Shrewd as a Snake, Innocent as a Dove

Perhaps I should be more shrewd.

On a trip to San Diego, my family and I check in to a resort. I made the reservations for the place and I remember getting 2 queen beds for the room. However the receptionist says that the reservation was for a single King size bed. My dad starts saying that's very unlikely. As for me, I second guess myself and think perhaps I rushed while I was on the website. Then they continue to say that there are no more rooms with 2 queen beds available. So we just tell them okay that's fine since we're already here and they bring in 2 extra beds into the room plus $50 more credit to use. However, at the time I made the reservations, I copied the reservation number online because I noticed that they didn't give me an e-mail/receipt. So once we get into our single King bed room I turn on my laptop, get on their free wifi and check the reservation. Turns out that I didn't make any mistakes and the reservation clearly states "Grand Guestroom 2 Queen Beds". I guess they figure no one ever copies down the reservation number. I tell my dad that perhaps we can go down to the reception and prove to them that we did have a 2 bed room and perhaps they'll give us either more credit or give us some discount for their wrong but he says it's fine.

It's interesting that they would lie to us like that. My dad on the one hand was actually trying to expose that they were lying by kind of complaining at the reception because he had suspected they were doing something behind the scenes. As for me, I just kept second guessing myself as to whether I reserved it correctly and kept hinting at my dad that it might be my fault. But he seemed sure it was their problem.

Reasons why they might pull something like that? I suspect there were very few rooms left and perhaps someone richer or something really wanted a two bed room and perhaps they were staying longer (versus us who were only staying for one night). So then the people say they can pull some strings to get them a two bed room. *shrugs*

In any case, I think it's a good lesson for me to learn. To be more shrewd and not trust strangers so easily. Man this world is corrupt.

Power of Prayer

Thank God!
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I testify.
Earlier tonight, we left from a brother's house at 10:50pm. I get home around 11:15pm. At around 12:10am I find a missed call on my phone at 12:06 so I call back and turns out one of the brothers that left did not get back yet. It's raining, it's dark, he's a new driver, he has no GPS, and his cell phone is dead. So very worried and not sure what to do... I call a brother up and tell a brother online. After about 15 minutes of feeling powerless I pray starting around 12:30am. Very shortly after at 12:37 I call them back and his mom says that he just got back home.
Thank God!
May all the glory and honor and praise be unto His holy name. Amen.

Dream Chasin'

Sometimes things don't turn out the way we expect them to.
It's not what we had imagined, it's not what we wished for.
It hurts us because we had put so much hope and time and effort into it, yet our dream seems to fall apart. Like sand it sifts through our hands, falling before our very eyes, beyond our control.

But it's okay.
We shouldn't give up.
The dream is still a beautiful one. Pursuing the dream is where the beauty is at. Something so hard to obtain is something worth running after.
The things of this world aren't meant to be perfect.
But we needn't worry.

Because
In the end, that will be perfect. We can be sure of that. There'll be no disappointment there.
In the end, everything will be beautiful. That's one dream that we definitely will obtain.

But
it doesn't mean we should stop going after this other dream. Because it brings us hope, it teaches us and shapes us. He uses it to bring us closer to Him. And so although this dream of heaven on earth will remain only in the dream, drawing closer to Him through it is real. And that's really all that matters here.
So let's not give up, let's not be down.
Let's go after the rainbow.
It's gonna be a rough ride, but if it's with Him, it's all good.

calling You calls me back

There is a sweet hour of prayer
that calls me from this world of care.

It reminds me of Your love
and brings me back to my senses
fills me from above
to give me peace and rest

so sweet
how could I forget?

In this time of worry and trial
may I never forget
these knees You have given me
that draws me
nearer to You.
Salvation.

"And this is eternal life, that they may know You" (John 17:3)