Dear God,

As we end up this year 2012 and start for another year , allow me to thank You for everything that You have done for me this year. Truly You hold my days with Your hand. Thank you for being with me as I journey into my life path. For the blessings that overflowed into my life I thank you. For good and bad things that have happened I thank you because of all the lessons well learned. In every situation that I'm in, it is you who helped me to get through it all. For every victory, triumphs and downfall still let your name be praise because as you said all things worth together for our own good. You have a wide and immeasurably purpose in my life and I'm too excited to experience them all. Thank you for the lives of my family, friend and those people that in spite of my shortcomings and weaknesses they love me unconditionally. May you continue to bless them and keep them. I many not able to achieved yet all my goals, many of my dreams were not yet fulfilled, most of my prayers still left un answered, I failed many people, get hurt and cause hurt but in spite of that God you truly and certainly blessed me. You blessed me so many good memories of this year that will be kept forever in my heart. As I welcome another year may your wisdom and protection be upon me. May I keep focus on you alone and may every words, every deed and every thoughts that I will have will be pleasing to you. I'm looking forward for a more blessed and exciting year to come. May your will continue to be done in my life and may I find strength in you alone. Be my shield as I conquer another year victoriously. May all the glory and honor be to you alone.

Your princess,

Lyn

GOD PROVISION..IT IS ALWAYS ON TIME

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Phil. 4:19

In these difficult financial times, some of us of not most of us are facing loss of jobs, salary decrease, trouble paying debts, high interests on loans and credit card and troubles by uncertain times.

Often we may marvel or surprised at how those needs are met. God uses people and circumstances to provide for them when they least expected it.

Right now am in that situation. There was an expired card that I missed to renew and it incurred a big penalty and the company let me shoulder all the penalty. I was so sad when I learned that, knowing that it will be a big adjustment for me and lot of budget tightening  for  me to be done especially that there are so many expenses that I have to met at this time. And I don’t know how will I do that but I know and I believe I have a rich and big God who can able to supply all my needs.

As what He said in His word that even the bird of the air, they don’t sow or reap or store away in the barns and yet our Heavenly Father feeds them. Are we not more valuable than them? We are precious in God's sight , made according to His likeness and image and He promised several times that He will provide for us. He never let His children beg for bread. That's how God provide for our needs. Its more than what we need for. And I know that the God who helps me survive in this far away land for so many years is the same God who will help me to overcome this financial challenge am going through. After all He is richer than any riches man ever live and He owns everything more than our eyes can see.

A broken friendship…….

They always say that finding a true friend is like finding a precious gem.  It is for keeps. To be valued. To be appreciated.  To have a shoulder to cry and lean on in times of sorrow, difficulties and testing. To be there to cheer on and celebrate in all triumphs, victories and joy. But what if friends suddenly turned back on you and live a life without you?

There will always come a time when people who have been in your life for years simply no longer have a place. They say it is a passage of time. Over the years people come and go. As fast as the technology changes we  also change, we grow apart and sometimes some of us still opt to  stay, maybe because neither one of us know how to say goodbye. Or just to say we are still friends.

I have layers, like an onion.  The one who knows me best,  have been there with me  through thick and thin.  Just like a precious stone or metals that have to dig the inner core of the earth thousand times just to get it. Have to clean, purifies and works on to see the glimpse of the beauty of it.

I am not a people person.  I don’t have a huge set of friends.  Most of them are just mere acquaintances and common friends. Those who really know me from inside and out are just few. They are limited. And it sad to accept that those limited few, those whom you trusted and cared for will leave you for someone have much more than you.

That's sad, sometimes friends, no matter how much we love them, no matter how much we care for them and will do anything for them, even risking our own lives for them , aren’t meant to be forever they will still find someone better than you. It is hard to accept sometimes. I still cling on.  I want to remember the good times we have since the times we became friends.  I want to remember the person who, at the time in my life was a gift to me.  I want to remember the good qualities when they are harder to see now. I want to hold on the times that we are seemed inseparable. It is hard to let go.  It is hard to accept change when it is no longer for the better.

It's hard to hold on to the friendship that is not working anymore. It is hard to pretend that nothing change, that everything will be back to normal in due course. It is frustrating. Because even though how hard you try to patch things up the brokenness' still there. Even the wound once healed will leave a scar.

But I know and I believe it will be for our best.  Maybe it means this person is drifting out in my life so that someone much better can drift in.  It's hard to accept change yet change is necessary for us to move forward.  

Life goes on, old friends may still be there or leaves you and along the way you will find new friends.  We don’t know what the future might hold.  Only God knows. But what's more important is that you give your best shot, you give it all. No regrets.

