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because I accidentally called my mom's phone a couple of times and now my phone bill is up to $96 as I overshot my international calls limit.

*fumes*

~3:13 pm

...spend the rest of my life
Looking at the barrel of an armalite
I don't want to spend the rest of my days
Keeping out of trouble like the soldiers say
I don't want to spend my time in hell
Looking at the walls of a prison cell
I don't ever want to play the part
Of a statistic on a government chart

There has to be an invisible sun
It gives its heat to everyone
There has to be an invisible sun
That gives us hope when the whole day's done

It's dark all day and it glows all night
Factory smoke and acetylene light
I face the day with my head caved in
Looking like something that the cat brought in

There has to be an invisible sun
It gives its heat to everyone
There has to be an invisible sun
That gives us hope when the whole day's done

And they're only going to change this place
By killing everybody in the human race
They would kill me for a cigarette
But I don't even wanna die just yet

There has to be an invisible sun
It gives its heat to everyone
There has to be an invisible sun
That gives us hope when the whole day's done

"Invisible Sun" by The Police
-----

*I'm kind of addicted to grooving to The Police and The Postal Service while doing my assignment.
I like the way this song goes...especially the line "I face the day with my head caved in, looking like something that the cat brought in." Music's great too.

~1:31 am

My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever.
Psalm 73:26

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask Him, be sure your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.
James 1:5-6

Lord Jesus,
Let me rely on Your strength and wisdom to do my assignments well and on time. Please guide me through this chaotic time and to find rest in You alone. Thank You for Your Almighty presence living within me. I love You, my wonderful Counselor.
In the precious name of Jesus I pray,
Amen.

31st March --> COM2080 minor essay & PSY2031 Lab Proposal

6th April --> PSY2031 Activity 5

7th Aril --> COM2050 major essay

23rd April --> PSY2051 RDA 1

~11:37 pm

by Suzanne Hadley

Sarah wrestled with God. For five years she had served as a resident director at a small Bible college. Each day, young women would knock on the door of Sarah's small dorm apartment. The petite, soft-spoken brunette would fix them tea and listen as they poured out their hearts.

"If I could just get my life on track," a 19-year-old would moan. "Then God would bring a godly man into my life."

Sarah spoke encouraging words, but inside she felt annoyed. I'm in my late 20s and unmarried. What issue do you think I need to work on?

As Sarah wrestled with this contradiction, she discovered something: She and the women around her were succumbing to lies about their singleness. Some of these myths had been instilled in them as little girls growing up in Christian homes (e.g., if you follow God and keep yourself pure, someday He will bring you "the one"). Others seemed founded in a simplistic rewards system (e.g., when you've learned to fully trust in the Lord, then He will bless you with a spouse). Still others seemed to grow out of unrealistic expectations (e.g., when you are married, you will no longer be lonely).

Sarah noticed the enemy was using these myths to discourage women and leave them feeling spiritually defeated. The lies reinforced ungodly perspectives of their relationship with Christ ("I'm not deserving of a husband" or "God views me as a useful tool") and taught them to believe things about marriage that simply were not true ("Marriage equals spiritual maturity").

Here are seven of the most deadly myths:

God will give me a husband when I'm ready. I recently spoke with a friend in her 30s who casually said the reason she was not yet married was because evidently the Lord had decided she was not "ready." Whether they say it or not, many single women believe that procuring a spouse is somehow performance based. If I were just godly enough, the Lord would give me a husband.

Not true! There is a danger in equating marriage with spiritual maturity. God teaches us to depend on Him as singles, but these lessons are not reserved for the mate-less. All of us are sinners, which means we are all constantly striving to crucify the flesh and be more like Christ.

Being in a single state may or may not have anything to do with your readiness. It likely has more to do with God's timing. If you are daily allowing the Lord to mold you into His image, you are probably ready to be in a Christ-centered relationship. Realizing this may allow you to be more alert to the godly men around you.

God views me more as a useful tool than a beloved child. As a gifted resident assistant, Sarah sometimes felt like Psalm 37:4 didn't apply to her: "Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart." Instead of believing that God cared about her dreams, Sarah suspected He was withholding these things because she was more useful to Him in a single state.

