the here and now.

Marianne's Life In Africa: Joy:
“We all live with the illusion that joy will come someday when conditions change. We go to school and think we will be happen when we graduate. We are single and are convinced we will be happy once we get married. We get married and decide we will be happy someday when we have children. We have children and decide we will be happy when they grow up and leave the nest – then they do, and we think we were happier when they were still at home.”
From ‘The Life You’ve Always Wanted’ by John Ortberg
Live in the moment. Savour it. Enjoy it.
Every day we live and breathe is a gift."

an excerpt from a book that jie gave me for my 21st. it is a book where reading is a three-way interaction between the author, myself and God. its funny how coincidences like this make me believe even more there's no such thing as a coincidence. my friend blogged about this (check out her blog, she's amazing!), it on a topic of a book i've read, and this past week or so, i've been learning about this in so many ways. in short, the night out (see picture) with some very dear friends sent me home in a thoughtful daze. but it didnt click until today, when i was thinking through a few issues.

i'm not living for  the present, i'm living in the present.

God's guidance is always just enough for the next step, be it the next hour, day, month or year. and if I abide in Him, then shouldnt that mean I have everything I need for that moment? and shouldnt that mean that I ought to be joyous in every moment? 

for sure, i'm not a shiny, happy, optimistic person who sees the bright side of life easily. nor do i rejoice for most of the day, but thats probably a side of me i'd like to change. when i see the good in people, the best of situations and always, the remembrance that God's hand is in every single moment. one day, that'll be me, 24/7. for now anyway, joy is smiling at 7.45am when i have to roll out of bed, joy is being happy when i'm studying, and joy is celebrating life even when things around me are just too ______ to deal with. 

Burn baby burn!!
(burning the boxes for the sparklers got us a mini bonfire.)

burn brighter!