Raeil
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ENOUGH

21/5/2021

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The inspiration behind this week's theme was a short piece written by Lisa. She wrote this for her church's Christmas booklet in 2020, when the onslaught of covid had thrown all of us into disarray that year. As the situation in Singapore worsened and we were forced into the shadows of a possible CB, I wanted to bring the message of Hope to those who received my bouquets.
When all we seem to have
to make it through each day
of straw and hay constructs -
there is no easy way.

In the heat of such a moment,
all too easily forgotten -
the Saviour of my soul lives.
His rod and His staff
are given for comfort,
as together we cross over rifts.
Faithful, He leads.

There is no mistake with
the Shepherd's heart
and His gentle ways.
Keep following'
Til' strength comes round again.
Strength to believe.
Courage to hope.
Surely and certainly,
Jesus is enough for me.
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STAGES

13/5/2021

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Inspired by a poem of Hermann Hesse, flowers this week have a cooler colour scheme to express the coldness of departures. I added a touch of warmth to also show that a sprinkle of hope and light can still be found.
As every flower fades and as all youth
departs, so life at every stage
so every virtue, so our grasp of truth,
blooms in its day and may not last forever.
Since life may summon us at every age
be ready, heart, for parting, new endeavour,
be ready bravely and without remorse
to find new light that old ties cannot give.
In all beginnings dwells a magic force
for guarding us and helping us to live.
Serenely let us move to distant places
and let no sentiments of home detain us.
The Cosmic Spirit seeks not to restrain us
but lifts us stage by stage to wider spaces.
If we accept a home of our own making,
familiar habit makes for indolence.
We must prepare for parting and leave-taking
rr else remain slaves of permanence.
Even the hour of our death may send
us speeding on to fresh and newer spaces,
and life may summon us to newer races.
So be it, heart: bid farewell without end.
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rose

30/4/2021

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This week's theme was inspired by a poem of Mary Oliver. I thought it to be such beautiful imagery that I made arrangements with just roses so that one may simply look, savour, and reflect without being distracted by the use of other varieties of flowers.
When the roses speak, I pay attention

“As long as we are able to
be extravagant we will be
hugely and damply
extravagant. Then we will drop
foil by foil to the ground. This
is our unalterable task, and we do it
joyfully.”

And they went on, “Listen,
the heart-shackles are not, as you think,
death, illness, pain,
unrequited hope, not loneliness, but
lassitude, rue, vainglory, fear, anxiety,
selfishness.”

Their fragrance all the while rising from their blind bodies, making me spin with joy.

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HAVEN & HEAVEN

12/3/2021

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This week's theme was inspired by a quote from Jonathan Edwards. In light of my recent loss, I wasn't sure what was an appropriate theme for this week since I had yet to move away from this state of rumination and grief. This quote seemed rather perfect to me.
"The enjoyment of God is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here. Fathers and mothers, husbands, wives, or children, or the company of earthly friends, are but shadows, but God is the substance. These are but scattered beams, but God is the sun. These are but streams, but God is the ocean."
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EPHEMERALITY

26/2/2021

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This week's theme was inspired by Dawn Ng's Into Air exhibition. I was contemplating deeply about the ephemerality of life after attending it and really wanted to make floral arrangements to express a similar line of thought. Little did I know how close this theme would strike my heart, as just two days later, a close friend departed the world, which then resulted in arrangements made in remembrance of her.
All things move towards an eventual and inevitable death. Our lives on earth are but specks in the stream of time, and seasons pass one after another, with no repetition of any. There are many things you cannot undo or redo, and they dissipate with the flow of time, yet there is a certain beauty that unravels as we look at a life moving through the seasons. What struck me about Ng's works was the lining of hope and appreciation for life sewn into her expression of its ephemerality. I think sometimes we are so gripped by the eventual loss that it's easy to lose sight of the beauty of different stages in life.

We all know that fresh cut flowers have an extremely limited life span, so I thought making arrangements according to a theme like this was extremely apt.

