Lux Thinking Aloud Miss 5:35 PM Since the start of this qu arantine life, I've been missing a lot of things. I've realized there are simple activities that I took for granted. People I didn't spend enough time with because I thought I'll always see them anyway. Well, 2020 happened and cruelly took so many things away. Now I'm feeling an empty space in my heart.MissI miss my dogs. Their distinct smell, their high energy, their contagious joy, their unconditional and pure love and their silliness. Dogs bring me happiness that I can't find anywhere else.As introverted and anti-social as I am, this lockdown is surprisingly making me miss going out.My version of going out is church and eating out with my husband, running errands (though I don't miss those involving government offices), going to the spa or salon and watching a movie. Once in a while, I meet friends or family.I miss traveling. I don't travel as much now as when I was single. But I do miss seeing new places, relaxing, enjoying nature. I miss the feel of the beach sand in my toes, the smell of salt in the air, the cool breeze and the sound of the waves. Now all I could do is look at my travel photos on Instagram (In case you haven't yet, follow me @lifeandlove_blog). View this post on Instagram A post shared by Content + Copywriting (@lifeandlove_blog) on May 6, 2020 at 10:09am PD I miss shopping for my favorite brand on my affiliate store.I miss my two aunts whom we've lost this year. It's only May and our family already lost two members. They're both huge parts of my childhood. Speaking of which, I miss being a child when the only crisis I had to deal with was how to keep my broken toys so I don't get reprimanded. My childhood was not perfect. But it was memorable and I was full of hope and dreams.I guess that's what I miss the most about it. When I believed in everything and possibilities seemed limitless.I miss eating my favorite foods in my favorite restaurants.You know what else I miss?I miss being able to express an opinion without being shamed and ridiculed by those who don't share the same belief.I miss those days when we can freely share who we're supporting and not end up in heated debates.I miss logical and objective arguments. Now all you get are pointless rebuttals and personal attacks. 🙄Respect and freedom of speech seem to have lost their meaning and value.When I was young, we were taught to be polite to people especially to the elders. Oh, we will never hear the end of it if we went to someone's house and we forgot to say "Good morning".Now I see young people and they act as if it's not cool to be courteous anymore. Not all. But majority.What have we become as a society?It seems the more advance the technology, the more backwards we have become.I miss the simple life.Now, I'm not grumbling. I'm blessed and I know it.I'm grateful for:being alive and wellhaving a wonderful husbandhaving food on the table and a roof over my headmy family and friendsmy faith that's keeping me sanedoors of opportunities opening simple indulgence like watching FRIENDS and eating chocolatesI pray that this crisis will soon end and we can move our lives forward from this p andemic.If you've lost someone dear, I'm sending you my deepest sympathies and leaving you this verse:He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.-Revelation 21:4Your turnWhat do you miss most about your life before c oronavirus?What are you thankful for today?
Lux Thinking Aloud Loss 12:12 AM I looked at the photo of the body bag my sister sent and I was at a loss for words. How can someone I used to see alive, laughing and talking be in that body bag now? It's beyond me.My aunt died today. She's been sick and weak for more than a year now.Still, I grew up with her around and it's hard to imagine a world without her. Don't you feel that about someone? You know we all die eventually but when they're a constant presence in your life, you feel like they will always be there. Their loss brings shock and pain.LossIf 2020 is a person, it will be Dolores Umbridge. A heartless bitch who doesn't seem to run out of evil ideas and was born to spread injustice and hostility. ImgurMy other aunt (the sister of the one who just died) passed away last March. I'm still trying to wrap my head around not seeing her anymore whenever I go visit home and here I am mourning another death.Every day they see each other when they were alive. Maybe she took her sister's death too hard. Because when my cousin watching her stepped out of the hospital room, she removed the tubes that were helping her breathe.The last time I saw her was at the funeral of my other aunt.Since we are in the time of c oronavirus and in l ockdown, we will not be able to pay our last respect. No wake. No funeral. She will be cremated.May the Lord grant her soul eternal repose.He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever. -Revelation 21:4Lost of freedom of speechI don't want to make this political but today, a big network was ordered by the government to shut down. It's the same network that was closed during the Martial Law.It's scary what is going on right now. The virus is not the only thing we need to be cautious about.GiphyWhat's going to happen next? The future is uncertain and scary. I especially feel sorry for the 11,000 employees and the people who relies on them.People are getting retrenched left and right and yet the government had the audacity to add 11,000 more to the statistics. In the middle of the p andemic? Really?While illegal Chinese workers flock and seem untouchable?Sigh.At a time like this, here's the verse I'm holding on to:The LORD Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. -Deuteronomy 31:8Please pray for my aunt's soul.Please pray that the evil plans of some people will not succeed.Pray for where you are for when it prospers, you will prosper too.Your turnHow do you deal with loss?
