I started singing a song that mama used to sing to me when I was little:
Los niños son de Cristo Children are from the Lord
Él es su Salvador He is their Savior
Son joyas muy preciosas They are precious jewels
Comprolas con Su amor Bought with His love
Joyas, joyas, joyas Jewels, jewels, jewels
Joyas del Salvador Jewels of the Savior
Que estan en esta tierra That are on this earth
Cual luz y dulce amor Such lights and sweet love
Los niños son tesoros Children are treasures
Pues que del cielo son For they are from heaven
Luz refulgentes Brilliant lights
En horas de aflicción During times of sorrow
Joyas, joyas, joyas Jewels, jewels, jewels
Joyas del Salvador Jewels of the Savior
Que estan en esta tierra That are on this earth
Cual luz y dulce amor Such lights and sweet love
And a snapshot of the kiddos that I take care of at work just came into my head. I opened my eyes and the tears just started to well up as I stopped singing...
Many of the kids at work say things that to me at my age are unmentionable. It leaves me in awe and I can't help but wonder where they get those words and habits from. Some kids bluntly mention how mom and dad let them do this or that. Mom and dad let them use this word, so why can't the Center let them use it during the day?
My tears swelled of sadness. Just thinking of how completely corrupted this world is. We are all born sinners, yes, even I. Yet, the Lord has offered salvation and some that know of it, in this specific case some parents, don't take hold of it. Their lifestyle then is reflected in the speech and behaviors of the little ones who have been "taught" that it's ok to speak in such inappropriate ways. At the Center we stop the kids from speaking with bad language right when we hear it and chat with them face-to-face to encourage not using that type of language, to not sing that song because it's completely inappropriate, to treat others nicely and with respect... yet when the day's over they go back home to the same mundane life of mom and dad's "exemplary" lifestyle and they come back the next day with a new inappropriate word, another inappropriate song that mom sings. As counselors (so called at work) we inform the parents of the child's wrong language usage and that's all we can do... the parent can either correct or apathetically let it slide...
I ponder on how parents have such a gift of raising a child up and how much more of a privilege, an eternal treasure, it is to raise the child up in the Lord's ways. How blessed that mother and father are in the Lord's eyes! Each child looks up to mom and dad and imitates every single thing that they do! Parents living a life portraying Christ is a segway for the child to come to know of Christ as He is made known by prayer and His word. It is then when the child grows up that he or she makes the decision to follow the Lord, to declare Him as Savior. But how much is the child affected and influenced by the parents! This makes me realize what a crucial role in life a parent, or any leader for that matter, has... raising up, directing future generations. CRUCIAL
And I feel so impotent as each child I come into contact with at work has a much more powerful driving force than I at their home: their parents. And my intention is not to OVERPOWER each kid's life to take over their parent's spot; but I ask myself, "What can I do?"
I think of the Lord's patience (such a patience!... even with me... praise the Lord) in watching parents raise their child in such vile ways that seem completely normal today. Such ways that are even indirectly encouraged by the parents because they are amused when the little one pops the F bomb at the dinner table. Chuckles are exchanged and the kiddos are told not to say that... but chuckles were exchanged. The child heard the chuckles and the child him/herself is amused because he/she amused the parents! "So why not try it again...?"
I am not a parent myself so some would call me "unqualified" to say what I've said. However, knowing the God I serve and coming to know Him even more as I walk in this life, He does reveal how he wants us to live and how not to live... it's all IN HIS WORD. How to live by His word and live worshipfully for the Lord, for Him. I am seeing, as I work where I work, how not to live. So how do I live then? By His word. Whether it is being a parent, being a sister, being a friend, being a daughter... He's revealed to us how to live. So I cling to His word that lights my way and to the hope that everyone, even at the ends of the earth, will come to hear His name and His word before He comes. And I pray that He might use me for that task. I want to be an instrument for His work and His glory.
"For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome." 1 John 5:3 (emphasis added)
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Friday, November 26, 2010
Motives
It's come to mind, "What if I didn't have a voice?" Literally.
"Could I still worship the Lord?"
(YES)
Such questions are a constant reminder of how much greater and grander it is to worship as a way of living; a lifestyle. Not just merely with the melodious resonating of your vocal chords or the exclamation "Praise Jesus!"
