Today was one of the best days ever. It is now a little past 1AM as I sit to write this, but I had to just remember and give thanks. I don’t want to be like the other 9 who forgot to give praise but desire to be like the 1 leper who remembered. Please, Lord… I want to remember to give you praise, for you are great and greatly to be praised.

We had College Open Day, where any potential student or persons interested in Hillsong College came and checked things out. And I had the privilege of being a part of the worship team for the Chapel. And I just thought it was phenomenal. As I’ve mentioned and as you can easily imagine, it really IS always good, but there are always even those above and beyond special moments, and I would say that today was one of them… for me… personally.

See… just prior to this gathering, I listened to a voicemail from back home that was very difficult to process, and I quickly became heavy hearted and distracted. And over the course of the next half hour, I was a bit “distracted” and just contemplative. I had thoughts going left and right about “what if this… or what if that… or what about this… and what about that…” but I knew we were about to enter into a time of praise and worship.

In this environment, it is virtually impossible to stay discouraged for too long, because the very CULTURE of the house, and the language of the people is encouragement, faith, and truth. At the end of the day, it’s about getting the focus off yourself, “your” circumstances, “your” troubles, “your” whatever… That’s why it’s so important to stay 1st close to God, 2nd and so importantly, immersed in the kind of house of God that facilitates the language of encouragement. Interesting, b/c Pastor Brian actually spoke on this last night, and I wonder if that is why I’m thinking along these lines at the moment. I bet it is, and that just only reinforces the power of staying in that kind of environment.

Anyway, I believe that there is so much power in the very ACT of praise. If you’re in a good place, it comes easy. But when you decide to praise when things aren’t so good, God’s grace is so evident, sufficient, more than enough, and just made manifest. And I stood literally IN grace. And worship was just gooder than good.

Praise belongs to God. And it is my only reasonable response for this glorious life I have in Christ. And without making light of my troubles, it is still a light and momentary one. And if my thoughts are on His, and if my eyes are on Christ, it just doesn’t leave much room for the kind of dwelling on the “my” stuff.

And sure, today, had its speedbumps, but had I dwelt on it, I would’ve missed out on SO much goodness that was ALL around me. I have some of the most amazing people in my life here (and everywhere), and tonight, we had a group of about 12 of THE best people you could go to war with over at our house. Eating, laughing, and having just some of the sweetest times. Of course, we did a few rounds of Taboo later, and we laughed til we cried and until our stomachs hurt. And I just had to remember to give thanks for these wonderful moments.

And a night like tonight was only made possible because of my generous friends and family back home who are praying for me and supporting me during this time here, which was my initial purpose of writing this one.

Your blessing on me always overflows into the blessing of others.

I love and miss you all so much!!!

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New Prayer Points:
Leading worship this coming Monday (your Sunday night at 10:30PM, EST. ha.). DONE.
Speaking at an Espresso (mini-chapel) on Fri 26 Sep (your Th 25 Sep, 9PM, EST).* date has been changed but don’t know when yet.
Kids Album Translations team and overall project - the process has begun again.
Searching for a job.
Situation back home.

Brian Houston’s Blog re: Michael G. (referring to my 24 Aug 2008 post) An excellent and honest read.