Moved

I have moved to www.serenechua.net . Feel free to subscribe if you would like to be updated on my latest posts... Thank you for all who have subscribed to this blog (if anyone still reads it)! I am excited to begin yet another blogging journey... I will probably settle there... For real... And my style will change tremendously (I think...)

Take care folks, it's been real! :)

Serenity Project

I recorded something over the summer, excited to share this publicly... Covers of some of my favorite worship songs. For His glory, not my own.

https://soundcloud.com/serene-chua/sets/serenity-project

Moving On...

I have decided to stop blogging here.... My personal website is in the works, yes I'm getting my own domain.... I will continue/start afresh over there.. Though you might see some recycled posts... it will be quite different...

More details when the site is up and running....  :)

Back for the summer....

There's so much to write about, much to update...

But all I can say right now is that He is faithful.

Till then....

Cadence

The song sounded –

Familiar;

As you strummed 

I started singing along,

Motioning 

The way you played it

I’ve heard this before

And I know the end

It’s the kind of song –

That’s like a drug

I need to stop –

Now.

But then you

Took a half step up,

And another,

And another

The dissonance was –

Fading.

Your fingers slid up

And down

The rests were

More apparent

I tried to turn

The internal amplifier

Down

So that none would hear

It was beating

Too fast

A dopamine rush

Because it had become

A lovely song

One I could not

Bear to share

It was ours

You

For all these years, You've been here for me.

And You will always be here.

There are not enough words I can say.

Except that I love You.

For all You've done.

For who You are.

Thank You, Thank You.

My Valentine.

Love that will never leave.

Sometimes I forget this blog even exists. I just finished reading a book for a class and am inspired to continue blogging... The written word is powerful indeed.

I have much to share.

Soon.

Won''t Stop

I had a conversation with a friend of mine the other day, dear Mr. Yearwood. I was telling him how I lost my desire to blog and I don't exactly know why. Maybe I am content keeping a lot of things to myself (or within my circle of friends) and don't feel the need to publicize it. However, I told him I don't want to stop blogging entirely as well. Too much has been written, stuff that has meant so much to me. There has been a lot of emotion vested into my writing and posts. Some less important, some more...

I don't think my style will change significantly, nor will my subject matter. It doesn't matter if anyone even follows this blog anymore. Because this is the space that I have and I intend to use it well...

I wrote a defamiliarization poem for my Creative Writing class a couple weeks back and just thought of sharing it:

The Face of Nature

Your love is the snow,

Sending shivers down my spine

With its beauty.

Your love is the Sun,

Melting away my disbelief

Burning me but I need it to live.

Your love is the sound of thunder,

A deafening roar

That scares me but I can never run away.

Your love is the fire,

That engulfs and consumes

But I am made more alive.

Your love is the rain

Drenching me slowly

Cooling me down

Your love is the silence

That nature echoes,

So that I will believe.

God bless!

My blog is not dead, I won't let it die, not just yet.

I have so much to say.

So much to write about God's faithfulness.

I will update soon, I promise!

Been back in school for awhile now. Had RA training for a week then school started last week... Classes have been going great. The RA job isn't too taxing, I enjoy it actually... There's so much more to say but I will save that for later.

Hillsong Concert yesterday in Boston, AMAZING. Later.

Till then!

to the heart

O restless heart,
Fret not.
It gets better in time, I know, I've been there.

What it takes now is for you to trust-
Trust that He knows what's going on
And everything will work out in His time and way.

Your desires - He comprehend.
His Love compels Him to grant your desires
But not if it isn't what He placed in you Himself.

So come on now,
Take a leap of faith.
You won't regret it.
He will come to the rescue, He will.

Back Safely

Time flies, I'm back in the States. It's been two weeks since.

SoulFest from August 1-4. It's a Christian music festival in New Hampshire featuring over 100+ bands. It was amazing, post more about it sometime.

Back at the Place of Promise now, it's been a week and it's just great. I can't believe how timely it is and how God works everything out. Will be leaving for NY on Friday before I head back to school next week for RA training all the way till classes begin on the 4th of next month.

God has been gracious and extremely comforting. He is Love. He is Life.

Till then. :)

Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo

You might have believed for years but sometimes it takes a heartfelt, real account of an encounter with Jesus and a glimpse of heaven to remind you of what lies ahead. This book was just that: a true story of a boy who went to heaven and came back. But its so much more than that, it calls for what it means to have childlike faith, it calls for trust in the One above. It inspires and certainly gives us hope for the future that God has prepared for each and every one of His children.

To be honest, it took me awhile to really get into this book because I was trying to figure out the narrative structure and when things would happen. But as soon as I stopped doing that and allowed the story to bring me wherever it wanted to and for the Spirit to teach me what He wanted to through it, I enjoyed it thoroughly. To hear about heaven and Jesus from a young boy is amazing. It makes me want to have childlike faith all over again and reminds me of how much Jesus loves the children. This book isn't just about the future that awaits us but is about God's love. The details and events that are written in this book are there for a purpose, they all tie in to speak of how much God cares and that He truly knows what we are going through though we might think otherwise. A lot of things Colton (the boy) tells of heaven are biblically sound and expands on the vague descriptions.

