The Cross We Carry

Today, I was lead to read Luke 23 which talks about Jesus' Persecution and Crucifixion.

Reading it made me cry once more. It also reminds me of the battle we go through daily and how mundane it is compare to what  Christ went through.

God however do not belittle your sorrows.

We all fight our battles and it is sad how we do not recognize this. We are becoming more apathetic with other people that we fail to consider other people's situation.

Recently, a loved one is being persecuted at work. His accusations are all false and unreasonable. Just the thought of it makes us cringe. We just leave everything to God. That He will be the one to make the person realize his mistake.

Let us not be quick to judge other people. Always give them the benefit of the doubt. Don't choose your ego over relationships.

Inspire: Build Each other Up

Love each other with genuine affection. Be ready to help and be eager to practice hospitality. 

Build each other up. Think of ways to motivate each other in acts of love and good works. Let everything you say be good and helpful, an encouragement. Help others do what is right. Do not neglect meeting each other.

Would you believe that I got all those words above from different Bible verses? Amazing how they all connect. I actually got the verses from the devotional material of our church for the Prayer and Fasting Week. This was under the topic of Our Church. I thought of sharing this because I believe this can also be related to our Family and other Relationships.

I have committed to becoming an encouragement to other people through my words.

My mouth is both my strength and weakness. I can speak beautiful and encouraging words to people. However, my mouth is like a sword as well. When I am mad, I can say the most hurtful words. That is why I also committed myself not to use foul and abusive language. I am not just talking about curses, but everyday negative words that we often don't notice we get to use on people we love. Words like stupid or you can't do it.

So this year, let us commit to becoming a walking dictionary of wonderful and encouraging words.

Metamorphosis

Hosea 2

¹⁴ “But then I will win her back once again.
    I will lead her into the desert
    and speak tenderly to her there.
¹⁵ I will return her vineyards to her
    and transform the Valley of Trouble^[b] into a gateway of hope.

Let us have a retrospect of the past year.

How many times have you failed God?

How many times have you felt too defeated to move on?

The first part of the year has been a tough one for me.

I have lost a loved one.

I have lost a direction.

I even lost my reason to live at some point.

But despite the fact I fell down and got beaten up, God picked me up and redeemed me. Despite the fact I have been unfaithful to His will, he pursued me and won me back. He prospered me by transforming the ugliest season of my life into something beautiful. Life is still not perfect. I still face hardships. I still stumble and fall once in a while. The good thing is he paves the way for me to start over each time.

I believe hardships are important for us to grow and prepare us for greater things. Just like a butterfly, we need to undergo metamorphosis so we can soar high and fly.

No matter how tough this year was, know this, God will make our 2013 awesome!

Addictions

Wine has robbed my people of their understanding.

Hosea 4:11

The holiday season calls for celebrations left and right. A lot of get together with friends over a bottle of wine occur. Although this is the season of merriment, please do not forget the responsibility that comes with each glass you drink. Each glass you raise decreases your sense of reason.

Everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial.

Everything is permissible but not everything is constructive

1 Corinthians 10:23

But this passage in Hosea does not pertain to wine or drinking alone.

Is there something or someone in your life right now that is taking over you?

Is God still your priority?

Has this something or someone taken your sense of reason away from you?

Whatever it is we are devoted right now other than God, we must always be on guard.

The modern day WINE in the passage is ADDICTION.

"ADDICTION has robbed my people their understanding."

Is there anything in your life that is causing chaos or unbalance?

Has your career or business removed your sens of time with your loved ones?

Has your relationship with someone removed your sense of purity and morality?

Above all things, we must be devoted to God first. Everything else should be just secondary.

Litmus Test

Has the Lord redeemed you?

Then speak out!

Psalm 107:2

They say that the tongue is the most uncontrollable part of our body. The Bible also mentioned how it can greatly influence our lives. 

Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.

James 3:2

If the eyes are the window to our soul, our mouth shows the state of our heart and soul. 

A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.

Luke 6:45

If someone would measure your kindness through the words that come out of your mouth, what do you think would be the result?

Unfortunately, most of us would probably fail this litmus test.

Now the challenge that Psalms 107:2 imposes is not just to control our tongue but make a habit out of praising and proclaiming God's glory in your life.

This challenge actually helps as cure our mouth that spits out acidic, painful and unkind words.

If we make it a habit to say good things about God and how he redeemed and change us, this would decrease your opportunity to say bad words.

This would also give us a yearning to get to know God more. We cannot give empty praises and statements about God.

Let us challenge ourselves everyday to speak out about God's redeeming power in our life. :)

Inspire: Challenge Accepted!

Faith and Endurance

Main Verse:

James 1

v.2 When trouble comes your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy

v.3 When your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow

God never sends us challenges that we can’t over come through Him. It is also a chance for God to show His glory in your life. It is your chance to become a living testimony, the best way to glorify God in your life.

v. 5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God.

