ARE YOU STUCK PROVING YOUR WORTH THAT YOU MISS OUT LIVING YOUR POSSIBILITIES?

We all know that deep inside us, we have a need to be loved and to be accepted just the way we are. But so often, we get stumbled on people's attitude that treat us badly. So, the words 'You're not good enough', or 'You're not lovable enough', and many inferior feelings always there haunting our lives. When I read this article, it got me thinking that definitely, I'm not the only person in the world who feel that way. I'm not alone. Many people out there are suffering the same pain with me due to this 'worth' thing. So, in case you're like me, ever feel this way, this article may be helpful..

The vast majority of us, since childhood, have been trying desperately to prove our worth. We try to prove our worth to our parents, teachers, friends and lovers. We become so absorbed in meeting their standards that we missed out finding our own potential.

To focus our life in proving ourselves to others is not only a loosing battle but a waste of time.

The downside of proving your worth to others is that different people has different standards of what being “worthy” means. To be obsessed in proving our worth to another person is to give that person control in your life. Now think how many persons are you trying to prove your worth?

Ten?

That mean 10 people are somehow stirring your life in 10 different directions.

Feeling dizzy?

If we give more time meeting other’s standards, we may sacrifice finding our own identity.

God did not create us to prove ourselves to others, but to live life to the full. Jesus Himself said: “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” And we shall find life’s fullness in discovering and living out our vocation. Our vocation is God’s will, calling and plan for our lives.

“Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.” -John 4:34

To discover and realize God’s plans for our lives is to open ourselves to unlimited possibilities that we have not even come to imagine. Living out our vocation is to let the seed of greatness that God planted in us grow. And like a small mustard seed, it shall grow into a great tree.

The road to greatness is the path of discovering our God given gifts and living out our vocation. We should stop trying to meet other people’s standards and start living in His.

In every one of us lies a great potential.

You do not need to prove it.

It is there.

What you need to do is live it.

…unlimited possibilities awaits.

Blog by Daxx Bondoc

www.inspirationalblogs.com

CAN GOD BRING GOOD OUT OF BAD?

This is an inspiring article of Greg Laurie's blog that I consider very useful and comforting when I read it. So, I just copy paste here on my blog so you can read it also. Yeah.. talking about suffering, we really want to avoid it, but still we have to go through it, and if we would, we could learn something from it. Happy reading..

I am going to deal with the question, can God bring good out of bad? I believe the answer is “Yes!”

Look, suffering is inevitable. No one gets a free pass. The fact of the matter is that you are either coming out of a storm or headed into another. It’s just a matter of time.

In this life, the only way to avoid suffering is to die.

What you want to do is get ready now, so you will have a proper biblical foundation and can properly process and react as these challenges come into your life.

Prepare ahead of time

As Randy Alcorn says in his book If God is Good, “Most of us don’t give focused thought to evil and suffering until we experience them. This forces us to formulate perspective on the fly, at a time when our thinking is muddled and we’re exhausted and consumed by pressing issues. People who have ‘been there’ will attest that it’s far better to think through suffering in advance.”

In other words, be prepared ahead of time!

Avoiding storms

Paul reminds us that we are to “Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts, and make you wise. Use his words to teach and counsel each other” (Colossians 3:16).

But we would rather not do that, because the topic of suffering is difficult and uncomfortable.

Suffering is one of those things we all want to avoid if at all possible. If you are flying and you see a storm, you try to fly around it, not into it.

But here’s the reality—sometimes you simply cannot do that. Your life can be going reasonably well one moment, and then it changes in a flash.

That certainly happened for our family.

Good things out of suffering?

Here is one of the “good things” that come out of crisis and suffering. You turn to God with a dependence like you have never had before, like a child running to their mom or dad and burying their face in their shoulder.

And you know what? God is there waiting for you with the strength, peace, and love you need. Not necessarily with all the answers you may want, but He is there.

One of the things you “treasure” in suffering is knowing God’s presence as you do. Your faith begins to grow stronger.

Use it or lose it!