Overall, it is a very good read and I would highly recommend it to anyone. Whether you have childlike faith or not, this book would be an encouragement to every heart. You will be blessed.

*I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. All opinions expressed are of my own.*

This has been one of the longest hiatuses in blogging for me. It's ironic though that I still manage to find time to blog even when I'm really busy as opposed to not posting anything even though I'm much more free right now.

That being said, I've only got a month left at home. I know this sounds cliche and as much as I want to avoid it, time really does fly. Half of my summer break gone, just like that.

Euro 2012 ended yesterday. Staying up till 5-6 am for a few nights every week wasn't really that difficult to be honest, since my regular sleeping hours (start) were between 2-4am. I caught more than half of the matches and thoroughly enjoyed most, if not all of them. Of course, only a few were particularly memorable and thrilling. I'm glad that Spain won and am also really glad that it's over although not having any match to watch in the morning now is weird. But that's okay.

I have to say that the final displayed all the reasons why Spain are world and Euro champions, creating history as well. The players gave their all, AS a team. They proved you don't need a Ronaldo or a Balotelli to score goals. And Torres proved himself to be selfless when he so generously assisted for the final goal which he could've so easily struck himself... The complete opposite of someone most of us know. Despite leaving the Reds, I still have great admiration for him as a footballer and I am glad he got the Golden Boot as well.

Been spending a lot of time with family and friends. It wasn't till a few days ago that I realized how much I appreciate my upbringing in this place... There is no coincidence, everyone I have come across in my life whether for just awhile or months and years, God has brought to my path for a reason. And I also believe that it works the other way round as well. I am grateful, extremely grateful.

Church camp was held in Taiping last weekend and it was great. The speakers talked about the Glory of the Lord over two sessions. It was quite a lot to take in but God definitely used them and spoke to all of us in His own way. I am still reflecting over what has been said and shared and pray that I will not forget.

As for this month, I'll be making a few trips to various places to conclude this break and meet up with people. And also, get working on that reading list.

I will be back soon. God bless!!

It dawned upon me today that if things had worked out the way I wanted it to back then, I would not be where I am today; I would not have gone to the States.

Those tearful nights, days, years, were not in vain. I lost something dear to me but I gained everything else... I realized what I had in Him, I realized how close He was, I realized how He was there to pick me every time I fall...

Nothing is ever wasted,  nothing.

Those darkest moments, those times where you think you've had enough; He's a purpose for each and every one of them. It's beautiful..

Thank You Lord, thank You...

It's been close to 2 weeks since I've got home. Although 3 months seem quite long, I do believe it will go by quickly.

Thus far, I've just been spending lots of time at home, meeting up with friends (lots more catching up to do), serving in church, and the usual eating sessions. Church camp's next month and there will be some trips to various places. The other thing I really hope to accomplish this summer is working through my reading list, there are lots of books I want to finish.

And most of all, some down time. The various demands being a college student took away lots of personal time which is not as bad as it sounds but now that I have the time to just relax, I'd gladly take it.

But most of all, I'm just really grateful to be back. He made it all possible.

Hopefully, I'd find the time to blog regularly, there is definitely alot to say.

Till then.

I've been home for a week. Though 3 months seem rather 'long', I know it will just go by.

Going down to KL today for a few days.

I have so much that I want to say but I will once again, have to save it for later...

But I will do it.

Home

After 8 months of being away, I'm finally home. For 3 months. 

I have so much to say about the past year and how I feel about being home, all in which I'll leave for a later post.

Right now, I am glad, grateful to be back.. It's still hard to believe that I'm actually here - it feels strange.

Hit me up if anyone wants to meet.

Till then. :)

Thank You.

A Quick Update

Been staying up pretty late these past two weeks. Earliest bed time at 2. Have had lots to do but this craziness is about to end. 2 more final papers, 1 more day of classes and I'm done with freshman year.

Leaving for NY on Thursday for a much needed break, coming back to campus on Monday by which most, if not all students will be gone. I have to mention I'm leaving during finals precisely because none of my classes have sit-in final exams. I am grateful indeed.

RA training from 1st of May to the 3rd and on the 4th, I'll be on my way home. :).

My last Sunday at church was amazing. I have been blessed with such a great church family back home and here as well.. I've been going to the church for the past 3 months and I have received tremendous support and love and I cannot thank Him enough. Definitely going to miss everyone there but I'm looking forward to worshiping in my own church back home :)


Blog soon, I hope.

You are my strength.

2 months since

I will not forget that day

He did something in my heart, opened my eyes

And now here I am

It has grown - stronger.

I don't know what lies ahead but I continue to hope -

My hope is in Him and Him alone.

He will work things out, in His time, in His way

I just need to trust

But whatever it may be, I am grateful

For everything