Once again, daily devotionals humbled me completely. Yesterday’s Our Daily Bread devotional put me in my place. For those that know me, words are my life. I love words…I love strong words that they leave a lasting impression to the reader or audience. Not only do I love words in written form, but I talk the big talk. I’m sure people perceive me as arrogant and overly prideful in my daily word choice. People who enjoy simplicity don’t find that’s the case in my method of marketing communications. But believe me…I really just have a love of strong words!
In the sense of ministry, I’ve been reminded time and again that God doesn’t care for our excellence of speech by any means. Yesterday’s devotional discussed avoiding “lofty language” to elevate self-importance. In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 2:1,), he wrote that “when I came to you, [I] did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.” Paul was a great man.
Last Sunday, I was the liturgist at Umphress Rd UMC. It was overwhelming because I had never been up at the altar reading aloud to the congregation. When I was asked to be liturgist, I was told I was a strong candidate for the position since my public speaking presence could be used to serve the Lord. I must admit, I was flattered and relied on my own sense of pride and confidence when speaking to a crowd. I figured, the Lord will carry me through this because He’s blessed me with the gift of communication and words.
It wasn’t until 30 minutes before I had to face the congregation was I truly humbled. Pastor reminded me that I should not feel overwhelmed to serve the Lord as liturgist because all I’m called to do is invite the congregation to worship Him. It wasn’t my job to speak lofty language nor was it my responsibility to speak with the most eloquent words to grab everyone’s attention. All I had to do was invite others as a call to worship in His name. I took Pastor’s instructions to heart and set aside my natural tendencies. I didn’t try to be MRS. PERSONALITY while at the altar. I did not try to hype up my presence in front of everyone. I humbled myself, read only what was in front of me and in the Bible and reminded myself of why God called me there.
I was then so honored to be asked to share His word in the most simplest of ways. I was calm and not overly energetic as I usually am when in front of a crowd. I remembered it was all about the heart of worship…not about me or my love of words. My simple love of Christ and will to be used were all that I had to pull me through…and I believe the Holy Spirit worked through me and in me. For the first time, my prayer and presence weren't intended to change people's reaction to me. Instead, I was humbled enough to change myself by letting go and letting God work inside.
The words we speak may indicate
A heart that’s filled with pride;
But godly self-control displays
The Spirit’s work inside. — Sper
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Believe in God because He believes in you
I firmly believe our paths have been predetermined by God. I believe we’re all called to be great to glorify the one God who intended for us all to be great. But I must remind myself that my own standards of greatness mean nothing. God is the judge and only He can lead me towards greatness if in my heart of hearts I let Him lead. I must remember to let go and let God!
"Lord, keep us faithful to Your Word,
Although, at times, we might rephrase;
And help us never twist its truths
To justify our selfish ways." —Sper
Our Daily Bread Devotional Oct. 16, 2010
In past years, I have made poor decisions and have become complacent in certain lifestyle situations. But I’m learning, growing and finally realizing humility and faithful perseverance are vital in every decision I make from here on out. Although I’m blessed to know where I want to go, it’s not enough to believe in myself. I must believe in God because He believes in me!
"Lord, keep us faithful to Your Word,
Although, at times, we might rephrase;
And help us never twist its truths
To justify our selfish ways." —Sper
Our Daily Bread Devotional Oct. 16, 2010
In past years, I have made poor decisions and have become complacent in certain lifestyle situations. But I’m learning, growing and finally realizing humility and faithful perseverance are vital in every decision I make from here on out. Although I’m blessed to know where I want to go, it’s not enough to believe in myself. I must believe in God because He believes in me!
Getting things done!
"A great life is not a matter of chance but a matter of consistently making great choices."
This is an incredible mantra. I just had to copy and paste this quote from someone I admire on a personal and professional level. I have mentioned in previous posts that every lifestyle is a choice. We are where we are today because of the spiritual, personal and professional choices we have made. Are you happy with where you’re at? Are you proud of the choices you’ve made? Are you choosing to make the most of every opportunity you’re blessed with?
