Risk in expecting More

We think
We care
We dream BUT IF..
We are not willing to risk anything in expecting something far greater than what we are capable of, nothing greater will ever happen; nothing greater can happen!

Recently God has refueled me with a passion to see God move in people's lives. While praying with Rachelle and people at 155, I had a special desire to expect that what we prayed for would happen.

I've been reflecting on my own walk with God. It has been a really safe walk I must say. Why did I keep it that way for so long? I don't know. All I know is that the way I see God somehow changed once I slowly became 'ok' with the idea of taking risks to follow Him. Honestly, the thought and feeling of taking risks has been a semi- traumatic . But, there is a clearer view of who He is, how He sees us, when we allow our hearts to be open to it leading to the possibility of a new level of intimacy with Him.

You know what, it is 'ok' to 'risk in expecting more' because we want to see how He will move in a greater capacity! Because when we have faith, He will!!

I have a vision that chains can be broken and freedom can be embraced when a willing heart steps up in faith amidst of uncertainties, spiritual warfare, vulnerability and failures. Someone at church talked about how impossible it is for God to even send us out to serve Him if our hearts are not even willing to risk trusting in Him. His work through the spirit begins with this faith of ours. Who is He to us?


29Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith will it be done to you"; 30and their sight was restored.

Mat. 9:29-30 (NIV)

It's Christmas!!!!

A time of great triumph and joy and of overwhelming challenges at this same time.

"I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart." (Jer. 24:7)

It's a timely reminder slow down and to not let the present of seeking His face slip away. I'm beckoned to come back to God. You can't always feel His presence in the most literal sense but His GRACE always gently yet persistently draws you to Him! He wants you to know Him and so He will make a way.

This has been His heart since the very beginning!

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Merry Christmas!!

I really enjoy going back to the old school hymns and worship songs a couple of times in a while! Like now. :) It is soothing or you can say 'boring' cuz the beats and rhythms are relatively slower. But apart from that, I guess in general, they are simply more sound and very scripturally inspired! That's how I connect with them so well in different levels! Luv 'em. These past few weeks of exams, a lot of stuff from Hillsong has caught my mind during times of meditation.

Here's one.

Hillsong - Emmanuel




Emmanuel - Hillsong
Written by Reuben Morgan

Holy holy
I will bow be - fore
My Lord and King
Hallelujah
You have come to us
You make all things new

Emmanuel
Jesus Christ
You’ll never let me go
My Shepherd King
You’re watching over me
Emmanuel

So amazing
You have named the stars
Of the deepest night
Still You love me
You have called my name
I will follow You

Holy holy
God Almighty
There is none like You

Em - ma - nu-el
Em - ma - nu-el
Em - ma - nu-el

Sit back and Enjoy as it gets you to reflect more deeply than usual! :)

reflections forward

So first semester has ended...exams were done as of yesterday morning! A time of rest, connection is anticipated. Over and over, I'm reminded of who He is, whenever and even I after I get swayed by my own thoughts, feelings and selfish desires.

What's always comforting though and reassuring is the reminder that He is not a spiteful God. I've been taking the time to reflect and try to listen today. Read some and thought about some. Sometime, would you ask God, do you really have plan for me? I know I have. more than once of course. It is mind bottling and really overwhelming sometimes to know that that is the very test of faith to trust that He does indeed have a hope, prosperity and a FUTURE comes along with it! What a life-long vocation and a real privilege at the same time!

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.
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Holding onto this passage of Jeremiah, a real youngsters of the time that God used so mightily, this very inspirational quote by Cadet Maxim came into mind. He once said while he was in military (got it from tianne) :)

~ Risk more than others think is safe. Care more than others think is wise. Dream more than others think is practical. Expect more than others think is possible.

Cadet Maxim

I'm drawn to this unique fearlessness and passionate vision that he holds towards life itself in times of danger and adventure in the military.....{this can be a whole new post, just about Cadet Maxim's quote}
But, that is exactly the attitude to have I think to pursue God and his plans for us as we strive to become more Christ-like and holy and pure in this perverse day and age; mind, heart, soul and body.

swamped

swamped with much catching up for finals! JUST one more, but the wait till next tues seems like a greater test of perserverance and faithfulness as a student than anything!

life in itself is always a challenge! perseverance, perseverance, and MORE perseverance!

in dire need time with Jesus to remain still, to listen and to be grounded. :)

bubyes!

floored :)

