Smile

We all live with the objective of being happy; our lives are all different and yet the same.

Anne Frank

A thing of beauty is a joy forever.

John Keats

There is only one happiness in life, to love and be loved.

George Sand

Happiness cannot come from without. It must come from within. It is not what we see and touch or that which others do for us which makes us happy; it is that which we think and feel and do, first for the other fellow and then for ourselves

Helen Keller

When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.

Helen Keller

Whoever is happy will make others happy, too.

Mark Twain

If you observe a really happy man you will find him building a boat, writing a symphony, educating his son, growing double dahlias in his garden. He will not be searching for happiness as if it were a collar button that has rolled under the radiator

W. Beran Wolfe

Happiness is as a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but which if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.

Nathaniel Hawthorne

The Loaves-Tom Holladay

Have you ever asked yourself, Why doesn’t God make our lives easier? Why doesn’t He just
give us all the time that we need while we live in this world? Why doesn’t He just give us all the money we need while we live in this world? Why doesn’t He just give us all the resources we can possibly need?

I think you probably know the answer. I know it for myself at least.

If I had all the time, all the money, all the resources I needed in this world

I would have never looked to God and trusted Him.

Never.

I’d just have trusted in myself the rest of my life.

Jesus loves impossible situations.

He’s God!

Impossible circumstances do not bother Him.

He doesn’t discard what we have and do something better. He uses what we give Him to do something greater. That’s what I love. It’s not like the boy comes up and says, .Here, Jesus, five loaves and two fish. And He goes, “That’s nice, that’s cute,” And throws them over into the trash. “Now watch what I, Jesus Christ, can do!”
No. He takes the loaves and He takes the fish and He uses what the boy gave Him to meet everybody’s need. It’s incredible. That’s what God does. He uses what we give Him to meet the needs.

Anytime you face a problem or a challenge and you feel small next to the problem, there’s no way you’ll lead in that circumstance. The world has a lot of problems and challenges that are tall. And if we don’t lead in that circumstance, nobody’s going to lead.

So you don’t measure the problem or challenge according to your own abilities.

Sometimes often the answers to the most important and biggest questions of life are not
figured out logically.

They’re discovered relationally.

The reason God allows impossible circumstances in our lives is to remind us of the fact that He is there.

We can turn to Him.

Little in the hands of Jesus becomes much.

The Only Exception

When I was younger

I saw my daddy cry

And curse at the wind

He broke his own heart

And I watched

As he tried to reassemble it

And my momma swore that

She would never let herself forget

And that was the day

that I promised I'd never sing of love

If it does not exist

But darling,

You, are, the only exception

You, are, the only exception

You, are, the only exception

You, are, the only exception

Maybe I know, somewhere

Deep in my soul

That love never lasts

And we've got to find other ways

To make it alone

Keep a straight face

And I've always lived like this

Keeping a comfortable,

distance

And up until now

I had sworn to myself

that I'm Content

with loneliness

Because none of it

was ever worth the risk

Well,

You, are, the only exception

You, are, the only exception

You, are, the only exception

You, are, the only exception

I've got a tight grip on reality

But I can't

Let go of what's in front of me here

...

Ohh---You, are, the only exception

And I'm on my way to believing

Oh, And I'm on my way to believing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXewWr8V6Vg

Selah II (random)

It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power.

Alan Cohen

You're not obligated to win. You're obligated to keep trying to do the best you can every day.

Marian Wright Edelman

To dare is to lose one's footing momentarily. To not dare is to lose oneself.

Soren Kierkegaard

You see things; and you say, "Why?" But I dream things that never were; and I say, "Why not?"

George Bernard Shaw

No one should negotiate their dreams. Dreams must be free to flee and fly high. No government, no legislature, has a right to limit your dreams. You should never agree to surrender your dreams

Jesse Jackson

To effectively communicate, we must realize that we are all different in the way we perceive the world and use this understanding as a guide to our communication with others.