People have often told me, "God has allowed you to be single so you might do these things for Him!" While I know these people are seeking to encourage me, my gut reaction is, Why me? It's true that God may set us apart for a season of singleness, but that doesn't mean He is indifferent to our dreams.

Matthew 7:11 says, "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" God views you a cherished child — never a utilitarian object. A loving Father will give you good gifts at just the right time.

When it's the right guy, I'll just know. When I was in eighth grade I drew "the one" on a sheet of notebook paper. He had the post-mullet Steven Curtis Chapman haircut, wore hiking books and sported several oddly-placed muscles. Among his more critical characteristics were intelligence, godliness and good hygiene. I had specific ideas about who my husband would be, even what he would look like. (If I met the guy in my picture today, I'd run the other way.)

Christian culture (and eHarmony) has created a romanticized picture of what meeting your spouse will be like. In the classic I Kissed Dating Goodbye, Joshua Harris writes: "Too many couples overspiritualize the decision of whom they marry. Instead of realizing that God leads us by providing wisdom and allowing us to make our own choices, those couples wait for a 'mystical experience' that will tell them what to do."

Just as my junior high mind projected who I would recognize as "the one," my grown-up self entertains expectations of how I'll feel when my "soul mate" arrives on the scene. The truth is, God knows best the kind of man who will inspire me to greater devotion to Him. As I seek the Lord, I can trust Him to reveal that person to me in whatever way He sees fit.

When I get married, then my life will begin. This myth is particularly insidious. It has the potential to cause great frustration and hopelessness. A desire to be a wife and mother is good, but it does not let us off the hook from living fully right now.

Of the more than 500 references to life in the Bible, none puts marriage as a prerequisite. Jesus said: "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life" (John 5:24). My life started when I believed on Jesus, and it does not hinge on my marital status.

Think about the acclaimed Proverbs 31 woman. She must have developed many of her skills long before she was married. In the quiet moments of her life as a young woman, she was learning how to be productive and godly. In today's culture, marriage is often delayed longer than we had hoped. But the distinctive opportunities we have as singles are worth embracing.

Marriage will/will not meet my deepest needs. There seem to be two prevalent and opposing views on the relationship between marriage and needs. The first sees marriage as the ultimate wish-fulfillment experience. The other says every need can and should be directly met through Christ, a type of "super-husband."

Each view contains some truth. God created woman for man as a remedy for loneliness (Genesis 2:18). And God's grace is sufficient for every circumstance (2 Corinthians 12:9). But marriage alone cannot satisfy a woman's deepest needs. Sarah says: "A very wise lady once told me that she has had her loneliest times since she has been married." Neither can our relationship with Jesus meet the needs that He intended other humans to satisfy.

Reliance on Christ does not nullify the advantage of a human marriage relationship. And yet, He is the One who satisfies our deepest longings. As women, we must embrace a balanced understanding of the distinctive roles that Christ and a godly husband should play in our lives.

There must be something wrong with me. If I could just figure out what it is, I could fix it and guys would start showing interest. For a long time I believed that if I were thinner, I would attract a husband. Magazines with images of women with flawless skin and model-thin bodies fuel that inner voice that says, You're not thin enough. You're not pretty enough. Or worse, I wonder if it's my personality. I talk too much. Or I laugh at the wrong times. Or I'm too assertive. It's easy to look at married women and wonder: Why them and not me?

The truth is, most of the things I suspect are lacking in me, fall under the category of charm and beauty. Scripture says, "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised" (Proverbs 31:30). The things I should be concerned about improving are spiritual in nature. Am I submitting to Christ? Am I manifesting the fruit of the Spirit? Do I have a gentle and quiet spirit? The right kind of man will be attracted to these qualities.

The older I get, the less likely it is that I will find someone. "God is not bound by odds!" Sarah says. While Sarah was still working at the college, she attracted the attention of a godly man. He sought her out, even learning of her character by questioning her friends. Mark and Sarah married when she was 29. Today the couple serves together in Lithuania.