It's WAY more than that. In fact, the latter is insignificant, worthless if you're not living such a life as to please the Lord; such a life that screams "I worship You Lord!"
Actions DO speak louder than words.
I always tell the Lord, "Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and mind;" (Psalm 26:2)
My motives... even for being given the opportunity to lead worship: I WANT the Lord to test me!
I think, "What if I didn't have a voice..." and something in me saddens... and it's because of my love for singing. How I love to SING! To get the notes right and to improve on my harmonies! I get so excited about it!! Yet it would be wrong for me to love that more than I love my God... to love ANYTHING or ANYONE more than God.
I want it to be for my God! A tribute! To use my voice to unleash and release praises and melodies for HIM! Singing hymns and raising my voice for the One who saves. Yes, I often meditate and check myself on if I am becoming proud of my voice... in fact I don't like saying it's "my voice". It's His. But as soon as I am reminded of such pride I rebuke it! "Humble me. Humble me." I repeat it. I've thought and said, "Lord, if You must or if in any way I'm not using my voice in the manner You want me to please just take it away." Even if it's a glimpse of, "I own my voice," I want Him to deplete it.
In fact, I've thought of how my life would be if I weren't able to sing... now don't get me wrong: I thank Jesus Christ for this gift He's given me... but let's suppose. I like supposing such things to check myself and to see where I stand:
If I weren't able to sing, yet still had life, I could still worship Him. So that rules out that singing is worship. Singing is a way, a manner to worship the Lord in songs. But it is not WORSHIP. To say that singing is worship is to diminish the Lord's word and what He said about worship and that's a big NO-NO. Worship is bigger, much greater than that. Let's go one step further. If I couldn't move a muscle in my body, could I still worship the Lord? Yes, I could STILL worship the Lord.
Notice Psalm 150: 6, "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord." One requirement to praise the Lord: breath.
Worship begins on the inside and proceeds to permeate your way of life.
"'But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.'" John 4:23-24
Thinking of such possibilities or scenarios as I've mentioned above makes me even more grateful at the fact that I can use my voice for HIS glory, that I can raise my hands as a gesture of surrender to HIM, that I can clap my hands and jump and leap and yell because my whole being erupts with joy at HIS greatness and majesty and such grace and mercy HE'S had upon all... upon me. All for HIS GLORY.
So this singing facet of my life is one of many facets that I constantly examine and that we must all do. And I pray to the Lord that all the other facets and crevices of my life, my heart, be examined by His all-seeing eye! I don't even trust my own heart, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" therefore I run to the One who sees right into me and can correct my crookedness; where in His sight there is nothing that can be hidden. For He says, "'I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.'"
He knows me better than I know myself.
Praise the Lord for that.
"Could I still worship the Lord?"
(YES)
Such questions are a constant reminder of how much greater and grander it is to worship as a way of living; a lifestyle. Not just merely with the melodious resonating of your vocal chords or the exclamation "Praise Jesus!"
It's WAY more than that. In fact, the latter is insignificant, worthless if you're not living such a life as to please the Lord; such a life that screams "I worship You Lord!"
Actions DO speak louder than words.
I always tell the Lord, "Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and mind;" (Psalm 26:2)
My motives... even for being given the opportunity to lead worship: I WANT the Lord to test me!
I think, "What if I didn't have a voice..." and something in me saddens... and it's because of my love for singing. How I love to SING! To get the notes right and to improve on my harmonies! I get so excited about it!! Yet it would be wrong for me to love that more than I love my God... to love ANYTHING or ANYONE more than God.
I want it to be for my God! A tribute! To use my voice to unleash and release praises and melodies for HIM! Singing hymns and raising my voice for the One who saves. Yes, I often meditate and check myself on if I am becoming proud of my voice... in fact I don't like saying it's "my voice". It's His. But as soon as I am reminded of such pride I rebuke it! "Humble me. Humble me." I repeat it. I've thought and said, "Lord, if You must or if in any way I'm not using my voice in the manner You want me to please just take it away." Even if it's a glimpse of, "I own my voice," I want Him to deplete it.
