Embraced by the Father. Saved by the Son. Empowered by the Holy Spirit. Ablaze - Set the World on Fire!

SFC Ablaze. Luke 12:49 "I have come to set the world on fire and how I wish it were already ablaze."

Believe, I put my hope in You.
Proclaim, I will shout Your name.
Inflame, I will burn in love.
Ablaze, I'll set the world on fire.

This is my second conference since I became a member of CFC - Singles for Christ. My first conference was last February, the 15th SFC ILC. This is my first MMC and I swear, this won't be my last. Like what I told Sidh, this conference is better than the last. This post would be quite long, alam niyo naman, madaldal talaga ako. Hehe. Pero kasi hindi pwedeng hindi ko i-share yung experience e. I'm on fire and I just can't keep that to myself.

Day 1. July 25.
Ate Gemma and I woke up at 2:30 in the morning to prepare for our 5am trip. We're joining the MMC Adventure Trip and we have to be in Subic by 9am (as told by Ate Marian Calvario). Inantay lang namin si Sidh sa kanto tapos nagtaxi na papuntang Cubao para i-meet sina Shezha, Ate Aike, at Ate Jing na kasama rin namin sa tour. Ok naman yung naging biyahe namin. After settling our accommodation, we headed to SBMA for the Ocean Adventure Trip. Medyo matagal kameng naghintay pero ok lang. Tamang kwentuhan lang muna kame. At dumating na nga ang van. On our way to Ocean Adventure, we can't help but be in awe of the beauty of Subic. At mas namangha pa kame pagdating namin sa Ocean Adventure. Ang ganda! Words are not enough to describe how amazed I was upon seeing God's creation. We enjoyed the dolphin and the sea lion show. Ang playful talaga ng dolphins. Nakakatuwa. Tapos yung sea lions naman ang smart. Ayun. After the trip, pahinga lang saglit tapos balik na sa venue (Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center). And officially nga, nagstart na ang conference. Wohoo!

Session 1: Embraced by the Father.

God is omniscient. He is all-knowing.
God is omnipotent. He is all-powerful.
God is omnipresent. He is everywhere.
God is all-loving.
The Lord is our God, our King, our Father.
We are members of God's household. We are heirs of everything the Father has.
God has something new in store for us always. Expect greater things! "Mayaman si Papa!"

And the most important message from this session: My greatest wealth is God's love. No matter what happens, I HAVE THE FATHER'S LOVE!

After the session was the Masquerade Party. Naks, first time kong makaranas ng ganun. At syempre, babae uli ako dun. Dress to the max talaga. At super high heels pa. Kamusta naman diba? Pagdating namin sa room, bagsak talaga ako. As in, tulog agad. Sakit sa paa e. Hehe.

Day 2. July 26.

Session 2: Saved by the Son.

Jesus Christ saved us from internal death (separation from God).
St. Augustine: Our hearts will find no rest until they rest in God.
The next time you're called to suffer, pay attention, that could be the closest you could ever get to God.
We will share His cross, but God is a God of justice. We will also share His victory.
Always remind yourself, "JESUS IS WITH ME." Stay with Him.

It was during this session when I cried the most. Why? Because I was touched, deeply moved, especially by the sharing of a sister from Makati Chapter. Ate Gem's story was a lot like mine. I won't go into details but if you'd been reading my blog posts, you would know what I had gone through. And just like Sister Gem, I have also committed myself to the Lord, and that come what may, I would be His servant, ready to do His will, prepared to live and die for Him.

Also, during this session, the reflection song was one of my "life songs" - NEED. If I'm not mistaken, I have already posted the lyrics of that song. But I would like to post it again.

NEED
I am grateful for the cross.
My source of strength in my life's cause.
I will embrace it everyday.
Grace me to live day by day.

You, Lord, are all that I need.
With all my mind and my deed.
With You, my life is complete.
In Your love, in Your hands, I'll live.

I am hopeful for the future.
Looking to You, I am secure.
You are my King, my Master, my Lord, reign in my heart forevermore.

This is such a beautiful song. It says everything my soul wants to declare. And I couldn't help but cry everytime I hear it. Singing this song makes me feel a whole lot closer to God. And it reminds me of my weakness, and of my need for His care, love, and comfort.

Session 3: Empowered by the Holy Spirit.

We are GOLD!
The Lord wants us to be GREAT. (He is not yet through with us.)
The Lord wants us to be an OFFERING. (We ought to be of service for others.)
The Lord LOVES us.
The Lord DESIGNED us according to His will.
And lastly, the Lord wants us to SURRENDER.

