Happy Sabbath!!!

This GUY! ^^- I admire!! Feeling so blessed!! :)

Encouragement for the day for you!! Happy Sabbath, ya'll!! Last Sabbath of the year, make it an amazing one!

12/25/2012

Merry Christmas!!! :) What an awesome year it has been. God has been so faithful!!!!!

So glad that the King of kings came on earth to save us of our inequities and our sins!! I am so excited about eternal life with Him.

Today was an amazing day with big sis and fiancee thanks to awesome church friends and [Lim] family!!

two words: brrrr and yum.

Check it out in pictures (Sprague Lake and Bear Lake Trials). We're officially Colorado-ans....hahaha.

TRUE LOVE

The summer of 2010 started like a regular summer until the most amazing man (;)) stepped in. Very long story short (one day i'd be UBER GLAD to share it with you, but until then ;)!), we started talking and eventually began dating. Over the course of the year and half plus we have been dating, one thing (to sum it all up) that we have learned is that the key to our relationship is....you guess it! COMMUNICATION. (Please don't underestimate that skill). Learning to excel at this skill as individuals (to God and each other) and as a couple has been the instant glue in our relationship....and believe me, it's been a journey, but one that has been and continues to be an extremely satifying journey.

Through COMMUNICATION, we have learned how much we are different(gender differences, personality differences, worldviews, temparament) as well as how much we are similar! (our needs, our dreams and our hopes). We recognize two important things: 1) only through communicating have we been able to understand how we are different and why, and 2) only through our communication have we been able to recognize how AMAZING GOD IS.

Check this out: Do you REALLY think that the differences between a way a man and a woman think is coincidental? If you do, you have missed the GREATER purpose of relationship as well as the width and depth of God's love.

God is a God of diversity. In all things that He does, He seeks to be glorified. God commands that we love one another as we love ourselves. He knew that He could only show us the extent of His love if He could stretch our minds to learn how to respect and appreciate differences in others. After all, WE are different from God.

WE are humans. HE is God.
WE are mortals. HE is immortal.
WE are sinful. HE is holy.
We are selfish. HE is not.
WE are limited in knowledge. HE is omniscient.
WE are limited in our powers. HE is omnipotent.

Despite our differences (HIM being the perfect ONE), He still loves us UNconditionally. He is patient with us. Yet it's funny that as imperfect beings, WE tend to be the impatient ones. WE think we're the best out there and everyone should be and think like US. We are impatient and disgusted that other people are different, or think differently or act differently. We are easily turned off by OTHERS' sinful nature, yet fail to realize that WE ARE basically on the same boat. We fail to realize that everyone has the same basic needs, thaty they just have a different way of expressing or receiving those needs because of how life has shaped them. If only we had time to communicate with these people we would find out how SIMILAR we are.

What I have learned in my relationship with the most awesome man in my life is that without communication, our relationship would have already ended. Without being patient enought to sift through our differences, we would not have had the amazing opportunity to find those similarities. If we had not found those similarities, we would have given up already because we would've thought we were "incompatible". If we had given up, we would have missed out on the joy and the happiness of experiencing a secure, honest and loving relationship (praise GOD for wisdom and patient!). The fire wasn't easy to go through, but it made it alot feasible knowing that we could communicate to each other and help each other during the chiseling process. We came out lookin' better than ever, feelin' better than eva, and lovin' each other better than ever.

It is the same in our spiritual relationship with God. We are extremely different from God (we think and act differently), but both God and us want to the same thing- the best for us as human beings. But how can we understand each other if we are so different? Our differences are basically that God is "spiritually discerned" and we are not. How can we be spiritually discerned? COMMUNICATION!!!!!! Praying without ceasing.... Even Jesus did it...there's a reason for that. Praying for the Holy SPIRIT who is our comforter and our guide.


GOD IS RELATIONAL. and ultimately, if we are seeking TRUE LOVE (which is Him), we must seek Him first and through Him, find our perfect earthly one. I did ;)


BE BLESSED.!

