I try to run and I try to hide
But you promise to never leave my side
Your love is so kind
And I am so undesevering
This plagues my mind
How you could be so unswerving
My pace quickens
My heart skips a beat
My grip tightens
My soul begins to retreat
But it is not until the tears fall
That on my knees I send out a call
O Lord only you
Will satisfy
Through and through
To you I die
Alone on the tracks
I renew my vow
Can finally relax
As I joyfully bow
"Into your hands I commit my spirit;
redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth." - Psalm 31:5
Saturday, February 25, 2006
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Ugly Duckling
Have you ever read the story of the ugly duckling? I think every kid has but when was the last time you read it? I picked up to day when I was waiting for a meeting to start. It is my story! Hopefully yours too!
I was born to 2 unbelievers and grew up always feeling like I didn't belong. I grew up desiring to find what I was looking for and to have friends that truly liked/loved me. Like the duckling I left the old farm in search of a place were I would fit in. In search of my identity. I was found by God and he revealed to me that I am an ugly duckling to this world but to him I was a swan! Our identity in him is the most beautiful of all.
The Ugly Duckling
Once upon a time down on an old farm, lived a duck family, and Mother Duck had been sitting on a clutch of new eggs. One nice morning, the eggs hatched and out popped six chirpy ducklings. But one egg was bigger than the rest, and it didn't hatch. Mother Duck couldn't recall laying that seventh egg. How did it get there? TOCK! TOCK! The little prisoner was pecking inside his shell.
"Did I count the eggs wrongly?" Mother Duck wondered. But before she had time to think about it, the last egg finally hatched. A strange looking duckling with gray feathers that should have been yellow gazed at a worried mother. The ducklings grew quickly, but Mother Duck had a secret worry.
"I can't understand how this ugly duckling can be one of mine!" she said to herself, shaking her head as she looked at her last born. Well, the gray duckling certainly wasn't pretty, and since he ate far more than his brothers, he was outgrowing them. As the days went by, the poor ugly duckling became more and more unhappy. His brothers didn't want to play with him, he was so
clumsy, and all the farmyard folks simply laughed at him. He felt sad and lonely, while Mother Duck did her best to console him.
"Poor little ugly duckling!" she would say. "Why are you so different from the others?" And the ugly duckling felt worse than ever. He secretly wept at night. He felt nobody wanted him.
"Nobody loves me, they all tease me! Why am I different from my brothers?"
Then one day, at sunrise, he ran away from the farmyard. He stopped at a pond and began to question all the other birds. "Do you know of any ducklings with gray feathers like mine?" But everyone shook their heads in scorn.
"We don't know anyone as ugly as you." The ugly duckling did not lose heart, however, and kept on making inquiries. He went to another pond, where a pair of large geese gave him the same answer to his question. What's more, they warned him: "Don't stay here! Go away! It's dangerous. There are men with guns around here!" The duckling was sorry he had ever left the farmyard.
Then one day, his travels took him near an old countrywoman's cottage. Thinking he was a stray goose, she caught him.
"I'll put this in a hutch. I hope it's a female and lays plenty of eggs!" said the old woman, whose eyesight was poor. But the ugly duckling laid not a single egg. The hen kept frightening him.
"Just wait! If you don't lay eggs, the old woman will wring your neck and pop you into the pot!" And the cat chipped in: "Hee! Hee! I hope the woman cooks you, then I can gnaw at your bones!" The poor ugly duckling was so scared that he lost his appetite, though the old woman kept stuffing him with food and grumbling: "If you won't lay eggs, at least hurry up and get plump!"
"Oh, dear me!" moaned the now terrified duckling. "I'll die of fright first! And I did so hope someone would love me!"
Then one night, finding the hutch door ajar, he escaped. Once again he was all alone. He fled as far away as he could, and at dawn, he found himself in a thick bed of reeds. "If nobody wants me, I'll hid here forever." There was plenty a food, and the duckling began to feel a little happier, though he was lonely. One day at sunrise, he saw a flight of beautiful birds wing overhead. White, with long slender necks, yellow beaks and large wings, they were migrating south.