In fact, I've thought of how my life would be if I weren't able to sing... now don't get me wrong: I thank Jesus Christ for this gift He's given me... but let's suppose. I like supposing such things to check myself and to see where I stand:
If I weren't able to sing, yet still had life, I could still worship Him. So that rules out that singing is worship. Singing is a way, a manner to worship the Lord in songs. But it is not WORSHIP. To say that singing is worship is to diminish the Lord's word and what He said about worship and that's a big NO-NO. Worship is bigger, much greater than that. Let's go one step further. If I couldn't move a muscle in my body, could I still worship the Lord? Yes, I could STILL worship the Lord.
Notice Psalm 150: 6, "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord." One requirement to praise the Lord: breath.
Worship begins on the inside and proceeds to permeate your way of life.
"'But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.'" John 4:23-24
Thinking of such possibilities or scenarios as I've mentioned above makes me even more grateful at the fact that I can use my voice for HIS glory, that I can raise my hands as a gesture of surrender to HIM, that I can clap my hands and jump and leap and yell because my whole being erupts with joy at HIS greatness and majesty and such grace and mercy HE'S had upon all... upon me. All for HIS GLORY.
So this singing facet of my life is one of many facets that I constantly examine and that we must all do. And I pray to the Lord that all the other facets and crevices of my life, my heart, be examined by His all-seeing eye! I don't even trust my own heart, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" therefore I run to the One who sees right into me and can correct my crookedness; where in His sight there is nothing that can be hidden. For He says, "'I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.'"
He knows me better than I know myself.
Praise the Lord for that.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Planned or Unplanned?
What a day! :D
Unexpected blessings came to greet me today!! But I shall tell of one :)
So at work I'm the counselor (what they call us) of PlayStation: an open, indoor space of foosball, air hockey, pop-a-shot, pool, ping pong, board games, puzzles, Wii, K'nex, blocks, Twister, etc. Today I just found out I'm going to be a homeroom teacher!!! IN LIFE ROCKS!!! It might not sound so delightful to you but oh how I longed for that room!!! Life Rocks was the room that I went in when I was hired: fuse beads, knitting, framed collages, friendship bracelets, necklaces, sewing....Love at first sight!
Then later, because of my lack of knowledge of the rooms' names I mistakenly claimed that I was in "Exploration" the science and math room, but what I meant to say was "Life Rocks," the awesomest room ever. Nice. So Life Rocks floated away and I was never assigned to that room again.
I was assigned to Pre-teens for the summer which was a great learning experience. Then, when the school-year began I was assigned to PlayStation: the area evaded by ALL the counselors due to the extreme noise and the hard-to-monitor area of endless competition between the kiddos. What a challenge! I was up for it :)
So it's been quite the journey... sitting down with the child whose tears are flowing because he lost the game, engaging the sequenced clapping to get the kids' attention to remind them they need to use their "inside voice", endlessly playing ping pong as the previous child tired of playing and the child that just arrived is extremely eager to play the game...there I go again: ping...*pick the ball up*...pong...*wait for the little one to run and get the ball he/she missed*...ping...*pick the ball up*...pong...*again pick it up*...ping...pong, helping a child build a SuperSet motorcycle and having to heed to another child's exclamation that someone destroyed his Lego jet from the safe shelf. Can anyone say multitasking? Well, thank the Lord that my ears are intact and that He's grown my patience since I first ran PlayStation. Every experience is a learning one if you want it to be.
So the Life Rocks lead counselor got a job as a social worker and there's an empty position! My dream room has a position available?! No way! WAY! :D I came to find out after a weekend [of no work] that any of the counselors who wanted to be in Life Rocks could put their name on the Supervisor's list. So I did! It was me up against a counselor who has been working there for about... 10 years? More or less. She's SO experienced, responsible, wise, a sure bet... and I'm a newbe with less than 6 months of work here who's never really even had a homeroom. Many were saying that the other counselor would for sure get it and to not feel bad if she did. I just remained silent. I did think of both possibilities though: "if she gets it that's so awesome because I know she would love that room and she's such a great counselor; if I get it I would get the chance to improve and work harder in the room that I love!" But the Lord knows.
