My calling :)

"The Power of Your Name" by Lincoln Brewster

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCEXSV-y-so

Surely children weren't made for the streets
And Fathers were not made to leave
Surely this isn't how it should be
Let Your kingdom come

Surely nations were not made for war
Or the broken and due to be ignored
Surely this couldn't be what You saw
Let Your kingdom come
Here in my heart

And I will live to carry your compassion
To love a world that's broken
To be your hands and feet
And I will give with the life that I've been given
And go beyond religion to see the world be changed
By the power of Your Name
The power of Your Name

Surely life wasn't made to regret
And the lost were not made to forget
Surely faith without action is dead
Let Your Kingdom come
Lord break this heart

Jesus Your Name
Is a shelter for the hurting
Your Name
Is a refuge the weak
Only Your Name
Can take the undeserving
Jesus Your Name
Holds everything I need

When I get discouraged...

So I was randomly looking through my documents and remembered that I wrote this last semester when school was majorly putting me down in the dumps and God was putting me through such a huge test of faith.  It's crazy how I was still able to write such strong words even though it was so easy for me to feel defeated.  The Holy Spirit is quite awesome.

When I get discouraged, defeated, depressed, empty, worthless, unworthy…  Things to think about:

1.       With the resurrection and crucifixion of our Savior Jesus Christ, ALL of our battles have been won.  We have nothing to mope about because we belong to Jesus.  We have nothing to do but REJOICE!

2.       God knows my heart, desires, dreams, life inside and out.  He is the AUTHOR and PERFECTER of my life.

3.       He makes the impossible POSSIBLE.  Nothing is impossible for Him.

4.       “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”—1 Peter 5:7

Nail up all those anxieties and worries up on the cross.  Worries about test grades, demo grades, future living situations, future job, future relationships.  Because God LOVES me, He wants me to cast all of these burdens to HIM because He WILL take care of it.

5.       “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” –2 Corinthians 12:9a

If I were strong all the time and self-sufficient, where is room for God in that?  The reality is if I strive to be self-sufficient, I’m only heading towards self-destruction.  I NEED Him in my life.  I cannot do this on my own.

6.       “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” –Romans 8:18

I will persevere through my struggles and pains if it means that it will equip me for a greater purpose, a future glory.  These struggles that I go through, the circumstances that happen…are nothing compared to how God’s glory will be revealed because of the suffering and pain that I went through… even if it means bringing just ONE soul to Christ, it was SO worth it.  Little is MUCH in God’s Kingdom

7.       “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.” –Romans 5:3-5

Look at the fruit that comes out of our sufferings.  So let us REJOICE!

I don't know exactly who reads my blog but I pray that through publishing this on the world wide web a heart will be blessed :)

His story

I think one reason why I don't blog so much is because I feel obligated to write entries that are filled with eloquence, insight, and just profoundness(?).  Also, as I grow older, I feel more and more weird about people reading about my life, especially people that I know.  I think I also feel like I'm betraying my sturdy black notebook that's been so faithful to me with its flexible binding, clean crisp pages, and just giving me enough lines for me to pour my heart out.  Sometimes I even feel lazy to write in that because journaling takes up so much time.

So, I just had a thought running through my mind...  I also feel that blogging allows me to over-romanticize my life or make my life seem too story-like, kinda like a movie.  I would read other people's blogs and be so amazed at how interesting their lives are, even if they're talking about the most randomest and insignificant thing.  I would look at my own life and wonder if there's anything I could extract to present for any eye to read.  It's true that our lives don't exactly play out like how movies do, but I'm realizing that there is a story involved.  Also, how do these movies and storylines get written up?  From real life experiences.  This may sound cheesy or overly romantic, but it's the truth: God is writing up my story!  So anything that I choose to talk about should be a worthwhile read because God is involved in it.  Just gotta have an open and honest heart.  :)

I'm learning more of God's faithfulness while He's calling me to be patient.  When He calls you to do something, He will certainly give you the tools to do that.  Even through the chaos in my mind of wanting to rush things, cry in frustration, mope about how unfair my life is, there is still a blanket of peace that smothers over all of that.  Peace that declares of His promises, how His hands are so tightly clamped over all the details of my life...peace that declares that I have a destiny to pursue.

I just want to have pure, unashamed, and confident joy in obeying and loving You.