Time of our lives...

The blog of my dreams!

So, I started reading this blog, and I was sooooo amazed at how God works! He knew I needed to read every single word of this blog. I applied every step. Go ahead. Read it for yourself:
http://theresurgence.com/2012/03/19/for-the-gals-8-principles-for-dating

My autumn resolution

Today, at team meeting, we got to talk about having a "Autumn Resolution". I started, like everyone else, with a New year's resolution. But like most people do, I lost tract of that. We get so caught up in our present circumstances, in our emotions, that we lose sight of the goals we give ourselves. So I decided to get an Autumn resolution. I've never had one before and I'm sure I won't succeed in all of these but I like the challenge. So here's my Autumn resolution:

1) Study hard on Chinese

2) Start school ASAP

3) Focus 100% on Kinmen {be it at the orphanage, at all my schools, at Bishan village, my driver, my friends, or just a stranger. Get to know their story}

4) Learn to paint & draw

5) Learn to cook

6) Run back to my first love: Jesus Christ. {Fall so deeply in love again that no one & nothing will ever matter; so I can learn to stand firm in my belief & trust in His word.} 

7) Support any event held to raise awareness for sex slavery & human trafficking. 

8) Memorize the book of Ephesians in Chinese {whoa! I said it!}
9) Excel in ballet & karate class

I just don't want to lose sight of why I'm here in Kinmen, Taiwan. I don't want to focus so much on my own life & have spiritual myopia. I want to focus on those around me that haven't heard of Jesus. What happened to Bruce & his accident, really helped me realize that these kids aren't just students I need to control in the classroom but they are also souls in need of a Savior (thanks Cami for sharing that!). I am so used to being impulsive & having the "lo que sera, sera" mentality but that never works. I want to hand the reigns of my life back to God and let Him control my life. It's always best the way anyways. 

John Piper says, "Paul says that the fulfilling of the resolve is "by his power." {2 Thess. 1:11-12}. That's what we are depending on. That's what we are looking for when we resolve. We are looking to Jesus who promised to be with us and help us. If you depend on your willpower, your name will be glorified. We believe that by grace alone we have been "called"- that is, captured by the truth and beauty of Christ. We resolve things not to make God be for us, but because he is already for us-- that's what his call makes plain. He is totally for us. So pause sometime soon. Pause and examine your life this autumn. Examine what is missing that should be there. What is there that should be removed? What new dreams for ministry might you venture? What new habits do you want to build into your Fall schedule?"

All good questions. 

Words of Wisdom from my Daddy....

{This post is going to be bilingual.}

Life has been different here in Kinmen. I have 2 new schools & two of my favorite schools were taken away & are now being taught by new English teachers. I have a new team. I'm meeting new people & there are new ministry opportunities coming up. It's only been two weeks since the semester started but I can already tell that this year is going to be a fruitful one. Satan has tried to discourage us (especially me). I have been sick for a while now (doctor said it's asthmatic bronchitis.) But among all this going on, I want to keep trusting my Heavenly Father. 

"Change is the only constant" Is a quote I heard recently & it's true. We don't like  it, and "Heck yes!" it hurts. But man, oh man! How we need to be changed constantly. Satan can rock my boat but in God I will always stand firm. Nothing will move me. Even when I doubt. Even when I hurt. Even when I want opposite to God's will, I will always just trust in Him. 

As I was going through my e-mails, I found an un opened e-mail from my father. It was sent to me on my birthday & in it was a list of advice that makes an intelligent woman. It was as though I was suppose to open that e-mail today. This minute. What has been true in my life recently is that God always gives His answer to our questions at the right moment. His moment. He always makes a situation clear, when our mind is all clouded up with anxieties or doubts.


Here is what it said:

• Dios creo las citas para que las mujeres puedan descubrir las caracteristicas negativas de un hombre antes de involucrarse con el, NO DESPUES. {God created dates for women to discover the negative characteristics of a man before getting involved with him, not after.}
• Si siempre vuelves con el hombre equivocado, tal vez no tengas la oportunidad de conocer al hombre correcto. {If you always come back with the wrong man, you may not have the opportunity to meet the right man.}
• Las palabras "Te quiero" no salen con facilidad o rapidez de la boca de un hombre sincero. {The words "I love you" do not come easily or quickly from the mouth of an honest man.}
• Todo hombre que no sabe "lo que quiere" no merece lo que tiene. {Any man who does not know "what he wants" does not deserve what he has.}
• Toda mujer debe tener el valor necesario para alejarse cuando no la aman. {Every woman should have the courage to step aside when she is not truly loved.}
• Toda mujer debe saber como enamorarse sin dejar de ser ella misma. {Every woman should know how to fall in love while still being herself.}
• Toda mujer debe saber como intentarlo todo y cuando alejarse. 
• Tiene que entender que no puede modificar el ancho de sus muslos o sus caderas, o la forma de ser de sus padres. {You have to understand that you can not change the width of your hips or thighs, or how your parents are.}
• Toda mujer tiene que entender que su  niñez  pudo no ser perfecta, pero que ya termino. {Every woman needs to understand that her childhood may not be have been perfect, but it's over.}
• Toda mujer tiene que saber lo que podria hacer por amor o deberia o no hacer.
• Toda mujer debe saber en quien confiar y en quien no. {Every woman needs to know in whom to trust or not.}

