Entries for February, 2008

February 8th, 2008

The Power of I

I have just realized how powerful I actually am. But more importantly, how powerful God acts in my life.

Lately, I noticed how much I have developed certain habits I've long ago been wanting to start. The new year came and it was the perfect timing for me to 'sharpen the saw' and cope up with life's fast-paced changes.

First off is my quiet time. Amazingly, I have been consistent all this time with my daily QT schedule. Compared to last year, I didn't have a hard time keeping up with my bible-reading and prayer sessions. The key in doing so? Priority. I was able to put God first above everything, on top of my to-do list. Unlike last year, I have sworn my time in the morning this year to God.

Second, the way I handle my time: my organizational skills. Based on what I have been doing, I could interpret myself as obsessively compulsive these days. I may be too keen or much more of a perfectionist than the usual, but instead of simply seeking perfection and excellence, I aim first for order and organization. I have learned that the first step to excellence is organizing things whey they belong. Where there is order, the rest will follow, nothing should go wrong then.

In all of these, I have learned the most important lesson I had to learn in the art of organizing my life: having God as the basis and source for all things. It's amazing how I go by my daily task/routine over the past years, wondering where God is in my messed-up life, failing to realize that God is just about everywhere--he never misses a thing!

I remember a child in a story--as he was diligently reading the newspaper, a mischievous middle-aged man asked him, "Son, I'll give you $5 if you can tell me where on that page you are reading God is." The good child looked up, and without hesitation answered, "I'll give you a million dollars if you can tell where He is not."

I've also discovered that truly, it's all up to me. It's not about my teachers, it's not about the subject matter, it's not about the people I have been destined to work and mingle with. It's simply about my diligence to learn.

What am I talking about here? My academics--my study habits in particular. As said, when there's a will, there'll always be a way. My determination may drive me to be consistent and to patiently keep up with a routine that I'm trying to inculcate in my system right now. But above all, it is God who gives grace. I may study all night and not sleep for days, but God alone is able to mark my grade and bless me with excellent marks, with fruitful consequences.

My circumstances can never determine my actions. Rather, I should be the one acting to determine my preferred circumstances. Encouraging words: I can. Humbling words: God did.

yahn @ 10:42 PM | Ice-peek!, Book Of The Yahn [Add comment/s]

February 9th, 2008

In Order

God is in fact the most flawless and most excellent organizer of all.

I've just finished reading the book of Exodus last week, and amazingly enough, I was able to appreciate reading it, especially the last part about building God's holy temple.

The first time I read that book, I became so bored with all the technical details written down. I was so exhausted trying to interpret and imagine the details indicated there so as to pick a lesson or two from the said book.

Thankfully, this time around I was so much overwhelmed by reading it that I wouldn't like to read it all over again, rather I would love to read more! Perhaps that explains why I am so excited to read the next books of law.

But don't get me wrong though. I'm not excited because I want it over. Initially, that's what I wanted. It's pretty long in fact and, let's face it, it's a bit pointless knowing them now since we are no longer slaves of the law, we have been freed by Christ, and now our life is controlled by the holy spirit instead.

Going back, what have I learned anyway from that book? I realized how much of a perfectionist God truly is, and how much God really is in control.

I have now accepted that being a child of God, I too am called to be as keen as God in planning. I am created in His image and likeness. He is a perfectionist. He plans carefully and very much in detail. Thus, so should I.

Then again, I am just human, while He is god--He is perfect in Himself. I am just a replica, molded based on the original, which is perfect. I keep in mind that I can only plan so much. In the end, it is God Himself who will take control.

Not only God plans so perfectly, He designs so beautifully as well. He did not just intend things to be in order, He designed all in harmony with one another, and pleasingly.

Thank God, He not only settles everything in order, but also He likes things attractive and pleasing inside and out.

yahn @ 12:50 PM | Ice-peek!, Book Of The Yahn [Add comment/s]

More Planning

As I have promised, I am now posting my book-reading plans. Yes, indeed I have too many plans of my own. But then, I like it better this way. I'm already nineteen [would you believe it?], and I have not much time to waste. Many years have come and gone already in my life, and I'm not letting this year slip just like that. I want difference this year: I choose to finally change all this time. And by God's grace, I already did.

