A blessed Christmas everyone!

For the elderly :)

Tomorrow will be our Christmas party for the elderly at the Home for the Aged. We are so blessed that many  responded  for this project. Here are few of the items (personal hygiene)  that we will be giving them.

I am particularly happy how our scholars/youth worked very hard for this. This is their very first "pay it forward" project and they chose the abandoned elderly as recipients. I pray that they will learn to  love to do this and that compassion will flow from their heart even when they aren't with us anymore.

Pray for the Philippines

As we are challenged once again by this typhoon with International Name Hagupit and locally named here Ruby. Heading towards Visayas region but is so wide it could affect some areas in Mindanao and Luzon areas. It has strong winds too, initially it was "super typhoon" but just this afternoon it was downgraded to typhoon but just the same a typhoon is a typhoon. So we should all prepare for it and be ready just in case.

Charge your mobile phone batteries, get candles or torch in case electricity is cut off and of course stock on food. I myself experienced that "no food during typhoon" and it's quite hard.   Don't forget to secure your pets too, check EntirelyPets blog and find some tips there and cute videos too :)

Most of all, please do not forget t pray. Prayer is the most powerful weapon we can have.

Be safe everyone!

Be strong and courageous!

Going through my facebook feeds this morning, I saw a lot are in need of prayers and encouragement, there is this lady who just got married this year and is pregnant, lost her husband to cancer two weeks ago and yesterday she found out there is a problem with her baby and that she has to undergo operation once she's out and that she may not wait for full term and might have an emergency CS.

I think it's too much for a newlywed, new wife and new mom. But who are we to question's God' plan. I know that GOD is good and will always be good even if our situations are bad.

image source : http://wildeyessigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Joshua-1-9-be-strong-and-courageous-allura-garrmond.jpg

I posted this verse on her wall, praying that she will be encouraged somehow, praying she'll be more stronger  to face another bout of trial.

I am praying also that whoever is reading and needs prayer and encouragement  will also be  encourage by this verse. Please know that God is not leaving your side. All through your trials and testing..He is right there beside you and I  know He will help you go through it. Blessings everyone!

Sharing the love with the elderly

This year, beside the usual Christmas party for kids, we will have another one for the abandoned elderly at the Home for the Aged. 

Our scholars from Fishnets Ministry are heading this event. I asked them to learn to "pay it forward" as they are all recipients of somebody's good deed and they decided to share and make our Lolo and Lola at the home for the aged facility extra happy this Christmas.

I'm excited. We all are actually. This would be their first time, my second. There will be games and they will also have some presentations. I'm sure it's gonna be fun.

Truth be told, we really do not have budget for this, we don't want to ask from Fishnets as the support is just enough for the scholars lately, we couldn't ask from the church also because the need as of now is also huge. 

But that will not hinder us of course. If God has put this in our hearts, He will surely provide for everything that we will be needing for this party. We started soliciting from friends and from individuals and some have responded positively. 

We wanted to give them (the oldies) hygiene kits, as I have seen for my self how they are deprived of these basic necessities, so we are asking friends for bath soaps, toothbrush, toothpaste and the like. I found a kent folding comb also which would be a nice gift for them but that is not priority this time.

We will also serve lunch and I am praying a nice decent lunch is what we can give them. We were informed that there are 89 women and 60 man on that facility. I am not a bit worried of that big number. I know God will send help :)

If you live here in Manila and you want to help, volunteer and go with us, just message me here. You are most welcome.

You shall rise up before the grayheaded and honor the aged, and you shall revere your God; I am the LORD. - Leviticus 19:32

Christmas Party for the elderly

Fear Not

2 weeks ago, I was depressed, disappointed and sad. I was crying incessantly in the office. I wanted to leave everything and be somewhere else where no one can reach me. There were incidents in the office that for the longest time I have trained my self to ignore and just let it be but worst came when I was absent two consecutive days, first day was because am not feeling well, the second I attended the launching of The Fellowship International. 

