Matthew 17:20. He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
Today, the sermon was all about learning from our past and moving towards a path of Grace. I, just like the Israelites of the bible just keep falling into the same traps.
In considering next year's resolutions, I'm taking a page out of my own book. That is, what I tell my clients, in terms of goals.
I wanted to make goals towards valued directions.
And so here is the start of my list
1) To be thankful for something everyday- Review this list NYeve next year.
2) Exercise self-control and discipline- Finish PhD and get down to healthy weight
3) To be more connected- More real time, less screen time
4) Be a wise steward of money- Get out of debt
5) Love others more. WWJD
Guitar tabs: http://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/d/downhere/how_many_kings_crd.htm
How many kings- Downhere
Verse 1: B E Follow the star to a place unexpected E Would you believe after all we’ve projected F#m A child in a manger B E Lowly and small, the weakest of all E F#m Unlikeliness hero, wrapped in his mothers shawl F#m Just a child F#m E (ring out) Is this who we’ve waited for?
Chorus: B How many kings, stepped down from their thrones? E How many lords have abandoned their homes? F#m E How many greats have become the least for me? B How many Gods have poured out their hearts E To romance a world that has torn all apart? F#m E How many fathers gave up their sons for me?
Verse 2: B E Bringing our gifts for the newborn savior E All that we have whether costly or meek F#m Because we believe B E Gold for his honor and frankincense for his pleasure E And myrrh for the cross he’ll suffer F#m E Do you believe, is this who we’ve waited for? E (Ring Out) It’s who we’ve waited for
It's been a really stressful couple of weeks. And I have felt like I've been hit on all sides, barely standing. Just when I thought things were under control, I would get smashed by another wave of burden. I pray nightly for God to defend me, uphold me. How many times have I been on the phone in tears to my family? X got stolen, I don't have enough x, I made a mistake iwth x.
And what can I do besides Thank Him? Especially in this last week, I didn't deserve all the justice I got, all the help I go, and all the energy that I have received. I received unbelievable news, one after one after one. God never promised that our life on Earth is easy, but sometimes it's just so sweet to be given so many blessings one after one after one.
Thank you.
All I can do (Thank you)- Mikeschair
Guitar tabs: http://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/m/mikeschair/all_i_can_do_thank_you_crd.htm
The intro progression is basically the entire song, with a small exception during the bridge when you drop the Em7
Intro
Cadd9 Gadd9 D Em7 x2
V1
Cadd9 Gadd9 I could write a love song D Em7 Tell You what I think You wanna hear Cadd9 Gadd9 D Em7 But it wouldn't be good enough, no Cadd9 Gadd9 Yea I could try so hard D Em7 To give it everything I've got Cadd9 Gadd9 D Em7 But I'm not ever gonna measure up
[Chorus]
Cadd9 All I can do is thank You Gadd9 D Em7 For this life I never deserved Cadd9 Gadd9 Wanna thank You for the grace D Em7 I know I don't have to earn Cadd9 Gadd9 You love me, You love me D Em7 Your mercy is proof Cadd9 Gadd9 D Em7 All I can do is say thank You All I can do is say thank You
(V2 same as V1) It would have been easy But I'm glad You never walked away Cause Your love runs deep for me And I see this beautiful world And it brings tears in my eyes And I think it's beautiful to be free
[Chorus]
(Thank You) Cadd9 Gadd9 D For hope, for love, for all the ways You move (You) For everything You do (You) What else can I say but thank You Thank You
I could write a love song Tell You what I think You wanna hear But it wouldn't be good enough
[Chorus]
All I can do, all I can do, all I can do Is say thank You All I can do, all I can do, all I can do Is say thank You
I was listening to 500 days of summer OST on spotify and the opening track really got to me. Not every boy meets girl story is a love story. And after x seasons of How I met Your Mother, I've also come to realise that not every love story ends in happily ever after. So what makes the difference between any girl-boy story and THE girl-boy story?
Most love stories has it's ups and downs, it's thrilling moments and it's sad moments, it's silent moments and it's moments of great joy. Common to all love stories is the human emotion. i am so blessed to be involved in the wedding preparations of one of my best friends. I've been blessed to have known the couple for the last 7+ years, almost as long as they have been officially a couple. I've seen them laugh, I've seen them cry, I've seen them yell, I've seen them sacrifice for each other. And now is the time in their love story where two become one.
