Arms wide open, heart exposed

He had arms wide open, heart exposed
Arms wide open, He was bleeding, bleeding.
Arms wide open, heart exposed
Arms wide open, He was bleeding, bleeding
Loves definition
Loves definition, was looking at me
Looking at Him. Hanging on a tree
I began to weep and weep and weep and weep
This is how I know what love is.

"Between the Promise and the Promised Land"

“Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.”

Deuteronomy 8:2

But I’ve also discovered the desert of waiting can be a fruitful place. Our key verse shows us that God used the desert time to test His followers’ hearts. This wasn’t to be a time of empty suffering. It was a time to demonstrate trust and obedience.

When we look at it that way, the desert can be a place of personal growth. But, this only happens when I choose to trust that God will fulfill His promises in His perfect way and time. The fruit of that choice is patience, discipline, obedience, an increased alertness to God’s involvement in my life, and a deeper dependence upon Him.

God gave the Israelites their Promised Land through a miraculous conquering of the city. But between the promise and the Promised Land there was a desert – for them and us. And that desert is fertile ground. The decision we all have to make is whether we will grow in faith and character, or negativity.

READ whole version

Romans 4:20-21, “Yet he (Abraham) did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.”

we will probably never understand why we were hurt.

but forgiving is not having to understand.

understanding may come later,

in fragments,

an insight here and a glimpse there,

after forgiving.

but we are asking too much

if we want to understand everything

at the beginning.

-Lewis B. Smedes

"We make our new beginnings,

not where we used to be

or where we wish we could be,

but only where we are
and with what we have at hand."
-Lewis B. Smedes

Focusing on God

Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now,

and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen

tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever

hard things come up when the time comes.

Matthew 6:34

Henri Nouwen once wrote...

"Compassion is hard because it requires the inner disposition to go with others to the place where they are weak, vulnerable, lonely, and broken. But this is not our spontaneous response to suffering. What we desire most is to do away with suffering by fleeing from it or finding a quick fix for it. As busy, active, relevant. . . [people] we want to earn our bread by making a real contribution. This means first and foremost doing something to show that our presence makes a difference. And so we ignore our greatest gift, which is our ability to enter into solidarity with those who suffer."

"What shall we say the kingdom of God is like,

or what parable shall we use to describe it?

It is like a mustard seed,

which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground.

Yet when planted,

it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants,

with such big branches

that the birds of the air can perch in its shade."

Mark 4:30-32

it's The Climb.

The struggles I'm facing

The chances I'm taking

Sometimes they knock me down but

No I'm not breaking

I may not know it

But these are the moments that

I'm going to remember most

Just keep going,

I gotta be strong

Just keep pushing..

Live Productively

bulletproof

he hears

he listens

he knows

i feel very invincible in this world tonight.

so un-acknowledged, so unknown.

is this what the psalmist felt?

anyone out there?

can anyone hear me?

let alone see me?

the depths of my soul longs to be understood.

the depths of my heart longs to be loved.

the depths of who i am just wants to be acknowledged.

that i am:

seen,

heard,

known,

understood

acknowledged,

and SO VERY LOVED!!!!!

God,

you see me right?

you're listening to me now?

you understand?

you know what i'm thinking

when the world goes about in its own business,

yet you take the time to stop in your tracks to take notice.

to hear out my soul

to hear my hearts cry,

listening to the words of my inner self.

you see the me within.

you know the me within.

and you love the me within,

you love me

you love me

you love me

so.

"By day the Lord directs his love,

at night his song is with me-

a prayer to the God of my life."
-Psalm 42:8

-Live Productively

knees to the earth

I'm just like everyone else

We are all hiding

Acting like I have a wealth

Of knowledge and peace

But all I've ever wanted

And what men have given their lives for

Is a God who understands my weaknesses

A God that I can love

You've done nothing but have compassion on us

So be near when I've given up, be near me

Prayer

St. Augustine, the early church father and theologian, described prayer as like a man in a hapless boat who throws a rope at a rock. The rock provides the needed security and stability and life for the helpless man. When the rock is lassoed it's not the man pulling the rock to the boat (though it may appear that way); it is the pulling of the boat to the rock. Jesus is the rock, and we throw the rope through prayer.

Prayer is the lifeline that saves the drowning soul. Prayer is the umbilical cord that provides nourishment to the starving spirit. Prayer is the channel by which God's life-giving presence flows to us.

