(Written January 6, 2009)
Whoa!!!! I am actually getting married in 4 days! I feel all shaky from exhilaration - I have to catch my breath! I have no idea what the future holds for us, but I praise God for giving to me Sony Him! Oh may I treasure and esteem him all my days! It's weird to think of just what next week will bring. Being married is totally foreign to what I've experienced before! It will be great at times, hard at other times - but all the best times are. One of my best years, the year I spent at His Mansion in New Hampshire was also one of the hardest. To truly enjoy the best at His Mansion required humility. Whenever pride creeped into my heart, His Mansion was a horrifying place. But while humility resided in my heart by the grace of God, His Mansion was the closest thing I've experienced to heaven. I suspect marriage will be much the same. May God grant me grace to be humble, so that I may enjoy this precious gift from Him!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Our Love for God
Romance and marriage inspire and excite the hearts of many. Numerous brilliant songs and poems have been penned for the sake of love. Many sacrifices have been made for the sake of love. We all know that much is made of romance and marriage, and being in love, we understand why romantic love is hailed in this fashion!
However, the union of a man and a woman, as precious as that is, merely points us to a greater union that will one day occur! Followers of Christ anxiously await the day when the Church (the bride) will be united with Christ, her groom! Nothing that we presently experience, even the most excellent, faithful and passionate love between a husband and wife can compare with the love the Church will know when she is united to Christ in eternity!
Thus we desire to share not only our love for one another with you, we eagerly desire to also share the greater love we have for God, who has brought us together, but even more magnificently, has loved us with His infinite love!
Sony's Younger Years
I was not raised in a Christian home. I am the only member of my family who is a Christian. I pray that in my life time or theirs that this would change. I am of Cambodian descent. Cambodia is in the Southeast part of Asia, bordering Vietnam, Laos and Thailand. My parents left their home country, fleeing to Thailand for safety from the Communist regime who were oppressing their own people, killing in the millions, in a fanatic attempt to return to the old ways of life. They had a sick sense of the value of life, one of their mottos being: “To keep you is no benefit, to destroy you is no loss.” My mom, is the only surviving member of her family of 9 siblings.
It was here in a refugee camp in Thailand that I was born. And yes my father named me after the electronics company. I am the second oldest of 4 children. I have an older brother who was born in Cambodia, a younger sister born in the same camp, and a younger brother later to be born in Toronto. I look back and see God's hand of grace and mercy in first keeping my parents alive during the genocide years and then bringing them to Thailand so that they might have an opportunity to come to Canada. Our family, along with my father's niece were sponsored by Canadians to come to Canada. We did not know who sponsored us, they did not know us, but I do know that God's hand of grace and mercy was in this sponsorship. I actually remember the plane ride over, I was three at the time and I was fighting with my brother over the radio headphones.
We arrived in Canada, May of 1984, we were placed in a hotel and then moved into subsidized housing in different areas of Toronto and North York. My dad found work in a factory, which he recently retired from this past month, so he was there sacrificially working to support his family in the same job for over 24 years. In 1985, we moved to Regent Park, where we lived for about 17 years. We did not have much while we were growing up. We did not have very many toys or books and so a lot of my time growing up was spent outdoors, in the playground, in the community centers, or at a friend's place where toys and video games were accessible. As I grew older I became an addict to video games and didn't realize how much I was enslaved to it until my latter years of university. Television and movies were also one of those idols in my life that controlled my life even after I became a Christian and it wasn't until recently, when I started Seminary 2 years ago, that God had freed me of their deceitful grip on my life. The hours I would spend in front of the television or some form of screen did me much harm in terms of my spiritual growth. Those hours could have been invested in growing in the knowledge and grace of God, but I was hindered in my growth in God. One of the effects was that I preferred watching something over reading something, and so time spent in God's word was little to none. As a result, my growth in God was a slow and gradual process over many years, as God worked in me to rid me of old habits, replacing them with godly habits.
Sony's Walk with God
At the age of 6, I first attended Jarvis Street Baptist Church and I remember asking Jesus to come in to my heart to be my Saviour, as I learned about God, heaven, hell, my sinful condition, and my need of a Saviour. I'm grateful to God, for allowing me to understand the foundations of salvation. I just wanted to note that of all the churches in Toronto to attend, I'm thankful to God for bringing me to Jarvis where God's truth was being taught faithfully.
At the age of 12, after being away from the church for about a year or so, God brought me back to Jarvis through the Adventure Club – a Friday night program for kids and youth: In a time in my life when I was not attending church and was being exposed to worldliness and ungodliness, God brought me back to himself. I'm grateful to God that though he was slowly fading from my mind, God still had me in His mind.
While attending Adventure Club I was challenged one Friday to attend Sunday School and church through a lesson on heart motivation for God, where I had asked the question, “should someone still go to church even though he doesn't have any motivation to go?” The answer was, “yes, absolutely!” And so I started to attend church a little bit more regularly, but not as often enough as I should have.
At the age of 16, I went up to Camp Saugeen for the very first time. Here I was able to see Christians live on a daily basis and be exposed to the things of God on a daily basis – something I had never experienced before. I met Christians who had something that I was missing, that was a relationship with God. I realized that 1 to 2 days a week of learning about God at Adventure Club and/or Sunday church service was not enough and that I needed to spend more time with God everyday. It was also here that God removed my doubts about salvation as I took hold of his promise that complete salvation is for those who put their faith in Jesus Christ. Through an invitation by the Camp speaker that year, I made up in my mind that I would no longer doubt my salvation and that I would make an effort to seek a relationship with God. A lot of questions I had, that I was afraid to ask, were also answered during that time, even though I myself did not ask them. I'm grateful to God for revealing to me what true Christianity is about. It was about having a relationship with God.
I would return to Camp in 1999, and I was asked to give my testimony on the last day of camp and as I was sharing about God's grace, it hit me for the first time, the weight of what I had said, that I did not deserve anything that God did for me, and for the first time I experienced grace, it is one thing to know it, but this was the first time I felt the weight of it, and I broke down in tears, and I could not finish my testimony.
On December 17, 2000, I got baptized at Jarvis Street Baptist Church where I made a public declaration to the church of my faith in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour. I became a church member, and continued my involvement with Adventure Club which was now renamed Kidz Klub, and where I served in various ministries.