As you pass the average marrying age, it can be tempting to panic. It's helpful to remember Paul's words in Romans 11:36: "For from him and through him and to him are all things." All things. As you cultivate godly attitudes and avoid damaging lies, you allow the Lord to pour out the things He has for you. That way, when the right guy comes along, you'll be ready.


Copyright © 2007 Suzanne Hadley. All rights reserved. International copyright secured. This article was published on Boundless.org on April 5, 2007.

---------
*something I wanted to share, and for me to reinforce.

~3:30 am

It's supposed to be autumn soon.
It's getting colder day by day.
But so far my blues are not going away.

There are interesting things happening around, but so far I haven't the inclination or motivation to go for it other than to the usual stuff that I go to. Shaun's telling me to go explore and do more thing that I wouldn't have the chance to do once I get back home. But I'm not sure what...

But I hope I'll adapt to this place faster than when I was in KL. Goodness...

P.S: I changed my layout again. Thank you Sandy for making it. Hehehehe!

~5:39 pm

Sorry for the long wait...
I just came back from OCF Easter Camp 2008. Quite tired now, even though I probably got more sleep than half of the other campers, but only by a couple more hours in any case.
So yeah, updated details: Australia photo album is updated, the link is in a few blog posts down.
Got tagged by Sarah Kate Lee, and since I've nothing else better to do for now...here it goes...


Real name: Lynette Goh Ying Qin
Nicknames: lyn, nette, nettey, internet, cornetto, ngiao kia (hainanese for kitten), cow, cowgirl, moo...(quite a few more others but I can't remember...lol!)

Married: Nope

Male/Female: Female (*and I do not look like a male when wearing the Union Jack shirt!)

High school: Christ Church Secondary School, Singapore

College: Sunway University College (Australian Matriculation aka WACE year 12)
University: Monash University (B.Arts majoring in Psychology and Communications)

Short or long hair: not so long, not so short

Are u a healthy freak: No...not even close. I love food, good food, mind you...unless I get too lazy then it's McDs.

Height: Haven't measured in quite a while, about 170cm maybe?

Do u have a crush on someone?: =X

Do u like yourself: So far so good =P

Piercings: One on each ear

Righty of lefty: Righty

First....
Surgery: None, I think...maybe during birth? I had a Cesarean birth.

Piercing: I think I was about 7 years old when Aunty June brought me and Selina to a goldsmiths in JB Town for ear piercings that have lasted till now

Person u see in the morning: Hmm...myself in the mirror.

Award: Can't really remember, probably one of the Hainanese Association Scholarship Awards.

Sport you joined: Netball

Pet: Rabbits (Wombat and Joy) which lead to another pair of rabbits (Jasmine and Cookie), and now Cats (who actually do belong to my sister-in-law, Bianca and Queenie)

Vacation: My Hard Drive crashed...

Concert: A COGS concert, I think...

First crush: Can't remember...honestly...

Currently...
Eating: Nope

Drinking: Schweppes Lemonade

I'm about to: Bathe and study

Your future...
Want kids: yes

Want to get married: yes

Careers in mind: forensic psychologist, educational psychologist, organisational psychologist, management/hr consultant, something in the media industry

Which is better? Lips or eyes?: Eyes

Hugs or kisses: Hugs

Shorter or taller?: Taller????

Romantic or spontaneous: Both =P

Sensitive or loud: Errr...I don't know.

Troublemaker or hesitant?: Don't know...

Have u ever....
Kissed a stranger?: No

Drank bubbles: huh?

Lost glasses/contacts: yeah, my sunnies.

Ran away from home: can't remember, but so far, i don't think so.

liked someone younger: No.

liked someone older: Yes.

Broke someone's heart: Eh..perhaps?

Cried when someone died: Yes.

Do u believe in...
Yourself?: Now...yes.

Miracles: Yes

Heaven: Yes!

Santa Claus: No

Magic: No

Angels: Yes!

Answer truthfully..
Is there someone you want to be with right now?: Yes, my Friend. =)

Do u believe in God?: Definitely Yes

Tag 5 people:
Mel
Aiai
Bong
Sandy
Sze Jia

~9:02 pm

I'm stuck onto Prince of Tennis.
Hard to focus on my books.
ISH!

