Food for thought 4

Happiness
- Unknown

We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married. When we're married, we think things will be better when we have a baby. Then we are frustrated that the kids aren't old enough for us to relax but we know we'll be more content when they are.

After that we're frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with. We will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage. We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, are able to go on a nice vacation, when we retire.

The truth is, there's no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when? Your life will always be filled with challenges. It's best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway.

A great quote on this very subject comes from Alfred D. Souza. He said, "For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life. But there are always some obstacles in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that
these obstacles were my life."

This perspective has helped me to see that there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way. So treasure every moment that you have. And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time... and remember that time waits for no one.

So stop waiting until you finish school, until you're back to school, until you lose ten pounds, until you gain ten pounds, until you have kids, until your kids leave the house, until you start work, until you retire, until you get married, until you get divorced, until Friday night, until Sunday morning, until you get a new car or home, until your new car or home is paid off, until spring, until summer, until fall, until winter, until you are on welfare, until you are off welfare, until the first or the fifteenth to decide that there is no better time than right now to be happy.

Happiness is a journey, not a destination.

Turkey + Amy

Turkey's friend Amy Bear came for a visit last Saturday. Here are 2 cute pictures of them. Can you believe that by adding Turkey and Amy's age, it is roughly 50+ years? Yup, they are both well loved stuffed animals and very precious. Although way biased, I have to say, my favorite is TURKEY!!! :)

VisualDNA

Inspired by Andrea’s VisualDNA. I thought it was neat to shuffle pictures.

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

What do you think of my VisualDNA? You wanna try to do one too? ;)

Food for thought 3

Ephesians 4:29
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (NIV)

Do your words build others up or do they tear themdown?

Food for thought 2

Before you read any further, think of someone that annoys you. Someone that you really just don't like. It can be someone from church, your family, or work. Do you have that person or people in mind? Can you think of something they do that really bugs you? Now read on.

Matthew 5:46
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? (NIV)

Jesus asks you to act in love to that person, to treat him or her with respect and decency. It is easy to love those who are like us, but the challenge comes in loving those who unlovable. Think of how you can show love to that person.

Confession

The other day at BSF class, I did the unthinkable. While all the chairs were all roped off, I unroped one of the rows and just picked my favorite aisle seat. Of course the poor usher was having a heart attack. He gave me this what-are-you-doing look. Since he was standing quite close to where I was, he walked over and verbally said to me, “What are you doing?!!!” With a big smile on my face, I told him “to make his life interesting!” (while laughing in my mind. I was so bad!).

Just before the lecture was about to start, guess what the usher did? With all the still available seats, he came over and sat down right next to me. I was like… OH MAN!!! WAH!!! He being so tall and with everyone so packed in, I was really feeling his presence and feeling my guilty conscience. For the whole entire lecture, I was feeling really really bad. After the lecture, the dude just got up and walked away, without saying a single word. Yeah, did I mention my increasing guilt?

Days after, I am still feeling bad, hence the confession :p. I have been reflecting on this and realizing that I am not very good in following directions. (No wonder I am always lost!) But more importantly, I realized how I am naturally disobedient. Never mind the Israelites are disobedient. I am too. Thankfully, despite our disobedience, God still loves us by showing us His mercy. (Hey, this is from last week’s BSF homework! ;)

Yeah, the dude did show me his mercy too without telling me off after the lecture. I guess next week, if I have the opportunity to see him, I will apologize. Isn’t it interesting how God can work in our hearts even with something this small?

O_o

Hahaha, that’s what I look like now. 2 days ago, when I woke up, one of my eyes was swollen. I never had this before so no idea on what happened. It just did. Yesterday, my swollen eye seemed to be even MORE swollen, so I visited my lovely Vivi (and had lots of fun seeing her!). Thank God my swollen eye is nothing serious. Vivi said it is a stye and I just have to put hot/warm compress on it every day.

