Kwetolora

Man! Why can't I just grow vertically??!!

Source: http://www.cartoonstock.com/cartoonview.asp?catref=dre0495

 I just read this blog post from over a year ago. Eh! Was it that long ago? Eh! It is really possible to kwetolora with zero progress?

Anyway... here I am again.

In this place that I know so well.

The place where I make resolutions to exercise. Only to return days later with nothing to show for my big well thought out and even discussed plans.

I come here so often that I am even fearful of planning to exercise out loud. I feel like this place will just smile and wait for me to come back empty handed.

Many of my friends have succeeded in it and I have listened to their tales of how exercise has become a part of their lives and they are even enjoying the benefits of feeling fresh, energized and of course ...looking hawt.

Well... I am gonna give it another go. And yes, because I am still such a extrovert, I am saying it out loud! I start tomorrow (Nanti it's already night time so I can't start today).

Why am I doing this?

• Because I need to be more resilient (you know? Like those people who don't just start and stop and start and stop and start and stop without following through!)
• Because my BMI is not healthy and I am not growing any taller... Oh also I even haven't had kids yet!
• Because if I do not do something about this now, it will only get worse not better and I will have to come back to this place. Maybe now is a better time than later.
• Because I feel like God wants me to. And that if I do not obey, I will not grow but will keep coming back to this place (Wait! I said that already!!!)

"Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them..." John 13:17

I confess... I wrote this post like 3 weeks ago and wasn't ready to put it up... I praise God that it I have made progress since then and actually have a routine :-) Miracles I tell you! Miracles! Onwards and Upwards :-)

Waiting...

This scripture is saved on my desktop at the moment and has been for a few weeks now because mannn... God's ways are so different from mine so I am trying to keep this in mind as much as I can.

On the day that the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the testimony. And at evening it was over the tabernacle like the appearance of fire until morning. 

So it was always: the cloud covered it by day[a] and the appearance of fire by night. 

And whenever the cloud lifted from over the tent, after that the people of Israel set out, and in the place where the cloud settled down, there the people of Israel camped. 

At the command of the Lord the people of Israel set out, and at the command of the Lord they camped. As long as the cloud rested over the tabernacle, they remained in camp.

Even when the cloud continued over the tabernacle many days, the people of Israel kept the charge of the Lord and did not set out. 

Sometimes the cloud was a few days over the tabernacle, and according to the command of the Lord they remained in camp; then according to the command of the Lord they set out. 

And sometimes the cloud remained from evening until morning. And when the cloud lifted in the morning, they set out, or if it continued for a day and a night, when the cloud lifted they set out. Whether it was two days, or a month, or a longer time, that the cloud continued over the tabernacle, abiding there, the people of Israel remained in camp and did not set out, but when it lifted they set out. 

At the command of the Lord they camped, and at the command of the Lord they set out. They kept the charge of the Lord, at the command of the Lord by Moses. Num 9:15-23

You know how the Bible says that God does not change? Well... He doesn't :-) I have seen some interesting similarities in the way that He led the Israelites and how He seems to be choosing to lead me. Right now, I kinda feel like the cloud has settled. And It has not been for two days or a month. And I have a feeling it is going to be longer.

source: http://porthminsterview.wordpress.com/2010/08/11/the-waiting-game/

God is clearly not fussy just about destinations but also the journey there. He could have let the Israelites take the shorter path but it took them 40 years and many of them did not even live to see it. It wasn't just about Canaan... it was about them too. God wanted them to really be His people and He used the journey to reveal Himself to them as He sought to teach them His way.

The destination I have in mind is still a bit far way so sometimes it's hard to wait for the cloud to move. Help me Lord to be patient for Your timing and Your way. That in this place and on this journey with You I will learn what it is that You are seeking to teach me and I will see and hear You. Help me to continue to wait until You say go.

A different path

Image source:http://www.inspiredleap.com/blog/2012/07/11/are-you-in-need-of-a-different-path/

So often I forget how as a person of the Way, God is calling me to a different path. A different standard. One that will not be understood by the world or myself(at times) but His path. It's pretty amazing how many times this is emphasized in the Bible. I wish I could quote all the verses in context for you! (if you have a spare moment do read around them) In many instances the prior verses describe how things are done in the world... and then it continues to state how it is sooo different for us...

"But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness." 1 Tim 6:11

"And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” " Luke 9:60

"....evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it" 2 Tim 3:14

"For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist,fulfill your ministry." 2 Tim 4:5

"As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good." 2 Thes 3:13

Yup! As for me...  the path is different. It's a path of holiness.. a straight and narrow... Its not easy but His grace is sufficient. I have to believe that it is!

In many ways even though as Christians, there are similarities in the path, there are many ways in which yours is different form mine. O how often I forget this! I catch myself comparing myself to other people (Can you imagine? After all these years!)  God knows that I do not understand the current path that my life taking. Sometimes I get overwhelmed asking God for clarity... I want to see the whole path ahead! I do! Many times I want that path to be straight and somewhat predictable. You know... Like how when primary school is done, the next inevitable step is secondary school (I think!). But I am learning to trust Him to lead me a day a time as I learn to fix my eyes on Him. If you look for me and can't find me... Talk to me and don't fully understand me.. Don't worry, take a deep breath... I will be walking on my path.

Image source: http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/z/decision-road-illustration-person-taking-different-path-compared-to-everyone-else-standing-out-crowd-casting-35337797.jpg

When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” John 21:21

May God give us each the grace to follow His lead daily.

O wandering gaze!

O wandering gaze
Fix your eyes on Jesus

O doubting, questioning heart
Fix your eyes on Jesus

It is He that calls you
He who set you apart
He who knows you better than you know thine self
Your intricacies, beauties and ugliness
He knows and loves you

No matter what you do
They wont fully get it
They wont fathom your path
   or you...
For you see,
They only see in part.

I implore you
I beseech you
I beg you O my soul
Fix your eyes
Not on them
Or on the perishable
   here today, gone tomorrow
Fix your eyes on Jesus

image source:http://www.ccesonline.com/dev/fixyoureyesonjesus.htm

"In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." John 1:4-5