That day, my boss called our HR personnel and he checked on all my absences and my tardiness which resulted to cancellation of my flexi time. In fairness to our HR department, they said I am seldom absent and the only problem is my coming late but also compensated because I extend time also whenever I came late. 

That gave me the feeling that I am a bad employee. Made me think of all the services I rendered to my boss, sometimes I go way beyond the call of my duties and responsibilities (even beyond office or sleeping hours) sometimes I do work for him that is too personal and I do all that without complaining-and people around me can attest to that-11 years as his assistant-that speaks a lot right? on the other hand there is this girl who also works for my boss- as much as I don't want to compare and see that she's more favored  but I did that time. I was thinking it was REALLY UNFAIR. I know that doesn't sound right coming from me and I regret it  but honestly speaking, that was what I felt that time.

The following Sunday-at the church, God spoke to me through the message of our speaker. I was encouraged and comforted. God made me realized that I don't have to mope because Jesus is interceding for me (Romans 8:34)  which made me realized even more that things may seem unfavorably on my part now but I don't have to feel bad because HE is fighting for me.

And then, that verse above popped up also sometime last week. God is really good. He sends help whenever we need it. In His perfect timing. Today, I was beginning to feel that "unfair " thing again because well, the flexi time ends today :) but here am I writing about this and reminding my self over and over again.."take heart Raquel..Jesus himself is interceding for you and that He loves you so very much :)"

  

Whatever life (or my boss) throws me- I know I have someone to defend me and He is mighty!

How to Read the Bible and Enjoy It

By M. Hyatt

 

I remember the first time I tried to read the Bible for myself. I found my grandfather’s copy on a shelf in his living room. I was nine years old.

I sat down on the floor, cross-legged, with the Bible on my lap. I opened it slowly … reverently … and began to read.

• I was fascinated by God’s creation of the heavens, earth, and man in Genesis 1–2.
• I was swept into the drama of man’s temptation and fall in Genesis 3.
• I was saddened by Cain’s murder of Abel in Genesis 4.

I felt like I had discovered a lost book—the key to the universe! I was captivated.

Then I hit the “begats” in Genesis 5.

Oh boy.

My eyes glazed over.

I closed the Bible, stood up, and slipped it back on the shelf. I didn’t pick it up again for another ten years.

So many people have told me they’ve had similar experiences. They know they should read the Bible; they just don’t know how to begin.

Even if you are not a Christian—or don’t consider yourself a spiritually-inclined person—the Bible is worth reading. Without question, it has had a greater impact on Western civilization than any other book published.

You can’t understand great literature, common metaphors, or cultural allusions without a basic knowledge of these ancient texts. (I use the plural because the Bible is actually a collection of books.)

But how do you start? The Bible is, after all, a big book! I have read it through several times. In fact, my goal is to read it through every year, though it some times takes a little longer.

This has served me well in so many ways. I find myself referring to the stories and sayings again and again. The best part is they have become the foundation and raw material for everything I do.

In this post, I thought I’d share how I read the bible. It’s not the only way to do it, of course. But I thought this might be helpful to you if you want to read it all the way through and partake of its treasures on a regular basis.

1. Read at a set time each day. As I learned a long time ago, what gets scheduled gets done. I read the Bible first thing each morning, so I don’t get side-tracked by something else.
2. Distinguish between reading and study. When I am reading, I don’t try to do word studies, read commentaries, or chase cross-references. While this can be valuable, I consider it Bible study—something I reserve for other times. The goal for my reading is breadth not depth.
3. Use a balanced, Bible reading plan. This is key. I read from four passages each day: Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs. This way, if I hit a dry patch in one section, I can usually get something out of another. Innumerable plans are available. This year I am using the One Year Bible.
4. Read in an easy-to-understand translation. Some may disagree, but a paraphrase is fine for Bible reading (not study). The key is to use a translation that helps you to understand what you are reading. I usually read in a different translation each year, just so the text doesn’t become so familiar I stop paying attention.
5. Highlight or underline as you read. Maybe the thought of marking in a Bible scandalizes you. I hope not. It helps me focus my attention and get back to those passages that I find particularly meaningful. I read on a Kindle, so I also have access to those highlights in the cloud and in Evernote.
6. Identify at least one key take away. Personally, my goal in Bible reading is not merely to increase my knowledge; I want to change my life (see James 1: 22–25). This begins by paying attention to what I am reading and marking those passages that seem particularly relevant to my current circumstances. When I am finished reading, I go back over my highlights and pick one to record in my journal, along with my response to it.
7. Don’t beat yourself up if you miss a day. This is difficult for me. I am a recovering achiever and a perfectionist. But it is essential if you are going to make progress. The truth is you are going to miss some days. It’s okay. It’s not the end of the world. It doesn’t mean you’re a failure. Just pick up the next day and keep moving.

