Counting down to Forever

New Every Morning

Posted: 26 Nov 2011 11:49 AM PST

Sometimes I forget that God is actively pursuing me. 

I forget that His love for me is so overwhelming when I stop and think of who He has made me to be in His eyes. I forget that there was never a “good enough” benchmark that I had to meet in order to deserve His love. There was no race I had to run to be accepted by Him. I just was. 

Then this morning, He reminded me. While eating my sliced apples and sipping my tea-cup full of coffee, He reminded me that His love, it never ends. It is new, every single morning. 

I knew that was a verse somewhere in Scripture, so I googled it, naturally, and cried over the whole passage. I wanted to share it with you because I know some of you are struggling with this whole God thing. Others of you, like me, have simply forgotten the depth of God’s love for you. And then there may be some of you who have no idea what I’m talking about, but you know something is missing from your life. So be blessed dear friends and remember today, God is pursuing your heart. ~

I’ll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness, the taste of ashes, the poison I’ve swallowed.I remember it all-oh, how well I remember-the feeling of hitting the bottom.But there’s one other thing I remember, and remembering, I keep a grip on hope:

God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out, his merciful love couldn’t have dried up.They’re created new every morning. How great your faithfulness!I’m sticking with God (I say it over and over). He’s all I’ve got left.

God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits, to the woman who diligently seeks.It’s a good thing to quietly hope, quietly hope for help from God.It’s a good thing when you’re young to stick it out through the hard times.

When life is heavy and hard to take, go off by yourself. Enter the silence.Bow in prayer. Don’t ask questions: Wait for hope to appear.Don’t run from trouble. Take it full-face. The “worst” is never the worst.

Why? Because God won’t ever walk out and fail to return.If he works severely, he also works tenderly. His stockpiles of loyal love are immense. [Lamentations 3:19-32]

For those who identify themselves with God, through His Son Jesus Christ, the mercy and grace and love and faithfulness of God are never ending. Never. Ever. Ever. 

Amen.

as quoted from Julianna Morlet

Perspective made all the difference in the game, and it makes all the difference in how we handle life. Without perspective, small problems seem insurmountable, and we ignore warning signs. But with perspective, hard situations don’t overwhelm, and we can find our way to thankfulness instead of despair.

Perspective points are arrows to thankfulness. They remind me God was faithful then and He will be faithful now. They remind me God was greater than my circumstances then, and still is today. Most importantly, they help me cultivate a thankful heart for what I have. The truth is, as long as we have breath, there is reason to be thankful and hopeful.

Glynnis Whitwer, P31 ministries

Amen for that reminder! :)

I’ve been running, trying to be one who sees
I’ve been working salvation out on my knees
There is nothing better than knowing
that we are redeemed
I’m believing, trusting in creative hands,
I am praying for our world to bow to your plan
And this one thought is unmistakable:
I take up my cross and follow you Lord

Chorus
When you stand the tall trees and mountains bow
When you speak the fiercest of oceans is still
And I see the sinner seek devotion
The lost become chosen, and I fall to my knees

Verse 2
I’m forgiven; my Savior who did not deserve death
He was blameless and I was lost in shamefulness
I’m delivered, but it doesn’t seem right
unless I keep my eyes focused on the savior who gave his life
In the middle of a world that denies it believes
It is breaking apart at the very seams
There is one thing to be alive for
And it’s to take up my cross and follow you Lord

Bridge
I will take up my cross and follow Lord where you lead me
And I will take up my cross and follow wherever you go

FRIEND (noun)

1. A person whom one knows, likes, and trusts.

2. A person whom one knows; an acquaintance.

3. A person with whom one is allied in a struggle or cause; a comrade.

4. One who supports, sympathizes with, or patronizes a group, cause, or movement

What makes a friendship? When we were younger, it was playmates that we were introduced to with family acquaintances. When we started school, it became people we had common interests or experiences with. As we grow older, our lists of qualifications grow longer. We now want people with the same hobbies and interests, with certain traits and dispositions that we’ve grown to be comfortable with.

Where do we meet friends? We meet them in school, church, at our workplaces and anywhere we go. It is an occurrence that is not limited by geographic location. With the advent of technology, we can even talk to people all around the globe.

The bible gives us a warning and a promise with regards to friendships. In Proverbs 18:24, it says “A man of many companions may come to a ruin, but there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.” It provides us the reality that our friends do influence us more than we realize, and that we influence our friends more than we know or admit. How do we become a good friend?

