And it’s only January 24th... oh well, nobody is perfect, alright?
January is almost gone and time really flies... (have you noticed the days and the months go by so fast, you can barely make plans, because if you are like me, maybe you plan something but that date passes and maybe you reschedule and when you least expect it, the time to do what you wanted to do has long gone. Or maybe is just me. )

Enough rambling, and more substance please!
Today I wanted to encourage you with one amazing quote from Proverbs that I may have to put into paper and place it everywhere, so I can remind myself that God is in control.

​A lot of times we have no idea who our God is. All in good terms, but seriously, do we really know who our God is and the reach of his power?
To answer that shortly: NO.
And do you know why?
Because we use our own limited knowledge of power and even who we think God is to measure the level of power he may have. Isn't that something?
We rely in our own experience that can’t even fathom unlimited power because we don't have it. We don't understand it. And for sure we can't imagine what that is like.
Our frame of reference is biased because of our shortcomings.

But here’s the answer, and it may be simple but super effective: Reading the Bible.
Reading verse after verse of the amazing things that God has done, miracles and wonders only known to men because of this holy book, can only give you hints of who God is, but at least they are more reliable and truthful, and they fuel your spirit with faith and hope.

This takes me to my verse today, nothing that the enemy plans against me can prosper with God Almighty on my side. I made the conscious effort to highlight that phrase specially for me (and you can do it too).

People can plan, and imagine, and think they can go against God’s plans, but they are only kidding themselves. Pride is our enemy because it let us think that we are invincible, it blurs our understanding and take us further away from the truth.

If you ever felt that everything is against you, that your plans don’t go as planned, and your dreams don’t happen as you imagined them, remember this:
The plan that God has for you cannot be disturbed. His will is immovable, and even when you are weak and without any faith that something good may happen to you, God already knows about your needs; He is ready to fulfill his promises to you in due time.
​Suffering produces perseverance and this lead us to strengthen our character, by which we are enabled to have hope, hope in the immovable things that God has for those who trust in Him.

I have to say, God always amazes me. And this statement might seem kind of cliche when coming from someone who's trying to convey a message regarding God's love and mercy.  It may almost seem like the right thing to say so that others can see how good of a person you are,  just because you have this "love".

I can honestly tell you that my intention is not to be seen as a "good christian who's trying to show the world how put together I am". All the opposite is true in my case. I have always struggled with self-worth and specially if thinking about myself as a "born-again-christian".

You see, people - not God - label us by the way we act or react, the way we dress or speak,  the way we do or don't do.
We forget that we can't and shouldn't be defined by others like us - imperfect people- because just like the bible says: None of us are good.
This includes any person alive or dead whom we have regarded as a role model to follow.  There is no such thing.
We can't follow a human example that is full of failings and problems of their own, because they, themselves need to look up to a higher authority.

Why talk about this now? Well, I'll say it again: God is amazing at finding ways to meet us where we are, to make a way where there isn't a way. For me it's through movies.  Yes, I know,  shocking. Bear with me for just a little while.

God's sole desire is for us to be where He is and his only quest is to make that happen no matter what.
And He has the power and authority to make it happen.  Now the question is: Do we want it? Do we listen to his whispers? Do we surrender our will and pride to him who can give us undescribable grace and love?

I do. I do surrender myself but my flesh (my earthly desires,  my own expectations or other's) makes this really hard to do. But even with all that,  all the baggage and all the failings, God pursue us unrelentingly. And this reminds me of the parable of the lost sheep.
I'm that  one lost sheep he is trying to bring back to his flock. I have tried my own ways and I got lost,  but my Shepherd, my Father,  my Savior is looking for me. How can I turn away from his love?

This  brings me back to my point about the movie. I can't explain how this happens but the only thing I can say is that it's so powerful, it makes me want to praise Him, and to write what I'm writing to you right now. It brings about this conviction of just how much God loves and cares for me.

The movie I just watched was based on Luke 10:30-37, The good Samaritan.  In fact the movie is called: The unlikely good Samaritan.  Even the title is given us a hint that appearances don't work with God.
As you can imagine in the movie, there was this little "perfect church" ( whatever that looks like) and everyone was good at pretending to be good "Christians". No problems,  no addictions,  nothing hidden.
And then, there was the contrasting character who was less than desirable: out of jail, new in town with different skin color.
See where this is going? Well, as you can imagine, the outsider got kicked out of church because "it wasn't the right fit for him". At this point I was even more convicted in my heart about all the times I have felt better than others, and this hurt a lot. This reminded me that God isn't like that with me, otherwise I would have been dismissed long ago.

It reminded me that we are really quick to judge when we can't even account for ourselves as an example of perfection. It reminded me that just like the Samaritan parable, the people who are supposed to be there to help you, are just there, ready to make an assumption and judge you based in whatever standard they have set for you (that can't -a lot of times- be even met by those who are the so-called judges) and the unlikely person, the one that you never regarded as just or deserving, was just the one that helped the forgotten and needy person on the side of the road.

It's a sad truth, that the people that we regard as good and just, are just like any of us, broken and in need, but just deceived about who they really are.
None of us is good. None. Read Romans 3:10-11 and if you want to really dig deep into what that unrighteousness really looks like, I dare you to continue reading until verse 18 here.
God is good all the time and his mercy is forever.

I just ask God for forgiveness, for ever judging anyone whom to my eyes wasn't good. I just want to be really awaken to the reality that every one of us is in need, and every one of us is in need of God's grace through his love and mercy, so that we, in return,  can show it to others.

And another Friday has come and the 3rd journaling free printable is here for you! I am so happy that I can share this with you and help you get inspired and write your thoughts on paper. It's the best feeling ever!
This week's theme is EXPLORE and that is your prompt to find that one thing you've been  meaning to do, to write about, to get inspired by. My words to you: Do it and do it today.

You can read more about my take on exploration in my latest Instagram post here.

And as always if you find these helpful and get to use them in your journal, post a pic and use the hashtag #myjournalingweekly so I can find them and post them in my Instagram stories.

Wishing you a wonderful and adventurous weekend!

love,

Kathya

P.S
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