“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
What is most important to me in my life? Hey, I am glad you asked! Here I present a fairly in-depth look into my life, and how I view things, as to how important certain things are…
1) The first most important thing in my life, is God. God is my Creator, my Saviour, my Comforter, my Hope, my Salvation, my Best Friend, the One Who Loves Me. In short, He is my everything. Without God in my life, I have nothing good to offer, because everything good in me comes from Him. I believe that God should be first in my life, and that is where I strive to put Him. I walk with Him, I talk with Him, I receive counsel from Him, I praise Him, I draw close to Him, I read His Word daily, and I just enjoy being accepted by Him (through the saving blood of Jesus Christ). When God is not first in my life, everything else that I touch crumbles and fades away. When God is first in my life, I trust that all will go according to His plan and that nothing will come into my life that I cannot handle by taking it to God.
2) The second most important thing in my life, is the life of the one I love. When married, this is my spouse. When single, it is whomever I am in love with (and wanting to be married to at some point). I believe that a person can never give too much into the life of the one they love. My prayers center around this lucky person, as I ask God to bless them, keep them, and help them. I also ask God to help me to be aware of their needs, and to help me to love them better and serve them better each and every day. My belief is that if the one you love is not second in your life to God, then your relationship is doomed.
3) The third most important thing in my life, is my kids. Although I say “kids” and yet I only have one at this time, I put it that way because “kids” does not always mean just your own biological children. If in a relationship with somebody who has children, then those children become like your own. You love and care for them, just like they were your own flesh and blood. Children need good examples to see, they need love and encouragement and support, as well as all the basics like food and shelter etcetera. Most importantly, children need to see an example of God’s love from an adult’s point of view, so that they too may heed the call of God one day and accept His sacrifice for them and become saved. Children are a blessing from God, and deserve to be honoured and cared for as such.
4) The fourth most important thing in life, is my self. If we do not take care of our selves, and make sure that our needs are getting met, we will end up sick and unhappy. In a proper relationship, many of your needs are being met by your love-partner, and as a Christian I believe that all of my deep needs are met by God if I allow Him to do so. Yet, we also have an obligation to take care of ourselves, so that we are emotionally and mentally and physically ready and able to take care of the needs of those we call our family.
5) The fifth most important thing in my life, is work. I believe that I work for God; He is my boss. As such, I strive to do the best that I can in my work, as a pleasing sacrifice to God. When I have complaints about my work, I take them to God in prayer. For a man, it is important to feel like you are contributing in your work, as we derive a lot of our “good” pride from how productive we feel we are in our workplace. As a Christian, though, I also derive even more pride from how I feel I am serving my family (love-partner and children), and from how close I am getting to God on a daily basis.
6) The sixth most important thing in my life, is family and friends. When I say family, I mean family-of-origin, etcetera; dad, mom, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews, those who are not part of YOUR family circle (you, your spouse, your kids) but who still are your family by blood (or otherwise). Praying for family and friends is important to me. Likewise keeping in touch with them, getting together with them. However, please note, that at # 6 on my list, there are many other priorities in my life that I put before this group. If I rate these family members and friends too high on my list, then something else must suffer; my job, my self, my kids, my spouse/love, or my relationship with my God.
And that is how i prioritize my life!
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Sunday, August 24, 2008
annuder one
Yet another Petra song that is speaking so loudly to me right now...
You Are My Rock
Words by Bob Hartman
Based on Psalm 18:1-6, Psalm 31
Moving through the shadows of uncertainty
Clinging to the words You said
Through my loneliness and fear I long to feel You near
But I hear another voice inside my head
But then the darkness is broken into
By inescapable light from You
I'm never standing alone
(Chorus)
You are my rock, my fortress, my shield
You are my rock, let Your strength be revealed
My rock, my comfort, my peace
My salvation, my refuge, my God
You are my rock
Through the desperate night my soul cries out to You
Longing just to hear Your voice
In the quiet solitude, I sense Your magnitude
I feel the strength that makes my heart rejoice
You are the anchor securing me
I'll never drift on the shifting sea
You are the eye of the storm
(Chorus)
You are my rock, my fortress, my shield
You are my rock, let Your strength be revealed
My rock, my comfort, my peace
My salvation, my refuge, my God
You are my rock
Through all the loneliness this world could ever bring
I'll take my refuge in the shadow of Your wing
(Chorus)
You are my rock, my fortress, my shield
You are my rock, let Your strength be revealed
My rock, my comfort, my peace
My salvation, my refuge, my God
You are my rock
You Are My Rock
Words by Bob Hartman
Based on Psalm 18:1-6, Psalm 31
Moving through the shadows of uncertainty
Clinging to the words You said
Through my loneliness and fear I long to feel You near
But I hear another voice inside my head
But then the darkness is broken into
By inescapable light from You
I'm never standing alone
(Chorus)
You are my rock, my fortress, my shield
You are my rock, let Your strength be revealed
My rock, my comfort, my peace
My salvation, my refuge, my God
You are my rock
Through the desperate night my soul cries out to You
Longing just to hear Your voice
In the quiet solitude, I sense Your magnitude
I feel the strength that makes my heart rejoice
You are the anchor securing me
I'll never drift on the shifting sea
You are the eye of the storm
(Chorus)
You are my rock, my fortress, my shield
You are my rock, let Your strength be revealed
My rock, my comfort, my peace
My salvation, my refuge, my God
You are my rock
Through all the loneliness this world could ever bring
I'll take my refuge in the shadow of Your wing
(Chorus)
You are my rock, my fortress, my shield
You are my rock, let Your strength be revealed
My rock, my comfort, my peace
My salvation, my refuge, my God
You are my rock
fitting
The most fitting lyrics i could find for my life right now, and they were playing in my car stereo on the way home from work...
