A Better Getaway

A Thought for Our Thoughts

noreply@blogger.com (R n R) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 23:15:00 +0000

"The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts."

Psalm 10:4

>>> Is God in all of my thoughts???

"Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established."
Proverbs 16:3

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths."
Proverbs 3:5,6

>>> Do I daily commit all of my thoughts, my whole heart, unto God???

A Field Trip

noreply@blogger.com (R n R) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 23:06:00 +0000

Today, I'm scheduled to go on a "field trip" to visit a potential client - a referral that unexpectedly came in, just when I decided to stop working full time. If this is God's will, this will be my first independent contractor consulting gig if all pushes through...only by His grace. May I humbly be filled with His Spirit the entire time I'm there.

"The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and He added no sorrow with it."
Proverbs 10:22

A Day of Rescue and Thanksgiving

noreply@blogger.com (R n R) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 20:33:00 +0000

"I will extol thee, O LORD; for thou hast lifted me up,
and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me."
Psalm 30:1

"In His favour is life:
weeping may endure for a night,
but joy cometh in the morning."
Psalm 30:5b

"And in my prosperity I said,
I shall never be moved."
Psalm 30:6

"LORD, by the favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong:
thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled."
Psalm 30:7

"To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee forever."
Psalm 30:12

A Song From My Husband

noreply@blogger.com (R n R) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 00:31:00 +0000

Last month, I wrote a song for my husband.

This month, my one true love wrote a song for me. God has truly blessed me with a wonderful husband!

- - - - -

When I reflect on the day we met I never ever look back and regret.
We were both unassuming and looked at each other as no threat.
That day I will never forget when our eyes first met on the sandy beach that was moon lit.

The waves crashing along the shores.
The canoes parked on the sand without oars.
Our lips touching attracting tours
Eyes glancing admiring our amour.

I will never forget
I will never forget
I praise God that we met
I Love You
I Love You

Our first drives along the shorelines edge
The hedge of dark calm water bordering the ledge
We almost drove in turned the wheel
Sliding back in
We drove along that shore
Our lives as two no more, no more.

The mountains in the shadowy light.
Holding my arm you escaped your fright.
Driving we did through that starry night
Noticing the night canvas we did delight
In God's amazing creations what a sight, what a sight.

I will never forget
I will never forget
I praise God that we met
I Love You
I Love You

Standing in the Tuscan sun.
Our lives as one had just begun.
Promising to God and in front of everyone
You are my Love you are my Only special someone.

I smile
You laugh
You talk
I listen
Through our marriage the Holy Spirit glistens.
When we are apart I am always missin

I will never forget
I will never forget
I praise God that we met
I Love You
I Love You

I praise God that we met
I hope to never forget....

You are God's gift to me!

Looking Back At My 20's

noreply@blogger.com (R n R) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 00:17:00 +0000

Now that I'm in my 30's, I wish I had put this into practice in my 20's.

By God's grace, it's never too late to start over.

And this time, starting over means walking with Him.

"Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof,
when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame."
Proverbs 25:8

On Fear, Safety, Strength, and Peace

noreply@blogger.com (R n R) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 00:11:00 +0000

Oftentimes, I find myself guilty of placing my fear, safety, and strength in the wrong areas.

"The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe."
Proverbs 29:25

"Many seek the ruler's favour; but every man's judgment cometh from the LORD."
Proverbs 29:26

"The LORD will give strength unto His people;
the LORD will bless His people with peace."
Psalm 29:11

Ahhh...

Peace...

True peace can only be found in the LORD.

A Loving Favor

noreply@blogger.com (R n R) — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 02:05:00 +0000

A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches,
and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
Proverbs 22:1

Timelapse Video: God's Wonderful Creation

noreply@blogger.com (R n R) — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 19:19:00 +0000

March Prayer

noreply@blogger.com (R n R) — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 23:51:00 +0000

"Keep me as the apple of the eye,
hide me under the shadow of thy wings,"
Psalm 17:8

"As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness:
I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness."
Psalm 17:15

Double Rainbow, Double Blessing

noreply@blogger.com (R n R) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 20:14:00 +0000

Today is February 29th; 2012 is a leap year!

