Serenity

I've seen these sketches several times in the past and I thought they're really great. Then I forgot all about them.

Yesterday, I've seen them again. I still think they're awesome just the same, only this time it gives me a whole new sense of serenity just by looking at them.

Choices

Everything happens for a reason. Those two stained tops (I just discovered that there were three, not just two, and a total of four ruined tops in three months) happened for a purpose. That is to teach me patience more. I must admit, patience is a virtue that I still struggle with sometimes. As I type this post fear is trying to set in, trying to get a hold of me again, trying to eat up whatever amount of patience I have. Then I'm reminded of our Christmas tree, why I decided to put it up and what it stands for this year.

FEAR --- False Evidence Appearing Real (by Joyce Meyer) is an emotion we can choose to feel toward something that hasn't happened yet that'll lead us to wallow in worry. Or we can choose to have FAITH and continue to TRUST in Him who promised that He has our situation well under control. I choose the latter. I choose to have joy and peace instead of anxiety. Everything's going to be all right! You know, writing this helps me remember that my God is bigger than any of my problems. He's bigger than any of my concerns.

"Father, I stand in your presence once again and lifting up this load to you. I believe that with you nothing is impossible. I know that you're going to make a way for us. The christmas tree I put up is more than just an adornment in our house, it symbolizes the faith I have in you. Father, more than anyone, you know my heart and my husband's. I believe in You. We believe in You. Thank you, Father, for giving us joy and hope. And thank you for giving us the strength to stand in what we believe you for even when the enemy is trying his best to control us through fear. I give you back all the glory. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Am I Making Sense?

I'm tired and extremely irritated of telling people how to do things and still end up doing it the wrong way. After seeing two of my light colored tops now with black stains on them, I completely lost it this morning. I was so exhausted from work yesterday, haven't had a good sleep that night and now this. I was furious! I could hear my hubby echoing in my ear what he used to tell me when things go wrong: "Babe, keep your cool and just let it pass. It's okay." No, this time it's not okay! That's the third one she ruined in three months. The first one was a light blue haltered top Jec gave me! Ooohh, I gave her a piece of my mind! Grrr...

My point is this --- all of us are expected to do the job we're being paid for, and a good job at that. We're allowed to make mistakes because let's face it, nobody's perfect. But we should LEARN from those mistakes. One misjudgement of a doctor can cause him his license. One major act of negligence can cause me my job. I also expect people working for me to do their job accordingly.

I didn't plan to do my venting here, but am I making sense?

An Act Of Faith

We usually have a long celebration of the Christmas season here. As early as September, Christmas songs are already being played on the radio. I remember my mom putting up the Christmas tree that early and it will be returned to its box by mid January the following year. We will also start doing our Christmas shopping at the first "ber" month to avoid the Christmas rush. When I was a kid, I will receive gifts as early as September and would excitedly pile them up under the Christmas tree. I love Christmas!

Now that I'm married, I usually put up our Christmas tree right after my birthday. But not this year. This year is different because my hubby is not going to be with me. Or so I thought. I didn't have the urge to get the tree out of the box and fix it up. My hubby was insisting that I should and so did my friends. During our Bible study, my cell leader said something that made me realize one fact about faith and prayer.

So last October 31, in just an hour and a half, I enthusiastically put our 7 ft. tree up and decorated it. It's an act of faith on my part for something that I have been praying for. My cell leader was right. I'm believing God for something and therefore I should act on it. My tree, up majestically, symbolizes my FAITH in Him whom I trust.

Lessons Learned

God has spoken to me several times about reconciliation and unity. I began to see some light the moment I decided to step out in faith and obeyed God. God wanted me to make the first move (I normally wouldn't). And I'm glad I did. A relationship has been restored. It is so important to obey God because it is when God's power is unlocked. I continue to pray for this person very close to my heart hoping in God that changes in this person's life will take place soon.

As I have always believed, God has a purpose behind every problem. God uses problems to draw us closer to Him. It is during adversity that we learn to pray our most heartfelt prayer. Problems causes us to look and depend on God instead of ourselves. I love this line from The Purpose Driven Life --- "You'll never know that God is all you need until God is all you've got." Everything that happens to us is with God's permission. He is in control. God knows what is best for us and has our best interests at heart. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

I have faced troubles in the past and I asked God several times, "Why me?" But now I have learned to ask God, "What do you want me to learn?" Those experiences taught me to be more patient and to hold on more firmly to God's promises. For Jesus said, "You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised." Hebrews 10:36