I love that my dad is always going to protect my heart. That no matter what happens between he & I, his prayer will always be that I become a virtuous woman, "rama fructifera", prepared for conquering this world for God through His strength. This being said, I miss you, papi.    

My dream guy...

Who doesn't know the lyrics to "Snow White's" theme song!?

picture from PINTEREST

☊ ♫♪ ♥Some day my prince will come
Some day we'll meet again
And away to his castle we'll go
To be happy forever I know 

Some day when spring is here
We'll find our love anew
And the birds will sing
And wedding bells will ring
Some day when my dreams come true☊ ♫♪ ♥

I do... It's my theme song! 

No joke! Girls cannot deny that the topic of guys doesn't pop up in their minds once in a while. Specially when you reach a certain age (*cough cough, like mine!). Hollywood feeds our minds with the idea of the perfect man. A George Clooney type, a Brad Pitt, a Gael Garcia, or a James Franco. (whichever your type is). We all have an idea of how we want our future prince to look like! 

But honestly, do fairy tales really exist? 

We live in a generation that is so driven by looks. 

OK, so let's be honest, it's hard to find a godly man that can be our prince. We live in a generation of mostly boys and not men. And when I say boys, I mean the un loyal, argumentative, manipulative, lying, and irresponsible of the male gender! 

There are not enough men stepping out to the plate. There are not enough men that are gentleman. There are not enough men that want to be different. 

But that's not to say that I don't believe they exist! I do believe there are men that are genuinely seeking Jesus. I believe there are men that hunger to please God  & do His will. I believe there are prayer warriors, and Spiritual soldiers out there that are fighting a battle against our enemy. I believe that there are men that are being watchful of their actions & words & thoughts; that there are men that are exemplary.

I believe that there are men out there that ARE changing the world (and not with their thumbs by playing video games but on their knees crying out). I believe that there are men that are willing to let go of worldly pleasures and not quit on Jesus. I believe there are men that love what's righteous & true & pure. I believe that there are men that are incredibly passionate about their calling and that act upon it. I believe there are men that are a "one-woman man". 

Yup. They're out there! I believe it. That's why my "dream guy" idea has changed. I don't want a guy that looks like George Clooney, Gael Garcia, or James Franco; I don't want a cheating, an uncommitted, and distracted guy. 

So here are the requirements for my "dream guy":

• Christian (A person who has received Christian baptism or is a believer in Jesus Christ and his teachings.)
• loyal ( Would he respect me when he is with me and when he is away from me?)
• loving 
• patient
• encouraging
• passionate about God, love, & life
• He is faithful to his obligations.
• A visionary who is going places 

As for now, I refuse to be waiting around for this so-called-prince of my dreams. I will focus on spending more time with God. I have no ties to stop me from serving Him with all my strength. My main focus is not to find my dream guy, but to grow in Christ. 

Jesus says ... 'But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.' (Matthew 6:33)

"I will move ahead, bold & confident,

taking every step in obedience, 

while I'm waiting I will serve You,

while I'm waiting I will worship,

while I'm waiting I will not faint,

I'll be running the race, 

even while I wait" {J.W}

Confessions of an Emotional person...

*Great! Just when I thought I had full control of my tongue & emotions- there I go again!

Isn't it the hardest thing to do- to control our emotions!? Especially as women, sometimes we lose control of our emotions. A problem, a comment, a dirty look and there we go- feeling sad,frustrated, & getting all "gangsta" on those who cause it (lol). Worst part is that we tend to let our emotions control the situation which in turn makes us react in an ungodly way. That then ruins relationships, makes us say/do things we later regret, or sends us to a depressive state of mind! 

What does the Bible say about learning to control our emotions? 

Scripture says in Proverbs 16:32, "Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city." 

1 Peter 5: 5-9 says, "For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins."

2 Timothy 3: 16-17 says, "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work."

Romans 8:9-11 says, "You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you."

We need to learn to have self control over our emotions!

