Thursday, 26 December 2013

I'm Moving!




to a different link/domain.
That means the end of FINS.
The end of http://feelinit213.blogspot.com
But definitely the beginning of another beautiful blog space.

I've been using this space to share my "feelings" about things since a little over 2 years now and it's certainly been a joy.
I've become different and so, the blog became a reflection of me and different with me.
I've loved every comment I've received. Every midnight post.
Every non-midnight post.
Every moment of "trying-to-figure-out-this-blogging-thing" and I know this space has served me more than I'll know and I'm grateful for the platform it offers.
All of this said, I do want to assert that I will be moving into a different blog space.

I'm sure it's going to be a whole new adventure. I'll include the link here when it's ready! See you there

Love
Jeffy


 

Sunday, 24 November 2013

Where is God when it hurts?



The evening my mother passed away, I happened to read a certain Bible verse which said, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee" and it changed my life forever. However, in the lives of many others and in other times of my life- God has chosen to be silent during several times of pain and suffering. Here, we begin to question, "Where is God?" "Is God real?" or "Doesn't God love me anymore?"
    Cancer, typhoon Haiyan, not getting accepted for a job are examples of frustrating circumstances that are out of our control - but still causes us pain. But, God holds the Universe in His hand and is completely capable of changing these situations for those who ask Him to- and in many cases He has. When Jesus walked on our planet as a man- He did just that, heal many, calm the sea and give sight to the blind. But even Jesus was not exempt from suffering.
   God Himself asked His little boy to die on the cross. On the cross, Jesus asked the same question we ask today "God, why did You leave me?"
   When everything is alright- it is easy to trust in a good God. However, when the storm begins to rise we question Him, lose our hope and wonder if perhaps we were wrong to trust Him all along.
 If for a moment, we trust that God is the Loving Father- He promises He is, then it must hurt Him more to not heal us when we are broken, than to perform the Miracle we've asked Him to perform.
 Perhaps God doesn't want us to go through tough situations, perhaps He wants us to grow through them (quote by Moriah Peters).
Perhaps He wants something better for us - that we cannot see yet. As a Father, He yearns for us to trust Him completely. For Jesus' obedience, even unto death on the cross, did free us all forever.
Inexplicable pain exists, but He is there-before it, during it, in the midst of it and after it. All we have to do is trust that He is.

"Jamie Bennett: What if we stop believing in you?  
Jack Frost: Hey, slow down, slow down! Are you telling me you stop believing in the moon when the sun comes up?
Jamie Bennett: No.
Jack Frost: Well, do you stop believing in the sun when the clouds block it out?
Jamie Bennett: No.
Jack Frost: We'll always be there, Jamie. And now, we'll always be here.
[points to Jamie's heart]
Jack Frost: Which kind of makes you a Guardian too."
                                                         - quote from Rise of the Guardians

Images from Google.
Further reading Resources: Disappointment with God by Philip Yancey
Love
Jeff

Sunday, 17 November 2013

My Life Story D.

The pen to write my story, has never been in my hand.
Every day - my new experiences reminds of something I have forgotten or teaches me a new lesson that I hope to never forget.
It has been exciting penning down- or typing into the computer My Life Story- (describing to you from my perspective about some of the things that have gone on it my life, so far). And to every single person who has gotten in touch with to say "Oh, I didn't know that about you" or "when's the next part coming, I can't wait." - I want to give you a big hug, because you made my day when you did that - and to those who've read it- I'm really happy you did, because that's partly why I write.

Well, here it is the next part of the story:  

I had idolized my friends, and a number of other things, and had changed myself a little bit. I didn't resemble myself anymore.
God took me back, like I was a prisoner He freed me, forgave me and showed me the richness and meaning behind forgiveness.
He showed me the power of Love.
What happened next became the cherishing of a MOST BEAUTIFUL LOVE STORY , that of my God and me.
I spent ALL my time with Him, with the help of the spirit He gave me and Boy, what Blessings He's brought into my life.
However, I continue to reject and disobey Him on several occasions and end up feeling empty & broken.

 

   He is absolutely the only reason I stand. I've also discovered that the hardest part of Loving the Lord is to continue to do so till the very end, no matter what people say. It doesn't even compare, however, to how hard life would be without Him.

