Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno

Power.
Skill.
Purpose.
Reason.
Justice.
Peace.
Hate.
Betrayal.
Vengeance.
Love.

Every person has a story.
Every person has a choice.

In Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno, Shishio was brutally struck down and set on fire by his comrades. He did not die.

Aoshi tried to save his men but none of them survived. He swore to make the name of their group the greatest.

Kenshin was once an assassin but he had a change of heart. He vowed never to kill again.

Three men, each with a different story. One started from bad to evil, another from good to bad and another from taking lives to protecting them.

In life you go through different experiences that somehow shape you. When someone experiences betrayal, it causes pain because, “The saddest thing about betrayal is that it never comes from your enemies.” But the story doesn’t end there. You have a choice. You always had, always do, always will have a choice.

When you choose to forgive and move on, the burden is lifted from your shoulders. BUT if you choose to hold on to the hurt, the anger and the pain, you’ll end up like Shishio. His scars and wounds are not only on the surface, they are buried in his heart; his soul is restless and filled with angst.

Forgiveness is more than just a process. It is a decision.

Forgiving may not be easy, make that decision anyway. Take the first step to your freedom from hate, anger and hurt. You’re going to be justified, just don’t take matters into your own hand. Those who hurt you are going to face the consequences of their actions but you don’t have to be the one to see to it; let go and let God.

Shishio has been given another chance to live, yet he failed to survive. When one dwells on the past, you cease to exist. If you’re too focused on plotting revenge that would take place in the future, you miss out on the great adventure before you.

Hate when nurtured can destroy the one who holds on to it.
Choose forgiveness over revenge.
Choose freedom over bondage.
Choose life over death.
Choose love over hate.

“Calm your heart.” (Nenji Kashiwazaki to Aoshi Shinomori)
It will all come to pass. Everything will be alright in the end.

Make the right choice.
Forgive.
Let go of the past.
Move forward.
Do not be like Shishio.
Better things are waiting ahead.

Carpe diem!

You Are NOT Who or What They Say

Beautiful.
Wonderful.
Glorious.
Matchless in every way.
(Lines from the song: Here in Your Presence from New Life Worship)
Words used to describe and glorify God. Words that bless. Words that praise. Words that expresses awe. Words filled with love.

And then you might think, “But that is God, not me. It doesn’t describe who I am.”
Have you forgotten that you are created in the image and likeness of God?
You are a masterpiece. His wonderful work of art.

If only every single person believes how special he/she is…
If only everyone can see that he/she is beautiful…
If only everyone speaks words of encouragement, words of blessings…

In this day and age when beauty, success, accomplishment and lifestyle have been boxed or stereotyped, it is easy to listen to the noise. You can fall into the trap of thinking you are not good enough, you are not beautiful, you are not successful… STOP!

Tune out the noise and go back to the center of it all. Turn to the one who created you. Listen to the voice of God and not the noise of the world.

No. You are not bad luck. You ARE a BLESSING.
You are wonderful.
You are strong.
You are special.
You are deeply loved.
You are unique.
You are talented.
You are needed.
You are victorious.

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand— when I awake, I am still with you.
(Psalm 139:13-18 NIV)

Listen to the one who created you.
Be blessed and be a blessing! 🙂

Random Thoughts

Sometimes the end is only the beginning and at some point the beginning is the the end.

Note :)

“We’re getting by but getting by, was never our destiny. We were meant to be profoundly effective.”

“Our toughest battles will invariably concern matters of faith–times when we’re tempted to think God’s Word and His ways won’t work for us, that He has abandoned us, let us down, or failed to come through for us.”

“When we respond to attacks of doubt, distortion, and deceit with the truth of God’s Word, the fiery dart is extinguished and the enemy takes another hit.”

“God is who He says He is.
God can do what He says He can do.
I am who God says I am.
I can do all things through Christ.
God’s Word is alive and active in me.”

Excerpt From: Moore, Beth. “Believing God.” B&H Publishing Group, 2010.

Love Never Fails

It’s that time of the year again when hearts are aflutter, roses are in full bloom, chocolates are in abundance and cupid is on the loose. 🙂 A lot of people associate Valentine’s Day with those things but ponder this, “We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19. We have this day because of the greatest expression of love there is, Christ’s crucifixion.