The definition of self control is: “restraint exercised over one’s own impulses, emotions, or desires.”  Scripture verses about our responsibility of building self-control: 

• “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.” 1 Peter 1:13
• “But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.” 1 Thessalonians 5:8
  We need to learn to control our emotions; not let them control us. When Jesus becomes King of our heart, He guides, directs, comforts, and influences us. When Jesus controls our emotions, we then experience His emotions, and we begin to give fruits of the Spirit. We need to always saturate our hearts with Scripture to be able to control those "out-of-control" emotions. Our emotions are not evil, but they are indications of what is in our hearts.
  Are you in full control of your emotions? What can others tell about the Spiritual health of your heart? Does Jesus control your emotions? 
  If not....
  Let's renew our minds through Scripture. Let's be light and not blend in darkness!
  
  

The man God gave me as Father...

"Blessed" doesn't seem to fit the word I'm looking for. As a matter of fact, it might be a bit cliche. "Honored" sounds like I deserved him. But I don't. There really isn't a word that fits the description of my father's existence in my life. 

Before I get into the emotional stuff, I want to describe how I remember him as a child. I remember coming back from school and waiting for him to come home from work. As soon as he did, we would run to give him a hug, tackle him & wrestle with him {seems like we would always win but I think he just let us believe so}. We would take his white & blue lunchbox & clean it for him. Then we would sit him down and give him a full body massage. Natalie on his head and I would rub his feet. 

My father was a strict dad. But that doesn't mean we never had fun. He always had a trick up his sleeve. He was always an adventurous dad! {I think I get it from him}. He bought us our first bike & taught us to ride it. He taught us how to roller blade. He would walk with us to the park and take us to get some ice cream; drive us to different places and just be with us. He shared himself with us. 

When we got a little older {and quite frankly, a little more annoying} it took one look from my dad to put us in our place! I look back now and laugh at that because if I were him, I wouldn't be so patient with us!

My daddy was our superhero. 

It didn't matter how busy he was being a provider, pastor, counselor, teacher, husband & son, he was always our father. You don't really know how important a dad is until you look back once your older and see that  if it wasn't for him, you probably wouldn't have the life you do. I agree. 

When we became teens, he was always there to tell us that we look beautiful natural. But we didn't listen to him, we wanted to look like everyone else. He was patient {and sometimes very impatient} with us during our teen years. But always reminding us that the most important kind of beauty is the beauty of the heart. Our character. What we can do to serve those around us. How we can honor the elders at church. How we can serve God with our talents as young girls. That's what my daddy taught me. To be available to serve. To focus on ministry. To learn to worship, love, honor, and obey God. He didn't teach us all this by only his words but by example. 

When going through hard times in my life, my dad was always there for me. His love & compassion for me always reminded me of Jesus's ministry of reconciliation. He was always there to say, "I forgive you. Let me help you. Let's forget about this and learn. I'm here for you each and everytime you need me." And because of this, I wanted to learn to honor him. 

My dad is not perfect. We haven't always had the best relationship. What relationship is perfect anyways? Don't we all have our ups and downs? And because of all those downs we have learned to make our friendship stronger. We have learned together to respect and love each other always. Our relationship is growing. 

Each day, I love opening my laptop and hearing him; what he did, what he is doing, what his future plans are. I love being able to come to him for advice. I love knowing that he is praying for me and supporting me. 

My dad has taught us the power of words. How they can affect our lives. His blessing for me has always been, "Rama Fructifera" {fruitful vine}. He means it as in grandkids but unfortunately for him, all three of us are still single! But spiritually, that blessing is powerful in my life. I have been blessed with living in Taiwan and have had the honor of being with about 500 Taiwanese children that I get to minister, love and teach every week. What a powerful blessing! 

Looking back in time, hearing his testimony of how God spared his life in his youth and how God has been leading him to expand God's kingdom and how God has given him special gifts to do just that- encourages me to trust the God of my father. 

I pray that one day my grandfathers, will also serve the God of wisdom. That is my one prayer for both my grandfathers.  

So, dad, having you in my life is an essential thing. Having you in my life has made a world of a difference in my formation. I am who I am now because of all the work you had to put into this relationship. I am healthy now because of fulfilling your job as provider. I am successful now because of your guidance, patience, love, nurturing, and prayer. 

Thank you for all the times of discipline. Thank you for all the times of laughter. Thank you for all the times you cried with me and for me. Thank you for your hugs and for your time. Thank you for not leaving me and for existing in my life. Thank you for choosing to love me when I didn't deserve it. Thank you for being my daddy. 

Words cannot describe the gratitude I have in my heart for your life. Everyday you should be reminded all this. But today specially, I want to remind you that:

I love you unconditonally, sincerely, forever.
父亲节快乐 {Fùqīn jié kuàilè}

Psalms 127:3-5 - "Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court."(NIV)