In the meantime…

It’s been a crazy month, so I’ve been terribly behind on blogging. I really want to blog about my trip, but I need enough time to let the words spill out and settle in such a way that makes some significant sense.

In the meantime…it’s time to announce the winner of my last book giveaway! CONGRATULATIONS LIEE!!! You won a copy of Plan B! And Joan, I have a consolation prize for you, too! ;)

And for everybody else, I want to leave you with this great blog post that I read this week, from writer/blogger Jon Acuff: “One letter that changes everything” –  it’s for anyone who struggles with guilt, mistakes, and shame. Great stuff.

Filed under: RECOMMENDATIONS

What’s one thing you could do today that could significantly affect your tomorrow?

So much to say, so little time. There’s much to say about my trip, but I need to save that for a later post and take this time to share what’s been on my mind.

Coming home was arriving in the midst of typhoon season. I mean that metaphorically AND literally. Typhoon season has arrived here in the Philippines, and I do find myself struggling to make the most of the sunny days while bracing myself and keeping up with the storms. Again, I mean that literally and metaphorically.

So to cope, I make to-do lists. I love making these things. But you know what? Sometimes they don’t help. Sometimes they look overwhelming, and sometimes, the items on the list feel like the endless battering of the typhoon winds. Seriously? I am not superwoman. Not even close. I struggle with being distracted, lethargic, selfish, and impatient, among many other ugly stuff. Yup, I said it.

Unfortunately, there are times when the list just keeps getting longer. We think we’re working on crossing off items on the list, but sometimes, we end up lengthening that list with solutions and fixes and efforts to supposedly limit our problems and struggles. In the end, we’re just adding to chaos.

So what’s there to do?

If you could reduce your list to ONE thing–ONE priority–that could change the course of your storm…what would that one thing be?

Let’s look at this story found in the Bible:

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Does this sound familiar? I always fall into the trap of being like Martha–distracted, worried, and upset. But this week, I was reminded to take my cue from Mary, and take the time to sit at the Lord’s feet and listen. I don’t have all the solutions to my problems but He does. I can’t control every single factor surrounding me, but He can. I don’t have the strength and energy to keep me joyful and productive, but He does. But more than what He can give me, I am nothing without Him, period. I need my Father.

Do you need Him? What does that one thing look like for you? Does it mean you need to turn off that car radio? Does that mean you have to turn off your mobile phone for a while? Does that mean you need to hide your to-do list for the afternoon?

Let’s give it a try. :)

Filed under: SPIRITUAL LIFE, UPDATES

Plan B by Pete Wilson

One of the best books I read while I was on this trip is a book called Plan B. At the end of this post, I will tell you how you can have a chance to get a copy of this book for free (if you reside in Metro Manila)!

Here’s the gist of the book:

I love how God’s timing is always perfect. When I first got this book, I wasn’t in the mood to read it, but when I finally did, I’m glad I got around to it.

Suffering and pain are both inevitable. Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble.” (John 16:33) Sometimes the trials and tribulations seem to turn my world upside down that I don’t know what to do, and I end up sinking into a dark and desolate emotional place. When I find myself in a place that I didn’t expect to be, a place I didn’t want to be, I search, plead, and beg God for answers. And when they don’t immediately come, I get frustrated and depressed. Does this sound familiar? Does this happen to you?

Pete Wilson does a great job capturing the emotions behind the so-called nightmares that we experience through his own stories, and other real-life stories of people who went through their own seasons of great difficulty–the ones they didn’t ask for and they didn’t expect. As I read them, I, too, wondered about the answers, explanations, solutions…

But what if we didn’t need answers? What if there was something better than getting easy answers and quick fixes? Jesus did say we will go through trouble in this world, but we often miss the second part of the verse: “But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

The book goes into what that second part means for us and what it looks like and feels like in our lives. It isn’t one of those books that offers paint-by-numbers solutions to our problems, but it does go straight to the heart of who God is and what He has done and what He continues to do for us. It’s an easy read, and if I were you, I’d keep a highlighter within your reach. For many people, this book is an invitation to hope once again. I highly recommend it, and it’s one that I’ll be reading over and over again.

For more information on the book, go to http://www.planbbook.com. You can also download a sample chapter here.

* * *

I’ve got one copy of the book to give away! To get a chance to snag it, leave a comment below and either:

a) Tell me why you want the book
or
b) Give me a topic that you want me to write about (or a question you want me to answer) on this blog.

