Journeying together

Unique. Exquisite. Colourful. Picturesque. After just a few days here, I'm running out of charming adjectives. We have truly been blessed in our stay here and though things are really expensive, we've thoroughly enjoyed strolling down the lively streets and exploring the cosy passage ways (which we can do for free). We lost count of canals and bridges within a few hours of arriving, which are all amazing and every one of them begs us to take a photo. For the sake of viewers, we've tried to limit the photo taking to only the most beautiful nooks and crannies of the city. I'll try to put up the photos soon... will let you know. =0)

 

Right now we're experiencing a sunny afternoon siesta time. We are so thankful for the free wireless that has allowed us to call some friends around the world from my laptop when we're back in the apartment we are currently staying in. The day after tomorrow we'll be taking a train down to Florence where we'll be spending Christmas. I heard that the place there also has wireless so we'll probably be making some Christmas calls to more people. It's great that though we are having a family break by ourselves we really do want to stay in touch with as many friends and family as possible so praise the Lord indeed for things like MSN, Skype, Voip, Facebook and Email! Woohoo!

 

 

It's that time of year again where we can appreciate all that God has given us and respond to his extravagant love. I certainly praise God for the chance to go to Paris over this last long weekend (Thursday 11th- Monday 15th). The majestic architectures of the city with some amazing courtyards and gardens were enhanced even more by the impressive Christmas lights. The small cobble streets with the cosy restaurants and cafes carved into the walls were enchanting. Everything about the city appeared beautiful though it was realyl cold while we were there. I think it made it that much more saddening to see the contrast of appearance and reality beneath. We heard of so many struggles, so much pain, so much that goes on beneath the skin and beneath the surface. Please PRAY for Paris, for France!

 

Tomorrow we head off for Italy for a family break. It will be a shift in pace and in focus but we do want to continue to remember this last long weekend in prayer and also praise God for the opportunities he has given us there. Sorry about this blog entry being short but hopefully I'll be able to report more soon. I'll be bringing my laptop with me on this next trip so we'll probably have more opportunities to give more "live" updates and so on. Thank you all for yet another year of friendship and support in prayer. Wishing you all a very blessed Christmas. (by the way, If you haven't received our Christmas prayerletter and would like to, please do let me know)

So, yesterday was a good day. Just knowing that I was sitting in my last Real Analysis 2 class with Dr. Scott was a great comfort and though Numerical Methods later on was arguably dull, it wasn't bad. The sun was shining, the air wasn't too damp or cold and the sky had lovely patches of blue. I had even managed to get my morning "start-up" coffee and had been reading about God's love, and applying it to my life, in that book, which I'm sorry to say I haven't finished reading yet (Not I, but Christ by Stephen Olford). It was actually talking about exchanging our love for that of Christ's but 1 Corinthians 13-14:1 was at the beginning of the chapter as a reminder.

 

I was getting home at the end of the day, when out of nowhere, a spell of discouragement hit me. Something insignificant happened followed by another small inconvenience and I'm ashamed to say that it was enough to bring the whole day down. I suddenly felt alone even with my mum in the house and the head-knowledge that God is always there. Realising that this was not a good state of being that I was slipping into, I immediately put on some praise and worship music and forced myself to list and thank God for the many many MANY blessings of the day and whatever else that would come to mind. Isn't it strange the way we easily and quickly forget the good of the day and get affected by the tiniest amount of "not-so-goods"? The next two hours were spent folding and stuffing what seemed to be an endless sea of newsletters and envelopes while trying to pray along with the words of the songs. I confess it was a struggle but be assured, this story has a happy ending because we are always more than conquerors through Christ and endeavouring to remain in Him gives great joy.

 

I was so grateful when my dad finally got back from prayernight around 11pm and we managed to eat dinner (I hadn't eaten till then) and just talk about whatever was on our minds and hearts. I definitely appreciate that about my dad- that we can just talk (he mentioned last night that I would, since I'm a girl and apparantly talking and thinking too much is just something we do...haha). It was past midnight by the time we turned in and probably closer 1am by the time I fell asleep but praise God that His mercies are new every morning and His amazing grace and goodness never ceases to amaze. This morning, I managed to wake up on time, catch my train, get a chai latte and sit through my last class of the semester! Praise the Lord for He has turned my mourning into dancing!

 

Feeling Oh-SO-grateful to Him who sustains me.