eve of exams

I wonder what am I doing on the web, when I should be cramping in as much info as I can.
How now brown cow! hehehe . . .
Well, here it comes. There's no turning back. The time has come to see if I've retained any relevent information over the past four years, plus the cramping session over the past couple of weeks.

I'm diving into the unknown, but Lord for you the unknown is known. I thank you for sustaining me through this period of revision, continue to sustain me through these next 5 days of exam papers. May You keep me calm & give me the ability to remember all that I've learnt (new & old). Please give me the focus & the clarity of mind as I sit for my 5 day marathon, starting tomorrow.
May Your favour continue to fall upon me.
In Your Name I pray,
Amen!

why do we do the things, we do

I stayed up studying till 6.30 this morning with Eddie & Suet Beng, although Suet Beng k.o (knocked out) earlier. Then I headed home to "nap". hahaha!

So why is it that we do the things we do to our body? Particularly, in a time-pressured situation. I reckon its the "fight-or-flight response", which is also called the "acute stress response". Where we regulate stress in three stages: alarm, resistance and exhaustion.

In a stressful situation, the body releases chemicals that trigger:

• Increased heart rate and blood pressure.
• Rapid breathing.
• Increased sweating.
• A sudden rush of strength.
• Slowed digestion.
• Dilated pupils.

This is the Alarm stage. Shortly after the danger has passed, our mind & body begins to relax, entering the Resistance stage. If the stressor continues, our physiological response enters the Exhaustion stage, in which our bodies continue the fight-or-flight response, this will eventually cause damage to our bodily systems. That's why after our exams papers have past and we can fully relax, your immune system goes on a holiday & we can sick, b'cos we've overworked it.

We also got to deal with how we express the feelings we experience. Its important to express these feelings as we don't want to add to the stress we are already experiencing, as our body & mind are interdependent.

And lastly, we have our behavioural responses to stress, where we unconsciously try to eliminate those feelings. This maybe in the form of food, medication, alcohol, being aggressive, hiding, etc.

Here are a few techniques to help reduce feeling stress:
1. When studying in a group, have one person tell the group something funny. I recommend every 20-30 minutes. A good laugh is the best cure for alot of things.
2. Take a breather from the study table, stand up & stretch yourself out.
3. Do something you like for about 5-10 minutes.
4. Go out for a short walk.

The best is before you kick start your day, say a short prayer.

Lord, I ask that you be my peace, my comfortor in this time of stress (exams).
In Your precious Name.
Amen.

Press on everyone . . .

Closer & closer

I'm starting to realise that my life as a student, period! Is coming to an end. This morning I woke up to a day planned for studies, yet again. Due to this craze over exams. And was sort of, but not really shocked to receive a phone call, regarding my future career.

After that I didn't really think much of it, but they'd like a reply from me by early next week. So I pondered on the opportunity & the situation.

This was my first job as a physiotherapist. It was my first job interview, the first I've even done in my entire life, with them last week. I haven't even applied for other jobs yet. But hey I did say during the interview that I thought this would be a great place to start working as a new grad, with learning opportunities that I can benefit from.

So just like the pic. I won't be getting much sleep ins . . . as it's an 8am start.

Lord, I don't know the plans you have for me. But I will trust in You. For You know what you are doing & have already planned out my future. Father, my life, my strength & my hope is in You, Lord. Amen!

Jeremiah 29:11 'For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you & not to harm you, plans to give you hope & a future.'

holding on

There are many seasons in our lives
Opportunities to do things & to learn from them

But what happens if we don't realise those seasons,
Or take those opportunities.
Would that mean we've missed out or
Would it just mean we've taken on a different path in our own lives.

It's like that movie "Sliding Doors". Saying that we each have two sides to every story. In one scene, Helen Quilley (Gwyneth Paltrow), misses the train and in another just made it through the sliding doors. Each had it's opportunities & consequences.

But unlike a movie we can't play and replay the consequences & opportunities of a particular story in our lives. We only have one shot at that particular scene; no editting, no special effects whatsoever.

I think that it doesn't matter nor does it make any difference what another person has done. But for ourselves to have a good look at what God has given us to do. We each have a purpose in our life & once we find that purpose we need to make sure we fulfill it.

