Still afraid to fly? Start the new year right!

If you're reading this letter, my disease has run its course. Enclosed is some money for my burial. I would like to be cremated. I spent my whole life in a box. I don't want to be buried in one. Georgia May Byrd.

--- Georgia Byrd [writing a letter], "Last Holiday"

Next time... we will laugh more, we'll love more; we just won't be so afraid.

--- Georgia Byrd [talking to self in mirror], "Last Holiday"

I'm not scared of what happens if I fail and don't get in. I'm scared of what happens if I do.

--- Ephram, "Everwood"


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Some people are so scared they bury themselves in work, in routine, in duty. But me? i'm so scared of losing myself in work [like said people] that i end up doing nothing in the process. What a waste, eh?

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast.

--- Paul, Ephesians 2:8-9


Just because i do nothing doesn't mean i am worth nothing. i have learned that my value lies not in what i do but in what God did for me: in creating, saving, and communing with me. However, there is still a pull, a call, an invitation to do more...and to fear less. The apostle Paul continues:

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

--- Paul, Ephesians 2:10


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DARE YOU TO MOVE
by Switchfoot


Welcome to the planet
Welcome to existence
Everyone's here
Everyone's here
Everybody's watching you now
Everybody waits for you now
What happens next?
What happens next?

I dare you to move
I dare you to move
I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor
I dare you to move
I dare you to move
Like today never happened
Today never happened before

Welcome to the fallout
Welcome to resistance
The tension is here
The tension is here
Between who you are and who you could be
Between how it is and how it should be

I dare you to move
I dare you to move
I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor
I dare you to move
I dare you to move
Like today never happened
Today never happened

Maybe redemption has stories to tell
Maybe forgiveness is right where you fell
Where can you run to escape from yourself?
Where you gonna go?
Where you gonna go?
Salvation is here

I dare you to move
I dare you to move
I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor
I dare you to move
I dare you to move
Like today never happened
Today never happened
Today never happened
Today never happened before


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As 2006 ended, God gently reminded me of this verse [by having it pop out at me from all sides! ;p]:

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

--- Paul, 2 Timothy 1:7


The above verse has become an instant favorite of mine; and looking back at the past year, i can fully agree that that Spirit of God is within me already. [Yay.]

i have been restored, refreshed, reborn in every step taken [back] towards the straight and narrow path, with new eyes seeing everything as redeemed...

i left my job and got two callings from God.

i let go of my crush [oi!] and got a --- erhm --- complete life package from the Almighty.

i got to share about God more powerfully and effectively than i have ever done; being given His wisdom on what to speak and His grace on how to respond. To think before speaking, given my impulsive nature, and to be not offended, given my explosive nature --- without a doubt these are miracles, and gifts received to give back for His glory :)

For the first time i flew out of the country, and i got to go to China twice. [All expenses paid, for six weeks total. Note that this happened when i was jobless too.]

For the first time i learned to appreciate Disney [hahaha! The prodigal princess has finally come home...after 20 years?!], Pinoy movies [you rock Vhong Navarro! Awooo!], and dancing [hiphop, aerodance, ballroom, belly dance, taebo...].

What a great year. Try to top all that happened in '07! But knowing God, i know He can easily do so...So i just can't wait for what happens in this year ^___^


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Zach: So that's it? You're going to go just pump your pom-poms and pretend you're not any different than any other girl on the squad?

Claire Bennet: Yes, actually.

Zach: But you are, Claire! You are different. Don't you see that none of this matters? School spirit doesn't matter. Being a pretty blonde cheerleader doesn't matter. It's not who you are anymore.

Claire Bennet: Who I am? So what, I can crawl through a woodchipper and live to tell about it. That narrows my choices in life to freak or guinea pig, in most cases both. What's wrong with wanting to be normal? You should try it.

--- scene from "Heroes"

Maybe being different isn't the end of the world, it's just who I am.

--- Claire Bennet, "Heroes"

You should know who you are, and know that it's enough. Because who you are is special.

--- Sandra Bennet, "Heroes"


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I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

--- Jesus, John 14:12



Now THAT is a grand claim and an exhilarating promise!

Sounds good enough for my life verse for '08, eh? :)



"EXTRAORDINARY"
by Mandy Moore


I was a bay tree
Quiet and unseen
I lived in stories but inside I kept a mystery
I was a starling
Nobody's darling
Flying in perfect circles just for company

And now I'm ready
And now I'm ready
And now I'm ready to be extraordinary

A midnight airplane
A window blowing
I know I am another sparkle in the sky
I shine on copper
Still undiscovered
But you might see me in the corner of your eye

And now I'm ready
And now I'm ready
And now I'm ready to be extraordinary

Waking up to wake up someday
I am my own parade
Stopping off at a sidewalk cafe
Wind is playing in the trees
Kick up confetti leaves
Seems as if it's all to say

And now I'm ready
And now I'm ready
And now I'm ready to be extraordinary

And now I'm ready
And now I'm ready
And now I'm ready to be extraordinary


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Here is what God says:
"Welcome to an even fuller life. :)"

And here is where i say...
"Amen".

:)