what you are is God's gift to you...
... and what you do with what you are is your gift to God.
^_^
-George Foster
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Thursday, January 11, 2007
It Isn't Easy Being the Invisible Man, but It's Worth It
[an excerpt from BPGiFwMY, chapter 13]
What if you did something heroic, something of epic proportions… saved a city from an impending meteorite, rescued a princess from an evil giant, or put your life on the line for someone you’d never met? How would you feel if no one offered a simple word of thanks? Or suppose someone else got all of the credit for your noble deeds? Would not being recognized for the sacrifices you’d made, or the risks you’d taken, leave you bitter? The next time you saw someone in need of help, would you consider turning the other way?
You and I may never be presented with the opportunity to make a “front page news” kind of sacrifice. But every single day filled with opportunities to take the job of a servant. The problem is that SERVANTHOOD HAS SUCH AN UNAPPEALING JOB DESCRIPTION: PUTTING SOMEONE ELSE’S NEEDS BEFORE YOUR OWN, doing exhausting jobs at inconvenient times for nothing in return, all while risking criticism from those who feel your time would be better spent doing something more important.
The phrase “no guts, no glory” does not hold true for a servant. “Guts, but no glory” would be far more accurate. It’s easy to work hard when you know you’ll receive recognition…
… If you’re seeking recognition, servanthood is not a great place to find it. In fact, BEING A SERVANT MAY REQUIRE YOUR BEING INVISIBLE ALL TOGETHER. It may mean visiting someone in the hospital who will never remember you came, picking up someone else’s trash, volunteering to serve meals to people who cannot bring themselves to look you in the eye, or donating money to help a family that will never know your name.
The want-ads crying out for the help of anyone with a servant’s heart are posted everywhere... You can spot them on the front pages of the newspaper or in the prayer requests shared at a church potluck. But these cries for help often go unnoticed by those who are busily trying to make sure that their own needs are not only met, but exceeded. WE CANNOT BE SERVANTS IF OUR EYES ARE NOT OPEN TO RECOGNIZE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SERVICE ALL AROUND US.
… Once you begin to see the needs around you, it’s more likely that you’ll be overwhelmed, not underworked. Just remember that it is not our responsibility to meet the needs of the entire world. Our only responsibility is to meet the needs that God has specifically set aside for us as individuals.
Take into account your natural talents and abilities, your material resources, and the needs that most deeply touch your heart. You don’t have to travel across the world to be a true servant. It may take more humility to deal with the needs you see in your own neighborhood.
No need is too small or insignificant for a servant… We just can’t forget to check our invisibility quotient now and then. If serving others gives our pride a buzz because it makes us feel like the oh-so-generous benefactor, we may need to step back for a while. A true servant is motivated by love, not the need to feel needed.
True servants also know how to accept help when they find themselves in need of it… we are all better servants when we remember what it feels like to be served.
Why not take a moment and ask God to open your eyes to a need you can meet for someone else today? Your prayer just may be the answer to someone else’s cry for help.
What if you did something heroic, something of epic proportions… saved a city from an impending meteorite, rescued a princess from an evil giant, or put your life on the line for someone you’d never met? How would you feel if no one offered a simple word of thanks? Or suppose someone else got all of the credit for your noble deeds? Would not being recognized for the sacrifices you’d made, or the risks you’d taken, leave you bitter? The next time you saw someone in need of help, would you consider turning the other way?
You and I may never be presented with the opportunity to make a “front page news” kind of sacrifice. But every single day filled with opportunities to take the job of a servant. The problem is that SERVANTHOOD HAS SUCH AN UNAPPEALING JOB DESCRIPTION: PUTTING SOMEONE ELSE’S NEEDS BEFORE YOUR OWN, doing exhausting jobs at inconvenient times for nothing in return, all while risking criticism from those who feel your time would be better spent doing something more important.
The phrase “no guts, no glory” does not hold true for a servant. “Guts, but no glory” would be far more accurate. It’s easy to work hard when you know you’ll receive recognition…
… If you’re seeking recognition, servanthood is not a great place to find it. In fact, BEING A SERVANT MAY REQUIRE YOUR BEING INVISIBLE ALL TOGETHER. It may mean visiting someone in the hospital who will never remember you came, picking up someone else’s trash, volunteering to serve meals to people who cannot bring themselves to look you in the eye, or donating money to help a family that will never know your name.
The want-ads crying out for the help of anyone with a servant’s heart are posted everywhere... You can spot them on the front pages of the newspaper or in the prayer requests shared at a church potluck. But these cries for help often go unnoticed by those who are busily trying to make sure that their own needs are not only met, but exceeded. WE CANNOT BE SERVANTS IF OUR EYES ARE NOT OPEN TO RECOGNIZE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SERVICE ALL AROUND US.