It has been 3 years since I've been back in Hawai'i and have decided to stay. It is such a beautiful place, as evidenced by the double rainbow in this photo that I had taken during an aerial tour.

I only came back to Hawai'i to sell my condo--and in less than a week from now, I'll be handing the keys over to its new owner! It took me nearly 3 years to finally let go and put it on the market. By God's grace, we sold it! I didn't make any money, neither am I getting my down payment back, but at least, I didn't have to pay any money back. I'm getting a whopping $4.00 check after the transaction!!! Before, I would have been very upset with this; I did not want to let go until I knew I was going to get a decent return. I believe that God is teaching me something through this: to be thankful, always/to be thankful, anyway. If the closing date had been moved even just one day out, I would have owed money. Hence, I'm so glad I'm getting $4.00 back! I can't wait to frame that check as a reminder to myself to be thankful, always/to be thankful, anyway.

Being thankful, always/being thankful, anyway, gives me the opportunity to experience a double blessing! I can rejoice even over a $4.00 check!!!

God has blessed me tremendously for the past 30 years of my life. I could argue that the last 3 years have been one of the most challenging 3 consecutive years of my life, but I'm going to stop thinking so. I believe that such a decline in my thinking (and thus, a decline in my state of being) has been a result of my thanklessness which then led to my restlessness.

Again, I am being reminded to "be still".

Psalm 46:10 states,

"Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."

In the last 3 years, I had been waiting on God to do something big and miraculous. Instead, I need to be still, so I can hear Him speak in a "still, small voice".

So instead of focusing on the "earthly losses", I'm going to focus on God's blessings in my life from February 2009 - February 2012:

Opportunity to work for my former employer in 2009 got "deferred" to 2011. God slammed the door shut in 2009. I'm glad He did! I met my wonderful husband through my former employer 2.5 years later.
Experience working for a top-tier management consulting company, giving me the opportunity to travel extensively, expand my network, and see, hear, touch, and experience things that I could only dream about, see in the movies, or read in history books.
Ability to travel back and forth between Hawaii and the East Coast, temporarily leaving my kids with my parents, giving them a chance to bond and be a blessing to one another, as well as to others around them.
Experience working with a Property Manager to manage one of my rentals - this taught me to let go, trust, and focus on the less mundane things in life.
Quiet, alone time to process things that happened in my past, giving me the opportunity to heal - a humbling experience.
Opportunities to learn to give up that which once seemed very important and to trust God to do the rest--His time, His way, i.e. my properties, assets and liabilities, my job, moving back to the mainland, etc.
Experience being "unemployed" for almost a year (original job offer fell through after months of processing, then next job offer took months to process) - this taught me how to be humble and patient.
Experience "receiving help" vs. typically being the one to offer and "give help", thus allowing others to be a blessing in my life.

I'm sure there are many more blessings, but this is what I came up with in the last hour.

God has a way of gently kicking us out of our comfort zone. Gently, because through it all, He still gives us comfortable "rest areas" along the way.

God wants us to grow. Most times, I find myself resisting His "cultivation", thinking I had already found my "happy spot". Instead, I should be thankful that He's actually giving me His loving attention! To make matters worse, I'd grumble and hide in my corner after the uncomfortable cultivation process, feeling all displaced, distressed, and stripped against my will. I shut down, when I should be on my knees, ready to receive His nutrients, His sunshine, His daily blessings.

Psalm 68:19 states,

"Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah."

Not only do His blessings come daily, they come in loads!

But, just like His gift of eternal life, we couldn't avail of it until we decide to receive it.

I never thought that the act of receiving required such a huge dose of humility. Make that a daily dose. Better yet, a load of doses.

I'm learning that I should take my "humble pill" daily and in large doses in order to clearly see His daily blessings and thoroughly enjoy the loads of "benefits" which He splurges on us every single day. We fail to see His day-to-day blessings due to our lack of humility, our thanklessness.

We can't be truly thankful without being sincerely humble.

Thanklessness springs from the lack or absence of humility. Thanklessness stems from pride.

As I look back at my life in the last 3 years, I see a lack of humility and an abundance of thanklessness. By God's grace, I'd like to change that this leap year. Leap years happen every 4 years. Knowing God, I'm sure that He can give me a "leap boost" to recover what I had lost in the last 3 years. But then again, He was merciful enough to bless me in other ways--I was able to "gain" in other [more important] areas while having "lost" in others. You can't really gain without having to lose things along the way, especially the less important ones.

