Philippians 4:4-9, in my own words.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

Fight for joy all the time, every day, in every waking moment. Don't find joy in things, but in the Lord. His joy fills you better than any earthly thing, so fight for joy in the Lord.

Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. 

Show people you are fighting for this joy in the Lord through your lifestyle. You are not fighting them, but you are fighting joylessness. Be generous, be kind, be loving; let everyone see and taste of the amazing transformation the Lord has brought about in you.

The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

The Lord is not far away. He is right here with you, every moment of the day. Since He is right here, pray. Pray for your needs, and for others' needs. Be thankful to God in advance! This is the Creator you are praying to, and He already knows all your needs before you pray! Your praying points others to Him, so be specific and dare to pray audaciously! God will honor your faith by exchanging your anxiety for His peace, which will anchor you in the storms of life. You will be able to stand firm and unshaken, though you may be in dire straits.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 

So, think positively! Your optimism is not founded on wavering hopes in man-made things or fortuitous chance, but on the Man who loved and died for you. If His Word were not true, then all is lost. But He is God, and His Word is true. Fill your mind with His Word, all His promises made to you and all who believe. Do this daily, arm yourself with the right words for each circumstance so that when they come, you will be ready.

What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Haven't you an example in me? Do what I do, and I am sure that God will show up in your life too!

Postscript: At the time of writing this, I am at my first-ever Week 10 of Term 3 as a primary school educator. While this may not make much sense to you, I am marking the time for my future self to remember how much anxiety and fearfulness I faced. I don't want to live like that any longer, because it is joyless. I refuse to live joylessly. So before you judge my paraphrasing, please be considerate for my struggle.

Retooling the shed.

It's the 18th of June today. It's not a significant occasion by any measurement, but to borrow an age-old adage, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, no?

Today marks the fifth year since I started this blog, this repository of wandering thoughts, odd ideas and focused conversations of my mind. I plan to keep it that way. I've asked a few friends for their thoughts on keeping this blog, and opinions differed. Some were encouraging, others clarifying, but none decisive. Ultimately, it came down to me and the Lord for the matter. 

So what was the original aim? I take you back to the first post made here. The war within isn't some metaphor for good and evil. Neither is it a battle of wits, though wits find some employ in the daily skirmishes. This blog is my personal story, a testament of how my Savior saves me on a day-to-day basis. But I am a rational person, fraught with emotions I must learn to navigate safely if I want to reach the next port of call. And so I have this, a journal of some sorts, and sounding board for me to work out my emotions through a faculty of reason redeemed by Christ.

If it is still unclear, the war within is a war for my affection. Notice I use the singular here, for I have only one to offer. Either I give it to God, or some other thing. For while I like to think I am a rational man, I find in myself a maelstrom of emotions to overcome. Wit and intellect have proven poor companions for this journey of life, for they too are subject to the whims of the heart. This blog is me, trying to reconcile one unlovable man with an all-loving God, trying to document the 'full and abundant life' that the Savior promises in John 10:10, trying to outwit the 'thief, who comes only to steal, kill and destroy'. This, dear reader, is what I have to offer.

Finally, I must state that while I will no longer neglect this station, I cannot be certain of my frequency of posts. I am beginning my journey as a primary school educator come July, and I will be busy learning the ropes, and adapting to new things. I will, however, make it a point to post at least once a month. Cheers!

Postscript: If you are on the same journey as I am, you will one day find me insufficient for your deep frustrations, friend. In that day, I urge you to look to the One who has been my Ebenezer, a sure Rock of help. Look up the Holy Bible, the revealed Word of God, and discover Him for yourself.

Untapped, unspoilt.

The sun is risen; behold its brilliance!

All the land lies before you; untapped potential.

The Son is risen; behold His glory!

All eternity lies before you; unspoiled freedom.

Post-it, #1 Revisited.

Some years back, I gave myself a 'life sentence', and it goes like this:

I will fight weariness, hunger, suffering, disappointment, foolishness and stubborn stupidity, because what I do for God now will be my story for all eternity.

Today, I would like to revisit and recalibrate the 'life sentence'.

I will fight disordered loves, grief, loss, foolishness, weariness, hopelessness, stubborn stupidity and joyless living because what I do in this life attests to my Hope in the next.

For I am in good Hands.

Is it possible that You can be both unsettling and comforting at the same time? To approach a greater understanding of Your sovereignty brings me to that place. There is literally nothing too difficult for You. And if You challenge me to greater, I know You will be there with me, thus comforted. Yet for the same reason, I know You will most definitely challenge me to greater, because nothing is too hard for You.

And You who live in me, shall not settle for mediocre. Nothing is quite as ordinary as a typical day, but Your Presence means You're bound to stir up something. It is almost a fact with You that You draw all sorts of surprises near. At least, they are surprises to me, since nothing surprises You, O God!

And so, I should not be surprised any longer, in that when blessings or calamities befall me, it is simply the Savior exercising His sovereignty, and I His vessel in the storm. If it be me at the helm, hope is lost. But You, the Creator of the sea and swell, find no trouble ahead. Sure, the panels may creak, the masting strained, yet You shall chart a sure course through it all. For I, battered as I may be, am in good Hands.

Post-it #3.

The Lord is not impressed by outcomes, because He knows that the substance of a man is primarily in his heart, not in his hands.

Therefore, keep in mind these two things, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart..." and "Out of the overflow of a man's heart, his mouth speaks".

If I watch what goes into my heart, I'll know what comes out.