So, you know how people have Pinterest boards with their life goals on them? This post will kind of be like an inspiration board (aren’t they all). The Khoshbins are such an inspirational power couple. When I see them, I see a united front, partners-in-crime, and by the way they talk, and the messages they transmit, you know they are both spiritually and emotionally connected. So beautiful; God bless them. Also, they are one of those “started from the bottom, but now we are here” stories. Persevering, creative, and they give back. So the Khoshbins have it. #relationshipgoals
Akash, you are one of the most uniquely hilarious people I have ever met. High school wouldn’t have been high school without you.
It was awesome sitting next to this smart, funny guy throughout high school. He always made me laugh. He is caring, hilarious and generous. Dear Mort, this one goes out to you. *wink*
May your year be full of blessings, and of course, that God may grant us more years of laughter with you.
This week, I earned the title of detective. The weeks get more intense as they pass by; something that seems impossible until it happens. BUT–it’s Friday. Time to celebrate. The Sabbath has come as an oasis to rescues us from a weird vortex that swallows us. Have some blessed rest. Time to drop everything, and take some soul-gardening time.
My detective ways are going to get me a TV show, someday:
“There is no end. There is no beginning. There is only passion of life.” Federico Fellini
“Pain and suffering are always inevitable for a large intelligence and a deep heart. The really great men must, I think, have great sadness on earth.” Fyodor Dostoevsky
Ya viene pronto, la inspiracion para los que buscamos empleo sin limite de geografia, Perdiendo El Norte:
Wise words from Manny Khoshbin:
“We must be thankful to all the people who have helped us, we must honor them and love them. But never, never pin your whole faith on any human being: not if he is the best and wisest in the whole world. There are lots of nice things you can do with sand: but do not try building a house on it.” C.S. Lewis
“Life with God is not immunity from difficulties, but peace in difficulties.” C.S. Lewis
“A soulmate is someone to whom we feel profoundly connected, as though the communicating and communing that take place between us were not the product of intentional efforts, but rather divine grace.” Thomas Moore
“One can begin so many things with a new person!–even begin to be a better man.” George Elliot, Middlemarch
“You must not reduce yourself to a puddle just because the person you like is afraid to swim and you are a fierce sea to them; because there will be someone who was born with love of the waves within their blood, and they will look at you with fear and respect.” T.B. LaBerge // Things I’m Still Learning at 25
“And when you choose a life partner, you’re choosing a lot of things, including your parenting partner and someone who will deeply influence your children, your eating companion for about 20,000 meals, your travel companion for about 100 vacations, your primary leisure time and retirement friend, your career therapist, and someone whose day you’ll hear about 18,000 times.
Choose wisely.” -Unknown
“She hated being so clumsy with words, when words meant so much.” Joyce Carol Oates, Give Me Your Heart
“Sometimes when we get overwhelmed, we forget how big God is.” A.W. Tozer
“You’ll either be humble enough to produce ‘decent’ work on your way to excellence or be frozen by intimidation and never make anything.” Peter D. Webb • Intended Purpose
I hope those of you on spring break are having a blast. Yesterday, I walked through hail. So, as you can see, winter has not loosened its grip on NYC.
March has begun. Some of us soon-to-be-graduates are feeling giddy, distressed, nervous, heartbroken, empowered and definitely busy. I don’t know why, but when a new phase of life approaches, I guess it’s the human tendency to start a bunch of self-improvement projects. We start fixing our hair different, adopt a new makeup and fitness routine, etc. It’s all about making sure we look good and like presentable adults when we are finally released from the expensive prison that is legal education. I am just so grateful that even from one month to another we grow in maturity and life discoveries.
I was listening to Dr. Tony Evans’ final message in the “Believe” series, and he was talking about how sometimes we think God is late. He made reference to the story of Lazarus. He then drew a parallel. When one goes to a fast-food joint through the drive-through, if you ask for something more specialized or picky than the average thing on the menu, they will often instruct you to park in a designated parking spot and ask you to wait while they get your order how you want it, and they bring it out to you.
Dr. Evans said, the same thing happens in life. Oftentimes, when we think God is late, He is not. He is simply getting what is meant for you just right, for you. He is also getting us ready to receive that special order. So, if you are waiting on something, don’t lose hope or get too discouraged. Faith requires action. God wants to see us start the sentence so He can finish it.
I hope this week is powerful for you. I hope you feel encouraged, warm, and walking in a good direction. March madness begins. It’s on!
