Here’s some of the photos and videos I took this month! 💛🌻🌿🌄
The month of April was all about DISCIPLINE for me. I pushed myself to really stick to my commitments. I may have failed in a few but I also succeeded in some. Progress is progress no matter how small. 🤸♀️
I’m looking forward to what God brings in the next month. Hopefully, an end to this virus. Stay at home & keep safe! Here’s to more memories. 🥂
Tell someone about it.
Or I guess I should say, tell the wrong person about it.
When we experience the overflow of blessings and good things in our lives, we feel giddy with joy and excitement! We can’t help but tell someone about it, because the happiness might just burst if kept inside of our hearts.
However, what happens when the good news comes out of our mouths?
Oftentimes we are met with hidden jealousy, disbelief, or smacked by comments of displeasure, criticism, sarcasm, the list goes on…
The clouds come rushing over covering the sunshine.
Self-doubt comes like a downpour of rain, til we are soaked in despair.
I wish I didn’t tell anyone.
I’ve always resonated with this quote:
Travel and tell no one, live a true lovestory and tell no one, live happily and tell no one, people ruin beautiful things.
Kahlil Gibran
As I’m growing older, I’m living out its meaning.
Moments are made more precious when we keep it between us and God.
People ruin beautiful things.
But they don’t mean to.
A Biblical example that comes to mind is Judas the Iscariot during the time when Mary poured out her offering upon Jesus’ feet.
It was a precious moment for Mary and Jesus but Judas almost ruined it. Thanks to our Savior’s loving remarks, the scenario was emphasized as Mary doing the right thing and it became one of the most popular stories in the world.
I like keeping a prayer journal because it’s where most of my good memories are stored. Some memories only Jesus and I know.
Today, I told someone very important to me about my day and how happy I was, yet I was met with a sarcastic and mean comment.
The clouds are starting to form and cover the sunshine of my day. Self-doubts are all over my mind. Right now, I am waiting for my Savior to save the day.
I forgot to keep things to myself and now I’m in pain. And so I repeat these wise words to myself:
“… live happily and tell no one, people ruin beautiful things”
I don’t like telling the truth when I know it’s going to hurt someone. There are times when I prefer to sugarcoat in order to present it like a gift instead of a knife.
However, we all know this isn’t always a good thing to do. It’s unhealthy for us and for others. People need to grow up and know the truth about themselves and their actions.
Do we really need to say the truth to someone all the time? I believe there’s a right time for everything.
When it comes to Biblical matters, I must admit occasions have occurred when I hesitated to tell the Truth because of fear that I might hurt other people’s feelings. I have realized my mistake because Scripture is for convicting.
May I always speak the Words of God with power and grace.
We observe in the life of Jesus that He spoke the Word with courage and conviction because He knew that though others may be offended, it was what they needed to change.
Sometimes, it’s not what you say but how you say it. We can always choose to speak truth with care, sincerity and most of all, love.
“Let you conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so you may know how to answer everyone.”
Colossians 4:6
“And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.
John 8: 32
Do you want to live an honest life? Check out this post to learn more about honesty and tips to quit the lying habit.
There’s a part of me that wants to prove I’m not the same girl years ago.
I want to show them:
I’m confident now. I’m strong. I’m fun to be with.
But the more I try, the more my insecurity shows. The more it all seems fake.
Inside the car with my old friends, I close my eyes and let go…
I don’t have to be.
I don’t have to pretend.
We were all young once. Stupid and unsure of ourselves. We all made mistakes.
It’s strange to find grace and happiness from people who I once feared because of my “inadequacy”.
Grace.
Acceptance.
Unexpected gestures that I will forever be grateful for.
Deep down, I don’t have to prove it.
I am not the same girl 7 years ago.
We are not the same person years ago.
We’ve grown. Changed. Matured even.
There’s no need to prove it because it’s obvious.
One thing remains though: the friendship.
A friendship so deep you didn’t even realize it was there.
But it is.
Rooted in our hearts.
Watered by time.
And even in the tide of events, it will always stay.
We’ll always find our way to each other.
Full of grace.
Full of joy.
Surely, we are wiser than yesterday.
(1) Deal wit unaccustomed bursts of energy and sharp peaks of anger, joy and grief.
(2) Consciously experiment with spiritual open-mindedness.
Since you are like no other being ever created since the beginning of time, you are incomparable.
Brenda Ueland
There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening, that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost.
Martha Graham
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
James 4 : 8
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you
Matthew 7 : 7
I really dislike anger as an emotion because it is unpleasant. But this week, I have learned a very crucial fact. Anger is our friend. It is meant to be listened to because it serves as a guide on what is wrong. It reveals our boundaries. We should use anger as a redirection to the core issue. It’s not to be acted out but acted upon.
We pray that we could hear God or that He’d answer our prayers. But how often do we do this then go out in our day without even thinking of Him for a second. It’s important to be prepared or to be aware that God is working in every moment.
When events occur or words are uttered and our feelings are hurt, it may be our first instinct to protect ourselves by either denying our sorrow or pretending everything is okay. This week, I have learned to acknowledge my emotions and honor what I am going through. Instead of telling myself it doesn’t matter, I say, “You will heal.“
Constructive criticism is like a missing piece to your puzzle. It gives you an “Aha!” moment. You learn something from it.
This week is more focused on dealing with emotions such as anger and shame. It also tackled topics such as growth and “synchronicity” which I have never heard before. To me, power is being able to handle your emotions and use them in the correct manner. Power is not found in having a stone heart but in having a heart that can feel. It’s experiencing a whirlwind of emotions such as anger, shame, grief, joy, rejection, emptiness, etc. and yet believing that you will heal. That all of these experiences will only bring good to your creativity. It will give you a story to tell through your art in whatever form that may be.
If you want to learn more and experience your creativity, you can buy the book on Amazon.
Today, someone pointed out my pimples one by one and laughed in disgust.
I always wonder about people like this.
Are they incredibly honest?
Or incredibly insensitive?
Maybe incredibly stupid-for thinking I don’t have a mirror at home.
Now I’m stuck staring at my reflection wondering if I can still be an acceptable part of society since zits are so insulting to their perfection.
I look up to the moon and see the beauty of God.
And that’s all I need to remind me to cling to Him.
I whisper a prayer.
Lord, let Your Word be greater than what people say to me.
I am grateful for the comment though. I got to reasses my lifestyle, I’ve been eating too much sweets and staying up late at night.
I mean I noticed this a few days ago but hearing someone make fun of me served as a wake up call to take action in order to improve myself and be healthy.
So to the person who insulted me today, I thank you.
Yesterday I read this verse:
“always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
2 Timothy 3:7
I felt that.
I have always loved to learn.
I want knowledge. I crave wisdom.
But this verse made me stop on my tracks.
Why am I learning?
Is it for selfish reasons?
Is it because I want to prove to others that I can be smart?
I don’t want to be ever learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.
What is truth?
Your Word is truth.
Jesus is the way, the TRUTH, and the life.
I don’t want to miss out on Him because of my ignorance, pride and selfish reasons.
Lord, you chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; You chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
When I’m learning, I have to seek Him first above all.
This can also serve as a reminder for us when we devour countless textbooks at school yet can’t spend 5 minutes in His word.
What does this say about us?
…always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the TRUTH…
Life With Rachel 