He gives us necessary tools like His word and prayer. That is why it is important to arm yourself with God’s word at all times. If you don’t know His word, you won’t know His promises.

v. 6 But when you ask Him, be sure that your faith is in God alone.

Faith in God is necessary to overcome anything. If you don’t believe your God is bigger than your problem, then it will overcome you instead.

Do not have faith in fait but have faith in God alone.

v. 12 God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation.

God has better things in store for you. Those challenges allow you to grow so that you will be ready to handle blessings that come with bigger responsibilities.

Inspire: God-given Dream

When you partake in your God-given dream, life becomes more fulfilling and your destiny begins to unfold. Believe that as you do your part God is working behind the scenes on your behalf. He will line you up with the right people, resources, and opportunities at each intersection of your journey.

If your God-given dream begins to look like a nightmare, do not abort the vision. Realize the enemy is against you. Opposition rises because you are getting closer to birthing what God desires to release through you. Take courage and keep pressing onwards as you rely on God each step of the way. 

Dare to become more than just a daydreamer! Step out in faith and give birth to the God-given dream within you.

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Genesis 50:20)

I had my devotion today about Joseph's dream. The text above is from the devotional I read and it moved me a lot.

Have you ever experienced having that dream so intense, so vivid, so pursuant of you? I am not talking about a dream from your sleep, but more of a goal, a desire that God has put in your heart.

I have experienced that I am now starting to live that dream.

I came from a family of coffee drinkers. My dad was born and raised in Batangas and has been introduced the lifestyle of drinking coffee at an early age. Coffee is a common passion we have.

Back in college, I have dreamed of having my own coffee shop. Fresh from college and into the work force, that dream still didn't die. I even attended a coffee workshop with my dad that same year. It was pushed into the side lines though, but that dream was still hidden deep in our hearts. Come the present time, 2012. My dad retired from his work and I quit my from my job, a job I had since I graduated from college. We needed to find a business where we can get our family income. We considered many things, even franchising a convenience store. But God lead us back to the coffee business.

Now, we have our own coffee shop, a dream come true for us.

It doesn't end there though. We are still experiencing many birth pains though. But when you are passionate about what you do and you have great faith in God, no matter what trials you face, you will get through it.

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Genesis 50:20)

What dream have you neglected in a long time? Pray about it. Perhaps its about time to live that dream.

What Inspires you?

When I first started this blog, I considered this as my arts and craft blog. Its still is actually. On that note though, I stereotyped what inspired me. It should be something visually-stimulating. Like a photo of a beautifully styled wedding, the artsy interior of a crafts room, or beautiful prints of fabric.

But it shouldn't be boxed into one category. Those are not the only things that inspire me. Books, people and thoughts inspire me as well.

So starting today, I will putting them in as well. It will be a bit more text heavy compared to my other posts, but its still part of my creative process so I have to include it.

I will try my best not to bore you to death. :)

Craft Mag Love: Mollie Makes

Hello Everyone!

Its been awhile since I did a feature. 

I usually get inspiration from the blogs and magazines I see online.

One specific Magazine/Blog that I recently fell in love with is Mollie Makes.

One particular feature I loved is their Stamp Tutorial. You know how much I love stamps.

They have lots of other interesting features so do visit their blog or grab a copy of their latest edition.

Stamps

I'm drooling over these stamps right now. Hopefully someone out there can give these to me as birthday present. ;)

Look at all the possibilities. I love it!

Keep Calm and Buy a Mug

Every time I drink a cup of coffee, it works like a potion and get me all worked out and inspired.

Wouldn't it be nice if you can enjoy your cup of coffee with an equally inspiring mug?

Just for Php150.00 you can Keep Calm and Do your thing.

Below are the other designs available:

  

                

Write me a Letter 封筒

I know that in this day and age, writing letters are a thing of the past.

But once in a while, wouldn't it be nice to receive handwritten notes in fancy and artsy envelopes?

Don't you just love these envelopes?

Teacups

One fetish I have are beautiful teacups.

When I see one, it transports me to a different place. I feel like I'm in London or anywhere in Europe.

And I was so delighted to find a store with tons of lovely teacups.

If you want a teacup and saucer sat like this, you may order it from me.

Its just Php199.00 and it comes with a lovely box.

The Framed Fabric used as a tray can be ordered from me too for Php249.00

You can hang them on your wall or put it on top of your desk. You can also use it as an alternative to your boring white board :)

Shopping Bags

Don't get me wrong I am for eco-friendly reusable bags. 

I just thought these shopping bags shared to me by my boss are hilarious.

Perhaps these can be used as designs for reusable bags.

Corkboard/Memo board

I've been trying to fix my room since last week specifically my little craft area. I've been wanting to jazz it up for the longest time. Its taking me forever to finish it because of new design ideas that keep on popping up my head. One area I've been having a hard time finishing is the cork board/ memo board.

Here are few inspirations that has been clouding my head for more than a week now.

I hope I can finish it soon so I can show it to the world already :D