DebraTong CherieLee HannahChong BohXuanQi GraciaLam.
We are from the Girls' Brigade 65th Company! This is our blog as part of Values Venture 2009 Theme: Love. We hope you'll be blessed by this blog! (:
" If you judge people,you will have no time to love them. "
-Mother Teresa
Why do we judge people? Whether is it giving a weird stare at someone who dresses weirdly or just commenting on the mistakes some people make. But really, what gives anyone the right to say anything?
I believe that all of us at some point of time in our lives,we have judged people before, whether its out of jealousy or anything else . After all we are all humans, imperfect humans. Often, there will be circumstances that will lead us into judging people, whether it be out of anger or reluctance to accept that person. However, these circumstances are usually either not true, or just half of the story.
I have been judged before, and I am sure many of you have been too. The feeling sucks, so why do we still do it ?
After all, the only person who can judge us is God, for he is perfect. It has been said that the human mind likes to categorize people and fit them into these neat cubby little holes so that it will be easier to deal with them. This is the type of reasoning then leads the weaker minds into having the same kind of poor thinking.
As imperfect human beings, i guess we all have this side of us that prejudices and judges, but i do not think that's what that makes us bad people. I believe we are only bad people when we are unwilling to overcome these prejudices.
Have you been judged before?
I am sure the answer to that would be a yes.
But the real question is,
Have YOU judged before?
My friend John always has something to tell me. He knows so much that young men have to have older and more worldly wise men to tell them. For instance who to trust, how to care for others, and how to live life to the fullest.
Recently, John lost his wife Janet. For eight years she fought against cancer, but in the end her sickness had the last word.
One day John took out a folded piece of paper from his wallet. He had found it, so he told me, when he tidied up some drawers at home. It was a small love letter Janet had written. The note could look like a school girl's scrawls about her dream guy. All that was missing was a drawing of a heart with the names John and Janet written in it. But the small letter was written by a woman who had had seven children; a woman who fought for her life and who probably only had a few months left to live.
It was also a beautiful recipe for how to keep a marriage together.
Janet's description of her husband begins thus: "Loved me. Took care of me. Worried about me."
Even though John always had a ready answer, he never joked about cancer apparently. Sometimes he came home in the evening to find Janet in the middle of one of those depressions cancer patients so often get. In no time he got her into the car and drove her to her favourite restaurant.
He showed consideration for her, and she knew it. You cannot hide something for someone who knows better.
"Helped me when I was ill," the next line reads. Perhaps Janet wrote this while the cancer was in one of the horrible and wonderful lulls. Where everything is -- almost -- as it used to be, before the sickness broke out, and where it doesn't hurt to hope that everything is over, maybe forever.
"Forgave me a lot."
"Stood by my side."
And a piece of good advice for everyone who looks on giving constructive criticism as a kind of sacred duty: "Always praising."
"Made sure I had everything I needed," she goes on to write.
After that she has turned over the paper and added: "Warmth. Humour. Kindness. Thoughtfulness." And then she writes about the husband she has lived with and loved the most of her life: "Always there for me when I needed you."
The last words she wrote sum up all the others. I can see her for me where she adds thoughtfully: "Good friend."
I stand beside John now, and cannot even pretend to know how it feels to lose someone who is as close to me as Janet was to him. I need to hear what he has to say much more than he needs to talk.
"John," I ask. "How do you stick together with someone through 38 years -- not to mention the sickness? How do I know if I can bear to stand by my wife's side if she becomes sick one day?"
"You can," he says quietly. "If you love her enough, you can."
Credits: http://www.touchinglovestories.com/lovestory77.htm
Do you love someone enough to stand by their side no matter what? Especially whenever they need someone to lean on because they are going through a very tough period? Or do you judge them based on how strong they are when they are put through trials?
1 Corinthians 13
The Greatest Gift
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned but have not love, it profits me nothing.
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;
6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.
Love is patient.
Love is kind.
Love does not envy.
Love is not boastful.
Love is not conceited.
Love does not act improperly.
Love is not selfish.
Love is not provoked.
Love does not keep a record of wrongs.
Love finds no joy in unrighteousness.
Love rejoices in the truth.
Cross out the word "Love" and replace it with your name. How does that look?
They were a very loving couple. One day, they decided to take his yacht out into the ocean and enjoy the beautiful day. Alas, the sky became dark, and there were signs of a storm approaching. They turned around to head back to the shore, but unfortunately lightning striked the yacht and it started sinking.
They could see the dim outlines of sharks in the sea.
She turned to face him and asked,"Are you scared?"
