Back to basics.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
Promise of a Lifetime
Promise of a Lifetime - Kutless
I have fallen to my knees
As I sing a lullaby of pain
I'm feeling broken in my melody
As I sing to help the tears go away
Then I remember the pledge you made to me
I know you're always there
To hear my every prayer inside
I'm clinging to the promise of a lifetime
I hear the words you say
To never walk away from me and leave behind
The promise of a lifetime
Will you help me fall apart
Pick me up, take me in your arms
Find my way back from the storm
And you show me how to grow
Through the change
I still remember the pledge you made to me
I am holding on to the hope I have inside
With you I will stay through every day
Putting my understanding aside
And I am comforted
I promise.
"Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted."
Matthew 5:4
I have fallen to my knees
As I sing a lullaby of pain
I'm feeling broken in my melody
As I sing to help the tears go away
Then I remember the pledge you made to me
I know you're always there
To hear my every prayer inside
I'm clinging to the promise of a lifetime
I hear the words you say
To never walk away from me and leave behind
The promise of a lifetime
Will you help me fall apart
Pick me up, take me in your arms
Find my way back from the storm
And you show me how to grow
Through the change
I still remember the pledge you made to me
I am holding on to the hope I have inside
With you I will stay through every day
Putting my understanding aside
And I am comforted
So I guess I'm starting up in blogspot again after having reverted to xanga. Thanks Pauline for reminding me about these blogs and sharing God's work in your life. ♡
This week has probably been confusing enough to be in the collection of extremely depressing and fluctuating weeks in the past year... well, added to the many. But once again God shines through in the midst of darkness, and that comforts me. Things that have happened the past week + few days has really brought me down. Sometimes there are those lines that you wish you don't cross, but you do. You end up doing things that hurt God, and you feel like you fall so far from Him. That's what happened for me, but it was an experience. It made me realize and see the temptation and the things this world wants me to hold on to. I'm glad we were able to go through that obstacle together, to be able to pray together, cry together and accept each other in all our imperfections. I think this week has shown me so much about love. Things never really work out the way you want in life, and many times there will be these downs that seem to drown out the happiness in our lives. But God is there watching over our every step, and granting us peace if only we ask. And... although I have this revelation from Winter Retreat, the past week has battered me down substantially. However, by faith that might move mountains, I'm clinging on. Sometimes, loving someone takes a lot of effort, but if we base that love in a reflection of God's love for us, it becomes a bit easier. I love you, really I do, and I'm really glad that through the power of God and His love and His mercy and His forgiveness and His all encompassing acceptance, we are better now . ♡
Also, this past week, my 婆婆 passed away. It was so shocking hearing my mom tell me that day, picking me up from school. When I got home the tears just kept coming and coming. Things I've done that I regret so much flooded me. To imagine that my 婆婆 loved me so much, missed me so much... Last time Fannie went back to HK, 婆婆 kept calling her 昕昕 because she missed me that much. In the past 6 years, she hasn't seen me. I pains me so much, that I barely remember what she looks like. Knowing that I'm her granddaughter, but she never got to see me grow up, never got to see me serve at church, never got to see me become the sucessful person that I hopefully will become. However, the thing that pained me most was that the very last memory she had of me was me telling her I'll be back to visit her soon. That I'll be back to treat her to good food and bring her out and have fun. It pains me so much to not be able to go through with that promise. It pains me more to know that I may never get to see her at all. And when I first found out, I cried my heart out because she did not know God.
