the son will rise

"the sun will still rise tomorrow"

I was sitting.. no, that's a lie... I was sleeping in a cubicle in the school library about two weeks ago. The sun was shining through the window... the perfect atmosphere for a nice afternoon nap.

I fell asleep reading the Bible--now who hasn't done that?

Anyway, I had a dream and in that dream, I remember I was walking and talking to someone when they assured me that, "Everything can change in a day." After he said that I remember standing there, stunned, thinking, "Everything can change in a day."

At that moment [in my dream], I remembered that before I fell asleep, I was reading the Bible... and I was reading the end of Mark which talked about Jesus' death and resurrection... "Everything can change in a day" echoed in my head again.

Everything did change in a day.

On the day Christ rose from the dead, everything changed; history changed forever.

Perhaps this weekend, on your statuary holiday, it'd be a good time to consider why on earth you get a day off of work/school?

If you feel you've been dealt a bad hand, or things are crapola, know that the sun will still rise tomorrow, and everything can change in day...

May it be hope to your soul, life to your being and joy to your spirit,

And with that, I embark on a disappearance act. Later gators,

vision

I continue to walk a rocky journey but know very well, that God is characterized by trustability. People and things have an affinity to disappointment, but God...God is the firm foundation. My unshakeable Source of Life.

Lord, help me to understand the seasons and the times--especially when it doesn't make sense to me. Help me to let go in order to take hold... Help me to forgive in order to love. Grant me understanding when I don't agree. Let the words of this song still resonnate in my heart. Let me not grow cold nor hard. I want to be free again. Layin' all down, paying the cost and being led by You... no matter how high the waves are. Let me be captivated by Your vision and Your heart again. Grant me eyes to see...

A song I learned 7 yrs ago, yet everytime I feel I need to surrender, the chorus comes to mind... and more the last little while... So I'm resurrecting this song! May it be a prayer to you as well. Bless you abundantly,

by a. waters/j. day

i see a vision of a generation coming back to you
i see a vision of a generation getting lost in you
hands raised high, with one voice they cry to a holy god
i once was blind, but now i see your love for me

i see a vision of a generation crying out to you
i see a vision of a generation bowed down before you
on our knees, Lord have mercy for we have sinned
come wash us clean, we long to see your glory, your glory

so take my life, i'm giving it all to you
whatever you want me to do, i'm gonna follow you
my mind's made up, i'm gonna pay the cost
just to see salvation of the lost

jesus is coming again, he's coming again
jesus is coming again, he's coming again

i see a vision of a generation sold out for you
i see a vision of a generation that would die for you
refiner's fire is our heart's desire to be like you
as we decrease, Lord you will increase, hallelujah, hallelujah

inheritance from the 'rents

Yep.

I'm already thinking about my inheritance!

My inheritance from my parents!

No, not that kind...

As a child, I use to think it was the drawer of life-time guarantee Tupperware that we have. It probably still is... but aside from that, what else is my inheritance?

From my granny, I remember writing her Tribute at her funeral and saying persistence and persevering prayer is from my granny... and grandpa for that matter... they were truly intercessors!

As a child, I'd come into the house running up the stairs loudly, yelling "mama" [granny in Chinese] only to find granny kneeling at her bedside in fervent prayer.

Many times we thought granny had fallen asleep or died while praying for her meal.

We'd have to look to see if she was still breathing... granny was just praying! She'd soon look up, flash us her teethless smile and then eat! [aw, I love my granny! Miss her tons, but she's got her teeth back and she's dancin' up a storm in heaven with gramps]

From my mum, gotta say hospitality. Even though it's not one of my "gifts," I know how the ins and outs of feeding the hundreds and "small" parties. Growing up, it was great. Dad invited lots of people over, as he was very social. And mum cooked, served, and loved being hospitible to people! I use to say that watching her makes me tired... but now I'm learning that it's something that she loves and it gives her energy and makes her happy.

It works out great, because good food makes me happy too! That's why we're a family! Mum feeds, I eat!

From dad, gotta say I got his wit and quick words. Hehe... We're fast thinkers and can make almost anyone laugh. We can twist things and contort words to please a crowd.

Perhaps we're bad at arguments [we don't have much of a point nor are we clear], but we are good conversationally. We can "play-argue" for hours without a point. It's rather humorous from others point of view. Then he has to give me a hug because he can't help but laugh too.

And oh, my unsurmountable beauty comes from neither side.. it was divine.

Ha =)

What's your inheritance?

i think i'm pretty funny :)

"Can I eat some?" I ask while grabbing a cheese cube that Mom is cutting up for a work function.
"Yes.. but eat the ugly ones!!" Mom exclaims with a sense of fear...
"Yes, I know mom...! I've been in this business as long as you have."

Mom's been catering for a very long time.. and as long as I've been alive, I've been picking at the good food she makes! :)

[pat on back] Good job Shelaine! Love making mum laugh!

[today you are honoured for "two for the price of one"... Two posts for the price of one admission... well I hope you don't think it "cost" you that much time to visit me! hehe]

the simpson's rant...