Here's a quote from Jim Elliot, an American missionary who died in the hands of Auca Indians in Ecuador in the 1950s:

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."

God was simply putting me back on track these last 3 years.

It's time to humble myself and get back on my knees. It's time to be thankful and receive His double blessings. It's time to get out, smile, and get some sun, most especially after a long, cultivation process!

Love's Four Seasons

noreply@blogger.com (R n R) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 02:10:00 +0000

A song I wrote for my husband on "Valentine's Month":

Every morning, I awake

Listening to the sound of your breath

Wond'rin' if my heart can take

The day we'd have to part on our death...

'Cause I know...

You're all that I've been waiting for...

And I know...

You're the only one that I adore

Seasons come, and Seasons go

But, my Love will always grow

List'ning to the Wind's soft, gentle blow

I know, I won't let go...

We said our hearts now beat as one

As we danced under the Tuscan Sun

We fell in love beneath the Moon

So happy we got married soon!

'Cause we know...

Forever isn't long enough...

Your Love to show...

To someone you've been dreaming of...

Seasons come, and Seasons go

But, our Love will always grow

Gazing at the Stars, they brightly glow

We know, we won't let go...

We miss the flowers in the Spring

We bear the Heat the Summer brings

We get the colors of the Fall

And Winter cuddles after all...

Every morning, I awake...

And, I know...

I'll love you though the Seasons change

Seasons come, and Seasons go

And our Love will always grow

Always will our Candle brightly glow

We know, He won't let go!

Day 8: Gabriel, My Gift

noreply@blogger.com (R n R) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 01:41:00 +0000

Today's my youngest son's 6th birthday...

...and the first time I won't get to be there for his birthday :(

I am blessed that my kids understand. So blessed.

Too blessed that I can't believe God blessed me with such supportive, understanding kids.

God is amazing like that.

Happy Birthday, my Gabriel! You're growing way too fast! I remember writing this about you when you were only 2! May the Lord bless and keep you; may He use you for His glory. Actually, He has already used you in my life to bless me, and He continues to do so. You cheer me up when I'm feeling down, you give me a glass of warm milk in your sippy cup when I'm in tears, you give me a glass of cold water when I'm tired. You're refreshing like that, just like your big brother. I love you very, very much. And, I miss you terribly.

Day 7: The Gift of Pampering

noreply@blogger.com (R n R) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 00:50:00 +0000

Got my hands and feet pampered today at the Nail Spa; the pedicure was a gift from a friend, and the manicure was...well...my own gift to myself. I don't think the manicure was worth the price, but I'll be thankful, anyway.

Church tonight was great--a message from a missionary doctor to the Micronesian Islands. He talked about the things that are choking us up, the things that inhibit us from being fruitful, the things that need to be uprooted out of our lives...by God's grace.

He shared how he had bought a few acres of land on one of the islands. Trees inhabited that parcel of land--and abundantly so. So much so that they were quite matted and it was very difficult to see the land and where to build the future house. One by one, he cut down and hauled off the trees. Then, he found a tree different from among the rest, one with thorns, overgrown, and in the place of where he had wanted to build his house. He thought it could probably be a citrus tree, so instead of cutting it down, he chopped off the excess branches and weeds enveloping it so that the sun could actually shine through. He removed the other trees surrounding it, and started to fertilize the soil around it.

He started pampering the neglected tree that was choking from all of the other things wrapped around it!

Soon, leaves started to sprout out of the branches. He patiently waited for the fruit, not sure of what it was just yet. As the days went by, the tree started to bare much fruit!

Lime!

He loved lime juice! He made enough for himself, his family, and soon enough, for the neighbors in the community! A lot of people began to benefit from this once-neglected tree that no one even knew about!

The tree had essentially been dead, but with much pampering, it grew and bare fruit...enough to satisfy a lot of people around it.

Wow.

We could be like that tree, choking from all of the cares of this world.

We could also choose to be like that missionary, who chose to pamper that tree, and later share its blessings. A gift that keeps on giving...