The worship was so overwhelming. It wasn't just an ordinary worship, but a healing one. We were told to unload everything. And to just allow ourselves be filled with the Holy Spirit. I felt love - God's love. And it was simply amazing to see everyone hugging, comforting each other. Particularly, I saw how united our chapter is. And I could only wish that he and they, were there to experience the same thing that the MMC has brought us. That's why I would really make an effort to raise funds for the next conference - the ILC in Cebu. My goal is for all the members of our chapter to be there at the ILC and experience extraordinary worship, healing, and peace.

Lastly, but most importantly, it was during this session when she and I became "officially" friends. I swear, it's the best thing that happened that night. I can't tell the details of our story (because it may took me forever to do so. hehe. such a long story) but my closest friends know about it. And to you, MH, you know who you are, I am so thankful that we're no longer just sisters by name, but by heart. ^_^

Day 3. July 27.

Session 4: Ablaze - Set the World on Fire

Every moment is a moment of yes to God.
We are on fire - fire of purification, refining fire.
It's the fire that makes pure gold, something that really hurts.
Kuya Lawrence further said, "Sorry na lang sa mga gustong mag-full time. Because it's going to hurt. It's not gonna be a bed of roses..."

But, even if saying "yes" to God can cause you deep pain and suffering, still, it's the wisest decision one could ever make, because, in Kuya Lawrence's words, "wala pa ring tutumbas sa blessings ni God." [i remember sharing this to him. and his reply was, "wala talaga. kasi ikaw nga blessing ka ni God, at walang tutumbas sayo." c'mon mamon! ika nga ni melai. hehe. wala lang. wala talagang tutumbas sken kasi si ano nga mas maganda sken e. wala talaga akong katulad. either, lamang ako o lamang sila. ^_^]

Isa pa pala, na-touch din ako sa sharing ng isang brother. And I would like to quote, "No matter what happens, I will still love my God." And it is also my battlecry. I WILL LOVE MY GOD, COME WHAT MAY! I remember the movie, Facing the Giants. The whole movie was touching but the most moving scene was when Brook got the result of her pregnancy test, and again, it was still negative. She said while crying, "I will still love You Lord, I will still love You."

During the mass, the priest asked in his homily, "hanggang saan ang kaya mong itaya para sa pangarap mo? do we have the same passion towards the kingdom of God as our passion for priced worldly treasures?" He further said, "material possessions and personal relationships are the most common factors that hinder us from getting closer to God and doing His will." He asked us to reflect on this: "what is important to you? gaano kalalim ang relationship mo with God? ano ang mas naging priority mo? love/relationship? career? money? or working for God's kingdom?" And it was also the message of Kuya Law's talk: how far can you go for God? how much can you sacrifice/give up?

Amazingly, the answer came to me too soon. Just after the conference, when everyone's busy taking pictures, an unexpected twist happen. Nakita ko siya at sabi ko, papicture din kami. She came over at yun nga, pose na. Pero dahil super lapit ng mga mukha namin, we chose to take one more shot. Kaya lang card full na ako. So I have to delete. Ang twist ay eto: nabura ko lahat! As in lahat. Err. Ang nice diba? I tried to cancel but it was too late. Hay. I was soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo disappointed and I simply couldn't find the words to express what I felt at that moment. I didn't cry at once. But when Shy approached me, hindi ko na napigilang mag-break down. Sobrang nakakahinayang talaga. Kung kelan pa tapos na yung conference. Uuwi na lang kame, ganun pa yung nangyari. All for the sake of one picture with her, every single moment of the 3-day conference was lost. Naisip ko, Lord, eto na ba yung message Mo? And Shy affirmed it to me. Indeed, it was the whole point of the conference. I lost everything because I gained the more important thing - friendship with someone I thought I could never be friends with. I mean, after all that had happened, kahit ako nagulat sa sarili ko kung pano ko siya batiin (yung tipong, mismong ako pa yung lalapit para lang mag-hi at mag-hug sa kanya), at kung pano ko kinayang iyakan siya that saturday night. But that's just how God works - mysterious, amazing. And I just couldn't say no to my God. Just like what "Walk on Water" says, "If it's You Lord, I will go. Speak out Lord for I will listen." At hindi rin naman ako nagsisisi. I've never been this happy and at peace. Sayang yung pictures. Lalo na yung mga solo pics nina Sidh at Melai. Sayang talaga. But I realized, through the help of Shy na rin, that pictures fade, but memories will last forever. Mawala man yun mga larawan, hindi naman mawawala yung mga alaala at mga natutunan ko mula sa conference. Pictures could be captured moments, but still, they are material things that soon would fade and be gone (yun nga lang, they faded too soon). What's important is the intangible, the immaterial, that which resides in my heart - and that is the burning fire of love and service. I may have lost the pictures from this very important conference, but I gained a very important sister and friend. I may no longer see the captured moments of my 1st MMC experience, but I will forever carry the lessons I learned, the realizations I had, and more importantly, the new relationships I have established: renewed, stronger relationship with God; more bonded relationship with my co-chapters; friendship with mae - these are are things I am most thankful for and no amount of pictures can ever replace their worth. ^_^