Essentially, it's not found in the sweet moments, but in how the couple stand together in times of trial. It's not in selfishness, but in acceptance. It's not in quick heated arguments but in patience. It's not being resentful but it forgives.
In fact, it's all summarized well in this:
1 Corinthians 13
New International Version (NIV)
13 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails.
A gratitude list, what a great idea. http://christianphysicist.blogspot.com.au/2013/12/gratitude-part-16-nov-30-dec-6-2013.html
I'll get a few started here. Have you stopped and counted your blessings this year?
1. Finishing the requirements of Masters of Clinical Psychology despite many set backs administratively
2. Successfully starting a new business venture despite it's trials
3. Called a new part of the world my own
4. A mother who stands by my side even when I'm not a loving preson
5. A brother who is willing to listen to my troubles and forgive my weaknesses
6. A group of supportive friends
7. Family who love me and care for me even if they are on the other side of the world
8. Opportunities to work with clients on their problems
9. Lovely Sunday school kids who have a heart for God
10. Sunshine in the mornings
11. Health enough to do what needs to be done
12. A home that I feel comfortable in
13. A means of transport to get me from A to B
14. The means of transport is green
15. Watching up with friends in my past
16. Opportunities to visit and be with family overseas
17. Opportunities to be a support during despair
18. Learning from the various styles of my various supervisors
19. Nearing the end of my PhD
20. A great group of musical children who are willing to work together in reviving children's worship
21. Being able to build rapport with young people, and children
22. Learning to forgive
23. Overcoming illness
24. God loving me despite my piorities shifting
25. Recovering from being robbed, regaining the feeling of safety
26. People around me who are in love, married this year or got engaged this year
27. New borns this year who have bought me such joy
28. Friends who keep touch with me even when I'm ...
29. Enjoyment of many stories
30. Ability to see new places, have new experiences
31. Hope for a better 2014
In my busy life, I sometimes forget what matters most. My business. My PhD. TV dramas. Friend's weddings. Fitness. All these things compete with God's place, but this week I got a great wake up call.
Well, how great it is to be reminded that only one name matters.
B E2
Yours will be the only Name that matters to me
C#m7
The only One Whose favor I seek
F#sus B
The only Name that matters to me
B
Yours will be
E2
The friendship and affection I need
C#m7
To feel my Father smiling on me
F#sus B
The only Name that matters to me
G#m7 F#sus
And Yours is the Name the Name that has saved me
B G#m7
Mercy and grace the power that forgave me
E2 F#sus B
And Your love is all Ive ever needed
B
When I wake up in the Land of Glory
E2
And with the saints I will tell my story
C#m7 F#sus B/E
There will be one Name that I proclaim
B E2 C#m7 F#sus B/E
Jesus, Jesus, Je - sus, just that Name
13 You
know the old saying, “First you eat to live, and then you live to eat”?
Well, it may be true that the body is only a temporary thing, but
that’s no excuse for stuffing your body with food, or indulging it with
sex. Since the Master honors you with a body, honor him with your body! 14-15 God
honored the Master’s body by raising it from the grave. He’ll treat
yours with the same resurrection power. Until that time, remember that
your bodies are created with the same dignity as the Master’s body. You
wouldn’t take the Master’s body off to a whorehouse, would you? I should
hope not. 16-20 There’s
more to sex than mere skin on skin. Sex is as much spiritual mystery as
physical fact. As written in Scripture, “The two become one.” Since we
want to become spiritually one with the Master, we must not pursue the
kind of sex that avoids commitment and intimacy, leaving us more lonely
than ever—the kind of sex that can never “become one.” There is a sense
in which sexual sins are different from all others. In sexual sin we
violate the sacredness of our own bodies, these bodies that were made
for God-given and God-modeled love, for “becoming one” with another. Or
didn’t you realize that your body is a sacred place, the place of the
Holy Spirit? Don’t you see that you can’t live however you please,
squandering what God paid such a high price for? The physical part of
you is not some piece of property belonging to the spiritual part of
you. God owns the whole works. So let people see God in and through your
body.
True or false?
A) Two consenting adults can do whatever they want with their body
B) Sex is dirty
What Dennis Brown suggests is:
1) since sex is made by God and used by God, therefore
2) sexuality is a purpose, which is written in our instructional manual- the bible
3) do not pursue sex that avoids commitment and intimacy