"If only I could look like them, just for a day!" said the duckling, admiringly. Winter came and the water in the reed bed froze. The poor duckling left home to seek food in the snow. He dropped exhausted to the ground, but a farmer found him and put him in his big jacket pocket.
"I'll take him home to my children. They'll look after him. Poor thing, he's frozen!" The duckling was showered with kindly care at the farmer's house. In this way, the ugly duckling was able to survive the bitterly cold winter.
However, by springtime, he had grown so big that the farmer decided: "I'll set him free by the pond!" That was when the duckling saw himself mirrored in the water.
"Goodness! How I've changed! I hardly recognize myself!" The flight of swans winged north again and glided on to the pond. When the duckling saw them, he realized he was one of their kind, and soon made friends.
"We're swans like you!" they said, warmly. "Where have you been hiding?"
"It's a long story," replied the young swan, still astounded. Now, he swam majestically with his fellow swans. One day, he heard children on the river bank exclaim: "Look at that young swan! He's the finest of them all!"
And he almost burst with happiness.
I was born to 2 unbelievers and grew up always feeling like I didn't belong. I grew up desiring to find what I was looking for and to have friends that truly liked/loved me. Like the duckling I left the old farm in search of a place were I would fit in. In search of my identity. I was found by God and he revealed to me that I am an ugly duckling to this world but to him I was a swan! Our identity in him is the most beautiful of all.
The Ugly Duckling
Once upon a time down on an old farm, lived a duck family, and Mother Duck had been sitting on a clutch of new eggs. One nice morning, the eggs hatched and out popped six chirpy ducklings. But one egg was bigger than the rest, and it didn't hatch. Mother Duck couldn't recall laying that seventh egg. How did it get there? TOCK! TOCK! The little prisoner was pecking inside his shell.
"Did I count the eggs wrongly?" Mother Duck wondered. But before she had time to think about it, the last egg finally hatched. A strange looking duckling with gray feathers that should have been yellow gazed at a worried mother. The ducklings grew quickly, but Mother Duck had a secret worry.
"I can't understand how this ugly duckling can be one of mine!" she said to herself, shaking her head as she looked at her last born. Well, the gray duckling certainly wasn't pretty, and since he ate far more than his brothers, he was outgrowing them. As the days went by, the poor ugly duckling became more and more unhappy. His brothers didn't want to play with him, he was so
clumsy, and all the farmyard folks simply laughed at him. He felt sad and lonely, while Mother Duck did her best to console him.
"Poor little ugly duckling!" she would say. "Why are you so different from the others?" And the ugly duckling felt worse than ever. He secretly wept at night. He felt nobody wanted him.
"Nobody loves me, they all tease me! Why am I different from my brothers?"
Then one day, at sunrise, he ran away from the farmyard. He stopped at a pond and began to question all the other birds. "Do you know of any ducklings with gray feathers like mine?" But everyone shook their heads in scorn.
"We don't know anyone as ugly as you." The ugly duckling did not lose heart, however, and kept on making inquiries. He went to another pond, where a pair of large geese gave him the same answer to his question. What's more, they warned him: "Don't stay here! Go away! It's dangerous. There are men with guns around here!" The duckling was sorry he had ever left the farmyard.
Then one day, his travels took him near an old countrywoman's cottage. Thinking he was a stray goose, she caught him.
"I'll put this in a hutch. I hope it's a female and lays plenty of eggs!" said the old woman, whose eyesight was poor. But the ugly duckling laid not a single egg. The hen kept frightening him.
"Just wait! If you don't lay eggs, the old woman will wring your neck and pop you into the pot!" And the cat chipped in: "Hee! Hee! I hope the woman cooks you, then I can gnaw at your bones!" The poor ugly duckling was so scared that he lost his appetite, though the old woman kept stuffing him with food and grumbling: "If you won't lay eggs, at least hurry up and get plump!"
"Oh, dear me!" moaned the now terrified duckling. "I'll die of fright first! And I did so hope someone would love me!"
Then one night, finding the hutch door ajar, he escaped. Once again he was all alone. He fled as far away as he could, and at dawn, he found himself in a thick bed of reeds. "If nobody wants me, I'll hid here forever." There was plenty a food, and the duckling began to feel a little happier, though he was lonely. One day at sunrise, he saw a flight of beautiful birds wing overhead. White, with long slender necks, yellow beaks and large wings, they were migrating south.
