Keys To My Heart? Hmm.....

Interesting Observation.....

The Keys to Your Heart

You are attracted to those who are unbridled, untrammeled, and free. In love, you feel the most alive when things are straight-forward, and you're told that you're loved. You'd like to your lover to think you are loyal and faithful... that you'll never change. You would be forced to break up with someone who was emotional, moody, and difficult to please. Your ideal relationship is traditional. Without saying anything, both of you communicate with your hearts. Your risk of cheating is zero. You care about society and morality. You would never break a commitment. You think of marriage as something precious. You'll treasure marriage and treat it as sacred. In this moment, you think of love as something you don't need. You just feel like flirting around and playing right now.

What Are The Keys To Your Heart?

Procrastination Results In Nothingness

OK, my fault. I haven't been writing in a long while and I admit that I have been "putting off 'til tomorrow what I can do today." Guilty as charged! That and I haven't been focusing on what to write on for the past couple of months.

But seeing as today is the 4th Thursday of November, which means, it is Thanksgiving Day in the US of A so I would like to write a bit about the things that I'm grateful for that I have not been giving thanks for, or rather, occasionally taken for granted of.

The gift of Family - I still have a place I call home, sisters that are now very high tech that we no longer speak that much in person but more often online. A Mom who surprises me with the occasional quirky comment or even an introduction to a different broadband company that I personally haven't even heard of! Aunties that are like second mothers, really. Family, don't you just love them?

The gift of Friends - They come in different characters and personalities, different roles (ie. funny friends, parental figures, sports activity friends, spiritual guides, etc.....), sometimes they clash with mine, other times, we just get on really well, but, all in all, without them, I'd have to say that life would not be as fun as it is right now, even though there are times I'd sing "Can't live with you, can't live without you". How true, though.

The gift of Food - Nothing beats the selections that we, Malaysians, have been pampered with for years! A good beef rendang still hits the spot as well as sushi, we've got local food and international food, so much so that we are truly spoiled for choice. I have to say, to be able to see food, smell food, taste food and digest food is something to be thankful for.

The gift of Providence - I still have a job, whereby, at times I would absolutely abhor my superior, but ultimately, it pays the bills and supports my lifestyle (which isn't that lavish, mind you) and my weekends are off limits for more important activities.

The gift of Time - As much as 24 hours may not seem enough sometimes, I'm glad that I am still able to give my time to do things necessary and spend it on people as well.

The gift of Talent - Even though I don't see it yet others seem to, I guess I've been blessed with the gift of being able to learn things quite fast and having a wide interest in all things related to music, language and the likes. (Funny how I still prefer being in the Science field!)

The gift of a Special Buddy - For those of you who know me well enough will know that I'm unattached, so, don't start getting any ideas. I just want to tell my Buddy that I appreciate our friendship very much, through the rough patches as well as the smooth roads. God couldn't have given me a better friend, that's for sure.

The gift of Life - Need I say more? I am complete in Him, my sins are washed away by His blood, my days couldn't be any brighter, my future is safe in His hands, everything I need will be provided.

I have a few more that I can't seem to be able to put into words, but just in case you see something missing, the gift of Celibacy is not going to be here, at least, I don't think so, but I could be wrong. *grin*

Have a Happy Thanksgiving Day! Many blessings!

Alone Yet Happy!

Before you start getting any ideas, this is not about being single, unattached or whatnot in a worldly view. It's all about the essence of walking with Jesus on a daily basis, in anything and everything that you do. I would like to think that I'm teachable, therefore, if you find that my thoughts are not completely correct, then, by all means, do let me know.

I still remember my testimony when I first shared it with the congregation upon recommitting my life to Jesus, somewhere in November of 2002. I believe that my testimony was not really from the flesh because I knew I couldn't have thought about that all by myself. I understood, back then, the concept of carrying the Cross. The concept of the journey that awaits every believer.

I remember that one point very clear: Go after Jesus alone. Alone. Gee..... honestly, in the human sense, alone sounds, uhm..... lonely. But I get the point, I really do. In this context, I've realized that my walk with Christ is truly my own journey alone with Christ. I can't have someone else walk down the path He has set for me. It is my journey, my walk, my life. Sounds selfish, but in all accounts, it is. It is an exclusive relationship that one has with our Maker. Each is different, each is important but none is more important than the next, for God loves us each unconditionally.

I was at a low point recently and I deliberately avoided the crowd. Deliberately. Some parts of me may have wanted to 'test waters' and see who would reach out and come get me, but mainly, I needed to be alone, or at least, to know what being alone feels like. It is seriously not too bad. In my standards, the 'test waters' part failed because my expectations were not met, but I was truly comforted in my alone time. How? I was assured, that in the event that people did not come for me, or stopped coming for me, Jesus came and would still come for me, time and time again.

I was alone in my humanness but not alone in my spirit. All in all, I've realized the need to be alone, in the Secret Place, where my heart meets with God and where I am assured that no matter how alone I may feel, it is just a feeling, not a reality, for He is with me; always has and always will be.

Be encouraged, you are never alone. God bless.

Running Away (Part Deux)

Yup, this time, I finally ran away for a bit. A tiring but exciting one-day trip down south to the capital of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur. I was already planning on going down for just one day because a friend of mine was already in KL and I thought, maybe I could hitch a ride back with him. Turns out, early Friday morning, my other friend called up and said, "Shall we?"

