Shackles - Mary Mary

Don't you just want to dance to the song? Classic.

On my playlist

Sometimes, talking about the future makes me apprehensive, jaded and I'll feel 'tired of chasing pretty rainbows'.

Just in case I forget, do remind me to lay them down and give them all to Jesus (:

small, insignificant things

My brother and I were chatting earlier this afternoon and he said, "Sometimes the things that happen in our lives may seem so insignificant, so small and 'uncalled for', but God places these things (or events) in our lives for a reason."

A reflective moment.

No matter how trivial or how irrelevant we think it is, there is a purpose for its occurrence. We will understand why in time to come.

Anyway, it is the first paper tomorrow.

Can't wait for Wednesday to be over.

Heh.

Lord, I pray for strength.

I know I will overcome.

"You'll be there for me"

Handed in my 203 project yesterday and I felt a burden lifted from my heart. As I sat in the Music Practice Room while waiting for the next lesson, I wrote a song, to thank God for his faithfulness.

You'll be there for me.

When I'm weak,
When I'm frail,
and I need someone to hold me.

When I'm down,
and no one
seems to want to be there for me.

Pre-Chorus
But I remember my Lord
You will not forsake me
You will strengthen me
and give me hope!

Chorus
Through the storms
Down the valley
I will move on and be strong
Looking forward and upward
and now my fears are gone

Let Your sun shine down on me
Fill my heart with faith and love
And to always know that You'll be there for me.

It is rather lively and upbeat, because of the syncopated rhythm. May the lyrics encourage you! :)

Have I told you lately - Rod Steward

I liked this song since I was secondary one. The lyrics didn't make meaning that time but recently, the song came to mind and kept me wondering about the lyrics.


Have I told you lately that I love you
Have I told you there's no one else above you
Fill my heart with gladness, take away all my sadness
Ease my troubles, that's what you do

For the morning sun and all its glory
Meets the day with hope and comfort too
You fill my life with laughter, somehow you make it better
Ease my troubles, that's what you do

There's a love that's defined
And it's yours and it's mine like the sun
And at the end of the day
We should give thanks and pray to the one, to the one

Have I told you lately that I love you
Have I told you there's no one else above you
Fill my heart with gladness, take away all my sadness
Ease my troubles, that's what you do

.

.

.

And the song continues for a few more stanzas.

That's what God does for us. He gives us hope, fills our heart with gladness, fills us with laughter, makes things better, takes away our sadness and eases our troubles.

Sometimes when things don't go our way, when we are dejected or even when we are happy with the life that we have, let us tell God that we love Him, in words, in our daily living, through prayer and so on... cuz' for He alone deserves our praise and worship ;)

My Life, Your Song ;)

One of my favourite songs from City Harvest Church:
(You can watch it here.)

My Life, Your Song
- City Harvest Church
Album: Light of the City

(verse 1)
Whose hands are these
Holding my trapeze
When I fly
You carry me

Whose eyes are these
Watching over me
Eyes of love
That set me free

(pre chorus)
Unafraid
What's ahead
You are always there before
My whole world
Your design
You are always there
Just right behind

(chorus)
My life is Your song
To You my heart belongs
Let all earthly crowns
Fade in the shadow of the cross

My life is Your song
I'll sing for You alone
Nothing in this world
Can take me away from You
Our love goes on and on

(verse 2)
Whose arms are these
Shelter me from harm
In the storm
You are my calm

Whose voice I hear
Whisper in my ear
When I'm lost
You're always near

(bridge)
In all my life
Be glorified
With Christ in me
No longer I
So take my all
Consuming Fire
Your light in me
I'll let it shine

Building the house of the Lord

Lest any of you think I am going to quit studying at NIE or even to break my bond with MOE to build a church, allow me to let you in onto my 'somewhat' resolution for 2009 (or least from now onwards).

To build the house of the Lord!

You see... I am convicted after reading Haggai 1:1-7 (NIV) , in particular verses 2 to 6.

