Everything has its own season

Ecclesiastes 3
(1) There is time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens,
(11) He has made everything beautiful in His time,

Today might be the last Sunday of 2013. Some people might take it as an end towards their annual chapter of life and excited (or not) of what may come this coming new year, some are just trying to remember their resolutions promised early this year that might (not) have been fulfilled, some are just doing both things these few days before the year 2013 ends while 2014 starts.

I am someone who is doing both things. Year 2013 has been a lot of stuffs for me. From friends' drama to fulfilment of His promises upon my life that came JUST IN TIME.

I graduated from my Master of Business Administration program with marketing as my major, I accomplished another 'earthly thing' that has helped make my parents proud. Not the proudest moment yet, but I guess that was what my dad at least wanted me to do. Graduating around the end of a year is never easy, especially here in Singapore. People tend to stay until their Chinese New Year bonus comes then there might be a chance for job seekers to fill an empty chair in an office across the island. Furthermore, me being a foreigner in Singapore is not an advantages at the current moment since the number of foreign workers in Singapore are being "tightened" so much that many of my foreign friends decided to go back to their own home countries or going to places that welcome foreign workers better, yet some decided to try both ways in Singapore as well as in their own countries. Nothing is wrong from any of these choices, but I chose not to do it either way.

I decided to give myself sometime until the end of this year and let's see if there is no job available for me then I have to be ready to go back home for good and there should not be a regret looking back then. I have prepared myself quite well to be back Indo, trying to rekindle with old friends, being more open towards new community and even trying to pack some stuffs back home.

Agents have mentioned that there is no possible way for Indonesian to look for job and be approved for our visas in Singapore, at least not this year. I have heard no positive response towards us as Indonesian who is looking for a job in Singapore at this kind of timing. But regardless, I decided to enjoy my time before I need to really go back Indo then. I tried to apply through various methods, from online jobs portals to newspaper to asking friends to refer me into their companies. None of these methods worked out, I did have couple interviews, but once they realise that they need to provide working visa for me, they have decided not to go forward regardless of my ability.

However, my last application was submitted before I decided to stop and take some break and enjoy the holiday that I have left. Couple days later a male HR from this company called - asked me to come down for an interview in the following weeks. I do know that it takes two weeks for this company to decide whether they should further pursue an employee. But my case, it happened so quickly that I could not even be bothered to do further job hunt. Everything was done, signed sealed delivered quickly. I was amazed, but I have decided to keep it cool until the working visa is approved (since many foreigners have issue with this). So after everything was settled with the company, I have decided to wait for the pass to be approved, some say it takes around 2 to 3 weeks, my friend waited hers for 3months and yet she aint get it yet until now (dec13).

Was I worry? YES, of course, no doubt! I keep praying to God that if He allows me to be in this company or let alone in Singapore, please help so every process can be as smooth as possible. And after 8 working days, my HR called and he said my visa was approved. Halleluyah! I was relieved that I couldn't contain myself to spread the word to my loved ones. My HR decided to let me start to work on the second day of 2014, so I can enjoy my christmas with my loved ones before I go to work. I could not be happier that I can still enjoy my christmas with my loved ones back in Jakarta despite the fact that I have to help my mom to clean the house since my maids are on leave.

I remember that my local church in Singapore's theme of 2013 was harvest and explosion. I have waited for my harvest and explosion until my birthday, He revealed to me on my birthday that my harvest and explosion is still waiting and it will happen ON the right time and TAADAA!

All I can say, all I can keep testifying is that His promises are true and He is ON time, He never late to fulfil His promises appointed to us (not even for a single second) and He never fails us although many times we have failed Him. He is the king of kings who provide us with what we need and He has entrusted us to build His kingdom through all blessings He has given us. Despite your struggles, remember Herbew 13:5 - Never will I leave you nor forsaken you.

May we all be faithful and be grateful upon all promises and blessings appointed to us. Hope next year we can walk even stronger on the path that He has prepared us to walk with Him.

Love,
S

forgive and forget

We often say that when one hurts us, we should have a bigger heart followed by forgiving the mistakes s/he made to us and forget about it. I cannot agree more nor can I disagree to this statement. I do believe that everyone deserve a second third forth chance. But I also believe that when those extra chances come, one shouldn't take it for granted, nor should one to take it as if s/he has the right to have that extra chances.

Every actions have its own consequences. When one person is hurting, it takes time for him/her to heal it wound and perhaps even longer time for the scar to be less visible. However, during the healing period, it sucks! The pain that one has to bear might be not as excruciating as others, but it still hurts.

I do need to practice forgiveness throughout my life as you might need; On the very same time I have made mistakes and hurt people along the way, thus none of us should take second third forth fifth chances for granted or even dare to think that we deserve it. Cause even from the beginning, we are not even worth to be given those many chances in life. It is just because "as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive (Colossians 3:12-14)."

Do understand that I do support the idea of forgiveness, since forgiving is not for the benefit of those who have hurt us, but it benefits us as we can move forward without the need to hold back by hurts and scars that we keep on dwelling on it that will keep remind us of those unwanted scenarios. 

Forgive because (1) we are first forgiven (2) we do need those forgiveness too from others in the past and even in future times (3) to make us move forward in life.

Nevertheless, when other has forgiven us, do take these extra chances carefully because these chances do not come cheap neither should it be taken for granted. 

The old has passed away; behold, the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17)

re-using, re-building this blog has never my intention until end of september when I was abut to graduate and to have my 22nd birthday (yeay I have turned 22 y.o. last monday). It was too much memories, happy moments as well as upsetting moments that I would love to just pass it through. It was so hard to go through it all, and start fresh. A part of them chained me and didn't allow me to move on (at least that how it seemed for me). But just before I turned 22, I have decided to delete all those past posts and I am committing to re-create, re-tell my journey of life in (hopefully) a better way.

It has taken me sometime to keep editing this post, since it will be counted and known as the first post ever using this blog address. But I guess at some point I have to start somewhere and I have to take a leap of faith to step forward by sharing my new first ever post and publish it.

I would love to be able to share stories and perhaps discuss things with you all. I am hoping that this blog can someday be a great impact that can encourage and relate to all people regardless of age, geographic location and backgrounds. Many of the events occurring will be based pretty much from what I went through daily, but I would love to be enlightened through sharing and stories from anyone who reads this blog =).

So as the title of this entry mentioned, "the old has passed away; behold, the new has come," I believe in second chances. God has given me personal GRACE and MERCY so that I am forgiven and moreover I am redeemed by His blood on the cross regardless of my past, my sins, and my circumstances. He has done great things in my life and I declare His blessings over me and share it with you all. I am not perfect (which I know for sure) and I will never be, but this journey of life is a learning journey. We should strive that today is better than yesterday, and our tomorrow has to be even better than today. It will never easy to satisfy everyone since we will never be able to do so despite of all the efforts we put, but we can be the best that we can. And if we have done so, disregards what and how other people respond towards us. Sometimes we have to believe that the limited time that we have, should be better of thinking and reacting to responses and events occurring in life that are indeed worth our time and thoughts, than just dwelling on unworthy thoughts and events in life.

As many of us ever heard of this quote before, "every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future." So let's appreciate everyone and hold hands together so that we can go through and finish this journey of life strongly. x