Friday, January 24, 2014

More. Less





Hope More

·         Stop being discouraged about all the things around you. Don’t let your parents tell you how to live your life. Don’t let the people around stop you from pursuing your dreams. Don’t let the chains of the past hinder you from living in today. Instead, start having hope in tomorrow. Have hope that there are good people in this world. Have hope that God will provide you with everything you need, not everything you want. Have hope that God will get you through today. Have hope in yourself because a positive outlook provides a happier life.

Whine Less

·         Stop complaining about every single detail of your life. Someone out there, or even someone around you has it much worse. Some people aren’t fortunate to have a nice car, nice clothes, a caring family, a stable financial background, or etc. We are blessed beyond words. In Jesus’ death on the cross, He paid an ultimate price that we could never pay for ourselves. Jesus was entitled to everything but instead He laid down His life for us and set every worldly thing aside. Instead of complaining about what we do or don’t have, why don’t we start appreciating and thanking God for all of our blessings? Jesus lived the life I lived and died the death I should have had. Let’s stop whining less.

Breathe More

·         So often we are stressed and we forget to even breathe. Take a second, step back, and just breathe in. Take in the world. Take a moment and look at everything going on around you. Some people are consumed with the business of this world that they forget to stop and admire the beauty of God’s creation. Slow down and just breathe. You’ll be amazed at how amazing life truly is when you learn to let go and let God.

 

Talk Less

·         Stop trying to take control of all the conversations. Stop trying to out speak others. Instead of trying to talk about the latest happenings and news, take a second and listen to what people have to say. Give people the opportunity to share what’s going on in their life. So often we’re quick to speak without thinking or we plainly talk too much, and in return we neglect the opportunity to hear what people have to say. There are times when we must be speakers and then there are times when we must be listeners. You’d be surprised at what you can hear from others and gain from them. This aspect also applies to God’s word. Stop being consumed with the social media or newest gossip and try to listen to what God’s trying to tell you. God doesn’t always speak to us directly but rather He speaks to us through people and through His creation. When we learn to become better listeners, we also learn to become better speakers.

 

Say More

·         There have been so many times where there has been a moment where I wish I said something different or even said something more. When you look back at your past, there’s always that “What if?” and you think about how things could be different. I strongly encourage to always speak your mind and to seize every moment you can. Something you say to a person can save a life or even have an impact on them that goes beyond measures. Never be afraid to take a leap of faith and say how you feel. Don’t be afraid to speak up and defend yourself or even another person. Don’t be afraid to be a follower of Christ. Don’t be afraid to speak your faith and to share God’s words with believers and non-believers. We aren’t called to sit here in the silence. We are called to be leaders and to be radical followers.

 

Hate Less

·         Just because someone is different than you, wears different clothes, has different beliefs, or lives in a different lifestyle doesn’t mean you have any reason to hate them. There is honestly so much hate in this world and it’s completely absurd. As followers of God, how dare we have the guts to hate another person, who is clearly a creation of God. No matter how badly treats me and no matter they may make my life a piece of crap, there is no way I could possibly hate them. We give ourselves dumb reasons to hate a person. Instead of trying to hate a person, why don’t you try loving them instead? It’s hard to love the people that complicate your life. Believe me, I would know because I struggle with it myself. In the end, these people are teaching you lessons about life and without them, your life would never be the same.

 

Love More

·         You know what one of the greatest things you can do for a person is? The answer is to love them unconditionally. Love a person past their imperfections. Love them past their mistakes and faults. Love them for who they are and don’t let anything diminish that love. Don’t be afraid to completely love on your friends and family, or even on a complete stranger. Seize every moment you can to tell a person how much you love them because you never know when they might be gone one day. Remind people that someone loves them because so often we forget what it’s like to be loved. Share the love of God with someone old or new today. You’d be surprised at what God’s love can do to transform a person.


Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Wreck Me


 
 

When I first listened to this song or even watched the video, I was taken aback at the fact that 1) Miley is naked, 2) she’s making out with a sledgehammer, and 3) she’s riding around on a wrecking ball. How do you even respond to this video? However, after really listening to the song and paying attention to the lyrics, I realized that this song is truly powerful and emotional. Even after reading the picture that I attached above, I could definitely feel a connection with Miley.

