Count Our Days

Counting God's blessing in our daily lives

October 15, 2010
by Thuong
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Farewell. It’s Been A Good Run!

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It took me sometime to be able to say that, and finally published this post. This is a bidding farewell to my company that I’ve been working with for the last 10 years. We have been through many ups and downs, success and challenges, but now it has come down to this decision that we will soon going into hibernation mode.

We have been working majority with non-profit business and organizations, developing web application software and services catering to the needs of those businesses. We take pride in our works which have been the key in their success. Unfortunately, the non-profit market does not fare well on the roller coaster ride of the economy, our company has been trying hard to hang on to the rail, but now is deeply affected by the motion jet lag. It is a tough decision, especially for my boss whom is the president of the company, to decide whether continue on course and hope the bumpy ride will smooth out eventually, or jump ship.

We believe “there is a time for everything,  and a season for every activity under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)  We strongly believe God is the Master of all plans, and nothing can succeed His ultimate plan for us. We move where He tells us to move, that’s where success at. In fact, in the past, we took a leap of faith knowing that was what He wanted, and He would catch us. We did, and He was faithfully bringing us right back to the top. It is different this time. It was amazing, yet scary at the time, but very satisfying when we obey His direction. Now, it’s a different direction this time. It is hard. We don’t understand it. Decision is made, not reluctantly, but in faith knowing that God is in control, and He has the best plan for us. Every single one of us.

It certainly has been a good run indeed. I am proud to be a part of the company and contribute to its value. Having been with the company from the get-go, I have learned many business aspects, developed wide set of technical skills more than any school or typical job could have offered, and formed relationships with great people. I have been involved with nearly all the projects in various phases, from the design phase to the release  phase. But mostly, the feeling being a part of something huge that has greatly impact on many lives and business and ultimately contribute to the work of building God’s kingdom is satisfying and making my work meaningful to me.

I’m not doing well with good bye. It’s a lot of emotions, and memories. But I’m ready for the next season, the next frontier, the new page that God has planned and placed before me. I will certainly miss my company, fellow workers, and the experience, that’s for sure.

Last Lunch with Agilize

.. with David's family

October 7, 2010
by Thuong
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Praying For You

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I can’t say that I like rap music, but recently I listen to couple songs by the artist named Lecrae, and man I love it. His lyrics just speak to the heart.  Word!! Here is one of his songs that I really like.


YouTube - Prayin' For You

Prayin’ For You
- Lecrea

Father God, I’m prayin’ to you for somebody, who knows you Lord but just hasn’t, hasn’t been seein’ you in the right view lately, Hear me out…

Father, I’m prayin’ for a friend he and I are pretty close, and out of all my friends for this one I’m concerned the most. He say he readin’ daily but he ain’t really learnin’. He been in church but say that he ain’t moved by any sermon. His face weak, he ain’t prayed in a week, he wake up and just weep with his face in the sink Lord, you gotta help my man, I’m prayin’ for him daily, he ain’t sinned but it just seem as if he goin’ crazy. He say he feelin’ trapped, can’t even head up the mall coz every lady’s half-dressed temptin’ him to lust and fall. He keep the TV off, videos just make him feel that he ain’t really nothin’ without money, girls and shiny wheels. The other day he told me that he felt less a man coz he ain’t have a five-year plan or a piece of land and man it’s crazy coz his family think so much of him, plus he got a godly wife who always showin’ love for him but he’s strugglin’, even though he talk to me, I tell him what to do but he don’t listen when he oughta’ be. I’m scared for him coz there’s people that look up to him, he got some younger siblings who been changed by what he’s done for them but is it done for him, Lord don’t let it be, if he don’t wanna talk to you then Father hear from me, is it done for him, Lord don’t let it be, if he don’t wanna talk to you then Father hear from me…

Yeah, I’m prayin’ for you, yeah, I’m prayin’ for you
Yeah, I’m prayin’ for you, yeah, yeah, I’m prayin’ for you…

God, his condition is worsen since we were last conversed and I’m with him now and he ain’t doin’ well and this I’m certain. He say he tryna’ trust you, doesn’t wanna disgust you but he was in the mist of sinners and did not discuss you and just today his anxiety’s got the best of him, he knows Christ but for hours refuse to rest in Him, he’s not the best of men but Lord I know he really loves you and I can’t understand why lately he’s not thinkin’ of you. People trust this dude, you could crush this dude, Father he needs more of you I pray you touch this dude, what can I say to him? I’m determined to pray for him Father empty and brake him I pray you’ll just have your way with him, coz there’s a change in him and the effects are strong, I pray you open up his heart before the next song and when he gets home, I pray he’ll open up the sixty-six book love letter you wrote and soak it up coz he ain’t hearin’ You and he ain’t feelin’ me and God I know it’s killin’ You because it’s killin’ me and matter of fact there’s somethin’ else he’s concealin’ see, the person that I’ve been prayin’ about is really me

September 24, 2010
by Thuong
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Hope and Faith

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Peace amid the Storm

Peace amid the Storm

Stress!!!! Lately, I’ve been facing several tough issues and decisions to make, yet God’s promise and His abundant love are what carry me through. We are well aware of what God can do, but we will experience even more of His grace, wonder and power in the situations where you have to surrender all to Him, and take a leap of faith knowing that He will catch you.

