This exam period is a battle to me.

However, the preparation for my first exam after i received Christ is an exciting one! I grew in reliance and trust in the LORD more.

Since last Sunday i have been going to NUS everyday to study together with my brothers and sisters from my church. We even occupied a tutorial room in Engin Faculty as our permanent study room. The feeling of studying together is really different as we are constantly being cared for and encouraged whenever we feel saturated or feeling unwell, there are always brothers and sisters to talk to, or simply put down our readings for a while as we pick up our guitars and sing praise and worship God.

We also brought food and tibits and contribute to the snack area.

And thank you winnie for the longgan+red dates soup she has prepared for those who are studying very hard for their papers. So gandong!

"A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed."

And i really gained strength from Him who strengthens me thru this period, coming back to Him and ask for more memory space and healing for my flu.

Some of my friends asked me why am i wasting time praying or read the bible or attend service every week. I would always reply to them that there is time for everything. Time to focus and study, time to eat, time to rest and most importantly, time to come back to God for refreshment and continue to receive His Word daily.

Paying Taxes to Caesar - Matthew22:15-22

Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. "Teacher," they said, "we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, "You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?" "Caesar's," they replied. Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.

This short passage from the bible tells us that whatever that belongs to God we give it to Him. Yes, definitely, being a Christian-who-happen-to-be-student is definitely not easy, and that we might not have free time as much as our classmates. But we trust God that life is NOT JUST about scoring well in exams. What's greater is our purpose in our life. And be sure that we also want to excel in our academics to bring Glory to our God.

I also receive a vision from God regarding decorating our study room. Prior that i have been praying to God for things that i can do to encourage my brothers and sisters during this stress period. The image i saw when i was praying was so clear that i was so excited and prompted to start doing the artpiece immediately after the prayer, although i knew another voice in me told me i should be studying for the upcoming exams. The image i saw was a piece of white paper with the exact words 'LORD is with us'. I guess God wants me to create this banner so that whenever we feel lonely and stressed, thinking whether we could pull thru, we will be able to look back and know that God is with us, watching every step we take.

I felt so touched that my brothers and sisters would put away their revision stuffs and send me to MPSH and prayed for me just minutes before the door opens. And after the prayer, i would feel confident and calm, doing my very best and let God handle the rest. Now i also enjoy praying for people going for exam and hear their victory when they return to the study room.

It is really exciting to do things for God and not for man. Drawing closer to Him during this intense period. And i pray for more intimacy relationship with God.

"The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song."