Wednesday, December 27, 2006

The Countdown Party of the Year!


You wouldn't want to miss BREAKOUT 2007 @Max Pavilion, Expo this Sunday.

Click on the image above for more details! =) See ya there.

Monday, December 25, 2006

g l o r y ?












In the past two months, i had received these awards - Certificate of Participation in my church's Youthnet's Young Preachers Contest, Medal of Completion in taking part in Standard Chartered Half-Marathon, and Outstanding Life Coach medal in Trybe (formerly Thumbs-up!) Inaugural Life Coaching Programme.

I am indeed very glad to receive such honours, but they are no way near to be framed up and hung on my walls. I even at times forgot that i had gotten them! =p Let me explain why:

1. Yes, i could have felt proud and happy simply looking at these awards. But they do not give me true joy; they do not fill the void of my heart.

2. The mere satisfaction from getting these final prizes do not help me to grow. It is what i had gained and pushed myself to achieve from the experiences that allow me to grow to be better and better. These refer to:

^ Overcoming my fears and inconfidence to stand before a crowd and preach my best.

^ In mental strength, beating my body to finish a race with the goal in mind right from the beginning.

^ Giving myself to love and journey with my life coachees, beyond physical tiredness and moments when it was hard to love.


3. In all the three journeys above that i had taken steps of faith to embark on, i had sought God and started out in f e a r and t r e m b l i n g...

^ I almost 'died' just before the Young Preachers' Contest. I felt so incompetent to preach. What's more, it took me one whole night to dare to inform Ps Yueh Ping that i wanted to try out the contest. And the week after that, i just wanted to cry at the thought of it. Hee.

^ I never like running!

^ I remembered it was so hard to say 'yes' to be a Life Coach, as much as my heart wanted. The life coaching journey clashed with the duration with my part-time studies which took up two nights each week.


^ So why did i make myself go thru' such anguish? Because God wanted me to take these up for Him. And He did not leave me alone; He encouraged and strengthened me through all the journeys. Jesus was the reason that i could finish them strong and well!

^ Thank God for the spiritual family too. They were always with, and for me. Having them to keep me in check made me feel safe to venture beyond my weaknesses, and abilities. =)


Self-glory from these awards? I wouldn't dare to claim. Anyway, 'heaven and earth (including my awards) will pass away, and only God and His words are eternal' (Matthew 24:35). All glory to God, and i am ready for more challenges ahead!


Thank you for believing in me. =)


* * *
You can read more here on my journeys in:
Young Preachers' Contest
Standard Chartered Half-Marathon
Trybe Life Coaching

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

'Tis the season to be jolly?

Are you really happy during Christmas?

Are you happy because it is Christmas, but unhappy after Christmas or any other season?

Can tinsel and presents, carols and candy really bring happiness? Not often, and not much. And if our happiness is based on circumstance, is it a true happiness? Isn't it just a playful escape, a temporary delusion? Does a little thin paint on the outside eradicate the rust beneath? Do cosmetics on a corpse make the death go away?
(quoted from Jim Elliff)

(Well i tried acting happy before too, and it made me feel more terrible at the end of the day).

Do you know what you are singing when you leap to Christmas carols like 'Joy to the World'?

Well Christmas may not be the season to be jolly for many hurting people out there, BUT it is the R E A S O N to be jolly.

Find out why here.

*My dear friend, I bless you to be able to sing and swing to 'Joy to the World' after experiencing true joy. =) *

No light? Reflect it in!

(Where you can find a 5-metre (16-foot) high, 8-metre (26-foot) wide mirror on a mountaintop)

Monday, December 18, 2006

Beautiful Love Letter.... for YOU!

For God created your inmost being;
He knit you together in your mother's womb.
Praise Him
because you are fearfully and wonderfully made;
His works are wonderful.

Your frame was not hidden from Him
when you were made in the secret place.
When you were woven together in the depths of the earth,
His eyes saw your unformed body.

All the days ordained for you
were written in His book
before one of them came to be.

(Psalm 139:13-16)

Thursday, December 14, 2006

i imagined (or did i?)

Last night was the first time i really felt like i was standing before the Lord Jesus.

As i prepared to pray and intercede for MOL in my room, my heart skipped a beat before the words came out, and i paused, moving half a step backwards.

i felt so overwhelmed by the glorious presence of God. it was indescribable... i just knew, i was standing in the presence of a h o l y God.

That was why i paused. How could i, a sinful person, be so near a completely and awesomely holy and righteous God.

