Start your day with Jesus

 

Flowers

Have you ever taken the time to really enjoy the flowers? The kinds, the colours, the amazing of each one is created. it's incredible. That is the greatness of God. 

MGM tv channel

We have this tv channel at home that plays classical films from the 50s or 60s. It's refreshing. I forget the name of the actor who played in "it's a wonderful life" English version, and Elisabeth Taylor was the actress. Ivanhoe came on the screen on the weekend. Of course we enjoyed it, as we haven't seen it for ages. I am comparing these old films and today's, the old ones have good morals in them, there might be some fighting and all, but they didn't make it so dramatic or gory, like they do today. I can totally agree what the Bible says about the increase of the knowledge, the increase of evil in these days, its very significant that we are living in the last days as the Bible mentions. I can go on and on about the Bible prophecies being fulfilled regarding the last days. The increase of wars, of disasters, of famines, of sickness, the love of many grow cold, of earthquakes, to be precise you could read and find out from the book of Matthew chapter 24. But it also says that where iniquity is abound, there is more love, where there is more dark, the light shines brighter. There is hope after all. 

Philipino

Meeting a Philipino who married to an Indian is a rare thing in Delhi. At 8:30 this morning, a friend called up and asked if I was free today, she wanted me to meet her in law who is Philipino. We met and talked, it was very interesting to hear her experience as an in law to Indians. She shared that there is a month where women in India fast for the good welfare of their husbands. Her reply was that wives should always pray and wish their husbands good will daily not just for nine days in the particular month in a year. It is a beautiful thing that she shared with me, living with in laws who are completely different in cultures and beliefs, that she is able to mingle with them. She being a Christian and her in laws are Hindu. It reminds me of someone said that religions divide, but love unites. That what Jesus taught us, to love God and to love your fellow man as yourself. We all need love, to love and be loved. It's a special thing to love and be loved. Let us learn how to love God, to love one another, as Love sees beauty in others. 

Badminton

I was invited to play badminton in one of the prominent club in town. I felt like I was in a different world altogether, but it's refreshing. In my work I appear in different places and meet all kinds of people, rich or poor, famous or infamous. And amazingly enough each person is special in their own way. To comprehend them all is impossible. But Someone does, God! If you ever think what God is like, just think of all the people you see and meet, and try to understand each one of them, you can't and God is able. So that how omnipotence, omniscience God is. Trying to understand God or what He is doing in our lives is quite a task I might say. Better yet to just take it by faith, knowing that He knows best and He always sees us through.

 I had a wonderful time, playing badminton after so many years and enjoyed Indian's snacks afterwards. Life only gets better each day. 

84 year old

When I was sitting and listening to 84 year friend talking and remembering all the things that happened to him 60 years ago, it really amazed me the memory he has. He is still keeping himself by filling an honourable post in one of the prestige schools in town. It came to me that 52 is not old after all, that I still have 34 years to go to get to that age. His advise was to have less weight as we grow older, for it is hard on our legs to have to support our body's weight. I am trying to keep up with my exercise, eat right, doing my best to keep the balance of all there is that I need to do to stay in shape. The rest I pray that God will keep me healthy right up to the time I go to Him. It is not a bad thing to be prepared for your future Home, country that you will be going to. I know I am going there because Jesus says in John 14:1 Where I am there you will be also, I go to prepare a place for you. And all that believe in Him, shall become the children of God. So where God is, there we will also be if we believe that Jesus had saved us from hell through His death on the cross. 

Noisy time and Quite time

I had a buzzing day at our learning centre all day. Distributing uniform and giving some audio visual classes for the kids. After their normal schedule, I decided to give them half hour extra for dancing class. It was sure so noisy, about 22 kids in this 3 by 3 room, we could imagine what is like. But they had fun even I couldn't speak their language so much yet, we got by fine.
I came home, sat quietly without any noise, it feels so different and good. Then I was thinking it is good to experience both times. The noisy and fun time was necessary and for the situation, I enjoyed it. I also enjoyed being quiet and alone. If we were just be in a noisy circumstances or quietness alone for long time, it would be crazy, I can imagine for me to be just in only neither noisy or quiet time.
I enjoyed the laughter and shout of joy, the nice thank you and good afternoon mam from the kids repeatedly, and I also enjoyed being alone in quietness. I guess there is a time for everything. There is a time to shout and praise the Lord, and there is a time to be quiet and listen to His voice. 

