Each Day

I dedicate this post to Cora. She's one of those who encouraged and reminded me that I should update this blog and keep writing. Thanks Cora! After 2 long years, here I am again (hoping to write more and continually encourage by sharing more of what comes out from things and thoughts around and within me). This post's for you. I hope you like this one as well. Enjoy each day, thanking God always!

The thought of writing again came while I was reading Max Lucado's book When God Whispers Your Name. I checked on my old blog site but I couldn't anymore remember my password. It's been a loonggg time. How I miss writing! I should be posting original pieces here but I cannot help sharing this part from his book..enjoy!

It's quiet. It's early. My coffee is hot. The sky is still and black. The world is still asleep. The day is coming. In a few moments the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun. The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day. The calm of solitude will be replaced by the pounding pace of the human race. The refuge of the early morning will be invaded by the decisions to be made and deadlines to be met.

For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day's demands. It is now that I must make a choice. Because of Calvary, I'm free to choose. And so I choose.

I CHOOSE LOVE..
No occasion justifies hatred;
no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love.
Today I will love God and what God loves.

I CHOOSE JOY...
I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance.
I will refuse the temptation to be cynical...
the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see
people as anything less than human beings,
created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as
anything less than an opportunity to see God.

I CHOOSE PEACE...
I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.

I CHOOSE PATIENCE...
I will overlook the inconveniences of the world.
Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I'll
invite him to do so. Rather than complain that the
wait is too long, I will thank my God for a moment
to pray. Instead of clinching my fist at new
assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.

I CHOOSE KINDNESS...
I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone.
Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to
the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.

I CHOOSE GOODNESS...
I will go without a dollar
before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked
before I will boast. I will confess before I will
accuse. I choose goodness.

I CHOOSE FAITHFULNESS...
Today I will keep my promises.
My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates
will not question my word. My wife will not
question my love. And my children will never fear
that their father will not come home.

I CHOOSE GENTLENESS...
Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle.
If I raise my voice may it be only in praise.
If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer.
If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.

I CHOOSE SELF-CONTROL...
I am a spiritual being...
After this body is dead, my spirit will soar.
I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal.
I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy.
I will be impassioned only by my faith.
I will be influenced only by God.
I will be taught only by Christ.
I choose self-control.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
To these I commit my day.
If I succeed, I will give thanks.
If I fail, I will seek his grace.
And then, when this day is done,
I will place my head on my pillow
and rest.

Milenyo, Me, and the Fifth Mountain

Trees lie down like tired souls, some were even uprooted. The buldings inside the compound where I work, are still without electricity. All these were caused by a typhoon that hit Metro Manila yesterday.

The city reminds me of Akbar and the destructions brought about by its fight with Assyrian war troops. So very timely was my reading of the The Fifth Mountain, the book that I've started reading many times but never finished until yesterday, while the typhoon winds hover around the city, paralyzing most of the business establishments, putting out electricity in every household, jabbing billboards and causing them to fall on vehicles whisking by the highways. Roofs were flying like it can hit anyone (scary).

With all these goings-on, I was inside the house, lit by just a small candle, sitting in a corner reading the Fifth Mountain (thanks to my booklight and spare batteries, too). At least my time was put to good use somehow.

From Elijah, the main character, I learned that if we are to rebuild something that's been ruined, it's best to forget about past failures and just focus on the good things we have done. If we think there's not much yet, then we do some more once there's a chance.

The unavoidable always happens. To overcome it, one needs discipline and patience. And hope - when this no longer exists, one can't waste his energy fighting against the impossible.

Some people go on a journey to find success yet they do not find what they they're seeking, for they carry with them the weight of earlier failures.

On the other hand, some are full of ardor. They profit from every moment of life. To these people, life is a constant triumph and would go on being one. They have wonderful tales to tell. They achieve everything they desire because they are not limited by the frustrations of the past.

As the shepherd with whom Elijah got to talk with said "If you have a past that dissatisfies you, forget it now. Imagine a new story of your life and believe in it. Concentrate only on those moments in which you can achieve what you desired, and the STRENGTH will help you to accomplish what you want."

