An Email of Encouragement

Just sharing an email I received from one of our church elders and the head of our Children's Ministry. I do not own the copyright of this article, neither does the sender.

The Blessings of Inadequacy

Read | 2 Corinthians 3:4-6

Life is filled with struggles that reveal human inadequacy. Physical problems leave us weak and unable to cope, relational troubles bring confusion and stress, continual battles with bad habits and addictions make us feel defeated, and financial or job demands damage our self-worth. No one likes the frustration and fear of facing challenges which are too big to handle, but God can use them for our good.

Maybe you have never considered inadequacy a blessing. After all, it arouses all sorts of uncomfortable emotions that make us feel useless, insignificant, and weak. But God can turn all the negatives into blessings if we acknowledge our helplessness, depend on His strength, and step into our challenges with confidence in Him.

Inadequacy can be a blessing since it . . .

1.    Drives us to God as we recognize our helplessness.

2.    Relieves us of the burden of trying to do God’s will in our own strength.

3.    Motivates us to live in the power of the Holy Spirit.

4.    Provides the Lord an opportunity to demonstrate what He can do.

5.    Increases our usefulness to God by humbling our pride.

6.    Allows Christ to receive all the glory.

7.    Gives peace as we rely on Him.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit, believers have the ability to endure difficulty or accomplish whatever the Lord calls them to do. By claiming the adequacy of Christ, we can face every circumstance with a sense of awesome confidence, not in ourselves but in God, who is totally capable.

If I could ride a bike...

I don't know what I should entitle this post with. I usually begin with a title as I already know what the article would be about. But, this time is an exception.

My morning started with stretching and hitting the stationary bike for more than 30 minutes of high tension cycling. I am thankful that stationary bikes were created! It's beneficial enough for someone who doesn't know how to balance a bike a like me. I remember riding a bike when I was in grade school. One of my playmates taught me to ride a bike without my mom's knowledge. She forbade us to ride bicycle for one very painful reason - a motor accident that caused our father's life.

I eventually developed the fear of riding bikes of any kind but the stationary bike. I am afraid of stumbling and getting hurt or wounded. I don't easily trust anyone who invites me to back ride on their bike. Given a choice, I would rather walk or commute. Only lately that I found myself riding on one of my high school classmate's motor bike! And to my surprise, I wasn't holding on as tight as I used to when I was in college! Nevertheless, I remained frightened - silently, this time.

If I could be brave enough, I would want to learn to ride a bike again. If I could, I would cycle my way to Baywalk or to Marikina Sports Center. I would cycle my way to anywhere my carefree self wants me to be! But I couldn't. So, I walk. And, given a pair of comfortable, full-support sneakers, I could walk for nine straight hours! Walk, okay, let me reiterate that, "walk" and not "hike, trek or climb"! Because that's a totally different story.

If I could cycle, I would hit the road for two or three hours everyday! That would truly tone my thighs and my booty growing mission will be a success! Cyclists have nice legs, most especially the track cyclists. Screw me! My legs are the worst! Hehehe... just think of all the good things cycling will do to me if I ever learn to let go of my fear and to cycle again. Free short distance travel, solitary cycling anywhere, best of health, bootylicious, tight hamstrings, and non-pollutant are some of the advantages one can get in cycling. And maybe, it could help lessen the perkiness of my freakishly huge gastrocnemius muscles!

Each Step I Take

"Each Step I Take"

W. Elmo Marcer

Each step I take my Saviour goes before me,
And with His loving hand He leads the way,

And with each breath I whisper "I adore Thee;"

Oh, what joy to walk with Him each day. 

Each step I take I know that He will guide me;

To higher ground He ever leads me on.

Until some day the last step will be taken.

Each step I take just leads me closer home.

At times I feel my faith begin to waver,

When up ahead I see a chasm wide.

It's then I turn and look up to my Saviour,

I am strong when He is by my side.

I trust in God, no matter come what may,

For life eternal in His hand,

He holds the key that opens up the way,

That will lead me to the promised land. 

What a wonderful song!

Many may have no longer wondered why this blog is entitled, "Each Step I Take". Most people may have a notion that such title suggests a very common theme - the story of her life, the journey, the daily grind, the open journal, and the list goes on and on. In one point, it may be right, nevertheless, this is not simply about life's daily grind. It's all about "Who" walks with me in each step I take.