… Once you begin to see the needs around you, it’s more likely that you’ll be overwhelmed, not underworked. Just remember that it is not our responsibility to meet the needs of the entire world. Our only responsibility is to meet the needs that God has specifically set aside for us as individuals.
Take into account your natural talents and abilities, your material resources, and the needs that most deeply touch your heart. You don’t have to travel across the world to be a true servant. It may take more humility to deal with the needs you see in your own neighborhood.
No need is too small or insignificant for a servant… We just can’t forget to check our invisibility quotient now and then. If serving others gives our pride a buzz because it makes us feel like the oh-so-generous benefactor, we may need to step back for a while. A true servant is motivated by love, not the need to feel needed.
True servants also know how to accept help when they find themselves in need of it… we are all better servants when we remember what it feels like to be served.
Why not take a moment and ask God to open your eyes to a need you can meet for someone else today? Your prayer just may be the answer to someone else’s cry for help.
You Were There
I wonder how it must have felt
When David stood to face Goliath on a hill
I imagine that he shook with all his might
Until You took his hand, and held on tight
'Cause You were there, You were there
In the midst of danger's snare
You were there, You were there always
You were there when the hardest fight
Seemed so out of reach
Oh, You were there, You were always there
You were always there
So there he stood upon that hill
Abraham with knife in hand was poised to kill
But God in all His Sovereignty had bigger plans
And just in time, You brought a lamb
'Cause You were there, You were there
In the midst of the unclear
You were there, You were there always
You were there when obedience
Seemed to not make sense
You were there, You were always there
You were always there
So haven't I learned that my ways
Aren't as high as Yours are
And You alone keep the universe
From crumbling into dust
You are God and though we would
Not have understood You
There You were
Hanging blameless on a cross
You would rather die than leave us in the dark
Every moment, every planned coincidence
Just all makes sense
With Your last breath
You were there, You were there
During history's darkest hour
You were there, You were there always
You were the Victor and the King
You were the power in David's swing
You were the calm in Abraham
You are the God who understands
You are the strength when we have none
You are the living, Holy one
You were, You are and You will always be
the Risen Lamb of God
You were, You are and You will always be
The Risen Lamb of God
When David stood to face Goliath on a hill
I imagine that he shook with all his might
Until You took his hand, and held on tight
'Cause You were there, You were there
In the midst of danger's snare
You were there, You were there always
You were there when the hardest fight
Seemed so out of reach
Oh, You were there, You were always there
You were always there
So there he stood upon that hill
Abraham with knife in hand was poised to kill
But God in all His Sovereignty had bigger plans
And just in time, You brought a lamb
'Cause You were there, You were there
In the midst of the unclear
You were there, You were there always
You were there when obedience
Seemed to not make sense
You were there, You were always there
You were always there
So haven't I learned that my ways
Aren't as high as Yours are
And You alone keep the universe
From crumbling into dust
You are God and though we would
Not have understood You
There You were
Hanging blameless on a cross
You would rather die than leave us in the dark
Every moment, every planned coincidence
Just all makes sense
With Your last breath
You were there, You were there
During history's darkest hour
You were there, You were there always
You were the Victor and the King
You were the power in David's swing
You were the calm in Abraham
You are the God who understands
You are the strength when we have none
You are the living, Holy one
You were, You are and You will always be
the Risen Lamb of God
You were, You are and You will always be
The Risen Lamb of God
Friday, December 15, 2006
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
hmmm...
i thank God coz i know He's beginning to move in the Philippines... things here seem to be the other way around...
right now, we are under the state of emergency...
but i have faith in God! i believe that this is the best time to pray, pray, pray, and watch God's hand move mightily!
just this afternoon, one of my professors told us that we do not really know what could happen next... here in UP, there are still rallies... and i do not have any idea on where it could lead to... she [my prof] just told us that, with the country under the state of emergency, anyone - as in ANYONE - could be arrested without any warrant of arrest... [kaya pala ang daming gates kanina ang sarado kasi daw may meeting daw and UP council kanina... they are just cautious na baka may biglaang sumugod at arestuhin ang sinuman... basta! something like that...]
so far, i really have no idea on what i could do here except for praying unceasingly and trusting that God is in control.
"Lord, show us Your power... only You can make a change in our country... sana po, Lord, yung Filipinos abroad magkaburden pa rin to pray for their native land. i know that You love the philippines so much and you will not destroy this nation bless us instead."
God bless the philippines! Jesus loves the philippines! as a matter of fact, He chose to die for all the wickedness [selfishness, injustices, immorality, etc.] that is going on right now... He is ready to forgive anyone right at this moment... if only we would ask for it...