Hardships and unpleasant circumstances may hit us like typhoons do. They may be unavoidable much like when nature takes its course and just blows and paralyzes all that we're used to having - electricity, internet access, water, lovely trees, busy streets, fast transportation, those that make living easier for us - we call the comforts of life... and then we're left idle and empty because it seems that a part of us has been stolen and is missing and we feel incomplete.

It is at times like this, when we feel helpless that we realize that which really matters. And we are reminded that we are powerless, that there is something greater than the self that occupies the whole of our being.

And then we ask, "Am I taking the right course for my life?" and then we go back to the Source and realize He's been around all along. Only, we don't listen well to the the whispers of His power...


From heaven, God smiles contentedly, for it was this that He desired, that each person take into his hands the responsibility for his own life. For, in the final analysis, He had given His children the greatest of all gifts: the capacity to choose and determine their acts.

Only those men and women with the sacred flame in their hearts had the courage to confront Him. And they alone knew the path back to His love, for they understood that tragedy was NOT punishment BUT CHALLENGE. - the Fifth Mountain

God of my longing heart
I cannot imagine a day without the dawn
Or the day without a star
Or a bird without a song
Or my life without You...



Whom have I in heaven but You?
And I desire no one earth
as much as You - Psalm 73:25

for my niece

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. - Proverbs 22:6


This morning, while I was reading my Bible and jotting down some thoughts, I read this on my doodle pad "know your priorities, focus on your goals, and not waste time on things that you feel will not be of any use in achieving those." I remember writing those at the time I felt too tired to keep repeating to you those words each time I see you engrossed on a television program while your PACEs are on your study table, still undone and when you spend more time playing than studying. At that time, I just asked you to read it. So when I saw it again, I can't help but laugh and think of me as dim-witted. You often say "Childhood comes only once so I should make the most of it." You're one who does not run out of reasons and you laugh when I say you are perfect for a law career.

I am not certain if you'll be able to remember every piece of my mind I pour on yours, as you still are young and naive of your still slightly-uncharted life, and which I will leave any time I am called to.

One day, you also might totally forget your dreams and your plans as a child. I hope I can still be there when you do but that I am not sure of. So I thought, I should at least leave you with something to remind you of those and of the causal principles I “wish” you will live by. Let me record those I recall from the times you spend with me. So that anytime you feel you need to be reminded, you know where to get them (just look for the posts with "for my niece" title. I still don't know how many nieces I'll have, but each of you will know who I'm referring to when you read these posts). After 10 years maybe? :)

At 9,

You say when you grow up you want your mom to be proud of you. I am sure she will be. Just give your best to whatever field you choose. The love of moms doesn't change that whatever happens to you, she will always be around for you. But you wouldn't want to give her disappointments, right? I know that the only thing that'll disappoint her is when you don't become a person of good character. You are already showing how kind and giving you are at your young age and it makes me really proud of you. Don't let anybody drag you down to selfishness and immaturity. Be firmly rooted on God's word. Read your Bible and be guided by it.

You love to paint and one day when you've saved enough for a course fee, you will enrol in a painting crash course. You just need the basics then you can already study on your own. I am actually tempted to pay for your painting course but I feel you also should learn to save and work hard for something you'd want to have. You'll learn something by so doing...do tell me about it when that time comes.

You want to be a famous cartoonist. Why do you want to be famous? Hehe.. I just wonder. If you ask me, I just want you to do what you love most, enjoy and give your best to it. Fame and fortune will just follow.

I still have years to hopefully complete this. Priority at the moment calls...

more blessings to thank God for

"Hi Dey! This is Gwen. Your bro and sis-in-law took really good care of me for 4 years when I was in Singapore".


This text message just reminds me how blessed I am to have such a brother. He never bragged about his good deeds. Normally, I just learn about them from other people. This is the nth time someone approaches me talking about what he's done for them.

