Even though You know, You will never let me go..

Reading Psalm 139 during these days of 'isolation' brought Jesus' love especially close, and even opened my eyes to see certain verses in a new light of His love and delight upon me. =)

Verses that i have read before many times, but did not make that much a difference as today.

And i was reminded warmly of a song i first heard many years ago.

Psalm 139

You search me, You know me.
You see my every move.
There is nothing I could ever do
To hide myself from You.

You know my thoughts, my fears and hurts,
My weaknesses and pride.
You know what I am going through
And how I feel inside.

But even though You know, You will always love me.
Even though You know, you'll never let me go.

I don't deserve your love, but You give it freely.
You will always love me, even though You know.

Words and Music by Rebecca St. James.
Copyright © 1996 Up In The Mix Music/BMI/Bibbitsong Music. All rights reserved

This song was written based on the beautiful bible verses in Psalm 139. Each word is for YOU. =)



Yes! The Lord loves me still even though He saw that i now look almost like a bruised chipmunk (sneak preview ahead...)

, slightly bruised in the cheeks due to the healing of the swelling (yes it's finally subsiding slowly after five days, boo) as the blood spreads beneath the tissues - a normal post-operative occurrence...

Yes, Jesus holds me in His tender hands just like in the picture above.. =)

And i know He is nursing me to complete healing so that i can enjoy bro Benruth's chilli crabs on Tuesday at our YCYPAO36 gathering! Ha. I asked him for one big whole crab for myself!

I cannot wait to recover completely.

Enjoy the love song from Jesus. =)

The First Step of Victory is Won when you have Faith!

Still feeling tired from medication and recovery. Just prayed for myself for Jesus to protect my surgery sites (where my wilsons used to lay, hee) from infection or tearing of stitches. Swell is still on for 5 days already! Had sudden slight bleeding from one extraction site since yesterday. Jesus will heal!

Thought i want to drop a note, before i rest, to all of you having your exams soon.

(shudders?)

It's been really encouraging to hear many of your hearts on why you want to work hard for your exams.

Sheryl just shared that she wants to go into Victoria JC and to become a psychiatrist in the future. This is great.

To the rest, even if your goal for this exams is just simply that you want to pass all subjects with your greatest efforts, i am proud of you. Go achieve it. I believe in you.

Wen xin told me she remembered someone telling her that the Holy Spirit will definitely be her best Teacher, Counselor and Guide for every question in every paper for her exams. Amen to that for everyone else of you too!

Inevitably some of you are feeling afraid, worried. A dear girl told me a few times this week she felt paralysed by fear for her exams.

But tonight she won a victory. She said she will overcome the fear because she believes God is with her. She prayed and claimed these verses i gave her:

Psalm 34:4 "I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears"!

Psalm 84:11-12 (NLT) "For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right. O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, what joy for those who trust in You".

John 14:26-27 "...the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My (Jesus') name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid".

May you claim all these for yourselves too! =)

F E A R = False Evidence Appearing Real

Have Faith instead!

I am rooting for you!

Goodbye Wilsons!

Thank you, the many of you, who showered me with notes of encouragement and prayers before, during and after my wisdom tooth surgery on Wednesday.

I am now completely and eternally free from Wilsons!!!
(Click here to check out my ordeal with Mr W)

Once again i cant thank God enough for how prayers really work.

I have been having a painless recovery since Wednesday. (Right now only waiting for chipmunk cheeks to go away 0^0)

After the surgery, my wounds were bleeding quite a lot. But after i regained consciousness and prayed, the nurse came by her third round and said, "Good, the bleeding has stopped!".

After two days of feeling undernourished and food-deprived (only had little portions of soft food, boo), i ate my first packet of hor fun last night. =)

I had also been having long hours of sleep like never before, well rested even with the intermittent waking at 4am to take my antibiotics.


Thank you for being with me through this little ordeal. =)

Trusting

I am feeling a lil anxious for my wisdom tooth surgery on Wednesday morning.

This is my first general anesthetic aka 'unconscious' surgery.

Well, being unconscious also means all i can do is to trust myself into the hands of God completely, which is good.

Please really pray for my recovery journey - i reject all serious swelling, bleeding, pain and numbness of the nerves in Jesus' name!

(All these are common conditions after such surgeries, that is why they give five- to seven-day MC after that. I hope my break will be a good rested time with the Lord, instead of battling with the above.)

Bridal Showers. Wilson. A Brave Gal.

Two dear sisters invited me to their bridal showers next week!