I just see God's fingerprints all over my life. How he brought my family from Thailand, to Canada, to Toronto, to Regent Park, how he brought me to Jarvis, to Adventure Club, to Camp Saugeen, to TBS, how he brought into my life a godly woman, soon to be my wife, Lynette Adams – saving me by His most precious and glorious grace in the process against so much opposition, but thanks be to God, that nothing is too difficult for Him, He is in the business of saving people. He saved me and He can save you. Surrender your life to Him, trust in Jesus as the only way to God. He saved me, so that I might live my life for Him and be used by Him, transforming, by His grace, this shy and timid boy from Regent Park into a man of God. My deepest desire is to be serving my God wherever I am, and reflecting the grace and love of Jesus Christ, my Lord, my Saviour, and my God. Then I will be the happiest of men.
Lynette's Walk with God
Although I grew up being surrounded by Christians and Christianity, and had a head-knowledge of God, it was not until I was 11 that God made Himself known to me personally, at a heart level. I thought that going through the 'Christian' motions was enough to get me saved. All I wanted was to go to heaven, and escape the fires of hell. I tried to be obedient and good so I would not suffer the consequences of hell.
One year I went to Camp Saugeen, and was surrounded by people (adults and children alike) who prayed to God and loved Him. I found this quite shocking! I mean, they prayed for more than mere requests, like 'please keep me out of hell' and 'please give me the toy I want'. Rather they talked to God like they talked to their friends - they shared their joys with Him, they share their sorrows with Him, and they trusted Him to be their comfort and strength! As I observed them, I realised I did not have this kind of relationship, but very much wanted it. I longed for a Friend who would be faithful, and would never leave me nor forsake me. Somehow I knew that God was the only One who could be this kind of friend to me. We had a beach day and were given quite a bit of free time, so I went out on the rocks, and committed myself to love and obey God.
I knew I was ugly in His sight. I knew that I was an angry, selfish child, and I knew that He is Holy and cannot look on anything sinful. But I also knew that God had sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to live a perfect life for the ungodly, and suffer the punishment of the ungodly by dying on the cross. I had been taught these things all my life! I knew that all I needed to do was have faith in Christ's perfect sacrifice for me, and God WOULD accept me as His own very dear child. And so with faith I prayed as sincerely as I could, and there, quietly on the rocks, received perfect salvation from a perfect and most gracious God! I was awed by His perfect power as I gazed out on His waters, and was astounded that such an infinite One would embrace and call me His own. I didn't fully understand then, but have since learned that there is none like my God. He is truly the Loving Shepherd of my soul, who has faithfully nurtured me, purged sin bit by bit from my life, healed me, and granted me to know full and true joy in Him. All the joys of earth cannot be compared to the treasure of being found in Him! I glory in my Redeemer!
Since that time I have grown in the knowledge of my dearest Friend and Saviour. I have had many doubts, struggled through many trials, but through them all God has been abundantly faithful. He has taught me to trust Him, He has forgiven me time and time again my sins against Him. He has shown me the beauty of Holiness and led me in His way. He has given me hope. My love for Him has grown sweeter through the years. My most earnest prayer is that I will live my life in a manner worthy of the calling with which He has called me, so that I may bring Him glory, for He alone is worthy of all glory!
However, the union of a man and a woman, as precious as that is, merely points us to a greater union that will one day occur! Followers of Christ anxiously await the day when the Church (the bride) will be united with Christ, her groom! Nothing that we presently experience, even the most excellent, faithful and passionate love between a husband and wife can compare with the love the Church will know when she is united to Christ in eternity!
Thus we desire to share not only our love for one another with you, we eagerly desire to also share the greater love we have for God, who has brought us together, but even more magnificently, has loved us with His infinite love!
Sony's Younger Years
I was not raised in a Christian home. I am the only member of my family who is a Christian. I pray that in my life time or theirs that this would change. I am of Cambodian descent. Cambodia is in the Southeast part of Asia, bordering Vietnam, Laos and Thailand. My parents left their home country, fleeing to Thailand for safety from the Communist regime who were oppressing their own people, killing in the millions, in a fanatic attempt to return to the old ways of life. They had a sick sense of the value of life, one of their mottos being: “To keep you is no benefit, to destroy you is no loss.” My mom, is the only surviving member of her family of 9 siblings.
It was here in a refugee camp in Thailand that I was born. And yes my father named me after the electronics company. I am the second oldest of 4 children. I have an older brother who was born in Cambodia, a younger sister born in the same camp, and a younger brother later to be born in Toronto. I look back and see God's hand of grace and mercy in first keeping my parents alive during the genocide years and then bringing them to Thailand so that they might have an opportunity to come to Canada. Our family, along with my father's niece were sponsored by Canadians to come to Canada. We did not know who sponsored us, they did not know us, but I do know that God's hand of grace and mercy was in this sponsorship. I actually remember the plane ride over, I was three at the time and I was fighting with my brother over the radio headphones.
We arrived in Canada, May of 1984, we were placed in a hotel and then moved into subsidized housing in different areas of Toronto and North York. My dad found work in a factory, which he recently retired from this past month, so he was there sacrificially working to support his family in the same job for over 24 years. In 1985, we moved to Regent Park, where we lived for about 17 years. We did not have much while we were growing up. We did not have very many toys or books and so a lot of my time growing up was spent outdoors, in the playground, in the community centers, or at a friend's place where toys and video games were accessible. As I grew older I became an addict to video games and didn't realize how much I was enslaved to it until my latter years of university. Television and movies were also one of those idols in my life that controlled my life even after I became a Christian and it wasn't until recently, when I started Seminary 2 years ago, that God had freed me of their deceitful grip on my life. The hours I would spend in front of the television or some form of screen did me much harm in terms of my spiritual growth. Those hours could have been invested in growing in the knowledge and grace of God, but I was hindered in my growth in God. One of the effects was that I preferred watching something over reading something, and so time spent in God's word was little to none. As a result, my growth in God was a slow and gradual process over many years, as God worked in me to rid me of old habits, replacing them with godly habits.
Sony's Walk with God
At the age of 6, I first attended Jarvis Street Baptist Church and I remember asking Jesus to come in to my heart to be my Saviour, as I learned about God, heaven, hell, my sinful condition, and my need of a Saviour. I'm grateful to God, for allowing me to understand the foundations of salvation. I just wanted to note that of all the churches in Toronto to attend, I'm thankful to God for bringing me to Jarvis where God's truth was being taught faithfully.
