keep believing

Don’t you think we ought to know by now..
Don’t you think we should have learned somehow..

-John Mayer

Before someone else does it, I shall disclose it here first: I was late for my trip to Pulau Ubin on Wednesday morning because I mixed Tanah Merah and Redhill up. So embarrassing.. They have the same colour lor, that’s why, I always get them mixed up, but I really didn’t wish to make people wait for half an hour because of that.. Sorryyy!

It was my virgin trip to Pulau Ubin, and I had fun exploring the island with an adventurous girl and a life science undergrad, spotting pretty pretty flowers, pointing out Latin names for plants, getting an innocent monitor lizard shocked by screaming at it.. And I’m still amazed at how water can hold heavy things up in the sea.
How great Thou art!

Watched Little Miss Sunshine on DVD (Tito’s).. It’s a sweet movie with family values in it, despite the bizzare plot twists, excessive cursing, and the little girl’s tummy which is somehow disturbing.. I love the scene when the little girl just sat beside her angsty teenage brother who was really upset, and hugged him, and I love how the hug changed his mind..

And.. it’s time to go back to reality and hit the books really hard. Three midterms and two assignments next week sighs.

They urged Him strongly, ‘Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over. Luke 24:29

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word;
But as Thou dwell’st with Thy disciples, Lord,
Familiar, condescending, patient, free.
Come not to sojourn, but abide with me.

Come not in terrors, as the King of kings,
But kind and good, with healing in Thy wings,
Tears for all woes, a heart for every plea—
Come, Friend of sinners, and thus bide with me.

Thou on my head in early youth didst smile;
And, though rebellious and perverse meanwhile,
Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee,
On to the close, O Lord, abide with me.

I need Thy presence every passing hour.
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22

It’s been so hot these days. The yet to be legal portable air-con is becoming very useful.

Chanel’s party on Saturday, at the faraway land, Pasir Ris.. It’s so very far can. I can’t imagine there are actually people who travel school-Pasir Ris back and fro everyday. People who stay so near shouldn’t complain.

Met the class people again, I think the girls have matured, but the boys.. will be boys. Well, I’ve never been that close to the class, but it’s nice seeing them again,.. if only I wasn’t in so much pain that day.

Had a little bit too many meetings the past three days, I should do some studying.

Hi,

I’m so sorry that I’ve missed my interview today as I thought 25 February was a Tuesday. I actually thought my interview was going to be tomorrow, at 1045. It is an honest mistake, I’m very sorry for that.

Could you please arrange another slot for me?

Nehemiah is a man of prayer and a man of action; a firm leader and a servant of his people; a realist and a visionary, and above all, a man of God. -John White

We had a bible study on Nehemiah (1,2,4) yesterday, I had it three times actually: on my own, with the exco, and with everyone else. So he’s kinda stuck in my head now and I just have to blog it. I admire how he went ahead with what God has put in his heart despite having to leave his comfort, security and position behind. He planned it all carefully, he waited on God’s time. Despite all the insults and doubts and threats, he persevered in faith and in his work, and continued to pray unceasingly throughout the process.

Nehemiah was the cupbearer to the king, he’s living such a good, comfortable, respectable life, but his heart was with the people of Israel who were suffering, whose wall had been broken down. But he didn’t stop at thinking/planning/dreaming, he acted, he led his people, he persevered, and he completed what God wanted him to do. And the building of the wall of Jerusalem was completed.

There are too many things I’ve learnt from this guy..

The God of heaven will give us success. We His servants will start rebuilding. Nehemiah 2:20

It’s just.. I’ve been working so much that I’m having a hard time keeping track of things. Joey Tribbiani

Well, I’ve not been working that much, but I’m having a hard time keeping track of things too. And that’s what the blog is for.

My classes this semester require me to reset my biological clock, which I joyfully do, and now I go to sleep at 10 and wake up at 4. 1 am now I consider very late. I love waking up early when it’s still dark outside and everybody else is asleep, I can wake up feeling fresh and happy, I can tell people that I go jogging when I don’t because no one can tell if I really do jog, and I have more than enough time for quiet time. But I still haven’t managed to go for my 8 am lectures on time, and I get very sleepy in the afternoon, I wonder why..

I’ve had an MCQ quiz and a vocab test, and there are more quizzes to come after the recess week (which is the reason why I’m kinda dreading the break to come, because it means I’ll have to catch up and study soo hard!). There are gonna be more projects due, more assignments to submit, more and more.. okay if I continue, this entry is going to look like my NUS welfare diary pages. I guess I’m getting the idea, the gist of life as an NUS/engineering undergrad.. I definitely don’t love it, but I’ll try to cope.

I’m getting very broke, as in really really so very broke.. after I paid for my visa application and Work and Travel air ticket. I’ve spent close to $4k for this program, and I’ve been pondering if this thing is worth so much money and my three months holiday. And I got fired from my tuition last week, meaning I have more time, and less income now.
So I’m (trying to be) on $2 meals budget.

There are too many possible things to do and too many opportunities, but the time that you have in a day doesn’t get longer. One word, prioritise. And two more words, speed up.
Cheers :)

I feel like posting an ugly picture.

Look at the NUS map at the background, we look like some evil monsters with an evil plan to conquer the NUS world.

We’re out to conquer NUS’ stress, tutorials, quizzes, projects, and everything else!
By the grace of God of course.

You’ve got a friend in me
When the road looks rough ahead
And you’re miles and miles
From your nice warm bed
Just remember what your old pal said
Boy, you’ve got a friend in me

You’ve got troubles, well I’ve got ‘em too
There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you
We stick together and we see it through
You’ve got a friend in me

Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.
1 Cor 13:4-8

Happy Valentine’s day!
:)