Laughter, as we heard and know, is the best medicine. We laugh for various reasons; we laugh because we are happy, joyful, or cheerful. We also laugh out of sarcasm... or we laugh out of nothing... we just laugh because others are laughing. But the best laughter comes from a HAPPY heart. I remember I have this one habit every time I get sad and frustrated... when smiling is impossible... I just look at the mirror and say... 'eeehhhhhhh'... then say it again... 'eeehhhhh' - well, that is to create a smile on my face everytime I say it... but of course, that's a forced way of creating a smile...
Managing to be happy in the midst of crisis is probably one of the hardest challenge for us all. We get frustrated and depressed for certain reasons, but we should not allow ourselves to be eaten up by sorrows. Unfortunately, many people did. They become bitter and much worse, they gone 'sane...this is because not everybody has a high tolerance or threshold when it comes to 'being hurt' and 'depressed'.
The Way to Happiness is Not Easy
The Bible says... "HE (Jesus) said to them, 'my heart is ready to break in grief. Stop here and stay awake with me."
When I was in my darkest, I believe I could have done a lot of things to inflict pain on myself... I could have destroyed myself... all I knew then was "I am helpless"... I was too focused on my feelings and I found it inevitable to 'self-pity'... Days passed and I allowed negative thoughts to sink into my head. My heart is ready to break w/ grief... but w/ God's working miracles, He made me stop. i was just surprised that... hey, I have survived... how? It's all because I seek for HIM...
"I love those who love me; whoever searches eagerly for me finds me." (Proverbs 8:17)
"When you seek me, you will find me; if you search wholeheartedly, I shall let you find me" (Jeremiah 29:13)
"Look to the Lord and be strong; at all times seek His presence." (Psalm 105:4)
EXCESS BAGGAGE
"Fear and trembling overwhelm me, and shuddering grips me." (Psalm 55:5)
What are these excess baggages that we have that hinder us from moving forward? It may be guilt, anger, hatred, fear, resentment, depression, disappointment, etc...
Fear is the unpleasant feeling of apprehension or distress caused by the presence or anticipation of danger. It is one of the excess baggages that we carry after (or even before) going through failures... This limits us from becoming open and receptive to God's will and plans for us. But God clearly says
"I came before you in weakness, in fear, in great trepidation" (1 Corinthians 2:3)
It clearly states that trials that cause weakness of spirit is God's loving way of coming into our lives. Can we recognize Him without all the trials and pains? He simply says that there is no extraordinary thing that can ever happen into our lives... trials are not unusual. Believe me, there is no amount of fear that can separate us from His love and presence. Instead of isolating ourselves from His love, trials and fear should cause us to draw nearer to Him.
"There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear: for fear has to do w/ punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love." (1 John 4:18).
MY 3 F's
If I am to summarized my life, I will summarize it using the 3 F's... These 3 F's are the processes in my life that made me a better person than I used to... FEAR, FAILURE, & FAITH.
Fear as I have mentioned is the by-product of my failures in life. It's the excess baggage I carried w/ me just before I open my heart to Him.
Failures... I have so many of that... but these failures paved the way of knowing and recognizing Christ and His presence in my life.
"The Lord turned & looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said into him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out and wept bitterly." (Luke 22:61-62)
Just like Peter, I have failed Him... I have denied Him not just thrice... but a hundred-fold... God weeps for us too. I had the spiritual guilt of disappointing God with all of the bad-stuffs I've done before... but as He said... "It is Finished."
"Test yourselves and find out if you really are true to you faith. If you pass the test, you will discover that Christ is living in you. But if Christ isn't living in you, you have failed. I hope you will discover that we have not failed. We pray that you will stop doing evil things. We don't pray like this to make ourselves look good, but to get you to do the right, even if we are failures." (2 Corinthians 13:5-7)
If you carefully study the scripture, it shows how loving our Father is. He gives us the chance to discover the light in the midst of darkness. I know I wouldn't be who I am now if I haven't gone through so many trials. I have failed Him and still He gives me the cahnce to make up with all my shortcomings.
"My flesh and my heart faileth; but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever." (Psalm 73:26)
The third F is FAITH... my fears and failures were all being cast away through faith.
"Trust in the Lord, and do good; settle in the land and find safe pasture. Delight in the Lord, and He will grant you your heart's desire. Commit your way to the Lord; Trust in Him, and He will act." (Psalm 37:3-5)
Surrendering to Him and to His Will is a humble way of putting our faith in Him. We are powerless, lifeless individuals without Him. Living a life without God as the center of it is as good as 'unsatisfied living'. "Surrendering is not the best way to live, it is the ONLY way". (Purpose Driven Life)
Our FAITH gives us the sense of security and this gives the real meaning of rejoicing over adversities. We manage to rejoice and praise Him even at the midst of conflicts. It is hard, I know, but when we develop the habit of diverting negative thoughts to praising God, we see that our hearts are being unloaded w/ all the burdens caused by worries and fears. Rejoicing at the midst of conflicts and crisis in the form of prayers helps a lot. Prayer is our open link to communicate w/ Him (w/o busy networks or traffics, etc.). Prayer comes for free and out of charges... unlimited and hassle free (God's best offer)...
See how good and compassionate our God is? He always wants us to keep in touch w/ Him. He longs to hear from us. He waits and never gets tired of waiting for our call. He wants us to be happy in times of adversities by making Himself available anytime we nee Him to give us comfort and peace.
