21 years of my life has just passed. You know, i was actually quite sad for my birthday, later which i'll explain why. But now i've come to realise, that there's so much more to this 21st birthday than what i thought. And guess where the best birthday present came from?
Here's a present for you.
Love, Your heavenly Dad.
*opens up present*
I see a scrap book, and i turn to the page Family:
Since primary school, i've always been doted by my grandmother. She'd buy me toys, toys, and more toys! She'd even endure the long and arduous bus journey EVERY SINGLE DAY to fetch me home from a faraway place called TOA PAYOH. But even now, she still loves me loads. Wants me to eat, gives me money when i don't want them, and the list goes on...
My mum has always been my support. She supported me in everything i do. And still supports me. She trusts me so much, i don't know how much more trust can be given than what she already has. Everyday i see her quiet and steadfast spirit working in her life, raising me up to be who i am today...
My brother, if without him, i probably might not have become a worship leader today. He left me with so much..
Then i turned the pages of memories and got to the page called School:
Throughout my 21 years of life in school, i realised that i've been really blessed. God's hand was always upon me, and still is even when i didn't feel that He was. From PSLE results, to O level results, to A level results. Since young, i haven always gotten to where i wanted to go. Pei Chun Primary School, Victoria School, Victoria Junior College, NUS. Never did it once deviate from where i wanted to go. Even my results show the hands of God.
Ruffling through the pages, i stumble upon the section called Ministry:
Ever since i started joining PNW (aka Worship and Music Ministry), i have never stopped until now, lest 1 break in between. That's a whopping 7-8 years of ministry. God has grown my ministry, He pruned me, moulded me, broke me, into who i am today. I enjoy what i'm doing, but more importanly, i'm so glad i can serve Him with something that's close to my heart.
I flipped to the end of the book, the page was named Thanksgiving, and had a few empty pages after that, so i decided to write them down here:
Looking back at my life, i can now say with full confidence, that God's hand and blessings were upon me. He has my interets at heart, and He loves me so much.Reminiscing and thinking about the past, i see God's hand on every single aspect of my life. From the few things i just mentioned, to things like relationships, how i dealt with them, my struggles, my fears, my insecurities, my WHOLE LIFE, was never out from the sight of God. I thank God for putting friends into my life that pulled me through the darkest periods of my life. I thank God for making me who i am today. I thank God for so so many things. As compared to people who do not know the Lord, what more can i ask for? Except for God to "Cast me not away from thy presence o Lord, take not thy Holy Spirit from me, restore unto me, the joy of my salvation, and renew a right spirit within me". These words don't do justice to what God has done for me for the past 21 years, but with full gratitude, i want to say "Thank You" to the best Dad ever.
I will be lying if i said my birthday surprise was great. I appreciated the efforts, especially Ern, Sherron, Sherman and those that made so much sacrifices just to be there. Persis and Huiying too ok. I appreciated every single one of you. But it was just very sianed if you get what i mean, having a surprise spoilt. To add on to that, i didn't even do anything note worthy things the whole day. Blading, ok, dinner, ok. What's so special about such things "I thought". I was pretty sad. Adding on to the fact that the number of presents was shockingly little. Haha. I was sad. I was disappointed. But only after Samuel Low said during dinner
"21 is a very special year, i think the best ever birthday present you can get, is the work God has done in your life" (paraphrased as close as possible according to my limited memory).
That was a revelation. A divine one at that. Only then did i realise, well, yeah humanly speaking, i had quite a bad birthday. But i think spiritually, i had an awesome birthday, and the best birthday present i could ever get.
"Lord i'm amazed by You, Lord i'm amazed by You, Lord i'm amazed by You, how You love me"
Amen.
The heavenly voice was heard at
1:27 AM
My Friends
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