The key, I think, is to keep the process simple. Don’t make it more complicated than it needs to be. Don’t get hung up on what you don’t understand.

Like Mark Twain once said, “It ain’t the parts of the Bible that I can’t understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand.”

The Fellowship International-Philippines

God has given us another opportunity to serve Him through worship leading at the launching of "The Fellowship International-Philippines" last October 24. It was indeed a blessing :) Nearly 500 Pastors and Leaders from all over the Philippines came to the launching. It was nice to be part of this network. Pastor Don Leavell who heads the Fellowship International  was here together with his wife Marva and some more members from America.

Dr. Paul Ang from Malaysia was also one of the speakers. It was a conference focus on Jesus. We as Christians (followers of Christ) should make Jesus the center of our lives,our  ministries and of our church. 

Musician's wife

I am. And I am grateful that my husband keeps on making music for the Lord. Sometimes he gets tired and weary but who doesn't right? What matters most is that he knows his purpose and that he is using his skills and talents for that very purpose. WORSHIP of the ALMIGHTY GOD.

Here's his recent photos from a ministry in Laguna. It was 24 hour praise and worship and intercession and he was there standing, kneeling and leading worship for almost three hours straight.

With his new white guitar

 Sometimes I wonder where he gets that kind of energy because you see we're not that young anymore plus the fact that he also has his day job that is equally stressfull but when it comes to his ministry, he gives his all.
And I am so blessed by how he serve our God and His people. He has indeed that servant heart and I am so grateful I married him :)

The only thing that, well, makes as argue sometimes is that he is always on the look out for new musical gadgets and instruments, he just bought 2 second hand guitars last month and just this morning he was saying again about his favorite music store that is on sale.

He regularly vsist this website http://www.musiciansfriend.com and many more online music store but we have an outstanding agreement. he cannot just buy without informing me and us making a good discussion about it.

This Saturday, they will again participate in Rocktoberpraise. Last night, they played in another church and recorded one song again for the album, he came home at 3 in the morning. On Oct 24, he is leading worship in a big gathering of Pastors and church leaders in Makati.

As the musician's wife, my role is to intercede for him not only when he is in the ministry but on day to day basis. Yes, I am a musician's wife and I love it.

True and Proper Worship

Search me, O God, and know my heart!

Relationships take time. And as time passes, we can decide whether we want to go to the next level with a person and eventually open up to them. This doesn’t have to be a boyfriend or girlfriend thing; this can apply to many relationships.

Hopefully, we all have someone we can tell our deepest and darkest secrets to; someone we know can keep our confidence. Friends like these know when there is something wrong with us, even when others don’t. They have been our friends for so long they can sense our mood without even talking to us. With an acquaintance, it’s different. We might tell them a little about our life, but we usually let them know all of the good stuff; we almost wear a mask for them.

Ironically, we sometimes try to wear this mask for Jesus. When we pray, we might ask him to forgive us of our little sins and ask for good things to happen to us, but we never ask him to search us. We don’t tell him to look deep down in our heart and see if there is anything within us that needs changing. We hesitate to open up in this way because it’s uncomfortable. When the Holy Spirit searches us and convicts us of sin, we rationalize it away. Or, we have been living our life with a particular sin for so long, that it just becomes a part of us and we are calloused. We forget that Jesus already knows what is in our hearts (John 2:23).

