God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart.
~ Dr. Bill Bright
Tag: God
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Peaceful Wait…
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).
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Cultivate The Seed Planted In You
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!
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Perfectly Fitted
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. ☺
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To Look Good and Feel Good
While beauty is in the eye of the beholder, real beauty is what you feel inside and what radiates outward. It’s not the clothes we wear or our hairstyle or makeup, but the smile we project, the twinkle in our eyes, the warmth of our presence and the glow in our faces. And only when we have Christ in us, when we let the Spirit fill us, when we accept the graces and let them overflow, do we achieve such beauty. It is, for me, the most beautiful of the beautiful’s. To feel and look good, start within, call on the Lord, listen to Him, and let His love for you overflow.
Thank You Lord. Life in this world has wonderful fairy tale stories and endings because of Your love. Reality is real, but You and Your love overcome what most people accept as reality. The world may be harsh and cruel and reality bites hard, yet You let Your people shine as Your love overflows and You have conquered the world.
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All is Fun That Ends in Laughter
Laughter. Not only the best medicine. Not only music to the ears. Laughter, for me, is my lifeline. As long as I can laugh, I am alive, I will sure to live on. To laugh is not insanity or craziness, it’s my outlet. As long as I can find something to laugh about – my boo-boo’s, funny stories, corny jokes, amusing events – I know that my life is worth-living.
God loves a cheerful giver. And I believe He also loves the person who can laugh about trials, not because it’s funny or he’s trying to get away with it by laughing, but because he lifted it up to Him and laugh at how great and wonderful God’s sense of humor is and trusting He will surely deliver.
Haunted by a sin, trapped by a fear, one need only to pray, to call on God, to rejoice in Him and watch how wonderful things turn out. And the result, you’ll laugh about it – how eaten up you’ve been by your sins and fears, how you’ve forgotten you have a BIG GOD who is ALWAYS in control and how you’ve stressed yourself, growing wrinkles by thinking too much and wallowing in your problems.
Laugh. Laughter normally won’t solve the problem, but it gives your life a push, it makes you feel life is good after all, and it makes you feel good inside. From there, shifting your focus from your situation and lightening up a bit, you will view yourself better, and find it in your heart the strength to keep going. Because, after all, all is well that ends well and all is fun that ends in laughter.
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Follow Your ♥
Hasty. While most girls are stereotyped as fickle-minded, I happen to fall in the category of ‘impatient/hasty’. I am not fickle, I was pretty consistent with being hasty, prudence was not in my vocabulary. I was not rushed, but I was rushing with my choices.
For years I’ve been going around in circles, not learning my lessons. If you’ve seen ‘Tangled’ (I ♥ that movie), there’s a scene where Rapunzel was having extreme happy-sad moments: one minute running around all excited and the next crying and sulking. I laughed at that scene, it was funny, but most of all, it reminded me of myself.
I have to hit the brakes.
It’s time to set the fine line with following one’s heart to making hasty decisions. The desire of the heart can be deceiving. The devil knows your desires and will use it against you. Unlike the princesses in fairy tales, I do not have that much margin for error, no prince charming (yet) to save my fall, no fairy godmother to fix broken pieces. It is still best to follow one’s heart. And anyone who tells you to do so advises well. However, following one’s heart requires patience, prudence and a lot of prayer. Only then can God protect your desire and in His time fulfill it.
Pixies & Stardust 