Knowing Your Commitment

By: Gabriela Yareliz

Oftentimes, when we think of (Simon) Peter, we think of the things he said to Jesus. Jesus once told him, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31-3

Peter responded, “Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death.” Luke 22:33

To this Jesus replied, “The rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know me.” Luke 22:34

We always think of Peter in these terms. The disciple with the empty promise. We always characterize Peter as the hot headed, mouthy disciple. And many times, he was.

What I would like to propose is this: Jesus was right in that Peter ended up denying Him thrice before the crucifixion. Yes. Peter was scared, flawed and still had a lot of his journey to walk. Jesus knew this.

Still, while Jesus was right about that part in the short term, and He predicted Peter would turn again to strengthen his brothers, Peter was also right.

Peter failed Jesus when he denied Him. However, while Peter was very flawed, he knew where his commitment was. Peter was committed to Christ. The execution was a little illusive sometimes, but history tells us Peter suffered a lot for Christ’s name. History tells us Peter was crucified upside down. Peter ultimately did go to prison, and he died uplifting the name of Jesus.

Just like Peter, we are flawed individuals. In different ways, we may deny Jesus and what we believe by the way we live or the things we say, and later we cringe. But here, Peter shows us how important it is to know what you are committed to and to know what you love, regardless of how many times you screw up. This life is about dusting yourself off and standing every time you fall. It’s humbling. I just wanted to point out that God is not ready to make us better, He is ready to transform us. God helps us grow to the point where we can keep the commitment we have made in our hearts. The important thing is to have a commitment in your heart and press down that path. What is your heart committed to?

And remember, while Jesus saw Peter’s weakness, He saw Peter’s ultimate return and strength. And Peter was right about one thing; he knew who he wanted to serve.

In the end, Peter changed the world keeping the commitment that was in his heart.

About your nickel–

Friday Glee: September 18, 2015.
I reread this on the train this morning, again. It needed a repost. It was such a good reminder. I am often the girl asking for the nickel. I am in the process of learning to accept the $20.

Gabriela Yareliz's avatarGABRIELA YARELIZ

From Destiny, by Dr. Tony Evans, pg. 140

“A little girl came to her father one day and said, ‘Daddy, you promised to give me a nickel.’ Her father had promised her. So he reached in his pocket, but he couldn’t find a nickel. Instead, all he had were dollar bills. In fact, the smallest bill he had was a $20.

He said, ‘You’ve been a really good girl lately, so here is a twenty-dollar bill instead.’
The little girl started to cry. ‘But Daddy,’ she said, ‘you promised me a nickel.’
‘But sweetie,’ he replied, ‘this is a whole bunch of nickels.’
Yet because she could not understand, tears streamed down her face.”

This is not to say that only when we are good God gives us good things. No, His grace is always present with us, and His purposes for us are always greater that what we…

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Monday Inspiration: September 14, 2015

By: Gabriela Yareliz

Hi, hi! It’s Monday! (Partytime music in background).

I hope you are ready to conquer your week. The weekend was nice. I met some new people, walked like 70 blocks through Manhattan in fall weather (in heels), cooked, wore a hairnet, started up some Arabic lessons after years of neglect, caught up with old friends and got pumped about a new project I will be starting. But now, it’s work week time. Adulting.

Lately, I have been feeling like I am just going nonstop, and I am a pretty chill and flexible person. So, part of my effort this week and beyond will be to focus on taking better care of myself. I can’t change the fact that I am crazy busy, but I can hit the pause button a bit more.

I hope that this week, you conquer all. I hope you take some time for reflection and to take care of yourself.

Many times, we run around putting bandages on our problems. We mask symptoms, and we keep going, full speed, down a not-so-good path. Let’s stop masking, and let’s start listening and treating the roots of our problems. Have a healthy, succesful week.

Let’s rock!

“The difference between mercy and grace? Mercy gave the prodigal son a second chance. Grace gave him a feast.”

Max Lucado

“You mustn’t be afraid to dream a little bigger, darling.”

