hello to anyone who's still out there.. haha everything's a fad.. so funny how a great majority of us have flocked to facebook..

xanga's a great tool for journalizing (duh~.. i know)..

I just spent a few minutes going through my old posts.. and i've never realized how much I blogged about God's love, grace and goodness!.. and what's more surprising... (and encouraging) is how all of those posts were written at a time in my life when circumstances were at their worst. A time when, from the worldly perspective, I was at the lowest of the lows. BUT, a time when my spirit was feasting on God's disciplines and mysteries. In hindsight, I see how much I have changed and grown.. and it's pretty amazing.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" 2 Corinthians 5:17

hey! that's ME! it's like the verse is speaking to me.. I can't help but be filled with joyous laughter... what has gotten into me? Holy spirit...hard times are so neccessary. of course, at the time it sucks, but God promises:

"No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening- it is painful! But afterward there will be a quiet harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way" Hebrews 12:11

soo true! another thing i realize from reading my old posts and the comments friends have made is, people like to be around happy people.. (well, duh~ i know) and that is one of the reasons why God commands:

"Be joyful always; pray continuously; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" 1Thessalonians 5:16-18

We are his representatives. People will judge us, esp. when they find out we are Christian, so we should always strive to shine with his love.. this is in itself a tool of evangelism.

It's been a long road, and undoubtedly, i've a longer one ahead of me... So praise God that He has strenghtened and disciplined me.. and continues to do so everyday, so that my future is secure in him. i've been totally backtracking since my circumstanes have improved. And I can feel God calling me to a deeper intimacy with him... why does it take hardships for us to draw near to him? It is when we are weak that God can be strong in our lives. Praise God!