I know I have plenty "cares of this world" that are choking up the beauty that God intended to do in my life--His beauty to show in and through me. I have allowed the many "cares of this world" to envelop me, thus making it difficult for the rays of His blessed sunshine to shine on me.

But, like that lime tree, I will not lose hope.

Much work still needs to be done, but nothing will get done if we don't ever choose to get started. And, the very first step is to "seek him first" (Matthew 6:33).

Overwhelming, yes.

Discouraging, yes.

Disheartening, yes.

But, this I know...

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
Philippians 4:13

Day 6: A Good Matter

noreply@blogger.com (R n R) — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 03:46:00 +0000

God blessed me with another awesome day today.

Started the day talking to my family over the phone.

Then, spent the evening working for my former employer and old friends.

Had Thai food followed by Filipino food.

Ended the day with my favorite mochi ice cream with an old friend.

"My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer."
Psalm 45:1

Day 5: The Gift of Today

noreply@blogger.com (R n R) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 02:35:00 +0000

Today, someone blessed me with the gift of today.

God blessed me with that someone.

Today was a very beautiful day.

Day 4: An Open Door

noreply@blogger.com (R n R) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 16:39:00 +0000

I met a new friend.

It has been refreshing to meet new friends in the last three weeks: first, in Bangkok, then in Los Angeles, and now, with my former-now-present-secondary employer. Food seems to always have been the connecting factor :)

Not to sound utilitarian, but these people have helped me get through a difficult phase in my personal life. It's nice to have broken away from the rut that has been formed in my life over the last couple of months, even but for a moment.

A good friend told me,
"People come into your life for a reason, for a season, for a lifetime."

So, whether these new friends will be a part of me only for a season or for a lifetime, I know they came into my life for a reason. And -- for that, I will be thankful.

I may never see them, again, for we all live in different places (Cambodia, Virginia, and Hawaii) and tend to bounce from one place to the next. We may even lose touch, yet I'm just grateful that some way, somehow, they got to be a friend to me when I needed one the most.

I'm glad I kept an open door for new friendships.

But then...

I got to thinking:
Open doors are not just for new friends but for old ones as well.

Are we just friends with someone when it's convenient? When it's fun? When it's productive?

Are we just fair-weather friends?

Do we stop being friends as soon as our old friend stops being a friend to us?

Do we stop being friends now that we've just made new ones?

I'd argue that most times, that's when our "hostile friend" needs us the most. We don't need to smother, we don't need to always be physically present, we don't need to constantly call or write -- that may just make the other person more annoyed.

Sometimes, the best thing to offer to a hurting friend is the reassurance of an open door.

I was that hurting friend once. I was that hurting daughter. And, I was so desperately though quietly searching for that open door.

I eventually found that door...somewhere else.

And, it wasn't even the right door.

Thankfully, God provided another door, a way to escape--though many years later.

"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."
1 Corinthians 10:13

Let's save our hurting friends from entering the wrong doors.

As we make new friends, let's keep in mind not to be fair-weather friends.

I didn't say, be a doormat.

Doormats are for outside of the house, outside the door.

When hurting friends are being rude, hurtful, and treating us like doormats, then that's right where they should stay--outside, with the doormat. We don't have to be that doormat.

We don't need to force them back in, if all they are ready for is to be "on the doormat". We don't even need to meet them there.

But once they decide on their own to come back in because they saw that our door was never closed to begin with, they have shown humility. It may not be apparent outwardly, but their mere actions say it loudly.

When the Prodigal Son returned home to his father, his father didn't condemn him. Instead, he accepted his son with open arms, with warmth, with love, and with a merry heart.

Let's offer our hurting friends the love, warmth, and reassurance of an open door and a merry heart to come home to--to find safety, to find grace, to find God.

Oh that our friends--old and new--may find God's beauty...through us.

Oh to be a part of that beauty.

A beauty that is rare.

A beauty that is heavenly: an open door.

Day 3: Becoming More Beautiful

noreply@blogger.com (R n R) — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 06:22:00 +0000

Some women say that beauty = revenge, especially for the men who have wronged them. When a woman recovers from a past hurt, it is said that she becomes even more beautiful.

Beauty is undoubtedly a man's weakness; God wired men to be visual that way. Add a genuine, radiant smile to that beauty and you've got these men weak at the knees. It doesn't really matter if the smile is directed at them or at some dancing butterfly.