Well, why not?

So, immediately after home group, we went over to my house, I got packed (well, what's there to pack for a one-day trip that doesn't even require staying in?) and then headed for the bus station. We hoped for a better bus, but the one that we got, thank God, still managed to get us there safely, so no complaints there.

Our bus left at 11.45pm, got us there at 4.30am. Literally, too early for any public transportation, so we decided to just walk to the nearest train station and waited until 6am. It was still hazy in KL and it was slowly killing my throat. (I'm battling with a cough now!) We met up with a cousin of my friend's, got some breakfast, went over to their house for a quick shower and change and then headed for a long drive around the Prime Minister's office grounds, HUGE ground. Finally met up with our friend that was already in KL, ate at Chili's! Yippee! After 2 years, I think it was a long awaited trip to Chili's. Well worth the RM60 I spent for lunch! Ribs, chicken breast (grilled to perfection), chocolate fudge/brownie topped with vanilla ice cream and finally, not forgetting, the chili itself. I was in chili heaven, really.

Anyway, drooling aside, we spent 2 hours at Chili's and then went shopping before meeting up with a couple of friends studying in KL and then headed home with my friend in his car.

Ultimately, it was a tiring, but interesting time. If I hadn't gotten sick, I think I would've enjoyed it much better, but, all in all, it was still a good time of fellowship and great food. I don't think I had dinner after that trip to Chili's.

I'm looking forward to a longer, exciting trip. I mean, this was out of the norm but life shouldn't get too monotonous and scheduled anyway. Looking forward to more excursions, I hope it'll come soon. Now it's time to gain back the hours of sleep I've lost on the trip.

Song Of The Season

This is part of my "Song of the Day" theme, but this is what I feel for now. It's my song of the season. I'm tired of a lot of things. Basically, I'm really tired. I'm not satisfied. Not at all. There's more to life and I know that He will reveal it in His time. But right now, I want to be hungry, I want to be thirsty. I want nothing of this world to ever have a hold on me except Jesus; my Saviour, my Redeemer, my Solid Rock, my Shelter and my Strength.

I'm tired of losing my reason for living. I don't want to lose my focus anymore. This song is my cry, my cry for a better future in Christ. Don't be content, continue to hunger and thirst for Him.

Believe - Hillsong

I say on Sunday how much I want revival

But then on Monday, I can't even find my Bible

Where's the power, the power of the Cross in my life?

I'm sick of playing the game of religion

I'm tired of losing my reason for living

Where's the power, the power of the Cross in my life?

I'm not content just to walk through my life

Giving in to the lies, walking in compromises now

We cry out as a generation that was lost

But now is found in the power of the Cross

We believe in You

We believe in the power of Your Word and its Truth

We believe in You

So we lay down our cause

That our Cross might be found in You

I'm not satisfied doing it my own way

I'm not satisfied to 'do church' and walk away

I'm not satisfied

There's no love in my life but You

I'm not satisfied living in yesterday's hour

I'm not satisfied to have the form but not the Power

I'm not satisfied

Lord, I am crucified in You

I'm not satisfied. And I'm not content just to walk through life as it is. There is more.

Running Away

"I'm leaving on a jetplane, I don't know when I'll be back again." Sigh..... How I wished that was true. Yeah, I'm on my 'slump' again. The 'slump' of wanting to go some place else and rejuvenate myself. I think I'm either too filled with the monotony of my life cycle, or I'm an almost-empty vessel giving too much of myself to too many things.

I think I'm a little bit of both. I am tired of my weekly cycle, it's not really 'exciting' anymore. I mean, it's sort of expected, in some ways. I usually know what's happening on most days that I don't get 'swept off my feet' over anything, well, at least not yet. On the other hand, I've been active in quite a few things that now, I feel like sitting back and not do anything but watch from the stands.

Hmm..... Maybe I'm being surrounded by too many people whom, at one point or another, are travelling to places or have just finished their travels. I wonder when my turn is going to come. My friends tell me to wait. Just wait. I've waited for close to 2 years already, but that's solely because I am dead set on going to one place only. I need a break, or so I think I do. The question is: When?

Walkin' On Heels

I have an interesting job. Interesting as in, I never knew that I would actually patrol the grounds of my company. I had the obvious displeasure (you'll see why) of patrolling the grounds with my company's security guard today, mainly because I'm taking over my officer's job functions. It's not hard to patrol the grounds as there are only 5 checkpoints. The only mention is, I was wearing heels that day. It's not high, but bad enough to cause discomfort, particularly on rocky tar roads, steep inclines, staircases and grassy patches. Also, not when the ground is wet, as it just rained earlier in the morning.

I wish I could have done this on another day when I'm wearing sports shoes, but that's not the case. It's not like I'm patrolling the grounds everyday, anyway. I sure hope not.

Do You See What I See?

The haze hit Penang Friday night after KL area was hit at the beginning of the week. It's not a pretty sight, as you can tell from the picture. It's actually a shot from my apartment room window. On a good day, you can actually see green mountains. As you can tell, you could only see within a mile radius. This was Saturday morning.