They are getting married in June! Yippppeeee. But what a pity i would not be able to attend their weddings due to other commitments, and i even have to miss their bridal showers. =(

i will be recovering from my wisdom tooth surgery next week. Finally Wilson will be gone! Plus three of his accomplices too. Will be taking out all four wisdom teeth under general anesthetic (gives me a lil jitter). Please pray for no serious swelling, and a fast and painless recovery!

Back to the brides-to-be. Jaime and Jia Huey, God bless you with excitement, joy and wisdom for the upcoming new stage of life! So glad to journey with you through the years. =)

* * *

My daughter Belinda and i went for the dinner get-together for Trybe life coaches last night. It was a good time of catchup and also proper review discussion of how the very first round of life coaching had gone.

I thought the picture below is really cute cos it looked like we both purposely clenched our fists into a punch. Well we are Warrior Princesses with a good fighting spirit! Ha, but the truth for the picture is that we both happened to be grabbing our bag handles which were rather camouflaged with our tops. Ha.

I put a photo Ber and i took together two years back here as well, on the right (i can hear Ber screaming). I always rejoice in how Ber has grown. Prettier too. Beautiful smiles. I had gone thru' ups and downs with her, but she is essentially a very humble girl who is open with even her weaknesses and seeks to learn to become better. It is always so good to hear her heart.

Dear precious Belinda, i know that you are taking small brave steps in restoring things in your life and putting things 'right'. I see your heart of love growing through the years. Thank you for labouring in love with me in life coaching.

In all that you do, may you not rely too much on your own strength. I bless you with faith and boldness for every step, and may you experience Love and Grace even more, as you walk. =)

Keep it (my heart) Simple

Bro Charles asked me to listen to the song on his blog and i simply fell in love with it!

Simple words that express actually the deepest desires of my heart.

Father, i ask You again to keep my heart simple like the kids'. =)

A Kid's Prayer

Dear God
Thank You for loving me
And giving me Your all
When I grow up
I will still be serving You
I want to know You more
I want to love You more
I will never forget You Lord
In Jesus name,
Amen

I want to know You more
You are a great big God
I’m young and do not know a lot
Come and be my all

I want to love You more
Giving You my life and all
You died for me You sacrificed
I won’t forget You Lord

I love You Jesus
I’ll grow up knowing You
I love You Jesus
I’ll grow up serving You
I love You Jesus
My life was made by You
I’ll never forget
I’ll never forget
I’ll grow up loving You

Love is spelt as.. Trust.

(an continuation from my previous post 'Love is spelt as Time, part i & ii)

I was just telling someone last week this

"Sometimes i wonder why many people trust me so much".

He answered, 'Well you have a gift, of making people comfortable with you'. I remembered a pastor affirming me similarly that i have an endearing spirit.

* * *

i was very surprised and warmed to see Amy's (one of my precious life coachees) note on my tagboard (at sidebar). My blog has become her 'motivation core'? What an honour. i asked her in what ways, and she described,

"Should be those pictures you put up.. those happy smiling faces, and those meaningful quotes (from the Bible) which make me feel so comfortable and awake. Gradually i saw the meaning in life".

* * *

Last Saturday evening i had a date with yet another girl from one of my Trybe sessions three years ago.

Yvon trusted me within half an hour of knowing me when i first met her as a Sec 2 student. I was so thankful to be allowed into her life.

She is still reading the Bible i gave her 3 years ago. Grins.

Though we talked maybe once a year, we share an incredible bond which i know has been preserved and blossomed by God Himself. It could not have been, by our own means.

She is now a beautiful 17-yr old who just started her Ngee Ann Poly stint today with much boldness for the new stage, excitement for the new environment and love for her newfound friends. I am proud of her. =)

* * *

To all these, i truly thank God.

* * *

Sometimes i wonder how i can have so much strength to continue loving people and more and more.

I am no superwoman of course. I do feel rejected by friends and family at times too. I did harbour thoughts to stop loving certain people too. I remember myself crying out in anguish to Jesus a few times before, "Lord, it is sooooo painful to love. Sooo painful.....".

I do fear giving my all for persons too. I too, don't like to be disappointed at the end of the day by people. There are times when i feel like a failure in handling certain relationships.

i am as human and feeling as any of you.

But my God, as described in the song below, is my strength.

Everyone needs compassion

A love that's never failing

Let mercy fall on me

Everyone needs forgiveness

A kindness of a Savior

The hope of nations

Savior

He can move the mountains

My God is Mighty to save

He is Mighty to save

Forever

Author of salvation

He rose and conquered the grave

Jesus conquered the grave

So take me as You find me

All my fears and failures

Fill my life again

I give my life to follow

Everything i believe in

Now i surrender

Shine your light and let the whole world see

We're singing for the glory of the risen King...Jesus

I need compassion?... Jesus has it the most. He has that even for those who murdered Him.

