My piece of the puzzle

“Compassion is not just sympathy. It is empathy. When it comes to dealing with difficult people, we mistakenly equate compassion with “fixing” them. Genuine compassion is first able to feel their pain. I believe one of the reasons we encounter and are commanded to deal with sandpaper people is because the more pain we experience, the more compassionate we will be. We must learn to use our pain in the right way, not lashing out, but looking within to share the pain of others. There is a choice in every pain, an opportunity in every trial. Pain makes us focus inward or outward. It makes us martyrs or merciful. The choice is ours.”- Mary Southerland, Girlfriends in God Devotional

This summer was busy and tiring, but also amazing and Peter-filled. God decided to finally bless us with a summer together since I started college. Last year, Peter and I switched off going to China/Hong Kong and had maybe only 3 weeks total together over the summer. This time around, I was seeing him almost daily from July till now. It has been such a wonderful gift from God. Not only did I get to “enjoy his company” often, I got to be encouraged and feel his support through my PT application process, work, apartment dilemmas, first weeks of commuting, and well, life. In 3 days, San Diego will be taking him back. It’s okay, I’ll get him back in the end. 

Thanks Flora for the pictures 

I apologize for all the times she has sniffed your butt or private area and I apologize in advance for any more instances of it in the future. I asked the trainer today about that issue and the trainer first laughed, then said, “Well of course, she’s the perfect height for it!” So unless you’re a baby/toddler or 6 feet tall, you just might have to bear with me as I continue to find the best way to get her out of the habit. The trainer did give me some tips so hopefully we will see some results sometime soon. She also said as a girl dog, Lexi sure has a load of testosterone in her. I have to say though, out of all the dogs in the class, I sure am glad I have her. They’re all extremely cute and wonderful but their energy is boundless, way more than I could ever handle. 

Anyway, I am sorry for all the butt-sniffing. I’ll try my best to minimize that.

Here’s a very unhappy Lexi after a bath hehe.

“Ultimately the love of God is the basis for all our hopes.”
“The blessing of His love comes to us not because we deserve it, but simply and only because of His sovereign grace.”
- John MacArthur, Ephesians study guide. 

“This is how God sees you.

You are a child of God. John 1:12
You are justified- completely forgiven. Romans 5:1
You are free from condemnation. Romans 8:1
You have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:16
You have been made righteous. 2 Corinthians 5:21
You have been blessed with every spiritual blessing. Ephesians 1:3
You are righteous and holy.  Ephesians 4:24
You have been redeemed and forgiven of all your sins. Colossians 1:14
You are a dwelling place for Christ. He lives in you. Colossians 1:27
You are complete in Christ. Colossians 2:10
You are chosen of God, holy and dearly loved. Colossians 3:12
You have been given a spirit of power, love and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7
You have been given exceedingly great and precious
promises by God by which you are a partaker of
God’s divine nature. 2 Peter 1:4”

- Devotionals.