Mary Kay’s legendary “getting things done” method is simple and quite practical. At the beginning of each day, make time to list out the top 6 most important things you MUST get done. This way, the day ahead shouldn’t overwhelm you when you’ve prioritized things that you cannot creatively avoid. Think of the satisfaction gained when the business day has yet to end, but you’ve already accomplished necessary assignments no matter how major or tedious they may have seemed.
In the words of Mark Twain, we must all remember, “There is nothing that cannot happen today." But it’s up to you to make that choice and make the most of your day. Choose to get ‘er done, folks! Get ‘er done!
This is an incredible mantra. I just had to copy and paste this quote from someone I admire on a personal and professional level. I have mentioned in previous posts that every lifestyle is a choice. We are where we are today because of the spiritual, personal and professional choices we have made. Are you happy with where you’re at? Are you proud of the choices you’ve made? Are you choosing to make the most of every opportunity you’re blessed with?
Mary Kay’s legendary “getting things done” method is simple and quite practical. At the beginning of each day, make time to list out the top 6 most important things you MUST get done. This way, the day ahead shouldn’t overwhelm you when you’ve prioritized things that you cannot creatively avoid. Think of the satisfaction gained when the business day has yet to end, but you’ve already accomplished necessary assignments no matter how major or tedious they may have seemed.
In the words of Mark Twain, we must all remember, “There is nothing that cannot happen today." But it’s up to you to make that choice and make the most of your day. Choose to get ‘er done, folks! Get ‘er done!
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Don't be complacent!
For the past few evenings, my husband and I have turned off the TV to talk about our faith journeys, our marriage and our precious baby Isaac on the way. I brought up my pent up frustrations with my own success and potential. For those that know me, I’ve always said “you’re going to see my name in lights someday.” I still believe that will one day come true.
But the frustration comes from not knowing God’s purpose for the gifts and talents He’s given me. I want to be used by Him to do something great. I can’t deny that I have a resume of professional capacities that some could see as great. But for the hungry ambition that continues to boil within me, none of it has been great enough. But that’s by my own standards, and perhaps that’s where I’m going wrong. I’m realizing to do great and to be great, it’s NOT about ME! I’ve mentioned time and again, it’s about everyone I can help along the way.
Mary Kay believed women can enrich themselves by enriching others. In my independently owned business, I cannot get to the top without bringing someone up there with me. The efforts of generosity and philanthropy in the Mary Kay world should never be underestimated. I LOVE MK’s ideology and will ensure it thrives within my business acumen.
But I sadly admit to my husband, Mary Kay is not how I want to see myself succeed on this unprecedented level ‘m reaching for. I’m still searching for the way God will use this special gift He’s given me.
I am NOT complacent, and I pray I never will be. I believe complacency breeds an idle mind. Complacency is detrimental in any work environment or voluntary effort. I’ve mentioned my husband and I are involved in helping the church he grew up in. This church community is predominately Filipino-based. It’s a blessing to be surrounded by my cultural roots, but it’s also a hindrance.
I am PROUD to be a Filipina, but I’m NOT proud of Filipinos. It’s a sad and harsh fact to realize. Time and time again, I’ve been surrounded by this sense of complacency. It’s almost as if I’ve been raised to work to get by rather than work hard to achieve more. When I was juggling my more than full-time job at Mark Cuban Co’s while working my Mary Kay business, my mom told me I shouldn’t be working so hard. That conversation will NEVER escape me. I couldn’t believe how she chose to show her concern for my well-being. Then looking back over my life, I’ve been raised in the same mindset. Work to get you by, but don’t work your tail off if it’s not necessary. I was encouraged to use my talents to get me by but was never pushed to take it to the next level. Thanks to my upbringing, I never saw my true potential realized in several instances. I didn’t know to choose to live otherwise. Complacency got me nowhere!
Back to the church, I was in a rather troubling discussion with other members who happen to be of Filipino descent. In a conversation about building a new church, I was appalled by the reactions of other members. People stepped up to admit they haven’t done enough in their assigned roles. But they were sure to say they have a will to help and they want to be used to do God’s work. Well that’s only half of the battle!