Faith Sleepless 11:17 PM Sleepless I am literally sleepless today. I took pain medicine yesterday for my headache and the caffeine in it is too strong. Despite me taking only half the dose. So here I am, feeling hangover from a drinking session I never went to. Still standing (or sitting down). Still hustling. The bad thing about not getting sleep is that our bodies are not functioning as it should. Previously, I wrote about having a life balance. Anything in excess is not good. And here I am totally sleepless. I can feel the effects of overworking my brains: dizziness nausea shortness of breath stomach upset uneven skin tone irritability Tenor My husband could attest to the last one. 🤣 If I will have to be honest, it's not just the caffeine that kept me awake. (I've already learned my lesson and only takes half the dose since that time I had palpitations.) But worry has once again conquered me. And no matter what tips you follow for getting a good night sleep, if your mind is filled with fear and anxiety, it's useless. I worry about what will come about after this p andemic. I worry about how the government leaders with selfish intentions would respond to this crisis. I worry about my career. I worry about a lot of things. Worry steals from today. As for me, it stole my rest. It stole my peace. It stole what would have been a more productive day for me. It stole more time I could have spent with my husband. Pinterest Instead of doing these things, I spent it trying to think straight. Trying to not lose my temper to my husband who's also in desperate need of sleep. Two cranky people who are also hungry trying to get by the day is not a good combination. I'm glad my husband is quick to apologize and even quicker to forgive. I spent today trying to function despite feeling lethargic and out of it. Antidote for sleepless night Searching on the web about sleeping, here's a verse I've found: In peace I will lie down and sleep for you alone, O LORD, will keep me safe. -Psalm 4:8 I feel bad for falling into this weakness again. When I worry and fear, I know I am insulting God. There are many times God commanded us to not worry in the Bible. But in my weakness, I allowed the enemy to make my mind a playground for his lies again. Lord, grant me the grace to believe and obey you. Calm my worries. Allow me to rest at your feet. May I sleep in Your presence tonight.Amen. Your turn What makes you sleepless?What are your tips for a good night rest?
Lux Thinking Aloud Blessings 9:47 AM Finding blessings when you're carrying a heavy burden is like searching for a grain of white rice in the white sand. It's HARD. Looking for things to be thankful for during this crisis could be difficult too. When you got furloughed and you don't have enough saved away, you don't have time to sit still and find blessings. You can only panic and worry about where you'll get your next meal. Blessings Every day, we are surrounded by blessings. From the moment we wake up---hey, that is a blessing in itself. Not everyone got that chance. As of this writing, there are 3.5 million C OVID-19 cases around the world and 248,245 deaths. Looking for blessings may be hard because we're in this dark time. So we need a flashlight for that. We need our eyes of faith. Yesterday I watched The Feast online. One of the assignments is to list down 100 blessings to thank for. From the smallest blessing to the major ones. The more specific the better. Kind of hard so I'll give it a try. But I'll start with 50 first. God's generous provision. God's steadfast love. God's mercy that's new every morning. Jesus laying down His life so we can live an abundant life. God's beautiful promises. God's faithfulness. Being protected from harm. A strong immune system. Being able to wake up today. Being able to breathe normally. My husband who tirelessly serves me and loves me unconditionally It finally rained! I get to sleep a lot longer than expected because of the cooler weather. My breakouts are healing. The internet. My laptop. My phone. Movies we're able to stream online. New videos from vlogs I follow. My nephew's cute, round, chubby face that always makes me smile. My nephew's recovery. Getting inspired to clean my husband's closet. That good, satisfying feeling looking at my husband's now organized closet. You have no idea! Inspirational podcasts I got to listen to while organizing. The Feast. Food on the table. Roof over my head. Clothes on my back. Therapeutic writing. Dogs. Pollution is clearing out. Nature is finally able to breathe. My tribe's support. Knowing that my family and friends are well and safe. Frontliners especially the health workers risking their lives to help stop the virus. Some people in the government doing their jobs with integrity and selflessness. People finally realizing they voted for the wrong people. Stay woke! 😎 A lot of animals have been spared as festivals have been cancelled. The sales increase in the vegan industry. People realizing the damage we've done to the planet and changing their ways. This time to relax and not think about stressful stuff. Being able to laugh. A beautiful and prosperous future. Chocolate bars. Tea. Food delivery services. A good shoulder rub from my husband. A relaxing shower. Clean sheets. Relaxing music. Speaking of which, I discovered something that helps calm me down. I love Ghibli films and it's great to hear piano and slow versions of their music. Your turn List the things you're thankful for and see how many you can come up with.
Faith Balance 8:31 AM Anything in excess is not good. For example, too little or too much sleep can be harmful to your health. Balance is key. Balance I always try to keep an optimistic disposition. But the older I get, I realized it's better to also be a little pessimistic. The sweet spot between optimism and pessimism is where we should be. I've learned that those who did not survive the holocaust were mostly the optimists in the group.Because when what they expected did not happen, it hit them really hard. They lost their hope. And I've shared this quote by Hal Lindsay before but I'll share it again: Man can live about forty days without food, about three days without water, about eight minutes without air...but only for one second without hope. From experience, I know optimism has an ugly down side. Indeed when you keep your hopes up, it hurts terribly when what you hoped for did not come to pass. The higher the expectation, the bigger the disappointment. So, I like to keep a balance between being optimistic and pessimistic. We need to be realistic. We need to keep our balance. Dream big but also keep your feet planted firmly on the ground. Hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. Love others but also give yourself the right amount of self-love. Work hard but rest well. Keep yourself in check. I believe keeping a balance between positive thinking and negative thinking is better for our mental health. That way when things don't go our way, we don't get too beaten down. When things turn out better than we expected, we celebrate. I love the verse about the balance of everything in life. There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance. A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing. A time to search and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to be silent and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace. -Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 I hope we learn to find this healthy balance in our lives. Your turn Are you an optimistic or pessimistic person? What do you do when things don't go as expected?
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?