At the age of 12, after being away from the church for about a year or so, God brought me back to Jarvis through the Adventure Club – a Friday night program for kids and youth: In a time in my life when I was not attending church and was being exposed to worldliness and ungodliness, God brought me back to himself. I'm grateful to God that though he was slowly fading from my mind, God still had me in His mind.
While attending Adventure Club I was challenged one Friday to attend Sunday School and church through a lesson on heart motivation for God, where I had asked the question, “should someone still go to church even though he doesn't have any motivation to go?” The answer was, “yes, absolutely!” And so I started to attend church a little bit more regularly, but not as often enough as I should have.
At the age of 16, I went up to Camp Saugeen for the very first time. Here I was able to see Christians live on a daily basis and be exposed to the things of God on a daily basis – something I had never experienced before. I met Christians who had something that I was missing, that was a relationship with God. I realized that 1 to 2 days a week of learning about God at Adventure Club and/or Sunday church service was not enough and that I needed to spend more time with God everyday. It was also here that God removed my doubts about salvation as I took hold of his promise that complete salvation is for those who put their faith in Jesus Christ. Through an invitation by the Camp speaker that year, I made up in my mind that I would no longer doubt my salvation and that I would make an effort to seek a relationship with God. A lot of questions I had, that I was afraid to ask, were also answered during that time, even though I myself did not ask them. I'm grateful to God for revealing to me what true Christianity is about. It was about having a relationship with God.
I would return to Camp in 1999, and I was asked to give my testimony on the last day of camp and as I was sharing about God's grace, it hit me for the first time, the weight of what I had said, that I did not deserve anything that God did for me, and for the first time I experienced grace, it is one thing to know it, but this was the first time I felt the weight of it, and I broke down in tears, and I could not finish my testimony.
On December 17, 2000, I got baptized at Jarvis Street Baptist Church where I made a public declaration to the church of my faith in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour. I became a church member, and continued my involvement with Adventure Club which was now renamed Kidz Klub, and where I served in various ministries.
I just see God's fingerprints all over my life. How he brought my family from Thailand, to Canada, to Toronto, to Regent Park, how he brought me to Jarvis, to Adventure Club, to Camp Saugeen, to TBS, how he brought into my life a godly woman, soon to be my wife, Lynette Adams – saving me by His most precious and glorious grace in the process against so much opposition, but thanks be to God, that nothing is too difficult for Him, He is in the business of saving people. He saved me and He can save you. Surrender your life to Him, trust in Jesus as the only way to God. He saved me, so that I might live my life for Him and be used by Him, transforming, by His grace, this shy and timid boy from Regent Park into a man of God. My deepest desire is to be serving my God wherever I am, and reflecting the grace and love of Jesus Christ, my Lord, my Saviour, and my God. Then I will be the happiest of men.
Lynette's Walk with God
Although I grew up being surrounded by Christians and Christianity, and had a head-knowledge of God, it was not until I was 11 that God made Himself known to me personally, at a heart level. I thought that going through the 'Christian' motions was enough to get me saved. All I wanted was to go to heaven, and escape the fires of hell. I tried to be obedient and good so I would not suffer the consequences of hell.
One year I went to Camp Saugeen, and was surrounded by people (adults and children alike) who prayed to God and loved Him. I found this quite shocking! I mean, they prayed for more than mere requests, like 'please keep me out of hell' and 'please give me the toy I want'. Rather they talked to God like they talked to their friends - they shared their joys with Him, they share their sorrows with Him, and they trusted Him to be their comfort and strength! As I observed them, I realised I did not have this kind of relationship, but very much wanted it. I longed for a Friend who would be faithful, and would never leave me nor forsake me. Somehow I knew that God was the only One who could be this kind of friend to me. We had a beach day and were given quite a bit of free time, so I went out on the rocks, and committed myself to love and obey God.
I knew I was ugly in His sight. I knew that I was an angry, selfish child, and I knew that He is Holy and cannot look on anything sinful. But I also knew that God had sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to live a perfect life for the ungodly, and suffer the punishment of the ungodly by dying on the cross. I had been taught these things all my life! I knew that all I needed to do was have faith in Christ's perfect sacrifice for me, and God WOULD accept me as His own very dear child. And so with faith I prayed as sincerely as I could, and there, quietly on the rocks, received perfect salvation from a perfect and most gracious God! I was awed by His perfect power as I gazed out on His waters, and was astounded that such an infinite One would embrace and call me His own. I didn't fully understand then, but have since learned that there is none like my God. He is truly the Loving Shepherd of my soul, who has faithfully nurtured me, purged sin bit by bit from my life, healed me, and granted me to know full and true joy in Him. All the joys of earth cannot be compared to the treasure of being found in Him! I glory in my Redeemer!
Since that time I have grown in the knowledge of my dearest Friend and Saviour. I have had many doubts, struggled through many trials, but through them all God has been abundantly faithful. He has taught me to trust Him, He has forgiven me time and time again my sins against Him. He has shown me the beauty of Holiness and led me in His way. He has given me hope. My love for Him has grown sweeter through the years. My most earnest prayer is that I will live my life in a manner worthy of the calling with which He has called me, so that I may bring Him glory, for He alone is worthy of all glory!
The Proposal and Poetry
I hope you don't mind, but I'd like to share with you some of the poems Sony has written for me. He has blessed me immensely, and I cherish these gems. Perhaps some young men (or older men) will be inspired by these to bless their own special women!
THE PROPOSAL
May 03, 2008 - THE PROPOSAL
Lynette Ruth Adams,the one whom my soul loves
predestined to capture my heartby Him who reigns above
Her soul delights in God her Saviour
what joy and satisfaction she doth find
what a privilege it is to know then
her heart, her soul, her mind
She is a gift for her husband
chaste, only in reserve for him
her beauty she in purity hides
but I've uncovered this rare gem
I have found my virtuous woman
her worth exceeds earth's jewels
my heart shall always trust in her
and thus lack nothing good
She loves me like no other
She loves me just for me
what did I do to deserve her?-God's grace given abundantly
God help me to honour her
to lead her in Your waysto magnify Christ together
forever, starting with this new day
Lynette Ruth Adams,The one whom my soul loves for life
will you do me the honour
of becoming my sole, soul mate, my wife?
