The Tale of Three Trees

 He wants you to know that He loves you more than you can imagine and He can turn your dashed dreams into something beautiful. - Joel Osteen

Excerpt from the book "Your Best Life Now" by Joel Osteen

 

I recently read a retelling of the timeless story The Tale of Three Trees. This fictitious children's book relates the lofty aspirations of an olive tree, an oak tree and a pine tree. Each of these trees had a great dream to become something special in life. The olive tree dreamed of becoming a finely crafted treasure chest. It wanted to hold gold, silver, and precious jewels. One day a woodsman chose the one olive tree, out of all the trees in the forest, and cut it down. The olive tree was so thrilled. But as the craftsmen began working on him, the tree realized they weren't making him into a beautiful treasure chest; they were making him into a manger to hold food for dirty, smelly animals. Heartbroken, his dreams were shattered. He felt worthless and demeaned.

Similarly the oak tree dreamed of becoming part of a huge ship that would carry important kings across the ocean. When the woodsman cut down the oak, he was so excited. But as time went on, he realized the craftsmen weren't making him into a huge ship. They were making him into a tiny fishing boat. He was so discouraged, so disappointed.

The pine tree lived on top of a high mountain. Its only dream was to always stand tall and remind people of God's great creation. But in a split second, a bolt of lightning sent it tumbling to the ground, destroying it's dreams. The woodsman came and picked it up and carried it off to the scrap pile.

All three of these trees felt they had lost their value and their worth; they were so discouraged, so disappointed. Not one of their dreams had come to pass. But God had other plans for these trees. Many years later, Mary and Joseph couldn't find any place to give birth to their little baby boy. They finally found a stable, and when Jesus was born they placed Him in a manger made from---you guessed it---the olive tree. The olive tree had wanted to hold precious jewels, but God had better plans, and it now held the greatest treasure of all time, the Son of God.

A few years went by and Jesus grew up. One day He needed a boat to cross to the other side of the lake. He didn't choose a large, fancy ship; He chose a small, simple fishing boat made from---you guessed it---the oak tree. The oak tree wanted to carry important kings across the ocean, but God had better plans. The oak now carried The King of kings.

A few more years went by, and one day some Roman soldiers were rummaging around in the pile of scrap wood where the discarded pine tree lay. That pine tree just knew they were coming to cut him up for firewood. But much to its surprise, they cut only two small pieces out of it and formed them into a cross. And it was on this pine tree that Jesus was crucified. That tree is still pointing people to God's love and God's compassion to this day.

The point of the classic story is clear: All three trees thought they had lost their value, that their stories were over, yet they became integral parts of the greatest story ever told.
 

You may feel that your great aspirations have been dashed by the choices you have made or the choices imposed on you by others. You may feel that you are trapped in a rut, but there's hope! God wants to restore your sense of value. David wrote, "God has lifted me out of the horrible pit and He set my feet upon a rock and He put new song in my mouth". God wants to put a new song in your heart; He wants to fill you with hope. He wants you to know that He loves you more than you can imagine and He can turn your dashed dreams into something beautiful.

A Prayer on my 26th

Dear Papa God,

Thank You for...

-another fantastic year of journey with You
-being my Father, my Blesser, my Companion and Life-Partner
-creating the most beautiful me =)
-an amazing relationships with my family and friends
-making me humble
-using me as an instrument to bless other people
-putting the right people in my path
-continuing to prosper "our" business
-a joyful, fulfilled and abundant life
-teaching me to love others through Your perfect love

So now, on my 26th birthday, let me praise You! Because You deserve all the glory!
Thank You Lord!

Yours,
Robz

Concert for Streetkids by Bo Sanchez

Atoy, 9 years old, and his brother Jinggo, 6 (not their real names) used to be experts on several skills.

They were good at criss-crossing the street while eluding speeding cars. They were good at running away from cops who wanted to pick them up for vagrancy.

They were good at looking pitiful and cajoling pedestrians into buying the sampaguita (native Philippine flowers) they sell on the street.

And sell they must.

Or else they starve.

For selling sampaguita was the only thing that kept them and their mother alive. Barely existing, terribly malnourished, but alive nonetheless.

Their mother couldn’t help them. Her tuberculosis was so far advanced she could barely move from their home.

And “home” means a shanty on the sidewalk along West Avenue, Quezon City.

Long abandoned by their father, Atoy and Jinggo got another low blow in life when their mother died on the street.

Jodean Sola, Director of He Cares Foundation, came to their lives just in time. (He Cares is one of the independent ministries being supported by your Kerygma Family. I’ve been working with Jodean for 25 years now.)

Today, Atoy and Jinggo are still being ministered to in He Cares Foundation. And about three hundred other streetchildren.

They need help. They need love. They need your support.