Jesus is waiting for us to invite him into our hearts and cleanse us of our grievous ways. We can’t hide our sins from Jesus; only keep them from the healing power of His presence. And by holding our sin so tightly, we do nothing but embrace our own death, while pushing away the author of life. We should daily pray as the Psalmist does, and ask God to search our hearts. We should open ourselves up to the real healing that only God can give.

Have you let Jesus look into your heart lately?

source: shortdailydevotions.com

66 Books of the Bible

image source :store.flpublishers.net

Last Saturday at the Leadesrhip training, we were asked to write down all the 66 books in the Bible in chronological order, It was not surprising to know that some may know the books but not in their order  :) A very good reminder that we as teachers, disciplers should know this by heart. My husband struggles in memorizing (sometimes I do also, probably it comes with aging) but praise God, we were able to write it all down.

Tip to easy memorization:  

Memorize it by group like the picture above, and if you still struggle with that you can do acronyms,
example; for the History Books; GELNuD
G- enesis
E-xodus
L-eviticus
Nu-mbers
D -eutoronomy

...and of course by reading your bible regularly you will eventually memorize it.

 ^"Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful." - Joshua 1:8 (NIV)

God bless everyone!

This man...I heart so much!

This should have been posted days ago but there was no internet available for days in our office :( sad that this might be too late already but anyway..here it is still

Copying my birthday greetings on his facebook page:

Happy happy birthday mahal!!!! i love you so much can't imagine my life without you. Thank you for everything that you do for me, for putting my needs first before yours.I know you could have bought that guitar for your self but you chose to buy me my very first smart phone instead. No words can ever express how blessed I am because of you. I will always be proud of what you have become- from basurero to musikero ng Lord. love you!

~*~

I had no special gift to him but at I surprised him together with some of our church mate a nice breakfast :) and we had  a nice sushi dinner. If I have the money, I could have bought him the guitar he wants and maybe a ring (not military ring) but one that will always remind him of me :)

I praise God for his life and I am thankful HE has chosen for me a husband that loves the Lord so much.

Fishnets Scholars

Hubby's guitars

This was his very first guitar.

and this is very special to him because it was given to him as a gift. If I am not mistaken this was given to him way back 2005 by a Canadian missionary. We still use this in the church today.

That was his second one.

We bought this last 2009. We actually had a bit of discussion about this recently because last month he mentioned that he is selling this and I did not agree with him, he said he is buying one that is compatible to his gadget and Ipad. Well, my only reason is the sentimental value but apparently he won as this was already sold and we are only waiting for the full payment. That is why I said "was".

I just have to submit (as that is what we are asked to do right?) but of course he has to hear my opinions too :) I'm sure he already Read Full Review of the one he is gonna buy so he won't regret it someday. I saw him trying it one time in the music store and I think he really really like it.

I'll post the picture as soon as he is able to buy it. I hope soon.

JHOW's musicians

Our church is so blessed to have such musicians/singers who take time to kneel down in prayer, who seek the Lord and soak in His presence because really without the filling of the Holy Spirit,there is nothing to give, we cannot lead. We recognize that we are there not to perform but to lead the people in worship.

photos from Saturday soaking

Last Saturday, during our regular soaking, there was a word from the Lord for them, I cannot remember the exact words but I will not forget these : Kingdom instruments and Kingdom songs.They are are making music with their instruments for God's kingdom :)

We read from  the Old Testament how the Levites are consecrated to make music in the temple and how they are spared from duties and taxes but instead were paid for so they can focus,concentrate on their tasks. I hope and pray we can do something like that for our musicians too. Praying that someday soon, our church will be able to give them at least love  gift regularly, not that they are expecting though. These people I know from my heart are serving and will serve wholeheartedly even without that.

Still, It's my personal wish to bless them someday. I'm sure their heart will leap for joy if I tell them they can get one for themselves at this music store :)For the meantime, let us bless them with our prayers.

