Quote: An unresolved past

Obsessions: Reasons I love Mindy

Reasons I love MINDY

She's a strong leading character. An intelligent and successful woman filled with ambition.

She is really easy to relate to. 

She dates different kinds of guys from stockbrokers, architects, lawyers, a pastor and even tried going out with a forever-young- at-heart skateboarder. No judgement here!

She isn't easily intimidated by anyone or anything. She will always rise up to the challenge.

She cares about her friends and is always willing to help out when needed. You can always count on her.

She knows that sometimes she can be a hot mess, but doesn't let that define her. But she still tries to be better. She admits to her weaknesses and her faults.

She is enthusiastic about life. It really doesn't take much to get her excited about something.

She is confident. She knows who she is and all that she is capable of.  

She is excruciatingly honest.

She remains hopeful and tries to see all things positively.

She boldly takes risks. She went all the way to Haiti for love to try and make things work out.

She is always up for having a good time every now and again but still prefers quiet nights in.

She is a hopeless romantic. Even after all that she's been through with men, she's never given up on love. 

She’s all about big gestures.  My favourite one is when she cut her hair for Casey.  

She has a flair for the drama. I love the way she narrates her life randomly on the subway...

 She sees the best in everyone. The perfect example of this is: Pretty Woman.

She can be vulnerable and put her heart out on the line.

Danny Castellano was in love with her but she didn’t realise until he literally grabbed and kissed her. It was a truly beautiful TV moment...

Fact or fiction, I just can't get enough of this show!

Why do you love Mindy?

Quote: The time will pass anyway

Change it Poem

Advice from unexpected places

Libra horoscope for Mar 25 2014

Do you want to do your best in everything? Do you want to be recognized as someone who is talented and intelligent? Of course you do, Libra. But right now you may be so preoccupied with a past error or a bad choice that you are down on yourself. You may not even realize it, but when you think negative thoughts or say negative things to yourself you drag yourself down and you can't be your best - even when things are going well. You are past a problem and onto a new and exciting path. Let go of the past, and move forward with a better attitude. Choose happiness and you'll see an immediate change in your outlook.

Daily Horoscope

Skype Cell Group: Week 1: God will always reach out to you, wherever you may be

One of my best friends and her mother have started a cell group via Skype! She has been looking for a new cell group for a few weeks now, and asked me if I would like to be a part of it. I haven't found a church here at home yet, so this couldn't have been more welcome. It is a chance to have fellowship with a few women that are earnestly seeking God's heart. I need this.It is too easy to get lost in this world on our own and forget the promises God has made in our hearts. We need to be reminded of His goodness and love, especially during the storms in our lives.  

So, this group chat is made up of my friend - in Cape Town on campus, her sister - at their home in Somerset west; her mother - all the way in Wales; her friend - over in Newlands, UK; and me - here at home. 

It is truly amazing that no matter where you are in the world, the word of God can reach you. He will send you the right people to help you through whatever situation you may face, to support you and help you grow in His love. 

I am in awe. 

Here are little bits and pieces, words of wisdom and encouragement from the session. I will try to do this every week. I hope you find something that touches your heart too.

***

No more excuses to worship God or to make time to spend in His word. He will meet us wherever we are. He sees us always. There is no place to hide away. We can be lost in the world, but He can find us, out on the greatest ocean, or in the vast dessert.

*** 

The Lord tells us that He will be with us always because we are His children and He loves us more than we can ever know. So no more doubt, and no more fear.

***

 “We don’t arrive in the Lord, we grow in Him.”

***

Our past does not determine our future. And just because something didn’t change yesterday, doesn’t mean that it can’t change today or tomorrow. You need to feed the fire of the spirit that is burning within your heart in order for it to keep burning. And the only way to feed it is to turn to the word of the Lord.

***

  

***

 Do not lose faith when you are facing a trial. Always remember that He is preparing us for what is still to come. This is only a phase in your life, and this is the time that God will be strengthening you. So hold fast to His word, and believe that He is fighting this battle for you.

 ***

Let the holy spirit guide the decisions that you make in your life. And every morning when you wake up, put on the coat of peace, so that you may always know when you are making the wrong decision. You will know by the uneasy feeling in your heart. You will hear His guidance. Believe. Trust in Him always.

***

Sometimes our own feelings of guilt will bring us down, but if we repent and give it up to God, then we will be free of it. He died to pay the ultimate price for our lives, that we may have an everlasting life with our Heavenly Father.