I'm never awed with wealth and power accomplishments of people. It's always the good and the noble works that put a smile in both my face and my heart.

I can't help but be proud of him and I can't help thanking my God for His work in his very heart and for making him an expression of His love. I'm even more inspired now to continue to share my blessings with others, as I'm constantly overflowed with them.

So then just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord,
continue to live in him, rooted and built up on him,
strengthened in the faith as you were taught,
and overflowing with thankfulness. - Coll. 2:6-7

a date with SCC

I just got home from Steven Curtis Chapman's concert. It was cool..awesome! That I thought I should write about it once I get home.

Ok, so just this afternoon I was chatting with one of my best buddies, Beu, who is now based in the US.

Beu: what's your plan this weekend?
me: In a few hours I'll be watching SCC concert with friends
Beu: He's there now?
me: Yup
Beu: I like him

My, my, my.. to my surprise. Beu, you know is the type of person who's quite hard to please (Hi Beu!..hehe). She's kinda snob. So I thought to myself "What's so special about SCC that Beu can so easily say that she likes him?" Knowing Beu? Hmm.. I guess I made the right decision to see him tonight.

I learned about SCC back in Singapore. I was looking for children songs for my niece and nephew and found this album where a man talks to children about God and then sings some verses from the Bible. The man is SCC. He's cool I thought. Must be some guy writing children's songs.

About 5 years ago, I got hold of a book called Morning Light written by him. Much I learned about it and much I learned about SCC. But still I didn't really see anything "so" special.

And yeah, his song I Will Be Here have I liked for the past years. At the back of my mind I was thinking "pity this guy with only 1 hit song".

Last year I grabbed an album of his called All About Love for the very reason that he revived one of the songs I love called I'll Take Care of You. Honestly, I find his version really..hmm.. touching? It reaches deep to my very heart :)

Then last Sunday, I passed by Shepherd Staff and saw a flyer of his concert. I literally paused and thought "why not see a concert. It's been a long time" and then I received a mail a few days ago from a friend in SG talking about Bo Sanchez's invitation to SCC's concert of which will benefit GAWAD KALINGA and HOPE foundations. That's when I decided, I should go!

I arrived there 5:30pm. Concert's at 7pm. I intentionally went early to sit down and read while waiting for my friends (Ciel's one of the friends I waited for..who came at exactly 7pm..hehe). Did I get to read? Nope! Just after a while, SCC passed by in front of me..geez.. he was running towards the venue and some of those in the area called his name that he decided to go and meet them, shook their hands, and signed autograph. I thought to myself "What a nice guy.."

I think I can write a novel with this experience when all I wanted to share with you, guys is that he is more than just a singer (not to mention he has the most number of Dove awards than any one in the world.. is his name in Guiness book already? I wonder..) His music's just great! the band, the souls in each of the person on the stage. ..well how do I know, you may ask..to which i'll just answer you with "my JEdi abilities?" hehehe.. The music's loud, alright? To which I'm reminded that you can praise God even with the musical instruments you play. How can the music come out real good despite being noisy as some think? And the lyrics, they're just so great you wouldn't regret uttering a word.

Some people say our worship to God has to be so solemn and not be accompanied by loud music. I think otherwise. I respect each one's belief though. For me it doesn't matter. The Lord looks at the heart. So however way we praise God, what really counts is what He sees in our heart when we praise, pray or talk to Him. After all, in the end, it will still be between you and God. Be and do what helps you best grow in your relationship with Him.