Faith does not grow through ease and comfort. It grows through challenge, conflict, and difficulty.

Faith is like a muscle in that it gets stronger through use, not neglect. If you do not use your muscle, it can atrophy.

We have a choice in life—use it or lose it!

The Bible reminds us, “Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way” (James 1:2-4 THE MESSAGE).

Source : Greg Laurie's blog

The Perspective

I've got this email this morning and yeah, like its title, this has brought me a new perspective that I often forget in seeing my life..

One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip
to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people
live.

They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be
considered a very poor family.

On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, 'How was the trip?'

'It was great, Dad.'

'Did you see how poor people live?' the father asked.

'Oh yeah,' said the son.

'So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?' asked the father.

The son answered:

'I saw that we have one dog and they had four.

We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they
have a creek that has no end.

We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night.

Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.

We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go
beyond our sight.

We have servants who serve us, but they serve others.

We buy our food, but they grow theirs.

We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to
protect them.'

The boy's father was speechless.

Then his son added, 'Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are .'

Isn't perspective a wonderful thing? Makes you wonder what would
happen if we all gave thanks for everything we have, instead of
worrying about what we don't have.

Appreciate every single thing you have, especially your family and friends!

The Work of God

God takes ordinary people and does extraordinary things through them because of their devotion to Him. A look at the 12 men Jesus chooses to be His disciples does not reveal a "Who's Who" in Judea. Rather, the men seem to be unknown and undistinguished.

The work of God does not depend on talent or intelligence. Different people have different strengths, but God uses all of us to accomplish His purposes. The body of Christ is made up of many parts -- some highly visible, some hidden, all useful. God makes the most of the talents and spiritual gifts He has given each of us.

This is an insight from crosswalk.com.

I absolutely agree. Sometime we think that we can't do any useful or meaningful works for The Kingdom of God. In fact, the work of God doesn't depend on our talents or intelligences. Each of us has special purpose, tasks and destiny to fulfill. We are different, but we do have one purpose in God : glorifying His Name through our lives.

I learn not to worry about who I am anymore. Yes, am still discovering myself. Am still finding who I am in Him. I also still need to know about many important things in my journey, but I learn to surrender my life to Him. Have been soo tired to count on myself and lean on my own understanding. I still haven't seen my future clearly yet, but it makes me keep hoping. And my hope in Christ won't be disappointing. All I need is just patience. Waiting for His perfect time to reveal all the best He has in store for me.

I always thought that talents, intelligence, and ability matter. I have so many regrets and disappointment buried in my heart. I tended to blame, complain, and critique anything happened to me. I'd never seen it as a God's process in my life. (Oh, how embarrassing has my life been! :)). So I thank The Lord that He has been patient and kind to me. He sent me a puppy. He surrounds me with lovely things I can enjoy. He blesses me with talents and abilities I supposed to use for His glory. He fulfills me with precious info, news, knowledge and promises He knows will be needed for my days ahead of me.

I thank God for being my Lord. In my days ahead of me, I'll do my best and let Him do the rest. I know I am basically just ordinary, but I know that He, Who abides in me is Extraordinary and Almighty, so I can cast all my cares upon Him, and He'll reveal His purpose and intention in creating me as His masterpiece..

I Ask God..

I asked God for strength, that I might achieve,
I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey.

I asked for health, that I might do greater things,
I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.

I asked for riches that I might be happy,
I was given poverty, that I might be wise.

I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men,
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.

I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life,
I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.

I got nothing that I asked for -
but everything I had hoped for.

Almost despite myself,
my unspoken prayers were answered.

I am, among all men,
most richly blessed.

-Anonymous Confederate soldier

You Are Not Accident

This is such an awesome poem by Russel Kelfer..

You are who you are for a reason.
You're part of an intricate plan.
You're a precious and perfect unique design,
Called God's special woman or man.

You look like you look for a reason.
Our God made no mistake.
He knit you together within the womb,
You're just what he wanted to make.

