Tuesday, May 25, 2010
The Real Love...
Watch the rest here...
Part 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOQd-UNtZac
Part 4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxO6QNvL_lo
Part 5 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LupancrEMiQ
Monday, May 24, 2010
Thank you for the Moments...
Just something I was thinking the other day...
Thank you for the little moments.
The moment where all is right.
The moment when things have finally turned around if even just for a second.
The moment where you just talk with someone and not have to pretend to be anyone else.
The moment when you pour out your heart with out any hesitation or fear of judgement.
The moment when a former enemy becomes a close friend.
The moment when you look around and realize life is beautiful.
The moment when you share a family dinner for the first time in years.
The moment when your little sister trusts you enough to tell you things.
The moment when doing what you love is the sweetest release.
The moment when you feel God's presence surrounding you and you just feel safe and loved.
The moment of freedom from condemnation.
The moment of realization, clarification, and actualization.
The moment of change when you realize who you were is not who you are, and who you are is not who you will be.
Be thankful!
Thank you for the little moments.
The moment where all is right.
The moment when things have finally turned around if even just for a second.
The moment where you just talk with someone and not have to pretend to be anyone else.
The moment when you pour out your heart with out any hesitation or fear of judgement.
The moment when a former enemy becomes a close friend.
The moment when you look around and realize life is beautiful.
The moment when you share a family dinner for the first time in years.
The moment when your little sister trusts you enough to tell you things.
The moment when doing what you love is the sweetest release.
The moment when you feel God's presence surrounding you and you just feel safe and loved.
The moment of freedom from condemnation.
The moment of realization, clarification, and actualization.
The moment of change when you realize who you were is not who you are, and who you are is not who you will be.
Be thankful!
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Thought of the Day...
"What if the church became known not for what it's against, but for what it's for - the love of God, the grace of God...?"
My friend Chris posted this up on fb. Immediately it hit my spirit. What if that was the case? What if the only thing people saw in us was a pure love... unbiased, uncontaminated, inexplicable, pure love?
Most of the time when we walk into church, we get this gut feeling of condemnation when all we here these echoing in the distance... "We shouldn't drink... We shouldn't Smoke... Sex before marriage is a sin..." Don't get me wrong... All these things are are truth and I stand for everyone of them but many people only see them as restrictions that hold them back from living when really they are there because of a God who deeply loves us and wants the best for us. They don't see this because we don't show it.
Maybe at first we did have a true passion to show people God's love, but somewhere along the line the things we were doing somehow became an obligation... the love we were showing became another law done with reluctance.... "I love you because I have to..."
We need to check our hearts... Check our motivations... Why do we love? We love because God loved us first.... Thats it. Not out of obligation... not out of gain.... not out of anything but love for our own God so deeply that we would want everyone to experience this same love.
As my friend Chris said, "There's my daily (and lifelong) challenge right there..love. love with no agenda. Loving with no expectation of having it be recognized, compensated, or returned. Just love."
1 Peter 5:1 NKJ
The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
Or if you like The Message Bible... :)
I have a special concern for you church leaders. I know what it's like to be a leader, in on Christ's sufferings as well as the coming glory. Here's my concern: that you care for God's flock with all the diligence of a shepherd. Not because you have to, but because you want to please God. Not calculating what you can get out of it, but acting spontaneously. Not bossily telling others what to do, but tenderly showing them the way. When God, who is the best shepherd of all, comes out in the open with his rule, he'll see that you've done it right and commend you lavishly.
God bless!
My friend Chris posted this up on fb. Immediately it hit my spirit. What if that was the case? What if the only thing people saw in us was a pure love... unbiased, uncontaminated, inexplicable, pure love?
Most of the time when we walk into church, we get this gut feeling of condemnation when all we here these echoing in the distance... "We shouldn't drink... We shouldn't Smoke... Sex before marriage is a sin..." Don't get me wrong... All these things are are truth and I stand for everyone of them but many people only see them as restrictions that hold them back from living when really they are there because of a God who deeply loves us and wants the best for us. They don't see this because we don't show it.
Maybe at first we did have a true passion to show people God's love, but somewhere along the line the things we were doing somehow became an obligation... the love we were showing became another law done with reluctance.... "I love you because I have to..."
We need to check our hearts... Check our motivations... Why do we love? We love because God loved us first.... Thats it. Not out of obligation... not out of gain.... not out of anything but love for our own God so deeply that we would want everyone to experience this same love.
As my friend Chris said, "There's my daily (and lifelong) challenge right there..love. love with no agenda. Loving with no expectation of having it be recognized, compensated, or returned. Just love."
1 Peter 5:1 NKJ
The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
Or if you like The Message Bible... :)
I have a special concern for you church leaders. I know what it's like to be a leader, in on Christ's sufferings as well as the coming glory. Here's my concern: that you care for God's flock with all the diligence of a shepherd. Not because you have to, but because you want to please God. Not calculating what you can get out of it, but acting spontaneously. Not bossily telling others what to do, but tenderly showing them the way. When God, who is the best shepherd of all, comes out in the open with his rule, he'll see that you've done it right and commend you lavishly.
