#randomreflections

there are those people that left us pain, heartache and sorrow. but there are also people who painted great lessons and wonderful memories in our hearts that somehow helped us to become a better person. they are those people that are worth the keep; worth treasuring; worth remembering. . the lessons we learned from them are endless no matter where we go and no matter what we are into -- in our pursuit to making life. . have a blessed night beautiful people! with me here is my teacher in arabic. a beautiful man with a wonderful heart! . -- jon ❤ // just reflections . #randomreflections #reflections #justreflections #jonathanacabo #jonpageacabo #positivequote #teachersofinstagram #arabicteacher #ofwwords #writer #filipinosakuwait #filipinowriter #writersofinstagram #instapoetry #photooftheday #amwriting #writersphoto #jpa #wordporn #dailythoughts (at Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Centre - مركز الشيخ جابر الأحمد الثقافي) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bpuz0ezgHTS/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=o2u83jic2ar3

"The times when no one will answer the phone or no one seems to be available to lend a shoulder on which to cry on are the times in my life when I have experienced the most intimacy with my Savior God." . . There's something about living in the city that can somehow seem so fulfilling and exciting in one way, yet suffocating and isolating in another. It's a vibrant place filled with things to do and sights to see, and yet there’s always a hunger for something more, something greater…there always seems to be some sort of gap or emptiness we seek to fill. . . The more time I spend here, the more I realize that the “greater” thing/person I’m seeking can only be found in God, in the only One whose “love is better than life” (Psalm 63:3). Ambition fades, relationships change, and people move on, but God is the one constant we can always rely on. . . Don’t feel like writing much more today, but wherever or however you are, I hope you’re able to experience the intimate love of Christ. It will blow you away, far more than the fleeting beauty and awe of the city. (Though it is quite breathtaking, I'll admit 🙃). Happy Wednesday. . . #randomreflections #nyc #citythatneversleeps #searchingforsomething #drawingnear #inHislove #thatviewthough #sunset #summer (at Brooklyn Heights)

8 miles and counting. That's how far I walked today, and somehow I feel something is still missing. Is it the lack of sightseeing? After all, it being a Saturday, I avoided all the touristy spots as much as I could. Or maybe it was the lack of energy. I spent most of the morning dragging my luggage up and down subway station after station, so my arms, back, and legs grew sorer and sorer as the day went on. Or perhaps it was the lack of company. As I watched couples holding hands or throngs of students laughing together, I couldn't help but feel a sense of emptiness. Traveling solo is freeing, no doubt, but being somewhat extroverted I couldn't help but wish I had a close friend or even a stranger engage in conversation, even for just an hour or two. . . I read this in my devotionals today: "If you have accepted Christ in your life, you are never alone. Single, maybe. Lonely, sometimes. Alone, never! God is always with us." But despite His promise to never leave us, sometimes I definitely fail to feel His Presence. And in those times, I wonder if I actually know what it means to love Christ at all. In the Book of Philippians, the author writes, "What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things." Do I really treasure Christ to this extent, where despite feelings of loneliness or discontent, I believe He is worth it all, that He is enough? Do I really hunger and thirst for the One and only One who can actually satisfy what I'm looking for? . . Haha that escalated really quickly. You probably think I need a chill pill... I tend to overthink things a bit :) But in thinking about all of these things...I figure maybe what I'm "still missing" is a heart and a mind that is open and eager to see what GOD is doing around me. Maybe I feel empty because I'm missing the point: God didn't send me here just to have fun and enjoy the ride, but to participate in the work He is doing in parts of the world I've never seen before. . 8 miles and counting...but it seems like I still have a long way to go. You coming? #week2 #day12 #randomreflections #inpursuit #inlove #longingformore (at Tokyo shinjuku)

"Rest time is not waste time. It is economy to gather fresh strength… It is wisdom to take occasional furlough. In the long run, we shall do more by sometimes doing less." Charles Spurgeon. . . Sometimes the best moments in life aren't filled with thrill and excitement, but rather a quiet appreciation for the simpler things. . . Today, for the first time since leaving NYC, I spent the day wandering and exploring on my own...getting lost (it's just an expression) in the winding, unfamiliar roads of Hong Kong, perusing bookstores, stumbling in and out of little (and huge) clothing stores, reading and writing (of course!) in a lovely little café, chatting with friendly strangers, strolling around in a beautiful park...Nothing really spectacular happened--nothing to amaze or impress--and yet it was somehow so freeing, so life-giving. . . . I've been thinking of one of my favorite Bible passages: “The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.” ‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭19:11-12‬ ‭NIV‬‬. . . Just as God chose to reveal Himself to Elijah in a gentle whisper (not an earth-shattering wind or fire), God often reveals Himself to us in these small, seemingly insignificant moments of stillness and quiet...these moments of REST. The next time you feel the urge to jam-pack your schedule or write a never-ending list of to-dos, consider planning moments of Sabbath (a day or extended time of rest) in between your errands and endless responsibilities. If you have the "productive bug" like me, it might feel like a burden at first, but you won't regret it. You will not only feel refreshed and more motivated to do work; you'll finally give God the time and space (and silence) He deserves to speak and pour His love and Spirit into you. . . #week1 #day7 #adventuretime #randomreflections #sabbath #listen #forHiswhisper (at The Coffee Academics)

"Ballet does not require you to explain yourself. It is the ultimate form of self-expression." . . Asking me why I like to dance is like asking me why I like to breathe. It isn't just a favorite pastime; it's a way of life. Dancing is how I best express myself: it's how I laugh, cry, celebrate, vent, grieve...it's how I experience the world around me. . . There was a point in my life when I feared I had lost that feeling, that love, joy, and heart that simply breathed ballet. But it was during that time that I also realized that living without a passion for dance was like living with only one lung: I would certainly survive, but the quality of life wouldn't be the same; I would only be living a shadowed, halfhearted version of myself. . . . Today, as I watched a performance of the ballet Giselle (my absolute favorite), I suddenly began tearing up unexpectedly. It wasn't because the dancers were breathtakingly beautiful or talented (which they definitely were), but I was suddenly overwhelmed by how powerful the language of dance--especially ballet--can be. As the quote (pictured above) says, ballet truly is my "ultimate form of self-expression". It's my language, my breath, my nature...and I'm gradually beginning to believe that it's what God created me for. Just as carpenters were made to build, and doctors to mend, I was made...to dance. . . #week1 #day6 #hk #summer #randomreflections #ballerina #giselle #ballet #selfexpression #selfdiscovery #wayoflife #language #breath #passion #whatwereyoumadefor (at Hong Kong Cultural Centre)

Its been a long time since I've been happy without a dude like I am at the moment. Usually I sit around moping and looking at people fb and Instagram of their happiness,but lately I fill like my life is really busy and full, I love it 😄