Ninety-day Challenge

“You Christians look after a document containing enough dynamite to blow all civilization to pieces, turn the world upside down and bring peace to a battle-torn planet. But you treat it as though it is nothing more than a piece of literature.” Mahatma Gandhi

By: Gabriela Yareliz

I’ve talked to people, and I have realized it is becoming easier and easier to tell who has actually studied the Bible based on how the person talks about it. I have heard many commentaries that demonstrate a superficial knowledge (perhaps what was learned from a childhood Sunday School teacher or what they have been told); some have even read the book, but how many have studied it?

We often point to erroneous teachings man and the church have instituted and disseminated, and we cast blame on scripture and religion, when really, if scripture were studied, it would be made plain that institutions and man have often stood in error that is not backed by scripture.

No matter how many times one reads the Bible, one finds wisdom in it. One sees humanity in a raw form, and one sees God’s power to transform. It is the greatest love letter ever written (and Valentine’s Day is coming up!).

I have decided to take the 90-day challenge. I have never studied the entire Bible in such a short span of time (90 days is three months!), and I think it is going to be an interesting, transforming and fun challenge. I am letting you know, in case you want to join me. If you dare study, you will never be the same (of that, I am sure).

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Monday Inspiration: January 19, 2015

By: Gabriela Yareliz

Hello Monday, and happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day! As I am writing this, it is Sunday, and I am up in the sky flying back to the Big Apple. Freezing rain is pelting down the city that is waiting for me. Oh New York! A city God’s providence has taken me to, and He has challenged and walked with me every step of the way. As I am up here, I am overwhelmed thinking about how many blessings have come to my life, and how many prayers God has answered for me. As I am flying back, with an aching heart missing my family and friends, on my little television set on the back of the seat in front of me, Princess Diaries 2 is playing. One of my favorite movies. I will take this as a wink from God; a nice comforting touch.

Today, as we honor Martin Luther King, Jr., I hope we keep present in our minds how God can use one person to inspire people and effect change. I hope we remember that God has a purpose for our lives and that while it may take sacrifice and a letter from the Birmingham Jail, dreams can come true.

I am forever grateful for Dr. King’s faith, dream and sacrifice.

“But though I was initially disappointed at being categorized as an extremist, as I continued to think about the matter, I gradually gained a level of satisfaction from the label. Was not Jesus an extremist for love:  ‘Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you, and persecute you.'” Dr. King, pg. 179, Letter From a Birmingham Jail

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“Earth is forgiveness school.”

Anne Lamott

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[“I have learned to kiss the wave that slams me into the Rock of Ages.” Charles Spurgeon]

“The gift of darkness draws you to know God’s presence, beyond what thought, imagination, or sensory feeling can comprehend.” Richard Rohr, OFM

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“Love, in the Christian sense, does not mean an emotion. It is a state not of the feelings but of the will; that state of the will which we have naturally about ourselves, and must learn to have about other people.”
 C.S. Lewis

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“I am learning every day to allow the space between where I am and where I want to be to inspire me and not terrify me.”

Tracee Ellis Ross

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“Just because it’s not happening right now doesn’t mean it never will.”

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“Ten years from now, make sure you can say that you chose your life, you didn’t settle for it.”
Mandy Hale, The Single Woman

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“I hope you find someone who is brave enough to enter your storm, and respects you enough to love the size of your waves. I hope you find someone who will relish the calm you can have, and who is eager to set sail on the expanse of your mind. I hope you find someone that can’t escape the love they have for you, because now they have you in their very blood, always reminding them that you are the only sea worth exploring.”

T.B. LaBerge // Unwritten Letters to You

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“Courageous hearts are often covered in scars.”

T.B. LaBerge // Go Now

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“What in the world would we do without our libraries?”

Katherine Hepburn

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“You shouldn’t stop everything from happening. Sometimes you’re supposed to feel awkward. Sometimes you’re supposed to be vulnerable in front of people. Sometimes it’s necessary because it’s all part of you getting to the next part of yourself.”

