

I was walking back after work yesterday thinking about the similarities I see in many marriages who have put God’s Word first in their life. They end up prosperous and having children who are also respectful and excel in their studies too. Something I observed awhile ago and share to a number of my frens. I’ve not met a family who remains poor or in need when both husband and wife honors each other in the Lord.

At the same time, I was pondering about my boss and what a wise lady she is in the way she handles her work and family. The thing I admire most about her were her four children that she raised. And just before I went to bed, I randomly flip open to one of my books on ministry and found this blessed verse =) “…wisdom is justified by her children” (Matt 11:19). I never knew it was there in the Bible haha...Look at a child when they’re a toddler, and you could almost see an imitation of their parents in them. I have a grandparent of a child who comes everyday to pick up tiny bits of dirt on the floor. Now the grandson is doing exactly the same thing and eats them! 

It was during last Saturday after our company’s lunch that my boss offered to give me a ride. It so happened that we were heading the same direction. I wanted to go Orchard to get a top while she promised her son to shop in Paragon. Initially I felt a little uncomfortable. It simply feels different to have your colleagues around. There are times when you need someone to initiate a conversation when you’re left with nothing to say. So there I was alone with her and her teenage boy sitting behind us sheepishly listening to our conversations. As we were reaching, I shared to her more about myself than just a casual conversation. And as we were about to go our separate ways, she asked me to stay on. “Jac, come spend time with me”. I was speechless Heh… Anyone who knows my boss will not expect that. It was not an option haha…Of course I agreed =) I’ve always wanted to know her outside of work. Both herself and her husband came from medic background…so it would be interesting to hear from her.

Shortly after that, she met up with her daughter for a facial appointment. While waiting for her daughter, she told me more of herself and all her past relationships. Like the ones you see in movies haha…interesting woman. Along the conversation, she drops some practical advice for me. But what really warmth my heart that day was the whole day I spent with her and her children shopping. I feel love in this family. It was so cute of her daughter to mention to us that she wanted to buy some ladies top instead of the usual t-shirts she wears. And her son who went around shopping alone initially bought nothing but wanted mum to choose for him. So we were both like their consultants. The difference between her and me was she never looks at prices haha…how I wish I could come to that stage! But at least our tastes were pretty much the same. Later at night, her husband brought along her two other kids for dinner. 

What I receive that night and told God was how thankful I am for her in my life. I saw a couple who honors God, grew in wisdom and prosper. I may know of many great woman of God in church, but I’ve not personally known and admire someone like her.  Just a day with her affects my whole outlook of life. How she keeps her charm, and still juggle her time well between work and family yet never once abandon her responsibility as a wife and a mum. The fruits, a lovely family, is just a product that we see. Find the branch if ever you meet one(“,).On a side not, I do believe that she, woman in general, plays a great influence in a family :)

Divine incidences..

It seems like lately I've been experiencing quite a fair bit of coincidental happenings or divine incidences if you may call it...
I love what Charis mentioned in Anna's blog on Jesus loves the little children :
"...i remember Pastor Prince once said something like "divine incidences happen to you and you don't know why.. but it could be because someone prayed for you" so i just pray."
Lovely isn't it?
Just now I thought of my fren who use to study physio with me before and somewhat took the same 'journey' as me... I then remembered what the Lord has showed me recently, that when I have a thought about something or someone, it's most likely He is the one reminding me and it's for a reason. So I sort of wanted to 'test' it out.
I msg her asking how she was and if she has settled with her new job after practising in sports sch for awhile. Not knowing where it was, I asked her if she happened to be working in Novena where my new working place would be. And guess what was her reply. She's not only working in Novena but in KK hospital which was just next to where I'll be going soon! =)
God is so good =) Many times we tried to meet up but we always end up postponing it due to her/my busy schedule. Now it's so near that it's impossible not to! Haha...
Another recent one is what Michelle replied to me in my previous post. It's just simply amazing. I'm grateful for those who release what the Lord impress upon their heart for me. Many times it's confirmation to what the Lord has already been speaking to us...=)
I'm learning too to release what the Lord has put in my hearts and thoughts. It's really quite an exciting journey if we simply live by His promptings. Unexpected surprises and blessings! =)