Get On Your Knees And Fight Like A Man - by Petra
2 Corinthians 10:4, James 5:16
Words and Music by Bob Hartman
Out on your own with your own self reliance
You've got no one to watch your back
You find yourself caught with no strong alliance
You've been left open for attack
Over your head the condition is graver
You've given ground you can't retreive
The cards are stacked and they're not in your favor
But you've got an ace up your sleeve
[ Chorus ]
Get on your knees and fight like a man
You'll pull down strongholds if
you just believe you can
Your enemy will tuck his tail and flee
Get on your knees and fight like a man
Under the gun you've got no place to hide out
Backed in the corner on your own
This is one storm you are destined to ride out
One way to leave the danger zone
[ Chorus ]
Get on your knees and fight like a man
You'll pull down strongholds if
you just believe you can
Your enemy will tuck his tail and flee
Get on your knees and fight like a man
You've got the backbone to fight this tide
You've got the will to survive
You've got the weapon, it's at your side
You've got to learn to confide
2nd Corinthians 10:4 -
For the weapons of our warfare are not physical (weapons of flesh and blood), but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds.
James 5:16b -
The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available (dynamic in its working).
Get On Your Knees And Fight Like A Man - by Petra
2 Corinthians 10:4, James 5:16
Words and Music by Bob Hartman
Out on your own with your own self reliance
You've got no one to watch your back
You find yourself caught with no strong alliance
You've been left open for attack
Over your head the condition is graver
You've given ground you can't retreive
The cards are stacked and they're not in your favor
But you've got an ace up your sleeve
[ Chorus ]
Get on your knees and fight like a man
You'll pull down strongholds if
you just believe you can
Your enemy will tuck his tail and flee
Get on your knees and fight like a man
Under the gun you've got no place to hide out
Backed in the corner on your own
This is one storm you are destined to ride out
One way to leave the danger zone
[ Chorus ]
Get on your knees and fight like a man
You'll pull down strongholds if
you just believe you can
Your enemy will tuck his tail and flee
Get on your knees and fight like a man
You've got the backbone to fight this tide
You've got the will to survive
You've got the weapon, it's at your side
You've got to learn to confide
2nd Corinthians 10:4 -
For the weapons of our warfare are not physical (weapons of flesh and blood), but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds.
James 5:16b -
The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available (dynamic in its working).
Thursday, August 21, 2008
dos and don'ts
Don't - Trust your feelings implicitly. Feelings fluctuate like the tide, and can be decieving if you just go on them alone.
Do - Trust God. He is always faithful, always true, and never changes.
Today, i started out in the pits of despair, but God lifted me out, set me upright with my feet on a Rock, and encouraged me. The Holy Spirit gave me strength to stand, and not only to stand but to fight for my rights in prayer, to come boldly before the throne of God in my time of need.
1st Corinthians 2:16b – But we have the mind of Christ, the Messiah, and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart.
Isaiah 40:3 –
A voice of one who cries, Prepare in the wilderness the way of the Lord – clear away the obstacles – make straight and smooth in the desert a highway for our God!
Isaiah 40:28-31 –
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not faint or grow weary; there is no searching of His understanding. He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might He increases strength – causing it to multiply and making it abound. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and the selected young men shall feebly stumble and fall exhausted; But those who wait for the Lord – who expect, look for and hope in Him – shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up (close to God) as eagles (mount up to the sun); they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint or become tired.
Psalm 32:8 –
I, the Lord, will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.
Romans 8:28 – We are assured and know that (God being a partner in their labour), all things work together and are (fitting into a plan) for good to those who love God and are called according to His design and purpose.
Do - Trust God. He is always faithful, always true, and never changes.
Today, i started out in the pits of despair, but God lifted me out, set me upright with my feet on a Rock, and encouraged me. The Holy Spirit gave me strength to stand, and not only to stand but to fight for my rights in prayer, to come boldly before the throne of God in my time of need.
1st Corinthians 2:16b – But we have the mind of Christ, the Messiah, and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart.
Isaiah 40:3 –
A voice of one who cries, Prepare in the wilderness the way of the Lord – clear away the obstacles – make straight and smooth in the desert a highway for our God!
Isaiah 40:28-31 –
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not faint or grow weary; there is no searching of His understanding. He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might He increases strength – causing it to multiply and making it abound. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and the selected young men shall feebly stumble and fall exhausted; But those who wait for the Lord – who expect, look for and hope in Him – shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up (close to God) as eagles (mount up to the sun); they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint or become tired.
Psalm 32:8 –
I, the Lord, will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.
Romans 8:28 – We are assured and know that (God being a partner in their labour), all things work together and are (fitting into a plan) for good to those who love God and are called according to His design and purpose.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
stuff that is or may be random
Booked my flights to San Antonio today for my October holiday.