Guess what, He then beckoned me gently to Himself, allowing me to stand in the gap between the people i was praying about and Him, allowing me to be so near, only to hear Him say "Daughter, know My heart"...

Indeed it is exactly because of God's heart for every person, because of the Cross and Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross, that we can 'draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith' (Hebrews 10:22a). The whole chapter Hebrews 10, in fact, talks about 'the new and living way opened for us to go to God through the curtain, that is, Jesus' body' (v.19-20). 'By (His) one sacrifice (for sins), Jesus has made perfect forever those who are being made holy' (v.14).

Would you go to Jesus this CHRISTmas? You are the reason for CHRISTmas. =)

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

I can only imagine

Quite a nicely done video, i would say.

But the
story behind the song is even more extraordinary.



* * *
A youth gal in my cluster sang it last Saturday at an evangelistic event... and gosh i was bowled over not just by her amazing voice, but even more by her courage and drive to stand on stage and sing her heart out. Well done, Abigail! =) I cannot imagine (haha..) myself singing on stage at your age (14)... i wouldn't dare! And to the rest of the band.. good job! =)


Wow.. my cluster is filled with so many talented youths! This is getting every bit exciting.

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Some Interesting Ads

















Really cute. =)

The Lord has spoken

..that Spiritual Breakthrough is around the corner. We are going to enter 2007 victorious!

The family has been called to be mouthpieces and interpretators for God's word... not for self-glory, but for the strengthening of the unity of the body.

How exciting!

My family of Love and Power.

Thursday, December 07, 2006

Do you like the song

that is playing on my blog?

i love it so! I caught the "All Things Bright and Beautiful" virus from my good bro ah-Troll.

Don't blame me if the tune starts ringing in your mind.... non-stop! =P

All things bright and beautiful... All creatures great and small... All things wise and wonderful... The Lord God made them all!

tippy tappy

My takeaway from Mumble aka Happy Feet:

When the whole world does not understand, well, still flaunt your stuff! =)

*tippeee tip tip tappy tap!*

Tuesday, December 05, 2006

Break out.... Have fun!


Snowboarding from a cave into the air!

Despite the several criticisms that this video is not good enough to be on the front page of Yahoo!, i still want to applaud the snowboarders for the mighty fun that they had created for themselves. Watch how they scraped and carved their own snow ramps in the cave!

i have not snowboarded before, but i had slided down a high snow slope on a sledge... and mind you, i clung unto the sledge with all my might! Talk about skiing, all i could do in my experiences in Canada and Korea, was to slide backwards uncontrollably on the lowest, most basic slopes. So these guys are really great! *winks*

Ever tried something you cannot imagine yourself doing? Snowboarding's out for me, but i want to do skydiving one day.... most probably with my eyes and fists clasped tight! Ha ha.

Monday, December 04, 2006

With the finish line in sight...


Woohooo i completed my first half-marathon (21km) in my life yesterday!

Well definitely not a super runner or marathon champion, i do still see myself as a winner because throughout the course and even before, i saw the finishing line in my mind, and i knew i would finish it. And i did. =)

No regrets, despite these takeaways from the race - slight pain in the joints between the legs and the torso, a few bruised toenails, bad headache and over-exerted strain on the stomach (i forgot to eat breakfast! gosh).

As i think back, i am really sure that Jesus supported and carried me through the race cos of that unmovable perseverance in me which i didn't quite understand, and i had none of those knee strains or leg muscle cramps that others had been complaining of. (Hmm, maybe this meant that i did not push myself enough! hee)

Timing for Half Marathon = 3h:17m:49s (can be better)

It was in fact a really joyful run, as i ran alongside two of my sisters for the first half (after which i decided to keep on my own momentum - which is hard to grab at times - and ran ahead). It was such a delight to see my gals Dina and Meiqi along the route, and to cheer and wave to so many others in the YouthNet family. I am so proud of all of you; we finished well! =)





i seriously don't know why bro Junhao had this face (haha..). Well he calls it the 'champion face'.

Are you Ready to Break Out?


This is a very cool website done up by two talented youths in my church. Their aesthetic eye, graphic experience and technical skills are really commendable.

More than being a cool site, Breakout2007party.com actually publicises about an exciting Breakout! Countdown Party on 31 Dec. We are targetting 4000 people. You would not want to miss it. Click on the image above to know how you can be part of it now. =)

Thursday, November 30, 2006

Bearing it A L O N E ?

Recently i had the chance to speak more with a dear girl in church. It began as an approach of discipline over something that i felt she had not handled well. But as i waited to pray before going to her, an incomprehensible compassion for her welled up and i spoke to her really gently.

