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!

-Live Productively

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).

-Live Productively

{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."

-Live Productively