I need to forgive.... or even to forgive myself? Jesus teaches me how to. With His dying breath, He asked the Heavenly Father to forgive the murderers.

If He can move even mountains, if He has the power to even overcome death, nothing is impossible for me. Yes Jesus was resurrected!

When i am afraid or feel like a failure, all i need to do is to surrender. At the Cross.

I trust Him.

THESE ARE HOW I KEEP LOVING.

=)

A Date with my son, Cerwin!

(Script is fictional. Any resemblance to any person and his life is purely a coincidence)

My Thanksgiving for Trybe

Today i wrote a thanksgiving email to Rachel, Jaime, Jia Huey and Nicholas, staff of Trybe (formerly Thumbs-up) where i am volunteering with. They are my heroes who have inspired and supported me a lot through the five years, together with many others in Trybe whom i did not mention. =)

I hope you see what i mean here when i say i embrace Jesus' words 'It is more blessed to give than to receive'.

"In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" (Acts 20:35)

luv,

mirabel

* * *

Hi wonderfuls,

I was reflecting on my journey in Thumbs-up!...Trybe for the past years last night, and my heart was filled with much gratitude and thanksgiving.

Thought I will drop a note to you faithful sowers in Trybe to give thanks. =)

In all i do see that i have grown personally (not just in age, haha) through the training and opportunities Trybe has given me. A first essential outcome of these was enabling me to understand myself more. Secondly it definitely empowered me to give to others, in ways beyond my expectation and imagination.

You need to understand how powerful this empowerment has been for me. I grew up as a shy and probably self-conscious kid, never daring to put my hand up in class to speak out. My family was very protective over me, and it turned out to 'discourage' me from stepping out of myself many times.

Interestingly I just recalled that I joined Trybe when, for the first time in my life, I dared to step out for myself, to follow Christ. I did not have an easy time with my parents then. Now I see that it was really God's painstaking planning to place you guys in my life to support and strengthen me at that time.

Thank you too for trusting me enough with your resources and releasing me to deliver Trybe to the masses - both in You can do it! and Life Coaching. (Do you ever wonder what i teach the students??? Haha).

I think I gained much more for myself than what the students always said they got. One most important learning here is the part of being conscious and watchful of my every action and word, if not I can be teaching others the wrong things. As an imperfect person, one of the things I have been intently learning for myself, is to always speak to build and not break others.

Until now, I am still marvelling at the relationships God has allowed me to build with many students through Trybe over the years. Students who attended my You can Do it! sessions years ago still come to me now for advice and friendship even though we may not have met up, for years too.

I hope 'my life can be an example to many, because God has been my strength and protection' (Psalm 71:7, NLT), especially against the worldly standards.

Thank you for letting me discover and trusting me (or more accurately, Jesus in me) that I can be a positive example to others! =)

luv,
mirabel

Emptied lungs, stiffened hands. Where is the Hope in Death which we ALL will face?

In my previous post, i shared about the amazing stories of New Hope and New Life that happened around me.

Today i read a devotional by Max Lucado. He wittingly brought out the message of Good Friday and Easter like a play, almost acting out before my eyes as i read. The message never changes. It is still about Hope and Life.

May you receive life too as you read the devotional!


The Cradle of Hope
by Max Lucado

Christ rose first; then when Christ comes back, all his people will become alive again.1 Corinthians 15:23 TLB

Let’s go to the tomb, for Jesus lies in the tomb.

Still. Cold. Stiff. Death has claimed its greatest trophy. He is not asleep in the tomb or resting in the tomb or comatose in the tomb; he is dead in the tomb. No air in his lungs. No thoughts in his brain. No feeling in his limbs. His body is as lifeless as the stone slab upon which he has been laid.

The executioners made sure of it. When Pilate learned that Jesus was dead, he asked the soldiers if they were certain. They were. Had they seen the Nazarene twitch, had they heard even one moan, they would have broken his legs to speed his end. But there was no need. The thrust of a spear removed all doubt. The Romans knew their job. And their job was finished. They pried loose the nails, lowered his body, and gave it to Joseph and Nicodemus.

Joseph of Arimathea. Nicodemus the Pharisee. Jesus had answered the prayer of their hearts, the prayer for the Messiah. As much as the soldiers wanted him dead, even more these men wanted him alive.

As they sponged the blood from his beard, don’t you know they listened for his breath? As they wrapped the cloth around his hands, don’t you know they hoped for a pulse? Don’t you know they searched for life?