It’s great they have a will to donate their time and efforts, but something else is keeping them from achieving more. They’re so complacent in their excuses. Some had said they cannot do more because they don’t know how to do more. Some had even said they blame their cultural upbringing on their hindrance to achieve more. I heard excuses like, “In the Philippines, we were never raised to help lead the church. We were just raised to attend church and we relied on the nameless few to run the business of our place of worship.” With that sense of complacency, they never cared to step up and figure out how they can do more to help. So now, they rest their laurels on that cultural ideology.
I see within our group there is a will to help the church now but no ambition to further their service out of their cultural comfort zone. Now please don’t misunderstand me. I’m not putting my own culture down. I’m sharing this brutally harsh observation in hopes that it will create change or some form of motivation to get out of the depths of complacency.
Then I look at myself and what I’ve achieved or have yet to succeed in. I’ve been the exact same way! I did what it took to get me by in Mary Kay, but I didn’t push myself to achieve so much more that was within my grasp. I didn’t choose to achieve more. I was comfortable with the accolades, the money and the recognition. But I wasn’t comfortable enough to do the uncomfortable to get me to super-stardom level in my own business. I’m completely disgusted with myself! I have the choice to enrich myself by enriching others, yet I have stumbled into my own sense of complacency.
But here is what sets me apart from the many complacent Filipinos. I know I have a God-given gift to share with others. I know my life is not my own to control and if I continually ask Him to guide me in the right direction, I will be used to my fullest potential to achieve what so many are willing to seek but not willing to do the hard work for. I have several ongoing projects and plans that I pray will come to fruition if in His plan for me. It will be a bumpy road and only my faith and perseverance can pull me through. I have to stop myself from just getting by and really push myself to do what’s uncomfortable for now.
It’s easy to set goals and to dream big. It’s even easier to make excuses as to why that dream has to be put on hold. I cannot be scared to step up and do the work that seems unnatural. I must rise to the challenge but cannot rely on myself to get the job done. It is Christ who strengthens me in all things and it is Christ who will never lead me astray. As long as I seek Him for guidance, my own perseverance will kick in. I just may surprise myself (and everyone around me) that I am capable of achieving so much more.
But the frustration comes from not knowing God’s purpose for the gifts and talents He’s given me. I want to be used by Him to do something great. I can’t deny that I have a resume of professional capacities that some could see as great. But for the hungry ambition that continues to boil within me, none of it has been great enough. But that’s by my own standards, and perhaps that’s where I’m going wrong. I’m realizing to do great and to be great, it’s NOT about ME! I’ve mentioned time and again, it’s about everyone I can help along the way.
Mary Kay believed women can enrich themselves by enriching others. In my independently owned business, I cannot get to the top without bringing someone up there with me. The efforts of generosity and philanthropy in the Mary Kay world should never be underestimated. I LOVE MK’s ideology and will ensure it thrives within my business acumen.
But I sadly admit to my husband, Mary Kay is not how I want to see myself succeed on this unprecedented level ‘m reaching for. I’m still searching for the way God will use this special gift He’s given me.
I am NOT complacent, and I pray I never will be. I believe complacency breeds an idle mind. Complacency is detrimental in any work environment or voluntary effort. I’ve mentioned my husband and I are involved in helping the church he grew up in. This church community is predominately Filipino-based. It’s a blessing to be surrounded by my cultural roots, but it’s also a hindrance.
I am PROUD to be a Filipina, but I’m NOT proud of Filipinos. It’s a sad and harsh fact to realize. Time and time again, I’ve been surrounded by this sense of complacency. It’s almost as if I’ve been raised to work to get by rather than work hard to achieve more. When I was juggling my more than full-time job at Mark Cuban Co’s while working my Mary Kay business, my mom told me I shouldn’t be working so hard. That conversation will NEVER escape me. I couldn’t believe how she chose to show her concern for my well-being. Then looking back over my life, I’ve been raised in the same mindset. Work to get you by, but don’t work your tail off if it’s not necessary. I was encouraged to use my talents to get me by but was never pushed to take it to the next level. Thanks to my upbringing, I never saw my true potential realized in several instances. I didn’t know to choose to live otherwise. Complacency got me nowhere!