Inception, Dir. Christopher Nolan

“I remember the days I prayed for the things I have now.” (via jay-walden)

“What a terrible thing to think ‘Did they not love me because I was not their first choice?’ What a terrible thing that is, because you shouldn’t be on a list at all. Yes, love is a choice, but not one that settles. We see someone and we think ‘I want to love this person and build them up.’ And so you do, and not in a way that says ‘I want to love this person because they can do A.B. and C. For me.’ No, you love the person because you want to see them grow in beauty, grace, love, gentleness and wisdom. You want the best for them, because to you, they are the choice you made for better or worse, and not a number that fit all your needs and desires; because love comes with a servants heart.“

T.B. LaBerge // Things I’m still learning at 25

“We know that in September, we will wander through the warm winds of summer’s wreckage. We will welcome summer’s ghost.”

Henry Rollins

“Read books. Care about things. Get excited. Try not to be too down on yourself. Enjoy the ever-present game of knowing.”

Hank Green

[Images from Tumblr]

#TeamRafael

By: Gabriela Yareliz

Note: This is in no way a deep or serious discussion; it’s just a braindump.

Is anyone else excited to see who Jane will be marrying in season 2 of ‘Jane the Virgin’? October, come quickly. Reveal to us your mysteries.

While Michael is sweet and close to perfection, everyone saw him lie to Jane. I don’t like that. And even despite the lies and him sleeping with his detective partner (the pretty, drug dealer chick), most people are still #TeamMichael.

I am hoping Jane chooses Rafael… Sure, he was a playboy-cassanova type when Jane had a huge crush on him in high school, but I am a sucker for stories of redemption. I always hope that those monster crushes and incomplete love stories in people’s lives come full circle, even if it comes full circle years later. I hope Jane gets her story with Rafael. Because before Michael, there was Rafael Solano. And now, he is back. #TeamRafael

The YouTube fan vids are on point. This one, is one of my favorites:

Sunday Girl: September 13, 2015

Compiled by: Gabriela Yareliz

“We all need a great reminder not to forget our worth. The only person that deserves a special place in your life is someone that never made you feel like you were an option in theirs. Remember that and apply it to ALL of your personal relationships.” Kusha Alagband

“Some people lose a diamond because they are too busy chasing glitter.”

“That is the thing about women who have gone through a lot– people see them as dangerous because they know they can survive anything.”

[Webstagram and Tumblr]

Reflections Before Bedtime #38

By: Gabriela Yareliz

Today was the first day of school for all public school kids in NYC. It was a day filled with tiny cuties wearing their backpacks. Some cried and begged their parents not to leave them, others seemed to confidently go in the direction of new friends. Do you remember, back in the day, how your first days of school went?

In life, we encounter new things and old things. Sometimes, our lives feel like a continuation of old plans and desires, other times, we are at crazy turning points where tough and wise decisions must be made. Sometimes, a strange insecurity creeps up on us, and we feel stress like a pile of bricks.

I just wanted to say today, that regardless of whether it’s your first day in something or a day like many others, if you feel bored, scared, hopeful, or insecure– don’t forget that the God who has brought you this far can carry you the whole way through. Sometimes, in our heads, we picture God helping us reach a certain point, and then we imagine He disappears or is later disinterested in our journey, but that is not the case.

“The Lord has done what He has purposed; He has carried out His word.” Lamentations 2:17

Reflections Before Bedtime #37

By: Gabriela Yareliz

Getting told to sit down; sitting in a stolen chair; going up and down many flights of stairs (my butt is looking great); eavesdropping; talking in a press conference– all in a day’s work, my friends.

The temperatures are playfully hinting at the days to come. The future is bright and surprising. It’s distant but so close. It’s everything but planned. And in the end, I hope it’s better than anything I could have dreamed up. So far, we are on track.

Monday Inspiration: September 7, 2015

By: Gabriela Yareliz

September glory days are here. I am sitting here in a cozy but loud coffee shop. A sweet guy tried to tell a zany writer not to get more shots of espresso because it was bad for her, and I am here drinking a green juice whose taste of celery is waaayyy too strong, amused by their banter over how many shots of espresso is too much. Celery much? Anyway… enough with the cold-pressed juice drama and the lady high on espresso.