In time, I will reveal to you what this is all about. Looking at what’s going with my life, I see God’s fingerprints are all over and it’s amazing. No one could have orchestrated better. I am not saying it’s been easy on me, or I just don’t worry, sit back, relax, and enjoy about the stuff that are happening (well, that is actually what God told me to do, but it sounds easy but so hard for me to do.. hahaha) . It’s my nature that I’m worry. BUT, in all that GOD is with me the whole time, sending helps, encouragements,  direction all along the way. He is walking with me through this just like King David said:

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,  for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. – Psalm 23:4

This morning, I read this devotion from Heartlight and I want to share with you. It’s another message from God confirms His presence in my life and encourages me to push trough, persevere, go forward.

Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. – Hebrews 10:35-36

Thoughts on Today’s Verse…

There are some tough times that go with living. They’re inescapable. That’s when our confidence in the Lord’s salvation and our relationship with him get tested! It is one thing to sing “it is well with my soul” at the end of a peel-the-paint and raise-the-roof worship service, but it is quite another to be able to sing it when they auction your house off at the courthouse steps, you are told you have a long-term debilitating illness, or you lose a child to death. Faith can’t take a holiday when we travel through the suburbs of hell or we’ll never find our way out. So don’t throw it away. Persevere! Keep putting one foot in front of the other trusting that God will give you the strength for the next step. No matter how hard it is at the moment, don’t give up to despair. Be like Job or Jeremiah who both argued and complained to God, but never let go of God. Don’t quit. Christ is coming for you with grace and in glory. His return is just around the bend and could break into our world at any time.

Photo taken from Digital Inspiration

September 24, 2010
by Thuong
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Cover song: Worthy (Jared Anderson)

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Few weeks ago, I heard this song at New Life Church and just loved it. It’s “Worthy” by Jared Anderson. They were playing during the time of communion, and its mellow tune and the lyric just stirred my heart. I went look on YouTube and surprisingly did not find a single video for this song. No clip, no cover, nothing. (or maybe I just didn’t look at the right place). Anyway, I found the chord tab that Jared Anderson linked for free from his website, http://jaredanderson.com. The song “Worth” is on his CD “Count on God”. By the way, the song with the same CD title is very fun song to sing. They sing that song quite often at New Life.

Anyway, here is my attempt at the song. It’s original in key of D but a little bit high for me to sing, so I played in key of B (On guitar, I capo 4th fret and play in key of G).

I guess I should set some expectation. I’m not a good singer and still learning to play guitar so there are plenty of mistakes in this cover song. Hopefully it’s bearable. hahaha. Lyrics are belows. I also translate it to Vietnamese so that we can sing it at our Vietnamese church.


YouTube - YouTube: Worthy - Jared Anderson (cover)

WORTHY – Jared Anderson

My heart is yours, there is no choice.
Your way is life, and your hearts beat for me
The cross was mine, but you laid down
Your precious life that I might hear you calling.

And now, the greatest gift of love
Never will be lost for I’m returning
Now the price I could not pay
Was giving when you gave your Son most worthy.
I will lift my voice again.

Worthy, worthy is the Lamb for sinners slain
Worthy, worthy. I will lift my voice again


Đời con thuộc riêng duy một Chúa thôi.
Nguyện theo đường Cha, chính Ngài sống trong lòng nầy.
Thập giá của con nhưng Ngài vác thay.
Chịu chết vì con để chuộc cứu con về bên Ngài.

Lạy Chúa, quí báu thay quà tình yêu!
Con nay thuộc về Cha vì bởi tình yêu Ngài
Chúa đã gánh thay tội tình con,
Xóa hết bao sầu đau, buồn thảm, và nghi ngờ.
Giờ con xin cất tiếng hát ca.

Vinh thay, vinh thay Đấng mang tội ô của nhân thế.
Vinh thay, vinh thay. Con ca ngợi danh Chúa không thôi.

September 21, 2010
by Thuong
3 Comments

Shaving

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Father and son shaving together

Father and son shaving together

I remember the time I was young watching my dad shaving his facial hair in the morning. He got soap fluffy covered his face, and smoothly ran the stainless steel razor with replaceable double-edge blade down the cheeks. It was fascinating, like the coolest thing ever and I wondered when I could get to do that.

… Fast forward in time …

As I was getting ready for work this morning, Benjamin sat in the bathroom watching me holding an electric razor in my hand.

Benjamin: “What are you doing, daddy?

Me: “I’m shaving.”

He continued to watch for a few seconds, then said: “Daddy, when I’m big, can I have a ‘mouth lawnmower’ too?” (His word in Vietnamese: cái máy cắt cỏ miệng!)

Me: *laughing out loud*  ”Certainly, Ben. And this, this is called a razor.”

(Image from Getty Images)

August 30, 2010
by Thuong
1 Comment

Can You Read This?

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WARNING:  This article is not for grammar-correcting prone type of people :)

Olny srmat poelpe can raed tihs!

Cdnoul’t blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm.

Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid does not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azamanig huh? Yeah and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!!! See if yrou fdreins can raed tihs too.

OK let’s take a break so the mind doesn’t have to process so much. As I wrote this, the spell checker is going crazy.  It’s quite interesting that our mind can do that, and I am really curious whether it would work for other languages like French, Spanish, German as well…

My kids won’t know about this until they are done with grade school, by the way.