Back to the church, I was in a rather troubling discussion with other members who happen to be of Filipino descent. In a conversation about building a new church, I was appalled by the reactions of other members. People stepped up to admit they haven’t done enough in their assigned roles. But they were sure to say they have a will to help and they want to be used to do God’s work. Well that’s only half of the battle!
It’s great they have a will to donate their time and efforts, but something else is keeping them from achieving more. They’re so complacent in their excuses. Some had said they cannot do more because they don’t know how to do more. Some had even said they blame their cultural upbringing on their hindrance to achieve more. I heard excuses like, “In the Philippines, we were never raised to help lead the church. We were just raised to attend church and we relied on the nameless few to run the business of our place of worship.” With that sense of complacency, they never cared to step up and figure out how they can do more to help. So now, they rest their laurels on that cultural ideology.
I see within our group there is a will to help the church now but no ambition to further their service out of their cultural comfort zone. Now please don’t misunderstand me. I’m not putting my own culture down. I’m sharing this brutally harsh observation in hopes that it will create change or some form of motivation to get out of the depths of complacency.
Then I look at myself and what I’ve achieved or have yet to succeed in. I’ve been the exact same way! I did what it took to get me by in Mary Kay, but I didn’t push myself to achieve so much more that was within my grasp. I didn’t choose to achieve more. I was comfortable with the accolades, the money and the recognition. But I wasn’t comfortable enough to do the uncomfortable to get me to super-stardom level in my own business. I’m completely disgusted with myself! I have the choice to enrich myself by enriching others, yet I have stumbled into my own sense of complacency.
But here is what sets me apart from the many complacent Filipinos. I know I have a God-given gift to share with others. I know my life is not my own to control and if I continually ask Him to guide me in the right direction, I will be used to my fullest potential to achieve what so many are willing to seek but not willing to do the hard work for. I have several ongoing projects and plans that I pray will come to fruition if in His plan for me. It will be a bumpy road and only my faith and perseverance can pull me through. I have to stop myself from just getting by and really push myself to do what’s uncomfortable for now.
It’s easy to set goals and to dream big. It’s even easier to make excuses as to why that dream has to be put on hold. I cannot be scared to step up and do the work that seems unnatural. I must rise to the challenge but cannot rely on myself to get the job done. It is Christ who strengthens me in all things and it is Christ who will never lead me astray. As long as I seek Him for guidance, my own perseverance will kick in. I just may surprise myself (and everyone around me) that I am capable of achieving so much more.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
A very productive lunch
I had the most delectable and productive lunch with my amazing mother-in-law. We didn't talk about our usual topics of conversations. Instead, we began brainstorming ways to collaborate and apply God-given talents for the benefit of others. If we are to actually pursue her action plan, the main objective would be to help groups of people find stable income so they can provide for their families with less financial worries or economic uncertainties.
My mother-in-law is an incredible human being with a soulful desire to help anyone in need. She presented a business idea to me that completely blew me away. I of course cannot share in detail what her plan is just yet. She still needs to hone in on her focus. But I'm proud to say, we actually put a business plan on paper and have assumed deadline dates for action items that will not only keep her motivated but will hold her accountable. (So many of us dream big but never follow it up with action.) She's graciously involving me in her business ideas. It's an honor to know she trusts me with her vision for this rather audacious plan.
