What's in a Dream?

It took me quite a long while to understand and even know what a Dream is. If you are one of those who do not even know what it means to dream or, you have one but you're not sure if it's the real deal, come and read along.

(Just a side note, I am not to tell that these are absolutes, but these lessons have been resounding so much in my heart for a very long time. It enlightened me beyond words and driven me beyond explanation. These 3 had come randomly on separate occasions and I am just surprised that when I penned the 3 together, how interwoven they have become.)

A Dream is Never Small.
Had it been small, it would just be within an arm's reach. Had it been small, it would be a no-sweat thing. Had it been small, no one would be afraid of it.

But you see, Dreams are intended to be big. A Dream has always been something so far and hard to reach. A Dream has always been accompanied by decisions we have to make, risks we have to take, and changes we have to adapt with. It is factored with blood, sweat, and tears. No wonder many are afraid of it.

A Dream more often than not, is bigger than life itself. A Dream is at its best when it is big, because it is then we place a high regard on its value. It is in the pursuit of a big dream we realize our limitations and recognize the need of Someone bigger than us to journey with us as we carry on towards our Dream.

A Dream teaches us to be humble.

A Dream is Never Self-serving.
The heart of a Dream is serving, sharing, and giving of oneself to others. The joy of a Dream fulfilled comes when appropriation of those dreams are received by its intended recipients. It is made in the context of a community. 

For once, have you ever talked to a Dreamer?

I bet he'll tell you he had been in situations where he had seen needs and had that growing desire to turn it around --- that something has to be done and someone has to do it. 

Dreamers are created to strengthen, empower, and edify a community. It will be in the very same community future Dreamers will rise.

A Dream teaches us to be selfless.

A Dream is Never Self-Made.
I dreamed it on my own. 
It's mine to pursue. 
I did it: My name. My say. My way.

To this I say: A Dream is not a product of self. It is not a product of a "one-man-team". It never was and it will never be.

Behind every Dream is a Dream-giver. He is the One who caused us to dream Big Dreams. The Dream-giver will use people and situations for the Dream to be realized and come to pass. It is not from ourselves. It is not our Dream after all.

More so, a Dreamer had come across keen-eyed people who had seen him, tapped his potential, honed his God-given talent and skills, and encouraged him to master his craft. 

A Dreamer had gone through situations that stretched him but chose to lengthen his cords and strengthen his stakes.

We need people along the way. Let's not dismiss them. Embrace them instead.
We need character-molding situations. Let's not run from it. Tackle it, survive it, and learn from it.

A Dream teaches us to say no to self-exaltation.

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A Dreamer is never a sleeper. 
He is awake and he make things happen. 
He is intentional with his actions. 
His energy is geared towards the Dream.
He is a doer but he has a wisdom to know when to pause for a while, to regain strength in between, and carry on. 
When tired and weary you'll find him on his knees drawing strength and encouragement from his Maker, his God, his Dream-giver. 

To fellow Dreamers, with the Dream-giver on the team, let's dream big so that others may learn from Him how it is to have a Dream fulfilled. 

A Wallet Project

(Warning: Too many color green *wink*)

I have always been trying to maintain an organized wallet, but I always fail. As most of us can relate, when you are at the counter, there are many things going on. Looking for cards, taking out cash & coins, getting the gift card back, getting the change, getting the receipt + making sure you do it quickly or else the one next in line will be raising brows at you. 

Result? A bulky and disorganized wallet.

I was relieved by this particular video. I really find this helpful so I want to share this with you.

I particularly want to thank my sister for introducing to me this YouTube channel, Alejandra TV. :)

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=alejandra+wallet

I was inspired so I gave it a try. I went to a local bookstore, bought a business card organizer with a detachable cover:

The thing was, I don't like the color black. But since there was no other available color and in my desperate attempt to organize, I still bought it, thinking to give my eyes a try. Unfortunately, black still didn't work to my taste. 

Tada! I remembered having watched a video on how to make a Bible cover and I thought of doing the same to my wallet. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAe3iBzDFw0

I tried to work on a wallet cover (without a flap) from supplies that I already have:

I didn't have craft duct tape so I used a simple clear tape and covered/laminated the whole thing. Then I slid the cards into the sleeves according to frequency of use:

For security purposes, I covered some card info w/  'butterflies'. ;)

So now, I am ready to go.

One thing I like about the wallet cover since it is detachable, I can change it from time to time ~ when it's already worn or torn, or if I happen to spot a craft paper that I really like. ;)

That's it for today. I am beginning to like what I see. :)

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* Today is 06 January 2015. I don't feel sleepy yet so I made another wallet cover:

I don't know how many covers I will be making out of sleeplessness. I am just having so much fun. :) 

It's a Love Thing

This I admit: At times, I can really be a worry wart. I don't know but biologically, I learned that a woman's wiring or chemistry in the brain has something to do with it. Whatever the reason(s) are, I know I've been plagued by it lately ~ a lot.

Prolonged wakefulness and a heavy heart ~ that's what worry gives me. I am aware of it. That's why it has been a conscious effort for me to exercise and practice God's presence day in and day out. His grace has been enormous and sufficient, more than sufficient in my dealings with worry. Sometimes, the message is just simple: Sleep. Don't over think. Spare your sanity.

