How does God love?

heart shaped leaf

While going Fall Colours touring in Gunma, I came across this leaf, it was heart shaped. Immediately, my emotions rushed to my heart... it was as if God was saying "I love you". 

If you had asked me a year ago, I would have considered you ridiculous to even think that such a mere coincidence could be God's doing. But after all the bible studies, the small groups and sermons I can confidently say God REALLY REALLY loves us. He doesn't expect much from us. Only asks us to believe and trust in Him. (Believe me... this is MUCH easier said than done...)

A few weeks ago, I came across a question at BSF which asks: How does the Old Testament show the righteousness God gives is apart from the law? (referring to Romans 3:21-23)

Genesis 15:6 

6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

all we have to do is believe... and He will count it as us being righteous. Isn't that just beautiful and generous of God? We don't have to do anything and we can be righteous. It is not done by our works but by our trust and belief in Him.

Jeremiah 31:33-34

33 

“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel

after that time,” declares the Lord.

“I will put my law in their minds

and write it on their hearts.

I will be their God,

and they will be my people.

34 No longer will they teach their neighbor,

or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’

because they will all know me,

from the least of them to the greatest,”

declares the Lord.

“For I will forgive their wickedness

and will remember their sins no more.”

isn't it beautiful how after all we have done to Him: breaking the laws He specified we MUST keep, hurting Him, disobeying Him... etc He forgives us and calls us HIS people and puts Himself as our God? 

we don't deserve it... yet... He loves us THIS much...

Ezekiel 36:26-27

26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
God can make miracles happen... He can restore our hearts so that we can be right with Him. He would perform miracles on us when we fail so that we can keep His laws...

New Testament:

After all that... we still fail, we continue to sin. So God decided to give us His own son, Jesus. He allowed Jesus to die, to be punished so we can be saved. It might not sound like much... but consider this: if you told a lie and someone took the blame for it. How would you feel?

And... this isn't just a lie... it is all the bad things we thought of and even did... He took it all... on that cross. It might not sound like much... you say? yes... other criminals were crucified... but what He did and what others cannot do is... He took God's wrath... the amount of hatred that God has for sin... He took it all (so we won't have to)... and all He asks of us is to believe in Him and all of this will be given to us... if we believe, we will be protected by Jesus... and won't be punished for all the wrong we have said, done and thought of.

If He can loves us THIS much... why can't He give us a heart shaped leaf to say "I love you"?

A gentle reminder

Lord, fix my eyes on the things that I can't see now.

burnt toast

I shouldn't cry over burnt toast... but I was really upset... how can it burn like that? :(

Swearing is this bad...

So, if you have been following me on twitter, you might have read one of my tweets which talk about some of Toronto's bylaws... One of them being "you can be fined up to $200 for swearing in a public park" :O... I knew swearing wasn't good... But you could actually be fined... Think before you speak!

And they are all finally dark

some day... not sure when

This is totally random... But I finally found a time where Toronto, Tokyo and Hong Kong are all "dark"! V sign... I know this is totally random... But I did warn you ahead of time xD 

Anywayz... Aside from this... Please notice the temperatures... I want to be in Hong Kong! >=D

Procrastinating...

When under stress Stephanie will procrastinate and sleep a lot.... she is procrastinating and sleeping a lot right now.

R.I.P. Dick Bruna...

Is it just me?

I can't imagine the countless times I wanted to say green but said purple instead... Also vice versa... (ps. I am NOT colour blind).

Whenever I want to say 7, I always mean 9... and vice versa...

please tell me this isn't just me... :(

I'm well :D

I better!!... well.. I'm still a little sick... but much better :) (yes... I do have a mask hanging from under my chin :P... I don't want to spread this terrible cold/flu to others DX)

First sick of the year... fought and won!
hopefully this will be the first and last one of the year! >___<

p.s. I just realized it left me with 30% listening on one ear and a red eye... damn flu!!!! >____<

travel tips (Japan)

money from different parts of the world... how many do you recognize?