The parents you had were the ones he chose,
And no matter how you may feel,
They were custom-designed with God's plan in mind,
And they bear the Master's seal.

No, that trauma you faced was not easy.
And God wept that it hurt you so;
But it was allowed to shape your heart
So that into his likeness you'd grow.

You are who you are for a reason,
You've been formed by the Master's rod.
You are who you are, beloved,
Because there is a God!"

PRAYER OF ST. FRANCIS

I always love to read about prayers. Besides The Serenity Prayer, the prayer of St. Francis is one of my favorite. (Well, although it's not too easy to live out a constant prayer life). I often encounter obstacles: being lazy, procrastination, feel too tired, and things like that. But, I'm growing in the process, you know. I've arrived at the point when I totally surrender all to God and say yes to Him, whatever it may take. It's not my will anymore, but His. Let His will be done in my whole life.

I know if I follow His ways, I'll reach the best life I always dream of. Not by my power nor by my might but by His Spirit. In every circumstance I face, I just want to experience God and His Name is glorified, that's my prayer for Him. Oh, let my life be a living sacrifice before Him..

Please meditate this prayer with me..

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

25 Good Things About God

I love this! Let's keep it going! No catches. Just the peace in knowing that you were able to share God's love and wisdom to all those you have contact with and even bless someone you don't know. Have a blessed day!

1. Give God what's right -- not what's left.

2. Man's way leads to a hopeless end! -- God's way leads to an endless hope.

3. A lot of kneeling will keep you in good standing.

4. He who kneels before God can stand before anyone.

5. In the sentence of life, the devil may be a comma--but never let him be the period.

6. Don't put a question mark where God puts a period.

7. Are you wrinkled with burden? Come to the church for a face-lift.

8. When praying, don't give God instructions - just report for duty.

9. Don't wait for six strong men to take you to church.

10. We don't change God's message -- His message changes us.

11. The church is prayer-conditioned.

12. When God ordains, He sustains.

13. WARNING: Exposure to the Son may prevent burning.

14. Plan ahead -- It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark.

15. Most people want to serve God, but only in an advisory position.

16. Suffering from truth decay? Brush up on your Bible.

17. Exercise daily -- walk with the Lord.

18. Never give the devil a ride -- he will always want to drive.

19. Nothing else ruins the truth like stretching it.

20. Compassion is difficult to give away because it keeps coming back.

21. He who angers you controls you.

22. Worry is the darkroom in which negatives can develop.

23. Give Satan an inch & he'll be a ruler.

24. Be ye fishers of men -- you catch them & He'll clean them..

25. God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

Now take 60 seconds and give this a shot! Let's just see if Satan stops this one. All you do is: 1. Simply say a small prayer for the person who sent you this, e.g. LORD God, bless this person in whatever it is that You know he or she may be needing this day....) 2. Then forward to everyone you know relatives/friends.

WHY DID JESUS FOLD THE NAPKIN?

Have you known this fact?

Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection? The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes. The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded and was placed at the head of that stony coffin. Early Sunday morning,while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, "They have taken the Lord's body out of the tomb, and I don't know where they have put him!"

Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see. The other disciple out ran Peter and got there first. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in. Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus head was folded up and lying to the side.

Is that important? Absolutely! Is it really significant? Yes!

In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day.The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish boy knew this tradition. When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it. The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch that table until the master was finished. Now if the master was done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers and mouth with that napkin and toss it on to the table. The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, "I'm done." But if the master got up from the table,and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant knew that the folded napkin meant, "I'm not finished yet." The folded napkin meant, "I'm coming back!"

LIFE isn't about waiting for the storm to pass... It's about learning to DANCE In The RAIN!!!

Have a Blessed Day!

God's Grammar

Devotion! Devotion! Devotion!
Please don't be bored about the devotions:) I just want to share this with you because this article has a lot of meaning for me.

Check this out..

Somebody—probably a preacher—has said, "Don't put a period where God only puts a comma."

