Disturb Us, Lord - Sir Francis Drake

Disturb us, Lord,

When we are too well pleased with ourselves,

When our dreams have come true

Because we have dreamed too little,

When we arrived safely

Because we sailed too close to the shore.

Disturb us, Lord,

When with the abundance of things we possess,

We have lost our thirst for the waters of life;

Having fallen in love with life,

We have ceased to dream of eternity

And in our efforts to build a new earth,

We have allowed our vision of the new Heaven to dim.

Disturb us, Lord,

To dare more boldly,

To venture on wider seas

Where storms will show your mastery;

Where losing sight of land,

We shall find the stars.

We ask You to push back

The horizons of our hopes;

And to push into the future

In strength, courage, hope and love.

This we ask in the name of our Captain,

Who is Jesus Christ.

-----

Today I realize…

That I am just but a part of the bigger universe, a mere piece of a puzzle that corresponds to God’s bigger plans.

That the world does not revolve around me, that my plans are secondary only to the plan that God has already laid out for my life. 

And that my trials, the tools that God uses to disturb me, they are mere instruments reminding me that I should learn to surrender control – to give way to the great things that God has in store for me.

“Say So” by Israel and New Breed

When God Taps Us on Our Shoulder

We all lead busy lives today. We try to accomplish as many tasks as we can, pursue as many goals as we can, and possess as many material things as we can. In the midst of all these, it’s so easy to get lost, to lose sight of our real purpose.

We’re all in the middle of distractions, and we often find ourselves unable to prioritize the things that really matter in our life – our family, our faith, our health, and all those things that stay with us to the very end.

It is during these times when God taps us on the shoulder, to remind us to slow down and take things easy in order for us to see what really matters. The only big question is this: do we pay attention to God’s tap? Or are we so busy with our lives and so engrossed with ourselves that we don’t pay attention to anything else? Sometimes, we don’t feel God’s touch because we are covered by the things we consider important. We fail to recognize the signs God sends us, or we simply ignore them, because we don’t want to stop, we’re all rushing toward wherever it is we think we need to go.

And when God sees that we’re heading toward the wrong direction, that we’re starting to be slaves to worldly things, He puts a little pressure on His tap to be sure that we feel it. Some people experience failure, some people get sick – we are given a little something that slows down the fast pace of our life, in order to give us time to think and to look at ourselves, evaluate the direction we’re taking and realize once again what things really matter.

God’s tap is filled with love. Sometimes, the pressure is necessary to awaken us from the worldly trance that we are in. Nevertheless, we are all assured that when God taps us on the shoulder, it is with love and concern for our welfare. If we experience failure in any way, if we’ve been sick or grieving, God has probably just tapped us on the shoulder to slow us down or to rescue us from the wrong path that we’re taking. And if we think we are lost, we can always ask God for a tap on our shoulder so that we’ll see the right direction we need to take.

[Also posted in my Facebook page]

What Matters Most

Throughout life, there’s only one thing that really matters. At the end of everything, only one question will be asked to each one of us as we stand before the Father. One simple question, and we are given a lifetime to find an excellent answer. What comes into your mind?

How many trophies and medals have you gathered?

How much money have you earned?

How high was the position you reached?

How many words of praise have you received?

How many hands have touched yours in congratulations?

How many people cried during your death?

How many people still remember you after a year of perish?

These, and many more, may come to mind.

But really, only one thing matters. Everything else will be useless. Here is just the simple question to all of us –

How many people have you loved with all your heart?

Quite a simple question, and we have a lifetime to spend preparing our answers. Can we stand proud before the Lord someday and give an excellent answer to this question? Why not? We can start preparing now!

The Joy in Serving

To serve is to make a sacrifice, and no sacrifice ever goes to waste.

Service is noble in that it transcends the basic human tendency to preserve one’s self and to pursue those things that cater to the self alone. When one serves, he lowers himself and lifts up the person he is serving, putting the needs of that person above the needs of the self. This is the ultimate act of heroism, and this act is universal – it is within the reach of everybody. Anyone can serve, young or old, men or women. And why not, we all have something to offer to others – our time, our efforts, our prayers, and our love. These things may seem simple, but they actually take much. They require will, dedication, consistency, and sincerity. A person can never truly serve without sincerity in his heart. It is sincerity that transmits one’s love to another. And in the absence of will, dedication, and consistency, it would be difficult to share one’s time and efforts.

Service is the emptying of the self, but in the process it is also the filling of the self. Wherever there is vacuum, an empty space, the universe rushes to fill it in. So when one empties himself in service, the emptiness is filled up fast – with more blessings. God always rewards those who empty themselves for others, and God always gives great rewards. After all, He is the ultimate giver, and as I have always been told, no one can outdo His generosity.

The joy in serving comes from the knowledge that we are making other people happy, that we are blessing their lives, and that we are leaving a legacy. Aside from this, it also comes from the knowledge that whatever we lose, we will reclaim – and we will be rewarded a hundred times. So come, let’s serve 

Our God by Chris Tomlin

I feel so blessed today.

