this is really one of the nicest songs in the world!! this morning as i made my way to school, the song played and haha it put a beeeeeeegggggg smile on my face for the rest of the day (:

today was a beautiful day. the skies were a little grey, but the wind was light, the temperature was manageable, and there was hardly any rain. but i think it was most beautiful because of what i felt in my heart the moment i woke up this morning. you know that feeling you get when You have seen God's hand so clearly and so evidently in your life you just want to shout and rejoice and say 'PRAISE THE LORD!'? well, today was one of those days. it amazes me how He understands the inner workings of my heart, how He assuages my fears, how He shapes me through each and every heartache of my life. how He accepts me when i fall from grace. how with Him, there is always another chance.

i thank the Lord for bringing me through the toughest periods of growing in my faith. for providing me with the courage to stand firm in what i believe in, for teaching me to count the things of the world as loss for Him. for mending my heart in the periods of trials, and for the seed of faith in my heart. but most importantly, i am thankful for the Spirit's guidance in understanding the Lord's Word as i read. this is something that i never want to take for granted. for without His Word it's just.. dry. everything is dry. there is no purpose, no drive for living. there is, in essence, nothing.

i just re-read the sunday school notes sent out in our very cool sunday school chain haha. and the lesson addresses exactly what i have been considering.

The example of Paul

1. Prayerfulness

+ “always in every prayer” (Phil 1:4), “this I pray” (Phil 1:9)
+ Prayer is the means by which we talk to God and relate to Him…without it, how do we begin to know what God wants us to do?

2. Discernment

+ “abound…in knowledge and all discernment” (Phil 1:9)
+ Being astute in judgment is a trait to be desired, and a mark of maturity too

3. The ability to rejoice in adversity

+ “with joy” (Phil 1:4)
+ Paul was in chains in prison at this point, yet the curtailment of his freedom and suffering he experienced did not stand in the way of his inherent sense of joy in “He who begun a good work in you” (Phil 1:6)

(for this breakdown, credits to andrea, just in case i get sued for plagiarism hur)

prayerfulness - a lesson that i really need to strengthen! the influence of prayer in my life has to proceed to the next level. and i cannot let it slip back into a haphazard state of things - the way my prayer life used to be, in shambles everyday. and as i pray, i really do hope that i begin to see everything, especially the circumstances of my life from HIS eternal perspective. and that i will be able to discern His will in my life.. God only knows how much i need that right now.

but is is wonderful to be able to work forward, knowing that the Lord is in control. i had the privilege of being able to encourage someone today. and as i told him/her about how i have seen so evidently the Lord's hand in my life (especially in the past few weeks), my eyes started getting abit teary. haha. because that's just the way i feel when i know. and it is just wonderful to be able to tell others of this hope that i have found. what a joy, what a privilege. the crap that comes along the way are just side things that you have to learn to ignore - and keep your eyes fixed on the One that really, truly matters. (:

AND have i mentioned how extremely thankful i am that my macbook mike isnt really spoilt after all.. it truly is the Lord's grace. i know that He knows i cannot handle running around and freaking out over having to fix my lappie. haha (: now my life would be perfect if about 60dollars can drop from the sky so i can buy that necklace i want.. hahahha. OKAY enough covetousness.

today is a day of thanksgiving! (: my God is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.