Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Independence day

July 14 will always have a special meaning for me. Not because it is the independence day of France. Somehow, absurdly, a lot of things had happened to me on this day. Especially the last two years.

So once again, I look back and enjoy this day. I am remembering God's faithfulness and control over my life.

Happy independence day!

Sunday, July 04, 2010

Half over

Where did the past 6 months go? It flew so fast that I do not know anymore what happened. All I remember now is that I couldn't wait for 2009 to be over. And here we are, 2010 half gone.

I finished my thesis, defended, revised and bounded 5 copies of it. I graduated. I been to France twice in two months, visited Amsterdam and Berlin. I struggled with the preparations for an office audit and got through that two difficult days of speaking in a foreign language. It did not end in flying colors but it was well enough considering that we still need to do many improvements. I started learning about financial planning and got certified as an associate financial planner. And now, I am trying to learn how to write better.

A lot has happened. Yet, it feels like my life is at a standstill, waiting for something to happen, yet not knowing what I am waiting for. I know though that God is teaching me to wait for His direction. Not an easy thing to do. For the meantime, I repeat to myself all day what I have learned to be the most important thing I should always do : Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength.

Lion Chaser Manifesto

Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past and start creating the future. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Enjoy the journey. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like today is the first day and last day of your life. Don't let what's wrong with you keep you from worshiping what's right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze new trails. Criticize by creating. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don't try to be who you're not. Be yourself. Laugh at yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away.

Chase the lion.

In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day by Mark Batterson (www.evotional.com)