Lux Thinking Aloud Beginning 7:29 AM It's a brand new month! Another beginning. Are we ready? Beginning The beginning is usually the hardest. When you're starting to learn how to write when you were in kindergarten. When it was your first day in your new job and you have no idea how things work. When you begin your life after a hard and messy break up. It was tough, yeah? But beginnings can also be exciting and promising. That is why people get hyped up on New Year. Beginnings can be beautiful. I love the early mornings when it's cool, peaceful and quiet. I miss waking up early. Since the outbreak happened, I've been sleeping late. I love starting a new book. It's like stepping into another world and seeing things with fresh eyes. I love visiting places for the first time. It's giving me a new perspective. It makes me realize that there is more to explore. When you see how big the world is, your problems seem insignificant. Don't you love the getting to know each other stage when you meet someone? When you begin to realize you're in the right track, when you finally see what you're worth, when you're starting to experience your breakthrough---oh, it is priceless! New relationships. New chance in life. New chapter. They make life more thrilling, don't they? New beginnings are full of hope and possibilities. It's like a blank page that is waiting to be filled with magical words. Like a blank canvass about to be turned into a work of art. I hope this brand new month is better than the previous ones. I hope this is the start of the new normal that is best for all of us. I hope that finally, this is the beginning of the end of the crisis. Am I asking for too much? Your turn What have you began to do during this p andemic?
Lux Thinking Aloud Eager 7:11 AM Are you eager for this month to end and find out what next month has in store for us? Yeah, me too. More than that, I am eager to finally hear the words: "The world is now C OVID-19 free!" Eager I am eager to learn all that you want me to do; help me to understand more and more. -Psalm 119:32 With my human wisdom alone, I know I will not be able to understand the purpose behind of all the hardships we face. Especially this p andemic. This virus has revealed to us many things. This p andemic has unmasked a lot of people. Especially those in the government. We are learning a lot about the those we live with and even about ourselves. I've realized that with this l ockdown, I am more eager: to hear God's voice to see the glorious ending to all this to visit my family and dogs soon to care for nature more to travel again to see a brand new tomorrow I am eager to learn what God is teaching me.I'm eager to know what's in the next chapter because this one sucks! So far, this quarantine has taught me: that I still need to strengthen my faith (I can still get shaken) to do what I can and entrust to God what I can't to appreciate everything I have to be wiser and learn from the ants that whatever we give nature, nature will give back to us a hundredfold that people will always find a way to defend what they believe in even when it's wrong I'm learning that there are still a lot more for me to learn. I can relate to what the genius Albert Einstein said: "The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don't know." We humans could get arrogant sometimes. We think we are superior because we are the "smarter species". We build bridges, we invent devices, we made progress people in the past could only dream of. We make weapons and think we are invincible. Yet a microscopic organism toppled our economy and drove us all into hiding. Even the strongest, smartest, proudest among us was taken by surprise by this invisible enemy and for a time, felt defenseless. I hope we learn that animals and nature in general is here with us and not for us. We are carers. We are stewards. It's time to treat other creatures with respect and kindness. It's time to appreciate nature and not take it for granted. It's time to go back to basic. It's time to humble ourselves. It's time to learn. It's time to heal. Let's not wait for another p andemic to hit us before we finally learn what we need to do. Your turn What are you eager to happen after this crisis? What have you learned so far during this l ockdown?
