This Week’s Picks: August 4, 2013

By: Gabriela Yareliz

Sometimes, we don’t understand everything that happens to us, but it is important to see God’s hand in everything. We must remember there is nothing that escapes His attention. I have heard some incredible testimonies this week of how God has come through, on things that seem small, but matter a lot to us. Whatever you are going through, know he’s got you covered. Always.

1] Karla’s Story-miracles

I saw her story on Answered.tv. I love this channel. If you want to hear about answered prayers on diverse topics, and hear about real miracles, check it out! There is a link on the left bar of the blog. Check out her story here. I liked her story because it reflected a bit of what I work with every day; detention centers, immigration court, visas and asylum. God answer’s prayers.

“He took my pain, and used it for His gain. My name is Karla, and my prayer was answered.” -Karla, answered.tv

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5] Marlene’s story

“Her unborn baby wasn\’t growing. Doctors said something was very wrong.
She prayed for peace and acceptance no matter what happened.” Answered Tv

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7] Marry Me–such a great movie

“Could I just ask you a question? What is wrong with men?” Rae

“Okay, first off, we are told to stop crying by the age of, like, three. And then, every time an adult male leaves the house, he says ‘You’re in charge,’ but your mom is still cutting the crust off your bread; so, deep down inside you know you can’t possibly be in charge because you can’t even make a sandwich. Then, at a certain point, you start to notice girls who aren’t your mom, and you want them to like you, but they don’t usually go for the normal social cues such as: being tackled to the ground, or being called a nickname ‘crap head,’ but then you decide to give her a gift. She laughs at the rock you brought her, even though it’s the coolest rock you’ve ever saw, and it had all kinds of glittery stuff on it. Anyway, let’s just assume for a minute that you work your way through that mine field and you actually get a woman to notice you. Then what happens? Your guy friends turn on you, and they start calling you names. So you spend your entire life trying to satisfy these two disparate groups of people, and then you grow up, and you throw work into that mix, and you start feeling like you are being pulled in three different directions. And you know what? Sometimes, you are just too tired to know what a woman wants from you. Particularly, if you’ve only spoken to her for five minutes on the phone. But we know we would die in a ditch without women, so, we keep trying.” Luke

8] Lawyer up, son.

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mox·ie (mks)
n. Slang
1. The ability to face difficulty with spirit and courage.

2. Aggressive energy; initiative: “His prose has moxie, though it rushes and stumbles from a pent-up surge” (Patricia Hampl).

3. Skill; know-how.

14] It has been a wedding summer
Many friends have gotten married this summer. Pretty, simple and Godly couples. It has been really beautiful to see the ceremonies and how blessed people can be. May God bless all of the happy couples! 🙂

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“A man rejects God neither because of intellectual demands nor because of the scarcity of evidence. A man rejects God because of a moral resistance that refuses to admit his need for God.” -Ravi Zacharias

The impossible is God’s opportunity

By: Gabriela Yareliz

Some inspiration for the week. God is constantly asking us to try and see that He is good. Let us always look back at the many blessings and see His blessings.

I was inspired by Homecoming Weekend at Sligo Seventh-day Adventist Church at the Washington Adventist University. Our sermon revolved around this message:
(What God gives to us)
“Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!” –Great is Thy Faithfulness hymn

For those of you who like instrumental or classical music, this is a treat:

“22 Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I hope in Him!”
25 The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
To the soul who seeks Him.
26 It is good that one should hope and wait quietly
For the salvation of the Lord.”
Lamentations 3: 22-26

Maurette Brown Clark

MAURETTE BROWN CLARK LYRICS

“It Ain’t Over”

I know the odds look stacked against you
And it seems there’s no way out
I know the issue seems unchangeable
And that there’s no reason to shout
But the impossible is God’s chance
To work a miracle, a miracle
So just know

It ain’t over until God says it’s over
It ain’t over until God says it’s done
It ain’t over until God says it’s over
Keep fighting until your victory is won