-Rick Ezell

Live Productively

"One man's trash is another man's treasure"

The Cross

The cross meant death, and dead person does not respond. So when we go to the cross, the principle is that we do not respond (to circumstances, emotions, self-pride, etc.). But we let the risen Christ rule our hearts, and allow him to respond. So let us deny ourselves, pick up the cross, and follow him in obedience and submission to His full authority and in the power of His resurrection. So let us die and live in with the risen Lord who will rule our hearts and respond on our behalf. -Pastor Peter Kwon

Recap of the message from last Sundays sermon. I've been dealing with some issues lately that I haven't been able to freely express to anyone but God alone. Through agonizing nights of prayer, mourning and weeping my way to the cross allowed me to respond to Him and have Him respond to my circumstances. Have you ever felt like no one fully understood what you were thinking, feeling, and going through, partly because of the fear of what is expected of you too.. Have you ever felt that way before? I think that's why the floodgates of emotions just burst forth while I listened to this sermon. Sermons can sometimes be heard as just words when you hear the same thing over and over again, but when you actually live out the gospel message the whole realm of these words become life itself. That's why although I still struggle with internal conflicts and wounds from the past, it puts me into place that I am that much more in need of a Savior, Jesus Christ. I couldn't handle my current situations in my own power and will. It was just beyond me. And I knew that it wasn't about just talking it out with someone but it was something deeper within me that needed to be healed. God has been really gracious to me. Like I shared with my bible study class, there are some days where I just look into the eyes of Jesus and he says, "I know".. and from that moment, I just know everything is going to be ok.

But he said to me,
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

-Live Productively

There is a time for everything

Make this the time of your life!!!!!

A time for us to be reborn and a time to die to ourselves.
A time to uproot our unresolved past and plant something new in its place.
A time to kill certain behaviors and begin our healing process.
A time to tear down strongholds in our life and build up our walls of protection.
A time to seek occasions to laugh instead of finding reasons to weep.
A time to mourn those we have lost and dance with the memories we have shared.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-9

In everyday struggles, work to receive them as a lesson,
a blessing or a change of season.
Every season will pass—enjoy it or embrace it.

-Live Productively

A fish would never be happy living on land,

because it was made for water.

An eagle could never feel satisfied if it wasn't allowed to fly.

You will never feel completely satisfied on earth,

because you were made for more.

- Rick Warren

the thinker

thinking about what The Thinker is thinking.

a dime now or a dollar later?

A boy was playing in his front yard when his uncle stopped by for a visit. After talking for a bit, the man sprung a philosophical question on his five-year-old nephew: "If I gave you the choice, would you like a dime today or a dollar next week?"

The boy stood and thought. A dollar could buy him that rubber ball he'd seen at the corner store, but a "dime today" could mean a package of potato chips for his hungry late-afternoon stomach. So he took the dime, bought his snack and went home happy.

But about a week later, a buddy passed his house bouncing a new rubber ball. The boy then thought about his uncle's offer. The chips were a distant memory, along with the dime that had seemed so valuable at the moment.

If only he'd been willing to wait for that rubber ball later on...

There's a lot of truth to that story, you know. Sometimes we're so glamorized by the glint and gleam of the one thing we want right now that we're not willing to wait and trust God for the something better He planned for us down the line.

-Live Productively

Kingdom Seekers

6th Grade Girls.
October, 2011

i love them too much!

He hears, He knows. Keep Praying

I heard the story recently of a couple who, by their tenth anniversary, had been unable to conceive any children. Those of you who have experienced this heartbreak can readily relate to the frustration they felt, the void that remained so senselessly empty in their lives.

On days when they allowed themselves to think about it, they'd ponder what they might name a child if they were ever to have one. They had always been able to settle on a boy's name, but they both had a different favorite for a girl. The wife liked the name Autumn; the husband preferred Amanda.

But still, no child came. Boy or girl. So they went to Plan B and decided to adopt siblings.

You can imagine how they prayed for this opportunity to develop. They asked God to work His perfect will, to bind their hearts with just the right children from just the right situation. One day the adoption agency called with the news that two sisters—ages three and five—had been relinquished by their mother. Though she wasn't a believer herself, the woman had requested that her daughters be placed with a Christian family. That had moved this couple's name to the top of the list.