Also, another fun photo. This is one of my favourite photos of me, and of my cat that i used to "own", Selena. This is a bathtime photo from 1999. Taken in Castlegar in the Kootenays, where i lived for a time. Yes, Selena had a tub fascination, especially when i was in it! I miss that cat...and I miss Toblerone, too.
Also, another fun photo. This is one of my favourite photos of me, and of my cat that i used to "own", Selena. This is a bathtime photo from 1999. Taken in Castlegar in the Kootenays, where i lived for a time. Yes, Selena had a tub fascination, especially when i was in it! I miss that cat...and I miss Toblerone, too.
Monday, August 18, 2008
quotie thing
A quote that i like...
"If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten." - Tony Robbins
Why do some people insist that they should not have love, or be loved?
Why do some people choose duty over love?
Why do people stay in bad situations, and bad relationships, no matter who gets hurt, and think they deserve a medal for it?
Why are some people too blind to see something good right in front of them, and choose instead the bad that they have always chosen?
Why do people listen to the voices in their head from their past, instead of listening to what their heart is screaming at them?
"There is nothing on this earth more to be prized that true friendship." - Saint Thomas Aquinas
"If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten." - Tony Robbins
Why do some people insist that they should not have love, or be loved?
Why do some people choose duty over love?
Why do people stay in bad situations, and bad relationships, no matter who gets hurt, and think they deserve a medal for it?
Why are some people too blind to see something good right in front of them, and choose instead the bad that they have always chosen?
Why do people listen to the voices in their head from their past, instead of listening to what their heart is screaming at them?
"There is nothing on this earth more to be prized that true friendship." - Saint Thomas Aquinas
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Alone
The lyrics to the song "Alone" by Heart have great meaning to me.
From my past, they, along with the song "The Quiet Room" by Alice Cooper, are always going to be a reminder of my past relationship with my first wife. The Quiet Room, because it was the first song on the first CD she ever made for me (actually, i think it was a cassette tape). Alone, because she used to sing it frequently, and her voice has always made me smile and/or cry. It was also the first song that i heard her sing karaoke.
Now, though, it holds other meaning as well. It perfectly sums up my life right now. So, here i present them to you, my readers.
Alone - by Heart
I hear the ticking of the clock
I'm lying here the room's pitch dark
I wonder where you are tonight
No answer on the telephone
And the night goes by so very slow
Oh I hope that it won't end though
Alone
'Til now I always got by on my own
I never really cared until I met you
And now it chills me to the bone
How do I get you alone
How do I get you alone
You don't know how long I have wanted
to touch your lips and hold you tight, oh
You don't know how long I have waited
and I was going to tell you tonight
But the secret is still my own
and my love for you is still unknown
Alone
'Til now I always got by on my own
I never really cared until I met you
And now it chills me to the bone
How do I get you alone
How do I get you alone
How do I get you alone
How do I get you alone
From my past, they, along with the song "The Quiet Room" by Alice Cooper, are always going to be a reminder of my past relationship with my first wife. The Quiet Room, because it was the first song on the first CD she ever made for me (actually, i think it was a cassette tape). Alone, because she used to sing it frequently, and her voice has always made me smile and/or cry. It was also the first song that i heard her sing karaoke.
Now, though, it holds other meaning as well. It perfectly sums up my life right now. So, here i present them to you, my readers.
Alone - by Heart
I hear the ticking of the clock
I'm lying here the room's pitch dark
I wonder where you are tonight
No answer on the telephone
And the night goes by so very slow
Oh I hope that it won't end though
Alone
'Til now I always got by on my own
I never really cared until I met you
And now it chills me to the bone
How do I get you alone
How do I get you alone
You don't know how long I have wanted
to touch your lips and hold you tight, oh
You don't know how long I have waited
and I was going to tell you tonight
But the secret is still my own
and my love for you is still unknown
Alone
'Til now I always got by on my own
I never really cared until I met you
And now it chills me to the bone
How do I get you alone
How do I get you alone
How do I get you alone
How do I get you alone
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Heart Troubles
I do not know where my heart is today.
But wherever it is, it is hurting.
The Bible says "Hope deferred makes a heart grow sick."
I can attest to that.
I am tired of being the "nice guy" that nobody picks. I am tired of giving my heart, and being rejected day after day. I am tired of feeling not good enough, not manly enough, and just not right.
I do not know today if i want to cry, or scream.
What is wrong with me, God? Why am i never good enough for anybody else? Why am i always rejected by those i care for? Why am i misunderstood? Why am i shoved aside? Why is my love, my heart, my life, never enough?
Why must i always lose, always be the loser? Even when i do things Your way, still i feel like i lose. Why?
How much heartache and pain can one man take in a lifetime? And why do i have to be the man who finds out?
When will i ever "win"? When will i ever come out on top, be on the victorious side? How come, even when I feel that You are fighting for me, I still lose out on the blessings that i so desire? Why is everything good in my life taken from me, why does it all slip through my fingers like grains of sand?
Why do i always have the questions, but never the answers that i seek? Is this really all there is to my life? Heartache, pain, frustration, and hurt? Is that all there is? Even when i follow You, that is all there is?
I don't know where my heart is anymore, but it is growing sick and bitter...
But wherever it is, it is hurting.
The Bible says "Hope deferred makes a heart grow sick."
