Smile

I was going to put up loads of pics of the choir and me cause so much has been happening. I must say I thought¬† I’d kill two birds with one stone again. I will give you a brief history on how I started singing and end with this moment¬† also as a conductor of choir. Interested to know? Read on. I promise you loads of pics and juicy, tasty info hahahaha…..

Well it all started long ago before I was born, God had a plan……ok ok I won’t go that far back……..

I was a little shy kid. I’m still a big shy erm…..young old man…..:)

So I didn’t like to sing. I never did have any interest. Singing was just part of my life. It was filled with singing since I was a child. It was a norm, a routine. Oh well one day I decided to sing for the youth talentime when I was about 17? I think….Well I did that at that time because I wanted to sing with ermmmm the girl I had a crush on since I was 12……she agreed to sing with me and my good friend then so we as a trio sang as I played the guitar. I remember the song because until this day it is still one of my favorite songs. ‘One more Time’ by the Katinas. Little did I know that day the principle of a music college was present there, who was my church member.

Well to cut the long story about how from a science student I chose to do music, ermmmm well. God led me there somehow. I was not outstanding in music at all then . I’m dead serious. I loved music only as a hobby. My mom had to nag me to practice and I was a borderline pass student hehehe.

So when I decided to do music, I ended up in that music college which the head of the faculty was a church member. It was then I suddenly felt and overwhelming peace that music was what I was supposed to do.

We had to choose two instruments. One as our major, the other as our minor. We were poor so I could only afford to have learnt one instrument all my life. So piano as my major. Then what can I do? My member Miss Eliz said “Why don’t you take up vocals? I heard you sing before and you sang very well.”¬† Hmmm something in my heart nudged me that day that I had the responsibility to use my gifts for God. I certainly didn’t think I had the gift to sing. In fact I had always prayed that God take away my voice…..

Well I was assigned to be tutored by Mr. Ian Lim and well he too said that I can sing. So well I just thrusted myself forward and before I knew it I was singing as the lead character in the college’s musical. I was in the choir and I was doing loads of stuff with regards to singing. I probably sang more often and performed more often as a singer than as a pianist.

In those three years of studies. I finished my Grade 8 in singing and well was feeling pretty good about my own voice. Some of you have heard this part before. Then on the last year when everything was going fine and I was at a camp. I lost my voice. The first service I was singing proudly and by the next I couldn’t sing. I could speak normally but I couldn’t sing. Then it struck me at that moment how I prayed that my singing voice be taken away. I felt no pain. I just couldn’t sing.

By the last day, I was desperately seeking God and was deeply sorry for being so irresponsible with the gift God had given me. My voice is not my own. It is for me to praise God. I repented, asked for forgiveness and God granted me back my voice.

Little did I know all the experiences in singing, learning to sing, performing in A Capella and choirs, conducting, teaching singing and all would lead me to a point where I would be here in Singapore leading the choir here.

Last Sunday they performed. I only led the adults but there were the youth and kids choir too. A total of 110 of us. We belted our hearts out because we all knew the reason we were doing this for. Proclaiming the goodness of God to the world that Jesus Christ came as a little baby boy to bring us all hope.

Why am I sharing this? I hope one day, that this post will encourage you to sing whether you think you can or not. I certainly thought I couldn’t and look where God brought me. You never know when you submit your gift to God how things will never be the same.

I also write this to remind everyone who sang that day. Remember why you sing. Do not ever forget that. We have the privilege to sing and the responsibility to be the best we can be. It is a challenge to my fellow choir members too because I believe you guys can and have so much potential. I pray that God will use our voices in an even more spectacular way as we submit it to Him.

Well nothing ever comes into being without hard work right? Don’t forget that too haha. Here they are rehearsing their hearts out!

Looks good hor a hundred of them

Trying to be the conductor

Even though we rehearsed with all our might, we need God’s strength

Our coordinator and MC too recognise our finiteness in the midst of an infinite God

Desperate for God’s strength

The show is about to begin but remember. Warm up is important!! Everybody sing ah ah ah ah ah!

The show begins!! Now open those mouths wide!

OOOOOOOOOOO——KKKKKKK!

Sing now with all your hearts! The world is listening!

Higher now!!  Come on! You can do it!

Let it fly!!!!

The mighty lady that made it all happen with the youth and children!

Choir on Christmas Day! Sing! Sing!

Thank You Lord for the wonderful weather and Your protection and Your grace!

Ps: Caleb and Aimin. Thanks for the wonderful pics! Now I must get a SLR hahahaha

Tags: choir, singing