Today is my second month here in Dumaguete City.
After staying at home for several months, I bounced back and came here last April 27 with full of excitement and optimism. I came here with this word:
Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light. Because I have sinned against him, I will bear the Lord�s wrath, until he pleads my case and establishes my right. He will bring me out into the light; I will see his righteousness. Micah 7:8-9 NIV
and this song in my heart:
I will rise! I will rise! As Christ was raised to life Now in Him, Now in Him I live!
And I came here with the inspiration of this book Wild at Heart that quotes:
Its not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly... who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. --�Teddy Roosevelt
My local church wanted me to teach more after finishing my financial literacy lessons. But I left fully charged with these thoughts:
�So when everybody was saying, �You have to write more Morrie�it�s such a big success. You have to do a follow-up.� I remember Morrie�s voice saying, �No you don�t. Be true to yourself.� So I refused to do it, despite all kinds of offers, all kinds of money and success. ��--�Mitch Albom
I'm not a chicken who is expected to lay an egg everyday. I am an eagle designed to fly and soar high, designed to achieve and explore great heights!
For after years of living in a cage, a lion no longer even believes it is a lion... and a man no longer believes he is a man. �-- Wild at Heart.
We know we were made for so much more
Than an ordinary life
We were made to thrive
I was fully convinced that God brought me in this city for a purpose.
But as I have written in my other blog, there is discomfort in the process of change. For so many times I missed home and wanted to go back, thinking of all the comforts I had instead of cooking my own food (slightly edible food), thinking of my nephew instead of playing with my new neighbor's kid, thinking of the church I was serving with instead of living a laid back life and just biking along the seashore.
I also have had a dream with a group of pastors asking me to help them in a certain local church. This is difficult to ignore because God usually speaks to me through dreams.�Several times I asked God whether I am really in a right place at a right time. I felt lonely, and told myself that I'm insane.�My friends told me that I'm going nuts, wasting money in enrolling MA History that's absolutely nothing to do with engineering nor with my IT career. These added voices to my confusion.
Thankfully, I've got new friends here who constantly tell me that they're just a text away when I'm lonely. They always tell me that I should stay a little longer and see what this city has to offer, and see what God intended to accomplish in my life in this place.
I also have new neighbors who are always willing to assist, always available to talk to, and provide company in their simple ways.
Therefore,
I put no trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory; but you give us victory... In God we make our boast all day long...� Psalm 44:6-8 NIV
God will give us victory when we focus from "my/me" to "us/we".