Who and Whose We Are

A friend email me the following article a few days ago but I was too busy to read any non-work related emails. However, when I decided to read it a while ago I seem to have found back my soul.... hope you do too.

$20 Bill



A well-known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20.00 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this $20 bill?" Hands started going up. He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this.

He proceeded to crumple up the $20 dollar bill. He then asked, "Who still wants it?" Still the hands were up in the air. Well, he replied, "What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. "Now, who still wants it?" Still the hands went into the air.

My friends, we have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20. Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value. Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless to those who DO LOVE you.

The worth of our lives comes not in what we do or who we know, but by WHO WE ARE and WHOSE WE ARE. You are special- Don't EVER forget it." If you do not pass this on, you may never know the lives it touches, the hurting hearts it speaks to, or the hope that it can bring. Count your blessings, not your problems.

Amateurs built the ark .. professionals built the Titanic. If God brings you to it - He will bring you through it.

Yes, I am valuable to those who love me, despite my short comings. Thank God! :)

Grieving Our Losses

Grieving Our Losses (from Today's Daily Encounter)

"Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted."
(Matthew 5:4)

When Jesus' friend, Lazarus, died, Jesus wept. When we experience loss and are sad, we need to do the same. When we bury and hide our grief, we hurt ourselves and distort reality. As Cecil Osborne wisely said, "Every unshed tear is a prism through which all of life's hurts are distorted."

In his book, Daily Affirmations for Forgiving and Moving On, Tim Dayton wrote, "If my unconscious carries a silent wound, I will always be black and blue inside. I will not be able to approach situations with open eyes for fear they will trigger that unfelt pain. The grief that I carry hidden in silence has great power over my life and my relationships.... Until I understand my grief and allow myself to know it, I will not be free of its grip."
Loss is a part of life. Grieving these is a process, not an event. There is no quick fix. Whatever emotions are involved--which can include confusion, anxiety and even anger--need to be felt, experienced and expressed in healthy ways, as well as the deep sorrow which needs to be wept or even sobbed out. Tears are God's gift to help drain the pain of deep grief and sorrow.

Furthermore, until I know how to weep with all my heart, I will never know how to love with all my heart either.

Jesus gives us a model to follow. And his words are true: "Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted."

"Suggested prayer:
"Dear God, help me to be connected to and honest with all my emotions and learn to express them in healthy, constructive ways. And help me to learn to grieve and mourn my losses and not be afraid to cry when I am truly sad. Thank you for the gift of tears as well as the gift of laughter. Help me to realize that both are equally important and healthy. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer.
Grate fully in Jesus' name, amen."

My Reflection:

The above article reminded me of myself, my life. For a while, I seem to have no life? I have been very busy with work since May this year, and even more so during the last 2 months, to the extent that I have no time for myself and very little time for God too, except to read the bible before I sleep.

Perhaps that's a mask of grief. I realized that I didn't cry much over my loss, I didn't 'blame' anyone, I even faced the loss 'squarely' as if there isn't any pain.

Yes, can't grieve fully equals to can't love fully.... perhaps my heart has become somewhat stony? But it's a choice that I chose, I want it that way. At least I don't have to go through the cycle again and again, like what happened to the people I know. It's all chasing after the winds... except when we chase after God, the only Person who can love us fully.

How to Win in a Lost Argument

I find the article, "How to Win in a Lost Argument", from "Today's Daily Encounter" interesting....

"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."
- Romans 12: 18 (NIV)

Let's face it, some people can be very difficult to live with and/or get along with. Some are impossible. However, here's an interesting tip giving one way to resolve a quarrel:

According to Ludwig Bemelmans in The Best of Bits & Pieces, "A book issued by the Army years ago gave all manner of advice to noncommissioned officers. It even tells how to make men who have quarreled become friends again. The men are put to washing the same window, one outside, the other inside. Looking at each other, they soon have to laugh and all is forgotten. It
works; I have tried it. "

So the next time you have a quarrel with your spouse, try washing the windows! Admittedly, this would be easier said than done. It is extremely rare for Joy and me to argue over anything but when we do have a difference, neither one of us can rest until we get together, talk it over, apologize where we have been wrong, and put things right.

In a quarrel always aim for a "win-win" outcome.

Suggested prayer:
"Dear God, whenever I am in an argument please help me to know what to say and what not to say. When I am in the wrong, help me to be humble enough to admit it, apologize, and make things right. And if perchance, I am not in the wrong, help me to be humble enough not to rub in 'my rightness,' and gracious enough to forgive the one who has hurt me as you so freely forgive me whenever I sin and do wrong. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus' name, amen."

GOD’S PORTRAIT OF A HUSBAND

I have not posted here for more than a year... time flies ya. I have closed my other blogs, but probably just keep this fun blog for sharing amusing things I came across.

You see, I am currently using the Bible Explorer for my personal bible study and devotions. One thing I like about it is that the notes I took down as I study the Bible using the Bible Explorer could be easily posted to the crossbooks.net at the click of a button.

One interesting post I came across there was “GOD’S PORTRAIT OF A HUSBAND”, by Dr. Dennis Deese

EPHESIANS 5:25-33

When a man opens the door of his car for his wife, you can be sure of one thing: either the car is new or the wife.

The five stages of a married cold:

1st year -- "Baby, darling, I'm worried about that sniffle you have. I've called the paramedics to rush you to Johnson City Medical Center for a checkup and some rest. I know you don't like hospital food so I'll bring your meals."

2nd year -- "Sweetheart, I don't like the sound of that cough. I've arrange for Dr. Johnson to make a house call. Let me tuck you in bed."

3rd year -- "You look like you've got a fever. Why don't you drive yourself down to the medi-stop clinic and get some medicine. I'll watch the kids."

4th year -- "Look, be sensible. After you've fed and bathed the kid and wash dishes, you really ought to get in bed."

5th year -- "For Pete's sake! Would you stop coughing? I can't hear the television! Would you mind going into the other room while this show is on? You sound like a barking dog."

I do not believe there is a marriage in existence today that would not benefit from both partners asking themselves: “What is it like being married to me?” Ed Young

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