I can attest to that.
I am tired of being the "nice guy" that nobody picks. I am tired of giving my heart, and being rejected day after day. I am tired of feeling not good enough, not manly enough, and just not right.
I do not know today if i want to cry, or scream.
What is wrong with me, God? Why am i never good enough for anybody else? Why am i always rejected by those i care for? Why am i misunderstood? Why am i shoved aside? Why is my love, my heart, my life, never enough?
Why must i always lose, always be the loser? Even when i do things Your way, still i feel like i lose. Why?
How much heartache and pain can one man take in a lifetime? And why do i have to be the man who finds out?
When will i ever "win"? When will i ever come out on top, be on the victorious side? How come, even when I feel that You are fighting for me, I still lose out on the blessings that i so desire? Why is everything good in my life taken from me, why does it all slip through my fingers like grains of sand?
Why do i always have the questions, but never the answers that i seek? Is this really all there is to my life? Heartache, pain, frustration, and hurt? Is that all there is? Even when i follow You, that is all there is?
I don't know where my heart is anymore, but it is growing sick and bitter...
On My Face
The Bible promises that those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength.
Today, i was heart-weary, hope-less, and without reason to go on.
So, i stretched myself out on my face, put on some worship music, and spent some time just beign honest with God about my feelings and my situation, spent some time just being quiet before Him.
I think out of that, I was reminded that God must be my focus, that His goodness and faithfulness must be my guide and my hope.
As i told God last night, when i look back over my entire 37 years of life, I have to admit that i can find no time in my life when my God has ever let me down.
FFH – God of Promise
Out of bondage, out of slavery
You have lead us to this place
Out of affliction from the hands of our oppressors
And we will not lose heart ‘cause this is a second start
You are God of the promise
And You will go before us
And will follow
You are God of the desert
With mercy beyond measure
And now we know
You have not forgotten us
God of the promise
You are God of Elijah
You are consuming fire
You are God of Moses
You are strong through the wilderness
You are God of Elijah
You are consuming fire
You are God of Moses
You are strong through the wilderness
You’ve been there for them
You’ll be there for me too
In Christ Alone
In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand
In Christ alone, Who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
Thus gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
‘Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost it’s grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
On Christ the solid rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand
No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
‘Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand
FFH – I’m Free
I’m being set free
I’m taking off the slave clothes that covered me
I’m being set free
‘Cause I was made for freedom not for slavery
Out of darkness You have called me
Out of bondage You have brought me
I’m free
The chains are falling You are calling me
I’m free
I’ve decided You are life to me
And I will walk where I can’t see
Knowing You are with me
I’m free
Life. It's all about Jesus. Without Him, there is no life. He is life.
Today, i was heart-weary, hope-less, and without reason to go on.
So, i stretched myself out on my face, put on some worship music, and spent some time just beign honest with God about my feelings and my situation, spent some time just being quiet before Him.
I think out of that, I was reminded that God must be my focus, that His goodness and faithfulness must be my guide and my hope.
As i told God last night, when i look back over my entire 37 years of life, I have to admit that i can find no time in my life when my God has ever let me down.
FFH – God of Promise
Out of bondage, out of slavery
You have lead us to this place
Out of affliction from the hands of our oppressors
And we will not lose heart ‘cause this is a second start
You are God of the promise
And You will go before us
And will follow
You are God of the desert
With mercy beyond measure
And now we know
You have not forgotten us
God of the promise
You are God of Elijah
You are consuming fire
You are God of Moses
You are strong through the wilderness
You are God of Elijah
You are consuming fire
You are God of Moses
You are strong through the wilderness
You’ve been there for them
You’ll be there for me too
In Christ Alone
In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand
In Christ alone, Who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
Thus gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
‘Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost it’s grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
On Christ the solid rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand
No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
‘Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand
FFH – I’m Free
I’m being set free
I’m taking off the slave clothes that covered me
I’m being set free
‘Cause I was made for freedom not for slavery
Out of darkness You have called me
Out of bondage You have brought me
I’m free
The chains are falling You are calling me
I’m free
I’ve decided You are life to me
And I will walk where I can’t see
Knowing You are with me
I’m free
Life. It's all about Jesus. Without Him, there is no life. He is life.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Insanity, and God's will
I am stealing this quote, both because i like it, and because it fits with what i wish here to discuss...
"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result."
Sometimes in life, we make wrong decisions. Sometimes these decisions, even though they may seem like good ones to us, go against what God has planned for us.
Eventually, anybody who God wants to bless, will come to rue those decisions that they have erred in making. Not because God wishes us pain or harm, but because these bad decisions that seemed so right to us will hurt us, in and of themselves.
God wants to bless those He cares for. And so, He calls us to let go of things in our lives, mistakes we have made, people we have bonded with, relationships that are harmful to us. He does this because He is God, and He knows what is best for us, and His desire to bless us motivates Him to work in our lives to bring about the necessary changes within us.
I found this on a website somewhere on the internet...
"In life, there's many things that we have to learn to let go. We have to let go of situations, things, memories, people and even ourselves.
It's easy to form an attachment to people and things. When you've formed an attachment to people and things, it can be a very painful experience and feeling when you realized that it's time to let go. Even the mere thought of not having that person or thing in your life just squeezes your heart in pain.