"I am grateful" says my friend

Esther, she is a dear friend of ours. We used to work together for a few years. I stay with her and her family whenever I visit the city. Last two months when I was with her, she was going for a check up, to find out the lump she had in her breast was cancerous. And it was. So she had to have a surgery. The doctor found out that it was 2 B stage, so her breast was removed also. 

I called her up yesterday to let her know we care and pray for her. We talked for sometime, she was as cheerful as usual. In the course of our conversation, she said " I am grateful to God with what happened to me", it is drawing me closer to God." The whole time she was testifying how Jesus was with her every step of the way, and prayers sustained. 

I was thinking "wow, it's amazing for someone to say "I am grateful" after they just had a surgery and had her breast removed. The grace and trust that God has given her surpasses any sorrows, any trials and will bring healing, I am positive. Our gratefulness brings down the blessings of God. 

Romans 8

Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Here is the rest of the passage about God's love for us. It will help you understand more about it when  you think of a mother's love for her children.

Children---ours forever, from a mother's view

No distance, no mistakes, nothing can separate my love for you. I am stressing on no distance in particular that can keep my mind from thinking about you, concern for you, and praying for you. You are never far from me, even in body you might be miles away.

 The love that I have for you is like God's love has for His children. We don't see God in the flesh, but He is there, just like a mother is there even the child is miles apart from her. He/she can't see her, but she is there, her love is always with them. God's love for us in constant and unconditional, much more so a mother can give to her child. There is parallel to God's love and mother's love to their children. God's love is there, He is there, nothing can stop Him from loving us as nothing can stop a mother to love her children, no distance can't keep us apart.
It reminds of a verse in the Bible Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 

Friends

Friends are people who really understand who you are and what you are doing, and they love and respect you anyway. Talking to a dear friend of mine, I am so thankful for her, she is learning what people in general are like, not all of course. There are few good people and genuine people. That they respect you for your position, your riches, the kind of job you have, instead of just respect you regardless. There are far and few of people who just love you the way you are, with or without title, rich or poor, they just want to be your friend, and you their friend. I treasure this friend of mine. I see how God has blessed her in many ways from knowing for five years now. Because she has integrity, she is honest, she is lovable, positive and cheerful and giving and caring. It's just like a little touch of heaven, God's love, He shows me, He wants me to know that He loves me the way I am, He doesn't look at how rich I am, what position or education I have earned. He just loves me. He loves you and He wants you to know. You will know if you just look around you and you find a true friend. I love you too, my friend. 

Fruit man--trusting God

Yes, it's been a while since I last posted on prayer. Sometimes the fire goes out, and the laziness sets in, ha! Needs God't spirit and help to get me back up again, again and again.
I was going to tell about the fruit man. He sells fruits near where we stay, and we go to him regularly. In one occasion he just took off for some wedding of his relatives, and again back for a couple of weeks, he was off again for his son's first birthday in the village. One week to ten days he would take off. And his fruits stand is normally full of people, regular customers buying from him daily. He didn't mind that, for him to take off for a week or so, he could've earned a lot more money, ha! Our money minded thinking people would think so. But to him, the wedding and birthday were more important than money. He took his time and came back, still his fruits stand is busy as usual. Ha! I will let you make this conclusion alone of this fruit man's action.

Have a wonderful day!

Pray for me, will you please?

It was repeated a few times, "pray for me, will you please?" by an old man who was sitting across from me in a small local public transport, they call it 'microlet'. He started out with a small talk, and continued to tell me about where he was from, his son's job, and many other things including a woman in his life. And all of sudden he took off one of the buttons of his shirt and reached inside to get something. I thought he was going to show some wound he had in his chest. But it was a couple of pictures of his lady. whew!! He expressed how depressed he was that he couldn't be with her. And he was so bored with his life, no matter where he went, he felt restless. "Please pray for me," he said. He offered to pay my fare which he did. I prayed for him silently in my heart. I couldn't stop thinking how he could know that I do pray.