God has made everything beautiful in itself & in its time, He will reveal its purposes to us. It's like God gives us a puzzle to do, which means we have to place each piece in its right place. But God doesn't just give us piece, so we look for it. And in the process, God will shine a light on a piece that we're looking for. So in the meantime, i reckon we should go ahead in pleasing God with the gifts He has given us & to get the most we can out of life for His glory.

I like the saying, 'When one door closes, God will open another door!' So for myself, I will trust in Him, holding on to the things He has promised me & developing the things has given to me.

Cheers!

My cousin

Cousins are like the best peoples to be around. They're like brothers or sisters (depending on their gender, hehehe) you odd to have. Without the constant & annoying buzz that you would get from a sibling. Seriously I have so many its hard to keep track of all them. You think you know them all then suddenly at a family function or something, you find out this other person is a cousin too. The best thing is like friends you have a few very close cousins.

One of them, to me, is the most adorable, most splendid, one of the funniest person in the whole wide world. He's like my personal teddy bear, without much fury though, which is always good! *grinz* Love him to bits. He makes me laugh with the things he does but mostly what he says.

And today, he told me he had to go in for another operation in Singapore. This would mean it'll be his third operation of a pituitary gland tumour, in a span of a year. It started off with him complainting of having vision problems. So he went to see a doctor, and to our shock & dismay he was diagnosed with a pituitary gland tumour. And just recently, he had a review with his doc, and the MRI showed that the previous cyst, the liquid part, that was not removed previously, has grown bigger.

** my thoughts**
Lord, why do these things happen to the people close to us?
I know not the things that You have placed in our lives, but time will tell of lessons to be learnt.
I will trust in Your plans & let You lead the way, no matter how scary it will seem.
...
Cuz, I know our Lord Jesus will pull you & your family through whatever the circumstances may be. Just believe in Him & know that He is Lord over everything.
For when there seems to be no way out, He opens another.
Another way that is even more blessed then the previous!
Love you.
----------

So what can I do, but pray. To ask for God's favour & strengthen upon my cousin, for his family to be strong, & for the surgeon to have steady hands.

On the up side...my cousin will be here in Melbourne for my graduation, which his doctor said will be alright to travel before his having his operation in December! I think he wants more to come to Melbourne than to see me, but than again I could be wrong. *wink*

**BIG, BIG TEDDY BEAR HUG!**

S.T.U.D.Y.

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Steady progress & advancement with lecture notes, tutes, pracs and everything else under the sun

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Tedious & tiresome task of actually revising through it all

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Unsure, Unconfident & unconvinced I can finish revising in time

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Delay & procrastinate, even though I know there is much more to do

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Yearn & desire for it all to be over

.

Lord, I commit my time into Your hands, cause I know by my own strength I will only use & abuse it for my own earthly & human desires. I pray that as I study for my exams I will not soul-ly focus on the task at hand but that I will focus upon YOU; Your love, Your grace & Your patience of which You have shown me over the past years. May You grant me the concentration, the determination and the time management during this period of examination.

This I pray in Your most holy and mighty Name,

AMEN!

What's after this?

Today, was my final day at uni as a physiotherapy student, to sit in a lecture theatre, listening to a lecturer, trying not to fall a sleep b'cos of the late nite I had the nite before. Can you imagine, in another 3 weeks from now I would have finished my course of 4 years. Wow! I'm excited, as well as freaked out but mostly excited, to get out into the working world and see how it's done on your own as a new grad.

Before i go overboard with excitement I'm into gear for some serious cramming for my finals in TWO WEEKS! Come on bring it on...I guess being a geek/nerd for a couple of weeks will and should pay off in the end...hehehe

So about my exams let's see how it all pans out:

25th Oct Tuesday : Musculoskeletal Clinical exam (11am @ RMH)
31st Oct Monday : Paediatrics Theory exam (2pm @ Arts Hall)
1st Nov Tuesday : Cardiothoracic Theory exam (2pm @ Arts Hall)
2nd Nov Wednesday : Neurology Theory exam (2pm @ Arts Hall)
3rd Nov Thursday : Musculoskeletal Theory exam (2pm @ Arts Hall)
4th Nov Friday : OSCE Clinical exam (11.45am @ School of Physio, Level 2)

It's a pretty full on timetable but I figure it'll be over in a flash *grinz*

So what's after all this? I've been preparing my resume and getting referees. Applying for a career that i can both benefit from and benefit others through. It's a long process that cannot be avoided. Plus there is the application of Permanent Residence here in Australia. Even before my graduation on the 3rd of December, I have to register with the Registration Board of Physiotherapy and apply for idemnity insurance. So many things to do...