However, there are times where you or that person has changed to the extent that it's necessary to let go of the relationship or friendship, so that each of you can fulfill your life path.
Letting go of your past and memories are also extremely hard. Even though old memories can be tormenting, yet you might hold on to the past and refuse to move forward. However, by refusing to let go of the painful past, it'll serve as a roadblock to love.
Letting go of your old self and the process of letting the new you emerge can be one of the scariest experiences in your life. But by leaving behind your old self and taking a leap of faith into the unknown, it might just reveal what you are truly capable of becoming."
Courage is the power to let go of the familiar.-- Raymond Lindquist
Getting over a painful experience is much like crossing monkey bars. You have to let go at some point in order to move forward.-- Author Unknown
Letting go doesn’t mean giving up, but rather accepting that there are things that cannot be.-- Anon
People have a hard time letting go of their suffering. Out of a fear of the unknown, they prefer suffering that is familiar.-- Thich Nhat Hanh
Some think it's holding on that makes one strong; sometimes it's letting go. -- Sylvia Robinson
Think about any attachments that are depleting your emotional reserves. Consider letting them go.-- Oprah Winfrey
We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the life that is waiting for us.-- Joseph Campbell
When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.-- Lao Tzu
God never wishes us ill will. God has His hand upon some of you who are reading this. You know who you are. He has begun to call your name, to draw you out of your circumstances. He longs to bless you, to know you, and to love you. But, you must first let go of the things that hold you back; opinions, fears, people, relationships, hurts, whatever it may be. As long as you hold onto these things, and stay outside of God's will for your life by doing so, God wants to bless you but He cannot. All He can do is continue to call to you, and wait for the time when you will trust Him enough to be obedient. And then the blessings will flow...
"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result."
Sometimes in life, we make wrong decisions. Sometimes these decisions, even though they may seem like good ones to us, go against what God has planned for us.
Eventually, anybody who God wants to bless, will come to rue those decisions that they have erred in making. Not because God wishes us pain or harm, but because these bad decisions that seemed so right to us will hurt us, in and of themselves.
God wants to bless those He cares for. And so, He calls us to let go of things in our lives, mistakes we have made, people we have bonded with, relationships that are harmful to us. He does this because He is God, and He knows what is best for us, and His desire to bless us motivates Him to work in our lives to bring about the necessary changes within us.
I found this on a website somewhere on the internet...
"In life, there's many things that we have to learn to let go. We have to let go of situations, things, memories, people and even ourselves.
It's easy to form an attachment to people and things. When you've formed an attachment to people and things, it can be a very painful experience and feeling when you realized that it's time to let go. Even the mere thought of not having that person or thing in your life just squeezes your heart in pain.
However, there are times where you or that person has changed to the extent that it's necessary to let go of the relationship or friendship, so that each of you can fulfill your life path.
Letting go of your past and memories are also extremely hard. Even though old memories can be tormenting, yet you might hold on to the past and refuse to move forward. However, by refusing to let go of the painful past, it'll serve as a roadblock to love.
Letting go of your old self and the process of letting the new you emerge can be one of the scariest experiences in your life. But by leaving behind your old self and taking a leap of faith into the unknown, it might just reveal what you are truly capable of becoming."
Courage is the power to let go of the familiar.-- Raymond Lindquist
Getting over a painful experience is much like crossing monkey bars. You have to let go at some point in order to move forward.-- Author Unknown
Letting go doesn’t mean giving up, but rather accepting that there are things that cannot be.-- Anon
People have a hard time letting go of their suffering. Out of a fear of the unknown, they prefer suffering that is familiar.-- Thich Nhat Hanh
Some think it's holding on that makes one strong; sometimes it's letting go. -- Sylvia Robinson
Think about any attachments that are depleting your emotional reserves. Consider letting them go.-- Oprah Winfrey
We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the life that is waiting for us.-- Joseph Campbell
When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.-- Lao Tzu
God never wishes us ill will. God has His hand upon some of you who are reading this. You know who you are. He has begun to call your name, to draw you out of your circumstances. He longs to bless you, to know you, and to love you. But, you must first let go of the things that hold you back; opinions, fears, people, relationships, hurts, whatever it may be. As long as you hold onto these things, and stay outside of God's will for your life by doing so, God wants to bless you but He cannot. All He can do is continue to call to you, and wait for the time when you will trust Him enough to be obedient. And then the blessings will flow...
Pampered and Feelin' Good!
It is 1:36pm. I just got home from my spa appointment.
2 hours and 20 minutes of pampering for my face, feet, and hands. Man, do i feel spoiled! I hardly recognize my own face, my nose pores have never been so clean before!
Got to admit, i enjoyed it. Feel like a new man.
And so, i think that these lyrics are quite fitting for right now...
The Saints - Erotic Neurotic
I wanna be your lover, baby
I wanna be your man
Won't you let me be your lover baby
I'll do the best I can
Wanna be your lover, baby
I wanna be your man
Won't you let me be your lover baby
I'll do the best I can
Won't you help me be your lover, darlin'?
I'll help you understand
Won't you let me be your lover, baby?
Come on, get it while you can
Come on!
Wanna be your lover, baby
I wanna be your man
Won't you let me be your lover baby
I'll do the best I can
I wanna be your lover, baby
I wanna be your man
Won't you let me be your lover baby
I'll do the best I can
Won't you help me be your lover, darlin'?
