*I was searching for true love but I couldn't find one. To my surprise, I found HIM hanging on the cross, dying for my sins. A man named JESUS.
*When things get awfully tiring, seek for silence. Most of the time, the loudest lessons are found at the most quiet corners of our lives. [In the stillness, God is there. ^_^]
*Learn to write your hurts in sand where waves of forgiveness can erase them easily; but carve your blessings in rocks so no one can wash them away.
*NEVER LOVE TWO people at the SAME TIME.. because.. even if you say you LOVE ONE of them MORE.. you might END up LOSING THEM BOTH. [naman! take it from us! diba soul sis? *wink*]
*Our generation had destroyed the Christian virtues. Charity is now a sweepstakes. Hope is now a cigarette. Grace is now a G.R.O. Heaven is now a motel. And Trust is now a condom. What a mess! [tsk. tsk. may point yung gumawa ng message na ito. but we must not be disheartened. let the change begin in us. let's make a difference and make this world a better, holier place.]
*I don't need someone perfect.. don't even need a wealthy one.. I just need someone who can understand and who can be with me in times I'm under my unwanted attitude. [tama! yung HINDI MAPAPAGOD mahalin at tanggapin ako! ehem. excuse me po. hehe.]
*Life is full of reasons to enjoy, to suffer, to fight, to give up. But there's only one reason why life is beautiful: it's when you live life by LOVE. [Amen! all we need is GOD. GOD is LOVE. all we need is LOVE. ^_^]
*It's when we surrender to God's will that we are strongest. -Kris Aquino. ^_^
*We choose how we see people. When we want to like someone, we can be so tolerant. When we want to be irritated by people, we focus on their faults. It's not other people's behaviour that determines how we feel about them, it's our attitude. [para sa'yo: sinabi ko na rin 'to dati. so wag mo sabihing nagbago ako, dahil hindi ako nagbago, yung pagtingin mo saken ang nagbago. (uy, naintriga sila kung para kanino yung message na yun. haha. oh well. alam niyo na yun. actually, hindi naman yun isang tao lang e. naman! ayan, marami ng clue. hehe.)]
*The simplest way to please God is not to repay all the blessings we received from Him but to pass them on. [nice! same as "pay it forward" ^_^]
*Love is like a stapler - it's easy to attach but hard to detach. And the worst is, when you're able to detach it, it still leaves the paper damaged. [hmm. tama rin.]
and now.. the not-so-serious/light/cute/funny text messages.
*Be a person full of love and life. Stay simple yet happy. When things go wrong, don't go blue. Just say, "I'll get through." Always remember, God loves you. Tapos I'm here pa for you! Oh diba? [haha. natawa na lang ako nung nabasa ko yung last part. pero aminin, kahit pano nakaka-touch din naman. hehe.]
*Reasons not to have a girlfriend/boyfriend:
1. Mas mura babayaran sa jeep. (Kasi wala ng ihahatid o susunduin.)
2. Mas mabubusog ka na. (Wala ng ka-share sa food.) [pabor sken 'to! haha.]
3. Kay nanay ka na lang magpapaalam. [naman! attention: over-protective bf/gf]
4. Pwede na mag-inom o mag-yosi hanggang gusto mo kahit saan. [well, dito hindi ako agree. hindi dahil single ka e pwede mo ng patayin sarili mo sa bisyo. disiplina pa rin.]
5. Wala ng buwanang gastos. (Monthsary.) [hehe.]
6. Wala ng magagalit pag nakikipag-usap ka sa ibang boys/girls. [c'mon! attention: over-selosong bf/gf. tsk. tsk. wala na sa lugar yung pagseselos.]
7. Wala ng dahilan para magalit o umiyak. [naman!!! sana lang e tumigil na rin sila diba? hehe.]
MABUHAY LAHAT NG SINGLE! [yeba! natuwa ako sa text message na 'to from mark. hindi lang talaga ako agree sa #4.]
*Kung sabi ng puso mo, "mahal mo siya".. at sabi ng utak mo, "huwag, hindi tama".. dapat sabihin mo: "O ikaw atay, bituka, kidney.. baka gusto niyo rin magcomment.." [haha! kausapin ba ang internal organs? sana lang sumagot sila diba? hehe.]
*Flashback makes you smile: sabi nila hindi ka raw naging bata kung hindi mo natikman ang nectar ng santan. [haha. aamin ako, natikman ko na yun. hehe. dami kameng santan dito e. haha.]
*BATA1: "Lahat tayo nagmula kay Eba at Adan."
BATA2: "Hindi yan totoo. Sabi ng Papa ko nagmula tayo sa unggoy."
BATA1: "Hindi naten pinag-uusapan pamilya mo, wag kang epal."
[haha. bastusan.]
*Anak: Tay! Good news!
Tatay: O ano yun?
Anak: Diba sabi niyo sa bawat pasadong subject ko bibigyan niyo ako ng 100?
Tatay: Oo naman. Bakit?
Anak: Makakatipid ka na naman ngayon. :-D
[hehe. kung ikaw yung tatay, matutuwa ka ba o maiinis? haha. kalokohan lang.]
next time uli. ^_^
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
tamang isip, tamang tawa. ^_^
Saturday, September 27, 2008
would you say yes?
..was so sleepy last night that i wasn't able to post this..
my brother loves Flyleaf, and it's obvious in his multiply and friendster accounts.
last night, he asked me to interpret the meaning of a certain song: "Cassie"
he showed me the lyrics and as i read between the lines, i had one thing in mind: this song is about one's courage to fight and die for what one believes in. and true enough, it was the message of the song.
the song was a tribute to cassie and rachel, victims of the columbine high school shooting.
you could read a lot of stuff about them and they would all lead to this: cassie was asked if she believed in God; she said yes. and she was killed.
it's the same question we ought to answer with conviction. would we say yes even if it'll cost our lives?
SFC's vision is this: A generation of LEADERS and MARTYRS.
during my quiet time, i read this verse from Revelation 12:11, "They conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they gave up their lives going to death."
are we willing to die for our faith? be martyrs for the Lord?
i remember a verse from Matthew 10 (Discipleship and Its Cost), "Whoever saves his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, will find it."
HE DIED FOR US! LET'S LIVE [AND DIE] FOR HIM!
here's the lyrics of the song. really, it's something we could reflect on.
The question asked in order
To save her life or take it
The answer no to avoid death
The answer yes would make it
Make it
[Chorus]
Do you believe in God
Written on the bullet
Say yes to pull the trigger
Do you believe in God
Written on the bullet
And Cassie pulled the trigger
All heads are bowed in silence
To remember her last sentence
She answered him knowing what would happen
Her last words still hanging in the air
(In the air)
[Chorus]
Do you believe in God
Written on the bullet
Say yes to pull the trigger
Do you believe in God
Written on the bullet
And Cassie pulled the trigger
How many will die?
I will die
I, I will say yes
[Chorus]
Do you believe in God
Written on the bullet
Say yes to pull the trigger
Do you believe in God
Written on the bullet
And Cassie pulled the trigger
Do you believe in God?
Do you believe in God?
Do you believe in God?
... And I will pull the trigger
Friday, September 26, 2008
When Life Gets Tough.. [Part 1]
[Finding Peace and Strength in Times of Trouble]
Henry Gariepy
*Kuya Don lent me this book, maybe not [just] because he feels that I need it, but also because he knows that I’m going to blog about it. Hehe. And if the latter was what he had in mind, well, he’s right. ^_^
What I’ll be sharing are some of the most striking words of wisdom (and those which touched/moved me most). But it would be better if you could get a copy of it. It’s handy, light, and a really good read.
I’ll start with the Preface. This may be long. You are not required to read the whole post, though. And don’t worry, I won’t be posting any personal comment, maybe just a little. Haha. ^_^
A sign in an old-fashioned tinker shop read, “We can mend anything except a broken heart.” But an announcement has been posted in the Bible that says of our Heavenly Father, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3). May these devotions be used of the Lord to bring healing and wholeness once again.
