The Final Analysis.

“People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered; Forgive them anyway
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone may destroy overnight; Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is all between you and God; It was never between you and them anyway.” -Mother Theresa

Chains

team KGKL Joseph Pecson

elephants are very powerful creatures. left unrestrained and free to wander, the collateral damage they are capable of doing is massive. surprisingly however, in places like india, these animals are secured by a mere piece of twine tied to a wooden peg in the ground… and that’s it.

how are the owners so confident that a feeble piece of string is all that is required to make sure their behemoth of a pet doesn’t wander astray?

well, when the elephant is just a baby, it is actually secured to the trunk of a tree with much more durable metal chains clasped around its ankle. given the strength that it possesses in its infancy, there is no way for the baby elephant to break free, no matter how hard it tries. it may scream, it may fight, it may try its hardest with all its might… but eventually it realizes the futility of finding freedom and stops trying.

it accepts that it cannot escape.

this effect is so psychologically powerful that even when the elephant becomes an adult, heavy chains aren’t even needed — simply twine will do. for in the moment the elephant feels even the slightest resistance, it will stop trying to escape (even though it is perfectly capable of doing so). the fully grown elephant believes that it is being secured by unbreakable chains, even when this is not even the case.

Given this incredible metaphor, let us now apply it to you, dear reader. Is there something in your life that feels like an invincible iron shackle around your ankle that you can’t break free from?

Lingering brokenness from a past relationship? Guilt-laden lust? Perhaps a perpetual feeling of insecurity that comes from constant reminders of your inadequacy? Maybe nobody understands you… and it hurts that they don’t.

These come to mind because I have personally dealt with all of these issues.

when spring 2009 ended, a very intense relationship came to a bitter conclusion also. during the “getting over her” process, which was laden with severe pangs of deep depression, I felt like I too was tied down by heavy chains, much in the same way as an elephant.. I felt there was no escape. in fact, the very prospect of ever feeling better or of ever feeling happiness anymore felt like a goal I could never accomplish again no matter how hard I tried. the helplessness was an awful experience, and the thoughts that came with it brought me a great deal of insecurity.. after all, who could possibly love a person who’s so obviously broken? it was just too soon for me to even pretend to be okay.

it’s odd.. those who have experienced a powerful encounter with Jesus ought to know that he is able to deliver you from practically anything, if you just come to him. but when you are in the middle of your darkest storms, the circumstances seem to prevent you from doing so. the perceived hugeness of the problems you are facing may even trick you into thinking that he is not near at all.

this is a terrible and deceitful lie. because you CAN come to Jesus. and he is near you.. always. and he will reveal to you the truth, and as John 8:32 reads, “… the truth will set you free.” Jesus revealed to me the psychological power I was giving to my circumstance, that what was actually twine I treated like metal chains. and the minute I realized that truth, I knew I could overcome, find my optimism, and restore my confidence.

“What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God– through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:24-25)

through a renewal of my spirit that stemmed from me returning back to a focus on Jesus, I was able to see my circumstances with greater clarity. Slowly, as I prayed and continued to ask for his strength, I was able to get over just about everything. i’m happy again. the perspective and lessons i’ve gained helped me see things a lot more clearly, for what they were.. but the memories of what and how i felt in the beginning of the summer can come back to me vividly.. and while the issue was practically nothing more than twine around my ankle, it felt so much stronger. but i have long since stopped giving those memories any power over how I live my present.

stop being a prisoner to your past. stop dwelling on those shameful memories. For as long as you are in Christ, you are a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17).

in Christ, we are no longer slaves to anything, for we serve a God who is greater than all storms, all troubles, all problems. never be reluctant to call on the name of Jesus. He is there. He will deliver.

—
“We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. On Him we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us.”
(2 Corinthians 1:10)

-via KnowGodKnowLove

Failure

"Failure is not God's rejection, but God's redirection."