True enough, at each waking moment, His mercies are new. Great is His faithfulness indeed! (Feels like I am going to sing a song here).

More than the sleep thing, I am greatly comforted by God's love. His Love is far greater than all my worries and fears. So, there was this morning, Psalm 136 just came resounding in my senses. It just came like 911. It's a rhema, living word, impacted and ministered to me like never before. For me to have at least an outlet of a message that's about to burst, I posted it on my social media page:

With LOVE emphasized, I wished I had the message come across to those who viewed it. Not just to those who 'liked' it on Facebook, but also to those who might be in need to know of a Love that endures forever ~ the Lord's... whatever situation each one is in.

To some who have been reading my blogs, the picture may seem familiar. Oh, yes, this had appeared on What's on My Mind? and This I Choose. I had written this last year, which I just pull out when brought back to remembrance. God's Word is timeless. It ministers and speaks when it so desires. We just need to feed our souls with His Word and have our hearts ready like a bank. It worked for me. I know it will work for you, too.

Now you know what rolled my worries away. It's a LOVE thing. And... this just now made me understand this better and feel this more:

That's why, that's why! Perfect love drives out fear.
Now I'm singing a tune again: I know I am loved by the King and it makes my heart want to sing.

Blessings everyone! :)

The Patience that Runs

In context with Something on a Midday.

At times I forget what happened that midday. I am now really thankful I had written that. This life, where every thing seems to be a journey and a battle, I need to be gently reminded of the reasons why I do what I do today. That post serves as a bookmark for me.

I was then led to have Streams in the Desert as a devotion companion again. It is an epic, a classic, and a timeless companion. I don't know. It feels so much of a home for me each time I read it. Oh, heavens!

The page I turned to one day brought a kind of message that ministered to me... to silence all my fears, to release me from my worries and all ~ big time.

Let us run with patience. (Hebrews 12:1 KJV)

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There is another kind of patience that I believe is harder to obtain ~ the patience that runs.

. . . but I know of something that suggests even greater strength ~ the power to continue working after a setback, the power to still run with a heavy heart, and the power to perform your daily tasks with deep sorrow in your spirit. This is a Christlike thing!

. . . Yet what is so difficult is that most of us are called to exercise our patience not in bed but in the open street, for all to see. We are called upon to bury our sorrows not in restful inactivity but in active service ~ contributing to other people's joy. No other way of burying our sorrow is as difficult as this, for it is truly what is meant by running with "patience". 

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Oh, that feels so much. 

Let us run with patience. It is quite an invitation. It is quite a choice.

An invitation to patience. I don't know how appealing it can become.

The past months made me feel and know the tender, softer and the vulnerable side of me. Touch base reality, I shed tears on silent times. Whichever side I turn to, I was made to realize and embrace the truth that really, this is how my journey was designed. Run the race, my dear. Run patiently.

What I have right now is the call to carry on softly, calmly and, patiently. Though at times, it becomes a challenge when circumstances seem to push me to do otherwise. With things and a vision bigger than myself, I know I just need to rest and trust God's sovereignty and timing. Easier said than done but that's how things come to pass. I don't want to sound preachy but really, God cannot be taken out of the equation.

I am just counting days and the next leg of the journey is about to begin. The course is ready, it is set and on place. I am willing to run the race with the kind of patience that runs.

Ever trusting. Ever believing. Ever praying.

So help me God.

Behind the Dance & the Stars

This is more of my journey to redemption from a particular thing that has been beyond my power to control (this sounds like a confession now). As all of us are a work in progress, this post would certainly remind me that in order for bad things or influences to lose control over one's life, a bold, intentional and conscious effort must be put in. And that with God's strength and grace, we can be victors and overcomers.

I am beyond words how the Lord personally, gently, patiently, creatively and carefully took me out of it. I am touched beyond words how He feels my struggles and weaknesses and is in complete knowing of my journey of faith.

It started when my sister showed me a video on YouTube which she then posted on my Facebook timeline:

You may view the video from here, too:

The dance, the song, the message and everything in it kept me on the groove and brought me back to life. I even viewed the video countless times leading me to related videos one after the other. I got hooked! which is definitely a very good thing. I was awakened to hopes and dreams that I have not shared with anyone. The videos became more than just an entertainment. It's more than just a show 'Dancing with the Stars' for me. It served as God's gentle and gradual way of redeeming me from the thing that has been enticing me away from Him. It is like, the more I watch, the more I am being redeemed. :)

Redemption, I believe is not a one time act but a daily journey. I remember a line from a song which says, "Savior please, keep saving me..." I am more than thankful that I am being redeemed by Him every single day. By His grace I can say, I am HIS everyday.

I am comforted with the truth that God cares, really. He will use personal ways to have His message come across. And that message reached me. More so, I am thankful that we have a God Who is patient. Had it not been the case, I am done... all done and gone. 

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)

If you are currently on the redemption road, be willing to be led. You will be surprised how God will creatively and personally redeem you. If the videos worked for me, I wonder what He will use for you. ;)

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... and by the way, this blogger turned out to be a 'Dancing with the Stars' fan now. Heehee. 

Blessings everyone!