You have stopped trying my friend.
Simple as that.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Unravelling the context.
Sometimes I cannot get the words out of mouth to say the right things.
Usually I think I say the wrong things, or perhaps the right things at the wrong time. Especially the wrong things at the wrong time.
That tightening in my stomach occurs more often nowadays. A tiny bubbling of it which I chosen to ignore initially. But now I am not so sure.
It is unpleasant to know that kind of knowledge is affecting me in a way which determines my attitude toward things. Should I choose to ignore it? Or just avoid it altogether?
With these two options which I have analytically thought over and over again, I know that both would cause distress upon my heart and mind venturing its way into the very wall which I have built up so strongly.
It might as well crumble down right now but I am still fighting it.
I know it cannot be helped, as to the knowledge of those contributing factors which I so wish would somehow disappear.
In my heart I know it is a good thing, but the tightening has made its mark as if it was saying, "No! No! I refuse to believe that!"
Which brings me to where I am now.
This is difficult.
Very difficult.
The choice I have made is backfiring. I still have ended up in that same battlefield, where shrapnel is scattered all around, but I'm still shooting as if there is still a war going on. But in reality, no one is there.
That is I suppose, an annoying aspect of me being overly analogical.
Try to be more laid back will you?
Well yes, I shall try that.
It also seems I'm hiding. Am I really being me?
Or am I just fantasizing this whole thing?
Which in other words, that this is not reality.
If I ever put myself in Pierre- Count Bezukhov's shoes...
All the things that he went through... is somehow similar to what I--
Or am I somehow similar to Adolf Karlovich Berg?
Who desires to be like everyone else?
Oh what a pity. I keep comparing myself to some characters in a book I just read.
I won't go as far as Natasha-- too late.
Enough is enough!
This shall probably not be a very good read. As it expands in detail the internal struggle of a somewhat non-fictional character in my own little world.
If you choose to ignore it, feel free as I am not the one stopping you.
Read on? Well yes, then you must be intrigued.
Being overly quixotic, I avoid showing my unctuous countenance as I recite the following impromptu libretto. It may be a tad obscured, but believe me when I say the task at hand is somewhat oppressive. The lull I had been in seemed to have mutilated the sporadic, awakening the long lost tantalizing feeling we all know we deeply wish to go away.
My attempts to be insouciant shall be deliberated, though I must think to be said tersely , everything and nothing seems to be unfathomable.
In hopes of alleviating the grotesque cacophony, the stoic thinking I have not yet acquired unnerves me in way that has left me completely ethereal. Although I choose not to be seen that way.
...
Well. None of this jibber-jabber probably made any sense to you.
(Unless you of course were intelligent enough to decide to decipher this code and unlock the hidden meanings sprawled so clearly and plainly into it.)
But in recent estimates, no one would bother trying.
So in short:
"Well there really is nothing to say.
As this message portrays
Of what I hide and what I feel.
Something that doesn't pass reality,
but in reality, it is really real."
:)
Usually I think I say the wrong things, or perhaps the right things at the wrong time. Especially the wrong things at the wrong time.
That tightening in my stomach occurs more often nowadays. A tiny bubbling of it which I chosen to ignore initially. But now I am not so sure.
It is unpleasant to know that kind of knowledge is affecting me in a way which determines my attitude toward things. Should I choose to ignore it? Or just avoid it altogether?
With these two options which I have analytically thought over and over again, I know that both would cause distress upon my heart and mind venturing its way into the very wall which I have built up so strongly.
It might as well crumble down right now but I am still fighting it.
I know it cannot be helped, as to the knowledge of those contributing factors which I so wish would somehow disappear.
In my heart I know it is a good thing, but the tightening has made its mark as if it was saying, "No! No! I refuse to believe that!"
Which brings me to where I am now.
This is difficult.
Very difficult.
The choice I have made is backfiring. I still have ended up in that same battlefield, where shrapnel is scattered all around, but I'm still shooting as if there is still a war going on. But in reality, no one is there.
That is I suppose, an annoying aspect of me being overly analogical.
Try to be more laid back will you?
Well yes, I shall try that.
It also seems I'm hiding. Am I really being me?
Or am I just fantasizing this whole thing?
