How Love Won

Recently, we've all heard about the legalization of same sex marriage in about 50 states in the US. For days, it has been the top news in television and social media. We've seen how gay people rejoiced in the freedom they've received. It's amazing how love simply "wins" in every situation.

I respect gay people, and I am not writing this to show that I am against same sex marriage. Neither am i writing this to show that I agree. I am writing this to point out on a "love" that won 2,000 years ago. Not on the streets, not in the United States, but on the CROSS.

Every human being in this planet yearns for love, respect, acceptance and a lot more. We simply cannot deny that there is a void in our heart that needs to be filled. We've all tried to fill that void with things or people that we think could give us the love we yearn for. But, we also cannot deny that no matter what we do, it simply cannot be filled. We continue to search for love, but it is nowhere to be found. People disappoint us, people come and go, our material things and money soon comes to fade, and we just feel empty. 

Thankfully, a man named Jesus came to earth to show us what love is really all about, and He showed us the perfect illustration on how love won. 

Despite all our failures, sin and struggles, Jesus didn't look on how dirty we were. His love was so unconditional that He was willing to die on that cross for you, me and everyone else. Although He knew the possibility that not everyone would love Him back, He still died on the cross. That's how much He loves you. And I don't know if there is any other act of love that could compete with what He has done.

There may be times when we may feel that Jesus is nowhere to be found. He seems silent. And again, we try to fill that void with someone or something. But we all know that even though there is a person or something that we are getting our security from, it still isn't enough. People will hurt us. People will disappoint us. But Jesus will never do those to us. His love is more than enough for us. If you are so filled with His love, I guarantee you that you won't need a person to feel secured, because in Jesus, you are more than loved and secured.

So, everytime you feel rejected, unloved, unaccepted, or whatever emotion you feel, go back to the Cross. Remember what He has done for you. Remember that you are won by perfect love, and nothing and no one could ever fill that void in your heart, except Him. :)

"Nothing you confess could make me love you less. -Jesus"

When God Breaks You To Make You Whole

I've always wondered how broken things can turn into something beautiful,
When we've already accepted the fact that when something breaks, it is no longer useful

How "nothing" turns into "something",
Because this world has taught us that once we don't meet people's expectations, we are no longer anything

Most of us think that when our life seems like it is going no where, it's already the end. There are times that we no longer know where to go, because we are already on a dead end.

But at that dead end, where all your brokenness, guilt, shame and unforgivesness lays, Someone is willing to meet you. Someone will willingly take those away, and walk back with you and help you have a new start.

That Someone is none other than God. Sometimes, God allows our life to fall apart, our dreams to crash, because He will use those to show us that once we are broken, it doesn't mean we are useless; and neither does it mean that we are no longer anything.

Because in our brokenness, we finally see that it is only God that could make us whole. It is only through God that me and you could get back up and thank God because in your brokenness, He has made you whole. :) 

 

thank you 2013

2013 was definitely a roller coaster ride for me. Although there are some moments I don't wanna recall, 2013 was definitely a year worth remembering. As 2014 comes, I realized there are many things to be thankful for last year.

Thank you, 2013, for showing me how great our God is. Good experiences showed me how much He loves me; and bad experiences made me realize that sometimes God needs us to go to difficult times for us to learn, and for us to understand that He is the only one whom we could hold on that would definitely never leave us.

Thank you, 2013, for showing me that I have the most amazing and awesome family ever. Family is definitely forever.

Thank you, 2013, for showing me that some people come and go, but there are a few people whom you can call true friends that would never leave you, and would accept you for who you are.

Thank you, 2013, for showing me that life goes on no matter what. The world doesn't stop for you.

Thank you, 2013 for showing me the importance of time. That I shouldn't waste time on things that doesn't matter.

Thank you, 2013, for showing me that hard work does pay off. That if you want something, go and work for it. 

Thank you, 2013, for showing me how important believing in yourself is. 

Thank you, 2013, for showing me that respect is to be earned. That if you want others to respect you, you must learn to respect yourself first.

Thank you, 2013, for showing me that every day is truly a blessing.

Thank you, 2013, for showing me that there is a time for everything. Learn to wait. God's timing is definitely the best.

And lastly, thank you 2013, for simply just showing me how blessed I am. That's what really matters.



:) -gabie.

More than blessed

Before complaining of the things that you don't have

Before grumbling endlessly 

Think about other people

Who have nothing

No food to eat

No clean clothes to wear

No family to support them

No friends to laugh with and have fun

Yet there you are

Having everything you'll ever need

Everything that would complete your life

Yet still not recognizing it

Think about those who are struggling to live another day
Those who have sicknesses that has no cure

Yet here you are
Wasting another moment of your life
Thinking that you have all the time in the world 

Well let me tell you
You don't have all the time
You only have one life to live
Don't waste it

Because you are so focused on what you don't have

You fail to see how blessed you are

Just the fact that you are alive right now
The fact that you are eating three times a day

The fact that you have clothes to wear

The shoes that you have

Friends who are ready to listen to you

Your family that loves you more than you'll ever know

Those simple things are enough
For you to realize how God has blessed you with so much 

I hope we all take time to think about these things
Instead of complaining and grumbling all the time
Why don't you spend time
To count all your blessings

I'm pretty sure you'll be surprised on how much you have
And there's nothing else you could say but
"Thank you Lord"

Remember,
You may not have everything you want
But surely you have everything you need

Make every moment of your life count
Keep in mind these three words, "I. AM. BLESSED."