Or so I thought. My sorrow turned into joy when my mom told me something I didn't know before. My 婆婆 did know God. She ended up going to church and accepting Christ. After her heart stopped, my mom told my uncle to quickly put the phone to her ear. You see, people can still hear and process words even after their heart stops. My mom was telling my 婆婆 how we're doing well over here, that my sister and I are doing well in school. My mom told her not to worry and how once she gets to heaven, there will be no more pain, and she'll be with my other grandparents. My mom told her how much she loved her, and how much she missed her and wished she could've been there for my 婆婆 to see her one last time. After saying all this, something miraculous happened. My 婆婆 shed two tears, one from each eye, and they rolled down her face. After hearing this, I cried again. I'm shedding tears now as I write about it. How good God is. To allow our love and our sorrow to travel across the ocean halfway around the world to my 婆婆. So she would know just how much we love her and how much we'll miss her. I really really regret not going back to HK sooner, and I really wish she could've at least see me grow up. I will really miss both my grandmothers... I wish I could've gotten to know them better. But now I'll never be able to. However, they're with God now, watching over me, and I'll do my best to be someone that they can be proud of.
To my grandmothers, I love you both and I hope you're watching over me from heaven. I'll be someone you can smile at and be proud of.
This week has probably been confusing enough to be in the collection of extremely depressing and fluctuating weeks in the past year... well, added to the many. But once again God shines through in the midst of darkness, and that comforts me. Things that have happened the past week + few days has really brought me down. Sometimes there are those lines that you wish you don't cross, but you do. You end up doing things that hurt God, and you feel like you fall so far from Him. That's what happened for me, but it was an experience. It made me realize and see the temptation and the things this world wants me to hold on to. I'm glad we were able to go through that obstacle together, to be able to pray together, cry together and accept each other in all our imperfections. I think this week has shown me so much about love. Things never really work out the way you want in life, and many times there will be these downs that seem to drown out the happiness in our lives. But God is there watching over our every step, and granting us peace if only we ask. And... although I have this revelation from Winter Retreat, the past week has battered me down substantially. However, by faith that might move mountains, I'm clinging on. Sometimes, loving someone takes a lot of effort, but if we base that love in a reflection of God's love for us, it becomes a bit easier. I love you, really I do, and I'm really glad that through the power of God and His love and His mercy and His forgiveness and His all encompassing acceptance, we are better now . ♡
Also, this past week, my 婆婆 passed away. It was so shocking hearing my mom tell me that day, picking me up from school. When I got home the tears just kept coming and coming. Things I've done that I regret so much flooded me. To imagine that my 婆婆 loved me so much, missed me so much... Last time Fannie went back to HK, 婆婆 kept calling her 昕昕 because she missed me that much. In the past 6 years, she hasn't seen me. I pains me so much, that I barely remember what she looks like. Knowing that I'm her granddaughter, but she never got to see me grow up, never got to see me serve at church, never got to see me become the sucessful person that I hopefully will become. However, the thing that pained me most was that the very last memory she had of me was me telling her I'll be back to visit her soon. That I'll be back to treat her to good food and bring her out and have fun. It pains me so much to not be able to go through with that promise. It pains me more to know that I may never get to see her at all. And when I first found out, I cried my heart out because she did not know God.
Or so I thought. My sorrow turned into joy when my mom told me something I didn't know before. My 婆婆 did know God. She ended up going to church and accepting Christ. After her heart stopped, my mom told my uncle to quickly put the phone to her ear. You see, people can still hear and process words even after their heart stops. My mom was telling my 婆婆 how we're doing well over here, that my sister and I are doing well in school. My mom told her not to worry and how once she gets to heaven, there will be no more pain, and she'll be with my other grandparents. My mom told her how much she loved her, and how much she missed her and wished she could've been there for my 婆婆 to see her one last time. After saying all this, something miraculous happened. My 婆婆 shed two tears, one from each eye, and they rolled down her face. After hearing this, I cried again. I'm shedding tears now as I write about it. How good God is. To allow our love and our sorrow to travel across the ocean halfway around the world to my 婆婆. So she would know just how much we love her and how much we'll miss her. I really really regret not going back to HK sooner, and I really wish she could've at least see me grow up. I will really miss both my grandmothers... I wish I could've gotten to know them better. But now I'll never be able to. However, they're with God now, watching over me, and I'll do my best to be someone that they can be proud of.