As for this one, it's suppose to overlook the ocean and the Penang Bridge. Nope, can't see anything.

I Drive Myself Crazy

My sister asked me the most fascinating question when I put this up on my MSN the other day; "I Drive Myself Crazy". How so?

Well, I thought I'd explain the reason behind that. Ever heard of the sentence "You Drive Me Crazy"? Unless you've been living in a cave, that title was also a hit song for a certain Britney Spears. Anyway, it brings me back to this, can people actually drive me crazy? Technically, maybe, but more so than not, it is myself that allows me to be driven to the point of insanity. Not following me?

See, no one controls your feelings except you. No one controls your emotions except you. No one controls your mind, your thoughts, your perceptions except you. Getting the point already? I thought so. Basically, if you're thinking too much about something that you shouldn't be thinking about, you're bound to drive yourself crazy. The same goes with worrying too much about things not meant to be worried about, imagining things that aren't there to be imagined.

We can't help but think of things, that is the function of our brain, but we can help limit it by removing unnecessary thoughts and perceptions. It is easier said than done, oh, for sure, but when your focus is correct, it will not be too hard. Remember, God will not overwhelm us. If we only look to Him more and more, surrender our thoughts and worries to Him, only then will we be enlightened and not burdened.

Song Of The Day

I was chatting with a friend and playing a selection of songs on my computer and this song, of all the other songs, attracted me the most. It is a song of acknowledgement. To acknowledge the One who saved me, the One who carries me through every joy and every hurt. It's a song of surrender, to let go, to trust and have faith in the One and Only.

I think this song will speak for itself and needs no explanation. I'm learning to trust my whole life to Him who walks before me, for He knows my name and He knows my every thought and desire. He's all I need.

Jesus, You're All I Need

Jesus, You're all I need

You're all I need

Now I give my life to You alone

You are all I need

Jesus, You're all I need

You're all I need

Lord, You gave Yourself so I could live

You are all I need

Oh, You purchased my salvation

And wiped away my tears

Now I drink Your living waters

And I'll never thirst again

For You alone are holy

I'll worship at Your throne

And You will reign forever

Holy is the Lord

Have You Ever Been Low?

Ever wondered why the people closest to you tend to hurt you the most? I do. It's not uncommon when it comes to relatives and close friends. Every gesture and every word they put out bear more meaning and more depth to you than your acquaintances. Why? It's because of your expectations of them. You would expect more from your family members than your good friends. You would expect more from your good friends than your acquaintances.

And why is that, you ask? Well, because you know who they are and what they are capable of. You've seen them at their best and at their worst. If you needed something from them, you know that they will be able to provide you with that need. But, why then, does it hurt? Simple, you know that they can provide for you in times of need, but when they aren't able to, you get disappointed, knowing full well that it could have been better. That's why.

It gets you down when your friends don't reply your messages compared to your acquaintances. Feedback from friends bear more meaning than words from other people. One word from a friend is better than 10 words from a stranger, you get the drift.

Now that I'm able to put my finger on it, what can I do about it? Can I lower my expectations on them? I can, but it's hard to do that, knowing that your friends are capable of much more. Be prepared to be let down? Hmm..... thinkable but not doable. Continue to love them despite the disappointment? Bingo.

Let's face it, hurt is hurt, there's no other way to describe it. But, in order to be able to love as well as you want to love and be loved, you have to let the hurt go. You have to let the disappointment go. You have to forgive. It's in your hands. It's up to you. Likewise, it's up to me to forgive my friends and continue to love them even if they've hurt me with their words or deeds.

Know this: God knows what we are capable of. God knows that we can be better, we can do better. God's expectations on us are quite high. Do we fail? Oh yes, we definitely do. Does He condemn us? No. Does He still love us? You bet!

So, let the hurt and the disappointments go. Live another day knowing that God doesn't hold our failures against us, neither should we do so against our friends and family. Be blessed.

Being In Love

This topic is harder than I thought. No, I'm not going romantic on anyone, neither am I confessing any love to any one person. (I'm not quite sure if I'm qualified to do so now, after stumbling upon articles that have made me re-think the whole scenario - in a good way, of course!) It's just a lingering thought in my head for the past few weeks.

How can we honestly say we love someone, be it family love, brotherly love, sisterly love, or once in a lifetime love? What exactly does it mean to love? What is love? I'm reminded of this verse in 1 Cor. 13:4-5, which says, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs." Safe to say, I think I've failed in many aspects of the love that is mentioned in that verse.

Let me let you in on a secret (oh boy, am I going to regret this or what?!), I've got a green-eyed monster hiding in my closet. Yup, the worse kind! Its name is envy a.k.a jealousy. It's not a pretty sight, let's just put it that way. But I thank God that His grace is sufficient for me time and time again.

Which brings me back to a thought that came to me just yesterday; love. I can't begin to grasp how deep God's love is for us, but I know one thing for sure, God's love is so wonderful and so great, lest we forget John 3:16. I found this quote that says: "Love sacrifices, love considers another more important, love rejoices in the well being and safety of another, love begets honesty, integrity, and character. Love unites people together, brings out forgiveness, and even anoints the hearts of God's people to contemplate on holiness, purity, forgiveness, humility, patience, and more."

