Ability and purpose

I know that You can do everything,
And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.
Job 42:2

Every day, we must acknowledge that God can do everything– anything beyond what we ask or think, and that no purpose or plan of his can be withheld from him. God is in control. Your life is in perfect hands.
That each day you may seek truth and continue to watch His purpose for your life unfold.
— Gabriela Yareliz

Shakespearean Love: Winter’s Tale




What you do
Still betters what is done. When you speak, sweet.
I’ld have you do it ever: when you sing,
I’ld have you buy and sell so, so give alms,
Pray so; and, for the ordering your affairs,
To sing them too: when you do dance, I wish you
A wave o’ the sea, that you might ever do
Nothing but that; move still, still so,
And own no other function: each your doing,
So singular in each particular,
Crowns what you are doing in the present deed,
That all your acts are queens. Florizel, IV,4,2028
Winter’s Tale

It’s Only Life

Kate Voegele Lyrics

Tears are forming in your eyes
A storm is warning in the sky

The end of the world it seems
You bend down and you fall on your knees
Well get back on your feet, yeah

Don’t look away
Don’t run away
Hey baby it’s only life
Don’t lose your faith
Don’t run away
Hey baby its only life
Yea it’s only life

You were always playing hard
Never could let down your guard

But you can’t win
If you never give in
To that voice within
Saying pick up your chin
Baby let go of it

[Chorus]

Take your hesitance
And your self-defense
Leave them behind, it’s only life
Don’t be so afraid
Of facing everyday
Just take your time, it’s only life
I’ll be your stepping-stone
No, don’t be so alone
Just hold on tight, it’s only life

Yesterday, during the lesson study at church, I was asked to explain the difference between knowing about God and knowing God. This was a question they sought a personal answer to.

I recalled somethings from the past that hurt. We have all gone through something that is painful (I assume–though I have met people who say they have not, but I think life eventually throws everyone a curveball); something that shaped us in an important way. Something we learned big lessons from.

I realized and remembered that some of these things were like the end of the world. And not to belittle them, they were the end of the world as I knew it. Then, I began to think about who I am today. These things seem strangely distant, yet so much a part of me.

So this is a message for you. Whether you are struggling, losing faith, feeling disoriented or already broken:
It is okay to fall, cry and feel numb.
But fall on your knees, cry out to God and let Him pick up the pieces when no one else will, and let Him heal you.
Sometimes this feeling will reappear but send it into His hands everytime.

It may be impossible to get out of the numbing state and end up depressed if you shut yourself in and choose it to be that way– but that is the difference between those who have hope and faith, and those who do not.

Have faith and stand back up even if everything is against you. I promise, someday it will be distant. It won’t always hurt as bad as it does now.
Don’t lose your faith, don’t run away… it’s only life.

With God, you can win at this thing called life. Things may bring us down, but you will not be utterly detroyed and cast down because His hands will hold you.

Someday you will be strong, it may not all make sense (I can’t promise that), but you will know one thing for sure: You were not alone. God never leaves us, and He walks with us always.

In the end, our sufferings are but a snapshot, a passing pinch, compared to the glory that will be revealed in us. Compared to eternity, our pain is only for a moment. Trust in Him.

Our problems now, whether they be abandonment, loneliness, heartbreak, betrayal– stand up, don’t run away. Don’t become like many: bitter, defensive, cold and out of reach.

I think it is important to remain open, to love and to see the beauty that surrounds us. As the journey continues, what it means to know God becomnes crystal clear; He is the one that has been walking with you, healing you, holding you.

Stand up, love, trust, believe. Everything else–It’s only life.

Quote of the Day: Ravi Zacharias

“Mahatma Gandhi made the comment that of all the truths of the Christian faith, the one that stood supreme to him was the cross of Jesus. He granted that it was without parallel. It was the innocent dying for the guilty, the pure exchange for the impure. This evil cannot be understood through the eyes of the ones who crucified him, but only from eyes of the Crucified One. It is the woman who has been raped and not the rapist who understands what rape is. It is the one who has been slandered who understands what slander is, not the slanderer. It is only the One who died for our sin who can explain to us what evil is, not the skeptics. The cross points the way to a full explanation.”[1].