Hag 1:1 On the first day of the sixth month of the second year in the reign of King Darius of Persia, GOD's Message was delivered by the prophet Haggai to the governor of Judah, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and to the high priest, Joshua son of Jehozadak:
Hag 1:2 A Message from GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies: "The people procrastinate. They say this isn't the right time to rebuild my Temple, the Temple of GOD."
Hag 1:3 Shortly after that, GOD said more and Haggai spoke it:
Hag 1:4 "How is it that it's the 'right time' for you to live in your fine new homes while the Home, GOD's Temple, is in ruins?"
Hag 1:5 And then a little later, GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies spoke out again: "Take a good, hard look at your life. Think it over.
Hag 1:6 You have spent a lot of money, but you haven't much to show for it. You keep filling your plates, but you never get filled up. You keep drinking and drinking and drinking, but you're always thirsty. You put on layer after layer of clothes, but you can't get warm. And the people who work for you, what are they getting out of it? Not much-- a leaky, rusted-out bucket, that's what.
Hag 1:7 That's why GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies said: "Take a good, hard look at your life. Think it over."


No matter how much I have, I am not satisfied (yes yes. i love shopping can. you mean you don't like shopping?) I don't know about you but there are times where I ask myself if I am truly happy with my spiritual walk or if I can humbly say that I read my Bible and I pray everyday or if I am living a Spirit-filled life. The answer is no. There are times when I ask myself if I'm a considered a backslider. This is one of the many reasons why I don't wish to serve in the youth ministry (yes, for my close friends who are reading this, now you know). Can you imagine when I teach others about living a spiritual life, I feel guilty? Not a very nice feeling yea. But I want to make my answer yes to the prior self-directed questions (in blue) I need to focus on God more than ever. Just knowing that God loves me is good. But all the more I want to love Him back. So let this passage (Haggai 1) serve as a reminder that earthly things will leave us dry, and only Jesus alone can satisfy (us).

+ happy weekend +

Thank God for his faithfulness in my life -
I am kept sane and safe in this crazy world.


Safe in a crazy world - Corrinne May (2005)

I try to smile my tears away,
I try to keep my cool.
Oh but one more door gets in my way
I feel like such a fool
Trampled and bitter,
My heart just wants to bleed and stop Believing in me.

It feels like nothing is for certain
and that nothing comes for free
When they're lowering the curtain to the theatre of my dreams
I stumble and i crumble and I'm sinking to my knees for you
You cradle me

You keep me flying
You keep me smiling
You keep me safe in a crazy world
You understand me
Embrace my fragility
You keep me safe in a crazy world
And in your arms I find the strength to believe in me again

Noise keeps chasing me
No matter where I go
Oh and life likes pretending that it's on a TV show
When it's hard to tell what's real
From what the world just wants to preach
You are the voice I seek

You keep me flying
You keep me smiling
You keep me safe in a crazy world
You understand me
Embrace my fragility
You keep me safe in a crazy world
And in your arms I find the strength to believe in me again

'cause when I'm wrapped up in your arms
Nothing else can touch me
What a wonderful way to recharge
I feel like I can breathe again

You keep me flying
You keep me smiling
You keep me safe in a crazy world
You understand me
Embrace my fragility
You keep me safe in a crazy world
And in your arms I find the strength to believe in me again.


Today, I am feasting on baguettes for both breakfast and lunch. Not trying to save money here nor am I being stingy on food... haha.. It's just the baguette from Delifrance is very fresh! Just some butter & olive oil is required.

Looking forward to a weekend with my family. Didn't spend much time with them last weekend so I miss them quite badly. Ever since the recession came up, there have been gloomy faces around me. I am having second thoughts about my trip to Australia though its exchange rate has been on par with Singapore's. I would feel guilty spending on an air ticket - about 1.3k including taxes? The whole trip would cost me about $2000. I can save the money up and splurge it in Singapore. I reckon I can go shopping every week during my semester break, and I would still have money left from that 2k budget. Haha.

So I am putting aside my plan to go to Melbourne this year. I wish to see my students again. Miss them so much! Everytime I look at their class pictures, I'd smile and picture them grinning away at me trying to get the class to shut up and listen. S1 & S2 would sit at the back and stone the entire music lesson away... until I called on them to entertain me (i.e. to play the piano or the glockenspiel!) Cute and charming la.. those two =)

Missing them, Jon, my family & the happier times.
Happy weekend to you!