 Praying is the thing I do daily and often as I really strongly believe in it. It's just like depending on God completely, and acknowledging Him in all I do and asking for His blessings, guidance, protection, provision and much more. It's something I can't do without. It's also like admitting that I need Him, His help, His strength, His love, His supervision to lead me in my life and when I am talking about His Truth with others.

I have experienced and seen answers to my prayers. I am not just talking about the prayers that I pray for my self, situation, need that I ask God for, but prayers that I pray for others, situations, solutions & answers to the problems or difficulties that others face. It's just so awesome, indescribable how God works in mysterious ways, answers our prayers in the way He knows best.

Start praying today, it's never too late! Pray, it will make a difference in your life.

Fruits

Fruits, they are incredible. You will find each kind is special in its taste, shape, and colour. The awesomeness of our Creator, invented the vast varieties of them. The Creator of all things. He is awesome. Not to mention the human being He designed. Each of us is specially designed in a unique way. His ways certainly are not our ways, His thoughts are soooo much higher than ours. All glory to His greatness.

Different

Different places, different people, different situations, different food, all the outward differences don't change the inside you. The inside you still you, so what makes the difference is the inside you. You could be in different places, but it's how you feel inside you that's what will turn out to be.

 It goes back to being satisfied with the real thing, which are God, Jesus, His Son, the Truth, His Word that you are having with you every moment of your life. Take the moment with Him, with the people He sends your way, with the situation He has you in, in gratefulness, that's what gives you the right perspective that will satisfy you, body and spirit. 

A day of miracle

The day went so miraculously. It seemed that everything and everyone we planned to do  and see was preordained by God Almighty. It was like He was putting all the pieces and puzzles together for us, and we just need to go along with it. It started with our drive to a school to conduct a workshop. The road was clear, we got there earlier. I was able to spend a little time with the head master, talked to her since she will be moving to another city. Did the workshop, the students were attentive.

Our friend, the kitchen manager of the school asked us to see him as he wanted us to pray for him. That was good. Next, I followed the principal into her room as she walked into it, even though there were others waiting for her. She said yes to my request to see her for a few minutes. God bless her heart to have the faith to stop everything and gave her full focus to pray with us and sang a hymn of praise to God. It will normally take half an hour to an hour to wait to see her. Collected our transport reimbursement without any problems. The nice thing about it was that I was able to cheer up each person I encountered with, with a few words of encouragement on the way. We had an appointment for our friend and her team to give hair cut to our kids in the centre. We still had few things to do before then. Banking, water pick up, lunch, exchange the car. At the water place, we exchanged thoughts with the manager about the fear of God and love for humanity, that was good. Had lunch at our regular small place but packed always. It's a small significant of God's love, but He is in insignificantly into details, amazing. Why I said that? I sat down and looked at the menu for today's special, and it wasn't the thing I like, but I ordered it anyway. But it turned out they don't have that dish, they had my favourite dish instead. Wow, that was wow. so now you know what I meant when I said God is definitely into details and attend to our likes and dislikes because of He loves us and want to show it . We didn't think we would have enough time to exchange our cars, but again the traffic was light, enabled us to drive with ease and little time to reach back and took the another car to the centre so we could pick up our friend and her staffs. They did a wonderful job of cutting more than over 40 children hair. We went for our regular afternoon walk and did meal prep and dinner. It was a full miraculous day. It all started from the night before. We had ourselves filled up by listening to good music, inspirational talk, prayers, and asking God for His blessings through out the day. Everyday I can record the same miraculous ways God is doing for us, although it might be different from day to day. But as we take the time to reflect, we will find that God has done it again. 

Life gets better

As you grow older in age, age is just a mind set, it's the heart and attitude that count. Life does get better if you have a simple and fulfilled life. It means you have planned ahead for the basic needs you have and doing things that count for others and you enjoy. For your loved ones, for your friends, even for those who around you that you don't know so well, they could be friends that you just haven't met.

