The Creepy Eye Monster :-|

"There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all..." 1 Corinthians 12:4-7

I look around me and I see so many people with so many different qualities/gifts/talents/(whatever-you-want-to-cal-them) to admire; and I must confess, sometimes I find myself wishing I was more like them. "If I only had her smile or gentleness, if I only had his sense or assurance..." I was engaged with this sort of thinking the other day, wondering how to re-invent myself, when God reminded me of a version of 1 Cor 12 I heard a few years ago. It reads like this:

"If Foot said, "I'm not elegant like Hand, embellished with rings; I guess I don't belong to this body," would that make it so? If Ear said, "I'm not beautiful like Eye, limpid and expressive; I don't deserve a place on the head," would you want to remove it from the body? If the body was all eye, how could it hear? If all ear, how could it smell? As it is, we see that God has carefully placed each part of the body right where he wanted it....An enormous eye or a gigantic hand wouldn't be a body, but a monster. What we have is one body with many parts, each its proper size and in its proper place. No part is important on its own."

"You are Christ's body—that's who you are! You must never forget this. Only as you accept your part of that body does your "part" mean anything."

=)

I love how much He knows me, and how He communicates with me in exactly the words I need to hear.

Hebrews 13:5

I have a friend who has the habit of listing things that she is thankful for every day. It is a good habit to have. It keeps one's heart soft, moldable and humble. It is specially good when one is feeling groggy, gloomy or grouchy... or simply numb... Gratefulness is like fuel to joy and faith...

try it! ;)

here goes mine...

--> my sister, who is awesome ;)

--> most beautiful Christmas tree ever!

-->my friends who are in missions whose life inspire me not to give up, and to stand on God's promises [you know who you are, bt I want to give a special shout out to RR*, u rock! lol ;) ]

-->God who is faithful

-->my mom, who loves me and wants to encourage me to seek God first

-->God's word, which is always true, living and powerful

-->the ppl in Miami who have welcomed me, making the transition easier

-->the ladies prayer group

-->God's provision for my physical needs

-->a room to put my things, and a bed to rest

-->a family that i can laugh with

Prayer from a friend

"May I challenge you all this coming year, to search the Scriptures daily,

test all things, and beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy

and empty deceit, according to the traditions of men, according to the

principles of the world, and not according to Christ."

-J.R.

sounds of the wind...

Maybe one day

Just maybe

I don't know for sure.

I just have this thought

this yearning

this longing of the heart

as if a dream within a dream

Perhaps Im crazy

but I could swear I heard the promise

It was just a whisper

He spoke

but that without words

He told me

but not a sound was heard

Lift me up

higher and higher

Take me away

into the valley of the lilies

into the ends of the world

I want to see without a mirror

I want to behold Your face

Let me see your beauty

let me die in Your presence

that i may awake in Your likeness

Untitled

"This very week, may you find great victory in your life as through His ability you begin to stand where you've always stumbled. May you watch your needs supplied through His provision. As you exercise your faith and grow in faith-all through the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ."

-Chuck Smith , "Faith" (p.42)

An Example

I have started to read the Gospel according to Luke for my 'structured' reading, and yesterday I came across a great verse.... but first let me give you the background story (aka context).

The angel Gabriel has just visited a girl named Mary at Nazareth. She is engaged to be married to a man name Joseph. Joseph is a good man, a carpenter, descendant of King David. Joseph and Mary have never been physically intimate. Gabriel has come to announced that Mary will bear a Son. This Son who is to be conceived, Gabriel says, will be great, called Son of the Highest, He will have the throne of His father David.

The thing that floored me is Mary's response:

"Then, Mary said to the angel, 'How can this be, since I do not know a man?'"

The reason why this is so important is because Mary is expecting a miracle! Mary hadn't 'known a man' but she was engaged, so it's not like it wasn't in her future; yet she did not assume Gabriel was talking about her first child once Joseph and her got married. She knew Gabriel was talking about something else. You see, there is no talk of the Holy Spirit coming upon her, etc, etc until she asks this qst. Up until then everything that Gabriel said could have been thought of in a completely rational way, a natural outcome of planned events. Perhaps that is one of Mary's virtues she can look beyond the obvious, she knew how to wait on God and not act hastily.

I wonder how many times we like to reason away God's miracles and plans for our life. God tells us, "You will do this that and the other" or "I have this plan and purpose for your life" and what do we do? We take all the fun out of it. We rationalize it away. We take the supernatural out of it by taking things into our own hands. Can you imagine what would have happened if Mary would have just said to the angel 'Thank you very much Gabriel, for that lovely prophecy' then go to find Joseph and said: 'Joseph, our first child is going to be a king! I think we should move up the wedding and receive the Lord's blessing as soon as possible"

Mary is a wonderful woman. Definitely virtuous. Definitely a great example of a life of faith, and she reaped the rewards of seeking after God. Let us follow in her example :)

Rock-Solid

"The Lord lives! Blessed be my Rock! Let the God of my salvation be exalted." Ps 18:46

At the moment life is a blur. Time seems to speed up and I can barely catch my breath. The Lord is wonderful and worthy to be praised. I stand back in awe at all the opportunities He has given me this week to share about His faithfulness with people.

Thank you for your prayers that God would open doors to share!! They definitely made it to heaven and were answered ;)

KEEP AT IT!!

The scoop:

I was just in San Diego, California to see my friends, touch base, and let everybody know what God's been doing plus what I feel His is leading me into for these next 2 years. It was a mission accomplished. (If you don't know what I'm talking about please refer to: "The Next Chapter(?)" post so you can be updated)

I got to share with so many people I've lost count- I love that, shouting from the rooftops that which He's told me in secret.

I got to share with three home fellowships, a class of 7th graders and address the congregation at HCF on both services!! Not to mention the countless one-on-ones I had... the week ran out before I was able to meet with everyone I wanted to talk to.

It was a beautiful and special time to be able to connect like that with my spiritual family in San Diego.

Prayer Request:

- That God would grow the seeds that were planted this week, encouraging ppl to follow God with their whole heart
- God would restore my physical strength
- Safe flight back east :)
- MORE opportunities to share!!

I love you all :)