So on September 22, we are holding a fund-raising concert in PICC plenary hall for the benefit of the streetchildren of He Cares Foundation. Your buying a ticket or two will mean full meals for one week for Atoy and Jinggo.

You can ask your friends to also buy concert tickets, so that we’ll have more meals for all other kids of He Cares Foundation for many other weeks.

And as you help these kids, I personally guarantee you an evening of joy.

Because I will be there too—to perform with all my heart (ahem).

And our Kerygma 5 preachers will be singing too. And so will other talented artists who volunteered their time and talents to raise funds for Atoy and Jinggo and many other streetchildren.

To purchase your tickets, email Rem at remlopez@gmail.com or call her up at Tel. 0915-4239248.

Lighthouse - A Ray of Hope
A Benefit Concert of He Cares Foundation
September 22, 2012 - 8pm - PICC Plenary Hall

Performers: Bo Sanchez, Gab Valenciano, Bro. Joe Dean Sola, K5, Ms. Cooky Chua and many more!

May your dreams come true,

Bo Sanchez

PS. If you want to support He Cares and the 10 other independent ministries we’ve partnered with, click here now.
http://www.kerygmafamily.com/modules/subscriber/donations.php

Source: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151206807455236&set=a.316550135235.192422.67936175235&type=1&theater

God is Bigger than Your Biggest Problems

 

 

Stop telling God how big your problems are. 

Instead, start telling your problems how big your God is. - Bo Sanchez

Extracts from the book God is Bigger than Your Biggest Problems by Bo Sanchez

-When you're in pain, God embraces you and feels your pain. He weeps with you.
Because Daddy is Emmanuel. -p25

-You don't have to please God so that He will love you. He loves you as you are. He accepts you totally.
Because Daddy is Grace. (Grace means "free gift".) - p28

-Dulce means "sweet". I believe God is the sweetest Daddy in the world. We can run to Him, climb on His lap,
and ask for what we need. Because Daddy is Dulce. -32

-In this adventure called life, I've experience my God pushing me, pulling me, and carrying me in His arms.
I know God does the same to you. - p34

-God has faith in you. He believes in you. Because Daddy is Fides. (Fides means faith, the root word for faithfulness.)

-Leadership is about relationships. p42

-A leader builds relationship with a disciple. A leader plant a dream in that person's heart. A leader empowers that person to reach for that dream.

-God wants to build a relationship with you. He'll spend time with you.
He'll win your trust. He'll expose His own heart to you. He'll pour His life into you. In other words, He'll love you. This is His brand of leadership. p46

-God has cast a vision for your life: to give you a life of abundance.
He's so commited, He's not only ready to die for it -- He already did. He gave His life on the cross to make that vision come true. p51

-God won't allow any problem, any crisis, any trial, any evil in your life to stop His great vision from happening in your life. p52

-Make Him your leader.

-Prayer isn't convincing God to bless you, but opening your life to the river of blessings already flowing to you. p55

-I go to God's Supply Room for everything I need. Because I have the key to that room: trust. p56

-By nature, parents are providers. God is a parent. He wants to provide for us. You don't need to convince Him to bless you. He's happy when we're blessed, abundant, prosperous and fulfilled. He loves to bless you. p60

-He has provided every blessing that you need. So why convince Him to do what He has already done?

-God's blessings are as abundant as the air around you. So just breathe them in. p61

-People of faith expect to be blessed. p62

-The size of your expectations determine the size of your blessings. p64

-Focus on God's blessings amidst our trials. p65

-Life isn't about you. Life is about loving others. So ask big! p68

-God will always provide the best blessings for your life. p77

-Relax in God's love. Don't try to win love. You're already loved. There's nothing to prove! p84

-God protects you by calling you to live within thw circle of His love. He knows that when you live according to His laws of love, you protect yourself from a whole gamut of danger. p114

-You get to know God not only by studying about Him but by being with God and experiencing Him daily. p131


Live in gratitude. 
-Robz

God Is Committed to Your Future

 Photo by Nathalie Bianes

 "I have come that you may have life and have it more abundantly." - John 10:10

I'd like to share one of my favorite excerpts from the book "God is Bigger than Your Biggest Problems" by Bo Sanchez. Be blessed!


Imagine a kite flying high up in the sky.

You are the kite. God is the boy flying that kite. The string between the boy and the kite is your relationship with God.

But there are kites that feel that the string is holding them back.

So the kite says, "I want to fly higher. I can do so if this string  isn't here."

So they cut the string. They want to live their lives on their terms. Their theme song is Frank Sinatra's "I Did It My Way."

When they cut the string, they soar even higher into the sky. And the kite feels wonderful. But in due time, the kite will crashing down and be destroyed to bits.

Don't cut the string. Remain in your relationship with God.