Express your love in your own unique way, not just today but every single day. 🙂

Enjoy the video and the lyrics of this wonderful song by Brandon Heath.

“Love Never Fails”

Love is not proud
Love does not boast
Love after all
Matters the most

Love does not run
Love does not hide
Love does not keep
Locked inside

Love is the river that flows through
Love never fails you

Love will sustain
Love will provide
Love will not cease
At the end of time

Love will protect
Love always hopes
Love still believes
When you don’t

Love is the arms that are holding you
Love never fails you

When my heart won’t make a sound
When I can’t turn back around
When the sky is falling down
Nothing is greater than this
Greater than this

Love is right here
Love is alive
Love is the way
The truth the life

Love is the river than flows through
Love is the arms that are holding you
Love is the place you will fly to
Love never fails you

Have a great day. Be blessed and be a blessing. Spread the love. 🙂

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

Happy (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

 

I will not name names.

 

 

Yesterday I came across an update from a social media page about someone saying negative things about a beauty title holder, and to make things worse, saying things which can be considered as “racist” remarks not only about the winner but looking down on the whole nation as well.

 

 

I do not know the person who posted that. I do not know her values, beliefs, lifestyle, priorities and choices in life. I cannot judge her because I am not entitled to, just as she isn’t entitled to degrade someone else. The bible states clearly:

 

 

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” -Matthew 7:1

“You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.” -Romans 2:1

“Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.” -Romans 14:13

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” -Luke 6:41

It’s sad that she said what she said. In my humble opinion, no one has the right to look down upon a particular race, or to judge the people and label them into a particular class or stereotype. No one, not even the richest, nor the most famous, nor the most intellectual, nor the most beautiful person on earth has the right to look down upon someone else.

 

 

Isn’t she aware that in every community, there are different people? Not everyone is living a life of splendor but each person is gifted with a unique gift; every person has a role to play, a space to fill in, a purpose to fulfill.

 

 

” Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices,holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” – Romans 12:1-5

“Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.” -Romans 12:16

What if there are no farmers?
What if there are no factory workers?
What if there are no fast food crew?
What if there are no baristas?
What if there are no waiters/waitresses?
What if there are no commis?
What if there are no construction workers?
What if there are no vendors?
What if there are no gophers?
What if there are no street sweepers?
What if there are no garbage collectors?
What if there are no house helpers?
What if there are no nannies?
What if there are no porters?
What if there are no chamber maids?
What if there are no bell boys?
What if there are no chauffeurs or drivers?
What if there are no toilet cleaners?

 

 

I could go on and on but what I’m trying to say is, the world will never be the same without these people. They are important not only in the workforce but to the whole human existence.

 

 

Does she know why these people that she is looking down on are employed in such jobs? They work hard to support their families. Some of them have ailing parents who need health care. Some of them have children who need to go to school and earn a degree to have a better career and future. They want to provide for their families, to give them a better life. What motivates them? I think it’s love. They take great risk, working in a foreign land for people they do not know. They sacrifice in order to give what they can to the people they love. That is something to be proud of.

 

 

Isn’t she aware that there are well known painters, sculptors, inventors, scientists, artists, athletes and other renowned personalities who hail from the same country that she ridiculed?

 

 

Doesn’t she know that the national hero of that country  was a prolific writer, ophthalmologist, a polyglot who was conversant in 22 languages, a polymath, a brilliant man.

 

 

So yes they have something else in them, a lot more in fact.

 

 

They join competitions and win the crown.
They compete in math contests and get the medal.
They engage in sports competition and win.
They work in extreme conditions and still have sunny disposition.

 

 

Not everyone is privileged with earthly riches. Some people have to work hard and work odd jobs to survive. The thing is, if you are one of those who are blessed with financial abundance, be thankful. You are blessed. Why not be a channel of blessings? Be blessed and be a blessing. 🙂

 

 

I believe that every person, no matter what race or nationality is a masterpiece of God. Each person has a purpose. Everyone is lovingly created by God, no matter what circumstances or condition they are born in.

