Life can seem unbearable at times, but don't let it keep you down. Meditate on God's goodness, talk to Him, and know that He hears you. When life knocks you to your knees, you're in a good position to pray.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
So Unworthy and Yet...
This says it all...
Who Am I by Casting Crowns
Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth Would care to know my name Would care to feel my hurt Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star Would choose to light the way For my ever wandering heart
Not because of who I am But because of what You've done Not because of what I've done But because of who You are
I am a flower quickly fading Here today and gone tomorrow A wave tossed in the ocean Vapor in the wind Still You hear me when I'm calling Lord, You catch me when I'm falling And You've told me who I am I am Yours, I am Yours
Who am I, that the eyes that see my sin Would look on me with love and watch me rise again Who am I, that the voice that calmed the sea Would call out through the rain And calm the storm in me
Not because of who I am But because of what You've done Not because of what I've done But because of who You are
I am a flower quickly fading Here today and gone tomorrow A wave tossed in the ocean Vapor in the wind Still You hear me when I'm calling Lord, You catch me when I'm falling And You've told me who I am I am Yours
Not because of who I am But because of what You've done Not because of what I've done But because of who You are
I am a flower quickly fading Here today and gone tomorrow A wave tossed in the ocean Vapor in the wind Still You hear me when I'm calling Lord, You catch me when I'm falling And You've told me who I am I am Yours
I am Yours Whom shall I fear Whom shall I fear 'Cause I am Yours I am Yours
I could still remember yesterday We were so in love in a special way And knowing that you love me Made me feel oh so right
But now I feel lost, don't know what to do Each and everyday I think of you Holding back the tears I'm trying with all my might
Because you've gone and left me standing all alone And I know I've got to face tomorrow on my own
But baby, before I let you go I want to say I love you I hope that you're listening coz it's true You'll be forever in my heart And I know that no one else will do So before I let you go I want to say, I love you
I wish that it would be just like before I know I could have given you so much more Even though you know I'd given you all my love I miss your smile, I miss your kiss Each and everyday I'll reminisce Coz baby it's you that I'm always dreaming of
Because you've gone and left me standing all alone And I know I've got to face tomorrow on my own
But baby before I let you go I want to say I love you I hope that you're listening coz it's true You'll be forever in my heart And I know that no one else will do So before I let you go I want to say, I love you
Letting you go is never easy But I love you so That's why I'll set you free, yeah And I know, someday, somehow I'll find the way To leave it all behind me I guess it wasn't meant to be, but baby...
Before I let you go, I want to say I love you I hope that you're listening coz it's true, baby You'll be forever in my heart And I know that no one else will do So before I let you go I want to say... So before I let you go I want to say... I love you...
Sometimes, the most important thing that we get from a relationship is not the guarantee of permanence, but the lesson that we learn when it fails. *sigh*
Hope you have a very happy birthday. Maybe it's happy because you at last got rid of me. (just kidding ^_^. Hindi po ako bitter. Tanggap ko na.)
Thanks for everything. I'm going to miss you. God bless you atid!
It was about tests and trials or troubles in life. It was compared or described in the way hand-formed pots are made. We are the pots, and the process the pots go through are the trials we experience in life.
Hand-formed pots are made in a process that allows the spirit of the artist (potter) to speak through the finished work with particular directness and intimacy. Like pots, we are "hand-formed" by our Maker, with "particular directness and intimacy" and that each of us is formed in a unique way for a unique work: "We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10).
We were always told that we are all uniquely created, and the Scripture states that we are made for good works. As I read on it, I've thought of the process pots go through until it is finished. All pots go through the same kind of "cooking process" or preparation; first it is shaped by the potter and then it is "fired" in a kiln. There it is cooked (burned) and dried. And then some are even thrust into a smoldering sawdust pile and remains there until it is finished. The more "painful" the process, the more refined and elegant is the finished product.
I'm currently going through some painful trials and troubles in my life. And I also have friends who are going through different but the same painful experiences and have confided their sentiments to me. It helps to think that you are not the only who goes through the same unpleasant situations, that you are not alone, so it won't make you think that God is being hard on you only, and that he Has no favoritism.
But the pot making made me appreciate the trials more. Yes, the process is so painful that we sometimes can't help but to grimace in pain, but thinking how we will make an "elegant pot" after made me accept it, rather than question God why He has to give me such discomforts. A friend told me (Rhoan, I am talking about you. You may not know it but you really blessed me and uplifted my spirit with these words), that maybe the reason why God is giving us these, for it seems like all of us in the worship team are afflicted, is because He's preparing us for a bigger task. And instead of grumbling and feeling sad, he was happy about it! Sabi pa niya, "nae-excite na tuloy ako!" (He said "I feel excited"). Grabe Rhoan, nahawa mo ako. I can't help but smile when you mentioned those words. It is also through you when you mentioned those encouraging words that I saw how sometimes God speaks to us through friends. ^_^
I like how they wrote it in The Message Bible translation what Paul said in James 1: 2-4. It said "Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way."