I've realised that God loves us. But He doesn't just love us, He will still love us whether or not we love Him in return. That's how profound His love is. To be able to love the people around you without expecting any love in return. Of course, we would want our love to be reciprocated, but God will still love us regardless of whether or not we love Him back. How awesome is that?!

It is of this same love that we are required to love the people around us, friends and enemies. It is only through this unconditional love of God that we are able to comprehend (a bit) on how we are supposed to love one another. Can I love without all the unnecessary baggages like envy, pride, selfishness and with more of the qualities of patience, kindness and forgiveness? I'll let you know.

Remember, we don't have to be perfect, for perfection is beyond our reach, but we can always sharpen the tools that are blunt, therefore, we can always let God work in us and through us in order to love as best as we could.

Blocked

Hmm..... as you can tell, there has been an absence of posts these past few days. I've been too busy to update anything at the moment. I'm literally swamped at work, getting piled by extra work on top of my normal work. Oh well, such is life in the working environment.

One up-side is that I've been given a letter of confirmation after three months of service, which is a good sign. Other than that, I haven't had the time to sit down and think these past few days.

I have, however, been in touch with a couple of missionaries who are currently stationed in Thailand. They are quite the cute couple. It was a fun and interesting time of fellowship and learning, as they had quite a few stories to tell.

Well, as for now, I'm in a very jazzy mood these few days, being influenced by Michael Bublé as well as Renee Olstead. Give them a try if you're a jazz lover. They won't fail to impress.

So Near Yet So Far.....

Hmm..... Where to start? Well, I guess, at the beginning. I entered a competition, through sheer chance, really, because I never heard of it until someone came into my office and started talking about it. I sent in two entries, and started dreaming. Not a lot, because I'm a dreamer, but also a realist. The ONLY prize was a Volvo XC90, which is worth an estimate of over RM300k. (Uh-huh, now you know why I can "afford" to dream!)

I pretty much gave up on it close to two months into it, as, well, they mentioned that they would get back to the winner in a fortnight's time. Turns out, I got a call mid-June that I was a finalist, one of 7 vying for the grand prize. Now, by then, I was really dreaming of what I could actually do with the prize. After a while, though, they didn't get back to me to see whether I've won, and just last week, I found out that I wasn't the winner. Bummer..... Yeah, really a case of 'so near yet so far'.

On a lighter side, I just got a letter from them telling me that I didn't win but, as a consolation prize, I'll get a United Colors of Benetton Cabin Bag. OK, maybe I'm meant to fly off somewhere instead! Start dreaming!

A Cup of Water

A group of working adults got together to visit their University lecturer. The Lecturer was happy to see them. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.

The Lecturer just smiled and went to the kitchen to get an assortment of cups - some porcelain, some in plastic, some in glass, some plain looking and some looked rather expensive and exquisite.

The Lecturer offered his former students the cups to get drinks for themselves.

When all the students had a cup in hand with water, the Lecturer spoke: "If you noticed, all the nice looking, expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal that you only want the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. What all you wanted was water, not the cup, but we unconsciously went for the better cups."

"Just like in life, if Life is Water, then the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold/maintain Life, but the quality of Life doesn't change."

"If we only concentrate on the cup, we won't have time to enjoy/taste the water in it."

The Mayonnaise Jar and the 2 Cups of Coffee

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "Yes!"

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things -- your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions -- and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.

The sand is everything else -- the small stuff."

"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you."

"Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18-hole. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first -- the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.

The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."

Name That Thing! (Part Deux)

OK, I'm still stuck with no name for my guitar. Why do I need a name for it in the first place? I forget. I've found a few choice picks for it. In fact, it's quite a pick for anyone who intends to have kids in the near future. Mind you, most of these names are boy names. I'm a girl, what do you expect?! The last four names came as a suggestion from Mr. Kacuakman. (You know who you are! hehe.....)

Here they are in random order (really, I didn't have time to put it in alphabetical order!):

Names:

Joshua (shortened form Josh)
The name Jesus is the Greek version of the Hebrew name Joshua. The meaning is found in Matthew 1:12 'You are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins'. Joshua, who guided the Israelites to the Promised land also bore this name. God saves!

Jed
This biblical name is from Hebrew and means 'God's friend'. It appears in (2 Sam. 12:25).

Jerome
This name originates from Greek where it means 'holy name'.

Brendan
It means 'prince' and it originates from Gaelic.

Ethan
This Hebrew name is found in the bible of two minor biblical characters. It means 'Loyal '.

Casey
Brave, watchful in Celtic/Gaelic.

Damien
Sweet and harmless in Greek.

Daniel
Hebrew for my judge is the Lord.

Darrell
Darling in French.

Ivan
God is good in Slavic.

Jarod/Jared
Hebrew for one who rules.

Jordan
To descend/to flow in Hebrew.

Riley
Gaelic for Valiant.

Ryan
Gaelic for Little King.

Shane
God is Gracious in Irish.

Zachary (Zach)
Hebrew for God remembers, renowned by God.

Hazel
Commander in Old English

Ashley
Old English for ash-tree

Nellie
Greek for the bright one

Toni
French for Worthy of Praise

God - Tech Support

Tech Support: Yes. How can I help you?

Customer: Well, after much consideration, I've decided to install Love. Can you guide me though the process?