When they asked the social worker to tell them more about the girls, here's what she said: "They're both green-eyed blondes. The five-year-old is named Autumn. The three-year-old is named Amanda."

He hears our prayers and knows our hearts.

If you've been praying for a similar answer to your need,

know that He never loses sight of you,

that He knows where you are . . .

that He knows your name. =)

-Live Productively

Autumn in Ann Arbor

... was so beautiful!!!!

-Live Productively

Since When Did I Become God?

Why is it that it's so much easier to point the finger at someone else other than myself?

Why is it so much easier to blame someone else for their wrongdoing than it is to see myself for what I've done wrong?

Why is it so much more evident to see the faults and shortcomings of someone else than it is to see my own?

Since when did I turn into God- where I judge the other for his faults, wrongdoings and shortcomings yet without even being aware of this huge plank within my own eye as I try to pluck that speck out of my brothers. I can probably be labeled as the biggest hypocrite alive. All those complaints and bad-mouthing you've heard from non-christians about how Christians are the biggest hypocrites judging the most, you bet that I fit right into that slot of judgmental, Pharisaical, hypocrite of a Christian- being more conscious of cleaning the outside of the cup when the inside of the cup needs the most cleaning.

From where and since when did I start riding up my high horse and start putting on my "I'm so righteous and holy" gear that has somehow morphed me as blameless? When I'm obviously so unbelievably so far from. I'm just as wretched as the next sinner in God's eyes. And I'm just as poor and needy as the next beggar, in desperate need of a Messiah. A Savior. A Lord. A perfect, sinless Christ, to save me from my sin. I need Jesus today and every single day as if it's the first time I've encountered him. In lyrical terms, I can equate today in this, "In the economy of mercy, I am a poor and begging man.." -Switchfoot.

"You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." Matthew 7:5

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean." Matthew 23:25, 26

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.” John 1:29-31

-Live Productively

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another”

John 13: 34, 35

In You

In You

I find my rest

In You

I find my death

In You

I find my all and my emptiness

Somehow it all makes sense

‎"Only when you know yourself as unconditionally loved-

that is, fully received by God,

can you give gratuitously.

Giving without wanting anything in return

is trusting that all your needs

will be provided for by the One

who loves you unconditionally."

-Henri Nouwen

-Live Productively

A spiritual discipline is necessary in order to move slowly

from an absurd to an obedient life,

from a life filled with noisy worries

to a life in which there is some free inner space

where we can listen to our God

and follow his guidance.

- Henri Nouwen

A Wise & Valuable Lesson

The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant

²¹ Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”

²² Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

²³ “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. ²⁴ As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. ²⁵ Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

²⁶ “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ ²⁷The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

²⁸ “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.

²⁹ “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’

³⁰ “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. ³¹ When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.

³² “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. ³³ Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ ³⁴ In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

³⁵ “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

“Finally, all of you,

live in harmony with one another;

be sympathetic,

love as brothers,

be compassionate and humble”

I Peter 3: 8

People think a soul mate is your perfect fit, and that’s what everyone wants. But a true soul mate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that is holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life. A true soul mate is probably the most important person you’ll ever meet, because they tear down your walls and smack you awake. A soul mates purpose is to shake you up, tear apart your ego a little bit, show you your obstacles and addictions, break your heart open so new light can get in, make you so out of control that you have to transform your life…

-Elizabeth Gilbert

The hardest part about growing up is letting go with what you have been accustomed to and moving on with something that you haven’t experienced yet.

I can definitely relate.

-Live Productively

You can be happy tomorrow. You can be happy when you get through your list of things to do. You can be happy when you meet the one. You can be happy when you get the right job. You can be happy when you get that raise. You can be happy when you stop buying the things you need and start buying the things you want. You can be happy when you retire. You can be happy when the weather suits you. You can be happy on a plane. You can be happy in the rain. Or you can stop reading this, take a deep breath, and be happy right now.

haha, word! :)

-Live Productively

"There is an inner beauty about a woman who believes in herself, who knows she is capable of anything that she puts her mind to. There is a beauty in the strength and determination of a woman who follows her own path, who is not thrown off by obstacles along the way. There is a beauty about a woman whose confidence comes from experiences. Who knows she can fall, pick herself up, and move on."

..for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again.
-Proverbs 24:16

-Live Productively

must put into practice more, WAY more

People are often unreasonable and self-centered.
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.

If you are honest, people may cheat you.
Be honest anyway.