It’s Monday, which is party day on this site. I know I have slacked a bit in my Monday partying. It’s back, my people. It’s back.

Let’s make this week a flawless one.

Let’s have this week be a calm, restful and joyful week. This week is going to bring a lot of new things and challenges for me, personally. But it’s exciting, what can I say. I like a good challenge. I hope you meet your week’s tasks with the same defiant, giddy excitement.

Shall we begin the week inspiration?

Let’s rock.

“Stop measuring days by degree of productivity and start experiencing them by degree of presence.”
Alan Watts

“The sunrise, of course, doesn’t care if we watch it or not. It will keep on being beautiful, even if no one bothers to look at it.” Gene Amole

“The human heart beats approximately 4,000 times per hour and each pulse, each throb, each palpitation is a trophy engraved with the words ‘you are still alive.’ You are still alive. Act like it.” Rudy Francisco

“Embrace uncertainty. Some of the most beautiful chapters in our lives won’t have a title until much later.”

Bob Goff

“At last I have found my calling! My calling is love!”
St. Therese of Lisieux

“There is nothing more beautiful than nature early in the morning.”
Vincent van Gogh

“Friendship is an opportunity to act on God’s behalf in the lives of the people that we’re close to, reminding each other who God is.” Shauna Niequist, Cold Tangerines: Celebrating the Extraordinary Nature of Everyday Life

“God restores everything. When I submit the broken pieces of my life to Him, He restores me to a beauty far more than what I prayed for.” James Jason

“If you are silent, be silent out of love. If you speak, speak out of love.” St. Augustine

“We’re going to do things together, read things, go places, do things. We’re going to have a beautiful life.”
Joan Didion, from Run River

(Hilarious and honest Abuela Alba from Jane the Virgin.)

“Continue to share your heart with people even if it has been broken.” Amy Poehler, Harvard Speech

“In this grand world, with all of its secrets and wonders, we found each other. Isn’t that beautiful? Isn’t that mysterious? We are so small and the world is so big, yet, we found each other.”

T.B. LaBerge // I love you and I miss you

 “You will either step forward into growth, or back into safety.”
Abraham Maslow
“We have to choose joy and keep choosing it.”
Henri J.M. Nouwen

“I would like to be known as an intelligent woman, a courageous woman, a loving woman, a woman who teaches by being.”
Maya Angelou

“Love is like two steel rods being forged together, it’s important that we know who we are loving so that in the end we do not burn someone who wasn’t ready. Be careful, be wise, and be selfless, we never know what the power of our hearts will do to those around us. It can either build up and help us flourish, or it can destroy and leave scars on people who never wanted to be hurt.”

T.B. LaBerge // Things I’m still learning at 25

“Ah, September! You are the doorway to the season that awakens my soul.”
-Peggy Toney Horton

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!

XOXO.

[Images from Tumblr and Webstagram]

The Present

By: Gabriela Yareliz

History books are filled with what’s important to us.

Our victories, our battles, and everything in between.

In the book, bad and good make it in.

In it, we find things that hurt us; things that surprised us; things we couldn’t control; things we provoked.

History books hold our story;

half written by us, half written by a Providence that never ceases to leave us speechless. Our lives are our very own personal books.

We guard and filter what goes into our personal books. We choose how we live, and we choose who we allow into our stories.

Sometimes, someone sneaks past a filter. Sometimes, there are events that make up a major chapter, and we had no idea they would.

We bind our books tightly, maybe with lock and key. We rip out pages, knowing it doesn’t change a thing. We focus on reading and rereading passages– and then,

We look up.

Who knew looking up could be so dangerous? There are times when we look up from our books, and there, a chapter is added; without a single spoken word. Added, even if we immediately look down again.

Suddenly, we are writing a whole new chapter.

We know how history books end; always with the present, the continuous.

And as we write unexpected chapters, we ask ourselves if this will be the last– meaning it will become our present.

And just the fact that we are asking ourselves that, shows why it’s in the book in the first place.

It’s about figuring out whether this will be history, or whether it will be the documentation of how the significant present came to be.