I got a text today from a coworker that the boss called everyone to a meeting and announced that I was going to be assigned to Life Rocks (I didn't go to work today because I have a full day of school). What joy! It seemed unexpected but such a pleasant unexpected! And at the same time it seemed expected... I just thanked the Lord. I didn't know He had that in mind... but it was planned :) and with this I'll leave you with a journal entry I wrote on October 26, 2010 of an "unexpected" encounter... or so I thought:
Unexpected blessings came to greet me today!! But I shall tell of one :)
So at work I'm the counselor (what they call us) of PlayStation: an open, indoor space of foosball, air hockey, pop-a-shot, pool, ping pong, board games, puzzles, Wii, K'nex, blocks, Twister, etc. Today I just found out I'm going to be a homeroom teacher!!! IN LIFE ROCKS!!! It might not sound so delightful to you but oh how I longed for that room!!! Life Rocks was the room that I went in when I was hired: fuse beads, knitting, framed collages, friendship bracelets, necklaces, sewing....Love at first sight!
Then later, because of my lack of knowledge of the rooms' names I mistakenly claimed that I was in "Exploration" the science and math room, but what I meant to say was "Life Rocks," the awesomest room ever. Nice. So Life Rocks floated away and I was never assigned to that room again.
I was assigned to Pre-teens for the summer which was a great learning experience. Then, when the school-year began I was assigned to PlayStation: the area evaded by ALL the counselors due to the extreme noise and the hard-to-monitor area of endless competition between the kiddos. What a challenge! I was up for it :)
So it's been quite the journey... sitting down with the child whose tears are flowing because he lost the game, engaging the sequenced clapping to get the kids' attention to remind them they need to use their "inside voice", endlessly playing ping pong as the previous child tired of playing and the child that just arrived is extremely eager to play the game...there I go again: ping...*pick the ball up*...pong...*wait for the little one to run and get the ball he/she missed*...ping...*pick the ball up*...pong...*again pick it up*...ping...pong, helping a child build a SuperSet motorcycle and having to heed to another child's exclamation that someone destroyed his Lego jet from the safe shelf. Can anyone say multitasking? Well, thank the Lord that my ears are intact and that He's grown my patience since I first ran PlayStation. Every experience is a learning one if you want it to be.
So the Life Rocks lead counselor got a job as a social worker and there's an empty position! My dream room has a position available?! No way! WAY! :D I came to find out after a weekend [of no work] that any of the counselors who wanted to be in Life Rocks could put their name on the Supervisor's list. So I did! It was me up against a counselor who has been working there for about... 10 years? More or less. She's SO experienced, responsible, wise, a sure bet... and I'm a newbe with less than 6 months of work here who's never really even had a homeroom. Many were saying that the other counselor would for sure get it and to not feel bad if she did. I just remained silent. I did think of both possibilities though: "if she gets it that's so awesome because I know she would love that room and she's such a great counselor; if I get it I would get the chance to improve and work harder in the room that I love!" But the Lord knows.
I got a text today from a coworker that the boss called everyone to a meeting and announced that I was going to be assigned to Life Rocks (I didn't go to work today because I have a full day of school). What joy! It seemed unexpected but such a pleasant unexpected! And at the same time it seemed expected... I just thanked the Lord. I didn't know He had that in mind... but it was planned :) and with this I'll leave you with a journal entry I wrote on October 26, 2010 of an "unexpected" encounter... or so I thought:
I just saw an old friend. Others would say he’s an old foe. But I was thinking, “I love how random the Lord is…” Then a thought came saying, “Is it randomness or is it planned?” Ha ha: it’s planned. The Lord knows everything that’s going to happen and all of the happenings; past, present, and future all happen under His authority. Interesting. We don’t see events like that huh? Things “just happen” right? Nope. Nothing comes to pass without His permission. We say that “Life” takes its turns as if life is its own entity. Life is in the Lord’s hands and under His control. Good or bad, a perceived positive or negative event goes through the Lord’s say before we encounter it… I say “perceived” because all events for His children are good. Whether they are labeled advantageous or disadvantageous… Rom 8:28 J they ALL work for good. That’s His will for our lives so we can rejoice because every single thing, every single second of our lives, every single happening happens under His eye.
Monday, November 22, 2010
It's late
...a Spanish presentation on Argentina...
...a learning and cognition homework assignment...
...catching up on my sports psych class...
...writing a paper on intercultural comm and presenting it...
...finishing a book for a final...
...writing a Spanish essay as a final...
Shall I continue?
I'd rather not.
I have a ton of things to do as you can see... and it's quite late.