Faith Waiting 12:32 AM If there's a level in the waiting game, I'd say I'm at Expert by now. I've waited for God's answers to my prayers for a long time. He's tested my patience, increased my faith and pruned me during that long waiting period. And now I find myself waiting again. Waiting I think we are always waiting for something at certain times. We wait for our water to boil so we can enjoy our tea or cereal. We wait for our flights. (Oh, traveling! I forgot how that feels. 😅) We wait for a client's reply if a project is a go or a no. We wait for a movie to premier after watching several trailers online. We wait for our food delivery to arrive and hope it comes before we turn into a hangry (hungry + angry) monster. We wait for this p andemic to be finally over. I don't know about you but sometimes I feel sick and tired of hearing about the news. Bad news after bad news after bad news. Every. Single. Day.2020 is really kicking all our asses. What have you been waiting for lately? Joyful are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home! -Proverbs 8:34 The waiting period is not exactly a joyful phase. Especially when you're not sure if the answer you've been waiting for is what you're going to receive. Aristotle said: Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet. When I was discerning if marriage was for me, I stayed single for a long time. I kissed dating goodbye. That's a title of a book I haven't read it. I heard it's good.[Click here if you want to order I Kissed Dating Goodbye by Joshua Harris.] I enjoyed every me-time I have. Oh, I had ample back then. Yes, I was happy. But there were long, lonely, cold nights too. Gfycat When I was waiting for my life after graduation to start, I was reviewing for the board exam. There were a lot of terms and formulas to memorize. I have no idea how I passed it. I'd say only by God's grace. 🤣 But the waiting period between after the exam until it was announced was filled with tension. It wasn't particularly joyful. This q uarantine period is fine. Because I'm working from home for years now, quarantine is not new to me. All these things going on around the world though are getting to me as the days go by. It's different knowing you're staying home because you want to and staying home because you're forced to. We humans love our freedom, don't we? Pinterest So this l ockdown has somehow messed up my mental health. There was a time when I had to disconnect from the world. As much as I wanted to be in the know of what's happening, I needed to step back.I had to take refuge in God's presence like never before. I had to desperately search for things to keep my mind off the crisis. I felt like a fish out of water hopelessly trying to breathe. Thankfully, distancing from the news and social media helped. See the simple therapies I found on my previous entries. Day 20: Unproductive Day 16: Lover Day 14: Self-growth Day 9: Hustle Day 7: Simple Life Day 6: Friends and Chosen Day 5: Disconnect Day 2: Gratitude List The whole world is waiting with bated breath for when we can all finally step out of the house, hug each other again and enjoy our freedom. When will that be? I don't know. It's not easy waiting alone. But knowing we're in this together makes it a little better. Your turn How long do you think this quarantine will last? What do you do while waiting for something? May contain affiliate link.
Lux Thinking Aloud Refuge 11:49 PM Imagine this. You're half-asleep and half-awake. You feel an eerie presence in the room. You want to open your eyes or move but you can't....You're body froze. You can't breathe. You want to scream but no voice is coming out. Have you ever experienced sleep paralysis? I lost count of the times I've had encounters during my sleep. And every time, I take refuge in the presence of God. Refuge I can't explain why it always happens to me. Do I pray before going to bed? Yes. So why do I still experience this? I don't know. I can assume that it's guilt. When this happens, it's usually when I know I sinned and I feel guilty about it. Or when I feel emotionally distant from God. Sin keeps us away from God. When I know I did something wrong, I feel shame. I feel unworthy to be in God's presence. I think this is an opportunity for the enemy to step in and take advantage of my weakness. But that's just me. I know God is merciful. I know I'm saved. The enemy is deceitful. It makes us believe we are doomed. Thankfully, I don't get this anymore. At least not as often. Now that we're more aware of what could give the bad spirits an entry way into our home, my husband and I are more careful about choosing the media we consume. I want to share this chapter in the Bible which I would read with my prayers before bedtime when I was getting these attacks. Psalm 91 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God, and I trust him. For He will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you. Just open your eyes and see how the wicked are punished. If you make the LORD your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. For He will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone. You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet! The LORD says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation." Your turn What's your favorite Bible verse? Have you experienced sleep paralysis? Share it.