If there is one thing I can get used to in Japan is that I do not have to pay any tips!!!!... in fact, it is considered offensive to give tips.

I read some where if you give tips you are showing what bad service they had provided (yes, this is weird) and that you believe they were only working for money (which is why you give them money to offend them).

If you give tips, the server will be very confused and refuse.

Seriously... if there is one thing I don't miss about Toronto AND New York is the tipping system @.@v

Workaholic mode turned on...

I'm sick again... I'm not sure why my body is so vulnerable to the cold and flu viruses in Tokyo :(

(I tried to enjoy the bright beautiful clear sky... but the wind didn't let me... my hair!! *panic)

This time, my friend, the virus gave me: a headache, sore joints, stuffy nose, cough.... sigh...... O__________o

Well... しょがない (it can't be helped) no sick will prevent me from working... ^__________P

Welcome to my world...

It has been almost a year since I placed fingers on a piano... The moment I sat on the bench and touched the piano keys, I got a nostalgic feeling... Like seeing an old friend. When I began playing, the pressure I had to use to produce a sound felt so familiar to the touch.

As I continued onto the piece, my eyes started to tear up... I almost forgot about the emotions that form when I play. I enter a world which allows me to fantasize and lets my soul flow with the music notes. I can choose how the music sounds depending on my mood... The more I play the song, the more I can express myself...

I can enter a fantasy where the music guides me soul to the sounds... My thoughts and soul runs with the music and aligns with each note.

I invite you to my world of wonders...

Piano playing is like riding a bike, once you learn, you will not forget.

B612 gone too far

B612

Has photoshopping gone too far??? Why is B612 bragging about their latest beauty effect....

#clueless #whatisreal

Emotionally moved...

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for making me yours...❤❤❤❤❤ 😭😭😭😭😭

Your Daughter,
Stephanie

Haneda Airport and Mt. Fuji

Nihombashi @ Haneda Airport

I am impressed with how easily they have incorporated Japanese traditional decorations into a modern looking airport.

Nihonbashi @ Haneda Airport

I can't believe one of my favourite places in Tokyo has made its way to Haneda Airport :P

Mt Fuji taken from Haneda Airport

Trust me. The actual view was much more appealing than this view. I'm not sure why my iPhone couldn't capture the beauty of it.

Mt. Fuji at Haneda Airport

No one has told me we could see Mt. Fuji from Haneda Airport...

another attempt...

goodbye :')

wishing all those who are traveling a safe flight :)

Cold Tokyo...

Tokyo, my dear Tokyo... why are you so cold this year? 😰😰

It looks like I can't run from the cold this year... I tried to run from Toronto to avoid the cold... but cold found me.... -______- why me? 🙈

Spring... please come soon...

Little Fireflies

photo taken at Haneda Airport International Terminal

As I was walking across a window in Haneda Airport, I couldn't help but notice just how many lights there were from the taxis waiting to pick up passengers to enjoy Tokyo. 

To me, they felt like fireflies sending people to adventures into an interesting world. Tokyo is an amazing place. There are so many uncertainties and unknowns waiting for us to discover and experience each day. It's like a book waiting to be read.

Earthquakes

I was woken up by an earthquake today. 

It made me realize just how fortunate and blessed I am to not have fear for my life. 

Now that I have lived in Tokyo for a year now, I can't say I have gotten used to earthquakes but it has definitely changed me. 

A place I call home does not have a lot of earthquakes 

I pray for hose whose lives have been interrupted by the tsunami... please pray for them.

Happy New Year!

Marunouchi, Tokyo

This picture still remains to be one of my favourites taken this year <3

I just had a sudden urge to talk about the things I learned this year:

1. the Lord will give us the desires of our hearts at the right time

2. Everything will be done according to His timing (the perfect timing)

3. The Lord is good

4. Trust in Him... you won't regret it!! (I promise)

5. He will give us the desires of our hearts... He really will... just be patient!!!

6. No one.... nothing will love us as much as Jesus loves us... seriously, just let that sink in for a moment... no one and nothing will...