Love Takes Time

What is right in Christian relationships?

How far should Christian couples go?

Check this out and let God lead you.
It might sounds difficult or revolutionary...but there's nothing worth something that's easy to achieve!!

Song of Solomon 8:4: "Promise me, O women of Jerusalem, not to awaken love until the time is right."

click here ----> FOR A HEALTHY, GODLY RELATIONSHIP THAT GLORIFIES GOD!!

Second Coming October 21st, 2011

Have you ever felt "lost"? As in, not knowing where to go from here, or just feel like you're not accomplishing anything or as much as you should be? Well, I feel like this is where I am now or have been in some ways. But the concern is not necessarily personal goals but mainly spiritual concern. By now, if you are reading this blog, you probably have heard about Mr. Camping who has been predicting the end of the world, and people actually believing that Jesus was going to come and leaving anything behind. Although I am aware that no one knows the day or time of Jesus' second coming (Matthew 24), I was not so satisfied with my response (and was thoroughly disappointed by the mockery displayed by Christians on facebook)....I was disappointed that: I was so focusing on the idea that he was wrong for putting a date on Jesus' coming that I lived life like I was going to make it to see the next day. I felt so complacent and so nonchalant. I THOUGHT to myself, man! what a perfect opportunity to go out and teach people about what the Bible says about Jesus' second coming, but I did not DO it. I THOUGHT of going from door to door or writing a note on facebook or something about our world today, but I DID NOT do it.

Essentially, I feel like I am too "comfortable" right now in my spiritual walk with God, and that is NOT okay. So I am making a deal with God today: If I spend more time with Him, He will not only motivate me to do greater things for Him, but He will also use me to be more passionate about His word.

I read the following this morning for devotion: Check!:

Women of firm principle and decided character are needed, women who believe that we are indeed living in the last days, and that we have the last solemn message of warning to be given to the world. They should feel that they are engaged in an important work in spreading the rays of light which Heaven has shed upon them. When the love of God and His truth is an abiding principle, they will let nothing deter them from duty, or discourage them in their work.

The Saviour will reflect upon these self-sacrificing women the light of His countenance, and will give them a power that exceeds that of men. They can do in families a work that men cannot do, a work that reaches the inner life. They can come close to the hearts of those whom men cannot reach. Their labor is needed.

(http://egwdatabase.whiteestate.org/nxt/gateway.dll?f=templates$fn=default.htm$vid=default)

Bear Each Other's Burdens

How frustrating it is when you are trying to get someone to "get it" and s(he) is taking forever to get to "your level of understanding". If only they were perfect...well, if only WE were perfect.

A Perfect person in his/her eyes, is someone who:

UNDERSTANDS them.
is PATIENT with them.
is HELPFUL.
is able to MAKE HIS/HER life EASIER.

When you are frustrated with someone (especially family members), remember that the PERFECT person LOVES, and that regardless of the person's shortcomings, that person wants to feel loved and valued...


Love is: patient, kind, NOT easily ANGERED, keeps NO records of WRONGS.
IT ALWAYS protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Bear their burdens, and Pray. GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF THE REST. NO matter how IRRATIONAL they may appear to be. :)

Captivate Us

Wow, it's just amazing to take the time out to read my previous posts. Apparently in October, I was feeling the heat academically, and praying for a testimony as I was overwhelmed with work, as the semester was ending. Well, guess what. I ended up receiving all As in all FIVE of my classes. Obviously, I made it. I would like to say that I don't know how it happened, but I'd be lying.

God did it.

He is such an a.ma.zing God.

I thought last semester was tough....well, this one was no better. Except that I learned half way through that worrying wasn't going to do anything meaningful for me. As God has lead me in the past, I should be sure that He would lead me again. As I left the "worrying" to God, focused my devotion around Numbers 14, continued to spend time with Him in the morning and once again committing to a small groups this year...I can't tell how faithful my Lord has been.

