painting a 1000 :) on a 1000 faces

A piece of cloth of colours
that I am not used to seeing

it's a kaleidoscope of colours,
so different but merged,
woven into one another
how is it possible?
I will never know colours.

but i know,
that if I could, I could,
paint a thousand smiles
on a thousand faces,
i would, i would

the art of smelling is not
just using it as a sense,
but to savour what you smell,
like how you savour what you taste

i just hope you know,
that if I could, I could,
paint a thousand smiles
on a thousand faces,
i would, i would

Why arent there mini-skirts saris?
or pyjamas chong-sams?

You'd probably see, a piece of cloth,
carefully divided into 4 pieces,
They may interact, but never mix.

thats why I wish,
that if I could, I could,
paint a thousand smiles
on a thousand faces,
i would, i would

And then, here and there,
Flamboyant colours appear.
Bold. Defiant.
they stand out
and are unafraid.

With a last thought,
An air plane steering wheel
looks like a bicycle handle.

thats why I wish,
that if I could, I could,
paint a thousand smiles
on a thousand faces,
i would, i would

a simple prayer, and a handphone is saved.

I remember listening to this song every morning on my way to school when I was 15. Every morning, my dad will give me a ride to school, a short 7 mins (depending on traffic) drive. Every morning, I will automatically reach out my hand and turn to this song. Not only was it refreshing every morning, but what a blessing to know that God's mercies are new every morning?

He never sleeps, He never slumbers
by Don Moen

As I learn more everyday about my father, it is indeed a blessing to know that prayers that seem too simple, too trivial and maybe illogical, is the most powerful way of communicating to God and getting things done in His name.

'because God is working in ways that you cannot see'

How very often as christians or simply put as humans, we try to rationalize, understand God's ways. Seems uncomfortable now that we put it like that dosen't it? But how many times do we question (note: in our own strength) endlessly, just to answer quesitons like

'how is the holy trinity possible?' 'If God knows everything, how is free will possible?' 'Can everyone be saved before the 2nd coming?' 'IS THERE A GOD? and if so, how do I prove it?'

Seems silly even for me, to wonder why cant I have the simple faith a small kid, immersed in God's powerful ways and raising our hand to our father in worship. How does God do unimaginable, incomprehensible things we cannot wrap our heads around? Why not look at prayer as an example?

When we are downtrodden, helpless and lost, we cry out in prayer, 'Abba father'
Not only is the message transmitted free, but it is loud and clear to our God that

'never sleeps' 'never slumbers'
and 'NEVER tires of hearing our prayer'

What if we start thinking about God LOVING to hear us cry out to him, (no, he dosen't relish in our troubled times) but I think, that God wants us to cry out to him FIRST everytime we are sad, happy, down, up, upside-down... whichever way our emotional rollar-coaster is facing. Either way, God loves to hear from us.

What is more, as we draw closer to him, and constantly turn to prayer, our eyes and ears will open. Perhaps slowly, but knowingly, you will see God's hands in the smallest of ways. :)

I thought of a rather, funny encounter with how amazing prayer is. Here's my lil story of how prayer works:

a simple prayer, and a handphone is saved.

For those who know me personally, I am nothing short of a walking disaster when it comes to directions, walking without stumbling over something or forgetting about my handphone, wallets, etc. For the record, I once lost around 4 handphones in a year. (and you'd wonder why I never dared to ask for a ... more socially flattering form of gadget.)

Anyway, my dad told me to pray a prayer over my handphone. Seemed silly to me at that time.. in 2008. But, I did. And here's one good example of how my prayer was forgotten by me, but remembered by God.

The scene opens to the day when we were returning back to Singapore. Our group took a cab down to the airport, and i took the front seat, (very spacious, i slept even. hehehe. while everyone suffered at the back.) As I was helping with the luggage, my friend from Australia called me, so i just left the phone on the dashboard.

Once at the airport, I just took my bags and left. Since there were lots of luggage, my handphone's position just went MIAed in my mind. When did I realise my missing handphone? I only realised when we were walking from terminal 1 to terminal 2! The dreaded thought kept running through my mind...

'SHEET... i left it on the van
AGAIN.'

My more resourceful friends (by which I mean, those that are able to speak the local language) called my phone...

no answer.
it was ringing, but no answer.

so we tried to call the hotel. found the hotel no, then found the company that handles all the van services.

I can tell you as with as much assurance as that rain falls that the stress level of the group had risen to an astronomical heights. I was pretty calm.. Pretty routined for me already considering my past experiences. I guess, to exist in a paradox, I responded by laughing and saying

- ' i have faith that my phone will come back cos' its the only phone that I have prayed over. And so far, this phone has lasted the longest'

So we were all heading to get dinner, and we were still making calls to the various people that could have a chance of finding my phone. AND. i took out my pouch to check the flight's no. with my passport

and lo and behold. nestled comfortably at the bottom of my pouch was my DEAR HANDPHONE!! Apparently, I had subconsciously returned my phone back to its rightful place or rather a place, that I could still call my handphone mine, after I shifted back the luggage. However, because that various well-thought actions and movements were termed 'subconscious', it slipped my... well. not so carefully thought-through mind.

Yet, as we can all laugh about my embarrassing moment 0192, I really felt that God was truly at hand in all this. It may be a small issue, I mean, it wasn't like my passport went missing. and yes, the phone didn't return via the van driver or by some miraculous way (but an embarrassing manner unfortunately), but already, God allowed me to 'take care' of this phone. praise God in all his goodness. :)

in summary>>
It ain't difficult. PRAY.

(i cant believe how easy it is to write a post of 983 words and counting!)

In all thanks,
here's a beautiful worship song by parachute band.

'glorify'

thank you for your patience with my 1000+ 26 lead soldiers.
your time spent reading is most appreciated,

gracia

Sophie Milman - It Might As Well Be Spring

i think this song... was written for a person like me. :)
some extra lyrics here anyway at the first stanza and last. but beautiful nonetheless.

The things I used to like
I don't like anymore.
I want a lot of other things
I've never had before.
It's just like mother says...
I sit around and mope.
Pretending I am wonderful.
And knowing I'm a dope.

I'm as restless as a willow in a windstorm,
I'm as jumpy as a puppet on a string.
I'd say that I had spring fever,
But I know it even isn't spring.

I'm starry-eyed and vaguely discontented
Like a nightingale without a song to sing.
Oh, why should I have spring fever
When i know it isn't even spring?

I keep wishing I were somewhere else,
Walking down a strange new street.
Hearing words that I have never heard
From a man I've yet to meet.
I'm as busy as a spider spinning daydreams,
I'm as giddy as a baby on a swing.
I haven't seen a crocus or a rosebud
Or a robin on the wing.
But I feel so gay,
In a melancholy way,
That it might as well be spring,
Yes, It might as well be spring.

In our air-conditioned, patent leather farmhouse,
On our ultra-modern, scientific farm,
We'll live in a stream-lined heaven,
And we'll waste no time on charm!
No geraniums to clutter our veranda,
Nor single little sentimental things,
No virginia creepers, nothing useless !