Although the business plan is still in its infancy, I truly believe in what she's trying to accomplish. Let me just share the kind of person that she is and how we can all learn from her selflessness. She's been cooking up ideas to help people she knows who are financially unstable and who have an urgent need to care for their family. Over a delicious lunch of fried pork chops and sesame seed oiled-snow peas, we discussed how her business will help so many people in need. The business isn't about how much she can profit. Again, her goal is to help as many people as she possibly can. She's willing to venture out beyond her medical expertise to the foreign world of entrepreneurship. She'll put herself out there by taking and assuming all associated risks. This is her venture, her sacrifice, her blood, her sweat and her tears for the benefit of others. She's just putting what blessings God has bestowed upon her to good use. Believe me...she wants nothing more than to bring others to the very tip top.
She doesn't care for profit margins nor does she care for fame or prestige. She just wants to help people in a very unique way. In fact, it's so unique, I don't think this particular idea has been attempted in this geographical area. She has me salivating at just the thought. I of course see financial success as a potential reward. But she doesn't. Again, profits are not what matter to her. All she kept going on an on about is how many people she can help along the way.
With her attitude, creativity, spirituality, and her heart of philanthropy, I have all of the faith that she will succeed in more ways than she can even fathom. She understands that in order to make anything of yourself, you must be willing to help those in need. It seems as if this business would be her most exceptional form of giving back to the community she already so selflessly gives to.
Most people are inclined to do the work because there's something in it for them. Not my mother-in-law. She wants to do the work because there's so much in it for everyone around her. To me, reaching that pinnacle is the ultimate joy we're all meant to achieve. But there aren't many like her who will seize the opportunity to experience such a great and immeasurable reward.
I am going to help her get this idea off the ground and running. Praise God I have the time and resources to help. But first, there's a lot of work and more brainstorming to be done. Stay tuned...if it's in God's plan, this truly will happen and will be a story worth following.
My mother-in-law is an incredible human being with a soulful desire to help anyone in need. She presented a business idea to me that completely blew me away. I of course cannot share in detail what her plan is just yet. She still needs to hone in on her focus. But I'm proud to say, we actually put a business plan on paper and have assumed deadline dates for action items that will not only keep her motivated but will hold her accountable. (So many of us dream big but never follow it up with action.) She's graciously involving me in her business ideas. It's an honor to know she trusts me with her vision for this rather audacious plan.
Although the business plan is still in its infancy, I truly believe in what she's trying to accomplish. Let me just share the kind of person that she is and how we can all learn from her selflessness. She's been cooking up ideas to help people she knows who are financially unstable and who have an urgent need to care for their family. Over a delicious lunch of fried pork chops and sesame seed oiled-snow peas, we discussed how her business will help so many people in need. The business isn't about how much she can profit. Again, her goal is to help as many people as she possibly can. She's willing to venture out beyond her medical expertise to the foreign world of entrepreneurship. She'll put herself out there by taking and assuming all associated risks. This is her venture, her sacrifice, her blood, her sweat and her tears for the benefit of others. She's just putting what blessings God has bestowed upon her to good use. Believe me...she wants nothing more than to bring others to the very tip top.
She doesn't care for profit margins nor does she care for fame or prestige. She just wants to help people in a very unique way. In fact, it's so unique, I don't think this particular idea has been attempted in this geographical area. She has me salivating at just the thought. I of course see financial success as a potential reward. But she doesn't. Again, profits are not what matter to her. All she kept going on an on about is how many people she can help along the way.
With her attitude, creativity, spirituality, and her heart of philanthropy, I have all of the faith that she will succeed in more ways than she can even fathom. She understands that in order to make anything of yourself, you must be willing to help those in need. It seems as if this business would be her most exceptional form of giving back to the community she already so selflessly gives to.
Most people are inclined to do the work because there's something in it for them. Not my mother-in-law. She wants to do the work because there's so much in it for everyone around her. To me, reaching that pinnacle is the ultimate joy we're all meant to achieve. But there aren't many like her who will seize the opportunity to experience such a great and immeasurable reward.
I am going to help her get this idea off the ground and running. Praise God I have the time and resources to help. But first, there's a lot of work and more brainstorming to be done. Stay tuned...if it's in God's plan, this truly will happen and will be a story worth following.