God has not promised skies always blue,
Flower-strewn pathways all our lives through;
God has not promised sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.
God has not promised we shall not know
Toil and temptation, trouble and woe;
He has not told us we shall not bear
Many a burden, many a care.
But God has promised strength for the day,
Rest for the labor, light for the way.
Grace for the trials, help from above,
Unfailing sympathy, undying love.
-ANNIE JOHNSON FLINT-
I. When Life Comes Tumbling Down: God cares and is there to help and heal when life comes tumbling down.
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1)
II. The Antidote to Fear: When shattering experiences come, God gives courage and comfort.
Therefore we will not fear. (Psalm 46:2)
When the forecast calls for a storm, ships need a sure anchor; trees, deep roots; persons, a firm foundation of faith.
Faith in God becomes an antidote to fear. Like the psalmist, we, too, can declare in the middle of life’s crises, “Therefore we will not fear.” Throughout the Bible there are 365 “fear nots” or its equivalent. God has given us one for every day of the year!
III. God at the Helm: At the helm of the universe God is in control.
*This is a good chapter.
You hem me in – behind and before; You have laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me. (Psalm 139:5-6)
The problem of the goodness of God in the middle of evil and suffering can be accepted only in the light of God’s sovereignty. This big picture of God provides the eternal rather than the temporal perspective on our human condition.
The sovereignty of God is the one impregnable rock to which the suffering human heart must cling. The Scripture assert God’s supremacy over the evil that man’s sin has brought into human existence. At the helm of the universe our sovereign God is in control.
God does not “send’ our suffering – it is the consequence of sin and Satan at the work in the world. We live in a fallen world, and suffering is the common heritage of fallen humanity. But we can face life’s evil knowing that it cannot thwart God’s purposes for His children. The ultimate triumph is God’s and ours in Him.
IV. The Dark Night of the Soul: When all is darkness, faith gives the victory.
*and this one too. ^_^
My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? (Psalm 22:1)
Sooner or later, we, too, may feel like God has forsaken us.
“I believe in the sun even when it is not shining. I believe in love even when I do not feel it. I believe in God even when He is silent.” –written on a basement wall in
In our Lord’s dark night of the soul, He still laid hold on God: “My God, my God.” That affirmation will sustain us in our own dark night of the soul. In our greatest crisis, we can still have faith that God will ultimately work out His eternal purpose in our lives.
I know not where His islands lift
Their fronded palms in air;
I only know I cannot drift
Beyond His love and care.
-
V. Life’s Unexpected Crosses: Life’s true meaning lies close to its crosses.
As they led Him away, they seized Simon from
Simon of
When life thrusts an unexpected cross on your life, dedicate your cross to the One who was the Ultimate Cross Bearer for the world.
VI. Abide with Me: The Lord’s presence sustains us, and His promise stretches past the darkness into the brightness of day.
Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over. (Luke 24:29)
To each life there comes the time when the shadows of evening fall upon our pathway, and we need the presence of the Lord. It is evening for our world when hope seems so hard to find. It is evening for our families when troubles come. It is evening for us when we experience loss, illness, grief, or tragedy. And nightfall often comes with death.
When the evening times of life come, we would ask the risen Lord, as did the disciples of old, “Abide with us.” His presence sustains us and His promise stretches past the darkness into the brightness of day… We will rejoice in the glow of His presence as He turns our Good Friday into Easter Sunday.
Abide with me, fast falls the eventide.
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me.
VII. Life is Not Fair: Misfortune never leaves us where it finds us.
What I dreaded has happened to me. (Job
“Life is not fair. The wrong people get sick and the wrong people get robbed and the wrong people get killed in wars and in accidents.” –Rabbi Kushner-
Suffering is an inevitable part of life. Misfortune never leaves us where it finds us. The pain will one day cease. But what we learn in these dark experiences is our treasure forever.
… Our testing and trial can lead us into a closer walk with God.
VIII. A Prayer-Answering God: When the outlook is not good, let us take the uplook.
You will pray to Him and He will hear you. (Job
We need the power of prayer for our daily living, tasks, and struggles. Nothing lies outside the reach of prayer except a prayer outside the will of God.
Prayer is pivotal for our lives. We will be better or worse, strong or weak, as we pray more or less. In prayer, our weakness is linked to the Almighty, our ignorance to God’s wisdom, and our finite lives to the infinite God.
“He who has learned to pray has learned the secret of a holy and happy life.” –William Law-
Only as we near the end of the Book of Job – where he enters into communion with God – does Job emerge triumphant in his trial. When he stops talking and starts listening to God, a dramatic transformation takes place.
IX. The Crisis of Change: The Bible provides our needed survival strategies.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)
The crisis of change also occurs on a personal level.
Misfortune can overtake us in a moment, shatter our dreams, and bring us to the brink of desperation.
Alvin Toffler’s book, Future Shock, was written to “help us survive our collision course with tomorrow as we face the death of permanence.” It was designed as a textbook with strategies for survival for those overwhelmed by change and its impacts.
But, of course, we already have a textbook for coping with the crisis of change. The Bible provides the needed survival strategies and tells us of the One who remains unchanging in our changing world.
X. In the
Then the Lord answered Job out of the storm. (Job 38:1)
Most of the psalms and messages of the prophets have come to us out of the crucible of suffering and trial. The New Testament epistles were written mostly in prison. The greatest poets often learned in suffering what they taught in song.
When things go well it is possible to live for years on the surface of things. But when sorrow comes, a man is driven to the deep things of life and God. Sorrow becomes the expositor of mysteries that joy leaves unexplained.
I walked a mile with Pleasure,
She chatted all the way,
But left me none the wiser
For all she had to say.
I walked a mile with Sorrow,
And ne’er a word said she,
But, oh the things I learned from her
When Sorrow walked with me!
XI. The Power of Silence: When crisis strikes, we need to find some quiet moments, to hear the still, small voice of God.
Be still, and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10)
To “be still” is often opposite of what we tend to do when stress hits our life.
Only when the winds and storms of the world that blows across our lives are quieted can we catch and reflect the beauty of the Infinite.
XII. Where is God?: God comes to us through the love, prayer, and caring of others.
“Is God here? And I realized that He is closer to this place than any other place I’ve ever been. Amid this absolute catastrophe of unspeakable proportions, there is a beautiful spirit that defies the imagination. Everyone is everyone else’s brother or sister at the work site. Tears ran freely, affection was exchanged openly, exhaustion was defied. Being on that street, giving cold water to workmen, praying and weeping with them, listening to their stories, was the closest I have ever felt to God.” –Gordon MacDonald, author and pastor who was led to serve with the Salvation Army’s workers at Ground Zero of
God bless everyone! He loves us all. ^_^
verses..
As some of you already know, Mae and I made an agreement to share Bible verses each night. I’ve already posted some of those verses. Here’s more. ^_^
*1 Corinthians 10. Do all to God's glory.
Verse 31: “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
This is just a reminder for us to focus on God and live our lives for Him. Never mind the negative comments of people who just want to bring us down for as long as we know that we’re giving glory to the One who deserves it all. As stated in “IN HIS STEPS”, “The only approval that matters is the one from the Most High.”
*Romans 12. Christian Life: be concerned for others.
Verse 2: “Don’t let yourselves be shaped by the world where you live, but rather be transformed through the renewal of your mind. You must discern the will of God: what is good, what pleases, what is perfect.”
Verse 21: “Do not let evil defeat you, but conquer evil with goodness.”
*Romans 13. Submission to authority.
Verse 2: “Whoever therefore resists authority goes against a decree of God, and those who resist deserve to be condemned.”
The readings from the Paul’s letter to the Romans tell us of one thing: how we should live a life that is pleasing to the Lord; how we can be in the world, but not OF the world.
*Romans 15.
