You

We've probably heard this before: "There are things that only you can do really well." And we believe it but most time the problem is, well, what are those things I can do better than anyone else? Good question. As tempting as it is to offer an answer, not that I have one, I feel like that question opens the door to discovering new, different things about yourself that you never knew.

I love to write. Most times I'm not coherent, and sometimes I don't know what to write about but there's always a compulsion to write. I remember back in primary school, there was this girl I liked and I was too shy to talk to her so I wrote a letter expressing myself but never actually sent it. In fact that note never left my house. That was the earliest memory I had of me, wanting to put something down. I also love playing badminton. I'm not half as good as I want to be. And it seems like I don't improve after playing for a few years. But I enjoy it. I really do. Recently I started playing the guitar. Well playing is a little bit of a stretch. I know a few basic chords and as long as its not a fast song and its a really really simple song I can manage changing chords and stuff but I learned that I enjoy these things.

Well what are you really good at?
I have no idea. But here's my point. You will never find what you are good at until you try lots of stuff. And there will be things you know right away, no that's definitely not for me. And some things you kind of grow into as you get older. Like talking in front of people. It gets better because you outgrow your fears and over the course of your life you would have been put in enough situations where you have to talk to a lot of people at the same time that you just get used to it. Even better at it.

There are indeed some things that you can do better than anyone else. And sometimes its not things that are 'marketable'. It could be as simple as always being there for your friends, listening to them 'complain' and share their feelings and stuff. Not everyone can do that. Most people can tolerate it for a while until they cannot take it anymore. That's something. Use it. Do not disregard it. Do not belittle it. Use it.

When God spoke to Moses and asked him to go set the people of Israel free. Moses complained. Typical right? But God asked him, what is that on your hands? He had a staff (Exodus 3 & 4 if you are curious). A staff is a starting place, something familiar, to ease you into something unfamiliar, even uncomfortable but ultimately good.

This year I didn't really want to get too involved in doing things because I felt so unhappy with a lot of things and it is really my loss but I really feel like I need to step back and "search my feelings" haha. No. Think about why I'm doing all these things or not doing all these things and have a good reason. Today I was reminded to hope again. If you were hanging off a cliff by a thread called hope. That thread is strong enough to carry your weight back up if you won't let go. So this is really for me. To hope again. To encourage myself in the Lord, as my mommy always reminds me. Man can she spam.

There are things you can do really well, better than anyone else, simply because it is you doing it. You bring your uniqueness, your personality into it, you bring yourself into it. And it is good. My encouragement is to keep doing those things. Because its not always the fastest that wins the race, but the persistent.

Matthew 24:13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

-ONWARD! Like a boss.

27

Yesterday was my birthday and throughout the day, all I kept thinking was how faithful and merciful God has been. Thank You Lord for one more year.

-ONWARD!

dont be afraid, trust me

I was going through a few notes in my notebook this morning and found this one while I was reading the book of Mark. It deals with having faith, something I'm still not very good at.

Mark 5
Jesus heals a demon possessed man and asks him to tell his friends what has happened to him. (Interesting he didn't say family. Maybe he had no family. Interesting also that a demon possessed man would have friends). He went on to share his story to 10 cities, which is amazing considering the size of one city.
Tell them:

• The wonderful things he has done
• How merciful he has been

What wonderful things has the Lord done for you that you can share?

Jesus always seems to emphasize a practice of faith. The woman who had haemorrhaging for 12 years just believed that simply touching Jesus' clothes would heal her. And it worked. Jesus stopped to look for her just to commend her on her faith. In fact He seems to be annoyed when people display a lack of faith. In Jairus' house he ordered everyone out so he can be surrounded by people who had the same faith that the little girl would live again.

What does this mean for me? In what ways can I display faith where I used to doubt? What things can be possible today if I just believe? "Don't be afraid", Jesus told Jairus, "Trust me".

Mark 6

And he was amazed at their unbelief. 

Our unbelief can stop God from acting on our behalf. No matter how dire or unrealistic a situation, always believe in God to see you through it, to make a way. Make room for him to perform his miracle.

-ONWARD!

holding on

When all is lost, all I remember is that You are good. You are pure good. And You love me. More than I will ever know. So I trust you with my life. I wish it was easier than trying to find my own way, easier than thinking how to make a good life for myself, working harder than I have ever done before. But I believe in you. Don't let me be put the shame. Even if that happens, where else can I go?

-ONWARD!