Behind those curtains

Adrenaline rush

Smiling faces

Beautiful dancing

Standing ovation

Everything she experiences just right before the curtains closes

As she makes her one last bow,

She realizes how nothing can ever beat the feeling

Of being on stage 

Doing the very thing she loves

And nothing would ever change that

As the curtain goes down

And she goes back to her life,

She suddenly gets the urge to share what happens behind those curtains

The side that no audience could see

But only her and every dancer out there

What really happens behind those curtains?

Bleeding toes

Painful ankles

Painful backs

Everything she never thought could hurt

Here it is now haunting her

Summers spent in the studio

Holidays spent for rehearsing

Countless replies of "sorry, I can't, i have ballet" to her friends

Sacrificing school works just to be able to be in the studio

Going to the studio everyday after school

When everyone is out there spending time with their friends

Getting home late and doing school works

When everyone are already ready to sleep 

Working hard and giving everything she has 

In the hopes that someday she would be contented with her technique

When in truth, she knows she can never be good enough

Yet still dancing and never giving up

Never feeling good enough

Never knowing if she would be casted for a dance or not

Wondering when she would be able to do everything perfectly

Just like the dancers she sees and dreams of becoming one

Yet here she is

Still coming back to a place called her second home

The only place where she could free all her problems

And dance it all out

Because she knows

That no one and nothing would ever replace

The feeling of being able to dance

Regardless of what ever happens

She's willing to give everything

Just to be able to dance

Because in her heart she knows

That everything that happens behind those curtains

Always would teach her a lesson and give experiences

That no one and nothing could ever give

And everything she does in the studio 

with her body

With her foot

And with her heart

Would always be worth it in the end

Sunday's preaching

"Stand up for your generation"

Last Sunday, I heard one of the best preachings for the youth. It was about standing up for our generation. I am sure everyone knows what is going on with the lives of some teenagers. Teenage pregnancy, smoking, using drugs, suicide, and many more. These are just some of the things that teenagers are doing right now. It is really sad to hear this but is is the truth. This is what's happening with the generation right now.  Why? Because they think that this is the only thing that makes their lives worth living. Because maybe they have a painful past and they think that nothing can heal them. Because no one is able to stand up and tell them that there is more to life than what they are doing. No one is able to tell them that Someone is there that could complete them. No one is telling them about Jesus.

In church, I also saw a video about two girls that really touched my heart. They were people who thought that their lives are worthless because of the mistakes they had made. The first girl found out that she was pregnant when she was just 4th year high school. Since then, she just did whatever she want because she felt that she is nothing. But you know what? Someone invited her to attend Ignite. She saw happiness in the faces of the people there, and said that she wanted to feel the same way too. Since them, she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. It took one person to change her. It took one person to stand up for our generation. 

The second girl, which I'm sure everybody knows, is the one who was caught in a video fighting with a guard. The "Amalayer" girl. After that incident, she didnt know what to do with her life anymore. She was full of guilt and shame. Everyone was cursing her in her twitter account. But guess what? There were some who tweeted her that God loves her, and God has a plan for her life no matter what she did. Her life changed since then, because there were some who standed up for our generation.

Do you see what happens when a person stands up for our generation? You don't need to be a "somebody" to be able to do this. Just the mere fact that you love God and you are willing to do whatever it takes to see people, especially teenagers, with changed lives, then you will be able to do this.

Let me ask you this question. 

Is it okay with you to sit there and watch teenagers live their lives in sin?

Is it okay with you that our next generation will be full of people who never heard about God?

I encourage you all to stand up for our generation. Share the Word. Touch lives. 

If one person is all it takes to change a life, then imagine what would happen if everyone of us are able to do the same. If all of us takes this one little step, it could make a BIG difference. Not only in others lives, but also in ours. Bless others with whatever God has blessed you with.

Again, I enocourage you guys to stand up for our generation.

Isn't it just amazing to see if our generation and the next generation are praising God?

Take the step. 

Change lives.

:)

Thoughts..

Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Reading this verse, I felt warmth flash throughout me. I know this verse is like one of the most famous verses yet. But even if I read it again and again, I just feel so amazed on how great God is. He has PLANS for YOU AND ME. Plans for everyone. The sad truth nowadays is that some people, especially teenagers, thinks that their life has no direction. Some just kill themselves left with the thought that nobody cares for them, no one loves them, and their life is meaningless. My heart breaks for them. If only they knew that someone out there has the BEST plans for their life and that is God. I just wanna share that I know God has amazing plans for your life right now, at this very moment. You may experience problems, but be reminded that He is guiding you every step of the way. Trust Him alone. 

:)