I Have A Big Boss

I was on the verge of blogging about the high death rates due to road accidents in my country but managed to hold back myself because I know how topics like this stirs sadness in me.

After a heavy buffet dinner with a friend last night, I headed back home, tired and feeling slightly guilty about the whole eat-all-you-can thing-y in buffet/steamboat restaurants. Being very conscious about putting my body under pressure of digesting the food I've consumed, I drank my  regular "detox drink" and had to wait for an hour to let "everything" move down.

I remember telling myself 2 years ago that "this will be the last time I will eat at restaurants with themes of eat-all-you-can."

What does buffet dinner have to do with self-motivating?

Well, merely that the former precedes the latter.

Before my last wink to La-La Land, the Lord comforted my anxiety over work. He commended what I've done. I'll spare the intimate details. All that He's said to me that night was much like a balm after whipping  my self to bits at work.

So, since I'm telling my stomach today to be satisfied with a morsel of food, I have plenty of time to spare to stumble upon these beautiful and motivating quotes:

"Teaching is the supreme art of the teacher

to awaken joy

in creative expression and knowledge"

Albert Einstein

"Nine-tenths of education 

is encouragement."

Anatole France

Dianne, excel in all that you do, knowing this:

that all that you do is unto your BIG BOSS above 

:-)

Paul's Lesson

"Be content with such things as you have." Hebrews 13:5

We may not always have what we desire--but we certainly have what our God thinks is best for us. Every mercy we have, is directed by His infinite wisdom and eternal love. 

Let us therefore remember, that our God has chosen our inheritance for us, and it befits us to becontent; yes, to be very grateful. 

We have infinitely more than we deserve! We have more than many of our fellow-believers. 
We have liberty--while the Apostles were shut up in prison.
We have a home--while many of the primitive Christians wandered about in dens and caves of the earth.
Our lives are safe--while the martyrs were burned at the stake.
We live in the sure hope of Heaven--while many are lifting up their eyes in Hell, being in torment!

Let us strive to be content with present things, and endeavor to learn Paul's lesson, "I havelearned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."


Adapted from James Smith, 1842

The Best Preacher of The Gospel

An honest, consistent, holy character--is a sermon all the week. The godly Christian--pure of heart and unspotted by the world--is the best preacher of the gospel. The revival which is most urgently needed--is a revival of practical godliness. Sunday preaching is not enough; we need more "sermons all through the week."


Let us go down to the core. The only basis of good character is a renewed heart--a heart in which Jesus Christ lives, a heart which is in the habit of obeying Christ's commandments. Such a man draws his motives of action from his deep, abiding love to Jesus. Up from the very roots--comes his daily devotion to those things which are pure and honest and lovely and of good report. Rooted into Christ, he is not easily shaken. He does not bend to trickery or yield to temptation. The world cannot move such a man. What does he care for its changing, frivolous fashions; his fashion is to do the will of his holy Master.


"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Romans 12:1-2


Adapted from (Theodore Cuyler, "Wayside Springs from the Fountain of Life" 1883)

I Love the Smell of My Workpplace

I have a lecture in the next 10 minutes.
I walked up the stairs of my workplace and into my office room earlier this morning.
Work starts at 8, but I arrived at 7. Because I wanted to avoid the crazy traffic jam love working!
I did the unthinkable -
I breathed in the air deeply.
I love the smell of my workplace that has now grown familiar to my nose' sense bud.

I am still sane.

Love God, love people!

Random thoughts of an Educator/Musician

The new semester reopens today.
To start of with, I felt a little light in the head, was supervising some lab preparation for tomorrow's major examination. I'm bracing myself!
I went to class, and there was this period of lapse where it took me more than 10 seconds to figure out a particular English word to describe something for example, I was figuring out the word "opposite" and the word "inverted" kept coming up. I hate it when that happens. Ever since I started teaching Biology, this happens more than once. *Sigh* What is the matter with my brain?

Okay, Lord thank you for a good memory. You've given me a sound mind and I receive it by faith in Jesus name. I shall no longer think that I have memory lapse anymore.

I need fresh inspiration in my work. I don't want to recycle my lessons. I want it to be always fresh, exciting, never losing its zest. Lord, please help me!