It's all DC++ fault.

And maybe a little bit of my own...

HUMPF!

----

But I love this song from Prince of Tennis Anime. One of it's ending songs.

Wonderful Day (vocals by Purutabu to Kan)
Mabushii gogo Mado o akeru
Wake mo naku kakeru hikage no komichi
Kata de iki o suikonde me o toji
Omoiegaita ashita kara no suteeji
Imeejishiteru atarashii peeji
Masshiroi kyanbasu ni egaku
Mukaikaze mo okamainashi de kirihiraku
Kono hatenaku tsuzuku Brand new story

Ah, wonderful days

Zebura moyou no kousaten
Ao ni kawaru to hashiridasu
Shiroi rain dake o funde watarikiru
Kodomo no you ni

Itsumo konna fuu ni kaze ni fukare
Ari no mama no jibun de iru koto ga moshi mo dekite ita nara
Tooi sora ni mukete ryoute nobashi kono omoi todoku you ni to
Tokihanatteku

Pedaru o fumu ashi wo hayame
Ikki ni sakamichi Kakeagaru
Ima tobitatsu mae no nagai josou
Takamaru kodou Kanjinagara
Kono saka o noborikitte
Teppen ga miete kita koro ni
Minamikaze ga senaka o oikoshite yuku
Hajimari no aizu o shiraseru you ni

Ah, wonderful days

Ato sukoshi dake o kurikaeshi
Itsu no ma ni ka koko made kiteta
Mou shikai no oku ni kagayaku hikari sae Reach for the sky

Donna toki mo mune ni shimaikonda mama no
Omoi wasurenaide zutto atatametsuzuketa nara
Kitto itsuka na mo nai tori no you ni omou mama
Kono oozora o tsukisusundeku

Tesaguri de sagasu mirai wa itsu de mo kagi no nai tobira
Me no mae ni aru hikari mo mitsukerarezu sagashitsuzuketa
Tsukue ni aru rakugaki wa
Itsuka omoiegaita chizu
Dare mo aruita koto no nai
Taiyou sae shiranai basho
Mezashite

Itsumo konna fuu ni kaze ni fukare
Ari no mama no jibun de iru koto ga moshi mo dekite ita nara
Tooi sora ni mukete ryoute nobashi kono omoi todoku you ni to
Tokihanatteku
Tokihanatteku…

Ah, wonderful days…

Translation:
On a bright afternoon, I open the window
I run without a reason on the shaded road
I took a breath with my shoulders, closed my eyes
And pictured a stage that starts from tomorrow
I’m forming an image of a new page
I’ll draw it on a pure white canvas
The head wind unmindfully opens up
This endlessly continuing, Brand new story

Ah, wonderful days

At the zebra-patterned intersection
When it turns green, I start running
I finish crossing it while only stepping on the white lines
Like a kid

Always blown upon by the wind in this way
If I could have been as I were
Then I would’ve faced the far sky, stretched out my hands, and, as if reach for my thoughts
Let go

I’ll quicken my feet stepping on the pedals
And race up the slope in a breath
Now it’s the long approaching run before jumping
While I feel my throbbing heartbeats
When I finish climbing this hill
And the summit becomes visible
The southern wind will outstrip my back
As if notifying me of the signs of a beginning

Ah, wonderful days

I repeated the little bit that is left again and again
And came here before I knew it
Even the shining light in the depths of my field of view already Reaches for the sky

If, at anytime, I didn’t forget the thoughts that were still tucked away
In my chest and always kept warming them
Then I’m sure that someday, like a nameless bird
I would push forward through this great sky to my heart’s content

The future that I search for through fumbling is a keyless door at all times
I kept searching for it without even being able to detect the light in front of my eyes
The doodle on my desk
Is the map that I’d pictured some other day
Aiming for for a place
That no one has walked on
That even the sun doesn’t know about

Always blown upon by the wind in this way
If I could have been as I were
Then I would’ve faced the far sky, stretched out my hands, and, as if reach for my thoughts
Let go
Let go…

Ah, wonderful days…

~9:23 pm