I am on fire. And I will set the world on fire. I will be God's faithful servant. I will win the world for Him!


[I spent my whole Monday typing this post and reflecting on everything that happened. And believe me, it's the best Monday of my life so far. ^_^]

before the MMC.

just a quick post.

we had an upper household last night at ate leah's house.

if there's one important lesson that i learned from our discussion, that is to just do your best in keeping the fire of service burning in the hearts of your members. as a leader, you have to set a good example for them to follow. you have to inspire. you have to motivate. but in the end, the decision would still be on your members - to stay or to go; to continue with the service or not. the most you could do is to explain things to them, give them advice, but whether they listen or not, that's no longer your problem. yes, you are accountable, but still, it's their life. and as ate leah said, in the end, it would be between them and God. there is no perfect community. we're all sinners. if we, as leaders, fail to meet the expectations of our members, there is really nothing to be worried about as long as we know that we have done our best.

almost the same lesson from Facing the Giants, do your best, and leave the results to God. ^_^

may God be praised and glorified in everything that we do, say, think, feel.

God rules!

MMC na! i am excited to hear God's loving words, to receive His blessings, and to become a much much better me.

i love God. He loves me most.

weekend nourishment

sickness didn't stop me from getting nourishment from the activities of the community. on friday night, i attended our chapter teaching. on saturday afternoon, sidh and i were at the Guadalupe Minor Seminary for the chapter servants' meeting. and on sunday morning, mass. during those three events, i gained a lot. and i believe, preparation lang lahat ng yun for the MMC. i really am excited. although i must admit, stressful talaga. lalo na kung may mga pasaway pa. hay. anyway, naiyak ko na naman lahat kagabi at kanina. i'll go to confession this week. papansin talaga si satan. ayaw akong tigilan. hay. nakakapagod na pero hindi ako susuko no! ako pa. matibay ata ako. God is the strength of my heart. ^_^

here are the things i want to share.

Chapter Teaching (Fruits of the Holy Spirit Talk 2: Love and Discipline)

Read Exodus chapters 32, 33, 34.

1. God forgives.

2. God gives favors.

3. God reveals Himself to us.

Words that describe God's Love:

1. Goodness (lacks action) and Kindness (sympathy with action)

2. Mercy (moved because of pity) and Compassion

3. Grace and Generosity

4. Steadfast (not changing/firm) - Read 2 Timothy

5. Agape - honest and sacrificial love

On Discipline:

root word: disciple.

God disciplines us because He cares, because He loves us. Love and discipline go together. Love without discipline is not love at all. Part of discipline is CORRECTION.

isa sa mga pinakagusto kong sinabi ni Kuya Chris ay ito: "hindi ka pinagsasabihan para ipahiya ka kundi para itama kung ano man ang mali." at ito pa: "wag kang magalit sa tao, kundi sa maling ginawa niya." parang yung line sa isang movie, "don't hate the player, hate the game." lastly, "God's grace is free. But it's not cheap."

*****

Chapter Servants' Meeting (Guadalupe Minor Seminary)

before the meeting, may worship at exhortation muna. at yun ang gusto kong i-share.

Read Proverbs 9:7-12. (arrogant vs. wise man). sabi ng worship leader, we, as leaders of the community, tend to be arrogant. lalo na pagdating sa teachings. malaman pa lang naten yung topic, iniisip na naten na alam na naten yun. pero yun nga raw, wisdom comes to the wise and humble. hindi tayo matututo kung sa tingin naten e alam na naten lahat.

during ate kate's exhortation, ang dami niyang na-share na words of encouragement. sa totoo lang, bilang chapter servants, hindi talaga biro yung amount ng stress na kelangan naming i-endure. pero sabi nga niya, eto raw ang pinakamagandang trabaho dahil ang boss namin ay si God. she shared 2 verses from the Bible which really inspired me to serve on.