 I can speak from experience as I am growing with age, 51 this year, that life is only getting better. Yes, you might need to go a little slower but not too slow. Actually you enjoy it more when you go about doing things slower. I can't say that I have mastered the slowness thingy yet, ha! for the fact that I just felt down and have bruised  myself here and there, tripped as I am going up the stairs, lost my mobile as I was trying to do so much and in a hurry. My mind is running ahead of me usually. So we only have to slow down physically, that we can't help it because we are bound by this earthly condition, but otherwise we can go places miles and miles away, and dream big dreams.

The spiritual and physical realms are so tightly entwined, we can't really separate it. What I mean is that your spiritual state affects you physically and vice versa. Having a good and healthy spirit is important to enjoy the life we live in. We won't be influenced so much with what's going on around us. That means we will need a vibrant relationship with God. It takes time and effort to cultivate that vibrant, strong and close relationship with Him. And it is attainable. Do it day by day, decide the time and the way you do it. Either through taking time to pray, to meditate, listen to some good music, take a walk in the park or somewhere quite, read some uplifting devotional books or the Bible, or you could  find ways that work for you to get that connection going with your Creator. You will find that life is just getting better everyday.

Grateful

I am so grateful for the speedy healing of my wound. I am grateful is a mango season. I am grateful for the work I do, I am grateful for my daughter and grand daughter, I am grateful I can taste all the good yummy food that I like, I am grateful I have a God that I can believe and trust in. I am grateful for the children in our centre. I am grateful for a cosy rent place I live in. I am grateful for the garden at the back of our balcony. I am grateful for air conditioned car I drive. I grateful for my friends who support me. I have so much to be grateful for, that leaves no room for my ungratefulness, ha! Try to take time to be grateful for the things that you are grateful for, it makes me grateful, nothing else, it will propel your day or days to a bliss if you take a little time to be grateful everyday.

Ouuch,,,

I was thinking about a friend who had her ankle bone cracked out of no reason, except maybe the age she is in. She is 62. All of the sudden she can't walk any more, she has been in bed and on wheel chair for almost three months now. She accepted the new phase in her life very well. I think her good and positive nature, of course prayers we have prayed for her healing, contributed to the fast progress of her recovery. God really gives you power for the hour, grace for the trial when you have it, not before. She didn't know how she was going to coop with it before hand, but when it happened she did accept it and had the power and grace for her new routines of her life. What makes me think about her is because I felt down today after conducted the teacher workshop in the village of Noida. I was waving at the teacher as I was walking forward without looking down or where I was going.  over rods of iron that were on the side road. And I tripped The pain of my scratched of the palm of my hand was excruciating. I went to the hospital got it cleaned up, dressed and had tetanus and pain killer injection. Then I had to start with the new condition I was in. I was still driving but the other person who was with me changed the gears back and forth for me. I can't use my left hand, sort of limited of I can't do. But God gives us grace for the trial and power for the hour, and strength for the battle at the time we need it, not beforehand. 

Scream

Yes, sometimes screaming is good for you, at least I think. But it doesn't make any difference to someone who doesn't get it why you scream when you normally don't. Well, actually it's no use because whether you scream or not, to a certain person who is insensitive to the screaming, it's a waste of your breath. I realized it totally wasted my energy that I screamed, even though I was absolutely frustrated. Then I remembered the book that I am reading about taking the blame. It's not because of what the person is like that I screamed, it was me, I lost it. I was supposed to be able to just take is in stride that the person had his reason on insisting  me to do something that I didn't feel like doing. Once I stopped trying to make the person understand my point of view, we quieted down. I realized that there was no need for me to scream. I think there was more to it to what the person was thinking about me. Again, I can't let the person's reactions, thoughts and comments about me to deter what I am supposed to do and act. It's not easy but it's worth learning this art of inter acting with others. 

No Action Talk Only

Nothing bothers me more than when someone just shifts their responsibility to others, or they just talk about what others should do but themselves. Well, there is always something that we can learn from from each situation or a person. First of all we can cultivate our listening skill without being influenced, ha! Second, you find out what the person is like. It's not how much they talk, but how much they are doing. So you judge people from their actions more than from their words. There is saying that says "empty vessel, makes loud noise".  Meaning that an empty person in their head or heart who only makes a lot of noises and doing nothing about what he is talking about.