"If only I could look like them, just for a day!" said the duckling, admiringly. Winter came and the water in the reed bed froze. The poor duckling left home to seek food in the snow. He dropped exhausted to the ground, but a farmer found him and put him in his big jacket pocket.
"I'll take him home to my children. They'll look after him. Poor thing, he's frozen!" The duckling was showered with kindly care at the farmer's house. In this way, the ugly duckling was able to survive the bitterly cold winter.
However, by springtime, he had grown so big that the farmer decided: "I'll set him free by the pond!" That was when the duckling saw himself mirrored in the water.
"Goodness! How I've changed! I hardly recognize myself!" The flight of swans winged north again and glided on to the pond. When the duckling saw them, he realized he was one of their kind, and soon made friends.
"We're swans like you!" they said, warmly. "Where have you been hiding?"
"It's a long story," replied the young swan, still astounded. Now, he swam majestically with his fellow swans. One day, he heard children on the river bank exclaim: "Look at that young swan! He's the finest of them all!"
And he almost burst with happiness.
Monday, February 13, 2006
Trust God with your homework
"God loves math and that's why he gave humans the idea of math. If you are having trouble with math you should pray about it. In the Bible it says all things are possible through Christ who strenghthens me. If you pray to God about your trouble with math God will help you get it eventually. You should trust God. All you have to do is believe in Him because He works MIRACLES! "
A 13 year old wrote this!
And here are some verses that I found related to work/wisdom/future, oh boy are there more!
1 Corinthians 14:40
But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.
1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Matthew 25:21
"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
1 Peter 3:15
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,
Proverbs 22:29
Do you see a man skilled in his work?
He will serve before kings;
he will not serve before obscure men.
James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
Proverbs 2:6
For the LORD gives wisdom,
and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Proverbs 19:21
Many are the plans in a man's heart,
but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Isaiah 26:3
You will keep in perfect peace
him whose mind is steadfast,
because he trusts in you.
A 13 year old wrote this!
And here are some verses that I found related to work/wisdom/future, oh boy are there more!
1 Corinthians 14:40
But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.
1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Matthew 25:21
"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
1 Peter 3:15
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,
Proverbs 22:29
Do you see a man skilled in his work?
He will serve before kings;
he will not serve before obscure men.
James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
Proverbs 2:6
For the LORD gives wisdom,
and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Proverbs 19:21
Many are the plans in a man's heart,
but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Isaiah 26:3
You will keep in perfect peace
him whose mind is steadfast,
because he trusts in you.
Friday, February 10, 2006
Pains of Surgery
I read this today from the book "Real Christians don't
Dance". I admit when I have a problem I try to fix my
environments, by getting rid of the idol but what
about the idol in my heart. We have to be cleansed
from the inside out and let me tell you what, it
hurts. humbling yourself before God and being
vulnerably is not the most comfortable place to be at
but that is what needs to be done. Pray with me not
just for me but for anybody else who is going through
this too.
The cartoon character Pogo's famous statement says it
best: "We have met the enemy and he is us." A pure
environment doesn't necessarily make pure people.
Avoiding movies, burning records, staying away from
dances, or turning off the radio does not make anyone
spiritually strong. In fact, these actually tend to
produce the opposite effect, developing fragile
Christians who must live in a controlled, censored
environment � much like people who are so sensitive
to germs and chemical pollution that they have to live
in sterile rooms and breathe only filtered air.
The real problem of evil is inside us and not on
our walls or our stereo turntables. The purifying
process must begin in the heart and mind. The Bible
says: "To the pure, all things are pure, but to those
who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure"
(Titus 1:15). God works from the inside out, not
outside in. A pure heart makes for a pure world, not
vicversasa.
A pure heart comes from knowing Jesus Christ and
having Him recreate our hearts and minds through His
Word. It's strictly an inside job. Once that process
of change has begun, we begin to see differently. The
Word of God becomes a compass that points us toward
truth. With our new-found eyesight, we begin to sift
out truth from wherever we find it � even in the
most unlikely places. "To the pure, all things are
pure."