Verses 1-2: “We, the strong and liberated, should bear the weakness of those who are not strong, instead of pleasing ourselves. Let each of us bring joy to our neighbors helping them for the good purpose, for building up.”
I remember Bo’s sharing. There was a fisherman who sells three kinds of crabs: French, German, and Filipino. The pails containing French and German crabs were covered, while the one containing Filipino crabs was left exposed. Then a buyer noticed the difference and asked the fisherman why he just exposed the pail containing Filipino crabs. The fisherman told the buyer that he has no worries about the Filipino crabs getting out of the pail because they are pulling each other down, as opposed to the “push effect” of the German and French crabs. Tsk. Tsk. I hope we can be like the “German crabs” which push each other to get out of the pail. Hindi yung tayo tayo mismo yung naghihilahan pababa. We are called to be blessings to each other, expressions of God’s love for one another. Hindi natin dapat sinasaktan ang isa’t isa. Hindi tayo dapat nagsisiraan. Dapat inaakay natin ang bawat isa papunta kay God. Unfortunately, hindi ganun ang nangyayari. The Bible reminds us of what God expects from us.
**from Mae**
*Daniel 13. The Story of Susanna.
Verse 42: “Eternal God, nothing is hidden from You; You know all things before they come to be..”
Talagang hindi tayo pababayaan ni God as long as we follow His ways. He will definitely make a way for us to feel His love and presence.
*Jeremiah 17:5. “Cursed is the man who trusts in human beings and depends on a mortal for his life, while his heart is drawn away from Yahweh.”
Despite the many things that this world can offer and the many influences that can draw us away from God, we must be firm with our conviction to make Him our 1st priority. ^_^
text uli.
*some new text messages in my inbox. ^_^
“Hindi lahat ng batang naka-bag, nag-aaral.. yung iba, naglalakwatsa lang.” –Dora the Explorer- [Haha!]
Never assume that love is enough to make someone stay or come back to you, because when pain strikes the heart, love fades away no matter how great it is. [Tama! Lalo na kung paulit-ulit ka ng nasaktan ng iisang tao lang. Diba diba? Hehe. Aminin, may mga nakakarelate diyan! Isa na ako dun! Haha.]
Monday, September 22, 2008
commercial.
habang kumakain kame ni mama, pinalabas yung "My Husband's Woman". commercial lang. share ko lang yung nakakuha ng attention ko: Mas matamis kaysa paghihiganti ang pagbangon muli.
nice no?! tama. instead na pairalin mo yung galit at sama ng loob, magsikap ka na lang na tumayo at mag-move on.
some related (and not-so-related) quotes:
~There are things we regret - words we wish had gone unsaid, beginnings that had bitter endings, chances we threw away, roads we should have never taken, signs we didn't see, hearts we hurt needlessly, and wounds we wish we could mend. The past can't be rewritten, but it can make you stronger. Be thankful for every change, for every break in your heart, for every scar. Pages were turned, bridges burned, but you.. YOU HAD LEARNED!~
~It's nice to recall our mistakes in the past, joke about real life punch lines, and laugh about our dumb old selves. Because remembering how stupid we were makes us realize how much wiser we are now.~
~God often uses small matches to light great torches. No matter how small we feel in this world, we are always special and great in His eyes. Shine on!~
.end of post. ^_^
relaxation and rest is part of doing God's work.
Sep 22, 2008 - Stretch yourself too much and you'll lose your power. Rest and relax to get restored. Be blessed! ^_^
http://preacherinbluejeans.com/
Sunday, September 21, 2008
The Golden Rule Comes From a Heart of Gold*
*this post is especially for my soul sister mae. she wasn't able to attend because she was at the Discovery Weekend. i know she was also blessed there. sis, eto na yung promise ko. ^_^ this might be another looooonnnnnnnnngggggggg post. just a warning. *wink*
Bo is right, today's FEAST is powerful! He wasn't there but another great Kerygma preacher, Bro. Obet Cabrillas, was God's messenger today. The topic wasn't in the Choose to be Wealthy series (sis, no worries! hindi mo na-miss yung Talk 3. next week pa yun, pagbalik ni Bo. ^_^), instead, it was a special talk on How God Makes Your Heart Glow To Live Out His Golden Rule! [whew! ang haba ng title. hehe. pero I swear, sobrang powerful ng talk na ito!]
Sorry, but I claim this talk. Haha. This is really for me. And I was so happy to be able to be there, be inspired, and be blessed. Honestly, I really wanted to be at the Discovery Weekend. But everything really happens for a good reason. I wasn't able to attend the retreat, because God wants me to be at the Pastoral Congress yesterday and to be at The Feast today! ^_^ Both events affirmed to me that I made the right decision. What decision is that? Well, too personal to share, but it would be obvious, believe me. ^_^
As I was typing this post, I received a text message from Nap. It's from Joshua Harris: "I can throw myself into romance with all the passion of Romeo, but in God's school of true love, I'm afraid I'm still in Kindergarten." I leave to you the interpretation of this quote. As for me, I admit that I may be still in Kindergarten. I'm still learning how to really love, the way God does.
Anyway, here goes the special talk. ^_^ [This came from The Feast supplement given to us.]
We often belittle life and doubt whether we could impact others by our own. No wonder mediocrity became a convenient standard of the modern world. Worse, our society rewards people for being alike and not for being different. Malcolm Forbes was so right when he said: "Too many overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are."
Today let's break free from our comfort zones, reclaim our freedom to become what God planned us to be: Champions of His goodness and love. To the world, you might be one person; but to one person, you might be the world. You are great beyond measure! Let your Heart of Gold shine!
Key passages:
Luke 6:31. Do unto others as you would have them to you.
Matthew 5:8. Blessed are the pure of heart for they will see God.
According to Bro. Obet, "The more you purify your heart, the more you see God; the more you see God, the more you purify your heart."
Ano nga ba ang meron sa ginto? What is it about gold that makes it so precious? Bro. Obet gave two characteristics: authentic, refined.
Another quote from Bro. Obet, "The most stressful situation you can ever get yourself in is to pretend to be someone you are not. You are beautiful. You are unique. Shift from hypocrisy to integrity."
How to Have a Golden Heart [The 4 PRs of a Golden Heart]
1. PReservation (From Survival Instincts to Sincere Concern)
"For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." - Matthew 16:25
"Yes, know thyself: in great concerns of small. Be this thy care, for this, my friend, is all." - Juvenal
"The capacity to care is the thing which gives life its deepest significance." - Pablo Casals
Bro. Obet explained the stages that a child goes through. During infancy, he acts as a receiver - needs special attention; can't do much but cry and smile; then he grows a little bigger and stronger and becomes an explorer; then he grows even bigger and stronger until he becomes a helper. Unfortunately, Bro. Obet said, there are people who didn't grow and reach the "helper" stage. And worse, there are people who stayed "receivers" even after childhood, even up to adulthood.
He once asked a psychology professor about the worst problem of humans. And the answer he got was, "Narcissism" - too much love of oneself, self-centered, self-righteous, self-glorifying, basta self! Hehe. Funny how he sang this song, which, according to him, is how Narcissists view the world: "It's MY smile, MY face, MY lips that I miss.." Haha. Tawa talaga kame ng tawa. Sabi pa niya, yung mga ganung tao daw, pagdating sa kwentuhan, ganito yung mga linya nila: "Alam mo AKO.. blah blah.. tsaka yung ano KO.. blah blah.. mahilig din AKO sa.. ikaw, kamusta ka naman? anong masasabi mo sa AKIN??" Haha. Kamusta naman?! IKAW lang ba ang nag-eexist sa mundo? Hehe. Funny, but unfortunately, there are really those people. Exaggerated siguro pero meron talagang taong walang pakialam sa iba. Walang MALASAKIT. Eto pa, what is the root word of "malasakit"? Ano ang salitang-ugat ng "malasakit"? Nakakatawa. May nagsabi dun na "malas"! Haha. Pero ang totoo, "sakit" po ang root word nun. "Sakit" as in SACRIFICE hindi "sakit" na sickness. [para clear lang. ^_^]
Yun daw ang kulang sa atin, yung genuine concern for people. We must not think solely of our own survival. Let's think not just of the preservation of our lives, but also of the lives of the people around us.