God bless!
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Relationships...
I was talking to a friend today and I was inspired to write this...
Discussing relationships is a huge passion of mine. It breaks my heart when I see girls lost and confused because of bad relationships. I've been through my fair share of bad relationships fully equipped with heartbreak, frustration, disappointment, pain and stress. But I Thank God that he has brought me through everything I have been through because I learned so much from it all. We need to learn how to have the right relationships.
So I figure I would just write a list of some lessons that I've learned and maybe it will help someone else...
1) No man will ever satisfy you or complete you. Don't buy in to what the world says. You don't need a man to make you complete or happy and you will never be fully satisfied in him alone. I don't care if you have found yourself the perfect man trapped inside Hugh Jackman's body... he will never bring you complete happiness.
2) You must be complete in God before finding the right one. God is the one who created us and knows us. He is the one who makes us complete and then gives us a companion to share our lives with. We try to find partners who have the qualities that we lack. We look at them and say "I love him because he is everything I am not." But Look at Adam. He was perfectly content with himself before God gave him Eve. He knew God; he had a purpose. He had everything he needed, Eve wasn't given to Adam to make up for what he lacked. She was given to him to help bring out of him even more. They were both complete in themselves, but still benefited each other.
3) Know who you are. In knowing God, you come to find out more about who you are and who He made you to be. You begin to see things more clearly like your desires, preferences, your gifts, your values.... All these things are what God has placed inside of you that make you you. You need to be confident in knowing who you are, because the minute you get into a relationship, that other person will begin to influence you with who they are. If you are not strong in who you are you will finding yourself changing into who they want you to be. God has prepared someone for you who will continue to help, not hinder you from becoming who you are and vice versa.
4) Know what you are worth. I like to think of it this way. Picture an apple tree. Now picture yourself as an apple on the tree. The apples at the bottom of the tree can be easily plucked or picked up off the ground by guys passing by. These are usually the bruised or rotten apples, the apples that get kicked along the way or the ones that are half bitten. But the apples at the very top of the tree are the ones that are ripe, delicious, bright, and shiny. However, anyone who wants those apples will have to climb the tree to get it. They will have to work for it. You are worth working for.
5) Stop settling for less... in other words stop compromising. I hear so many women complain about their significant others. He never does this, I can't trust him, he makes me feel horrible about myself... As women we know what we want and yet we constantly settle for this. We have this picture of what we need in a man and yet we settle for less. We compromise what we value and believe just to say that we are with somebody. Don't settle. This does not mean demand perfection, but if respect is what you value and need in a relationship, don't settle for someone who makes you feel disrespected.
6) Your values must match. If you do not value the same things, then the relationship will not work out. You may be able to slip past little disagreements now, but eventually these things will pop up again. You will just get completely frustrated in the relationship and feel unfulfilled if he doesn't value the same things. Especially when it comes down to your belief in God.
7) Be true to yourself. If you know the relationship is not benefitting you, then you need to get out of it. The point of being in a relationship is that both people benefit the other, helping them to grow and bring out the best in them. If that is not the case in your relationship then you need to admit it to yourself despite whatever feelings you may have. A relationship cannot ride on feelings alone.
8) Step outside yourself. The best way to be true to yourself is to step outside of yourself and take a look. Step outside of your emotions and attachments to this person. Start thinking logically. Start thinking Biblically. Think 1 Corinthians 13:4. Everyone knows it. It explains what love is. Compare your relationship to this scripture. Compare it to other scriptures of what a husband should be and then see where your relationship stands. Don't let emotions be the only thing holding you to this person if the relationship is not right. Think logically.
9) Guard your heart. Your heart is one of your most valuable possessions. Guard it. Don't just give it to anyone. Chances are they will misuse it and break your heart. Whatever you let into your heart will end up having an effect on you. Put your heart in God and He will always lead you into the right.
A quick word to the women. Rise up. Let go of these bad relationships. Start seeking God. Ask Him to show you who you are and stand strong in that. Soon enough He will prepare you for the right one and I can promise you it will be a thousand times greater than whatever you have now. :) God bless.
Discussing relationships is a huge passion of mine. It breaks my heart when I see girls lost and confused because of bad relationships. I've been through my fair share of bad relationships fully equipped with heartbreak, frustration, disappointment, pain and stress. But I Thank God that he has brought me through everything I have been through because I learned so much from it all. We need to learn how to have the right relationships.
So I figure I would just write a list of some lessons that I've learned and maybe it will help someone else...
1) No man will ever satisfy you or complete you. Don't buy in to what the world says. You don't need a man to make you complete or happy and you will never be fully satisfied in him alone. I don't care if you have found yourself the perfect man trapped inside Hugh Jackman's body... he will never bring you complete happiness.
2) You must be complete in God before finding the right one. God is the one who created us and knows us. He is the one who makes us complete and then gives us a companion to share our lives with. We try to find partners who have the qualities that we lack. We look at them and say "I love him because he is everything I am not." But Look at Adam. He was perfectly content with himself before God gave him Eve. He knew God; he had a purpose. He had everything he needed, Eve wasn't given to Adam to make up for what he lacked. She was given to him to help bring out of him even more. They were both complete in themselves, but still benefited each other.