In other words, allow Him to love you.

However, we're not just talking about friendship with God. Leadership is friendship, yes, but it's more than friendship. Aside from building a relationship, a leader casts a vision -- a dream.

Like the boy flying the kite, God has a vision for your life: for you to fly high up in the sky -- as high as you can possibly fly.

God has a vision for your life. It's found in John 10:10 -- "I have come that you may have life and have it more abundantly."

Here's what I found out: like any great leader, God is totally committed to this vision for your life.


Live in gratitude.
-Robz

Behind Every Writer

Behind every writer is a great writer.

Today, while navigating this blog site, I've noticed that it's been a year since I've started writing.
I remember the time when I wrote my first blog post. It was a Valentine letter to Someone very special.

I had a temporary writer's block. Thoughts were already there, but I couldn't get myself to begin to write.

So I asked help from a great writer whom I've known. She told me that writing is just like having a conversation with someone but in written form. And she gave me more encouraging words.

So far, I've posted 53 blog posts (including this one) and contributed an article blog in He Cares Mission, a non-profit organization.  That's because someone believed that I can write -- my sister.

In one of her blog posts, she wrote this to me...

"If I can compare our relationship, we are like the opposite ends of a seesaw, and God is our lever. Your weight on the other end of the pole is not a burden for me just as mine is never to yours. There are times when God allowed us some downfalls. That's why He created a seesaw with opposite poles so that when the other is down, the opposite would aid the other to meet halfway to a balance. And it is never impossible since God is at the center of it."

                                                                                                           Your other pole,
                                                                                           Kim

Thanks to this writer who believed and still believes that I can write.

Are you a writer? Do you have the gift to write? What's your story? 

Bless the world by your writings! =)

Live in gratitude.

P.S. My sister and I have the best Editor-In-Chief: God.

God’s Love is Like the Wind

Photo: Gizelle Roxas

He loves you not because you’re lovable. He loves because He is loving. - Bo Sanchez 

by Bo Sanchez 

God’s Love is like the wind. It’s constant. It’s always there. One hundred years ago, the wind was there. One thousand years ago, the wind was there. Ten thousand years ago, the wind was there. When the dinosaurs roamed the earth, the wind was already there.


You’re like that windmill. The windmill cannot change the wind. Nothing you do can ever change the direction of the wind. But the wind can change you. The wind is the wind. It’s older than you are. After you’re gone, it will still be there.


God’s love for you is eternal. It will flow towards you forever. All you have to do is receive that love.  All you have to do is accept the wind, flow according to its direction, and generate phenomenal power to serve humanity.


Or you could stubbornly resist the wind’s power and be utterly destroyed—not by the wind—but by your own stubbornness. In the same way, you could refuse God’s Love. You could refuse His forgiveness. You could refuse His blessings, His healing, His peace, His strength, His joy…  

Yesterday, He loved you. Today, He loves you. Tomorrow, He will love you. Nothing will change.  (Hebrews 13:8)


(Extracts from "Only One Thing Will Never Change". Please click HERE to read more..)

Joel Osteen: Inspirational Quotes

Focus on the greatness of God. - Joel Osteen

I've been listening to Joel Osteen's inspirational talks for a few days. He is also like my favorite preacher.(Do I need to mention Bro. Bo Sanchez's name here? hehe)

I love the simplicity of his preaching and his funny jokes too. And so, I wrote down some of the inspirational quotes that really struck me.

Below are my notes from Joel Osteen's talk.

Speak to Your Mountains:

-God knows what you are capable of.

-Average people have average problems. Ordinary people have ordinary challenges. But remember, you’re not average. You’re not ordinary. You are extraordinary. God breathed His life into you. You are exceptional, and exceptional people face exceptional difficulties. But the good news is we serve an exceptional God! 

-"I'm a big person with a big destiny. I'm a child of The-Most-Standout."

-Breathe in God's direction and everything will change.

-Stand strong and fight the good fight of faith.

-Focus on the greatness of God.

-Stop telling God how big your problems are, and start telling your problems how big your God is!

-"God supplies all of my needs in abundance. "

-"Greater is He that is in Me."

-Start the day in God's presence.

-Give God the first part of your day. Spend a quiet time with Him thanking Him for His goodness.

-In God's presence is fullness of joy


Living with Confidence:

-Start focusing on what you can become.

-"I'm a child of the most high God."

-Living with confidence means that we never lose our poise.


Display Your Joy. Smile!:

-You can't change people.

-You are responsible for your own happiness.

-Keep your joy.

-God has given us the power to stay calm in times of adversity.

-Quit feeding wrong emotions.

-"God is directing our steps."

-When somebody does you wrong, you have to ask yourself, "Is this worth giving up my joy over?"

