Sunday, January 20, 2013

Shangahi December 2012

Traveling is fun but with family, its super bonding fun!

Here are some pictures of Shanghai with family!! Its been a long time since our last bonding time and I feel this will be one of many excursions.

landed! with rosan

Group arrival picture


On the way yo our hotel via subway



Hotel lobby

super great room!



one of the many chinglish signs in shanghai

"do not disturb"
Bamboo shoots with edamane FAV!












Must eat here resto!!!


yummy spicy lemon margarita

One of the best trips I had..

I Stand by His Grace

I have heard various accusations that plagued me.

I take intermittent steps back and review my life and, more importantly, the motives of my heart for every move I make.  The cull of leadership is not easy;  neither are the pioneering efforts demanded of me before as school administrator and talent manager and now as a human resource manager.  Many times, the trek can be lonely and only those who fly in similar worlds with the same altitude grasp the dynamics of what I go through.

I have learned that I am not so important as to be able to control people or take advantage of them, as some are inclined to think.  I churn my job knowing that, if I do less, others who take the trek with me will slide down.

I have learned that, in this tough business, one can't fake the preaching without the life that backs it up.  Often, the backing up is not seen by the public eye, and it doesn't matter.

I have learned that I bark loudly not because I am better, but, precisely because I've been down on the ground probably more than most.  In that, there is no room for self-righteousness.

I have learned that my attention span is too short to be capable of the machinations of spiritual manipulation because everything I breathe goes against that very grain.  I speak the truth, sometimes straight out, because the deception and lying found in everyday life are just so distasteful that the specks of truth blurted out need to find their voices against the noise of propaganda called "denial".

No one likes accusations, but, if they be part of this trek, I thank my God for permitting them because they keep my feet on the ground.  I am thankful for real friends who hold the ropes with me and those who have gone this path ahead of me who serve as examples of how to stand, even alone.

Nope, the trek ain't easy.  But, I stand.  By His grace, that's a promise.





Friday, January 11, 2013

Faith Goals 2013

I have been doing faith goals for 18years and the main theme of my goals are "What I want to do or what I want to have." God answered my faith goals (a yes or a no) but when i think of my life I have accumulated and exercised a faith that is based on looking out, a faith of doing...a faith of having...

This 2013 I have changed my faith goals to a faith of being... these are the goals I feel I need to have in the inside.

Here are my faith goals (not necessary in order):

1. Deliberately live a healthy life, a conviction from within. My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, keep it fit. I want to be able to live and enjoy life as I age.

2. Honest/ Transparent "be transparent... bad things grow in the dark" Living a lie or lying is robbing myself of the truth. Trust binds relationships, so by always being honest I can trust myself and others can trust me.

3. Wisdom- My prayer is that I will have wisdom and the will be known for my wisdom.

4. Humility in everything I have done and will do - i want to remain humble.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— may I always remember this verse.

5. Generosity.

6. Faithful to finish what I have started.

Saturday, November 10, 2012

What eats you?

It's not just what you eat that matters, it's what eats you. You can have all the right macrobiotics and organic food, but if your body is filled with resentment, worry, fear, lust, guilt, anger, bitterness, or any other emotional disease, it's going to shorten your life.

Monday, September 10, 2012

Immanuel God with us

 "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"--which means, "God with us." Matthew 1:23

I used to find myself trying to pursue God, that in my waking hours I focus my strength to obey and be my best for God, yet I always fail miserably.
I realized that I was pursuing God as if He was far from me...
Not long ago, I had this revelation from Matthew 1:23 that God is in me....Emmanuel. I can fulfill (in obedience to His will) the plans God Has for me, no more struggle, just focus on today's daily tasks. Not to fear not to fret, but to enjoy God in me and the freedom to obey because He loves me and I love Him. I can never love God more than He loves me, so I can relax.

Verses that comfort me:
Psalm 33:10 The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.
Romans 8:31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
Isaiah 43:5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.
Jeremiah 46:28 Do not fear, O Jacob my servant, for I am with you," declares the LORD. "Though I completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you, I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you but only with justice; I will not let you go entirely unpunished."
 Isaiah 46:4 I will be your God throughout your lifetime--until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Discipling me

web photo
Discipleship doesn’t just happen in the church

To make disciples, we must go and we must make. To go requires movement and to make requires creativity. Discipleship is central here. God incarnated in Jesus Christ the perfect example of how to do this. Christ developed godly character in others.

Our authority to disciple comes from Christ! You’re not alone

Jesus didn’t offer his final instructions and then just left us to it. We have a promise from Christ that he is with us always! That means when you’re facing a discipleship challenge that seems insurmountable, Christ is with you by his Holy Spirit. When your parent seems completely uninterested in your life, Christ is with you. When you bring the new church van back with a dent shaped like a frightened cow, Christ is with you. Always.


Donita Sabater singing Deciphering Me cover by Brooke Fraser

Thursday, August 09, 2012

Craft Beer

"craft brewery" as "small, independent and traditional"

I love beer, and when i travel i make it a point to drink the brews from the city... most beers in the Picture is from Canada... need to take more pictures :)
craft beers available in draft fort
Available in Barcino


Montreal
Canmore Alberta Micro-brew Sampler

Dulac-St. Jean Quebec Craft
Quebec

Chicutimi Quebec

Chicutimi Quebec
Saint Annes des Montes Quebec
IPA San Diego CA


Wednesday, August 08, 2012

The Source of Jealousy

"The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses. When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God." Galatians 5:17-21
photo from web

Most likely, you have been caught off guard by a wave of jealousy at some point in your life. Was it a spiritual attack? Did the Enemy make you covetous? Was someone or something working to make you resentful?
The answer—which may surprise you— is no. Jealousy actually springs from within us, even though we might try to deflect the blame. For example, we may say, "Well, they just shouldn't have that. They don't deserve it, so I'm perfectly justified in feeling this way."
Do you see what is actually going on here? We are not only feeling envious of someone, but we're also saying that our jealousy is the other person's fault! That's simply not true. We are each 100 percent responsible for our own feelings of envy.
Jealousy is a product of the flesh. In the Bible, it is listed among such sins as idolatry, immorality, drunkenness, and sorcery—sins which stand against our holy God and are described as "earthly, natural, demonic" (Gal. 5:17-21; James 3:15).
Envious feelings can lead to unhealthy comparison of one's own success to someone else's. That pattern can grow into a competition to out-perform others—and may result in full-blown fear and resentment. What a horrible way to live!
Though jealousy is a common emotion, it has no place in a believer's life. So each of us should try to look objectively at our heart motives. Are you plagued with an attitude of jealousy today? Lay your honest feelings out before the Lord, and ask Him to cleanse you of this sinful attitude.
by: Riley Laverne 

Episode 1

https://beyourselfandliveyourpurpose.podbean.com/e/the-title-of-episode_1/