3) Know who you are. In knowing God, you come to find out more about who you are and who He made you to be. You begin to see things more clearly like your desires, preferences, your gifts, your values.... All these things are what God has placed inside of you that make you you. You need to be confident in knowing who you are, because the minute you get into a relationship, that other person will begin to influence you with who they are. If you are not strong in who you are you will finding yourself changing into who they want you to be. God has prepared someone for you who will continue to help, not hinder you from becoming who you are and vice versa.
4) Know what you are worth. I like to think of it this way. Picture an apple tree. Now picture yourself as an apple on the tree. The apples at the bottom of the tree can be easily plucked or picked up off the ground by guys passing by. These are usually the bruised or rotten apples, the apples that get kicked along the way or the ones that are half bitten. But the apples at the very top of the tree are the ones that are ripe, delicious, bright, and shiny. However, anyone who wants those apples will have to climb the tree to get it. They will have to work for it. You are worth working for.
5) Stop settling for less... in other words stop compromising. I hear so many women complain about their significant others. He never does this, I can't trust him, he makes me feel horrible about myself... As women we know what we want and yet we constantly settle for this. We have this picture of what we need in a man and yet we settle for less. We compromise what we value and believe just to say that we are with somebody. Don't settle. This does not mean demand perfection, but if respect is what you value and need in a relationship, don't settle for someone who makes you feel disrespected.
6) Your values must match. If you do not value the same things, then the relationship will not work out. You may be able to slip past little disagreements now, but eventually these things will pop up again. You will just get completely frustrated in the relationship and feel unfulfilled if he doesn't value the same things. Especially when it comes down to your belief in God.
7) Be true to yourself. If you know the relationship is not benefitting you, then you need to get out of it. The point of being in a relationship is that both people benefit the other, helping them to grow and bring out the best in them. If that is not the case in your relationship then you need to admit it to yourself despite whatever feelings you may have. A relationship cannot ride on feelings alone.
8) Step outside yourself. The best way to be true to yourself is to step outside of yourself and take a look. Step outside of your emotions and attachments to this person. Start thinking logically. Start thinking Biblically. Think 1 Corinthians 13:4. Everyone knows it. It explains what love is. Compare your relationship to this scripture. Compare it to other scriptures of what a husband should be and then see where your relationship stands. Don't let emotions be the only thing holding you to this person if the relationship is not right. Think logically.
9) Guard your heart. Your heart is one of your most valuable possessions. Guard it. Don't just give it to anyone. Chances are they will misuse it and break your heart. Whatever you let into your heart will end up having an effect on you. Put your heart in God and He will always lead you into the right.
A quick word to the women. Rise up. Let go of these bad relationships. Start seeking God. Ask Him to show you who you are and stand strong in that. Soon enough He will prepare you for the right one and I can promise you it will be a thousand times greater than whatever you have now. :) God bless.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
NYC
Today was a blast. My friends and I took a little trip to NYC. We were supposed to see a play called the Screwtape Letters based on CS Lewis's book (one of my favorite authors), but plans fell through. It was a little disappointing but God definitely has His way of making the best out of every disappointment.
We attempted to navigate our way through NYC but still managaed to get lost even with VZ Navigator lol. But even when you are completely lost, God once again leads you to the sweetest places. (You might be unable to see where you goin... but He aint blind!) Somehow we ended up at Battery Park. It was beautiful. Just makes you feel like you're in a completely different world. The sun is just glaring behind the buildings creating this long silhouette along the horizon and this amazing reflection on the water. There's just rare occasions where you can just sit back and appreciate God's creation. We just kept taking pics and there we met this beautiful little baby named Chloe who was anything but shy. She would just say hi, come right up to us, smile and blow kisses at us. So cute. (hopefully I'll get the pics form Nikolina).
We got some Italian food which was BANGIN' and then hit up a "Union Square type park." Still not sure what it was called. There were musicians everywhere. Just people jammin with each other, and right in the center of all things was this guy with an upright piano on wheels. Intrigued I went over to find him playing the piano like I've never seen it been played before. Absolutely amazing.I think we might've been there for like 30 minutes just watching him play. It's amazing to see such talent in people. I love to watch people just tap into their gifts and use them to the fullest.
I mean here he was in the middle of New York with a piano. I asked him "Why do you do what you do?" He replied, "Isn't it obvious? Because it makes people happy and it makes me happy. Beats being a rockstar."
I just got so inspired right there. God gives us these amazing gifts inside of us and we can touch so many people with it once we tap into it. We can make so many people happy just in the smallest ways. Our gift is not only for ourselves but to serve others. Just shows me alittle more of how God wants me to be in my own gift.
It's absolutely beautiful to witness people just being what they were made to be...
After that we just chilled with him and sang to his mash up of melodies, until it was time to leave. All in all it was an awesome night just getting to hang out and fellowship with the people I love most, despite the Uhaul car bomb scare.
Until tomorrow.... My last day at Juilliard for the semester! God bless.
Some more pics I took....
FOR US...
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