Wise Words from a Wise Bear

bear™ says:
why rely on your pride to impress someone & at the deepest end of our heart fear that one day we will lose him / her[?]

Wow. Food for thought for me. I really need to give my pride to God, even if that's the only thing I have left. Every single part of it, even if it means I'll no longer be special in the eyes of the world, or have nothing to impress my beloved.

Thanks bear. I wish I could give you the same amount of encouragement that you've given me when you're down. God bless you and protect your fragile heart.

Time for me to thrash things out with God now. Hear from me soon y'all.

I Will Sing

Lord You seem so far away
A million miles or more it feels today
And though I haven't lost my faith
I must confess right now
That it's hard for me to pray
But I don't know what to say
And I don't know where to start
But as You give the grace
With all that's in my heart

Chorus:
I will sing I will praise
Even in my darkest hour
Through the sorrow and the pain
I will sing I will praise
Lift my hands to honor You
Because Your Word is true
I will sing

Lord it's hard for me to see
All the thoughts and plans You have for me
But I will put my trust in You
Knowing that You died to set me free
But I don't know what to say
And I don't know where to start
But as You give grace
With all that's in my heart

Beautiful Feet

Today, someone told me how her ex-boyfriend used to criticize her toes for being ugly and deformed. Well, I had a good look and it appeared to be pretty normal. Nothing else was mentioned after that. It just ended as a funny little joke.

But before I started to blog, and was wondering what on earth could be interesting, this situation sprang back to mind. Three verses in the Bible talk about beautiful feet. They are:

Song of Solomon 7:1
How beautiful your sandaled feet, O prince's daughter! Your graceful legs are like jewels, the work of a craftsman's hands.

Isaiah 52:7
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!"

Romans 10:15
And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

Interesting! Now those are good ways to get beautiful feet. The first one talks about the beloved of the king, the second and third talks about good news. Some people go to doctors and manicurists to get something done about their feet. However, in my opinion, the much cheaper way to get beautiful feet is to tell the good news! And the good news can only be that of the salvation promised to all who believes as stated in the Bible.

Beautiful feet is interesting! I believe that missionaries who travel far and wide to spread the gospel don't exactly have the most beautiful of feet. Their feet are probably laden with dead skin, dead bugs, rough sand and sticky mud. Their feet probably have the scars of whips, holes caused by piercing, or contain broken bones. How could such feet be beautiful in the eyes of the world? Some might not even be considered "feet" in the human sense of the word. But in the eyes of God, these feet sure are beautiful.

I want my feet to be beautiful in the eyes of God. After all, it is only His opinion that matters. And I only have to share the good news! And to top that off, only beautiful feet get to wear beautiful shoes, those of the gospel of peace, as mentioned in Ephesians 6:15. And isn't it peace that the world needs today? Good news that brings peace to the individual. Come, be a bearer of so wonderful a promise, and have your feet made beautiful by Him today.

The Old Has Gone, The New Has Come

Suddenly, so suddenly, some of the things, vices all, that I used to enjoy in the past, I don't now. It's funny. I realize first-hand now, that when you trust God to give you the best, the little evil things that you use to rely on for self-identification and gratification in the past just simply fade into the background. It's so beautiful, so marvelous. And they're not coming back. I just know it.

Last night, Ilango told me that he is kind of pessimistic that any evangelical program that the church or the youth group undertakes is not going to work. The target audience for these how-to seminars don't have the sense of urgency or a heart for the lost. Well, it's is nice to see that Ilango has really matured during this period while seeking God for direction for further studies. I just pray that the other youths will also learn to put God first in their lives, and oh, the potential of transformation! The dreams that can come true! However, this sense of urgency and heart for the lost is not something that the leaders can teach or transmit. As leaders, we must pray for these to grow and swell in their hearts, and this, only God can do. We will not give up on the people, we will continue to provide avenues for them to evangelize and give the world their testimony. We will leave the rest to our Almighty God to handle. His will be done.

