done coloring

After a long break from my digital coloring hobby, I finally decided to get back to it. I feel like I've been neglecting it for far too long.

So, here goes my finished drawing. I'm glad I've finally finished coloring it.

Medium: Easy paint tool SAI, wacom pen and touch

Samgyeopsal

I'm not a pork lover. In fact when I was young I really didn't eat it.
So I'm a bit picky when it comes to pork. I only eat small cuts, and fried pork- or something that is well done.

So the first time I was invited to eat samgyeopsal in a Korean place, I was hesitant because it has pork. But when I tasted it,  surprisingly it tastes so good. Maybe because, the pork is wrapped with lettuce or because it is grilled.

Now it has become a favorite dish. Thinking of it even makes my mouth water.

Rice, ssamjang and other condiments.

Asking for signs?

In truth, I am a little skeptical about asking signs from God. It's not because I doubt His power, but more on me doubting myself. I keep on thinking, "what if the sign comes up, would that really be 'the sign' or me merely insisting that it is?" I'm not even sure if God really answers this kind of thing. Until I've read this verse:

Judges 6:17-18
Today's New International Version (TNIV)

17 Gideon replied, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me. 18 Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you.”

And the Lord said, “I will wait until you return.”

It's like Whoa! Hang on a minute, so really, when we ask him some signs He really does give it according to His will. 

************************************

 I realized: You have to be specific.

Maybe one reason why we doubt signs or insist just on anything is because we lack details. I'm guilty of this, sometimes I think, "would God really do that detailed thing I'm asking for, maybe He has more important thing to do... so ok, just this simple (whatever) would do."  

But men, that is all wrong. We have to be specific in what sign we want, so when it happen or not, we would not doubt. Take this example:

Judges 6:36-40

36 Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised— 37 look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.” 38 And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew—a bowlful of water.

39 Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece, but this time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew.” 40 That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew.

Don't you think Gideon is a bit demanding? Asking not one, but two signs to be sure. But more than that, he is also very specific in what he sign he's asking. I also think that what Gideon asks is very illogical, or impossible to happen, yet, that was what he asks. And God, in His power did it for him.

Now I know that asking signs is not really a bad thing. And yes, God answers it if it's in His will. There is no illogical or impossible for Him.

God sees our weakness but looks at our strength

Judges 6:14-16
Today's New International Version (TNIV)

14 The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”

15 “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”

16 The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together.”

As I was reading the chapter about Gideon, I realized this:
               If God wants to use us as His instrument He would.  He knows our weakness but He also knows our strength. Even if we look at ourselves as insignificant and weak, God will look at our strength instead.
                And the best part - He promised to be with us. It will not just be our strength alone, but His strength too.

Credit: Image from here.

Feeling Blue

Happy, they say
is the feeling I should have each day
But today just isn't so
Because of the things that make me feel so low.

Happy songs are out of my mind
Loneliness is all I can find
I hum by myself the sad melody
as the silent tears share its harmony.

But I know that this will end
Surely, there's help that heaven will send
So I'll push the gloomy thoughts aside
And pray that I might have the strength inside.

Now I know just what to do
For me to stop feeling so blue
To help lighten up my day
I would keep a smile and a prayer.

My theme song today

Today I was so jaded and frustrated, with all the things I wanted to do and to be, and then suddenly, this song just came out of my mouth. Inspirational songs really come in handy.

Now I also remember what I've read before, we can have all that we want, but not all at once. Right. We have to learn how to do it - one step at a time.

My first post in 2013 on this special day

As this is a very special day to me, I wouldn't let it go without marking it on my blog.

 

I just thank God that He continue to bless me with my life for a quarter of a century now, continue to guide me and help me get through my troubles, and best, continue to be by my side. And so, I'll share one of my personal favorite verses:

Why I like this verse:

This is really a wake up call whenever I feel so weak or afraid about the circumstances in my life. Let me tell you what I think about this verse:

 Like the lion, the king of the jungle that fears nothing, God is commanding us to be strong and courageous.

In this verse, two of the main weaknesses of human beings were also mentioned: being afraid and being discouraged. When we become afraid, we become paralyzed, we can't think straight, and often, we cower in the face of adversity. When we become discouraged, our hope dies and when it dies, we lose the will to continue.

Feeling these two negative emotions are normal, but we don't need to get stuck on that, because thankfully, God has a promise for us.

The question is not "how" can we be strong and courageous and how can we stop the fear and discouragement, buy "why"?

Why can we do it? It's because He said: "... the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

The point is we are not going alone! God promises to be there with us. There is no need to feel afraid or discouraged, because we know that we have something with us far more powerful than our fears and dismays- it's God.  

For us to be able to overcome the obstacles and challenges in our lives and succeed, we have to have faith in Him, and like soldiers obeying their commander's command, we have to be strong and courageous. 

Credits:
Photo from here.
Second photo from here.