I loved you at your darkest

Recently, I am having lotsa moment that I need the extra “GRACE” from Him.

I am not kind when I am disappointed
I don’t smile when I am tired
I am angry when I am rejected
I get sick when I am blamed
I persecute myself when I regret

I am not the me I want to be. I reject this me…the darker side of me. The sinful side of me.

Then, I found this verse…

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8

And it also written this way…

I loved you at your darkest.
Romans 5:8

It is very comforting to know that God love me even when I am a sinner, or I am at my darkest. I am not perfect and goody nice sweet lady next door angel all the time. It is not my excuse but is just a natural part of every human being, living a journey call life.

I do hope and pray, this darkest part of me can be minimize as much as possible. So, I created this quote art for this purposes. Not to allow myself to drift into darkness, but I allow myself to come out from it quickly before I got suck into it.

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Orange is Magic!

What is your colour for Chinese New Year? RED, RED, & more RED?

What happen if I am bored with RED, and, I don’t want RED? I have too much of RED during my Christmas. So, can I have other color rather than RED?

The next come in mind…pink, like the cherry blossom tree. But, that is so valentine. Then, I am thinking to just go for something representing spring, as Chinese New Year is marking the first day of spring in Chinese lunar calendar. Spring, is when all plants grow and creatures awaken from the cold winter. I love the idea but you may already notice…I live in a part of the world with no season change. I have big hot sun and green trees all year long. There isn’t anything to be excited about spring. What a lost, you must be thinking >.< Yeah, that is why, we don’t do spring here, but often focusing on the red and gold prosperity Chinese New Year, which is my problem here too.

Then, I go for my morning market shopping and I saw rows and rows of mandarine oranges displaying for upcoming Chinese New Year. Just so you know, mandarine oranges are called “kam” in Cantonese “kan” in Chinese, which mean “gold”. We brings mandarine oranges when we visit relative and friends during Chinese New Year to symbolise blessing of prosperity. Many Chinese believes the starting of every lunar year is the best time to invite the “choy san”, which mean saint of prosperity into their home. That is the reason for all the gold tinted decor during Chinese New Year. This believe is cultural although some practice the ceremony of inviting the saint of prosperity into their home during the eve of Chinese New Year.

Ok…let’s get back to my own part of story. It is when I saw mandarine oranges, I pause and think…orange is not bad of an idea. Then, as I turn to the next corner…I saw HERMES! I saw more orange! Orange is a good idea.

I got home and begins with some research and found the below! I M IN LOVE WITH ORANGE! ORANGE IS A FINE IDEA!

Le temps devant soi – Famous luxurious fashion house Hermès has unveiled their latest Spring Summer 2012 advertising campaign, fronted by model Bette Franke. Photographed by Nathaniel Goldberg the Dutch beauty looks absolutely gorgeous like a butterfly, with scarves behind her back flowing gracefully. via

I always love Hermes! I love all their ads, their design, and most importantly, the quality of their products.

Hermès goods are almost entirely made in France by hand in middle-sized workshops (“Ateliers Hermès”) with an emphasis on quality manufacturing. Indeed, Hermes claims most items are fabricated from beginning to end by one person only, which is supposed to be a guarantee of the quality and uniqueness of Hermès products.via

Photo via

Just look at the above! Can I have these for CNY? I am praying hard that my hubby will “stumble upon” my blog! Maybe I am asking too much…one of them will do too. >.<

But anyway…I m so going ORANGE for my CNY decor!

Note: Ain’t no paid advertisement by Hermes. Just love Hermes, o man.

A’cuppa cards

I am exploring new things recently, a time for myself to create things that I like. A time where a friend of mine call “the me time”.

Yes, I have to agree we all get to a stage where all the status, level is no longer the priority, but merely things that really matters to us.  And for me, it always been able to create, to draw, to do craft, to play and compose songs…something people called “the arty arty stuff”.

And yes, it required lots of time, brain power and patient to do it, but it is the result that’s matters…the satisfaction of looking at your design/ artwork and felt so WOW about it. The smile on your clients face, the affection and sweet words from the recipients is make it all worth while…because art itself should bring joy and to enhance the quality of life!

I remembered the story of the “talent” in the bible where a master gave 3 of his servants 1,3,5 talent (coin for those day). The one with 1 talent don’t know what to do with it and don’t want to lose it, so he bury the 1 talent in the ground. The servant with 3 and 5 each has put their talents in good use and they each has doubled it. When the master return to them, the servants with 3 and 5 talents was well rewarded and more is given to them.  So, what happen to the one who has the talent bury to the ground?

Then the one who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Sir, I knew that you were a hard man, harvesting where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’  But his master answered, ‘Evil and lazy slave! So you knew that I harvest where I didn’t sow and gather where I didn’t scatter? Then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received my money back with interest!  Therefore take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten.  For the one who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.  And throw that worthless slave into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth”

Mat 25: 24-30

It simply means…we need to use whatever “talent” God has given us. It might be money or ability. If we use it wisely, He will increase it so that our lives will glorify Him.

As I began to reflect back on this parable again and again, I know I can put my small talent into good use. So, I started another personal blog call “A’cuppa cards“. This blog will be a place I talk about about all the craft, art, design work I did for corporate, church, individuals, products and even included my little experimental craft work.  It will be a place of art indulgent with the thought, the inspiration, the concept, the story as well as the challenges I face when I produce them. So, do felt free to visit “A’cuppa cards” and drop me a word or two yeah.

On top of that…I believe our words come from our hearts. Good words come from a good heart who is governed by faith or love. We all are called to speak the words of God, to speak words that give life, to speak words that give blessing, to speak words that lift others up, to speak words that give goodness to those around us.

The Apostle Paul puts it this way.

Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up,as there is need, Is there any need out there for people to be built up? so that your words may give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29 (NRSV)

So…I will focusing with words that give life in all my work, and throwing out freebies for free download should you be interested with any of my work. Cheers ^_~