Category: WORDS TO LIVE BY

Start Each Day With A Grateful Heart

18 OCT 2019 ∞ BY LINA S DELA ROSA

Start Each Day With A Grateful Heart

It’s been a long time and I’m back with a more grateful heart. We went to Canberra last weekend for a fun, inspiring and spirit-filled Family Conference. It’s a weekend of family bonding thru music, pastoral teachings, activities and games. It’s heartwarming to see small kids and the youth taking part in praise and worship with great enthusiasm and joy. At their young age, they have started to learn the value of faith and family in their lives.

The mass celebrant shared that a person who has gratitude lives a happier life. After hearing those words, I felt a warm feeling of appreciation and calmness in my heart. As I reflected on it, I asked myself several times “Didn’t I know this all along?”. Why is it that when I heard someone say it, it felt like I just learned something new and meaningful? Maybe because with all the busyness of life, combined with the challenges we face each day and devices distractions, we forget how blessed we are, how we are loved by our family and friends, to look at the brighter side of things, and to focus on what’s more valuable. We owe to ourselves to say thank you to God and be grateful for all He has done. Let’s strive to let go of all our worries and things we can’t control. May we all find peace and contentment in God always.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Once in a while, we need to be reminded to start each day with a grateful heart.

Happy Christmas And A Hopeful New Year

24 DEC 2018 ∞ BY LINA S DELA ROSA

Happy Christmas And A Hopeful New Year

Christmas is my favourite holiday.  It’s a time when families and friends from around the world gather together to celebrate the birth of Jesus. It’s a time of giving, remembering and forgiving.  It’s a time to look back, correct our past mistakes and better ourselves.  It’s also a time to look forward to the new year to come, being hopeful and excited to accomplish our plans, pursue our passion, learn new things and check our bucket list.

My family and I wish you all a peaceful, healthy and happy Christmas! May you and your loved ones be blessed with the healing, love and stability you all deserve. Let’s all look forward to a meaningful 2019, knowing that we all have a purpose in life and God will lead us in fulfilling that.

Movie Night With Evan Almighty

13 AUGUST 2018 ∞ BY LINA S DELA ROSA

Movie Night with Evan Almighty

One ordinary movie night with my family, my husband Kelvin, decided to watch Evan Almighty.  I remember watching it a long time ago (it was released in 2007) and all I can remember is it’s about Evan Almighty (played by Steve Carell) being asked by God to build an ark.  But this time around, I learned much more than I can imagine and I felt that God has answered important questions of mine about life’s challenges.  Kelvin and I shared what we learned with our girls and we slept happy and inspirited.

In one scene, Joan (Evan’ wife) went to the diner with their kids.  She saw God (played by Morgan Freeman) who she thinks is a server.  Joan asked for a refill of her drink and they started talking about her husband Evan who was told by God to build an ark.

———♥———

Joan: My husband… Have you heard of New York’s Noah?

God: (Chuckling) The guy who’s building the ark.

Joan: That’s him.

God: I love that story, Noah and the Ark. You know, a lot of people miss the point of that story. They think it’s about God’s wrath and anger. They love it when God gets angry.

Joan: What is the story about, then? The ark?

God: Well, I think it’s a love story about believing in each other. You know, the animals showed up in pairs. They stood by each other, side by side, just like Noah and his family. Everybody entered the ark side by side.

Joan: But my husband says God told him to do it. What do you do with that?

God: Sounds like an opportunity. Let me ask you something.

If someone prays for patience, do you think God gives them patience? Or does he give them the opportunity to be patient?

If they pray for courage, does God give them courage, or does he give them opportunities to be courageous?

If someone prayed for their family to be closer, you think God zaps them with warm, fuzzy feelings? Or does he give them opportunities to love each other?

Well, I got to run. A lot of people to serve. Enjoy.

———♥———

What an eye-opener!  One of my constant prayers is that God makes me a more patient and understanding person.  There are days when I’m faced with a challenge and I examine myself if I’m patient and understanding enough to deal with it.  I believed that since I asked for it many times, God has already given it to me and I can just pull it out whenever I needed it.  I didn’t realise that that challenge will teach me to be more patient and understanding.  With God’s help, I need to make an effort in doing my part and start practicing to be the better person I want to be.

If I didn’t experience any challenge and life will be all smooth-sailing, if I wasn’t given the opportunity, will I truly learn?