Friday, July 24, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
11 Ways Jesus Speaks into Your Sorrow
“I, too, have known overwhelming sorrow.” Jesus understands the crushing weight and agonizing loneliness of grief. He has something valuable to teach you as you struggle with sorrow – something you couldn’t learn without going through it. Jesus promises to walk with you every step of the way through your sorrow, giving you the comfort and companionship you need.
“I, too, have heard God tell me ‘no.’ Jesus shows you what to do when God doesn’t give you what you want. Even though Jesus was God’s Son, God still said “no” to His passionate prayer to avoid dying on the cross. Ultimately, after wrestling with God’s plan for His life, Jesus submitted to it because of His confidence in God’s purposes – even when they conflicted with His own desires. When you recognize that God always chooses what’s best – that when he answers “no” to your prayers, He isn’t cruelly punishing you but is actually acting in love toward you – you can entrust your life to His plans without fear or resentment. Your suffering isn’t wasted pain; it’s a powerful tool to help you learn the value of obeying God.
“I am willing to heal your deadliest disease.” Jesus knows what you need most of all. It isn’t physical healing; it’s spiritual healing. Whether or not Jesus chooses to heal a disease in your body, you’ll eventually die anyway. But if you’re afflicted by a disease in your soul – sin – you’re suffering will be eternal if you don’t invite Jesus to heal you. Fortunately, Jesus is willing to take the sickness of your sin upon Himself and transfer to you the healthy state of righteousness before God. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross offers you something much greater than healing from diseases that can destroy your temporary body. It offers you the greatest healing possible: healing from the sin that can destroy your eternal soul.
“I will save you from yourself.” Jesus saves you from a wasted life of always trying to get your own way. Instead of being tyrannized by what you want and chasing after it constantly, you’ll be free to pursue what will ultimately give you the most fulfillment – God’s purposes for your life. Ironically, when you try to save your life, you end up losing it in pursuits that don’t really matter. But if you let go of your own agendas, God’s kingdom can advance through your life and make the world a better place. Leave a life of comfort behind and follow Jesus into a life of significance.
“I will keep you safe.” Jesus protects you from eternal harm. Your eternal soul has much more value than the temporary life of your earthly body. While Jesus hasn’t promised to protect your physical safety, He has promised to protect your soul for eternity. While Jesus won’t necessarily protect your plans for your life, He will protect God’s purposes for you to make sure that you experience the very best when you trust Him.
“I have a purpose in your pain.” Jesus gives you insight when you ask, “Why?” Don’t get stuck trying to figure out the cause of your suffering; that may not be revealed to you in this life. But you can discover the good purpose that will give your loss meaning and show others who are watching you how faith can make a positive difference in their own lives.
“I will give you a heart for forgiveness.” Jesus empowers you to forgive people who don’t deserve it. If you’ve received God’s forgiveness for your own sin, you need to forgive your fellow sinners. You can count on Jesus to help you through the forgiveness process, giving you the strength to take each step, no matter how deeply people have hurt or offended you. Rather than focusing on how people don’t deserve your forgiveness, focus on following God’s command to forgive to free yourself from bitterness that poisons your soul. Trust God to bring about justice in each situation, as He has promised to do at the right time and in the right way.
“I am enough for you.” Jesus provides what you need when you need it. Emptiness isn’t necessarily bad; it’s good when it motivates you to come to Jesus to be filled. When you pray again and again for relief from the pain in your life that doesn’t come, Jesus promises that His presence and the strength He’ll give you will be enough. Even when Jesus chooses not to take your pain away, He will give you the grace to endure it. Move from desperately seeking relief from your pain to seeking to grow as a person and glorify God in the midst of it.
“I am giving life to those who believe in Me.” Jesus asks you to believe that death is not the end of life. Depend on Jesus as your source of life both now and forever. Trust Him with your life in this world and in eternity after you leave this world. When you grieve the death of someone you have loved, remind yourself of Jesus’ promises about heaven and look forward with joyful anticipation to the day that you’ll be able to see that person again.
“I am in control of your life and your death.” Jesus soothes your fear of death. He is in control of the beginning of your life, the end, and every day in between. You don’t need to be afraid of your future, because it’s in God’s loving hands – and there’s no better place for it to be. Trust God’s timing for your life on earth and make the most of each day that He gives you.