Still the memories will lives on, the good times, the fights, the frustration and sweet and sour taste of friendship – all of it. Because without those people, I wouldn’t be the person I am today.  We may not be friends anymore but I wish you well.  Keep in mind you will always be in prayers, and somewhere along the road as our path will meet again I still be grateful that once in my life I have you as my friend. Our friendship may turn sour but what is important are the lessons well learned.    

 

Small thing called TONGUE

One of the word that struck during the discipleship training last night was the use of tongue. We all know that it is one of the smallest part of our body but yet did we also knew that it is also the toughest and sharpest part our body. Even the bible told us that our tongue is a small part of our body but it makes great boast (James 3:5). It is like setting a big forest fire with just a small spark. Our tongue is like a small spark that if we don’t know how to control, it will create big and wild fire which we might not be able to stop immediately. If it will not be tamed, it will cause separation and division among us.

I admit sometimes or most of the times I'm not too sensible with others' feeling. I sometimes speak harsh and sharply. I say what I want to say especially when I'm in the middle of anger. I utter words that are not pleasing to hear. I utter words untactful, just to say something, because for me it's nothing, just a slip of the tongue, not a big deal. But what about those around me, those people who will hear those words or to the person I spoke with directly? Did he or she will take it easily as well or did I hurt him already? I'm guilty and I cannot undo it anymore. And even though I asked forgiveness for thousand times the fact that someone is hurting because of my carelessness is something I have to dealt with myself.

Our tongue has the ability to make or to break, to uplift or to destroy, to praise or to criticize, to unite or to divide. We are using our tongue to praise and glorify God and yet we are also using this to hurt His most love and precious creations.

If the eyes are the mirror of our soul then the tongue is the wellspring of our heart. As the bible said "Out in the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh" (Mat. 12:34). It goes out what is inside. As children of God, those people surrounds us are not only looking on how we live or lives but they are very keen in every syllables, every words, every phrase that we will utter.

Don’t allow somebody ignore the salvation God is offering them because of improper use of our tongue but instead let us use our tongue in sharing them the good news and the eternal blessing that is waiting for them.

There's power in our tongue it's up to us on how we will use it. For me from now on I will use it wisely.

Let us start to use it in releasing blessings and uplifting words only.

….The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21…

a way to end a holiday

One of the many privilege  we have while working and living in a Muslim country is the Ramadan season though it quite sacrificial also for us because we are not allowed to eat, drink or even chew gums inside our office and in public places during day time but at least the working time is lesser that the usual (though I don’t have Saturday off ) and its 3 days holiday after that. For my last 6 years here I'd always spent the holidays outside with friends, going to other parts of the emirates, sleep-overs, going to the mall, swimming, doing endless and tiresome activities just to say that we spend the holiday wisely. But this time it  was totally different and still I can say that I spend the holiday wisely. Just like what I said in our prayer meeting last Sunday, this is so far the most relaxing, quiet and thriftiest  Eid I ever had. It is not because nobody invited me to go anywhere but it is ultimately my choice not to. Mainly because I'm "illegal alien" as the moment, my visa was not able to renew before the end of  Ramadan , my emirates id, labor card and residence visa are all expired and my passport (though I still have 30 days grace period) is already with our PRO, and I don’t want to take the  risk of going anywhere without proper documents, so I don’t have any choice but to stay at home.

But God is good He doesn’t let me end the holiday all by myself, I may not be able to experience an adventurous, tiring and drop dead head and body pain get away ( there's always next time) but it was ended in a simple, serene and relax manner.

……it was ended over an afternoon of laughter and stories with  venti size coffee with a friend and a perfect early evening walk in the beach with someone I love.

TOO MUCH TRUST

Trust - a feeling of confidence in someone that shows you believe they are honest, fair, and reliable.

A common word yet its hard to live it up. Up to what extent we have to give our trust? How can we know that this person is trustworthy or not? Is there a way we can shield our selves from getting hurt. Or it is right not to trust anymore.

Just now on the office my trusting ability was tested. We had this new hired employee and I already proceeded all the visa application stages for him, then he told me to hold his application because there is new company who is willing to issue visa for him and they will put up new project here in UAE once he come back from his country and it will give benefit to our company as well, he even told me that he already talked to my boss. Of course I hold on to his word and I admit it's my fault not to inform the boss right away. So when the boss asked the update he got angry because I never informed him before. He said to me not to trust anyone, even they told me that the boss already knew I should still verified that to him.. So when I get back to this new employee he told me that they never clearly discussed this matter and he wants to precede the application again. That's where I get upset, he does not even think what that problem caused me, I was the one who blamed for trusting too much.