Which in other words, that this is not reality.
If I ever put myself in Pierre- Count Bezukhov's shoes...
All the things that he went through... is somehow similar to what I--
Or am I somehow similar to Adolf Karlovich Berg?
Who desires to be like everyone else?
Oh what a pity. I keep comparing myself to some characters in a book I just read.
I won't go as far as Natasha-- too late.
Enough is enough!
This shall probably not be a very good read. As it expands in detail the internal struggle of a somewhat non-fictional character in my own little world.
If you choose to ignore it, feel free as I am not the one stopping you.
Read on? Well yes, then you must be intrigued.
Being overly quixotic, I avoid showing my unctuous countenance as I recite the following impromptu libretto. It may be a tad obscured, but believe me when I say the task at hand is somewhat oppressive. The lull I had been in seemed to have mutilated the sporadic, awakening the long lost tantalizing feeling we all know we deeply wish to go away.
My attempts to be insouciant shall be deliberated, though I must think to be said tersely , everything and nothing seems to be unfathomable.
In hopes of alleviating the grotesque cacophony, the stoic thinking I have not yet acquired unnerves me in way that has left me completely ethereal. Although I choose not to be seen that way.
...
Well. None of this jibber-jabber probably made any sense to you.
(Unless you of course were intelligent enough to decide to decipher this code and unlock the hidden meanings sprawled so clearly and plainly into it.)
But in recent estimates, no one would bother trying.
So in short:
"Well there really is nothing to say.
As this message portrays
Of what I hide and what I feel.
Something that doesn't pass reality,
but in reality, it is really real."
:)
Friday, January 13, 2012
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Reflection on Devos
Reflection on devos.
Jan 12,2012
I read january 12 reading and I absolutely loved it on perseverance. James 1:24 is so good as it says, "consider it pure joy my brothers thy you may face trials of many kinds because the testing of your faith may develop perseverance. Perseverance must finish it's work so that you may be full and complete not lacking anything'
The tree the grew in Brooklynn story was good. Because even though no one planted it right, helped it stand upright, or cared for it, it still grew tall and strong. The same way if we do not give up and persevere we are able to grow strong, by facing the trials that life brings us, it will help strengthen us. No matter where we comefrom (:
The second one I read was on July 5th
"Like a madman shooting firebrands or deadly arrows is like a man eho deceives his neighbor and says "I was only joking!" " proverbs 26:18-19 NIV
It talks about the importance of not lying and to tell the truth.
To lie to someone is like lying to God. That's pretty intense.
I read a story on Acts 4:36-5:5.
And it tells about how a man sold his field and gave the money to the apostles. Then another man, named Ananias and his wife Sapphira, sold their field but kept some of the money for themselves then gave the rest to the apostles. The apostles caught them in the act and declared that they kept things from the Holy Spirit and just lied to God. Ananias dropped dead.
Lying is a pretty bad sin. Especially lying to God. Sure, sometimes we can joke around and play pranks on people (like I do hehe) like possibly spray some silly string to them during a silly weird time. Or maybe set a tripwire to some rowdy boys sending honey and feathers on their bodies :3
But there is a time for everything.
I wouldn't do that during a serious time.
As in Ecclesiates 3:1-8 NIV.
It says.
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NIV)
Just to throw in that amazing verse in (:
Man, really it is true. Getting into His word first thing helps your day. (:
Your first thought when you wake up and last thought going to bed is thanking God. :)
He is so good that I must just give him praise here..
I was writing my essay and he gave me the strength to finish it! And quite frankly I'm pretty proud of my essay!! Yay! But absolutely more proud of my God, heavenly father, who stuck with me through it all and believed in me so much that he let the teacher assign it so that he could show the world "Yep, that's my girl!" :D
So many more things to thank about (:
But I'll leave that thought open for you reader :) What do you think?