Tony Robbins

Our obedience is love
Joel Houston


"Love;
it will not betray you,
dismay
or
enslave you...
it will set you free..
be more like the man you were made to be"

The Question God Is Asking Us

I’m not asking you how much you know about Me.

I want to ask you “Do you really know Me.

Do you really want Me?”

Living for Nothing and Living for Something

“This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy”

George Bernard Shaw

“One needs something to believe in, something for which one can have whole-hearted enthusiasm. One needs to feel that one's life has meaning, that one is needed in this world”

Hannah Senesh

“Many people have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification, but through fidelity to a worthy purpose”

Helen Keller

“The purpose of life is a life of purpose”

Robert Byrne

“Where am I? Who am I? How did I come to be here? What is this thing called the world? How did I come into the world? Why was I not consulted? And If I am compelled to take part in it, Where is the director? I want to see him”

Soren Kierkegaard

“As a teenager, I often wondered how the ending will be like. What does the end look like? It’s not an image that we can comprehend because we’ve been waking up every day with a today—there has never been an end for us. So what is it like? And in the midst of those thoughts, I wonder, ‘What have I done to deserve “the end”?’ We all do come to a point where we reflect our achievements, our whole life, and wonder has there been really anything accomplished?? I believe purpose has been planted in all of us; a sense to make something of ourselves; beyond the surviving and living, there’s something else within us there always wants to go further, to try harder for more. Only difference is between the wanting and the doing.

There is a difference between living for nothing and living for something.

Some of us chose not to live out that in built gene of purpose, and decide to focus on the surviving and living. My story is that, I was dead until I recognized the part of me that wanted to fulfil purpose. And until I chose it, and till now am totally committed to it.

What is my purpose?

Jesus Christ.

And ever since that day of recognition and realization, my life has never been the same. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. This is my story, my life.

It’s time to question yours”

Annemarie

“But there is suffering in life, and there are defeats. No one can avoid them. But it's better to lose some of the battles in the struggles for your dreams than to be defeated without ever knowing what you're fighting for”

Paul Coelho

Romans 8:27-29

(New Living Translation)

And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

Revelation

I always go into this state of deep thought every night before I sleep. It’s just a habit that I can’t seem to get rid of (psychologically this has been proven to affect your dream out comes-you tend to dream about what you think about before you sleep, which thus explains my out-of-this-world dreams). I can’t even remember where my thoughts started off this one night, but it led on to what you’re about to read after this paragraph. As the thoughts came, I started typing it out on my phone, I didn’t reread it, or think about it, I just typed what was on my mind. I do however remember thinking, “I wonder what will happen in the end..?”

It’s really ‘philosophical-ish’; deep in that sense. And I may sound so crazy, but, really, if you were in my shoes, living my life, you’d know exactly what I meant.

"Because when I look at You, I see hope, I see light, I see a future. That even though the world is falling apart and everything can go so wrong…I know I can still smile; because I see You and when I do, all my fears, questions, confusion, everything is swept away. I’m assured that at the end of this, everything I’ve been through will still matter and that who and what I live for still counts for something…I look at You and I just Know..I just Know things I can’t even calculate, can’t even comprehend—things that are so illogical…Yet, there’s this voice, this light inside of me that keeps me warm and away from the confusion…I’m so at peace…It’s such a strange thing to experience, but I know it’s all wonderful and worth it…Because through it all, I’m still smiling-always smiling, always happy…Never failing to see a reason to wake up every morning-a reason to live-He gives me a reason, a reason to do all that I do… "

Jeremiah 29:11-14 (New Living Translation)
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. 14 I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.”

