[Journey on Waiting 5] Going poetic

As I was going through blogs about waiting, I've somehow made reflections that I would want to express it in a poem. :) It's been so long since I wrote a poem. That last one I believe was in college. Here goes my freestyle poem writing... Haha!

Why wait?

-------------------------------

Why should I wait?

When they say,

that all that matters

is today?

Why should I wait?

When they say,

things can happen

without delay?

Why should I wait?

What's the deal?

Well, my Maker told me,

"For I am God, you be still."

What's the point of faith?

What's the point of hope?

What's the point of tomorrow?

If we don't wait?

What's the point of grace?

What's the point of the cross?

What's the point of salvation?

If we can't wait?

Don't focus on waiting.

But fix your eyes on the Blessing.

For the Blessing in waiting,

is a relationship with a King!

Happy Waiting! :)

28: Career Choices

My first job is still my current job. After I graduated from college, I immediately looked for a job that suited my degree. And gratefully, God gave me the best job. I can't believe that I'll be turning 7 years in the company this August. I remembered I was about to give up when I thought that nothing great was going to happen in my career. Then, all of a sudden, opportunities came, just at the right time. Talking about God's timing. :)


There are times that I would think about trying other companies and seeking better opportunities but I really never do anything about it. I never submitted any resumes or even deliberately look for jobs. Those were just spur of the moments. But not until I got back from Canada. I was opened to a lot of options. And my desire to work abroad grew. Actually, I got a change of heart because I never wanted to work abroad before. 


But right now, I'm not yet sure if this is what God wants for me. It would take a lot to actually leave my current job because I still enjoy what I do and now having the chance to really mentor a team, it would also be a lost privilege for me. When there was a door for me to go back to Canada, I wanted to take control and push it. But I didn't. I trusted God. Because I believe that no one could ever hinder His plans. It was a great opportunity but God knows what's really best for me. 


Just this week, I posted my updated resume to job sites and I received some responses through email and even got a phone call. I wasn't expecting any of it. And I actually felt scared. I'm not sure if I would even be qualified or if I'll even pass the interviews. It was the same feeling when I was looking for a job for the first time. I'm not even sure if it's even the right thing to do for now.


I was very much encouraged with the message today. Practicing God's presence. This is what I really need to do more than anything else. To be able to hear God clearly and know His will for me, I need to be in His presence constantly. I got so focused thinking what are the next steps I need to do instead of focusing on God. More than anything else, I need to understand the heart of God for my career. Why, what and where? And make it the desire of my heart as well.

^{Hebrews 13:5}

 Keep your lives free from the love of money and 

be content with what you have, because God has said,

“Never will I leave you;

  never will I forsake you.”

Knowing that God will never leave me no matter what, I just have to wait and be still.

[Journey on Waiting 4] Right Wave

Last night, we watched the movie "Soul Surfer" during the Thursday Life Group at Coastal Church. It was my second time to watch the movie but it spoke to me differently last night. If you have watched it, you would remember the scene when Bethany's dad told her to wait for the right wave. That in the midst of the silence, you will learn to be patient. 


For the past weeks, I've been in an emotional roller coaster ride.  Most of these days are my longing for my family and friends. And because of this, my focus and desire started to shift to hoping that I could have someone here that I can just be with. And yes, I've been bugging God about it. But last night, I was reminded of waiting. Trusting. Being patient. I asked God so many questions and even reminded Him of some things as if He is not aware of everything. And everything always boils down to, just wait.


I know that this is really just an emotional struggle for me. I realize what difference it could really make when you're surrounded with people who love, encourage and care. But God is really amazing. He keeps me sane. He sustains me. He never let me go. 


I know that my right wave will come even if  things seem so quiet and I can't really see anything clearly. I just have to continue trusting to the only Author of my life.


Glory to Him. :)

"For to me, to live is Christ..."

[Journey on Waiting 3] are you preparing?

A great lesson I learned on waiting for the past months was "preparation". I realized I was waiting but not doing much preparation.


Being single just gives us a lot of opportunities to be the person that God wants us to be. And it would be so sad if we would miss those.  We are missing the blessings of being single.


We all have our list of qualities that we've been looking for that "God's best" but the question we should be asking ourselves, are we also having those qualities to be someone's "God's best"?


For example - we want a person who consistently walks with the Lord. I would want that too. But we should ask ourselves, are we also consistent with our walk with God? If not, then we should do something about it, right? 


Preparation will never be in vain.  But let not our motive be of doing it just because we are waiting for someone.  Let God be the author of it.  And you? Be a woman after God's own heart, and no one else's. 