***

Put your focus on Jesus and you will find your way.

***

“He steadied me as I walked along.”

Whispers from the stars

Mar 1 2014

As a child, you had not yet set limits for yourself. The sky was the limit. You hadn't yet come to the conclusion that you were good at certain things, and not so good at other things. You knew who you were, but you didn't have the same restrictions or limits that you have now. If you really want to make the most of an upcoming opportunity, Libra, you will have to tap your inner child. You will have to get in touch with the childlike spirit that believes anything is possible. Because right now, anything is possible.

DailyHoroscope.

Quote: Don't confuse your path with your destination...

Let Your mercy light the path before me..

Called Me Higher - All Sons and Daughters

I could just sit

I could just sit and wait for all your goodness

Hope to feel your presence

And I could just stay

I could just stay right where I am and hope to feel you

Hope to feel something again

And I could hold on

I could hold on to who I am and never let You change me from the inside

And I could be safe

I could be safe here in Your arms and never leave home

Never let these walls down

But you have called me higher

You have called me deeper

And I will go where you will lead me Lord

You have called me higher

You have called me deeper

And I will go where you lead me Lord

Where you lead me

Where you lead me Lord

And I will be Yours

I will be Yours for all my life

So let Your mercy light the path before me

Blog repost: Today was meaningful...

... because of letters to strangers.

"dear stranger,

you are here in this moment reading this letter. and that means so many things. first you should know that you are alive. recognize it.  the falling and rising of your breath, the possibilities within your reach. the power you have to make this life all that you have wanted it to be. and you are blessed.  blessed to know how to read and to have technology available to you. appreciate this and remember that you could lose it all.  stay grateful. you should know that you are wonderful.   wherever you are in your life, capture how beautiful it is– even if it is a struggle.  how amazing it is that you have an opportunity to change? capture it and grow from it. 

you may know so many things dear stranger, and i know that i have so much to learn from you.  your life is a book i’d probably love to sit down and read over a hot cup of tea.  my life has so many chapters, each day adding another page to my story. and if you ever get to a point you don’t like, start a new chapter.  you’re the main character and we’re all rooting for you. change the ending. i think our individual lives are about deciding who we want to be and working to become that person- fighting for the person you have the potential to be. and i think it’s about being better today because of what you learned from yesterday.  when a mistake.failure.regret comes your way, embrace it. hold on to it, it is yours. you’re the only one who can experience it the way you did, the only one who can learn from it in the way that you will. your mistakes are turning points, see that and choose to do it differently next time.  these things add depth, they develop and refine who you are. and each scar on your heart is oh, so beautiful.  proof that you’ve lived.

and stranger, i’ve learned that  you’ll only get to where you want to be by doing what it takes to get there. be willing to work harder than everyone else, understand that you will get there. and stop waiting to start— our somedays will never come. imagine how far you can go and how much you are holding yourself back by not taking action now.  at the end of the day, your success is up to you. my life has taught me how to be open to being a beginner. you see, when you are a beginner you are a sponge, soaking up every little bit of information, expanding in every way that you can. and when you are a beginner, you challenge yourself to grasp what you don’t know and you are willing to refine your skills. wake up every day and be willing to do that.  understand that you have so much left to learn. i hope to never become ‘the best,’ stranger. i don’t want to get to a point where i stop growing, learning, or changing. i want to always have something better to aspire to be. i hope you don’t stop at being the best either.

 don’t rush love, stranger.  it will come and it will find you. it might not be at the time you want it to be, but it will come in the exact moment you are ready.  in my life i’ve learned that we sometimes get so busy trying to find someone to complete us, that we forget to realize that we are already whole. love yourself first so that it never comes down to you needing someone to love you. and always be grateful for the love that comes your way, even if it doesn’t stay forever. moments of love are beautiful, no matter how they turn out. let go of love gracefully and never allow it to cause hate or bitterness. take it in, give it out, and accept how people offer it. and stranger, remember that the people in your life won’t be here forever. spend time with them today, right now. tell them you love them, but more importantly, show them that you do.

you should know that one of my greatest life lessons has been one about kindness.  that your actions and words matter and that kindness adds sweetness to life. i believe the way you respond to long lines, being cut off on the highway, and misadventures tells a lot about who you are. regardless of how people decide to treat you, your response is always all yours. i hope you take the high road.  don’t let their decisions affect your behavior. stay true to your soul.  i like to be able to lay in bed at night, replaying all of today’s scenes and smile at the fact that i wouldn’t have done a single thing differently.  i believe people deserve kindness, especially when they are not able to give it out themselves. i hope you are kind.  i hope you look at people in the face and smile at them when they pass you by.  and stranger, try to make someone else’s life a little bit brighter.

