today was one of those days that I could feel God's presence so strongly. how can I describe it? It's beyond words, beyond anything that I can say. I can't explain it - how it was like or what it was like.

the second week of advent - preparation for the coming King. His birth that came so many years ago, His Second Coming in the future. What servant have I been? Indeed, in the last two and a half years, how have I been using the resources given me? How have I been serving Him? How faithful a servant have I been?

That struck me. And over communion today, I could just feel His presence so strongly.

This two years were, perhaps, a test of my faithfulness and trustworthiness - a preparation in a way for me to realise that. The message would not have hit so strongly, had my heart not been prepared over the past 2.5 year, had I not gone through times when there was really no christian support around me. I thank God for many pple He brought into my life, who certainly encouraged and spurred me on in my spiritual journey here in Madison, but truly, it has been a test of faithfulness.

It's so easy to get caught up in the busyness of life - in the studies and the friends, in events and everything else. And definitely in the past 2 weeks, that's been an issue. It seems like the only time that I really set aside just for God and for me to commune with God, is in church during service. even in my QTs, I've been guilty of not waiting on the LORD, to hear His voice and to bask in His presence. I just rush through it all...

but today, just being there with Him, it was sweet. :)

i'm so thankful that He put me in a family that loves God, that brought me up in a way that I never knew what it was like to not have Him as a part of my life. I'm so thankful that I always knew what it was like to be His child even as a young kid - to be able to talk to Him and trust Him with my life. And I am thankful that He put such a burning desire in me to know more of Him and to read His word and actively develop that relationship with Him in sec sch. What would I be if I never had that faith, that love and grace to bring me through all this years?

He's been good, certainly. God's been good to me. and He's still calling out to me.

oh heart of mine, why must you stray?
from One so fair, you run away
and one more time you have to pay
the heaviness of needless shame

oh heart of mine, come back home
you've been too long out on your own
and He's been there all along
watching for you down the road

so come home running
His arms are open wide
His name is Jesus
He understands
He is the answer
you are looking for
so come home running
just as you are

oh child of God, so dearly loved
and ransomed by the Saviour's blood
and called by name, 'daughter' and 'son'
wrapped in the robe of righteousness