Strength like no other

"You are faithful....Your joy is my strength"

To be honest, I never fully grasped the meaning of that well-known verse from Nehemiah 8:10....
But I THINK I'm starting to.
When I count my life as forfeit for the Lord, when I choose to give this life away...
(Rather than living it for myself...)
I receive the greatest joy that can only come from serving His heart.
And when I see the fruits of my labour in the lives transformed,
when I receive His delight upon me,
that gives me inspiration and strength to persevere on in the journey ahead. :)

"You are my strength
strength like no other
strength like no other
reaches to me."

"In Your freedom I will live, I offer devotion..."

[song lyrics from the new Hillsong album "Saviour King"]

How do you know that you're a true blue member/affiliate of the BMI family??

Some members of the BMI family...it's grown so much bigger now! We need to take a more recent photo.

A few tell-tale signs:
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1) You refer to yourself in 3rd person. eg. "Michelle go home!" or "Jaymee is hungry" etc.
2) You start using the word 'FWEN' a whole lot...and it gives you the *WAFFs* (warm n fuzzy feelings) [footnote on FWENs below]
3) When you have conversations with fwens, you have the tendency to make many random statements.
4) You're addicted to Tom Yum Ramen/Ban Mian
5) You're familiar with New Harbour Cafe (one of the eateries that we patronise)
6) You're fond of playing games like Taboo
7) You're even more fond of playing pranks!
8) You're a fwen of MUMBLE, and you've probably wished him Happy Birthday and signed on his card.
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On 'Fwens':
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There's a hierachy going on for sure.

1) Fwen (EXTREMELY dear friend...who gives u the *Waffs*. :))
2) Fren (a pretty gd friend)
3) Friend ('nuff said)
4) Acquaintance
5) "Excuse-me-do-I-know-you?"

Little kingdom

A series of quotes by Louisa May Alcott, the author of "Little Women" (which I adore by the way. Of course we hated it when we studied it in Sec sch...but reading it now is completely different I assure you.) I find great comfort in the words of these poets, writers, musicians....they remind me that I'm not alone in my idealism, chaotic inner world, and rich, intense emotions.

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"Stay is a charming word in a friend's vocabulary."

"A little kingdom I possess, where thoughts and feelings dwell; And very hard the task I find of governing it well."

"Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead."

Listen to the Bard

"I shall the effect of this good lesson
keeps as watchman to my heart."
- William Shakespeare

Aly

Aly and I at Andrea's wedding, where she was the flower-girl, and I was the bridesmaid.

This is Alysson. :) She is 8 years old, and my new msn contact. Yeah, she requested to add me on msn which made me so amused. She's actually Eugene's daughter, whom I used to gig with. Aly is the sweetest little girl...very bright (topping her cohort in sch) and talented too (she dances ballet and plays drums). I've thoroughly enjoyed our little conversations over msn. We talked about how we both like doggies...and how when we grow up, we'll both get our own doggies. :)

She cheered me up. And then it was 10.30pm and Aly said "It's time for me to go to bed! :)"
It tickled me as it was a first of sorts, hearing that line over msn.

Separation Anxiety

I'm miserable...and having a MAJOR case of separation anxiety/ withdrawal symptoms.
My Berno is on leave to prepare for her wedding this weekend. I will not be seeing her in the office for 3 whole weeks.
I stared at her empty cubicle opposite me today.
Nobody to whine, make weird noises...and randomly shout "HA!" with.
We've smsed each other...and spoke on the phone today.....but it's just not the same. :(

I miss my fweeennn!!! *sniffles*
I don't function well without my Berno. Ehhhhhh!!
(Yes, I know you think I'm being ridiculously childish...but I get very attached to my fwens.)


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An msn conversation with evil Jordan:
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*Eowyn** (Separation Anxiety) says: i miss Bernice
walk this way says: she hasn't been ard?
**Eowyn** (Separation Anxiety) says: she's on leave from tdy
walk this way says: hav u entertained the thot that one day God might call her to work somewhere else?
**Eowyn** (Separation Anxiety) says: cannot! CANNOT
why are u being evil n saying such things?
**Eowyn** (Separation Anxiety) says:
take it back!!!!
**Eowyn** (Separation Anxiety) says:
OMG. u're scaring me
walk this way says: it is jus a thot!!
**Eowyn** (Separation Anxiety) says: WHY Are u BEING SO MEAN?????
take it bk!!!! my system just suffered a shock
walk this way says:
okok! i take it back. In Jesus' name, it won't happen! AMEN
**Eowyn** (Separation Anxiety) says:
gd! u cannot say such bad things.
walk this way says: im sorry! i was jus curious..
**Eowyn** (Separation Anxiety) says:
its not going to happen ok! we're gonna be together forever
walk this way says:
yes yes.. you will! stop freaking out! i'm sorry ok. it was jus a casual qn.. it won't happen ok. God noes ur heart's desires. He noes how impt Bernice is to u..

Anthem??

I'd Like To Teach the World To Sing
(In Perfect Harmony)
The New Seekers

"I'd like to build the world a home
And furnish it with love
Grow apple trees and honey bees and snow-white turtle doves

I'd like to teach the world to sing
In perfect harmony
I'd like to hold it in my arms and keep it company
I'd like to see the world for once
All standing hand in hand
And hear them echo through the hills "Ah, peace throughout the land""

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I never knew those were the full lyrics to this song. It's so freaking lame and trippy! haha!
Thanks May for tt tidbit. Anyway here's the National Lampoon parody. I love it! Teehee!

"I'd like to give the world a hug / and tell it jokes and stuff, / then pull its pants down to its knees / and chase it through the rough."

Waiting...

Faithful (by Brooke Fraser)
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There's distance in the air
And I cannot make it leave
I wave my arms `round about me
And blow with all my might

I cannot sense you close
Though I know you're always here
But the comfort of you near
Is what I long for

CHORUS
When I can't feel you
I have learned to reach out just the same
When I can't hear you
I know you still hear every word I pray
And I want you
More than I want to live another day
And as I wait for you
Maybe I'm made more faithful

Mumble's wedding invitation

Look who received an invitation to Bernice's wedding next weekend.....

Doesn't he look pleased about it?

And it's a proper invitation mind you. I'm amazed....

Apparently, he has rsvp-ed to Berno already. And he says he's very excited to be sitting next to me for the wedding. Great....now I'll have to find a bag elegant and yet big enough to stuff him in. Bernice is very insistent that I bring him along too. Oh mannn....everyone is so going to think I'm insane lah. Sigh...at least I don't have to worry about getting Mumble a suit.

"Saviour King"

Pammy says that the new Hillsong album "Saviour King" will be released in Sydney this coming week. I can't wait!!!!!!! It'll be released here much later in July I think. We got this promotional flyer from Integrity in the office today. And Marcus saw the crazed look in my eyes....and before I could even say anything, he said something like "Don't be crazy Michelle!"
Cos he knew that I was entertaining thoughts of asking Pam to buy a copy from Sydney, since she's flying back next tues. haha! My colleagues know me well.

Aiyahhh, I can't wait!!!!!!! I've heard a preview of the songs, and they're soooo good lor. Watch it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9s4uHuuQn4&mode=related&search=