The little things

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." 

I see this phrase everywhere... but I think it is somehow misleading. 

If we measure life by breathtaking moments, we miss the wonder of ordinary moments - eating, sleeping and breathing. 

These might seem to be ordinary, in the sense that we do it in our every day routine, usually without so much thought.

But, did we even realize that they are not ordinary at all?

Every bite and every breath we take are miracles.

In fact, to breath is more miraculous than anything that takes our breath away. :) 

Let us all be reminded that it is important to find joy in ordinary things and realize that bigger is not always better and more doesn't always mean an improvement. 

Instead of looking for meaning in breathtaking moments, we should find meaning in every breath we take, and make our every breath meaningful. :)

God's plan isn't a roadmap

by:  ALASTAIR BRYAN STERNE

His will for your life may not be as specific as you hope—but that’s OK.

One of my mentors once said to me, “God doesn’t give us clarity, son.”

It may have been said first by Mother Teresa—I can’t remember. But this insight has stuck with me and has been on my mind over the past few weeks.

My wife and I just moved from our home, our church community and our friends all the way across the continent. We felt called by God to plant a church in Vancouver and are working on doing so. As Julia and I have been walking faithfully in response to where Jesus is leading us, I can’t help but want to know a few things. I want God’s timeline and milestones and other measurables. I want to know who will be a part of what we’re doing, what unexpected turns to expect, when things are going to happen, where we’ll end up planting in the city and how the decisions I make now will impact the future. I want clarity, but those words remain right: “God doesn’t give us clarity, son.”

God certainly gives us glimmers of clarity and an assurance that we are where He wants us to be—but that doesn’t mean we suddenly become omniscient. Our knowing always remains in part, leaving us weak and dependent. In other words, embracing our finitude and limited understanding is exactly where God wants us to be so that our strength is in Him and not ourselves.

But this wanting to know how things will play out lingers in the recesses of my mind. Perhaps it’s because I am easily fixated on what I’m doing rather than on who I'm becoming. Without a doubt, when someone asks what God’s will is for their lives, they really mean, “What does God want me to do with my life?” They assume there is some direct Batline to the Holy Spirit to answer that question or that there's a trick to knowing God’s will.

Well, there isn’t.

I do not doubt that God has a course for our lives, as well as “good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10, ESV). But I tend to focus on Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians in regard to God’s will. He tells us, “For this is the will of God, your sanctification” (1 Thessalonians 4:3, ESV).

God’s will for our lives is to see us transformed into the likeness of Jesus—to become people who walk more and love more like Jesus Himself. Elsewhere, Paul says God predestined us to be adopted as sons through Christ and chose us to be holy and blameless (Ephesians 1). God’s will for us is transformation.

Maybe God cares about who we are becoming more than what we are specifically doing.

The transformation that Jesus brings about makes us more fully alive. It makes us more human. When we are more fully alive, becoming all that God envisions we can be, suddenly we start walking through life lock-step with God and His will. It is precisely when we focus on God’s desire to transform us that He teaches us how to walk through the uncertainty of where we are going. The result is the temporary uncertainty of this life becomes far less important in light of the eternal trajectory we are now focused on. We walk toward Christ through doubt, through struggles, through confusion, through unanswered prayers and through our relentless desire to simply know where every moment of our lives will end up. We don’t know everything—we don’t know the specific job, home, spouse, school, friends, challenges or callings our lives may entail—but we know the one thing necessary.

Paul also says, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, ESV). We are transformed by God as we rejoice in the Gospel—not in what we do but in what has been done for us: Jesus loves us and gave Himself for us. In response, we begin to pray out of this deep appreciation for God’s infinite love shown to us in our hearts. We begin to give thanks in any and every circumstance because no matter what we face and no matter what the future holds, we know God is for us and that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

You may not have clarity about temporal circumstances, but you can have clarity about the only thing that matters: God gave Himself for us and is more committed to our transformation and life than we are. In seeking clarity, you are really longing to know what you can’t know. But in seeking God, what you do know is knowing enough. By keeping your eyes fixed on Jesus and the beauty of His grace, the rest works itself out.

source: relevantmagazine.com

When it feels right

by: MILA JARONIEC

When it feels right, you’re going to do it because you can’t not. You’re going to stop playing pretend and you’re going to throw yourself into it face first, or ass first, I don’t know what. And you won’t know when that’s going to be until it happens.