Tech Support: Yes, I can help you. Are you ready to proceed?

Customer: Well, I'm not very technical, but I think I'm ready. What do I do first?

Tech Support: The first step is to open your Heart. Have you located your Heart?

Customer: Yes, but there are several other programs running now. Is it okay to install Love while they are running?

Tech Support: What programs are running?

Customer: Let's see, I have Past Hurt, Low Self-Esteem, Grudge and Resentment running right now.

Tech Support: No problem, Love will gradually erase Past Hurt from your current operating system. It may remain in your permanent memory but it will no longer disrupt other programs. Love will eventually override Low Self-Esteem with a module of its own called High Self-Esteem. However, you have to completely turn off Grudge and Resentment. Those programs prevent Love from being properly installed. Can you turn those off?

Customer: I don't know how to turn them off. Can you tell me how?

Tech Support: With pleasure. Go to your start menu and invoke Forgiveness. Do this as many times as necessary until Grudge and Resentment have been completely erased.

Customer: Okay, done! Love has started installing itself. Is that normal?

Tech Support: Yes, but remember that you have only the base program. You need to begin connecting to other Hearts in order to get the upgrades.

Customer: Oops! I have an error message already. It says, "Error - Program not run on external components ." What should I do?

Tech Support: Don't worry. It means that the Love program is set up to run on Internal Hearts, but has not yet been run on your Heart. In non-technical terms, it simply means you have to Love yourself before you can Love others.

Customer: So, what should I do?

Tech Support: Pull down Self-Acceptance; then click on the following files: Forgive-Self; Realize your Worth; and Acknowledge your Limitations.

Customer: Okay, done.

Tech Support: Now, copy them to the "My Heart" directory. The system will overwrite any conflicting files and begin patching faulty programming. Also, you need to delete Verbose Self-Criticism from all directories and empty your Recycle Bin to make sure it is completely gone and never comes back.

Customer: Got it. Hey! My heart is filling up with new files. Smile is playing on my monitor and Peace and Contentment are copying themselves all over My Heart. Is this normal?

Tech Support: Sometimes. For others it takes a while, but eventually everything gets in at the proper time. So Love is installed and running. One more thing before we hang up. Love is Freeware. Be sure to give it and its various modules to everyone you meet. They will in turn share it with others and return some cool modules back to you.

Customer: Thank you, God.

Name That Thing!

OK, I honestly don't know how many people actually visit my blog, but I shall be content with a few (for now!). Anyway, if you've read my previous post, I just purchased a very nice acoustic guitar, well, it's based on my standards. Anyway, I'm trying to figure out a name for it. It's an Ashton guitar (D38 CEQ Thinline Acoustic/Electric) but I'm wondering what to nickname it with. Any ideas? Leave comments with a few name suggestions, ya?

Temporary Insanity

If you've noticed, I've changed the background for my blog. Something went wrong with the other template and until I can figure out what went wrong, I'm sticking to this one as an alternative. Unless, of course, you guys like this background, leave a comment and let me know.

Just a reminder, I have no professional training in HTML whatsoever, so this might take a while. As for entries, don't worry, it should still be coming in.

Thanks for visiting!

Praying For Others

A voyaging ship was wrecked during a storm at sea and only two of the men on it were able to swim to a small, desert-like island. The two survivors, not knowing what else to do, agreed that they had no other recourse but to pray to God. However, to find out whose prayer was more powerful, they agreed to divide the territory between them and stayed on opposite sides of the island. The first thing they prayed for was food.

The next morning, the first man saw a fruit-bearing tree on his side of the land, and he was able to eat its fruit. The other man's parcel of land remained barren.

After a week, the first man was lonely and he decided to pray for a wife. The next day, another ship was wrecked, and the only survivor was a woman who swam to his side of the land. On the other side of the island, there was nothing! Soon the first man prayed for a house, clothes, more food. The next day, like magic, all of these were given to him. However, the second man still had nothing.

Finally, the first man prayed for a ship, so that he and his wife could leave the island. In the morning, he found a ship docked on his side of the island. The first man boarded the ship with his wife and decided to leave the second man on the island. He considered the other man unworthy to receive God's blessings, since none of his prayers had been answered.

As the ship was about to leave, the first man heard a voice from heaven booming, "Why are you leaving your companion on the island?"

"My blessings are mine alone, since I was the one who prayed for them," the first man answered. "His prayers were all unanswered and so he does not deserve anything."

"You are mistaken!" the voice rebuked him. "He had only one prayer, which I answered. If not for that, you would not have received any of my blessings."

"Tell me," the first man asked the voice, "what did he pray for that I should owe him anything?"

"He prayed that all your prayers be answered."

For all we know, our blessings are not the fruits of our prayers alone, but those of another praying for us. This is too good not to share. With obedience come blessings. My prayer for you today is that all your prayers are answered. Be blessed.

"What you do for others is more important than what you do for yourself."

This was shared with me by a friend, I hope you will share with your friends too.

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart. - Helen Keller

Let It Rain!

