Moving Forward

After sitting in for Every Nation Church Singapore's band rehearsal, Dawnie & I fell in love with this groovy and hopeful song. Somehow, it also reminded me of this beautiful verse in Joel (the most anointed book in the Bible. I'm not biased. Just sayin'), which speaks about God's promise to restore unto us our wasted years. This is our God.

"And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you" (Joel 2:25)

And so everyday, I'm learning to let go of my past disappointments, hurts & regrets...to lay them at the feet of Jesus and find solace in His arms. Its still a daily struggle, but a choice I have to make. For it is when I have faith in Him, and trust Him to write the story of my life, that I love Him best.

Lord, help me to recover my passion for worship, for YOU. Help me to move forward into the fullness of the destiny that You have for me.

Moving Forward (by Israel Houghton & Ricardo Sanchez)
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Verse 1:
What a moment
You have brought me to
Such a freedom I have found in You
You´re the Healer
Who makes all things new
Yeah yeah yeah

Bridge:
I´m not going back
I´m moving ahead
Here to declare to You
My past is over in You
All things are made new
Surrendered my life to Christ
I´m moving moving forward

Verse 2:
You have risen
With all power in Your hands
You have given me
A second chance
Hallelujah hallelujah
Yeah yeah yeah

Chorus:
You make all things new, Yes
You make all things new
And I will follow You
Forward

The Vision and the Reality

Wise words from Ozzie Chambers...

"We have seen what we are not, and what God wants us to be, but are we willing to be battered into the shape of the vision to be used by God?

We have to learn to live in reliance what we saw in the vision, not simply live in ecstatic delight and conscious reflection upon God. This means living the realities of our lives in the light of the vision until the truth of the vision is actually realised in us." - Oswald Chambers

Divine Detours

Photo Credit: Liew Tong Leng

Sometimes, you get a gut feeling, a sense of the right decision to make, or how things are going to pan out. You feel it in your bones, see it in your dreams...its whispered by your heart when all the other voices are silenced. But God knows better and wants better for you...so He takes you on a divine detour. Because to live your life on a hunch is just not good enough. You need to know, and know and know.

If You're Gone (by Matchbox Twenty)

I love how Rob Thomas shares the story behind this song...kinda funny actually.

OOOM @ SAM 21st May

L-R: Neli Atiga on keys; Abiel Pascual on cajon; Howie Tan (back row) on bass; Jon Chong (LV and guit); Jonathan How the organiser; me on BV

It was my first time participating in OOOM @ SAM (Originals Only Open Mike), supporting Jon Chong on BVs again. It was also the first time we had a band that was entirely from Every Nation Church Singapore!! I had such a blast performing with these guys and an even greater time just hanging out with them before and after the gig. They've got a real wicked sense of humour these dudes! :) Here's to gd times & new frens!

Drummer Boy

Happy 19th Birthday Johannes (aka "Nurse")!! Dawnie and I had a simple zi char dinner at Punggol to celebrate Johannes' birthday, and we presented him with a GAP t-shirt with a drum set design on it. Nurse impressed with his ever so gentlemanly ways - picking me up from church and sending me home (after just passing his driving test. haha!), and slipping off quietly to pay the bill while Dawnie and I were chatting. Looks like this birthday treat thingy is going to be a tradition with us.

Dream A Little Dream

A short conversation that made my night.
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Mich: I really like the Soul Survivor, "Not Ashamed" album!
Glenn: You'll really like my album. In fact, if I do ever record an album, I want you on it.
Mich: Are you serious?
Glenn: Err yeah.
Mich: What do you want me on your album for?
Glenn: To sing lah! Then play harmonica meh?
Mich: Awwwwwwww!! Well, I'm gd at comms too!! hahaha!

Have A Little Faith

I admit, I shamelessly ripped this off Abi's blog. But its good stuff, and ought to be shared. Thanks in advance Abi!

❝ A man seeks employment on a farm. He hands his letter of recommendation to his new employer. It reads simply,’He sleeps in a storm’. The owner is desperate for help, so he hires the man. Several weeks pass, and suddenly, in the middle of the night, a powerful storm rips through the valley.

