“the air is cleared; and in that clearer air, what do we see?”
Most of us have a standard way of handling anger that veers in one of two directions: We scream or sulk. Permutations of each extreme include slamming doors or drawers, crying loudly, crying soflty, burying ourselves (conspicuously) in a book, nagging, making sullen remarks, or sniping at our partner or someone.
Anger is essential in the spectrum of human feeling. It is a form of feedback anout what we need and to want from life. Still, it’s useful to find some new ways to handle it rather than be stuck with the one we perfected in the cradle.
Experiment with doing opposite of what you’re accustomed to doing when you’re angry. If you usually yell, cry, or make scenes, try sitting quitely for a while by yourself. See if you can get at the hurts & fears that fuel your outbursts. Then perharps you can confront your partner with useful insights rather than blast with him a verbal inferno. If you are a “silent treatment” expert, see what happens if you vent a little. Why is it so hard to take a stand on your own behalf?
In the thick of a conflict, resist the urge to react according to the pattern. Figure out what you need to do to keep the dialogue going.
But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
Hebrews 2:9
Christ is familiar with your suffering. You are not alone in it. Press into your relationship with Him, sharing in your common experience. Lean into the hope that He has already conquered the source of our suffering and the battle has been won!
I missed out on posting this on my real birthday but it would be a waste not to post this. Around this time of the year is when I usually look back throughout the years on what I’ve accomplished and it could be really scary knowing how old Im getting year by year. This also helps me look at a lot of blessings thats been poured upon my life.
So, here it is! twenty-six lessons I've learned thus far in life:
1. That nothing can separate me from the love of God.
2. Life must go on, no matter how much tribulations I’m facing, I must move onward.
3. I am not perfect and that’s totally okay.
4. My family will always be there to support me no matter how many miles we are apart.
5. I rather try and fail than to miss out on opportunity given to me.
6. Holding grudges is the biggest way to self destruction.
7. Talent is not enough, hard work will get you anywhere.
8. Homemade beats store bought in any given day.
9. Friendships are rare gifts. When they are genuine, they stand the test of time and circumstances..
10. Kill someone with kindness. Easier than done but it works all the time.
11. I’m becoming more and more like my mother and it’s not even a bad thing.
12. Its okay to cry and let it all out.
13. It’s important to surround yourself with people who loves you, inspire you, encourage you, value you, bring the best in you, lends a helping hand when you need one and a shoulder to cry on. These are the people that matters in my life.
14. There’s always something to be learn every day.
15. To speak truth out of love.
16. Write, keep a journal.
17. Teaching is the best way to learn.
18. That it's hard to determine where to draw the line between being nice and not hurting people's feelings and standing up for what you believe
19. To prioritize financial obligations and to delay instant gratification.
20. Winning isn’t everything.
21. I’ve learned to STOP comparing myself to whoever I think is more successful than I am.
22. That I don’t need to worry about anything at all, God has his plans for me. I just need to trust Him.
23. Good marriage requires a meaningful communication.
24. That I am responsible for what I do and say no matter how I feel.
25. Being someone you want to be takes a long period time and effort to get you where you want to be.
26. My husband is the most patient and loving person I’ve known in my life. Being married to him has taught me so much valuable things I would’ve ever learned without his help and understanding. “I love you so much, you are my hero”.
The lazy river in WorldMark
Ceasar's palace front yard
Paris
My view from the passenger seat
My trip to Las Vegas last weekend was not what I had in mind as my husband & I got sick while we we’re there but we still managed to at least enjoy our stay. It was adventurous, funny and lots of wine. Thank you again for my friends who made it to Vegas to celebrate our birthdays!
While I was in Vegas
·I had the most terrible flu in my life. I was burning up, coughing, shaking and can’t get out of bed.
·It was so hot that I can barely go out of our condo and whenever I try I had a nose bleed.
·My friends and I celebrated my birthday by lying all day in the lazy river, playing water volleyball with wine and BBQs and then went all dolled up for the dinner then clubbing.
·My dear friend accidentally deleted a day’s worth of photos.
·My girlfriends were so drunk they were falling out off the bed, swimming and crawling on the floor.
·I missed out on hookah, more clubbing, boating and jet skiing on Lake Mead since I was sick again.
·I found the perfect leather jacket.
·Hubby bought me a new Tiffany bracelet.
·Had the most delicious frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity.
·I have more photos to upload just be patient with me.
If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.
Psalm 139:9,10If you find yourself in bizarre - even self-imposed circumstances - be reminded that as far removed from normal as the uttermost parts of the sea, even there God's hand will lead you and hold you. Take courage, then, that no matter where you find yourself, God is aware of your circumstances, and His hand holds you.