Jan 12,2012
I read january 12 reading and I absolutely loved it on perseverance. James 1:24 is so good as it says, "consider it pure joy my brothers thy you may face trials of many kinds because the testing of your faith may develop perseverance. Perseverance must finish it's work so that you may be full and complete not lacking anything'
The tree the grew in Brooklynn story was good. Because even though no one planted it right, helped it stand upright, or cared for it, it still grew tall and strong. The same way if we do not give up and persevere we are able to grow strong, by facing the trials that life brings us, it will help strengthen us. No matter where we comefrom (:
The second one I read was on July 5th
"Like a madman shooting firebrands or deadly arrows is like a man eho deceives his neighbor and says "I was only joking!" " proverbs 26:18-19 NIV
It talks about the importance of not lying and to tell the truth.
To lie to someone is like lying to God. That's pretty intense.
I read a story on Acts 4:36-5:5.
And it tells about how a man sold his field and gave the money to the apostles. Then another man, named Ananias and his wife Sapphira, sold their field but kept some of the money for themselves then gave the rest to the apostles. The apostles caught them in the act and declared that they kept things from the Holy Spirit and just lied to God. Ananias dropped dead.
Lying is a pretty bad sin. Especially lying to God. Sure, sometimes we can joke around and play pranks on people (like I do hehe) like possibly spray some silly string to them during a silly weird time. Or maybe set a tripwire to some rowdy boys sending honey and feathers on their bodies :3
But there is a time for everything.
I wouldn't do that during a serious time.
As in Ecclesiates 3:1-8 NIV.
It says.
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NIV)
Just to throw in that amazing verse in (:
Man, really it is true. Getting into His word first thing helps your day. (:
Your first thought when you wake up and last thought going to bed is thanking God. :)
He is so good that I must just give him praise here..
I was writing my essay and he gave me the strength to finish it! And quite frankly I'm pretty proud of my essay!! Yay! But absolutely more proud of my God, heavenly father, who stuck with me through it all and believed in me so much that he let the teacher assign it so that he could show the world "Yep, that's my girl!" :D
So many more things to thank about (:
But I'll leave that thought open for you reader :) What do you think?
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Raspberry Vinaigrette
Reading the title, I suppose you all know what this one is about.
Yes readers, it is raspberry vinaigrette.
To be honest, I did not know what vinaigrette was before I had it earlier today. (5mins ago). Well I've heard of it as some sort of salad dressing but for those who don't know this is what it is.
Vinaigrette (/vɪnəˈɡrɛt/) is a mixture (emulsion) of olive oil and vinegar, sometimes flavored with herbs, spices, and other ingredients. It is used most commonly as a salad dressing,[1] but also as a cold sauce or marinade.
or something like that. (definition via Wikipedia. Whoo!)
I had the Raspberry kind. And It was positively delicious.
I mean with salad, I usually have the typical Cesar dressing or ranch or something. But this time, my splendid daddy bought me some fruit and nut salad with this strange red substance that I had not encounter before today.
I hesitated to pour it on the leafy greens, so I dipped my fork into the container and with the tip of my tongue tasted it.
Hmm, it's not bad.
So I poured half of it in my salad.
In a matter of a small amount of time, it has been done! Hurrah!
I looked at the paper box that the salad was in and it looked to me as though it had been splattered by blood (which I thought was cool looking). But I really knew it was just the dressing which I did not know the name of.
I was about to google "strange red sauce" on the internet then realized, How was google supposed to know what I'm talking about if they can't see it?
I mean, they're not that good are they?
So I just had some thoughts about maybe inventing a search engine that could identify what was what by sensor or touch. (Wouldn't that be cool!)
There probably was already an invention like this or something... (Oh yeah, the analytic scanner... DOH!)
But what I mean is, available in people's homes or something. (So they are able to scan deliciously yummy red substances they just had with some salad).
Haha, I'm sure I'm not the only one! (Probably am)
But really, that was the sweetest thing I have ever tasted ever today!!!
I craved for more (Which is probably not even that healthy), but man was it good!
If you haven't tried Raspberry Vinaigrette, you should! The fresh sweet kind, not the ewwwwww kind. Cuz that would just be wrong.
Wow, I'd really make a great commercial for some Raspberry Vinaigrette.
Maybe I should be in a commercial :P
------------------
My random topic of today was inspired by an essay that is due very soon and that I have procrastinated for a long time now. (and still procrastinating a bit).
------------------
Thank you :)Hope you enjoyed my random rants.
-Feelin the sweetness.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Andrew's POV
Hi everyone! :) Here's the continuation of "The Hard Fall" and "The High Rise".
