Faith Sunday Will Come! 10:11 AM Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning. -Psalm 30:5 Black Saturday has always been the longest and most silent day in the Holy Week (at least in this part of the planet). After an emotional contemplation of the Lord's suffering and death on Good Friday, and while waiting for Easter Sunday to come there is a solemn pause which is Black Saturday. I wonder how and what the disciples and the Holy Mother felt and thought during this long agonizing gap. They weren't aware of the coming Sunday. They were still grief-stricken from what they witnessed. How would you handle it? Imagine when the truth you believed in for so long was taken away from you. When the one you've always looked up to, revered, served and worship was humiliated, punished without sin, and tortured right before your eyes. When what you've always thought as indestructible, invincible, and miraculous was destroyed helplessly. And you couldn't do anything about it out of fear or whatever reason that held you from fighting for it. They must have been lost. Beyond comfort. Nothing or no one to assure them that there is still hope. There is still tomorrow. Everything shattered just like that. Then again we don't have to imagine it, do we? How many times have we experienced loss of a loved one? Or seen a friend or family member suffer emotional or physical pain in front of us? How many times have we lost hope? Felt rejected? Betrayed? Humiliated? Hurt? Abandoned? When everything we believed in and held on for so long was taken away from us. Just. Like. That. We all went through a Good Friday one way or another. Then there's this long, agonizing, dragging, empty, deafeningly silent, dark pause that seemed endless. It's torture. There was uncertainty, doubt, confusion, anger even. We're still trying to figure out what just happened and what will happen next seems out of logic. Incomprehensible. Unimaginable. It feels as though the world stood still and time stopped, and we don't have the strength to keep going anymore. We lost everything including hope and the reason to go on. "Will tomorrow ever come again?" we keep on asking ourselves. And we get nothing but a deafening silence as answer. But, Sunday will come. No matter how painful our Fridays were and how uncertain our Saturday is now, Sunday will surely come! No matter how hopeless and helpless we may feel after the storm we went through, Sunday will come. No matter how uncertain, weak and shattered we came out of Friday, Sunday will still come. And then we will be restored. Good as new. Maybe even better somehow. Ready or not, Sunday will come. Our Black Saturday is a gift. A break from the grief. A pause. A time to breathe. A time to heal. A preparation from the big surprise that is Easter Sunday. It is the calm before the storm of blessings. Black Saturday then is when we stay still and wait patiently for the promise of God to come to pass (For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. -Jeremiah 29:11). Black Saturday may be the darkest part of the night before the dawn breaks, but Easter Sunday will always follow. Sunday will come. It always has, and it always will. See also: I Am To Die For Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email
Stories A Story In 25 Words: Unconditional Love 6:19 AM For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son... -John 3:16 It's the Holy Week again. I think it's apt for me to share the 25-word story I wrote that showed God's unconditional love to His people. A Story In 25 Words: Unconditional Love Bruised, beaten, betrayed, and broken. Wounded, wronged. Woebegone. Crestfallen. Desperate, deserted, hanged, and left to die. Yet, He loved them until the end of time. Main photo: The Passion of the Christ
Faith How To Know Your Worth With 6 Important Questions 6:00 PM How To Know Your Worth With 6 Important Questions Every second you spend doubting your worth, every moment you use to criticize yourself, is a second of your life wasted, a moment of your life thrown away. -C. JoyBell C. What does knowing your worth mean?To know your worth is to realize your value, not according to what others think but how you see or measure yourself.How to know your worth?Here are 6 important questions you must ask yourself to know your worth. How do you want to be treated?How do you want to spend your time?How do you like to be reciprocated for what you give?What kind of relationship do you want to have?What kind of person do you want to become?What are your beliefs about yourself?1. How do you want to be treated?Knowing how you want to be treated is a step in realizing your worth.Do you want to be treated with respect and dignity in the workplace, by your circle of friends, or by your partner? Or do you want to feel rejected, unappreciated, or derided?If you say, "I deserve better," you know you're worth more than how you're treated.Giphy2. How do you want to spend your time?Where do you invest your time?Do you spend it chasing people who don't accept and appreciate you for who you are?Do you want to spend your day investing in your growth and improving the quality of your life?You know you want to spend time with people who lift you higher.Or on things that can help you improve and get you closer to your dream life.How you want to spend your time shows how much you value yourself.Tenor3. How do you like to be reciprocated for what you give?Know your