Prayer of Jabez

Halleluiah Worship 2

It's a 12 hour worship happening on August 23,2014. Our church and our worship team is participating. We are excited to worship with other churches :)

If you're around and you are free please do come. Free admission.

Seek His Will (Proverbs 3:6)

I think I need to put an emphasis to "IN ALL YOU DO" here because oftentimes I do the "seek His will" thing only when it comes to BIG DECISION making in my life or when a MAJOR problem arises which is definitely wrong.

Proverbs 3: 6 says -Seek His will in all you do...other versions says " In all your ways,acknowledge Him"

I pray I will learn to seek His will everyday and every moment of my life. That is very important.

And  I know I won't be disappointed if I do.

Help me Lord to seek your face and your will everyday.

Christmas soon!

I know.. it's still five more months to go but with the time flying so fast these days, I'm sure it will come sooner than we expected. And here in the Philippines where Christmas season stars as early as September, it won't be long and I will be hearing Christmas songs again.

And why am I writing about Christmas in the middle of July? It’s because I want to look forward to happy things and expect great things eh. A typhoon has just passed our country and things look gloomy right now so yeah writing about Christmas somehow puts a smile in my heart.

In fact, I am not only writing about Christmas but I am also currently looking at these cute snowbabies ornaments and thinking that probably this year I can get myself a Christmas tree so I can hang my old ornaments and buy new ones :)

isn't this cute?

Christmas is a happy time, happy season and I'm hoping ti will be Christmas soon!

Turning Rejection Into Direction

image source :http://www.writersonthemove.com/2012/07/rejection-letters-how-to-keep-them-from.html

Written by Harold Herring 

10.  The seed for every financial breakthrough begins in your mind.

  9.  Success is not an accident.  It happens when prior proper planning and prayer meet opportunity.

  8.  The only way to escape what you’re going through is by praising God for what He’s already done in your life.

  7.  Fear cannot thrive…where faith is alive.

  6.  Praying for you to be intelligent and discerning in every decision you make…focused and clear in His direction for the day.

  5. Stop creating excuses…instead create the changes you need to turn your life around

  4. Don’t be moved by your circumstances…or the appearance of lack…only be moved by thus says the Word of the Lord.

  3. The comfort zone of giving what you’ve always given will cause you to miss your opportunity for a mega harvest.

  2.  When you learn to turn rejection into direction…you’re on the road to success.

  1.  Never complain about a lack of time when the problem may be a lack of focus.

Psalm 46:10

Psalm 46:10King James Version (KJV)

¹⁰ Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

HOPE and WAIT for GREAT THINGS

image source : http://www.bibleexplained.com/other-early/1&2-Kings/Elijah-cloud-cmg.jpg

⁴³ “Go and look toward the sea,” he told his servant. And he went up and looked.
“There is nothing there,” he said. Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.”

⁴⁴ The seventh time the servant reported, “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.” So Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’”

⁴⁵ Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain started falling and Ahab rode off to Jezreel.

I KINGS 18:43-45 (NIV) 
 ~*~
You know this story? Elijah was praying for rain at that time, he told his servant to look toward the sea but his servant saw nothing. He then told him once again to go and look but then the servant saw nothing again and again and again until the seventh time when he saw a cloud as small as a man's hand. Elijah knew it will rain. 

He prayed and so he hoped and he waited.
Oftentimes, we do pray, we do hope but it is in the waiting that most of us falter. If I was Elijah's servant, I would have probably complained and grumbled many times going back and forth to look up and see nothing at all.

That's me most of the time. I am one impatient person and waiting makes me agitate which is not right. I pray I can have Elijah’s faith-even just a tenth part of it. 

I feel like I have been waiting forever-waiting for the rain. And as of now I still don’t see even a small cloud rising up above the sea. 

But I have to keep my hopes high and wait some more, remembering that Elijah had to asked his servant seven times. And I have to wait patiently like they did, for in my heart I know it will rain, rain of blessings and abundance and answered prayers.


