LIFE IS ALL ABOUT LOVE

 WHAT MATTERS MOST; LIFE IS ALL ABOUT LOVE.

No matter what your status in life, no matter how hard the problem you face, with people around you that show how much they care for you, tell me if I'm wrong, aren't they worth your attention? Your love? ☺

        The most important lesson we need to learn on earth is how to love. Love in a right way, through actions not words. Learning to love unselfishly is not an easy task. It runs counter to our self-centered. That's why we're given a lifetime to learn it. Love cannot be learned in isolation. We have to be around people; irritating, imperfect, frustrating people.

THE BEST USE OF LIFE IS LOVE
           Love should be our top priority, primary objective, and greatest ambition. Love is not a good part of our life, but the most important part. If you say that "One of the things I want in life is to be loving," it's not enough! As if it is your top ten list. Relationship must have priority in your life above everything else. Why?
Because "life without love is really worthless" -often we act as if relationships are something to be squeezed into our scheduled. We talk about finding time and making time for people in our lives. That obviously gives the impression that relationships are just a part of our lives along with many other tasks. Relationships, not achievements or the acquisition of things, are what matter most in life. So why do we allow our relationship to get the short end of the stick? When our schedules become overloaded, we start skimming relational, cutting back on giving  the time and energy and attention that loving relationships require.

THE BEST EXPRESSION OF LOVE IS TIME
           The importance of things can be measured by how much time we are willing to invest in them. The more time we give to something, the more we reveal its importance and value to us. Time is our precious gift because we only have a set amount of it. When we give someone our time, we are giving them a portion of our life that we'll never get back. Our time is our life. That's why the best gift we can give to someone is our time. It is not enough just to say relationships are important; we must prove it by investing time, right? ☺ Relationships takes time and effort. The essence of  love is not what we think, do or provide for others, but by how much we give of ourselves. 
           The most desired gift of love is not diamonds, roses or chocolates, but a focused attention. We can give without loving, but we cannot love without giving. Love means, giving up-yielding my preferences, comfort, goals, security, money, energy, or time for the benefit of someone else.

THE BEST TIME TO LOVE IS NOW
       Why is now the best time to express love? Because we don't know how long we will have the opportunity. Circumstances change. People die. Children grow up. We have no guarantee of tomorrow. You know, if we really wanted to express love, we better do it now! 

"The best use of life is love. The best expression of love is time. The best time to love is now."

FEELING LOST

Never settle for being someone's "other" when you have the potential to be someone's "only".

     I once wished to the man I love was that, he will tell straight to me that the love he feel towards me is "true love" not by chance that we have each other, but our choice. 

     And what I learned is that, each day should be spent finding beauty in flowers and poetry. That a day spent with dreaming and sunsets and refreshing breezes cannot be bettered. But most of all, I learned that life is about sitting on benches next to ancient creeks with my hand on his hand and sometimes, on good days, for falling in love.

     Being beautiful is far more than how many boys you can get to look at you, or how much make-up you can wear. It's about what you live for, it's about what defines you, it's about the heart that you have and what makes you special. It's about those little quirks that makes you, you. It's about going against the flow and living out what you honestly think. And that I think, what makes us beautiful.

       His brown eyes met mine and we didn't look away. For a moment caught in this awkward staring glance and then he did the most amazing thing when he looked away..he smiled. It's the possibility that keeps us going, not the guarantee. 
Ladies?
      Do you ever just sit there and wonder why he chose you? Do you ever stop and think that it was just to good to be true? Does it ever seem like you're afraid to lose him, because without him your whole life will be ruined?

Failing is the first step to success, crying is the first step to happiness. And heart break is the first step to true love.
Gentlemen?
       I think one of the worst feelings in the world, right behind heart break, is that disgustingly empty feeling you get, right after you spill your heart out and lay all your cards on the table. Right after you get the courage to say everything you have been feeling and be completely and recklessly honest. It's that feeling you get right after you risk everything, and he just walks away. Right? Because then, you realize that you just lost. You lost everything you didn't even know you
had when you said "what do i have to lose?" Then one day when it's way too late you're going to say, "I love you." Then when she don't reply you're going to muster up everything you have and ask, "Do you love me?" and you know what she's going to say, "I used to love you, I wish I still did, but you were with all those other girls, and you were way too blind to see what was rignt in front of you the whole time. I've dropped you hints, and I've tried to make it clear, but you never caught on. So right now I'm going to have to say, we're just friends, like you did to me all those times." (my experienced)

      That guy want me to prove that I really love him, but the only proof I can give to him is I held on to him even though he didn't care anymore, I've waited even though he weren't coming, I loved him for so long even though he didn't notice. Because he was then seriously mad selfish for the whole time.