The compassion deepened as i realised thru' talking with her, that she was struggling with something that i myself had struggled hard with before - an inability to ask for help. Yes, she bore these familiar mentalities - "i don't want to burden my loved ones...", "i just can't admit my needs in front of others..", etc.

Our families do not communicate a lot, that could be one common root factor. But beyond recognising this, i wanted her to know that no one can bear it all him/herself. I was brought to remember who finally convicted me in this. It was none other than Jesus.

In Jesus' darkest hour of pain and helplessness, kneeling in the Garden of Gethsemane, do you remember what He said?


(To His closest disciples Peter, James and John) "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here... and keep watch with me" ~ Matthew 26:38b

Read on about Jesus' moments of anguish: (Click on image)

If even Jesus asked for support and companionship during such times, who are we to think that we can bear it alone?


* * *

What God says in the Bible about companionship:

*Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work:
If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!
(Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)


*As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" (1 Corinthians 12:20-21)


Thanks for reminding me about this, girl. So remember, there is absolutely nothing wrong in asking for help and support when you really need it.

Need a hand, an ear or a shoulder today? Borrow mine. =)

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Why i love small children n' babies

Recently i realised the very reason why i love the little ones: Well, cos' they need to receive and also give to me my very top l o v e l a n g u a g e - Physical Touch.

(How do i know my top love language? Look
here.)

Do not be alarmed thinking that i love people to touch me anyhow and out of the blue. =P I am referring to an intentional warm hug, or friendly nudge on the shoulder, just for the gain of a smile in the hearts. It can also be a playful ruffle of the hair at cheeky moments, or an empathetic rub on the hands or arm when someone needs comfort. Even the slight brush of the heads sort of feels so affectionate, don't you think so?



The little ones, in their vulnerability, boldly ask for love thru' touch ever since they were born out of the wombs. They seek to be cradled tight, to be held in the hand, to be embraced close... these are wordless and priceless deep affirmations of love for them.

And if they receive enough of these, they learn to give the same love boldly in trust and love. Have you ever had a small kid run up to you just to hold your hand or embrace your waist? (most of the time, leg actually, cos' they are not tall enough)

They (usually) don't ask 'Can i hold/hug you?' before doing that.

i love the touch of a child. My 6-yr old cousin Javier likes to insert his hand cheekily into mine while walking, then asking me the most amazing questions in the world. His 11-yr old sister would grab my waist gently. Sometimes my pastor's elder daughter Elsie snuggles up to me to comb my hair with her tiny fingers. The younger daughter Anna falls asleep fast when tired, her head propped on your shoulder beside the neck - all without due notice.

And all these tell me, "i love you, i trust you..." and i feel so loved by the little ones. =)


* * *

Some photos from my recent family trip to Genting :

Mummy & me

With Grandma & Joyce


My Uncle n' wife & kids, Grandma & Mummy


Friday, November 24, 2006

Mirabel in Wonderland | 1.1

These last three months of the year, God has brought me to a number of interesting reflections upon myself and my life. Somehow i feel that i understand myself probably 5% more now.

I wish i have more time to process these reflections. The discoveries come parr-parr-parr upon me like the amusing and weird happenings Alice experienced in Wonderland, sometimes leaving me bewildered, other times exhilarated, leaping in joy or crouching my face in disbelief into my hands...


Here is one self-discovery that might be useful for the people around me (heehee):

When i don't say a thing, i am really tired.

When i blabber nonsense, i am really stressed.



Only now do i realise these mirabhenomenons are non-exchangeable, meaning i do not speak rubbish when i am dead beat (standby mode), and i do not remain senselessly quiet to destress.

Ha, sounds like i am in the second mode now. :S

Monday, November 20, 2006

House Ideas

















Wall decals from Blik.

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

It was a beautiful Saturday

[11 November 2006]




For an account of the Sports Carnival, check out my daughter Amanda's post on our cluster blog. By the way did i tell you that the Yp12 team for female Captain's Ball is one of the top two teams to vie for the championship on 25 nov? *winks* Haha. Remember to catch us in action then! =p

Monday, November 13, 2006

i love this picture

sis Lindee and me

Friday, November 10, 2006

Look at my Biiigggg family


... so big that you cannot even see me and my poor girls in the picture (even in the enlarged version when you click on it). :S

Nonetheless i still love my YCYPAO family. =p

* * *


Been diarrhoea-ing for the past three days; stomach's been churning hard again. Wonder what went wrong cos' i had been eating properly. *Dinggg* Too much coffee?? Hmm...