He grabbed a fruit knife and replied,"Of course. But I'll defend us with this."
She shook her head. He was being incredibly naive. A fruit knife wouldn't save them from the sharks. Luckily, she had managed to send a SOS signal before the radio got soaked.
Soon, they could hear the sound of helipcopters arriving. The rescue personnel let down a ladder from the helipcopter and urged them to board quickly. Just as she was about to jump off the yacht, he pushed her back and said,"I'll go first."
She was furious. Then puzzled when he swam the opposite direction from the helipcopter, with the sharks in hot pursuit. Then even more puzzled when he turned around and shouted,"I love you!"
She jumped after him and was rescued on time.
On board the helipcopter, a rescue personnel passed her a towel and said in an admiring voice,"That is one of the bravest men I have ever seen. Let us bow our heads and pray for him."
She replied in a scathing voice,"Well, I think he's a coward. But... Why do you think he is brave?" He looked her in the eye. "Before he jumped off the boat, he cut his hand using the knife. With his blood flowing freely in the sea, he was the perfect bait for the sharks. In fact, he was buying time for you so that you could be rescued."
With tears streaming down her cheeks, they started to pray.
~translated and adapted from a Chinese storybook
Sometimes, we judge people too quickly. We question their motives and wonder if they are out to get us. And then, when they want to help us, we refuse and end up getting into trouble. Did you know that judging other people is actually a sin? In fact, if you judge people, God will judge you back in the same way. So why judge? Why not wait and see if they mean what they say? Also, judging could cause misunderstanding to arise. So do not be quick to judge, or you might regret it.
This story has no ending too. But I think the guy died in the end. If you watch Discovery Channel or Animal Planet, you'll know that sharks swim fast. Faster than humans, in fact. But who knows? God might have answered the prayers of the girl and the rescue personnel in the helipcopter, and this story would have a happy ending.
God might have created a miracle for the brave man who was willing to die for his loved one.
There was once a couple that loved each other very much. They had two very different personalities. He was quiet. He didn't say much. She was loud and bossy. She always had to voice out her opinions. As such, he always let her make the decisions. He always let have her way.
Photography was his passion. In fact, he was so good at it that he took their wedding photographs when they got married.
One day, she asked him to take a wedding photo shoot for a couple she knew. He refused.
"They'll pay you,if that's what you're worried about."
"No, I don't want to do it."
"Come on, they're my friends. I already promised them that you'll help them do it."
"I said no. And that is my final answer."
"You had better agree within three days time, or else..."
On the first day, she gave him the silent treatment. They ate dinner together in silence. On the second day, without any warning, she dumped the contents of his bag onto the floor and checked through all the pockets of his coats. She threatened,"If I find any evidence of another woman, we'll get a divorce." On the third day, he slept on the bed,with his head facing the east. She slept on the same bed, with her head facing the west.
On the fourth day, he grabbed her arm as she was leaving the house.
"We need to talk." "If its not about the photo shoot, we're not talking." "But it's very important."
She turned around."What?"
"Let's get a divorce. I've known this girl for some time. She loves me alot."
She looked crushed."But...I love you too."
He shook his head."No, you don't understand. She wouldn't force me to do things I wouldn't want to do."
She understood what he was getting at, and wondered how this could happen to her.
He took out a photograph from his coat pocket. The same coat that he was wearing on the second day. The same coat she didn't check."Would you like to see her photo?"
She looked up. It was a photo of her that he was holding in his hand.
~translated and adapted from a Chinese storybook
This story pretty much applies to married couples, but it can apply to us unmarried teens,too. Many people wonder why their friends have left them, when the real reason is that they chased them away themselves. Your behaviour can send them the wrong signal. For example, you could be feeling a headache coming on and you tell the friend who's talking to you at that moment to go away. He or she might feel hurt, and think that you want them to stay away forever. But how could anyone be so sensitive? Hey, teenagers are a sensitive bunch. The way you treat them may make them feel that they are not being appreciated enough, make them feel that they are not wanted, and they will leave you. And by the time you realise your mistake, it'll be too late. Don't wait for that to happen.
By the way, this story has no ending. Create your own ending if you like.
This proves that everything can be conquered by love.
Love can conquer anything.
