Patience and Beauty

If you are consciously patient with people during the day, you will see more beauty.

Living Abundantly

(from a message by Chuck Swindoll and from "Jesus - The Greatest Life of All")

1. SOAR. Soaring above fear, soaring above negativity....
- don't read the newspaper in the morning (if you must read it, read it in the evening)

2. IGNORE. Ignore the opinion of the general public

3. RISK. Don't worry about risks
- read "Jesus CEO"
- read about Walt Disney

4. RELEASE. Don't be a control freak. Let it go....

Life is a vapor, a puff of smoke....

God, forgive me for the stupidity of holding grudges. Haunt me with the need to give control of my life to Jesus Christ....

Prayer for Help

OYBB - Psalm 28

Only you, LORD, are a mighty rock! Don't refuse to help me when I pray.

If you don't answer me, I will soon be dead.

Please listen to my prayer and my cry for help, as I lift my hands toward your holy temple.

Don't drag me away, LORD, with those cruel people, who speak kind words, while planning

trouble.

Most people - especially people here in Korea - don't even bother to speak kind words to me. They ignore me and talk smack about me behind my back.... My girlfriend's mother doesn't respond when I greet her.... My girlfriend dreams of living in the United States, and her mother blames me for that...as if I gave my girlfriend that idea (my girlfriend has been wanting to permanently relocate to the United States since the end of 2005, before she even met me). At the office (and at the schools I teach at), I am a loner..."the foreigner," "the native speaker" (of English). During winter vacation when I'm not teaching classes, I am required to put in my time at the office from 9:00-6:00...but I don't have my own desk or computer (the people at the office gave my desk and computer to someone else last year). Now, I have to go begging for a desk and a computer (I have to find an available desk and computer). There are days when there aren't any available computers....

Treat them as they deserve! Punish them for their sins. They don't pay any attention

to your wonderful deeds. Now you will destroy them and leave them in ruin. I praise you, LORD,

for answering my prayers. You are my strong shield, and I trust you completely. You have

helped me, and I will celebrate and thank you in song. You give strength to your people, LORD,

and you save and protect your chosen ones. Come save us and bless us. Be our shepherd and

always carry us in your arms.

God, before You, I am a helpless baby in need of love and tenderness. God, I need You to be my shepherd...I need You to be the loving and tender Father that I never had.... God, I need You to dote on me....

Finding Hope Again

Book of Common Prayer - Jan 29 - Psalm 48
OYBB - Jan 30 - Psalm 25

Psalm 48:1-2
The Lord is great. He is really worthy of praise. Praise him in the city of our God, his holy mountain. Mount Zion is high and beautiful. It brings joy to everyone on earth. Mount Zion is like the highest parts of Mount Zaphon. It is the city of the Great King
(New International Reader's Version)

Psalm 25 (verses 1-7)
I offer you my heart, LORD God, and I trust you.

Don't make me ashamed or let enemies defeat me.

Don't disappoint any of your worshipers, but disappoint all deceitful liars.

Show me your paths and teach me to follow;

guide me by your truth and instruct me.

You keep me safe, and I always trust you.

Please, LORD, remember, you have always been patient and kind.

Forget each wrong I did when I was young.

Show how truly kind you are and remember me
(Contemporary English Version)

These past 4 weeks, I've been trying to run from God...the more I try to run from God, the more I've begun viewing everything as meaningless and pointless.

Ecclesiastes 1:2-3
Nothing makes sense! Everything is nonsense. I have seen it all-- nothing makes sense!

What is there to show for all of our hard work here on this earth? (Contemporary English Version)

Yesterday, my girlfriend of 10 months - in a moment of complete honesty - told me that I don't satisfy her anymore.... I think hearing her say that was, for me, the last straw...the straw that broke the camel's back.... God is tugging on my heart...putting a song of praise in my mouth....

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise
The city of our God, the holy place
The joy of the whole earth
Great is the Lord in whom we have the victory
He aids us against the enemy
We bow down on our knees

And Lord, we want to lift Your name on high
And Lord, we want to thank You
For the works You've done in our lives
And Lord, we trust in Your unfailing love
For You alone are God eternal
Throughout earth and heaven above

© 1985 Body Songs

(compare Steve McEwan's "Great is the Lord" and Psalm 48:1-2)

Unable to Restrain Ourselves

“If anything characterizes the 21st century, it’s our inability to restrain ourselves for the benefit of other people”
- James Katz (director of the Center for Mobile Communication Studies at Rutgers University).