heart – Density Runs

February 11, 2015January 5, 2016

The Greatest Gift You Can Give

I never imagined that following Christ’s example could be so hard because being self-centered is being human. You cannot deny that most of the time, all we think about are our selves. It’s always about us. It’s always us that need to be taken cared of, to feel comfortable, to be understood. Being human is being insensitive and selfish. And being human opens up to disappointments and frustrations because, reality check, we don’t always get what we want.

I won’t be a hypocrite and deny that I do not enjoy watching the lives of people who’ve hurt me fall apart. But then, I know I am in no place to judge. After all, I am oblivious to whatever it is that they are going through. As the bible says in Romans 12:18-20, “As much as it is possible, live in peace with everyone. Don’t take revenge, dear friends. Instead, let God’s anger take care of it. After all, Scripture says, “I alone have the right to take revenge. I will pay back, says the Lord. But, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink. If you do this, you will make him feel guilty and ashamed.”

My journey to finding and being with Christ is far from accomplished. I will always act human. But knowing Christ and his teachings bring you to a place wherein you interact with peace. And being selfless, being sensitive, being considerate, being compassionate to not just your self brings about peace; peace of the heart and peace of the mind.

Being merciful and good, especially to your enemies, may be one of the most powerful things you have ever done. – Joyce Meyer

Sharing Day 243 of the reading plan I am currently on from http://www.joycemeyer.org/ Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life – a Daily Devotional

The Greatest Gift You Can Give

It’s the most outrageous thing. The more I think about it, the more amazed I am. It gives blessings that are undeserved and withholds punishment when it is deserved. It’s absolutely the greatest gift you can give someone.

This gift is called mercy. See, Jesus came to earth and gave us mercy, so we need to learn to give mercy to others.

By Christ’s example, we’re taught to love and pray for our enemies. We’re taught to be friendly to those who do not treat us as we would like to be treated. We are told to give to and care for the poor and helpless who will never be able to pay us back.

We can give to people who will give us gifts in return. But we’re more blessed when we choose to give to those who cannot pay us back, that’s giving mercy.

The greatest gift you can give God is to become more like Jesus. You can do that by treating others the way He treated you. Give those around you the greatest gift they could ever receive from you: mercy.

Prayer Starter: God, I thank You for the mercy that You selflessly give me every day. I choose now to give that mercy to others. Every chance I get, I will show them the mercy that You have shown me.

You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate. (‭Luke‬ ‭6‬:‭36‬ NLT)

(Photo courtesy: tumblr)

DMV

February 3, 2015January 5, 2016

Stop Keeping Score

Ephesians 4:31-32 (NLT) “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”

That’s what Pastor Boris Joaquin cited last January 25, 2015 at Ikthus Bacolod about the Road to Recovery. I remember him sharing about his troubled relationship with his dad; how he masked his bitterness with success; how he always says he and his dad is okay when in truth, he resented him. I also remember him saying that forgiving someone takes time; that we need to forgive others because God has forgiven us and resentment just doesn’t work. “It’s not really what you eat but what eats you that matters.”

I’m very much closely acquainted with resentment. And though I’ve dealt with countless ugly events in my life, I’ve mustered burying them in a large vacuum at the bottom of my brain, compiled and kept. Problem is, this void is open, unchained, so tendency is, at the height of various, triggering moments, they resurface. And guess who is left frustrated? Me.

When there is resentment, everything gets affected. All your energy tend to focus on that one thing, that one nonsensical thing that you so obviously could do without and the more important things are left neglected and unappreciated.

You haven’t truly forgiven if there is still resentment in your heart. To forgive is to free your heart from any bitterness that you’ve harbored from the ones that hurt you. Yes it will take time, and eventually, I know I will get there. For now, I’m settled with “I’m doing fine.”