It's not really a chapter per say, but parts of the story put together. Hope you like it!
---------------------------------------
By the time I got home the water had risen to my ankles. I was panting heavily from running all the way here with a net quarter full of fish, which I laid aside.
I got my little sister Isabelle and my mother out of there to head to the bridge.
Our house wasn't much, one floor, one space. Kitchen was a few feet from the living room, which was a few feet away from the bathroom.
If that flood were to reach our home, it wouldn't even stand a chance.
Our province was divided into 4 sections, as I like to call it: Civilization, the water, the wild, and the barren wasteland.
Civilization was where we lived.
The people in my village were of the poor sort. It was easy enough to wake them all up to head over to the bridge that met in the middle of our 3 villages. There were also some perks to our village, we lived closer to the bridge so I suppose it would take less time to get there. Imagine a sideways staircase, where ours were much higher and closer to the top.
There was mine, then the more fortunate one, but only slightly, and the most fortunate with houses that reached up to 2 bedrooms! Maybe even a small upper floor. They were made of cement while ours was made of branches and hay, etc.
When it rained we had to cover our hut with a blue plastic wrap for the water to slide down.
It a storm we would stay over with Catherine's family, in far village, which had at least 4 cemented walls and then rebuild ours.
My father and I used to rebuild it together before the incident happened. I don't like to think about it a lot.
The water was the long flowing river that runs every year. It has plenty of fish there, and a little part where clothes could be washed, or people could sometimes bathe if the weather was hot. Sometimes little children would play on the close river side, not far from where Catherine would usually be.
Up the river, a large dam was there to hold incoming water from rain and prevent it from flooding our village. There were two parts of the wild: one we avoided that had rabid animals that could kill you, and one that we went to, to either hunt or get some plantation.
The barren wasteland was something that we’d like to stay out of. Temperatures in that part were burning, and sometimes even cold. It was unexplainable. The stench was unbearable and was repulsive to think about.
I grabbed some things that would be useful: flashlight, blankets, some packaged food.
If that flood were to reach, I'd like to be prepared.
All this happened in a span of 2 minutes. We all had to get out of here as soon as possible.
Men and women of all ages were scrambling out.
The stronger men, including me, we made sure no one was left.
It wasn't a hard job after all. Small village, small houses, easy to get to, easy to go.
In this short time the water had risen to our knees.
Some of our furniture was ready floating loose in the dirt streets.
Time was the last thing on my mind, but an illuminated clock I had spotted inside an open window read 10:50pm.
It was late.
A blanket of darkness covered our village, with only litte tiny stars that were twinkling the night sky that looked like holes poked through our blanket.
A full moon was out.
Without the flood, this would've probably been a peaceful night, beautiful even.
The night I would’ve probably imagine myself telling Kitkat-- Cathy, how I really feel.
I almost did, but I knew there were much more serious matters involved.
Things were happening right now, and I had to keep my head on the ground.
I saw people here were doing the same, carrying their necessary items, those unable to have any, they knew we would all share with one another.
We don't want any more deaths this year than there needs to be.
I saw Anna, a 30 something lady with her hands full. I approached her and carried her bag of what i guessed baby clothes, blankets and bottles. A basket of food and other nessesities.
Her boy, Eric, was wrapped in multiple white cloths laid asleep in her careful arms. He was her first.
"Thank you Andrew," she smiled looking up at me. She was a short lady, her body form skinny that made her look tall from a distance.
"It's no problem Anna," I replied.
We were all moving faster now, a quite a distance from the river and closer to the place we would cross to safety.
Water still straddled on our knees but descended just a smidge.
My guess is that it sunk down in those holes that were dug to prepare for the deaths we were expecting. But I knew we wouldn't have time.
We started crossing the bridge when I heard men suddenly yelling in different directions, I looked up and saw it coming closer. That wave that was 2 miles away looked like it was so much closer. I looked down and my torso was wet. It was only a matter of minutes before it was up to people's heads.
Anna's husband came into view. He was passing out baskets of blanket and food around as well as the safety we so thought to have.
"I can take it from here." Anna took her things, nodded at me in thanks, and headed over to her husband and people that were sighing in relief that they made it.