While I do not use external beauty or a smile to exploit a man's weakness, I realized today that beauty can be created and used a different way--certainly not for revenge. Another wrongdoing doesn't correct or justify a man's wrongdoing, whether that man did it intentionally or unintentionally.

Beauty, when abused, can and will be lost.

I used to be appalled at men who would say that they are attracted to my beauty. You just can never tell the frog from the prince, and I don't really know if I'm willing to kiss too many frogs before I get to finally meet that prince!

Because of this, I have mistakenly deprived myself of appreciating the beauty that God has blessed me with--didn't He make all things beautiful? :) Instead, I have been "hiding" that beauty, and I haven't really made an effort to develop it externally or internally. I have resorted to my "default look", inside and out. I never wanted to attract any attention, as men's fleeting glances or blatant stares have caused my brain to signal, "Danger, danger!"

Now, I have decided to no longer be bothered by such looks of admiration--it doesn't matter if such a look is coming from a knight in shining armor or from just another would-be-jerk (or frog, whichever is worse). As long as I respond to such advances or ignore them with grace and modesty (and class, of course), I no longer have to employ my self-preservation tactics. I no longer have to be afraid. I no longer have to be upset. I no longer have to hide.

I'd say let them appreciate the beauty that God has created. And if, in the process, they prove to be just like the rest and not the best, if they end up hurting me again just like the very few men of my past (whether intentionally or unintentionally, directly or indirectly), then they have unknowingly blessed me with yet another opportunity to become even more beautiful...

...Oh, to become more beautiful...

...Not just externally, but more so, internally.

One argues, "How?"

I can pray for them. Every single one of them.

...Starting from the very first one who has ever wronged me...starting from the ones whom I never let into my life in the first place, to the very few who made it to my heart or its periphery at some point in my life. Recent or otherwise.

To pray without hatred, without spite, without blame...but only with love, compassion, and grace...

...God's love. God's grace. God's gift.

...And God holds the key to my heart.

"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;" Matthew 5:44

I refuse to let them make me look ugly. I refuse to let them infect my merry heart.

Instead, I can quietly thank them for giving me additional opportunities to become even more beautiful while bringing God the glory.

There is great power in a meek and quiet but thankful spirit.

I will smile, anyway. I will be beautiful, anyway.

Beautiful inside and out--a beauty that nobody can take away from me.

A beauty that will never fade. A beauty that's only from above.

Beautiful in God's eyes.

Day 2.5: The Gift of a Merry Heart

noreply@blogger.com (R n R) — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 03:46:00 +0000

Today, I asked God to give me a thankful spirit regardless of my emotions--and He blessed! I'm so glad I asked!!! I'm so glad I turned to Him! This reminds me of my blogpost from nearly 3 years ago when I wrote the song, "All I Need", when I was hurting so deeply...and nobody knew.

God is showing me how a spirit of thanksgiving gives way to the power of healing. God knows I have been hurting; but today, He has blessed me with healing...and the gift of a merry heart!

I may remember the pain again tomorrow--but I'm going to take His dosage of a merry-heart-medicine on a day-to-day basis for as long as He sees fit. Prescription refills are always good, and I'm glad He never runs out of the supply of grace!

"A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones."
Proverbs 17:22

My "happy pill" radiated through my smile, my actions, my attitude--and by God's grace, it affected others at work on my first day back with my former employer. Yes, the caffeine surely helped a bit, especially during an all-day orientation for new hires, but still...God's gift of cheerfulness was contagious.

Seeing familiar faces, even the same UPS guy from 10 years ago, brought a smile to my face...or even the same faces of people whom I had always seen at the food court since I was 21...and even receiving a compliment that I looked like Jackie O with my big sunglasses on!

I know I blogged about this statement once before (or more): "Hurting people are hurtful people; love them, anyway."

While it is true that "hurting people are hurtful people" for the most part, I just learned and experienced this today:

Hurting people can still be cheerful people.
Only by the grace of God...it's a choice that we constantly and consciously need to make.

A merry heart heals.

And that - in and of itself - is a miracle.

And again, I write - As with the many stories in the Bible:
The miracle came after the giving of thanks.

The pain is definitely still there; but God has sent a ray of sunshine to kiss my cheeks and give it a radiant, cheerful glow that no one can take away from me today. Only by His grace...