what i hope for you stranger, is a life that is simple.  one that is not cluttered by unnecessary things. like judgments, expectations, and bitterness. a life that is not about material items, but rather, experiences. i hope your life is simple in that you find you have everything you need with what you already have.  don’t complicate it with too many details. i hope it’s not cluttered with clothes.gadgets.purses.stuff. because the thing about it is, these material items always keep you wanting more.  you have enough stranger, you have enough. 

i wish you heartache and love and difficult days. i wish you disappointments and failures.  i hope you get lost when you are in a hurry and find a way to practice patience.  i wish you sunshine on rainy days and cloudy days that are beautiful. i hope your life is full of lessons and that you learn from them all. i wish you a life that gives you wrinkles, those beautiful marks, indicators of time. i wish you foods full of flavor and days full of challenges.  i hope you never have everything you want, but that you always have everything you need. i wish you good days and bad days and smiles through tears. i wish you a life that is full. i wish you surprises and excitement, sadness and hurt. i wish it all for you.

these may be strange things to wish upon someone, but i just want you to experience life in it’s entirety.

because these thing add character.

because all of it is beautiful.

dear stranger, i hope we are friends.

and i hope to read your book one day."

- written by Jessica 

This is a blog i found while roaming the net and it really is such a beautiful piece of writing. I have highlighted the parts that stood out for me. I hope that this inspires you too. 

Quote

The definition of a woman

Kay, Sarah (sera)

I came across Sarah Kay a while back, at a time when I was trying to figure out what it was to be a woman. I couldn’t wrap my head around the transition and it felt as if I needed to see the line/ boundary between the two phases of life. It was a while before I realised that there simply is no measure.

There are many things that can define what it means to be a woman. I guess that it depends on you, how you’ve been brought up, and the morals and values that you hold close to your heart. But most importantly, I have learnt that we have the power to define ourselves according to who we want to be, and not in relation to everyone else around us. 

Over the past year I’ve come to believe that you become a woman when you realise that life is not an easy journey - there will be many, many ups and downs along the way. You also start to realise that you will not be perfect and things will often not end up the way you intended.  To me, being a woman means owning up to all your short comings and your insecurities. 

I loved the way she (Sarah Kay) was not afraid to be vulnerable through her poetry. She shares with the audience her insecurities and hopes and dreams. I love that she is open about her family and where she comes from. She is proud of her heritage and cultural background. She is happy being quirky and playful but still comes across as a confident young woman that is filled with talent and ambition.

In 2011 she performed at a Ted Conference as part of a series entitled "Beauty, Imagination, Enchantment."

- 

"Take Heart"

There is a light
It burns brighter than the sun
He steals the night
And casts no shadow
There is hope
Should oceans rise and mountains fall
He never fails.

So take heart
Let His love lead us through the night
Hold on to hope
And take courage again

In death by love
The fallen world was overcome
He wears the scars of our freedom
In His Name
All our fears are swept away
He never fails.

So take heart
Let His love lead us through the night
Hold on to hope
And take courage again

All our troubles
And all our tears,
God our hope
He has overcome!

All our failure
And all our fear,
God our love
He has overcome!

All our heartache
And all our pain,
God our healer
He has overcome!

All our burdens
And all our shame,
God our freedom
He has overcome!
All our troubles
And all our tears,
God our hope
He has overcome!

All our failures
And all our fear
God our love,
He has overcome!
God our justice
God our grace,
God our freedom
He has overcome!

God our refuge
God our strength,
God is with us
He has overcome!

- Hillsong United 

Shine

Now is the time for us to shine. The time when our dreams are within reach and possibilities are vast. Now is the time for all of us to become the people we have always dreamed of being. This is your world. You’re here. You matter. The world is waiting.

Be happy

Born to make an impact!

Our God is Love

Cold reading test

Cold Reading Test Results

Most treasured possession: Photos

Favourite number: 24

Most influential role model: mother 

The impression of you that I get is that you are a sensitive person but are often wary of expressing your true thoughts and emotions. I feel that you have been hurt in the past and this may be the reason for your caution – however, once you allow people to become a part of your life, i.e. by confiding in them or accepting their help or advice, you find it easier to develop a sense of trust and affinity.

