#jamplops

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Bangui Windmills

December 2014

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Kids these days.

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Hello little cowboy! :3

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Two Thousand and Twenty-three years.

Here's a blog post to celebrate my 23rd Birthday! Yes, sorry to disappoint, but I am not 19! hehehe Aside from the usual "Thank You" birthday posts, I'd like to share something different today. I hope that this post will encourage you.

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Jamila Maria, that's my name. I love it! Jamila means "beautiful" in Arabic.

When I was young[er] I always knew beauty as a physical characteristic, the outward appearance. And at times...well most of the time, growing up, I didn't feel like someone who is "Jamila." I felt fat, insecure, and insignificant. 

Then, things started to change in 2004. Someone told me about Jesus, and gave me an opportunity to acknowledge Him as my Lord and Savior. I knew that He is the Savior of the world. But never as my Savior, and my Lord. That was the first time I said YES! to God and to the life He has in store for me.

Years passed...and as I knew more about Jesus, what He has done for me, how He sees me—I learned to love myself. I found my security in Him. I felt beautiful, not just physically, but also deep in my soul. 

3 Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— 4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.

1 Peter 3: 3-4

But it didn't end there! It was just recently, while my Nanay and I were randomly researching for names and their meanings, that I discovered something about my name that brought me to tears.

For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 

1 Thessalonians 4:7

I can live a life that is pure, because I was meant for this!

Whoever told you that being holy and pure is hard?! You're meant for it! It was the way God designed you to be! Hold on to Him, let Him be the one to lead you.

Tapos ito pa! I realized that before I even had the slightest idea of "God," I was already named Jamila right? BOOM! I was reminded that despite being dirty and filthy, despite my shortcomings and my sins. Even despite the many times that I attempted to run away from Him. He called me. From the very very start He knew me. He already planned to make me beautiful and pure.

In fact more than 2,000 years ago He already made a way so that I...WE [yes, including you] can be made pure and blameless. He gave His Son Jesus Christ as a sacrifice for our sins.

God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin.

1 Corinthians 1:30

Amazing right? It is only through Jesus that we are made pure. It is through Him that I can live my name, Jamila — beautiful and pure. So let me take this time, to give all the glory, honor and all the thanks and praise to THE Creator, who from the very start knew and planned of my existence. The one who called me by name, made me pure, and loved me with this crazy, indescribable, incomprehensible and unconditional love. Thank you God, thank you Jesus!  I am so excited for what God has planned for the coming years, and as I wait, I hold on to this promise:

29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Romans 8: 29-30 

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August 2014

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Whew. The past week weeks had been rough. I've been stretched and challenged in a lot of ways. It was tiring both physically and creatively, YET God showed me that He is in control-- that He is a God who gives strength, grace, joy, good designs and creative ideas hehe.

Now to those of you who are about to face a challenging day or week or month...I want to encourage you with this verse:

"but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." - Isaiah 40:31

Put your hope in the Lord, rely on His strength.

And more than finishing the task or hurdling the challenge ahead of you, ultimately the best thing you can look forward to at this time is the opportunity to know God better. :] Have a great week ahead!

Get ready to soar on wings like eagles! 

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May 2014

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A tumblr post to celebrate my parents' wedding anniversary. WHOO! 35 years and going strong! Happy Anniversary Nanay and Tatay! Labyu!