Photo source: The Healing Diaries
Turn not aside, discouraged one;
Stir up your gift, pursue your goal;
In God’s own time you’ll see Him work;
He’ll give you hope and lift your soul.
– D. DeHaan
Faith generates love. Love feeds faith.
– Heard on 09.12.12
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13
Isaiah 41:10
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Jeremiah 29:11-13
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Romans 8:37
In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us.
The point in waiting is to enjoy
To love and worship God
In every act of your life
Including the waiting.
And in the waiting
Remember His nature
That He is the Giver of every perfect gift
That He desires to lavish you with such treasures
Treasures that are worth the wait
Solely because He is in them.
Rest in this:
He is going to give you
Exactly what you need
At exactly the time you need it.
That is reason to smile
That is reason to breathe easy
And rest in Him.
Let go of “when” and “if”
Because His way
Are so much higher than yours.
His thoughts
Beyond what you could ever fathom
Because He loves you
Oh, how He loves you.
And that is the point of your entire existence
To experience His presence
His love
Inside every moment
Especially in the waiting.
– Josiah Schwartz
Last Wednesday, I got a Stargazer from the flower market on my way to work. It’s a flower I’ve always wanted to have beside me, cos of it’s wonderful color and fragrance. Little did I know I’d be reminded so much by this lily. More than just appreciating how lovely they are and how nice they smell, they reminded me of life’s brevity, God’s glory, God’s providence, and His amazing grace.
As I see a bud opens up, I’m reminded of Matthew 6:28-31. Why worry? See the beautiful flowers in the field, even in the short span of their life, how pretty the Lord has dressed them without them toiling that even Solomon was never dressed as lovely as them. How much more, then, that God will provide for us? It also showed me how these fragile creatures never hold back in showing off their beauty to bring glory to their Maker.
Today, one of the lily has withered and it reminded me of life’s brevity; that beauty is fleeting, what is important is to praise God (Proverbs 31:30); of God’s faithfulness in the frailty of this life (Isaiah 40:8); and the will of the Lord. (James 4:13-16).
It is in the little things, even the tiny flower that springs up from a crack in the pavement, that teaches us the greatest lessons. Often, it is in the things we take for granted. So always keep your eyes, ears and heart open, cos our Father is always speaking to us. (:
Peacefully waiting is the verb, but what do you call the waiting that is peaceful?
It’s something I’ve been enjoying for a few months now. I am surprised, at first, to find that I am no longer fretting or complaining about what is taking so long. The surprise turns into gratitude and of praises for our Lord for He has given me this sense of peace. It has been a long road of getting here, and I wouldn’t have gotten here if I did not acknowledge the fact that I NEED IT, ASKED FOR IT and SOUGHT AFTER IT. (Matthew 7:7-8)
The mind never ceases to ask questions, to provoke, to deceive, to reason out. The heart never ceases to yearn, to desire, to want, to feel. There were moments I wanted to just shut them up. Now, I welcome them with whatever they want to do, with the confidence that He has already provided the answer and these things I go through are just small bumps and are needed for me to draw closer to Him and to better understand and appreciate what He is going to do for me. The desire and the questions are still there, but a sense of calm patience has overtaken. If I have to put into words the feeling, it’s like being told, “Wait, my princess, the wait will be so worth it. For now, enjoy the gifts I am giving you.” And yes, there are so many blessings that might have been overshadowed if I have gotten what I have desired.
Truly, the Lord’s ways and plans are beyond anyone. (Isaiah 55:8-9). And His plans for me are full of hope and is beautiful. (Jeremiah 29:11). Nothing to fret but in all things to have the heart and wait for Him, to provide, to bless, to come. (Psalm 27:14). And these, I really love… Look at the birds of the sky, the lilies of the field, look around at how He has taken care of them (Matthew 6:25-34).
I’m reading this book by Francis J. Kong entitled “Just When You Think You Can’t Do It… Do it!” It’s a compilation of his essays. Aside from getting this book at a super price-off (20 pesos for a 560pesos book, hardbound!), I’m loving his essays! Inspiring, encouraging and above all, a constant reminder of how God works in our lives.
At one he talked about a musician, actually he talked a lot about musicians – their passion, their discipline, their perseverance, and how they value their God-given talent (in spite of their situation) and use it to bring glory to our Lord. It made me think about my own God-given talent.
It can be hard to know which is which because we often confuse the want-to-be’s with the talent that we really have, and it doesn’t help when you feel talentless at all, because you think talent is just about singing, playing an instrument, acting, drawing or painting. Talent is anything that you are good with; and with discipline, practice, perseverance and the right heart and attitude, you can excel in. It can be in public speaking, in academics, in understanding people, in counseling, in writing, in hair-dressing, in sewing, in cooking, in baking, in interacting with children, in teaching, the field is soooo wide we all have our own space and mark to make. The sad thing is, not everyone of us realizes that, and not everyone of us aim for it. And some even see their God-given talent as a burden, as a job. We seem to want what others already have and neglect the talent-seed planted by God in us.
It’s about time we know what we’re made of, know what we’re capable of, cultivate our God-given talent and use it to glorify our Lord.
Because of what I got to read last night, I am in the process of once and for all determining where I can excel and to work on it. (: Writing is sure to be in the list. Daydreaming? Will that be counted? And i really have to take playing the guitar seriously, no more shortcuts, as it is an offering and service for our Lord. Go! Fighto-o!
Cinderella’s glass slipper, that wonderful dress, that golden band… When they fit perfectly, it’s meant to be. A walk this morning made me realize more. Everything in life is meant to be. Anything and everything is perfectly fitted.
Your location, your condition, your reality and the resources you have, take a look and reflect on them, they are perfectly fitted for the you today, building up for a better you tomorrow. It may take a while, maybe even longer for some, to really see how the pieces in their lives are perfectly fitting together. But I am certain they all do, and acceptance is one of the key to seeing that. Accept, in serenity, the past and see how it has perfectly fitted in your life to bring you where you are now. Let go of a past that isn’t there, take with you the lessons. Live, with passion, the present as this is the moment of choices/decisions. And only when you have accepted your past and do best with the resources you have now that you can truly live in the present. Then face, with courage and faith, the future unseen. When you live your present with love and passion, you have nothing to be anxious about with the future because the Lord has already taken care of it, He asks that you trust Him.
Think about it. Where you’ve been, where you are, what you had, what you have, who you had, who you’re with… Everything fitted perfectly in your life. With that, make more good pieces, good memories, good choices, and be assured that they are also perfect fit in your life. ☺
Pixies & Stardust 