The "bad" is included in HIS "all"

1 less bad experience = 1 less lens/filter. Every experience we go through in life becomes a mental filter/lens which either helps us see things clearer or blurer. If I have not gone through the 1st incident, my eyes would not be opened to similar incidents. If there was no awareness, my tiny brain will not be “infested” and my heart will not be infected by fear - fear of failing, fear of stumbling & sinning, fear of hurting others.

Yet deep down in me there was this voice that said ’Remember “All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose”?’ The experience was bad and it became like a shadow that I could never shake it off, followed me wherever I went, but there remains a mysterious outcome, which the Creator of the Universe guaranteed that it will be good.

As I seek solace in the love of God through His Word, my tiny but active brain was drawn to the what my cheeky friend said - I am committed to you and this friendship. I was blessed because my greatest fear is when others know about me, they will not want to have me as a friend so I rather not disclose too much. But having said it all, pretense is no longer required and is a great relief to me. And when I was searching on something on the internet, I found the following

1 Samuel 18
Saul's Jealousy of David
1 After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. 2 From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father's house. 3 And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. 4 Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.
1 Samuel 23:16-18
16 And Saul's son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God. 17 "Don't be afraid," he said. "My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this." 18 The two of them made a covenant before the LORD. Then Jonathan went home, but David remained at Horesh.

My cheeky fren did what Jonathan did... she encouraged me by accepting me instead of judging me.

I am thankful to God and grateful my cheeky friend.

HE HAS Made Everything Beautiful.....

I was looking at something I wrote but never “published”

2008... has it left you without any memories?
For me.. it was suppose to b a significant year.
2008 - A year where by I was kept in the quiver.. A year whereby God gave me back what I had lost after I decided that He knows what is best for me and let Him have His Way. It was a year whereby God opened a way for me to pray for colleagues ; invite colleagues to church and "commanding" my family to "sit quietly" to watch a Christian DVD.
And it was a year whereby God brought someone, back from NZ for holidays, to remind me good friends are hard to come by.. treasure them and to stand by them. To not focus on the "bad" but on their "good".
And truly.. this was the year that I was thankful to God for as it marked the 10th anniversary for my friendship with a few friends. Though there were no celebration.. no party to "commemorate", still deep within my heart, I am thankful that God gave me wonderful friends. Despite of my pecularities, they had been my friends and are still my friends

.
I am reminded of Ecclesiastes 3:1 – 11
1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
9 What does the worker gain from his toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on men. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time.
GOD said He HAS made EVERYTHING beautiful in its time... and I really have to believe that HE HAS indeed made all things beautiful ....
Just when I decided to “drop out of the friendship game” and move on after having tried so hard, cried so much and hurt so bad and let God have His Way, things took an unexpected turn.
God gave me another friend. It’s strange how we became friends. I wanted to get to know this person yet I wanted to “stay out” of friendship(as past issues never “fail” to haunt me) while at the back of my mind there was “mission” to accomplish. It’s “strange” how God, within such a short time, breakdown the wall I built to protect myself when He placed this friend in my life.
Then, one of my “old” fren wrote to me saying that she actually drafted an email to me wanting to ask me not to leave the friendship, but decided to delete bcos it was too mushy. Strangely when this thing happen on Monday/Tuesday, there was no excitement in me instead I felt very sad. I could not feel my heart or rather I wonder if it has hardened itself. I wondered why we do not appreciate/treasure another until we lose or about to lose that one person? A time to heal.. a time to kill... a time to tear down..a time to build...I found no answer to my “whys” except to trust in the ONE who said HE HAS made everything beautiful in its time. And as I learn to trust in HIM who has made everything beautiful in its time, I am reminded of the song...

"As I looked back on this road I've travelled
I see so many times He carried me through
If there's one thing I have learned in my life
My Redeemer is Faithful and True

My Redeemer is Faithful and True
Everything He has said He will do
And every morning His mercies are new
My Redeemer is Faithful and True

My heart rejoices when I read the promise
"There is a place I am preparing for you"
I know some day I'll see my Lord face to face
My Redeemer is Faithful and True

My Redeemer is Faithful and True
Everything He has said He will do
And every morning His mercies are new
My Redeemer is Faithful and True

And in every situation
He has proved His Love to me
when I lack the understanding
He gives more grace to me"

Is no fun going thru all these as many wonder what planet have i come from, am thankful that HE who Made everything beautiful is faithful.