Hahaha...I think about it I really had it good before, everything was provided for. I didn't have to worry about what would happen tomorrow or the day after. I suppose as we grow older, wiser and more mature in our thinking, we need to take on these responsibilities. But there is ONE thing that is very secure in my life and that is my place in Heaven, my final destination (but I'm not in a hurry to get there *smilez*). So with that I know I have a Father in Heaven who is looking out for me and whatever happens here on earth I can depend on Him to provide.

How awesome is that!! *Sweet.*

WELL ALL THE BEST EVERYONE FOR YOUR EXAM PREPARATION AND THE EXAMS ITSELF!
**big virtual hugZ**

pals for life! **grinz**

Have you ever wondered...

Why do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are flat?

Why do banks charge a fee on "insufficient funds" when they know there is not enough?

Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet?

Why doesn't glue stick to the bottle?

Why do they use sterilised needles for death by lethal injection?

Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard?

Why does Superman stop bullets with his chest, but ducks when you throw a revolver at him?

Why do Kamikaze pilots wear helmets?

Whose idea was it to put an "S" in the word "lisp"?

What is the speed of darkness?

Are there specially reserved parking spaces for "normal" people at the Special Olympics?

If you send someone 'Styrofoam', how do you pack it?

If the temperature is zero outside today and it's going to be twice as cold tomorrow, how cold will it be?

If people evolved from apes, why are there still apes?

If it's true that we are here to help others, what are the others doing here?

Do married people live longer than single ones or does it only seem longer?

If someone with a split personality threatens to commit suicide, is it a hostage situation?

Can you cry under water?

What level of importance must a person have, before they are considered assassinated instead of just murdered?

If money doesn't grow on trees then why do banks have branches?

Why does a round pizza come in a square box?

How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on bigger suitcases?

Why is it that people say they "slept like a baby" when babies wake up, like, every two hours?

If a deaf person has to go to court, is it still called a hearing?

Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money in binoculars to look at things on the ground?

Why do doctors, when they ask you to strip, leave the room or close the cubicle curtain while you change?

They're still going to see you naked anyway.

in the distance

As I gaze over the past, focus on the present and look to the future
I slowly see and understand the work the Master has upon my life
Where things steadily and gradually fall into its place
Even if it doesn't seem right in my own eyes
I trust that He has my life in His hands
And I won't have it any other way

Lord, I give you my life, everything I have was your gift to me
And I thank you for your grace upon my life
I will continue to seek you as I journey through this life
Along side you, as you will never leave me
Along side the people you have placed in my life
My family, friends and even strangers
Father, I truly thank you for your Son, Jesus and
the guidance of your Holy Spirit in my life
Thank you and praise your name!

So as I look into the distance I know that whatever the situation is I will trust in You and allow You to take hold of my life.

Stepping into new things

Handing over the baton of leadership.

Yesterday I had an awesome privilege to pass on to the next generation of leaders who will take up the challenge and growth as they serve in the committee. To lead the people, the members of Melbourne Uni OCF into the promises that God has for us.

Just as Joshua successed to guide the people to enter and possess Canaan. Like in Joshua 1:5-6 (The Message); 'It's all yours. All your life, no one will be able to hold out against you. In the same way I (God) was with Moses, I'll be with you. I won't give up on you; I won't leave you. Strength! Courage! You are going to lead this people to inherit the land that I promised to give their ancestors. Give it everything you have, heart and soul.'

These verses shows that as Joshua leads the people; there will be problems, there will be challenges ahead. But all these won't matter because our God will never fail us nor will He abandon us. And as the committee leads the members of MUOCF to greater things He has already planned, sensitivity to His voice and obedience to His timing is needed do all He says with everything, heart and soul.

And as Graeme shared with Wang Wei, April and myself. He told us that we're not stepping down but we're stepping up and into the new things of God's plans. And I believe that God has a great and worthwhile challenge ahead for each of us.

Lord, I will place my trust in you. I will make this song my prayer.

In Christ Alone

In Christ alone
I place my trust
And find my glory in the power of the cross
In every victory
Let it be said of me
My source of strength
My source of hope
Is Christ alone

Praise your Holy name O Lord! Amen.