I have an old blog, which I have been keeping for couple years now. I chose to create a new one as that blog gives a certain atmosphere I no longer want to embrace. So, I left it dormant for now until I find a reason to update it with a new post.

This introduction should have been done a while back when I started this new blog. But it doesn't matter. There's nothing much to introduce, anyway. So, just read on! :)

To all, if you're keen enough to decipher how God guided me or moved me in each step I take through my posts, you would find sense in each and every word written herein.

God bless you all!

How Can I Dance?

How can I dance?

When the burdens are countless and the world seems to weigh on me...
When the heart is frozen and numbed to life's constant push?

How can I paint?

When the brush strokes seem at a loss for direction...
And each color is blended in confusion?

How can I run?

When the shoes are ready but the heart is not...
When you are at the momentum of running until the treadmill stops?

How can I smile?

When the reason for smiling is more vague than the reason to be disheartened...
When you know that such act is a mere facade of happiness?

Yet, how do I continue living?

The irony of life brings light to the only reason that keeps a child of God moving and breathing.
Amidst the hurdles and struggles of life - the grace of God illumines and continually overwhelms all challenges this world has to offer.

Have you ever felt like everyone has turned their back on you?

How did you deal with it?

It's painful, right?

Friends? None. Family? Back stabbing.

Family - of all people... they are the ones who actually badmouth you unaware. I'm sorry if I couldn't please them - not one of them. I am sorry that they had to bear with me since they ain't got a choice at all for I was born in their family. Could you imagine that, your very own family stabbing you behind?! It could have been better if they just let me know that they didn't want me in the family to start with.

Friends? They're there when you've got something that pleases them.

Family? They're pleased with you when you're pleasing them - monetarily - all else wouldn't count.

Randomness - all that matters is all.

I want to run. I want to swim. I want to just leave this place and be somewhere else... somewhere I know I am out of the city. Somewhere I can think, can write, can paint, can listen to the music and be with myself.

I want to sing with someone. And it hurts me right now that I still hadn't found that one. There are so many rules. There are so many things to consider in choosing someone to be with you. There are spiritual aspects - the main reason I am hindered to just be with someone. I do not think of just here now - but since that's what I am, I couldn't just risk "it".

I am gaining weight again - that just means I am in depressive state. I know when I am feeling wasted - I start gaining weight. I start becoming slothful and sluggard. I start losing the interest in doing things. All these will truly impact my life - my work and my ministries. I won't be able to feed myself if I do not work. Sometimes, it made me think of going back to my parents' house because life there, may not be as good as it gets, but it's easier - easier for someone who is lazy and too lax to even get on his own feet. That's the price of independence - responsibilities.

Tenacity!

It takes courage to approach someone and help them - since they are asking to be helped and in doing so, you are also helping yourself. The success lies in the acceptance of the help you are offering.

My clients approach us because they need something. They needed help for their business to grow. However, some of them are just to stubborn to hear what you are saying - or is not interested enough to know more what you could offer. It could also be the way we communicate things to them. Which, sometimes, make me ask myself -- how do I communicate my willingness to help my clients? I am not a mere sales person. I am a consultant. I am here not to sell but to help. Yet, I find myself struggling to let my message come across clearly and sincerely.

Tenacity! My prospect just challenged me to have one. I am not really tenacious. I may be stubborn at times but I am not as persistent as I need to be. Especially that I am in this kind of work where tenacity is a big weapon useful enough to turn things around and have things done your way - the right way. I hate it when you are trying to help someone but they are not willing enough to be helped.

I don't want to take this situation as my client's fault for being so stubborn and unwilling to be given the help that he actually needs. I am confident that no one does it like we do! Yes! That's how confident I am of our company and of the people in our company. We are not the cheap one and we do not compromise quality over price.

It was my fault. If the conversation earlier didn't turn out right - it's because I said the right things but were delivered incorrectly. It's not WHAT you say, but it's HOW you say it. I know I may have said something earlier in a way that was not convincing enough or persuading enough. Didn't I sound sincere? There must be something during the conversation that turned him off and hang up on me! Argh! What was it?! I need to know. I will be listening to our conversation tonight - I must study it. And, hopefully, turn things around.

Next post: ATTITUDE.