This morning was interesting. I felt like I woke up on the wrong side of the bed; head was throbbing, nose was stuffed-up, throat was dry, I thought, "Gee, it's going to be a rough day today!". Hopped into the shower (I can't quite recall if I washed my hair with the conditioner or with the body soap!), got dressed, had a hefty breakfast (bacon, ham and toasted bread - 3 days in a row! Hmm.....) and headed out to work almost in a blurry state of mind.

I had a love song in my head since last night, 'All Because Of You' by Céline Dion, and it's generally a song about being truly in love with someone, either your partner or your child (even some of the words could apply to Jesus). Then, all of a sudden, I had this feeling of gratitude in my heart. It's as though midway through driving, I finally woke up, enjoyed the sights that I normally don't bother looking at when I'm driving, walking with a smile on my face even though the rain was drizzling down.

'What the world needs now is love, sweet love'. Actually, I feel that what the world needs now is a feeling of gratitude, even for the littlest things.

'Time is a very precious gift from God; so precious that it's only given to us moment by moment' - Amelia Barr

Take time to enjoy, walk in the soft drizzle, make yourself a warm cup of cocoa or coffee, read a good book, spend time with family and friends. I shall leave you with the song I mentioned earlier.

All Because Of You - Céline Dion

Thought I could define it

One look in your eyes when it proved me wrong

I find myself speechless

This feeling of completeness is so strong

And I was convinced that my heart had reached its limit

Until you created this new place in it

Your touch wraps around me

In love that knows no boundaries now

There's nothing I wouldn't do for you

You're the answer I've been needing

Life has a whole new meaning now

All because of you

Everything is different

There's no frame of reference for the way I feel

But to look at your face

I'm still amazed, I can't believe you're real

I can lie here forever just watching you sleep

Hanging on every breath that you breathe

Your touch wraps around me

In love that knows no boundaries now

There's nothing I wouldn't do for you

You're the answer I've been needing

Life has a whole new meaning now

All because of you

The Carpenter

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house-building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife, enjoying his extended family. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. They could get by.

The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favour. The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career.

When the carpenter finished his work, the employer came to inspect the house. He handed the front-door key to the carpenter.

"This is your house," he said, "My gift to you!"

The carpenter was shocked! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently.

So it is with us. We build our lives, a day at a time, often putting less than our best into the building. Then with a shock we realize we have to live in the house we have built. If we could do it over, we'd do it much differently.

But we cannot go back.

You are the carpenter.

Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. "Life is a do-it-yourself project," someone has said.

Your attitudes and the choices you make today, build the "house" you live in tomorrow. Build wisely!

Remember....

Work like you don't need the money.

Love like you've never been hurt.

Dance like nobody is watching.

Pass this on to someone you like. I did!

E-mail Prayer

A dear friend sent me this e-mail and I found it to be quite encouraging and a big blessing. I hope that you too will be blessed!

Dear Lord,

I thank You for this day. I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning.
I'm blessed because You are a forgiving God and an understanding God.
You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me.
Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said, or thought that was not pleasing to You.
I ask now for Your forgiveness.
Please keep me safe from all danger and harm.
Help me to start this day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude.
Let me make the best of each and every day to clear my mind so that I can hear from You.
Please broaden my mind that I can accept all things.
Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over, and it's the best response when I'm pushed beyond my limits.
I know that when I can't pray, You listen to my heart.
Continue to use me to do Your will.
Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others.
Keep me strong that I may help the weak.
Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others.
I pray for those that are lost and can't find their way.
I pray for those that are misjudged and misunderstood.
I pray for those who don't know You intimately.
I pray for those that don't believe.
But I thank you that I believe.
I believe that God changes people and God changes things.
I pray for all my sisters and brothers and for each and every family members in their households.
I pray for peace, love and joy in their homes that they are out of debts and all their needs are met.
I pray that every eye that reads this knows there are no mountains, problems, circumstances, or situations greater than God.
Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight.
I pray that these words be received into the hearts of every eye that sees it.
In the majestic name of Jesus Christ, I pray, Amen!

Have a great week ahead!

Song Of The Day

Ever had the feeling where your own perception of inadequacy hinders you from attaching yourself to people? That what you've done, what you've said, who you are, may not be "good enough" for your friends and your family? In the event where you've done something wrong, or not well enough, that you feel you've let your peers, friends and family down, that maybe, their love for you has lessen a bit.

I'm following in the footsteps of unconditional love. I do admit that there will be disappointments in being let down, feelings being hurt; brokenness and helplessness starts to seep in. However, I am reminded of a song that simply means this: In your brokenness, you will still be complete in God, for He welcomes you with open arms, regardless of what you've done or even what you will do.

What I like about this song is this: Nothing you can do, could make Him love you more, And nothing that you've done, could make Him close the door. In reality, because of our humanness and imperfection, we cannot guarantee people that same condition but God can. Come to the Father in your brokenness and emptiness, He will heal your hearts and fill your life with His love.

So You Would Come - Hillsong

Before the world began

You were on His mind

And every tear you cry

Is precious in His eyes

Because of His great love

He gave His only Son

Everything was done

So you would come

Nothing you can do

Could make Him love you more

And nothing that you've done

Could make Him close the door

Because of His great love

He gave His only Son

Everything was done

So you would come

Come to the Father

Though your gift is small

Broken hearts, broken lives

He will take them all

The power of the Word

The power of His blood

Everything was done

So you would come

You Live, You Learn

24 hours. That's the amount of time you get in a day. Once that second ticks by, it's not coming back again. It's already past the halfway mark for the year 2005. Makes me wonder, what have I done in the past half a year that is 'significant' or 'worthwhile'?