Trials exist, not to break us but to complete us. We might be going through the same pain, or some might be undergoing more painful ones, but we must know that without these things, we will not be complete. God's purpose was not just to make us complete, but to make us beautiful and perfect, not lacking anything.
Maybe the reason why we are still hurting is because God is not finished with us yet, or like what Rhoan said, He may be preparing us for a bigger task. Our God is a God of happy endings, so if you are not yet happy, then it is not yet the end. Whichever it is, we should not be bitter but rather be thankful that we go through these things, because it is also for our good, that we be made perfect. God loves us, and He only wants the best for us. ^_^
Of course, with the long time I've been gone in the blogging world, a lot of the happenings in my life were missed by this blog. It's because most of the time I don't feel like writing it here and sharing what I've been going through, besides the fact that I am not a creative writer.
Most the things I've been through during the past year, or just the past month, were not so good experiences and feelings, and I just don't think I should still carry it with the new year. Like what they said, past is past.
Well, not my most recent and last experience for the year 2005. I'd say it was a great thing to end the ending year and to start the coming year. I am thankful I was able to go there because I would have missed a lot.
I have been to a 3 day worship camp. During my stay in the camp, although short, I was able to have time with my fellow worshippers and so I was able to express myself more freely in worship because I am with the same crowd! It's actually one of my problems most of the time, I am not that expressive with my feelings, and the most sad was I was even ashamed to show even my feelings for God. Well of course, you don't see Him, and you can worship Him anywhere. What I'm really afraid of is for people to think I am probably insane or that I'm a show off if I'm going to express how I feel for God before them. I usually feel that during Sunday worship, where you are worshipping with the congregation. In the camp, I learned I should not feel like that.
You know how you look like when you speak (sometimes with different words), laugh, cry, dance, and/or REACH for something that nobody can't see? That's how it is with God. God is spirit, and so nobody can see Him. God is worshipped in faith.
In being afraid of what people will think whenever you feel like expressing yourself to God, King David in the Holy Bible was given as an example. There was one time that he was in high spirits and in a very worshipful mood that he even danced naked in worship to God. Talk about being undignified! He forgot about himself. And to think he's a king and he's doing that in front of his servants. He didn't care what they think of, as long as he gets to express his worship for the Lord. That's just saying that even David, a king, didn't care what people would think as long he expresses what he feels for the Lord.
Honestly, I am still struggling with it, and that's one fear I have to overcome. I should not be ashamed of what I do for the Lord, and God is asking for an extravagant worship. Actually, He doesn't have to ask for it, because that's what He deserves.
I don't intend this to be my life's chronicles but I might write some of my experiences here.
Even so, everything that's written in here are either products of my excessive contemplation, or just plainly, pure boredom.
In any case, I still try to write as sensible as possible, for what I really intend to do and I hope is achieved in every writing,
is to impart or share some of the things I learn and sometimes, some struggles in life. Don't expect all seriousness in everything in here though.
In short, this blog is my outlet. My noted thoughts and reflections.
About Me
Name: Goldi
Home: Pasay City, Philippines
Birthday: June 2
Hobbies & Interests: Jesus, music, books, journals, internet, computers, tech stuff, gadgets * sound tripping, singing, playing musical instruments (I know guitar and flute recorder, I just wish I can play them well), watching movie with a tub of popcorn drizzled with melted butter (yum!), reading * observing, pondering, reflecting, learning * laughing or making people laugh (though I'm not good at it) and laugh with them, make people smile, or just listen to their stories. Minsan, trip ko lang din mang-asar =p
About Me: I'm a simple, idealistic but down-to-earth, & friendly person. Quiet most of the time, but friendly enough to have a nice talk (or even a hearty laugh) with anyone. "I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20 NLT
Principles I live by:
"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." -Psalm 37:4
"If people talk negatively about you, live in such a way that no one will believe them."
"God is a God of happy endings. If you're not yet happy, it's not yet the end."
"It's not what we know but what we do that counts." -Our Daily Bread
"It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." -Dumbledore, Harry Potter 2
"Girls should assume that until a guy expresses interest, they're just friends." -J. Harris, Boy Meets Girl
"True love doesn't just wait; it plans." -Boy Meets Girl
"Eros will have naked bodies; friendship naked personalities." -C.S. Lewis
"Ideals are like stars; we will not succeed in touching them with our hands but by following them, as the sea faring man in the ocean, we will reach our destiny." -J. Harris, Boy Meets Girl
This is a reflection of my devotion for today...
We were always told that we are all uniquely created, and the Scripture states that we are made for good works. As I read on it, I've thought of the process pots go through until it is finished. All pots go through the same kind of "cooking process" or preparation; first it is shaped by the potter and then it is "
