alive and free

The other day, I took a moment to observe ants foraging on my balcony. Those ants didn't know there was no food up here; the place was practically spotless. Yet they carried on systematically surveying their landscape for stray crumbs.

And, I thought to myself, "If only someone could tell the ants to stop wasting their time and energy, and search somewhere else. Perhaps in the kitchen area; there was bound to be a bread crumb or two. Or maybe the living area, where a potato chip could have been left unnoticed."

Sadly there was no one, no one to tell the ants that their search was meaningless, no one to guide these ants, no one to show them where the food was. The ants were helpless - it would probably be only by chance that they would stumble upon their food.

At that point, I was thankful. I was thankful to not have to be in the position of those ants, without guidance or direction. I am thankful that I have God to show me where to go, to teach me right from wrong, to give me hope.

Unlike the ants, I have a greater purpose. Yes, the earth would still revolve round the sun and the clouds would still bring rain even if I were absent.

Yet, I find my reason to live in God. His everlasting love for me has restored me time and again. When no one else was around to support me, His still and quiet voice echoed and encouraged me. His hands protected me many a time from doing foolish things that could have harmed me - even fatally.

My God has been with me from the very beginning, but early on, I failed to realise that. And even now, at times, I still end up neglecting God. When I look back, I think of how hurt God would have felt - the one whom he lovingly created, ignoring Him, and instead giving attention to other comparatively less important issues.

Reflecting on the hectic life I live; in which the opportunity cost for each action is pretty high, I have come to realise that in actual fact, the cost of not giving God time greatly outweighs all else.

For without God, I'd just be like the ant, direction-less and clue-less. I'd be searching where there was nothing to be found, without anyone to show me the way.

While I'm Waiting

Wednesday, February 17, 2010, 7:02 PM

While I'm Waiting by John Waller

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

Chorus:
I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience
While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait

Chorus

Let this be our prayer today - to wait on God, no matter the pain, the frustration, the tiredness; no matter what we go through. For God is with us, His strength will carry us through and He will be there to receive us at the end...

I for one, make that choice, to obey God and serve Him - to run the race. This is what I can do for a God I love. He first loved me.

Monday, February 15, 2010, 11:56 AM

I haven't updated this in a very long time.. but i found these while clearing my files =)

Sunday, October 18, 2009, 10:40 PM

today's sermon was meaningful

what impacted me was that i must be faithful in all that i am given, big or small.
i shouldn't be complaining about my inadequacies, and on the other hand, complaining that my circumstances are too small or insignificant for me.

it was based on Matthew 25, the parable of the talents.

also, i realised that it wasn't how big our accomplishments were or what the outcome was, but how faithful we were. and i believe i've mentioned this before, even how small a task i am given, i must be faithful and do my best. i'll leave the result in God' hands, just as the servants did; they invested the money not knowing what exactly would happen, whether the master would reward them or just ignore their investment profits. yet i believe that God isn't a one who wouldn't reward us, He delights in blessing his people. (though sometimes it may not seem like it; God is always working for the good of those who love Him.)

and finally, the sin of omission. this one kinda did surprise me a little, of how it was a sin when one knows that he has to act in a certain way but doesn't do so. its not really a big surprise; but i never thought of it in this light.

im learning new things man.. =)

Friday, October 09, 2009, 9:49 PM

its been a long time

promos are over. finally.

hmm things have been great, my tennis is better haha
still busy with stuff though. there's the A/Os coming up in a month, and PW OP....

it isn't like before, when everything ends once the EoYs are over...

oh well...

things have changed alot, in school and in cell.. hahas

this year has been pretty awesome and i believe that its gonna end with a bang; a good kind of bang ;)

i guess there are many things that have happened that God has used to teach me stuff, even the smallest things which seem insignificant. like recre bad.

being a ccal of recre bad is so totally odd, especially being amongst the rest of the sports teams. its like being a really small man who's pretty weak, amongst a bunch of giants with powerful biceps.

but you know what, im gonna do my very best and be faithful in what i have been given, for i believe that God has reasons for me to be in this position. i pray that He gives me strength, perseverance and wisdom in leading the team, inspiring them and rallying them together.

as for OP, you know what, (i really don't wanna do it and the momentum from PW is gone. teachers have been talking about how past conflicts will arise during OP and result in a poor presentation.) BUT, If God is on my side, who can be against me.