Mahatma Gandhi once said, "You will discover yourself as you lose yourself in service for others."
Find JOY in JOY - Jesus, Others, Yourself. In Bro. Obet's case, literal talaga yung "Joy" kasi yun din name ng wife niya. Hehe. Kulit lang. I swear he's so funny. Hindi boring. May sense at malalim yung mga sinasabi niya pero he delivers it a non-intimidating manner, very light lang. Parang si Arun Gogna. and si Bo. ^_^
Last point for the first PR (shocks! first palang 'to. anong petsa na. haha.) - from JFK (trivia: according to Guiness, John F. Kennedy is the fastest orator president of all times. ^_^) - this is already familiar: "Do not ask what the country can do for you but what you can do for the country." Change "the country" to these words: God, your family, your friends, others. ^_^
2. PRotection (From Private Safety to Public Security)
[It was during this part that I cried because really, I could relate.]
"Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wing." - Psalm 17:8
"Do not protect yourself by a fence, but rather by your friends." - Czech Proverb
Whew! Bro. Obet said, "ang punong mabunga, binabato." And in difficult situations of persecution, men end up in either of these three F's: fight, flight, fright.
Sabi rin niya, according to one book, "Wild at Heart", there are three essential things in man's existence: a battle to fight, an adventure to live, and a beauty to rescue. Bro. Obet emphasized on this: A BEAUTY to rescue, not BEAUTIES to rescue. Brothers, clear naman yun diba? Haha.
We hold accountable for the people given to us by God. They are gifts (I remember Ate Leah, "Persons are Gifts"), therefore we must take good care of them. And part of caring is protecting. Uh oh, honestly, I have bad memories about that word. And that's the very reason why I wasn't able to hold back the tears as Bro. Obet was explaining. Not only once did I hear people say, "I'm just protecting you.." and yet I can't feel that "protection" they're claiming to give.
This is how Bro. Obet explained it: To protect is to defend. If bad rumors are spreading about a person you care about, you have to defend that person. How do you do it? Just tell the truth. Wag ka ng gumatong pa. Ang nangyayari kasi, every time na may namumuong tsismis tungkol sa isang tao, instead na kausapin yung taong involve (to confirm and to let him/her know what's going on), gagatong pa tayo. Magbabato pa tayo ng mga linyang, "oo nga.. tsaka alam niyo ba, si ano, ganito rin siya... blah blah.." Hindi tayo nakakatulong. Lalo lang natin nilulugmok yung taong pinag-uusapan. Nakakalungkot isiping may mga ganitong klaseng kaibigan, well, sabi nga ni Bro. Obet, hindi talaga sila "kaibigan". Mga nagpapanggap lang. Kaya we should be careful.
Naiyak ako kasi I remember all my REAL friends who stood by me, defended me, and protected me from all the negative things being thrown at me. I realized how few they are. Haha. Yun pala yun. Hehe. Joke lang. Nakakalungkot kasi may mga taong inasahan at tinuring kong kaibigan, pero hindi pala. Oh well. I'm just thankful that God has given me TRUE people. I remember one time a friend told me, "you know what sis, tinanong nila ako kung paano ko raw nakuhang makipag-kaibigan sa'yo; pa'no ko raw natitiis yung ugali mo." Matagal na 'to. Pero recently lang, naulit na naman. Another friend approached me and said, "tinanong niya ako, bakit ka nakikipagkaibigan kay Aiza? napapagod na raw kasi sila sa mga problema mo." Ouch diba? Tapos ang mas ouch dun, sobrang minahal ko yung taong nagsabi nun. I even made a vow that I'll remain a friend to him and that I'll stay for as long as he needs me. Oh well. Sad talaga. But that's the way it is. Sabi nga ni Bro. Obet, "the society is so hurt that it will also hurt you." I also remember what one of my "kuyas" said, "think of it this way sis: their lives are miserable, that's why they want you to be miserable too. They find it hard to believe that you're happy and ok despite all the things they've done to you." Tsk. Tsk. Bro. Obet added, "this culture is already a culture of gatong." Know what "gatong" is? Instead na "patayin yung apoy", lalo pa nating pinapasiklab. Let's stop that attitude, yung siraan at hilahan pababa. It won't do us good. Wala tayong mararating dun. If we really want to "protect" the person we claim to care for, then we must defend him/her and not allow him/her to be even more humiliated. We ARE NOT protecting someone when we keep silent amidst the rumors, neither do we protect him/her by detaching ourself from him/her. So you can't say that, "I'm trying to protect you that's why lumalayo ako." This may be valid in some cases, but not in cases when rumors are already spreading. Ang paglayo sa isang tao dahil lang sa maraming sinasabing hindi maganda tungkol sa kanya ang ibang tao, ay hindi tanda ng pagmamahal. Dahil kung meron kang pinoprotektahan sa ganung paraan, hindi yun yung taong sinasabi mong mahal mo, kundi ang sarili mo lang.
Sabi pa ni Bro. Obet, hindi raw totoong "if you love someone, set him/her free". Dapat daw, "fight for him/her first." If it won't work, then, that's the only time that you let the person go. Tama nga naman. Pero para saken, fight for the person if he's worth fighting for. How would you know that he's worth it? Well, if he, too, is willing to fight for you. Take note, fight FOR you, not, fight YOU. Hehe. Nililinaw ko lang.
We were asked to hold the hand of the person beside us (si Mama yung katabi ko) and to tell that person that we feel secure because of them. Naiyak ako kasi totoong with Mama, Papa, Arnold, and my few true friends, I feel so secure, because through them, I can feel God's hands embracing me. [Soul sister, sayang talaga wala ka dun.]
Tapos kinanta pa ni Bro. Obet yung song ni Rey Valera, "Pangako sa'yo, ipaglalaban ko sa hirap at ginhawa ang ating pag-ibig." I admit, hindi ko na-appreciate yung song na 'to before, siguro kasi may bitterness pa. Ilang beses na ba akong nakarinig ng mga pangakong napako naman? Pero kanina, sobrang na-touch ako. Narealize ko, hindi lang naman pala 'to kanta ng mga may partner e, pwede ko rin 'tong maging kanta kay God, sa family ko, at sa mga mahal ko sa buhay. Kaya people, friends (you know who you are), pangako, hindi ko kayo iiwan.. ipaglalaban ko kayo!
As a conclusion, Bro. Obet encourage us to be a TRUE friend to the people around us. And what is a TRUE friend? He/She is someone who will defend his/her friends. Siya yung taong, kahit buong mundo pa ang galit sa'yo, mananatili siya sa side mo. Hindi ka iiwan, at bibigyan ka ng assurance na may nagmamahal sa'yo, may nagpapahalaga, at may naniniwala. Isang taong kilala kung sino at kung ano ka. Isang taong hindi magpapadala at magpapaapekto sa negative comments ng iba. Let me clarify, to defend is not the same as to tolerate. We know what is right and what is wrong. Kung may mali talaga yung tao, then, kelangan ding pagsabihan. Because aside from being a defender, a real friend is someone who would lead you to the light and not to darkness. Dun mo actually malalaman kung healthy ang isang relationship or hindi - ask yourself, napapabuti ba ako o napapasama?