I hope you are, too.

I Still Believe in Miracles

They’re everywhere,
And they happen all the time.

They spring from the deep well of the heart,
Maybe uttered in whisper, lost in the noise of the world.
Maybe flowing with a teardrop, kissed away by the wind.
Or contained in a deep breath of expectation.

Unnoticed. Unrecognized. Unseen.

And yet… Unfolding.

Let’s find the miracles. 

Kindness Doesn't Go Unanswered.

From God Wants You To Know:

Even though it seems like thanks and acknowledgments for good deeds are in short supply, God notices them. When you feel like giving up because gratitude eludes, remember that God is delighted in your efforts. Don't stop showing kindness because you feel unappreciated, the author of good things appreciates you very much.

... I shall press on. :)

There Are Many Ways To Serve God.

We can serve God even outside of the church. 

We can do it despite our imperfections.

Dream And Work.

One message I received via GodWhispers:

Dear ____,

Don’t be stuck with the “How” of your dreams. I’ll take care of that. I’ll supply you with what you need. I’ll provide you with the resources, the open doors, the inspiration, and the connections. Your job is to dream and to work with whatever is in front of you at this moment.

Me,

God

There's Joy In Sharing.

Memorized Prayers Do Not Go To Waste.

People attack the Catholic church for many reasons - for patronizing saints, for using images, for the rosary, and for many other of its practices. One common Catholic practice that some people question is its use of written prayers - such as The Creed, the Our Father, and the Hail Mary. People say these are not effective because they are merely recited from memory, not from the heart, and thus they don't have meaning. In the past, I could, in some way, understand the point that these people are raising - that memorized prayers often lose their essence when recited.

Today, though, I already understand the role that these forms of prayer play in the life of people who have the faith.

Prayer is also a way of life, a form of communication with God. But, like all other forms of communication, there are times when prayer also fails. There have been instances in my life when I find it very difficult to talk to God. I would prepare myself for prayer, only to find my mind wandering somewhere else - and prayer fails. I would try to talk to God, only to find myself at a loss for words - and prayer fails. I would search myself for all the things I want to tell God, only to find emptiness - and prayer fails. 

There are certain instances in my life when talking to God becomes a huge challenge because of several reasons. Sometimes, I get distracted and my mind gets occupied by a jumble of thoughts. And then recently, I've been having a hard time praying because I feel I'm not worthy to come to God because of sin - that feeling which comes with the knowledge that I am living a life of sin, and talking to Him becomes very difficult because I am overwhelmed by feelings of guilt and unworthiness. During instances like this, prayer becomes a big challenge. And even when I attempt a conversation, I usually end up feeling like all the words I utter are hollow and meaningless.

Just this morning, a solution presented itself just before I fully woke up - memorized prayers. I recalled the lines of the Our Father and recited them in my mind, allowing myself to extract meaning from the words and to feel God's presence in the written lines. It was not an instant success, but I felt something there - some emotion, some connection, some stirring in the soul. 

I know that God understands this dark phase in my prayer life and in my relationship with Him, and I know He sees what's inside me - He can hear the voice of my heart even as my mind and my tongue fail to find the words. I trust that He will work His miracles to pick me up and lead me forward until I get through this. For the meantime, memorized prayers shall be my guide.

I Am Complete In God.

Complete

by Parachute Band

Here I am, Oh God

I bring this sacrifice

My open heart

I offer up my life

I look to You, Lord

Your love that never ends

Restores me again

Chorus:

So I lift my eyes to You Lord

In Your strength will I break through Lord

Touch me now

Let Your love fall down on me

I know Your love dispels all my fears

And I will be complete in You

Here I am, Oh God

I bring this sacrifice

My open heart

I offer up my life

I look to You, Lord

Your love that never ends

Restores me again

Chorus:

So I lift my eyes to You Lord

In Your strength will I break through Lord

Touch me now

Let Your love fall down on me

I know Your love dispels all my fears

Through the storm I will hold on Lord

And by faith I will walk on, Lord

Then I'll see

Beyond my Calvary one day

And I will be complete in You

Ending:

I will be complete in

I will be complete in You

The Only Opinion Of You That Is Important, Is God's.

Focus on living your life, 
and let the opinions of others be what they are.

A very timely reminder from Facebook's 'God Wants You To Know'.

All Things Work Out For The Good.

No matter how wrong things go, we must always trust that they are leading towards the exact direction where they're supposed to lead. And even if we go astray once in a while, we must have faith in the reason behind the incident. The reason is always worth considering. And the lesson is always worth keeping.

After all, there is always someone out there who knows just how things must go.

No Matter How Hard We Try To Make Things Work, Something Almost Always Goes Awry.

It's probably to remind us that we don't have total control of the things around us, even of things that directly involve us. That life is not really all about doing it alone, that the outcome of things is always determined by the actions of two or more people joining together to create something out of nothing, that we are all connected to each other and that the action of one person will always affect the other. Maybe we should welcome the imperfections - it's to remind us of our humanity and our weakness. 

