Our God Experiences As young people, we experience something everyday in our lives. I still remember all the sessions I get from Fr. Simon Pereira during our Vine & Branches’ camps or prayer meetings. I always wondered why he always stressed upon the topic of “Our God Experiences”. Looking back in my life now, I certainly agree with Fr. Simon that everything we go through in life is indeed a God experience we were meant to learn from. I know that the Lord has played an important role in my life. Picking me up when I fall and sending people who journey with me in times of my difficulties. He sent different people to come into our lives and mould us the way He plans for us to be. In Jeremiah, the Lord says,” For surely I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Are we able to recognize the Lord in all our experiences? All of us go through ups and downs in our lives but the Lord has never left us alone. He is always there. I remember the first three months of being overseas alone. The loneliness was just unbearable. I prayed to the Lord to send me people I will get to know to journey with me, not only in school or for my social life but also friends to go masses with me too. Coming from a youth group when I was in Singapore, where we met every Sunday to pray together and sang praise and worship songs together, I started to feel that something was missing in my life. My friend and I started to find going for masses at the Cathedral in the city a bore every Sunday. We soon decided to look through the church directories to find another church where we might actually feel a sense of belonging to. Not long later, just after 2 weeks, we soon went to a church near our university in the suburb. During the thanksgiving song, a girl started singing a reflection song “Through it All”. I was so touched and drawn into the whole song that I started thinking about how I was so active in church when I was back home in Singapore and how much I have distanced away from the Lord in just that few months. The girl that sang the song was just so talented and her voice sank into my mind. I think my friend was touched as well and after mass we discussed about how we felt a calling to serve the Lord. We plucked up our courage and approached the Parish Priest and told him how much we would like to serve in the music ministry. We got to know the pianist; Candy whom we later found out writes and composes her own worship songs. And now, just after 2 months, there we are, singing along with her every Sunday during mass. I thank the Lord for blessing me with great family members and friends who have journeyed with me through my life. I thank Him for giving me the chance to meet Candy, who has not only touched me with her God experiences but especially with her music. I ask the Lord to continue to give her the opportunity to release more worship albums as everything about her is just to serve her God. I may not have the chance to witness miracles but I have seen my God experiences grow and if you just take time to sit down and think about your day, I am sure you will be able to identify God in your lives. Always thank the Lord for them for when you pray, he listens and answers them in ways you never imagined. Sybrenn Angela Tham
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