He never said it would be easy
But you’re a winner in the end
Jesus defeated all your enemies
Way before the fight began
But the impossible is God’s chance
To work a miracle, a miracle
So just know

It ain’t over until God says it’s over
It ain’t over until God says it’s done
It ain’t over until God says it’s over
Keep fighting until your victory is won

When people say you can’t, remember
(He can, He will)
When you don’t know what you’re gonna do,
Please remember
(He has the master plan)
He will free you from your sin
And give you peace within
So you better hold your head up high
You’re gonna win
(You’re gonna win)

It ain’t over until God says it’s over
It ain’t over until God says it’s done
It ain’t over until God says it’s over
Keep fighting until your victory is won

Keep fighting, keep praying, keep fasting
It ain’t over, no
Keep pressing, progressing, keep moving
It ain’t over, no
Keep reading, interceding, keep believing
It ain’t over, no
Keep trusting, keep trying, keep travailing
It ain’t over, no
Keep living, keep giving, keep going
It ain’t over, no
Keep fighting until your victory is won

Know that what seems impossible is God’s opportunity to show off. Keep moving forward because God is good.

Continually, He shows us that He is in control; He cares; He orchestrates; He provides; He has a purpose.

1 Thessalonians 5:24 “Faithful is He that calls you, who also will do it.”

On the mind

1 My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. 2 He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. 3 How long will you assault a man? Would all of you throw him down– this leaning wall, this tottering fence? 4 They fully intend to topple him from his lofty place; they take delight in lies. With their mouths they bless, but in their hearts they curse. “Selah” 5 Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. 6 He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. 7 My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. 8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. “Selah.”
Psalm 62:1-8

Today’s inspiration

“Don’t dig up in doubt what you’ve planted in faith.” Elisabeth Elliot

Amy Carmichael once said: “What is the secret to great living? Entire separation to Christ and devotion to Him. Thus speaks every man and woman whose life has made more than a passing flicker in the spiritual realm. It is the life that has no time for trifling that counts.”

“The more Jesus is the object of our heart’s affections and becomes our supreme treasure, the more we will know joy in serving Him.”
Lydia Covey

“It is not difficult for God to guide us. He longs to do so, and nothing is too difficult for His omnipotence and nothing is too small for His love.” Corrie Ten Boom

Thoughts were found in this month’s Set Apart Girl Magazine. -GY

This Week’s Picks: July 28, 2013

By: Gabriela Yareliz

This week, I celebrated a wedding, and I am also mourning the death of my favorite radio broadcaster, Kidd Kraddick.
I feel like I grew a couple of inches in character this weekend.

I hope that this week, you see all of the opportunities and blessings sent your way.

Please keep the Kidd Nation and Caroline Kraddick in your prayers.

1] Happiness requires effort and work[…] Happiness is not the absence of doing unpleasant things.-Kidd Kraddick

2] Present Sentiments

Lately, I have been thinking of belief, and how when you believe something, you believe it with all of your being. A belief that gives its all. God asks us for everything. Sometimes, we are unsure of giving everything, but often times that is because of lack of trust and personal uncertainty.

Jesus wants us to understand that He gave Himself for us. Belief and love are sacrifice; because in the end, that is what true love is–sacrifice.

We often know the answers to our own questions, and we know what we need to do, but I think our spiritual lives are like gold… as they say, we are refined by fire. Time helps us improve and strengthen our faith.

Philippians 3:7-9, 12-16:
7 But Christ has shown me that what I once thought was valuable is worthless. 8 Nothing is as wonderful as knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have given up everything else and count it all as garbage. All I want is Christ 9 and to know that I belong to him. I could not make myself acceptable to God by obeying the Law of Moses. God accepted me simply because of my faith in Christ.

12 I have not yet reached my goal, and I am not perfect. But Christ has taken hold of me. So I keep on running and struggling to take hold of the prize. 13 My friends, I don’t feel that I have already arrived. But I forget what is behind, and I struggle for what is ahead. 14 I run toward the goal, so that I can win the prize of being called to heaven. This is the prize that God offers because of what Christ Jesus has done. 15 All of us who are mature should think in this same way. And if any of you think differently, God will make it clear to you. 16 But we must keep going in the direction that we are now headed.