With 4 classes to fulfill requirements for, 160 hours of internship to complete, 4 schools to work with in four different districts, 2 commitment to spiritual groups as well as Sabbath commitments, and a wonderful relationship to balance, there is no question that there were times I wonder if I would be able to fulfill everything to the extent I would like to. So once again, I challenged God, and asked for a testimony, and once again I believe He will do what He said He would do- take care of me, and guide me.

With one week and a half left for school, here are my testimonies:

1. I passed a very important exam that I was a bit nervous about since I waited the day before to actually study for it. Lord willing, I will be alive to graduate with my M.A. degree this summer. yay :-D. God, You're amazing.

2. I have fulfilled all the requirements for the class that I was struggling to find motivation to complete. 4 ten-plus pages of reports done (worth half of my grade), and 2 presentations and papers completed (the other half). Apparently, I reached mastery. God, You're great.

3. For my practicum class, I had slightly given up on having to complete all my 160 hours this week because I didn't think it would actually come true. For the first time, I was okay with having a Deferred Grade in my transcript. Today, when I calculated my hours, I am 5 hours short of fulfilling the 160 hours needed. Dear God, should I say more?

4. The small groups that I was part of this summer, has been the best yet. It was amazing, and as of Sunday, we concluded our last meeting. Even when we don't know what we need, You step right in and provide it for us, Lord. As far as church-related commitments, I have successful taught the classes, even played the piano and sang. It's good to use what you have, even when you don't think you have much to offer, to praise God, I have realized.

5. Finally, as far as relationship. There is so much to say, but each day, not only to learn more about my awesome boyfriend :), but I also learn more about myself, and about the AWESOME GOD we both serve. God's timing is certainly the best. I wouldn't want it any other way. Thank you God for the people you send in my life. You always know what I need, even when I don't think I need them. I thank YOUU!!!!.


Doubting a little yourself? check out the story of the Israelite in Numbers 14. Take the journey with them, watch how Moses reasoned with God, and listen to how God responded.

For those who choose to believe in His word, He will never fail you. Doubt Him no more.

----> BE BLESSED!!!! <-------

Let Us Worship

Okay, Fridays are NOT supposed to be this hectic...right? ...in fact, what happened to a restful Sabbath? My gracious! So much to get done for the Sabbath...Mer.cy. Some things need to change, because I can not be running around so much on Fridays to get ready for the Sabbath! Maybe I should start preparing for the Sabbath once the sun goes down on the Sabbath...ummmm. (Yea we talked about this in SS once...)

Anyways, just wanted to share this song. I started my day with it. Very awesome.

Dear Tye Tribbett,

I'd love to meet you one day!! :)

i love that song!!!

Some people's normals are other's miracles: READ ON!

I have been slacking big time with this blog!! But God has been good, as always! Completed my first year in graduate school! (Hooray!), and if I had to grade my time there I would go all out for an "A." I learned so much in and outside the classroom--not only about the world around me, but also about myself. I really enjoyed the classes I took, especially this last semester. I always considered myself to be an open-minded person but I realized that there's always room to be "more" open-minded... in a good way :).

One of the classes that I took was Intro to Special Education, and man that was one humongous eye-opening experience. At the end of the day, as J Moss puts it "nobody is a nobody God doesn't make mistakes. Nobody can ever take your place that doesn't exist in grace..."

We all want to feel loved, accepted and respected at the end of the day...Some people know how to meet that need, others simply don't. If able, use the moment you have to teach! Biggest reminder ever. Imagine having a child who has a disability, how many of us would be happy to take care of that child and treat that child like s(he) was still one of the greatest person on planet earth? I am not going to lie. Before taking that class, I am not sure how happy I would be if I were to have a child with a disability, and I have a feeling that I probably would be quite bias when dealing with the child....but now I have learned to understand that diversity comes in different forms and that being different, especially in that manner, does not mean that God has forgotten the person, or that He doesn't love that person...It also does NOT mean that He can not use that person with the disability to change the lives of others.