When it feels right it’s going to make you feel level, supported. Everything will stand still and make sense for a minute; suddenly you’ll have the last word in the irritating crossword puzzle. You’ll fill it in, stand back and acknowledge, and everything’s going to be right where you put it. And then everything will be clear.

Originally, you’re going to be doing something else. You’re going to be living out some other plan for your life with the best of intentions. This plan used to be Plan B but actually turned out to be Plan A because let’s be serious, the real Plan A wasn’t a plan to begin with; it was this nebulously attractive question mark inkblot that you weren’t sure how to even approach so you left it alone, left it in the “dreams” category and moved on. You’re not going to dig out the original Plan A until you feel so not alive you can’t breathe and start to panic.

People and their crazy romantic notions: “I’d be an artist if I could,” or “I’d travel if I could,” or “I’d do all these things if I had the time/money/motivation.” Everyone would do everything if they had the fundamental resources necessary. Yeah, maybe — you do have to be realistic. Be totally realistic for ten minutes without a break and take note of how you feel. That’s the crushing weight of limitations. But, the thing about limitations is there’s usually a way around them. Not becoming a ballerina because you don’t have legs is one thing. Not becoming a ballerina because you don’t have a tutu is something else entirely.

For example: recently I had an inspiring lady tell me about another inspiring lady, a French filmmaker (I can’t write her name because I don’t know how to spell it or what it even sounds like; sorry, I was drunk when she told me) who wanted to make films but didn’t have any money to spare for equipment. Since you can’t really make a film without equipment and taking out a loan wasn’t a viable option for her, she decided to attack her dream differently: she started writing, with the vague hope that someone someday would take interest in her work and translate it to film. And let her direct it.

And that actually f-cking happened.

If you really want something, you have to work with what you have.

When something feels right, even if it’s crazy it’s going to make the most sense. Everything else will feel like a lie, a weak approximation; you’ll feel like you’re placating yourself or whoever you think you have to please by doing it but deep down you’ll know what’s really going on. When it feels right it’s going to pull insistently, tug at your sleeve like an annoying five-year old, wave its arms until you look at it. It’s going to make you lose sleep but you won’t feel tired.

When it feels right, it’ll be tangible. The hazy “dream” state of it will evaporate and it will become a map, a strategy. You’ll get off your tiptoes and stop being afraid. You’ll do it because it’s in your blood.

And you won’t know when that will happen, or if it ever will; but when it feels right, you’ll know. 

Dear God

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Your Bio Here

Today's Our Daily Bread says...


While searching for an interesting way to instruct my college writing class about the concept of writing a biographical sketch, I found this idea: Write a biography in six words. When asked to do this, Pulitzer Prize winner Ernest Hemingway wrote this poignant bio: “For sale: baby shoes, never used.” Imagine the sad story behind those six words.


As I thought about this concept, I wondered if we could find any six-word biographies of people in the Bible. What I discovered was astonishing. Many of our scriptural heroes have already been described that way. For example, David, of whom God said: “A man after My own heart” (1 Sam. 13:14; Acts 13:22). Or Paul’s self-description: “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ” (Eph. 1:1). Or Paul’s description of Timothy: “My true son in the faith” (1 Tim. 1:2 NIV). And consider these words about Mary: “The virgin shall be with child” (Matt. 1:23). And about Jesus: “Became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).


This exercise in precise descriptions of people of faith should cause us to wonder: What six-word description would best describe me? Would it be positive or negative? Would it be “Not an easy person to love” or “A shining light for the Lord”? What would your bio say?

***

Lord, help me to be what You want me to be

In character, actions, and will,

For You are the potter and I am the clay—

Your purposes I would fulfill. 

Once lost, now found. Eternally thankful!

I am free to soar!

I CAN. I WILL.

It's not too late to start - moving!