Self-Image
I've been thinking a lot lately about self-image, particularly because my body morphs everyday during this pregnancy. Surely we all have external imperfections we wish could have been bigger, smaller, prettier or just different than how God made us. But after watching a documentary that candidly depicted the sad tales of women whose decision to pursue plastic surgery went awry, I can't help but feel bad for them.
For the record, I don't feel bad that they're in the state of depression or "suffering" in their post-surgical days. I feel bad that they never found the inner strength or inner beauty within themselves to squash superficial desires to enhance their body parts. Let me also state that these women chronicled in the documentary were already drop-dead gorgeous. One woman is an athletic trainer and model by trade. The other woman is a model in Las Vegas. Both are naturally blessed in beauty and physique. But with as much as they had, they wanted something else.
The terrible truth is that these two young women are not happy with the first round of plastic surgery they had done. The athletic trainer was suffering from debilitating ailments caused by her breast implants. The Vegas model hated her "Pinocchio" nose job.
Cameras followed these women around to show how their post-surgical dissatisfaction affected their everyday living. Towards the end of the segment, they both opted to have a second surgical procedure even with uncertainties that the problems they're dealing with will ever get fixed...for the better or for the worse. They both took a gamble and another huge health risk.
After both surgeries were performed, they both immediately felt relief and excitement with their results. Then as weeks went by, each woman became even more unhappy with what they were left with. The athletic trainer had her health and life back but was flat-chested. The Vegas model corrected her Pinocchio nose, but let the influence of others' opinions overcome how happy she initially was after the second surgery.
Moral of the story, these girls were never happy with their beautiful bodies to begin with. They further altered and risked disfiguring their natural features to find happiness and contentment. I believe they never found it because they never had the appreciation for their self-image from the get go.
There's a breed of people who go through life wishing to change what they've been blessed with. They then surgically make a change and are still left unsatisfied. What will it take to make them happy? Why not seek alternative measures to find true joy and happiness with self-image? If you have nice legs, show 'em off all year round and feel great about the stares and compliments you get. If you have a beautifully clear complexion, let it shine through your smile and look people squarely in the eyes so they can see your flawless radiant glow. They call you Mr. Personality because you're so "ugly." Then infect people with your charm and wit so that everyone would feel so lucky to be your friend. Trust me, there are ways to dig down deep and count the many beautiful blessings you have on your beautiful body. Count your blessings and let those overcome any superficial insecurities.
Self-image is quite the beast to conquer. I struggle like any other woman. But I would never change what God intended to give me. I'm proud to say I am happy and securely accept what I've got...and keepin' it real is the greatest compliment I can give to my Creator.
For the record, I don't feel bad that they're in the state of depression or "suffering" in their post-surgical days. I feel bad that they never found the inner strength or inner beauty within themselves to squash superficial desires to enhance their body parts. Let me also state that these women chronicled in the documentary were already drop-dead gorgeous. One woman is an athletic trainer and model by trade. The other woman is a model in Las Vegas. Both are naturally blessed in beauty and physique. But with as much as they had, they wanted something else.
The terrible truth is that these two young women are not happy with the first round of plastic surgery they had done. The athletic trainer was suffering from debilitating ailments caused by her breast implants. The Vegas model hated her "Pinocchio" nose job.
Cameras followed these women around to show how their post-surgical dissatisfaction affected their everyday living. Towards the end of the segment, they both opted to have a second surgical procedure even with uncertainties that the problems they're dealing with will ever get fixed...for the better or for the worse. They both took a gamble and another huge health risk.
After both surgeries were performed, they both immediately felt relief and excitement with their results. Then as weeks went by, each woman became even more unhappy with what they were left with. The athletic trainer had her health and life back but was flat-chested. The Vegas model corrected her Pinocchio nose, but let the influence of others' opinions overcome how happy she initially was after the second surgery.
Moral of the story, these girls were never happy with their beautiful bodies to begin with. They further altered and risked disfiguring their natural features to find happiness and contentment. I believe they never found it because they never had the appreciation for their self-image from the get go.
