Faith When People Don't Believe In Your Dreams 7:00 AM When People Don't Believe In Your Dreams When people don't believe in your dreams, remember that it is not your inadequacy that shows but theirs. When people don't believe in your dreams, look at their history. Most of the time, these are people who once dreamed the same dream but failed. They must have seen the same spark and zest in you that they had when they were dreamers. They can sense your enthusiasm and determination in reaching your dreams. They can see the dreams they once had in your eyes. But that must be why they don't believe in it anymore. Because they failed. They went crashing down hard and it was so painful that they never want to try again. Nor do they want to be near that dream again. And hearing you speak about your dreams remind them of their failure. Giphy When people don't believe in your dreams, it is their fear that they feel and they project on you. Their negativity has nothing to do with you or your dreams and everything to do with who they are and their lack of faith. It may be discouraging, painful, and frustrating especially if these people who don't support you are close to you. It would be nice to hear them cheer you on. It would be easier to face trials and conquer your mountains along the way if you know there are people who got your back. But that's not always the case. That's alright. When David was about to face Goliath, everyone including his brothers didn't believe that he could win. How could they? He's just a boy. All he had was a sling and a stone. That's all they could see. Repeat: That's all they could see. But David is more than just his sling and stone. David knew He could because He had faith. And what did his brothers know of what he can do? They weren't there when David was alone and honing his skills. They don't hear his conversations with God. They don't feel and hear God's calling for him. They only know what they can see with their naked eyes. They only understand with their limited knowledge. Plus, there is envy in their hearts. Aren't we guilty of this too? At some point, weren't we like David's brothers? We think we know someone so well. We see their limitations and what they can do and we think we can predict what their future will be based on what we see. We are fast to judge and discourage with our words. Yes, we may have good intentions. We may want them to see what we can which we think is reality. But we do we really know about them; their hearts, their faith and the depth of what they can do? What is reality? As Krishna Saagar says, "You don't see the world as it is, you see it,as you are." We didn't see the time they put in to work on their God-given talents. We didn't see their sleepless nights and hard work to get to their dreams. We haven't walked in their shoes, we don't know the battles they faced and are still facing. Who are we really to judge? Let's be like David instead. Giphy Let's perfect our skills and offer the world what we have been gifted with. No matter how small or insignificant it may be to most people, even if the world would mock us, even when those we love and hope to support us laugh at us instead and tell us to "dream on," may we never waver in our faith. God Himself planted those dreams in our hearts (Bo Sanchez). Who are they to question it? Most importantly, why would we doubt that? Hasn't God shown us He can deliver? Is the God who can part the sea, calm the storm and raise the dead not powerful enough to equip us of what we need to accomplish the mission He has entrusted in us through our dreams? When we question our capabilities, we are insulting God. When people don't believe in your dreams, remember David. You may be facing a giant with only a sling and a stone in your hands, and that might look ridiculous indeed. But that's not all you've got. You have a big God Who will not let you be defeated and Who knows what you're capable of and believes in you. When people don't believe in your dreams, don't show them what you can do, but what God can do through you. When people don't believe in your dreams, listen to God's voice in your heart. It's God's opinion that matters most. The rest is just noise. If you like this blog post about life and love, please share the article using the social media buttons below or on the left. Thanks!
Faith Let This Be My Prayer Today 7:00 PM Let This Be My Prayer Today: You never let my cup run dry. When I'm at the verge of giving up my fight, too exhausted to continue, You carry me in Your arms. You stand by me in all my battles. You help me defeat my fears. You take away my worries. You wipe away my tears. You heal my brokenness. You fix me like only You can. You bring me from glory to glory. Who am I to deserve such scandalous grace? Who am I to receive your mercy? The world says I'm a nobody. Still, You chose to die for me. Your wounds, my healing. Your pain, my glory.Your death, my life. What can I ever do to pay you back? What can I ever give You that You cannot give me? I've got nothing but scars, flaws, frailties. I've got nothing but imperfections. Here I am, flaws and all. Make do of my imperfect love. Let this be my prayer today.