-When people see you, what kind of message are they getting? We need to pay attention to what messages that we are sending out.

-Learn to smile by faith.



Live in gratitude.

-Robz

How to Write Well by Bo Sanchez

Write about your reflections on the events of yesterday. Write about
your dreams for tomorrow. Write, write, write! Every day! - Bo Sanchez

Last week, I received an email reply from my favorite author, allowing me to publish this blog article.
Thanks Bro. Bo Sanchez!

In one of his exclusive newsletters for TrulyRichClub members, he gave some great tips on how to write well. Here are Bo Sanchez's tips on writing:


Read like crazy too

All the great writers love to read.  If you write a lot and read a lot, you’ll learn how to write naturally.

Write Simply

 Image: iStockphoto

 Don’t try to write like a scholar. Unless, of course, you’re writing to scholars. If you want to reach a lot of readers, you’ve got to write simply.

Your Writing Must Move People

What reactions do you want readers to have? Saying the truth is great, by itself but how you say it matters.


Plant Hooks

Hooks are those elements in the writing that hook a person to the article. The reader simply can’t drop your book that he has to finish it.

To all wanna-be-writers like me, keep writing! Happy Monday! =)

Except: Simplify and Live The Good Life

Simplicity is living from the core of your being. - Bo Sanchez

Here are some lines I've quoted from the book:

-God chose to write the "map of happiness" on the ordinary parchment of simplicity -- like a treasure map written on recycled brown paper.

-Simplify because you want to discover the depths of your soul.

-Simplicity will point you to where, what and who the gold is in your life.

-Simplicity is having the time and space to embrace what is most important to you.

-Happiness is found within.

-Simplicity is living from the core of your being.

-Living beneath your means is the only route to take to enjoy a secure and comfortable standard of living throughout your working and retirement years. Living beneath your means isn't a suggestion. It's an imperative. (Jonathan Pond)

-You are worth more than your wealth.

-My experience was that the less I spent on myself and the more I gave to others, the fuller of happiness and blessing did my soul become. (Hudson Taylor)

-Worry is the interest we pay on tomorrow's troubles. (E. Stanley Jones)

-Simplicity isn't the goal - but peace of mind and love of neighbor.

-When we spend less, we can work less.
When we work less, we can play more.
When we play more, we can take the time to be better human beings.

-Satisfaction is not getting what you want, but wanting what you already have.

-Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done.
(Louis Brandeis)

-Simplicity means singularity of purpose.

-Begin with the end in mind. (Stephen Covey)

-When we're faithful to our mission and give ourselves to the world and genuinely help people live a better life, we see the world repay us.

-We are created for a mission, and that mission has been prepared for us beforehand. It is waiting for us to fulfill it!

-God has provided enough for our needs and more than enough to be generous if we open ourselves to that provision and work.

-How you define yourself will be how you will act.

-You have something that people need, and you need to discover what that something is.

-Reject the rejection. Because somewhere near that door that just shut you'll find an open door. So keep on looking.

-Embrace your fears but do it anyway.

-A workaholic works long hours. A lifeaholic works regular hours.

-A workaholic has very shallow friendships, in and out of work.
A lifeaholic treasures his deep friendships as his greatest wealth.

-A workaholic works with no defined goals. He just wants to be busy.But a lifeaholic has defined goals and works toward attaining them. And half of these goals have something to do with his work.

-Angels can fly because they take themselves so lightly.
(Zen proverb)

-Little things affect little minds. (Benjamin Disraeli)

-Let small problems remain small.


See my previous post about this book here.

Inspirational Photo ("Traveling Alone")

Traveling alone but not lonely.

Inspirational Photo ("Tree Swing")

I am with you ALWAYS. - Matthew 28:20

Inspirational Photo("Paper Boats")

The greatness of God always reveals itself in the SIMPLE things. - Paulo Coelho

Inspirational Photo("Paint")

"I will complete you. I always finish my projects. And you're my masterpiece project." - GodWhispers

Inspirational Photo("Beloved")

God loves us totally, completely, and perfectly.

Inspirational photo("Live for Others")

Inspirational photo ("An Open Door")

Reject the rejection. Because somewhere near that door that just shut you'll find an open door. So keep on looking.

Inspirational photo ("Date-with-God")

Discuss your life with God. - Bo Sanchez (Simplify and Live a Good Life)

Inspirational photo ("Relationships Matter")

Relationships matter more than anything in the world. - Arun Gogna (Today is Your Day)

My Life-Mission

We are created for a mission, and that mission has been prepared for us beforehand.

 It is waiting for us to fulfill it! - Bo Sanchez

After reading the Book "Simplify and Live the Good Life" by Bo Sanchez, I defined my own life-mission too. Here is it.

 

To LOVE selflessly & glorify God in ALL 

through living the NOW, serving wholeheartedly,
and inspiring others...