There's a breed of people who go through life wishing to change what they've been blessed with. They then surgically make a change and are still left unsatisfied. What will it take to make them happy? Why not seek alternative measures to find true joy and happiness with self-image? If you have nice legs, show 'em off all year round and feel great about the stares and compliments you get. If you have a beautifully clear complexion, let it shine through your smile and look people squarely in the eyes so they can see your flawless radiant glow. They call you Mr. Personality because you're so "ugly." Then infect people with your charm and wit so that everyone would feel so lucky to be your friend. Trust me, there are ways to dig down deep and count the many beautiful blessings you have on your beautiful body. Count your blessings and let those overcome any superficial insecurities.
Self-image is quite the beast to conquer. I struggle like any other woman. But I would never change what God intended to give me. I'm proud to say I am happy and securely accept what I've got...and keepin' it real is the greatest compliment I can give to my Creator.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Seek wisdom and see what happens!
Today's Our Daily Bread daily devotional had another message that spoke to my heart. I can relate to today's biblical theme with my current life situation. We as Christians should reflect on the following thought, "God gives peace to those who are quiet before him."
In his own interpretation, my husband so beautifully broke it down for me...from his heart, through his wisdom and in his own eloquently simple words. My husband reminds me that there's too much noise coming in and going out all around us. We're surrounded by so many unimportant things every waking moment. But in the quietness of the very moment when we choose to drown out all worldly ruckus, only then can we truly come to know God and His awesome presence and almighty powers.
I must admit, 2010 has been THE most challenging year of my entire life with demands for spiritual growth in my marriage. As a living testimony to our faith, my husband and I have decided to drown out the noise, minimize the clutter, throw out the garbage and purposefully avoid negative distractions from our focus. We do everything we can to keep our eyes on HIM. But for those who know or for those who don't know what we've had to endure this past year, you may never understand how daunting of a task it has been to silence everything and everyone who don't matter.
I picked up a book my husband has been reading by Larry Lea entitled, "Wisdom - Don't Live Life Without It." Ever since my husband has made wisdom one of his main prayer requests, so much has changed for us...and for the better. He teaches me to never lose focus on the mere fact that God is always working. He works through your pain, through your pleasure and most especially when you don't realize He is working. My husband's spiritual wisdom astonishes me. He has matured into this man of God with a razor-sharp focus on the cross. He tells me he doesn't have superpowers, although to many who know him, we all seem to think he does. But there's no such thing. He tells me he lives life searching for more wisdom, no matter how intense the situation may be. In his wisdom, faith surely follows with a peace that somehow surpasses his own understanding.
Through the gift of wisdom as Lea ingeniously explains in his book, we've learned the why's and who's when it comes to silencing the unnecessarily loud noise. People will always find something to gather and gossip about. People who don't care for you to succeed will somehow find a way to bring you down to their misery. The hypocrites will stop at nothing to destroy their neighbor and its only those who lack wisdom that go out of their way to despise their neighbors. It's so sad, but you see it as the truth in every social circle you may have. We're salaciously human...everything worldly is what we so naturally adhere to.
My husband and I have lived, loved, and lost in the most extreme sense this past year. When it was so much easier to let the resounding noise of senseless negativity and defeat overcome our hope in God's second chances and new beginnings, we chose to trample through the clutter with Christ-seeking hearts. When anyone would try to bring us down, we kept each other focused on what only God knows we need...not by anyone's expectations or by their worldly standards. We seem to come together holding hands taking the road less traveled.
With as much as God have given us to persevere through, my husband constantly reminds me that in every situation, good or bad, there should be JOY that follows. There is no sense for preparing ourselves for disappointment when looking at the treacherous road ahead. Once we silence the world, keep our eyes focused and make the effort to follow Christ in his teachings, only then can we truly know God in all of his glory.