Faith Reflection: God's Crazy Love 8:00 AM For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son. -John 3:16 I thank God for giving me my passion to write. That's why as a thanksgiving, I decided to start a Reflection series. Because despite not being a technically good writer, despite some grammar slips here and there, despite the criticisms, insults, and mockery I've received from people telling me I'm not a REAL author, I know in my heart that this is a gift from my Big Daddy. I know this can only come from Him---from God's crazy love for me. I'll always be grateful for Him providing me with the tools and skills I need to use this gift. For leading me to the right people, bringing me the right opportunities and allowing me to build pipelines for His blessings to flow into my life. Truly, my God is crazy in love with me! God's crazy love I'm a nobody. I'm only a speck of dust in His vast universe. I often find myself asking, "Why, Lord? Why do you love me this much? I am a sinner. I often neglect you. I often blame you for my misfortunes. Why sacrifice your Son---Your life for me?" And the only answer is love. Pure, unadulterated, complete, infinite, unfathomable, crazy love. Who can explain love? Even science fails to give it justice despite its intellectual research and theories. It's still not enough. Nay, it's not needed by people in love. "I don't know, I just love her. That's all I know." That's what you'll often hear people respond when you ask them why they love someone. It goes beyond the physical. It is more than just what is certain and what's there. It is beyond human comprehension. And that is only human love. God's crazy love is so much more. For this world's wisdom is foolishness (absurdity and stupidity) with God. (1 Corinthians 3:19) That is why the proud, intelligent ones despise Him. For they cannot put Him in a box. For they can never explain His beginning and end. He is their failure when it comes to displaying their wisdom. But that's what makes Him God. He is infinite. He is beyond our grasp. If we can understand Him, then we will be equals. God's crazy love is not for the perfect. It is for those who are humble enough to admit they are not complete, they are not enough and they are not well. Those who will receive Him and allow Him to heal them. God's crazy love is for those who are crazy enough to admit that they need His craziness in their lives. Hey, I am crazy. That's why despite my flaws and imperfections, despite my difficulty to accept His love and feel His presence, despite my unlovable and unloving state sometimes oftentimes, I accept Him. For He's crazy enough to accept me in the first place. (Just between you and me, I think He's crazier than all of us put together). The Lord your God is with you. He is a hero who saves you. He happily rejoices over you, renews you with his love, and celebrates over you with shouts of joy. (Zephaniah 3:17) Kind of hard to imagine an almighty, all powerful, majestic, glorious King rejoicing and shouting with joy, right? I mean, I've always thought kings are reserved, dignified, solemn. We know some kings could even be tyrants, taking delight in punishing his people. Oh, but this King we have is crazy in love with us. He is our Father before anything else. And that is something we may never come to understand. We can only allow Him to love us or reject Him like we always do. God's crazy love is inviting you to accept Him today. Are you in or out? Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email
Faith Wounded And Scarred 8:00 AM It is our choices, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities. -J.K. Rowling We are all wounded and scarred. Some wounds are deeper, some scars more permanent. I don't know about you but I'm yet to meet someone, especially an adult who has never been bruised or wounded in life...figuratively speaking. Indeed if we look closer, we are walking among broken people; wounded souls, scarred hearts, exhausted from the battle of every day life. Dramatic, isn't it? But, isn't that the truth? Personally, I know people who are victims of abuse---physical, sexual, verbal abuses by family members, "friends", and even strangers. People who have been struggling with addiction, those who are stuck in toxic relationships, those who are fighting depression, those who are struggling in finances. Some of these people are denying themselves of healing. That's why you meet full-grown adults acting like toddlers. If they can't be happy, neither can you. Toxic people are everywhere. If you allow them, they can transform you into one of them. Sad. And scary. Wounded and scarred, it is our choice that determines what we become. Are we going to use these wounds and scars to help others find their way, or are we going to add more to it by hurting others? In doing so, we hurt ourselves back. Wounded and scarred, we either seek healing and be well, or let the pain taunt us for the rest of our lives, becoming miserable and difficult to deal with. Wounded and scarred, we can allow the Healer to turn our mourning into dancing or stay and rot in the valley of death. Wounded and scarred, we either stay down and miss what life has to offer, or get up, dust ourselves off and carry on. We are all wounded and scarred, whether we like it or not. Whether we accept it and face the truth or forever live in lie and agonize. Wounded and scarred, we are still beautiful, because we are not here by mistake or accident. We are loved, we are His joy, we are made for greatness. Hello, fellow wounded and scarred soul. Oh, how beautiful we all are. Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email
Faith To The Girl Who Always Gets Dumped 4:23 PM Show me a woman who has never had her heart broken, and I'll show you a woman who has never really lived. Unknown To the girl who always gets dumped, I know what you're thinking. That you're not pretty enough to hold his attention. Or you're not smart enough to keep him interested. Or you're not hot enough to keep him hooked. But, you're wrong. You are lovely. And you are enough. It's not your fault that he is not content. He never was and he never will be. It's not your fault that he is superficial. You are better off. It's not your fault that he couldn't see your worth. That doesn't change who you are. You deserve more than what he's giving you; his spare time, his leftover feelings, his insincere affection. If you only matter to him when he needs something from you, If he's only available when his friends aren't around, If he cares about his happiness more than your well-being... Girl, you're better off. You're better off than being used, being cheated on, being lied to and hurt in any way. You are better off alone and at peace, than with someone but carrying a heavy useless burden in your heart. No, you don't deserve his insults. No, you don't deserve his slaps, or kicks or punches. No, you don't deserve his vilification, condescension, and downplaying. No, you don't deserve to be played and cheated on. To the girl who always gets dumped, You deserve joy. You deserve affection. You deserve undivided attention when you talk. You deserve unceasing loyalty. You deserve to be honored and cherished. You deserve true love. You deserve to be treated with respect and adoration. You deserve to be treated like a princess. Because you are. Aren't you the King's daughter? You have been lied to far too many times that you may have started to believe it. And lived the way you were told to. To the girl who always gets dumped, Find yourself again. Find your beautiful, precious, love-worthy self. Take your identity back. Let go of your trashy past. It already happened. Stop holding on to it. Forget about your vampires or Dementors. Remember that you are loved and your value does not diminish despite the number of mistakes you did in the past. Remember that your past does not define your future. (Bo Sanchez) Remember that as cliche as it may sound, it's their loss and not yours. To the girl who always gets dumped, It's not your destiny to be ditched, so stop believing that's how you should be treated. You were born a victor. You were made for greatness. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Go and fall in love again. But this time, love yourself first. Give to yourself first. Most of all, forgive yourself. For it's not your fault that you loved more, you loved sincerely, and that you believed in the goodness of men, even those who weren't good to you. It's not your fault that you believe in love in a world full of doubts. That you are genuine in a world full of fakes. Stay real, be wiser, and be more careful in who you're giving your heart to. Someone out there is waiting to give you all that you deserve. The puzzle will soon be complete, and you will see what a beautiful picture you have been a part of. One day, your heart will be whole again. And on that day, it will all make perfect sense. For now, enjoy the journey. Laugh at your boo boos. Feel your pain, and then let go. Step out and see the world waiting for you to take it on. To the girl who always gets dumped, you are beautiful. You deserve to be loved. Remember that. If you like this blog post about life and love, please share the article using the social media buttons below or on the left. Thanks!