worth by knowing how you want to be reciprocated.Respect begets respect. But some people feel entitled to receive respect-demands even-but has no intentions of giving it in return.Some partners want fidelity from their significant other but have no qualms about cheating.Be selfless in giving your love and service but know your limits.Know your worth in the relationship.Set up a boundary for yourself.Boundaries aren't there to build a wall between you and others. It's to protect yourself from abusers. It has self-respect.Tenor4. What kind of relationship do you want to have?Would you be happy to be in a parasitic relationship where only the other person(s) benefit(s)?Or would you be more content and at peace in a relationship where you and others involved (co-workers, family, life partner) gain and grow?Do you want to be with someone who will fight for you or who will give up easily?When you recognize your worth, you know exactly what relationship you want to be involved in.Tenor5. What kind of person do you want to become?Do you want to be striving or thriving?Do you want to be content and happy or perturbed and miserable?What you're allowing yourself to become shows how much you value yourself.Pinterest6. What are your beliefs about yourself?Your beliefs about yourself don't measure your self-worth.Newsflash: most of them aren't true!They're called limiting beliefs. Limiting beliefs are lies you tell yourself that restrict you from achieving your full potential.It's how you measure yourself influenced by how you were raised and what you've heard from others.Limiting beliefs tell you:You're not good enough.You don't have what it takes to qualify.You don't deserve to move forward.You're not worth it.GiphyYou will struggle to know your self-worth at first.Gauge yourself based on how your Creator sees you, not other people's opinions. He knows you best.Here are some Bible verses about knowing your worth:You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14).Because you are precious in my eyes and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, people in exchange for your life (Isaiah 43:4).So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised (Hebrews 10:35–36).You can do everything through Christ, who strengthens you (Philippians 4:13).The Lord is your helper, so you don't have to be afraid (Hebrews 13:6).Do not let your adorning be external-the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry or the clothing you wear-but. Instead, let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious (1 Peter 3:3-4).Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows (Luke 12:7).TenorYou'll know when to leave a toxic relationship when you realize your worth.You'll know what, who, and when to quit.You'll never apologize for things you should not apologize for in the first place.You'll let go of things that aren't making you happy or money.What happens when you realize your worth?You will not shortchange yourself. You will not settle for less than what you deserve.You know who you indeed are and will not negotiate that with anyone.You will not waste another second on people or relationships bringing you down.Knowing your worth is not arrogance. It's embracing the truth about who you are. Having self-worth is having self-respect and self-esteem.It's treating yourself with a healthy amount of self-love.You're worth more than eight cows.Have you heard about the story of the eight-cow wife? There's a village where a man gives a cow as a dowry to a woman's family to ask her hand for marriage. The more beautiful or "qualified" a woman is to become a wife, the more cows are given. Needless to say, a woman's worth is measured by the number of cows she receives from her husband-to-be. In this village lives a woman named Sarita. To say that she is plain is a compliment. Sarita grew up being told that she was worth only one cow. Everybody in their village-including her own family-expected nothing more than a single cow when a good-looking and rich gentleman named Johnny Lingo asked her hand for marriage. To everybody's surprise and her father's indignation, Johnny Lingo disagreed with the arrangement.Sarita's father was insulted. Sarita was heartbroken. She's accepted that she is worth only one cow, and a man refuse to give her that. But Johnny Lingo made himself clear. He will not give Sarita one cow...because he believes she is worth more than that. He saw something in her that no one else did. Sarita, for Johnny, is not a one-cow woman. She is an eight-cow wife. After their marriage, Sarita somehow transformed physically. She now walks with grace. She presents herself with confidence. She stands tall and proud because she knows and believes she is an eight-cow wife.Everybody in their village knows that by now, too. The old Sarita's gone. No one looked at her the same way again. Her joy became evident when she glowed. She radiates. Sarita is now one of the most beautiful women in the village. Because one man showed her and everyone around her her true worth. One man believed that she was extraordinary. I love this story so much. It's a good reminder that we are unique. We are more than the label others give us. Do you know how much you're worth? You're worth more than your number of followers and likes on social media. You're worth more than the price tag on your clothes and gadgets.You're worth more than your job or bank account.You're worth more than your grades in school.You're worth more than your relationship status.You're worth more than your social standing.You're worth more than what people say about you.Here's a beautiful reminder about knowing your worth by Jeremy Anderson: You are worth more than the throne.Think about this:God left His glorious throne to walk the dusty earth just to be with you...To feel how you feel and to understand your pain. You are worth the sacrifice. God did not just offer eight cows for you. He gave you His life. You are worth every single drop of blood...Every torn muscle...Every tormenting pain Jesus had to endure.You're worth every drop of tear and sweat from the body of no less than the Son of God.Imgflip Remember that the next time you forget your worth.(Most part of this reflection is from The Feast)