Faith with Patience
God has your heart, and you have His.
Both of which I admire, desire.
In His hands, my life and yours.
Or in His hand, yours with mine?
"Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised."Proverbs 31:30
(Nov 27, 2006 - 7 months before courtship citing the NASB - Lynette's preferred translation)
A Line in the Sand
I'm committed, although it's not official
it's just a line in the sand
a boundary that for now keeps me from ruining something, someone special
It's more like self-denial
don't think there's something wrong with you
rather it's me that I do not trust
perhaps I just need to be less doubtful
But I guess I'm just fearful
is that alright for me to be?
can we still grow with one another
despite not having now, the relational?
Forgive me if this sounds non-sensical
it's just a matter of growth and time for me
and by God's grace and providence
He will make what we have His will official
washed by the waves of God's will,
the line in the sand, no more.
by Sony Him ©2007 - April 17, 2007 (two months before our courtship)
Proverbs 31 Song
I've found my virtuous womanher worth exceeds earth's jewels
my heart will always trust in herand so I lack nothing good
And all the days of her lifeshe seeks to do me good
And for the rest of my lifeno harm will i endure...For she is my girl
She takes delight in God's pleasuresand goes the extra mile
to provide for those she cherishes
in love and self-sacrifice
And all the days of her life
she seeks to do them good
and for the rest of their livesno harm will they endure...She's their treasure
Her hands extend to the poor
her heart goes out to the needy
when you're cold, she will keep you warm
with her blanket, smile, and hot teaAnd all the days of her life
She seeks to do you good
and for the rest of your livesno harm will you endure...her love is your cure
Her strength is given by God
to be all that she iseven when the future seems far
she smiles at it joyfully
And all the days of her life
God will indeed do her goodand for the rest of her life
no harm will she endure... God's love is secure
She speaks forth wisdom in kindness
and watches over those she loves
engages not in idleness
only seeking things above
And all the days of her life
She only wants what is good
and for the rest of her life
no harm will she procure... her life nurtures
All of her girls call her blessed
and she is praised by her man
and many women do noble acts
but you surpass all of them
And all the days of your life
you'll be known for your goodand for the rest of your life
all harm will you deter... your faith endures
Charm is so very deceitful
and beauty fades away
but the woman who fears the LORD
she indeed shall be praised
I've found my virtuous woman
she seeks to do me good
And all the days of my life
no harm will I endure...Lynette is my girl.
Proverbs 31:10-31 (Modified by Sony Him) 24 October 2007
1st Valentine's (Feb 14, 2008)
The line in the sand; long been erased
our minds, our hearts, each other engaged
what joy, what jewel to know your love
Oh what faithfulness God has proved,
Whom has brought together you and I
to share with one another each other's lives
My kindred spirit, my sole, soul mate
God is good, His love: I'll strive to imitate
His will He's showing, more grace bestowing
on two sinners in His Spirit growing
upwards, upwards and to-each other-wards
our love shall forever soar
Sustained and surrounded by His grace,
In Him, there is no safer, greater place.
Indeed God's timing is the best
It was worth the wait for my princess
To my Lynette, what more can I say?
that I so so so much love you, happy first Valentine's day!
From your darling sweet,
your signature Sony
11 Months Anniversary - May 17,2008
Lynette, My precious bride to be
For Eleven months you have shared yourself with me
the joys, the tears,the hopes and fears,
through it all God kept us faithfully
Awkward beginnings turned into our blossoming present
All by God's bountiful grace bestowed
May He for us by His good pleasure endow
Even our blissful future inheritance
Therefore We praise and glorify the One
from whom all blessings flow
It is so amazingto testify of God's goodness to us
we who are but wretched sinnerssaved unto new life, no longer just frames of dust
What transformation, our hearts no longer dark
For Christ's light shines in, on, and through us
to make our relationship brilliantly glimmer
I bless God for blessing me with you
my joy, my sole, soul mate, my jewel
you are a gift from God our greatest treasure
our greatest pleasure and good
In Him we live and move and have our being
And because of Him we can celebrate our 11th month anniversary
My Gift to You
(16th month anniversary - October 17, 2008)
If God would grant
I would give you the stars;
The sun and the moon
would all be yours
I would adorn you with gifts
with things, honey and chocolateevery diamond uncovered
for you, my only sole soulmate
If time would allow
I would spend every moment with you
to be with you always
not a millisecond to lose
It is this that you treasure
I have been slow to catch on
May God help me to love you
even as your heart is already won
Who would have thought
with all that the universe offers
It is me that you want
Your universe, your future husband.
THE PROPOSAL
May 03, 2008 - THE PROPOSAL
Lynette Ruth Adams,the one whom my soul loves
predestined to capture my heartby Him who reigns above
Her soul delights in God her Saviour
what joy and satisfaction she doth find
what a privilege it is to know then
her heart, her soul, her mind
She is a gift for her husband
chaste, only in reserve for him
her beauty she in purity hides
but I've uncovered this rare gem
I have found my virtuous woman
her worth exceeds earth's jewels
my heart shall always trust in her
and thus lack nothing good
She loves me like no other
She loves me just for me
what did I do to deserve her?-God's grace given abundantly
God help me to honour her
to lead her in Your waysto magnify Christ together
forever, starting with this new day
Lynette Ruth Adams,The one whom my soul loves for life
will you do me the honour
of becoming my sole, soul mate, my wife?
Faith with Patience
God has your heart, and you have His.
Both of which I admire, desire.
In His hands, my life and yours.
Or in His hand, yours with mine?
"Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised."Proverbs 31:30
(Nov 27, 2006 - 7 months before courtship citing the NASB - Lynette's preferred translation)
A Line in the Sand
I'm committed, although it's not official
it's just a line in the sand
a boundary that for now keeps me from ruining something, someone special
It's more like self-denial
don't think there's something wrong with you
rather it's me that I do not trust
perhaps I just need to be less doubtful
But I guess I'm just fearful
is that alright for me to be?
can we still grow with one another
despite not having now, the relational?