Romans 11:29. (For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.) The Lord does not change His mind on whoever He calls/chooses and whoever He blesses. with conviction, sabi ni ate kate, "don't ever doubt your service."

Colossians 3:23. "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men." sobrang sakto yung verse na 'to sken/smen. nakakapagod. pero kung para kay God lahat ng ginagawa at gagawin naten, sulit lahat ng sakripisyo, lahat ng pagod, lahat ng pawis. sabi nga ni ate an sa txt, "serve on. serve well." ^_^

lastly, eto ang iniwang quote ni ate kate: what will change the world is not our intention but our action.

*****

Homily by Father Babes Amper (07.20.08 - Lifehomes Chapel)

First Reading: Wisdom 12:13, 16-19

Responsorial Psalm (Ps 86): Lord, You are good and forgiving.

Second Reading: Romans 8:26-27

Gospel: Matthew 13:23-43

1. Accept the fact that you're a sinner.

2. Correct your mistakes.

3. Learn from your mistakes.

Michael Jordan once said, "I failed many times but I still take the responsibility. I learn." Don't repeat your mistakes. Learn from them. Grow.

Sabi pa ni Father, deep inside us, meron daw Hesus at Hudas. There's a battle between good and evil within our hearts at kung ano yung inaalagaan naten, yun ang mamumunga. It is but proper for us to nourish the goodness in our hearts.

We could look at the Gospel in different ways. Pero para sken, eto yung analogy: the weeds signify our bad self and the mistakes that we make, the good seeds signify the goodness in our hearts. In the Gospel, the master didn't allow his slaves to pull up the weeds because they might also uproot the good crop. He let them grow together until harvest and that's when he separated the weeds from the wheat. Just the same, we can't simply eliminate our bad self because it's part of who we are. We all sin. But we must learn from our wrongdoings. Kasama sa growth naten yung mga pagkakamali. At habang natututo tayo, we become better people. Hindi naten maaalis ang katotohanang bawat tao, may kabutihan at kasamaan. Ang mahalaga, pinipili nateng ipaglaban ang kabutihan.

*****

lastly, some inspiring text messages lang.

~You shouldn't have to sacrifice who you are just because somebody else has a problem with it.

~When dealing with people, remember you are not dealing with creatures of logic but creatures of emotion. [Dale Carnegie]

~The true meaning of intelligence is not how much we know what to do, but how we behave when we do not know what to do.

~If you're shopping for a happy ending and you couldn't find one, buy a new beginning instead.

eto yung best. simple lang pero may depth. ^_^

Wag mong bitawan ang bagay na hindi mo kayang makitang hinahawakan ng iba. Wag mong hawakan kung alam mong bibitawan mo lang. Wag mo ng hawakan kung alam mong hawak na ng iba. Wag na wag kang magbalak humawak pag alam mong may hawak ka na.

*****

eto pa pala, from mel and joey: a happy man marries the girl he loves. a happier man loves the girl he marries. ang ganda no? attention guys! hehe.

at isa pa, galing naman kay alpha. nakita lang daw niya: If you love, let me know. If you don't, please gently let me go. haha. ang drama.

God bless everyone! this might be my last post this week. busy as usual. this weekend na kasi yung MMC. pero isa lang ang sigurado, i would definitely share my MMC experience. sa lahat ng SFC Manila, kitakits sa Subic. ^_^

amoeba strikes again.

today is the 18th of july. this morning, mama and i went to the doctor again. i was given 4 medicines, one for amoeba. yes, amoeba hit me again. err. the last time i had an amoeba attack was during 5th grade. since then, i've been very careful with the food that i eat, the water that i drink, and the utensils i use. but still, here i am, suffering from it. according to my doctor, dapat daw pakuluan yung tubig na iinumin ko. even if it's already distilled. hay. ang gastos nun! hindi na nga ako umiinom sa labas e. bumibili na ako ng bottled water (wilkins). hindi pa rin ba safe yun? tapos, kelangan din daw pakuluan yung gagamitin kong utensils. e pano na lang pag wala ako sa bahay? hay. hindi pala enough na pinupunasan ko ng tissue yung spoon and fork bago gamitin. ang sensitive talaga ng tiyan ko. pasaway. kaya pala ganun na lang yung sakit. hindi lang pala acid reflux ang problema, may amoeba pa. goodness. ang arte talaga ng katawan ko. today, strict ang diet ko. lugaw + gatorade + gamot. at may oras talaga yung kain ko. para rin akong nasa ospital. hayyy. eto pa, specific talaga na gatorade blue bolt yung iinumin ko. sa lahat pa naman ng flavor ng gatorade yun ang pinakaayaw ko. ok lang sana kung yung tropical fruit e. or yung pink lemonade. oh well, no matter how much i complain, wala naman akong magagawa kundi sumunod. hay. nakaka-frustrate kapag inaalagaan mo na yung sarili mo pero nagkakasakit ka pa rin. i'm thinking, ano pa bang dapat kong gawin? sabi ni mars medyo nagiging mahina raw ang resistance ko sa mga bagay-bagay lately. bakit nga kaya? i bet nagpapapansin lang si satan. malapit na kasi yung Metro Manila Conference (MMC) kaya tinitira na naman niya ako. akala naman niya mananalo siya. haller?! si God ata kakampi ko. asa na lang siya na matatalo niya si God diba? well satan, tanggapin mo na lang na loser ka talaga. ilang beses mo na bang sinubok na patumbahin ako? sorry ka, strong and faithful is my God. hindi Niya ako pababayaan. and you know what, kahit ano pang gawin mo saken, saktan mo man ako physically, emotionally, at kahit ano pang -ly, hindi pa rin ako bibitiw kay God. you'll never have me satan. because i belong to God. and i'll always be with Him and He with me. kaya sayo, at sa kampon mo, belat! =p