The same God who gave solomon wisdom beyond measure and placed in man understanding and great ability, is on our side. He designed and established the very knowledge that we have today. Who else would know better? and truly, if this is our God, who says he's gonna see me through and give me wisdom. I trust Him, and I believe that His word will come to pass.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009, 6:58 PM

haha today was quite exciting =)

i finally get to go for pe. it was fitness but hey.. its fun stuff.. i ran n did lats... kinda woke me up for the rest of the day.

oh then we had the first tamil period that we left class only after the bell rang. for the first time we're dimissed late instead of the usual 15min early. and abhinav n prasheen were like quoting tamil words that just blew my mind.. we had a little discussion on grammar!! tt's so prodcutive.

haha i got all hyped up again during chem. teach asked me to explain a qn and i was stunned; cos i knew the answer but it was stuck up there. thn i got all ecstatic when i finally realised the answer and lyk bounced in my chair.. haha hmm..

its tt gd feeling when u ans a question correctly.

oh shide's getting a new racket. so we gonna go down to queensway to get it with him =)

they might stay over at my new place this friday. depends if jie qi cn make it though..

im behind on all subjs now.. thanks to missing sch last wk. but im oh so proud of myself for teaching myself photosynthesis and energetics =))) and im gonna learn sampling and reaction kinetics and market comparison over the nxt few days.. =))) whee..

Friday, July 17, 2009, 8:48 PM

hahas i think i've said this before.. Enchanted is the coolest, awesome-est movie i've ever watched.

hahas its reali romantic.. aww... first watched it at camperama. thn during our sleepover, and today... aww... its heart warming.

makes me wonder if i'll ever find true love hahas okok....

tis week has been great. reali tiring with all the running though.. i believe the wkend's gonna be awesome too... church tmr, and tennis and scholarship thingy on sunday..

im tired but i feel awesome.

ohoh im at my new hse now.. shifted in yesterday... the stairs are quite daunting though haha.

oh im excited yo.. =)