Forgive me if this sounds non-sensical
it's just a matter of growth and time for me
and by God's grace and providence
He will make what we have His will official
washed by the waves of God's will,
the line in the sand, no more.
by Sony Him ©2007 - April 17, 2007 (two months before our courtship)
Proverbs 31 Song
I've found my virtuous womanher worth exceeds earth's jewels
my heart will always trust in herand so I lack nothing good
And all the days of her lifeshe seeks to do me good
And for the rest of my lifeno harm will i endure...For she is my girl
She takes delight in God's pleasuresand goes the extra mile
to provide for those she cherishes
in love and self-sacrifice
And all the days of her life
she seeks to do them good
and for the rest of their livesno harm will they endure...She's their treasure
Her hands extend to the poor
her heart goes out to the needy
when you're cold, she will keep you warm
with her blanket, smile, and hot teaAnd all the days of her life
She seeks to do you good
and for the rest of your livesno harm will you endure...her love is your cure
Her strength is given by God
to be all that she iseven when the future seems far
she smiles at it joyfully
And all the days of her life
God will indeed do her goodand for the rest of her life
no harm will she endure... God's love is secure
She speaks forth wisdom in kindness
and watches over those she loves
engages not in idleness
only seeking things above
And all the days of her life
She only wants what is good
and for the rest of her life
no harm will she procure... her life nurtures
All of her girls call her blessed
and she is praised by her man
and many women do noble acts
but you surpass all of them
And all the days of your life
you'll be known for your goodand for the rest of your life
all harm will you deter... your faith endures
Charm is so very deceitful
and beauty fades away
but the woman who fears the LORD
she indeed shall be praised
I've found my virtuous woman
she seeks to do me good
And all the days of my life
no harm will I endure...Lynette is my girl.
Proverbs 31:10-31 (Modified by Sony Him) 24 October 2007
1st Valentine's (Feb 14, 2008)
The line in the sand; long been erased
our minds, our hearts, each other engaged
what joy, what jewel to know your love
Oh what faithfulness God has proved,
Whom has brought together you and I
to share with one another each other's lives
My kindred spirit, my sole, soul mate
God is good, His love: I'll strive to imitate
His will He's showing, more grace bestowing
on two sinners in His Spirit growing
upwards, upwards and to-each other-wards
our love shall forever soar
Sustained and surrounded by His grace,
In Him, there is no safer, greater place.
Indeed God's timing is the best
It was worth the wait for my princess
To my Lynette, what more can I say?
that I so so so much love you, happy first Valentine's day!
From your darling sweet,
your signature Sony
11 Months Anniversary - May 17,2008
Lynette, My precious bride to be
For Eleven months you have shared yourself with me
the joys, the tears,the hopes and fears,
through it all God kept us faithfully
Awkward beginnings turned into our blossoming present
All by God's bountiful grace bestowed
May He for us by His good pleasure endow
Even our blissful future inheritance
Therefore We praise and glorify the One
from whom all blessings flow
It is so amazingto testify of God's goodness to us
we who are but wretched sinnerssaved unto new life, no longer just frames of dust
What transformation, our hearts no longer dark
For Christ's light shines in, on, and through us
to make our relationship brilliantly glimmer
I bless God for blessing me with you
my joy, my sole, soul mate, my jewel
you are a gift from God our greatest treasure
our greatest pleasure and good
In Him we live and move and have our being
And because of Him we can celebrate our 11th month anniversary
My Gift to You
(16th month anniversary - October 17, 2008)
If God would grant
I would give you the stars;
The sun and the moon
would all be yours
I would adorn you with gifts
with things, honey and chocolateevery diamond uncovered
for you, my only sole soulmate
If time would allow
I would spend every moment with you
to be with you always
not a millisecond to lose
It is this that you treasure
I have been slow to catch on
May God help me to love you
even as your heart is already won
Who would have thought
with all that the universe offers
It is me that you want
Your universe, your future husband.
The Love Story (taken from my web-site)
Our Story
Please enjoy as you become acquainted with our relationship as it has grown over the years!
How we met:
When we first met, we both wish there had been sparks. But perhaps that was God's blessing! We were both far too young, around 16, and not at all capable of handling a relationship very well. We also both still had foolish ideas about relationships, which God had to iron out of us.
However, we did appreciate and respect each other from the beginning, and were curious to know a little more!
We met at Camp Saugeen. Sony was usually with the guys, having fun, sometimes getting himself into trouble, sometimes getting others out of trouble. He was especially noted for his superb scaring abilities on late-night walks, something Lynette admired tremendously (she's an Adams after all!).
Lynette was usually with the girls, a little quiet, and frequently found at the piano in her spare time.
We can't recall if we ever even spoke to one another through these first few years of summers at camp! We just know we had a great deal of respect for one another! We both had in common a great love for camp and kids. Ironically, Lynette’s love for camp was so great that she prayed God would someday give her a husband she had met at camp. Little did she know then what God would work for her later!
Getting a little more familiar with each other...
Soon Lynette was off to College, and wound up in Toronto at Toronto Baptist Seminary and Bible College, and just so happened to land at Jarvis Street Baptist Church, Sony's home church from a child.
However, we suspect we were both still too young and spiritually immature for a relationship. Both of us became involved in Kidz Klub (aka Adventure Club), and continued to grow in respect for one another, but we were rather oblivious to any romantic interest that would later grow. We can both recall slight twinges in that direction, Sony even wondered if something could ever work, but neither of us imagined anything would truly develop.
Although we were not head over heels in love during these years, this was a foundational time for our relationship. We learned a great deal about the quality of character in each other, and were bound to one another as brother and sister in the Lord - even though we still only knew each other at a distance.
Lynette remembers growing especially attached to Sony as a brother during a particularly troubled time that she endured. Sony was one of the few that seemed to understand and care for her in her trials.
Lynette moved to New Hampshire for a year, and at one point there was a possibility that Sony would come up to visit. Nothing would have given her more joy, which she found exceedingly strange at the time, since she hardly knew him!
Lynette moved back to Canada, but lived in Cambridge for a year. Sony happened to be there, and experienced a similar peculiar urge to see Lynette. He knew she worked in the mall, and had an intense desire to visit.
Neither of us thought too much of these peculiar wishes, both being very committed to following God's will, and seeking to not be carried away by romantic whims and fancies! However, looking back, we agree that God was definitely in the midst of weaving our lives and hearts together!
The SPARK!!!
Then Lynette moved back to Toronto. And this is where the sparks began!
Sony was praying that God would provide a wife for him, and seeking God's guidance in finding a woman who feared the Lord. However, he also desired to submit to God's will, and thus wanted to be content with whatever God had for him, whether that was singleness or marriage.