To my grandmothers, I love you both and I hope you're watching over me from heaven. I'll be someone you can smile at and be proud of.
I promise.
"Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted."
Matthew 5:4
"The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
Psalm 34:18
and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
Psalm 34:18
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Can I Stay Here Forever?
"Through forgotten convictions, Misplaced affections, I'm losing the sound of Your voice. I've been chasing after emptiness, Trying to tidy up this mess. I swear I've been down this road before. I want to get back to where it all began, When I would long for only You. Like a child I'll take You at Your word. As these mountains of doubt, they fade away. I'm longing to trust and love You more. So for me this is beautiful. A brand new thought, and a brand new world. Can I stay here forever here with You? I've lost sight of what first drew me, To the love that pursued me. The joy that inspired my song. The friendship that was all I knew. The arms that I would fall into, Seem miles and years from where I am today. I got to get back to where it all began, When I would wait for only You. Can I stay here forever, Here with you? Surrounded by Your mercy, Clothed in Your truth. Always, I'll stay, Always here with You. Can I be here forever, Here with You?Can I know what it's like, To deeply love You?Always, Lord, let me stay. Always, here with You."
Rock Bottom:
When I came home from dido my mom was laow gun ngo. Last night, she grounded me until after Christmas. But the thing is today, just like.. an hour ago, she was laow gun ngo, but she showed how much she cared for me. She was telling me to forget marks, forget trying hard at school, just rest and feel better. I was crying and she was telling me not to cry and that my health is more important to her. She told me she doesnt want my head to explode, and all she sees right now is a vicious cycle. One of sleeping late , working too hard, sleeping even later, being tired, being sick, getting sicker, working harder, sleeping even later, getting even more headaches, getting even sickerr and not sleeping at all on repeat.She was saying how only i can find the solution to that problem.The doctor gave me her advice, my mom gave me hers, but only i can solve the problem. And thats exactly what Jon said to me,and thats what kwong said.I came upstairs crying,and I came into my room,and its like a total mess from doing project, from like... frantically looking for stuff.Sitting in this mess, I basically turned on my computer and started blasting starfield songs.Just reflecting on the lyrics of every song I'm listening to, I realize that all along I've had this desire to block myself out from the world. And the song so small by carrie underwood, I saw the lyrics on gretchen's xanga and its like exactly what i'm feeling x 102304923403249823023952.Cause its like:
"I know its hard on a rainy day, you wanna shut the world out and just be left alone. but dont run out on your faith. Cause sometimes that mountain you've been climbing is just a grain of sand, and what you've been out there searching for forever is in your hands. Its so easy to get lost inside a problem that seems so big at the time, it's like a river that's so wide, it swallows you whole. While you're sitting around thinking about what you can't change, and worrying about all the wrong things. Time's flying by, moving so fast, you better make it count cause you can't get it back"
And like, I know I've been drowning myself. And the sad thing is, I told my mom I dont know whats happening anymore. And its true though, I look at myself right now and the first thing that honestly came into my head, the first thought, was "How did things end up like this?" Just a month ago, God was all I clung to. And my eyes were so clear, I was so convicted to live my life for Him. But when I'm so strong about my feelings, I run on emotion and then satan comes and knocks me down and shows me i cant run on emotion alone. I need more faith, more trust, and I need to completely rely on Him. Its like this song by Starfield, which says: "I want You to be, everything to me". I need to be so much stronger then I think I am. Things just came so fast... finding out about my mom's situation at work, work being so stressful, school being so stressful, and i'm so worried about wanting to do good in my future. I'm getting 95/96 in french, and 97 in accounting, but I dont even find any feeling of accomplishment in that. And I say I've been trying so hard to like, do