Our model, Christ -  Jesus Christ provides a good example of being a perfect friend. He provided encouragement and a safe refuge for those in His company. He rebuked wrong behavior when necessary. He was constant and He loves at all times. He goes after us when we are lost. He is faithful even when we are not. What a wonderful friend we have in Jesus! The bible is filled with people who have learned to follow God’s model for friendship, and it is one those things that is a blessing in this world. Let’s face it, life is one tough cookie, but with our friends and Christ, it somehow is bearable, joyful and enjoyable!

One of the things I’m thankful for is great friendships! Another one is the constant opportunity to make new friendships! I’ve been blessed with a brother in Christ who I’ve been friends with for 12 years, a girl best friend for 11 years and an accountability partner for 7 years and other friends too.

It is a lifelong learning. One of the things I admire about my friendships is that our capacity for growth and learning is never dwindled nor diminished. I’ve learned about music, books, sports, art from my friends and we’ve gone through several tests of our life as well. We’ve learned about food and music together, even if it meant risking some cuisine we’ve never tried before (Persian became a favorite when we were in the workplace) and musical events we never went to before (Fete de la Musique). It meant getting sore at each other during several key moments (with rebuking involved) but I love having friends that rebuked me when I was being a stubborn person. I’ve enjoyed honesty, humility, random heroic acts, kindness and so much more around them and have also faced conflict, irritation, failure and heartbreak with them and around them.

Let’s pray for deep friendships, that we grow alongside and with our friends; that we continue to be grateful for them and the similarities and differences that we have. Let’s pray for the new friendships that we make, and that we can continue to be intentional as ever. Let us pray that our focus on the Lord remains firm, that we may always learn from the perfect model despite being people who err from time to time. Let us pray for grace, growth and healing in our friendships, and of course Love, faith, peace and hope.

Thank you Lord, for my friends. You know who they are. Continue to bless them and keep them in the palm of Your hands. Please guard their hearts and direct their steps. Amen

Ingredients:

15 Ounces of canned pumpkin (or fresh puree if you prefer)

1 box of Spice Cake Mix

1 can of evaporated milk

4 tsp of pumpkin pie spice mix (or a mixture of cinnamon, ground ginger and nutmeg)

3 eggs

1 cup sugar

3/4 cup of melted butter

Chopped walnuts

How to:

** I made this desert for thanksgiving dinner. Turns out yummy! ;)

1. Mix the pumpkin, milk, eggs, sugar, pumpkin spice mix in a bowl and whisk until everything is incorporated.

2. Pour on a baking pan that has been sprayed with baking spray.

3. Sprinkle the Spice cake mix evenly on top.

4. Pour melted butter evenly on top and top with chopped walnuts.

5. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30-40 minutes. Check with a toothpick if cooked throughout. Baking time may vary.

In this book written by G. Macdonald, he writes about a New England church and the concept of growing people to become more effective members of the church. He introduces a lot of words such as intentionality and discipline and provides a sort of testimony and handbook in narrative form. The story starts with a vision and the book shows the progress and the changes that occur since then. It presents a very balanced view of a church’s proactive step into developing members (especially in the younger generation) that have a genuine devotion to growth and faith. The seed comes from a desire to have a plausible elevator story and the vision grows from them, and one is able to see the pastor and leadership team. Another good part is that the reader sees all aspects of the church, people working together in different areas to support this program that was called CDP. There were several conflicts and several heartbreaking moments when people step out of the program but we also see the positive change and growth in the people that stay and persevere. The book reflects grace and as a reader, it is very encouraging to see such a collective desire to grow more mature in the faith as a church. I recommend the book for church and ministry leaders, as well as young adults such as myself, who will be future leaders and members of the current churches we attend.

I received a free copy of this book from BookSneeze in exchange for a review.

Quotebites.com

“We are not made for the mountains, for sunrises, or for the other beautiful attractions in life - those are simply intended to be moments of inspiration. We are made for the valley and the ordinary things of life and that is where we have to prove our stamina and strength.”

Oswald Chambers wrote that quote in the book, “My Utmost for His highest” and it proves to be a reminder, as always. This is a book I read when I was a teenager and I still go back to it from time to time because of the depth of reflection in it.

As people, we expect beautiful things in this life. There is nothing wrong with wanting to be happy, desiring success, buying material things, but we must remember that it is not our purpose in this life. We were made for so much more, like the Switchfoot song says.

May we never lose ourselves that we think that the inspiring moments are the only things of beauty in this life. I was in a discussion earlier today about those tough things in life, those elements that just don’t prick you and draw blood but really leave scars. What is the purpose of those?