..better in time..

i'm sick again. [sigh]. since last week, i've been suffering minor attacks - stomach and back pain. i simply ignored the uncomfortable feeling. like what i've been telling everyone, i'm getting used to the pain. besides, i remember Arun's words: what you focus on, grows. so if i focus on the pain, i would just feel it all the more. but i guess ignoring what's there doesn't change the fact that it does exist. and it will eventually make its way to get noticed. so did my tummy. for two days now, i've been experiencing extreme pain - that same pain i felt when i was rushed to the hospital more than 2 years ago. but i am able to manage it a little bit better. (i even turned on the PC and did this writing thing. although i must admit, my stomach hurts badly.) at least this time i wasn't brought to the emergency room of a nearby hospital - although mama insisted. err. and she won. we're going to the doctor NOW. =( i hope to continue with this post later. today is the 17th of July. and i wasn't able to go to school because my body won't allow me to. my tummy aches, and so does my back, and my body's on fire. yes, i do have fever, almost influenza (i have running nose and cough too).

back home from the doctor. as expected, i need to take medicines again.

anyway, i'm still happy. why? because although the Fighting Maroons didn't win against the Tamaraws, the Green Archers were victorious over the Tigers. wohoo! Animo La Salle! ^_^ that made me realize, i really am a certified UAAP Basketball fanatic. haha. actually i only cheer for 4 teams: UP, Ateneo, La Salle, and FEU. when it comes to basketball, La Salle and Ateneo are my bets. for some reason, i also cheer for whoever is against UST (although i must admit that Jervy Cruz, Dylan Ababou, and Mike Canlas are really good.). hehe. peace Thomasians. ^_^

not only that, i am also happy because there have been a lot of generous people who willingly shared their blessing. indeed, God provides, and He provides abundantly. melai could hardly believe that she's going with us to Subic for the Metro Manila Conference. but yes, without a doubt, she's coming with us. thanks to the people who allowed God to use them to provide for mel's financial needs. for the nth time, i have applied and have witnessed the power of the ABC's of prayer. Ask. Believe. Claim. my leaders asked me if i could really support mel's MMC needs. they told me that i need to prioritize myself. they know i, too, am struggling. but i told them with confidence that God will provide. in the event that i am not able to raise the necessary funds, i'll know that God has a better plan for mel. but i have asked for His grace, believed that He can provide, and claimed His blessing. and true enough, He did provide. life's like that. simple. i remember Sir Quiwa's words of wisdom: In transforming equations to the form x = F(x), follow this rule - keep it simple! i guess that also applies to life, beauty, prayer, faith, and everything else. a priest once mentioned in his homily, "Jesus showed simplicity in teaching, and that makes Him the best Teacher." [simplicity is beauty, so they say.]

just want to share what happened to me yesterday. i woke up with an aching tummy. but since yesterday was lab day, i needed to go to school. and that's what i did. after class, i had lunch with alpha, then headed to the CFC Center to register mel and ate jinky and also to submit the final list for the workshops. due to the not-so-good weather and the fact that i was not able to get enough rest during the previous days (i've been busy), i went home trembling and burning with fever. but still, i am thankful. because i was able to get home safely. i mean i could have collapsed somewhere, and maybe, no one would come to the rescue (because everyone else is busy minding their own business, leading their own lives.). anyway, i've always known that i need to be independent. and since maturity comes in knowing that no one is ever coming to the rescue, i have already learned to take care of myself, do things on my own, and just don't depend on anyone but God. in his words, bilib daw siya sken. i told him there's nothing amazing about me. he told me that no one can beat me. well, i never competed with anyone, and never will i compete with anyone. if there's someone i need to win over, that's my previous self. i have to beat my own records. i have to be better everyday. but this i know for sure, in times of challenges, i am not just a fighter, i am a survivor!