I must say there were times I thought I deserved so much more than what I got. There were times when I thought what I was given was way too much to handle. But thankfully, my husband is always next to me reminding me that joy is soon to follow. Now look at where we are today. Never in a million years did I think our marriage would be so blessed. Never did I think we could have so much to celebrate than we do now. Despite the chaos of this year and having to force ourselves to drown out the noise, God was always working on something so great. I praise God for our prayers have been answered. I am 16 weeks PREGNANT and have never felt so strong, so loved and so convicted in my 28 years of life. God is giving us the miracle of a new life. We're going to be parents very, very soon. Praise God, we seek for spiritual wisdom to carry us through it all. Now, as soon-to-be parents, it's our calling to share what wisdom we've gained with our baby-to-be so that Baby can also know just how great God truly is.
In his own interpretation, my husband so beautifully broke it down for me...from his heart, through his wisdom and in his own eloquently simple words. My husband reminds me that there's too much noise coming in and going out all around us. We're surrounded by so many unimportant things every waking moment. But in the quietness of the very moment when we choose to drown out all worldly ruckus, only then can we truly come to know God and His awesome presence and almighty powers.
I must admit, 2010 has been THE most challenging year of my entire life with demands for spiritual growth in my marriage. As a living testimony to our faith, my husband and I have decided to drown out the noise, minimize the clutter, throw out the garbage and purposefully avoid negative distractions from our focus. We do everything we can to keep our eyes on HIM. But for those who know or for those who don't know what we've had to endure this past year, you may never understand how daunting of a task it has been to silence everything and everyone who don't matter.
I picked up a book my husband has been reading by Larry Lea entitled, "Wisdom - Don't Live Life Without It." Ever since my husband has made wisdom one of his main prayer requests, so much has changed for us...and for the better. He teaches me to never lose focus on the mere fact that God is always working. He works through your pain, through your pleasure and most especially when you don't realize He is working. My husband's spiritual wisdom astonishes me. He has matured into this man of God with a razor-sharp focus on the cross. He tells me he doesn't have superpowers, although to many who know him, we all seem to think he does. But there's no such thing. He tells me he lives life searching for more wisdom, no matter how intense the situation may be. In his wisdom, faith surely follows with a peace that somehow surpasses his own understanding.
Through the gift of wisdom as Lea ingeniously explains in his book, we've learned the why's and who's when it comes to silencing the unnecessarily loud noise. People will always find something to gather and gossip about. People who don't care for you to succeed will somehow find a way to bring you down to their misery. The hypocrites will stop at nothing to destroy their neighbor and its only those who lack wisdom that go out of their way to despise their neighbors. It's so sad, but you see it as the truth in every social circle you may have. We're salaciously human...everything worldly is what we so naturally adhere to.
My husband and I have lived, loved, and lost in the most extreme sense this past year. When it was so much easier to let the resounding noise of senseless negativity and defeat overcome our hope in God's second chances and new beginnings, we chose to trample through the clutter with Christ-seeking hearts. When anyone would try to bring us down, we kept each other focused on what only God knows we need...not by anyone's expectations or by their worldly standards. We seem to come together holding hands taking the road less traveled.
With as much as God have given us to persevere through, my husband constantly reminds me that in every situation, good or bad, there should be JOY that follows. There is no sense for preparing ourselves for disappointment when looking at the treacherous road ahead. Once we silence the world, keep our eyes focused and make the effort to follow Christ in his teachings, only then can we truly know God in all of his glory.
I must say there were times I thought I deserved so much more than what I got. There were times when I thought what I was given was way too much to handle. But thankfully, my husband is always next to me reminding me that joy is soon to follow. Now look at where we are today. Never in a million years did I think our marriage would be so blessed. Never did I think we could have so much to celebrate than we do now. Despite the chaos of this year and having to force ourselves to drown out the noise, God was always working on something so great. I praise God for our prayers have been answered. I am 16 weeks PREGNANT and have never felt so strong, so loved and so convicted in my 28 years of life. God is giving us the miracle of a new life. We're going to be parents very, very soon. Praise God, we seek for spiritual wisdom to carry us through it all. Now, as soon-to-be parents, it's our calling to share what wisdom we've gained with our baby-to-be so that Baby can also know just how great God truly is.
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