Monday, December 18, 2017

worth it

I am experiencing something new and really heart overwhelming view every time i go out i felt like i have never really travelled before in my life.


okay. maybe, that moment at the peak of Mount John in New Zealand, but that was a rare moment.
Here, it is almost easy to get that.

and the breathtaking view, in which at that moment, i felt like, all the hardship, the efforts put, the long journey, all the uncertainties, the trouble along the way, the disappointments seem insignificant anymore, because what is important is i am standing here, at this place, staring into this view, at that very moment, absorbing all.


it was all worth it. worth the wait. worth not to settle for less. worth the trouble, worth the dream, worth everything.

Thank you, my dear God :')

Thursday, November 16, 2017

Settled

53 days
1272 hours
76,320 minutes
4579200 seconds.

That's how long it took for me to finally settled down.
It was not as what was foretold, nor was it like how i was afraid to be, rather, it was quite subtle, lost definitely in the beginning, but wasn't alone, was never alone....

today, was just an ordinary day, half day was in university, and grateful enough, i was managed to be home before sunset, and the sun sets earlier recently, even before 5 in the evening. I have gotten my resident permit card in the afternoon, after a long wait. Came home, and sorted all my mails and documents, the thought came suddenly, the not exactly overwhelmed feeling, but more of, a struck of realization, or acceptance, or....i'm not sure what word would best describe it, The Feeling.

Settled.
was the only word i can think of.

God has been so real and so merciful to me in this journey to a land so faraway.
and i couldn't have wish to done it in any other way.  Amen.

Thursday, September 21, 2017

Feelings

Officially 3 days to go.

luggage packing is a mess.
my feeling is in a mess.
thoughts are everywhere,
gifts everywhere...
yet there is one thing for sure.

It is God who made all these possible.
In d midst of all these rushing here and there, sending and receiving farewell gifts, last minute shoppings, last minute meeting up and all... i thought i should stop a moment to absorb all this, and to thank God for a little.

look unto Him despite of all things, all the mess, all the anticipation, all the hopes and dreams.
just stay still for a little to reflect on all things.

He has made this possible, and its finally happening.

Firstly, he sent a senior there before me. before any of these even begin. Just so this day will arrive where i can have some guidance and reliance.

then, he provided a best buddy to pick up the language. He provided the best teacher i could ever find to teach us, to prepare us, so that we did not just learn the language but the culture, and forming such special bonds.

all those, happened, and i was still clueless of what is to become.

and then, he offered a preposition through my boss. The motivation and opportunity that gave courage. and before all that, he gave the word that says : " Opportunity gives courage", the resolution of taking chances that begin in 2017.

It all came inline now. Connecting the dots.
It was my sister who witness me winning the award back in 2012. It is her who's supporting me to achieve my dream now.

He planned the cell group who gave me a prayer support system, the letting go of my heart on my sister's case, the love for my family, to surrender all things to Him, to taking this step, of finally going to achieve my dream.

God had it all planned. The roommate, the placement, the mail courier, the projects, the closed doors to Australia universities, the rejected scholarship, the relationships formed, the kindness of the consultants, the experienced seniors, the kind colleagues. He had it all planned.

Every step of the way, he was there, and he is still here. i can almost feel Him, sitting next to me, encouraging.

Thank you my Father Lord Jesus.
Thank you God for everything that You have given to me.
Despite all the mistakes that i have done, the rebellious heart, the ignorant mind...
Yet You still choose to bless me with my dream.
Your grace, Your love, is so amazingly great.
Greater than all things in the world,
greater than anyone can ever give.

I thank you Lord with all my heart and all my soul.
and I pray oh Lord, that i'll stay close to You throughout this new phase of life,
that i will not forget Your love, and keep close to Your teaching.
Teach me Dear Lord to hold unto You in all things, to consider You in all ways, and to renew my love to You every day just as You renew our strength.

thank you Lord for this day.
for this i give thanks to Your glory, to your grace, to Your name.
In Jesus name i pray,
Amen



Sunday, August 13, 2017

of preparations

what happened to the resolution of writing something everyday? 

life happened, work happened, applications and news happened!

so many things happened since the last post, which leading me to where am i today. lying on bed with a new laptop on lap with a mind full of thoughts and fingers not knowing where to start typing. 