I don't feel bothered though and I'm not sure that's a good thing :D
HOWEVER, I do look forward to the end of this week as I will be spending time with my family and experiencing wonderful fellowship with the ones I love! Can't wait :) But I must :(
Daydreaming of the end of the week yet still having things to do to get there!!
Ha ha, that's when perseverance comes to mind.
From persevering in finishing a homework assignment to persevering in graduating to persevering in obtaining a career, etc.
Yet the one that stands out the most to me is persevering for the cause of Christ.
Perseverance is EVERYWHERE! Thank the Lord that He helps us through everything huh?
From the smallest, seemingly the most insignificant yet significant aspect of life to something as eternal as faith and love, He aids us.
What a completely faithful God I serve.
*sigh*
:)
...a learning and cognition homework assignment...
...catching up on my sports psych class...
...writing a paper on intercultural comm and presenting it...
...finishing a book for a final...
...writing a Spanish essay as a final...
Shall I continue?
I'd rather not.
I have a ton of things to do as you can see... and it's quite late.
I don't feel bothered though and I'm not sure that's a good thing :D
HOWEVER, I do look forward to the end of this week as I will be spending time with my family and experiencing wonderful fellowship with the ones I love! Can't wait :) But I must :(
Daydreaming of the end of the week yet still having things to do to get there!!
Ha ha, that's when perseverance comes to mind.
From persevering in finishing a homework assignment to persevering in graduating to persevering in obtaining a career, etc.
Yet the one that stands out the most to me is persevering for the cause of Christ.
Perseverance is EVERYWHERE! Thank the Lord that He helps us through everything huh?
From the smallest, seemingly the most insignificant yet significant aspect of life to something as eternal as faith and love, He aids us.
What a completely faithful God I serve.
*sigh*
:)
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Start
I finally created one :)
First, I had one and I lost the sign-in info.
Then, I didn't want to get one because it asked for my birthday, mandatory, and I didn't want to give it.
But now, I did :)
Pure Rebellion
Just last night
AMAZING
Inspiring
Powerful
Exciting
Tears
Joy
Regret
NEW
Surrender
Grace
Passion
SO many words describe last night but above all GOD was in it. Just to hear the voices of generations singing out loud to the only, true God was a sweet yet kingdom-shaking sound to MY ears; I wonder how pleasing it was to the Lord. The smell of surrender and broken hearts rose up to Him.
SO many young ones approached the front. From the back it looked like a sea of lifted hands. Lights were dimmed and I had to meander my way to the front. But that caused me joy and thankfulness to my God: for that place to be so full that I had to squeeze through people to reach the front myself is a praise.
"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." Proverbs 4:23
Don't know what Pure Rebellion is?
Check it out :)
http://www.purerebellion.com/
WORTH IT
So that intensive round is over. But we're still in the ring... today, tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, for the rest of our lives. To speak His word, the keep Love a verb, to go against the flow of this world, to live for Him, to serve, to pray for those who mean harm, to rejoice when for His sake we are ridiculed.
"What's your purpose in life? I'll tell you what it is: to live sold-out for Christ. Simple as that."
First, I had one and I lost the sign-in info.
Then, I didn't want to get one because it asked for my birthday, mandatory, and I didn't want to give it.
But now, I did :)
Pure Rebellion
Just last night
AMAZING
Inspiring
Powerful
Exciting
Tears
Joy
Regret
NEW
Surrender
Grace
Passion
SO many words describe last night but above all GOD was in it. Just to hear the voices of generations singing out loud to the only, true God was a sweet yet kingdom-shaking sound to MY ears; I wonder how pleasing it was to the Lord. The smell of surrender and broken hearts rose up to Him.
SO many young ones approached the front. From the back it looked like a sea of lifted hands. Lights were dimmed and I had to meander my way to the front. But that caused me joy and thankfulness to my God: for that place to be so full that I had to squeeze through people to reach the front myself is a praise.
"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." Proverbs 4:23
Don't know what Pure Rebellion is?
Check it out :)
http://www.purerebellion.com/
WORTH IT
So that intensive round is over. But we're still in the ring... today, tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, for the rest of our lives. To speak His word, the keep Love a verb, to go against the flow of this world, to live for Him, to serve, to pray for those who mean harm, to rejoice when for His sake we are ridiculed.
"What's your purpose in life? I'll tell you what it is: to live sold-out for Christ. Simple as that."
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