Save You - Simple Plan
Take a breath I pull myself together
Just another step till I reach the door
You’ll never know the way it tears me up inside to see you
I wish that I could tell you something
To take it all away
Sometimes I wish I could save you
And there’re so many things that I want you to know
I won’t give up till it’s over
If it takes you forever I want you to know
When I hear your voice
Its drowning in a whisper
It’s Just skins and bones
There’s nothing left to take
No matter what I do I can’t make you feel better
If only I could find the answer
To help me understand
Sometimes I wish I could save you
And there’re so many things that I want you to know
I wont give up till it’s over
If it takes you forever I want you to know
That if you fall, stumble down
If you lose faith in you
I’ll give you strength to pull through
Tell me you won't give up cause I’ll be waiting if you fall
Oh you know I’ll be there for you (Ahahaha)
If only I could find the answer to take it all away
Sometimes i wish i could save you
And there’re so many things that I want you to know
I wont give up till it's over
If it takes you forever I want you to know(Oooh)
I wish I could save you
I want you to know(Ohohh)
I wish I could save you (ohh)
~ Michael J. Fox
How many of you have tried to be perfect and failed? Everyone knows by now that perfection cannot be acheived by a normal human being. In fact, the only person on Earth who has been totally perfect so far is Jesus. In the Bible, it says that we should strive to be more like Jesus. But of course, NO ONE can be as perfect and blameless as he was.
You can't achieve perfect looks by plastic surgery. You can't acheive perfect grades by studying day and night. You just CAN'T be perfect. Of course, striving to be perfect is not wrong. But the problem is that it becomes an obsession to some. And when they fail, they become so depressed and upset with themselves. Is this you?
And then, there are some people who believe that they are perfect and become so conceited that no one can even stand to breathe in the same air as them. They think that everyone is beneath them and expect the world to revolve around them. Is this you?
Another problem is that with the constant wanting if perfection comes jealousy. You'll see someone that you think is perfect and the little devil on your shoulder will whisper softly:"Look at you. You're not like him. You'll never be like him. You'll never be perfect." You'll grow discouraged and start to actually believe the sneaky little devil. And you'll think to yourself:"If I'm not perfect, then I must be a nobody. Who would want to talk to someone who has a flaw?"
However, there's still enough time to listen to the indignant angel screaming in your ear:"He's wrong!Look at you. You're wonderful! You're great! Don't you know that the devil always lies? Don't listen to that liar!" And at this critical juncture, who would you choose to listen to?
The thing is, God gave you imperfections for a reason. You might not want the imperfections now, but you'll find out exactly why God gave them to you sometime later in your life. And remember, God doesn't make mistakes.
Faith is an essential part of anyone's life. Because even if everything goes wrong, and all fails, at least we can still " Fall back on faith. " - Hayley Danielle
In my opinion, every decision we make, be it a simple one or a huge one, it all requires abit of faith, faith that the route we chosen was correct, and there will not be any major complications because of that. I am sure we all have faced this scenario, in which we have to make choices, and we don't know which voice inside our head to listen to, and in the end, it all boils down to faith that we have chosen correctly.
As a christian, i feel that we should not depend on our own strength and make decisions based on what we think is right, but pray and seek guidance from God, and see where he wants us to go, because if we desire, then we should ask, and if we believe, we shall receive.
Most importantly however , is that we never lose faith in ourselves, and constantly remind ourselves that even though we may have blew it this time, there will always be another chance.
There will always be sunshine after rain, a rainbow after a thunderstorm. All we need is to keep the faith! :D
Have you ever felt like giving up? Just feel like disappearing into thin air cos you think that no one cares? Well God cares, your family and friends care. Just some food for thought ; since they have faith in you, all the more shouldnt you have faith in yourself ? Hm.
God bless!
Immature love says: 'I love you because i need you.' Mature love says: 'I need you because I love you.' ~ Erich Fromm
Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour a day to drain the fluids from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.
The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation. And every afternoon when the man in the bed next to the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.
The man in the other bed would live for those one-hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the outside world. The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake, the man had said. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Lovers walked arm in arm amid flowers of every color of the rainbow. Grand old trees graced the landscape, and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance. As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.
One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by. Although the other man could not hear the band, he could see it in his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words. Unexpectedly, an alien thought entered his head: Why should he have all the pleasure of seeing everything while I never get to see anything? It didn't seem fair. As the thought fermented, the man felt ashamed at first. But as the days passed and he missed seeing more sights, his envy eroded into resentment and soon turned him sour. He began to brood and found himself unable to sleep. He should be by that window - and that thought now controlled his life.
Late one night, as he lay staring at the ceiling, the man by the window began to cough. He was choking on the fluid in his lungs. The other man watched in the dimly lit room as the struggling man by the window groped for the button to call for help. Listening from across the room, he never moved, never pushed his own button which would have brought the nurse running. In less than five minutes, the coughing and choking stopped, along with the sound of breathing. Now, there was only silence--deathly silence.