Faith Possible 10:31 PM Is it possible that this crisis will end soon? Is there something good that will come out of this p andemic? Will we ever survive this challenge? Is everything going to be okay? Possible If you're an over-thinker like me, you may have also suffered from anxiety attack during this quarantine. So many questions. I continue to believe that no matter how difficult the situation we are in right now, we will survive. We will even thrive. Not with our own strength, but with the help of God. Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” -Matthew 19:26 All things are possible. The good kind of possible. Because our God is good. When I feel like we're trapped in this situation and fear starts rearing its ugly head, I think about the times God made what's impossible for men possible. It's impossible for women of old age to conceive a baby. But God made it possible. He blessed Sarah and Abraham with a son. Elizabeth was at least 60 years old when she gave birth to John the Baptist. It's impossible to divide water. But God parted the Red Sea and made it possible for His people to escape their enemy. It's impossible to walk on water or to turn water into wine. But Jesus did so. God is unchanging. He is just as merciful, powerful and infinite now as He was before. For that, I will always be grateful. Grateful for my husband's love and service health and safety of loved ones the ability to work despite the crisis more opportunities coming my way nature healing; lesser pollution, animals are more free little luxuries like being able to watch shows and movies online Citron tea---oh, how comforting the taste! my blog which has always been my favorite therapy healing songs Speaking of songs and all things being possible with God, here's an old song I like. Maybe not too old but it's been a while since I've heard it. All Things are Possible Hillsong Worship Almighty God my Redeemer My hiding place, my safe refuge No other name like Jesus No power can stand against You My feet are planted on this rock And I will not be shaken My hope it comes from You alone My Lord and my salvation Your praise is always on my lips Your word is living in my heart And I will praise You with a new song My soul will bless You Lord You fill my life with greater joy Yes I delight myself in You And I will praise You with a new song My soul will bless You Lord When I am weak, You make me strong When I'm poor, I know I'm rich For in the power of Your name All things are possible Feels good to be reminded that we worship an awesome God with whom all things are possible. Your turn What uplifting song is on your playlist? List down 3 old songs that you still love to listen to.
Lux Thinking Aloud Mysteries 9:36 PM Mysteries Who doesn't get intrigued by mysteries? The plot twists that keep you guessing until the very end and have you at the edge of your seat. It surely could get your mind off this crisis for an hour or so. My husband stayed up for a Mannatech Live event. He's been using their supplements for his health so he still looks and feels much younger than his age. He needed to rest the whole morning so I had the time to myself. I watched two mystery movies today. Murder on the Orient Express (which I watched alone) and Knives Out (which I watched with my husband after his nap). Both these movies are star-studded. Have great cinematography and wonderful plot. I suspected the wrong people in both movies too. 😛 I'm glad I got to focus on something entertaining and for a little while forgot about the crazy times we are in. Do you enjoy a mystery movie? Gfycat They mystery of God Can you discover the depths of God? Can you discover the limits of the Almighty? -Job 11:7 I've always wondered why Jesus speaks in parables or in ways that is hard to comprehend if you take things literally. Why not answer the questions directly, Lord? Why all this secrecy and mystery? But then if I understand all His ways then I'll have His wisdom and boy, that is scary. He is God and I'm a mortal. He's my Creator and I'm His creation. I'll let Him do His will. I'll do what I can do, but those I cannot control I will surrender to Him. I love a mystery. Especially how God works in my life. I'm still a work in progress and there are still a lot of room for improvement. But I am happy that I am the way I am now because God is working in my life. He's not yet done. I know things aren't going my way right now but I will continue to believe that this crisis will end soon. And I'm excited to see the plot twist. I know it will be for my favor. And yours too! But in that coming day no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the LORD; their vindication will come from me. I, the LORD, have spoken! -Isaiah 54:17 Your turn What mystery novel or movie can you recommend? How's your Sunday?