I'll help you understand
Won't you let me be your lover, baby?
Come on, get it while you can
Come on!
Wanna be your lover, baby
I wanna be your man
Won't you let me be your lover baby
I'll do the best I can
I wanna be your lover, baby
I wanna be your man
Won't you let me be your lover baby
I'll do the best I can
Won't you help me be your lover, darlin'?
I'll help you understand
Won't you let me be your lover, baby?
Come on, get it while you can
Come on!
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Listen!
Number eight
Yeah!
2 hours and 20 minutes of pampering for my face, feet, and hands. Man, do i feel spoiled! I hardly recognize my own face, my nose pores have never been so clean before!
Got to admit, i enjoyed it. Feel like a new man.
And so, i think that these lyrics are quite fitting for right now...
The Saints - Erotic Neurotic
I wanna be your lover, baby
I wanna be your man
Won't you let me be your lover baby
I'll do the best I can
Wanna be your lover, baby
I wanna be your man
Won't you let me be your lover baby
I'll do the best I can
Won't you help me be your lover, darlin'?
I'll help you understand
Won't you let me be your lover, baby?
Come on, get it while you can
Come on!
Wanna be your lover, baby
I wanna be your man
Won't you let me be your lover baby
I'll do the best I can
I wanna be your lover, baby
I wanna be your man
Won't you let me be your lover baby
I'll do the best I can
Won't you help me be your lover, darlin'?
I'll help you understand
Won't you let me be your lover, baby?
Come on, get it while you can
Come on!
Wanna be your lover, baby
I wanna be your man
Won't you let me be your lover baby
I'll do the best I can
I wanna be your lover, baby
I wanna be your man
Won't you let me be your lover baby
I'll do the best I can
Won't you help me be your lover, darlin'?
I'll help you understand
Won't you let me be your lover, baby?
Come on, get it while you can
Come on!
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Listen!
Number eight
Yeah!
Monday, August 11, 2008
Friday, August 8, 2008
My Thoughts On The Family Unit
It takes more than two biological parents and one or more children to make a functioning family unit.
A family is an inter-dependant organism. It thrives on sacrificial love, mutual respect, care and understanding. A good family member always puts the welfare of the other members first. A good family member weaves tight the cords of love, and holds tight to them. “I’m sorry” and “Please forgive me” and “I was wrong” are just as important phrases as the most important phrase of all, “I love you.” And, all four of these phrases need to not only be said, and said frequently and as needed, but must be shown through the actions of the individuals. Love is a verb.
A functioning family unit must have goals, both for the short-term and the long-term, that are shared by all the members. There must be an equal division of the work that needs to be done, and a clear, shared vision of where you want to go and what the family unit and goals should look like.
If, for any reason, one of the family members is not able to fulfill these sacred trusts, or is unwilling to, then all the members of the family will suffer.
A family cannot survive for long without all members pulling together. At least, not any sort of healthy survival. The harm that is done when one member, for lack of a better term, “opts out” of their responsibilities, is something that can be irreparable over time; if left long enough it will affect each and every other family member in many negative ways. Particularly the children are at risk, as they learn by what they observe, and when the cosmic axis of the family unit is off-kilter, the children are the ones who are most likely to be affected, both in the short term and in the long term. They will observe what goes on, what is said and what is done within their broken or failing family unit, and they will learn that these things they see and hear are normal, that this is the way that a functioning family unit is supposed to look, and if left long enough these learned experiences will be carried with them for life, affecting each and every relationship that they have.
For all these reasons, a family unit must function correctly; to have one do anything less than this, is to invite disaster for future generations to come.
And, to leave a broken family unit as is, is, in my humble opinion, of far greater harm than to break up a non-functioning family.
And that's my opinion.
A family is an inter-dependant organism. It thrives on sacrificial love, mutual respect, care and understanding. A good family member always puts the welfare of the other members first. A good family member weaves tight the cords of love, and holds tight to them. “I’m sorry” and “Please forgive me” and “I was wrong” are just as important phrases as the most important phrase of all, “I love you.” And, all four of these phrases need to not only be said, and said frequently and as needed, but must be shown through the actions of the individuals. Love is a verb.
A functioning family unit must have goals, both for the short-term and the long-term, that are shared by all the members. There must be an equal division of the work that needs to be done, and a clear, shared vision of where you want to go and what the family unit and goals should look like.
If, for any reason, one of the family members is not able to fulfill these sacred trusts, or is unwilling to, then all the members of the family will suffer.
A family cannot survive for long without all members pulling together. At least, not any sort of healthy survival. The harm that is done when one member, for lack of a better term, “opts out” of their responsibilities, is something that can be irreparable over time; if left long enough it will affect each and every other family member in many negative ways. Particularly the children are at risk, as they learn by what they observe, and when the cosmic axis of the family unit is off-kilter, the children are the ones who are most likely to be affected, both in the short term and in the long term. They will observe what goes on, what is said and what is done within their broken or failing family unit, and they will learn that these things they see and hear are normal, that this is the way that a functioning family unit is supposed to look, and if left long enough these learned experiences will be carried with them for life, affecting each and every relationship that they have.
For all these reasons, a family unit must function correctly; to have one do anything less than this, is to invite disaster for future generations to come.
