Favorite Place!

Have you ever been somewhere that you loose track of time? You enjoy the place so much that 2 or 3 hours seem like minutes? Where you get lost into another world that makes you happy? Some people feel this way about their home, or a park, some others at friend's houses but for me is this little coffee bar in Glenway Avenue called Refuge. Yes, Refuge! I feel so at home there. I can spend the day hanging out or even working on stuff and my day seems to fly by. I almost feel refueled when I leave.

Refuge Coffee Bar was an idea placed in someone's heart and mind few years ago. It was someone's dream and today is a great reality. God is so amazing, how he gives us dreams and then gives us the tools for us to build those dreams. Sometimes they are not easy instructions or tools to use or put together those dreams together but God does gives us the gifts and talents for those dreams to get accomplished. We doubt that God himself gave us the power to accomplish anything on His name but we need to believe it. Anyway.... over two years ago the project of Refuge got started. Much sweat and tears have been shed for this place to be up and running. I am glad the people working on this project never gave up and persevere to get this project done. What a blessing for this neighborhood and for our community. You don't only get a great cup of coffee but you get a place which is peaceful when you enter the building. The decor ts awesome and peaceful, the staff is amazing and the atmosphere is heavenly. People come to work, to study and even to relax from a day's work. I pray for this place everyday and I thank God that it gave me a place where I can clear my head and connect with God. For me, this is the place where I can share stories or just listen to others share. My day does not seem as long or hard when I come in. But if I am having a bad day, this is the place I want to come in and forget about what happened and move forward to what God has for me. I love to help behind the bar and just serve people and listen to them tell me stories of their days.
Don't get me wrong I like walks in the park, quiet time with my husband and nice clear fall nights but this place is awesome! Is there a place for you or an activity that takes you in that joyous place? Where you don't want to leave and just stay all day? Will love to hear and maybe visit! Tell me all about it!

Direction...Where do I go?

God has such great plans for me, people say. Really? Can someone show me where? I am a little lost or am I really? Maybe I just need to be here right now. I wish I could text him or call him and have a little heart to heart. I want to know exactly what He wants me to do so I can accomplish my plans. Wish it would work that way, but it does not. I feel I have to talked to God many times and many times I said that He did not listen, which is a lie from...you know who. God is always listening but we whine a lot.

I decided to take time to listen to God. I decided that when I asked Him a question to give Him time to answer before I ramble on. That if , Iam really looking for His answer not to be surprised I have heard it before or is something I really don't want or am ready to hear. I believe a lot of our days we focus on what I need to accomplish and not what God has on my agenda for me today. I hope that when I am done listening, I can follow and be one with Him.

Questions from my random thoughts...

Have you ever had random thoughts in your head that you wonder where they came from? I have been having some of those this week. Feeling a little overwhelmed and almost confused, can anyone relate? There is so much to do and somehow I find time to waste and not get things done. Then, there is so much going on with rough weather, natural disasters, men made disasters, and so much more we are not aware of that I am just trying to be here and understand. I live life one day at a time and do the best I can each and everyday, but somedays... I feel like I fail at just trying to do something. I know that the best thing God made was another day but sometimes when I am feeling like the worst day ever, the last thing I want is to start over. I thank God it does happen because it gives me a chance to have a better day. Sometimes it is a battle to just finish the day.
I believe to be a pretty positive person and find positive things even in not such good situations. For the past few weeks, I have been feeling like my positivity is almost a negative to other people because they don't even want hear the positive, they just want to dwell on their "problem" or their situation. I understand sometimes all we need to do is listen but even smiling or acknowledging seems to be putting them off. I totally understand but it makes me feel that I really don't have understanding to their situation or makes me unrelatable to their problem. I feel like I cannot help or relate.
I can only say I am very blessed to have my sensitivity, experiences, my issues but sometimes feel that because I have had a "good" life that others don't feel like I can listen, help or understand. Maybe is crap that the "dirtball" its putting on my head but this is how I feel at times. I want to think that I am grateful to God for what he has given me. I hope I never turn my back to what He has taught, shown, given me. So by questioning my "positive" outlook in life, Am I turning my back on the gift that God has given me? Am I not understanding what I need to do?

