He Giveth More Grace

I love biographies. There’s something about it that tells me, “If they could do it, I can. If the Lord was faithful in their lives, He will also complete His work in me. He will help me.”

Last Sunday I came across a hymn at church which we had never sang. It was “He Giveth More Grace” by Annie Johnson Flint. What a beautiful, truth-filled song! So yesterday I looked for Annie’s biography. And when you read it, you understand where all these beautiful words come from. They come from the heart of a person who lived in suffering almost throughout all her life (arthritis and serious needs), yet decided to submit her desires to God again, and again, and again. She lived a grace-filled life despite and through suffering and hurt.

Here’s the hymn “He Giveth More Grace”. I will  continue posting some of her poems and hymns later.

HE GIVETH MORE GRACE

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;
To added affliction He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

His love has no limit, His grace has no measure;
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth and giveth and giveth again.

A story and a voice

When I first started blogging about contentment, I never knew the path it would take me. I thought it would be something fun and edifying that would give me something to talk about. I outlined how many posts the whole series would take. It would be easy to blog about it because, after all, I am not usually a complaining person…or so I thought. Truth is  I could never foresee what it would mean for me to study the topic and write about it. I should’ve known better..

A few months after I started studying the topic and a month or so blogging hiatus, I find myself in a different place. God’s word is never ineffective. It cuts sharp and then heals. It is a mirror which shows your worst you and then transforms you into the best you you could possibly imagine. Yet, while His Word never proves ineffective, the hard realization of who you really are without Him is painful. It’s almost stagering.

Through the journey I’ve taken in the last few months I’ve discovered how discontent I’ve been with the portion appointed by the Lord in this season of my life. I don’t think my friends would say that I’m a complaining girl. I know some of my sins and faults, but I (they) would never say I’m the kind of person who is always saying what she doesn’t like about people or situations. I’m actually someone who tries to look at the bright side of things and even laughs at herself. I love doing that. But like I said, God knows better than that. He knows the true desires of my heart. He knows about those things I yearn for and He’s shown me how some of them, while being good and godly desires, have been transformed into idols by the idolatry factory of my heart. Relationships, a sense of belonging, getting new car, have been part of those good desires turned into a list of things I think I cannot live without. And since I have not gotten them when I want them and how I want them, I’ve given God the bitter look.

“How can You do this to me?”

God is way too good of a Father to leave me in that sort of discontent state. I’ve read books about it, studied the Word, prayed and even fasted for a content heart. While all of that has helped me, I think that God often crafts special moments to speak into my soul, usually desperate moments when I think there’s no way out of my sin, and surprise me by/with grace. The Por Su Causa conference and then one particular advice from my mentor (to soak myself in the study of God’s character) and an encouraging word from my aunt (“open your ears. He’s talking to you and will tell you what to do“) set me back on the right path of joy in God. I don’t think I have achieved it completely, but I now fight with real hope. I now can say wholeheartedly that I do not have everything I want, but I truly have more than I deserve. I have God and that suffices. It’s a constant battle against unbelief and pride. It’s a fight against my heart’s whispers which try to convince me that God doesn’t really care about me, and my own devices are better than His to get what I want when I want it.

I’m back to blogging now because I believe God’s given me two things: a story and a voice. A story of his super abundant grace in my life. A voice to share it with others for encouragement. I don’t know how often I will be blogging. I wish I had a set schedule but life nowadays is really busy. Nevertheless, I don’t want to forget His faithful dealings with me. I cannot stop telling about His grace and I shall do so as often as possible.

Thank you so much for reading and waiting on me. But THANK YOU for keeping me in your prayers. In heaven I will only know how these stories the Lord gives me have been an answer to many of your supplications on my behalf.

God is at work. He is my shelter, what should I fear?

Katherine

Fitting in

Hi everyone!

I’m back to work, so that’s why I did not blog last week. I still need to figure out how to fit this blog into my weekly responsibilities. I’m hoping it won’t take too long for me to figure it all out.

In the meantime, I would appreciate your prayers for me as I enter another busy season in my life. Pray for wisdom, a humble heart, and grace. I need your prayers on my behalf. The Lord is faithful!

Thank you so much for sticking around. I hope to see you soon with more good content on a regular basis.

Kat

10 seconds of grace that made my 26th birthday

I am a birthday celebrator.

I can’t help it. I LOVE celebrating people’s birthdays. And I like celebrating my own birthday. I enjoy marking one more year of God’s faithfulness by having people over. I like sharing the amazing fact that after all I’ve said and done, God has graciously given me one more year of blessed life. Oh! and I absolutely love surprises!