So there, find a TRUE friend, and keep him/her. Better yet, BE A TRUE FRIEND to someone, to as many people as you can. Again, persons are gifts, they are blessings. We are persons. We are gifts. LET'S BE BLESSINGS. ^_^
3. PRovisions (From Satisfaction to Sharing)
"Anyone who does not provide for his household, especially for his immediate family has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." -1 Timothy 5:8-
"You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give." -Kahlil Gibran-
"There is no such thing as a happy selfish person." -Ralph Waldo Emerson-
When you come to serve the Lord, you give your all - time, talent, treasure. Sabi ni Bro. Obet, hindi raw pwedeng installment, GIVE YOUR ALL. He mentioned about KENOSIS: self-emptying. If one is empty, then he/she is also open and able to receive what the Lord has to give. Because it is when we are empty does God fill us with His abundant love, grace, and mercy. In Bro. Obet's words, "pupunuin tayo ng Diyos, siksik, liglig, umaapaw." Share what you have generously, because it is the Lord who would fill you up again with overflowing blessings which comes with peace, joy, love, and mercy. ^_^
4. PRayers (From Petitions to Intercession)
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." -Philippians 4:6-
"I thank my God every time I think of you. In all my prayers for all of you, I pray with joy." -Philippians 1:3-4-
"The deeper you are drawn to God, the more you have to go to the world and carry divine life into it. The more you pray, the more you should bring out what you prayed about in the world." -St. Edith Stein-
Intercessory prayer is powerful. While it is ok for us to have 'selfish' (not the negative connotation) prayers, we should also make it a point to pray for one another. Bro. Obet shared, one night, 8:30 to be exact, his ninang had a bad dream. Pumunta raw sila sa morgue at pagtanggal nila ng kumot, nakita nila yung mukha ni Bro. Obet. She told her husband about it and they immediately prayed for Bro. Obet. The next day, nagkita sila and his ninang told him what happened the previous night. I swear I had goosebumps when I heard his story. That same night, at exactly the same time, they (Bro. Obet and some friends) met an accident somewhere in Bulacan at muntik na silang sumadsad sa isang malaking wall. And if that happened, they would have died; the nightmare would have been a reality. But see the power of prayer? It can really save lives. Marami akong stories tungkol diyan. And I can really attest to the power of intercessory prayer. We all need each other. Let's pray for one another. ^_^
Wohoo! Matatapos na. Haha. Ang haba pala talaga. Yung last na PR ay PResence. Sabi nga ni Confucius, "wheresever you are, there your heart should be." If a friend needs you, BE THERE. If you're hearing mass or listening to a talk, BE THERE! Presence, in the context of this discussion, is not merely physical presence. It is TOTAL presence - physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually.
Pero hindi lahat nagtatapos sa pagkakaroon ng golden heart. Dahil..
Your heart of gold will be tested by fire!
Sirach 2:5. For as gold is tested by fire, so as worthy men in the crucible of trials. (Remember this verse soul sis? ^_^)
1 Peter 1:6-7. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even through refined fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Simple lang, pero matindi yung message ng part na 'to. Sasaktan ka ng mundo. The world will be unfair to you. But DO NOT LET ANYONE STEAL THE KINDNESS IN YOUR HEART.
When people are unkind, be kind anyway. Because in the end, it's not going to be between you and them, but between you and GOD.
Na-comfort ako sa sinabi ni Bro. Obet: sa bawat patak ng luha mo, nalilinis ang puso mo. Naalala ko yung sinabi ni Pope John Paul II. "It is better to cry than to be angry. Because crying cleanses the soul."
At eto yung pinakamatindi (ang ganda pa ng boses ni Bro. Obet kaya sobrang touching talaga), in God's time, when you've gone through every refining fire that would purify your heart and make you as pure as gold, you would hear God singing this to you: "I SEE YOUR TRUE COLORS SHINING THROUGH.. I SEE YOUR TRUE COLORS AND THAT'S WHY I LOVE YOU.. SO DON'T BE AFRAID TO LET THEM SHOW YOUR TRUE COLORS.. TRUE COLORS.. ARE BEAUTIFUL LIKE A RAINBOW.."
Be you. Be true. Be God's vessel of love. Be a blessing. ^_^
Ayun lang po. ^_^
Matutulog na ako. Good night everyone! ^_^
karma is real.
last friday was a happy friday. it was dan's birthday, and we (tweet2) celebrated with him and his family. todo videoke kame ni bebi (leyn) habang si alpha naman ay nagpapaka-kj. haha. dito kame sa bahay natulog ni alpha. dapat si leyn din kaya lang pinapauwi na siya ng kanyang "daddy". ^_^ anyway, ano ang koneksyon ng title sa post na ito? haha.
share lang ng verses na nabasa ko (at ni mae).
mae read: 2 Kings 5 (Story about how Naaman was healed of leprosy)
the moral of the story is: may consequence talaga lahat ng ginagawa natin. may punishments and rewards, depending on our actions.
sabi nga ni mae, she wonders daw kung bakit ganun lagi yung theme ng mga nababasa niya, sa tingin ko naman, God just assures her that justice will be served in due time. so, sa lahat ng pain na na-cause sa kanya ng ibang tao, may kapalit yun. likewise, may reward din siyang makukuha for every good deed she has done. ^_^
eto naman yung nabasa ko: Ecclesiastes 10:7-10 ("So man goes forward to his eternal home")
the passage says that as much as we need to enjoy life on earth, we should also be mindful of our actions. kasi nga, may consequence lahat ng ginagawa natin. karma is real. do good and you will receive good karma, do otherwise, and you'll receive bad karma.
connected din dun sa verse na nabasa ni mae. ^_^
verse 9: "Rejoice, young man, in your youth and direct well your heart when you are young; follow your desires and achieve your ambitions but recall that God will take account of all you do."
a simple reminder and challenge na rin for us to enjoy the world, and at the same time, remain righteous and holy individuals. i remember a quote from In His Steps, na-share ko na 'to before, share ko uli, "You can be in the world but not OF the world." ^_^
at eto pa, connected pa rin, last night naman, i read: Ecclesiastes 12:13-14. Karma is Real pa rin yung theme.
"Conclusion: fear God and obey His precepts; for man depends entirely on this. God brings out every deed to judgment, all that is hidden, be it good or bad."
that's it friends. (on this topic lang. hehe.)
may share pa ako. tungkol naman sa mga natutunan ko sa feast kanina. saglit lang. ^_^
waah! game 1 na! go la salle! go ateneo! haha. e kanino ba talaga ako kampi? hmm.. kung sino na lang manalo. haha. pareho ko kasing gusto yung both teams e. masayang laro ito! ^_^
..some things..*
last night, i read Romans 5:1-11. "Now we are at peace with God."
i liked verses 3-5: "..trials produce patience; from patience comes merit; merit is the source of hope; and hope does not disappoint us because the Holy Spirit has been given to us, pouring into our hearts the love of God."
simple lang, hope in the Lord and you won't be disappointed. be thankful for the trials because through them, you are given the opportunity to become better and stronger.
i slept with this quote in mind: "Let nothing disturb you, let nothing frighten you, all things are passing. God alone does not change. Patience achieves everything. Whoever has God lacks nothing. God alone suffices." -St. Teresa of Avila- [by the way, i was born on her Feast Day. sabi ko nga kay mama, dapat pala Teresa name ko. hehe.]
ang nice din kasi when i watched "Preacher in Blue Jeans", yun din yung message ni Bo. "This, too, will pass. Only one thing will remain: GOD."
eto naman yung verse from Mae: Proverbs 10:7. "The righteous will be remembered with blessings, the name of the wicked will rot away."
a simple reminder for all of us. sabi nga ni Sir Jim, "do the right thing always!"