Sharing Day 241 of the reading plan I am currently on from http://www.joycemeyer.org/ Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life – a Daily Devotional

Stop Keeping Score

If someone has hurt you, don’t spend the next ten years of your life hurting yourself by hanging on to that offense. Most likely, the other person isn’t even thinking about you, while you dwell on the incident for years. That only hurts one person, you.

When we walk in unforgiveness, we try to “keep score,” viewing ourselves as better than the other person.

Back in the early days of our marriage, when Dave and I were fussing and fuming at each other, I would bring up stuff that happened years before and Dave would say, “Where do you keep all that stuff?” Well, I had a place, and it was all in there eating at me. And every new thing Dave did wrong would get added to this list, and it kept growing until it became a bitter giant in my heart.

When we walk in God’s love, we find freedom by keeping “no account” of wrongs done to us. If you’re hurting from the pain of unforgiveness today, ask God to help you stop keeping score. You can let go of your bitterness today.

Prayer Starter: God, I don’t want to keep score anymore and let my unforgiveness hurt me. I release it to You and ask You to help me walk in Your love, which keeps “no account of the evil done to it.”

It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. (‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭5‬ NLT)

DMV

August 27, 2014January 5, 2016

Give CREDIT where CREDIT is due

I was going through my FB feed when I stumbled on a note posted by a friend entitled Theresa. I don’t know who Theresa is or the story behind why she posted the note but as I read on, the post was somehow familiar. But it seemed like she claimed the write-up as hers so most of the comments were of praises on how well she wrote. So I posted the link of the original post on her comments box. My intention was to inform her that I am aware that her note was a repost and that she should at least give credit to the original writer. Well, she deleted my comment (being the link to the post of the original writer) and unfriended me (lol).

Anyway, I’d like to share the original post of Ella Ceron entitled You Will Fall In Love With A Broken Person and not Theresa.

AUGUST 6, 2014
You Will Fall In Love With A Broken Person
Ella Ceron

Whatever it is, whatever happened to them, whatever they’re going through, whatever haunts them and controls them and leaves them wanting more — it will have nothing and everything to do with you.

Nothing, because it probably happened before you entered their life. It was a breakup, or a trauma, or faith and trust and belief that went south somewhere.

Everything, because you will try to fix them, or help them, or wonder why you are not enough, why you cannot heal their wounds and mend their broken heart and change their mind.

You’re going to swear to yourself that you’ll never fall into this pit, and then you’ll watch as it happens. You’ll kick yourself for doing what you said you’d never do. You’ll ask yourself why you’re bothering. Why you think you’re the exception to the rule. Why you can’t just heed the warning signs.

You know, all along, that this is someone with a heart in shards, a soul in pieces, and little affection and warmth and stability to give you — you won’t blame them for it, they need all the resources they can give themselves — yet you still try.

Love works in funny ways, and we love all the things we never plan on loving. We attach ourselves to the things we think we should not love. Moths have their flames, little kids their wet cement, dogs their puddles.

We have lovers who do not — and cannot — love us back.

But you will love them, no matter how much you try not to. No matter how much you say you don’t. You’ll watch as they pull themselves further down, and sometimes drag you down too. They’re not trying to, but between keeping you at a distance and not knowing how to love you back, even if they want to, there’s a whole host of complications that bubble up when a broken person is loved by someone else.

Eventually, one of two things will happen. They let you in, bit by bit, and you learn slowly how to let them fix themselves; or you lick your wounds and move on. One is not more or less noble than the other. One hurts a little more. One is a little more rare. Both have the potential of breaking you. Both have the potential for you to learn that love is not something you force upon someone and demand they return, but something that you have to offer freely. Something that nobody’s obligated to accept. Whether or not they’re ready to take it. And if they’re not ready, then they’re not ready.

But you will fall in love with a broken person, at least once in your life. It happens to everyone. The odds are stacked against us that somebody or something will have gotten there first and wrenched somebody’s affection apart and left scars in those things we call our hearts. And the broken person you love will be hesitant and skittish and nervous, but that doesn’t mean they deserve any less love just because they’re afraid of being burned again.