And, to leave a broken family unit as is, is, in my humble opinion, of far greater harm than to break up a non-functioning family.
And that's my opinion.
stuff
Yesterday afternoon i was feeling a bit tired, so I lay down for a nap. I expected to sleep for an hour or so...then i woke up 4 hours later! Not only that, but i surprised myself by still sleeping 8 hours that night!
Here are some things I have read in my daily bible reading lately, things in God's Word that I am standing on in faith...
Proverbs 21:30,31 –
There is no wisdom or understanding or counsel that can prevail against the Lord. The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but deliverance and victory are of the Lord.
Proverbs 24:3,4 –
Through skilful and Godly Wisdom is a house (a life, a home, a family) built, and by understanding it is established (on a sound and good foundation). And by knowledge shall the chambers of its every area be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
Proverbs 24:10 –
If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.
Proverbs 24:16 –
For a righteous man falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
Proverbs 16:1, 2, 3 –
The plans of the mind and orderly thinking belong to man, but from the Lord comes the wise answer of the tongue.
All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirits – the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Roll your works upon the Lord – commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and so shall your plans be established and succeed.
Proverbs 16:9 –
A man’s mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure.
Proverbs 16:33 –
The lot is cast into the lap, but the decision is wholly of the Lord – even the events that seem accidental are really ordered by Him.
Proverbs 17:17 –
A friend loves at all times, and is born, as is a brother, for adversity.
Proverbs 18:22 –
He who finds a true wife finds a good thing, and obtains favour of the Lord.
Proverbs 19:21 –
Many plans are in a man’s mind, but it is the Lord’s purpose for him that will stand.
Proverbs 11:17a –
The merciful, kind and generous man benefits himself, for his deeds return to bless him.
Proverbs 11:23a –
The desire of the consistently righteous brings only good.
Proverbs 13:12 –
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.
Proverbs 15:19b –
The way of the righteous is plain and raised like a highway.
Psalm 145:14-16,18-19 –
The Lord upholds all those of His own who are falling, and raises up all those who are bowed down. The eyes of all wait for You – looking, watching, and expecting; and You give them their food in due season. You open Your hand, and satisfy every living thing with favour. The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him sincerely and in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him, He will also hear their cry, and will save them.
Here are some things I have read in my daily bible reading lately, things in God's Word that I am standing on in faith...
Proverbs 21:30,31 –
There is no wisdom or understanding or counsel that can prevail against the Lord. The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but deliverance and victory are of the Lord.
Proverbs 24:3,4 –
Through skilful and Godly Wisdom is a house (a life, a home, a family) built, and by understanding it is established (on a sound and good foundation). And by knowledge shall the chambers of its every area be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
Proverbs 24:10 –
If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.
Proverbs 24:16 –
For a righteous man falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
Proverbs 16:1, 2, 3 –
The plans of the mind and orderly thinking belong to man, but from the Lord comes the wise answer of the tongue.
All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirits – the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Roll your works upon the Lord – commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and so shall your plans be established and succeed.
Proverbs 16:9 –
A man’s mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure.
Proverbs 16:33 –
The lot is cast into the lap, but the decision is wholly of the Lord – even the events that seem accidental are really ordered by Him.
Proverbs 17:17 –
A friend loves at all times, and is born, as is a brother, for adversity.
Proverbs 18:22 –
He who finds a true wife finds a good thing, and obtains favour of the Lord.
Proverbs 19:21 –
Many plans are in a man’s mind, but it is the Lord’s purpose for him that will stand.
Proverbs 11:17a –
The merciful, kind and generous man benefits himself, for his deeds return to bless him.
Proverbs 11:23a –
The desire of the consistently righteous brings only good.
Proverbs 13:12 –
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.
Proverbs 15:19b –
The way of the righteous is plain and raised like a highway.
Psalm 145:14-16,18-19 –
The Lord upholds all those of His own who are falling, and raises up all those who are bowed down. The eyes of all wait for You – looking, watching, and expecting; and You give them their food in due season. You open Your hand, and satisfy every living thing with favour. The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him sincerely and in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him, He will also hear their cry, and will save them.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Words That Cannot Be Uttered
Unutterable Words of Love
For all the words that cannot yet be said,
For all the feelings that through my eyes have bled,
For every drop of blood and every tear I've shed,
For every prayer with you the center that my lips have said,
For each and every smile I've smiled throughout my days,
For all the many reason that my eyes will never stray,
For every single thing I see in you that I admire,
For every single day I see you and am inspired.
And for every thing I wanted to shout but I only quietly muttered...
These are the words that cannot (yet) be uttered.
I wrote this poem, just now, in all of two minutes. It just flowed from my heart.