I will smile, anyway.

Grace.

If God were to ever bless me with another baby one day--and if it were to be a baby girl, I'll give her the middle name of Grace.

Day 2: Re-opened Doors

noreply@blogger.com (R n R) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 17:15:00 +0000

"Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me." Psalm 41:9

I remember reading this verse 2.5 years ago when I was struggling with the fact that God had slammed the door shut about going back to work for my previous employer. It was very unusual, I came very close to the point of even having my own parking space and everything else, but God had clearly closed the door.

A few months later, I ended up getting a job with my preferred employer. I had always wanted to work for this employer but had ended up accepting a job offer with my former employer ten years ago, since the phone call from my preferred employer (to recruit me vs offer me a job) came in a day late.

While working for my former employer many years back, I had always wished I had a "main job" somewhere else so that I could work for my former employer on a part-time, on-call status, since their part-time jobs paid fairly well. That was just a "side wish" of mine.

Alas! God never forgets.

Today, I not only have a "main job" with my preferred employer; I also have a part-time job with my former employer! God blessed me with what I had "casually" asked for many, many years ago.

Now, I see: When God closes (or in my case, slams) a door shut, it doesn't always mean that the door will be closed forever.

I'm glad that by His grace, I did not burn any bridges with my former employer, regardless of the injustice that was done to me. Now, I get to come back to them via a much better arrangement, an improved relationship, a win-win for all.

It simply wasn't time.

Now, it is. It's God's time. God's gift.

Then, early this morning, Satan attacks with feelings of abandonment, unfairness, loss of love. But just then, a cool whisper from above envelops me. I refuse to let such negative feelings steal my joy, my thankfulness, my peace that can only come from above.

On my knees, I begin to pray. This time, not asking for anything, but rather, with thanksgiving--despite the negative feelings that wanted to steal my heart-felt smile away.

I will smile, anyway.

As with the many stories in the Bible:
The miracle came after the giving of thanks.

I so want that miracle.

As God re-opened the doors to working for my former employer, again, so can He re-open other doors that are close to my heart. His way. His time. His choice. His best.

Until then, may I be able to live life fully, see His beauty, and be a part of that beauty.

I will smile, anyway.

***Update: As I was going through my old blogposts, I saw how my first attempt to return to my previous employer was dated nearly 3 years ago. God never forgets, even when I already have.***

Day 1: A Beautiful Experience

noreply@blogger.com (R n R) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 06:47:00 +0000

It's October yet again. Exactly three years ago, I embarked upon a 20-day campaign. This year, I'll embark upon a 45-day campaign as something is about to take place at the end of such a period. The campaign is about enjoying life's gifts, albeit God's gifts, while being a blessing to others--even when I'm the one who is in need of encouragement at this very moment.

Today, I decided to re-enact what happened last October as I was talking with God about my personal life and asked Him to fill in the blanks. Direction. I guess now I know better--who needs direction? All I have to do is follow. As I walked from my condo to the nearest McDonald's to have "lunch for breakfast", Southwest Chicken Salad to be exact, God enabled me to enjoy the scenery of my busy neighborhood. There's still beauty to be seen along the sidewalks: I noticed the colors of autumn in Hawaii, even if we really don't have such a thing here; I found a pomegranate tree; I also found the same baby shoes from last year hanging up on a cable wire.

During my walk, I "stumbled upon" my brother who was doing his laundry, happily content doing so. Just watching him (yes, I guess I should've helped) fold the clothes taught me a lot--and even if what he's got is something I wish I had, I still didn't end up doing my laundry today. I did enjoy the quality time with him during his laundry time.

Then, I discovered a beautiful blog called A Holy Experience. It is a blog by a Farmer's wife who is a mother to half a dozen beautiful children. She homeschools each one of them, and with that, she is blessed with the richness of staying at home with them, seeing them grow, and watching them enjoy the beauty of nature all around them--catching dragonflies, chasing herons, and enjoying the fruits of the trees in their orchard. She has a beautiful life, a beautiful family--then I realized, beauty is what we make it. Beauty is what we choose to see. Beauty is what we choose to live. When God looked at His Creation, He said it was "good". Yes, we as sinners may mess up this beautiful world, and it only gets more messed up, but it is a choice to still see the beauty around it--and more importantly, be a part of that beauty.