If you find happiness, people may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough.
Give your best anyway.

For you see, in the end, it is between you and Him.

It was never between you and them anyway.

--Mother Teresa

Retaliation

This reminds me of the old story—supposedly true—about some soldiers who were living off base during the Korean War. They hired a local houseboy to do cooking and cleaning and other odd jobs for them, but they also took delight in playing tricks on him—just for meanness.

One morning when the boy got up and put on his slippers, he awkwardly fell forward to the ground—his shoes had been nailed to the floor. One night when he crawled into bed, he found shaving cream under his pillow. But no matter what pranks the soldiers pulled—whether short-sheeting his bed or setting buckets of water over his door—he always appeared to respond without much visible anger. "That's okay," he would say.

Finally, the young men realized they'd been inhumane in their treatment of the boy. They went to him and apologized. "We're sorry for what we've been doing to you. It won't happen again."

"You no more nail shoes to the floor?" No.

"You no more short-sheet bed? No more shave cream under pillow?" That's right.

A little smile crept across the boy's lips. Then he said,

"Okay. Then me no more spit in soup."

Not returning evil for evil

or insult for insult,

but giving a blessing instead;

for you were called for the very purpose

that you might inherit a blessing.

1 PETER 3:9

-Live Productively

be still my soul and know..

It Is Well With My Soul By Darlene Zschech

A Psalm 31 Prayer

I have become like broken pottery.

My eyes grow weak with sorrow,

my soul and body with grief.

My life is consumed by anguish,

my strength fails, my bones grow weak.

I am the utter contempt of my neighbors;

I am a dread to my friends-

those who see me on the street flee from me.

I am forgotten by them as though I were dead.

But I trust in You, My God and Savior.

Free me from the trap that is set before me,

for You are my refuge.

Turn Your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue;

be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me.

I will be glad & rejoice in Your love,

for you saw me and know the anguish of my soul.

Let Your face shine on me,

save me in Your unfailing love.

Praise be to the Lord,

for I know He will show His wonderful love to me..

close your eyes, open your heart & listen.

Your grace is sufficient by Shane & Shane

sufficient for me

I acknowledge that I am very, very weak.

I can break like a shattered glass.

Fragile yet strong, firm yet unstable.

Remain humble about my achievements,

and confident in God who overrides anything I've done or ever can do.

I acknowledge that I am so very weak to go about this alone.

I need God who is stronger than I to carry me along through this desert.

No food, no water,

just a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.

Blazing sun scorching away, withering up anything that's not worth flourishing

and cracking open unstable grounds to shed in new light.

Burning away the dross, not worth withstanding.

Taking away my weaknesses and blooming forth within me newness of life.

But he said to me,
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses,
so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

2nd Corinthians 12:9

-Live Productively

When God says, "No"

I asked God to take away my pride. And God said "No".

He said it was not for Him to take away, but for me to give it up.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole. And God said "No".

He said her spirit was whole, her body was only temporary.

I asked God to grant me patience. And God said "No".

He said patience is a by-product of tribulations. It isn't to be granted, it is earned.

I asked God to give me happiness. And God said "No".

He said He gives me blessings, happiness is up to me.

I asked God to spare me pain. And God said "No".

He said suffering draws me apart from worldly cares and brings me closer to Him.

I asked God to make my spirit grow. And God said "No".

He said I must grow on my own. But he will prune me to make me fruitful.

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life. And God said "No".

He said He will give me life, that I may enjoy all things.

I asked God to make me love others, as much as He loves me.

And God said, "Ah, finally you have the right idea!"

-Live Productively

A La La la la Life is Wonderful

Providence

The only survivor of a shipwreck came upon a small, uninhabited island. He prayed repeatedly for God to save him and everyday scanned the horizon for his answer. Even though he was exhausted and in despair, he eventually managed to build a little hut to keep him out of the weather and to store his provisions.

Then one day, after searching for food, he came home to find his little hut on fire. The worst thing that could have happened had happened. Everything he had was consumed. In his grief he cried out, "God, how could you do this to me!" Early the next morning, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. They had come to rescue him. "How did you know I was here?" asked the castaway. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied.

-Live Productively

"I believe in Christianity

as I believe that the sun has risen:

not only because I see it,

but because by it

I see everything else."