now my head terribly aches. i better get some rest. [i wonder when i can post this. i wish we'll get DSL connection asap.]

i am nothing without God. with God, i can do anything.

isang magandang umaga...

wow, tagal ko na rin palang hindi nagsusulat. hehe. busy-busyhan kasi. like what i've been telling my friends, hindi ko na rin alam minsan kung pano i-handle lahat ng responsibilities ko sa school, sa bahay, sa service, sa sarili ko, kay God. pero go lang. sabi nga ni jenny, yun daw ang isa sa mga gusto niya sken, "go lang."

hindi ko rin alam kung pano ko natatapos lahat pero i always keep in mind the quote i read from a keychain (na nakasabit sa bag ng katabi ko sa jeep): "we accomplish the most when we do everything for God." yun din yung example na iniwan ni St. Josemaria Escriva: sanctification of daily work.

anyway, kwento lang about my day. it's not over yet and i know there'll be more surprises. pero ngayon lang kasi ako may extra time so i might as well use it "wisely." (i am saying that blogging is a wise choice. hehe.)

past 9pm na ako nakarating sa bahay kagabi. 6-730pm lang talaga yung schedule ng exam pero inabot na naman kame ng 830 ata. pero lumabas naman ako sa engg theater na magaan ang loob. ^_^

pag-uwi ko sa bahay, kain lang tapos review na kame ng brother ko. may exam kasi siya ngayon at syempre bilang ate, responsibility ko na turuan siya.

after mag-aral, tulog na. pero dahil medyo puyat ako lately, nahirapan din akong gumising kanina. plus the fact na masarap matulog kasi malamig. hehe.

medyo late na ako nakaalis sa bahay. pero ang galing lang kasi hindi ako na-late. medyo windang nga ako kasi tumirik kame sa gitna ng katipunan. kamusta naman diba? naubusan ata ng gas yung jeep. buti na lang may dumating agad na jeep kaya nakalipat kame. wala na akong barya pamasahe sa toki kaya naglakad na lang ako. nawala sa isip ko na Tuesday nga pala ngayon at free ride nga pala. pero ok lang kasi pagpunta ko naman dito sa SC, na-avail ko naman yung free ride. at pagbalik ko sa CS mamaya, maghihintay uli ako ng free ride. hehe.

wala lang. wala naman masyadong nangyari pero magaan lang talaga yung pakiramdam ko. isa ito sa mga araw na ang saya at ang peaceful ng mood ko. kahit na marami akong inaalala (money matters, acads), smile pa rin. ^_^

God is good all the time. He rules my day. He rules my life. =)

random thoughts..

from yesterday's homily: sin leads to loneliness. loneliness leads to sickness. sickness leads to death.

from mel & joey: "You can do anything, but not everything." [David Allen]

*****

some text messages..

~A good apology has 3 parts: 1. I'm sorry. 2. It was my fault. 3. How do I make it right? People usually miss the third part.

~Pag di ka mahal ng taong mahal mo, wag kang magreklamo. Kasi may mga tao rin na hindi mo mahal pero mahal ka. Kaya quits lang. [ehem!]

~"Very cold hearts do not respond to drugs or defibrillators." -Lippincott Manual of Nursing, 2006; "The more frozen something gets, the more it loses it's sweetness." -Chef Pia Chua (these facts are a good reminder for us not to let the pains of this life leave us numb and cold.) [haha. natawa ako sa message na 'to ni paul. pero napaisip rin ako. am i already losing my sweetness? sabi ko kasi sa sarili ko magpapakamanhid na ako. oh well.]

~Our goal is to make things better for other people. We must always be good and do what is right regardless of how they are treating us. Revenge is for immature people only. Mature leaders know that ultimately the offending person is going to get what he deserves without anyone else bringing it about. God will revenge for you, He will be the One who will fight for you for all the shame and lost. Just remain good even if others are not. And learn to forgive. Soon, what you sow, you will reap. [enough said. this message came at the perfect time.]

~You can't leave footprints if you walk on tiptoe. This is what living life means. You can never get what you want if you're too scared to get hurt.