The following morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths. When she found the lifeless body of the man by the window, she was saddened and called the hospital attendant to take it away--no words, no fuss. As soon as it seemed appropriate, the man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.
Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look. Finally, he would have the joy of seeing it all himself. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed. It faced a blank wall.
Are we like the man who tries to look on the bright side no matter what and still shows love to the rest?
Credits: http://www.indianchild.com/inspiring_stories.htm
~ Laurence J. Peter
Have you ever said something and immediately regretted it? Or maybe you managed to bite back your tongue in time but you immediately felt ashamed of the evil thoughts in your head? If you have experienced this before, that goes to show that you're normal. Anger is just like beer. If you allow it to consume you, you will do things that you will regret afterwards. For example, yelling at your parents, or slapping your good friend, just because you lost control of your temper in the heat of the moment. And the worst part is, the people you vented your anger on are bound to remember it for a long time. When you are angry, your actions tend to go overboard.
How can you control your temper, then?
The best thing to do is to walk away. Sure, the person will be puzzled on why you walked away, but at least they will not be as hurt if you had stayed. You can try counting in your head, but you'll look silly giving them a blank stare, and you might be sorely tempted to hit them. So give them an excuse, and escape as quickly as you can. Once you've calmed down, think it over and carefully decide what you will say to that person when you see them the next time. However, if just seeing their face makes you angry again, I suggest you stay away from them.
Remember, keeping a friend is much better than losing one.
Seeing as Resurrection Sunday, or rather, Easter was on last Sunday, i guess its just befitting to dedicate a post to the Greatest Love of All, God's love for each and everyone of us.
No power or force on earth can be stronger than love, and God's love is the greatest of all. By his love, we obtained salvation, and by loving him and then our neighbours, we manifest such salvation. We love, because He first loved us.
The strongest message in the Bible, which contains God's word, is God's love. Everything revolves around God's love, for He, who created the universe by His Word, is the source of love, which is love in its purest form. It's perfect.
On Good Friday, God sent his one and only son to die on the cross for us all, us sinners, and in turn our sins were all forgiven. But not only were our sins forgiven, Jesus rose from the dead 3days later! Now isnt that awesome or what? :)
" Love is an endless act of forgiveness, a tender look which becomes a habit. " - Peter Ustinov
God's love for us is indescribable , he forgave all of our sins, all of our ungodly acts . How about us? Do we love like he loves us?
Peace!
~by Anonymous
How can you tell if you're a good friend? I suppose the only way to truly know is to question yourself what kind of friends you look out for. The one with the pretty face? The studious one? Or perhaps the meek one? And then, when you're sure of the answer, ask yourself this question. Why do you choose them to be your friends? Maybe you picked the pretty face so you could be popular. Maybe you picked the studious one so you could copy their homework before the start of school. And maybe, you picked the meek one cause they were easy to bully and intimidate.
What are your motives? Are they selfish? Or is your motive purely to learn the song in their heart? To me, a good friend is someone that takes the time to get to know you, stays by your side in times of trouble and is willing to make sacrifices to make your life better. A good friend learns what you hold dear to your heart, and what your morals are. And at the end of the day, when you're feeling down and you have no idea who you are anymore, that particular friend tenderly sings you the song that you have forgotten. And this is when you know that that person loves you.
Is this person you?
Credits: www.lovinghugs.com
It's true that we don't know what we've got until we lose it, but it's also true that we don't know what we've been missing until it arrives. ~ Unknown Here's a story to prove it:
The story goes that some time ago, a man punished his 3-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and he became infuriated when the child tried to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree. Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said, "This is for you, Daddy."
The man was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, but his anger flared again when he found out the box was empty. He yelled at her, stating, "Don't you know, when you give someone a present, there is supposed to be something inside? The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and cried, "Oh, Daddy, it's not empty at all. I blew kisses into the box. They're all for you, Daddy."
The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little girl, and he begged for her forgiveness.
Only a short time later, an accident took the life of the child. It is also told that her father kept that gold box by his bed for many years and, whenever he was discouraged, he would take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there.
So, remember to cherish the love you've been given and to love those who you cherish, you won't know when you can never do it again.
Credits: http://www.quotexite.com/
Giving someone all your love is never an assurance that they'll love you back! Don't expect love in return; just wait for it to grow in their heart but if it doesn't, be content it grows in yours.
~Unknown
To us, loving someone doesn't mean you wanting the person to reciprocate your love. It just means you loving the person unconditionally, regardless of whether the person loves you back. Because that's how our God loves the world, no matter if you choose to love Him or not.
(:
Blessing!
With credits from Quotexite.com
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