I know I'm moving in the right direction, at least, I think I am. Music is in my blood, it's in my heart and being given the opportunity to express that, even in a small church setting, I think that was a big start for me. I'm just wondering what's next.

I just booked my first acoustic guitar today. An Ashton guitar. Costs me a bundle, but it's an investment. Yup, I'm reminding myself that it's for long term, so it should be worth the money! I just have to wait for other accessories to come by before I pick up my guitar. After all, it's the first one.

Anyway, back to my title, I'm recently listening in to a few angst-ridden songs, running back and forth between Alanis Morissette and Avril Lavigne. I'm stuck on "You Learn" by Alanis Morissette and it's a song about taking risks and taking chances, because that's what life is about. Taking risks and learning from it, whether the risk taken was a success or a failure, it's still a learning experience.

You live you learn

You love you learn

You cry you learn

You lose you learn

You bleed you learn

You scream you learn

Life is a learning experience. You are being put in situations you wish you aren't in, but at the end of the day, it benefits you as you go along, being tested and all, because then, you become a better person. You live, you learn.

Of Raging Seas and Victories (a.k.a. Song Of The Day)

Ooh, rhyming title there! I'm in a wacky mood this past week. I don't know if it's lack of sleep, too much thinking or both. I went by the beach with a few friends yesterday evening. The sea was rough, but the waves that crashed in was just marvellous. My feet in the sand, the warm evening waves rushing in, this is truly a great creation from our God of Wonders.

It's funny how this song came to me earlier in the week. Having not listened to this song for a while, I only knew how the chorus went, but not the verse. I got to HEAR it in my hostess' house just this Tuesday. What a coincidence! I think God prepares His children ahead of time. I mean, I'm reminded of my friend's blog entry, in which she wrote about what she read in Amy Carmichael's book. It said: We only see today. He whom we worship sees tomorrow.

I'm being a little overwhelmed with thinking about work, friends, life..... the usual. Assumptions are dangerous, I know that for sure, but not knowing what the future holds intimidates me a bit. OK, maybe a lot. I try not to think of what may come, though good or bad, except to bless the Lord and trust that He only gives His children what is best.

You Are - Hillsong

You are my light and salvation

Whom shall I fear?

You are the strength of all my days

And whom shall I be afraid?

Though war may rise against me

Of this will I be sure

That I will bless the Lord forever

I'll bless Your holy name

Yes, I will bless the Lord forever

I'll bless Your holy name

Lord it is You I desire

It's You that I seek

To live with You in Your house forever

Beholding Your beauty

And in the time of trouble

Of this will I be sure

You ask me who do I

Say that You are and I

Say that You are the Christ

Son of the Living God

'Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.' - James 1:17

Be blessed!

Girls' Night In & More

'How do you solve a problem like Maria? How do you catch a cloud and pin it down?'

Sound familiar? I thought it would. It's a family classic dating back to 1965 and is three hours in length. Yup, that's 'The Sound of Music'. Yesterday, a few ladies, well, about 10, sat in a living room of our gracious hostess to eat, watch and sing-along to the music of yesteryear. What a fun event that was.

On a not so happy note, three of our friends will be heading south for their further education in a few days' time. I would like to take this opportunity to leave them each a message. I'll be using initials to 'protect' their identities! haha.....

SY, thank you for your laughter and your joy. You can lift anybody up with that contagious laughter of yours. Keep on laughing and keep on smiling. I'm grateful for your friendship.

MP, it has been a pleasure to be able to help you along these past few months. You have been a joy to work with and to be with. Thank you for your friendship and your thoughfulness. Hope to see you more often when you're on your break!

SM, last but NEVER least! What an honour! To see you playing better and better each week, it's really encouraging. Thank you for being who you are and for your support as well. Come back more often, ya!

Sigh, saying goodbye has never bode well with me. But this is more of a "see you soon" kind of situation. At least, I'd like to think of it that way. 'Absence makes the heart grow fonder', which is quite true indeed.

Visibly Invisible

This song was shared with me by a dear brother-in-Christ quite some time ago, and I happened to review the song again today. It spoke to me at the time when I was first introduced to the song and it still speaks to me time and time again. The message is simple, are we portraying God justly in the eyes of the lost? God created us in His image, and in His image, we are to be like Him.

I've always wondered, do people see God in me, in the way I speak, in the way I carry myself, in the way I react or don't react to circumstances and situations thrown at me, in my friendships and relationships with friends and family? I struggle but I know not to struggle for His grace is sufficient for me. It is also sufficient for you.

God is love. Unconditional love. And, I guess, in order for people to see God in us, we must also learn to love, unconditionally.

For Who He Really Is - Steven Curtis Chapman

"Too many hypocrites," I heard her say,

"I even saw it in the headlines today;

How can I follow God when His own people turn away?"

"Nobody's perfect but I just want to see

Somebody living what they say they believe;

If they've got all this world needs like they say,

I wonder why won't they give some away."

Can she see God for who He really is

In what she sees in you and me?

