You are not an accident. Your parents may not have planned you, but God did. He wanted you alive and created you for a purpose. Focusing on yourself will never reveal your purpose. You were made by God and for God, and until you understand that, life will never make sense. Only in God do we discover our origin, our identity, our meaning, our purpose, our significance, and our destiny.
- Dr. Rick Warren, Author of The Purpose Driven Life
Are you confident because you’re beautiful, or are you beautiful because you’re confident?
Take it from a man — we know the difference.
You can be someone who’s 45 and wanting to look 25 to regain confidence. Or an 18 years old who wants to look prettier because you lack confidence.
Or you can be confident enough to walk around and feel beautiful because you know who you are.
Do you want to be Belo-fied?
I’m not downplaying cosmetics and hair spa or whatever those things girls and ladies do for beauty’s sake, but what I know is that there’s no amount of Belo-fication can replace being confident for who you are. Its you who knows your strengths and weaknesses. Rejoice in your strengths and accept your weaknesses. And believe that the Creator did not make a mistake when He designed you as you are right now.
PS: As a married man, I just have to say this. My wife is blessed to look 12 years younger without really exerting much effort. Call me arrogant, but I just think it’s a blessing that I should be thankful for. Having said that, she’s the most confident woman I have ever seen. She knows her weakness and strengths. And she knows her standing in Christ. That, to me, cannot be replaced by any cosmetics.
Change happens. In almost every area of our lives.
A childhood Adventist friend supposedly asked why I had to change. I was a passionate Adventist leader to them, and they were so disappointed that I changed course. My answer was that famous anonymous quote: “If there’s no change, there’d be no butterflies.”
The right question is not why you had to change, but rather, did you change for the better or for the worse?
Ok, now wasn’t that an eye opener? I mean, we know this, but we’re just sucked up inside this holiday tradition.
- we spend way too much in seasons of Christmas
- we buy people stuff that WE like but THEY don’t need.
- we feel guilty for not buying people presents
- we even feel annoyed for receiving gifts with lesser value than the gifts you gave!
Commercialism on Christmas season simply sucks. I mean, really sucks. We lost it. This is not supposed to be. Giving generously is fine. But obliged, guilt-driven, price-tag focused giving is not. Sadly, this is Christmas now a days.
So, friends, it’s ok if you’re not giving us gifts this Christmas, you don’t have to feel guilty about it. We, however, sincerely thank those who gave and sure appreciates whatever you gave. We’re giving away simple gifts this Christmas to some friends — but will not to others. That doesn’t mean we don’t love you, we simply want to save and wouldn’t want to spend a lot this Christmas.
The best way to celebrate this season is to be with the family, worshiping Jesus for who he is — a God who decided to be a man on Christmas morning in his love for us all.
Arnold Gamboa. Jesus' follower. Joyce' lover. Johann's and Arwen's playmate. Team Sparrow leader. LifeChurch Makati's servant. Know more about this blog here.