good at school but truthfully I try... but its like my mom says: "Whats the point of preparing well? if by the end you cant even go to school cause your head is bursting?" My life right now, is soo unbalanced like... things are flying everywhere. But as I'm listening to these songs and listening to the lyrics, I cant help but cry, and keep crying. I know how strong how happy and how at peace I can be when God is the center. I smile, I laugh and I live easier when I have God. And I'm questioning myself, wondering why I'm so far from God now. Its like, I've been convincing myself that I'm so close to God and that He's the only thing I'm hanging to. But thats so far from the truth. I expect God to make things right, without trying myself. That's not called relying on God, that;s just called testing Him, taking HIm for granted. Without listening to him, without listening to what He wants me to do, and without caring and loving my relationship with Him, how can I expect my life to become any better? Cause I pray and pray and pray, and ask God to take me back on the path I was on before. And He's answered me so many times, through Jon, through Kwong, through other brothers and sisters, through everyone... But I've been so blind, and just closed all that out. People say that theres the wide path of the world, or the narrow path of God. They say that the narrow path is a harder path to take. I've been unknowingly, or rather... I pretend not to know, but I've been walking on the wider path lately. Thing is, for me, it's not easy at all. I know for a fact my life is reliant on God, He's like the air I breathe. I've been trying to walk in a space where theres no air for me,and I'm suffocating. Tonight, it's like God is shoving air into my lungs. I'm opening my eyes and it's like the song "Come home running". Why would I stray from Him? I don't know, but its like I'm always straying from Him. Truthfully, this time worse then others. Now I realize, it's like I'm once again at rock bottom. But God's merciful and I know that I'm so far right now from what He wants of me. Just sitting here, I'm crying cause I realize that the "narrow path", as people call it...its the only path I know howt to walk on. This "wide path" is so hard to walk on when I have no air to breathe. God has taken my hand and brought me back to His path, and now I'm breathing again. Air seems so much more precious and I'm not taking it for granted. I'm thinking everytime I take a breath, that it's God. This is making me realize just how how far I've become from God, and how much I've fallen. I've been through this before, and I know that I'll go through times like this in the future.But I really need to try to lessen those times from 1000 to 100, from 100 to 10 and 10 to 1. Till I can rely on God with faith that moves mountains.
Rock Bottom:
When I came home from dido my mom was laow gun ngo. Last night, she grounded me until after Christmas. But the thing is today, just like.. an hour ago, she was laow gun ngo, but she showed how much she cared for me. She was telling me to forget marks, forget trying hard at school, just rest and feel better. I was crying and she was telling me not to cry and that my health is more important to her. She told me she doesnt want my head to explode, and all she sees right now is a vicious cycle. One of sleeping late , working too hard, sleeping even later, being tired, being sick, getting sicker, working harder, sleeping even later, getting even more headaches, getting even sickerr and not sleeping at all on repeat.She was saying how only i can find the solution to that problem.The doctor gave me her advice, my mom gave me hers, but only i can solve the problem. And thats exactly what Jon said to me,and thats what kwong said.I came upstairs crying,and I came into my room,and its like a total mess from doing project, from like... frantically looking for stuff.Sitting in this mess, I basically turned on my computer and started blasting starfield songs.Just reflecting on the lyrics of every song I'm listening to, I realize that all along I've had this desire to block myself out from the world. And the song so small by carrie underwood, I saw the lyrics on gretchen's xanga and its like exactly what i'm feeling x 102304923403249823023952.Cause its like:
"I know its hard on a rainy day, you wanna shut the world out and just be left alone. but dont run out on your faith. Cause sometimes that mountain you've been climbing is just a grain of sand, and what you've been out there searching for forever is in your hands. Its so easy to get lost inside a problem that seems so big at the time, it's like a river that's so wide, it swallows you whole. While you're sitting around thinking about what you can't change, and worrying about all the wrong things. Time's flying by, moving so fast, you better make it count cause you can't get it back"
