Be Strong in the Lord
Be strong in the Lord,and be of good courage;
Your mighty Defender is always the same.
Mount up with wings, as the eagle ascending;
Vict’ry is sure when you call on His name.
Be strong, be strong, be strong in the Lord;
And be of good courage, for He is your guide.
Be strong, be strong, be strong in the Lord;
And rejoice for the vict’ry is yours.
So put on the armour the Lord has provided;
And place your defense in His unfailing care.
Trust Him, for He will be with you in battle,
Lighting your path to avoid every snare.
Be strong in the Lord, and be of good courage;
Your mighty commander will vanquish the foe.
Fear not the battle, for the victory is always His;
He will protect you whereever you go.
Of course…
… it will be painful.
but I still persevere and have faith in Him.
help of the helpless O abide with me
What’s Inside
I was told to shoulder whatever circumstances I am in.
I was told to endure discomfort for my spiritual growth.
I was told to be thankful in in pain.
I was told that nothing I face is new, everyone else goes through it as well.
I was told that I shouldn’t self-pity, shouldn’t complain.
I was told to be affirmative, not positive.
I was told to be joyful, even in the midst of sadness.
I know I was told all that, but what if right now I just can’t do any of them.
What if I need someone to talk to.
What if I still need comfort from friends.
What if I don’t really have any friends?
What if I can’t go on like this, is anyone going to listen?
What if I just can’t be thankful to Him?
What if I need more perseverance from Him?
What if the evil kept making my effort of doing the right thing in vain?
What if I really need support?
What if there’s no one I can actually talk to?
What if I’m not suppose to talk to anyone in the first place?
What if I give up?
I don’t want to give up.
I’ll just shoulder whatever it takes.
With all my might.
and just have faith that…
He hath provided, provides and will provide for me.
Faith, more faith
Perseverance, more perseverance
Can I Complain?
I know I shouldn’t.
But.. being alone just makes you wanna complain.
Capeeeeee….
Why do I have so little perseverance power.
I want to have a fun weekend too.
I want to have friends too.
I’m so tired.
Jesus Christ is Risen Today
Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!
our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
who did once upon the cross, Alleluia!
suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!
Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia!
unto Christ, our heavenly King, Alleluia!
who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!
sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia!
But the pains which he endured, Alleluia!
our salvation have procured, Alleluia!
now above the sky he’s King, Alleluia!
where the angels ever sing. Alleluia!
A Smelly Distraction
Taken from Day by Day with John Calvin, January 23rd
“Lord, he already stinketh.” – John 11:39
There being nothing more inconsistent with life than putrefaction and offensive smell, Martha infers that no remedy can be found. Thus, when our minds are preoccupied by foolish thoughts we banish God from us, if we may be allowed the expression, so that he cannot accomplish in us his own work. Certainly, it was not owing to Martha that her brother did not lie continually in the tomb, for she cuts off the expectation of life for him and, at the same time, endeavors to hinder Christ from raising him; and yet nothing was farther from her intention. This arises from the weakness of faith. Distracted in various ways, we fight with ourselves, and while we stretch out the one hand to ask assistance from God, we repel, with the other hand, that very assistance, as soon as it is offered. True, Martha did not speak falsely, when she said, “I know that whatsoever thou shalt ask from God he will give thee”; but a confused faith is of little advantage, unless it be put in operation, when we come to a practical case.
We may also perceive in Martha how various are the effects of faith, even in the most excellent persons. She was the first that came to meet Christ – this was no ordinary proof of her piety – and yet she does not cease to throw difficulties in his way. That the grace of God may have access to us, let us learn to ascribe to it far greater power than our senses can comprehend’ and, if the first and single promise of God has not sufficient weight with us, let us, at least, follow the example of Martha by giving our acquiescence when he confirms us a second and third time.
The sentence that caught my eye, especially, is “.. while we stretch out the one hand to ask assistance from God, we repel, with the other hand, that very assistance, as soon as it is offered“. Rethinking how I’ve asked help from God, and how little help I thought that I have received from Him, I started to believe that this is exactly the case. I wanted Him to help me, yet my weakness in faith always gave rise to my minds being preoccupied with foolish thoughts, which in other word repelling myself from Him.
My eyes are also opened in reading this sentence “She was the first that came to meet Christ – this was no ordinary proof of her piety – and yet she does not cease to throw difficulties in his way”. I saw myself as someone who was extremely concerned about my piety until I felt that God has repaid me in my piety, then I started living as I like. It was probably my so-called piety that hindered God’s grace from its access to me, or my little faith that didn’t believe in His grace, but only in my own works for Him.
Now that I think about it, how foolish it would be if Lazarus couldn’t be resurrected from his death, just because Martha thought it was too smelly to remove the rock of the tomb. But, if I were Martha, wouldn’t I say the same thing as well?
O God, give me the sensitivity to know when you have confirmed those that I don’t believe for the second or third time, and to give in to you without further questioning.