When we have God, we have everything. Be willing to give it all, because to live for Christ is gain. All else falls away in the presence of He who has loved you with an unending love.

3] Epiphany
Being unconventional does not always mean being a rebel, but it can mean doing what is right when no one else does it.

4] Q & A: Looking for answers?

5] Call Him, definitely.

“Call to me, and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3

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“If you’re gonna pray, don’t worry. If you’re gonna worry, don’t pray.” Instagram

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“I understand once again that the greatness of God always reveals itself in the simple things.” Like the Flowing River, Paulo Coelho

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9] Thinking of my mom, my soulmate.

10] They aren’t perfect, but this couple makes me believe love and partnership can work if you work at it and want it to work: Kourtney K. and LD


11] Piano Guys

The Godfather of Radio: Kidd Kraddick

By: Gabriela Yareliz

My heart is broken. Kidd Kraddick is gone. He died this weekend of cardiac disease at a golf tournament, while raising money for his charity: Kidd’s Kids (where they take terminally ill children to Disney World with their families for some perfect days and good memories). An enlarged heart. He did have a very big heart.

I hate morning shows– except his. I found him on 106.7 in Gainesville, Florida. He was my company from the crack of dawn when I would commute to the university to go to my reporting labs. I loved his funny sarcasm and sincerity. Out of everyone on the show, I felt he was the one who would say what I was thinking. He filled my mornings with joy, happiness, laughter and tears. I have quoted him and the show many times on the blog. When I found him, I fell in love with the show. I love it so much, I have the App. Kidd Kraddick in the morning went with me wherever I went.

There are so many people whose life he changed. His love for his daughter Caroline charmed us all. His disagreements with Kellie Rasberry made us roll our eyes. The way he would find young starting artists and give them time to share their talent, would make us curious and instant fans of people some others never heard of. He would promote new artists and encourage them.

He would do the most hilarious bits. At Christmas time, he would go into a family in need’s house and fill their house with gifts and things they needed.

He was so funny; so real; so unique. All of us who listened to him; we knew him. He gave us a piece of himself.

My favorites:
I loved the Teacher Test bit; His cute, high pitched ADHD character;

His commentary on the Love Letters to Kellie were hilarious; On Fridays, he would “flush the format,” and jam to a remix of music (got to start the weekend on the right foot); Kidd would make fun of Kellie’s “dollar store” ways, Big Al’s bar and funny relationships, J-si being Korean when he is really Mexican and Jenna’s sporty manliness; His Nickelback; the Sweat hotel parody; His ringtone: “You can rise to the top and C’complish it all.”

There was the must-be-nice guy, and the Kinsey bit: “J-si Whatthehell!”

I have nothing else to say, except that I hope that Kellie, Big Al, Jenna and J-si continue to bless others the way Kidd did.
Together the Kidd Nation mourns the loss of an amazing person.
May God bless him and recompense his kindness and love toward others. May God bless his family with peace.

Kidd Kraddick, no one on radio made me laugh like you.
When you blessed others, I would sit in my car, sobbing. Your life showed what it was like to be someone else’s angel.

Kidd Kraddick reminded me of what is really important every day, saying:
“Keep looking up, ’cause that’s where it all is.”

As read on the show by J-si: (with modification from the version read at Queen Elizabeth’s funeral)

You can shed tears that he is gone

Or you can smile because he has lived

You can close your eyes and pray that he will come back

Or you can open your eyes and see all that he has left

Your heart can be empty because you can’t see him

Or you can be full of the love that you shared

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday

Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday

You can remember him and only that he is gone

Or you can cherish his memory and let it live on

You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back

Or you can do what he would want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

written 1981

David Harkins 1959 –

Silloth, Cumbria, UK

Love you Kidd.