Faith Fixate 6:45 PM Fixate And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.-Philippians 4:8-9 If you can fixate on one thought, what would it be? If your life is a movie and you have to keep playing one clip from it over and over, which would you choose? I bet you'll pick something nice, happy, wonderful. When you finally graduated or passed an exam that will change your career. When you finally got over a heartbreak When you found your true love. When you climbed that summit you've always wanted to conquer. When your baby was born. When you got your first puppy. Imgur We are automatically drawn to what makes us feel good. Nobody wakes up every morning wanting to sabotage their day. "How do I ruin my life today?" That's a disturbing thought, isn't it? "Every day may not be good but there's always something good in every day." I know, sometimes it's hard to find the good especially when you feel like your life is going down the drain. I've had those days. I frequently get those since this crisis started. We all have our own way to cope with our own issues. We all have our own demons to wrestle with. When bad memories resurface, when the devil whispers lies in my ears, when I feel lost and hopeless, I go back to that verse from Philippians. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. What is true is that this too shall pass. God is still in control and He's the same God yesterday, today and forever. What is honorable is not using this p andemic as an opportunity to take advantage of people who are desperate. It's thinking about ways to help. What is right is giving yourself a break. Letting yourself rest if you have to. Distant yourself from toxic people and news. Keep your mind and body healthy. We Heart It What is pure are dogs and babies. Watching dog and baby videos reminds me how beautiful innocence is. It reminds what genuine love looks like. What is lovely is the planet we live in. Nature that's not abused and defiled is incomparable in its beauty. I look at the places I visited before and those I would love to go to someday. Lovely thoughts are those with my wonderful husband, family and friends. Lovely also are the news about people showing what humanity really means especially in the time of c oronavirus. What is admirable are the people who continue to give and serve without political gain. Those who continue to fight bravely for what is just. Those who are not afraid to speak up and get ridiculed just to call out the abusive people in power. What is admirable is knowing that we are on day___ of our quarantine yet here we are. (It's longer than 25 days I know but I started when enhanced q uarantine was announced in our city). Those who are scarred and still beautiful. Those are admirable. The noise outside is too loud. Sometimes the voices of doubt and fear in my head are deafening too. But I fight and choose to fixate to only what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. What is excellent and worthy of praise? God's steadfast love. His mercy that's new every morning. The good work He has began in me. His purpose behind all these which we are yet to know and understand. I want to fixate on these things. Your turn What are you currently preoccupied with? What scene in your life do you love to keep playing in your head?
Lux Thinking Aloud Deadline 12:42 AM Deadline I had a deadline to beat today. That gave me a break from the C OVID-19 thoughts. Phew!The deadline is tomorrow morning technically. But I don't want to wait for tomorrow because I know how I am. Procrastination was an old friend. And things didn't go well between us because I've realized he's only good for a short time. It's a toxic relationship so I ended it. Procrastination is like a fair-weather friend. You hang out when things are good but he disappears when you need him the most. The worst part is that you wouldn't be in that unpleasant situation if you didn't listen to him in the first place. So I worked since I woke up and until it's time to retire. And I got reminded of this verse: It is vain for you to rise up early, to retire late, to eat the bread of painful labors; for He gives to His beloved even in his sleep. -Psalm 127:2 Truly, God is a generous Provider and a loving Father. He gives us the things we need even in our sleep. He knows what we need even before we ask. A little rant I've got a small problem with this though. Some Most people abuse generosity. They don't toil because they know people with generous and compassionate hearts would come to help them anyway. This has been obvious during this time. In my country, a lot of taxpayers didn't receive any assistance from the government during this crisis. Because, per the social welfare personnel, they're prioritizing the "poorest of the poor". It seems inhumane to complain if you put it that way. Okay. Give it to them. I can fend for myself anyway. Who am I to deny those who are in dire need? I'm not heartless. But you know what? MOST of the people who are qualified to receive assistance from the government are in this category because they're lazy. How do I know this? I've lived here all my life! I witness it every day. I even know some personally. They wait for "help" and blame the government for their situation. And sometimes when help is given, they whine because it's not enough. 😒 After the government released the financial assistance, news about those who received it caught buying drugs and gambling came out. Disappointed but not surprised. A lot of taxpayers (meaning working citizens or entrepreneurs) lost their jobs and had to close down their businesses during this p andemic. And many employees are on no-work, no-pay basis. Shouldn't the government also send us a little help to get through? After this crisis, may we learn to be more like the ant and not like the grasshopper in that fable. Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work,they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter. But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep? When will you wake up? A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber. -Proverbs 6:6-11 When all this is over I hope the government realizes how important it is to invest on healthcare, research, calamity fund and education. And that they give themselves a deadline to take action. Your turn How do you fight procrastination? Have you ever missed a deadline? How did you handle it?