God's perfection : The Story of a Special Needs Child

I'm now into my 4th month of my studies in Childhood Education and my 2nd module on Children with Special Needs. I still remember the first day my lecturer post us a question on this topic. "What is the first thought you have when you see a child with special needs?". Honestly, what when thru my mind that day was...uncontrollable, noisy, loud, inattentive..."Do you realised that all those comments were all negative".
I was caught at that moment. How could I? Maybe it was just natural for most of us if not all to think like this.The few more lessons I had with him were more of renewing my mind to see them in their capabilities rather than their weaknesses. How my view of children has changed since I step into this course. Thank God for great lecturers.
But what I love about the story below drawing from my past experiences(not many, maybe just five so far since I work here)is so many times we limit their capabilities or single out on their disability rather than drawing out the best in them. In my trying to make them do their best, I miss out in accommodating and helping them succeed to the level of their needs. Not only do they get frustrated, I end up frustrated as well =)
It's certainly not easy working with children with special needs and I respect those who do. Every child is capable of learning in spite of their weaknesses. It's our role to believe and bring out the best in them =)

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I want to give a brief introduction to the following story.
This story comes from the Orthodox Jewish community in Brooklyn, New York. It is interesting that although I first heard this story almost a decade ago and haven't thought about it for several years, this story was sent to me last week by two different people, one from New Jersey and one from Florida. I have decided to share this story with you.
This story was first told at a funding raising dinner for Chush, a special needs school in New York, catering to the Orthodox Jewish community. One of the speakers at that dinner was the father of Shaya, a learning disabled boy about whom this story revolves.
The father started his speech like so many others, praising the school and the dedication of the staff. But then he went off on a tangent in a way that touched the lives of everyone in that room.
"We know that God is perfect. We all believe this. But I ask you, look at my son. He can't learn like other children. He can't remember facts like other children. He will never understand things that they can understand. Look at my son and tell me, where is God's perfection?"
The shocked audience sat silent, facing the pain of a father in anguish.
"I believe," the father continued softly, "that when God brings a child like my son into the world, the perfection that He seeks is in not what the child might do, but the way people react to this child."
The father then told this story about his son, Shaya.
One Sunday afternoon, he and his son were walking by a park where the Orthodox Jewish boys in the neighborhood were playing baseball.
"Do you think they would let me play?" Shaya asked.
Shaya's father knew that his son didn't know how to play baseball. His son couldn't play baseball. But he also knows that these boys have always been kind to Shaya. If he as Shaya's father didn't speak up for his son, who would?
So he walked over to one of the boys and asked, "What do you think about letting Shaya in the game?"
The boy didn't know what to say. He looked around to his teammates for guidance. He didn't get any.
Finally the boy answered, "Well, we're about to start the 8th inning, and we're losing by six runs. I don't think we're going to win this game, so what's the difference? We'll get him a glove and he can play on our team behind second base. We'll let him bat in the ninth inning."
Shaya's face beamed. His father helped him put on the baseball glove and Shaya joined his team, playing short center field.
But things began to change. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shaya's team scored three runs. They again rallied in the ninth inning. Now in the bottom of the ninth inning, Shaya's team had bases loaded with two outs. It was Shaya's turn at bat.
They will never let him bat, thought the father. But without hesitation, one of the boys shouted, "Shaya, you're up!" and he handed Shaya the bat.
Shaya had never held a bat before. Shaya walked to the plate. The pitcher moved in a few steps and lobbed the ball so Shaya could make contact. Shaya swung the bat clumsily and missed the ball by a wide margin.
"Hold on," said one of the boys. "Let me help him. Let me show him how to bat."
This boy came and stood behind Shaya, and put his arms around him so together they were holding the bat.
The pitcher moved in a couple more feet and lobbed the ball as softly as he could.
The two boys swung the bat together and managed to make contact with the ball, tapping it gently toward the pitcher.
"Run, Shaya, run to first!" shouted Shaya's teammates.
Run to first? Shaya run to first!? Shaya had never run to first in his life. But Shaya began running to first.
Shaya was not even half way to first base when the ball reached the pitcher's feet. The game was all but over. The pitcher picked up the ball. He now had a choice. He could throw Shaya out at first and end the game that way or he could easily outrun Shaya and tag him out. However, the pitcher decided to end the game in a different way.
He took the ball and with all his might threw it as far as he could over the first baseman's head far into right field.
"Run, Shaya, run," the pitcher shouted.
The right fielder was still chasing after the ball when Shaya reached first.
"Shaya, run to second!" his teammates shouted.
Shaya began to run to second, some of his teammates running with him. The other three base runners had already scored. Now the game was tied.
Shaya was only a quarter of the way to second base when the right fielder had the ball. Instead of throwing the ball to second to tag Shaya out, the right fielder took the ball and threw it way over the third baseman's head and out of the park.
When Shaya reached second, the opposing shortstop ran up to him, turned him in the direction of third base and shouted, "Run to third!"
Shaya began to run to third and his entire team came onto the field and was running with him. Shaya reached third base.
Now all eighteen boys were running behind Shaya.
"Shaya, run home! Shaya, run home!" everyone shouted.
Shaya stepped on home plate to the cheers of eighteen boys. They picked him up and carried him on their shoulders. He had hit a home run.
Shaya, the special needs boy who had never played baseball before, was the hero of the game.
~
None of us know why we were put on this Earth. Many teach that part of our job is to try to emulate our Creator's perfection. Many of us have difficultly with our children. Some of these children have ADHD. Some of them have other problems. However, our children and we have a purpose why we were created. Most of us will probably never really know what that purpose is.
Still, I wanted to share this true story with you that took place about ten years ago: The story of eighteen boys who for a few brief moments one Sunday afternoon, at a playground in Brooklyn, were able to give us a glimpse of God's perfection.