Let us be known by our actions more than by our words. Or making your words and actions be the result of what the nature of a person we are.  

Sanity

It's so hard to stay sane in this insane part of the world. I don't know how insane the other parts of the world are, but I can truly say that sometimes you just need flow with the insanity if you wish you to be sane, and not to be disturbed by what your perceptions might be or how things should be or be done. 

Try again

Every day is a new day to start all over again. It's not easy, but it's a given opportunity by God to try again, to begin what you didn't do yesterday, or something that you didn't get to it. I am learning that I have to tell myself to do it, just do it, start again where I left off. For example, learning a new language, or doing exercise, or taking time to hear from God. If I didn't get to do it, have the time for it, I reassess my time that I spend on, and find out there is time for me to do all these, I just need to be more consistent, more organized, disciplined and have the determination. Of course God is the source of my help, also some movies or characters that I have seen and read, helps to remind me to do so. William Carey is one the great character on learning the languages. So I am asking him to help me but I also need to do my part. All that to say, yes, we can start all over again.

God alone

Keep thinking, keep thinking how can I do and accomplish anything with my limited ability and strength. Of course I can't, I don't know how people can say that they are indispensable, and that they don't need God's help. I keep thinking I can do lots of prayers for the things that I can't do, so the Lord will do it for me. I keep thinking, ha, doing a lot of thinking here, that how can I stretch myself more with all that I am already doing, feeling I should do more, but I come to the conclusion that I am limited, but God is not. And I am going to do what I can do, with the best I can, I don't think I can't even do that, and the rest trusting God to do what I can't. I think it's just a pride trip and self effort trip, thinking that we have to work harder that we are already doing, and it's wrong to stop and enjoy life, like just to chill out or something. I heard from a talk that actually to rest in God we must put an effort to it. It's not natural that we want to just take rest, especially trusting God to do more than we can. Only God alone can do what we can't do. Only God alone has the power and strength that He gives to us to accomplish what He wants us to accomplish, if you know what I mean. God alone!

God is good

Just the time when you think you have learned the art of being positive, you are hit with a double blow that makes you realize "wow", why is it so hard to be positive when you are faced with people and situation that are not to your liking. It is because you have come a level where you are now getting to recognise that you must put more effort into cultivating the habit of being positive. You have to think first before you say, you have to just stop right there before it comes out from your mouth whatever that will make you or others think or getting into a negative conversation without realizing it. It really drains you out if you are thinking negatively and hearing your partner negative comments about others or situation. You just have to take the stand and say, stop, that's enough. And get busy doing other things that are more productive. And for me music, good music or praise music, listening to it is one of the ways to get back to the positive wave length.

Hugs

I went into "Bodyshop" looking for a face wash cream, the shop keeper approached me as to help me to find what I needed. We strike up a conversation. A pleasant one that led us to talk about our belief in Jesus. As  we learn from the Bible, For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, and whoever believes in Him will have everlasting life. So I shared that with her, and asked if she knew she would go Heaven through her belief in Jesus, and how she came to know it if her answer was yes. She told me that because her parents told her so. On the way home the meeting with the girl, Linda was her name still lingered in my mind and another verse in the Bible that I have memorized came to mind and revealed its meaning "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved and thy house", of what Linda said. Because of her parents' belief, and they told her about Jesus and eternal life, she believes it, that's how the verse applies in this case, I figured.
Jesus said,  I am the way, the truth and the Life, no man came to the Father but by Me, I quoted it to her, and the response was that I got was a warm hug from Linda. And we hugged more afterwards, nice!
 Heaven and Hug, there must be plenty of it there, even now we get plenty of it with people we love, even with a new found friend who I shared the good news with. Give someone a hug today and you will get at least one back if it's not two!

Compliment

I read something on my off day that has changed my mindset on giving compliment. My old perception on giving compliments was, don't do it because people will take advantage of you, so others also told me. But what I read was totally contrary of what I thought of it. I would like to share it with you here.