Good spiritual syntax. When negativity insinuates itself into the narrative of our lives, we tend to end the story too soon. Writer's block sets in. Creativity runs out. The river dries up. We instinctively figure that what's in front of us is a dead end and we can go no further.

There is a quality about failure, heartbreak, and betrayal that fuels a myth of finality: we are hoodwinked into thinking that losing something means losing everything.

If you are like everybody else who shares space with you on the planet, bad things happen to you. I am neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet, but I know this with absolute certainty. At one time or another you will break up, break down, lose out, go broke, give in, get sick, be sad. Life happens. Don't buy a used car—or a slick sermon—from anyone who tells you otherwise.

Your business venture is violated by close contractual partners, significant investments of money and energy are squandered, and you determine never to risk in this way again. Your marriage hits a rut of familiarity and routine, and you think the thrill of love is long gone. You find yourself in a one-sided relationship where you give good things disproportionately more than you get them, and you wonder if the whole thing is worth the effort. Somebody dear to you dies or leaves, and you vow never to let yourself get so close again. Your church disappoints—or worse, demeans—and you want to wash your hands of such a fickle, feckless bunch.

Funny thing about humans: they are never as good as we want them to be. The temptation is to cut our losses, take our meager winnings, and never place bets on human beings again. In short, the temptation is to put a period where a comma used to be.

Don't make that grammatical error this year.

Feed your faith imagination. Discipline yourself to believe that every ending entails a new beginning. Train your eye to see potential success winking over the shoulder of every failure. Believe that the possibilities of grace have a way of outwitting the established patterns of our past. Dare to deliver an alternative speech of hope to yourself. Say words that inspire and stir, that subvert all stored up messages of grief. You thought these messages were indelible, but they're not. Pray this: Lord, let me live with faith in the good that may happen tomorrow rather than regret for the bad that happened yesterday.

Pray that prayer to the one whose creative spirit hovers over all the failure and brokenness of our lives, whose divine eye is peeled to spot all our dead ends and connect them up with everybody else's. Look closer after praying these prayers. You will see that the road hasn't run out; it goes on after all.

The script of your life is still being written, and the pen is in your hand. You've incurred losses like everyone else, but all is not lost. Losing something does not mean losing everything.

So delete that period. Put a comma in its place. How you finish the sentence is up to you and God.

Resource: The High Calling

It's In The Valleys That You Grow

This is a message I received from my friend one day in my life when I felt as if I was walking in the darkness. I don't know who wrote this but it's very true and touchy and encouraged me to raise up my spirit in The Lord.

Sometimes life seems hard to bear,

Full of sorrow, trouble and woe
It's then I have to remember
That it's in the valleys I grow.

If I always stayed on the mountain top
And never experienced pain,
I would never appreciate God's love
And would be living in vain.

I have so much to learn
And my growth is very slow,
Sometimes I need the mountain tops,
But it's in the valleys I grow.

I do not always understand
Why things happen as they do,
But I am very sure of one thing.
My Lord will see me through.

My little valleys are nothing
When I picture Christ on the cross
He went through the valley of death;
His victory was Satan's loss.

Forgive me Lord, for complaining
When I'm feeling so very low.
Just give me a gentle reminder
That it's in the valleys I grow.

Continue to strengthen me, Lord
And use my life each day
To share your love with others
And help them find their way.

Thank you for valleys, Lord
For this one thing I know
The mountain tops are glorious
But it's in the valleys I grow!

Thank God for sending me great friends who always be willing to keep me in their thought and prayer.. I love you, my dearly beloved friends. May God bless you abundantly!

Proud To Be Myself

Astronomers Fred Hoyle and N. C. Wickramasinghe found that the odds of the random formation of a single enzyme from amino acids anywhere on our planet's surface are one in 10²⁰. Furthermore, they observe, "The trouble is that there are about two thousand enzymes and the chance of obtaining them all in a random trial is only one part in (10²⁰)^20,000 = 10^40,000 , an outrageously small probability that could not be faced even if the whole universe consisted of organic soup."