Faith To My Enemy 8:00 AM To my enemy, I may be weak and losing. I may look tired and about to surrender. But I am not. I am far from quitting. I am far from getting knocked down. To my enemy who keeps trying to steal my joy and distract me from focusing on the prize, listen up and listen well: You may think you've owned me. Oh, I can hear you laughing now. I may look frail and dying, I may look defeated. You may assume I'm gone, but I assure you I am not. You may feel like you've won, because right now I am lying helplessly on the ground. You have pinned me down and I am too weak to fight back. I have little strength left to get back up again. But the ground is not my home. This is not where I belong. Let me remind you that I'm not alone in this fight. When I am weak, my God is strong. You can assume that the fight is over. I can't blame you. I have retreated in my corner. I've got no more words to say. But that's not because I've ran out of reasons. It's just because I realized you're not worth the time. I don't want to waste my time and energy on something worthless such as yourself. I will never be able to show you reason. For your mind is narrow, and you are arrogant. You'll never accept the truth staring at your face. And you will die trying to convince me I am living a life of lies. You will never win this fight. For even before the fight started, Jesus already conquered the world. Needless to say, He has conquered you. Oh, you may think I have forgotten. But, I have not. You have lost, before you've even started. I may be badly wounded, broken beyond recognition, black and blue all over, bleeding profusely---almost lifeless. But, just you wait. Just you wait. When my Savior comes bringing His game, you will be scattered in your conceit. My God, the Champ, the Big Boss, the Lord of all, will carry me and heal me. He will mend me and wipe away my tears. He will cleanse me, strengthen and nourish me back to life. He will make me brand new. He will stop the bleeding, He will bring me back to my feet, and I'll be ready to kick you goodbye. You can rejoice now, for I may have temporarily stopped fighting back. That's not defeat though. That's just me wising up and choosing my battles. I hope you're ready to face your fate when the Lord is done with me. I'll be back with sweet vengeance for the Lord is my vindicator. For He has prepared a table before me in the presence of my enemies. He anoints my head with oil; my cup overflows (Psalm 23:5). You can plan tactics after tactics to bring me down, but you will always fail. You may have succeeded in persecuting me, you may have offended me repeatedly. But pain is temporary, the glory that comes when the truth comes out is forever. No weapon that is formed against me shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17). You and your lying tongue will soon find its doom. For God's just judgment will still prevail. You will be shamed for assuming you have successfully taken everything away from me. For God will restore everything I've lost; He'll have compassion on me; He'll come back and pick up the pieces from all the places where I have been scattered (Deuteronomy 30:3). To my enemy, you have messed with the wrong woman. I am your King's daughter. You have not beaten me to death. You have only made me stronger. On my side is He Whom even death could not hold down. To my enemy, be afraid. Because I have a big God. That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. -2 Corinthians 12:10
Books Overcome Failures And A Free eBook Giveaway 8:00 AM What you think about your story greatly influences how you tell it. -Dr. Ifeoma Samuel Competition has ended. Congrats Jayson Santos for winning! Overcome FailuresFailure is a topic many people---myself included---can easily relate to. How many times have I failed in life? I lost count. Bruised. Battered. Badly wounded. Scarred for life. Not so different from most of you, I presume. But hey, here we are. Still standing. Still smiling. What keeps me going?I'm too stubborn to let life knock me down. I chose to be happy a long time ago. That, and God's grace. Mostly His grace. You know who else is an expert in overcoming failures? My friend Ifeoma. If you've been a follower of this blog (I am eternally grateful to you), you might have read her guest article Ultimate 30 While In Your 30’s Checklist. Guess what? She's launching her new book Overcome Failures: Get Back On Your Feet. It comes with a companion study. So, you don't just read her story and reflections, you get to write down your own reflection from your own story. Reading it feels like you are walking in your journey and Ifeoma is there to hold your hand every step of the way. Such a gift she is. And her book. eBook giveaway! Speaking of gifts, I am giving away a free copy of her eBook Overcome Failures and a companion study! This is Ifeoma's offer for the launch of her book. The book launch is on August 16. This giveaway is open internationally. Enter below and be blessed with this amazing and uplifting eBook. Overcome Failure Book and Companion Study Giveaway What's your back-on-your-feet story? Click to read the Goodreads reviews here. You can pre-order the book here until the book launch on the 16th of August, 2016.