On Monday, July 12, I will select one person at random to get the free copy, and I’ll notify the winner through email. It’s really easy! Sorry, but it’s only open to those within Metro Manila. And that’s because…I’ll be back home in the Philippines next week. :) More on that in my next post!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Filed under: BOOK REVIEWS , Books, Thomas Nelson, Booksneeze, Plan B, Pete Wilson

What I’m Loving This Week (June 28 to July 4, 2010)

1) Fishforpeople.net – I can’t remember if I’ve blogged about this before, but I’ve always liked this site, which was recommended to me by @carissescueta. Visited it again today. Really awesome stuff. Here are some of my faves:

But some of his best stuff are the ones made on Flash. Be sure to check these ones out! –> Psalm 147:4, Psalm 74:16, and Isaiah 40:8.

The great news is that you can download almost the entire Fishforpeople collection here. (The uber-talented guy who created the site is generous with usage, too!)

2) Fresh content from these blogs:

• Mark Batterson gave a different perspective on being “Below Average”
• Tyler Stanton‘s “Open Letter to People Without Kids” made me laugh (as his posts tend to do). I especially loved the part about men and pregnant women :-D
• Francis Kong‘s powerful reminder: “You Can Control Your Time”
• LV Hanson blogged on Catalyst Space about leaving, unplugging, and truly living: “6 Weeks Away and Unplugged”
• David Bonifacio wrote yet another great piece: “Grand Symphony”
• Anne Jackson wrote a wonderfully honest entry that really spoke to my heart: “When God Isn’t…”

3) Super Mario Bros Crossover - If you’re an 80′s kid like I am, chances are you’re pretty passionate about the Mario Bros. Thanks to Tyler Stanton for highlighting this site this week. Brings back awesome childhood memories! :)

4) The Crate & Barrel catalog - My cousin’s catalog arrived in the mail today, and my casual browsing turned into wide-eyed wonder. My nephew noticed my joy and without me knowing, he asked his mom if I could keep it and she said yes. Sweet! :) Even better: discovering that you can browse the current and previous catalogues online here. Inspiration is free…and they have a section just for that, too!

5) Formspring.me – Questions get me thinking. Thinking leads to reflecting, which leads to changing, growing, and even writing. Some of the blog posts I’ve written that were most meaningful to me started with a question that was floating around in my head. If you’d like to ask me a question, here’s a fast (and fun) way to do it. You can ask anonymously too, if you wish! –> http://formspring.me/lizetteclaudio

So if you’re looking for sites to surf this week, click on the links above, show these sites some love and let me know what you think!

Filed under: COOL STUFF, RECOMMENDATIONS, RESOURCES , Games, Fishforpeople, Blogs, Bloggers, Mark Batterson, Francis Kong, Tyler Stanton, LV Hanson, Catalyst Space, Anne Jackson, David Bonifacio, Formspring, Crate & Barrel, Super Mario

My simple joys

It’s funny how time and time again we get deceived into thinking that happiness is tied to wealth, success, fame, or power, and yet some of the simplest things in life that we often don’t notice can bring such joy! All throughout this trip, God has romanced me in ways that seem too simple and yet leave such an impact on me. Here are some of my simple joys (some are old and some are new!):

1) SEEING STORIES TOLD IN RANDOM PLACES - Last month, I wrote a post about the wonderful Twitter-like stories that can be found in Central Park. There’s more to be found, if you keep your eyes open!

Love the quote! Found on a bench in Golden Gate Park :)

Can you imagine what it was like when this little boy made this? Such tiny hands!

2) JUMPING – Thanks to a trip that I took a couple of years ago with my relatives, I learned the fine art of jumping for photos. In real life, these moments last for just a second, and yet the memories that come to mind when I see the photos bring a smile to my face every single time. :) Here are some of my favorite jumping pics that were taken during this trip (with a couple of my faves from that trip a couple of years ago!):

3) GOING BACK TO YOUR ROOTS - Have you ever visited a home (or city) that you used to live in? I’ve visited my first home twice, and it’s always nice to come back :)

This was during my 1st trip back: my first playground in Palo Alto is still where it used to be!