I saw Isabelle, mother and other men and women huddled together in safety. It wasn't a time for celebration yet, they still had to keep moving.
I was about to approach them, but suddenly remembered Tom.
Oh shoot.
I cursed under my breath.
He didn't know. They didn't know. They all were...
Stopping my thoughts, I shook my head in regret.
Gritting my teeth, I turned around and started to run to the middle village.
Towards the incoming flood.
It's not really a chapter per say, but parts of the story put together. Hope you like it!
---------------------------------------
By the time I got home the water had risen to my ankles. I was panting heavily from running all the way here with a net quarter full of fish, which I laid aside.
I got my little sister Isabelle and my mother out of there to head to the bridge.
Our house wasn't much, one floor, one space. Kitchen was a few feet from the living room, which was a few feet away from the bathroom.
If that flood were to reach our home, it wouldn't even stand a chance.
Our province was divided into 4 sections, as I like to call it: Civilization, the water, the wild, and the barren wasteland.
Civilization was where we lived.
The people in my village were of the poor sort. It was easy enough to wake them all up to head over to the bridge that met in the middle of our 3 villages. There were also some perks to our village, we lived closer to the bridge so I suppose it would take less time to get there. Imagine a sideways staircase, where ours were much higher and closer to the top.
There was mine, then the more fortunate one, but only slightly, and the most fortunate with houses that reached up to 2 bedrooms! Maybe even a small upper floor. They were made of cement while ours was made of branches and hay, etc.
When it rained we had to cover our hut with a blue plastic wrap for the water to slide down.
It a storm we would stay over with Catherine's family, in far village, which had at least 4 cemented walls and then rebuild ours.
My father and I used to rebuild it together before the incident happened. I don't like to think about it a lot.
The water was the long flowing river that runs every year. It has plenty of fish there, and a little part where clothes could be washed, or people could sometimes bathe if the weather was hot. Sometimes little children would play on the close river side, not far from where Catherine would usually be.
Up the river, a large dam was there to hold incoming water from rain and prevent it from flooding our village. There were two parts of the wild: one we avoided that had rabid animals that could kill you, and one that we went to, to either hunt or get some plantation.
The barren wasteland was something that we’d like to stay out of. Temperatures in that part were burning, and sometimes even cold. It was unexplainable. The stench was unbearable and was repulsive to think about.
I grabbed some things that would be useful: flashlight, blankets, some packaged food.
If that flood were to reach, I'd like to be prepared.
All this happened in a span of 2 minutes. We all had to get out of here as soon as possible.
Men and women of all ages were scrambling out.
The stronger men, including me, we made sure no one was left.
It wasn't a hard job after all. Small village, small houses, easy to get to, easy to go.
In this short time the water had risen to our knees.
Some of our furniture was ready floating loose in the dirt streets.
Time was the last thing on my mind, but an illuminated clock I had spotted inside an open window read 10:50pm.
It was late.
A blanket of darkness covered our village, with only litte tiny stars that were twinkling the night sky that looked like holes poked through our blanket.
A full moon was out.
Without the flood, this would've probably been a peaceful night, beautiful even.
The night I would’ve probably imagine myself telling Kitkat-- Cathy, how I really feel.
I almost did, but I knew there were much more serious matters involved.
Things were happening right now, and I had to keep my head on the ground.
I saw people here were doing the same, carrying their necessary items, those unable to have any, they knew we would all share with one another.
We don't want any more deaths this year than there needs to be.
I saw Anna, a 30 something lady with her hands full. I approached her and carried her bag of what i guessed baby clothes, blankets and bottles. A basket of food and other nessesities.
Her boy, Eric, was wrapped in multiple white cloths laid asleep in her careful arms. He was her first.
"Thank you Andrew," she smiled looking up at me. She was a short lady, her body form skinny that made her look tall from a distance.
"It's no problem Anna," I replied.
We were all moving faster now, a quite a distance from the river and closer to the place we would cross to safety.
Water still straddled on our knees but descended just a smidge.
My guess is that it sunk down in those holes that were dug to prepare for the deaths we were expecting. But I knew we wouldn't have time.
