Druggies

That's a snapshot of Berno's cupboard....with our combined stash of drugs (that is btw me, Berno n Jo). Yes, these drugs keep us fully operational. haha! We thought it was hilarious how much we have between us. Check out the kick-ass bottles!!! In that stash we have:

1) Vit B complex pills
2) Listerine (ok, i dunno why that was shoved in)
3) Brand's essence of chix
4) Vit C in tablet form, and in Redoxon fizzy drink form
5) Evening Primrose oil
6) Vit E pills (which apparently help in the absorption of all that Evening primrose goodnesss! How complicated is it being a gal lah?)
7) Some weird ginseng pill thingy

Love in the shadows

I have my fair share of days when I just wanna cry and hide under my keyboard (I can't really explain why it has to be keyboard either. ha!).......but there are days like these, filled with warm and fuzzy moments that make me just wanna sing in the rain. :)

Mich: *pokes Berno and smiles* You're my fwen! :) (yes, we're random like that. heh!)
Berno: Yesh, I'm your fwen. I like being fwen!
Mich: You like being fwen???
Berno: Yeah yeah!! :)
Mich: Err....because you're FWENLY???
Berno: *laughs*

Every beat of my heart

It has been a humbling experience indeed....being sick for such a prolonged period, and having to teach vocal classes without speaking, but just whispering, using hand gestures, and writing on the board/ paper. (It drew some laughs from the students I assure you!)

When you get to a point where every breath you take is a real struggle; every word you try to speak/sing actually hurts; every step you take becomes a real physical exertion......you start to realize how absolutely reliant we are upon God, for all of life is a gift from Him. I've learnt not to take the smallest things for granted now. I've learnt (the hard way) to wait and listen more, and to let my words be few.

Thank You God for watching over every beat of my heart. :)
Thank You God for being so gracious with me in the classroom....
For teaching me how to use the voice of the heart,
above the voice of the physical body.

"In this life, as I walk these streets
Love open my eyes, show me what You see
I know, I'll never let you go"
- 'Never let me go' by Joel Houston

(As for a health update....my voice is slowly recovering. Hopefully that stabilizes. But I'm still coughing, and I've recently sprained my wrist. I don't know how on earth that happened. Best right? haha! So now it hurts when I try to hold cups/ brush my teeth/play keyboard.)

Wishin' on Stars

"So if you’re wishin on stars
You better go out and get it
Cause you if you want it bad enough
You won’t stop until you have it

Don’t let them tell you
What you can and cannot do
You’ve got to see it through
Like you always knew"
- 'Always Feel This Way' by Tristan Prettyman

Welcome to the fold!

In the recent weeks, it's been so wonderful having W, and later J, join Shirley and me for the weekly services at Riverlife Church. Welcome to the fold gals! I must say it is so heartening to worship together under the same sanctuary once again. I'm looking forward to service every week for an awesome time of worship, hearing God's Word, and fellowship....(and yes, even the occasional baby-sitting'. haha!) :)

Hush, Hush

Yes, I've gone and done it. I've completely lost my voice. Perhaps some of you know already, I had flu 2 weeks back...thought I recovered...then it became this annoying postnasal drip and cough.....which forced me into taking M.C, led to some partial loss of my voice over the weekend, and cancellation of Sat classes. Thankfully, the voice recovered by Sun, and I taught my 3 classes as usual yesterday. But after that....I guess the voice was in shock, and as a sure sign of protest, it just quit working altogether. Classes had to be cancelled and rescheduled again today. Felt sooooo bad for the hassle I created for the admin staff and the students.

Just when you think things can't possibly get any worse....I kinda twisted my ankle on the way to the clinic (which was closed), 'cos I missed a step. haha! But I don't think that is very serious. No worries.

Ah well...now I'm reduced to a combination of sign language and whispers. Feel so handicapped. It's funny how those around me end up whispering and using sign language too when THEY can speak perfectly fine. haha! In fact, the coaches deliberately WHISPERED Dorcas' birthday song during her celebration just now, so that I wouldn't feel left out. It has brought me some amusement in the midst of this misery. I also really appreciated my boss's prayer for me.....which went something like this:

"God, I know that You lead us through trials for a reason....to prepare us for something bigger. I pray that during this season, Michelle will be able to hear Your voice with even greater clarity. And although You can't use her voice now, I know You'll use her heart and her writing as she plans the syllabus. Keep her close to Your heart God. Amen"

I was deeply touched by that.....the thought that God could use my heart, more than my voice.

Thank God for Priscilla, my trainee coach too. Who has been cheerfully easing my teaching load during this time. Am soooo glad she's here to help me!

And of course, there's dear Berno.....she's been my guardian angel. Since she knows me almost telepathically, she's become my VOICE in the office. haha! For instance, this afternoon Danny taunted me with funny looks, knowing full well I cannot answer. So I let out this barely audible squeak of protest, and Berno came to my defence! Berno also accompanied me to buy dinner, cos I can't order for myself. Bless the gal...she understands my thoughts, pokes, squeaks and even thinks its cute that I am mute for now.

Finally, thanks everyone for your concern. It's been most heart-warming. Erm, just don't call me ok? You know I can't talk now. (Audrey made the mistake of calling me mah. Funny that girl!)

Please continue to pray for me....I'll need super-fast, miraculous healing in time for the rest of my classes this week. I'm running of time-slots to re-schedule my classes. I know I need to clock in some proper rest time....but it's a concept that I'm still trying to understand cos I literally get stressed that I'm sick and can't teach, and it results in 'restless rest' if you get what I mean. I'm always on the go....and I just get so frustrated when I'm forced to do nothing. Oh man....God help me. I'm still learning how to breathe....

