Endless trainings.

What a depressing title, haha, but I wanna share something more light hearted. :) The december holidays always mean so much to me. Its the time we get fully recharged for the next year isnt it. There's so much coming up and lets hope I'm ready for them, and I would be able to make it.

Firstly, thinking about youth camp brings sweet memories and times of fun with friends, as well as the closeness we are drawn to Him. Though I know that a christians walk, or growth can never be dependant on any camps or activity, but a constant walk with the Lord, I cannot deny that the past church camp and youth camp had impacted my life greatly.

Secondly, christmas is around the corner once again. As I walk through Orchard Rd the past week, I see the decorations being put up and I'm reminded about christmas. Yet, the world has so, "commercialised", "complicated" yet "simplified" it that people hardly understand its not about santa nor the christmas tree. Christmas to me, holds a great importance, and its the time where I find myself meditating on and beholding Christ's birth, in the still, silent and holy night. Christmas is filled with peace, love and joy.

This holiday can be so packed with activities that I may hardly find time for myself, but I'm thankful that it isnt so. If I could, I would most gladly help out in childrens camp, or even cantata but I guess not this time. And now to my topic of sharing.. training, again.

Oh, did I mention there is a marathon race on the sunday before youth camp! Or did I miss telling you all that there is an ultra-marathon, full day race on 25 december! Boy, am I... speechless. The standard chartered marathon relay on sunday is still not to bad, because I will definitely make it to church I think, cause it starts at around 5am. But the christmas day race I'm quite skeptical about joining. Lord help me never to compromise my stand for you in any way!

But I've being consistently, faithfully, obediently coming down for almost every single training sessions not being I feel obliged to, but because each time I feel like skipping it, I remind myself of Colossians 3:23 and Eccelsiastes 9:10. Its exactly the same thing as studying, perhaphs maybe quite similar at least. Its, mundane, boring, tiring, and... compulsory. But unless the Lord reveals otherwise I dare not assume His will to be not this. But somehow I do not really enjoy being "praised" by my coach for now having good attendance, because I do not want them to think that its because of their "motivating" 2 hour long talks with me that results in a change of attitude and heart. Neither do I desire that they can claim glory, if I ever do well, for themselves, for their hardwork. But in fact, none can be attributed to them, nor myself because all good things cometh from above, from my Heavenly Father who giveth good things richly for us to enjoy. May the Lord my God be glorified, and no one else. Training may not be the ideal situation for recovery and rest this holidays, because it indeed demands so much hardwork, more than I would have to give in my studies, but I am blessed to serve in this way, to continue ministering to those who are lost in the darkness.

Its quite interesting because sometimes when we run in a group, we have this team mate who will ask everyone to tell a story, while running. So I took the opportunity to share the story of Jesus and even though they were not very interested, I'm glad I dared to share, I'm glad they heard the gospel story before. And today I ran with that same team mate, who is a christian who could not go to church because of his dad, and I was able to share with him about Job, and understand better what he was going through, and encourage him to continue speaking to his dad through the Holy Spirit.

I havent invited any one for youth camp, not as in never invite but even those I tried couldnt. If I tried inviting any of my team mates, it had to be one who was not going away for holidays, because my coach would not allow a break from training for more than a week, hence my one week break is used for the camp. But I'm still praying that God will burden my heart for people to invite. For cantata, I gave quite a few of the invitation card already, I think two of my classmates may be coming, but my team mates I havent request for comfirmation. Yea, I guess its important to be praying also.

I think thats about all, for now, I have to rest a while before rushing off for training again. Tkcare!