Brownie points to Erica and Emme for telling me the same thing before my Vivi visit so I wasn’t freaked out. Thanks to Emme for suggesting to put a hot boiled egg, wrapped in a towel, on the eye to help reducing the swelling AND for telling me she would be praying for me. Awww, how sweet! :)

Ahhhh, yes, I have to say my original eye is A LOT prettier but you know, to be able to see, is still good. Hehe :p

Work Drama

Just came out from 2 meetings today. New management gave us 2 good news:

1. Palo Alto site will exist. Short term: at the same building for 2-3 years. Long term: may relocate but site will still be in Palo Alto area.

2. My whole entire work group survived. We were all given offer letters for Palo Alto site.

In light of the good news, for some reason I am not feeling all jazzed up. I still feel my job is temporary (nothing is “permanent” you know?). In any case, I am thankful to God for giving me a great boss who always fights for the group. I am thankful to God too for His protection, guidance and peace. I may not understand of all that is going on right now, I know God is full of wisdom and knowledge. He has a good plan for me. I don’t know what will come tomorrow but I am glad to know God holds my future! He graciously cares and is mindful of little me. Praise God for what He has done and what He will do. :)

What about our dear Andrea and Mimi? Andrea will still be a temp. Depending on projects, I still have hope to see her cute face “permanently” here. :) Let’s continue to pray for her. As for Mimi, she got her offer letter today like me. Yay!

Thank you all my personal prayer warriors. God be with you! :)

Food for thought 1

I have collected some very nice articles over the years. I thought I would post them weekly on my blog for your reading pleasure. Enjoy! :)

***************************************
None of us can do anything great on our own, but we can all do a small thing with great love.
- Mother Teresa

Don't try to change the whole world, but reach out in love to those around you. Do small things for those that cross your path. Focus on changing yourself and those around you before you try to change the world.

Randomness

Wow, it is March already. I was reminded by a friend yesterday that ¼ of this year is almost over. Time sure flies!!!

Recently I have been noticing some interesting things in my life.

After posting my New Year resolutions, I discovered that it GOT really hard to keep up with my goal of going to church on time on Sundays. I cannot believe I have failed couple times already. Yes, I won’t even bother to give excuses. Sigh. I am so disappointed BUT I will try again this Sunday. Hehe. :)

One of my BSF small group’s prayer requests is to do homework daily and apply the lessons from Romans in our daily lives. I am just amazed at how often I am applying what I just learned in my daily life and instantly too!

Few weeks ago, I had this prompting to pray for a dear friend. So I prayed and I emailed her verses which I like from my study for no particular reason (or so I thought). It turned out she was going through a difficult time without me knowing. My prayers and verses (Rom 8:28 & Rom 8:38-39) encouraged her just at the right time. Isn’t God amazing?

Last week, I had a good salvation and baptism discussion with my precious junior high girls. I was using Rom 10:9 as the main point of my discussion with them. The interesting thing was I just did my BSF homework regarding salvation like few days prior to my youth group discussion. I was just in awe of God’s timing!

I have been challenging my youth girls in sharing the gospel with friends. Funny how whenever I challenge the kids, I get to do it too! Just yesterday I had a good phone conversation with a close friend. Originally we were just catching up but beyond my own understanding, God provided a divine appointment. In my conversation with this close friend, I ended up sharing about God, sin, Jesus and the good stuff I learned from my study on Romans. I have known this friend for YEARS and could never really share before, God just blown me away!

The more I interact with my youth girls, I realize I should have a Dear Phoebe column. Yes, just a forum to share with each of them what I have learned in my life journey this far. (haha, okay me dreaming on!) :) But seriously though, the more I hear and advice my dear girls, I find myself becoming more and more like my own mom! Without much thought, just like my mom, I use bible verses to encourage the kids, constantly remind them to have a close walk with God and to honor Him in everything we do. Now, I even pray for my kids on a regular basis. What is the point of me saying all this? I am just so thankful to God and so blessed by Him, to have such a good godly mom and woman, as my model!

Okay that’s enough randomness for now. I wonder what is coming next! Life is good because God is good! :)