Find a wonderful thing about your secretary, or person who helps you, and tell them.

It is easy to find faults with our helpers. Our mind often gravitates to what is wrong with a situation. We must stop and consciously turn this attitude around. Some are afraid that if they compliment someone for working well, that person will ask for a raise, make other demands, or gain leverage. The opposite is true. The person will be more devoted, and enjoy doing his or her work more.

List three things that are wonderful about your secretary or some other person who helps you at work. Some examples could be that he or she always comes to work on time, is sensitive to your needs, stays later when needed, and make that extra effort. Make a habit of saying at least one positive thing once a week. You might enjoy this so much, you'll tell them once a day. Watch how their work improves! Watch how much you enjoy doing this, too. 

Win

 We have to choose between positive and negative constantly in our mind whether we are conscious of it or not. And more often is the negative and suspicion that come first when we are encountered a challenge or a different opinion, or things that we know not of, or being informed ahead of time.
Yesterday I was really having this experience in my mind so vividly, so real that I was battling between thinking positively or negatively about a situation that came up in our centre which we found it in a mess with the owner doing something to the electrical work. Back and forth, back and forth, negative or positive, good or bad about the person and the situation. It's so real that I had to make a conscious effort to choose the positives.
I started to think positive sides of the things and person more, giving it a benefit of a doubt, started being busy with other things instead, shifted my focus on the teaching the kids. Once I decided to think positive I could see the positive act from the owner, he started to clean up and sweeping up the mess by the electrician. Wow, the power of positive thinking, not without a fight and effort to choose the positives. I won!

Spring

Spring time is a pleasant time always, so likewise each season of the year. Each has its sweetness in it.  We can’t say one is better than the other, as one is differ from the other. And because of the variedness of the seasons, it makes the year complete. So it is with our life, when we go through the happy and difficult times in each stage of our life, it makes our life complete; it adds to more trust, faith in God, and more gratefulness to Him.e e

Independent?

You say "I am independent". I said that when I was younger, still think of it until today. Until a thought came to me a few minutes ago when I was thinking about what happened yesterday in our learning centre that I dependent on others. Others have a lot to do with whatever I am doing. So it's definitely a team work effort in all that we do. It should make us appreciate others more. We are not independent and can't be if we ever think so. I would say independent is just a word created to explain how dependent we are on each other, or for other explanation, if you could tell me what, I'd be grateful.
I will show you a simple example. In a class room, after setting it up, a friend came up with an idea of putting strings across the room for the children's arts to be hung up. Ok, that would be fantastic, if it is depended on me to do it, it would get done maybe I don't know when, but another friend, had an initiative to buy the string and to put it up, and so the result was, the children's art work were put up yesterday.

It shows me that I totally depend on others to make things complete and looking nice. It has taken me  all these years to finally come to understand it. So much depend on others, how much more we should depend on God, Who can and will help us always.

Manifestation of an argument

We talk so much about gratitude and being positive, the goodness of it, the energy it generates, the benefit of it and much more. All the benefits are real when we are thankful, when we try to see the good in the bad, when we thank God for the challenges we have. The opposite is the same. I had just a small argument with my partner, it started out with a negative comment from the other person, of course the best thing for the future is that for the another guy was to just brush it off as it was just a comment. But it's hard when someone says negative thing about you. I guess that's when your positive muscle gets tested, to think positive anyway, or to shut your mouth and give the other person the benefit of the doubt for the reason he says what he said, and maybe take it as a lesson, yes that I need to be more kinder, or whatever he/she expects of me. Back to the negative result from our argument, it hindered us to communicate when we should regarding whether or not I should leave my car keys in the car. The result was that the keys were left inside the car, got locked in because my partner decided to come out from the car as well.

And the part of being of be able to open the car was incredible. As we stood there, I wasn't upset or freaked out or anything, but my reaction was a positive one, finding the solution to get the car door opened. Soon, a neighbour came along, he was just passing through us. He knew what to do to get the door opened. It clicked, the lock was opened as we followed his suggestion of what to do.
Here is what I want to share with you, when you argue or feeling negative about yourself or someone else, it will also be manifested in the physical, warning to us all to stay positive, and watch out for our reactions.