And this is just one step in the formation of life. Nothing has yet been said about DNA and where it came from, or of the transcription of DNA to RNA, which scientists admit cannot even be numerically computed (see Genesis 1:1-27 ).

Resource: Zondervan

Well, regarding to this article, still you feel confused about who you are?
There's only one you in this world.
Please encourage yourself to be proud of whoever you are.
You are so precious in God's sight!
If He spent time to make a different personally touch for each of us, just think how great His plan and His blessings that He'll unfold to us. Keep a strong faith in Him!

Please remember this verse...

If we are faithless,
He will remain faithful,
for He cannot disown himself.

II Tim 2:13, NIV

BYBS - The Hardship Is Worth It

To be honest, I am facing what may worth to be called the darkest moment in my life. There's something too personal so that I can't share with you here. But I just try to keep looking for the positive perspective in everything happens in my life. I just believe that everything happens for a reason.

Sometime even I think I just too much pursuing something unreal in my life. But, well, let's see what next. I won't pushing myself so hard. I'd definitely like to enjoy this life as well, just like any other people. Or, okay.. it may just something I have to face. Supposed that it's just a cross I have to bear. Life can be uneasy and unkind for most of us.. :).

What keep me walk straightly in these times is just a philosophy of gold. Gold will still be gold anything you do to it. The more gold is refined, the more precious it will become. Also, gold can be used for almost anything. It can be used in food, in restorative dentistry, can be made into thread and used in embroidery, in photography, for medals, is used also as the reflective layer on some high-end CDs. Automobiles may use gold for heat insulation also. You can read about the more about gold here. Probably God is preparing me to do something much bigger than what I can think through this hardship. He is refining me to be something precious in His hands. That's the reason I still survive!

Like Job's statement

But He knows the way that I take;

when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.

Job 23:10, NIV

I have no idea about what God has in store for me. But one thing I'm sure is that if He leads me through this way, then He'll give me the strength I may need to go through it. The heavier is the cross, the bigger will be the reward. Probably I have to go through all kind of oppression, bitterness, griefs, and many thing seems I can't bear with my own strength, but I know that's all worth it..

I don't know where's this journey directed to but I let God to take the lead. So I'm sure if something unexpected happens, He'll be responsible for it. It makes me feel blessed. I know that He makes everything beautiful in its time. For He wounds, but He also binds up; He injures, but His hands also heal (Job 5:18, NIV). Nothing happens by accident in His hands. He must have a certain purpose for me though I haven't seen it clearly. All that I need is just patience. Any hard times must be worth it in my journey with Him.

I am blessed because I have God who always sees me.
I am blessed because I can see this hard life in His perspective (though to be honest, it's often uneasy to live that kind of life!:)).
I am blessed because I have a great husband who completes me.
I am blessed for knowing that someday, all of this pain will be paid off in Him.
Amen!

Happy Sundays!

The Difference Between Criticism & Complaining

Have you known the difference between criticism and complaining? Well.. this article came in the right time for me.
When I started to complaining about something uncomfortable that my hubby did. I thought I was right in the beginning, but oh.. as I read this, I found that I was totally wrong!


A little-known secret among marriage specialists is the fact that complaining is actually good for your marriage. You read that right! It's good for your marriage. Research at the University of Washington has shown that complaining, at a moderate level, helps couples air their grievances and keep improving. What isn't helpful to a marriage is criticism.

So what's the difference between criticism and complaining? Criticism almost always begins with you ("You always make us late!"), whereas complaining almost always begins with I ("I feel so frustrated when we are late to something that matters to me"). This may seem like a small matter of semantics, but it makes a big difference in your marriage.

Resource: Zondervan

Thank God for this corrective devotionals!

Thankful For The Family

I am thankful for those whose hearts are always open and be faithful in my church.