I've been feeling so unmotivated lately - I've been procrastinating more and more!=(
Earlier this year, I committed myself to procrastinate less and, for almost 3 weeks, I've been very faithful to my words - been an all-nighter just to finish my school reqs. But what can say again? Temptations always come dainty that I easily give in. =(

Yesterday, while I was blog hopping...I stumbled accross Ms.Vicky Herrera's Blog . - yes, the famous fashion model, writer and also, a former radio DJ. I saw her post about the "35 Fast Tips to Make This Your Best Year Yet by Robin Sharma" and thought that maybe, I could re-blog it to keep myself reminded of the things that I have to do for me to achieve my goal for this year - make 2012 my year!

So, here it is...the 35 Fast Tips To Make This Year Your Best Year Yet by:

Robin Sharma

1. Remember that the quality of your life is determined by the quality of your thoughts.

2. Keep the promises you make to others – and to yourself.

3. The project that most scares you is the project you need to do first.

4. Small daily improvements are the key to staggering long-term results.

5. Stop being busy being busy. This New Year, clean out the distractions from your work+life and devote to a monomaniacal focus on the few things that matter.

6. Read “The War of Art”.

7. Watch “The Fighter”.

8. In a world where technology is causing some of us to forget how to act human, become the politest person you know.

9. Remember that all great ideas were first ridiculed.

10. Remember that critics are dreamers gone scared.

11. Be “Apple-Like” in your obsession with getting the details right.

12. Take 60 minutes every weekend to craft a blueprint for the coming seven days. As Saul Bellow once said: “A plan relieves you of the torment of choice.”

13. Release your need to be liked this New Year. You can’t be a visionary if you long to be liked.

14. Disrupt or be disrupted.

15. Hire a personal trainer to get you into the best shape of your life. Superstars focus on the value they receive versus the cost of the service.

16. Give your teammates, customers and family one of the greatest gifts of all: the gift of your attention (and presence).

17. Every morning ask yourself: “How may I best serve the most people?”

18. Every night ask yourself: “What 5 good things happened to me this day?”

19. Don’t waste your most valuable hours (the morning) doing low value work.

20. Leave every project you touch at work better than you found it.

21. Your job is not just to work. Your job is to leave a trail of leaders behind you.

22. A job is not “just a job”. Every job is a gorgeous vehicle to express your gifts and talents – and to model exceptionalism for all around you.

23. Fears unfaced become your limits.

24. Get up at 5 am and take 60 minutes to prepare your mind, body, emotions and spirit to be remarkable during the hours that follow. Being a superstar is not the domain of the gifted but the prepared.

25. Write love letters to your family.

26. Smile at strangers.

27. Drink more water.

28. Keep a journal. Your life’s story is worth recording.

29. Do more than you’re paid to do and do work that leaves your teammates breathless.

30. Leave your ego at the door every morning.

31. Set 5 daily goals every morning. These small wins will lead to nearly 2000 little victories by the end of the year.

32. Say “please” and “thank you”.

33. Remember the secret to happiness is doing work that matters and being an instrument of service.

34. Don’t be the richest person in the graveyard. Health is wealth.

35. Life’s short. The greatest risk is risk-less living. And settling for average.

So, that's it guys...the 35 tips by Robin Sharma. And, if you also feel unmotivated...lazy...procrastinating

remember: it's not too late to start moving!

A nugget of inspiration

DISCLAIMER: This is not an original post. This is from sikhphilosophy.net. 


Reading this story made me realized how grateful I am for having wonderful parents who brought me and my siblings up in the atmosphere of love.  That even at times when I am a brat... when I am difficult and stubborn... they still patiently stand by my side waiting for me to regain my dependence on their guidance. And, I couldn't thank God enough for having them!:)


Hope that you guys would also be inspired. (as much as I did)

***

An old man was sitting in the courtyard of his house along with his son who had received high education. Suddenly, a crow perched on a wall of the house.

The father asked the son: What is this? The son replied: It is a crow. 

