life of faith

have you ever experienced a divine encounter with strangers, people whom you feel the Lord has sent in your way for a particular reason?

something happened yesterday while i was at the post office, waiting in the long queue for my turn to buy stamps. i was reading Captivating (the book which was mentioned a few posts earlier on) to make my time productive, and shortly after i closed my book, someone from the back tapped on my shoulders. it was a middle-aged lady, perhaps in her early 40s, who happened to be reading my book from the back(!). i was pleasantly surprised, and we exchanged a few words about the book, and i told her that it is a christian book.

she asked if she could borrow my book after i was done with it. she was so earnest about wanting to read it! then she said something which struck me, “i’m a frail woman. i want to know how to protect myself,” with all honesty and vulnerability. there was this brokeness in this stranger, yet she was brave enough to step forward and ask for help. when we spoke more, i found out that she is also a believer, but she seldom attends church. i invited her for our christmas service and encouraged her to attend one this christmas, but she wouldn’t want to.

i promised her i would lend her the book after i’m done, and she said she would contact me again next year in january. the book isn’t exactly about protecting ourselves as women, but i believe it would speak into whatever insecurities or fears she is facing as a woman now. when i left the post office, my heart was filled with burden for this lady, who seems to be searching for something and yet does not know how or where. for now, she’s in my prayers and may the Lord touch her in a deep and personal way this season. her desire for wholesomeness in her life will not go unnoticed by the Lord.

just a side note:

1) i’m so thankful for the results which were released today. it was above my expectations, and before this i had prepared to do much worse. i took very long before i checked my results because i wanted to have a settled heart and mind, to prevent myself from being flustered and to embrace whatever comes should my results turn out to be disappointing. but it is truly by His grace that i could maintain my cap score, as i reflected on how the semester and exams period went.

2) i cut my hair! haha.. it’s reallyyy short now, almost like a bob. joining the gang of xingni, crystal, ven and haibee. i didn’t expect it, supposed to be a “hair trim”, and well.. things turned out this way. i think i gave my grandma and my mom a shock just now. but it’s good, feels liberating!

3) happy birthday to sarah! powerful woman of God, sister, friend and my ex-jc econs teacher! she just came back from leading a team to hanoi, and i’ll be attending their service this sunday where they would be sharing testimonies about their trip. though i couldn’t be with them this year, but partnering with them in prayer is part of the team as well. heard a few good news already and i’m very excited to hear all about it on sunday. all glory to Him!