Tell you what, one of my friends who came with us, a guy named Anthony (one of my favorite college buddies), asked me before the concert began "Why are Caucasians everywhere? By the way, Is he black?" This made me really laugh. I almost fell off my chair. "You don't know him? I Will Be Here, you know? And he isn't black, he is very white!" hahaha

Here's a part of the song he sang, which also carved a memory in both my head and heart:

So many prayers we've prayed

So many dreams to get to this moment
Now this is where we stay
While you go change the world
But I'll be where I have always been
Up in the stands cheering you on and
Singing this song
A song the very God who made you
Has been singing all along

I believe in you
Yeah, I believe in you
So spread your wings and fly
On the winds of knowing I
Will always believe in you

And when you rise
and when you fall
I'll still believe in you
Just close your eyes and hear me calling
I believe in you
Oh, I believe in you

Before I end this post, you might be wondrin' what Anthony's comment was after the concert. He said "That's what you call music!"...Obviously, he enjoyed the concert. I jokingly asked "So, you know him now"? :)

I am so blessed to see his concert and to realize how God moves into the life of this man. More than anything, I'm encouraged even more to keep singing and talking about God's love. Well, I think I could sing of His love..forever? Definitely! =)

He that hath no rule
over his own spirit
is like a city
that is broken down,
and without walls.

Pro 25:28

free

Turnin' molehills into mountains,

Makin' big deals out of small ones,
Bearing gifts as if they're burdens,
This is how it's been.

Afraid of coming out of my shell,
Too many things I can't do too well,
afraid I'll try real hard, and I'll fail--
This is how it's been.

Till the day You pounded on my heart's door,
And You shouted joyfully,
"You're not a slave anymore!"

"You're free to dance-
Forget about your two left feet
And you're free to sing-even joyful noise is music to Me
You're free to love,
'Cause I've given you My love,
and it's made you free
I have set you free!"

My mind finds hard to believe
That You became humanity and changed the course of history,
Because You loved us so.

And my heart cannot understand
How You accept me as I am,
But You say You've always had a plan,
And that's all I need to know.

So when I am consumed with what the world will say,
Then You're singing to me, as You remove my chains-

Free from worry, free from envy and denial
Free to live, free to give, free to smile

Ginny Owens

as i am at present in a low mode, my thoughts hardly would want to converge into weaving words perceived to be of value.

however low it may seem though, i am to come back wiser...

the greatest sets of words ever written were a product of times either too good or too unpleasant..

there'll be more.. may disputants don't needlessly protract this mode..and if some good sense refute these disputants, then re-existence will be just in a jiffy..

meantime, you enjoy!

while i chill out........


off to my cavern..

you are only hurting yourself with your anger - Job 18:4

So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom -Psalm 90:12

Edwin's dad passed away last Sunday. There's mourning of course. It was unexpected, a heart attack. If you are Edwin and your wedding is in 2 weeks, how would you feel?

The barong Tagalog (a Filipino formal wear) that his dad's supposed to wear on Edwin's wedding day is the same one he is wearing while lying peacefully in his coffin. A few weeks ago, Edwin jokingly said "Papa will stand out in this barong. It even is better than the one I'll be wearing on my own wedding day!"

I was there on the 3rd night then on the 5th. While sharing stories, me and other friends worked on "kim" - a brown paper folded like a boat with a stamped name of the person who just died. It's a Chinese tradition to have boxes of kim burned. They believe that the more kims burned, the more money there will be in the next life. The name is stamped and serves as a seal to indicate who should receive it - in this case, Edwin's dad.

Edwin is one of those who do not believe in most of the Chinese traditions and customs. But just so as not to offend his dad's relatives and to avoid more arguments with them, he opted following some of these traditions.

On the day that I learned about the death of his dad, I literally didn't know how I'd be able to at least comfort him and Julie, his fiancee. Both are my close friends. Good thing Ciel and Anthony were there. They did what I couldn't.

My father passed away 5 years ago. I spent a whole week locked in my room crying. It took quite a long time before I eventually got used to not having him around. And once in a while, when I remember something about him, I of course miss him terribly. So I know, no amount of comfort and encouraging words can lighten up the feeling of one who has just lost one of those he dearly loves.

I understand that birth and death are normal events every one has to go through. And life is indeed too short. First day of school, graduation, wedding, a birth of a child, death of parents, growing old... then life ends. Don't you wish you were able to do more the past years, or perhaps yesterday? Don't you regret not having loved more and given more?

Live today as if it were your last..