******
some random quotes, messages, at kung ano-ano pa na nahukay ko sa baul. hehe. mahilig kasi akong magkalkal ng mga bagay-bagay. at eto yung mga natagpuan kong old notes. share lang. ^_^
~Your smile is one of the most important part of your personality. It is a mirror that reflects the good things inside of you. So keep smiling. ^_^~
the following quotes were taken from Rizal's Diary. i read that book when i took PI 100 under Sir Ambeth Ocampo. ^_^
~All can be explained when one is favorably inclined to hear, and all can be accepted when one is willing to believe. The will has an enormous power over the imagination just as the imagination exercises enormous power over the will.~
~We are in accord that God exists. How can I doubt His existence when I am convinced of my own? To recognize the effect is to admit the cause. To doubt the existence of God is to doubt one's conscience; and to doubt one's conscience is to doubt everything. In such a case, what would be the purpose of life?~
~The best religions are the simplest ones, the most natural, the ones most in harmony with the needs and aspirations of man. Herein lies the principal excellence of the doctrine of Christ.~
*****
i received a text message from someone. sabi niya, "i have a question and it concerns you. pa'no mo makakalimutan ang taong ayaw mong kalimutan? pakisagot po, please." natawa na lang ako. kasi obvious naman ang sagot e. dude, you must DECIDE! hindi na yun dapat pang itanong sa akin o kanino pa man. ikaw lang din makakasagot niyan. kasi nasa'yo naman ang decision. walang makakatulong sa'yo kundi sarili mo. ^_^ pray about it. but at the same time, TAKE ACTION! God bless! let go. be happy. smile kapatid! ^_^
*****
*this is a late post. i should have posted this last friday, but was too busy to do so.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
dalawang tula.
i got these poems from my tutee's exam. just thought of sharing. ang nice kasi ng message. simple lang yung poems (grade 7 yung tutee ko) but i do believe that there's greater wisdom in them. ^_^
[Pamela Enrique]
I wanted to turn back the hands of time
Like bringing back the past
Recalling old memories
Wherein I learned a lot
I wish to turn back the age of time
Not to be hopeless like a withered flower
Neither to be discouraged
Nor to give up
Instead, to correct immeasurable mistakes
To surmount and vanquish trials
To avoid failure and strive for achievements
To overcome difficulties and conquer tribulations
For the prosperity of tomorrow
And for the success of the future
I know this thing will never happen
For a time once lost will never be found
All I have to do is start right now
So no more time be wasted again
************
It's Worth the Wait
[John Chan]
Impatiently waiting
It seems like endless studying
Reading all sorts of texts
But then what's next?
I thought all these hard work is useless
But elders say it's the key to success
Like a little bird inside an egg
I am eager to be free
To hatch from the egg and flee
Excited to fly and soar in the sky
Spreading my wings and learning new things
But for now I can only dream
Nevertheless, how near it seems
I pray to God that my dreams will come true
But I think God says, "It depends on you."
**********
God loves everyone.
good morning world! ^_^
share lang ng nabasa ko kagabi before matulog.
i read Jonah 4. God loves everyone.
i love the message of this chapter because it shows how compassionate our God is. hindi talaga matutumbasan ng tao yung kabaitan, kabutihan, at lawak ng pang-unawa ng Diyos.
verses 10-11: Yahweh said, "You are concerned about a plant which cost you no labor to make it grow. Overnight it sprang up, and overnight it perished. But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot distinguish right from left and they have many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned for such a great city?"
nice isn't it? God is a loving, a forgiving, and an understanding God. kahit na magkamali tayo at paulit-ulit naten Siyang nasasaktan, consciously or unconsciously, intended or not, hindi pa rin Niya tayo kayang tiisin at pabayaan. He cares for and loves us unconditionally. pwede tayong tiisin, kainisan, siraan, at balewalain ng kapwa naten tao. we can be judged and condemned, but we will always have the assurance that GOD loves us for ALL that we are - yung buong "package", hindi lang yung kagandahan o katalinuhan o kayamanan naten.
ang saya lang at ang sarap mabuhay kapag alam mong may nagmamahal at tumatanggap sa'yo kung SINO at kung ANO ka.
sabi ko nga sa shoutout sa friendster, "how sweet it is to be loved by You.." ^_^
*****
last night's quote from Falling Asleep With the Saints: "The Church is like a great ship being pounded by the waves of life's different stresses. Our duty is not to abandon the ship, but to keep her on her course." -St. Boniface-
it is the same as saying "fight the good fight of faith."
tapos naisip ko rin, ngayon lang, tayo yung Church. sobrang daming humahampas na malalaking alon na pilit tayong nilalamon. ganun yung life naten, puro struggle. but instead of choosing to escape, let's choose to fight. kahit pa anong mangyari, know that God is on our side. and as long as He is with us, we will never lose. let us not abandon the ship, we just have to call on God for help. SOS lang but never abandon. ^_^
*****
this morning, i read Mae's message. she read Sirach 29:7-28. this is a good read when you need guidance on your financial dealings. ^_^
verse 10: Better to spend your money on a brother or a friend than to let it rust under a stone, to your discredit.
verse 11: Use your money according to the commandments of the Most Hight and you will find it more valuable than gold.
parang yung talk ni Bo last Sunday. tama nga naman, naisip ko rin e. galing din kay God yung money naten so it is but proper for us to spend it on things that would glorify Him - tithes, alms-giving. marami tayong magagawa. and trust me, it is better to give than to receive. gasgas na yun pero totoo. nabasa ko sa blog ni ken yung tungkol sa pagbibigay ng time sa mga hindi karapat-dapat. well, sayang talaga. pero sabi ko nga sa kanya, kung hindi man ma-appreciate ng tao yung effort naten, God does. to Him, nothing is in vain. so wag tayong manghinayang. wag din tayong mapagod magbigay. kahit dun sa mga taong hindi marunong magpahalaga. feeling ko nga mas kailangan nila tayo e. para maramdaman nila kung ano ang kahulugan ng pagmamahal. malay naten, in the near future, matuto rin sila. ^_^
dami ko na namang sinabi. hehe. sabi ko pa naman saglit lang ako dito. gagawa lang ng letter for the chapter teaching tapos pa-print tapos alis na. oh well, i just can't stop typing. hehe.
God bless everyone! remember, God loves us! Smile and be happy! ^_^
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
home is heaven.
one class day, Sir Quiwa was discussing about the transient state and he mentioned, as an example, our existence here on Earth. He said, like most of us already know, "this (the Earth) is not our home." and he asked, "where is our permanent home?" in my mind, i thought of one place: heaven. Sir Quiwa then said, "it's a binary choice, isn't it? it's either zero or one." at natawa na lang ako. naisip ko, "nice! ang galing talaga ni sir. na-connect pa rin ang science at reiligion. ^_^" pero oo nga naman, binary choice talaga yun. either you enjoy the pleasure of heaven, or suffer the fires of hell. so what do you want? logic 1 or logic 0? ^_^
*****
i'm on therapy again. kaya naman pag-uwi ko sa bahay, tulog agad. paggising ko, tutorial naman. wala ng time mag-blog. tsk. tsk. but because this is my passion, hindi pwedeng hindi ko ito isingit sa napaka-hectic kong sched. hehe. artista. 
share ko lang yung mga nabasa ko since Sunday. ^_^
09.14.08
i read two chapters today: 1 Samuel 1 (The Story of Hannah) and 1 Samuel 2:1-10(Hannah's Prayer - Thanksgiving Song)
In the first chapter, I came to admire Hannah for her faithfulness, sincerity, and truthfulness no matter what other people think of her.
Verse 16: "Do not take me for a bad woman. I was so afflicted that my prayer flowed continuously."
I could relate, really, because I am usually judged as too emotional especially when I pray. Well, I am not alone! Before me, there was Hannah. ^_^
I was also touched by what Hannah did when the Lord finally answered her prayer of having a child. She went before the Lord at the temple, and offered the child saying, "I asked for this child and Yahweh granted me the favor I begged of Him. Now I think Yahweh is asking for this child. As long as he lives, he belongs to God." Just the same for us: we came from God and we belong to Him. We ought to give Him the best of who we are and the best of what we have because He deserves it. Because everything came from Him and rightfully belongs to Him.