As I listened to the tune playing in the background while reading the blog, I was inspired to play some random tunes on my own electronic piano, as God has blessed me with the gift of music--to be able to compose music on the spot and play the piano by ear. I really should spend more time basking in the beauty of the music that God has given me while letting others share in on the experience...rather than keeping it all to myself when I tuck myself away in isolation.

The author of the blog happens to be the author of One Thousand Gifts, a New York Best Seller. My friend had told me about this book, and I asked her to accompany me to the bookstore to buy the book. Instead, she invites me to dinner with her family, who also happens to be my extended family from church. I accepted her kind invitation, and our other friend who also joined us for dinner just so happened to have the book, and she let me borrow it for a week.

Dinner near the North Shore was amazing, the company was amazing, the food was amazing, and so was the coffee from next door.

Today was simply a beautiful day--and though I have been hurting, and though I have been on my knees crying, and though I had spent most of the morning just sleeping the day away so that the pain would go away...God still blessed...and beautifully so...with such grandeur and musical overtures, my heart is overflowing with love and blessings...to the extent that I'm able to reply kindly to those who have been unkind.

If we focus less on ourselves and more on God, and more on His blessings, we will be able to see the beauty of His work all around us -- and miraculously so, we can be a part of such grand beauty.

October Notes

noreply@blogger.com (R n R) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 00:31:00 +0000

There's always something about April and October in the story of my life - always a combination of pain, sorrow, and joy. Through it all, God is, was, and always will be...there.

I took some notes during last night's church service, and thought I'd share. I'm pretty sure I'll need to come back to these notes one of these days, if not every day. Oh, may He wipe my sadness away.

Sometimes, God asks you to do what doesn't make sense.
Sometimes, the things that we are afraid of the most end up being the things that are the easiest to do.
Most times, what He asks you to give back, He gives right back.
God won't take anything away that's not good for you.
It's not about your ability; it's about your availability.
What does God have to do to get your attention?

Waiting Again

noreply@blogger.com (R n R) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 18:56:00 +0000

And again, I am learning to wait...but not just to wait...but to wait on Him.

...And that I learn to have peace and joy while waiting on Him.

Great Reminder About Riches

noreply@blogger.com (R n R) — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 09:28:00 +0000

"Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven." Proverbs 23:4-5

A Date with God

noreply@blogger.com (R n R) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 08:23:00 +0000

I've been quite overwhelmed lately; quite frankly, I'd like to think I've reached my lowest point...even when the important things seem to be in tact. It just goes to show how much I have drifted away from God. Life has been so demanding that I have not made it a requirement to leave some time for myself. Which leads me to this realization: I have not carved out any quality time with God, either. I desperately need this: A DATE WITH GOD.

So today, I decided to make some changes. It's interesting how external pressures beyond our control can bring us to our knees. It's sad to know that for some of us, that's what it has to take to get us to take a pause and put things in the right perspective: SEEK GOD FIRST.

On the contrary, the nice thing is, despite all of these insurmountable pressures, we have the option of not giving up. We have the best option; actually, we have THE BEST SOLUTION: GOD.

And, while we may feel that the sky is falling, and while it feels as if everything is being taken away from us and we can't do anything to stop it, there are so many Biblical truths to hold on to, and one of them is: GOD IS IN CONTROL.

We should stop worrying about losing control. Why? We were never in control in the first place. We just mistakenly thought we were; it is our pride that makes us think that. It is our pride that makes us feel capable, powerful, and sometimes even invincible. When in fact, it was God all along who allowed us to succeed by making our circumstances and environment favorable enough for us to succeed. Once He decides to change those dynamics, we will quickly realize this: WE ARE NOTHING WITHOUT GOD.

Yes, we are nothing. And, we have nothing. Everything that's in front of us belongs to Him. He is merely letting us borrow all of them, including our bodies. Everything that is, is because of Him. He is just graciously letting us be a part of it. But, despite the fact that we are nothing and own absolutely nothing in this world, as Christians, we can be assured that: GOD IS ENOUGH.

And while we may think that we are at our weakest point, without anything left to give, we should be relieved to know that we can still offer something to Him, even if it's already broken: WE CAN GIVE HIM OUR HEART.

