|
SubscriptionsSites I Read
|
|
|
|
|
Take Away (Acoustic) - Mainstay
I'm pretty sure when I saw this band back in high school they weren't this good.
But shoot, this song gave me shivers, and its lyrics pounded my soul.
Rid me of the notion that I ever had any rights
Cleanse me of the motives that come in such a clever disguise
Ruin my agenda, holy as it never was
It's all from Your hand
and there's nothing that's mine
and all that You give
You're free to take away
I'm just trying to hold on, clinging to the dream inside
I was only selfish, and you were only part of my life
It's all from Your hand
and there's nothing that's mine
and all that You give
You're free to take away
Every breath, every word
There isn't one thing I deserve
And all that I am is Yours | | |
|
All Creatures Of Our God And King - Bethany Dillon and Shawn McDonald
When I first heard this, I thought of a wedding processional.
If Christ was the groom and the church doors open for the body of Christ to make her way down the aisle,
the bride takes every single step with confidence, emerging closer and closer to the moment she's waited for, hoped for, prayed for, envisioned...
and the congregation stands slowly, but truly as all creatures rejoice in one harmonious worship
then the climax rises as the groom finally takes his bride and comes together as one
maybe it's still too early to pick out wedding songs... | | |
| i think it's an adjective that often gets misused. a word that describes something incomprehensible and leaves us dumbfounded in a state of wonderment.
by far the only plausible things that are of amazement in life deals with the nature of God.
amazing grace. completely lost and blinded by the worldly and temporary pleasures in our life, God calls us, chose us and redeemed us not by anything by what we've done; if anything we have cost God grief, sorrow, disappointment, tragic wanderings...and yet amidst of all our failures and shortcomings God still sent Himself to this wretched place in order to break our chains and to reveal Himself to us this unexplainable joy, this tremendous freedom, and above all - this everlasting redemption that only He can provide. Not only did He forgive us, but goes beyond that and gives more than we could ever ask for. What beautiful imageries of grace that everyday this simple reminder still stuns me.
amazing love. how can it be? that Jesus would sacrifice Himself on the cross. selfless, humble, and completely undeserving...the epitome of love. we look within ourselves and we realize how insignificant, unworthy we are and yet through this divine love we are compelled to die to ourselves, to surrender our all and lay everything upon the feet of Jesus. nothing we have in this life is ours to own, and nothing is ours to keep. we are vessels of Christ, tools to be used, clay to be molded to fulfill God's plan.
el fin.
| | |
| congrats, way to go buddy - here's a reward for all your hard efforts =)
there are two reasons for the title of this entry.
1. my last entry dated back to august 2006 and it is now inching towards december 2007. i guess i was never motivated enough to jot down daily ramblings or random epiphanies i get every so often. the only reason for this rekindlement is...well, i'm sure you know without me telling you.
2. i like to think that since entering college, i have changed for the better. in terms of how i care more for others, how i try to watch my tongue and use it to edify and build up rather than to lash out, but most importantly in my walk in Christ. no longer is my faith just a religion, but rather i consider it a relationship - a first love with the one and only. rekindled in the arms of grace, and back on the heavenbound road.
but i digress.
i didn't choose to write in my xanga for the mere purpose of talking about rekindling (though i suppose it's quite the appropriate title). paul said in phillipians to forget what is behind and strain toward what's ahead. so let's not discuss what's already happened in the past year and a half since the last entry, but rather what is to come.
what...exactly is ahead?
it seems as if the older i get, the more antsy people get about asking what i want to do with my life, what major am i, what career lies ahead for me, etc.; but...i like to think i'm secure enough that God will take care of that and i don't have to stress out too much about it. in His will be done. by far, the biggest thing that i've learned since being at UT (and am still learning) is the fact that God has plans for me, plans to prosper me and not harm me, to give me a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11) everyday He teaches me something new - be it in something i read in His word, hear from encouraging friends, or just the observations i make as i go about my day. nonetheless, i truly believe that if you seek and really look, you can see God in just about everything.
exhibit a: the most obvious is nature. the formation of trees, the birds in the air, the stars in the sky, the sun as it rises and sets, the way the water moves about, the calmness in the rain as it drips upon the windows, the way squirrels scurry around, etc. are all just a small portion of God's handiworks that display His awesome creations. and all the adaptations that some animals have to inherit in order to survive? really, from God. who said evolution and creation can't work together? God said it was good and indeed it is.
exhibit b: connections. as if everything were intertwined within each other: my bio, chem, a bit of my psych class all sort'f correlate within each other. the molecules in chemistry can bond and form to make some cell, tissue or organ system in the human body. if these cells somehow malfunction we get biological mutations that can somehow influence our brain and the depletion of dopamine or serotonin leads to depression or schizophrenia. coincidence? i think not - must be God
exhibit c: people. sometimes it's fun to just sit back and watch people walk to and fro from one destination to another. everyone is created so differently just in the way they talk, walk, smile, cry, hold their phones, read their books, etc. makes it so enjoyable to see just how insanely creative our God can be. besides, you can learn so much from the life of others - be it good or bad. the very little imprints that lingers from people in our lives can often make such an enormous impact on the person that we become.
exhibit d: WOG. history repeats itself doesn't only refer to the textbooks in class - there's only much variety that the human being can do when it comes to obedience vs. disobedience, repentance vs. guilt, life vs.death, Jesus vs. Satan, love vs. hate, wisdom vs. folly, etc. everything's covered in this great book that apparently is the #1 best selling book ever. think the WOG was joking when it said Heaven and earth would pass away, but God's word would never pass away (Matthew 24:35)? mm...nah
speaking of which, i'm supposed to discuss my favorite verse, which for me is hard in the fact that there's so much wonderful, inspiring things written. the most vivid verse for me is still 1st Thessalonians 5:16-18. Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
one: simplicity. it's a pretty short verse which allows it easier to come to mind, yet each phrase carries so much depth and harbors so much goodness. to always give thanks, and to continually pray. one thing i've learned is that God never intended things to be complex. rather simplicity is key in how we should deal with life - in our hearts and in our minds we should be in gratitude and always in communion with God. like break and bake cookies - break them, put them in the oven, let them bake. yet somehow, i still end up burning them...but the process really is quite simple. i'm just pathetic.
two: memories. i recall one time in junior high where i was placed in all remedial classes instead of AP classes on the first day of school. it took what seemed like hours to fix my schedule and i was pretty flustered. i mean really, how hard is it to enter in the computer the codes for history or algebra. nonetheless, amidst all the chaos i just remember having this verse imprinted. God was trying to teach me something, probably testing my patience or whatever, but regardless, i remember that verse just giving me a certain stillness and not getting so bugged about such trivial matters.
three: optimism. in a world where people are becoming more entrapped in their sins, sometimes God is all i can cling to for this inward joy. to know that my faith is held secure in God and that many times the only thing i can do is pray: for friends, for troubled times, for the world, whatever. smiling, laughter, and other signs of optimism have shown lots of positive benefits for our health and it's easy to see why. giving thanks makes our hearts happy, when our heart is happy and light, chances are the rest of our body will follow suit. so be thankful, give praise, and remember to rejoice in the blessings God has given to us.
| | |
|