 How often have you tried to reach out to a person and really tried to peel back their layers? Sometimes it’s easy but most times it’s difficult to get inside. I speak from experience with this topic and I easily identify with Miley’s pain. This song is her declaration of showing that she’s hurt. It’s her declaration of showing she needs help and that she’s still in love.

I feel like so often we’re trapped in this relationship with a person where we love them and only want to be a part of their life, but instead all of our efforts go to waste and we only get hurt in return. If we know we’re only going to get hurt, why don’t we just stop and walk out on this relationship? We all know the answer to this. We know that we don’t want to give up because we’re holding onto the hope that one more effort can reach through to this person. We’re hoping that they will change. How can we let go of the person we love so much?

Lately, I’ve learned that I shouldn’t wear myself thin on the people who brush aside all my attempts to reach out to them. After doing everything I’ve done, I’ve learned that I just need to step back and walk away. I relate closely to Miley in the sense that in the process of trying to reach through to a person, we lose ourselves and break down. We’re the ones that end up getting hurt and we’re the ones holding onto whatever hope we can find.

This doesn’t mean though that you shouldn’t reach out to people or simply give up on them just because. What I’m saying is that you’ll reach a point where you learn that you just need to stop, take a breath, and move on with your life. There’s a reason people are in our past and as much as it sucks, you gotta keep moving forward. There are other people in this world to meet and new relationships to make.

The one part that really sticks out in this whole song is when Miley sings,

I never meant to start a war.
I just wanted you to let me in.”

Sometimes I look back at my past and I wonder why some friendships never worked out. It kills me sometimes thinking about how I tried so hard and just nothing I did could save any of the friendships. It absolutely sucks knowing you were in a friendship/relationship and the other person did nothing and made no effort.

Like Miley said, I just wanted a person to let me in. I wanted to be a part of their life. I wanted to know the real them. I wanted to be important to them. I wanted to be wanted.

I have so much respect for Miley and for this song. After hearing this song and being flooded with so many emotions, I discovered that I too was wrecked. To all the people that hurt me intentionally or unintentionally, you hurt me in a way that wasn’t physical, but in a way that hurt me on the inside.

Like Miley said, “I will always want you.”

I will always want the best for you.

I will always wish that things were different.

I will always be praying for you.

I will always be hoping that maybe one day things will change.

I will always hope that you will let me in.

I will always wish you never wrecked me.

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

2014

New Year – 2014


So now that it’s 2014, I’ve never before in my life seen so many New Years Resolutions, “2013 taught me _____” posts, or so many cliché sayings on Twitter, Facebook, and just about every other social media site. My favorite one so far definitely has to be “New Year, New You.” As repetitive as this saying is and as much as I don’t completely agree with it, it is a somewhat good motivator. However, if you want to change who you are this coming year, don't change for anyone, change for yourself. Set goals for yourself where ultimately you can become happy with yourself. Don't lose weight or try to be smarter to impress other people but rather to impress yourself. I came across this picture on Twitter and I found it so fitting for this New Year.




So often we struggle with our identity because one second wearing Hollister is cool and now it's frowned upon. In order to be cool or to fit in, you have to wear Vineyard Vines or Patagonia. People give others weird looks if they don't have an iPhone. We can never be satisfied with how we look because society deems that you have to be tan, skinny, and with a perfect smile. We're so insecure about the car we drive, the brand of clothes we wear, the way we do our makeup, our weight, our financial background, and so much more. Society is so fast paced and we're constantly trying to keep up and trying to fit in. We are conforming to what society thinks is the most favored upon and in this process, we are losing who we are.

I applaud those who could care less about what society thinks. I've slowly gained the same mindset and I've learned that being a unique individual in a world of followers is what sets you apart and makes you become you. Be yourself and know that it's enough. This year of 2014, don't lose yourself in trying to become something you're not. I'm not trying to discourage anyone of trying to achieve their goals, rather, I want people to know that you are perfect just the way you are now. I highly encourage anyone who is trying to further better themselves in their health or etc in this coming year. Just remember, you are doing this for yourself and know that a person should be accepting of you whether you are your "old self" or "new self" no matter what.