You know, i do not really like people to fuss over me about my stomach churns or any slight discomfort/sickness in my body. I do not like people to know, cos' i think they are not-that-serious-matter. On the other hand, i fuss over others whenever they are not feeling well, even in the least sense.

So God asked me this question (not for the first time): Why do you find it harder to receive love than to give?

Is it so hard to trust in others' love for you?

Probably cos' i learnt to give without expectations, but i want to receive while expecting the person to give to me the way i want (Hey that sounds pretty selfish too). Maybe it is b'cos i am simply too proud to tell anyone i need him/her... O Lord, let my defenses break down.

This is what God has been speaking to me about f a m i l y :

" .. in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others (Romans 12:5). The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" (1 Corinthians 12:21)"

My dear family, both natural and spiritual, please bear with me as i learn to let God tear away my brave front more and more, and help me to receive your love for me thoroughly. Yes i say to you now, i need every of you. *grins*

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

A Chewing Good Dinner


Dinner feast with Ps Victor and Ps Kelly last night @Thai Express, Raffles City. The dishes were... unexpectedly yummy. =)

This was what i made the party gang sing after we said grace:

Chew chew chew it well
Everything you eat
Chew it and chew it and chew it and chew it
Your rice, your fish, your meat..

with each of us holding a chicken wing/drum.
How about that huh? haha.

Hey you can sing it too; it's according to the tune of 'Row row row your boat'. (Not sure how it sounds, go to this youtubbie. But there's a disclaimer (font-size must be tiny): If you tumble off your chair during/after the video, it is not my fault) *giggles*

Wah... wanna dance like him?

Friday, November 03, 2006

Captured Moments from last year's Youth Camp

(View here)

SO, are you coming with me for this year end's Youth Camp - PowerHouse??

[400-youths Camp on 19-21 December, East Coast Parkway, sleep in pitched tents!]

Email me for details now! =)

Thursday, November 02, 2006

it's musical time!

i shall make a date with the Phantom next March.


The last time i watched it was when i was in... primary school!

* * *

For a great musical, you do not have to wait too long. Come December, the magic musical production MAGIC OF LOVE will be performing at Max Pavilion, Expo. Come to be stunned, electrified and yet touched by the *magic* of Love...

[ Click on banner to view an animated snowfall]



Come with me? =)

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

If you are happy and you know it...

i can't believe we looked this happy while being so tired in Japan.

Well.....it's GOD's JOY!! *winks* Love ya, Tokyo Raiders! =)

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Look what i've got playing

Corrinne May's latest album - the Gift.

Only two new songs (including The Answer) amidst the joyous melodies celebrating CHRISTmas, but nonetheless a quieter personal music to usher in that wonderful day (hey i am late, i used to sing Christmas songs from August), and to ring into the true meaning of the red-and-green day of mistletoes and candy canes.

Monday, October 30, 2006

God's wonderful people for me

Met up with a few of my Architecture buddies last Thursday over dinner after soooo long (okay, only for me =p). We went to Miss Clarity's Cafe along Purvis Street, and mind you, the food is good! The lil gathering was punctured with 'Ooohs', 'Waahhhs' and 'Yummy!' over every plate before us. Ooooohhhh...

Most of the people here were part of my usual hang-out gang in my first and second year of Architecture in NUS. We did the craziest things like squeezing 14 of us into an old Volvo sedan to go Suntec (with someone saying his leg had 'ulcers' instead of cramps), playing swing and lanterns at my playground where much of our secrets and heart-to-heart talks were shared, backpacking thru' the whole West coast of Peninsular Malaysia in ten days, playing catching and watching uncountable shooting stars at our treks and deserted beaches....
(Catch some photos here)

Thank you my friends. You were definitely my shining stars amidst the stress, strain and sometimes gloom (no day no night?!) through our architectural years. =)

* * *

Caught the movie 'Japan is Sinking' with two dear gals, Ying Shuen (left) and Chee Foon (right), Barney and two sons, and Israel before we went to help out at Yishun Children's Club on Saturday.

Ying Shuen especially, never fails to brighten my day with
her smile. This day she touched me even deeply with her self-made present (look down)!

Let's claim the verse together for our lives yeah?

Psalm 23:6 'Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever'!


*hugs*

Friday, October 27, 2006

The Singaporean mum

i am talking about.............

me! *chuckles*

Hee jokes aside, i really want to encourage some of my spiritual daughters, sons and youth friends who had told me they felt really lousy and discouraged about their E.X.A.M results (Did i hear a heavy sigh?). And also those who are facing their Os and As soon, you said you are fearful.