He said: "I didn't mean to break your heart," but before he could finish,
I replied while crying: "I didn't mean to fall in love either, but we all make mistakes." And if you see me walking with someone else it’s not because I love them, it’s because you weren’t there to walk with me. If I fall in love with someone else, it’s not because I wanted to, but because you weren’t there to catch me. It's sorta like I gave you the key to my heart and you lost it. And I kept making copies because I wanted to let you in. But unfortunately no matter how I effort to make copies, I can't make the same shape and color anymore. 

        Everyone has that relationship that they never quite get over. No matter what happens in between, when you're together it's like nothing has changed. Deep down, you both know you're supposed to be together, but you just can't seem to make it work. There are people who make things happen, there are people who watch things happen, and there are people who wonder what happened. To be successful, we need to be that "person" who makes things happen. Too often we don't realize what we have until it's gone, too often we're to stubborn to say 'sorry, i was wrong' too often it seems we hurt the one's closest to our hearts and we let the most foolish things tear us apart. Agree?

Move on. It's just a chapter in the past, but don't close the book just turn the page.
(but I can't seem to move on!)

I thought you were the most amazing boy ever. If I could have any guy in the world, I would have picked you above all the others, I thought you were different, I was wrong. Your just another guy to me now.(and I need to fvcking let you go and forget you now! I know I can!)

They say the little things in life matter the most, but your a big part of me and you matter the most.

Time is money and you ain't worth a fucking dime!
For all the lies I've tasted, just looking for the truth. For all the dreams I'm chasing, well what am I to do. When everything's against me, and the answers are all wrong; I'm hoping that I find out it was worth it all along.

DO NOT ASSOCIATE WITH A BABBLER

Longing for the ideal while criticizing the real is evidence of immaturity. 

          You will have to care enough to lovingly speak the truth, even when you would rather gloss over problem or ignore an issue. While it is much easier to remain silent when others around us are harming themselves or others with a painful pattern, it is not the loving thing to do. Often we know what needs to be said to someone, but our fears prevent us from saying anything. 

      Whenever an issue pops up, we know that it might cause tension or discomfort, it is immediately glossed over in order to preserve a false sense of peace. Friends, "don't rock the boat!" Jumps in and tries to smooth everyone's ruffled feather, the issue is never resolved, and everyone lives with an underlying frustration. Everyone knows the problem, but no one talks about it openly. This creates a sick environment of secrets where gossip thieves. We know that gossip is bad. Because it is spread by wicked people, where they stir up trouble and break up friendships. 

        Gossip is passing on information when you are neither part of the problem nor part of the solution. Listening to gossip is like accepting stolen property, and it makes you as guilty of the crime. When someone begins to gossip to you, have the courage to say "Please stop! I don't need to know this. Have you talked directly to the person?" Remember, people who gossip to you, will also gossip about you. Until you care enough to confront and resolve the underlying barriers, you will never grow close to each other. When conflict is handled correctly, we grow closer to each other by facing and resolving our differences. Because in the end, people appreciate frankness more than flattery. Frankness is not a license to say anything you want, wherever and whenever you want. It is not rudeness either.  We should use our ears more than our mouth. Before attempting to solve any disagreement we must first listen to people's feelings. Hmm. Do you know the phrase "look out for?" it is the Greek word "skopos", from which we form our words "telescope and microscope" so what does this mean? Simply, pay close attention! Focus on others feelings, not the facts. "A gossip reveals secrets; therefore, do not associate with a babbler."

         We often look to others to make us happy and then get angry when they fail us. Listening says, "I value your opinion, I care about our relationship, and you matter to me." The cliche is true: People don't care what we know until they know we care. It's given, we are sinners, we hurt each other sometimes intentionally and sometimes unintentionally. But instead of leaving, we need to stay and work it out if at all possible.

'Thoughtless words leave lasting wounds.'

When you know what they've been through, you will be more understanding. Instead of thinking about how far they still have to go, think about how far they have come in spite of their hurts.

So ladies and gentlemen, please, CHOOSE YOUR WORDS WISELY.

GROWING THROUGH TEMPTATION

Every temptation is an opportunity to do good. Temptation becomes a stepping-stone rather than a stumbling block when you realize that it is just as much an occasion to do the right thing as it is to do the wrong thing. It simply provides the choice and it is Satan's primary purpose to destroy you! When temptation comes you are expected to express the exact opposite quality. Because character development always involves a choice and temptation provides that opportunity.

          We develop real peace within us, not by making things go the way we planned but by allowing times of chaos and confusion. Likewise, patience is developed in circumstances in which we are forced to wait and are tempted to be angry of have a short fuse. You can't claim to be good if you've never been tempted to be bad. You can't claim to be faithful if you've never had the opportunity to be unfaithful. 

HOW TEMPTATION WORKS?

We are very familiar with evil schemes. It helps to know that Satan is entirely predictable.