-C.S. Lewis

Live Long & Prosper

Today we had a lunch in with a Pharmaceutical company who provided an awesome lunch for our office. It's always a good time when we get to sit down and enjoy each other's company apart from the work environment in the hustlin' of work. During our lunch today though, my Doctor mentioned a Doctor friend of his who taught at the University of Arkansas for many years who recently started needing other Doctor's help such as an Ophthalmologist due to his deteriorating eye sight. And I think this got to my Doctor, the fact that life is really short and the fact that his continual maintenance of a healthy balance between positive thinking, sending out loving atmosphere and possessing a healthy life style he works at living long and prospering. This added on to my inspiration for the day because this morning I listened to a sermon about Ezra, a man with the Right Heart, with a heart that has been clarified.

For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel
(Ezra 7:10)

When you look at the life of Ezra you can just see the hand of God upon his life. A question that the pastor had posed was, "When you look at the life of some people, do you see the evidence that God's hand is graciously upon their lives?" This doesn't pertain to just a material possessions that God's blessing is upon their lives. But in everything that the hands of those touches it leads to an abundance of success, provision, protection and deliverance. He then went on to mention how some people's lives will never have the hand of God upon their lives because of the state of the heart. But went on to encourage the emphasis with hope that God's hand is indeed, mobile! God sees devotion, determination and the will of those people, to know His word that reflects our own flaws, leading to making the necessary changes for transformation to take place. In the same way, as my Doctor started to see the ways that he could lose his health, he maintains the appropriate means of keeping a balanced life style of exercise, thinking positively and continuing His growth- emotionally, spiritually, physically and mentally, I was inspired to do the same. Live long & Prosper!

-Live Productively

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
-Colossians 3:16

the fragrance of Christ

I've always been the type, or have grown up just being used to being happy for other people. Living vicariously through the joys and sorrows of others that when it comes time for me to be happy for myself, it just doesn't seem to flow as naturally as I'd like it to. I see the joy reflecting off of others for the celebratory events taking place or the great things blooming forth for them in their lives that I radiate along with them. In like, these days the joy and radiant beauty that reflects off of me must be evidently seen by those who are happy for me. But am I in a state to actually be able to be happy for myself? To celebrate the victories among the defeats. To have faith among the confusion. To hold strong when I am weak. To hold on when everything is feasibly blowing away. It's the inner man reflecting the outer man. The message that Pastor Kim spoke on this past Sunday left me with a sense of clarity that I am going in the right direction. That the importance of the inner man (spirit/ the soul) highly outweighs the importance of feeding only the outer man, for just as we feed our bodies with food when we hunger or clothe ourselves with layers upon layers of clothing when we're cold, in the same way we feed our spirits with the word of God when we feel weak and clothe ourselves with patience and love when we feel most vulnerable. The work of character comes in a moment by moment, following through in the process that we learn the real outcome of what kind of character we have. Pastor Kim posed a question that left me chewing for days now, "When you read the bible or sit down to spend quality time with the Lord, does time go by real slowly compared to when you're doing things like watching movies or browsing the internet that speeds up time?" And if so, then the strength of the outer man highly outweighs the strength of your inner man. When the inner man's strength is strong then time with the Lord will be a joyous, can't wait to meet with God kind of thing. It's a regardless of what's going on around me in the outside world, I'm not discouraged or defeated by the remarks of what others strike at me. It's the kind of strength within that holds fast regardless of evidence or results being shown or not. It's the kind that believes when no one else seems to, sees when no one sees and loves when it's easier to hate. It's the Christ-like character that reflects from within that radiates to the outer man by actions and deeds.

-Live Productively

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
- 2nd Corinthians 4:16

God appeared to me and it was so real!

God remembers, he envelops me with his presence and ministers to me.

God appeared to me today, he reminded me of a time in my life when I was very lonely and felt discarded by the world, used and very abused. But he reminded me today as he visited me in the form of this word spoken that he remembers me, his presence ministers to me and ushers in His love. It was so real!

Hope this message gives comfort, peace and hope for those who feel victimized, abandoned and used. This message is for you.

-Live Productively

See Yourself Truthfully

You continue struggling to see your own truth. When people who know your heart well and love you dearly say that you are a child of God, that God has entered deeply into your being, and that you are offering much of God to others, you hear these statements as pep talks. You don't believe that these people are really seeing what they are saying.

