Penny Moments

I've been slacking with this blog thing, primarily because the semester's over (or has been over since 12/11) and since then, I've been slacking in general. Just relaxing to the max, possibly way too much though!!

Anyways, the title of this post came from a video shared at the Sabbath School that I attended last semester. Even though it was directed toward married couples, giving advice on how to keep one's marriage strong and meaningful, it was nevertheless useful to me. By "penny moments", the couple was referring to "small" moments, which may seem often to be worthless but can add up and make huge differences in one's marriage/relationship. The analogy was made between walking around and finding a penny on the ground. Can one penny really make a difference? (actually, it definitely can lol....I remember going to a store and was short ONE penny, and I couldn't find a penny anywhere!!!) However, once you start collecting the pennies, they really begin to add up right? Just the same, setting the tone when you arrive home and reconnect again by simply saying a meaningful "hi" or "good evening" does make a difference.

Anyways, I thought it was a powerful and beneficial message not only to married couples but also to everyone. In a world of uncertainty and full of surprises, making use of these penny moments can make a world of a difference to one person and your relationship with others.  You may never have that chance again in the future to compensate for that time lost.

I've made it a point to take full advantage (as much as I possibly can) of these penny moments .  Don't pass them up!! Be aware that time waits for no man, whatever difference you can make now, make it!!


happy holidays!!!!

no, no, no, no....i don't wanna grow old!!!

A couple days ago, I was studying with one of my  [older] classmates--attempting to help him/her with understanding and remembering the class concepts for our upcoming exam. After going over it and explaining, I asked to re-explain the concepts back to me....

Classmate: oh Lydie Lydie...*sigh* I can't remember
Me: C'mon, you can do it....{providing hints that would help)
Classmate: *shaking head* I can't. I can't. {pause of reflection)..."man. I am getting old....I don't want to get old...having people take care of you...I don't want that...."

Watching his/her facial expression when s(he) made that comment, made my heart drop......

This small (and possibly irrelevant to the classmate) portion of our interaction was definitely something that stood out to me. Departing that day, all that was going through my head was "man, IIII don't want to get old either!! Why must we grow old?..Is there a way to escape this or are there things that one can do to avoid having to depend on someone to take care of when one grows old?!?!"

Then it dawn on me. The fear of growing old stems from the dependence factor. Wow it's just powerful the similarities between "growing old" and developing spiritually.

You know when you're a "child", fresh and coming, you are okay with dependence. We don't mind depending on our parents for our needs, and wants. It's just natural. In fact, we love it soo much that we usually tend to take complete advantage of it... kind of similar to one's beginning relationship with God. Dependence is natural. It's great..You feel like you're on cloud 9...believing all things, hoping all things; but as you start getting older, and you begin to experience things and  learning/gaining the tools to "take care" of yourself, you get tempted to believe that you can do it all by yourself, like being old enough to be considered an adult, being able to drive, getting a job and making mula. When you get there, you feel like you don't need anybody to help you...you've got this!!  Similarly, spiritually, as you learn more about God, as you begin to see things clearly, know Biblical facts, gain wisdom to deal with life's circumstances, are able to say a powerful prayer, preach, witness, it's easy to start thinking that you're in control and that you no longer need to be so dependent anymore.

Eventually however, you start getting old, you know, physically you're becoming weak, mentally you're becoming weak, cognitively, psychologically, etc...you begin to realize that pretty soon you'll have no choice BUT to have the faith of a child and the trust of a child to allow someone to take care of you. In other words, you'll have to re-learn how to depend AGAIN--wholly depend in some circumstances. Case in point, Muhammad Ali... (love the man), back in the days he could float like a butterfly and sting like a bee and he did so impressively! He was a beast but today, when you look at him it's just hard to believe he is indeed the same man.