Now, when I go to sleep feeling rejected by my friends, I wake up remembering how even though I, rejected the Lord, He Loves me still -so, obviously my friends feel the Grace drip out of me too. When I feel angry, hurt and disappointed with the ones I love - I understand that God goes through the same emotions. If a finite father like mine, feels sad when I don't do well in a test - how much more must MY INFINITE FATHER feel disappointed when I mess up and am broken.

He wants me to do well, because He made me. He wants me to enjoy Him, because He loves me.
and He loves you too.
No matter what you've done. Or who you think you are.

I am imperfect. I disappoint people. I disappoint God. I disappoint myself.Honestly, I have been too afraid to speak, for fear of "if I say the wrong thing". But, I trust Him, and He catches me as I fall. So, I am not afraid.
 
 I realize, that I needed to acknowledge the Truth, and see that it is in my Favour.

---------------------------------------

My story isn't over yet, because the One who is writing it has great plans for me. He knows the ending, and so I hope that I'll always be His little girl - not one who forgets Him at any point.


                                                       Mac Powell - When Love Sees you

P.S. The word 'Story' comes in the songs that I've posted with each part.


My Life Story D. (this part) has the song When Love Sees you by Mac Powell.

(Tell me your story. Show me your wounds. And I'll show you what Love sees when Love looks at you. Hand me the pieces, broken and bruised. And I'll show you what Love sees when Love sees you.)


My Life Story C.  has the song Warrior by Demi Lovato
 (..this is a story, that I have never told, I gotta get this off my chest to let it go..)

My Life Story B. has the song Need you Now by Plumb
(Everybody's got a story to tell, Everybody's got a wound to be healed.)

My Life Story A has the song All this Time by Britt Nicole
(..You're the God who sees, the God who rescued  me, This is my story.. )

Did you catch that?
Love Jeffy




 

Thursday, 19 September 2013

LIFE

Hello there reader! :)
Sort of as a sequel to the last post here (Death) is this one.

Life is a lot of different things put together and in each season of Life it means something different.
Here's what my life has been about in this season(which I've tried to put in words in a letter I wrote to God a while back.)
Dear God,                                                                                                                      14/6/2013

(I've edited out the beginning of this letter to God) ...
    
        Primarily because I am not CRYSTAL CLEAR about the matter yet  ( like You said. ) but also because - Now's the time I'm really GROWING IN YOU. Now is Life filled with mistakes and lessons- where I learn how to do it with just You and me :). 'Cause that's my Purpose.
OH, YES, life's about my Purpose which is Following You and lifting other people up instead of putting them down. It's about You and me. Life's about my Passions which are extensions of myself. And about making a living to help other people ( financially, as well) some day. Life (right now)'s about developing hobbies like MUSIC that gives me a positive reach into my soul as well as others! Life's about writing things down, like it always had been.
Life right now is also about Finding Myself. In me and You. And because You found me first. Life's about Loving myself and loving others.
Life is about Discipline, Because I'm a warrior for You & because of You. I know I'm Lazy, but with You (and some Tough Hard Discipline) I know I change by Your Grace.

 Life's about You in me and me in You.

Life's about seeing another's heart first and outside's last (so so hard)

Life's about losing the things I once held close and GRABBING onto You.

Life's about loving the ones that hurt me and hating the things that plague my heart soul and mind like lust and self-hatred.

Life's about SEEING for the first time.
Life's about taking Leaps of faith  that have me feeling like I'm going to fall any minute (though I don't  cause You catch me and Calm Me Down, no matter what).
(Life's about regret when I don't take those leaps of faith) .
Life's about PRAISING through the madness
Singing through the tears and screaming Hallelujah even when it appears as if I have nothing, Because I have EVERYTHING I need because of You and the sacrifice of Your Son.



Life's about living under Your Mercy. Your Grace. Your abundant blessings. Your Love.
Life's about lighting other hearts with You.
Life's about falling after proud moments and being raised by the MASTER, after humble ones.

Life's about seeing that God's way is Good and my way is NONSENSE.