Lynette had one aim - to serve God. She had long yearned for marriage, but through much prayer had committed her heart to God, and sought to be content in the moment, whatever circumstance that moment brought. Thus, she sought to give up her hopes and ambitions to God's care, and rather seek first His Kingdom and His Righteousness.
Both of us had a desire to spur on the community among our College and Careers at our church, and wound up working together to that end. As we worked together, God slowly worked in us a growing love for one another!
Lynette Falling in Love
When I landed back in Toronto, I was determined to focus on serving God, and NOT get my heart in a fluster over any guys. I thought I'd be in the clear, there weren't very many guys around to distract me, and it looked like the summer would be quiet. Yeah, Sony was there, but I didn't expect to see much of him, in years before he was pretty quiet and not around a whole lot.
Off the cuff I suggested to Sony that some of us should do lunch after church, like we used to do. I really didn't expect him to remember. The following Sunday I made plans with a friend from work, only to have Sony approach me (in the middle of the service) to inquire if we were still on for our fellowship lunch! He caught my attention! As I said, I didn't expect him to take my suggestion seriously! Since it had been my suggestion in the first place, I brought my friend out with the group - it was an awkward group, none of us talked much, but it was the start of something. At the end of lunch Sony suggested we start a Bible Study on Sunday afternoons. So we began to work together more frequently, meeting every week now.
As I worked with Sony and watched him, I discovered a different man than I had known before! We shared a passion for the development of close community among believers. He had become an integral part of the church - he seemed to be at the church every night! He was faithful. Moreover, he was a gentleman, treating women with kindness and respect, quick to seize opportunities to be of service. He stood out from among the other men as one who had a heart for people. He was not found locked away in his room with books or video games or movies...rather he was devoted to giving his life to the activities of the church. This was the kind of man I had been praying for...and my heart began to get a little flustered, against my 'better judgment' or so I thought!
I fought my growing respect for Sony with all my might. I refused to acknowledge that his smiles made me weak in the knees, and his faithfulness along with his gentle and sweet heart had won my admiration. My reason for fighting? I wanted to marry a man who was pursuing the same things, who was deeply committed to serving God and prospering His Kingdom. I had once failed to desire God's Kingdom above my own ambitions, and learned my ambitions were miserable and empty compared to the glory of God's purposes for me. Thus I refused to consider anyone who was not passionately pursuing opportunities to be in ministry. I wanted to be married to someone I could partner with to disciple younger believers. I still hadn't realised Sony was wanting to serve God in this kind of ministry. I thought he wanted to continue to quietly work his retail job, and be involved in ministry, but not make it his priority. I wanted to be married to a man who made his entire life about serving God. I was so convinced that Sony was not quite the kind of man for me that I even sought to set him up with friends! He had won my utmost respect, and I hailed him as a great man to many people, little realising that God was actually setting him aside for me, and I for him!
All summer I truly convinced myself that I had no attachment to Sony - yes, I know now I was lying to myself! However, I realised I was in serious trouble the first time he was away for a Sunday. The church seemed empty and void without him! I couldn't understand why I'd be so sad! He was merely away for a retreat! It was the first week of September, summer was over, and Sony was beginning Bible college, the same school I attended, and soon would be living next door to me! I'd soon have plenty of opportunity to see him, why be so unreasonably devastated! During this weekend I faced up to the fact that I was falling in love, despite all my fighting! For the next month I committed this matter to God in urgent prayer - fasting, pleading with God to lead and direct my heart according to His will alone!
I'd been through crushes and the sort, and I know everyone says this, but I knew that whatever I was feeling/thinking regarding Sony Him was different. Sony had captured my heart and attention in an all encompassing fashion, but in a way that's different than before. It's hard to explain... God was directing this love, He was directing my heart! I was moved to a deep compassion for Sony! By God's direction, I was more concerned about caring for him than I was with having him care for me! I wanted to encourage him, I wanted to help him, I wanted to be used of God to give him joy!
Although I would struggle through much doubt and fear later, I knew by October that I would marry Sony. Not because I wanted it (I did of course, that's not the point), but because it was a conviction from God. I was in love, but purely because God had led me to love Sony. I spent the next several months admiring Sony from a distance wishing for any way to get to know him better. I had realised that Sony Him is an outstanding man, and ached to know all I could about him. I suffered many embarassing moments trying to make simple conversation with him. One time I had to run away in horror as my face flushed deep red due to my fear and excitement in talking with him! I went out of my way to quietly be of service and encouragement to him in any way I could. I spent ridiculous amounts of time on my front porch, hoping just to catch a glimpse of him! Sony Him had captured my heart, what more can I say?
I rejoice that I am marrying God's choice for me - His ways are higher than my ways, and His choice for me is perfect! I just pray that I will live in a manner worthy of this supreme grace God has bestowed on me!
Sony Falling in Love
It's funny how somebody you've known for a long time as a friend can one day become a love interest. What happened? Well due to various circumstances, Lynette was back in T.O., back at Jarvis. I always had a great respect for her. Her godliness and love for God was something I've always found admirable about her. Who would have thought that this admiration would turn into something more. God knew, He had it all planned out.
Some background information: I remember thinking she was so cool when she played the drums, yep, I said drums (and at Jarvis of all places) during one of the special Cantatas, and how she would bang away so passionately. She even played the vibrophone that I thought was pretty neat. I appreciated her love for music and was awed by her musical gifts, for I love music myself. I remember her at camp as the girl who harmonized every camp song, and I just loved her voice and the intimate way she would play the piano. It was God she was worshiping and her love for her Saviour was manifested in her songs to her God.
Fast forward to 2006. God crossed our paths again. I began to notice Lynette in a different way. As she was seeking to serve God, it just so happened (providentially) that we had similar ministry aspirations: the Youth, Sunday School, Kidz Klub, College & Careers. As we served alongside one another, and as she exposed more of heart for God, I started to fall in love. She didn't know it at the time, but for some time, while Lynette would go off to play the piano, and I was in the church finishing up whatever I was doing, if it was one of those nights that she was playing, I would sit in the other room and just listen to her in delight. (Even today, her singing voice can calm my soul).