"Jesus answered them: 'Have faith in God... I tell you, whatever you ak for in PRAYER, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." (Mark 11:22, 24)
So how do we rejoice in midst of adversities? We have a choice... either Cast away fears and failures through faith manifested in the form of prayers... or we just say 'eeehhhhh'!
-jen (posted/ written July 12, 2007)
Managing to be happy in the midst of crisis is probably one of the hardest challenge for us all. We get frustrated and depressed for certain reasons, but we should not allow ourselves to be eaten up by sorrows. Unfortunately, many people did. They become bitter and much worse, they gone 'sane...this is because not everybody has a high tolerance or threshold when it comes to 'being hurt' and 'depressed'.
The Way to Happiness is Not Easy
The Bible says... "HE (Jesus) said to them, 'my heart is ready to break in grief. Stop here and stay awake with me."
When I was in my darkest, I believe I could have done a lot of things to inflict pain on myself... I could have destroyed myself... all I knew then was "I am helpless"... I was too focused on my feelings and I found it inevitable to 'self-pity'... Days passed and I allowed negative thoughts to sink into my head. My heart is ready to break w/ grief... but w/ God's working miracles, He made me stop. i was just surprised that... hey, I have survived... how? It's all because I seek for HIM...
"I love those who love me; whoever searches eagerly for me finds me." (Proverbs 8:17)
"When you seek me, you will find me; if you search wholeheartedly, I shall let you find me" (Jeremiah 29:13)
"Look to the Lord and be strong; at all times seek His presence." (Psalm 105:4)
EXCESS BAGGAGE
"Fear and trembling overwhelm me, and shuddering grips me." (Psalm 55:5)
What are these excess baggages that we have that hinder us from moving forward? It may be guilt, anger, hatred, fear, resentment, depression, disappointment, etc...
Fear is the unpleasant feeling of apprehension or distress caused by the presence or anticipation of danger. It is one of the excess baggages that we carry after (or even before) going through failures... This limits us from becoming open and receptive to God's will and plans for us. But God clearly says
"I came before you in weakness, in fear, in great trepidation" (1 Corinthians 2:3)
It clearly states that trials that cause weakness of spirit is God's loving way of coming into our lives. Can we recognize Him without all the trials and pains? He simply says that there is no extraordinary thing that can ever happen into our lives... trials are not unusual. Believe me, there is no amount of fear that can separate us from His love and presence. Instead of isolating ourselves from His love, trials and fear should cause us to draw nearer to Him.
"There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear: for fear has to do w/ punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love." (1 John 4:18).
MY 3 F's
If I am to summarized my life, I will summarize it using the 3 F's... These 3 F's are the processes in my life that made me a better person than I used to... FEAR, FAILURE, & FAITH.
Fear as I have mentioned is the by-product of my failures in life. It's the excess baggage I carried w/ me just before I open my heart to Him.
Failures... I have so many of that... but these failures paved the way of knowing and recognizing Christ and His presence in my life.
"The Lord turned & looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said into him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out and wept bitterly." (Luke 22:61-62)
Just like Peter, I have failed Him... I have denied Him not just thrice... but a hundred-fold... God weeps for us too. I had the spiritual guilt of disappointing God with all of the bad-stuffs I've done before... but as He said... "It is Finished."
"Test yourselves and find out if you really are true to you faith. If you pass the test, you will discover that Christ is living in you. But if Christ isn't living in you, you have failed. I hope you will discover that we have not failed. We pray that you will stop doing evil things. We don't pray like this to make ourselves look good, but to get you to do the right, even if we are failures." (2 Corinthians 13:5-7)
If you carefully study the scripture, it shows how loving our Father is. He gives us the chance to discover the light in the midst of darkness. I know I wouldn't be who I am now if I haven't gone through so many trials. I have failed Him and still He gives me the cahnce to make up with all my shortcomings.
"My flesh and my heart faileth; but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever." (Psalm 73:26)
The third F is FAITH... my fears and failures were all being cast away through faith.
"Trust in the Lord, and do good; settle in the land and find safe pasture. Delight in the Lord, and He will grant you your heart's desire. Commit your way to the Lord; Trust in Him, and He will act." (Psalm 37:3-5)
Surrendering to Him and to His Will is a humble way of putting our faith in Him. We are powerless, lifeless individuals without Him. Living a life without God as the center of it is as good as 'unsatisfied living'. "Surrendering is not the best way to live, it is the ONLY way". (Purpose Driven Life)
Our FAITH gives us the sense of security and this gives the real meaning of rejoicing over adversities. We manage to rejoice and praise Him even at the midst of conflicts. It is hard, I know, but when we develop the habit of diverting negative thoughts to praising God, we see that our hearts are being unloaded w/ all the burdens caused by worries and fears. Rejoicing at the midst of conflicts and crisis in the form of prayers helps a lot. Prayer is our open link to communicate w/ Him (w/o busy networks or traffics, etc.). Prayer comes for free and out of charges... unlimited and hassle free (God's best offer)...
See how good and compassionate our God is? He always wants us to keep in touch w/ Him. He longs to hear from us. He waits and never gets tired of waiting for our call. He wants us to be happy in times of adversities by making Himself available anytime we nee Him to give us comfort and peace.
"Jesus answered them: 'Have faith in God... I tell you, whatever you ak for in PRAYER, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." (Mark 11:22, 24)
So how do we rejoice in midst of adversities? We have a choice... either Cast away fears and failures through faith manifested in the form of prayers... or we just say 'eeehhhhh'!
-jen (posted/ written July 12, 2007)
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