Listicle 5 Types Of People Not To Fall In Love With 9:05 AM As if on a conveyor belt, there will be a never ending supply of idiots and jerks that come and go in your life. Whether you stop the belt to dance with any one of them is up to you. -Dan Pearce How many times have we given our all and not get anything in return? How many times have we fallen in love with the wrong person? We know they're not good for us, but we can't avoid them. Or we choose not to listen to that inner voice and the concerned voices around us. Then we get hurt or wonder what we did wrong when we knew the answer all along: We fell in love with the wrong person. It's as simple as that. So the next time cupid comes along and aims his arrow at you, duck. Or at least delay it until you're sure. Until you're sure that he's not aiming for the 5 types of people not to fall in love with. 5 Types Of People Not To Fall In Love With Impatient person They will not wait for you. They will not tolerate the pressure that distance or time or a little difficulty along the way would bring. They won't wait for things to be okay. Don't fall in love with an impatient person. They won't stay. All-words-no-action type A dreamer who stays stuck in his dreams and illusions and never want to face reality. A person who lives in his world and forgets where he really is. Don't fall in love with a dreamer who doesn't act. You'll never be able to bring him out of his own world. Someone who doesn't listen Listening is the most basic sign and highest form of respect. If your opinion doesn't matter to him, so does all of you. You are relevant. What you think is important. If he can't see that, being with him is pointless. Too dependent on you It does not have to be financial. If he takes too much of your time, drains you, depends on you to make him feel better or guide him in every step he takes, don't let yourself fall. You'll end up empty. He'll suck you dry. Unbeliever He'll always doubt, he'll always have something to complain about. Don't fall in love with the unbeliever. He'll never see the light no matter how much you try to point it to him. And it's not true that he doesn't have a god. He is his own god. Don't just fall. I know the feeling is exhilarating, but is it really worth the pain and the mess you'll have to deal with afterwards? Gifs from Google images 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 I Am No Damsel In Distress 4:30 PM I am no damsel in distress.Too many of us are waiting.I get it. I really do. The world can feel overwhelming sometimes. We scroll through social media, watch romantic movies, and somewhere deep down, a voice whispers that maybe someone else holds the key to our happiness. Maybe if we just wait long enough, the right person will sweep in and make everything better.But here's what I've learned: You are the author of your own story.No fairy godmother is coming. No magic spell will transform your life overnight. The person who can truly rescue you from whatever darkness you're facing? That person is already here. She's been here all along.As Mandy Hale beautifully puts it: "Design a life so amazing that you don't want to be rescued from it."Because when you fall in love with your own journey, when you find joy in small moments, courage in challenges, and beauty in your everyday experiences, something magical happens. You stop being someone who needs saving and become someone worth knowing. You attract people who want to walk alongside you, not carry you.When you're living fully, you naturally draw in those who are brave enough to match your energy. You connect with people who are secure enough to celebrate your strength, not threatened by it.Yes, this path isn't always easy. Some people won't understand your independence. Others might feel intimidated. But that's okay. You're not meant for everyone, and everyone isn't meant for you.I am no damsel in distress. I refuse to be the princess locked in a tower, waiting for a rescuer.I'm out here building my own kingdom, fighting my own battles, discovering my own strength. I'm writing my own fairytale.I am no damsel in distress. I don't need your armor to protect me, but I'd love for you to show me your scars and share your stories.Tell me about the battles you've fought and the lessons you've learned.Because the truth is, we're all wounded warriors in our own right. And maybe, just maybe, we can heal together while staying whole on our own.Warrior: No Damsel SongHere's a song that echoes my sentiments as someone who's not a damsel in distress. Read the original I Am No Damsel In Distress I wrote on Thought Catalog in 2014.
