January is always full of hope, of possibilities. A new year has come, 2014. Many people create resolutions, try to keep them. We make plans, we dream.
I do not really make new year's resolutions. January is not the "new year" for me, but falls on February, on my birthday. Well, that's me.
But HOPE. We all need it. Something to aspire, something to look forward to. A reason to live. A look for that horizon to set sail on.
"Be joyful in hope, faithful in affliction, faithful in prayer" - Romans 12:12
The verse above is one of my favorite verses ever. It teaches us what to do in every moment of our lives. Having hope gives us something to be joyful about. In times of trials, we hold on to our faith, and everytime we should be prayerful.
I do hope for a better 2014 for myself, my family, my relationships. Betterment not just in financial blessings, but good health, a joyful mindset and to traverse through life with unwavering faith amidst the challenges.
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New Year is winter is most part of the world, but in Australia, it's summer :)
It is so different from my home country, the place I was born as it is a tropical country so we had summer all year round. Summer is equated to sweat, so it's not much appreciated, unless you go to the beach. Also, people don't want to get darker complexion so they try to avoid the sun.
But like they say, you only appreciate a thing once you lose it. And last winter, I had bouts of winter gloom and actually missed summer. Now, I do appreciate the sun and its warmth. It makes me feel so alive. Though too much of it is also bad. Some days are really bad when the temperature reaches 38 to 40 degrees Celsius and the air is so dry. I almost can't breathe. That was in late December to early January.
Thankfully, the last few weeks, it has been drizzling so it's neither too hot nor too cold.
This taught me to appreciate the weather and to adjust whatever the weather may be. So in life, appreciation and adjustment are musts.
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January is also the time for Australian Open. I am a frustrated athlete, so instead I became a sports fan. One of the games I love to watch is tennis. I think it's actually the best sport to learn perseverance. Getting one point is tedious, more so winning a set.
Last night, I watched a game and they had 10 deuce! 18 minutes of play just to get a point.
I have a big respect for tennis player because it takes both physical and mental endurance to win a game. And since it is an individual sport, no one can substitute the player. Either he finishes the match or end it prematurely due to injury.
Let us learn from tennis players who battle it out. Even if we lose a set, there is still a chance to win. After all it is a best of three or best of five sets. So we just do our best in life.
God gave us the gifts of perseverance through the Holy Spirit. If we are lacking, we can always pray for this particular gift of the Holy Spirit.
It is another year to persevere, to fulfill our dreams, to be the best we can be!
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