Here is a quote from a wonderful lady/mum who said this to every of her children ( and who's also one of the best bloggers around!):

" I hope you will have enough success in school so you will be confident and challenged to study with a sense of self -motivation and responsibility. And I hope you will have enough failures to keep you humble and yet going always for the gold ahead. The best is yet to be!"

This is exactly what i hope to encourage all of you with.

Indeed the best is yet to be, and God's wonderful purpose for your life is not yet fulfiled by Him. Trust me, this current seemingly big disappointment is NOT going to be the deciding factor of your future (including the upcoming Os or As) ... UNLESS you choose to be discouraged by it forever. Brave up, look ahead and strive on! When you are 25, 40 and even older, you are not going to look back and sigh over that little 'hurdle' cos' you will have overcome it. Yes i am telling you, I still believe in you. =)

Punk spotted in Kyoto streets. He's cool huh. Hee...

Thursday, October 26, 2006

The Singaporean dad in Japan



Seeing so much about the loving Japanese dad, Ayumu Takahashi, in my previous posts, my attention was brought to my spiritual Ahpa, Pastor Yeang Cherng.

He always tells us that he does not know how to be a good daddy, and how to relate to his daughters - both natural and spiritual. But i thank God enough that he is humble enough to always strive to learn from the Heavenly Father, the father's role. Just like what i told him last Friday, "Ahpa i already see you as my father. I see you really trying, and i thank you for that. Can i give you a hug?".

Probably cos' my own natural father is always overseas, every minimal thing that Ahpa YC had taught and done for me was BIG enough in my eyes. Simple gestures like 'Hey Mirabel i am looking forward to more time of catching up with you in Japan', short walks and dinner together during the free time at MOL Tokyo, warmed my heart greatly. I still remember one night in Tokyo, he said 'Hey Mirabel there is something i must talk to you about before we get back to our hostel', and he suddenly stole time to begin his fatherly talk on his daughter's (my) 'future happiness'. Ha. What came out of it? I dare you to ask me. =p

Monday, October 23, 2006

The Japanese dad

in my previous post has caused my jaws to drop further.

Check out this summary of the life of Ayumu Takahashi:

Born in 1972 in Tokyo Minato-ku, Japan.

Chief Executive Director of the publications company
Factory A-Works (since 2003) dealing with book, music, film and other products.

At the time of 20 years old, he was fascinated by the movie 'Cocktail' (starring Tom Cruise) and thus left university to open an American bar Rockwell's with his friends. It expanded to 4 branches in two years.

At the age of 23, in order to write his autobiography, he and his buddies established the "Sankuchiyuari" (Sanctuary) publication" which produced many best-sellers.

Takahashi got married at 26. And 3 days after the wedding, he took off with his wife on a World Journey and wrote many books such as Dear WildChild, Love & Free. In about two years they had travelled numerous countries from the North Pole to the South Pole.

Returning to Okinawa in December 2000, Takahashi opened a cafe-bar and guest house called Beach Rock House, seeking to create a paradise of blue sea and music. In Okinawa, Takahashi is also a fervent and loving parent of two adorable children. (Check out his charming family video in the
previous post or catch a glimpse in the video in that far upper right corner)

His current ongoing 'Island Project' shakes Okinawa alive through its essence of nature, music, art and adventure, all together. It also stands strong for nature preservation, especially Okinawa's corals.


Spending much of his time on writing and giving live lectures around Japan, Takahashi is a charismatic opinion leader especially for the multitudes of Japanese youths.

(Source: Ayumu Channel, translated by Babel, edited by me)

Friday, October 20, 2006


Here is one Japanese dad whose heart flows abundantly in L.O.V.E for his family. I am moved. Click on the picture above to check out the promotional video of his new book I Love You Always & Forever and the album created basing on his book. Nice music too.

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Encountering Japan 2.1 | Travel. Trains. (Stations). People.

A sneak preview to the present series of Japan encounters - the pretties, and the unbelievables:


(Acknowledgements: Photos were taken using my Shutterbaby)




The train systems (under several train companies) in Japan are so extensive yet wonderfully integrated (Just look at the subway lines in Tokyo alone). I wondered: if every stretch of railroad in Japan were to be lined in a single file, would it form a length enough to go around the globe?

Having taken the most number of trains in my life within my two-week stint there, these journeys are definitely one of the best ways to hear, see and mingle with the Japanese. =)




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