After a little while, the father again asked the son: What is this? The son said: It is a crow.  After a few minutes the father asked his son the third time:What is this? The son said: Father, I have just now told you that this is a crow. After a little while the old father again asked his son the fourth time: what is this? At this time some expression of irritation was felt in the son’s tone when he said to his father with a rebuff. Father! It is a crow, a crow. A little after the father again asked his son: What is this? This time the son replied to his father with a vein of temper. Father, you are always repeating the same question, although I have told you so many times that it is a crow. Are you not able to understand this? 

A little later the father went to his room and came back with an old diary. Opening a page he asked his son to read that. When the son read it the following words were written in the diary:  ”Today my little son was sitting with me in the courtyard, when a crow came there. My son asked me twenty-five times what it was and I told him twenty-five times that it was a crow and I did not at all feel irritated. I rather felt affection for the innocent child.“

The father then told the son the difference saying: Between a father and a son’s attitude, while a little child he asked me this question twenty-five times and I felt no irritation in replying to the question twenty-five times and when today I asked him the same question only five times, he felt irritated and annoyed.

And the Lord has decreed that you be dutiful to your parents, If one of them or both of them attain old age with you, do not say uff to them, nor repulse them, but speak to them a gracious word. And lower to them the wing of submission and humbleness out of mercy to both of them and say: “My Lord! Have mercy on them both, as they cared for me and brought me up when I was a little child.”

DREAMSandGAMBLE

“DOH orders termination of Nurse Volunteer Programs.” 

- when I heard this news, I felt a bit worried since I have high hopes and dreams for my nursing career, and if volunteer programs will be terminated… I don’t know if these dreams would still come to life considering the tough competition for the employment where the supply exceeds demands. On the sunnier point, I was thinking that maybe, this could be the ‘sign’ I’ve been asking for - whether to follow my parent’s advice to change my career path and continue with my almost suppressed dream.

Nursing was not my first course of choice, it was Journalism.  But considering the high demands for Nurses back then, I opted to take up Nursing, which I eventually learned to love.

Nursing isn’t like any other job.  As what they would always say, it is more of a vocation.  In this profession, human lives are literally put in your hands – there is no room for errors because any mistake would mean fatal consequences.


As a nurse, one has to learn to effectively manage time since one has to juggle with different activities – from the giving of medications, doing bed side care, attending to patient’s needs, carrying out doctor’s orders and documenting anything significant that transpired during the whole shift.  But I guess, it is very important that every nurse should have conscientious: Doing the right thing even if no one is around.

I am lucky that the school where I graduated from has taught me well the essential principles for effective and safe practice of the profession.  During my student days, our clinical instructor would usually assign me to critically ill patients (usually post-ICU and CVAs).  But instead of complaining, I would take it as a learning opportunity to enhance my knowledge and at the same time, my skills. 

At this point, I cannot finally bid my nursing career good-bye because my future is still uncertain; there is only one thing that I am sure of: this time, I will take risk.  Simply because: I want to aspire for something better.  And the 50-50 percent chance of either making it or breaking it is a gamble that I am willing to take.

And today, I have made my decision, final and official…

Exactly one month from now, I will again be going back to my bum state. But this time, I am a complete different person.  Gone are the days wherein everything was a routine.  This time, I will relax and take things one step at a time.

I am overflowing with ideas of what I will do for the next few months: continue my MA degree (but not as a full time student anymore), read more intellectual books, have a make-over, blog often, take up photography class, learn how to cook, eat more nutritious foods, meet my true love, fall in love, travel, worry less, procrastinate less, limit my sugar intake. Ah... The list seems endless!

Today, I can proudly say that I have my own dream to follow and the reason for all my past frustrations is now clear to me: the depression I felt of not being in the honor’s list when I was in high school because I had a grade below 85 in one of my subjects (my grade was 84), the bitterness of not being allowed to enroll in my school of choice for college, and the heartache of falling in and out of love.  I know that I need to feel all these things simply because I am human.  Pain is inevitable and this is what life is about.

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I have finally gained the courage to pursue my dream.  It was a fantasy, and hopefully would soon become a reality.

I have 2 more months to prepare. Wish me luck!:)

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Xoxo,

 Joie