This is our now
Personally I feel this season of American Idol is a disappointment
with a string of average singers and the usual big voice divas.
But tonight Jordin Sparks proved her mettle and the song 'This is my now' suit her to the T. And the little tear-up at the end prolly tipped the votes to her- =) it was definitely her conviction and belief in every word that she sang, which made 70 million Americans rooting for her.
Not a bad feat for a shy 17 year-old with just a dream...a dream that just became a reality.
Sometimes when I think of people and the pursuit of their dreams, in the end it is not how impossible or how small the dream was but rather how much do they want it to come true
How much you believe in your dream and how far you are willing to risk or give it all for that dream.
And I do ask myself more than once, do I really want this? My dreams are many, some are big and some not-so big, but the thing is will I find the courage in me? When the fear of failure looms larger than even the dreams itself, retreat seems more comfortable then going forward but is it?
C.S. Lewis once said, "Our desire is not big enough, we are like children preferring and content to play with mud pies by the sidewalk, when God wants to take us to the glorious beach" - something to that effect. Everything went seriously wrong after the Fall. Sin is more than separation, it also meant many things were stolen as well- like our courage and the belief that we matter and that indeed we are made in the image of Someone- One is who is bigger than us and who represents everything good and possible.
Cos if you look into the mirror and don't really believe in that image, then whose image you're looking at? Or worse, believing in a lesser and distorted image .
If we want our Tomorrow to be bigger than our Yesterday then, you have to grab it Now.
Watch this.This is my nowThere was a time, I packed my dreams awayLiving in a shell, hiding from myselfThere was a time, when I was so afraidThought I reached the end, baby that was thenI am made of more than my yesterdaysThis is my nowI'm really in the momentCos I look aroundI can't believe the love I seeMy fears behind me Gone are the shadows and doubtsThat was then, this is my nowI have the courage like never beforeI've settled for less, now I am ready for moreReady for moreThis is my now.All things are possible.
Out of synch & Clouds
Lately I've been out of sync, my body is often tired and thoughts bounced randomly.
I need to seek Him more. Sometimes you hear His voice, sometimes you don't. But the key is to seek Him anyway. Perseverance are only borned out of persevering , never given freely.
I think in our postmodern culture, we are too driven by feelings.
I don't feel it, I don't feel like it, I am not feeling it (Sounds like Randy on American Idol!) etc. The finicky part of feelings is, they come and go , as strong and as soon. What I'm trying to say is: feelings help to spur you but never sustain you and great things are achieved not by feelings, only by perseverance. In everything, from giving my best shot at work, to intentionally nurturing the relationships around me, to giving my utmost for His highest, to ticking off the to-do list...this illusion of 'feelings' need to be uncovered for what it really is : sloth and plain apathy or worse, disobedience.
Sample image only
Oh and clouds....today I did some persevering at my balcony, reaching for Him inspite 'not feeling' it and strangely when I peeked out , I saw a strange formation of clouds...an image of a huge figure sitting in what appears to be a throne. No kidding.
Out of sync eyes? Or plain awesome?
Found it!
Finally....couldn't get this song on mp3 but spotted it in Youtube.
to quote McDo:
I'm lovin' it!
Listen to this
Leadership 101
Something to share what I've read:
If I can't lead myself, others won't follow me.If I can't lead myself, others won't respect me.If I can't lead myself, others won't partner with me. -John Maxwell- Christian motivator, writer
How true..I've been reading his latest book on leadership : The 360 degrees Leader.
It's about developing influence and leadership to people around you, top to bottom and across.
Really good stuff, whether in work on in ministry.
Here are 7 ways to lead yourself:
1. Manage your emotions - good leaders know when to display emotion and when to delay them
2. Manage your time- until you value yourself, you won't value your time, until you value your time, you will not do anything with it
3. Manage your priorities- 'stop doing' list is equally important as 'to do' lists
4. Manage your energy-major on teh major, minor on the minor
5. Manage your thinking- the greatest enemy of good thinking is busyness, 1 minute of thinking is better than an hour of talk or unplanned work
6. Manage your words- say things that are edifying, useful and adding value to others
7. Manage your personal life- success is having those closest to us love and respect us the most
Soul voice
Nothing brings me back faster to the Father than music. Not just any music, but a simple cry from the depths of the soul.
I was at a wedding a week ago. Simple ceremony, like any given Saturday. After the vows, there was a song dedication:
Here and now, here in this moment Here and now I turn to You All that my searching heart has longed for can be found 'Cause You're in this moment, here and nowWhat majesty, what mystery, the God of all eternityStepped into time and gave His life for me Your hand is seen in galaxies, yet Your Spirit dwells in me So vast and yet You're still within our reachSomething stirred inside me, the words flowed to my spirit. So simple, worship became anew again and I felt like amidst-the love surrounding the couple, the tender smiles, the happy tears - God was there affirming once more through marriage , His love for us.
We love because He first loved us.
The eternal desire to commune with us even as he brings a man and a woman together in holy matrimony.
It was an open invitation to me to fill this soul-hunger which is as deep as His love can fill.
The first 3 months of 2007 went off a giddy start. It was heady with expectations and nervous excitement.I've been circling on this part of my journey, feeling ready yet not launched into it.
I 've been looking too often at 'What's the next step, where now and what?' but this unsettledness and anxiety on the future has marred the present. Yes , I need to plan, need to do this and that.
But where's the clarity?
Here and now. I need to turn Him.
Easter is only 2 Sundays away... even now, embrace this moment when deep calls to deep-more than the questions, the noise, the pressing future- embrace Him. Let God answer your heartcry.
As long as your heart is open He is always present-here and now.
Need to update this dying blog
miss miRacle is still alive =) All is well, when virtual life takes a back seat it means :
1. Prefering to read rather than write
2. Forgotten my blog password (it's true!)
3. Was in the pursuit of real life and 2007 resolutions
But my muse is back and I need to juice out the words before they take a detour.
And since this is a rebirth of a blog, somebody special was born 27 years ago today...Happy birthday, mister miRacle =). This will be the last long distance birthday. We'll have a lifetime of celebration soon.
Mount K pics!
1) Before the hike ...contemplative on the hike: Do I have what it takes? (aka 'Die..lah! What have I gotten myself into!??!!)
2) The mountain sheep before the slaughter!
4) Pondok mempening- this one of the many pit stops along the way up. The pondok name indicated the beginning of the journey where most ppl begin to 'pening' due to altitude sickness. But thank God, I didn't get it.
5) 
That's me hiking in the dark for the second stretch!
I guess, the expressions says it all...don't underestimate Mount K!
6) The happy four! We are not ashamed to be band of slow climbers. :P
Check out the tiny people in comparison with the rocky terrain on the top.
7) Mount K from the base...we were up there!