Check this out: (Such a touching video!)




One of the best classes I could have taken. I praise God for that.

I LOVE HIM.

Sometimes (more like, everyday), I stand in awe of how amazing and awesome God is. Words simply can not express. Everyday I wake up in the morning just thinking of how blessed and privileged I am to be surrounded by inspirational and wonderful individuals. All my life, God has always placed the right people! Everyday I wake up and think of how God's mercy and grace are so undeserved...yet how unconditional is His love.

He loves us sooo much He proves it everyday. I think the scariest thought for me is to say that I LOVE HIM and not being to prove it to the fullest extent...as He did. Nevertheless, God KNOWS how thankful I am for knowing Him....for the individuals in my life testifying the extent of His love, and for nature testifying how GREAT he is. I honestly do not know how else to express this.....except I guess...through my actions...


~If you think you can find your way to God; you either have a low view of God or a very high view of yourself; or probably both at the same time~

Finding Peace!

"The story is told of two painters. Each painted a picture to illustrate his concept of rest. The first chose for his scene a still, serene lake among the far-off mountains. The second painted a thundering waterfall with a fragile birch tree bending over the foam; at the fork of a branch, almost wet with the cataract’s spray, a robin sat on its nest.  Which best portrayed the essence of rest? It is not often in this world of turmoil that we find the rest of a lone mountain lake. More often we must find our rest amid the turmoil of real life" (ASSQ, Tuesday's Lesson).

The latter described my day, and possibly this week?

To say the least, I wasn't sure if I was going to make it today. SOOOOO much to do. Tons of work for one class, and a presentation for the MLK symposium at the school. I wasn't ready for either one of them. I went to bed worried (shouldn't have because I've seen the work of God in my life during stressful situations like this), honestly assuming that it was going to be a FAIL for me today....................nope, turned out to be a WIN for me.

To say the very least, THANK YOU, JESUS!!!. I SERVE A MIGHTY GOD!!!

---> I thank God for friends, for support, for prayers, for caring people, for awesome and thoughtful professors, for miracles, for HIM caring so much even when He didn't have to. <----

CHASEN- ON AND ON- <-- CLICK IT.

"Love in Action"

A quote that I thought was powerful from the Adult SS Quarterly's lesson for today: (Thursday)

"I was hungry, and you formed a humanities club to discuss it. I was imprisoned, but you complained about the crime rate. I was naked, and you debated the morality of my appearance. I was sick, and you thanked God for your health. I was homeless, and you preached to me about the shelter of God's love. You seem so holy and so close to God; but I'm still hungry, lonely, cold, and in pain. Does it matter?"

How many kings would give up their sons?

If I ever doubted this verse for a minute, shame on me!...............Mark 10: 9. [Praises.]

Ok, I really dig the Prayer of Jabez and I have been praying like Jabez for real. This week is definitely going to be an interesting one. Why is it that when there's a break...I actually take the BREAK? it's a trap, and I fall for it everytime....*sigh*....Your prayers for me this week would be amazing.

I heard this song last week, and fell in love with the words :).  yeah yeah it's suppose to be a "christmas" song...but "christmas" should be everyday, right? right!

Don't focus on the video, just listen to the words.





On a totally different note:

So I have in my possession the "More George W. Bushisms" little book....[do not ask why!!!!! k you can if you want :-D]

So here's the quote for this WEEK! This will be my motivational quote. BELIEVE me.

Beyond Belief--- "I know what I believe. I will continue to articulate what I believe and what I believe--I believe what I believe is right"-- Rome, Italy, July 22, 2001.

little things in life

You know, I am really getting used to living in this apartment by myself, and also enjoying having free days--no specific time to wake up in the morning or sleep at night. And it's hard to believe that it's been about 2 weeks since I have been here, and so far I've not had any "wasted" days. Praise God.


