About a week ago, the world around the Swallow had been abuzz with news about the end of the world. Apparently, it had been predicted in ancient history records that the end of the world would happen on 21 December 2012.
Was the Swallow caught up with the doomsday messages that had filtered through?
Definitely not! Her hope was in the blessed return to her heavenly home and that is something she is still looking forward to. So instead of sitting around waiting for the end of the world, the Swallow had been busy preparing for the arrival of her family from Malaysia. It would be the Swallow's and her mate's turn to host the family's Christmas dinner in Singapore, and the last few days had been full of activities...wrapping gifts, catching up with her family, playing with her nieces and nephew, and most memorable of all, spending Christmas Day with her spiritual family, remembering the real reason for Christmas - the celebration of her Lord's first coming more than 2000 years ago, and the joyous anticipation of his return again one day.
Now Christmas time in year 2012 has come and gone. The family has returned home to Malaysia. It has been proven that the ancient historical records had made a wrong calculation.
So when will the end of the world actually be? The Swallow does not know, but she rests in the knowledge that her Heavenly Father knows. Thus, in less than a week, when the year 2012 will also be history, the Swallow will greet a new year with joy, hope and peace.
Friday 28 December 2012
Wednesday 19 December 2012
His Plans Cannot Be Thwarted
Today is no ordinary day.
The Swallow had, several times last night, paused in whatever she had been doing whenever questions like "Where will she be going to?", "Will she get in?", "When will we know the result?", and "Should we appeal?" flashed through her mind. Four years ago, when she had been in a similar situation, there were no such questions. Then, when she had no idea what to expect, there had been a sense of calm and peace that her Lord was in perfect control of the situation.
Fast forward to last night, and a similar situation...the sense of calm and peace was missing. Instead, there was a sense of trepidation. Having gone down the road before, she now knew what may be in front of her. Having faced a similar situation, she had a vague idea now what she could expect...what they could expect...because four years ago...
...her older young one did not get into his first choice of school...
...neither did he get into his second...
...nor his third...
...and his fourth...
...nope, not the fifth...
...and not even his final choice of school.
The schools had been chosen as they were closer to the nest. Posted, instead, to a school where the young one would have had to travel a longer distance, they were initially a little disappointed. Reminded, however, that the matter had already been entrusted to the Lord, they overcame their disappointment and the young one determined to do his best at the appointed school. Over the years, the Swallow and her mate had cause for rejoicing. The years the young one had spent in that appointed school had brought him fresh awareness of the Lord and he had drawn closer to the Lord. However, there were some not-so-good aspects of the school which was sufficient to cause him to say to his sibling when she was making her selection of schools, "Don't choose my school."
The young one heeded her sibling's advice and made her selection. Giving the selection to her parents for approval, she made some adjustments and submitted her selection. The family prayed and entrusted the matter to the Lord.
It was now this young one's turn to await her school posting results. The adage "Ignorance is bliss" could not be more true. Four years ago, the Swallow was blissfully unaware of what may happen - the young one does not get any of her choices, or she is posted to a school that is further away - thus it was easy to say "The Lord is in control". Over the years, with each not-so-good aspect of the school popping up, it had become an uphill task remembering that the Lord was still in control. Besides, there was now also the possibility of her young one being posted to her sibling's school...
But the Lord is forever patient. He never gives up on His faith-less people. He reminded the Swallow, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29 : 11, NKJV) Reminded and encouraged by His word, the calm and peace returned.
When the Swallow woke up this morning, the result had already been sent an hour earlier.
The extraordinary thing? The young one had been given a school which was originally her second choice, but which had been adjusted down upon her parents' advice.
The Swallow and her mate are amazed and awed. In humility, they see the Lord's sovereignty in this. Moving the school down the selection list will not thwart His plans if that was where He wants their young one to go. He has His plans for her. He knows her future. Thus assured, they now await the blessings that will come from obedience to His will.
The Swallow had, several times last night, paused in whatever she had been doing whenever questions like "Where will she be going to?", "Will she get in?", "When will we know the result?", and "Should we appeal?" flashed through her mind. Four years ago, when she had been in a similar situation, there were no such questions. Then, when she had no idea what to expect, there had been a sense of calm and peace that her Lord was in perfect control of the situation.
Fast forward to last night, and a similar situation...the sense of calm and peace was missing. Instead, there was a sense of trepidation. Having gone down the road before, she now knew what may be in front of her. Having faced a similar situation, she had a vague idea now what she could expect...what they could expect...because four years ago...
...her older young one did not get into his first choice of school...
...neither did he get into his second...
...nor his third...
...and his fourth...
...nope, not the fifth...
...and not even his final choice of school.
The schools had been chosen as they were closer to the nest. Posted, instead, to a school where the young one would have had to travel a longer distance, they were initially a little disappointed. Reminded, however, that the matter had already been entrusted to the Lord, they overcame their disappointment and the young one determined to do his best at the appointed school. Over the years, the Swallow and her mate had cause for rejoicing. The years the young one had spent in that appointed school had brought him fresh awareness of the Lord and he had drawn closer to the Lord. However, there were some not-so-good aspects of the school which was sufficient to cause him to say to his sibling when she was making her selection of schools, "Don't choose my school."
The young one heeded her sibling's advice and made her selection. Giving the selection to her parents for approval, she made some adjustments and submitted her selection. The family prayed and entrusted the matter to the Lord.
It was now this young one's turn to await her school posting results. The adage "Ignorance is bliss" could not be more true. Four years ago, the Swallow was blissfully unaware of what may happen - the young one does not get any of her choices, or she is posted to a school that is further away - thus it was easy to say "The Lord is in control". Over the years, with each not-so-good aspect of the school popping up, it had become an uphill task remembering that the Lord was still in control. Besides, there was now also the possibility of her young one being posted to her sibling's school...
But the Lord is forever patient. He never gives up on His faith-less people. He reminded the Swallow, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29 : 11, NKJV) Reminded and encouraged by His word, the calm and peace returned.
When the Swallow woke up this morning, the result had already been sent an hour earlier.
The extraordinary thing? The young one had been given a school which was originally her second choice, but which had been adjusted down upon her parents' advice.
The Swallow and her mate are amazed and awed. In humility, they see the Lord's sovereignty in this. Moving the school down the selection list will not thwart His plans if that was where He wants their young one to go. He has His plans for her. He knows her future. Thus assured, they now await the blessings that will come from obedience to His will.
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