It was supposed to be a next year plan. 
but like what its stated in the bible. You can always plan your ways, but God will determine your steps. 

According to my plan, none of these were supposed to happen this year. i would still be saving till next year, with another year of working experience and more time to figure out where do i really want to go. 

but God's way, always work in ways we never expect, amazing ways, and always far better than what we plan/desire. 

but even at this stage, in the midst of the visa application, i still dare not believe that this is really happening. This is really happening. Let's pray that everything will go smoothly. 





Wednesday, June 7, 2017

its not just about not giving up... sometimes, its about not giving in.

today, i learned that as an architect, it is not about giving up or not, but rather whether to give in.

It is often very easy for one to give in to the " what seems like impossible hopeless situation" and change your design, but if you try hard enough, sometimes, you can comply and still keep what you wish to keep.

This is what i learned from my boss today. In fact, only today that i realized that, he has been doing this all these while.

We were working on staircase exit width calculations for the authority submission, and calculations showed that we are lacking of a certain number of staircases. I tried in many ways to achieve, but to be honest, i thought i work all ways...but after seeing what my boss did, i can't say i did anymore. He tried more than all ways, he thought of the right way,left way, up way, down way, side ways, back ways, the compromising way, the sacrificing way, but in all these ways, there are not the cheating ways. Its all the right way...just whether doable or not, and whether how much we are losing.

I did learn a good lesson. If it is definite that we have to lose something, what we are losing and how much are we giving away do make a big big difference. You dont jump straight to giving in everything, which of course be the fastest and easiest way, because it is also the most obvious way.
but, you have to try all ways, even the what seems like impossible way, (from the surface only really) ..because if you look hard enough, there will be ways in no ways.... and those ways, are only people with good eyes or good brains can find. Those ways, will only appear if  you take time and patience and effort! ( do not forget effort) and most importantly, faith. He has faith from the beginning, that it is doable, it is impossible to not comply...unlike me who panicked and stressed out when i can't solve, and actually if i was the one handling, i have already given up. because that day, honestly, i have already texted him if we can sacrifice those retail space. But he didn't let me do that, instead he came back, and tried, and tried, and tried, and tried, till finally....today, we got it! the number we needed!

oh the revelation of this scenario.

so, note to self,

Dear Melissa,

I know you do not give up easily, but you need to learn to not give in easily too, which is something you tend to do often. Because, in a lot of situations, it doesn't require you to give up to lose, sometimes, when you give in too quickly, you lose so much that it is not much of a difference to losing all.

so next time, try every ways you can, including the way no one has tried, and see from all angles and perspective, because putting your feet down on the least option that you can pick.

conclusion, don't just take the easy way out, take the good way, the right way, the best way.
becauseeeeee........

losing more is closer to losing all while losing less is closer to losing nothing at all.

and i do not mean the competition kind of win or lose, but more of the gain and lose kind of lose. if you get what i mean. oh, that will be if i get what i mean... since this is note to self. lol.





Sunday, May 28, 2017

when did you last write

One of my resolution this year is to write something every day.  Be it a short passage,  a reflection of the day,  a quote to remember, lesson learned,  notes to be jotted down or simply conversations that have took place. 

Someone told me once,  that it's not real unless you write it down.  And I want to write something down everyday so that when the year ends, I can reflect on the things and events that happened.  And I have bad memories, I tend to forget a lot of things.  Those things that I remember are the things I have spent time writing it down. and in this life,  there are many things and people that i do not wish to forget. 

Since young, I have always been writing diaries and journals. Those days about being angry after fights and arguments with my siblings,  crushes in highschool, disappointments in college,  happiness and gratefulness in many destination and stages of life. 

Reading back on those posts and feelings never fail to give me revelations in the journey of growing up.

And through the years of writing,  it made me realized that... 

You don't need beautiful words to start writing, 

You don't need a great story to move your pen, 

You don't need to be super sad or super happy to make a page worthy, 

All you need is just an honest feeling.  And then writing as if no one in this world will read it will form the most  genuine words. 