For years we, faithful Communications students, would analyze The Simpsons as an example of a remarkable parody and a superior display of satirical genius... until...

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

Dr. Hibbert: I'm afraid your playing days are over my friend, but don't worry, you can fall back on your degree in--Communications? Oh dear Lord!

Luchenko: Da I know I know it phony major. Luchenko lean nothing, nothing!

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

Add to that "phony major," being totally jaded... We

...can't enjoy a cup of Starbucks, or shop at Walmart.

...don't dare buy anything with tags of "Made in _____" anywhere outside of the western world.

...endorse Buy Nothing Day.

...spend our freetime culturejamming.

...side with Michael Moore, our hero.

...believe 2010 is baaaaad news. No Expo 86 deja vu pleez.

Adbusters. Enough said.

...rant on the commodification of culture.

...protest as a hobby... or lifestyle?

We are cynical, sarcastic and completely jaded.

rediscovering the new

So I'm all in for trying new things. Always have... but sometimes when you're stuck in a hole you want to stick with that which is familiar and safe. Know what I mean?

Anyhow... I'm back to rediscovering newness--which I can say is a core part of me. Y'know, when you're not operating in what is so much a part of you, you feel like something's missing.

Perhaps that's why I love traveling so much. The new adventures. The newness of everyday that is so different from the drab of the normal routines.

I love to try things once...at least. Perhaps it was drilled into me as a child. Dad always said to give it a try. If you don't like it, then at least you tried. Which led to a series of hobbies and interest that I ended up quitting... In context, dad was talking about food. But I decided to use his words of wisdom for all of my life... ;)

Anyways...

Last week my uni-friends "opened me up" to the world that was always there. They like to take this sheltered "kid" out for experience "life." They wanted to witness the first time I tried it. They wanted to be a part of that childlikeness in me when I experience "life."

They took me to this tapas restaurant that I've heard so much about yet never tried!

[what did you expect me to say?]
[yes I know, it's only a restaurant...]

But it was sooooo goooood. Yum. Our last dish was so pretty, we didn't want to dig in. How could you wreck art? It was colourful... and it tasted great too! And you know what the best part was? It was cheap! Like I paid... twelve bucks and I was stuffed and satisfied!

I was super excited so I talked to Bren about it later on and of course, she's like "oh yeah... you should try..." Suggested a bunch of other places to go to.

I'm all in for the hole-in-the-wall mom and pop type restaurants, but this was mainstream trendy.. and I actually like it!

Now I've got this growing list of places to go for tea, for tapas, for good eats, for ethnic foods... yep yep. [note to self: exercise!]

Of course I'm broke too... so I need to tone it down on this restaurant trying... But sometimes, you just need to treat yourself out for a night of good eats, y'know?

Sometimes, just sometimes, you need to say to yourself that you deserve it.

A beautiful meal can brighten up a dreary day.

Mine was a testament to that! [In any case maybe I should be going out every night...! a bit of healthy cynicism =) ]

Or maybe it was good company... anyhow, I'll stick to my beliefs that

a beautiful meal can brighten up a dreary day.

creston reflections

I'm home.

Yep.

Feeling a little bit different..

Looking about 5 lbs heavier..

:)

It was a great trip though. Exactly what I needed. Coming home is always hard for me. Back to a reality that is well... real.

There's lots that happened in Creston... you'll just have to book a personal appointment time and take me out for lunch to hear it all though. God did some crazee amazing stuff. Witnessed some amazing testimonies of physical healing, heard crazee stories of what God is doing in a Guatemala, and preached the Sunday I was there too! God gave me a picture of the "spiritual fabric" of the town and I was able to pray into that as well!

As for the "healing" that took place... God continued that work of inner healing in my life by allowing me to talk to "older women" who gave insight in into my life.

My Chinese-ness was reaffirmed in this small town of 5000 people because...
1) no one understood my Chinese jokes... told some joke about why the Chinese can't play hockey... and my friends didn't know whether or not to laugh because it was poking fun at Chinese culture...
2) I only had one language to express myself
3) community kids came up to me and said "in Canada we do this..."
4) I had "yeet hay" (sore throat) from the day I arrived until...well... I left!
5) small town Chinese food just doesn't cut it. The deep fried chicken balls, deep fried shrimp, spring rolls (fried...)...

I learned that...
1) God can still use me despite my... mmm... my lacking and not feeling "in the zone." I guess that's when you know it's really Him.
2) I'm called to the Chinese. After spending time with the community kids, you all will believe you are too =) hehe...
3) I need to embrace His favour on me...
4) I have a family there that loves me and tells me that everytime I see them. Thanks... I needed some pastey lovin' =)
5) I've changed. From 5 years ago... from 1 year ago... from last month... heck, even from last week!

One of the most blessed things was watching Natalie (my roomie) lead worship. She led worship that Sunday and I preached. It was the oddest thing for both of us. It's also a testament to what God is and has done in our lives.

