jai guru deva.

thanks to the Heavenly Teacher.

even though it's a Hindu mantra, man, is it true.

thanks be to God for all he has blessed me with. i was complaining all yesterday about how i hate my new job and how horrible my first day was (which arguably, having everything fall apart 5 minutes before closing with no one there to help is a pretty nightmarish situation), but after church last night and finishing Frank Peretti's The Wounded Spirit today during work, I realized how good I have it.

God has blessed me and provided for me so much throughout my life and when one little thing goes wrong, I completely fall apart. Why? Is there any possible way I can convince myself that these mediocre problems I'm facing can even slightly compare to some of the horrible things going on with other people that still manage to trust that God will see them through? No.

Even looking at the people in my own life, like mum. She's had to lose one of her babies, her father, and in not too long, as Nonnie's demensia gets worse, her mother, yet she remains strong in her faith.

Things like seeing my mom stay strong, reading the words of authors like Peretti and Lewis, and of course being immersed in God's Word through church and the Bible have been great inspirations and given me the necessary push to remember what I'm going through is not that bad, and even if it seems like it is horrible at the time, God is still with me, helping me through it.

so in the words of Paul & John:
"jai guru deva...nothing's gonna change my world"
mjl.

"So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Isaiah 41:10