You have to start seeing yourself as your truthful friends see you. As long as you remain blind to your own truth, you keep putting yourself down and referring to everyone else as better, holier, and more loved than you are. You look up to everyone in whom you see goodness, beauty, and love because you do not see any of these qualities in yourself. As a result, you begin leaning on others without realizing that you have everything you need to stand on your own feet.

You cannot force things, however. You cannot make yourself see what others see. You cannot fully claim yourself when parts of you are still wayward. You have to acknowledge where you are and affirm that place. You have to be willing to live your loneliness, your incompleteness, your lack of total incarnation fearlessly, and trust that God will give you the people to keep showing you the truth of who you are.

-Henri J. M. Nouwen (The Inner Voice of Love)

-Live Productively

Forever

I'll Worship at Your Throne
Whisper my own love song
With all my heart I'll sing
For You my Dad and King
I'll live for all my days
To Put a smile on Your face
And when we finally meet
It'll be for eternity

And Oh how wide You open up Your arms
When I need Your love
And how far You would come
If ever I was lost
And You said that all You feel for me
Is undying love
That You showed me through the cross

I'll worship You my God
I'll worship You my God
I love You
I love You
Forever I will sing
Forever I will be with You
Be with You

Hillsong United

A visitor at a fishing dock asked an old fisherman who was sitting there, "If I were to fall into this water, would I drown?" It was a strange way of asking how deep the water was, but the fisherman had a good answer. "No. Falling into the water doesn't drown anybody. It's staying under it that does."

-Live Productively

Keys to a New Life

It still seems surreal. I'll be moving out of my moms and starting a new life for myself. Wow, this seems so much more dramatic than I intend it to be. It's not that big of a deal than I'm thinking it out to be. I've been moving from home to home, place to place for one too many years to count now. So moving has become like second nature to me. I'm still getting accustomed to what the concept of staying actually means. I think that's why the verse that says, "be still" comes as quite a challenge for me. But I know that one thing will always remains a constant, that being, God. His provision for me as my father. His love for me as my Savior. His unending favor of Grace that goes beyond my shortcomings. I've blogged and blogged some more about how the Lord always provides for me, as a parent should, in proportion to my faith. I think that's why my relationship with God has become more and more personal as the years have gone by. As much as my earthly parents provide for me and love me as parents "should", they still fall short in a lot of ways but I don't hold that against them. I just see it as, that much more God has filled in the shoes of my parent, my Lord, my Savior. He's more than a friend, closer than a brother, yet loving as my own flesh and blood.

My room-mate-to-be just came by and dropped off the keys to our new place. Keys to a New life. It's exciting starting this new season of my life with new people entering, some staying and some leaving. But I guess this is just the process of life. It moves on regardless of you're ready or not. I've adjusted fairly well and am at complete ease. I've grown so much, I've learned so much, I've processed so much and I'm still growing, learning and processing, so much. The unknown was once a scary place for me to be, a place I prohibited myself from entering has now become the greatest adventure yet! I have no idea what every day holds, anything can happen. But I'm happy, joyful and in anticipation for what has yet to come.

God is good. May my Life reflect this glory. All praise unto Him!

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Streets of Gold

I love the story of a wealthy man who prayed, asking for permission to take his earthly wealth with him when he died and went to heaven. An angel appeared to the man and said, "We heard your prayer, but I am sorry. You simply cannot take it with you." The man pleaded so passionately that the angel said, "Let me see what I can do." When the angel returned, he reported, "Good news! God has made an exception for you. You may bring one suitcase with you when it is your time to go." Delighted, the man packed his one suitcase and went on with life. Several years later, he died and appeared at the Pearly Gates where he was met by St. Peter who took one look at the suitcase and said, "I am sorry, sir, but you cannot bring that in with you." The man protested, "But I received special permission." Just then, the angel appeared and said, "Peter, it is true. He has special permission to bring one suitcase in with him." Curious, Peter said, "Do you mind showing me what is in the bag that is so important to you?" With a smile, the man replied, "Not at all" and proceeded to open the suitcase to reveal stacks of gold bricks. Peter's face said it all, "Pavement? You brought pavement with you?"

Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions”
(Luke 12:15).

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{Philippians 4:11-13}

".. for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength."

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"Love is not a because, it's a no matter what."
— Jodi Picoult

Taking care of yourself physically really helps emotionally. People who get a lot of sleep, and who do the things that relieve stress, can withstand more stress.
- Laura Bush

Because I am Loved

Question: Are you doing this because you are loved
or so that you’ll be loved?