Praying that I will have my small cloud soon.

Top 10 - Winning By Not Quitting

Written by Harold Herring

10. Your destiny is determined by choice…not chance.

 9. God sees greater potential in us than we see in ourselves.

8. Whoever you’re talking to must be important as you’re trading part of your life for that conversation.

7. Winners are simply people who may have lost or failed but didn’t quit.

6. Who you are in Christ always overrides who people say you are.

 5. Purpose in your heart to do something today about your future. If you don’t…nobody else will.

4. Poverty steals more than your money…it robs you of your dreams, your future, your hope and your ability to bless those you love.

3. Obedience always brings rewards.

2. Be on time today…to your job…every appointment. Being late is a sign of disrespect. God is on time and we should be too.

1. If something’s not producing the results you desire. STOP IT…then ask God what you should be doing differently.

Blessed by God, Blessing others?

Galatians 6:9 – In Due Season

But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:20-21 ESV)

We very seldom view accumulating stuff as a barrier to serving others. Common sense would seem to say that if you possess more stuff then you have more with which to serve others. Jesus appeared to see this from a different perspective. In Luke 12 Jesus tells a parable of a rich man whose land is especially productive and has much more than he needs. The rich man comes to a simple conclusion that he will store up the blessings of God (Luke 12:18-19).

Jesus proceeds to tell His disciples (which hopefully includes you and me) that our lives should follow a radically different path rooted in living out His kingdom in the hear and now. Here’s Jesus’ radical conclusion of how that should look:

Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Luke 12:33-34 ESV)

As followers of Jesus, a big part of our mission (our reason for existing on this earth) is to be a glimpse of Jesus’ coming kingdom. Think of our life’s misson as being an appetizer for the amazing banquet that is to come (check out this parable too Luke 14:12-24). Jesus seems to repeatedly say that our desire to hold on to the stuff of this world creates a big barrier to us living out this mission…

Here’s a few thoughts on why:

The more stuff we have, the more we want more stuff. Consumerism is addictive. Our natural tendency is to pursue the bigger, nicer, better, fancier ____________.

The more stuff we have, the more we want to hold on to our stuff. Somehow our stuff easily becomes the source of our security and satisfaction. Our hearts have the capacity to turn almost anything into an idol.

The more stuff we have, the more our stuff becomes the desire of our hearts. We often think that wherever our heart is that our treasure (money & resources) will follow. Jesus says it’s the other way around (Luke 12:34).

The more stuff we have, the more of our time and energy it requires. Just check out our calendars. A lot of time is spent keeping up our nice stuff rather than sacrificially serving others.

The more stuff we have, the more it insulates us from the needs of others. Everyone (both wealthy and poor) has needs, but all too often pursuing bigger better stuff removes us from intersecting with those in need.

Does God choose to bless some with larger houses, nicer cars, and more resources? Certainly. Does God lead some Jesus-followers to reach out to the wealthy with the good news of Jesus? Of course… BUT here’s the big bottom line: If God blesses us with a lot of stuff , it’s so we can be a blessing to others and become a glimpse of His kingdom in the midst of a messed up world.

How is God leading you to use your resources to bless others in need around you?

source : shortdailydevotions.com

JHOW is 2!

2 years of God's goodness, mercy and faithfulness :) We are having a celebration on June 12..you are all invited!

When things go wrong

I got this on my email yesterday. I hope we can all learn from it too...

5 Things To Do When Life Is Going Wrong

by: LaRae Quy

My first job out of college was in a fancy department store where I was quickly promoted to Buyer—but then my career stalled. For years I languished in the same dead-end job and soon my confidence ebbed away until I could no longer see a way out of my rut.

I had originally thought being a fashion buyer would be glamorous, but it didn’t take long to realize the position was nothing but a dog’s breakfast of whatever junk Headquarters didn’t want on their plate. I was a glorified clerk with a paycheck that ranked alongside those in poverty. I hated my circumstances so much that I contemplated suicide. Even that seemed a loser’s way out—the walls of my life had crumbled and I was left with the ruins.