During your spiritual walk, you'll go through situations and challenges beyond you, where you'll feel like you are helpless and lacking everything; and you'll be required to have that child's faith and trust in God to see that light at the end of the tunnel. Of course it's going to be hard because you've been trying to be so independent and you've been relying on your strength for so long, but you're going to have to re-learn to wholly depend again. --> As Mark 10:15 clearly states,  "Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein."

Don't get me wrong, I still don't necessarily want to get to a point where I'll have to wholly depend on anyone, but what choice do I have?! Time won't stop for me, and it won't stop for you either. So can we do anything to help with growing older? Maybe, start cherishing your days (aka the present) and learn from your experiences  as you grow older...

Random fact: Fluid intelligence decreases around the age of 30/40 but crystallized intelligence increases with age (well at least up until 65 lol)!. word up.

PS......I'm done with all my exams. PTL (Praise the Lord!)!!!--> HAPPINESS.

smile :)

So as some may know, I was taking a break from youtube and stuff this week. guess what? It's over....and what perfect timing!! Received a call today, which brought my spirit a tad bit down? [so confused :=/] ...soooo guess what I did!??!?!

I CHECKED THIS VIDEO OUT!!! 

I am smiling again :) lol.


Today was beautiful. Loved it. The choir PREACHED. The welcome person PREACHED...The Tithes and Offerings person...PREACHED. The pastor PREACHED x3. Boy, it felt like everybody who was on the pulpit at some point, PREACHED. Wow. I left the church feeling so blessed. Words can not even express. The pastor preached on Matthew 2, the birth of Jesus. Deep points:

--> God didn't need His so-called people to do what He had to do. He used an animate object (the star) to lead the pagans (the Magi) to the Lord and Savior!!!. While his church was sleeping, the Lord was using others to preach the word. King Herod was a mere 6 miles away from Bethlehem, yet this was his order "Go search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that IIIII may come and worship him also". (vs. 2).
-->As church, we may have lots of information, but not inspiration (which leads to action). What the church could not do, the star did.

You just had to be there to understand how deep the message was :)

Anyways, it was great to fellowship with others afterwards.



Happy Week!!

excellent,...... just excellent.

I thought I'd note this in the blog too, for those who didn't receive an email about it.

It was exactly one week ago, a friend of mine and I were texting each other (yeah I know), and casually she mentioned that she was fasting and increasing the number of times she prays, for the upcoming week. When she mentioned it, I felt like it was an answer to prayer, because I've always wanted to do that (especially after reading "The Incredible Power of Prayer") but could never quite motivate myself to do it and do it consistently. So, I texted back "I'm in. Are there specific times throughout the day? Are we going to be praying for specific things?"....She answered back "Nope. No specific times. Just four times." For more than one reason I was happy that there were no restrictions, and that it was really up to me to choose when and what to pray for.

Once I started the 4x/day prayers (and fasting from things that were taking up too much of my time...or my thoughts), I realized just how beneficial it was to me...Realizing this, I thought "why not share it with others?!" I started first with my sisters and told them about it...and then I thought to myself, "I shouldn't just share this with only my family....why not go beyond it? ...that'll be so cool and helpful to many" ...and there it is. bam! :)

Just an excellent idea that started with a casual text and making its way to this blog.....So I am inviting YOU, dear reader to join in...just for two days? three days? one week? two weeks? Whatever you want....All it is....pray 4x/day. If you experience the same things I've been experiencing (as well as those who've joined in), you might decide to stick with it for awhile ...This could definitely be a good way to start preparing for the new year that is creeping up...*GASP* :). It's pretty simple, for instance: Praying first thing in the morning, last thing at night = 2 already. Praying before starting something, and after = another 2. Praying before driving (for safety) and arriving (safe travels)...= another 2....I found it to be very refreshing when you acknowledge God in and throughout your daily activities.

If you decide to join, I KNOW you'll see a difference. it's a guarantee! Quote me on that.

[Taken from: http://afeatheradrift.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/praying.jpg]

>>Psalms 62:8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us.<<