Faith The Sweet Fruits Of Waiting 8:00 AM Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet. -Aristotle The waiting period is the most trying, most painful and will always be the longest period in a person's life---no matter how short it may be. The Sweet Fruits Of Waiting Waiting will reveal our character. It will teach us patience, it will test our endurance, and will shake our faith. The longer the waiting, the more we will appreciate and value that which we are waiting for once it has arrived. In waiting for the Lord to answer your prayer, you will encounter His most deafening silence. I have been waiting for God to answer my prayers. Some He has already given me, others He is still not revealing. Although I admit that sometimes I want to rush things and I get impatient with Him, I know that He has my best intentions in mind. I do not have a wise answer as to why He makes us wait. I don't want to put Him in a box because He is infinite for a reason. I may not understand His purpose but I know it is for the best. Besides, isn't that why He's God and I'm human? If I understand Him, then we'll be equals. So as difficult as it may be, in my waiting, I choose to believe. In my waiting, I choose to keep on serving Him. Sometimes in my service, I see His answer and I feel His love. In my waiting, I choose to be happy because whether I am miserable or joyful, I'd still be waiting anyway. So why not wait in joy instead? The waiting has made me wiser, although not as wise as one could be. At least now I know things I did not know before. People may be laughing at me because I seem to wait in vain, but that's alright. They are not the ones I made covenant with anyway. And I know that He who made His promises to me will surely deliver. That is another great thing about waiting. Waiting has revealed to me the faithfulness of God that I would not have known had all my prayers been answered immediately. Waiting may be painful at times, but I would not change it for anything else. God would not have put me here if He thinks the other way is better for me. I trust Him.
Faith 7 Stages of Moving On: A Dreamer’s Triumphant Journey Back to Wholeness 7:00 AM Life will break you. Nobody can protect you from that, and living alone won't either, for solitude will also break you with its yearning. You have to love. You have to feel. It is the reason you are here on earth. You are here to risk your heart. -Louise Erdrich I know heartbreak all too well. I know how it is losing your drive, crying yourself to sleep each night, waking up to a big gaping whole in your heart, helpless. Gutted. The struggle is real. Needless to say, I know about moving on as well. Here's another wounded healer who's been through that same dream-shattering, life-changing, colorful road to share his own journey. Reading his story proved to me that we are never alone. At one point, we've all been in that same place...together. May this give you hope and courage too: 7 Stages of Moving On: A Dreamer’s Triumphant Journey Back to Wholeness I’ve spent years chasing my dreams, turning my ambitious thoughts into beautiful things. I donned medals of academic rewards, earned certificates that attest to my competencies, obtained the trust of key people in their respective domains of expertise, and conquered worlds that gave me a rightful place. I’ve surpassed seemingly insurmountable challenges and with these, I have learned so much. I resolved that as a dreamer, I would never fall in love. I spent a great deal of conscious effort to guard my feelings because I know it is my greatest weakness. Then it came. Nothing has ever prepared me for this. I fell in love deeply. I’ve been hurt badly. Pain and Denial My heartbreak was like a giant tidal wave that came crushing over me. The whole world collapsed before my eyes. I felt defeated and helpless. Until now, I couldn’t find the exact words to explain the gravity of my pain. All I ever wanted was to make the pain go away...faster! It was very hard for me to see things beyond my pain. There were many questions that I begged answers for and the worst part of it all was that I denied myself of the reality. I convinced myself that my love just needed time and space to think things over and we would be together again. Lost and Shattered As the reality of my broken heart sank in my stricken mind, I found myself in the middle of nowhere. I didn't know how to proceed with my life. I lost my direction. I suddenly stopped doing my routine. I lost interest in the things that I used to find pleasure in. To top it all, I gave up my recent career promotion which resulted to financial difficulties. I wanted to protect myself from further pain so I shut my world, disconnected from life, and lived in darkness. Emotional Paralysis It was the stage when my heart became cold and hard. I was so focused on my pain that I became very insensitive to the needs and feelings of others. I felt lonely. I trusted nobody. I did not allow anyone to comfort me. It was as if the colors of life have faded away. Every comforting word fell on my deaf ears. Bitterness was everything I could taste. Prisoner of the Past I couldn't remember how long have I been a prisoner of the memories that I couldn't let go. I always saw my object of affection in everything I set my eyes on. Even when I closed my eyes, a vision of my beloved haunted me in my dreams. I kept loving this person so much; yet, I wasn’t receiving the treatment that I deserve. I was out of my mind! The Awakening I could still recall those lonely mornings when I wondered what I was waking up to. I dreaded the time between sunrise and sunset because I knew