Cecilia Ahern, The Book of Tomorrow

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“You are the books you read, the films you watch, the music you listen to, the people you meet, the dreams you have, the conversations you engage in. You are what you take from these.”

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“Ralph Waldo Emerson once asked what we would do if the stars only came out every thousand years. No one would sleep that night, of course…We would be ecstatic, made rapturous by the glory of God. Instead, the stars come out each night, and we watch television.” Paul Hawkens

What are you doing tonight?

[Images from Tumblr]

What We Celebrate

By: Gabriela Yareliz

When you have witnessed someone’s pain after they have experienced sex trafficking, and sexual abuse and assault, pornography and the culture’s obsession with sex doesn’t seem as innocent.

When you have witnessed a person’s struggle, someone who has fled domestic violence or abuse where alcoholism or drugs fueled the abuser, drinking doesn’t seem as glamorous.

When you have witnessed a child grow up without a father because of a teenage pregnancy or you meet a young woman who lived pregnant and alone in her car, partying and casual sex don’t seem so freeing.

When you witness a funeral, violence doesn’t seem as exciting.

When you have witnessed someone’s ruin and spiral out of control and you have seen someone’s emptiness, addictions don’t seem insignificant.

Why do we listen to and watch things that reflect a culture that is confused and broken? Don’t we know that when we become slaves to something, we are the ones who end up broken, and we break hearts around us? Don’t we know that we become changed by what we decide to behold?

If we saw the reality of things, if we saw the consequences of many things we celebrate, applaud and accept, if we saw the lives broken around us, if we cared… Things would be different.

As 2015 begins, remember to think about who you want to be, what you want to support, and choose accordingly.

It is said that the pure in heart will see God, and it is likely only the pure in heart want to see God. I pray that we can take the following words to heart: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8

“What you applaud, you encourage, but beware what you celebrate…” Ravi Zacharias

Go Now by T.B. LaBerge

“God has a way of stripping everything that we think we need, and He leaves just Himself to us. It is never an easy thing to be in that situation; one day praising God for His goodness and the next crying out to Him to make Himself known in the storm.
When we have rooted ourselves to a safe place, God tends to rip us out of the ground and plant us somewhere new. We may hate it, revile Him for it, and even reject Him for a time. But when we look back, we will see that we needed to be uprooted, to be changed from that place that was slowly killing us.
God is the master gardener, He knows all His plants by name, He delicately removes the bad weeds and waters the good seeds. He does what needs to be done, so that one day we can look back and see the majesty that He was doing.
You are being made into a beautiful thing, something that God loves to watch grow. So the next time you are taken out of your comfort zone, know that Christ is slowly making you something great, because He is doing it; and He is the greatest thing.”
T.B. LaBerge // Go Now

[Image from Tumblr]

Reflections Before Bedtime #6

By: Gabriela Yareliz

Sabbath has been awesome so far. We kicked off the Sabbath hours with the last night of The Grace Tour at the University of Florida.

Today, the focus of the talk was Luke 9:23:
“And he said to call, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.'”

The words spoken by Jesus made me reflect. What does it mean to deny oneself? How many things do we do in life that distract us from what really matters? Jeremy Anderson said things that resonated with me, like: we really begin to live when we come to Him who gave us life and has designed a special purpose for us. It isn’t enough to exist and live foolishly. God invites us to live with purpose.

There are three steps: after self denial is taking one’s cross, and then, following Him. Jesus led a pretty revolutionary life. He was all about love, people and compassion. He is love, and He is mercy (those aren’t just attributes–these things define Him).

Part of the most beautiful moments in life are when you see God’s hand in your life, because then you not only see what grace and love are, but you experience them.

Love changes us, and I truly believe that anything good found in us is God’s goodness shining through us. Deep down, we are broken, selfish and confused, but love steps in to save us.