4) PLAYING SILLY SIMPLE GAMES - In the Kids Church team that I belong to, I’m known as the go-to person when it comes to games. My fellow teachers rely on me to come up with crazy fun games for the kids (it’s a tough job, but someone’s gotta do it!). Outside of Kids Church though, I don’t have the same amount of props or manpower to work with, but I do have some games in my arsenal that always work wonders when there are kids around. And they’re all free too! The first one is “20 questions“ (but I let them go past 20), the second is what I like to call the “Alphabet Game“, where each player takes turns thinking of something from the given category (we usually use animals, food, or places) that starts with each letter of the alphabet (so the first player gets the letter A, the second gets B, and so on and so forth), and the third isn’t really much of a game, but it’s fun to do. I usually ask a question that starts with the phrase “Would you rather have…”. For instance, “Would you rather have four noses on your face or just one nose but you’ll have to sneeze every 15 seconds for the rest of your life?” It’s HILARIOUS. (I think I’d still rather have one nose, by the way.) The reason I share these is because I’ve had the most wonderful bonding times with my loved ones (kids and adults included) thanks to these games. Apart from the laughs, we get to find out cool stuff about each other–like how some people would rather go to Disneyland than take a trip to the moon!

5) READING A GOOD BOOK - There are so many great books out there, sometimes I wish I could just hand out multiple copies of my favorite ones for free to people. I’ve read around five books during this trip and every time I finish one, I think, “Oooh, I should buy [insert friend or relative here] a copy of this!” If I ran with that thought every single time I would be deep in debt by now. I haven’t tried an e-reader, but I imagine it would be awesome. I would love to be able to have multiple books and a Bible with me all the time without actually having to haul around all the real stuff! But books are wonderful. No list of simple joys of mine will be complete without bringing books up. :) I’ll be doing more book reviews in the coming days and weeks, so stay tuned!

How about you, what are the simple joys that made you smile lately?

Filed under: COOL STUFF, LISTS, RECOMMENDATIONS , Books, Family, Games

BOOK REVIEW: Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence by Sarah Young

I haven’t read a devotional in a while, and I miss having one. One of the reasons why I was able to get into reading the Bible was because of reading devotionals. My first devotional gave me an introduction to God’s heart when my mind couldn’t quite process yet the words I was reading in the Bible. Ultimately, it led me to open up my Bible more and more until it became a habit I now can’t live without. :)

The devotional I’m reading now is called Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence by Sarah Young. This devotional is unique because each entry is written as if Jesus himself was speaking to the reader. I can’t describe the devotional any better than what’s written in the Amazon product page: “After many years of writing in her prayer journal, missionary Sarah Young decided to listen to God with pen in hand, writing down whatever she believed He was saying to her.  It was awkward at first, but gradually her journaling changed from monologue to dialogue.  She knew her writings were not inspired as Scripture is, but journaling helped her grow closer to God.  Others were blessed as she shared her writings, until people all over the world were using her messages.  They are written from Jesus’ point of view, thus the title Jesus Calling.”

God speaks, it’s just that some people don’t recognize His voice. Some think that He speaks like a killjoy of sorts, or someone who preaches haughtily to the world from a high seat of power. My experience of God speaking is completely different. I know Him to be warm, encouraging, passionate (especially if I’m drifting), but always truthful, and always loving. Of course, my ears weren’t always attuned to His voice. A combination of being still, desperate, eager, and expectant, coupled with times soaked in the Bible has helped me over the years to recognize the voice of God. And until this day, my ears still need fine tuning. Just like any relationship, there’s more to learn as time goes by. :)

This devotional is a great way to discover or rediscover what God sounds like, but just know that it can’t replace the Bible–the author says the same thing too. That being said, you can let the words from this devotional sprinkle your soul. To describe it one word, I’d say it’s refreshing. :)

If you’d like to preview the book, you can do so here.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Filed under: BOOK REVIEWS , Books, Booksneeze, Jesus Calling, Sarah Young, Devotionals

My Summer Soundtrack

Most friends who know me well know that I love film soundtracks. Actually, I prefer film scores–those instrumental tracks that tend to tug at your heart strings–but that’s just a random fact that has nothing to do with my post today. :)

I’m currently on the tail end of what I like to call a “faith journey” around the US, and of course, this journey wouldn’t have been complete without a soundtrack to go with it. :) In no particular order, here are the songs from my summer:

