Missin' You

MISSIN' YOU
by Chris Rice

I heard about the day You went away
You said You had to go prepare a place
And even though I’ve never seen Your face
I’m missin’ You

I lie awake tonight and I watch the sky
And I wish it didn’t have to be so high
‘Cause I’m belonging on the other side
And I’m missin’ You

‘Cause somewhere behind those stars
Is Someone who belongs to me
And I know in my deepest heart
There’s a place for You until I find the place You made for me
But still I’m missin’ You

I dream about Your promise to return
And I wake up hangin’ on Your every word
But for now my feet are planted here on earth
So I’m missin’ You
And even while they say that I’m a fool
I know you see me waiting here for You
Oh, and prayin’ that somehow You’ll get here soon
‘Cause I’m missin’ You

‘Cause somewhere behind those stars
Is Someone who belongs to me
And I know in my deepest heart
There’s a place for You until I find the place You made for me
But still I’m missin’ You

How much longer will it be
Till I get to see you
Though I know you’re right here with me
Tell me when can I be there with you

‘Cause somewhere behind those stars
Is Someone who belongs to me
And I know in my deepest heart
There’s a place for You until I find the place You made for me
But still I’m missin’ You

Oh, I’m missin’ You
Lord, I’m missin’ You

You Never Let Go

You Never Let Go
by Matt Redman

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I’m caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I won’t turn back
I know You are near

And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?

Chorus:
Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me

And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
We’ll live to know You here on the earth

Chorus:
Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
Still I will praise You, still I will praise You

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The story behind the song (from www.mattredman.com)

I wrote this song with my wife Beth, and it's special to us because it helped us make it through a very hard season in our lives. It was written in a really intense week. Beth suffered a miscarriage, and actually it was also the week of the London bombings. There are times when everything in life seems to be breaking and shaking apart, and that age old Psalmist cry of 'How long O Lord, how long?' is echoing through your soul. It's in seasons like those where we need to find something firm to stand on. For as real as these struggles are, there's an even greater reality we can connect with, the wisdom, power and love of our amazing God. In our darkest moments He's as kind, caring and in control as He ever was. The song for us was a really a way of reminding ourselves that there´s a God who never lets go us, through the times of calm, and the stormy times.

In the song we use Psalm 23 as a springboard into the theme. 'Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death', and aim to lead people into a place of hope. Since writing the song we've been so encouraged by some of the emails and letters we've received in response. For example, people who have lost loved ones in a such hard circumstances. And though they're very real about it and grieving the loss, they've made a choice to remain on the paths of trust and praise. Our God never let go of us, and if we're wise in worship, we'll never let go of Him.

============================================

When we feel like giving up on ourselves, when we feel like we just want to disappear, when we feel like we're worthless and more than useless, when we feel like there's no one who cares, when we feel like the weight of the world is upon us... God never lets go of us!

"Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God." Psalm 42:11

Remembering

It has been three days since I’ve started in this job. I can’t help but remember countless things, persons and experiences as I tagged along with my officemates in the inventory of network equipment in UP Diliman campus. I visited UP Diliman few times before when we did library research when I was still in highschool. UP Diliman is very much like my beloved UPLB… the trees, buildings, road pavements, smell of old books, etc… I think UPD just lacks the “rural” and “camaraderie” feel of UPLB. :) The walk through different buildings was like a “walk to remember”. Some images of things, persons and experiences were flashing back in my mind. Well, the walk was quite tiring but I enjoyed it very much. I used to walk in UPLB then. It was like I’m having “field trips” every day.hehe :) (Actually, I miss the “walking sessions” with my dorm mates or blocmates.)