Lux Thinking Aloud Incredible 1:29 AM Incredible I decided to reflect on a random verse every day. To help myself focus on God's magnificence and not on this p andemic. To find encouragement when doubt and fear creep in. To hear God's voice louder and clearer. To remind myself that I worship a powerful, incredible God. Today's verse is Jeremiah 32:17: Dear God, my Master, You created earth and sky by Your great power--- by merely stretching out your arm! There is nothing you can't do. Wow. Isn't that amazing? God's incredible. He created the earth and sky without tools. Just His words. And according to this verse, just by stretching out his arm. He didn't toil. There is nothing my God cannot do! When faced with difficulties, I get discouraged sometimes most of the time. I am an over-thinker and a worrier. I have a tendency to get too focused on the problem that even if it's just a molehill, it becomes a giant mountain. And because of these negative thoughts, I project negative actions and react negatively to things. For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Luke 6:45 It's true what they say: What you focus on grows. What I do when I catch myself getting too engrossed in the issue or problem (in no particular order): literally stop thinking about what bothers me take a shower watch some relaxing videos remember the times God delivered me write Gfycat Sometimes I do all these, other times just one or two. The problem doesn't go away instantly. C OVID-19 is still here even after I practice these steps. But at least my perspective has changed. I feel lighter afterwards. I remind myself of the times God has shown me how incredible He is and I instantly look at my problem as nothing my God cannot handle. I think back to when I thought were impossible situations for me to get out of. Suddenly there's God showing me the door. When life left me black and blue and I felt like I couldn't get up anymore, God lifted me up and carried me until I got my strength back to walk again. There is no shortage of God's blessings. We just become short-sighted we couldn't see it. God never stops being incredible. We just become incredulous. God never loses His love for us. We just lose sight of how much we are loved. There is nothing God cannot do. He is bigger than this virus. He is more powerful than this p andemic. I keep repeating that to myself. More often now than I used to because of this crisis. Tumblr Things to remember: The same incredible God who parted the sea to free His people is the same God who will remove the obstacles along my way. The same incredible God who healed the leper and raised the dead is also the God of my health. The same incredible God who provided manna for His chosen people is choosing me every day and knows what I need before I even ask. The same incredible hands that painted the skies with the perfect sunset colors that no artist can replicate are the same hands that intricately molded my body and designed my life. The same incredible God who named all the stars above is the same God who called me by my name. How amazing is that?! I pray you find hope and peace in Him too. I pray you remember the times He turned things around and showed you how highly favored you are. I pray you find strength and refuge under the shadow of the Almighty. And I pray you know you are also incredible. For He made all the delicate, inner parts of your body and knit you together in your mother’s womb. (Psalm 139:13) Your turn Do you keep a record of experiences when you felt God's incredible power? Are you also an over-thinker? What do you do to stop worrying?
Faith Grace 11:16 PM Grace I watched separate interviews of two C OVID-19 survivors today. What they both went through was scary, painful and life-changing. They both said two things that are noteworthy. We should never underestimate the virus. They survived purely because of God's grace. Grace. Gift Received At Christ's Expense I used to take this gift for granted. But now I know I am still here only because of God's grace. I realized grace is: being able to wake up every morning and being given the chance to experience life again having a normal and healthy body family and friends surrounding me having enough food still earning despite the crisis being under God's protection just being able to breathe normally (because those C OVID survivors said breathing was a difficult task) I didn't receive any help from our government (despite being a taxpayer) but at least I don't go to bed hungry. I am safe. I am well. I am loved. I have grace. This C OVID-19 made me more content. But I hope this ends soon and that we change for the better. Your turn What are you thankful for today?
Lux Thinking Aloud Steadfast 11:12 PM Steadfast Congratulations! Yes, congrats to us! Why? Look at where we are now. We're still here. We're still standing, breathing, functioning. Dare I say it, we are thriving. We are resilient. The q uarantine in our country has been going on for more than a month now. I just wasn't able to start journaling about it because like you, I was confused, anxious, discouraged. Or was it just me? But here I am on my 21st entry. Writing will always be my favorite therapy. So is hugging dogs but they're not here so, writing it is. Today is a normal work day. The only difference is that I woke up earlier than I normally do since the start of this p andemic. It's hard when you're body's used to getting up at 9 am but I know I can do it. I used to wake up 5:30 am to start my day. Giphy I was listening to Quaretreat again and they're talking about God's unwavering love. We need to build our foundation on God because He is solid. He's the same God yesterday, today and forever. So no matter what the external forces we are battling, no matter how strong the storm is, we will survive and thrive with God. In the end, when the flood subsides so to speak, we will still be standing. Because we are standing on God's steadfast love. It's the strongest and surest foundation we will ever find. Don't let the devil's lies bring you down. Just put your trust and hope in God. Your turn How did your day go? Where do you place your hope?