We were the quieter ones in our group of "hell-raisers" at Bible College. We were the ones that were never written up for disobeying the rules... until the last week of college where we were almost kicked out of school...

Let the weak say, "I am strong"
Let the poor say, "I am rich"
Let the blind say, "I can see"
It's what the Lord has done in me

We're both in difficult places in life, but in our weaknesses, God was magnified! I am humbled. I could have fallen off the wagon a few times the last little while... but He was merciful on my life... Heck, even I would have given up on me!

Thank you Lord for you sustaining grace. I pray that I will always be a reflection of your goodness, your faithfulness, your love and your life.

creston... 1hr ahead of vancity

Hello EVERYONE..... So I am in hick ville in Creston yup thats where I am where all they do is hunt and milk cows haha!! Anyways this is not Shelaine this is her friend and long time roomate Natalie Romano.... So I sit here as shelaine watches every word that I type hoping that I do not let her Deep dark secrets out haha. So since she has been here she has had to wait to be picked up for apparently 1 hour (but I do not think it was that long) at the Cranbrook airport, then she journeyed to Creston... awww yes can't forget the jetleg and the nap in the afternoon we all know our SHelaine and thats why we love her thats why we hit it off at Bible college it was the nap time bonding:)

And she really has a desire to see the Bountiful but it just hasn't happened yet( maybe because they would shoot us for stepping on their property)haha. Because then we took her over the Salmo Creston Summit to Trail and that was a treat and a half and then she got to visit the Trail Hospital the excitement... The Smelter is really what did it for her. Also the Snow it was huge mounds of Snow banks it was shocking for me to! Then today was a day of Healing and thats all I will say Shelaine has certainly hung out with a lot of older people since being here.... But just ask her about her healing... She would love to tell you. So ya then we took her to real Chinese food ya do you believe it in a small town real chinese food..

And so i continue to name all the people that she has met here Dee the hairstylist, Lizzie the older woman and Carey and Carey and of course Wes, ask her about Wes thats all I gotta say haha....

All this to say I love her she is Great! Keep on encouraging my friend okay love ya...

OK WAIT A SECOND PEOPLE....

this is Dee.. the above mentioned hairstylist.... (i was the one who got to straighten miss shelaines hair... yes i know her hair is already straight... well.. i decided after that to curl it! UMMMM ask to see the picture...) So anyways... shelaine and i became fast friends.. maybe it was because we bonded over 'both' being left waiting at the airport by natalie.. who knows really! its been quite the slice hanging out with her and i'm glad we've met...

the new shelaine

So I was in the car going to hip hop class (yes, hip hop) with some friends the other day and we were talkin' 'bout another friend who we never see anymore because of her new boyfriend...

"We have a new nickname for her, actually..." says one of my friends.

"What is it?" I ask curiously...

"Sorry, but please don't get offended or anything..."

"Uh... ok..." I say, wondering what could it be? An attack on my faith? Slander to the name of God?

"We call her 'the new-Shelaine...'"

"What??"

"Well, we see you more than her now!"

Haha.. man... this is attributed to the fact that 90% of the time they asked me to go out the last few years, I'd say no because I'd be busy...which I really was!

The last few months, I've been chillin' with this uni-crew and just laughin' so much! Boy is it good to laugh :)

My stomach muscles thank you.

Looking forward to road trippin', campin',

and Malaysia :)

timing

Sometimes this word is one's worse enemy. Sometimes it just works out perfectly. I've reflected a bit and I have seen how God's perfect timing has just blown me away. Yet again, I see how some things occur that leave me crying, why? Why now? Why ever? Why Lord?

I'm writing a paper right now about Buddhism. In two days, I have spent about seven hours at the temple. Chatting it up with Buddhist, hearing their stories and their beliefs. I've found many similarities in both our beliefs and problems in our faiths--I never thought that I could find so many connecting points. Some things can actually make sense.

I can see how enticing it could be for one to believe in this "way of life." I am already wrestling with a many issues that would allow for the temple community and people to appeal greatly. If I was in a place of complete disillusionment with my own faith, needed to make sense of some things, or looking for purpose, I could see myself being swayed... I have a greater understanding of the attraction to Buddhism.

You see, a lot of it is about timing. You can look at your own life and see how, perhaps, God revealed himself to you at the perfect time. Or you stepped into church at that divine time. Or you heard that speaker at that most opportune time. For the Buddhist that I met, they were going through a difficult time or where wrestling through questions, when they stepped into a temple or someone brought them to the temple--and they experienced something...peace, a indescribable feeling... something that suited them at that time.

Timing.

Being available.

And at the right place at the right time.

I pray that we, bearers of Good News, be agents of perfect timing. That we could be like Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel(or whatever place/people) should do. That we would tap into what God was doing today and know when to speak and what to say to people. Who knows what could happen!

Lord, what are you doing today and how can I serve your purposes?

ok, so not entirely...

One prayer rides my heart at night.

Lord prepare me for what tomorrow will bring.

One prayer springs to mind in the morning.

Lord protect my heart.

I thank God for both.

And I love the time in between... sleep :)