Last year, after one of the team talks, Muddy gave each of us one of these:

And I'd written on the back,

Which, fyi, is 2 Tim 4:7.
Have I done that? Have I been a worthy competitor?
I would like to think the answer is Yes, I'd given my all and even when things went wrong in the first 200m, I didn't stop there. I finished the race, and gave the rest a goood fight and that is that.
..Kept the faith? I have to admit at times it faltered. Like when I argued with You, Lord, in that last 300m. I didn't think You'd let things turn out this way.. I prayed so hard for no DQs at all and it just seemed like You'd promised. And I held on to that thread of hope all the way, refused to slow down because Lord I just wanted to believe that You'd deliver on a promise I thought You had made. Came on shore, screamed my lungs out for the other boats, if only to take my mind away from it.. Because You said to remove myself from situations that would tempt me..which in this case is to the temptation to fear and worry. Then Elisa came, and Mr Go came. And I just thought, Oh Lord, does it have to be so? If this is Your will for me, what are Your reasons? How can this be Your plan for me? I couldn't see anything. I had no way of figuring this out. And this I suppose, I dunno, I can only guess, is where Your reason lies. Somehow or other, I always thought I could figure all of Your plans out Lord. I was not humble enough before the majesty of Your Perfect Plan. I thought I could see all sides of everything predict everything before they come. It's easy to do that with all the birthday 'surprises', 'sneaky' plans that people have tried to spring on me from time to time (Rmb that time you gave me the CD, Chers? I admit now that I knew what you were planning on doing actually). But with You it's different. Your ways are too amazing and well planned for me to comprehend.

And I can only be thankful, it was only because of You that I didn't quit there and then, refused to slow the frequency.. If I were going out, then I'll make sure they have the hardest race I can offer them first. At least on that I can rest easy.

And now, in retrospective, it wasn't that You had promised me no DQs for RJ. What You had promised is that we will emerge victors in THE RACE OF LIFE. Canoeing is our PASSION (OH YES IT IS) but this is not our LIFE. You would put us thru firey trials so that we may be refined into pure gold, in preparation for our assignments in eternity. And what You've promised is blessing us with what we need to pass these tests, to overcome, because Lord You're a loving God. Maybe that's why I feel oddly at peace.
..Or at least the tears won't come anymore.

To the competitors in finals tomorrow, here's something modified from coach Taylor's speech in Facing the Giants,

For the rest of your life you are going to remember today. I want you to remember you held nothing back, did not lose heart, you did not stop fighting, you did not quit, because you wanted to HONOUR GOD.

Com'on RAFFLES CANOEING! We have nothing to lose.





___
Jave don't be angry with Him ok? I'm fine. We'll be fine. :) When the scar from the fall heals over, we know we've got stronger tissues in place of the old ones AND WE WILL STAND TALLER STILL.
Anyways, here's something to chew on:

I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that I've gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You
Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times
So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain

I am Yours regardless of
The dark clouds that may loom above
Because You are much greater than my pain
You who made a way for me
By suffering Your destiny
So tell me what's a little rain
So I pray

Holy, holy, holy
Is the Lord God Almighty

Bring the Rain MercyMe

Yeah what's a little rain when He's given me so much?

• A NO-WORDS-CAN-DESCRIBE-HOW-AWESOME TEAM? Check.
• TWO FAITHFUL BOATS that pull me thru nutstough trngs (Remember the 20k last year, Gideon? Or the 30-40-50-60-70-70-60-50-40-30X2 bursts, Gideon Jnr?) Check.
• Trustfy paddle? Check.
• UNBELIEVABLE, NEVER-DARED-TO-DREAM-ABOUT-IT timings for 2k (11.41 last year; 11.28-18-16-15-15 this year)? Check.
• A CLOSER WALK TO GOD? CHECK CHECK CHECK.

So yeah, bring a storm if You have to Lord!

'cause I only want to be the best for You :)

Labels: 110, Gideon Jnr., Thanksgiving :), Verses

go to, then; your considerate stone.
9:22 PM
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