Let me share to you the three-step process that follows temptation;

1st, DESIRE; it maybe a sinful desire, like the desire to get revenge or to control others or it may be a legitimate, normal desire, like the desire to be loved and valued or to feel pleasure. Remember this, temptation starts when Satan suggests (with a thought) that you give in to an evil desire or that you fulfill a legitimate desire in a wrong way or at a wrong time. Always beware of shortcuts. They are often temptations! We may think that temptation lies around us, but the truth is, it begins within us. There's a whole army of evil desires within us!

2nd, DECEPTION; Satan is incapable of telling the truth and he actually called "the Father of lies." Anything he tells you will be untrue or just half-true. 

3rd, DISOBEDIENCE; Here, you finally act on the thought you've been toying with in your mind. What began was an idea gets birthed into behavior.

        We will never outgrow temptation. In one sense we can consider temptation a compliment. Satan does not have to tempt those who are already doing his evil will; they are already his. Temptation is a sign that Satan hates us, not a sign of weakness or wordliness. It is normal to be part of being human ang living in a fallen world. Let's not be surprised or shocked or discouranged by it. What we have to do is to be realistic about the inevitability of temptation; we will never be able to avoid it completely. It is not a sin to be tempted. Temptaion only becoomes a sin when we give in to it. We can't keep the Devil from suggesting thoughts, but we can choose not to dwell or act on them. Physical attraction, sexual arousal and lust are different. We are all sexual being, and that is good. Attraction and arousal are natural, spontaneous. While lust is a deliberate act of the will, a choice to commit in your mind that you'd like to do with your body. You can be attracted or being aroused without choosing to sin by lusting.

STAY ALERT!

          Sometimes there is what we called "holy spirit" who put some unlovely people around us for us to learn how to love them. It takes no character to love people who are lovely and loving us. 

          We are tempted when we are drawn away and trapped by our own evil desires. Then our evil desires conceive and give birth to sin and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Do not be deceived, my dear friends The Devil is poised to pounce and would like nothing better than to catch us napping.

LET THERE BE HARMONY

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

`How are we to do this? I can give you FOUR PRACTICAL ADVICE.

1st, Focus on what we have in common, not our differences

Let there be LOVE. Only LOVE.

     Let us concentrate on the things which make for harmony, and on the growth of one another's character. We should take into consideration that we share the same life, same future, one hope, one faith and one love -far more important than any differences we could enumerate. These are the issues, not our own personal differences, that we should concentrate on. For unity's sake, we must never let differences divides us. We must stay focused on what matters most, and that is `learning to love each other. When we focus on personalities, preferences, interpretations or styles, division always happen. But if we concentrate on loving each other, harmony results. 

2nd, Be realistic in your expectations

     We must know the gap between ideal and real. Longing for the ideal while criticizing the real is evidence of immaturity! On the other hand, settling for the real without striving for the ideal is complacency. Others may disappoint you and let you down, but don't mind them. Instead be kind to them and love them. People become disillusioned with the church for many understandable reasons; conflict, hurt, hypocrisy, neglect, pettiness, legalism, and other sins. We must remember that the church is made up of real sinners, including ourselves. And because we're all sinners, we hurt each other, sometimes intentionally/unintentionally. Reconciliation, not running away, is the road to stronger character.

3rd, Choose to encourage rather than criticize
      It is always easier to stand on the sidelines and take shots at those who are serving than it is to get involved and make a contribution. We must not stand in judgement or look down on others whose convictions differ from our own. Whenever we judge other people, we expose our pride and insecurity. We should remember this, "it is only the Devil's job to blame, complain and criticize", every time we do the same, we're being duped into doing Satan's work for him. What we must do is to help others with encouraging words; don't drag them down by finding fault.

4th, Refuse to listen to gossip

     Gossip is passing on information when you are neither part of the problem nor part of the solution.We know that spreading gossip is wrong! But we should not listen to it. Because gossip is spread by wicked people; they stir up trouble and break up friendships. Listening to gossip is like accepting stolen property, and it makes us only guilty of the crime. So when someone gossip to you, have the courage to say "Please stop. I don't need to know this", because those people who gossip to you, will also gossip about you. They cannot be trusted. A gossip reveals secrets; therefore, let us not associate with a babbler.

We know that during conflict, it is tempting to complain to a third party rather than courageously speak the truth in love to the person we're upset with. This makes the matter worst! Instead, we should go directly to the person involved. Private confrontation is always the first step. If we're unable to work things out between the two of us, the next step is to take one or two witnesses to help confirm the problem and reconcile the relationship.

There are many people in our community who are looking for love and a place to belong. The truth is, everyone needs and wants to be loved. And when they find a place to belong where genuinely love and care for each other, you would have to lock the doors to keep them away. :)

Imagine-John Lennon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIFY9h8DImg