Snapshots from El, Inc.

Reflection..

God has been good to me. I am poised on the edge of Finals week, and am bathed in Hope and Joy and Peace instead of stress and fear and irritability, even on the back of a disappointing grade on a Stat take home test. I have time enough to stop to help others, pray for a needy friend, chat about politics, pray for the political situation in Malaysia, and sit and reflect over the semester.

I must praise Him for the lessons in humility and genuine love that I've had the opportunity to learn this semester. It wasn't always easy, and still isn't, but I am thankful that I can be thankful for them - I can clearly see my Father's loving intentions behind the thorny circumstances that often clothe those lessons. My spirit loves what is happening, even though my flesh and soul don't always share that attitude.

I must also praise Him for the way He's directing my life. Internships and graduate schools are coming into sharper focus, as are the skills and knowledge in my own life which seem to confirm the direction I received coming here at the U of O. I am also grateful for my musical growth this semester. I can sing higher, louder and better than ever before, and my fingers are better equipped to make melodious praise to my Father.

I am most grateful for the newness of my relationship with Him that I'm finding. The dross of idealism and emotionalism have been painfully extracted from me this semester, and the process is not yet complete. What lies beneath all that dross and pain, however, is a kernel of faith in a Loving Father; it does me good to find that kernel underneath all of that, for I know without a shadow of doubt then that my heart is held in my Father's hand, which tells me that no matter how much I hate what I see in the mirror, no matter how uncomfortable or scary or frustrating my circumstances get, there is an ever-present Help and Hope for me.

How has your semester/year/month/week/day been? I encourage you to take some time to reflect and realize just how much of God's blessings really are in your life. Take some time to praise Him for who He is, even if you can't think of anything positive; it's worth it. No. HE's worth it.

Labels: For the spirit, Musings, News

posted by Joel Chan @ 1:01 PM