[1] Ravi Zacharias, Beyond Opinion: Living the Faith We Defend (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2007), 205. Print.

The Great Controversy-Book

By: Gabriela Yareliz

Today, I got an interesting surprise. I received a The Great Controversy in my mailbox. Why is this strange? It is one of my favorite books (and it was in my mailbox).

A book that deals with philosophy, current events, prophecy, history and the future. It holds so many answers to things we wonder and think about; humanity as a whole. As the world gets stranger and times are changing, we often find ourselves asking difficult questions or wondering where we are going.

I hope people will take the time to read the book. I hope they don’t judge it by the front or back cover, or by the author.
The book is very relevant. I think it proves itself on many levels to those who give it a chance. It is historically accurate and Biblically accurate, and therefore the authors credibility stands. There is something about this book, that when you read it, it reaches you. A sort of conviction forms.

Throughout history in the Judeo-Christian tradition, prophets were those who spoke according to the Word of God in scripture. The interpretation of prophecy and showing how prophecy was fulfilled in this book certainly impacts.

I take leave, with high hopes that people will open and read this marvelous book. It has an intense beginning, then there is the historical part, which I won’t lie, can get dry but it is interesting and good to know nonetheless, but then it gets “crucial” (chapter 25 on).

[By crucial I mean:
see high school definition and example:
crucial: intense, memorable, poignant.
If you are trapped in a building, that is crucial.
If the building is falling down and you are in it, that is extra crucial.]

Past. Present. Future.

Shakespeare was right in one sense… the world is a stage…
the only difference is we are not merely players…
We are players, but it is a lot deeper than that.

Influences

By: Gabriela Yareliz
When you look up a comedian, musician or entertainer, often times, something that pops up are influences. Those who they grew up watching or listening to, who greatly influenced them as a person.

So, other than Jesus, my mother and the influence of family, like grandmothers, I was thinking who in the public eye, who is a woman, influenced me while growing up. These were women (there are men too, but I wanted to focus on women) that I admired a lot other than my mother. There is something about each one that is memorable from my childhood. And as you can tell, I am Latina; I had a very rooted upbringing and I am grateful for that.

1] My mother- woman of faith, independent, intelligent, real.

2] Michelle Kwan- for being a champion and her discipline

“You can train your hardest, you can try your best and have no regrets — and still not get what you want. That’s a hard lesson to learn in front of millions of people.”
— Michelle Kwan on missing out on the Olympic gold

3] Selena- because even though her life was cut short, her songs and spirit lived on.

4] The Little Princess, Sarah- she suffered loss, and knew that being a real princess was about your heart.

5] Angelica Vale- she is an amazing actress, comedian and imitator. Never afraid to be funny or not look fabulous.

6] Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen- fashionistas who travel, hilarious, boy crazy-what is not to love?

7] Thalia- her enchanting stories circled the globe and her songs endure.

8] Hilary Duff- scandal-free Lizzie Mcguire saw us through our most awkward moments and reminded us what dreams are made of.

9] Adamari Lopez- THAT is an actress. Cancer survivor and fellow Puerto Rican.

10] Mandy Moore-fearless. I know all of her songs by heart, and cut my hair in a pixie after watching How to Deal in junior high.

11] Anne Hathaway- had a wholesome image and showed it was okay to be different. To me, she will always be Princess Mia.

12] Nicole Richie-rebellious, hilarious, bad girl gone good. Cleaned up. Big sunglasses; “that’s hott.”


13] Amanda Bynes: Funny is awesome.
image
14] The Sisterhood-Friendship despite distance, through love, heartbreak, loss and change. Because they are just like us.