*****

busy mode again. God bless everyone! ^_^

isa pa pala. hehe. ^_^

share ko lang yung lessons from the movie, Facing the Giants. this is a must-see movie. sabi nga raw ni Ate Honey, dapat mapanood 'to ng basketball team ng UP. ^_^

some quotes:

~How can I miss someone I have never met?~ [Brooke Taylor, Grant's wife said this out of desperation. they've been together for four years but they're still waiting for their first baby. that's the first scene that made me cry.]

~Black men still look good even when they're bald.~ [natawa ako nung sinabi 'to ng isa sa mga colleague ni Grant. bakit nga kaya ganun? hehe.]

~You couldn't be afraid of failure. Everyone fails at one point.~ [Larry Childers is one of my favorite characters in the movie. ang daming words of wisdom na galing sa kanya. ^_^]

~..to show how mighty He is.~ [this was Larry's reply to David when he asked kung bakit daw maliit siya at mahina. sabi kasi ni Larry, God has a great plan for him (David), tapos medyo hesitant siya, mababa yung self-esteem niya. ang ganda ng line na 'to. kasi nga naman kung perpekto na tayo, pano pa natin makikita yung greatness ni God, diba?]

~Your actions will always follow your beliefs. If you accept defeat, that's what you'll get.~ [again, from Larry Childers.]

~God will send the rain when He's ready. You have to prepare your field to receive it.~ [eto yung sinabi ng Pastor kay Grant.]

i swear, ang ganda ng movie. panoorin niyo na lang. masyado siyang maganda, na hindi ko alam kung mabibigyan ko ba ng justice kung ikukwento ko rin. hehe. it's about a coach and a football team na wala pang naipapanalong game for the last 6 years. at hindi lang yun, the coach himself has his own share of miseries. but God showed them His power. and the moment they realized that everything is about God, grabe yung naging transformation nila. basta super happy ending. one the best, most inspiring movies i have ever seen.

sige, kain na raw kame ni mama. duling na raw siya. haha.

FACE YOUR GIANTS! ^_^

the week that was..

[happy 4th of July! happy birthday my twin sister in faith, SHY! ^_^]

as usual, busy na naman ako. someone asked me, "musta na? long time no txt ah?" well, i have two reasons. one, wala ako sa mood; two, busy ako kaya hindi ako nagpapaload. in effect, hindi ako nagtetext. i realized, para na akong artista sa dami ng issues na kasali ako. halos lahat na lang ng gawin ko binibigyan ng kulay. alam ko makulay ang buhay pero nasobrahan ata ng kulay ang life ko. hehe.

just some points of reflection (break muna from acads. 30 minutes lang. ^_^)...

last Sunday, Monsi asked us the following:

1. Who is Jesus to me?

2. When did God move in my life?

3. When did He call me by name?

4. What does He want me to do?

i believe it would be great if we would spend some quiet time and try to answer those questions. parang personal retreat. lately, naging busy talaga ako kaya hindi ganun katagal yung moment ko with myself. pero i promise to find time. i will find time. may mga kailangan lang akong ayusin.

[why am i having a hard time talking? i mean writing? i can't seem to collect my thoughts. parang ang dami kong gustong sabihin pero hindi ko alam kung pano. err, maybe because i am not feeling too well. or maybe because i'm not in the mood. or... i don't know.]

****

this week's lessons..

pag nasa UP ako, i always attend the 12nn mass. ang galing kasi ng mga pari (Father Jojo and Father Arre) mag-explain ng Gospel. i mean they are able to look at it from a different perspective. i have my In His Steps, a daily Scripture guide, and i make it a point to read it before i begin the day. nakakatuwa lang kasi after hearing the homily, i find myself in awe. tipong, "ahh.. ganun pala yun!" iba kasi yung understanding ko sa Gospel tapos iba rin yung interpretation ng priest. pero ang nice kasi mas marami akong natututunan. and i just can't keep it to myself. if it's Good News, it's worth sharing. ^_^

July 1: Matthew 8:23-27 (verse 26: "Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?")