I've been inspired by Michelle's lesson on fasting, and thus I've also started a time of fasting and prayer for two things: healing and guidance. Healing not for myself, but for someone close to me. Guidance for the both of us and the relationship that is to come or not. And I'm beginning to feel the effects of fasting. So much temptation and fear, so much distractions and worries. And she is not taking it well too. The illness is striking back like never before, and she is suffering I know. But we will stand strong and claim the Bible's promise that He will not put us under more temptation and stress than we can bear, and if ever this happens, He will provide a way out. The fasting is only ten days, and today is day two. But I'm beginning to waver, and the strength I need to pray, I must rely on Him to provide. I'm hoping that He will also make the illness more sufferable for her, but eventually He will take it away in His mercy and grace. As for the answer and permission for a relationship, we haven't actually heard anything, but we're beginning to see so many commonalities and "perfect fittings". To me, it is wonderful, unheard of, and really unbelievable. I actually thought that girls like these don't exist in this world. And now God just puts one right in front of me. I'm like woah. But no hurry, we want to hear God's voice in this, and we believe that He will make His answer clear and recognizable. In the meantime, we will continue to pray together and cultivate a lifestyle of total dependence and wholeheartedness in loving Him.

Heavely Father, give us strength. Pray for me during this fasting period, and for her too. When it is all over, I'm sure she will be more than willing to share about the miraculous healing that will take place. =) Amen.

Blogskin Change

Whee finally found time to change my blogskin. About time too, was getting a bit bored of the old and mushy one, thought it would be good to find something more explosive and loud. Haha... I've been wildly happy the last few weeks. It's been a long time since I've felt exhilaration, on cloud nine... It's an old feeling, foreign, but welcomed. However prayer is still a must-have, and if God is not present, there will be no advancement.

Into a new battle, Lord. You lead, I'll follow. And the prize is waiting. I know she is. =)

Answering Machine

I'm listening to all the nice little love songs while doing my readings. This is one really nice and funny one! Go listen to it if you have the time. =) Oh, and she agreed tonight to go out with me. X)

Answering Machine

A little while ago I went and placed a call
To tell this girl I know that she could have it all
The wedding, the ring, the whole darn thing, I was willing to tie the knot
So I called her up, and this is the answer I got:

[CHORUS:]
"I'm so sorry you have just reached my answering machine,
I'm not in at present, I'm sure you know the whole routine.
Leave your name and number, and I'll try to get back to you;
You have 30 seconds to talk to me before you're through."

And I said,
"Baby let's go get married, I need to hear you're mine.
I am hanging on, I am hanging on, I am hanging on this line.
And if I can leave one message before you go to bed,
I would say to you...:"

And the phone went dead.

So I stepped out to buy some dog food for the cat.
Of course she called about three minutes after that.
Would she be my wife and share my life? Well of course you can write the
plot,
Cause she called me up, and this is the answer she got:

"I'm so sorry you have just reached my answering machine,
I'm not in at present, I'm sure you know the whole routine.
Leave your name and number, and I'll try to get back to you;
You have 30 seconds to talk to me before you're through."

And she said,
"Baby I got your message, I am answering your call.
I have thought it out, I have thought it out, and I think that, all-in-all
If you ask if we can marry, and make it for all time,
then my answer is...:"

and the phone went,

"I'm so sorry, you have just reached my answering machine..."

That's What Hurts

Haven't blogged for a long time, but this song just somehow just echoes the little feeling inside me. Not that I've met her yet, but well, soon I hope.

That's What Hurts

Never let nobody know me
Never let nobody dare
Never let somebody hold me
Long enough for me to care...
Till I found you
Till I found you.

Never let my guard down easy
Never let myself let go
I never knew the reason why
I never let my feelings show
Till I felt the pain
Of loving you

And that's what hurts
When we say goodbye
And that's what hurts
On those sleepless nights
There's nothing I can do
'Cos I'm lost inside of you
And that's what hurts.

I never let nobody touch me
Never let nobody try
I never let somebody move me
Deep enough to make me cry
Till I found you
Till I found you

I was strong and independent
I never needed anyone
I thought I had it all together
Until you came and proved me wrong
Now I'm stronger with you
In my life

And that's what hurts
When we say goodbye
And that's what hurts
On those sleepless nights
There's nothing I can do
Cos I'm lost inside of you
And that's what hurts
Yeah and that's the catch
But the hearts not good at holding back
It's a blessing and a curse
And I don't know what's worse
And that's what hurts.

Sometimes I wanna run
Sometimes I feel just like a fool
Sometimes I'm even sorry baby
That I felt in love with you.
Oooh that's when it hurts
It hurts so bad
Ooh can't sleep at night
Nothing I can do
Cause I'm lost inside of you
Oohhh
It hurts oh it hurts
Cause I'm lost inside of you
I can't help myself
I can't help myself
Hurts without you baby
You're not here, you're not here