As family, we may sometime hurt each other,
through our words or deeds.
Sometime we do it in purpose,
but yeah.. sometime just by accident.
We have our weaknesses ourselves, and unfortunately,
we have to take it for granted.
We come from different backgrounds:
different family, culture, habits, .. we are totally different!
We may feel strong to stand by our own power,
and don't feel need to ask for a kindness helpful
We may fall and disappoint when we look at others
We make mistakes all the time
We face troubles
We aren't perfect
But we shouldn't be giving up!
'Cause we're the family
United in God's love
Purified in Jesus' blood
Bound by love that time can't take away
May God bless you and be with you wherever you are..
I am so proud having you as my family!

You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them. ~Desmond Tutu

In time of test, family is best. ~Burmese Proverb

Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family. ~Anthony Brandt

The informality of family life is a blessed condition that allows us to become our best while looking our worst. ~Marge Kennedy

Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one. ~Jane Howard

Dedicated to all of my church family.
Now and forever, we'll be together.
I always keep you in my thought and my prayer.
Thank God we are family...

I Saw A Rainbow!

Few days ago, on my way to a prayer service, I saw a rainbow. I was very overwhelmed. I sat in awesome feeling about God's greatness and might in the seat of my car.

Oh, my...

It must have been so long since the last time I saw a rainbow!

I've just remembered God's covenant with Abraham that neither shall the flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood, neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth (Gen 9:11, KJV).

I suddenly remembered a story that Laurie Beth Jones wrote on her book (oh, I forget which book it was!). She wrote that she had a little covenant with God when she was a teenager. She asked God to encourage her in her darkest night by sending her a bee as a sign of His favor. She almost forgot about it 'till someday she had to do her hectic job, almost been desperate, and felt so exhausted. Suddenly, in surprise she saw a bee flew over the window of the hotel room where she stayed. It was so snowy outside, so cold and it was impossible for bees to fly at that moment. (Just think about it: a bee in a hotel room?). But she did find it. And she knew for sure that it was God who had sent the bee to encourage her.

Oh, isn't it interesting?

I think I'll make a little covenant with God, too. I'll ask for a rainbow to peep out for me in my hardest moments. As I see the rainbow, I'll be sure that God is there with me (and hopefully, I'll always be favorable in His sight!). As simple as that. (Well, I know for sure that God is always besides me. But sometime I do need evidences to encourage me more....). Thank God for being so full of mercy and grace!!

I think sometime it's necessary to use something simple to remind ourselves about God.

How about you?

Facing All The Difficulties

There have been difficult moments happening in our lives. Difficult people, difficult circumstance, difficult choice, difficult work, and many difficulties we have to face it all alone.

Sometime I feel that I can't bear all the difficulties for any longer. Too many demands pointed at me. Too many responsibilities I've to do. Too many questions I should answer. Too many burdens I've to bear. Oh, seems no power anymore within me.

I've been walking here and there all along my journey, searching for a clue but found nothing. Oh, should I be that one?

I do ask myself a question 'Why we should meet some difficulties in this life's journey? Can't we just walk on a straight pathway, find that everything has been all right, as good as what you may expect and hope it will be so forever?' Oh, my...

The hardest part is, I've to be perfect for my folks. I've to be pretending that everything is all right. I've to act as if I am okay and put a big smile on my face that shows to everyone that this life is such a good thing and we have to live it as good as we can and we have to keep waiting and praying and trying and expecting and working and pretending.....

Oh, what a beautiful life!

That's probably why many people can't keep up their faith to God. Because like a quote says 'seeing is believing'. Without seeing, we can't believe anything. We want to see something clearly before we can put our hope and faith on it. We could never walk in the darkness. We need some clues. We need to behold up to the sky and find a cloud in key shape or something like that that we may get it as a sign from God about our lives.

Yes. It's our very nature. We can't be pretending that we always have faith. We can't say that anything happens, we will keep up our faiths in God meanwhile our surrounding isn't well done.

Oh, probably you say that you're having a big faith in God. But, please consider that you're still a human being. With your own power, you'll be falling someday. With your intelligence, your great feelings, your existence you'll be arriving at your lowest point somewhere in your journey..