“I will give you rest.” Jesus opens His arms to you. He invites you to give Him the burden of sorrow that you’ve been carrying on your own. As you connect yourself to Jesus, He will do the heavy lifting in your sorrowful experiences so you can find the rest you need. Rely on Jesus’ strength flowing through you to help you deal with anything that comes your way.
Monday, July 20, 2009
To strengthen unions, marriage experts advise couples to "make weekly dates" or "go away on a couple's weekend." Those are great ideas, but let's be realistic: how often can busy couples expect to drop everything and get away? These 11 quick and simple ways to express love let busy couples rekindle romance among the chaos of everyday life.
1. Embrace your past. Assemble a scrapbook together, pull out your wedding video, or write your own personal romance story. Reliving special memories together is a great way to strengthen your bond.
2. Be kids together. Have a pillow fight, challenge each other to a game of hopscotch, or cuddle on the couch and laugh as you watch cartoons.
3. Wrap your mate in love. While your sweetie showers, sneak his towel into the dryer, and as he steps out, wrap him in fluffy warmth. Or use the same idea to warm her feet when she snuggles in bed on a chilly autumn night.
4. Speak the languages of love. Surprise your "amante" (Italian for "lover") with some international sweet talk. Access an exhaustive list of ways to say "I love you" in different languages.
5. Write love notes to each other. Spell it out in his oatmeal with raisins, on her dashboard with yarn, or use lipstick on your bathroom mirror. Compose your own poem, borrow a verse from Song of Songs, or just write "I love you."
6. Turn on the charm. Who says you have to stop flirting once you're married? At your next party, wink at him across a crowded room, or slip your arm around her as you make social small talk. That personal connection amid the crowd is like saying, "This is great, but I'd rather be with you!"
7. Connect online. E-mail your spouse throughout the day, just to say you're thinking of him.
8. Remember the little things. When you step in to help with the day-to-day "drudge" chores—making dinner, bathing the kids—your spouse knows she's appreciated and loved. And completing a chore for your sweetie frees more time and energy for the two of you to enjoy other activities together.
9. Send it snail mail. Take time to write an encouraging note, slap a stamp on it, and mail it. Your spouse will love the surprise—especially since it won't be a credit card bill or junk mail!
10. Celebrate everything. Most couples celebrate the anniversary of their marriage or first date, but how about the anniversary of your engagement, or first kiss? (If you don't remember, make it up!) There have been all kinds of milestones throughout your relationship, so mark each one with flowers, a card, or a romantic interlude.
11. Just say it. Your spouse needs to hear those three simple words daily. Whisper it, sing it, shout it. Say it.
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A story by a girl.
"When I was a little girl, my mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage, and extremely burned toast in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did was reach for his toast, smile at my mom, and ask me how my day was at school. I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember Watching him smear butter and jelly on that toast and eat every bite!
When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my mom apologize to my dad for burning the toast. And I'll never forget what he said: 'Baby, I love burned toast.'
Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his toast burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, 'Debbie, your Momma put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides-a little burnt toast never hurt anyone!' You know, life is full of imperfect things.....and imperfect people. I'm not the best housekeeper or cook.
What I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each other's faults - and choosing to celebrate each other's differences - is the one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.
And that's my prayer for you today. That you will learn to take the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your life and lay them at the feet of GOD. Because in the end, He's the only One who will be able to give you a relationship where burnt toast isn't a deal-breaker! We could extend this to any relationship in fact - as understanding is the base of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or parent-child or friendship!! "
"Don't put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket but into your own." See through God's eyes and feel through God's heart And you will appreciate the value of every soul including yourself.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Maybe. . we were supposed to meet the
wrong people before meeting the right
one so that, when we finally meet the
right person, we will know how to be
grateful for that gift.
Maybe .. . . you should dream what you
want to dream; go where you want to
go, be what you want to be, because
you have only one life and one chance
to do all the things you dream of, and want to do.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Sadness empowers over me currently when I thought of her going for practical back at Sabah..only 2 months together then have to be apart for 3 months, surely not a good news for me..I MISS HER..MISS HER..I MISS HERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.........I am going to start working early september, without her by my side definitely not my choice,need her to support me emotionally..just misss her so much..very much..
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