Once upon a time, there lived a frog who grew up in a well. Its only visible view was the circle of sky from the well's opening. Everyday, it looked at the clouds that drift past the circle of view. It was happy with the simplicity of what it had. But something stirred deep within the frog. Somehow it knew that there was more to just that circle of view. It longed to see more.

One fine day, it so happened that the frog managed to jump out of the well. It was filled with exuberance as it took in what everything outside the well had to offer. The greens of the field and trees, the gush of the river, the colours of the flowers, the smell of nature. The frog was overwhelmed with joy and excitement. And it began its adventure in this new found paradise.

As the frog hopped its way through the forest path, it began to see the remnants of trees chopped down, it began to witness the cruelty of small animals ensnared by traps laid down by hunters, it began to encounter the foul smell of the waters as dead fishes are washed up the banks. Tears began to flow down the face of the frog. It was utterly disappointed and upset with what was before its eyes.

In desperation, the frog hopped back to where it used to be. The well. Safe and simple. It wanted to escape from the darkness it had seen. But things have changed. The frog had forgotten the happiness and contentment of the simplicity of the well. It was stuck. Helpless. Miserable.

How often are we like the frog? Hurt, disappointed, discouraged. Yet, we know we cannot go back to the past. At this point of time, we have a choice to make. Are we going to let whatever we're facing make us or break us? We can choose to face up to it or choose to wallow in self-pity. God gave us all the right to choose. What will you choose?

I look at pictures of others on facebook, i think of what others are doing, i see and hear what others are doing. And i cant help but think to myself," Yvonne, what exactly are you doing? What exactly are you up to? Is this it?"

Sometimes it just feels that life is too long-winded. Im only about a quarter through my life and already, im starting to feel bored. I know i shouldnt feel that way. There're so many other things in this world i havent seen, havent heard about, havent experienced. But im restricted by many things and many factors. I cant just do as i wish. Well sometimes i wish there arent so many restrictions, so many rules. I wish i can do what i want without thinking of consequences, without giving a care to what others may think. But God made this world such that every action has its effect and somehow other people get affected.

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It's weird but, i had a sudden mood switch. Lol.. I was feeling kinda emo whilst writing the above two paragraphs cos i felt so sick of my life being so mundane and purposeless. And then i came across this website http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=60769488
This person, Kari Jobe, she's a singer for God. She's an international worship leader and songwriter out of Dallas, Texas. I just heard her songs and i just watched her videos. Suddenly, i think perhaps, things arent that bad. God is still in control and He's gonna reveal His purpose for me here on earth bit by bit. There's just a sudden uplift of my mood. Thank God for music and singing cos it really ministers. (: So it is written

" Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"
-Philippians 4:4

and

" Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God."
-Psalm 42:5

Good or bad, happy or sad; place your hope in Him and let His joy flow through you! (:

I was chatting with a friend yesterday and we reminisced about our jc days. One thing, or rather, one person that really left an impression on me was my chemistry teacher. I was his subject rep and well, my chemistry was never good in school. I used to find him naggy cos he likes to nag at me about reading his mindmaps, about doing my tutorials, about revising those equations etc. He said i was his subject rep so i had to do well for his subject. And i used to always smoke him through when he asked me questions. I didnt understand why he kept asking me for answers to equations which he obviously knew i had no answers to. There was even a period of time when i was angry with him. I didnt want to talk to him, didnt want to look at him, didnt want to go to his lessons. I felt that he was forcing me to do something i couldnt do. I felt that he was pushing me to a corner. But now i realised. He wasnt forcing me or suffocating me. He was believing in me. The last few struggling days before A levels i decided to put down my pride to look for him for consultation. I must say, i really have to thank this teacher for his patience and for his faith in me. He didnt give up on me. Thank you Mr Alvin Yeong. (:

Perhaps the Holy Spirit is like that too. A teacher who has undying faith in his student. A teacher who never gives up on his student, even when the student gives up on himself. (:

"No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. "
-1 Corinthians 10:13