A song that has really hit home recently.
How can you NOT be totally floored and rejoice in picking up your cross every single day by all that He is? Why just a little?
Enjoy!~

:P
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Made me glad (Hillsong)

I will bless the Lord forever
I will trust Him at all times
He has delivered me from all fear
He has set my feet upon a rock

I will not be moved            
And I'll say of the Lord

You are my shield, my strength
My portion, deliverer
My shelter, strong tower
My very present help in time of need


Whom have I in heaven but You?
There's none I desire beside You
You have made me glad
And I'll say of the Lord

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouMumEs7cVQ

Looking upon Jesus :)

Hey guys,

I'm going through a lot of crap these days...[excuse my language.. haha just really sensitive to words I use..hahaaha] but I'm learning more than I can ever imagine in a million years! God has recently placed people who spoke real truth into my life, a very crucial and a genuine time a crisis! DEEP BREATH once again! Don't worry, hear we go again! Truth is treasure I believe! It's not always what you want to hear, neither is it always comforting or encouraging, but you can always tell that they somehow leads to hope and makes you stronger in the end. It's shocking and can be really astounding but it always seem like a remedy that heals, at least that what it really should be. By this I don't mean to completely lose yourself in standing for what you believe in but I genuinely think that there's definitely a place for being receptive and being teacheable. I think a lot of times, that's how our Father heals. I love it!

Upon commenting on my blog, my good friend Harry reminded me to always taking time to look for good things in people when learning to love them. I propose that it is a very selfless act, and to look for Jesus in them especially when they seem unlovable. I like how this is teaching me a practical way of loving others as 'myself', the 2nd of the greatest commandment of all!! It's such a awesome calling isn't it! haha :D

Isaiah 53: 1-3
1 Who has believed our message

and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?

2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.

3 He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

When we look upon Jesus, and begin to lose ourselves in Him, people around us may seem different to us after all. Our family, our friends, our co-workers. Jesus was selfless. I think it is the most compelling factor for me to be excited to actually get down and dirty and be like him.

"The start of something New ! "

So what is l-o-v-e? We always think about the world view on it and indulge ourselves to understand it the way our friends, co-coworkers, family do. Perhaps most of the time, we don't even bother to even pause a bit to do anything about it, because it's such a big investment of all that we have. Time, energy, vulnerability, you name it! BUT the biggest universal problem here seems to be the underlying question of: Is this person worthy of my love? Trust me, it sounds really shallow and I know it but honestly isn't this exactly the VERY first reaction that quietly unfolds in our hearts whenever we're faced with the decision.

Then I ask myself, how do you do it?

I know I struggle with this dilemma all the time! I'm sure no expert at this, but in my daily struggle of not knowing how to love people around me and neither feeling loved myself, I can't help but struggle my way back to Jesus and His Cross, the full expression of LOVE. Sometime with my face drowned in tears, I'd still be like: ' WOW!! The Bid guy's for REAL!" It's been a real battle but it's never meant for us to do it alone. I was FINALLY reminded of this truth when talking to Daniel and Evelyn today. I'm so grateful for them! haha :) We need God, even though sometimes, we are so focused on our own circumstances, that we are led to think that "it's OK" to go through it alone, and that's exactly when we've realized we've dug a whole for ourselves. And then we're just like, dang, I'm Stuck. Where do I go from here? 'Letting Go' and 'Humbling Ourselves' is something I am getting to know more intimately about in these days as I am constantly reminded to humbly and gratefully receive love from God and to freely give love to one another because Jesus has first loved us. Frankly speaking, they're such difficult truths to live out yet their so fundamental at the same time! Don't you think?

On a slightly different note, I'm going through some BIG CHANGE! Deeeep Breathhhh!:D Learning to embrace the BAD DAYS and trials of life definitely marks "the start of something new!" -HSM 1, wohooo!

Cheers <3

I'm back Again!

You cannot imagine how thankful, excited, and glad I am to start blogging again! It's been a LONGWHILE...and I mean a LONGWHILE! haha.. First it was xanga, but as I've begun to adopt a new connection with google mail, I thought why not a change. :P This is actually not my first blog account. But long story short, the lack of commitment before has led me to leave blogging at the 'old' account for a long time. BUT, here I am again, ready to dive into life's thick and thin with you all again and pouring out whatever I can, to hopefully connect, excite, entertain, disgust, comfort or make some of you who have decided to drop by shed a little tears*. haha

Anyway, do drop by! But that's all for now! Church tmr! :D ciao!