Some memorable remembrances are:

• the smell of old books in the main library – I used to stay in the UPLB main library before and I really love the smell of old books even if it was one of the probable cause of my rhinitis.hehe I don’t know but that “old-book-smell” gives me a different natural high…parang rugby!hehe
• red-floorwax-polished-floor – I love the feel of “gliding” my sneakers on the red-floorwax-polished-floor. I remember the red-floorwax-polished-floor in my college dorm.
• College of Education and College of Law were the buildings I visited when I was in highschool – I remembered I found a good reference book about graft and corruption in the College of Education library for my social studies paper. I got a copy of a republic act on organ donation at the College of Law for another social studies paper.
• familiar trees especially the palm trees I saw in NSRI – I used to memorize the names of those trees before because in UPLB most of the trees have “labels” complete with its respective scientific names. I wouldn’t forget the lined up palm trees from Carabao Park to Humanities building and from CHE (College of Human Ecology) building to PhySci (Physical Sciences) building.
• Lab rooms in the PAV1, PAV2, PAV3 buildings – I remember my Chem and Physics labs before…wearing of lab gown made me feel like I’m a doctor and doing different strange experiments made me feel like I’m a scientist/physicist!hehe
• ROMVLO HALL – I used to wonder how to pronounce ROMVLO when I was in highschool… hehe it was the first UP Diliman building I saw then… it’s the first building you’ll see when the jeep from Katipunan enters UP campus.
• Walk along R. Magsaysay road – I remembered my journey in finding the unpopular CSRC building to inquire about ITTC. From R. Magsaysay road to CSRC building is quite a long walk. :)
• CHE (College of Home Economics) building – It has the same initials with our college… College of Human Ecology! And besides, a good friend is also from CHE (College of Home Economics)… confusing di ba? Both colleges produce brilliant nutrition graduates.hehe :)

With all these remembering thoughts, once again I thank God for giving us memory! Good thing He thought of putting that “memory” feature in human beings. :) I really appreciate memory these past weeks! But most of the time, we are forgetful people. Forgetful on the blessings we received and the mistakes we made. May God help us remember the blessings we receive each day and give us wisdom to learn from the mistakes we make! Happy remembering! :)

Hello, Goodbye, Hello...

Hello!

Forrest Gump once said, “Life is like a box of chocolates…” I say, “Life is a series of hellos and goodbyes.” From the time we said “hello world!” till the time we’ll say “goodbye world!” we encounter different “hellos” and “goodbyes”. May it be to a person, thing, animal, problem, experience, or whatever it may be… everything has a beginning and end. We say “hello shoes!” then after a while “goodbye shoes!”… then after a while “hello new shoes!” then “’goodbye new but now old shoes!” It’s just a cycle. But the important thing in all these “hellos” and “goodbyes” is what transpired in between. Did we choose to love? Did we choose to appreciate? Did we choose to cherish the moment?

We can’t avoid having mixed emotions in all these. We may feel sad because of a goodbye moment but we may also feel both excited and happy for what lies ahead (a.k.a. hello moment). Mixed emotions, isn’t it? Been going through some “hellos” and “goodbyes” these days… makes me feel sad, excited, happy, fearful in a way, and everything! But life must go on. :) Live the moment, appreciate it, cherish it, learn from it. :)

People have different styles in handling certain “hello” and “goodbye” moments. Well, in my case, music is my “therapy”. Some of my current “comfort” songs are: “Cry On My Shoulder” by Overflow; “Rescue” by Desperation Band; “Hand” by Jars Of Clay; “I Won’t Give Up” by Everyday Sunday; “Because He Lives” (old hymn). I feel better when I’m eating ice cream while listening to the music.hehe :) Seriously, these songs give me encouragement and sense of hope. I know that all these “hellos” and “goodbyes” are inevitable and in everything God has a purpose. :)

The only tragedy in between “hello world!” and “goodbye world!” is not to know the Author of Life in this lifetime. We are just travelers in this so-called life and there is a better (or worse) life waiting for us after this. Now it all depends on our relationship to the One who saves us from our sins, Jesus! Accept Him in your life and you’ll say “goodbye world!” “hello heaven!”. Reject Him and you’ll say “goodbye world!” “hello hell!”. Two choices. One important decision. The decision is ours. Make it here and now not then and after. (For more info on the “one important decision” I’m talking about… just leave a message in the chatbox or click here.)

That’s all for now!
Goodbye! :)