All you can do is love them. All you can do is be there for them. And if you’re lucky, they will learn to love you, too.

If you’re not, and if you wind up breaking, too, well, you’re not alone. And if there’s anything love stories teach us, it’s that you can heal. You can grow. You can try again.

Because often, the broken people we find and fall in love with and help heal wind up being ourselves.

You Will Fall In Love With A Broken Person

It’s fine to repost stuff but at least have the decency to admit and inform that what you’ve just posted isn’t yours.

Yes Ms. Ceron, it is very well written.

DMV

(Photo courtesy: Tumblr)

February 9, 2014January 5, 2016

What is Love?

Love is …

♥ a single white rose on a rainy day
♥ a movie with Tater’s major barbecue fries
♥ a box of Reese’s
♥ a book collection
♥ a peck on the cheek
♥ a hug from the back
♥ a foot massage
♥ a bowl of cerelac
♥ a slow dance
♥ a lunch date with your sister
♥ a music soundtrack
♥ a rock concert with your bestfriend

Love is …

♥ the racing heart and the sweat that breaks from a proposing man
♥ the tears that fall from the groom’s eyes when his bride enters the room
♥ the look of awe on a bride’s face when saying her vows
♥ the house they build and make into a home
♥ the waking hour, the afternoon sighs and the last goodnight
♥ the rise and fall of his every breath while watching him sleep
♥ the 9 months a mother carries her son in her womb
♥ the endurance of a torturous 36 hour labor
♥ the patience in looking after a baby who just recently had his shots
♥ the constant cooing of a 3 month old angel
♥ the ridiculous face a brother makes for a smile from the little one
♥ the proud look of a grandfather seeing his grandson score a goal

Love is…

♥ the bags under a mother’s eyes for staying up late to feed the baby
♥ the scar on her belly to bring out the life from within
♥ the pain a father feels from not seeing his newborn son
♥ the broken heart of a single mother
♥ the dreams she keeps pursuing in hopeless situations
♥ the faith she puts on an unseen God
♥ the silent prayers for a shattered soul
♥ the forgiveness for the hurt, selfishness, lies and betrayal
♥ the appreciation of the little things that matter
♥ the acceptance of a person despite the differences
♥ the sincere thank you during helpless moments
♥ the fingers locked and intertwined, not wanting to let go

Love is undefined, indescribable, immeasurable…

LOVE are these moments.

DMV

…but the greatest of these is Love. – 1 Corinthians 13:13

Photo courtesy: Google images

February 3, 2014January 5, 2016

Forgive.

Forgive. Forgiveness. To forgive.

Such a strong word. Such a big decision to make. Such a brave choice.

Especially when what was done to you was unfathomable. Something that until now you still try to understand. Incomprehensible. Uncalled for. Too much.

Especially when the one who hurt you was someone you love. Someone who fills the space of your heart. Someone your world revolved around. Someone you look up to. Someone you least expected.

Especially when the trust is tainted and respect is lost and you harbor thoughts of revenge and your heart continues to race, fueled by hate and anger.

Especially when it’s so hard to forget, the memories destroy you, the tears unconsciously fall and you are left unanswered to endless whys.

To forgive. Why forgive when sometimes you just can’t, when it is so hard to do.

Because only in forgiveness do we find peace. It is the most rewarding thing that we can give ourselves, the gift of peace. And in peace we find the strength to move on, to go forward. We free ourselves from our own prison, our prison being the grudges and bitterness we hold. In forgiving, we release ourselves from the pain. We eventually learn to appreciate what we call life and start living it fully.

Forgiving takes time and it is never easy. It is an act of full determination that has to come from you. You have to want to forgive. You have to decide to forgive. You have to choose to forgive. But if possible, forgive quickly. Take focus on what the wrong has opened your eyes to and pave the way to your healing. Remember we are not promised tomorrow.

DMV

Photo: Google images

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