Even from the balcony, as I was working the sound system, she had no idea that I would periodically glance over her way. There was a natural beauty (none of this cosmetic, make-up stuff) and spiritual beauty about her that was different from other girls. It was true beauty because it was linked with devotional godliness. And thus I became her secret admirer. It was really a secret because not even she knew! She just noticed that I was smiling at her a lot but couldn't figure out why - I didn't talk to her, or express any kind of interest in terms of verbal communication. I didn't know how to go about communicating with her in general without letting her know I was interested, for some reason I was trying to hide that. To consider communicating my interest vocally was unfathomable. However, I did try to do so indirectly and discreetly in poetry and blogs that I was hoping that she was reading (and she was reading unbeknownst to me! - it worked!). Yet it wasn't direct enough. She needed clear communication (something God is still working on in me).
Some time passed by and I began reconsidering whether I should be in a relationship at all, because all these thoughts had been distracting me from my school work, but then a friend of mine who knew that I was interested in her came to me with great news! She likes you! I panicked. I called up some friends for advice and the advice I went with was to just focus on studies. So I emailed Lynette that I wasn't ready and that I'm going to focus on school (see poem “the line in the sand” which i wrote during this time). And so things became awkward, we were still involved in ministry together, yet there was very little personal communication. It was killing Lynette (I didn't know it at the time).
One day I overheard someone saying that she was not going to wait 3 years for me. I thought she would. I was going to wait, because for some reason, I sensed that she was in God's will for me. And so long as I sought to follow God's will and not my own, she was to be the one for me. But upon hearing about her not wanting to wait, I realized that perhaps God's will for Lynette does not involve me, and so I became threatened with the fact that someone else might take notice of her (and some already had, and she rejected them for my sake) and I would have lost my opportunity to know her. So when an email came that was somewhat like an ultimatum for I sensed that she could no longer keep going on like this, I responded and mustered up the courage to ask her to go on a walk. That was June 17, 2007 and that evening I asked her out.
Please enjoy as you become acquainted with our relationship as it has grown over the years!
How we met:
When we first met, we both wish there had been sparks. But perhaps that was God's blessing! We were both far too young, around 16, and not at all capable of handling a relationship very well. We also both still had foolish ideas about relationships, which God had to iron out of us.
However, we did appreciate and respect each other from the beginning, and were curious to know a little more!
We met at Camp Saugeen. Sony was usually with the guys, having fun, sometimes getting himself into trouble, sometimes getting others out of trouble. He was especially noted for his superb scaring abilities on late-night walks, something Lynette admired tremendously (she's an Adams after all!).
Lynette was usually with the girls, a little quiet, and frequently found at the piano in her spare time.
We can't recall if we ever even spoke to one another through these first few years of summers at camp! We just know we had a great deal of respect for one another! We both had in common a great love for camp and kids. Ironically, Lynette’s love for camp was so great that she prayed God would someday give her a husband she had met at camp. Little did she know then what God would work for her later!
Getting a little more familiar with each other...
Soon Lynette was off to College, and wound up in Toronto at Toronto Baptist Seminary and Bible College, and just so happened to land at Jarvis Street Baptist Church, Sony's home church from a child.
However, we suspect we were both still too young and spiritually immature for a relationship. Both of us became involved in Kidz Klub (aka Adventure Club), and continued to grow in respect for one another, but we were rather oblivious to any romantic interest that would later grow. We can both recall slight twinges in that direction, Sony even wondered if something could ever work, but neither of us imagined anything would truly develop.
Although we were not head over heels in love during these years, this was a foundational time for our relationship. We learned a great deal about the quality of character in each other, and were bound to one another as brother and sister in the Lord - even though we still only knew each other at a distance.
Lynette remembers growing especially attached to Sony as a brother during a particularly troubled time that she endured. Sony was one of the few that seemed to understand and care for her in her trials.
Lynette moved to New Hampshire for a year, and at one point there was a possibility that Sony would come up to visit. Nothing would have given her more joy, which she found exceedingly strange at the time, since she hardly knew him!
Lynette moved back to Canada, but lived in Cambridge for a year. Sony happened to be there, and experienced a similar peculiar urge to see Lynette. He knew she worked in the mall, and had an intense desire to visit.
Neither of us thought too much of these peculiar wishes, both being very committed to following God's will, and seeking to not be carried away by romantic whims and fancies! However, looking back, we agree that God was definitely in the midst of weaving our lives and hearts together!
The SPARK!!!
Then Lynette moved back to Toronto. And this is where the sparks began!
Sony was praying that God would provide a wife for him, and seeking God's guidance in finding a woman who feared the Lord. However, he also desired to submit to God's will, and thus wanted to be content with whatever God had for him, whether that was singleness or marriage.
Lynette had one aim - to serve God. She had long yearned for marriage, but through much prayer had committed her heart to God, and sought to be content in the moment, whatever circumstance that moment brought. Thus, she sought to give up her hopes and ambitions to God's care, and rather seek first His Kingdom and His Righteousness.
Both of us had a desire to spur on the community among our College and Careers at our church, and wound up working together to that end. As we worked together, God slowly worked in us a growing love for one another!
Lynette Falling in Love
When I landed back in Toronto, I was determined to focus on serving God, and NOT get my heart in a fluster over any guys. I thought I'd be in the clear, there weren't very many guys around to distract me, and it looked like the summer would be quiet. Yeah, Sony was there, but I didn't expect to see much of him, in years before he was pretty quiet and not around a whole lot.
Off the cuff I suggested to Sony that some of us should do lunch after church, like we used to do. I really didn't expect him to remember. The following Sunday I made plans with a friend from work, only to have Sony approach me (in the middle of the service) to inquire if we were still on for our fellowship lunch! He caught my attention! As I said, I didn't expect him to take my suggestion seriously! Since it had been my suggestion in the first place, I brought my friend out with the group - it was an awkward group, none of us talked much, but it was the start of something. At the end of lunch Sony suggested we start a Bible Study on Sunday afternoons. So we began to work together more frequently, meeting every week now.
As I worked with Sony and watched him, I discovered a different man than I had known before! We shared a passion for the development of close community among believers. He had become an integral part of the church - he seemed to be at the church every night! He was faithful. Moreover, he was a gentleman, treating women with kindness and respect, quick to seize opportunities to be of service. He stood out from among the other men as one who had a heart for people. He was not found locked away in his room with books or video games or movies...rather he was devoted to giving his life to the activities of the church. This was the kind of man I had been praying for...and my heart began to get a little flustered, against my 'better judgment' or so I thought!