Dance". I admit when I have a problem I try to fix my
environments, by getting rid of the idol but what
about the idol in my heart. We have to be cleansed
from the inside out and let me tell you what, it
hurts. humbling yourself before God and being
vulnerably is not the most comfortable place to be at
but that is what needs to be done. Pray with me not
just for me but for anybody else who is going through
this too.
The cartoon character Pogo's famous statement says it
best: "We have met the enemy and he is us." A pure
environment doesn't necessarily make pure people.
Avoiding movies, burning records, staying away from
dances, or turning off the radio does not make anyone
spiritually strong. In fact, these actually tend to
produce the opposite effect, developing fragile
Christians who must live in a controlled, censored
environment � much like people who are so sensitive
to germs and chemical pollution that they have to live
in sterile rooms and breathe only filtered air.
The real problem of evil is inside us and not on
our walls or our stereo turntables. The purifying
process must begin in the heart and mind. The Bible
says: "To the pure, all things are pure, but to those
who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure"
(Titus 1:15). God works from the inside out, not
outside in. A pure heart makes for a pure world, not
vicversasa.
A pure heart comes from knowing Jesus Christ and
having Him recreate our hearts and minds through His
Word. It's strictly an inside job. Once that process
of change has begun, we begin to see differently. The
Word of God becomes a compass that points us toward
truth. With our new-found eyesight, we begin to sift
out truth from wherever we find it � even in the
most unlikely places. "To the pure, all things are
pure."
Thursday, February 02, 2006
"Every Warrior of the Light
has felt afraid of going into battle.
Every Warrior of the Light
has, at some time in the past, lied or betrayed someone.
Every Warrior of the Light
has trodden a path that was not his.
Every Warrior of the Light
has suffered for the most trivial of reasons.
Every Warrior of the Light
has, at least once, believed he was not a Warrior of the Light.
Every Warrior of the Light
has failed in his spiritual duties.
Every Warrior of the Light
has said 'yes' when he wanted to say 'no.'
Every Warrior of the Light
has hurt someone he loved.
That is why he is a Warrior of the Light,
Because he has been through all this
and yet has never lost hope of being better than he is."
Paulo Coelho, Brazilian Author
From his book: 'Warrior Of The Light'
has felt afraid of going into battle.
Every Warrior of the Light
has, at some time in the past, lied or betrayed someone.
Every Warrior of the Light
has trodden a path that was not his.
Every Warrior of the Light
has suffered for the most trivial of reasons.
Every Warrior of the Light
has, at least once, believed he was not a Warrior of the Light.
Every Warrior of the Light
has failed in his spiritual duties.
Every Warrior of the Light
has said 'yes' when he wanted to say 'no.'
Every Warrior of the Light
has hurt someone he loved.
That is why he is a Warrior of the Light,
Because he has been through all this
and yet has never lost hope of being better than he is."
Paulo Coelho, Brazilian Author
From his book: 'Warrior Of The Light'
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ~ John 13:34
I then shall live as one who's been forgiven
I'll walk with Joy to know my debts are paid
I know my name is clean before my father
I am his child, and I am not afraid
So greatly pardoned, I'll forgive my brother
The law of love I will gladly obey
I then shall live as one who's learned compassion
I've been so loved that I'll risk loving too
I know how fear builds walls instead of bridges
I dare to see another point of view
And when relationships demand commitment
Then I'll be there to care and follow through
Your Kingdom come around and through and in me
Your power and glory let them shine through me
Your hallowed name, O may I bear with honor
and may your living Kingdom come in me
The Bread of Life, O may I share with honor
And may you feed a hungry world through me
I then shall live as one who's been forgiven
I'll walk with Joy to know my debts are paid
I know my name is clean before my father
I am his child, and I am not afraid
So greatly pardoned, I'll forgive my brother
The law of love I will gladly obey
I then shall live as one who's learned compassion
I've been so loved that I'll risk loving too
I know how fear builds walls instead of bridges
I dare to see another point of view
And when relationships demand commitment
Then I'll be there to care and follow through
Your Kingdom come around and through and in me
Your power and glory let them shine through me
Your hallowed name, O may I bear with honor
and may your living Kingdom come in me
The Bread of Life, O may I share with honor
And may you feed a hungry world through me
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