So being the birthday celebrator that I am, I decided I would celebrate my own birthday this year. Unlike last year, August 3rd would find me at home with a bunch of friends. We’d chill on my roof, eat chinese food and watch the stars. Nothing too fancy, nothing too loud…just us mingling and marveling at the greatness of our God. I wanted to make my friends feel comfortable. I wanted to give myself the treat of hospitality.

It was a great idea. Actually, I think it was a brilliant idea. None of my friends would have come up with something like that. But God had a better idea.

What does a stormy day sounds like? Or how about the threat of a storm?

The day before my birthday I had to cancel my plan and surrender my will to His. Last year He had taught me how His plans were more exciting and better than mine, right? This was a test. And a good one for my soul so that once again I would lean on God, and not on myself. I had to speak truth to my disappointed soul. “It’s ok. He is good and He is in control. Last year the Lord threw the most special birthday party I have ever had. He surprised me. So I’ll wait and see what He has in store for me tomorrow”

I spent most of August 3rd, 2011 at my grandma’s. I really enjoyed people’s birthday greetings on my Facebook wall, and was deeply thankful for some phone calls I received. A friend baked me a cake, and my uncle bought us some pizza. Around 6:00 pm I was singing “happy birthday” with my 4 younger cousins, my aunt, uncle and my mom. It was indeed a very special moment, full of laughter, prayer and birthday wishes. As I sat back and thought about the day, it was like the Lord slowing me down and pointing me back to the treasure I have in my family.

*deep sigh*

Yet, I was still disillusioned. “Lord, is this it? No surprises for me today?”

The answer to that question came later that night.

My friend Linnette was in Haiti at the beloved orphanage we visited last summer. She uploaded a photo of baby Mackinson one year later.

When I saw it, I started crying tears of joy. I couldn’t believe how big and beautiful he was. I praised the Lord for His faithfulness and care for this sweet baby boy. I then asked her if we could talk using FaceTime. I wanted to be able to see the kids at least once. We tried and tried, but we couldn’t make the connection. I was bummed. I thought I was not going to be able to get through. I sighed almost in despair…

“Let’s try one more time…”

And…the next 10 seconds I witnessed on my computer were worth the whole day.

There was our church’s team and my precious kids, all together sitting at the table singing “HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU”

I wept.

And wept. And wept.

I couldn’t stop crying even after the connection was gone.

My Father, the Lord Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth and of me…created a storm that never came, so that I would not throw my birthday party, but rather attend the birthday party He had planned and arranged for me. He knows how MUCH I LOVE Haiti and those kids. This was the best surprise I’ve ever had.

He is the best birthday party celebrator. Hands down.

Father, you know the longings of my heart. You also remember I am but dust. Thank you.

Jesus, Son of God and my faithful friend. Thank you.

Holy Spirit, wonderful Counselor. Thank you.

He’s done it once again. I have indeed tasted the undeserved goodness of the Lord.

Friday (Finally!)- Cover of “Game of Thrones” theme

I am definitely NOT endorsing this tv series, but I absolutely love this amazing cover. It’s one talented guy, playing a 13 part acoustic and electric violin cover.

And…for those of you who’d like a mashup (the same cover, but they added drums and guitars), here it is. REALLY cool!

Ray of Hope

This video on sex-trafficking in places like India breaks my heart.

This is a powerful story of a girl who went through that experience twice and was rescued. She said, “It would have been better that I would’ve died when my mother gave birth to me”.

Thank the Lord for the people who work in bringing a ray of hope to these victims. Pray for many more to join them.

HT: Challies

Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands II

Here’s the next set of quotes I took from Paul David Tripp’s conference. You can find the first set  here.

“If you’re God’s child, your life doesn’t belong to you”

“God’s work is the work of change for His glory”

“I get angry because I don’t value what God is doing in this particular situation. I  get disappointed because I want something different than what God is giving me”

“All the time… you are preaching to yourself some kind of gospel”

“God sent his son to die because of how serious sin is. My problem as sinner is self-righteousness. I can see this when I’m being confronted. Instead of being thankful and feeling loved, I justify and defend myself”

“Your walk with God is a community project”

“Most ministry moments come when you least expect them to come”

“God will not call you to a test he has not enabled you to do”

Tomorrow, I will post what Paul Tripp calls a MINISTRY MODEL.