You Hold Me Now

On that day when I see

All that You have for me

When I see You face to face

There surrounded by Your grace

All my fears swept away

In the light of Your embrace

Where Your love is all I need

And forever I am free

Where the streets are made of gold

In Your presence healed and whole

Let the songs of heaven

Rise to You alone

No weeping

no hurt or pain

No suffering

You hold me now

You hold me now

No darkness

no sick or lame

No hiding

You hold me now

You hold me now

In this life I will stand

Through my joy and my pain

Knowing there's a greater day

There's a hope that never fails

Where Your Name is lifted high

And forever praises rise

For the glory of Your Name

I'm believing for the day

Where the wars and violence cease

All creation lives in peace

Let the songs of heavenRise to You alone

For eternity

All my heart will give

All the glory to Your Name

Your Kingdom come,

Your will be done,

Here on earth,

as it is,

in Heaven

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GH-AkJDkNE

How He Loves Us

I was thinking the other day, about God and me-our relationship, and just shook my head in awe as I thought about how He loves me. It’s incredible really.

I don’t think I could ever come to a point of really understanding or comprehending how much He actually cares about me-it’s massive. All my life, the one thing that has always struck me; left me speechless; is when one cares and loves another unconditionally. I see it— through a father and his child, or a husband and his wife and think to myself “How I wish I had that...” But, when I stop and think about all the times God has been there for me, I smile, cause I know I have it already; I have that security and that source of love.

I sometimes try to convince myself that I love God just as much as His loves me, just to make it seem fair. But, it’s stupid really. His love for us, is... there’s no word in the English (or in any language for that matter) that can come close to describing it. It’s huge. And it never changes, from the moment we were born, to the second we die, He will always love us the same. Isn’t that just crazy (in an amazing way)??

I still shake my head thinking about it because when I try to reason with something like that, I get lost; it has no sense to it, no logic; yet, it’s real, it’s truth. Everything about how He feels for us is genuine, authentic and personal. There’s not a second of our lives that He does not take note of, He really loves us.

There are a lot of things that have gone old for me; things that I’m used to or that I’ve gotten familiar with. But every time the thought of how He loves, strikes me, I’m in a whole new place. It’s a revelation to me every time, I can’t explain it, it’s just different. I’m in love again every single time.
There’s really nothing like Him.

Psalm 36:5-6 (The Message)

God's love is meteoric,

His loyalty astronomic,

His purpose titanic,

His verdicts oceanic.

Yet in His largeness,

nothing gets lost

The Solution

"God this is our prayer Father,

that we will be a people Lord

that will make the tough choices in life.

Lord that we wouldn’t be afraid

or intimidated by the world,

but that we will rise up as Your church

across the earth;

God a people dedicated

to being your hands,

to being your feet,

to running this race for the least of these.

For the lost

for the broken

for the hurting God,

we pray for them now

and commit our lives Jesus

to seeing Your Kingdom established on this earth.

Father, I pray

we wouldn’t just leave it in this place,

but that we will take this,

take what you’ve done in our hearts

and We Will Run into this world God.

We push down

the four walls of our church buildings

to see Your name lifted higher.

Your glory God,

Your glory.

In Jesus name we praise you and we thank you.

And all of God’s people say,

Amen."

Joel Houston

Isaiah 58:6-9 (NKJV)
“ Is this not the fast that I have chosen:

To loose the bonds of wickedness,

To undo the heavy burdens,

To let the oppressed go free,

And that You break every yoke?

Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,

And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;

When you see the naked, that you cover him,

And not hide yourself from your own flesh?

Then your light shall break forth like the morning,

Your healing shall spring forth speedily,

And your righteousness shall go before you;

The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.

Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer;

You shall cry, and

He will say,

‘Here I am.’

No Reason To Hide

We've got nothing to lose,

we've got no reason to hide.

We've got the answer inside of us

Its time we took the disguises off

We'll see Your glory revealed,

and See Your Name Lifted High

Theres nobody else for us

Jesus You are the only One!

You're Alive

and

We Are FREE!!

You are everything, everything we need!

Theres not a minute to waste not a second to lose

Theres a city that waits for us

it's time we took all the lamp shades off

We'll see Your glory revealed

And see your name lifted high

There is nobody else for us

Jesus You are the only one!

You're alive and we are free

You are everything, everything we need!

Love has spoken and we believe,

you are everything everything we need.

