rediscovering eden
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
A 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
whom shall i fear
whom shall i fear
i am yours
Entries
Monday, November 16, 2009
-8:33 PM
Hey Faithfulness,
haha congratulations to those people who have just completed their O levels, God has been with you during this period =) and enjoy post Os ^^ hope you've planned out everything you wanna do, don't slack the holidays away yea =) same goes for the other levels having holidays haha. Anyway, in the meantime, let's continue to remember the J2s still taking their A levels, continue to pray for them daily yea, and if any of them are seeing this (why is daniel still on facebook -.-) the rest of the fellowship and daoshis will always be here if you need someone to talk to yea.
Anyway, the following is a short message i happened to find while surfing campus crusade's website; it's a message by the county director to the ministry partners there, and its something, i feel, that we could all use as well, especially during the holidays when all play no work somehow becomes sian (yes it does happen), and even if that doesn't happen, i hope this message will encourage you to seek God during all that free time so that 'we will find all things in Him'
The Joy Stealers...
We all have those days -- when things do not seem to go as you expect at home or at work, or when the novelty of a new job or a new stage in life wears into a mundane drudgery, or when difficult relationships take a toll on us…they steal our joy and saps our energy. These fall roughly into three categories:
Firstly, the daily grind. Sometimes the daily-ness of our routines can wear us out physically and emotionally. The unrelenting regularity of repetative tasks - going to work day in day out, commuting the same route, having the same choices for lunch, and for mums, the unending chores at home, changing diapers and ferrying kids to school through the heavy traffic, can sometimes wear us out.
Secondly, the daily grate. The minor irritations and frustrations of life -- a co-worker we cannot get along with, battling heavy traffic every day, recalcitrant children, gadgets that break down when we needed them most… We all have our pet peeves and things that grate on us, like a grain of sand in our shoe.
Thirdly, the daily grudge. Some of us carry with us a persistent feeling of ill will or resentment from past hurts or injuries. This can take the form of an unforgiving spirit and expressed in passive aggressive behaviors. Sometimes the people closest to us -- our spouse and our children, and even God Himself, are not spared from our harboring some measure of grudge. If this daily grudge is not dealt with in a timely manner, it will eat into our souls, and give root to a spirit of bitterness in our hearts.
How do we respond to the daily grind, daily grate, and the daily grudge? We have our daily gripe (or grumble)! The nation of Israel was known for her grumbling against the Lord (read Exodus and Numbers). Their lack of trust in the Lord and in His appointed leaders (Moses and Aaron) caused them to have a griping spirit. A griper focuses on himself and the circumstances rather than on God. A griper is not a joyful person to be with!
Let me suggest another response as we go about life --
a daily gratitude.
This daily gratitude results from acknowledging who God is and what He has done in our lives, and His goodness to us. Three ways of cultivating a heart of gratitude:
A heart fully rested in God, knowing that my God is BIG enough to take care of my burdens and that He knows exactly what I am going through and how I am feeling -- the daily grind, the daily grate, and the daily grudge. Psalm 68:19 tells us, "Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens." Lighten your load, let God carry those burdens, and rest in Him.
Be content in all circumstances. Paul exhorts us in Phil 4:12, "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." Rather than griping about what you lack, give thanks for what you already have, and celebrate the simple joys of life.
Make it a daily choice to give thanks as I walk with my Master. "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus," -- 1 Thess 5:18. Gratitude is the best attitude, and it honors God.
I pray we will once again rediscover the joy of gratitude, because our heart of gratitude expresses our faith and adoration for Him.
Most Grateful to Him,
Lam Kok Hiang
Country Director
Here's the website if you're interested- http://www.sccc.sg/
In love,
Timothy.