Lux Thinking Aloud Unproductive 6:42 PM Unproductive And on the seventh day, I allowed myself to rest and be...unproductive. 😌 ✅ Did not check email. ✅ Did not look at LinkedIn. ✅ Did not glance at my blog's stats. I can't even remember if I checked Facebook. Pat on the back, self! Disconnecting on socials a few weeks ago helped me realize I can live without it. This has been an unproductive day. Obviously. Which is what Sundays are for, right? After watching an online Sunday service and worship, it was all about binge-watching. Oh, and my friends from my Caring Group (Light Group or Small Group) called too. My husband and I had different shows and movies in mind so we watched them separately. New on my watch list 1. Another Korean ASMR mommy vlog I've discovered a new Korean mom who's posting ASMR videos of her cleaning and organizing. Quite similar to the Hamimommy channel I recommended in my previous post. I don't know why. But these cool and tidy Korean homemakers going about their day is giving me such inner peace. I like that they have small limited spaces but they make use of every nook and cranny of their pretty homes. They can transform the simple into fancy by just adding a trinket or a small plant. It's so welcoming. Plus, they use eco-friendly products and systems. This new mommy vlogger cardsu까르슈 살림 has a really cute cat and his antics are adorable. Watching her do her self-care and mom duties gives me a feeling of warmth and makes me feel at home. 2. House & Home I love a beautiful house makeover. The simple elegant interior designs in this YouTube channel are gorgeous. The orderly homes are again relaxing to watch. It has that kind of effect on me. 3. Epic Gardening Because of this quarantine, I've realized that it's wise to grow your own food. It's earthy-friendly, practical, and healthy. If we take care of them, plants are gifts that keep on giving. I don't have a green thumb though. We're surrounded by concrete. And with the many tasks I need to do every day, I can only wish I have the time. But, who knows? Maybe when I have my own garden someday. For now, I'll be living vicariously through Epic Gardening. My friends are all talking about the Korean dramas and Netflix shows they watch during this quarantine. And I'm just here watching F.R.I.E.N.D.S. and these home and gardening YouTube videos. No judgment on our watch list, right? We all have our own way of coping with this crisis. As for me, this is my escape and "mini-vacation". Being unproductive for a day after a week of hustle is a must. Your brains need a reboot too. So lean back, relax, and hit that play button. Your turn What's your usual Sunday activity during q ua rantin e? What movies and shows are on your watch list?
Faith Expectant 9:20 PM Expectant Expectant ex·pect·ant (/ikˈspektənt/) having or showing an excited feeling that something is about to happen, especially something pleasant and interesting. When you pray for rain, bring an umbrella. That's expectant faith. That's it. That's the post for today. Thank you. Goodbye. 😛 Okay. I want to write more than that. I'm sharing about one of my favorite stories about faith which involves rain and the prophet Elijah. But Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel and bowed low to the ground and prayed with his face between his knees. Seven times Elijah told him to go and look. Finally the seventh time, his servant told him, “I saw a little cloud about the size of a man’s hand rising from the sea." Giphy Then Elijah shouted, “Hurry to Ahab and tell him, ‘Climb into your chariot and go back home. If you don’t hurry, the rain will stop you!’” And soon the sky was black with clouds. A heavy wind brought a terrific rainstorm, and Ahab left quickly for Jezreel. Then the Lord gave special strength to Elijah. He tucked his cloak into his belt and ran ahead of Ahab’s chariot all the way to the entrance of Jezreel. -1 Kings 18:42-45 About this story Elijah prayed earnestly and desperately. When was the last time you prayed down low to the ground with your face between your knees? This position denotes desperation, right? Seven times he asked his servant. The experts say that seven indicates perfection and completion in the Bible. How many times do you pray and try again before you give up on what you're praying for? A big storm starts with a tiny cloud. The cloud the servant saw was the size of a man's hand rising from the sea. Imagine the tiniest cloud you've ever seen. That must be how small it was. For Elijah though, he saw a storm coming. And he was right. Life lessons from Elijah and the rain See things with the eyes of faith. Prayers can move mountains. Or bring rain in the dessert. 😉 God favors those whom He chose. Breaking news: He chose us! Pray unceasingly. Again, when you pray for rain, bring an umbrella. Pinterest This is how I'm trying to deal with the uncertainties today. The world says there is drought, but my God brings the storm. The world says impossible, I say with God all things are possible. (Matthew 19:26) The world says C OVID-19 will kill us all, but my God will restore us to health and heal our wounds. (Jeremiah 30:17) Your turn What are you expecting to receive today? Do you like the rain too? 😊