..Made Free. .Made Alive..
.the Nathan.. Nic.Nathan Christian RJC Year 1. Rec. Badminton ~~SYFC - 165th~~ 17+yrs 19 Aug	We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed. Perplexed, but not in despair. Persecuted, but not abandoned by God. Struck down, but not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:8
Ants Sunday, February 28, 2010, 9:29 PM The other day, I took a moment to observe ants foraging on my balcony. Those ants didn't know there was no food up here; the place was practically spotless. Yet they carried on systematically surveying their landscape for stray crumbs. And, I thought to myself, "If only someone could tell the ants to stop wasting their time and energy, and search somewhere else. Perhaps in the kitchen area; there was bound to be a bread crumb or two. Or maybe the living area, where a potato chip could have been left unnoticed." Sadly there was no one, no one to tell the ants that their search was meaningless, no one to guide these ants, no one to show them where the food was. The ants were helpless - it would probably be only by chance that they would stumble upon their food. At that point, I was thankful. I was thankful to not have to be in the position of those ants, without guidance or direction. I am thankful that I have God to show me where to go, to teach me right from wrong, to give me hope. Unlike the ants, I have a greater purpose. Yes, the earth would still revolve round the sun and the clouds would still bring rain even if I were absent. Yet, I find my reason to live in God. His everlasting love for me has restored me time and again. When no one else was around to support me, His still and quiet voice echoed and encouraged me. His hands protected me many a time from doing foolish things that could have harmed me - even fatally. My God has been with me from the very beginning, but early on, I failed to realise that. And even now, at times, I still end up neglecting God. When I look back, I think of how hurt God would have felt - the one whom he lovingly created, ignoring Him, and instead giving attention to other comparatively less important issues. Reflecting on the hectic life I live; in which the opportunity cost for each action is pretty high, I have come to realise that in actual fact, the cost of not giving God time greatly outweighs all else. For without God, I'd just be like the ant, direction-less and clue-less. I'd be searching where there was nothing to be found, without anyone to show me the way. While I'm Waiting Wednesday, February 17, 2010, 7:02 PM While I'm Waiting by John Waller I'm waiting I'm waiting on You, Lord And I am hopeful I'm waiting on You, Lord Though it is painful But patiently, I will wait Chorus: I will move ahead, bold and confident Taking every step in obedience While I'm waiting I will serve You While I'm waiting I will worship While I'm waiting I will not faint I'll be running the race Even while I wait I'm waiting I'm waiting on You, Lord And I am peaceful I'm waiting on You, Lord Though it's not easy But faithfully, I will wait Chorus Let this be our prayer today - to wait on God, no matter the pain, the frustration, the tiredness; no matter what we go through. For God is with us, His strength will carry us through and He will be there to receive us at the end... I for one, make that choice, to obey God and serve Him - to run the race. This is what I can do for a God I love. He first loved me. Monday, February 15, 2010, 11:56 AM I haven't updated this in a very long time.. but i found these while clearing my files =) Sunday, October 18, 2009, 10:40 PM today's sermon was meaningful what impacted me was that i must be faithful in all that i am given, big or small. i shouldn't be complaining about my inadequacies, and on the other hand, complaining that my circumstances are too small or insignificant for me. it was based on Matthew 25, the parable of the talents. also, i realised that it wasn't how big our accomplishments were or what the outcome was, but how faithful we were. and i believe i've mentioned this before, even how small a task i am given, i must be faithful and do my best. i'll leave the result in God' hands, just as the servants did; they invested the money not knowing what exactly would happen, whether the master would reward them or just ignore their investment profits. yet i believe that God isn't a one who wouldn't reward us, He delights in blessing his people. (though sometimes it may not seem like it; God is always working for the good of those who love Him.) and finally, the sin of omission. this one kinda did surprise me a little, of how it was a sin when one knows that he has to act in a certain way but doesn't do so. its not really a big surprise; but i never thought of it in this light. im learning new things man.. =) Friday, October 09, 2009, 9:49 PM its been a long time promos are over. finally. hmm things have been great, my tennis is better haha still busy with stuff though. there's the A/Os coming up in a month, and PW OP.... it isn't like before, when everything ends once the EoYs are over... oh well... things have changed alot, in school and in cell.. hahas this year has been pretty awesome and i believe that its gonna end with a bang; a good kind of bang ;) i guess there are many things that have happened that God has used to teach me stuff, even the smallest things which seem insignificant. like recre bad. being a ccal of recre bad is so totally odd, especially being amongst the rest of the sports teams. its like being a really small man who's pretty weak, amongst a bunch of giants with powerful biceps. but you know what, im gonna do my very best and be faithful in what i have been given, for i believe that God has reasons for me to be in this position. i pray that He gives me strength, perseverance and wisdom in leading the team, inspiring them and rallying them together. as for OP, you know what, (i really don't wanna do it and the momentum from PW is gone. teachers have been talking about how past conflicts will arise during OP and result in a poor presentation.) BUT, If God is on my side, who can be against me. The same God who gave solomon wisdom beyond measure and placed in man understanding and great ability, is on our side. He designed and established the very knowledge that we have today. Who else would know better? and truly, if this is our God, who says he's gonna see me through and give me wisdom. I trust Him, and I believe that His word will come to pass. Tuesday, July 28, 2009, 6:58 PM haha today was quite exciting =) i finally get to go for pe. it was fitness but hey.. its fun stuff.. i ran n did lats... kinda woke me up for the rest of the day. oh then we had the first tamil period that we left class only after the bell rang. for the first time we're dimissed late instead of the usual 15min early. and abhinav n prasheen were like quoting tamil words that just blew my mind.. we had a little discussion on grammar!! tt's so prodcutive. haha i got all hyped up again during chem. teach asked me to explain a qn and i was stunned; cos i knew the answer but it was stuck up there. thn i got all ecstatic when i finally realised the answer and lyk bounced in my chair.. haha hmm.. its tt gd feeling when u ans a question correctly. oh shide's getting a new racket. so we gonna go down to queensway to get it with him =) they might stay over at my new place this friday. depends if jie qi cn make it though.. im behind on all subjs now.. thanks to missing sch last wk. but im oh so proud of myself for teaching myself photosynthesis and energetics =))) and im gonna learn sampling and reaction kinetics and market comparison over the nxt few days.. =))) whee.. Friday, July 17, 2009, 8:48 PM hahas i think i've said this before.. Enchanted is the coolest, awesome-est movie i've ever watched. hahas its reali romantic.. aww... first watched it at camperama. thn during our sleepover, and today... aww... its heart warming. makes me wonder if i'll ever find true love hahas okok.... tis week has been great. reali tiring with all the running though.. i believe the wkend's gonna be awesome too... church tmr, and tennis and scholarship thingy on sunday.. im tired but i feel awesome. ohoh im at my new hse now.. shifted in yesterday... the stairs are quite daunting though haha. oh im excited yo.. =)