I fought my growing respect for Sony with all my might. I refused to acknowledge that his smiles made me weak in the knees, and his faithfulness along with his gentle and sweet heart had won my admiration. My reason for fighting? I wanted to marry a man who was pursuing the same things, who was deeply committed to serving God and prospering His Kingdom. I had once failed to desire God's Kingdom above my own ambitions, and learned my ambitions were miserable and empty compared to the glory of God's purposes for me. Thus I refused to consider anyone who was not passionately pursuing opportunities to be in ministry. I wanted to be married to someone I could partner with to disciple younger believers. I still hadn't realised Sony was wanting to serve God in this kind of ministry. I thought he wanted to continue to quietly work his retail job, and be involved in ministry, but not make it his priority. I wanted to be married to a man who made his entire life about serving God. I was so convinced that Sony was not quite the kind of man for me that I even sought to set him up with friends! He had won my utmost respect, and I hailed him as a great man to many people, little realising that God was actually setting him aside for me, and I for him!
All summer I truly convinced myself that I had no attachment to Sony - yes, I know now I was lying to myself! However, I realised I was in serious trouble the first time he was away for a Sunday. The church seemed empty and void without him! I couldn't understand why I'd be so sad! He was merely away for a retreat! It was the first week of September, summer was over, and Sony was beginning Bible college, the same school I attended, and soon would be living next door to me! I'd soon have plenty of opportunity to see him, why be so unreasonably devastated! During this weekend I faced up to the fact that I was falling in love, despite all my fighting! For the next month I committed this matter to God in urgent prayer - fasting, pleading with God to lead and direct my heart according to His will alone!
I'd been through crushes and the sort, and I know everyone says this, but I knew that whatever I was feeling/thinking regarding Sony Him was different. Sony had captured my heart and attention in an all encompassing fashion, but in a way that's different than before. It's hard to explain... God was directing this love, He was directing my heart! I was moved to a deep compassion for Sony! By God's direction, I was more concerned about caring for him than I was with having him care for me! I wanted to encourage him, I wanted to help him, I wanted to be used of God to give him joy!
Although I would struggle through much doubt and fear later, I knew by October that I would marry Sony. Not because I wanted it (I did of course, that's not the point), but because it was a conviction from God. I was in love, but purely because God had led me to love Sony. I spent the next several months admiring Sony from a distance wishing for any way to get to know him better. I had realised that Sony Him is an outstanding man, and ached to know all I could about him. I suffered many embarassing moments trying to make simple conversation with him. One time I had to run away in horror as my face flushed deep red due to my fear and excitement in talking with him! I went out of my way to quietly be of service and encouragement to him in any way I could. I spent ridiculous amounts of time on my front porch, hoping just to catch a glimpse of him! Sony Him had captured my heart, what more can I say?
I rejoice that I am marrying God's choice for me - His ways are higher than my ways, and His choice for me is perfect! I just pray that I will live in a manner worthy of this supreme grace God has bestowed on me!
Sony Falling in Love
It's funny how somebody you've known for a long time as a friend can one day become a love interest. What happened? Well due to various circumstances, Lynette was back in T.O., back at Jarvis. I always had a great respect for her. Her godliness and love for God was something I've always found admirable about her. Who would have thought that this admiration would turn into something more. God knew, He had it all planned out.
Some background information: I remember thinking she was so cool when she played the drums, yep, I said drums (and at Jarvis of all places) during one of the special Cantatas, and how she would bang away so passionately. She even played the vibrophone that I thought was pretty neat. I appreciated her love for music and was awed by her musical gifts, for I love music myself. I remember her at camp as the girl who harmonized every camp song, and I just loved her voice and the intimate way she would play the piano. It was God she was worshiping and her love for her Saviour was manifested in her songs to her God.
Fast forward to 2006. God crossed our paths again. I began to notice Lynette in a different way. As she was seeking to serve God, it just so happened (providentially) that we had similar ministry aspirations: the Youth, Sunday School, Kidz Klub, College & Careers. As we served alongside one another, and as she exposed more of heart for God, I started to fall in love. She didn't know it at the time, but for some time, while Lynette would go off to play the piano, and I was in the church finishing up whatever I was doing, if it was one of those nights that she was playing, I would sit in the other room and just listen to her in delight. (Even today, her singing voice can calm my soul).
Even from the balcony, as I was working the sound system, she had no idea that I would periodically glance over her way. There was a natural beauty (none of this cosmetic, make-up stuff) and spiritual beauty about her that was different from other girls. It was true beauty because it was linked with devotional godliness. And thus I became her secret admirer. It was really a secret because not even she knew! She just noticed that I was smiling at her a lot but couldn't figure out why - I didn't talk to her, or express any kind of interest in terms of verbal communication. I didn't know how to go about communicating with her in general without letting her know I was interested, for some reason I was trying to hide that. To consider communicating my interest vocally was unfathomable. However, I did try to do so indirectly and discreetly in poetry and blogs that I was hoping that she was reading (and she was reading unbeknownst to me! - it worked!). Yet it wasn't direct enough. She needed clear communication (something God is still working on in me).
Some time passed by and I began reconsidering whether I should be in a relationship at all, because all these thoughts had been distracting me from my school work, but then a friend of mine who knew that I was interested in her came to me with great news! She likes you! I panicked. I called up some friends for advice and the advice I went with was to just focus on studies. So I emailed Lynette that I wasn't ready and that I'm going to focus on school (see poem “the line in the sand” which i wrote during this time). And so things became awkward, we were still involved in ministry together, yet there was very little personal communication. It was killing Lynette (I didn't know it at the time).
One day I overheard someone saying that she was not going to wait 3 years for me. I thought she would. I was going to wait, because for some reason, I sensed that she was in God's will for me. And so long as I sought to follow God's will and not my own, she was to be the one for me. But upon hearing about her not wanting to wait, I realized that perhaps God's will for Lynette does not involve me, and so I became threatened with the fact that someone else might take notice of her (and some already had, and she rejected them for my sake) and I would have lost my opportunity to know her. So when an email came that was somewhat like an ultimatum for I sensed that she could no longer keep going on like this, I responded and mustered up the courage to ask her to go on a walk. That was June 17, 2007 and that evening I asked her out.
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