Faith Adaptable 7:39 PM Adaptable Notice the glorious bamboo tree. It is tall and sturdy but when the wind blows strongly, it bends. It's resilient even during a raging storm. Because it is adaptable. It goes all the way down to the bottom and all the way up that the camera can't capture the actual size 📸: Instagram husband We need to learn this important life lesson from a bamboo tree. Now more than ever, we need to be adaptable. Because all of us are going through a crisis. The whole damn world. No one's exempted. This p andemic is perhaps the biggest change and challenge the modern world has experienced so far. And I couldn't agree more. Giphy Aside from this global crisis, we each are going through major life-altering events. We need to adjust. If we keep resisting change, we will break. Personal change I've seen this change in my career recently. I know it will be tough in the coming days and if I keep thinking about the what ifs, I will be having fresh breakouts and be losing sleep again. Anxiety ain't pretty. So, instead I decided to declare this: My God is bigger than this crisis. My God is more powerful than this p andemic. He will never let my cup run dry. Here are other encouragement I keep in my heart to help me get through this like a warrior I was born to be: You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. -Psalm 23:5 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. -2 Corinthians 9:8 The LORD will send rain at the proper time from his rich treasury in the heavens and will bless all the work you do. You will lend to many nations, but you will never need to borrow from them. -Deuteronomy 28:12 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:19 The LORD gave me what I had, and the LORD has taken it away. Praise the name of the LORD! - Job 1:21 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. - 1 Thessalonians 5:18 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. -Romans 8:28 But in that coming day no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the LORD; their vindication will come from me. I, the LORD, have spoken! - Isaiah 54:17 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. -Hebrews 13:8 Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. -James 1:17 I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. -John 10:10 And when it gets overwhelming I have to remind myself of this verse: I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. -John 16:33 Realizations I don't think I'll be standing here today if not for God's grace. He is my hope and my strength. There are many times in my life when He delivered me and fulfilled His promises. He never fails and He won't stop now. (I got that from this song. 😛) I've realized that if we want to thrive in our lives during this c oronavirus p andemic, we need to adapt. In the end, the strongest among us is not the one who looks and acts tough. It is the one who learns to bend. Be strong. Be adaptable. Your turn What quotes or verses do you read when things get tough? How do you adapt to change?
Lux Thinking Aloud Lover 10:13 PM Lover Ever since Taylor Swift released her Lover album, I listened to it almost every day. It's not only a feel-good love-filled album but I like the theme of it. I love pink (as you can see on my page). But since c oronavirus hit the world, I stopped. I did not only disconnect from the news and social media, I also stopped listening to Lover. You may not know the weight of that but that's a big deal for me. Lover by Taylor Swift is my mood booster. It's my upper. But because I was so mentally affected and drained by this pa ndemic, I had to listen to only worship songs and inspirational talks for weeks. Looking back, I think I shouldn't have stopped listening to Lover. If it can lift my spirits, that's God's way of cheering me up. God can be found even in the secular. So, today I listened to Lover again. I sang along, I danced a little (while sitting on my office chair) and yes, my spirits have been lifted. Thank you Taylor Swift for your songs. Thank you God for the gift of music. I am writing this with Lover playing in the background and I'm swaying to it. Hang in there. Soon we'll get better (like what she said in one of her songs in this album). Your turn What playlist are you listening to at the moment? Who's your all time favorite artist?