Your self worth does not depend on what others think of you.
You are worthy.
You are enough.
You are you, and that's all that matters.  

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

3 Words, 1 Phrase.

The phrase "I love you" is simply a 3 syllable word phrase composed of 3 simple words. How can it be that these 3 words can hold so much meaning? Stumbling upon this on my Instagram feed, I found this picture.



I can't even begin to tell you how many times I say "I love you" throughout my daily life. Even while saying it jokingly or in a serious context, I honestly do mean those 3 little words. Whether I'm texting you "I love you", whether I'm saying it after I made a joke, whether I'm saying it as I'm walking away, or whether I'm saying it as soon as I get off the phone, it's not that I'm saying it out of routine but as reminder that in all areas and moments of life, I do love you.

There may be some days where you don't want to hear me saying that I love you after something has just gone wrong or you refuse to believe that anyone in this world could possibly love you, but you're wrong, because I do love you. I feel like it is hard for people to possibly believe that someone in this world actually loves and cares about them. There are over a million people in this world and I can promise you that out of all those million people, there is at least person that loves you and that's me.

You know what's crazy about all of this? In the English language, there is only one way to say "I love you" and that's "I love you." There's no "I extremely like you" or "I will give my life for you" or "I heart you" or any of that jazz. There's just no other way of saying "I love you." I mean rest assured that all those other phrases I stated before are understood when saying "I love you." Anyways, I believe God created only this 1 phrase for the English language because He wants us to prove it through actions, rather than say it.

If we can't say "I love you" in any other way or wording, then why don't we show it? This is the beauty of love. It's not what you can say, but what you can do. I firmly believe that saying "I love you" only takes a second to say, but it takes a lifetime to prove.

It is by our actions can we fully demonstrate that we love a person. I know I mean it when I say "I love you" to a person but to them, do they see the depths of my love for them? Do they know that I wholeheartedly mean those words? Is my love seen through my words and actions? 

I think that we take for granted everyday this simple phrase. Wait, I know for a fact that we take for granted this simple phrase. People throw it around like it's nothing. "I love you" has lost its meaning. People say it simply just to get on the good side of people or they say it because they have no better response and use it merely as an excuse. When you say "I love you" to a person, this means more than just loving them. It means that you will give your life for them, it means that you think of them every day, it means that you yearn to be with them, it means your heart is theirs, it means that you care about them, it means that you want them to be happy, it means that they are important to you, it means that they have become a part of your life and without them, life would never be the same.

"I love you" sounds a bit greater now, right? This quote, this picture, it describes my life. I don't take it lightly when I say "I love you" because I truly do mean it and I will spend my whole life searching for ways to make you believe that I mean it.

So what now? Today, I challenge you to go out and just love on everyone. Saying "I love you" may be the simplest thing you've ever done but it may also be the most impactful moment on another person.

Cherish every "I love you" and remember that these 3 words, 1 phrase can save a life as well as change one.

Friday, September 27, 2013

Friendships v.s. Relationships

Don’t just have a friendship, but have a relationship with a person. In this past year, I’ve learned that having a friendship with a person is nowhere as meaningful as having a relationship with a person. Right now you may be thinking, isn’t a relationship between 2 people that are in love with each other and are dating and all that? Well if you think that, then I’m possibly dating a bunch of people right now. However, let’s take a moment to pause.

Friendship (n.): the emotions or conduct of friends; the state of being friends

Relationship (n.): the way in which two or more concepts, objects, or people are connected, or the state of being connected

I don’t know about you guys but I honestly do not like having friendships with people. If you take the time to really look into the 2 definitions that I posted, it is very clear and obvious that relationships are better than friendships. Why don’t you want to be connected and intimate with a person? There are a couple of problems though that many people will face and some of them may be:

- I don’t think I’m capable of loving a person that much and actually taking the time, effort, and love to actually develop a relationship with a person.
- It’s weird to have a relationship with the person of the same sex.
- I think I’m just content with having a friendship with a person rather than a relationship.
- Why should I even try growing attached to a person or even investing in them if I know they will only disappoint me in the future or we’ll eventually grow apart?
- Relationships are exclusively for couples, not for friends.
- What is the difference at all?