I was going to put up another exhausting battle with my emotions. One time, I happened to see my naked self on the full length mirror. I shuddered at seeing my appearance. This is no longer me! I realized that my life was going nowhere; that I was wasting so much time wallowing with my pain; that I've allowed myself to suffer terribly; that I needed to be kind to myself; that I needed to give myself a chance to be happy! Discernment and Acceptance It’s important to reflect on the desires of our heart before we engage in any relationship. If you're intention is to find someone to “complete” you, then you're setting yourself up to failure. The one you'll find might just be as broken as you are. Two hurt people coming together to find happiness isn’t a good start of a romantic relationship. In my case, at least, this is true. I didn't realize that I was already broken before I even entered the relationship. This is where I’ve gone wrong. It only made sense to me now after I've graciously accepted my pain. It put me to the right perspective that my struggle had a meaning. God allowed things to fall apart so certain family relationships would be restored. My heartbreak led me to rediscover a lot of things about myself, including my faith. I realized that fixing my broken relationship with God is the key to having a happy relationship with people. Relaunching My Spiritual Life When I surrendered my brokenness to God, my path to healing has started. More blessings initially disguised by pain have been unleashed. I'm closer now with my family. I’ve also found a new rewarding career that meets my learning and financial expectations. Sometimes, I think that I'm better off to be just on my own, with my God who truly completes me. About the author: Jayson Santos is a spiritual seeker, a dreamer, and a runner. On his blog, The Dreamer Writes, he devotes a special section called Dear Love, where he writes and collects stories, poems, unsent letters, love notes, and all other messages of joy and sorrow from a heart that faithfully loves. Read more of his writings by visiting his blog or following his Google+ page. You can also follow him on Twitter at @jaysonsnts. Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email
Faith Enjoy God 8:00 AM Every breathing moment is an experience of God's love. Enjoy God For some religious folks, enjoyment and fun are unholy. They consider any merriment too worldly. Sad. I believe that God invented laughter and humor. Happiness is a gift from Him. He takes delight in us (Zephaniah 3:17). He wants us to be happy. And to be happy does not strip off holiness. Can you imagine God looking down on you filled with joy? I can. I have a brother who sometimes always gets to my nerves because he’s a growing teen. But, whenever he says something funny, or say amazing things for someone his age, and does his chores, I well up with joy and pride. This is the kid I used to baby-sit, bathe, read stories to. Now he can take care of himself, his cousins, his pet dogs, tell me stories about gods and goddesses, and hobbits, and elves that I haven’t heard of, he can play banduria and guitar. He sings well (when he thinks we’re not listening. Hah!) I think that’s how God sees us. He disapproves of our wrongdoings, but we can bring him pride and joy every time. I personally enjoy God when things are going my way. Like any normal emotional human being though, I find it hard to take delight in moments when things are difficult. It’s REALLY hard to thank and praise Him when my cup’s empty. But, I try. I play loud worship songs, I try with all the strength I can gather to say “Thank You” when I’m in the middle of a mess and unsure if I can get through it. It’s hard. What I do to make it a little easier is to remind myself of the times He never failed me in the past; when I thought it’s the end of the road, but it was just a detour, when I thought darkness has no end, but He brought me dawn, when I thought Friday will be forever, but then He gave me Sunday, I couldn’t emphasize it more. It is difficult to enjoy God, especially when you’ve been praying for something for a very long time, and it’s as if He’s not paying attention. What I’ve learned in the waiting, and in the pruning stage is that every situation is an opportunity to pray and praise. In great times, I praise and thank Him. In difficult times, I ask for His comfort and thank Him for honing my faith. In confusing times, I ask for His enlightenment and guidance, and thank Him for the opportunity to be wiser. In lonely times, I seek His embrace, and thank Him for not leaving my side, and for the opportunity to appreciate the value of a company. Every breathing moment is an experience of God's absolute love. May we never forget that. May I not forget that. I was sure by now God You would have reached down And wiped our tears away Stepped in and saved the day But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining As the thunder rolls I barely hear Your whisper through the rain "I'm with you" And as Your mercy falls I raise my hands and praise the God who gives And takes away. -Praise You In This Storm, Casting Crowns Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email