Awakened by the swirling rain and howling wind, the owner leaps out of bed. He calls for his new hired hand, but the man is sleeping soundly. He dashes off to the barn. He sees to his amazement, that all the animals are secured with plenty of feed. He runs out to the field. He see the bales of wheat have been bound and are wrapped in tarpaulins. He races to the silos. The doors are latched, and the grain is dry. And then he understands, 'He sleeps in a storm’.

My friends, if we tend to the things that are important in life, if we are right with those we love and behave in line with our faith, our lives will not be cursed with the aching throb of unfulfilled business. Our words will always be sincere, our embraces will be tight. We will never wallow in the agony of ‘I could have, I should have.’ We can sleep in a storm. And when its our time, our good-byes will be complete. ❞ - Rabbi Albert Lewis

Taken from Mitch Albom’s book “Have A Little Faith”

The Rhythms of Grace

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

- Matthew 11:28 (The Message)

Hand On My Heart

That feeling never really goes away does it? Sigh.

"My Soul Is Complete"

This song has been on repeat on my iTunes lately...really been ministering to me deeply. This video features Ben Cantelon from Worship Central (UK) singing it. Its got that beautiful Jeremy Camp "Live Unplugged" feel about it. But vocally, I still prefer the Soul Survivor 2008 version by Andreana Arganda. Her amazing vocals give the song a lot more intensity and heart.

"My Soul Is Complete" (by Phil Shaw)
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Father of everlasting grace
Be my comfort in this broken place
I'll rest upon the perfect love
In You, in You

Faithful Lord You never change
When all is lost, You remain
Saviour all my hope is found
In You, in You

Chorus:
My soul is complete in Jesus, in Jesus
Your grace and Your truth
Have made a way, and now I'm free in You

King of glory be lifted high
I'll worship You Lord with my whole life
Fill my heart with a joy that's only found
In You, in You

Bridge:
With hands held high I'll live my life
To worship You, be glorified

Jowlli Yeewston!!

September is for Frothers, January is for Lovers from Russell Brownley on Vimeo.

I have this tiny crush on Joel Timothy Houston as you know. (Ok who am I kidding? I get palpitations when I'm in the same country as him.) So when Glenny sent this AMAZING video of Joel's 30th birthday surf trip in Indonesia last year, I was beyond ecstatic. Its just soooo cute to hear all his buddies say all these wonderful, heartfelt things about him. Awwww!! *total Fluffy moment*

Oopss!!

On msn this morning @ the office:
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Mich (to Cheryl who's in a meeting somewhere else): Hungweee!!
Cheryl: Ok, will tell you when we're going for lunch. We're all looking at your msg btw.
Mich: OMG OMG!! Who is everyone??
Cheryl: Cass, Thomas, Eve, Freddy...Thomas says yr msg is on a 58 inch screen. (They're basically the Technical & Production staff team in church)
Mich: Ooopss!!! *super malu* Err...I go eat cheezels first.
Cheryl: Cass says enjoy! haha!

Just before we go for lunch @ the office:
===================================
Uncle Freddy: Hungweee?? :)
Mich: *maluuuuu*

Poured Out For You

Today, was a costly lesson in Psalm 27:6,

"And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me;
Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD."

"I Have Loved You Wrong" by The Swell Season

A haunting performance by Marketa Irglova & Glen Hansard. Its an interesting change as Marketa is usually on piano and Glen, the passionate and emo Irish troubadour, is usually shredding wood on his beat-up guitar. Who would have thought Glen Hansard could play the piano so lyrically. For clearer audio, go here.

Tea & Company

After a short meeting in church on Labour Day, I headed down to Tea Cozy @ Plaza Sing to meet up with crazy Steph. I said she looked kinda Ugly Betty-ish with her new specs and braces. She didn't get my comment cos she has never seen the show, so it made her kinda upset until I spent some time reassuring her I DID NOT think she was actually ugly. haha!

Everything at Tea Cozy is for sale...including all the angels and teddies etc. you see. A pretty place for a cuppa with a good fren. It was kinda pricey though...$50 for the scones; foie gras (Steph ordered it. I did not touch it!); baked mushrooms and drinks that we ordered.

I love love love the wee little rocking horses. Wish I could get me one for my room. :)

Blackmail

So Thomas was talking to me on gmail chat about Jennifer Knapp...you know, Christian Artiste who has recently come out of the closet. And then I made this comment about Brooke Fraser, and look what he did!!! SABO!