What's Next?

We often take our friends for granted. Who knows what will happen to them. Look at yourself, do you realize how complex and beautiful you are?

Every Sunday and Friday i see my closest friends. And it usually goes like this. HI ____ *hug* talk bout random stuff. Alright i gotta go! See you next week! Bye ___ ! *hug* then leave.

I never really thought of thinking of how long they will live or how long i will live. You never know what's going to happen next. Will there be a next time that you'll see them?

Always be thankful for the people that God gave to you. He put them into your life for a reason. I have a friend who i always get pissed off when i talk to them but i don't know why. Now that i think of it, i realized how much this guy has helped me. Always thank your friends because you never know what's going to happen next. Make every moment memorable.

Phil 1:3 says, "I thank my God every time i remember you."

Hope Does Not Disappoint.

Romans 5:3-5

³ Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴ perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Have you ever wondered how diamonds are made? Diamonds are precious materials made of carbon. Deep within the earth's crust, these minerals work their way up toward the earth's surface when gases and heat combine. Through phenomenal heat and pressure, diamonds are born. It's only after they are tested by fire that they become so beautiful.

God always puts us in tough situations. It's his way of testing is. We are his diamonds. God polishes us with his love, grace, and mercy. Hard times can make you grow. When you are tested by fire, your faith becomes stronger.

Whenever he puts us into hard situations it’s when he knows that we can get through it. We should be thankful for all these tests of faith because with each of them, we are made stronger. God doesn’t do it to see you suffer; he does it because he wants to see what you’ll do. We should always rely on him because he is our one true source.

When God looks at you he says, "You are rare. strong. valuable. loved. beautiful."
What is God making of you?

Art.

Romans 1:20

²⁰ For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

Art. Every artist has their own opinion and creation. We may draw something and add many details to make it perfect.

God is our creator. He is our artist. He added many details to us to make us perfect. Think about a leaf. All those many lines, the texture and pattern of it make it wonderful. God made us beautiful and perfect.

Think of a sunset over a city. The breathtaking sparkle of the sun on the sea. The beauty and fierce majesty of a lion. The marvel of creation that is you.

You're Beautiful.

Psalm 139: 13- 16

¹³ For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
¹⁵ 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.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

We all have those friends who put on a load of make-up and others who wouldn't dare let it touch their face. We often try to hide our real selves. By putting on make-up or putting on a 'mask'. Everyone has their probelms in life and personally, i don't really like sharing it with people.

We are all fearfully and wonderfully made by Christ. He knows what we look like, inside and out. He made us beautiful. You may get judged at school because of your looks, personally, or style but God made you that way and don't ever forget that. You don't need to change for your friends because God knows that you are 100% beautiful. God looks at you and admires his handiwork.

Stand tall, look yourself in the eye, smile back at your reflection, and thank God for the good job he has done in creating you.

Seek The Greater (Eternal)

2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (Colossians 3:2)

So many things are going on in life. There noise and commotion, may it be physical, emotional or spiritual. But my very great and wise mentor said "set your eyes on Jesus". Everyday we're surrounding by the things of this world, from gadgets and toys, to beauty and vanity. And yes, obviously, we're LIVING in THE WORLD, but like i said,

we're living IN the world, not OF the world. We arent a part of the world and we dont indulge in worldy matters, we're only using it as our temporary home.

I really wanted to focus on that verse above,

² Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (Colossians 3:2)

Things on this earth will most definitely seem tempting, and intriguing but let us look further. Christ has so much more in store for us in heaven (John 14:2). More than we can ever imagine, more than gold and silver, better than the latest gadgets, i cant even describe it to you because.. i simply cant.

Keep watch on the eternal things. What will last. Things on earth will not last, they will only fade. Set your eyes on Christ, that is what will forever last.