2011

As the years have gone by, I’ve grown so much in my relationship with God. So much so that it has come to this point where I’ve just recently broken out of the phase of “emotional faith” and I’m just learning, growing, and experiencing the lessons of faith where I simply examine what I’m DOING, what I’m FEELING, and I simply just CHOOSE to follow Him. 

So far, life has been like when I first met Him, except I feel like I understand so much more about my faith. Not so much the facts or the feelings of it, but the divinity of it. 

The area of faith where it isn’t because of human reason or emotion, but the simple complexity of faith based on Him. Faith as a gift from Him. Like how the Church is not held up because of the effort of humans, but by God’s grace. 

Not because I love Him.. but simply because He loves me. 

To be honest, I’m not too sure if I love God as much as I think or hope I do. Heck, I’m not even too sure where my faith is going. 

But I’ve simply chosen to stay despite all the tests He’s brought me through and I persevered through all the hurtful truths, and I have to say 2011 has been a crazy roller coaster ride. 

I’m looking forward not just to a new year, but to an ever changing and growing life that is renewed in Christ every day. 

I choose to love. I choose God. Simple as that. 

Decide that in your heart and God will take you to heights (and battlefields) you’ve never imagined. 

True story. :)

Men

"St. Joseph is the prime example of a man. All because he has the fear of the Lord. He loved his family so much, that he was willing to die for them. He was quiet, and the Bible didn't have much to say about him. But that's because a real man doesn't need to be bragged about." -via Annie Au

Simplicity

"Pray, Hope and Don't Worry." -Padre Pio

Why Complicate Life?

Missing somebody? ... Call
Wanna meet up? ... Invite
Wanna be understood? ... Explain
Have questions? ... Ask
Don't like something? ... Say it
Like something? ... State it
Want something? ... Ask for it
Love someone? ... Tell them

Women

"Satan fell because of his beauty. Now his heart for revenge is to assault beauty. He destroys it in the natural world wherever he can. He wreaks destruction on the glory of God in the earth like a psychopath committed to destroying great works of art. But most especially, he hates Eve. Because she is captivating, uniquely glorious, and he cannot be. She is the incarnation of the Beauty of God. More than anything else in all creation, she allures the world to God. Satan hates it with a jealousy we can only imagine. And there is more. The evil one also hates Eve because she gives life. Put those two together—that Eve incarnates the Beauty of God and she gives life to the world. Satan’s bitter heart cannot bear it." -John and Stasi Eldredge, Captivating

Success

"Success is peace of mind that comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming. No one can do more." -John Wooden

"When success is defined as being one's best rather than competing with others, people can focus on and enjoy their own improvement and accomplishments...they are more likely to experience intrinsic motivation and enjoyment of the activity. They also persist in the face of difficulties, select challenging goals, and exert maximum effort." -Dweck, 1999; McArdle & Duda, 2002

"If you make winning basketball games a life-or-death situation, you're going to have problems. For one thing, you'll be dead a lot." -Dean Smith

"For an ego-approach person, experiencing personal improvement or knowing that one did his or her 'best' would not in itself occasion feelings of success or competence. Indeed, knowing that one tried hard and failed to outperform others would cause an ego-oriented person to feel especially incompetent. If ego-oriented people begin to question their ability to compete successfully with others, they are more likely to reduce persistence and avoid the challenge at hand." -Nicholls, 1989