Nothing compares to You,

Nothing could ever seperate us now

Your love is ours

Nothing can seperate us

Nothing can come between us

Nothing can seperate us now

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xtUsJOHsA8&feature=related)

Matthew 5:14-17 (NIV)
"You are the light of the world.

A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.

In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

The Driving Exam

It has been the hardest thing I have yet endured this year-my driving exam. This was something that literally kept me up at night for a whole year! I never liked driving; never liked associating myself behind the wheel moving the machine; everything about it just scared me and I knew before I tried that I’d be a hopeless driver.

When the time came, when I was pushed and forced by everyone I knew I had to get this problem sorted out, I felt like I had to face death.

So finally the day came and all I remember is how sick I felt and how bad I wanted to get it over with. My first try, I failed the one part I was dreading-a.k.a ‘the slope’. Even though I passed what most people would fail-the road-I still wasn’t happy because I had to return to that place again to pass the obstacle course.

So a while later, I came back and this time I was actually confident. I got through the tough parts but at the very end, on my three point turn, apparently I backed up too far and my bumper went over the white line. So the guy stopped me, asked me to step out, sign this paper, and apparently, I had failed, again. I had never felt *so* angry in my life. A second time? Seriously?? I really wanted to blow up something. I started telling myself, “That’s it. I’m never driving again...” What was worse was having to go back and tell those who knew that I had failed, again. All I wanted to do at that point was just sit at a corner and cry.

I set a date to make another go at it. I didn’t think much of it during the days in between-wasn’t bothered to be bothered by it. Finally when Sunday came and I had my practice round, I was a mess. I kept making mistakes over again, and this time, I actually hit a pole, something I had never done, ever! I remember tearing up in the car with my instructor in it, feeling like the world’s worst driver. I couldn’t sleep at all on Sunday. It was when I woke up and that I realized I actually did manage to sleep. I called an Uncle of mine. It was nice talking to him because he made me laugh; I really needed that;

laughter always helps me in moments of intensity.

Long story short, I finally made it. I got through everything and now I have that stupid piece of plastic that allows me to drive freely on the road.

One important thing, even though it was so hard for me, God had me taken care of at all times. It’s scary sometimes, going through something that you have no control over and feeling so helpless. I think I forget that easily; we get so caught up in the moment sometimes, we forget what’s most important; in this case, I really had nothing to worry about. It’s simple, He’s like a father to us, and whatever a father can do for his child, he will. And the other thing, never give up. As corny and cheesy as it sounds, it’s so true. We fall ever so often real easy. And people make the mistake by choosing to stay down instead of getting up.

We have to really start giving God the credit that He deserves, believing that the little(or big)things that we have no control over can be taken care of by Him.

This is my story.

This is my faith.

I have nothing else in this world, not unless it’s Him. God got me through this and I’m eternally grateful for that. No words can express it, I’m just so damn happy.

BE STRONG IN THE GRACE

I Think We Have An Emergency

I think we have an emergency

I think we have an emergency

If you thought I'd leave then you were wrong

Because I won't stop holding on

So are you listening?

So are you watching me?

If you thought I'd leave then you were wrong

Because I won't stop holding on

This is an emergency

So are you listening?

And I can't pretend that I don't see this
It's really not your fault
And no one cares to talk about it
To talk about it

Cause' I've seen love die way too many times
When it deserved to be alive
I've seen you cry way too many times
When you deserved to be alive
Alive...

So you give up every chance you get
Just to feel new again
I think we have an emergency
I think we have an emergency

And you do your best to show me love
But you don't know what love is
So are you listening?
So are you watching me?

Well I can't pretend that I don't see this
It's really not your fault
And no one cares to talk about it
To talk about it

(The scars they will not fade away)
And no one cares to talk about it
To talk about it

Cause' I've seen love die way too many times

When it deserved to be alive

I've seen you cry way too many times

When you deserved to be alive

Alive...