Heaven

“God Himself will be with them. And He will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.” -Revelation 21:3-4

"Christ's kingdom is... a kingdom where membership is granted, not purchased. You are placed into God's kingdom. You are "adopted." And this occurs not when you do enough, but when you simply admit you can't do enough. You don't earn it; you simply accept it. As a result, you serve, not out of arrogance or fear, but out of gratitude." -via Adrianna Maravilla

"Heaven isn't full of perfect people but of forgiven people." -Anonymous

Roses

"When life isn’t a bed of roses, remember Who wore the thorns." -Ariel Bejer

Joy

"Anyone can be happy. Anyone can be unhappy. Happiness is a pick-me-up in our lives. It’s good, if we’re always happy. I mean, that’s great. People always talk about the pursuit of their happiness but I don’t think that’s what we should be chasing. God believes in our everlasting joy. Yeah, there’s a difference. Joy is, forever. It’s understood that we can’t always be happy with everything that happens in our lives. But joy, joy is what keeps us content. Joy is what’s going to pull us through. People ask me.. Donnel, why are you so happy? I tell them I’m not, I’m not happy, I’m joyful. The reason why I feel like I have enough is because I’m joyful. Because whether or not I have a job, or whether or not my life is going in the direction I’d like it to go.. I’m confident in my prayers that this is what His plan is for me. I may not be happy when I look in my empty wallet or I didn’t get that one big break but I’m joyful, still. I’ll take my chances and seize my opportunities. They might all be successful, they might all be a failure. I guess, the point I’m trying to make is, that we shouldn’t be in pursuit of happiness when we aren’t, We should be in search of the joy in what we have in our lives. What we have left after all the successes and failures, is what’s going to pull us through. - God is Love" -Donnel Barroso

1. Jesus

2. Others

3. Yourself

It should be in that order.

-Ariel Bejer

Roads

"Not all roads lead to God. But He will come down any road to find you." -Ariel Bejer

"The safest road to hell is the gradual one - the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts." -C.S. Lewis

"This is what the LORD says:

“Stand at the crossroads and look;
ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
and you will find rest for your souls.
But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’" -Jeremiah 6:16

You say, God says..

You say: It’s impossible
God says: All things are possible (Luke 18:27)
You say: I’m too tired
God says: I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30)

You say: Nobody really loves me
God says: I love you (John 3:16 & John 13:34)
You say: I can’t go on
God says: My grace is sufficient (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalms.91:15)
You say: I can’t figure things out
God says: I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5-6)

You say: I can’t do it
God says: You can do all things (Philippians 4:13)
You say: I’m not able
God says: I am able (II Corinthians 9:8)
You say: It’s not worth it
God says: It will be worth it (Romans 8:28)
You say: I can’t forgive myself
God says: I FORGIVE YOU (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)

You say: I can’t manage
God says: I will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19)
You say: I’m afraid
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear (II Timothy 1:7)
You say: I’m always worried and frustrated
God says: Cast all your cares on ME (I Peter 5:7)

You say: I don’t have enough faith
God says: I’ve given everyone a measure of faith (Romans 12:3)
You say: I’m not smart enough
God says: I give you wisdom (I Corinthians 1:30)
You say: I feel all alone
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

Hebrews 13:8

-KnowGodKnowLove

Vulnerability

"To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable." -C.S. Lewis

"The more vulnerable you can be, the more LIFE, LOVE & OPPORTUNITY will open up to you. See vulnerability as strength." -TheDailyLove

Rediscover You

by Starfield

I need to just admit, my faith is paper thin

I’m feeling so burned out on religion

I say an empty prayer, I sing a tired song

I need to just admit that the passion’s gone

And I wanna get it back.

You told me, look for You and I will find, so I’m here like I’m searching for the first time.

Revive me, Jesus, make this cold heart start to move.

Help me rediscover You.

I want to learn to pray, the way that David prayed,

I want my soul to burn when I hear Your name

I want to feel like new, I want to hunger for You, bring me back to life like only You can do.

I don’t wanna feel the same.

Lord, I wanna be Yours today, I want to know the passion of the saints, and how they were changed.

I want to burn for You, bring me back to life, Jesus

Help me rediscover You.

Pencil

“I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world.” -Mother Teresa

Continue

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, ⁷rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." -Colossians 2:6-7

"God will continue to be God with or without your recognition." -nonelikejesus

Children

"Children are living messages we send to the future." -KFC (Kids For Christ)

Renew

"Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint." -Isaiah 40:28-31

"For His anger lasts only a moment,
but His favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may remain for a night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning." -Psalm 30:5

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will." -Romans 12:2

"All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory. That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day." -2 Corinthians 4:15-16 [NLT]