“I loved to sleep with the window open. Rainy nights were the best of all: I would open the window and put my head on the pillow and close my eyes and feel the wind on my face and listen to the trees sway and creak.” Neil Gaiman, The Ocean at the End of the Lane
“[…] howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing.” Nehemiah 13:2
“My soul is from elsewhere, I’m sure of that, and I intend to end up there.” Rumi
“But first, remember, remember the signs. Say them to yourself when you wake in the morning and when you lie down at night, and when you wake up in the middle of the night. And whatever strange things may happen to you, let nothing turn your mind from following the signs.” C.S. Lewis, The Silver Chair
“Their prison is only in their own minds, yet they are in that prison; and so afraid of being taken in that they cannot be taken out.” C.S. Lewis, The Last Battle
“The only place we need to see before we die is this place of seeing God, here and now.” Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts
“People grow when they are loved well. If you want to help others heal, love them without an agenda.” Mike McHargue
“One day, you’ll see that the person who decided to jump ship was never the one who put the wind in your sails; you will always be able to explore the world outside of them.” T.B. LaBerge// Things I’m Still Learning at 25
“Of one thing I am perfectly sure: God’s story never ends with ‘ashes.'” Elisabeth Elliot
“Poetry doesn’t have to rhyme, it just has to touch someone where your hands couldn’t.” Rudy Akbarian
“She reads. She reads. She reads words of splendor to comfort her soul.” Leila Hussein
Find the words that comfort your soul. Find peace that surpasses all understanding. Have a beautiful week.
February took us by storm. Winter storm. Ha. What a month. I could use a month to recuperate from February, but no such thing. March madness is here! The ICC Cricket World Cup has been a blast so far (probably because my team is doing well; Go India!). This month has had some bitter cold temperatures; my hair got longer (yay for hair growth spurts); I continued my read-the-Bible-in-90-days challenge (It has been a huge blessing. I start Proverbs tomorrow); and every day, every step has taken me closer to where I need to go next.
March is here. This is the month before classes end and all madness breaks loose. March madness is the madness the precedes the more intense madness that comes in April *grin*. Such is the life of a graduating student. Once the semester nears its end, everything gets real, quick.
March will be a month of tough decisions; some dramatic acts of pure faith–> which means hardcore growth (not always fun, but always necessary). March, bring it on. February was tough but is now in the past. The February obstacles have been overcome by the grace of God, so I will build on that to strengthen my March walk.
I hope you feel strengthened through your March walk. I hope you will continue to find pieces of inspiration here. This March, let’s be more than lucky; let’s be truly blessed. Let’s turn those prayer requests and burning desires in our hearts into a testimony of how God intervenes on our behalf in our lives. Let’s walk through March together.
A little tribute to St. Patrick:
“Hence I cannot be silent,
and indeed I ought not be,
about the many blessings and the great grace
which the Lord has deigned to bestow upon me.”
Saint Patrick
1] This moment before the performance of Glory (from Selma) at the Oscars. John Legend and Common in a prayer huddle.
@theacademy John Legend, Common and crew taking a moment before they hit the stage #oscars
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“We get big faith because we serve a big God.” Jeremy Anderson
3] Joel Madden wrote this song for his wife Nicole Richie. It’s adorably sweet.
4] It has been a busy month. One of those months where you say:
5] Juicers
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“Do not think that love in order to be genuine has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired. Be faithful in the small things, because it is in them that your strength lies.” Mother Teresa
8] Congrats to the minorities who have worked hard to share their stories!
CristelaFresh Off the Boat
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“If you hear a voice within you say ‘you cannot paint,’ then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.” Vincent Van Gogh
10] Ravi Zacharias quote:
“Secularism when it has had its day will produce no shame. Pluralism when it has had its day, produce no reason, privatization when it has had its day, no meaning.”
11] There were some fabulous haircuts:
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“We were like matching bookends, almost touching but with volumes between us and stories, so many stories.”
from Drowning Instinct by Ilsa J. Bick
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“Author George MacDonald once said, ‘To give truth to him who loves it not is only to give him more plentiful reasons for misinterpretation.’ The love of truth and the willingness to submit to its demands is the first step.” Ravi Zacharias
14] Favorite things
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“Faith is not a concept you visit, it’s a lifestyle you posses.” Dr. Tony Evans
16] Ben Savage and Will Friedle filming Girl Meets World
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“If you choose to look for a big God, then you will find a big God.” Christine Caine
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“When you don’t live by faith, you are challenging God’s integrity; you are calling God a liar.” Dr. Tony Evans
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20] The bold, honest and creative Nicole Richie in Dubai
“Faithfulness springs up from the ground, and righteousness looks down from the sky. Yes, The Lord will give what is good.” Psalm 85:11-12
Sometimes, we do know what we want, we just lack the faith to pursue it. We forget who places the dreams in our hearts and that The Lord himself gives what is good.
GABRIELA YARELIZ 