I have written about a friend that has struggled before with issues he cannot control. This is his third battle with cancer and just as he did before he is fighting it. The doctors, of course, gave him all the information they believe to be important. Including that if medication does not work he only has 6 months but if it works 5 years. Ok, how the h*** do they know? What do they know about God's plan? and at the same time how do I tell someone that has been diagnosed that they are "loved" by me and God? Especially, when I cannot explain why it is happening again. How do I stay positive? I know the truth, I know where I am going to be? but it is still a hard news to hear. Yeah, I have experienced a family member battling cancer. (my father) How do you keep a positive outlook? Well, my friend John does. Yeah, the news are not what he wanted to hear but he is handling it as best as he can. His family ( wife and three beautiful daughters) are struggling. I hope that I can be there for them too. I believe that he has taught me more than he really knows. He has "loved" on me even when I did not believed and love on myself. He is a man with a big heart that has positive words and encouragement for everyone and it makes you feel like you are on top of the world. Thank you John! for showing me that God loves us. Thank you for reminding me that no matter what, we can be the support and encouragement for someone else with just our presence and love. God died for us so we can just live and love for Him.
I will keep one thought in mind, even when I do not have the right words to say or understand what is happening or how they are feeling, I do have the love that God gave me to share with them and I can still offer my support and encouragement. In turn, I will show my love for them and God's love through me. Right? Is this why He made me this way?

I love snow!

There is something peaceful about snow. The cool quiet white surroundings give me such a sense of peace. I feel like in God's presence everytime I stand and look around when the snow has not been removed yet from the street or the cars. Where you can see the way nature blankets all the area. I know it's cold, for those of you who love hot weather, but it really seems to be pure and only God gets to design each flake! What a blessing to be able to see this weather phenomenon. I grew up in a tropical island were snow is non existing. The first time I saw snow I was so excited, now I just feel so connected with God.
In this quiet evening at home, I just want to take time to reflect on how much I have, how blessed I am to have experienced life each and every day and how much more I have to live to be able to share my story the way God wants me to. Don't get me wrong, I am ready for Spring to be here, but during these snowy days I want to enjoy them and realized how wonderful our God is to give us seasons to enjoy!

Why is it so hard?

In the past week, I have been very sensitive on how I talk, respond and even comment when asked a question. I have felt so sensitive about myself. Although I am not perfect, I think most of the time I feel pretty comfortable with me and the way I am.
In the past year, I have had to learn my "new" job responsabilities and duties. For the prior years before, I was at the top of my game and knew my stuff. Although in the past year I have made trememdous progress, I feel that I am so far behind. I have so much more to learn and feels like I am not catching up.
I have asked others to tell me what I need to do to perform better or what else can I do to "improve"? What do I need to change to be good at...? It all sounds great but when it is addressed and I am told I am not doing something right or this is the way it needs to be done or you need to keep working on that... or whatever it is, I take it to heart. Eventhough, I am trying to be grown up about it, it hurts my feelings. I have busted my tail to do my best and someone else tells me that my best is not good enough or I have to change what I consider my best and it really ticks me off. Why? These "people" are trying to help me. I have asked them to tell me what is wrong? and I still get mad or upset when they tell me. Why?????
Sometimes I feel I'm the only one working towards the goal when in reality I know there is more than me working. Are there things that you do that agravate people and they dont tell you and they don't "correct" you or tell you what your are doing is wrong or incorrect? Why dont we if it bothers us? Why can we discuss it like adults and figure out how we can improve or change it so it is beneficial.
Sorry random thoughts today but it has been bothering me a lot this week. What is really bothering me that I do not have the answer, Is it my ego? Why is the criticism so difficult to take when really it should helpful to make you improve.
I dont know the answers but God will grant them to me. Maybe I need to talk to HIM. :)