Faith The Gift Of Emptiness 9:00 AM I thank God for my gift of emptiness. Emptiness is like a gift wrapped haphazardly by the Giver in a nondescript wrapper. You wouldn't know how beautiful it is until you've opened it. If it wasn't for that hungry pang for something better, I wouldn't have striven harder. If it wasn't for that emptiness, I wouldn't have been desperate to search for an answer. I would have been complacent. I might have been living contentedly with "just enough". Your emptiness can do stupendous things in your life. The Gift Of Emptiness My emptiness did these incredible things in my life: My emptiness gave me the drive to learn something new; to keep on growing, to keep on searching for ways that will make my life better. My emptiness made me rethink my decisions and enabled me to see things more clearly. It made me recognize the distractions, and made me focus on the more important things. My emptiness taught me that the world can confuse us about what matters most. Because the world is made of people just as imperfect, flawed and empty as we are. In time, we will understand what is essential and what is superficial. My emptiness made me empathetic. It made me see the emptiness in others too. It made me kinder. My emptiness created a space that made me ready and open to receive more. Thankfully, my emptiness did not drive me to desperation and accept whatever it is that's available just so I can say I have something to call my own. On the contrary, it taught me to never settle for less than what I truly deserve. My emptiness and weakness made me believe more in the power and strength of God at work in my life. I did not understand it at first and it was difficult. It is hard to keep believing you'll be okay when you can't see the end. But I held on. And I'm glad I did. Indeed, God remains faithful even when we are not. My emptiness made me excited for the great plans that are yet to be revealed. My emptiness helped me appreciate the little things. A simple message asking how I’m doing, a listening ear, a portion of someone’s time, God's quiet presence, a random act of kindness, beautiful songs, glorious mornings---these are great blessings not everyone get to experience. All these things which I used to take for granted, I now treasure. My emptiness made me desire to seek the Source that will fill me up and will never leave me thirsty again. Embrace your emptiness and know that it is only a phase---a beautiful phase that can do surprisingly marvelous things the way only emptiness can. Receive and cherish the gift of emptiness. It is an essential part of growing. It is a place you need to go through to get to your destiny. Shared this article on The Praying Woman
Faith 4 Things To Do When Faced With Difficult Times 8:00 AM We all have our stories of pain and difficult times. How our story ends though is up to us. What are the things you do when you're faced with difficult times? Here's what Charmaine did: Almost ten months ago, my mother was diagnosed with late stage cervical cancer. The diagnosis didn’t just turn her life around but mine, too. The past ten months have been really rough. When I look back, I’m in awe of how we managed to survive. I can’t help but wonder at how merciful, faithful and gracious God has always been; He enabled us to make it through each painful and trying day. I don’t know what you’re going through. Maybe someone you love is currently fighting the same battle my mother is faced. Maybe you’re dealing with an unspeakable pain nobody understands, no matter how much you try. The bottom line is: we’re tired. We carry burdens every day but our shoulders aren’t that strong. Our hearts are about to faint. Some of us are near the end of the rope. What do we do? 4 Things To Do When Faced With Difficult Times We Hold On To Our Faith Hebrews 11:1 states “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Based on this, faith is two things. First, it’s confidence in what we hope for. For me, it means putting my confidence in what God said over what my eyes see. It means hoping on God’s promises despite what my circumstances. It means getting up on days you’d rather stay in bed, smiling on days you want to cry, and continue with your life like you’re carrying nothing because God is faithful to you every step of the way. We Rest In God’s Feet When we wake up to difficult circumstances, we shouldn’t busy ourselves, trying to figure out how we’ll make it through our trouble. Instead, we sit at Jesus’ feet and receive from Him. It doesn’t mean that we should stop working. Resting in God’s feet means we honor our quality time with Him. We continue to seek Him so our minds get renewed and we see our situation from His perspective; not from our limited sight. This way, we are not only renewed, we are encouraged and revived. We Trust In God’s Will We don’t always understand God’s will. Some things happen which we can’t comprehend. Maybe in your struggle, you asked God why. I did. I often ask Him why He allowed cancer to strike and debilitate my mother. As I seek Him, I understand that when God leads us to deeper waters, we can be assured that He has His reasons. We can trust in the knowledge that our circumstances are going to be for our good and for His glory. We Stay In His Love The truth is, either my mother will be cured of cancer or she will die of it or of something else. I struggled with accepting this fact before. But now, I already understand God’s purpose. It’s still painful and I can’t even imagine how painful it’s going to be if my greatest fear happens instead of my greatest hope. Whatever happens, I know God will give me the grace to stay in His love. Whatever it is you’re dealing with, if you trust Him and you surrender your life to Him, I’m positive He will do the same for you, too. About the author: Charmaine is the founder and editor-in-chief of inspirational blog Organized Lunacy. She’s in a mission to spread inspiration and motivation to people who can use some. Join her in her journey in spreading love and hope to make this world a better place to live in.
