Mr Sunflower

Walking down the stairs I saw him reading. On the first glance, he kept his book and shoved a cream coloured envelope in my face, asking me to read it. The words, scribbly and small - I speedread as he prompted me to "faster read this". Opening the envelope, I took out a card with, again, scribbly small words in the centre (which I barely read) when he told me he has a surprise for me. There and then, I realised he had his right arm hidden behind his back through the last three minutes I met him.





The word "surprise" send the blood gushing to my cheeks and an instant "Oh no..No..You shouldn't have" to my mouth.


Despite my "No..." and my embrace to the wall to hide my face, he presented me with a huge sunflower.

It is the BIGGEST sunflower I've ever seen in my face.

There was so special occasion - but Mr Sunflower treated me to sushi for dinner, in celebration of being together for five months.

Bright, and greets chirpily you in the face - according to my best friend Vanessa, Ray is the sunflower personified. Cheesy, but he'll always bring you a smile and lighten up the mood.

Freedom

Feeling down today?
Feel unpretty?
Think you're too fat or too skinny?
Wish you had a happier family?

Don't fret over these things. You are beautifully made and all things work out for good.
There's a reason why you here on earth, you have talents that other people might not have.
You can make a difference in somebody's life.

I watched a video about Nick Vujicic today. Nick's story is one that can be told over and over again. He was born without limbs and yet, through it all, he's been able to lead a normal live like the rest of us and inspiring many through his sharing. (Read more about him at www.lifewithoutlimbs.org . )

Now that I'm writing this, I am reminded of the several occasions Boon has mentioned about Nick to encourage us that we are able to do so much more if we look beyond limitations.

In Nick's video, he said that you find meaning and strength to live on when you discover your purpose in life. It is not about the temporary highs like sex, drugs and alcohol that makes you happy and keeps you going. But it is when you find your purpose, that's when you'll find true satisfaction. Then it will not matter what people think or say about you anymore, because you know who you are and where you are heading.

As the song goes, "You are my freedom.." Ever since I discovered my purpose in Christ, I found freedom - freedom from fear, freedom from what others think of me. That freedom came when I took faith measures to believe, and act out, and inch towards what God showed me.

Looking back, I really wonder where I would be, if I didn't avail myself, if I chose to pursue my otherwise. Though He has brought me far, I have not arrived. I would really be nothing without Christ. Much is given to those who are faithful over little.

It is time to rise up. It is time to serve.

----
I have never walked on water
felt the waves beneath my feet
but at Your word Lord ill receive Your faith to walk on oceans deep

and i remember how You found me
in that very same place
all my failing surely would have drowned me.. but You made a way

YOU ARE MY FREEDOM
JESUS YOU'RE THE REASON
IM KNEELING AGAIN AT YOUR THRONE
WHERE WOULD I BE WITHOUT YOU
HERE IN MY LIFE

You have said that all the heavens
sing for joy at one who finds the
Way to freedom truth of Jesus
bought from death into His life

and i remember how You saw me
through the eyes of Your grace
and though the cost was Your Beloved for me
still You made a way

YOU ARE MY FREEDOM
JESUS YOU'RE THE REASON
IM KNEELING AGAIN AT YOUR THRONE
WHERE WOULD I BE WITHOUT YOU
HERE IN MY LIFE
HERE IN MY LIFE

You are my Freedom
Jesus you're the reason