Thanksgiving Thursday: Things You Never Gave Me

I've been wanting to join the blogging chain of Thanksgiving posting every Thursday held by http://hanshinta1.blogspot.com/. But yeah, never got a chance (energy more precisely) to do it. But today, despite my weakness, as I read her blog, I got reminded of the long time post (in my mind) which I've been waiting to write. (well, it still postponed another week, I just need the extra strength to finish this post:P)

So many times we give thanks to God for the things He gave us. Yes, I am grateful for everything He has given to me. But we often forget to thank Him for the things He never gave us. There are many incidents, when I looked back, I am grateful that He never gave me the things I wanted or desired at that time. It's been a tough journey, and all I can say when disappointment and sadness happen is only the word : "Why?" However, knowing Him and learning His lessons all these times has taught me that nothing happened without His knowing or purpose. And for every big calamities He allows to cross my path of life, He has good purposes in His mind. It might not be of my personal interest though, but it certainly for good. And just some time ago I found a beautiful song by David Meece which lyrics speak exactly what I have (over and over again) in my heart. (I attached this beautiful song for you at the end of this post).

So yeah, I would like to remind myself things He never gave me (since it's quite long, I would like to mention couple things which I am reminded over and over again to be grateful:D).

Lord, thank You for not let me born in a Christian family.

I used to envy those who do, thinking that they have a smoother sailing Christian life.

Not to mention the privilege to know you early.

No struggle just to go to worship service every week, to be involved in ministry

Nor the decision to be baptized

But now looking back, I am so grateful that you put me in my family

Though I am not born into a Christian family

I still got a chance to attend children church

And all those years when I struggle in my faith

All those tears of heart ache and discouragement

Can only be sweet milestones to show who You are

I thank You for this thing You never gave me

Yet You are not giving up on me

I can't imagine my faith journey without this very thing You never gave me

Lord, thank You for not giving me the scholarship for graduate studies

It's been a desire for me too continue my study last time

After all the long process of exams and applications

I ended up with an offer but without the scholarship

I had to make tough decision

Should I take the offer and apply for study loan

Or should I let go the offer and start all over again

I looked into Your word and consult Your wisdom

Despite the heartache of long process I bear

Despite good supports from my friends who's willing to sponsor me

Despite my long time desire to learn

I said no and move on, because Your word say so

Today I am so grateful that I didn't take the loan route

Everyday I give thanks to You that Your word protected me

And up until today, I have learnt so many things I wanted to learn before

Had I taken the post grad study, I might not learn what I've learnt today

I can't imagine my learning path without this very thing You never gave me

I still have my lists of things He never gave me...some are major, some are minor. All are the things I am so grateful for. Hopefully one day I can share again on this Thanksgiving post. But for now (two is enough and way too long already I think), let's sing and give thanks to Him for the things He never gave us:D

P.S: Kindly visit other bloggers who published their Thanksgiving Thursday posts here:

http://hanshinta1.blogspot.com/2011/10/thanksgiving-thursday-list-week-6-27.html#disqus_thread

I Will Not Be Shaken

Found this wonderful song by Jadon Lavik.

Let's sing along:)

My soul finds rest in You

My fortress and my rock.

My hope for life, my hiding place.

My refuge and my God.

In You I've found my home.

My shelter from the storm.

And I'll pour out my heart to You.

And lean upon your throne.

Chorus:

I will put my trust in You.

I will put my hope there, too.

I will stand upon Your word.

And I will not be shaken.

I will let my praises show.

Holding on to what I know.

Because I know You're always there.

And I will not be shaken, I will not be shaken.

Bridge:

I will not be moved.

I'm leaning on the throne.

Because You died for me and called me to Your own.

And even when the strongest winds begin to blow. I will stand my ground.

I will not be moved. I will not be shaken.

The best wine

Today I happened to chat with one of my old college mate and somehow in response to his question I shared with him one of the lessons God taught me sometimes ago. I have been wanting to share the lessons with you as well, but as usual the energy took control. But I think today, after having a nice lunch, I want to gather my remaining energy to write down this wonderful lesson which I've just shared. Hope this lesson can help you in your journey with the Lord :)

"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser." ~ John 15:1

Thus the beginning of the passage regarding Jesus as the True Vine. So many times we read about this passage and meditate about the role of Jesus as the True Vine and we as His branches. Well, today, I would like to take our focus to Our Heavenly Father. But this post won't focus on Father's work on pruning the branches so that we may bear more fruit. But it's more down to the Father's aim as a vine dresser and our circumstances.

I learnt this lesson when I was watching a TV series (yupe, God can even speak to you when you are watching :D). In one of the scene, a wine expert explained that in order to create the best wine, the top tier grapes needed to be planted in such a harsh condition. Conditions such as sand, gravels, and small rocks environment, under an intense sunlight. Under such dry condition, the grape will work harder to maintain the moist, thus create an intense taste for the grape. On the other hand, if the condition is too good for the grape, it would be focusing on the leaves and stems, rather on the fruit. So good condition may not bring a good fruit at all. In short, the worst soil yields the best wine.

Now we know that Jesus is the True Vine, the best vine ever. And Our Heavenly Father is the vine dresser, who aim for the fruit. And He is not only interested in the quantity of the fruits produced, but the quality as well.

And that bring us to the first lesson today. Ever found yourself in a "harsh & dry condition"? Wondering how it will ever help you in growing? You see, a vine dresser not only has a good intention, He has to be involved in cultivating the grapes so that it can bring good yield. Not only He knows the grapes well, He also knows the best condition to help the grapes produce its yield. And He wants the best wine after all. That's why He planted such best vine in such harsh condition.

Given such truth, let us remind ourselves that when we found ourselves planted in the dry environment, God's intention is always to bring the best in us. To produce the 'intense flavor' which only the best wine in the world can have. It's not comfortable, and certainly nobody wants to find themselves in such harsh condition. However, it's the only way to create the best wine. (besides the best vine of course:D)

On a personal note, currently I found myself in a situation which I don't want. Not only harsh and dry, I am also helpless. But knowing the growth is coming from the vine, all I need to do is to abide in Him. It's Jesus who bring forth the fruit, not us the branches. This truth bring us to the second lesson.

More often than not, we thought that abide in Jesus would bring us to better place. You know, when the skies are blue, the gate of heaven open and blessings pour down upon us. But from the lesson today I learnt that in order to produce the best wine, the vine dresser will plant the vine in the harsh condition. And when we, as His branches, stick to the Vine, we will somehow found ourselves in the same condition. Yeah, that same harsh and dry condition.

When we found ourselves in such condition, we can find enormous reasons that caused us to be in such position in the first place. Not to say those are not valid reasons. But even though those are all valid reasons, I still believe God who is in control will allow even worst thing to happen for a reason. So the second lesson taught me to never ever forget that once we are committed to follow Him, to abide in Him, the journey has to bring us to such condition. God is in control after all and He is indeed exercising His control. Sometimes it's not even the pruning act that He is doing. He simply put the vine in the 'best' condition to grow. For us, it's the worst condition, because all we could think of are our leaves and stems which are not growing a lot. But for Him, His aim is the best fruits.

Are you on your way to yield the best wine?

Father, my vine dresser, thank You for teaching me this lesson and reminded me again today. I know You are in control, even when the situation seemed out of control. Give me strength to abide in Jesus always. And help me to remember always that through this harsh condition, what You aim is to produce the best wine. Help me to yield to Your will, so my yield eventually would be what You want in the first place. In Jesus' mighty name I pray, Amen.