So be quiet now, and wait.

I just noticed how I can never seem to do that. To wait. I’ve been thinking and thinking about whether I’m doing the right things and worrying about what will happen, when I really just have to let go and believe that God will get me through this. I don’t have to think about how this will turn out, because He knows what He’s doing and I just have to learn to trust Him. And be quiet and WAIT.

SHINE!

The Sunday School kids had their Christmas play today and they were amazing! Just wow. All that work paid off. The costumes were awesome too; I love everyone who helped us sew all those shirts and work on all the other props.

Today was a long day. After the kids performed, they had their Christmas party, and after they left, some teachers stayed behind for a small party for ourselves. That was fun too, except Chubbs kept fighting with me. Maybe that’s partly what made it so fun. XD That, and we girl teachers played around with the angels’ wings from the play. And the food was yummy. Lasagna and roast beef and.. **mouth waters** and that frozen mango bravo. Yum yum yum. Today was the last day I was seeing Bianca for the year, because she’s going to Brunei next Saturday.

The party ended at around 2:30, and I had to wait in church until around 4, because my family forgot to fetch me. Haha. I hung out with Kuya Martin and Leah and Rachel for a while, then when they left I stayed in Teacher Dongdong’s area and took a nap.

Then I finally got picked up, and we went to my aunt’s house where we stayed until dinner. Then we went home, and while we were in the car I saw the moon, and it’s so big and bright tonight. :p

I’m a bit tired, because I wasn’t able to sleep very well last night, and then I woke up early, and then all those things happened today, so yeah.

If we had God’s eyes…

If we had God’s eyes, and could see to forever, we’d never have to struggle to believe~

Oh, so very true. It’s so easy to say there’s a God up in heaven… but sometimes it’s so hard to see…

Nest had their Christmas program today, and my mom’s grade schoolers did the Tale of Three Trees. They did really good, I think I was close to tears. XD

Anyway, that line really struck me, because that’s what I’ve been struggling with lately. I’ve been learning to trust God and letting him lead me to wherever without knowing what I’m getting myself into.

Struggle is very new to me; I never really knew what it was until now. This year was probably my most difficult so far. I felt alone a lot of the time and felt like I’d gone to pieces once or twice, but now I’m beginning to find my way and I’ve never felt so close to God as I do now. I still have a long way to go in terms of relinquishing control and trusting God but I’m getting there.

It isn’t easy to trust in Someone you can’t see, especially when the road is bumpy and you feel totally hopeless. But I found that He really is just there, and if you let go and let Him have his way without you resisting, everything goes smoothly and according to His perfect planning.

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Psalm 143:8

And now it’s time for some last minute sewing on the three kings’ costumes for the Sunday School’s play tomorrow.

Dev-O: Hanging out with the “wrong” crowd

I was thinking about how most of the time, when we see people who are different from us- tattooed, pierced, multicolor-haired people, drug users, alcoholics, or even just people who have issues that are a little less socially accepted- our initial reaction would be to stay away from them. This is what we’re told to do, because they could be dangerous, and really, what good would it do us to be with people like that? They’re different. Their lives are probably a mess.

It is easier to do this, to stay away from people of that sort, and a lot safer too. Better to stay with our Christian friends, at least with them we’re sure nothing bad will happen to us.

But think about when Jesus was here. Who did he spend a lot of time with? He hung out with tax collectors and prostitutes, and he didn’t stay away from lepers. He spent time with people who were looked down on by society. He didn’t look good for it, but he did it anyway.

“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Mark 2:17

We weren’t put on this earth to be comfortable, or to be around people who already know God. I mean sure, that’s OK, and we should fellowship with each other, but we’re also here to share God with people who don’t know Him yet. We won’t find these people in church, we won’t find them among our Christian friends. We might find them in an uncomfortable situation, and conversations with them might not be easy. Being seen with them might give us a bad reputation.

Jesus didn’t have it easy either, and he didn’t look too good in the eyes of the well-to-do of those times. No one said it was going to be easy for us. And people might even look at us in a bad way for being with the wrong crowd. But it’s with this crowd that we can be useful.

God doesn’t need us to share our faith to people who’ve already heard it. He needs us to go to the ones who haven’t, to the ones who need it real bad.

**Check out the Wildfire site for other Dev-O entries by other awesome people.

You Know I’ve Been Unfaithful…

Jealous Kind

by Jars of Clay

I built another temple to a stranger
I gave away my heart to the rushing wind
I set my course to run right into danger
Sought the company of fools instead of friends

You know I’ve been unfaithful
Lovers in lines
While you’re turning over tables with the rage of a jealous kind
I chose the gallows to the aisle
Thought that love would never find
Hanging ropes will never keep you
And your love of a jealous kind

Tried to jump away from rot that keeps on spreading
For solace in the shift of the sinking sand
I’d rather feel the pain all too familiar
Than be broken by a love I don’t understand
‘Cause I don’t understand

You know I’ve been unfaithful
Lovers in lines
While you’re turning over tables with the rage of a jealous kind
I chose the gallows to the aisle
Thought that love would never find
Hanging ropes will never keep you
And your love of a jealous kind

One hundred other lovers, more, one hundred other altars
If I should slow my pace and finally subject me to grace
And love that shames the wise, betrays the heart’s deceit and lies
And breaks the back of foolish pride

You know I’ve been unfaithful
Lovers in lines
While you’re turning over tables with the rage of a jealous kind
I chose the gallows to the aisle
Thought that love would never find
Hanging ropes will never keep you
And your love of a jealous kind

It hit me really hard, that song. (I couldn’t find a video, but give it a listen if you can.)

I’m sorry for replacing you, God. Thank you that you still love me even after that.

No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:39