Life's about being the sheep
to Your shepherd.
 The King's Princess.
the Bride to Your Bridegroom.
the Church to Christ <3
the humble servant to Your Merciful Master.
the prodigal Son to Your Father.
Life's about waking up with a reason to LIVE!
Life's about breathing in and breathing out.
Life's ABOUT the SPIRIT helping me with EVERYTHING.
Life's about realizing that every moment of clear thought is a Gift from You.
Life's about being Grateful to YOU.
Life's about being Angry, Confused and sometimes Life's about crying out to You in the midst of Pain.
Life's about ANSWERS from You.
Life's about Promises from You.
Life's about Mysteries, because could I ever understand You?

Life's about realizing how small I am (and a person is in general) in comparison to You.

Life's about discovering that You Sense of Humour is Brilliant. Life's about admiring Your attention to detail...and about not grasping Everything about You and Wanting More of You!

Lord, I've been realizing that I'm sort of like a parasite (although I don't like to picture myself as one- not a pretty sight, sorry) I've been attaching myself onto people and things and dreams and...things of this world. And they weren't able to fill me up.
because, well, because- they're the wrong HOSTS.

You're the right HOST to my Parasite!!
When I read the part in the Bible, where Jesus says "Eat me" it brought me to tears and when you say "Drink of me, I am the Living Water and those who drink me will NEVER thirst" I realize You've put a fountain of living water in me! Thanks to the Holy Spirit in me, it make sense and in Francis Chan's message (About Idolizing?)where in He explained how You look down at me (and other people) and are just broken and confused as to why I would leave YOU (Fountain of Living Water) and chase a broken cistern . instead (say a person..). For I have exchanged a creation in the place of a Creator.
A Blessing can never fill me up.
But You can and have. Help me never forget that .
Love
Your little girl
Jeffy.
--

It's been a while since I slowed down, the way I had whilst writing the above letter, and analysed exactly what my life is about; What my "Feelings" are in general, and where I'm heading. This is the sort of stuff I write down in my letters to God (and in my 'journal' before I began writing letters to God), it puts things in good perspective and then it sort of stays that way so I can re-read it later and remember what I was made for.
Which is a good thing.

What is your life about right now?
If you could .. what would you change for the better? why?

Love
Jeffy

Wednesday, 11 September 2013

Death

Hey there,

Death- is something that will probably happen to us one day.
Perhaps within the next minute, next decade or the next 100 years. We're all quickly become familiar with it as we grow up because it's a part of our lives.
Death scared me sometimes.

There have been times when I've realized that I was living (with a beating heart and a respiratory system which makes sure that mostly Oxygen containing air goes into my system and Carbon dioxide rich air comes out of it), but not really with purpose.

When there are so many people whose lives end abruptly or after a long battle against cancer - who die without even getting the chance to have the choices that we-who are alive and well right now have - why must we not dwell on all the perks we have??

Purpose - is the reason for 'why' I lived the way I did or still do sometimes.
Why would anyone live everyday searching for ways to do everything they think of doing on my To-Do-List, or 50 things to do before I die List. There ain't nothing wrong with To-Do Lists and Bucket Lists, but perhaps I needn't have let them get so important to me
  - because , after getting the thing I want , I often don't want it any more.
But the thing is, I've discovered my purpose -- The reason for my existence- the thing that would have made my 17 yr old pre-purpose-discovering self wide-eyed with surprise because it was the one thing I'd wanted to figure out the most.

Are there others out there? Haha, I'm kidding , that's not the point of this post!!
Real Caption: Could there be a reason for my existence??

I've lost myself and found myself. 

But there's a catch here that I didn't know about then,
 Dear Jeffy of 17 years old : Finding your purpose doesn't mean you won't forget it in the future. It doesn't mean that you are immune to distractions. Discovering what your purpose is, is just the beginning. It's a milestone crossed-yes, but it means nothing if you don't hold on to it with all you've got until the very end.
     The initial shine sometimes appears to wear off - but that's not because your object of interest is growing dimmer, it's 'cause you're looking away. Keep your eyes fixed on the only Light that will lead you home sweetheart, but remember you can't do it alone.. but you've got all the help you'll ever need, so be humble enough to ask!


Death also signifies or underlines our limited nature. Our limited nature to understand what exactly is going on before and after our own time period on Earth - and most of the rest of our Universe otherwise.

Our life on earth ends.
And in this one life we have, I could either give it everything I've got  - all my heart, strength, mind and spirit or I could choose to let my interests be divided, and not hold what I know is truly important close to me with My Life.
And along the way there are going to be people who will not completely understand why I do the things I do...or I might forget my purpose and go astray.
 But what if, at the end of life it isn’t going to be between us and them or even myself and me - and what if we are going to be held responsible for why we've done the things we've done.