Faith When Your Life Is On A Detour 7:03 PM When Your Life is on a Detour Have you ever encountered a detour in your life? The road towards success is not a straight line. Detours are blessings in disguise.God's rejection is God's redirection.They bring us to our bigger destiny. When detours happen, God is telling us that our desires are too small compared to His big plans for us. When it feels like nothing seems to be making sense...When we pray and our prayers seem to fall on deaf ears and our plans don’t go our way...We are experiencing what we call the Principle of Obliquity (according to John Kay, this is where our complex goals are best achieved indirectly).When our lives seem not to go our way and the road we chose is leading us nowhere, we feel lost and hopeless. We are tempted to question God and to give up altogether.But as the cliche goes, everything happens for a reason. Joseph could have given up when his brothers sold him when he became a slave and was imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit. But he kept his faith until God fulfilled his destiny.Sometimes people don't recognize a blessing or an opportunity because it comes with responsibility, and people either hate or are scared of responsibilities. We miss the blessing not because it's not there, but because it doesn't appear to us the way we expect or want it to.We hear stories of people who went through so many obstacles before they reach their goals.Even Steve Jobs said getting fired by Apple was the best thing that ever happened to him.He wouldn't have done what he had accomplished, he wouldn't have been a better person and Apple would never have been as big as it is today if not for that one fateful day when he took a detour that changed him...and eventually changed the world.Is your life in a detour right now?Relax. You're being redirected towards your destination. Your story is not over yet.From Talk: Bounce! at The FeastThis post contains affiliate links so I'd get a commission if you purchase through my links at no additional cost to you. This helps me maintain my site. Thanks in advance!
Faith Sunday Will Come! 12:11 AM Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning. -Psalm 30:5 Black Saturday has always been the longest and most silent day in the Holy Week (at least in this part of the planet). After an emotional contemplation of the Lord's suffering and death on Good Friday, and while waiting for Easter Sunday to come there is a solemn pause which is Black Saturday. I wonder how and what the disciples and the Holy Mother felt and thought during this long agonizing gap. They weren't aware of the coming Sunday. They were still grief-stricken from what they witnessed. How would you handle it? Imagine when the truth you believed in for so long was taken away from you. When the one you've always looked up to, revered, served and worship was humiliated, punished without sin, and tortured right before your eyes. When what you've always thought as indestructible, invincible, and miraculous was destroyed helplessly. And you couldn't do anything about it out of fear or whatever reason that held you from fighting for it. They must have been lost. Beyond comfort. Nothing or no one to assure them that there is still hope. There is still tomorrow. Everything shattered just like that. Then again we don't have to imagine it, do we? How many times have we experienced loss of a loved one? Or seen a friend or family member suffer emotional or physical pain in front of us? How many times have we lost hope? Felt rejected? Betrayed? Humiliated? Hurt? Abandoned? When everything we believed in and held on for so long was taken away from us. Just. Like. That. We all went through a Good Friday one way or another. Then there's this long, agonizing, dragging, empty, deafeningly silent, dark pause that seemed endless. It's torture. There was uncertainty, doubt, confusion, anger even. We're still trying to figure out what just happened and what will happen next seems out of logic. Incomprehensible. Unimaginable. It feels as though the world stood still and time stopped, and we don't have the strength to keep going anymore. We lost everything including hope and the reason to go on. "Will tomorrow ever come again?" we keep on asking ourselves. And we get nothing but a deafening silence as answer. But, Sunday will come. No matter how painful our Fridays were and how uncertain our Saturday is now, Sunday will surely come! No matter how hopeless and helpless we may feel after the storm we went through, Sunday will come. No matter how uncertain, weak and shattered we came out of Friday, Sunday will still come. And then we will be restored. Good as new. Maybe even better somehow. Ready or not, Sunday will come. Our Black Saturday is a gift. A break from the grief. A pause. A time to breathe. A time to heal. A preparation from the big surprise that is Easter Sunday. It is the calm before the storm of blessings. Black Saturday then is when we stay still and wait patiently for the promise of God to come to pass (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. -Jeremiah 29:11). Black Saturday may be the darkest part of the night before the dawn breaks, but Easter Sunday will always follow. Sunday will come. It always has, and it always will. See also: I Am To Die For Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email
Faith How To Know Your Worth With 6 Important Questions 8:00 AM How To Know Your Worth With 6 Important Questions Every second you spend doubting your worth, every moment you use to criticize yourself, is a second of your life wasted, a moment of your life thrown away. -C. JoyBell C. What does knowing your worth mean?To know your worth is to realize your value, not according to what others think but how you see or measure yourself.How to know your worth?Here are 6 important questions you must ask yourself to know your worth. How do you want to be treated?How do you want to spend your time?How do you like to be reciprocated for what you give?What kind of relationship do you want to have?What kind of person do you want to become?What are your beliefs about yourself?1. How do you want to be treated?Knowing how you want to be treated is a step in realizing your worth.Do you want to be treated with respect and dignity in the workplace, by your circle of friends, or by your partner? Or do you want to feel rejected, unappreciated, or derided?If you say, "I deserve better," you know you're worth more than how you're treated.Giphy2. How do you want to spend your time?Where do you invest your time?Do you spend it chasing people who don't accept