" Es ist nur real, wenn du es niederschreibst"

Friday, May 26, 2017

Invitation

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living.
I want to know what you ache for and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to know if you have touched the centre of your own sorrow, if you have been opened by life's betrayals or have become shrivelled and closed from fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it, or fade it, or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own; if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful, be realistic, remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me is true. I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself.

If you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul.
If you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see Beauty even when it is not pretty every day. And if you can source your own life from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine, and still stand at the edge of the lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, 'Yes.'

It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up after the night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone and do what needs to be done to feed the children.

It doesn't interest me who you know or how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand in the centre of the fire with me and not shrink back.

It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you from the inside when all else falls away. I want to know if you can be alone with yourself and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.


by Oriah Mountain Dreamer

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

walking away

Some days,  I get really angry... So angry and heartbroken instead of scolding or expressing my anger,  all I want to do is just walk away..  To walk away from all of these nonsense just so they will know or realize what they have done.. But then again, if they didn't listen in the first place,  will walking away helps. 

There are times when I throw tantrums, showing temper,  speak of unkind words..... but those moments,  those hurtful,  heartbreaking ones are the ones that leave me wordless,  too painful to speak,  too at lost to say anything.  At those moments,  I turn to the Bible and flip to find words of wisdom.  And God's words always come through.

This evening I was really angry.  Angry at all the silence admist the wrongs...  Heartbroken at all the wrong doings, even more angry at the all the people who allow these things wrongdoings...  I was angry at the people I love most,  people whom I care most,  so angry that I wish I felt like just writing a long letter and just leave these words to them and go.  Or even worse, maybe I could just walk away without leaving any words...  Maybe then they will slowly reflect on their wrongdoing.  Or will they never know.  There were so many thoughts that went through,  what if I just scream at them of the things that I think just aren't right,  what if I just throw all their things away to express my unhappiness or disapproval,  will it then help?  Will they be sorry for what they are doing?  Or will they be angry at the angry person and felt of injustice. Will they question my behavior, will they understand the source of my anger?  Will they feel my heartache?  Will they even know what's going through in my head?  Or even in my heart? 

And today,  I flipped open the book " A Love Worth Giving", and again God spoken. 

The first sentence, 
Love is not rude. 

See how God speaks? 
Love is not rude.  It is not rude!!! 
Of all the things that I have thought of doing.  None of those are NOT Rude.  All the things that went past my mind are the rudest,  meanest, most horrible way to handle the situation.  How ashamed I should be. 

If God were to do what I thought to do whenever I did something wrong,  where will I be now? 

If God were to scream at me of all my wrongdoings, 
If God were to throw all my things away to express His disapproval of my wrongdoings, 
If God were to list down a long letter of all the wrong things that I have done in the past,  will I then reflect on my wrongs? 
Or worse, 
If God were to walk away from my life,  without even leaving a single word, will I have any idea what I have done wrong?  Will I reflect as they will reflect?
Will I be sorry then as they will be sorry? 

How little am I as a person in comparison to the almighty God.
How rude am I a person in comparison to His actions,
How low as I a human in comparison to His ways,
How ashamed I should be in comparison to His grace?

His love is not rude.  If I have any love in me,  how can I be rude?  If I truly love them as God loves me,  how can I even think of those ways to treat them? 

In the book it says, 
God calls us to a higher, more noble concern.  Not "What are my rights? " but "What is loving? "
Do I have the right to state my disapproval?  Yes,  but is it loving to do so? 
Is it within my right to ignore and not speak to them? Yes,  but is it loving to act this way? 
Is it my right to not do the things that I think they are not doing?  Yes, but will that shows my love to them? 

Common courtesy honors God and his children.  " Do your best to live in peace with everyone" (Roman 12:18). Just do your best.  You can't control their attitude,  but you can manage yours. 