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TANKA

19/2/2021

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I've been quite taken with tanka poetry lately, and so the theme this week was inspired by a tanka from Amy Lowell.
Roses and larkspur
And slender, serried lilies;
I wonder whether
These are worth your attention.
Consider it, and if not --
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THE ROCK POOL

29/1/2021

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the rock pool
by Anne Lee

all these years I have sought
this place among shadowed trees,
this rock pool of clear waters
in which the sunlight passing over
flecks the dark depths
to lucid life

lost in the wild weathered years
of my searching
this sanctuary waited,
patient with dreams,
older than stories I followed
for a way back
to what I knew

here beside you now I remember
and accept, a child again,
how tranquility can enfold,
softening the harshness, quietening
the panic of many misdirections

before night falls
let me in this sheer moment be
a drinker at your sweet waters
carry with me this smile
you reflect as you return
to me what I had,
a home
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ALWAYS ON MY MIND

14/1/2021

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​This week's theme was inspired by Jonathan Ogden's 'Always on My Mind'. I've loved his music for a long time now, and I especially loved this newer release because of how he spoke of a relationship with God with such lighthearted candour and wonder.
ALWAYS ON MY MIND
Jonathan Ogden

Stop, see the sun
Hear, listen to the sound of the water
Rain, rain or shine
You are always on my mind

And light
Light is dancing through the trees
Sunlight pouring down on me
Suddenly, wrapped in perfect peace
Now that you've made your home in me

I see the Son
Watch, the thunder and flashes of lightning
Clothed in blinding light
I'm lost in beauty never-ending

I want to walk with you
All of my days, yeah I
I want to walk with you
For all of my days
You are shining like the stars above
Brighter than a thousand suns
Yeah that's who you are
You are closer than the closest friend
Friendship that will never end
Yeah, that's who you are, oh I
I want to walk with you
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FROM SEED TO SEQUOIA

8/1/2021

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I stopped listening to Hillsong's 'Seasons' last year because the lyrics that ​used to encourage me became stings to my weary heart. I had grown tired of waiting for a deliverance from my circumstance that hope had eventually died in me. On the first day of this year, I sat before God and laid it all down. I prayed for hope to arise within me again, and for a joyful surrender over helpless resignation. So I choose this song for the first theme of the year, in hopes that it will encourage you in your season of waiting, if indeed you are waiting at all.
SEASONS
Hillsong

Like the frost on a rose
Winter comes for us all
Oh how nature acquaints us
With the nature of patience
Like a seed in the snow
I've been buried to grow
For Your promise is loyal
From seed to sequoia

I know
Though the winter is long even richer
The harvest it brings
Though my waiting prolongs even greater
Your promise for me like a seed
I believe that my season will come

Lord I think of Your love
Like the low winter sun
And as I gaze I am blinded
In the light of Your brightness
And like a fire to the snow
I'm renewed in Your warmth
Melt the ice of this wild soul
Till the barren is beautiful

I can see the promise
I can see the future
You're the God of seasons
And I'm just in the winter
If all I know of harvest
Is that it's worth my patience
Then if You're not done working
God I'm not done waiting
You can see my promise
Even in the winter
Cause You're the God of greatness
Even in a manger
For all I know of seasons
Is that You take Your time
You could have saved us in a second
Instead You sent a child

Like a seed You were sown
For the sake of us all
From Bethlehem's soil
Grew Calvary's sequoia

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ANCHOR

11/12/2020

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ANCHOR
Sarah Juers

Love isn't something you find
Love finds you
I run and I hide
But I can't lose You
On a voyage for time
But all my lefts aint right
Clouds fog my sight
And I'm a one man crew

So I drop anchor in Your shadow
Your presence is my present
My treasure so much better than silver or gold
So let the warmth of Your arms
Melt my heart of stone
Blow the dust from my eyes
Bring to life what has died
And lead me home

I got questions on my mind
What will life come to
Will I remain true
Will I stay steady doing what You called me to do
Will I love, will I learn
Will I be kind, will I yearn for You
And only You

I can't do this on my own
I'm lost at sea
If my hand I don't let You hold
I sail away
You remain always faithful, never change
Tides high, pains deep
Even still my soul You keep
Put me back on the rock when I lose my feet
When I was bout to drown
You came down, laid down Your crown
You gave your life to save me

So let the warmth of Your arms
Melt my heart of stone
Blow the dust from my eyes
Bring to life what has died
And lead me home


Be my compass, be my light
Be my guide, be my sight
When I'm lost in Your sea, I'm satisfied
Be my mouth, be my feet
When I'm lost in Your sea, I'm completely satisfied

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  • Home
  • About Me
  • Florals
    • Weekly Themes >
      • Themes 2020
      • Themes 2021
    • Bespoke Bouquets
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