where now?

I am a failure in certain aspects of life.
I have regrets and remorse.
I have felt broken and caused brokenness.
I have shamed and felt ashamed.

These failures in life should not dictate the totality of where I go and who I become.
Yes, they shape me, but they do not control me.
Yes, they grow me, but they do not hold me.
Yes, they push me, but they do not overcome me.

Like Peter said: "Lord, to whom shall we go?" John 6:68. Despite these failures, where else would I go?

Latter Part.

12 The LORD blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the first. (Job 42)

When is the latter part of my life going to start?

nothing but love.

13Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. 14Do everything in love. (1Cor16)

Despite everything that happens and despite anything that we feel, we should NEVER make an excuse for being cranky, irritable, or just plain mean. Even in those petty moments of selfishness or times of unfairness, we must look at the situation with boldness and courage. Can we stand against the foe, even if it happens to be something as trivial as someone cutting us off on the freeway? Can we react with love, even if it means humbling ourselves when someone treats us rudely?

In the small and big things in life, we must remain firm in the faith and respond with nothing but LOVE!

inevitable disaster.

People ALL suffer from disasters, inevitably. However, there are two types of disaster.

1. Disasters caused by people themselves. Their own hands cause their misery.
2. Disasters that affect other people. They just happen to experience someone else's destruction.

We can't avoid every disaster; we're not immune to temptation and our sinful nature. And we, also, can't simply isolate ourselves, hoping that no one else will adversely affect our lives. So, whether or not you've caused your own pain or you're just feeling the pain because someone else did something entirely stupid in your life, it all comes down to one solid concept: It's still your life and God is still sovereign.

You either choose to live it, knowing God is in control or you choose to let the disastrous state of affairs dictate your life. I choose the first option. :)

words of encouragement.

7 The LORD is good,
a refuge in times of trouble.
He cares for those who trust in him,
(Nahum1)

*smile*

battles raging

The battle never ceases, despite the fact that there are long periods in our lives without fighting, without bloodshed, without even fear or weeping. However, do not be fooled. Those times are rest stops; the battle still rages. Do not put down your weapons. Do not give up your defenses. Do not think that you're safe and secure.

The enemy is lurking, and he is waiting for you to give in to the belief that everything will be okay. The truth is that everything is not quiet and calm as you think. The battle rages on, and the rest is only there to help you prepare for battle!

Friends, know God. He is your defense. The battle will continue, and when it does, will you be ready?

a good reminder.

16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[f] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.[g] 19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."[h]

Enough said. :)

sphere of influence.

20 Elisha died and was buried.
Now Moabite raiders used to enter the country every spring. 21 Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man's body into Elisha's tomb. When the body touched Elisha's bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet. (2 Kings 13)

I think it's wonderful that God would continue to work even after Elisha's death; a man was raised from the dead simply by being placed in Elisha's tomb. I want God to work in my life in such a way, where people who are just placed in my proximity would be affected by the love and life of God. :) Even when I die, I hope that I leave a legacy; not that I want to be famous, but I just hope that when I die those who I've left behind would know that I lived for God and perhaps be influenced by that. :)

guard your heart

23 Above all else, guard your heart,
for it is the wellspring of life. Proverbs4

Your heart is a very fragile thing. It is susceptible to

jealousy...
envy...
want...
emptiness...
pain...
abandonment...
betrayal...
disappointment...
loss...
failure...
lies...
denial...
suffering...
despondency...

You cannot shield your life from the above feelings or states of existence because they are a part of life. But you can protect your heart. If the joy of the Lord overflows every ounce of your heart, these feelings cannot penetrate. They cannot invade. They cannot overcome. Despite the mishaps of life, you will be strong because your wellspring has not been tampered. Guard your heart with God's love and seal it with His spirit and power.

believe.

"...Sarah's womb was also dead" Romans4:19 Despite this, despite the long waiting, despite all the disappointments of the past, despite everything, in spite of all, Abraham believed. And they conceived.

What could we do if we would just believe?

details

"...like a lily blossom" 1Kings7:26

The above statement is describing the furnishing of the temple. The detail of it amazing. The design was premeditated and thoughtful, not to mention exquisite.

Likewise, God designs our lives with impeccable detail. Though we don't see the entire masterpiece all at once, each day that we live is one touch, one stroke, or one stitch by the Artist. We might not necessarily see the beauty of it from day to day; however, that is only because we lack perspective.

We just have to be patient. He is working the details of His artistry in our lives, and if we continue to believe and hope, one day we will see the entirety of His masterpiece.

times of uncertainty.

It seems as if we are in deep trouble, as our economy and well-being as a nation is feeling the repercussions of rejecting God. If you're feeling a bit uncertain, if you're scared of where the recession is going to take you and your family, remember to trust fully in Him. Wealth is of no importance, it is our faith in God that saves.

Psalm 49
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
1 Hear this, all you peoples;
listen, all who live in this world,

2 both low and high,
rich and poor alike:

3 My mouth will speak words of wisdom;
the utterance from my heart will give understanding.

4 I will turn my ear to a proverb;
with the harp I will expound my riddle:

5 Why should I fear when evil days come,
when wicked deceivers surround me-

6 those who trust in their wealth
and boast of their great riches?

7 No man can redeem the life of another
or give to God a ransom for him-

8 the ransom for a life is costly,
no payment is ever enough-

9 that he should live on forever
and not see decay.

10 For all can see that wise men die;
the foolish and the senseless alike perish
and leave their wealth to others.

11 Their tombs will remain their houses [a] forever,
their dwellings for endless generations,
though they had [b] named lands after themselves.

12 But man, despite his riches, does not endure;
he is [c] like the beasts that perish.

13 This is the fate of those who trust in themselves,
and of their followers, who approve their sayings.
Selah

14 Like sheep they are destined for the grave, [d]
and death will feed on them.
The upright will rule over them in the morning;
their forms will decay in the grave, [e]
far from their princely mansions.

15 But God will redeem my life [f] from the grave;
he will surely take me to himself.
Selah

16 Do not be overawed when a man grows rich,
when the splendor of his house increases;

17 for he will take nothing with him when he dies,
his splendor will not descend with him.

18 Though while he lived he counted himself blessed—
and men praise you when you prosper-

19 he will join the generation of his fathers,
who will never see the light of life .

20 A man who has riches without understanding
is like the beasts that perish.

I find this Psalm comforting especially in these times of great uncertainty.

without soul.

36What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? (Mark 8)

Why does it matter what rank, what position, what level, you're at in life? All your ambitions, all your dreams, everything you hope for in this world amounts to nothing without your soul.

I want to live life in such a way that I have in mind "the things of God" continually. Even if it means that I must be denied what seems to be pleasures of this world, I know that I will be guaranteed a life worth living.