The second chapter tells exactly how I feel. "My heart exults in Yahweh, I feel strong in my God. I rejoice and laugh at my enemies for You came with power to save me." ^_^
09.15.08
Deuteronomy 30:6-14. "My commandments are not beyond your reach."
God is saying that we CAN really obey the commandments because they are not beyond our strength. But in order to really fulfill them, we must first receive the "circumcision of the heart." God will test, clean, and purify our hearts to make us holy. So lahat ng pinagdadaanan natin, part yun nga "process" of our becoming "persons of God" and not just merely human beings.
09.16.08
Wisdom 1:1-15. (Seek life; know God)
I like verses 13-14. "God did not make death, nor does He rejoice in the destruction of the living. Since He has created everything, all creatures of the universe are for our good.."
Sinasabi lang dito na hindi gusto ni God yung misfortune ng tao. Nagiging consequence lang ang mga ito ng mga kasalanan naten. At syempre caused by evil din. Yun yung strategy ni Satan para mapunta tayo sa kanya. But of course, he'll never win. God only wants the best for us. And in everything that we go through, God gives us enough strength to overcome. Such a comforting thought. ^_^
*****
during the Book Fair, i bought "Falling Asleep with the Saints" (Quotations from Great Saints) and i make it a point to read one quotation per night. share ko yung first three na nabasa ko. ^_^
~St. Francis de Sales: "Do not fear what may happen tomorrow. The same loving Father who cares for you today will care for you tomorrow and everyday. Be at peace then, and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginings.~
~St. Angela Merici: "You will effect more by kind words and a courteous manner, than by an anger or sharp rebuke, which should never be used but in necessity."~
- i particularly like this one because it implies that it's ok to utter sharp words when the NEED arises. so ok lang talaga magmaldita minsan, kung kailangan na talaga. *wink*
~St. Gerard Majella: "Who except God can give you peace? Has the world ever been able to satisfy the heart?"~
- again, only GOD satisfies! ^_^
*****
lastly, ilang messages lang..
~You can't be romantically involved with two people at the same time. Love triangles always end up hurting everyone involved. If you really love a person, you would not fall for the other. So think about how you really feel. Don't think the problem is about choosing between the two persons. It's always about finding out what makes you happy.~ [as in really happy.. i got this message from leov and i agree! may kilala ako hindi lang two-timer, three or four or more than five pa ata. haha. tsk. tsk.]
~You are created by God to succeed; designed to win; equipped to overcome; anointed to proper; blessed to become a blessing. In Christ, you have everything!~ [amen!]
~Let God work out the details of His plan in your life. Remember, no other BEST exceeds GOD'S BEST. Always entrust your life to God and peace will come your way.~ [tama! sabi nga ni Bo, God always has a GREATER PLAN. ^_^]
~Just because you don't believe in something doesn't mean it cannot kill you. - Alone in the Dark~ [wala lang. tamang paningit. hehe. nabasa ko lang sa cover ng Alone in the Dark habang nagliliwaliw ako isang beses sa Odyssey.]
*****
last na pala talaga. hehe. can't help but share e.
three things about last Sunday's Gospel from John 3:13-17.
sabi ni Father Alex Balatbat sa kanyang napaka-powerful na homily:
1. The cross is a painful memory, but more than that, it is a loving memory.
2. Jesus died on the cross primarily because of His love for us.
3. In every cross, there is a blessing; in every blessing, there is a cross.
be thankful for our crosses because in His time, God will reveal to us the great blessing that comes from them.
ayun lang. magandang gabi sa lahat. ^_^
Monday, September 15, 2008
happy weekend [again ^_^]
last friday, kuya don and i went to st. joseph, at the wake of kuya ian's dad. i missed talking to kuya ian and so i didn't miss the chance to chat with him. as expected, i gained something out of our conversation.
on sinning, changing, and becoming a better you: people often use this excuse for their shortcomings, "tao lang ako/i'm only human". and i admit, i have also used this a couple of times before. but i was enlightened by kuya ian's words. "Pag sinabi mong 'tao ka lang', para mo na ring minaliit ang gawa ng Diyos." oo nga naman. we can't really say that "we're JUST/ONLY humans." because we are God's creation, in His image and likeness. we cannot be "just/only humans", because our Creator is God - wise, perfect, amazing. ^_^
and because we (kuya don, kuya ian, aiza) missed each other, we can't let the night end without taking pictures. hehe. 
*****
on saturday, mae and i went to SMX Convention Center for the 29th Manila International Book Fair. but before that, we had lunch at Red Ribbon, MoA. nakakatuwa lang kasi unlike our previous date, tawa na lang kame ng tawa nung sat. at na-enjoy na talaga namin yung food (dapat lang naman kasi mahal yung pagkain, dapat sulitin. hehe.)!
dami naming nabili sa Book Fair pero pinaka-importante ang aming bagong Bible! wohoo! saya saya! ^_^
from SMX, tumuloy naman ako sa aking bagong tutorial. whew! umuwi saglit sa bahay para magbihis at kunin ang mga kelangan kong dalhin sa CLP, tapos pumunta na sa Rosario Church. tsk. tsk. ever since i became part of SFC, yun ang 1st Lord's Day na hindi masyadong "naramdaman" ang presence ko. sumaglit lang kasi talaga ako dun para ibigay ang mga dapat ibigay. sobrang pagod na rin kasi. when i got home, nag-ayos lang ako, nag-pray, nagbasa ng bagong Bible (yey! ^_^ i read Sirach 1.), nag-share kay mae, at natulog na. pero bago pala yun, i received a text from a brother which says, "sis, busy ka ba? hindi kasi kita nakita sa Lord's Day. hindi lang ako sanay." oh well, ako rin naman hindi sanay. [sigh.]
*****
best sunday ever! i attended the feast with mae and with my whole family! yey! so happy. dumating din mom and ate ni mae so na-occupy namin yung isang row dun. hehe. saya saya lang. at mas natuwa ako ngayon kasi nabasa ko ang blog ng aking kapatid. (http://lovetoscream.multiply.com/journal/item/7/people_of_cross)
^_^ tama siya, i'm gonna blog about it. pero baka mamaya or bukas na kasi i have to leave in a while. tutorial uli. naisip ko lang, hindi kaya ako tinatawag magturo? hehe.
after the feast, i went to MoA (again) to meet with Marshee and Binoy. na-miss namin ang isa't isa! kaya lang, sa sobrang daming napag-usapan, hindi na namin nakuha pang magtake ng pictures. puro daldalan na lang. haha. but we all enjoyed the Book Fair (yes, bumalik uli ako dun. at nandun din sina Ate Jing at Kuya Don). Marshee was so happy kasi she subscribed to Reader's Digest tapos she got so many free stuffs. how i wished may P1500 din ako that time. hehe. pero malapit na yun! wohoo! nakakatuwa pa kasi may nakilala akong SFC from UP. ^_^
yun lang. really need to go. i have so many things to share pero next time na lang uli.
God bless everyone! ^_^
got this message this morning (thanks wewe!). medyo late na pero share ko pa rin: "Every morning, leave all your worries outside your gate.. because that's where they pick up the garbage. Seize the day."
at eto pa, last na bago ako umalis. hehe. daming hirit. salamat iho sa message na ito. ^_^
>>"I'd rather treasure an enemy who frankly says that he hates me than to keep a friend whose passion is to put me down secretly."<<
Friday, September 12, 2008
text.*
my phone's crazy. i think it needs repair.
unlike before, i can no longer use the "send to list/send to many" option. it(my phone) dies every time i send messages. tsk. tsk.
for those who got used to receiving my random messages, sorry. sa mga naiirita naman dahil sa na-flood ko ang inbox nila, congrats! wala na kayong narereceive na text from me. hehe. pero maaayos din naman yung phone ko, hopefully. (i realized, ok lang din naman 'to. tipid sa load. hehe. tsaka busy rin talaga. as in.) ^_^
dahil hindi nga ako makapag-send, dito ko na lang ipopost yung mga gusto kong i-share. ^_^
*Gamitin ang puso para alagaan ang mga taong malalapit sa'yo. Gamitin ang utak para alagaan ang sarili mo. [yeba! agree! agree!]
