Friday Glee: September 25, 2015

By: Gabriela Yareliz

I rode the train with a precocious child. He kept asking a bunch of questions, like which trains arrived at what station, and why certain tracks were higher than others. He was probably five years old. Then, when he arrived at his stop, he reached over and grabbed his mom’s hand and led her, in a gentleman-like fashion, off the train. Adorable. It reminded me of how brilliant people are the ones who ask a lot of questions and give love.

Today is Friday. Thank God. There is a lot to be grateful for.

I wanted to put out a reminder today, from Psalm 85:12: “Yes, the Lord will give what is good…”

Have an awesome end to this arduous week.

Reflections Before Bedtime #40

Compiled by: Gabriela Yareliz

“Serenity is the immense sweetness of no longer expecting anything, just walking, just moving on.” Frédéric Gross, A Philosophy of Walking, 146.

“The inescapable thing about walking is that once started, one is forced to arrive. There is no other way, one has to progress. And at the end of the fatigue and the road, one always arrives, it’s enough to add up the hours and think: Let’s go! It was written, unchangeable. When you are on foot, to arrive you must walk. Will as destiny.” Id. at 158.

[Image from Tumblr]

Monday Inspiration: September 21, 2015

By: Gabriela Yareliz

As I am writing this, it is still dark outside. I can see the bridge lights twinkling. My hair is wet and curling into an untamable mess.

This week, two of my dear friends turned a year older, Liz and Feliz. It’s crazy when you start calculating time, and you realize how long you have known someone. Friendship is a blessing.

It’s that time of the year. September is ending (in case you hadn’t noticed). Autumn is in the air. Another exciting week stands before us. I hope you live this week with joy. It’s great to be alive!

May we grow; may we encourage each other; and may we seek truth.

“The only meaningful thing we can offer one another is love. Not advice, not questions about our choices, not suggestions for the future, just love.”

Glennon Melton, Carry On, Warrior

“Human beings grow best with encouragement and love. Today, let every word you speak (to yourself and others) be filled with kindness.”

Cheryl Richardson

“You can’t get much done in life if you only work on days when you feel good.”

Jerry West 

“It is okay to be at a place of struggle. Struggle is just another word for growth.”

Neale Donald Walsch

“Go forth and set the world on fire.”

St. Ignatius Loyola

“No man chooses evil because it is evil; he only mistakes it for happiness, the good he seeks.”

Mary Wollstonecraft

“When you offer peace instead of division, when you offer faith instead of fear, when you offer someone a place at your table instead of keeping them out because they’re different or messy or wrong somehow, you represent the heart of Christ.”

Shauna Niequist, Bread & Wine: A Love Letter to Life Around the Table with Recipes

“Love is running your fingers over the cracks in someone’s heart and soul while looking into their eyes with a smile that says, ‘I’m staying.’”

Randall Core

 “It has made me better, loving you.” Henry James, The Portrait of a Lady

“But you can’t plead with autumn. No. The midnight wind stalked through the woods, hooted to frighten you, swept everything away for the approaching winter, whirled the leaves.”

Yevgeny Zamyatin 

[Images from Tumblr]

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]