My apartment-mate is either gonna love me or she's gonna....well,... love me.....when she gets here at the end of August (ha! at least I hope. :D).....because I've come to the realization that air-freshners and I have a thing going on. Get in my car, guess what? There's a car-freshner AND air freshner Walk in the living room- hi air-freshner Kitchen- you can't escape it...it's looking right at you! Bathroom- yup. Another air freshner awaits you. Not just one, oh no, but there's also a toilet bowl cleaner/freshner too. whoa...another air-freshner? you kid not! no, I kid not, check my room. :) ummm don't hate me because I'm fresh and so clean clean. ...[lol hahaha c'mon I really couldn't help it!] But seriously, I've been noticing and learning alot of things about myself, especially this past year, and one thing is for sure....I really like air-freshners!!!!!!!!!



Speaking of things I like and things I have a "thing" for....I have seriously been thinking about naming my car. It's starting to grow on me, and I know that because lately I've been going online trying to learn more about its kind. I am starting to really care for it [maybe because I am starting to realize just how MUCH it means to me]. It's the only possession here from home that I wouldn't want ANYTHING to happen to. It's my new passport to adventures, my door to opportunities, my window to the outside world. It is the test of independence and responsibility. It is the one possession that I have that forces me to be extremely considerate and really caring. If something's wrong with it, I can't just hang around and watch it suffer, because--besides the fact that it sounds just wrong!-- finding a replacement is impossible......For instance, I have a computer, but if my computer stops running, or crashes, I can go to the library and use a computer there, or go to the university or even borrow a friend's. It's not the end of me using a computer and getting what I need to get done (but hold on now, I APPRECIATE my computer too! don't get me wrong. ) But my car? no, not the same. I am required to learn how to be truly responsible. I am require to respond to its needs no matter how busy life gets, how tired I am, how crappy I feel, how impatient I may be. That's my personal business as far as it's concerned. I am require to think of it often, to treat it right and to use it wisely. I am required to care for it and its well being. It's no longer just me and my needs...I actually have something of my own to think and care for. You have no idea how much I am learning by having this car, and I am not talking about how to take care of a car and yadee yadee yadee ya, but actually applicable life lessons. It's amazing.


So yes...a name. A name means so much.Have you ever taken the time to give someone a nickname? Really, if you take the time to NAME something, it really shows how close/ meaningful or significant that thing/person is or has become to you. For some reasons (I STILL don't know why), I've always felt the name "Ty" or "Tye" (I haven't really thought about the spelling, but the sound rhymes with "Tie"). I am still thinking of a name for him (yes, my car has been personified)but I know for sure his middle name is going to be "Ty." So from now on, I will refer to my car as "Ty." His first name will come in due season. His first name is going to be one that embodies his character and personality. awww :)


In other news: Since the beginning of this year, I have been the Phone Prayer Line coordinator/leader for my church (LIGHHHTTHOUSE!). Every Thursday, 9:05pm (Central Time), I've been leading (or have someone lead on my behalf) the Prayer Line ministry--- a ministry where members call, share quick testimonies, share prayer requests and pray together. I've learned so much through leading this ministry. It's interesting because before then, my prayer has always been to be a woman of faith and a woman of prayer, so when I was asked to lead this ministry, it was God's way of giving me that opportunity to start working on that! Well, tonight, being away from home (and one hour ahead), I asked both of my little sisters to lead the prayer line on my behalf. They agreed to do so, thankfully, and boy! did they do a great job! It really shouldn't be a surprise to me, but it really warmed my heart. Last week's Prayer Line Food for Thought was led by another member I had asked to the same (also a blessing!), we focused on our future and the plans that God has for us. This week, my (baby) sister's Food for Thought text is found in Isaiah 55: 8-12. (<---click on it!).You should READ THESE VERSES NOW! :) Need prayers? Don't hesitate to call! It's open to all. The number 218.844.8230 Access Code: 201-102#. I'd love for you to join when you have time on Thursdays, 9:05pm Central Time. Anyways, it's getting pretty late here and I need my sleep. I pray that you too had an amazing day. Be thankful you're still alive to see another one!! blessings!!