Lux Thinking Aloud Catch Up 9:22 PM Catch Up I was going to watch Friends again after my work but my former office mates started a video conferencing. So, we had a catch up session for a few minutes. We just checked on each other, talked about life in this time of c oronavirus, memories we share and and our work when we were still in the same company. It gave me a sense of normalcy. Talking with people I've known before this pandemic about our lives pre-c oronavirus helped my sanity somehow. Gratitude list Catching up with friends God's steadfast love Entertaining videos on YouTube This imperfect but blessed life By the way, here's the Oratio Emparata you can pray for C OVID-19: Oratio Emparata God our Father, we come to you in our need to ask your protection against the C OVID 19 that has disturbed and even claimed lives. We pray that you guide the people tasked to find cures for this disease and to stem its transmission. Protect the medical experts that they may minister to the sick with competence and compassion. We pray for those afflicted. May they be restored to health soon. Protect those who care for them. Grant eternal rest to those who have died. Give us the grace in this trying time to work for the good of all and to help those in need. We implore you to stop the spread of this virus and to save us from our fears. Grant all these through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. We fly to Your protection, oh Holy Mother of God. Do not despise our petition in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, Oh, glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen. Our Lady, health of the sick, pray for us. St. Raphael the Archangel, pray for us. St. Roch, pray for us. St. Lorenzo Ruiz, pray for us St. Pedro Calungsod, pray for us. Your turn When was the last time you called someone? What do you always pray for?
Freelancing Accomplished 6:15 PM Accomplished Like what Alanis Morissette said (or sang), I'm tired but I'm happy. I took two training courses and certification tests today. Thankfully, I passed. So that's two additional badges to show my clients. And a lot more info I can use as a copywriter, content strategist and email marketer. And that left me feeling exhausted but accomplished at the end of the day. Giphy What's new Browsing through my YouTube feed, I saw this video about organizing and I was instantly hooked. I love the ASMR in the video and how good she is in organizing her house. Her home is so neat and clean and her daughter is cute. I love to keep my closet and our apartment orderly as much as possible too. But this woman is goals! You should check out her channel Hamimommy. Gratitude list My husband who takes care of me every day and supports my endeavors. I still get clients and inquiries. Citron tea. 🍵 I was able to watch an online rosary live from the Cathedral. My newborn nephew. I still haven't seen him personally but my sister keeps sending his photos. He's so cute! My family and friends are safe and healthy. The certificates I've earned in the online courses I took. And to DigitalMarketer for giving them for free for a limited time. Their courses are really expensive, mind you. After getting a taste of what they offer, I know why. It's high quality education for online workers. Screenshot from my Credly Your turn What's your greatest accomplishment? What are you thankful for today?
Lux Thinking Aloud Self-growth 10:24 PM Self-growth It may still be Easter holiday and it's my paid day off but I thought I'd make this day productive for my self-growth. I finished my Direct Email Marketing certification training and got my certificate from Digital Marketer. In case you don't know, that is a big deal for online workers. It's an 8-hour course plus quiz. I also took their Copywriting Jumpstart Pack. I was a little exhausted from information overload but that's okay. I'd rather be exhausted from learning than from doing nothing. Giphy This c oronavirus may have given me some anxiety but I promised myself I won't let it be the end of me. This crisis will not paralyze and stop me from moving forward and onward. I refuse to get stuck. My God is bigger than this p andemic, more powerful than this virus. I may have slowed down but I will not stop. Giphy I went back to social media after a week of disconnect. I'm taking it slow as I know I'm still not 100% okay. Filtering the news and info I consume, trying to avoid toxic topics and forcing myself to focus on my faith and not on my fears. These are just a few of the things I'm trying to do now. The enemy is so good at discouraging me a lot lately. I think all of us right now are being attacked more than ever. Hell must be buzzing right now from all the minions busy going around torturing God's people. I know we're all affected by this p andemic. We may be safe from the virus but mentally and emotionally, we're all suffering. But I know we can get through this. I decided I will end this p andemic with a bang in my self-growth. When all of this is over, I want to see myself victorious and not defeated. Your turn What areas of your life do you need improving? How has this p andemic helping you grow?