“A woman’s heart should be so hidden in Christ, that a man should have to seek Him first to find her.” - Maya Angelou

[Journey on Waiting 2] the "perfect" pair of shoes

When was the last time you purchased a pair of shoes? My latest was I think a month ago - a pair of red wedge shoes as you can see in the left. I thought they were cute and they really looked good with my feet when I tried them. :) And what's nice? They didn't cost much. So, I bought them. 


When I tried them in the store, it felt comfortable until I really used them. :( The first time I used it, few walks were okay. But as I walked longer, my feet started to feel pain already. And I ended up wearing my flats. Well, there's always a price for comfort. That's why it's not really that costly. 


How about you? How do you select your pair of shoes? Do you have a criteria or a preference? Me, I follow a criteria and sometimes break them just like that purchase I made above. A lesson I always learn over and over - quality and comfort should never be compromised when buying a pair of shoes (especially if you will use them daily or most of the time). There are those which are very pricey but are really of good quality. There are those which are very cheap but after a few months, you can't use them already or those which would just really hurt your feet.  The best shoes could really come with a price and would sometimes even take longer time to find them in the stores. 


I want to use this as an analogy on how we set standards for waiting or choosing the right person that we want to spend our life with. When people ask me what I'm looking for in a guy, common comment I get is that I'm too idealistic. My response always is - Nothing is impossible with God. I'm trusting Him for it. I'm not waiting for a perfect person - that is true idealistic! I'm waiting for the person that God has put in my heart to wait for. And I encourage single women who have been on the journey of waiting to never make your non-negotiable become negotiable just because of what other people tell you or just because you got tired of waiting.  One of my non-negotiables? Someone who loves God more than anyone else, even more than me. Too idealistic? I don't think so. Because he will never understand my passion and love for God if he doesn't.


Why don't we treat relationship like buying a pair of shoes? Sometimes, our feet are luckier because we would really purchase the best for them. Why don't we wait for the best person that God has prepared for us? And while waiting, why don't we become that best person too? You might be asking if the one I've waited has come why I'm writing all these stuff. My answer is no, not yet. I'm still on the same journey as some of you are. But, it's not just really waiting for that person. It's really waiting on Jesus. Preparing to be the best person that I can be, primarily, for Him. 


These past days, I got more excited to continue this journey as I believe that the process itself is what God wills for me and not just the outcome. I hope that you would also have the same excitement as you journey with God on waiting.


God bless! :)


Psalm 27: 13 - 14
"I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."

[Journey on Waiting 1] While I'm waiting...

I dedicate this blog to all my single girlfriends who are waiting for their God's best. :)


As I write this blog, I'll be speaking about waiting in a perspective of a woman.  Well, I can never speak for men. :)


We (meaning single women) have different reasons why we want to wait for the "right person".  It could be because some of us had been from past relationships that didn't work and we just want the next one to be the right and last one. Or, some who haven't been into any relationship would have the same reason as I have - I want to wait on God because He gives the best. 


This verse always remind me of waiting.  This is about the wedding that Jesus attended and He turned the water into wine.  (John 2: 9-10)


When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. “A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!”


The application we can get from this verse is not just on waiting for the right person.  It can be about anything that we are waiting from God. We can taste all the different wines this world has to offer but we must remember that not all wines taste good. Some could just give a bitter or weird taste to our tongue.  That's the best thing about waiting.  God spares us from that bad taste for something that is not even worth it - it's a cheap wine! God always have kept the best wine. And He will serve it when the right time has come. And if it comes from God, anything will be worth it. :)


And then, the next question that would pop up would be - How would you know that he is the one that God has given to you? Well, I can't speak for all because God works in our lives differently. And to be honest, I can never answer that question until that time would come. 


We really don't have to focus on the waiting itself.  Because it will come, short or long wait. Maybe the question that we should be asking to ourselves is - "While I'm waiting, what should I be doing?"  I truly believe that being single is a blessing.  There are just a lot of things we can do more for God, for our family, for our friends and to other people and sometimes, for our selves because we all have the time and resources. 


These are  just some of the things  that I could suggest (some based from my experience, others - things I want to do):
 - serve God through a ministry in a church or through other volunteer organizations
 - be a part of a women's fellowship group
 - join activities for singles like retreats or camps 
 - get a hobby and share it with someone
 - travel and visit relatives or friends or meet people
 - make time for family
 - have a career that you really love
 - of course, make friends with the opposite sex, get to know them (but always remember: Do not awaken love until it so desires - Song of Songs 8:4)


I can just give a very long list on the things that we singles can truly do and enjoy. And you know what, while still single and waiting - how about a deeper relationship with our Creator? That would be the bestest of the best.  And don't ever miss that! :)

xoxoxo