Can she see God for who He really is,

For who He really is, is all she really needs to see.

He slips into church and he puts up his guard;

They look so happy but his life's been so hard.

He keeps his distance so they won't see the scars;

It's just religion that's all dressed up in white,

And "God is love as long as you're living right."

But does he know that Jesus also has scars,

And His love can reach Him no matter how far.

Can he see God for who He really is

In what he sees in you and me?

Can he see God for who He really is,

For who He really is, is all he really needs to see.

The skeptics are watching to see who will fall,

While those disillusioned search for the Truth in it all;

Maybe today we'll cross their paths unaware,

And they'll stop and look at us. What will be there?

Will they see God for who He really is

In what they see in you and me?

Will they see God for who He really is,

For who He really is, is all they really need to see.

Song Of The Day

Ever had a song or two on your lips or in your head at the start of the day? Actually, I had this song in my heart yesterday evening, standing on top of a rock up a hill overlooking the coastal line in Batu Ferringhi. It just came to me and it's still stuck in my head today. It's a wonderful song. A song about safety and security. As humans, we tend to want to run away from the things that are hurting us, confusing us or distracting us. This song, is a song about running to the One who has always had His arms open for us, just waiting patiently for us to go near to Him.

Secret Place

Lord of my life I love You
Lord of my days I trust in You
Living beneath the shelter of Your wings
My heart's safe

For when I am lost You find me
When I'm in need You shelter me
Lord of my life
You are my Secret Place

Clothe me in Your presence Lord
Draw me near to You
All my heart I long to give to You
Living to be near You Lord
I long to see Your face
Lord forever You're my Secret Place

You're my peace, You're my rest
You're my Secret Place

It has not been an easy journey, to reach to the point where I don't rely on what I can do, but more of what God can do. Many times, I've rejoiced alone or with my friends but not with God. Many times, I've kept all my hurts to myself or share it with a few friends but not with God.

I'm learning to rely more on Him now. It's still not that regular, but it's coming along slowly. Running away or being in denial is pretty much the normal thing to do, but it won't be as effective as running to Him who can help you in ways better than any friend could.

Have a great week ahead.

(Editor's Note: I'll try to make this as a series, if possible. Be blessed!)

Unfortunately.....

I've just found out from my friend that I'm UNABLE to go for the seminar in Singapore ("Romance, Courtship and Marriage") because apparently, I would've had to have a partner in order to sign up for it. As most of you know, I'm currently and unabashedly single! Yeah, unabashedly..... There's nothing wrong with being single. In fact, it gives you the freedom to get to know your surroundings, mingle around with people and just enjoy singlehood.

I know my partner will come. It's just a matter of WHO, WHEN and WHERE!

I'm still hoping that I MIGHT be able to get to the seminar to learn a few things. If anyone is open to me using your name, let me know!

I'm just kidding.....

The Businessman and The Fisherman

I just got this off an e-mail sent to me by a colleague. Interesting read.....

There was once an American businessman who was sitting by the beach in a small Mexican village. As he sat, he saw a Mexican fisherman rowing a small boat towards the shore. He noticed that the fisherman had caught quite a number of big fishes known to be a delicacy. The American was really impressed and asked the fisherman, "How long does it take you to catch so many fishes?"

The fisherman reply; "Oh, just a short while."

The businessman was astonished.

"Then, why don't you stay longer at sea and you could catch even more?"

The fisherman simply does not agree, "This is enough to feed my whole family", he replied.

The businessman then asked: "So, what do you do for the rest of the day then?"

The fisherman replied: "Well, I usually wake up early in the morning, go out to sea and catch a few fishes, then I would come back and play with my kids. In the afternoon, I will take a nap with my wife. When evening comes, I will join my buddies in the village for a drink. We play guitar, sing and dance throughout the night. My day is ever so complete and carefree."

The businessman does not agree with the fisherman's way of life and offered a suggestion to the fisherman.

"I am a PhD holder graduated from Harvard University, specialises in business management. I could help you to become a more successful person. From now on, you have to spend more time at sea and try to catch as many fishes as possible. And when you have saved enough money, you could buy a bigger boat and catch even more fishes. As you go on, you will be able to afford to buy more boats, recruit more fishermen and lead a team of your own. Soon you will be able to set-up your own company, your very own production plant for canned food and do direct selling to your distributors. At that time, you will have moved out of this village and to Mexico City. And then expand your operation to LA and finally to New York city, where you can set-up your HQ to manage all your other branches."

The fisherman asks, "So, how long would that take?"

The businessman reply: "About 15 to 20 years."

The fisherman continued, "And after that?"

The businessman laughed heartily, " After that, you can live like a king in your own house. When the time is right, you can go public and float your shares in the Stock Exchange. You will be rich, your income will be coming in by the millions!"

The fisherman asked, "And after that?"

The businessman said, " After that, you can finally retire. You can move to a house by the fishing village, wake up early in the morning and catch a few fishes. Then return home to play with the kids and have a nice afternoon nap with your wife. When evening comes, you can join your buddies for a drink, play the guitar, sing and dance throughout the night!"

The fisherman was puzzled, "Isn't that what I am doing now?"


So, what does one really hope to achieve in life?
Do we really need to work SO hard in life?
What do you hope to accomplish in the end?