And like, I know I've been drowning myself. And the sad thing is, I told my mom I dont know whats happening anymore. And its true though, I look at myself right now and the first thing that honestly came into my head, the first thought, was "How did things end up like this?" Just a month ago, God was all I clung to. And my eyes were so clear, I was so convicted to live my life for Him. But when I'm so strong about my feelings, I run on emotion and then satan comes and knocks me down and shows me i cant run on emotion alone. I need more faith, more trust, and I need to completely rely on Him. Its like this song by Starfield, which says: "I want You to be, everything to me". I need to be so much stronger then I think I am. Things just came so fast... finding out about my mom's situation at work, work being so stressful, school being so stressful, and i'm so worried about wanting to do good in my future. I'm getting 95/96 in french, and 97 in accounting, but I dont even find any feeling of accomplishment in that. And I say I've been trying so hard to like, do good at school but truthfully I try... but its like my mom says: "Whats the point of preparing well? if by the end you cant even go to school cause your head is bursting?" My life right now, is soo unbalanced like... things are flying everywhere. But as I'm listening to these songs and listening to the lyrics, I cant help but cry, and keep crying. I know how strong how happy and how at peace I can be when God is the center. I smile, I laugh and I live easier when I have God. And I'm questioning myself, wondering why I'm so far from God now. Its like, I've been convincing myself that I'm so close to God and that He's the only thing I'm hanging to. But thats so far from the truth. I expect God to make things right, without trying myself. That's not called relying on God, that;s just called testing Him, taking HIm for granted. Without listening to him, without listening to what He wants me to do, and without caring and loving my relationship with Him, how can I expect my life to become any better? Cause I pray and pray and pray, and ask God to take me back on the path I was on before. And He's answered me so many times, through Jon, through Kwong, through other brothers and sisters, through everyone... But I've been so blind, and just closed all that out. People say that theres the wide path of the world, or the narrow path of God. They say that the narrow path is a harder path to take. I've been unknowingly, or rather... I pretend not to know, but I've been walking on the wider path lately. Thing is, for me, it's not easy at all. I know for a fact my life is reliant on God, He's like the air I breathe. I've been trying to walk in a space where theres no air for me,and I'm suffocating. Tonight, it's like God is shoving air into my lungs. I'm opening my eyes and it's like the song "Come home running". Why would I stray from Him? I don't know, but its like I'm always straying from Him. Truthfully, this time worse then others. Now I realize, it's like I'm once again at rock bottom. But God's merciful and I know that I'm so far right now from what He wants of me. Just sitting here, I'm crying cause I realize that the "narrow path", as people call it...its the only path I know howt to walk on. This "wide path" is so hard to walk on when I have no air to breathe. God has taken my hand and brought me back to His path, and now I'm breathing again. Air seems so much more precious and I'm not taking it for granted. I'm thinking everytime I take a breath, that it's God. This is making me realize just how how far I've become from God, and how much I've fallen. I've been through this before, and I know that I'll go through times like this in the future.But I really need to try to lessen those times from 1000 to 100, from 100 to 10 and 10 to 1. Till I can rely on God with faith that moves mountains.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Unashamed Love
"You're calling me to lay aside the worries of my day. To quiet down my busy mind and find a hiding place. Worthy, Worthy. I open up my heart and let my spirit worship Yours. I open up my mouth and let a song of praise come forth. Worthy, You are worthy. Of a child-like faith, and of my honest praise, and of my unashamed love. Of a holy life, and of my sacrifice, and of my unashamed love."