and appreciate you for who you are?Do you want to spend your day investing in your growth and improving the quality of your life?You know you want to spend time with people who lift you higher.Or on things that can help you improve and get you closer to your dream life.How you want to spend your time shows how much you value yourself.Tenor3. How do you like to be reciprocated for what you give?Know your worth by knowing how you want to be reciprocated.Respect begets respect. But some people feel entitled to receive respect-demands even-but has no intentions of giving it in return.Some partners want fidelity from their significant other but have no qualms about cheating.Be selfless in giving your love and service but know your limits.Know your worth in the relationship.Set up a boundary for yourself.Boundaries aren't there to build a wall between you and others. It's to protect yourself from abusers. It has self-respect.Tenor4. What kind of relationship do you want to have?Would you be happy to be in a parasitic relationship where only the other person(s) benefit(s)?Or would you be more content and at peace in a relationship where you and others involved (co-workers, family, life partner) gain and grow?Do you want to be with someone who will fight for you or who will give up easily?When you recognize your worth, you know exactly what relationship you want to be involved in.Tenor5. What kind of person do you want to become?Do you want to be striving or thriving?Do you want to be content and happy or perturbed and miserable?What you're allowing yourself to become shows how much you value yourself.Pinterest6. What are your beliefs about yourself?Your beliefs about yourself don't measure your self-worth.Newsflash: most of them aren't true!They're called limiting beliefs. Limiting beliefs are lies you tell yourself that restrict you from achieving your full potential.It's how you measure yourself influenced by how you were raised and what you've heard from others.Limiting beliefs tell you:You're not good enough.You don't have what it takes to qualify.You don't deserve to move forward.You're not worth it.GiphyYou will struggle to know your self-worth at first.Gauge yourself based on how your Creator sees you, not other people's opinions. He knows you best.Here are some Bible verses about knowing your worth:You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14).Because you are precious in my eyes and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, people in exchange for your life (Isaiah 43:4).So 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).You can do everything through Christ, who strengthens you (Philippians 4:13).The Lord is your helper, so you don't have to be afraid (Hebrews 13:6).Do not let your adorning be external-the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry or the clothing you wear-but. Instead, let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious (1 Peter 3:3-4).Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows (Luke 12:7).TenorYou'll know when to leave a toxic relationship when you realize your worth.You'll know what, who, and when to quit.You'll never apologize for things you should not apologize for in the first place.You'll let go of things that aren't making you happy or money.What happens when you realize your worth?You will not shortchange yourself. You will not settle for less than what you deserve.You know who you indeed are and will not negotiate that with anyone.You will not waste another second on people or relationships bringing you down.Knowing your worth is not arrogance. It's embracing the truth about who you are. Having self-worth is having self-respect and self-esteem.It's treating yourself with a healthy amount of self-love.You're worth more than eight cows.Have you heard about the story of the eight-cow wife? There's a village where a man gives a cow as a dowry to a woman's family to ask her hand for marriage. The more beautiful or "qualified" a woman is to become a wife, the more cows are given. Needless to say, a woman's worth is measured by the number of cows she receives from her husband-to-be. In this village lives a woman named Sarita. To say that she is plain is a compliment. Sarita grew up being told that she was worth only one cow. Everybody in their village-including her own family-expected nothing more than a single cow when a good-looking and rich gentleman named Johnny Lingo asked her hand for marriage. To everybody's surprise and her father's indignation, Johnny Lingo disagreed with the arrangement.Sarita's father was insulted. Sarita was heartbroken. She's accepted that she is worth only one cow, and a man refuse to give her that. But Johnny Lingo made himself clear. He will not give Sarita one cow...because he believes she is worth more than that. He saw something in her that no one else did. Sarita, for Johnny, is not a one-cow woman. She is an eight-cow wife. After their marriage, Sarita somehow transformed physically. She now walks with grace. She presents herself with confidence. She stands tall and proud because she knows and believes she is an eight-cow wife.Everybody in their village knows that by now, too. The old Sarita's gone. No one looked at her the same way again. Her joy became evident when she glowed. She radiates. Sarita is now one of the most beautiful women in the village. Because one man showed her and everyone around her her true worth. One man believed that she was extraordinary. I love this story so much. It's a good reminder that we are unique. We are more than the label others give us. Do you know how much you're worth? You're worth more than your number of followers and likes on social media. You're worth more than the price tag on your clothes and gadgets.You're worth more than your job or bank account.You're worth more than your grades in school.You're worth more than your relationship status.You're worth more than your social standing.You're worth more than what people say about you.Here's a beautiful reminder about knowing your worth by Jeremy Anderson: You are worth more than the throne.Think about this:God left His glorious throne to walk the dusty earth just to be with you...To feel how you feel and to understand your pain. You are worth the sacrifice. God did not just offer eight cows for you. He gave you His life. You are worth every single drop of blood...Every torn muscle...Every tormenting pain Jesus had to endure.You're worth every drop of tear and sweat from the body of no less than the Son of God.Imgflip Remember that the next time you forget your worth.(Most part of this reflection is from The Feast)