I remember one of our church themes during summer camp: "Guard your heart." I always thought that was possible, but as I got older, I realized how difficult it was. It wasn't until today, though, that I discovered this: I'll never be able to guard my heart on my own. The best thing to do is to give my heart completely to God so that: GOD WILL PROTECT MY FRAGILE HEART.

Despite my circumstances, I am somewhat comforted to know that my heart has finally reached its fragile state. That means, it is no longer hardened, it is no longer cold, it is no longer numb. I think my heart is right where God wants it to be right now: MY HEART IS NOW IN GOD'S GENTLE HANDS.

If I can trust Him with my heart, then I should also know this: I CAN TRUST GOD WITH MY LIFE.

If I can trust Him with my life, then I should be able to believe and accept this: I CAN TRUST GOD WITH MY PROBLEMS.

And while my problems may seem really big to me, and even way bigger than me, I do know this: GOD IS BIGGER THAN MY PROBLEMS.

Now that I have been reminded of all of this, I can claim His blessing of "a peace that passeth all understanding", and since I have entrusted all of my heart to Him without leaning on my own understanding anymore, even if I do not know what to do next, I can be assured that: GOD WILL DIRECT MY STEPS IN HIS TIME, IN HIS WAY.

And when I want to talk, I know that He will be there to listen. When I do "call", I should expect this: GOD WILL SHOW ME GREAT AND MIGHTY THINGS BEYOND MY IMAGINATION.

God's solution is always way better than mine. He had a solution all along; all I had to do was call and ask him to show me! Now that I have just called upon him on bended knees, I can peacefully and confidently live my life with assurance, knowing that: GOD HAS ALREADY FIXED MY PROBLEMS.

I just need to keep an open mind, an open heart. My eyes may mistakenly be calibrated to look for solutions in the way I would want my problems fixed, but God said that He will show me "great and mighty" things which I don't know about. So, I can face the days ahead with a renewed spirit, ready to accept the consequences that may come my way as a result of the problems that I have created, knowing quite well that: GOD IS ABLE TO DELIVER ME AND HE WILL.

With that said, allow me to make a list of some inspirational stories from the Bible, stories that tell us of people whose actions show that they believe with faith that they have already been delivered, even without seeing the results just yet, even when their surroundings may still appear chaotic. And, before I make a list of these stories, allow me to share one very important point. If anything, Jesus had already made the ultimate sacrifice to deliver us. We had already experienced deliverance since we gave our heart to God and believed in His deliverance; He had already delivered us from the biggest problem: JESUS ALREADY DELIVERED US FROM HELL BY DYING ON THE CROSS FOR OUR SIN.

So in spite it all, we can live with reassurance that we are delivered beings! We can allow God to restore the joy of our salvation vs. allowing the bitterness of the world to set in by doing this: WE CAN FOCUS ON HIS BLESSINGS SO THAT WE CAN START ENJOYING THEM ONCE AGAIN.

Think about it: HOW CAN HE GIVE US MORE BLESSINGS IF WE DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO APPRECIATE THE ONES WE'VE ALREADY GOT?

Let us learn to count and appreciate our blessings, to share them with others by "emptying our cup", thus allowing God to "fill our cup" once more with even more of His blessings! So with renewed hope, I can boldly proclaim: HOLD FAST, MORE HELP AND MORE BLESSINGS ARE ON THEIR WAY!

And while waiting, I get to enjoy the ones that I've already got!!! GOD IS GOOD. STILL IS. ALWAYS HAS BEEN. ALWAYS WILL BE.

Inspirational stories from the Bible:
(There are many, but these are enough to keep me afloat tonight)

Mary and Martha (Mary put Jesus first amid the hustle and bustle of life)
Lazarus (Jesus tarried before raising him from the dead; "believe to see the glory of God".)
Abraham and Isaac (God provided a lamb just in time)
Baby Moses (his mother even got paid to take care of him)
Hemorrhaging woman (she believed Jesus would heal her just by touching the hem of His garment)
Jairus' daughter (Jairus believed that Jesus can raise his daughter from the dead)

All That I Have Left

noreply@blogger.com (R n R) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 07:59:00 +0000

This is what I possess right now...

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." Psalm 51:17