I've been listening to this song for a few days now and trying hard to grasp the meaning. But it feels like I can't. The songs says I'm called by God to "Lay aside the worries of my day". Yet I worry about everything, from school, to extra cirricular stuff, to work, to parents, to family and friends, to uni apps, to relationships, to accountablility, to my spiritual walk, to anything and everything. To the point I'm so stressed out that I'm physically ill. According to my doctor, I'm now suffering from Chronic Stress. Meaning constant stress, even though I really shouldn't have anything to stress about. And the Chronic Stress has the side effect of Chronic tension headaches. They're headaches that don't go away, even with sleep. It's due to some muscle in my head not resting enough and cramping up. Only thing that helps is medicine, lots of it. And it really sucks, because it's my worrying that got me to this stage. To the point where I have headaches 3,4,5 days in a row without end. It sucks. But listening to this song, it reminds me to just, find some time to rest in His presense, in His peace. But its becoming so hard. The headaches make it harder to concentrate, and I hate doing devos half heartedly. Thats the worst part. I would rather not do them, then just "kaow kaow kei kei" do them. Which means past two days, I haven't really done devos... Just listened to this song again and again. I really need to pray hard, and try hard to relax. Because if I carry on like this, I don't want it affecting my spiritual life... So if you read this, please pray for me. I want to be able to worship and pray and meditate on God's word wholeheartedly without a headache in the way. Thanks <3
I've been listening to this song for a few days now and trying hard to grasp the meaning. But it feels like I can't. The songs says I'm called by God to "Lay aside the worries of my day". Yet I worry about everything, from school, to extra cirricular stuff, to work, to parents, to family and friends, to uni apps, to relationships, to accountablility, to my spiritual walk, to anything and everything. To the point I'm so stressed out that I'm physically ill. According to my doctor, I'm now suffering from Chronic Stress. Meaning constant stress, even though I really shouldn't have anything to stress about. And the Chronic Stress has the side effect of Chronic tension headaches. They're headaches that don't go away, even with sleep. It's due to some muscle in my head not resting enough and cramping up. Only thing that helps is medicine, lots of it. And it really sucks, because it's my worrying that got me to this stage. To the point where I have headaches 3,4,5 days in a row without end. It sucks. But listening to this song, it reminds me to just, find some time to rest in His presense, in His peace. But its becoming so hard. The headaches make it harder to concentrate, and I hate doing devos half heartedly. Thats the worst part. I would rather not do them, then just "kaow kaow kei kei" do them. Which means past two days, I haven't really done devos... Just listened to this song again and again. I really need to pray hard, and try hard to relax. Because if I carry on like this, I don't want it affecting my spiritual life... So if you read this, please pray for me. I want to be able to worship and pray and meditate on God's word wholeheartedly without a headache in the way. Thanks <3
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Future In His Hands?
Okay, so this is an off topic post... But now I think I'm going to be switching into two sciences next semester o_O. I know, sudden "not pure business" anymore... and it's honestly probably going to kill me hahaha. But the thing is...I've been reflecting a lot and thinking a lot about what I'm blessed with and my future as well, and now my perspective has sort of changed a lot. I wanted to do business mainly because it's honestly pretty easy, not that hard, always in high demand, and basically a relatively stable area of study to go into. But then along came these past few days of super challenging my perspective on life, and now gg to me. Hahaha. I realized like... I am, honestly speaking, gifted academically...like in maths, sciences, english, everything just most of the time comes easily. I didn't really try much, well like at all, but it's only because God blessed me academically wise. After much thinking, I sort of realized that sure, business is in demand. Sure business is pretty stable. Sure it'll be professional and respected, but only on a worldly level. My question to myself is: Would going into business help me achieve a 360 lifestyle of serving Him right? Or is there something else I can do that would better serve as a tool for me to have a 360 lifestyle of worship to Him. After all, that's basically my goal for this year. To start understanding what 360 lifestyle of worship to Him really is. And like... to keep my options open is to give me the chance to apply for most things. If I take two sciences, I'll ideally have: English, French, Calc, Adv. Functions, Accounting, Economics, Physics and Chemistry as my 8 courses. That basically means I'm well off in terms of prerequisites to a LOT of different programs. If God suddenly puts it in my heart to do or be a certain thing, then I really want to be ready to respond. It's gunna stress me more, but I really don't know. It'll be really stressful but I think its a step of faith? To like.. open up my future, to put it into His hands 100%. Cause business is just my lazy way out... but laziness is a sin. God's will is something so valuable right? And like.. opening my options to be ready for when He tells me what to do is what's on my mind right now. I want to be ready to respond to His will for me. But the question is if I'm ready to step out of my comfortable laziness, and really start working hard for my future. I think it's really time I grow up in my laziness, to set things straight and start being more serious. Even though I'm gr.11, with one more year to go. One year isn't going to be that long. And when time flies by, next thing I know, I'll be facing a lot more than just not doing homework or extra history classes. I'll be facing the paths of my future, and I've decided that it's up to Him.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
People Need the Lord.
