From Ellen G. White’s Testimonies for the Church, vol.2
“Seek the Lord with all your hearts. Make this the all-important business of your lives.” – {2T 178.2}
It’s All About His Glory
Taken from Destiny, by Dr. Tony Evans, pg. 171
“There’s something romantic about a full moon against the backdrop of a darkened sky. But if you recall from your science classes, the moon has no light of its own. […] When we look at the moon, we see the brilliant reflection of the even more brilliant sun. The radiant moon does no work on its own.[…] Whenever only part of the moon is lit up, Earth is blocking the sun’s glory. Friend, what are you allowing to get in the way of God’s glory and reduce your ability to be a full reflection of Him?”
All About Your Heart
Winston Churchill Park, NYC
By: Gabriela Yareliz
I thought I would actually write something; a short note perhaps. The semester is ending. Time is just running like sand between our fingers. It feels like we are on a car that is on fire heading toward a finish line that is actually made of caution tape.
Life has been very blessed. I have been so blessed by those around me. Spring has kind of arrived (we have snow in the forecast for Tues. & Wed.). Now that it’s sunny outside, I need to shut my curtains and pretend it’s still nasty out, so I won’t just start walking around the city like a crazy wanderer. I will seriously say, “I will go out and walk for 15 minutes.” Those 15 min. turn into a nice turn on Hudson street, and a two hour walk down to Battery Park or something.
The weather is making it hard to stay indoors, so maybe I should enjoy the last snow flurries and get over myself.
Floating around in my head are flowers, page numbers to read, colorful skirts, sunshine, that Safe Haven movie by Nicholas Sparks that I saw over Christmas break (This is what happens when you watch one movie a year [especially if it’s a Nicholas Sparks production]), clients and their stories, my friendly pigeons living by my window who have mysteriously gone on vacation now that it’s warmer, etc.
Anyway, the week begins. Time to get busy. Once I start, there is no stopping until next Sabbath.
Don’t forget to look up at the blue skies (and sometimes you will see a cool building top or something you never noticed before); if it snows, do a little dance (in the snow, of course); if you spot a flower, thank God for its beauty; if you meet someone broken, let them hold your hand; if you come across your reflection, make sure you see who you want to be.
“Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart.” Khalil Gibran
Here is a beautiful song, I randomly came across. I thought it was simply lovely.
MINDY GLEDHILL -ALL ABOUT YOUR HEART
/My imagination sees you
Like a painting by Van Gogh
Starry nights and bright sunflowers
Follow you where you may go
Oh, I’ve loved you from the start
In every single way
And more each passing day
You are brighter than the stars
Believe me when I say
It’s not about your scars
It’s all about your heart
You’re a butterfly held captive
Small and safe in your cocoon
Go on you can take your time
Time is said to heal all wounds/
Defined
“Maybe I don’t want to be defined by what I do. Maybe I would like to be defined by what I am.” Nicholas Sparks, Safe Haven
About your nickel–
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 envision ourselves.
Tony Evans continues, “We tell God what we want to do with our lives. We tell Him what we desire. But God says that if you will simply commit all of you to Him, He has so much more to give you than just what you want…Even if God’s purposes include a cross on Friday, remember–there will be resurrection on Sunday. Trust Him.”
Let’s Play Holi?
Safe Haven
“I’ve come to believe that in everyone’s life, there’s one undeniable moment of change, a set of circumstances that suddenly alters everything.” Nicholas Sparks, Safe Haven
“I truly believe that while love can hurt, love can also heal.” Nicholas Sparks, Safe Haven
Wisdom from Feeny
Tuesday Badinage
By: Gabriela Yareliz
It was a spring day today. I was trapped inside for the entirety of it. In the forecast is: snow. Yes! (Sarcasm dripping all over this people). It seems like we will be experiencing the four seasons this week. New Yorkers are simply living through it and trying to just “let it go,” Frozen-style, and gird our tights and leggings to stay warm. I hope the meteorologists are lying. Is that a bad thing to wish?
This week, even though it’s only Tuesday, has been exhausting.
Today, I finished Limitless by Nick Vujicic. Here is some inspiration from the last chapter:
“The greatest miracle is the transformation from the inside out. The greatest purpose is to know God as a friend and to have the blessing of going home to heaven, where no pain, no sickness, no hardship will ever find you.[…]While I am in this life, I try to have an impact that will last just as long. It won’t matter how much money I made or how many nice cars I’ve owned. What will matter is that I reached out to someone and served a purpose greater than my own.[…]Love each other as if it’s your last day on this earth. Live life to the fullest and appreciate every day that you wake up and take a breath.” pg. 158-159, Limitless, Nick Vujicic
Can I just say, life is strange. Things come full circle. You suffer; you learn; you share with those going through what you went through in the past; you grow; you get pulled up; you pull others up… it’s a fascinating cycle.
Sometimes, some things are never resolved (the way we envision resolution). I have seen so many changes, turning points, big moments–I can’t help but think about life; its intricacies and how God connects us all.
On a not-so-random note: I can’t wait until spring!
xoxo.
-GY
Celebrating Women: Queen Rania
By: Gabriela Yareliz
Queen Rania of Jordan. Her story of becoming queen is every girl’s dream. Her YouTube channel has reached millions around the world. She is a voice for empowerment in education, health, development, youth and cross-cultural dialogue.
She is a mother, recipient of the FIFA 2009 Presidential Award, and she actively works with the United Nations and UNICEF to promote education for young women and a better world.
When I was in middle school, I remember finding her in a magazine, called Vanidades. It was the first time I had ever seen her, and I thought she was so beautiful. The magazine is ironically called “Vanities” (almost like a Spanish version of Vanity Fair meets Vogue). The piece was about her as life and work, and her intelligence astounded me. From that day forward, my admiration for her has continued to grow. I cut out a photo of her, and it was on my wall in my room ever since.
Role-model material. She inspires young Arab women, but as you can see, her influence has gone far beyond the Middle East.
GABRIELA YARELIZ 