P.S. This is not just a personal life-mission statement. This is my life mission. I pray that God will reveal yours too. Have a date with HIM today! =)

Investing in Stock Market

Always invest for the long term. - Warren Buffett

"Isn’t the Stock Market for rich people only?”, this was also my question before I started investing. The answer is NO. You can start investing if you have P5,000.  Shocked? Don't be.

I've been investing in stocks for a year now and I'm enjoying wonderful profits. Bo Sanchez, my fantastic mentor is teaching me simple strategy to grow my financial and spiritual life. (Ex. 10-20-70 Money Manage Rule)


Early this year, I sold my one of my stocks after 8 months which gained 35%. How's that for a start? 

The following are great articles I've gathered to help you: (just click the title)

 1. How to Create Your Wealth For Your Old Age
-  find out why you need to invest for long term

2. COL Easy Investment Program
-  CitisecOnline is our preferred online broker

- for independent investor with little time or financial knowledge, this is more convenient. 

3. How to Open COL-EIP account
- follow the step-by-step procedure on how to open an online brokerage account

4. Join Truy Rich Club 
-  Everything you want to know about stocks (wealth strategies, stock updates and spiritual abundance - exclusive only for members)
- a door to financial freedom


The best time to start investing in the stock market is now. Be a shareholder soon! 
God bless! =)

http://trulyrichclub.com/

Life-Projects & My Dream Journal

Photo Credit: Amir Kuckovic

Don't put a limit to what God can do through you. - Bo Sanchez 

I started writing my dream list in 2011 and most of it came true.  Seeing the crossed out dreams on the list makes me more grateful while the uncrossed motivates me to work for in God's best time.

I have written my dreams in a small notebook called "My Dream Journal". Like what my mentor taught me, I wrote it more detailed. 


I'm sharing with you some of my dreams which I already categorized.

1. Spiritual Growth & Service
- spend weekly date with God (alone time)
- attend The Feast & Prayer and Life Workshops
- serve He Cares Mission & Awesome Kids Ministry & Street Friends in PICC

2. Family
- pray for each member of my family everyday
- 2-3x vacation every year
- express love to them by calling them often

3. Friends
- be a fantastic friend
- spend time with awesome friends
- drop a call/meet old friends

4. Work
- go to office early (less than 1 hr late for the whole month to avoid memo. haha!)
- appreciate colleagues
- accomplish daily tasks (teuxdeux.com)

5. Health
- sleep before 10pm
- take slow walks (15mins everyday)
- drink calamansi ("power drink") every morning

6. Financial
- give back the blessings to the Blesser
- invest in stock market every month (in less than 15 years I will be a millionaire)
- update financial journal
- add more passive income

7. Personal Development & Passion
- read fantastic books (inspirational, business, self-development, etc.)
- continue Mandarin class
- attend dance class & photography

8. Travel
- spend a serene time in Batanes Islands
- visit "Great Wall of China" in Beijing & be more confident to speak and understand Mandarin
- vacation in Phuket, Thailand with family

I believe you have dreams in life too. Write them down and share it here. Let's continue to dream and allow God to show us His fantastic surprises.
Have an awesome day! =)
 
“Lord, I’m trusting you. I’ll still seek my dream with joyful passion, but I will surrender my attachment to the details of my dream. I will open myself to your wonderful surprises.” (Have You Surrendered Your Dreams To God? - Bo Sanchez)

because I chose to serve..

"How many on their deathbeds wished they'd spent more time at the office-or watching TV? The answer is, No one. They think about their loved ones, their families, and those they have served."

The word "service" struck me after reading these lines from Stephen Covey's book "7 Habits of Highly Effective People".

I paused a few minutes and reflected on what had happened to me today. Let me share with you some few conversations I had from an interviewer. Let's just named him Mr. M.

Mr M: Can you tell me what Robz is doing aside from her work?
Me: I'm a volunteer in a non-profit organization. On weekends, I'm an assistant-teacher/facilitator of the awesome kids. (mentioning Bo Sanchez) and so on..
Mr M: That's sounds really interesting. Can you tell me more about it? The rest is history.

The conversation ended and he said directly that I passed the initial interview. The only problem would be my schedule since they're working on shifting hours. I told him I couldn't sacrifice my week-end activities.

Before I left the conference, his words struck me. "Keep doing what you are doing. Serve and make our country better. That's my point of perspective." With a big smile, he wished me goodluck as I leaved their office.

I received an email just tonight that I was not selected. And I already knew why.

This is another blessing for me today. I don't considered it a rejection. Instead, a re-direction on the right path I'm taking. I'll pursue to serve. Because I chose to. And it is one of my purpose.