 

 

Psalm 139 (NIV)

You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.

Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you.

If only you, God, would slay the wicked!
Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!
They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name.
Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord,
and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.
Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.

Not a Mountaineer

Photo by Seabhcan. Image of part of the Haute Route, Switzerland, 2003 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I am not a mountaineer. I guess I never will be.

I may be able to climb a mountain one day soon. BUT I can never make mountaineering a profession nor a hobby.

I love nature and is always in awe when I see idyllic landscapes, majestic peaks, beautiful backdrops and breathtaking views that only God can create. There’s something about being close to nature that seems to let you experience a tighter embrace from God. A welcome silence. A serenity that you cannot explain.

If that is the way I see nature, then why not climb mountains? I know and believe that God created me for a purpose but mountaineering is not one of them. Unlike my friends who can withstand intermittent weather, I easily catch a cold. This reminded me that each person is uniquely created.

A person should never compare his/her life or journey with someone else nor long for what others have because you never really know what they are going through and that is not your design. Instead, be grateful for the life that you have. Make the most out of it and live the life you were born to live. 🙂

Be blessed and be a blessing. 🙂

Office Boy

A jobless man applied for the position of ‘office boy’ at a very big company.

The employer interviewed him, then a test: clean the floor.

“You are hired.” – the employer said. ”Give me your email address, and I’ll send you the application to fill, as well as when you will start.”

The man replied, “I don’t have a computer, neither an email.”

“I’m sorry,” said the employer, “if you don’t have an email that means you do not exist. And who doesn’t exist, cannot have the job.”

The man left with no hope. He didn’t know what to do, with only $10 USD in his pocket.

He then decided to go to the supermarket, bought a 10kg tomato crate, then sold the tomatoes door to door. In less than two hours, he succeeded and doubled his capital.

He repeated the operation 3 times and returned home with $60 USD. The man realized that he could survive by this way, and started to go everyday earlier, and returned late. Thus, his money doubled or tripled everyday. Shortly later, he bought a cart, then a truck, and then he had his own fleet of delivery vehicles.

Five years later, the man’s company was one of the biggest food retailers. He started to plan his family’s future, and decided to have a life insurance.

He called an insurance broker and chose a protection plan. When the conversation was concluded, the broker asked him his email. The man replied: “I don’t have an email.”

The broker replied curiously, “You don’t have an email, and yet have succeeded to build an empire. Do you imagine what you could have done if you had an email?”

The man paused for a while, and replied: “An office boy!”

 

Don’t be discouraged if something is not in your favor today. Better opportunities are waiting ahead.

 Author Unknown

 

True Success

“True success means living in close contact with God throughout each day and finding everything you need in the Lord and from the Lord. It’s having a deep inner peace because you know God is on your side and always there for you. It’s believing God is greater than anything you face and trusting that His power can positively affect every situation that threatens you. It’s knowing in your soul that no matter what problem comes along, God has a solution, a way out, or a way through. It’s unwavering faith that your prayers are heard by God and He will answer—in His way and His time. It’s sensing the love of God in your life and being able to extend it to others in the manner He wants you to. It’s trusting that God has the answer to every question you have, and so you stop obsessing over your questions and start trusting His answers.”

-Stormie Omartian, 30 Days to Becoming a Woman of Prayer

“Stay away from…

“Stay away from anger.. It hurts ..Only You!
If you are right then there is no need to get angry,
And if you are wrong then you don’t have any right to get angry.

Patience with family is love,
Patience with others is respect,
Patience with self is confidence and,
Patience with GOD is faith.

Never think hard about the PAST, it brings tears…
Don’t think more about the FUTURE, it brings fear…
Live this moment with a smile,
It brings Cheer.

Every test in our lives make us bitter or better,
Every problem comes to make us or break us,
The choice is ours whether we become victims or victorious.

Search for a beautiful heart not a beautiful face.
Beautiful things are not always good but good things are always beautiful.

Happiness keeps you sweet,
Trials keep you strong,
Sorrows keep you human,
Failures keep you humble,
Success keeps you glowing,
But only God keeps you going!”

-Unknown