It develops character, and it takes a lot of the painful things and a lot of time.

When I was a child, I prayed for strength as something I wanted from God because I felt I needed it in this life. For those who don’t know me, I’m quite of a softie, very reserved and very soft-spoken. One of my guy friends in youth group used to describe me as a gourmet chocolate bar that has a hard chocolate coating and chewy nougat on the inside. It’s semi-true, but that’s beside the point. The point is that in order for strength to be developed, there had to be experiences that may hurt you physically, mentally and emotionally. Over time, you learn how to properly take disappointments and hurts and respond to them properly. It still hurts (numbness does not equate to strength). I’ve learned that numbing or ignoring pain does not make you strong; it’s discipline that actually helps you build strength. Every time I face disappointment, it hurts (probably 1,000 times more than average because I’m sensitive) but you don’t just react to the pain, but you learn to face it and move forward.

I think there are a lot of things in life that we can term truly beautiful, without any questions. Flowers that bloom, babies, marriages, friendships, success are all examples of it. But what of pain, failure, disappointment, broken promises, goodbyes and death? Maybe the beauty in life is what those events and situations produce in us? True character, one that nurtures others we love, one that keeps striving despite discouragement and pain, one that keeps trying despite the threat of constant failure, one that finds hope in friendships, family and relationship despite drama and disappointments. True character comes from a relationship with Christ and in turn, helps us love and serve other more. It is the only way our strength is sourced from, and it is the only way we get recharged in such a way that fills us to overflowing.

“We tend to use prayer as a last resort, but God wants it to be our first line of defense. We pray when there’s nothing else we can do, but God wants us to pray before we do anything at all.

Most of us would prefer, however, to spend our time doing something that will get immediate results. We don’t want to wait for God to resolve matters in His good time because His idea of ‘good time’ is seldom in sync with ours.”

- Oswald Chambers

“Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good. For His loving kindness is everlasting.” 1 Chronicles 16:34

It’s thanksgiving tomorrow! It is not the only time of the year to be thankful of course, but it is a good tradition. I’m attempting a turkey recipe tomorrow despite not being brave enough to attempt a whole turkey. It is a daunting task, I’ve heard and observed from my aunts who make it every year.

I’m thankful for…

1. The opportunities that the Lord has allowed the past year. I am in school and fixing my transfer and I get to work with my four year olds. They are a very interesting bunch and I learn alongside them everyday.

2. My parents who are working very hard and manage to have fun when we hardly work. The fact that we will be having a quiet dinner and then going our separate ways again. Still good for a few hours. =)

3. My friends from back home who I miss oh so much! They are truly irreplaceable!

4. Good health: Despite feeling tired lately, I have not experienced anything really bad, so praise God for that. And… I’m going to be eating my seafood paella with gusto tomorrow, as is the Manchurian Crab recipe (yum!). I love seafood and I wish I can eat it more often.

5. The good weather -  I love fall and am very attracted to the lovely colors.

6. God’s ever constant workmanship in my life and the life of people I care about. It is truly amazing if you think about it.

7. The hopefully good food tomorrow - I’m cooking beef bourguignon with pinot noir and apricot brandy and the brandy smells wonderful! I was a bit worried because they had a huge bottle of Grand Marnier and it was too costly for me. I ended up grabbing apricot brandy instead and the clerk and I were trading recipes. =) I’m making Pumpkin Praline Cake too and Turkey Stuffed Cannellonis with Shallot, Fontina and Asiago sauce.

8. For this awesome group of church friends I’ve met - They’re very warm people who love God and it’s just great hanging out with them. Awesome. :)

arts.cultural-china.com

In Disney’s Mulan, the Emperor of China says, “A flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all.”

The plum blossom, or the meihua (in China) and The Japanese Apricot (in Japan), is a very interesting flower. It blooms in winter, when everything else seems to freeze, die or hide underground and welcomes Spring with its flowers. As a matter of fact, most of the paintings you will be able to see of this flower is that it blooms on a tree without the leaves around. It is around even before the leaves of the plum tree decide to shoot out.

What is the relevance of this? I write this from sunny California, only being in winter snow, twice in my life. However, I marvel at the richness of the symbol of the plant.

The Plum blossom is depicted as a flower that blooms in adversity. In the harshness of the winter wind and the merciless cold of snow, it blooms and gives off an aroma that is enticingly sweet. It perseveres amidst difficultly, in a background that presents impossible growth conditions, it reflects resilience and gentle strength. Despite its petals looking so fragile against the backdrop of a harsh winter landscape, it persists in spreading its aroma around.