Because I am loved, I can humble myself.
When I’m trying to be loved, I must build myself up to look better.

Because I am loved, I can cast all my anxiety on Him.
When I’m trying to be loved, I cast all my anxiety on my performance.

Because I am loved, I can resist Satan and stand firm in my faith.
When I’m trying to be loved, I listen to Satan and stand uncertain trying to rely on my feelings.

Because I am loved, I know God will use this to make me stronger – and I want that.
When I’m trying to be loved, I don’t want to be made stronger – I want life to be easier.

Bleesed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
-Jesus
(Matthew 5:5)

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(source: Proverbs 31)

a new layout,

a new season,

I enter now.

I will very gladly welcome you with open arms.

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Dear Lord, make me a person of unwavering commitment to You. Guide me away from the temptations and distractions of this world, so that I might honor You with my thoughts, my actions, and my prayers. Amen

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I can fly higher than an eagle,

'cause you are the wind beneath my wings.

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Psalm 27

One thing I ask of the LORD,
this is what I seek:
that I may dwell
in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the
beauty of the LORD
and to seek him in his temple.

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he is jealous for me

one thing i realized today.

one thing i take very personally.

one thing that makes me feel connected.

that one thing being, our bond.

when i feel like that bond has been broken,

by seeing that bond shared with someone else,

it breaks that connection.

i wonder if God purposely allowed me to see this

through the works of someone else

to show me how it's like between me and him?

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today i learned that communication is key.

i saw my brother feeling turmoiled and very distressed.
distraught he didn't get to wear his favorite pajamas because his younger brother said he didn't get a chance to wear them so he had to sacrifice, leaving my brother daniel feeling very torn and sad.
i saw that daniel kept covering his ears and eyes, crying over what had happened.
this is unhealthy, i told him. you need to talk it out.
as i calmed him down and he started to take a breather.
i gave him some time as he caught his breathe and thoughts.
he started gaining control of his actions as he came around to talk out his emotions, letting go of his distress.
it was a healthy, let go.
then he told me about his day and what he learned at vbs.
i told him that i loved him very much.
he fell asleep.
i left the room.

i learned a very valuable lesson through this.
today i learned that communication is key.

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“The steps of a man are established by the Lord, and He delights in his way. When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, because the Lord is the One who holds his hand.”

Psalm 37:23-24

God is Fair

... it's been a hot minute since the last time i've written anything worth posting on this blog. i've been in a season that's been abundantly fruitful nonetheless, apart from sharing on blog. i thought this story that a jipsahnim at my church shared with me yesterday, was worth posting. we were in the middle of discussing how God has been providing for all my needs and she went on to share, "see, God is fair!" and then went into sharing this story:

she said, "there's a story in the olden chinese days where a father and a son lived in some rural land. the son had gotten into a devastating accident and lost one of his legs, all in which when the war was just about to take place. all the young men were commissioned to fight for their country except this young man, due to his accident. well, the war went on and none of the soldiers ended up surviving, accept this young man."

i'm not sure if this story is true or not but the moral of it was that in life we may only see with our eyes our current sufferings, being blinded from seeing the whole scheme of it all. in my 26 years of life, i may have had to endure through tough times but also with those times came good ones as well. God was/is/will be faithful, whatever circumstance i may be facing because no matter who may come and go, what may happen, where i'll be, "God is the same yesterday, today and forever." (hebrews 13:8). And with this fact, that's a daily revelation, is more than sufficient for me..

"Many come short,

being satisfied with the works of God

rather than hungering for and reaching

on to God Himself."

AW Tozer

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"we accept the love we think we deserve"

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A Woman of Valor

One night President Obama and his wife Michelle decided to do something out of
routine and go for a casual dinner at a restaurant that wasn’t too luxurious.
When they were seated, the owner of the restaurant asked the President’s Secret
Service if he could please speak to the First Lady in private. They obliged and
Michelle had a conversation with the owner. Following this conversation
President Obama asked Michelle, “Why was he so interested in talking to you?”
She mentioned that in her teenage years, he had been madly in love with her.
President Obama then said, “So if you had married him, you would now be the
owner of this lovely restaurant,” to which Michelle responded, “No. If I had
married him, he would now be the President.”

(Source: leemrsmn, via bangladeshimo)

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