Dear God, 

Thank you for reminding me this in time before I did anything I will regret my entire life for.  Hurtful words spoken cant be retrieved, broken hearts can't be mend. But with You dear Lord,  You made all things seem possible.  Maybe all these happened not to change them,  but to change my perspective, for You have a greater plan.  I know You will not forsake Your children.  If they choose to love you,  You will always always...  be with them.  Sorry for all the tantrums throwing and nonsense thoughts,  but Your grace never fail to teach me lessons, and each time You make me realize,  how much more that I have to learn.  Thank you God for holding me close.  Thank You Lord for showing me grace.  Unworthy as I am. Thank you God. 

In Jesus Name I pray
Amen

Sunday, March 19, 2017

Lord I Need You

Lord i come, i confess
bowing here i find my rest
without you, i fall apart
you're the one that guides my heart

Lord i need you, oh i need you
every hour i need you
my one defense my righteousness
oh God i need you

Where sin runs deep
Your grace is more
where grace is found
is where you are
where you are Lord I am free
Holiness is Christ in me

So teach my songs to rise to you
when temptation comes my way
when i cannot stand i'll fall on you
Jesus You're hope and stay

Friday, March 10, 2017

How Good is our Lord?

Again and again, 
He never fail to amaze me 
How good is our Lord? 

 Despite all the mistakes, 
 given and taken away, 
 yet still He is willing to forgive us.
 After all the bad decisions I've made, 
 and just one silent prayer i whispered, 
 He immediately made things happen. 
 you may think He is silent, 
 you may think He didnt care,  
but all He is doing was waiting 

waiting for you to see that He's there. 
Waiting for you to realize His presence, 
 waiting for you to give up the wheel, 
 waiting for you to acknowledge Him 
 and let Him take control. 

 How Good is our Lord? 
 Of the many times i have failed Him, 
 of the many times i ignore His call, 
 He was silent in His waiting, 
 waiting for me to let go of it all.

 He knew i will come back to Him, 
 even before i know i would, 
 He had faith in me knowing, 
 even when I lost faith in Him when i shouldnt. 

 How Good is our Lord? 
 Of the times when i doubted and complained, 
 He stood there listen to my whining, 
 at the times when i cried and in pain, 
He helped me whenever i call. 

 and when I finally did acknowledge His presence, 
 the moment the heart decides to return, 
 He immediately answer my prayer, 
 as much as i didnt deserve. 

 How Good is our Lord? 
 for it is not by our will or by our actions, 
 that we are measured for what we are given,
 It is not by our faith or behaviour,
 that we are given what we own. 

 He gives even when we fail Him, 
 He gives even when we fall, 
 He is our loving Father in heaven, 
 on earth and forevermore.

Tuesday, March 7, 2017

its when i........

when i see the sky,
when i count the clouds,
when i hike the hills,
when i shout out loud,
when i see a plane,
when i ride a bicycle,
when i snap a photo,
when i paint a picture,
 when i sketch the days,
when i hear the songs,
 when i try to smile,
and start to sing along,
when i play with crafts,
when i fold the boxes,
when i am wide awake,
when my mouth closes
 when i type a post,
when i check the grammar,
when i dream a dream,
when i plan my schedule,
when i nibble on fries,
when i touch the water,
when i walk to my car,
when i turn on the wiper.....
 when i see a clock,
when i read the bible,
when i watch a movie,
when i flip the channel,
when i talk to my dog,
when i water the cactus,
when i climb a tree,
when i write with pencil...
 when i see a phone,
when i starts to google,
when i read a book,
when i solve a puzzle,
when i laugh so crazily,
when i slam the drawer,
when i pitch a tent,
when i grab a towel..
 when i decides to travel,
when i hit a marble,
when i jump over a river,
when i cross a tunnel,
when i catch a sailor,
when i always wonder,
when i try and try and try again,


every second, minute and day,
be it near or far away......
wher the tall wants short
and short wants tall
wher the busy seek rest
and the rest seek work
ai say ai say
when the night comes we decide we wanted day
and when the day comes we wanted night again
when the land dries we wanted rainy day
and when the rain pours, we want it away

dream a little dream of me

dreams, another world where things do and do not make sense.

it works like a blender blending all the thoughts to work out a scenario.
so weird, and funny. but sometimes they are not.




coffee on the table, acting like i love them