Everything

This is one of my favorite pieces by Lifehouse. I found these videos of some skits that were made for the song.

It's such an amazing approach to the song, and it just gives you an idea how God struggles to be in our life. He establishes a relationship with us and the devil just works twice as hard once you believe in Jesus. He wants you to fall and often times, the enemy is not a scary evil monster; he is a beautiful charming thing that lures you away from the will of God. He is a deceiver. But the pleasure that worldly things give you never last.. its highs are temporary, but then you get caught up in it and it brings you down and farther away from the Father. Sometimes it's sad that we have to hit rock bottom before we decide to seek Jesus again. But it is glorious too, for how can we be saved by the God's grace if we're not broken? His power is perfected in our weakness, so that by Him we can be strong. I love that part when He knocks down all the sins.. it is exactly what Jesus did for us. He pulls us away and frees us from the bondage of sin. He died so that sin may no longer rule over us. Don't let His act of ultimate love and sacrifice be in vain. Find your way to His arms and let not temporal things hinder you from the abundant life that the Lord wants you to have. There is an indescribable joy to be experienced in living life in the fullness of God's love. 

Here is another interpretation that is just as amazing.

My God is mighty to save. ♥

I invite you all to read...

The Shack

I mentioned borrowing this book from the library and I have just finished it. (I have a tendency to read a number of books at the time, so it took me this long to finish this one.) To say that it was amazing may be an understatement. It gives such a graphic and loving image of who God is in our world and lives. There were so many things I learned from this book, not the least of which is to make God the center of our lives. It was such an eye opener: He doesn't want us to make Him first in our list of priorities. 

Jesus speaking to lead character:

 " ...I don't want to be the first among a list of values; I want to be at the center of everything. When I live in you, then together we can live through everything that happens to you. Rather than be a pyramid, I want to be the center of a mobile, where everything in your life- your friends, family, occupation, thoughts, activities- is connected to me but moves with the wind, in and  out and back and forth, in an incredible dance of being."

The Shack is a story about a father's struggle with his daughter's tragic murder, which ultimately brings him to face his issues with God, his daughter's killer, and his own estranged father.

Earth's crammed with heaven, 

And every common bush afire with God,

But only he who sees takes off his shoes;

The rest sit around it and pluck blackberries.

-Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Indescribable

Just got back from Vermont and the sights there were breathtaking. The beauty of the landscape really struck me and I remembered this song... It speaks of God's wonders that are ever-present around us. 

From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea

Creation's revealing Your majesty

From the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring

Every creature unique in the song that it sings

All exclaiming:

Indescribable, uncontainable,

You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.

You are amazing, God.

All powerful, untameable,

Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim

You are amazing, God.

Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go?

Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow..

Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light,

Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night;

None can fathom..

Indescribable, uncontainable,

You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.

You are amazing, God.

Incomparable, unchangeable

You see the depths of my heart 

and You love me the same.

You are amazing, God

You are amazing, God

will get back on comments tomorrow.  :)

Bonne Nuit.

♥

P.S. As much as I would like to take credits for the beautiful photos, the 1st, 7th, and 8th pictures are borrowed from one of my sister's album in multiply.  Those were taken at beaches in the Philippines. Also, only the 2nd, 6th, and last photos are pictures I actually took in Vermont. The 3rd, 4th, and 5th are pictures I took some time ago in Boston, Paris, and my garden back home, respectively. 

The Shack

Since I can remember, I've always loved libraries. My parents used to give me books for gifts as a child and this nurtured my love for reading. I remember lounging at home, reading books in all the corners of my house. I'd lie down on the couch in our family room getting lost in the world of a time-traveling man; sit on the sofa in our living room until I'd end up sprawling across it engrossed in love stories; eat my breakfast in the clean kitchen with one hand while my other hand held a book (sometimes a comic: Archies!); enjoy the sun in the garden with a good book on fashion (Vogue. I believe it's not just a magazine); read Christian Dior's biography while (stationary) cycling in the walk-in closet; having a dose of witty chick lit in my bed right before drifting to sleep; and even sitting on the staircase during the occasional blackout -having the street lamp's glow light the page turner I just couldn't put down. Yes, I've enjoyed a book in every nook and cranny of my house.. all rooms too, except in our library. Weird, isn't it? Anyway, back to the other kind of library. I've loved libraries for all holding titles of the cheapest form of travel. I enjoy book stores too, and usually spend hours there skimming paperbacks and deciding which to get first. 

Today I had such an experience. I went back to the community library to return a book, renew the other one, and get two more. I got the 3rd installment of Gossip Girl first, since the different storyline left me intrigued and I also got the 6th season of my favorite TV series of all time, Gilmore Girls! I've probably seen each season (except the last) at least five times, so jumping straight to season 6 sits fine with me. After I checked out the books, I browsed the magazine racks for current issues and wandered over to the "nouveaux" shelves for new releases. It was by my second look that I saw The Shack. The moment I recognized the title, I grabbed it, remembering that I've been wanting to buy that since my friend told me about it. As usual, I never got around to it. I should really fight procrastination. It's my worst bad habit.

The Shack is about having faith and holding on to the unseen during the most difficult of times. The write-up on the cover said that it is this generation's Pilgrim's Progress, and knowing that that book is really one of the best analogies I have read and studied, I have a good feeling about this one!  :) 

I can't wait to start..

The dedication reads:

This story was written for my children:

Chad - the Gentle Deep

Nicholas - the Tender Explorer

Andrew - the Kindhearted Affection

Amy - the Joyful Knower

Alexandre (Lexi) - the Shining Power

Matthew - the Becoming Wonder

And dedicated first

to Kim, my Beloved, thank you for saving my life,

and second, to:

"...all us stumblers who believe Love rules.

Stand up and let it shine."

♥