It's time to sleep now! My gratitude journal is filled once again. And the writer too! I'm filled with blessings, gratitude and love.

Thank You Lord for another blessed day! Goodnight;)

Discover Your Inner Beauty Queen

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry of fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. - 1 Peter 3:3-4

This is the second book I've read by Rissa Kawpeng, a national bestselling author of "Confessions of an Impatient Bride". In this book, Rissa reveals how to achieve beauty that is beyond skin-deep and feel even more beautiful in the eyes of God.
I highly recommend this to all women. Stay beautiful because we are all beauty queens in God's eyes.

Here are some beautiful lines I've quoted:

* The most expensive makeup can't come close to the face lift that a genuine smile on the lips ca give. p11

* The inner beauty of a gentle quiet spirit lasts a lifetime.

* Be beautiful inside, in your hearts, with the lasting charm of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. p17

* Everyone is beautiful. Everyone is loved.  Everyone is forgiven by the mercy of God. p32

* Allow Him to show you how He sees you. p35

* You don't have to walk in someone else's shoes. God gave you your shoes to walk with. p36

* When we're angry at God, we don't need to turn away from Him. We can  tell Him straight that we feel bad...That in itself is praying. p48

* No one can be  in the presence of God and remain unchanged. p52

* The more we get familiar with God's voice, the easier it is to hear Him speak to us. p56

* The more time we spend with God, the more we are transformed into His image and likeness. p70

* Oftentimes, service calls is to do uncomfortable tasks. It calls us to go out of our way. -96

* What incident that changed the course of your life for good? Be reminded of why you are where you are. p111

Excerpt: Aleph (Part II)

Photo Credit: Alric Mondragon

Not everything in life is a long train with tickets available to all. - Paulo Coelho

Here are some parts of the book that gained my attention:

-We think that a computer is full of photos and images that provide a real window on the world, but the fact is that behind what you see on the screen, there is nothing but a succession of zeros and ones, what programmers call binary language. p168

-A warrior in search of his dreams must take his inspiration from what he actually does and not from what he imagines himself doing. p192

-Not everything in life is a long train with tickets available to all. p195

-Only a fool makes threats, and only another fool feels threatened. p200

-A life without a cause is a life without effect. p203

-Only someone who can say 'I love you' is capable of saying 'I forgive you.' p204

-The most sophisticated things in the world are precisely those within the reach of everyone. p212

-Love is made up of choices. p213

-"Be blessed. And just as you are transforming your own life, may you transform the lives of those around you." - the shaman p227

-A hunter always knows what to expect - eat or be eaten.  p227

-"Is it possible to deviate from the path God has made? Yes, but its always a mistake.
Is it possible to avoid pain? Yes, but you'll never learn anything.
Is it possible to know something without ever having experienced it? Yes, but it will never truly be part of you". p239

-Sometimes you have to travel a long way to find what is near. p255

-Time passes while we live. p260

-Someone, one day, will light the sacred fire for you. p261

-Music isn't a succession of notes. It's the constant movement of a note between sound and silence.

-No one who truly loves someone would destroy them or themselves. p263

-Love will conquer hatred. p266

See previous Excerpt: Aleph (Part I)

a morning walk on the beach...

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. (Psalm 139:14)

The sky is dimmed as I walk by myself barefooted in the clay-like sand.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath of the fresh air.
Nature's soothing sounds filled the surroundings like music.
The rushing waves of the ocean brought peace to my mind.
The melody of the chirping birds humming in delight.

I stared at the blue sky feeling a profound gratitude.
through nature, I connected with my God.
With arms stretched upward, I received His loving embrace.
And that was a meaningful morning walk on the beach.

How to be Really Really Really Happy ☺

 At the end of the day, if God does not even smile at me...my whole life will be totally meaningless. - Bo Sanchez

A collection of simple, funny and inspiring short stories from the author's life experiences. Indeed, God is everywhere. Be really really really happy! =)

Some beautiful passages I've quoted from the book:

-God's love. All we needed was a touch. But He decided to give us more. On the first Good Friday ever, He opened His arms on the Cross. And that was the greatest embrace of all time. p18

-"Without trials in life, I would begin to love this world and forget my God." p20

-In His eyes you are beautiful. More than you can imagine. p25

-Go ahead. Sing to Your Divine Beloved. Love Him with your imperfect love. p28

-All human suffering will one day end. p33

-God wants to be a loving Dad in your life. p43

-On that very Christmas Day, My only Son became a human, a helpless infant - so that He could save you...p44

-Because our eyes will gaze upon Jesus forever, our faces and hearts will become like Him, the most beautiful Person in this entire universe. p48

-God allows loneliness in our lives to drive us home. It is very painful journey, but the pain urges one to continue walking. p55