After all, only God is perfect. I remember our pastor telling us in one of his teachings - we should not expect a lot from people because they are imperfect, they are bound to disappoint us sooner or later. If we must expect anything at all, we must expect from God. 

If only I can remember this all the time, maybe life will be so much better.

Just Say Yes.

They say God doesn't call the qualified, but He qualifies the called. 

Sometimes, a task is presented in front of us and we feel like we cannot do it - we don't have the time, the talent, or the treasure to accomplish the job. But, all we really need is to trust God, because it's not us who will be at work - it will be God. All we really have to do is to say yes, and surely we'll be amazed at how things would turn out.

Thank you, Lord, for a successful day. There were glitches, but everything turned out well. And as another call is presented in front of me today, I say yes. I don't know what awaits me in this upcoming journey, but I trust You fully. Guide me. Direct me. Surprise me, Lord. Bring it on!

Sometimes, We Have To Stop To Continue.

This is especially important now, as the world is so focused on moving forward, marching onwards, that we often forget where we're going.

In our goal to reach the finish line first, it's so easy to get lost. And the saddest of all? Many of us end up winning, only to realize in the end that the finish line ain't what we really wanted to reach. All we really wanted was something else, a detour during the race, one that we've already passed by and ignored because we were too focused on that yellow line at the end of the road. And so we missed the right way, and it's too late to go back.

We need a momentary pause now and then to help us reassess our goals and understand the direction we're taking. We need silence once in a while to help us realize whether the path that we're treading is the path that leads to the most important things in our life and to the things that really matter. We need to stop, breathe, re-assess our priorities, re-direct our path, and then continue onwards.

Thank you, Lord, for this peaceful and wonderful day.

God Listens, and Responds.

There have been many moments in my life when I know that God is there, but I do not feel His presence. I talk to Him, but He does not respond - my conversations are like monologues in which only I, speak or rant. Moments like this can be frustrating.

Just a while ago, however, I realize that there is a difference between God not answering my prayers and me failing to acknowledge and recognize His answers...

This time is a crucial time in my life. Just when I finally had the resolve and the will and the conviction to reconnect with God, to reestablish my relationship with Him, here comes a distraction, a temptation so strong it's so hard to resist.

This temptation embodies all the things that are contrary to my nature - all the things that I've long wanted to become. To loosen up. To have fun. To look for adventure. To try new things. To explore. To let go. To be spontaneous.

These are things I've long wanted to experience, characteristics I've long wanted to develop in me. And now, a perfect opportunity is presenting itself, but it is also an avenue of sin. It might not be sin per se (or maybe I'm just convincing myself that it isn't), but it is a path that is most likely to lead to sin.

I feel confused, because I want it badly. And I am torn, because I know it isn't the best choice, and I might be setting up myself for destruction if I go for it. There is chaos deep inside me, and I've been asking God to enlighten me, to poke me and wake me up from this trance. And a while ago, while reading Companion, God seemed to speak directly to me.

"... no one who fails to act in righteousness belongs to God..." said the passage, and the reading also mentioned that curiosity is good only if it leads to righteousness. The passage spoke directly to me, and I felt that it was God's answer to my question and confusion.

I still don't have full resolve now to say no to the temptation and actually mean it, but I continue to ask God for His grace, that He will provide me with enlightenment and the courage to do the right thing, no matter what it costs. Hear my prayer, oh Lord. Amen.

God Will Never Give Up...

My spiritual journey had been filled with potholes and bumps, and the past years had been especially challenging. I got in a wrong relationship. I lived in sin for many years. I got distracted by a whole lot of worldly pursuits and desires, and I worshiped many gods. I placed my real God on the sideline.

All my sins kept me from turning back to God, and all my efforts to search for Him had been almost in vain. But, He never gives up. In 2011, He opened a door that allowed me to belong to a community that would strengthen my faith. And, He gave me the grace to finally break free from the relationship that I was in. 

And now, after everything that happened, only one challenge remains - reconnecting with God on an intimate level. I used to enjoy a very close relationship with Him before, but that ended when everything that happened... happened. Now I feel I'm starting over, but I'm having a hard time re-establishing a personal relationship with God. The process is a struggle, and I often feel like I'm not worthy, that I'm losing it.

But, truly His grace never ceases. Before 2011 ended, I met with a good friend who reminded me all about the grace and the miracle and the love of God. And I realized then, God has never abandoned me all this time. That He is there all along. That He has not given up on me. Despite feeling for a long time that my efforts to search for Him were in vain, I now know that He remains faithful to me, that His love endures.

And as the year 2012 opens, I am once again filled with hope. I feel so blessed knowing that God is still there, that He will always be there for me, and that He is waiting for me to come back to Him. His grace never ends, and He knows I need to be reminded of this - thus the angel He sent in the form of a friend.

Thank you Lord. I love you. I promise to do better this year.