"I Need You Now" - by nomeansno
I want to come home now
I've been away too long
I want to come back
I'm too sick at heart and scared to go
I can't pretend anymore
To you I can't pretend
I need a friend
I can't be alone anymore
I need you I need you
Now cut off, apart, isolated
In my pride, in my hatred
My face is sad and afraid
Black in the sun and white in the shade
The night reflects it
In every window I pass
In every pane of glass
I can't last, like this, I can't last
I need you I need you now
All those I pushed away
They walk with me, live in me now
And the silence of what I never said
Screams in my ears and pounds in my head
But when I look at you
I know I could never lie
You see all of me when I look into your eyes
I need you I need you now I
Woke up dreaming that I was dead
Beside you on the bed
I smoothed my hand across your hip
And lingered with my fingertips
From beyond, from far away
Blessing where the shadows lay
I whispered what I could not say
How you took my breath away
There is no world and I am a shadow
You are no woman and I am no man
There are only eyes and arms and hands
The eyes that cut me out
The arms that hold me 'round
T he hands that reach out to pick me up
And lift me from the ground
Go ahead, raise me from mud
Then in the light burn me down
And whether I live forever, heaven sent
Or am doomed to die, earth bound, it doesn't matter
You may let the years drip from my face
As the world turns 'round and 'round
But as long as I can breathe
Can lift my voice and make a sound
In everything I am, in everything I do
I am your servant, I need you
I need you I need you now
For all the words that cannot yet be said,
For all the feelings that through my eyes have bled,
For every drop of blood and every tear I've shed,
For every prayer with you the center that my lips have said,
For each and every smile I've smiled throughout my days,
For all the many reason that my eyes will never stray,
For every single thing I see in you that I admire,
For every single day I see you and am inspired.
And for every thing I wanted to shout but I only quietly muttered...
These are the words that cannot (yet) be uttered.
I wrote this poem, just now, in all of two minutes. It just flowed from my heart.
"I Need You Now" - by nomeansno
I want to come home now
I've been away too long
I want to come back
I'm too sick at heart and scared to go
I can't pretend anymore
To you I can't pretend
I need a friend
I can't be alone anymore
I need you I need you
Now cut off, apart, isolated
In my pride, in my hatred
My face is sad and afraid
Black in the sun and white in the shade
The night reflects it
In every window I pass
In every pane of glass
I can't last, like this, I can't last
I need you I need you now
All those I pushed away
They walk with me, live in me now
And the silence of what I never said
Screams in my ears and pounds in my head
But when I look at you
I know I could never lie
You see all of me when I look into your eyes
I need you I need you now I
Woke up dreaming that I was dead
Beside you on the bed
I smoothed my hand across your hip
And lingered with my fingertips
From beyond, from far away
Blessing where the shadows lay
I whispered what I could not say
How you took my breath away
There is no world and I am a shadow
You are no woman and I am no man
There are only eyes and arms and hands
The eyes that cut me out
The arms that hold me 'round
T he hands that reach out to pick me up
And lift me from the ground
Go ahead, raise me from mud
Then in the light burn me down
And whether I live forever, heaven sent
Or am doomed to die, earth bound, it doesn't matter
You may let the years drip from my face
As the world turns 'round and 'round
But as long as I can breathe
Can lift my voice and make a sound
In everything I am, in everything I do
I am your servant, I need you
I need you I need you now
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
lyrical content inside
"Now" by nomeansno
Now if I had the courage
I'd pour into your jar
All the things that I have heard you whisper in the dark
And when that jar was heavy
With your honeyed confidence
I'd put it to my lips and drink it's meaning and it's sense
It has no end so let's pretend it's
Now
Let's get started
Now
Let's get started
NOW
Nothing could be plainer
Than the things that have been done
And there can be no mystery in what is yet to come
It's now that howls at nothing
It's now that runs and hides
It's now that winds its spineless coils and slithers out of sight
Your cries above the furrow
Draw my fingers like a plow
Through tattered ends that twist and bend about the Here and Now
The Here is blind and helpless
And strives against the dark
The Now's a well of shadows where the world has come apart
It has no end so let's pretend it's
Now
Let's get started
Now
Let's get started
NOW
There is precious little
That escapes the powers that be
The eyes that judge, the words that form our meager histories
But when your flood surrounds me
When the waters burst and come
Who knows the things that I have felt, who knows what I have done
And if I had the courage
I'd pour into your jar
All the things I have heard you whisper in the dark
And when the jar was heavy
With your honeyed confidence
I'd put it to my lips and drink it's meaning and it's sense
It has no end so let's pretend it's
Now
Let's get started
Now
Let's get started
NOW
Now if I had the courage
I'd pour into your jar
All the things that I have heard you whisper in the dark
And when that jar was heavy
With your honeyed confidence
I'd put it to my lips and drink it's meaning and it's sense
It has no end so let's pretend it's
Now
Let's get started
Now
Let's get started
NOW
Nothing could be plainer
Than the things that have been done
And there can be no mystery in what is yet to come
It's now that howls at nothing
It's now that runs and hides
It's now that winds its spineless coils and slithers out of sight
Your cries above the furrow
Draw my fingers like a plow
Through tattered ends that twist and bend about the Here and Now
The Here is blind and helpless
And strives against the dark
The Now's a well of shadows where the world has come apart
It has no end so let's pretend it's
Now
Let's get started
Now
Let's get started
NOW
There is precious little
That escapes the powers that be
The eyes that judge, the words that form our meager histories
But when your flood surrounds me
When the waters burst and come
Who knows the things that I have felt, who knows what I have done
And if I had the courage
I'd pour into your jar
All the things I have heard you whisper in the dark
And when the jar was heavy
With your honeyed confidence
I'd put it to my lips and drink it's meaning and it's sense
It has no end so let's pretend it's
Now
Let's get started
Now
Let's get started
NOW
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