By Anthony Kane, MD, Christian Mommies

1 + 1/2 dreams fulfilled :)

It was my off day yesterday and like any other free mondays I had had, I usually spent it on sleeping, reading and filling up my journal for the things that has taken place the past week. I used to note it down on the day or the moment it happens but now it seems like it was more of the past than the present. It's the joy of taking out my old entries to read that gives me the pleasure to continue on with it till today. It's been about 8 years since :)
As I turn to the empty page next to the last entry I wrote early this year, I'm surprised to see that part of my dreams I wrote for the year 2008 has come to pass haha~honestly I totally forgot about what I wrote. It was a one time thing I did but this time it was a detailed one. For one request, I can have a few points :) So that's explains the 1/2 answered prayer.
He not only bless me with an increment in my next job, something I never thought would have happen especially more in a position that would pay less in the natural...but how He use it to manifest His glory. But I was shocked when Cindy msg me about a conference she was going for which happen to be 'my dream'. It was this dream that made me decide on going for the initial lower pay job. On the following day, PsBrian Houston mentioned the same vision again!
Patience is something the Lord has been impressing on my heart lately...
I love this version by The Message on waiting.
All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it's not only around us; it's within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We're also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother :) We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don't see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy. Romans 8:22-25(The Message)
vs.25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.(KJV)
It's a free morning for me today :) off to do some spring cleaning for my office now...see ya!

How do you know it's from God

Solomon's wisdom in deciding which harlot would get the baby

Then two women who were harlots came to the king and stood before him. The one woman said, "Oh, my lord, this woman and I live in the same house; and I gave birth to a child while she was in the house. "It happened on the third day after I gave birth, that this woman also gave birth to a child, and we were together. There was no stranger with us in the house, only the two of us in the house."This woman's son died in the night, because she lay on it. "So she arose in the middle of the night and took my son from beside me while your maidservant slept, and laid him in her bosom, and laid her dead son in my bosom. "When I rose in the morning to nurse my son, behold, he was dead; but when I looked at him carefully in the morning, behold, he was not my son, whom I had borne." Then the other woman said, "No! For the living one is my son, and the dead one is your son." But the first woman said, "No! For the dead one is your son, and the living one is my son." Thus they spoke before the king.

