The constant through it all...

*LISTENING TO:*
Song: You Carried Me
Artist: Building 429
Album: Iris to Iris
Quote: "See below"

I’ve been so busy
I missed the reasons
I missed Your love
and I nearly missed it all

Still You’ve held me
And You’ve healed me
You’ve given all
And it brought me to Your cross

And I stand only because
You’ve given me grace to walk
Only because

[CHORUS]
You carried me
You carried me
You carried me through it all
And I believe
Yes I believe
You’ll carry me all the way home
Cause mercy covers all

I know the scripture
I’ve known the songs
I sang the words
from my hollowed heart

But You’ve spoken softly
Through the storm
I’ve heard Your voice
and I’ve felt the calm

I stand only because
You’ve given me faith to walk
Only because

[Bridge]
Lord I know that you love me
I’ll never doubt it
I can’t live without it
Your mercy has found me
I am astounded
I can’t live without it, oooh

* * *

There is a television commercial that has always kinda stuck in my mind... one of the marketing creations of Nike many years ago... it focuses on Michael Jordan, arguably one of greatest basketball players ever, walking into the stadium with the following voiceover:

"I've missed more than 9,000 shots in my career, I've lost almost 300 games, 26 times I've been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed, I've failed over and over and over again in my life... and that is why I succeed."

For christians, maybe the last line should read "...and that is why I believe"?

It amazes me. It amazes me how many times I've strayed. It amazes me how many times I try to do things by my own power. It amazes how many times I've failed in trusting Him with absolutely everything in my life. It amazes me how often I try to choose my own path in life, whether it is according to God's will or not. It amazes me how frustrated I get at God sometimes. It amazes me how sad I get when something doesn't go according to my own hopes or dreams. It amazes me how short-sighted I can be. It amazes me how many times I have to learn and re-learn lessons. And it amazes me that despite all of this, He still loves me, He is always faithful, His mercy and His grace are ever present, He is still moulding and shaping me, and His plan for me is still unfolding... It's hard to fathom sometimes.

I feel so undeserving sometimes.... to be blessed so abundantly.... whether it's health, possessions, family, or dear friends...

On this gorgeous sunny spring day, I had the opportunity, at work, to go for my usual stroll at lunchtime. Just off the path, I was able to find a little stream of sorts within the forest... and decided to just sit on a rock in the middle of the trickling water, just taking some quiet peaceful time to think and reflect. Heheh, I was soon pleasantly joined by two ducks, one male and one female, that apparently flew in to enjoy their own lunchtime as well. I was literally only a few feet away from them. I just sat there and watched them while deep in thought. It's so neat how God is teaching me lessons every day, and as I pondered, I couldn't help but reminisce and look back with a different light... it's always so cool to look back and see God's story unfold according to exactly how He planned it... even though I was frustratingly blind to it at the time. Just as there is beauty in nature, there is beauty discovered when looking back, kind of like finding buried treasure or discovering hidden precious stones... I couldn't help but smile.

Through all the ups and downs, through all the highs and the lows, through all the trials and the triumphs, through this whole mess I call my life... God has been the one constant through it all. How amazing. How beautiful.