But they didn’t find it.

So they do with him what they were expected to do with a dead man. They wrap his body in clean linen and place it in a tomb. Joseph’s tomb. Roman guards are stationed to guard the corpse. And a Roman seal is set on the rock of the tomb. For three days, no one gets close to the grave.

But then, Sunday arrives. And with Sunday comes light ??? a light within the tomb. A bright light? A soft light? Flashing? Hovering? We don’t know. But there was a light. For he is the light. And with the light came life. Just as the darkness was banished, now the decay is reversed. Heaven blows and Jesus breathes. His chest expands. Waxy lips open. Wooden fingers lift. Heart valves swish and hinged joints bend.

And, as we envision the moment, we stand in awe.

We stand in awe not just because of what we see, but because of what we know. We know that we, too, will die. We know that we, too, will be buried. Our lungs, like his, will empty. Our hands, like his, will stiffen. But the rising of his body and the rolling of the stone give birth to a mighty belief: “What we believe is this: If we get included in Christ’s sin-conquering death, we also get included in his life-saving resurrection. We know that when Jesus was raised from the dead it was a signal of the end of death-as-the-end. Never again will death have the last word. When Jesus died, he took sin down with him, but alive he brings God down to us” (Rom. 6:5–9 MSG).

From When Christ Comes
Copyright (W Publishing Group, 1999) Max Lucado

Healing Miracles [New Hope.Beginnings]

Some of you saw my post about the Miracle Healing Easter a few days ago.

It was an awesome service yesterday at my church. From Saturday night, we already heard of a 70-yr old lady who could not walk for 15 years stood up and walked at Hokkien service. Even reading that one-line news off my pc screen caused me to sob.

Indeed Jesus is able to heal, but beyond that, He WANTS to heal!

I was on stage throughout the healing ministry time yesterday. And i saw many many faces... all expressing the desperation to be set free from sicknesses, addictions, fear, depression.. Tears were in my eyes as i interceded for them on the stage.

Then we heard testimonies of healing that occured right before me

+ One was 70% deaf in one ear, after prayer she said it was only 30% deaf.
+ One had severe pain in the knee, after prayer it was completely healed.
+ A gal had sinus and her nose was blocked before prayer, after prayer she could breath deeply and without obstruction.
+ One had pain in her elbow, afterwards he felt much better and could move it around.

My gals told me they showed on screen LIVE, this old lady who arose from her wheelchair to stand after the leaders prayed for her.

When i was running about in Hall 9 before service, i too had seen another old lady, supported by a family member, walking beside her empty wheelchair!

Jesus is real, and He is the God of Hope and New Beginnings!

Click for The Truth about Good Friday... is it really Good?

Blessing the Yishun Community

... and Transforming the Void Deck!

Flash Slideshow

(Photos taken on Canon Powershot A710 IS)

This Easter program for a part of Yishun neighbourhood is a collaborative effort between Touch Young Arrows (mainly Yishun Young Arrows (YYA)) and the RC for that area. We blessed the community with a good time of games, magic show and an awareness of the true message of Easter.

I felt unwell the whole of today. Have been so since i had gastric on Monday night. I nearly ringed Shereen to tell her i would not be going down, but i really wanted to give her the support at the event, not forgetting that she is not too familiar with YYA yet.

I must thank God for Shereen who really put in a lot of efforts for this, ever since i asked her to take charge of the manpower and planning of our games stalls and the stage backdrop decor. I wanted this to be a good exposure for her in serving the community through tapping on her strengths. Well done, Shereen!

Not forgetting Yati, Asyiqin and Shereen's 3 friends who came down to help. I knew there were times it got hot and boring, but you stayed on. I hope the innocent fun and joy of the children warmed your hearts today. I learnt so much from the children; they are always so delighted by little, simple things. =)

Seeing the teens at YYA grow and anchor their own stall today was heartwarming too!

O Lord, keep my heart simple like the kids'!

Good Friday Outreach

Flash Slideshow

(Photos taken on Canon Powershot A710 IS)

In Need of a Miracle?

Are you or anyone you know sick?
In need of a healing miracle?

Looking for family restoration or reconciliation?

Know someone who is always depressed, who cannot lift his head up?


Come for my church's Healing Miracle Easter service this Sunday, 8 April @Max Pavilion, Expo at 1.30pm.

According to your faith, YOU WILL BE HEALED.

YOU are invited to party!

Yes, if you are reading this, you are invited to my event!

For more details, email me at eeeepiak@yahoo.com, or ring me up!

Bring an egg, yes bring an egg! heehee