"Beholding is Becoming"- Tim Hughes

Thanks Glenn for sending me this awesome article! It is quite a moving read. :)

"Genuine worship will not only lead to our lives, but also our society, being transformed." - Tim Hughes

I so agree with that and pray that for my students.

==================================================================
Transforming Worship
Date Posted: 4/19/2007 on www.worshiptogether.com
Author: Tim Hughes

A few years ago I met a retired Anglican Bishop, from South Africa. As we talked he told me about his retirement plans. He’d been unsure for months as to what the future would hold, but he kept on praying, “Lord show me what it is that I can do, that You will bless?” For months he prayed this prayer but felt God was silent. And then one day he realised that all this time he’d been praying the wrong prayer. He felt God tell him what he needed to pray, “Lord what is it that You are doing that I can bless?” The two prayers seem so similar, but they are significantly different.

Our journey as worshippers should always be to find out what pleases the Lord (Ephesians 5:10). In essence to find out what God is blessing and get involved with that. Rather than a ‘me-centred’ faith, we need to pursue a ‘Him-centred’ faith. At the heart of worship, we as God’s creation, choose to centre ourselves around Him; our Creator. We live to bless Him. We live to bring pleasure and enjoyment to Him.

When I read the bible, one thing seems abundantly clear; God is passionate about the poor. Jesus made it so clear … “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor (Luke 4:18) In Amos 5, God’s heart burns with anger as He rebukes a people who offer up songs of worship and other choice offerings, but trample and deprive the poor for their own selfish gain. We can’t escape the truth – God’s heart breaks for the last, the least and the lost. If I want to glorify God in all that I do, then issues of justice and the poor need to be at the core of who I am.

With my job I get to travel all over the world leading worship at different churches and conferences. I get to work with some amazing people, I hear inspiring speakers, and I get to see God move in remarkable ways. Recently I went on a ministry trip to South Africa with some friends from Soul Survivor. Compared to most trips this one was fairly low-key. We led at a couple of relatively small evening meetings but for the rest of our trip we spent time visiting different townships and projects throughout Durban. We spent a day in a township called Amaoti, where we spent the afternoon playing football with HIV/AIDS orphans. We spent a morning serving breakfast to homeless men on the streets. We spent another day at a school in a township called Mayville, where poverty is rife. We visited people’s homes, we chatted, and at times we laughed and cried together. During the week my heart was so stirred. I felt devastated at the injustice. But do you know what? I fell more in love with Jesus. In the lives of the people I met I encountered Christ. I can honestly say it was one of the best trips I’ve been on. There were no big meetings; we didn’t see hundreds of lives changed. On the contrary; the people whose lives were changed the most, were ours.

As we worship we will change. Beholding is becoming. The more we look to Jesus and spend time adoring Him; the more we unpack the Scriptures to ponder upon His character and nature, the more we will share His heart and obey His commands. Genuine worship will not only lead to our lives, but also our society, being transformed.

“Just as worship begins in holy expectancy, it ends with holy obedience. If worship does not propel us into greater obedience, it has not been worship.” Richard Foster

I love the story of Zacchaeus the tax collector. Intrigued to see who Jesus was, he climbed up a tree to see what all the fuss was about. Jesus looked up at Zacchaeus and said, “Zacchaeus come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” Zacchaeus was overcome with joy and gladly welcomed Jesus into his home. It’s fascinating to read what he then does. Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” (Luke 19:8) Zacchaeus encountered Jesus and fell in love. His response was to give to the poor – to act justly. We don’t read that Jesus had told Zacchaeus to do this; it was an impromptu, heart-felt response.

Worship is the total alignment of our heart, soul, mind and strength with the will of God.
When we worship we will find we are led to the poor, and if we love Jesus we will gladly follow.

While I was on sick leave....

An sms exchange that occured around 1pm today:
Mich: Hey Berno! I'm on M.C today.
Berno: Aiyoh, take care of yourself. I will take care of Mumble for you!!
Mich: *thinks to self...and almost types "Yes but be warned that Mumble tends to wander around on his own."....but is too tired to type in the end.*

5pm@BMI.....the above scene greeted Michelle when she returned to her desk
(A notice that says "Where's Michelle?" is pasted over her ugly Dell Desktop.
Below are her soft toys all lined up in a row)

Mich: *stunned silence*
Berno: Aiyoh...when you weren't around today, your soft toys were running all around looking for you! *grinz*
Mich: ?!?!???!?!?!

Fwens

It's my 2nd day of M.C (well....half day to be precise, cos I still go in to teach my classes at night). Doc Aw says that I'm down with upper respiratory tract infection. The meds are really knocking me out....making me drowsy. I hardly know what I'm typing now, but I'm listening to the comforting sounds of Corrinne May, which wrap around the soul like a warm blankie. And yeah...who cares if they're Christmas songs. Hmmm...nice.

It's also comforting to be surrounded by friends who check on me every now and then, and offer up their prayers to Daddy for me. Thank you.....it really makes a difference to have you angels in my life....my fwens. :)

May, Audrey use that word so often- "fwen". And Berno just typed this sms to me yesterday when i was down in the dumps:

"Take care my fwen. :)"

I love that word. How can anyone remain in a foul mood when they hear that funny word- FWEN?? :)

"The Carpet's worn...."

I just love the bridge of "Desperate people" from the
new United Live album...it's just brimming with passion.


Desperate People (Joel Houston, Michael Guy Chislett)
==============================================
Bridge:

We found our voice
We found our cause
We're on our knees, the carpet's worn
We join our hearts
With distant shores and sing to You lord


Show us the way to Your heart....