"I thought you were Jesus. You look so much like your Friend." p63

-At the end of the day, if God does not even smile at me...my whole life will be totally meaningless. p68

-He sees beyond our failures and grasps our glorious future. p75

-"In your emptiness, you will have more room for Me." p83

-I've discovered what life is all about. It's about generously giving our lives to God and to others - and forgetting oneself in the process. p84

-"For what you give to Me, I give back to you - multiplied over." p86

-God always win the battle of generosity. p87

-There is only one thing that will never die: His love for you. In the end, His love for you is the most beautiful thing this universe has ever known. And that will last forever. p91

-Many of the people who persistently see the wrong in others do so because they subconsciously can't stand the wrong that they themselves do. p120

-God thinks about you 24 hours a day, non-stop. p135

-No matter how small, do what God tells you to do. Do not underestimate  the Power of One. p136

-God is always love. We are always loved. And love will always be our life, forever. p144

A Father's Love Letter

My Child,

You may not know me, but I know everything about you. Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up. Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways. Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered. Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image. Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being. Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring. Acts 17:28

I knew you even before you were conceived. Jeremiah 1:4-5

I chose you when I planned creation. Ephesians 1:11-12

You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book. Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live. Acts 17:26

You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother's womb. Psalm 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born. Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me. John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love. 1 John 4:16

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you. 1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child and I am your Father. 1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could. Matthew 7:11

For I am the perfect father. Matthew 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand. James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs. Matthew 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope. Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3

My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore. Psalms 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you. Jeremiah 32:40

For you are my treasured possession. Exodus 19:5

I desire to establish youwith all my heart and all my soul. Jeremiah 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things. Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me. Deuteronomy 4:29

Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

For it is I who gave you those desires. Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine. Ephesians 3:20

For I am your greatest encourager. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you. Psalm 34:18

As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart. Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes. Revelation 21:3-4

And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth.Revelation 21:3-4

I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus.John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed. John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being. Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you. Romans 8:31

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you. 1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love. Romans 8:31-32

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me. 1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you from my love again. Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen. Luke 15:7

I have always been Father, and will always be Father. Ephesians 3:14-15

My question is… Will you be my child? John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you.

Love, Your Dad
Almighty God

Used by permission Father Heart Communications ©1999-2011 FathersLoveLetter.com

Manual of the Warrior of Light

 

This is the story of a village- boy who meets a mysterious woman at the beach who talks to  him about the bells ringing from a temple beneath the sea. Years later, the same mysterious  woman asks him to write about the Warrior of Light.

What is a Warrior of Light? The boy asks the woman. The woman replies that a Warrior of Light is one who understands the miracle of life, one who fights for his dreams and one who follows his dreams to reach his destiny. The boy is asked to write down the life lessons of the Warrior of Light.

This is my favorite of all Paulo Coelho's books. Every page is a lesson waiting to be learned. It defines the reader. Are you also a warrior? Then, just hang on 'til you can hear the bells of a drowned temple beneath the ocean ring.

Some of my favorite lines from the book:

There are two types of prayer:

In the first type, the person asks for certain things to happen and attemps to tell God what he should do. This does not allow the Creator either time of space in which to act. God- who knows perfectly well what is best for each of us - will continue to do as he sees fit. And the person praying is left with the impression that his prayer went unanswered.

In the second type, the person may not understand the Almighty's intentions, but he allows his life to develop according to his Creator's plans. He asks to be spared suffering, he asks for the joy in the Good Fight, but he never forgets to add: "Thy will be done."

This is how the Warrior of the Light chooses to pray.

*****
The warrior of light studies the two columns on either side of the door he is trying to open.
One is called Fear and the other is called Desire.

The warrior looks at the column of Fear and on it is written:
'You are entering a dangerous, unfamiliar world where everything you have learned up until now will prove useless.'

The warrior looks at the column of Desire and on it is written:
'You are about to leave a familiar world wherein are stored all the things you ever wanted and for which you struggled long and hard.'

The warrior smiles because nothing frightens him and nothing holds him.
With the confidence of one who knows what he wants, he opens the door.

*****
A warrior of light knows that certain moments repeat themselves. He often finds himself faced by the same problems and situations, and seeing these difficult situations return, he grows depressed, thinking that he is incapable of making any progress in life.

'I've been through all this before,' he says to his heart.
'Yes, you have been through all this before,' replies his heart.
'But you have never been beyond it.'

Then the warrior realizes that these repeated experiences have but one aim: to teach him what he does not want to learn.

a silver barrette

“A boy and a girl were insanely in love with each other,” my mother’s voice was saying. “They decided to become engaged. And that’s when presents are always exchanged.

The boy was poor–his only worthwhile possession was a watch he’d inherited from his grandfather. Thinking about his sweetheart’s lovely hair, he decided to sell the watch in order to buy her a silver barrette.