1) Get Back Up – tobyMac
2) Inhabit the Praise – Vicky Beeching
3) Skeleton Bones – John Mark McMillan
4) One Thing – Jonny Diaz
5) Listen – Josh Wilson
6) Divine Romance – Phil Wickham
7) Next Thing You Know – Matthew West
8) Thank You – 33 Miles
9) Something Beautiful (Live) – Newsboys
10) Everyone Needs A Little – Kari Jobe
11) Moving Forward – Israel Houghton
12) Endlessly – New Life Worship

Got any recommendations for me? :)

Filed under: LISTS, RECOMMENDATIONS , 33Miles, Israel Houghton, John Mark McMillan, Jonny Diaz, Josh Wilson, Kari Jobe, Matthew West, Music, New Life Worship, Newsboys, Phil Wickham, Soundtracks, Summer, tobyMac, Vicky Beeching

Question of the Day (6.27.10)

If you had more time to spend in your day, what would you do with it?

Filed under: RANDOM THOUGHTS , Question, Time

How He Loves Me

One of my favorite bloggers, Lindsey Nobles, has a series on her blog where she invited other great bloggers to write guest posts reflecting on the song “How He Loves” by John Mark McMillan. On the last post of the series, she invited readers to share their reflections on the song. This one is mine.

I first heard the song when I was hanging out with some friends, several months ago. One of them just started singing it and playing it on the guitar, and everyone just ended up joining in, even if it was the first time some of us heard the song. It was just one of those moments that you can’t quite capture in words. Just like love….words cannot fully describe it.

I was out for a run this afternoon, and I started thinking about love. I wasn’t thinking about romantic love, just love in general. I was thinking about how it feels to love people, and how sometimes, I feel like I have so much love to give that my heart wants to burst. I was thinking about how I love seeing my nephews smile and I was thinking about what else I can do when I’m with them to bring out those smiles more often. I was thinking about how often I can hug them without them getting tired of it and how I can tell them I love them again and again without them thinking that something’s wrong with me. I was thinking about how, even though I’m single, God hasn’t given me a shortage of people to love and how He has surrounded me with loving people. And I was thinking about how grateful I am that God even gave me the capacity and ability to love, and how easily I could mess it up sometimes, as I’ve done so many times before. I was thinking about how the old version of my self would be too selfish, too needy, too insecure, too scared, too analytical, and too cynical to truly love others. I was thinking about how, sometimes, it’s easy to fall back into my old ways. I was thinking about the times that I felt unloved, overlooked or forgotten, and how God pulled me through those bouts and reminded me time and time again that He sees me, hears me, and loves me as if I’m the most precious and special being in the world. I was thinking about how amazing it is that I even find myself in this place–this place of being able to give love instead of holding it hostage, waiting for something in return.  This was not the heart I used to have. My old heart was numb. My old heart was hiding. My old heart was hibernating.

And when I try to think back at how my heart changed, it all goes back to God and His amazing, mind-boggling, unwavering love.

I am only able to love because He first loved me. That’s the beautiful and humbling truth. And I am so thankful, SO THANKFUL, for the times when I had no choice but to surrender into His loving arms and be consumed by His incomprehensible love. That means I’m grateful for the disappointments and heartbreaks, the seasons of loneliness, days of depression, and moments of frustration that opened, softened, and prepared my heart to feel and receive God’s overflowing grace, and ultimately, His abundant and unconditional love.

“And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.” -Ezekiel 36:26 (NLT)

I didn’t see how He was working then, and sometimes I still miss it. But it’s the truth that surrounds me every day. I go through tough times and difficult seasons, but through it all, He cares for my heart as if it was the most precious treasure in the world.

It’s crazy, but that’s how He loves me. And that’s how He loves you. And if you haven’t felt it, tell Him. Ask Him. That’s what I did. And though I can’t say things changed overnight, I am where I am today because He heard me then…and I know He’ll hear you, too.

Filed under: RANDOM THOUGHTS, SPIRITUAL LIFE , God, How He Loves, John Mark McMillan, Lindsey Nobles, Love

What’s your battle cry?

When you feel like the world’s crashing down on you and you feel very afraid and alone, what’s your battle cry?

Here’s one of mine:

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?”
- Psalm 56:3-4

When I’m afraid, I need to know that there’s someone I can run to, someone bigger than me, someone more powerful than me, who loves me and is looking out for me. How about you? Do you have someone to run to? Just so you know, His arms are wide open for you, too.

Filed under: SPIRITUAL LIFE , Bible, God, Help