In having a relationship with a person, there is something more profound to it. This is not your simple say hey to this person in the hallway or at Chickfila, this is not the simple let’s hang out every once in awhile, this is not the simple friendship that only goes as far as “What are you doing today?” or “How are you?” or just basic conversations.

Nope. No. Not at all.

This relationship consists of being able to fully express yourself to this person. This mean beings able to be at ease and comfortable with another person and able to share everything about you whether it be your past, the thoughts on your mind, or whatever may be occurring in your life. This relationship isn’t based on a simple mutual knowledge of each other. This is about diving into each other’s lives and letting all your walls down. This is about investing in a person so that you may always have this person in your life. Why would you want to let go of someone who knows so much about you and has invested in you a lot as well? We hold on and fight for the people that we genuinely love and care about.

These relationships are meant to be worthwhile. For me, I find potential in every friendship to become a relationship. I don’t think people have quite understood why I do all the things I do for people, but it’s because I’m fighting for what we have. In a relationship with a person, you do whatever you can to prove that you love and care about a person. These bonds aren’t worthless. It’s time to make them feel like something more.

I enjoy the pursuit of a person. We should all pursue one another. We should be fighting for each other. We should be fighting for our friendships. I think everyone for the most part enjoys watching a guy pursue a girl and doing all they can to win them over. From the cliché and old school method of buying flowers, to writing letters, to movie dates, to dinner and lunch dates, to cheesy pick-up lines, or to just complete falling head over heels for a girl. But why should this only be for a man and a woman? As a firm believer and admirer of the pursuit of women, I feel like we should be doing this to everyone. Everyone deserves to be pursued.

In our pursuit of each other, we should be doing whatever it takes to fight for and keep the people that we most love and care about. We should be winning each other over. It’s not that we are trying to seek approval or favoritism from others but that we want to show and express our love to our friends and family. I do a lot of this simply by finding ways in which I can prove to people that I love them. If there’s anything more that I truly enjoy in this world, it’s just merely loving on people.

Loving on people though is another post that I will write about.

So my challenge for you today is to look at all the friendships and bonds that you have with the people around you. Do you feel that you want to take your friendships to the next level and begin to invest in people for the long run? Do you really prize the relationships you have with people now? Are there people around you who have the potential for a great relationship?

The most important question though, “Are you ready to pursue and pour your life out for the people you truly love and care about?”

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Why Do Dogs Leave Earth First?

I came across this story on my Twitter one day and I would like to share it with you all. 

Why Do Dogs Leave Earth First? 
Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a 10 year old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owner, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle. I examined Belker and found that he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything more for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home. 

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for 6 year old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience. 

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him. The young boy, Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away. The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a long while after Belker's death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. 

Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why." Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the way I try to live. 

He said, "People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?" The 6 year old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reflecting on this story, whether it's real or not, still has an impact on my life. Why can't we love like dogs? As silly as that sounds, shouldn't we love on people all the time and be nice to all that we see and come in contact with? Isn't it crazy to think that dogs leave this world early because they have succeeded in their mission in loving unconditionally? But as for us people, it takes us a lifetime to love people. It's a harsh truth but some people don't achieve that goal. It's ridiculous even thinking about it. 

So how can we live the "good life" that Shane is talking about in the story? Love the people of this world with a love that is unimaginable. Show them the deepness and fullness of God's love. 

"We love, because He first loved us." - 1 John 4:19 

"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us." - Ephesians 5:1-2 

"And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us." - 1 John 3:23

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Advice For A Good Life by Carl Elliott Sr.

1. Have compassion for the poor. 
2. Educate the ignorant. 
3. Feed the hungry. 
4. Guide those who've lost their way. 
5. Don't kick a person who's down. 
6. Heal the wounded. 
7. Love those who are least lovable. They need it most. 
8. Warm the cold. 
9. Wash the dirty. 
10. Water the thirsty.