He is ready to bless this nation! if only we would humble ourselves and pray and turn from our wicked ways... 2 Chronicles 7:14
right now, we are under the state of emergency...
but i have faith in God! i believe that this is the best time to pray, pray, pray, and watch God's hand move mightily!
just this afternoon, one of my professors told us that we do not really know what could happen next... here in UP, there are still rallies... and i do not have any idea on where it could lead to... she [my prof] just told us that, with the country under the state of emergency, anyone - as in ANYONE - could be arrested without any warrant of arrest... [kaya pala ang daming gates kanina ang sarado kasi daw may meeting daw and UP council kanina... they are just cautious na baka may biglaang sumugod at arestuhin ang sinuman... basta! something like that...]
so far, i really have no idea on what i could do here except for praying unceasingly and trusting that God is in control.
"Lord, show us Your power... only You can make a change in our country... sana po, Lord, yung Filipinos abroad magkaburden pa rin to pray for their native land. i know that You love the philippines so much and you will not destroy this nation bless us instead."
God bless the philippines! Jesus loves the philippines! as a matter of fact, He chose to die for all the wickedness [selfishness, injustices, immorality, etc.] that is going on right now... He is ready to forgive anyone right at this moment... if only we would ask for it...
He is ready to bless this nation! if only we would humble ourselves and pray and turn from our wicked ways... 2 Chronicles 7:14
Friday, December 02, 2005
Thursday, September 15, 2005
Friday, September 09, 2005
No Greater Love
Don Harris & Martin J. Nystrom (c) 1994 Integrity's Hosanna! Music/ASCAP
You loved me
When I was so unlovely
You sought me
When I was lost
You showed me
How much You really loved me
When You bought me
At the highest cost
There's no greater love
Than this
There's no greater love
Than this
That a Man
Would give His life
For a friend
There's no greater sacrifice
Than a Man
Would give His life
You have paid
A precious price for me
You chose me
When I was so unworthy
You cleansed me
With Your own blood
You clothed me
With righteousness and mercy
And You crowned me
With Your steadfast love
(Repeat chorus 2 times)
You have paid
A precious price for me
You loved me
When I was so unlovely
You sought me
When I was lost
You showed me
How much You really loved me
When You bought me
At the highest cost
There's no greater love
Than this
There's no greater love
Than this
That a Man
Would give His life
For a friend
There's no greater sacrifice
Than a Man
Would give His life
You have paid
A precious price for me
You chose me
When I was so unworthy
You cleansed me
With Your own blood
You clothed me
With righteousness and mercy
And You crowned me
With Your steadfast love
(Repeat chorus 2 times)
You have paid
A precious price for me
Friday, August 12, 2005
Throne of Praise
Jesus, we lift You on our praises
So every eye can see Your face
Your pow'r and grace
Behold You as You really are
Brighter than all the stars of Heaven
Our worship is for You alone
We build You this
Throne of praise
As long as I have breath
I'll find a way to say
That I love You
Everything may change
And the world may pass away
I'd still love You
With every song we sing
With every pray'r we bring
We'll build You a throne
Made from the sound of praise
Jesus, we lift You on our praises
So every eye can see Your face
Your pow'r and grace
Behold You as You really are
Brighter than all the stars of Heaven
Our worship is for You alone
We build You this
Throne of praise
You alone deserve
The praises of the earth
And we worship You
A sacrifice, You died
Now great and glorified
And we worship You
With every song we sing
With every pray'r we bring
We'll build You a throne
Made from the sound of praise
Jesus, we lift You on our praises
So every eye can see Your face
Your pow'r and grace
Behold You as You really are
Brighter than all the stars of Heaven
Our worship is for You alone
We build You this
Throne of praise
So every eye can see Your face
Your pow'r and grace
Behold You as You really are
Brighter than all the stars of Heaven
Our worship is for You alone
We build You this
Throne of praise
As long as I have breath
I'll find a way to say
That I love You
Everything may change
And the world may pass away
I'd still love You
With every song we sing
With every pray'r we bring
We'll build You a throne
Made from the sound of praise
Jesus, we lift You on our praises
So every eye can see Your face
Your pow'r and grace
Behold You as You really are
Brighter than all the stars of Heaven
Our worship is for You alone
We build You this
Throne of praise
You alone deserve
The praises of the earth
And we worship You
A sacrifice, You died
Now great and glorified
And we worship You
With every song we sing
With every pray'r we bring
We'll build You a throne
Made from the sound of praise
Jesus, we lift You on our praises
So every eye can see Your face
Your pow'r and grace
Behold You as You really are
Brighter than all the stars of Heaven
Our worship is for You alone
We build You this
Throne of praise
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