Yeah, that's why we need God. In order that we can count on Him. We can cast all our cares upon Him. Outpour all our feelings to Him. Tell Him how weak we are and expecting His strength to be showed up to fill in our weaknesses.

Oh my goodness..

Even sometime, the reward doesn't make any sense for me. Like everybody says that there must be a reward for everything we do. What we sow, so that will we reap. But when I arrive at my lowest point, when I walk in the darkest night in my journey, when I'm out of my mind, I can't think anymore, feel as though I want to get rid of this journey. I want to walk on my own way. But, oh.. I'm afraid.

Lord, please take my hand, take my heart, my mind, my soul, my feeling, my whole life..

Oh, I've been inspired by this: Have you ever watched 'Boiling Point' on MTV? On that program, someone will come to mess up a certain situation (for a certain moment) and the 'victim' is required to be patient and show up good attitudes. They'll fail if they start to call the police or speak out something insulting regarding to that 'play'. In opposite, they'll get the rewards if they can keep up their good attitude.

Many people get surprised when they succeed to survive that play and get their rewards meanwhile some of them fail and feel sorry to loose that play because one reason: they don't know that they were tempted. If they got the idea why the situation seems to be messed up, all of them may successfully pass out the play as winners.

Probably, this will show us a little bit about this life's journey. When the hardship comes, when the bee stings, when our eyes cry, when our power has vanished, when our strength has gone, it could probably be temptations we are facing. It could be a test we have to pass over and win it. The bigger is the test, the bigger will be the reward. The harder is the temptation, the greater will be the victory.

Oh, as I type this, the more it comes true in my life the verse that says

'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit' said The Lord of hosts

(Zach 4:6, KJV).

With my own power I'm not able, Lord, so let Your power takes the lead all along this journey...

Amen.

Gratitude For Those Who Have Hurt Me

All along my journey, I've met sooo many people. There are people who are great and so much kind. There also are people who are in common, not trying to do the best they can. And the remain, people who are –uhm, have no idea about who they are, because they can be so kind to me but talk the things I can't ever understand about me behind me.

I've always felt that I've never have enemies. As whatever I say or do in front of ones, the same will I say or do behind them. I can't believe there are some people who talk the different way to you and behind you. Why they can be like that?

To be honest, sometime it hurts me. It will hurt anyone, I supposed. Seems to feel as if I am betrayed by someone I've never expected to. Imagine what would happen when you hear the one you supposed to be kind to you definitely talked something bad behind you. Can you believe it? You must be asking 'Why?', 'How can?' You'll never expected that!

Yeah.. we have always to learn from any mistakes we've met all along our journey, haven't we? I have met many people such like that. Often, I want to give up. I supposed I can control their words. I supposed I can shut them up through my kindred heart. I supposed I've known them well that they can't talk something hurt and untrue like that, or the one who tell me about that was doing wrong, but apparently I'm the one who is totally wrong. Yes, there are people with that type surround us!

But, rather than blaming them, whole heartedly I have to thank them for anything they've done to me.

Without them .....

I'll never learn which one is good and which one is bad for my behavior.

Probably I'll do what they've done to me to other people.

I'll never learn anything about integrity.

I can't share my story here :)

Without comparing to bad ones, how can I know which is such a good friend to me?

I can't be thankful for anything good that have come to me.

Oh, they are such as a mirror for me. It could be possible that they've just reflected what I've done actually in my past. Who knows?

Thank God for placing them in my journey. I am lucky. I am blessed. Though my heart may hurt, but I got something to learn through them, meanwhile they might not get anything from their behavior...

There always be a reason to be thankful!

Thursday Thirteens - There Always Be Miracles

What is a miracle? Some people may refer it to sensational or supernatural things could ever happen in their life. But for me, miracle is much more than that. Miracle could be seen in little things that give value for me. For example, if I have sooo many business to do, no time for doing anything anymore, then suddenly comes up somebody offer to help... It could be such a big miracle for me!

I don't want to wait 'till something marvelous happens. For me, little things often give much more meaning if we want to see each of that as miracles...