That’s the time God reminded me not to trust man too much. It is clearly written to His word in Psalms 118:8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.. Too much trust not only will put you in danger but it can kill you.

I have given too much trust and been betrayed as well so many times but never I'd learned my lesson because I still believed that there are still few who are capable of valuing the trust I have for them but this time around I'll be very much careful. Its good to trust people but we must put more rather all of our trust to Someone who is worthy and capable of keeping that trust till the end and that is no one else but God.

DEATH AS A GIFT

I know many of you will get shocked with my entrée. Id been away for quite a long time and my comeback topic is not that fond to read of. It is not even Halloween yet Death is something we don’t talk about, it is something we are afraid to be discussed with and for sure something we don’t want to faced off. Maybe because we see death as something dark, lifeless, full of agony and painful. When I was young its always gives me a chill every time I heard someone passed away, I don’t want to go to funerals because I feel the pain that those bereave relatives felt, the feeling of loneliness that you cannot see or touch that person anymore and it cannot get out of my mind the face and image of the deceased person.

This past few days I heard and received news of people passed away. The father of my former office mate died due to cardiac arrest, the grandmother of my landlady died weeks ago with the same cause. Now just this morning her husband's brother also suffered cardiac arrest and was only sustained by a life support machine. She even told me that only barely a year when husband's parents died in a span of six months after another and now after six months again the brother is about to leave. She is so afraid thinking who will be the next.

Death is a thing we should not afraid of, but an event we should rejoice. Don’t get me wrong, don’t think that I don’t have a feeling nor ever experienced loosing someone. I have my own share of story. My aunt died months ago due to multiple complication of her diabetes. Of course we are sad but knowing she is already with her Creator, that is more than enough reason to rejoice. She will not experienced anymore the harsh life we have and all the pain she is going though because of her sickness.

Death is a gift as they often said which is really true. It means, through which we are granted new life, resurrected life, with Christ. God said in His word that He prepare a place for us, a mansion ( in other version) that is found in His kingdom alone which is in heaven. So how can we ever get or claim that gift if we are still here on earth. We have to go there and received the wonderful gift reserved for us. Remember that we are just a traveler in this world and no traveler ever stayed in a place forever he need to go back to where he belong, to his home. A person who accepted Jesus as His Lord and Personal Savior is no longer citizen of this world , but his citizenship is in heaven. Isn't that a wonderful permanent resident we have.

People are going crazy to get a permanent residence in a rich and progressive country yet they failed to apply for a more permanent, luxurious and eternal citizenship in heaven.

Next time we hear about death let us rejoice especially if that person have a valid heavens' residence because he or she already received the gift and enjoying the luxurious mansion prepared especially for him or her.

You are special -- Don't every forget it

A well-known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill.


In the room of 200, he asked "Who would like this $20 bill?"


All hands started going up. He said, "I am going to give this $20 bill to one of you but first, let me do this."


He crumpled the bill up. 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 floor and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now dirty and crumpled. "Now who still wants it?"


Still the hands went into the air.


"My friends, you 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 that 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 never lose your value in God's eyes. To Him, dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless. The worth of our lives comes not in what we do or who we know, but by WHO WE ARE!"


You are special -- Don't every forget it!

Count Your Blessings, not your problems!






forwarded by: carlos dsouza

HEAVEN'S GROCERY STORE

I was so touched with this poem sent to me and I want to share it with you as well...

I was walking down life's highway a long time ago. 
One day I saw a sign that read, "Heaven's Grocery Store".
As I got a little closer the door came open wide,
and when I came to myself I was standing inside.
I saw a host of Angels, they were standing everywhere.
One handed me a blanket and said, "My Child shop with care".
Everything a Christian needs is in that grocery store,
and all you can't carry, come back the next day for more.

First, I got some Patience, Love was in the same row.
Further down was Understanding, needed everywhere you go.
I got a box or two of Wisdom, a bag or two of Faith,
I just couldn't miss the Holy Ghost, it was all over the place.
I stopped to get some Strength and Courage to help me run this race,
but then my blanket was getting full, and I remembered I needed Grace.

I didn't forget Salvation, which like the others was free, 
so I tried to get enough of that to save both you and me.
Then I started to the counter to pay my grocery bill,
for I thought I had everything to do my master's will.
As I went up the aisle, I saw Prayer and had to put it in,
for I knew when I stepped outside, I would run right into sin.
Peace and Joy were plentiful, they were on the last shelf.
Song and Praises were hanging near, so I just helped myself.

Then I said to the Angel, "How much do I owe"?
The Angel smiled and said, "Just take them everywhere you go."
Again, I politely asked "How much do I really owe?"
The Angel smiled again and said, "My Child, Jesus Paid Your Bill A Long Time Ago."