life of faith

just had the privilege to go for an informal christmas gathering at prof ooi’s condo function room, where he invited some friends and ex-students and current students. he’s also a believer, and i could see how he and his wife put in effort into the organising of the party, to extend hospitality and make us feel welcomed and at home. there was such an atmosphere of love as he used the opportunity to also share about God and the meaning of christmas through a small ice-breaker activity, and we were also encouraged to mingle around.

i had a chance to talk to someone who used to be in the real estate industry for about 3 years (he also worked at jll before, at the very department where i used to intern at! he knows the bosses that i worked for..), and he shared that God called him out into full-time ministry, and now he’s serving as a youth pastor in his church. he does campus ministry as well, and he would frequent schools, especially nus and smu! it’s always amazing how God just brings about connections even through the most random conversations, and i believe it was God’s encouragement to me about His sovereignty and plans for my future. i’m just thankful to have such conversations with believers who are or have been in the marketplace, and to see how God is actively guiding them and pouring His favour upon their lives as they live out lives of radical obedience.

anyway, as i was coming back home, i was reminded of a verse:

Proverbs 15:17 “Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred.”

yet i know, this evening we had both the fattened calf and the love. yes.. there was a great spread of food! i almost wanted to unhook my belt to breathe as we were sharing the last slices of the cakes.. haha. what a joy and blessing this evening. it was a taste of God’s goodness and love being extended to people, and i could also sense people being at ease and i’m sure most of us went back being touched in some way or another. thank God for prof ooi and his wife’s lives, impacting people in such a positive way that points them towards God. it was indeed an act of christmas, of giving and loving.