There is something from your childhood which you are especially sensitive about – I’m not sure exactly what this is but I do know that it would take a very special person for you to confide this secret to. If this issue hasn’t yet been resolved then you may feel a little ashamed of whatever this was but one message that comes through to me is that it was not your fault.

You have always tried your best in most of the things that you’ve done. You realize that you could have done better at times with certain projects but your interest simply wasn’t there. You find it easy to concentrate on things that really interest you, but if someone tries to make you study a subject or project that you don’t want to learn about then you tend to ‘phase out’.

There was an artistic or musical interest that you had when you were younger that you could have developed but didn’t. It may be that there were too many other things going on in your life at the time – or that it simply wasn’t the right time for you – I feel that you will probably go back to that interest at some time in the future and excel at it.

You lost someone very special in your past and this left you with a sense of loneliness or abandonment. You still miss this person but I figure you are now coming to terms with that loss. In a way it made you appreciate loved ones more; however you don’t always show your true feelings.

You find the opposite sex intriguing. Sometimes you hate them, sometimes you love them. Your emotions seem to swing from high to low and back again.

You would like to be the centre of attention at times – however most of the time you are happy to watch and observe. You don’t like making a fool of yourself and you certainly wouldn’t enjoy seeing your best friend or someone you really care about making a fool of themselves.

You have an overwhelming protective instinct. If someone you love annoys you then you will tell them so. If an outsider insults them then you instinctively jump to their defensive. It’s as though ‘It’s alright for you to say that, but not for them to’.

You have certain colours that you like and will wear them depending on your mood. You are also sensitive to smell – you have favourite aromas – and some memories that are associated to them – e.g. bonfire night or your mother’s favourite perfume or shampoo – or perhaps a favourite dish – roast beef – curry – chicken or steak or perhaps even a tomato based recipe.

You are idealistic about the person you would like to eventually settle down with (if indeed you have not already met that person). You really want your relationship to work out and will do your utmost to make things work. However if your partnership is wrong then you have no hesitation in not making this effort.

You want to be happy in life. You hate hurting people and if this inadvertently does happen then you feel that hurt yourself. You are happy with your morals but would love to improve yourself in some way.

At the moment you are in some sort of quandary about the direction your life is taking you and there are decisions to be made. Making decisions is not always easy for you – you like to weigh up the options in your mind and find yourself swayed by outside distractions. In this area you should always trust your instinct.

Life is not always easy for you – often you meet obstacles just as you think you are reaching your goal. These setbacks can make you feel unsettled or even depressed at times but you have a knack of being able to bounce back.

When you look back on your life at some of the difficult times you realize that they seemed a lot worse at the time than they actually were. You are a survivor and are guided by hope and optimism.

Money can be an issue for you and you should learn to manage it more effectively. Although you have to rely on outside sources at times you would prefer to be totally independent in this area.

You dislike chaos and would be happier in a well organized environment but it seems that there is never enough time to carry out your well meaning intentions.

Some time ago there was a disastrous relationship that knocked your confidence somewhat. Although you are over that now, there are still times when you feel vulnerable and insecure. You want to be loved for who you are, not how others want you to be and you generally try to please most of the time – however under extreme provocation you find it impossible to bottle up your feelings and minor explosions can occur.

In order to overcome this tendency you should learn to communicate more freely in the early stages of an impending crisis.

You enjoy travelling but something seems to be holding you back from being able to visit all the places you’d like to go. This could be money or other commitments or simply something within yourself that you have not yet acknowledged.

Children, or one in particular, will play an important part of your life and you will derive a great deal of pleasure from helping him or her. You will also find yourself re-thinking a lot of your original ideas as your experience and maturity grow.

***

45 Life lessons, written by a 90 year old

45  LIFE LESSONS, 

WRITTEN BY A 90 YEAR OLD

1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short not to enjoy it.

4. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will.

5. Don’t buy stuff you don’t need.

6. You don’t have to win every argument. Stay true to yourself.

7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.

8. It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for things that matter.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.

12. It’s OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye… But don’t worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful.  Clutter weighs you down in many ways.

18. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It’s never too late to be happy.  But it’s all up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Overprepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words, ‘In five years, will this matter?’

27. Always choose Life.

28. Forgive but don’t forget.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give Time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative — dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d
grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. Accept what you already have, not what you think you need.

42. The best is yet to come…

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.

- Men Who Dress Like Men

The minute you think of giving up...