We started crossing the bridge when I heard men suddenly yelling in different directions, I looked up and saw it coming closer. That wave that was 2 miles away looked like it was so much closer. I looked down and my torso was wet. It was only a matter of minutes before it was up to people's heads.
Anna's husband came into view. He was passing out baskets of blanket and food around as well as the safety we so thought to have.
"I can take it from here." Anna took her things, nodded at me in thanks, and headed over to her husband and people that were sighing in relief that they made it.
I saw Isabelle, mother and other men and women huddled together in safety. It wasn't a time for celebration yet, they still had to keep moving.
I was about to approach them, but suddenly remembered Tom.
Oh shoot.
I cursed under my breath.
He didn't know. They didn't know. They all were...
Stopping my thoughts, I shook my head in regret.
Gritting my teeth, I turned around and started to run to the middle village.
Towards the incoming flood.
Devos
So today, I was doing some devos and bible reading to catch up on all the ones I missed.
1 Peter 5:8-9
He Gets the Last Word
8 Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping.9 Keep your guard up. You're not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It's the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith.
When I read this I was like, "Whoa."
Because, well to be honest, I feel like I was supposedly "napping" and wasn't being alert enough. Sometimes I feel like I'm getting so caught up in the world too much and possibly almost lost sight of what is truly important.
I say almost because I caught myself in this and this is a good thing.
What I thought of when I read this was that I really should stay alert and be aware of what comes to me and shouldn't get distracted. It's pretty straight forward. We should keep our guard up and we should also help other believers do the same.
~
God does command his people to respect others and to treat others with love and dignity. He calls us to be loving and to act justly (Micah 6:8). His Word says, "Try to live in peace with everyone" (Hebrews 12:14). But that doesn't mean that we should call evil "good," and good "evil." It doesn't mean that we should act as if there were no such things as right and wrong.
So just because something seems right, doesn't mean it is. Like oh man that BigMac looks delicious. I remember the first time I had a BigMac... so good.
But doesn't mean it's healthy for you. Sure, it's tempting and delicious at the time, but then after, there's that certain effect it has on you. You feel nauseous and after a few moments your stomach starts to feel ache and you feel pain that you can't even describe.
You then find out, you've made a mistake.
God's Word has not changed. It still gives this command: "Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks you why you're living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy" (1 Peter 3:15, The Message).
For this one, I thought about how if I'm confronted by someone, they ask me, "Why are you Christian?" what answer would I give?
I should've been ready to answer it,not all shove-it-down-your-throat sort of way, but in a respectful manner.
Hmmm.... what would your reply be?
~
1 Peter 3:15-18
15 Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you're living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy.16 Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick. They'll end up realizing that they're the ones who need a bath.17 It's better to suffer for doing good, if that's what God wants, than to be punished for doing bad.18 That's what Christ did definitively: suffered because of others' sins, the Righteous One for the unrighteous ones. He went through it all-was put to death and then made alive-to bring us to God.
~
The answer is to keep our eyes on Jesus, our GPS. He's been through all this before, and he not only knows what's right and wrong, he is right because he's God! If we just keep our eyes on him-by spending time talking to him in prayer, worshiping him alone and with others, and reading his Word every day-a lot of those tough decisions and confusing choices tend to get straightened out. This is not because we're so smart but because he is.
And Amen to that!
"If you are kind only to your friends," Jesus said, "how are you different from anyone else? Even the pagans do that" (Matthew 5:47). But Jesus said we are to be kind even when it's hard because kindness is right-whether it's easy or not.
I mean, it's super easy to be nice to people who give you food, rides to places, money, and treats you like a super awesome friend! (I like those people). It's hardly a challenge to be nice to them.
But when someone comes along and treat you like you're just there and nothing else, they push you around, even bully you sometimes, steal your food!!!
You just feel like you want to punch them or something. Especially when you see them treating someone you love with so much disrespect. Grr.
It's kind of hard when you think, "Okay, so you treat me like that? Expect me to treat you like that. Don't expect me to be nice to you when you treat people badly."
So, you're saying you have to be kind to even THOSE PEOPLE.
Yep. Pretty much. We can't change them, but we can change ourselves.
