Life Lessons Things Work Out Even When You Think They Don't 9:20 AM There’s no such thing as coincidence in God’s plans. This post originally appeared on Epic Mommy Adventures as a guest blog post for Unmarried And Singles American Week celebration. Click here to read the full article. Here's an excerpt: Things Work Out Even When You Think They Don't If you think things don't work out, think again. Maybe it didn't work out with a certain person because it will work out with someone better. Maybe that job will hinder you from growing and becoming the best that you could be. Maybe that friendship is more harmful to you than it does you good. There’s no such thing as coincidence in God’s plans. Things are meant to happen—even the things that didn't work out are supposed to happen. That’s a bitter pill to swallow especially when you hoped that they will work out; When you've given your all to the other person, hoping that it will work out the way you wanted it to. When you've worked so hard for maybe almost as long as you can remember for a company that didn’t appreciate your effort. When you've trusted a friend 100% and they ended up betraying you in the end. The pain will be too much. It might stop you from believing again. But don't let it. 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
Lux Thinking Aloud Just The Way You Are 11:42 AM Why fit in when you were born to stand out? -Dr. Seuss "You are beautiful just the way you are." How many times have we heard that line? In the movies, in the books, and in the lyrics of some songs. I've heard it a million times. But the one time I couldn't forget that was one afternoon when I was feeling lost. I was just starting on my first job then. I was 20, a fresh grad, hungry and full of dreams. I was still vulnerable and naive. Naturally, a little gossip and badmouthing could shatter me. I couldn't remember what issue had me really down then, but I remember questioning myself. Was there something wrong with me? Was I too different? What would I need to do to fit in, to be like the rest, so they wouldn't always see me and my mistakes? Just then, I heard Joey McIntyre's song play: Don't you ever wish you were someone else, You were meant to be the way you are exactly. Don't you ever say you don't like the way you are. When you learn to love yourself, you're better off by far. And I hope you always stay the same, 'cause there's nothing 'bout you I would change. Coincident? I don't think so. I must have looked like a loony, looking crestfallen, then suddenly breaking into a smile. I felt God reassuring me that the world will try to change me into something or someone I'm not, but I am exactly the way He created me to be. I was, still am, and will always be enough. I was, still am, and will always be beautiful just the way I am. I was, still am, and will always be the apple of His eye. Because He doesn't create rejects. Because I am not here by mistake. I have a purpose. Because He created every cell of my body intricately. Because He knit me together in my mother's womb. Because I am His, He created me in His own image and likeness. Because He said so. No rumor, no gossip, no badmouthing, no criticism, no lies can change who I truly am in the eyes of God. No mistake, no error, and no failure from my end can lessen His love for me. No one can tell me I'm not good enough or I'm not worthy. Because Someone important laid down His life for me, as He did for you. Because, my love, you are beautiful and worthy just the way you are. See also: Know Your Worth There's Nothing Ordinary About You
Lux Thinking Aloud Oh, Life! 3:33 PM Oh, life! Thou art so cruel. Thou art so sweet. I was chatting with a childhood friend I haven't seen for a long time. She's so anxious because anytime now, she's going to be giving birth to her first child. We were talking like we used to and it dawned on me that day by day it seems nothing has changed. But when you look back everything's different. All the horrors, all the changes in her body, in her life...she said she's not ready to be a mom just yet. I think nobody is. But when it's there, you just grab it and make the best of it. Well, who am I to say. I've never given birth yet. Contemplating on that, I was browsing my news feed when another friend posted that she's in deep pain because her son just passed away. Wow! I'm right here, thinking about my great unknown, and here's someone my age mourning the loss of her child. Already! All three of us were once so careless, were just enjoying our youth, we're busy preparing for our future. A mother expecting her first child. A mother grieving the loss of her son. And a woman who still has a blank canvass observing everything. You can say, one is quite late for the role expected of her. One is too young to experience something so sudden. The other is trapped in the uncertainty of life. I am thrilled for my expectant friend. But, my heart also breaks for my friend who has lost one of the most important persons in her life. Both are emotions too extreme to feel at once. Oh, life! How sweet and how cruel. Sometimes you're on our side, sometimes you're against us. How enigmatic. How puzzling. How inexplicable. You've got me dumbfounded again. 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 There's Nothing Ordinary About You 3:13 PM Before you know if you have red hair or brown, before you know if you are black or white, before you know of what religion you are a part, you have to know that you are loved. -Michael Jackson There's nothing ordinary about you. The reason why we feel inadequate and unworthy is because of shame. Shame is the cancer of the soul. We feel ashamed for what we have done in the past. We feel ashamed if we don't fit in; if we don't speak the right words, if we don't drive the right car, if we don't wear the right clothes. We feel unworthy because we are unkind to ourselves. We keep playing the mistakes we have done in the past over and over again like an old movie. We look down on ourselves. We become our own judge and executioner which makes us hate ourselves more. Don't be too hard on yourself. Get involved in a community or group where people don't judge you and look at your wrong but those who lift you higher. Bask in God's unconditional love, kindness and mercy. Be like the sponge. The sponge may be dirty, but it can clean.Use your scars to be like stars that light up other people's darkness. Turn your mess into a message. You are extraordinary because an extraordinary God created you and loves you like you haven't sin at all. If God can make the sinful women in the Bible like Tamar become Jesus' ancestor, He can use you to make extraordinary things happen. Treat yourself with kindness the way God treats you and live an extraordinary life. Because there's nothing ordinary about you. From Women Gone Wild Talk 1: Dangerous at The Feast
Listicle Monday Gratitude List 5 10:17 PM Mon in French means "my". I declare that Monday is my day. My day to start being grateful for many things. Monday Gratitude List 5 1. My ads finally got approved! What took me so long? I was hesitant because I was thinking small. Blogging is just a hobby, I often say. Then I thought, why not profit from this thing I take pleasure in doing? So I applied for ads and after 20 days of proof that my site is often visited by people from different places, my ads finally got approved. Thank you, God! 2. Yesterday it was raining really hard and the wind was really strong. After fighting the weather with our frail umbrella, my friend and I gave in, closed it and walked in the rain. It's been a long time since I've enjoyed walking in the rain. I forgot how magical it feels. 3. Finally feeling better after almost a week of discomfort. Fever, headache, pain I couldn't quite locate where. A woman's body can get really weird sometimes. Glad it's over. 4. My business is really really really doing well. Thanks to my loyal customers who not only buy the products but also endorse them to others. I'm happy whenever they tell me how happy and satisfied they are. Profit, pleasure, purpose. Value for money! 5. Slept in last weekend. I also watched (for the nth time) one of my favorite comfort movies; Julie & Julia. I love how two lives from different generations seems to be so interconnected. I love how two women made a dent in the world by just being who they are and doing what they love, being perfectly imperfect in their roles. Most of all, I love how perfect their husbands are. Makes me hopeful that indeed Good Men Still Exist. What are you grateful for today? Join the Grateful LinkUp. Get the InLinkz code here. 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