ang understanding ko ng Gospel ay ganito: despite the storms in our lives, we should be still and just believe that God is with us to protect us. it's all about faith. ganun din yung interpretation sa In His Steps. "When we are on the eye of the storm, God's eyes are on us to protect us." but what was discussed in the homily (by Father Arre) had nothing to do with faith. it was about PATIENCE. pano nangyari yun? kung babalikan daw natin yung mga naging paglalakbay ni Jesus with His disciples, we'll realize that Jesus has already performed a lot of miracles. and the disciples were there to witness everything. but still, natakot pa rin sila sa storm. kung tutuusin daw, pwede ng magalit si Jesus sa kanila at maubusan ng pasensiya kasi naman paulit-ulit na lang, tipong, "hindi pa ba sila natututo?" they've been with Him for the longest time but they still worry. pero anong ginawa ni Jesus? He simply asked them, "Why are you terrified?" and He calmed the storm. patience is a virtue. i remember Josh Bates' song: You never give up on me. No, You never give up on me. Though I'm weak You are strong, You told me I still belong. No, You never, never give up on me.

medyo napahiya pa ako kasi sabi ni Father, wala raw tayong karapatang magsabi ng "i've had enough!" e ilang beses ko na bang nasabi yun? hehe. sabi rin niya, it's not easy to be patient with people especially with difficult people, but we have to, anyway. Jesus is the perfect example. tapos ang nakakatawa nito, after ko magsimba, ang daming "pagkakataon" na sumubok ng patience ko. haha. nakakaloko talaga. mula sa natanggap kong text hanggang sa biyahe hanggang pag-uwi ko. "breathe in, breathe out. whew! relax. patience. stay cool." yun na lang yung paulit-ulit kong ni-recite sa utak ko. hehe.

July 2: Matthew 8:28-34

nung binasa ko 'to, medyo hindi ko naintindihan kung ano talaga yung point ng story. tungkol kasi 'to sa encounter ni Jesus with the two demoniacs sa territory ng Gadarenes. thanks to Father Arre at nalaman kong yung place pala na yun ay tinuturing na "unclean" place at lahat ng elements sa story - characters (the demoniacs, the swine), etc., ay simbolo ng pagiging "unclean". and Jesus was there. anong lesson ang makukuha naten dun? Jesus came there para linisin sila. pinalaya niya yung dalawang Gadarenes from the evil spirit which possessed them. and so we are challenged to ask ourselves, "what are the unclean situations that i am in?", and we ask God to liberate us, to cleanse our souls. eto yung naisip kong kanta: Create in me a clean heart. Put a new and right Spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence and take not Your Holy Spirit from me.

July 3: John 20: 24-29

Thomas the Doubter.

Hindi si Father Arre yung priest pero ok pa rin naman. ang take-home message niya ay ito: as disciples of Jesus, we must be true witnesses of the faith. we are called to spread the Good News. let's be faithful messengers, never doubting God's power and protection. we take on the mission with a confident and trusting heart that God will always be with us.

July 4: Matthew 9:9-13

unfortunately, wala ako sa UP. pero share ko pa rin yung Gospel. this is one of my favorites. this is where Jesus said, "Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' I did not come to call the righteous but sinners, to repentance." perfect example siguro yung naging response ng mga taong niyaya ko sa Christian Life Program (CLP) ng Singles for Christ: "naku, masusunog ako pag pumasok ako sa simbahan."; "hindi ako bagay diyan."; "nakakahiya. masyado kayong mababait dun." i always tell them na ang community ay hindi ginawa para sa mga walang kasalanan. dahil ang totoo, lahat naman nagkakasala. we desire transformation. if we are all righteous, wala na sanang community, or any spiritual group for that matter, diba? kaya nga hindi ko napigilang mag-react when J told me na may nagsabi raw sa kanya na hindi siya dapat nag-SFC. sabi ko, "sinong nagsabi nun? aawayin ko!" haha. aawayin talaga? hindi naman, sasabihin ko lang sa kanya yung verse na 'to. besides, i really believe na judgmental yung ganung statement. i mean, you cannot tell someone that he's not worthy to be where he is. you just can't. kahit pa biro yun, hindi pa rin tama. kasi lahat naman tayo unworthy e. that's why we need God. kasi on our own, we are nothing. and being 'nothing' gives us NO RIGHT to judge people. Jesus came to call the sinners. WE ARE those sinners.

i think i've said enough. too much na nga ata. hehe. to end this post (dahil kelangan ko ng mag-aral), i would like to share this beautiful song. God bless everyone! ^_^

[Always - Hillsong]
Did You rise the sun for me?
Or paint a million stars that I might
Know Your majesty?

Is Your voice upon the wind?
Is everything I've known marked
With my maker's fingerprints?

Breathe on me
Let me see Your face
Ever I will seek You

'Cause all You are, is all I want, always
Draw me close in Your arms
Oh God, I wanna be with You

Can I feel You in the rain?
Abandon all I am to have You
Capture me again

Let the earth resound with praise
Can You hear as all creation lives
To glorify one name?