Here are 13 little things could be seen as miracles for me (not in particular order!)...

1. Sunrise. Oh, it reminds me of God's mercies that are new every morning.
2. Holy Bible. It strengthens me whenever I'm weak. Every time I feel anxious, I know I always turn upon God's promises!
3. Coffee. Wake me up from my 'sleepy sickness'...
4. My journal. Just writing has made me feel like being in heaven.
5. My computer. Oh, can't ever imagine what my life would be without this one..
6. The power of prayer. Can't understand yet how could prayers change anything. And how could God answers each of our prayer so right in timing..
7. My hubby. I am speechless about him!
8. Ideas. Could never know where all of my ideas came from. But one thing I know, that I am blessed with sooo many creative ideas to be written in my head. Oh, praise God for that!
9. Love. Can you imagine what will this world be without love? For love beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.. (I Cor 13:7, KJV).
10. Girls nite out. Always brightening, refreshing, and inspiring me to do something better!
11. A smile. Do you believe that smile can change one's life? There are times when all it takes is just smile. Even sometime, one counts their life on other's smile. (Hey, we could never guess one's feeling, could we?). I believe that only a smile can change the world. At least, if we change someone's world to be better, we've already made a change!
12. Friendships. Including inside : faithfulness, kindness, mercies, patience, and any other good things!
13. Hugo, my pet. Whenever I'm busy mindful of what will he eat, how to get him healthier, or is our care already good enough for him etc, I always think about how God is always be busy mindful of me. If a dog like Hugo would never be worry about anything (because he has us who will always care for him!), why should I worry about my life then?

Visit here to read more of Thursday Thirteen.

Everything Happens For A Reason

Ough, have no idea what's happening with my Adobe Flash Player. It doesn't run well or stop or what, so I can't post my Then Sings My Soul Saturday today, at least I can't paste You Tube on my blog. Hmgghhh...

Many bad things happen this week. (Oh, please don't imagine the 'bad' that I wrote as the real bad. It may different with what you think. I used to have different way of seeing something. LOL). Even, the times I can't post on my blog would be bad moments for me. You know, these past few days I couldn't access my Blogger so I just posted all of these posts through my Multiply. Thank God for Multiply!

Yeahh.. though sometimes I have a different point of view from common people as I mentioned above, I always know that nothing happens by accident. I know for sure that anything happens in the world, happens for a certain reason and purpose. We may not understand before it unfolds, but in the right time, -I prefer to say in God's time-, we would know it as something perfect from the heavens above...


When we encounter something, we may say it as 'good' or 'bad', but we can't judge whether something is good or bad just based on our opinions or our thoughts, because we are limited. We have limited thoughts. We can't see the final result. We don't see the the end of the journey yet. Changes may happen here and there along the way. The goods may change. The bads may accumulate, or something like that. Unexpected things could come across. (Who knows?) So it's probably the best reason why we shouldn't count on ourselves. Only God The One who foresees everything. He even knew us before we had been being born. He saw our lives, our problems, our afflictions, our griefs, our weaknesses (and sort of that!) so we have to totally trust in Him.

Well, this may just a simple thing. But I have always encouraged my soul not to be disappoint if I couldn't get what I really want in my life. I know for sure that if I can't get something I wish, it could possibly not to be the best I would ever get. God is providing something better than that!


If everything happens for a reason, so you have to discover what's hidden behind something before you can judge it good or bad. Remember the changes and the unexpected things that may happen. But please don't ever ignore one thing, that all things work together for good to them that love God. Don't be afraid of what one could mention as bad things. Those also can turn into good in God's hands. I'm sure you'll find the good at the end of the story with God besides you!

Hey, BTW, here's the song I want to share..

When Peace Like A River

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll;
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Refrain:
 It is well with my soul,
 it is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,

let this blest assurance control,
that Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
and hath shed his own blood for my soul.
(Refrain)

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
(Refrain)

And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
the clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
the trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
even so, it is well with my soul.
(Refrain)

And the question is,
Is it well with your soul? :)