We plowed through ten inches of snow into the cemetery, got about fifty yards from my dad's grave, with the wind blowing about twenty-five miles per hour, and the six of us lugged that casket down to the gravesite... We watched the body lowered into the grave and we turned to leave. I felt something was undone, so I said, "I'd like for us to have a prayer." The six of us huddled together and I prayed, "Lord, this is such a cold, lonely place..." And then I got too choked up to pray anymore. I kept battling to get my composure, and finally I just whispered, "But I thank you, for we know that to be absent from the body is to be safe in your warm arms." -Bob

a well spent day brings a happy sleep

I was in Spore a month ago and met a group of IT people who's into helping every Filipino in Singapore every chance they get and however they can. One of the noble projects they did was the computerization of the Philippine Embassy in Singapore - guess what? for free! They help each other even with problems at work, immigration, etc. They're dead serious into building each other up :) I'm just so proud of this group that I can't help sharing it with you. I just told them I hope the kind of culture they were able to start will just continue and be like a contagious disease that will eventually spread through the hearts of other Filipinos in Spore. You know even some of the dhs drag each other down. It's really sad, but this group is starting and trying to change that. Like them, I really hope we can all contribute something into making our fellow kababayans proud of our country and our race. I feel even more inspired to strive for excellence upon learning about this group. May this inspire you also. :)

"If each citizen does not use his freedom to try to make things a little better, then his apathy helps to make things a little worse."


can't remember where it's from

fear is just a normal reaction, a feeling
towards
something one has not come across before,
a situation one has never been into,
something one has not enough knowledge of
a situation one has not the confidence to handle

to listen and not merely hear, is a way to have enough knowledge
to have enough knowledge is a way to understanding
to understand with your heart is a way to wisdom
with wisdom is confidence
and confidence conquers fear

wisdom is received by those who seek for it...

A responsible Warrior is not someone who takes the weight of the world on his shoulders, but someone who has learned to deal with the challenges of the moment

Warrior of the Light

If racing against mere men makes you tired,

how will you race against horses?
- Jeremiah 12:5


Dream no small dreams
for they have no power
to move the hearts of men.

Goethe


It is for us to pray not for tasks
equal to our powers,
but for powers equal to our tasks,
to go forward with a great desire
forever beating at the door of our hearts
as we travel toward our distant goal

Hellen Keller


When you do the common things in life
in an uncommon way,
you will command the attention of the world.

George Washington Carver


"By Endurance We Conquer"
He lived by and was haunted by these words.
He tested these words everyday of his life,
He ran,
he walked,
he pulled,
he pushed,
he studied,
he listened.

Leonard Sweet, referring to Shackleton

Nothing earthly
shall make me give up
my work in despair.
I encourage myself
in the Lord my God,
and go forward.

David Livingstone

Do Business Honorably

Lots of folks confuse bad business ethics with destiny.

Somehow we forget the saying that even if we win the rat race,
the winner is still a rat!

Business does not exist in order to make a profit.
It exists in order to benefit society.
Profit is simply society's reward
for the job well done.
- Konosuke Matsushita
(Japan's legendary and revered business genius)

..business is an art for the nobles, not a science for the charlatans. Business, therefore, is not to win, it is to achieve a win-win situation. Somebody provides and responds to a need and he gets rewarded for doing so when he earns a reasonable profit.


Three Little Words

tough times

When something bad happens to us, it may just be a consequence of a wrong decision or action we made in the past. These consequences are supposed to teach us something. how do we handle them? still head on.. tough times make us tougher. It is through difficulties that we learn most and develop a better character - that is if we handle them correctly. Ask God for wisdom and provision (for your needs), obey and let Him lead your every action, consult Him for every decision you have to make, then thank Him for all He has done and yet to do.

Any thing that comes to us, whether good or bad, may still lead into something great. Just with the right perspective and an unflinching faith that our God is able to turn and make things work together for our good :)

what we ought to think about

8...whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Philippians 4 (KJV)

there are no great men;
just great challenges
ordinary men
like you and I
must face..

Admiral "Bull" Halsey