Karl Anthony visit

God knows how to encourage each of us in His own way and time just when you need it. In our case He sent Karl Anthony and his team to visit us. After working hard for ten straight days and wondering if what you put your heart into it really worth it. So much time and funds spent on it.
Out of the blue, I received a phone call saying that Karl Anthony and team wanted to visit our centre. I never thought of the visit would be such an encouragement to me and to what we have done to have the centre for the underprivileged children.
Over and over again, I received such commendations and appreciation of our effort in helping to provide sufficient education for these children. It was something that I never expected, the way God sent His encouragement to tell us that He has approved our effort, and wanted to make sure that we feel His encouragement in a tangible manner. God works in a mysterious way, yes, we have heard that before, and He still does. Thank You God.

Satisfaction

Nothing makes me more satisfied than knowing the email I send to friends with articles, stories, quotes have helped others in one way or another. I have so much satisfactions when I get the reply that saying "Thank you very much for these, it is cheering me up! or "Thankful for your email", or "I am learing from all this." The time I put into sending them in the early morning hour is worth it all.
When you do have the time and when you have something good to share, and knowing that it will inspire others because it inspires you, it's worth your time, and it goes far in the life of others. You might not see the effect right away, but it might be just a life saver for someone you are sharing it with, or an uplift that they need it at the moment.
It's so satisfying. Email and share with someone an inspiring quote or an experience, an uplifting story when you can, when you at it, it only takes you a few minutes to do.

Good laugh

Happiness is something that you can't explain, it's just there when you are not thinking about yourself, but it's when you are with others, you are doing something with or for others.
I haven't had a real good laugh for sometime until I was with the children the other day playing games. Simple thing, but yet it's happiness.
The children were so themselves, they don't put up an air, so natural, they play, they laugh, and of course they want to win.
So if you are thinking about having a real laugh, you could try to give some of your time to play with the children. If you don't have your own, find your neighbor's, your relatives', or visit one of the centers for less opportunities children, and have fun with them.

A missing component

Talking to a dear friend of mine the other day, he has come to a conclusion of  "A missing component is God in the midst of all that he owns.

Candle

I lit up the candle when I am feeling a little low and say a prayer, and then I let it burn for a while, said a friend.
It is a very good way to remember that there is Light there always when we need it to light our way, our thought, our feeling. We know that feeling comes and goes, but our Light is permanent, stable, ready to shine into our weary souls, and discouraged hearts.
Candle is only used to light up. We could also light it up for someone else, meaning praying for someone. Because when we lit up a candle, it doesn't just give us light, but it also brightens up the place where we in, meaning giving others light too. So when we lit it up, and pray a prayer for ourselves, we could also include of praying for others, such as our loved ones or dear friends, or even people who are suffering from disasters, wars, etc.
Lit up a candle today!

Trusting God

One of the needful things in any relationship is listen. I was listening to my friend telling me personal things, and as I listened more and more, it gave her the feeling that I understood. I didn't have to say anything, just be there, love them like Jesus does. It reminds me of the lesson Jesus taught Martha on listening. So as we learn to listen more, we will also acquire of learning to listen to God's still small voice.
Only when we listen we can understand what one goes through. I learn a lot about my friend, and what she is going through. And to retain what you have listened is to share with someone who you trust. By doing that you might get some answer or reactions that you need to help others.

Promises of God

This morning an idea came to me on remembering the promises of God which have been tried and proven in my life, and be thankful for them. I was able to remember a couple of them. Matthew 6:33 Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. This verse was helpful and first in the Bible which I remember remembering and gave me comfort. And another is A thousand fall at right hand and ten thousand at thy left, none shall come nigh thee, Psalm 91. This was when I was passing in the wilderness doing my humanitarian work with my daughter and some friends, dark and in the middle of nowhere. Now, I remember another one I will never leave thee nor forsake thee, when I and my daughter were on our own the first time without the family around to help us. We found that God was there sending people and opportunities for us.