 

When life gets really tough, my go-to book is the Old Testament text of the Bible.

These folks understood hardship! There I found a compelling story of a Jewish man named Nehemiah who was cup-bearer to the King of Persia almost five hundred years before the birth of Christ.  After learning that the walls of Jerusalem had broken down, Nehemiah asked for permission to return and rebuild them. So the King sent Nehemiah back as governor to complete this mission. As I read these verses, I realized and Nehemiah was an expert on rebuilding. He was also an expert in mental toughness.

 

Here are 5 things I learned from Nehemiah about what to do when things go wrong: 

1. GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION TO SHED A FEW TEARS

The first thing Nehemiah did when the desolation of Jerusalem came to his attention was to grieve. He “weeps and prays for days” showing his intense concern.

Do you have a problem worthy of your attention and energy? Pay close attention to where your heart is broken so you can start doing something positive and constructive to change it.

You will never rebuild the walls of your life until you give yourself permission to properly grieve for what you have lost.  

Remember that there are two kinds of pain: pain that hurts and pain that changes you. 

When you roll with life, instead of resisting it, both kinds help you grow.

2. TAKE A LONG, HARD LOOK AT THE MESS YOU’RE STANDING IN

Nehemiah took a long, hard look at the rubble that surrounded him. You will never build the walls of your life until you have first truly noticed the ruins. Have you ever taken a good look at what has gone wrong in your own situation? 

If you are mentally tough, you can look at the ruins and see where to pick up the pieces and move on. Once you do, you will see not only the devastation but the possibilities as well. 

This could mean spending time in solitude, but solitude makes great things possible because it gives you the space you need to focus on your potential. 

If things are good right now, enjoy it; it won’t last forever.  If things are bad, don’t worry; it won’t last forever either. 

3. THAT FIRST STEP CAN BE A KILLER

When Nehemiah comes back to Jerusalem he doesn’t rush out and get everyone excited about the new project. Instead, he rose at night when no one else was around and surveyed the ruins. 

He made an accurate assessment of the situation and then began to make plans for a comeback. He spent time preparing both his head and heart. You need to do the same:

• Be cautious and start slow
• Take an honest survey of the situation
• Take note on what needs to be done.
• Develop a strategy before you start.

4. STOP COVERING WOUNDS WITH BANDAIDS AND START HEALING INSTEAD

As a child, I loved to show my scars to whomever was interested in learning about my exploits. I was proud of them because the adventure that produced the wound had usually been fun and always fulfilling.

Scars are not injuries; they are wounds that have healed.

Even as a kid I knew that scabs need to be left uncovered so they could get better. Keeping them hidden underneath a bandaid was only a temporary fix.

At some point, we become ashamed of scars and wounds because they represent hurts and failures that overshadow the thrill of pushing our boundaries and taking a risk. Nehemiah was confronted with hostility and assaults as he began rebuilding, but he wore his scars like the tattoo of a warrior who has been inside the ring and lived to tell the tale.

Be proud of your scars because you emerged even stronger than you were before. They indicate you have experienced pain, conquered it, learned a lesson, and moved on when things went wrong.

5. GET VERY CLEAR ON WHAT YOU REALLY WANT

Nehemiah had a clear plan; it only took fifty-two days to rebuild the walls surrounding Jerusalem!

When things go wrong it is merely an opportunity to test your determination on how much you want something. It doesn’t take a lot of mental toughness to pursue the easy stuff that falls your way, but if you really want something, despite failure and rejection, chances are good your heart is in it as well.

This is a fact of life: struggles are not found along life’s path; they are life’s path. The sooner you come to peace with this, the better. Once you find that path, however, there is no better feeling in the world than following the journey of your heart.

Do not be afraid to get back up when things go wrong—keep trying, and eventually you will find a path that leads toward your goals. It may not be the path you originally envisioned, but it will take you where you need to go.

What does it mean to rebuild the walls of your life? What’s something positive you try to keep in mind when everything seems to be going wrong?