*Listen to your elder's advice not because they are always right but because they have more experiences of "being wrong." [onga naman!]
*Pain has a way of clipping our wings and keeping us from being able to fly. And if left unresolved for very long, you can almost forget that you were created to fly in the first place. - The Shack [i'm not sure if this a movie or a book. pero nice yung message.]
*The problem with being strong is.. nobody bothers to ask if you're hurt. [kwento lang.. when i received this message, napaisip ako, "oo nga no?" and so i replied, "so... are u hurt?" surprisingly, my friend answered, "yes".. and on that night, i, once again, became a friend to him.. grabe, ang dami ko na palang na-miss kamustahin. friends, i just want to assure you that i am always here. hindi niyo man ako makasama in good times, trust that in bad times, you can count on me. i'm just a text/PM away. ^_^ sorry for the times that i wasn't able to be there. it's a mistake on my part. i should have checked on you. tsk. tsk. sorry again.]
*The only difference between a good day and a bad day is your attitude. [this is true!]
*To die in faith is a gift for some. To live in faith is a call for all. [shy shared this beautiful message. thank you sis! ^_^]
*A person knows more than what's recorded on his transcript; has more skills than what's listed on his resume; and certainly more valuable than what's written on his payslip. Our worth cannot be measured by any record in this world.. but by the heart of those who care for us. [oo naman!]
*Never use your failure yesterday as an excuse for not trying again today. We may not be able to undo the damages or reverse the consequences, but we can always make a new start. [very nice! life goes on. ^_^]
*Respect those people who find time for you in their busy schedule. But really love those people who never see their schedule when you need them. [aww. i wonder, if this is the case, do i deserve respect? or love? hmm. i think both. hehe. e sino naman kaya yung pwede kong mahalin kung ganito nga? syempre si God! sino pa ba? ^_^]
*It's not the great things we do and the people who applaud that matter, but the times we screw up, breakdown, fall apart, hit the floor, and the friends who stick around and help us laugh through it all. [to all my true friends na hindi napapagod mahalin ako, salamat! mahal ko kayo. at alam kong alam niyo kung sino kayo. sa mga pagod na, sorry. wag niyo na akong intindihin. i'm OK. ^_^]
*To walk is what I always do. But I prefer not to look back to people who's no longer walking with me. Then someone asked me: "why did you just let other people leave you?" Then I answered: "life is a long journey.. let's see who will be walking with me until the end of the road." [hmm.. sino pa kayang hindi mapapagod saken? yung willing maglakad kasama ako kahit umabot pa kame sa dulo ng daigdig? hehe. hyperbole. ^_^]
*the above messages were sent by the following beautiful people: wewe, vera, pat (iho), shy, marshee, jerreline, leov. thank you! ^_^
i love you [period]
..this was the core of Father Louie's homily yesterday. the Gospel was taken from Luke 6:27-38. let me quote some parts:
27: But to you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
28: bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
29: To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic.
30: Give to everyone who asks of you and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back.
31: Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Father Louie asked: how much do you love? and how do you love?
According to him, the right way of loving is the Christian way of loving - UNCONDITIONAL, as preached in CLPs (Christian Life Program), conferences, teachings, retreats, etc.
I asked myself, "am I loving the right way?"
Yes, I love without conditions. I accept people for who they are. I don't judge. And I really believe in the capacity of an individual to change for the better.
But something is still wrong. And I came to realize the "missing link", if I may say so. Love, specifically unconditional love, is prone to abuse.
I always receive comments from family and friends on the way I love. And usually, they all say the same thing: you love too much! leave a little for yourself.
I would always wonder, "Wait, isn't love supposed to be unconditional? That's what I'm doing. I'm loving without "if's", "but's", "because", etc. I'm simply loving."
I thought I was doing the right thing all along..
Until God woke me up from the bad dream and showed me what really is the RIGHT way of loving.
I must say that I learned my lesson the hard way, but I am thankful that I learned it. ^_^
God made it clear, now more than ever, that love is supposed to be unconditional, but it isn't supposed to be limitless. (C'mon! Limits! I remember Math 53 and 54. Haha. What is the limit of 1^n as n approaches infinity? - someone posted this question in UP's multiply site. Hehe. Segue. Okay, serious again.*wink*)
Yes, aside from being unconditional, love should also be with limit. It's true that you have to leave something, even just a little, for yourself.
Ask me why? Because people CAN and WILL abuse you. I'm not saying that everyone will abuse your love, but I'm saying that there would be those people who would be overconfident to believe that your world revolves around them and that you just can't live without them. As a consequence of that false belief, they would take you for granted, mistreat you, and would consider you as something they own. And because you are no longer seen as a precious individual who has rights and who deserves respect, they can simply use you to satisfy their ego, as if you are a trophy they can display, or an award they can show off.
[Tell me I'm wrong and I'll give you real examples. Hehe.]
And when you've finally realized that, "Hey, this is no longer right. I can live and BE HAPPY without him/her." and have decided to live your life THE WAY YOU SHOULD - FREE and INDEPENDENT, they will wonder how in the world did you manage to do that.
Funny, but true. You will deeply love them (unconditionally, and yes, without limits), they will, maybe, love you too (less, and sometimes just because they have to), eventually they'll get bored and tired so they will find something or someone else to play with. You will be left - broken, wasted - a trash. You wake up from the nightmare, liberated from the slavery, and finally decide to make things right, live a full life, and be really happy. And then they (the people who thought your world revolves around them and that you'd be forever miserable when they left you) would know about your "rebirth", and obviously, won't believe it. So they'll try to win you back. (In the back of their minds, they're thinking: "he/she couldn't possibly make it on his/her own. he/she loves me so much. he/she just can't live without me. he/she is just pretending that everything's well in his/her life. he/she hasn't moved on yet - he/she never will. he/she can never forget me, maybe for some time, but not for long. i can win him/her back.".. and some other false hopes). But you are determined not to let your life be ruined again. And so you go on with your happy life. What about them? Well, they have two choices: Either to continue believing in lies they've made for their own satisfaction, OR, to accept the fact that YOU ARE NO LONGER THEIR POSSESSION, and that there's no other way they can ever fool you again. It's no longer your problem. Let them think and say whatever they want. Because what's important is your new life - and the whole new meaning of your existence - not for them, or for anyone, but for GOD who loves you so much, cares for you deeply, and sees you as A VERY IMPORTANT PERSON.
So... ? What now? What's the connection? Actually, I don't know either. Hehe. I was just typing. That's all I did. Sorry if I made no sense.
About the title.. well, that's it.. Love without condition, but with limit. Don't allow yourself to be a slave. Because in the end, the blame would still be on you. ("Alam ko naman kasing mahal na mahal mo ako at hindi mo ako kayang iwan.. (Kaya pwede kitang saktan, iwan, at balikan kung kelan ko gusto.)" See? It's your fault because you love sooooooooo much, TOO MUCH!)
You may have nothing but good intentions, and you may be JUST LOVING, but too much of anything is bad, so they say. And unfortunately, too much loving isn't good as we may think it is. Because it simply gives the other person the chance to abuse you and to be really confident - to the negative extent. It doesn't help you nor your partner.
One final note, again from Father Louie. (These were not his exact words. But it's how I understood it. ^_^) First and foremost, you have to the love the Lord. And the best way to love God is conversion. For how can you really love when you continue to sin?
I remember Ate Leah's talk, 'When you love God, transformation takes place. Mahihiya ka ng magkamali kasi mahal mo si Lord at ayaw mo Siyang saktan.'
That's all. (Actually, isa pa lang 'to sa napakaraming ideas na naisip ko. We all learn everyday. And we all come up with realizations almost every minute, or hour. We never stop learning. ^_^)