Choosing to give it all I have to fulfilling my purpose some how-lifts the fear that I've had of Death.
What if, I wonder, I choose to not do it - I know I'd regret it more, because my Purpose gives me Life, Joy and Strength, but not giving it all I have-is like Living Asleep-or Dead.
Love
Jeff
P.S. I'd love to read about your thoughts!

Wednesday, 4 September 2013

Heidi

The Alps - I never would've heard about The Alps if it hadn't been for the story of Heidi. Once again  I read the book "Heidi" by Johanna Spyri a short while back - but grew up watching the animated TV show(the first time being with "A Little Princess" ).
Heidi
Children's book/ Classic
 

     Heidi begins as a story of a 5-year-old young girl, who has been under the care of her aunt Dete who now wishes to put her in the care of the girl's grandfather- so that she can take up a job elsewhere. The Grandfather of interest however lives up a mountain slope-in the Swiss Alps, away from most of his closest neighbours- who live below in the town. He's got a bad reputation- how much of it is true, we aren't told- but for good reason, as it isn't really that important for the main story of Heidi. Despite all of this Heidi is dropped off at the unsuspecting grandfather's house and Dete leaves immediately-lest she be forced to take the girl back with her.
On the long walk to her grandfather's house, Heidi meets Peter who is a goatherd close to her age.
   The story goes on to show us how Heidi (not merely "copes with" but) enjoys life up in the mountain- where she is well taken of by her Grandfather (whose goats she comes to adore), Peter, Peter's mother and Peter's grandmother.
 


 
Heidi with Snowflake
 
The story is Light, refreshing as is Heidi's strong willed nature. We learn as she learns about life. However, a twist in the tale develops when Heidi is whisked away by aunt Dete to Frankfurt where she is made to be a companion to a rich and slightly older girl named Clara - an invalid (not completely physically fit).
Heidi's adventures continue in Frankfurt, however she misses Grandfather, the trees and the animals (that her home in the Alps had plenty of) and begins to grow sick of the tall buildings.
She can't bring herself to say anything about her home-sickness to anybody though, lest she be perceived as an ungrateful little girl - as mentioned by Rottenmeyer (the care taker at Clara's house, as her mother has passed away). Heidi somehow confides her innermost feelings to Clara's grandmother who is an bright woman who notices Heidi's sad stature.

The rest of the story goes on to talk about Heidi's journey back, followed by Clara's visit to the Alps and surprising events that follow.
 The story has been a genuine blessing in my life, although when I was a child I used to wonder if Heidi were not "too perfect" a person. But that was just my baseless envy talking, and now that I've read the book I would definitely recommend to anyone with time and patience.

 Sometimes we underestimate the simple things - and then later regret it. Are we dwelling on the perks of all the things Right Now has to offer us?? :) and if yes are we continuing to be grateful for it and trusting that God who Loves us will somehow take care of the outcome of situations? If not what is stopping us?
 

Sunday, 1 September 2013

Depression

Why does life have to be so unpleasant sometimes?
Sometimes things gets deeply depressing and other times it just gets plain unpleasant.
Sometimes absolutely nothing makes sense. Everything is out of synch and everything slips out of place.
It nearly never makes sense.
 
Ronan : Taylor Swift  
 
Vanilla Twilight: Owl City
 
 
Blessings - Laura Story
 
 
BarlowGirl - I Need You to Love me
 

 Each of the songs above have stuck a chord in me some where - and somehow I can relate to them. Each of them have touched me in and sort of explain some of my low times.
But somehow - God's been my rescuer every one of "those low times"  -
and the Worst times have brought out the Best in me. 
I don't deserve all the good things that my life has become about and I still don't get it.
 
After every dark turn God has brought me closer to Himself and Closer to who I really am.
And I get the feeling that He knows exactly what's going on and as long as I'm with Him- it'll turn out alright. ;]
 
Love
 Jeffy
P.S. There is a story behind the song "Ronan". Ronan's mother (who writes in this blog : http://rockstarronan.com/) co-wrote the song with Taylor Swift and the song went on to raise awareness and money for Cancer research.