Then the king said, "The one says, `This is my son who is living, and your son is the dead one'; and the other says, `No! For your son is the dead one, and my son is the living one.' " The king said, "Get me a sword." So they brought a sword before the king. The king said, "Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one and half to the other."Then the woman whose child was the living one spoke to the king, for she was deeply stirred over her son and said, "Oh, my lord, give her the living child, and by no means kill him." But the other said, "He shall be neither mine nor yours; divide him!" Then the king said, "Give the first woman the living child, and by no means kill him. She is his mother." When all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had handed down, they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice. (1 Kings 3:1-28)

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King Solomon had to decide between the two women as to which was the mother of a baby.
How did he arrive to his answer? It was when the sword was brought before him.
How do we arrive to the answer we're uncertain about or a direction or decision we have to make. Did it come from my own fleshly thoughts, God or Satan? We ask ourselves sometimes...
Bring the sword into the picture. The Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. (Eph 6:17)
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)
The Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God will cause you to walk in the wisdom of God in all your undertakings.

Whatever He says to you, do it!

I'm in awe of all that has happen in this short one week :)
I could say it was one of the biggest decision I had to make at this point of time in my life. A switch in my job. Still remaining in the same area..children..but my specialization.
It happened when I feel the Lord was asking me(as written in my previous entry)...am I putting myself in the place of training to fulfill the dream He has put in my heart. The word "focus" was something I feel very strongly inside.
So I set out to send out my resume to all the childcare or schools I know is the best in Singapore. It was quite late at night then when I send it out.
The next morning as I was on my way to work, X school name just came to mind. The same feeling I get for somethings He impress on me. And the funny thing is, the whole week, I seem to be seeing the word KK Hospital everywhere I went...the books I read and in conversations. When I reach work, I receive a call early in the morning from this lady of X school. She asked me where I would want to work and which age group I would prefer . Told her town would be great since my school is there and to work with young toddler. She asked me to arrange with this lady for an interview and plan a 45 min lesson with the kids. Plan?? I have no experience teaching a class. Heh. My current job is just to facilitate them to play computer games?
I search the net to check who this lady was who called me. I was surprised to know that she was the founder of this school! =) And it's not just any school. It's known to be the best and most expensive childcare in Singapore. Not only that, I got goosebumps when I saw where it was located. It was behind KK hospital!
Called Esther to ask for a story book. And my dear fren, dun even have a single story book in her house! but nonetheless she saw a very pretty sea animal pop out book below her work place and bought them for me. Thanks! =) She even role played it in front of me, elaine, and 'young' esther. We were just so drawed to her like little kids. Heh. Really one gifted person for children.
I arranged the interview with them. But the strange thing was when I went down for it, the lady dun even remember arranging it? Heh. Till now I wonder was it an angel. So it was an impromptu interview for them. And so happen the HR director was there at that branch the other day. The children love the story book and one even stop crying after listening to me =) Esther : I counted the legs of the octopus haha ;)
But the most difficult decision I had to make was another offer I had by another school which was equally as good as this and had been the place I had wanted to work in the last time. Ask any parent or childcare teacher and they would be able to tell you what they are :) And they were offering me much higher but it was for the position of Sales.
Then He reminded me of the word 'focus' again...
If I choose the first, I wouldn't be able to survive as a large amount will be taken away for my sch fees beginning this month. Even though it was somewhat 'low', but all my frens who are in this industry would say that it was v high for an assistant teacher. Even they dun get this as a teacher, what more an assistant. Human logic tells me to choose the second. People tell me that it was obvious. I thought so too. So my mind was running back and forth between those two. One time I can be sure of one, another time another. It was such a tough decision then. I opened the Bible to read and everything seem to be pointing to X school. There were a lot more things He showed me in those verses along the way which I think it would be too much to share here ;)
So I took a half day leave to try out today. I wanted to be sure of my decision. Told Him that if He wants me here, He'll increase my pay.I never knew it was so fun playing with the 2-3 year old. There's just such a sense of joy being around them. To me they are the cutest age group. They can understand you, baby talk and not answer back unlike the 4 to 5yrs haha...
I then finally decided to call the HR director to negotiate my pay. And you wont believe me. In just 5 mins on the phone, she increase my pay by 500! Now I'm paid as much as if I would have taken the Sales position. The teachers there said that never in their life have they heard of an assistant teacher getting paid this high. One of them told me she started off much lower as a teacher, not even an assistant. Even I am shocked by the amount I asked. Heh. How He knew too that I needed the extra cash to monthly pay off my sch fees beginning this month and still be able to shop =D
And this job allows me to serve again :) soon I hope...and attend arrow. No more working on Sat! =)
After this experience it gave me a greater confidence to follow after the life or the impression He gives me. Do not reason or go by human logic. After I came back from the interview, I open up to the devotion today(January 11th) by 'The Vine'. The verses given was so timely and confirms to me what the Lord has been showing me... "Whatever He says to you, do it"  When you obey His voice, He will ALWAYS come thru for you :)