Book Reading Schedule

FEBRUARY
Week 3: Life to the Max
Week 4: Mind Your Own Health 1-3

MARCH
Week 1: Mind Your Own Health 4-6
Week 2: Mind Your Own Health 7-9
Week 3: Mind Your Own Health 10-12
Week 4: Mind Your Own Health 13-15

APRIL
Week 1: Da Vinci Decoded 1-6
Week 2: Da Vinci Decoded 7-12
Week 3: The Devil Wears Prada 1-10
Week 4: The Devil Wears Prada 11-19

MAY
Week 1: The Greatest Salesman in the World 1-9
Week 2: The Greatest Salesman in the World 10-18
Week 3: End of Story 1-10
Week 4: End of Story 11-19

JUNE
Week 1: Celestine Prophecy 1-4
Week 2: Celestine Prophecy 5-9
Week 3: Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus 1-4
Week 4: Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus 5-9

JULY
Week 1: Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus 10-13
Week 2: Conversations with God [1] 1-5
Week 3: Conversations with God [1] 6-10
Week 4: Conversations with God [1] 11-14

AUGUST
Week 1: Conversations with God [2] 1-5
Week 2: Conversations with God [2] 6-10
Week 3: Conversations with God [2] 11-15
Week 4: Conversations with God [2] 16-20

SEPTEMBER
Week 1: Conversations with God [3] 1-6
Week 2: Conversations with God [3] 7-11
Week 3: Conversations with God [3] 12-16
Week 4: Conversations with God [3] 17-21

OCTOBER
Week 1: Diana: The Last Word 1-9
Week 2: Diana: The Last Word 10-18
Week 3: Little Women 1-10
Week 4: Little Women 11-20

NOVEMBER
Week 1: Little Women 21-30
Week 2: Little Women 31-40
Week 3: A Little Princess 1-10
Week 4: A Little Princess 11-19

DECEMBER
Week 1: Women In Love 1-10
Week 2: Women In Love 11-20
Week 3: Women In Love 21-31
Week 4: A Christmas Carol 1-5

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Now, having just read Girltalk Blogs' 7 Habits of Highly Effective Woman [because I will become a teen no more in less than 365 days--imagine eh?], I have decided to plan some more. I now prefer to have a scheduled 'self-maintenance'. How about that, huh? Every season I would update my goals list and evaluate my accomplishments.

Having known myself to be a 'short-termed' person, I figured that Habit # 5 would be effective to me, since I am that kind of person whose mind does not stretch that much for long-term plans. When I plan, I could only see as far as a month or two from now. That would be the farthest my goals could reach.

And so, I have decided to set up regular times for myself to plot out my schedule, plans and goals.

• Write down in a sheet of paper all the things I have to accomplish for the week. Do this every Sunday after breakfast. I would call this list the Master Mind.
• Everyday, I will write down another list of things to accomplish, called the Day-ly Priorities. I would base this list from the Master Mind, and I will prepare this every night after washing up. Whatever listed here that ends up undone will be put in the following day's list, until it has been accomplished, or the deadline is met. But before going to the list itself, I would have to write down first my memory verse for the day that would guide me throughout the day.
• Every 1st Friday of the month, which is also a Prayer and Fasting time for me by the way, I would evaluate my plans and activities for the past month. Whether I like it or not, I have to post the evaluation in this blog. I know I just have to.
• I must do all these in the prescribed schedule--and never get tired in doing so!
• Above all, I should be praying before, after, during my planning sessions. Trust God--He's definitely in control.

When man works, he works. When he prays, God works.
What a man can do in 5 years on his own strength, God can do in 5 minutes if only he prays.

yahn @ 11:44 PM | Book Of The Yahn [Add comment/s]

February 26th, 2008

Change

And I thought the night would end as if not much changed. New people to lead us, more challenges to face for the coming months, greater glory to fulfill. And I was wrong to think that I would still sit still in my position, leaving the place carrying the same status I held when I entered. I was very wrong.

Instead, I was caught off-guard. The unexpected happened. And now life has once again changed for me.

Am I ready? Am I willing?

I gather my trust from them who trust me so much--from them who believe in me. As much as they have faith in me, so will I have even greater faith in my abilities and potential.

I pray that God takes good care of me as I face the challenges of the new page of life opened for me.

yahn @ 03:33 PM | Book Of The Yahn [1 comment/s]