"Everyday they pass me by, I can see it in their eyes. Empty people filled with care, headed who knows where? On they go through private pain, living fear to fear.Laughter hides their silent cries, only Jesus hears.People need the Lord, people need the Lord.At the end of broken dreams, He's the open door.People need the Lord, people need the Lord.When will we realize, people need the Lord?We are called to take His light. To a world where wrong seems right. What could be too great a cost, for sharing life with one who's lost?Through His love our hearts can feel, all the grief they bear.They must hear the Words of Life, only we can share.People need the Lord, people need the Lord. At the end of broken dreams, He's the open door. People need the Lord, people need the Lord.When will we realize that we must give our lives, for people need the Lord.People need the Lord."
We've sang this song a billion times before, but recently (past 3 days), I've been reflecting a LOT on it's meaning. As I read and digested every word and read and re-read the lines, I realized the truth behind the song is so sad. Recently, I've been noticing a lot about the world around me. After reading Jon's essay on his trip to Vietnam, I couldn't help but think over and over again how broken our world is around us. In economics, we watched the movie Sicko by Michael Moore. Just seeing how inhumane some of the actions were made me do a double take. Here are doctors who actually care more about the patient being able to pay fees then genuinely wanting to save them. One very young girl passed away because her mother's company wouldn't insure her unless she was at the company owned hospital. Lives for the sake of money. I found myself doing a re-examination on the situation, and it left me with a question. Many call the homeless, or people with disabilites, or people who are impoverished, as "unfortunate". But in reality
WHO ARE THE UNFORTUNATE ONES?
I remember hearing Bern's message from last year. Just a short missions moment on his trip with DOXA to the DR. How there was a man, without that much money and far from what we describe as "fortunate". Yet he sat calmly under a tree on his plastic chair reading God's word, the Bible, and being at peace. And then there are doctors, lawyers, businessmen and women all bustling about with grumpy faces and irritated attitudes. These people who we regard as "well off" or "extremely fortunate" with their hundred-thousand dollar homes and nice luxury cars. But when it comes down to it, everyday people pass you by. People living in pain and fear and only Jesus can hear their silent cries. We have to bring His light to the world where wrong seems right. There are so many people out there who have never heard HIS TRUTH. People who walk around broken and without direction because they haven't heard the beautiful love relationship we can have with Christ, the one we should SHARE with them and TELL THEM ALL ABOUT.
And it's sad, cause of the fact that IT'S SO TRUE. People walk on, and on the outside they laugh. But on the inside, they bottle things up and turn their backs to God. We have to understand that it's fact that people need the Lord. It's simply fact. We can't live without Him. Why? Because He's the air we breathe. He's the bread of life. He's our living water. He's the one who gave us all we are and all we have. Without Him, we can't survive and we can't live on. Because it's not for the world to judge who is "fortunate" or "unfortunate". It's not for us to say "He has a million dollar home and five luxury cars, therefore he's fortunate". Or for us to say "That man lives in rags on the street, and goes to the soup kitchen, therefore he's unfortunate". God does not judge. But what we do know, is that.. for those of us who know Him as our Lord and know of His beautiful and everlasting love and saving grace, WE ARE FORTUNATE. To know and have the oppertunity to feel the love that fixes broken dreams, pain, fear, emptiness, lost direction, and gives us the strength to move on.