Remember, as we struggle (and it can be a very painful struggle at times), keep persevering and pray to be such a flower that blooms in adversity. Be both strong and beautiful, and have that hope that despite that seemingly hopeless backdrop of life, spring and hope is right around the corner. It is a flower that is both rare and beautiful, and the aroma, is sure to give praise to Christ who has made you as such.

She is clothed with strength and dignity;
   she can laugh at the days to come.- Proverbs 31:25

So one of my preschoolers had an interesting question:

TEACHER, I NEVER KNEW THAT ROOSTERS SPEAK DIFFERENT LANGUAGES TOO?!

I paused to try and digest that statement and then I realized what he was implying and I started laughing. He was being very observant. We had just read a story about a man who made clay pots in Mexico and the rooster said, “kikiriki” and he said that in America, roosters say “cock-a-doodle-doo”.

It is funny how our linguistic differences also affect how we write how we think the animals sound in different countries. It was amazing how a four year old noticed that, children are very observant. :)

Read more on Spanish speaking animals here.

on Animal noises around the world here.

Linguistic onomatopoeia here.

Style.mtv.com says that dressing in monochrome makes you look longer and leaner. A good tip is to try to use different textured fabric to change the outfit up. Have fun with your one-color experimentation!

Sunday, Nov. 20, is Universal Children’s Day, as declared by the United Nations, and a new survey of children illuminates the wants and needs of kids living in poverty.  The Small Voices, Big Dreams survey questioned children ages 10 to 12 in 30 countries throughout Africa, Asia and the Americas. Conducted by ChildFund Alliance, which is comprised of global child development organizations, the survey found that one in three children goes to bed hungry at least once a week; more than 25% spend half of every day working, including household chores and other work but not counting school or homework.

Regardless of where they live, the children spoke of bootstrapping themselves up through education. In the fortunate yet unlikely event they end up as president of their country, 57% said they would make sure to offer all children an education, improve existing schools and build more.  “If I were the president of India,” responds one Indian child, “I would provide good education and study materials such as pen, copies, pencils, uniforms, etc. to children.” (Of U.S. kids, 31% said education would be their top presidential priority. Perhaps, say those who’ve analyzed the study, the lower number doesn’t indicate a lack of interest in education but acknowledgement that U.S. children can attend school for free.) (More on Time.com: Photos: Summer Programs Keep Kids’ Minds Sharp)

What do you need most, the children were asked; one in three answered food, with 45% saying they’d spend a spare dollar on food or water. One motherless child from Cape Verde said, “I need food. My father is a fisherman, but he can’t get enough money to buy food.”

“This survey serves to amplify [children’s] voices so that we can direct our work in the most appropriate way,” said Anne Lynam Goddard, president and CEO of ChildFund International, the U.S. member of the global alliance.  In countries such as Ecuador and Zambia, for example, ChildFund is trying to figure out how to enroll more children in school and keep them there longer. (More on Time.com: Special Report: Health Care for the Uninsured)

Interestingly, when polled about fears, snakes took first place, followed by death and disease, then falling victim to war or violence.  “I am mostly afraid of death,” responded a Sierra Leone child. “I don’t want to dream of dead people. The muddy water…is dangerous for children because muddy water has germs.”

The survey was administered individually from July through September 2010 to about 100 children in 30 developing nations and 318 children in Australia, New Zealand and the United States. (More on Time.com: The Battle for Global Health)

Today is Universal Children’s Day according to the UN. Let us pray for the children around the world, that their hearts, minds and bodies be protected and that they come to hear about the gospel. Let us pray for the children in the United States, in California, in East Bay as they grow up and face the world. Let’s pray for their education, friendships, family relationships, spiritual upbringing and overall well-being

Prayers for my younger cousins in the Midwest, Canada, NJ and my neighbors in the Philippines. Pray for my godchildren in Australia and the Philippines. Prayers for my two nephews. Prayer for these kids who are in elementary, secondary and college level education, that they may be able to prepare themselves for a job that can support them and their families and that they may be able to continue obeying the Lord in every aspect of their lives.

Daily Goal: Switching up my seasonal clothes and arranging my closet. Trying to visualize how I should organize my clothes the best way this fall and winter season. =) Any tips?

**I’m reading A Study in Sherlock and so far I’m liking the short stories. Of course, no one can compare with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. ;)