The girl had no money herself to buy him a present. She went to the shop of the most successful merchant in the town and sold him her hair. With the money, she bought a gold watchband for her lover.

When they met on the day of the engagement party, she gave him the wristband for a watch he had sold, and he gave her the barrette for the hair she no longer had”

― Extracts from By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept by Paulo Coelho

Prayer of Forgiveness

Photo by: Nz Ecochick

Extracts from Aleph by Paulo Coelho (p155 - 157)

Hilial is speaking softly, but the acoustics in the church are so perfect that everything she says seems to reach every corner.

"I forgive the tears I was made to shed,
I forgive the pain and the disappointments,
I forgive the betrayals and lies,
I forgive the slanders and intrigues,
I forgive the hatred and the persecution,
I forgive the blows that hurt me,
I forgive the wrecked dreams,
I forgive the stillborn hopes,
I forgive the hostility and jealousy,
I forgive the indifference and ill will,
I forgive the injustices carried out by others in the name of justice,
I forgive the anger and the cruelty,
I forgive the neglect and contempt,
I forgive the world and all its evils.”

She closes her eyes again and raises her face heavenward.

“I also forgive myself.  May the misfortunes of the past no longer way on my heart.  Instead of pain and resentment, I choose understanding and compassion.  Instead of rebellion, I choose the music from my violin.  Instead of grief, I choose forgetting.  Instead of vengeance, I choose victory."

"I will be capable of loving, regardless of whether I am loved in return,
of giving, even when I have nothing,
of working happily, even in the  midst of difficulties,
Of holding out my hand, even when I feel utterly alone and abandoned,
Of drying my tears, even while I weep,
Of believing, even when no one believes in me."

Be like the flowing river...

Photo Credit: Grazel Gorriceta

Be like the flowing river,
Silent in the night.
Be not afraid of the dark,
If there are stars in the sky, reflect them back.
If there are clouds in the sky,
Remember clouds, like the river, are water,
So gladly reflect them too,
In your own tranquil depths.
                                             --Manuel Bandeira

Love - 1 Corinthians 13

But the greatest of these is love. 

 ¹ If I speak in the tongues^[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,^[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing. 

 ⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

 ⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. ¹¹ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. ¹² For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 

 ¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

New International Version (NIV)

Excerpt: Aleph (Part I)

Life is the train, not the station. - Paulo Coelho

Aleph - the point at which everything is in the same place at the same time.

-If I believe I will win, then victory will believe in me. p30

-Words are tears that have been written down. Tears are words that need to be shed. Without them, joy loses all it's brilliance and sadness has no end. p35

-We always tend to value what comes from afar, never recognizing the beauty around us. p40

-No two journeys along the path are alike.p41

-If we seek something, that same thing is seeking us. p46

-Routine has nothing to do with repetition. To become really good at anything, you have to practice and repeat, practice and repeat until the technique becomes intuitive. 

-Inhale deeply and ask for all the blessings in the air to enter your body and fill every cell. Then exhale slowly, projecting happiness and peace around you. p54

-To live is to experience things, not sit around pondering the meaning of life. p62

-By forgiving we show wisdom and intelligence. p65

-If you spend too much time trying to find out what is good or bad about someone else, you'll forget your own soul and end up exhausted and defeated by the energy you have wasted in judging others.p67

-If the world seems to be at peace, that's because it is. p82

-Words are life set down on paper.p83

-No one can learn to love by following a manual, and no one can learn to write by following a course.p83

-Writing is,above all,about discovering myself. 

-Don't be intimidated by other people's opinion.Only mediocrity is sure of itself, so take risks and do what you really want to do.p83

-The important things that stay are the moments spent listening to people singing, telling stories, enjoying life.p84

-The small Aleph always appears by chance. You're walking down a street or you sit down somewhere and suddenly the whole Universe is there.p97

-The second Aleph also happens by chance when two people whom Destiny has chosen for a specific mission meet in the right place. 

-Those who once knew love will find each other again.p98

-Life is the train, not the station.p100

-Dreamers can never be tamed.p105

-Love is always stronger.p107

-forgiveness works only if you accept it. p107

-Visit your soul; don't visit your past. p117

-God is always close to us, whether we pray to Him or not. p128

-If you don't get up early, you'll never see the sun rise. If you don't pray, God may be near, but you won't feel His presence. 

-People meet when they need to meet. p129

-Train your heart. That is the discipline every warrior needs. If you can control your heart, then you will defeat your opponent. p134

-If you conquer yourself, then you will conquer the world. p135

-Sometimes fear is necessary in order that we can finally find peace. p150

-Remember that there is another court in Heaven, and that court will demand to know how you carried out God's wishes here on Earth.

continue reading.. Excerpt: Aleph (Part II)