Pursue a righteous life—a life of wonder, faith, love, steadiness, courtesy. Run hard and fast in the faith. Seize the eternal life, the life you were called to, the life you so fervently embraced in the presence of so many witnesses.
1 Timothy 6:11-12 The Message
For the past few years, being able to live in foreign countries gave me a glimpse of what it feels like to be away from home. I’d do everything to make the most out of the unfamiliar surroundings, creating new ways to make myself feel at home. Since I’ll be away for a certain period of time, I might as well enjoy every single bit of the experience. And because of this, I somehow started to learn how to build a home away from home.
Today, I’ve been decorating my room so that I can have my cozy spot to read & write. I wanted to have a place I can consider as my safe haven–a piece of home. Doing so reminded me of the kind of life we are living here on earth. We are nothing but foreigners to this world. We try to build a home, away from our real home which is Heaven. And while we are here on earth, we do our best to make the most out of it. But then, with all the pain, chaos, disappointments, trials, and mishaps in the world, often times we get discouraged even to the point that we want our lives to end.
If you are in this kind of situation, remember that all these are only temporary. This is not our final haven, to be with the Father in Heaven is. No matter what we are experiencing today, know that God is on our side, sustaining us with His love and strength, creating an overcomer through us. Ending one’s life or giving up is never the option. The moment we get discouraged, know that our troubles are small and temporary compared to our eternal reward.
“You see, the short-lived pains of this life are creating for us an eternal glory that does not compare to anything we know here.”
2 Corinthians 4:17 The Voice
In this temporary home that we’re living in, pursue a life in faith, running the race up to its finish line–not giving up but always persevering until the end. Let’s live a life pleasing to God–focusing on what we were made to do: to make history for His glory and to touch people’s lives. God is with us on our journey and He will see to it that we are strengthened, well provided for, and that we will certainly arrive at our destiny.
Sincerely,
Abby Bern 
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