Love implies trust.
Love is not only kind, enduring and never failing, but it is patient, too. Love conquers all.

Tonight, as I thought about this past semester, I am so grateful. It was my toughest semester yet, but God helped me keep it together. I made a lot of changes, and I gave up a comfort zone that was killing my spirit softly. In my later, chosen discomfort, I found unexpected blessings. God answered so many prayers: from grades (I spent the majority of the time in one of my classes feeling like I was learning Chinese, and I completed it successfully, thank God) to requests for peace. I thought about everything that is still unknown down the path, and how in life we need to recognize God for who He is and allow Him to be God in our lives. As an older sister and an independent person, sometimes I can take the leader role a little too seriously, yet in the midst of lessons and disappointments that later turn into blessings, the fog begins to fade, and I always learn more about myself. I see how God works with me and on me; He meets me right where I am. I see my pride, ambition and annoyingness shine through.

In the stillness of seeing myself as I am, I see His love and His little signs that always show me He is there, and He hasn’t missed a beat. I see how His love has transformed me and continues healing me. I see how love is patient, and I am glad it continues to be patient with me.

God wants our obedience and trust. He wants us to have joy and life in abundance. He doesn’t want us to be slaves to anything, and His perfect love drives out all fear. He wants our minds clear, and our hearts full. He wants our hands out; embracing, clothing, healing, comforting and loving.

To be properly filled, a cup should be empty; denying oneself. To be useful, a cup should hold the water inside; bearing one’s cross. To fulfill its purpose, a cup must be obedient to the hand that holds it, the water will flow, and there will be no more thirst; follow Him.

Reflections Before Bedtime #5

By: Gabriela Yareliz

Soon, 2015 will be getting “real” as far as work and grind is concerned. I have been at home reading, storing up sanity and peace for what is to come, and meditating on life (nerdy– I know). I have been listening to people’s plans for this new year. I have been thinking about my own hopes, plans, and not only that, but also the real and difficult changes I want to make in my life.

It has been rainy and chilly. I go on morning adventures with my doggy friend and camera through the acres around us. As I take photos of different things, I am reminded of how I need to refocus the camera and make adjustments to capture what is in front of me just the way I want to get it.

Life is very much like that. It takes a lot of refocusing and perspective. I have had so many thoughts cross my mind recently, like: how I will need to take some leaps of faith to end up where I want to be post-graduation, even if it is not what I had originally envisioned; I never want to date a guy who would command me to type his fellowship applications on a date when my arm is freshly broken, and I have only one functioning hand in pain (I am looking at you Stephen Hawking; apparently, I am still suffering for Jane Hawking after reading her experiences. Why Hawking, why?!); I need to be open to some things for some things to actually happen; I should be less stubborn; I need to learn to pronounce some things in English like everyone else does; I need to be more positive; I need to study my Bible more… there is a lot that needs work, but I am willing to weed the garden and not let some blossoms choke.

Some plans have changed, new hopes have emerged, and things that I once hoped wouldn’t happen are now a reality I am actually happy with (ironic). Sometimes, God has to allow us to break to get us where He wants us, where it is best, and where we can serve with humility and grow without pretense.

One thing continues to be a theme: I keep seeing the impossible become possible (reminds me of that Mandela quote).

This year is going to be exciting, tough, uncomfortable, unique, and there will be sacrifices, but it is going to be AMAZING. 2014 brought me unexpected gifts and surprises, I need to enjoy them and open my heart to what 2015 will give me. This time, with no reservations.

I am grateful for every day that I get to try to grow and improve my severely flawed self, for every day God’s will unfolds in my life, for every day I give and receive what money can’t buy, for every day a dream comes true and a new one is born.

/In this place that has no name,
I can’t remember why I came;
Then I hear you whisper low,
One more mile to Jericho/

/Nothing is ever what it seems,
When you live inside your dreams;
The walls will tumble/

Jericho, Hilary Duff

[Image from Tumblr]