New songs keep coming, they spill over when I go to sleep, when I awaken from sleep, when I shower, when I eat, when I'm walking alone.

This phrase came to me today, "So be thankful for the good things that you've got. The good things that you've got, for a many is just a dream..."

I'm keeping this blog alive though no one is reading it anymore because it has become part of me. I have my own private journal with more private details. But this blog contains so much of what I've went through, stories which I don't mind if people read them. Sounds a little bit narcissistic kan?

I love pictures regarding nature.

I thought this squirrel surviving the winter really cute,

thought of sharing. Credits to National Geographic

Image taken from National Geographic by Ray Yeager, My Shot

Photographed during a snowstorm in New Jersey

at http://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-live/photos/000/479/cache/squirrel-snow-storm_47916_600x450.jpg

Weaving songs

I was flipping past my music diary this evening.

For song composers out there,

you would call "music diary" with different terms.

It's where song lyrics and their melodies were weaved.

It's where I write phrases of ideas that comes to mind.

Usually, it is accompanied by any form of audio recorder.

I have the entire Saturday to myself today.

I've been picking up and putting down my guitar 

in search for inspiration for an upcoming song for the past weeks.

You'll know it when a song is brewing...or when it is about to be conceived.

You just don't know how long it would take for it to take form.

So, you simply have to be patient.

Read more, listen more, see more of things that generates inspiration.

Today, I finished weaving a song.

The last time I sang my songs in a church was a year ago.

I don't really have an eager aim of producing my own album.

Really.

I'm not too ambitious when it comes to album recording.

Friends of mine would always encourage me to pursue at least a single album.

I would in return give them a smile and a typical asian, "don't know lah" or a "see lah" reply.

*Sigh*

My only desire is to share my songs to others

and hear multitudes of voices praising and worshipping God.

I find so much joy in that.

Hands raised, voices singing in unison and glorifying God.

Sometimes I compose songs to encourage my friends or my students.

That too gives me joy.

I don't know if I will ever have at least a recording of my songs,

or will my songs be sung in church ever again.

But, I'll keep composing until my last breath.

I know later in heaven I'll be singing more beautiful choruses unto 

the One who inspires me the most.

Whenever doors of opportunities open,

I will step in and share those songs.

Note to self: Dianne, never stop weaving songs :)

Looking back

I remember how challenging last week was.

I even brought my students' exam papers for marking to the p&w practice last Wednesday.

I remember how I literally chased after time, drank cups of coffee, stayed up and drink more coffee.

No wonder my former lecturers use to tell us about how their spouses had to help them do the marking.

And then....I recall being aware of how self-conscious I have been for more than a decade.

Being one drains you mentally. It takes up so much space of your thoughts that you become enslaved by fear of what others think about you.

It's stupid. It's ridiculous and it has been something I have been doing all this while.

The Lord has been revealing a number of things to me recently. Some of which are just too intimate to disclose in a public blog. But, one of them is my over self-conscious and melancholy-related temperament.

God said that I should stop, and start focusing on Him instead and His words. He said to not worry about what others shall think about me any longer.

I felt like a weight has been lifted up my shoulders!

"Whatever is noble, whatever is true, whatever that is of good report....be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication...:"

Any way, this week is like putting the car into first gear. It's the exam week for my year 1s and revision week for my year 2s. Keeping them in prayers.

The reason I hardly talk about my love life is that I find it way too private for everybody to read about. It's not like I'm experienced and have some God-given wisdom to give counsels to couples out there.

The only wisdom I have is to trust in God no matter what happens. Is there anyone as constant and assuring as God Himself? Tak ada bah! (A Sabahan way of saying, none)

The only thing I'll perhaps disclose about is...Well,  I'm not sure yet.

I met a bunch of happy people last Friday. They look happy all the time. Laughing and smiling, but I'm still quite new...I still have that stranger-feeling within me. God willing will be meeting them again soon. I surely want to like them. I pray I will eventually like them. I am human.

Until here for now, sleeping is God's gift, a pastor once said last Sunday. I'll exercise that gift later. Goodnight blog readers, if any. LOL