Maybe if we're nice to them, they'll be nice back. Or maybe they're just lacking a little love. You don't know their story or why they are acting that way so you shouldn't judge them. Love them, like you would love yourself. :)
Remember, that everyone is facing a struggle. You are, she is, he is, etc.
So why don't you be the bigger person this time? Treat them like you would treat your favourite person!! WHOO! Who knows, they might change :)
If not, hey, you blessed them with your love and you would be able to show His glory, as God will shine through you to others!! Yay!! :)
~
So yeah :)
Those are some of my thoughts for today.
1 Peter 5:8-9
He Gets the Last Word
8 Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping.9 Keep your guard up. You're not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It's the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith.
When I read this I was like, "Whoa."
Because, well to be honest, I feel like I was supposedly "napping" and wasn't being alert enough. Sometimes I feel like I'm getting so caught up in the world too much and possibly almost lost sight of what is truly important.
I say almost because I caught myself in this and this is a good thing.
What I thought of when I read this was that I really should stay alert and be aware of what comes to me and shouldn't get distracted. It's pretty straight forward. We should keep our guard up and we should also help other believers do the same.
~
God does command his people to respect others and to treat others with love and dignity. He calls us to be loving and to act justly (Micah 6:8). His Word says, "Try to live in peace with everyone" (Hebrews 12:14). But that doesn't mean that we should call evil "good," and good "evil." It doesn't mean that we should act as if there were no such things as right and wrong.
So just because something seems right, doesn't mean it is. Like oh man that BigMac looks delicious. I remember the first time I had a BigMac... so good.
But doesn't mean it's healthy for you. Sure, it's tempting and delicious at the time, but then after, there's that certain effect it has on you. You feel nauseous and after a few moments your stomach starts to feel ache and you feel pain that you can't even describe.
You then find out, you've made a mistake.
God's Word has not changed. It still gives this command: "Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks you why you're living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy" (1 Peter 3:15, The Message).
For this one, I thought about how if I'm confronted by someone, they ask me, "Why are you Christian?" what answer would I give?
I should've been ready to answer it,not all shove-it-down-your-throat sort of way, but in a respectful manner.
Hmmm.... what would your reply be?
~
1 Peter 3:15-18
15 Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you're living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy.16 Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick. They'll end up realizing that they're the ones who need a bath.17 It's better to suffer for doing good, if that's what God wants, than to be punished for doing bad.18 That's what Christ did definitively: suffered because of others' sins, the Righteous One for the unrighteous ones. He went through it all-was put to death and then made alive-to bring us to God.
~
The answer is to keep our eyes on Jesus, our GPS. He's been through all this before, and he not only knows what's right and wrong, he is right because he's God! If we just keep our eyes on him-by spending time talking to him in prayer, worshiping him alone and with others, and reading his Word every day-a lot of those tough decisions and confusing choices tend to get straightened out. This is not because we're so smart but because he is.
And Amen to that!
"If you are kind only to your friends," Jesus said, "how are you different from anyone else? Even the pagans do that" (Matthew 5:47). But Jesus said we are to be kind even when it's hard because kindness is right-whether it's easy or not.
I mean, it's super easy to be nice to people who give you food, rides to places, money, and treats you like a super awesome friend! (I like those people). It's hardly a challenge to be nice to them.
But when someone comes along and treat you like you're just there and nothing else, they push you around, even bully you sometimes, steal your food!!!
You just feel like you want to punch them or something. Especially when you see them treating someone you love with so much disrespect. Grr.
It's kind of hard when you think, "Okay, so you treat me like that? Expect me to treat you like that. Don't expect me to be nice to you when you treat people badly."
So, you're saying you have to be kind to even THOSE PEOPLE.
Yep. Pretty much. We can't change them, but we can change ourselves.
Maybe if we're nice to them, they'll be nice back. Or maybe they're just lacking a little love. You don't know their story or why they are acting that way so you shouldn't judge them. Love them, like you would love yourself. :)
Remember, that everyone is facing a struggle. You are, she is, he is, etc.
So why don't you be the bigger person this time? Treat them like you would treat your favourite person!! WHOO! Who knows, they might change :)
If not, hey, you blessed them with your love and you would be able to show His glory, as God will shine through you to others!! Yay!! :)
~
So yeah :)
Those are some of my thoughts for today.
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