"He gives strength to the weary, and increases the power of the weak.Even youths grow tired and weary,and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.They will soar on wings like eagles;they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." ~ Isaiah 40:29-31
So everyday, let us live reminded that.. it's not... our grades, our future careers, our money, our houses, our posessesions or anything else worldy, that makes us fortunate. It's not a matter of whether we have food, shelter, clothes, or water. Because God is the source of all good things. He gives us power to go through anything and through His power, we can be what he wants us to be. So let us remember it's not by worldly standards which tell us whether we're fortunate or not. It's simply a matter of : Do you know God?
We've sang this song a billion times before, but recently (past 3 days), I've been reflecting a LOT on it's meaning. As I read and digested every word and read and re-read the lines, I realized the truth behind the song is so sad. Recently, I've been noticing a lot about the world around me. After reading Jon's essay on his trip to Vietnam, I couldn't help but think over and over again how broken our world is around us. In economics, we watched the movie Sicko by Michael Moore. Just seeing how inhumane some of the actions were made me do a double take. Here are doctors who actually care more about the patient being able to pay fees then genuinely wanting to save them. One very young girl passed away because her mother's company wouldn't insure her unless she was at the company owned hospital. Lives for the sake of money. I found myself doing a re-examination on the situation, and it left me with a question. Many call the homeless, or people with disabilites, or people who are impoverished, as "unfortunate". But in reality
WHO ARE THE UNFORTUNATE ONES?
I remember hearing Bern's message from last year. Just a short missions moment on his trip with DOXA to the DR. How there was a man, without that much money and far from what we describe as "fortunate". Yet he sat calmly under a tree on his plastic chair reading God's word, the Bible, and being at peace. And then there are doctors, lawyers, businessmen and women all bustling about with grumpy faces and irritated attitudes. These people who we regard as "well off" or "extremely fortunate" with their hundred-thousand dollar homes and nice luxury cars. But when it comes down to it, everyday people pass you by. People living in pain and fear and only Jesus can hear their silent cries. We have to bring His light to the world where wrong seems right. There are so many people out there who have never heard HIS TRUTH. People who walk around broken and without direction because they haven't heard the beautiful love relationship we can have with Christ, the one we should SHARE with them and TELL THEM ALL ABOUT.
And it's sad, cause of the fact that IT'S SO TRUE. People walk on, and on the outside they laugh. But on the inside, they bottle things up and turn their backs to God. We have to understand that it's fact that people need the Lord. It's simply fact. We can't live without Him. Why? Because He's the air we breathe. He's the bread of life. He's our living water. He's the one who gave us all we are and all we have. Without Him, we can't survive and we can't live on. Because it's not for the world to judge who is "fortunate" or "unfortunate". It's not for us to say "He has a million dollar home and five luxury cars, therefore he's fortunate". Or for us to say "That man lives in rags on the street, and goes to the soup kitchen, therefore he's unfortunate". God does not judge. But what we do know, is that.. for those of us who know Him as our Lord and know of His beautiful and everlasting love and saving grace, WE ARE FORTUNATE. To know and have the oppertunity to feel the love that fixes broken dreams, pain, fear, emptiness, lost direction, and gives us the strength to move on.
"He gives strength to the weary, and increases the power of the weak.Even youths grow tired and weary,and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.They will soar on wings like eagles;they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." ~ Isaiah 40:29-31
So everyday, let us live reminded that.. it's not... our grades, our future careers, our money, our houses, our posessesions or anything else worldy, that makes us fortunate. It's not a matter of whether we have food, shelter, clothes, or water. Because God is the source of all good things. He gives us power to go through anything and through His power, we can be what he wants us to be. So let us remember it's not by worldly standards which tell us whether we're fortunate or not. It's simply a matter of : Do you know God?
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