This one goes to all my fellow Filipinos who currently suffering from most horrible typhoon flood and to all my family, friends in Manila.
Filipinos will survive Ondoy!
My heart and prayers to you all.
We’ll be leaving in a couple of hours to Vegas to celebrate husby’s 25th and my 26th birthday. Our schedule says it’ll take about 8 hours driving from our place to our destination but I am sure judging by the way my husband drives we will be there before our estimate arrival time.
I was looking forward to this trip over a month or two but since it somehow fell apart by so much unexpected drama I completely been nonchalant about it even up to this moment. I wasn’t feeling so well the whole day and was a little feverish and I just want to cancel the whole trip although it would be really unfair to my friends who are flying to Vegas just to celebrate our birthdays with us. Perhaps this trip will make me go out of my shell again and for me to stop acting being so pessimistic (which is not my nature, btw) and get a little rowdy since we are out of town and all. I just hope that I feel better and actually have the energy to be a sport and be on a party mode. Will update soon and expect a lot of photos.
…Moved back to Seattle to help out my mom with financial situation while the husby stays in California to continue working to make that big bucks.
…Looking for a fulltime job back in Seattle and working part time at the moment.
…Seriously thinking back on going back to school and just suck it up till I graduate.
…Getting use to the fact that my brothers are growing up and that they have their own lives too.
… Continuously learning a lot about personal enrichment, how to react slowly to anger, self acceptance, to love everyone (not just the people who loves me), and keys to a happy marriage.
…Haven’t work-out for more than 3mos and now I’ve gained back all the weight I lost.
…I’ve noticed that my shoe collection is getting out of hand and I need to start wearing most of them and donate the one that I rarely use.
…I realized that I may not change everything all at once but at least I am taking baby steps toward that big leap of change.
…My friends are awesome and always ready to help out in times of need, and that I am truly blessed to have them.
…Facebook has been my way of communicating to my friends, family around the world and it’s just awesome to actually interact with them more than just a couple times a year.
…Confused on some people who claims to be my friend but totally acts the opposite way.
…In a couple of days I will be turning twenty-six but somehow I still feel like I am eighteen or maybe twenty-one. On some days I feel like I haven’t done anything worthwhile with my life and there are days that I feel like I am on top of the world and can do everything without any hesitation and fear in my heart.
…Hoping that I’ll be blogging again just like before.
Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Philippians 2:4
Can't this verse be my life's motto as of today and till the day I consistently practice humility, notice that this says "...not only to your own interests," - so that doesn't mean be a doormat and let people walk all over you. Make note of the balanced encouragement here - consider the interests of others around you - definitely be a servant and kindhearted, but don't forget that if you're not taking care of you, it's going to be harder to be at your best so you can serve others.
His master said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.
Matthew 25:23
The little unseen details are just as important as the visible grandiose accomplishments. Be attentive to both and let this passage encourage you to dot every I and cross every T with the things the Lord has entrusted to you.
And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one and half to the other. Then the woman whose son was alive said to the king, because her heart yearned for her son, Oh, my lord, give her the living child, and by no means put him to death.
1 Kings 3:25,26
If you love something enough that you would let go of it in order to preserve it, that is unconditional love. If you're holding on too tight to the very thing you love, be careful that you aren't willing to harm it in the process of trying to keep it.
He said to them, 'Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there, and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.'"
Matthew 17:20
Picture a mountain. Any mountain. If you having faith in God is enough to move that mountain, don't you think that the same God will also move in your life in the areas that seem impossible? Look at those things like you look at the mountain. Have faith that He will do what only He can do and ask and trust Him to do it!
This passage just reaches out for me in so much ways than it could ever be. I hope this help you guys out in some ways that it did to me.
Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands...
Isaiah 49:16a
Would you engrave someone's name on your hand who you did not know? Neither would God. Be reminded He knows you - even the parts of you that feel lonely, hidden and unknown. Let Him in to those places, so that He can completely assure you that He's in control.
...remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 1:3
When the work that you put your hands to is rooted in love for who you serve, it's a lot easier to stay motivated during times of resistance. Consider why you do the work you do and find a way to let love motivate your efforts. Remembering and forgetting sometimes I find myself doing them exactly opposite on given circumstances but having faith and LOVE above all things always puts me in the right direction. MOTIVATION, this has been my wall lately. I find myself apart from everything I do and I tend to question what and where is the point of doing what I do, I also find myself recently lying around thinking of the possible things I could and can do but pull aside. Lack of motivation due to certain situations shouldn’t pull me down but nonetheless a greater push for me to strive for the best. HE always has the funny ways of clearing things up for me and I appreciate HIS sense of humor all the time.
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