(Alive...)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wcmtcbohuxg&feature=PlayList&p=D04C71064ED06957&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=11

Make Me

When Jesus calls us into covenant, He’s not calling us just to give us stuff; There’s Something Deeper-an underline purpose at hand

I love listening to podcasts; especially ones from Judah Smith; he’s truly a phenomenal man of God and (as corny as this sounds) he changes so much inside of me each time I listen to him. Really, the talent that God has placed in him is incredible, I’m so happy that he’s using it all for His glory-teaches me and inspires me to live out my life wholly and completely for God.
Anyway, there was this one message that truly captured me-titled, ‘Make Me’. I caught a lot from the message, so here are a couple of points. I really don’t want to butcher it by planting in my own words, so I’m leaving it in point form. Read it, Understand it. Digest it, and Act On It.

Matthew 4:18-20
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen."Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him.

Jesus Is Here To Shape Us

Before God has any aspirations of giving us anything, He has a preordained plan to shape us

If you don’t want to be made, then don’t follow

When Jesus said the word 'Will'--> no discussion, no debate—either you follow and get made, or you stay behind...

Luke 15: 11-20
1Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. 1The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.
"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.'So he got up and went to his father.

We will never be able to do what God is asking us to do as long as you have the ‘give me’ attitude["Father give me my share of the estate"]

We should be saying, "I’m not here for what you can just give me, I’m Here For What You Can Make Me,”

The context of discipleship is not ‘give me’, it’s ‘make me’

Discipleship is not the choice of the leader, it’s the choice of the follower

Give Me--> Add Make Me--> Abide

This is not a democracy, this is a dictatorship called the Kingdom of God

God will Give You once you say-“Make Me”

Many a time God does not give us a burden because we don’t have the attitude to carry it

I think sometimes people just don’t like being slapped on the face, cause it hurts. But, most times, a slap on the face is the one thing we’re all missing in our lives. I learnt a lot from this message, and I hope you did too.

Compelled

Matthew 25:35-40 (The Message)
"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what's coming to you in this kingdom. It's been ready for you since the world's foundation. And here's why:

I was hungry and you fed me,

I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,

I was homeless and you gave me a room,

I was shivering and you gave me clothes,

I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.'
"Then those 'sheep' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?'

Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth:

Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored,

that was me--
you did it to me.'

One random day on the streets on Calcutta, a well-to-do business man noticed an elderly lady sitting by the road side mending the wounds of a leper. He went up to her and told her, “I wouldn’t do what you are doing now for a million dollars”. “Neither would I,” she replied. “I am only doing this for 5 words-‘You Did It for Me’”. This woman was Mother Teresa.

2 Corinthians 5 (NIV)
If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind,it is for you.

For Christ's love compels us,

because we are convinced

that one died for all, and therefore all died.

And he died for all,
that those who live should no longer live for themselves

but for him who died for them and was raised again.

"We are all pencils in the hand of God"

Mother Teresa

My Stupid Question

Why did they have to be so damn talented?? Why did God have to just build them up to be such phenomenal men and women?? Seriously! And what’s worse is that, I relate to them so much; I love their music, their worship, the songs, everything...It kills me sometimes that I’m not with them.

The raw talent that they possess is just ridiculous, and their heart for God inspires me beyond anything. What I love most is how united they all are. They illustrate the meaning of ‘family’ so well, it’s just sick...haha.
I love them so much it frustrates me.

Sometimes as I’m lying on my bed praying for the lost, broken and hurting to be saved, I quickly sneak in my own request which is to end up down under at that church, haha!

Some one save me...

What actually matters is that these people exemplify the grace and power of God undoubtly.

They’re amazing people, (even though I have no idea who they are) from their worship I believe they are remarkable people.

And they teach me, each and every time I hear or see them, to chase after the heart of God, and do whatever it takes it to please God.

They’ve such a heart for the people of this world and have posses such a focus for the vision and purpose of God.

I thank God that I have had the profound privilege of knowing about them and obtaining any piece of material that involves them. They push and pull me through every time things are difficult in my life, and turn my perspective back to the things that truly matters.

I love them, from the bottom of my heart, I do. And, I really thank God for making such incredible people.

They’ve made such a mark in this world and in my life.