Developing His call in your life

Proverbs 29:18

If people can't see what God is doing,
   they stumble all over themselves;
But when they attend to what he reveals,
   they are most blessed. (The Message)

Where there is no vision

[no redemptive revelation of God], the people perish,

but he who keeps the law

blessed (happy, fortunate, and enviable) is he.(Amplified Bible)

Lately, it seems like the Lord is speaking a lot to me about the call of God in our lives. How every event that happens, simply move you closer to where He wants you to be.  

The question that I asked myself recently is..

Am I putting myself in a place of training to make my dream become a reality or am I just settling for something that is easy and somewhat there...because somehow deep in my heart I know I'm not working purposefully towards it.

Could it be complacency, procrastination, or just being comfortable in where I was that I'm resistant to change. Sometimes He may allow certain situation that may seem difficult at that moment to happen because He is simply leading you to where He wants you to be.

He has taught me during this journey that even in our disappointments, it causes us to look back into our hearts about what He is speaking to us and remember our dreams. To the very moment when He once spoke to me about it and that cause me to make that very decision. During this process, He is deepening our character and moulding us to be the woman/man of God He has called you to be.

When you are walking in His divine plans, we may still wallow in self pity at times when things work against us...because we are so 'train' to cry/be upset over something bad in the natural. But deep in us there's a joy that knows He is presently involve in fulfilling His purposes and dreams. And it can only get better. He always brings out something greater from every disappointment. The life of Joseph is very evident. Pit/dungeon/jail all doesn't spell success but I'm sure it was the dream that Joseph had and the consciousness that the Lord being with him gave him all the reason to hope. He trusted in a God that says all things work out for our good. Good does not only apply to your outward circumstances, but a deepening of your character. Ever thought of that? That what seem hopeless outside may be working to build us inside for our good.

Be firm on what makes your decision. Not whether am I qualify or capable but is Christ able. Line up your dreams with the truth. Put away well meaning advice or doubts people may have that distract you from it and start seeing and living those dreams. If you're unsure of the way...He says to you, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you" (Ps. 32:8)...what a relief to know that =)

Gifts and talents are from the Lord. You are the gift. Live out who you are and not what others wants you to be. When I start living out of my passion and walking in obedience to the dream He has called me to, there is a sense of closer intimacy with the Lord.

According to Os Guiness in The Call, "calling is the most comprehensive reorientation and the most profound motivation in human experience; the ultimate why for living in all history."

What is the dream the Lord has place in your heart today?