how's my love life?

Good question to ask for this week! :) 

 

Actually, I had a funny story to tell.  I was with a group last Monday night and we were sharing how our week was and what God has been teaching us for the past week.  I was sharing about what I've learned about "love" relationships when a friend asked, "so may love life ka pala?"  I confidently replied, "oo naman, may love life ako!"  He was shocked!  He even asked, "taga dito ba sya?"  It turned out that he thought that I was referring to a human being while I was speaking of my "love" relationship with God.  We had a good laugh! :)

 

I've been considering many things in life lately.  It seems that I want to do a lot of things.  As I was reading a book last night, or I mean, very early this morning, I came to a section "Whom do you love?"  Ah, love life again!  In that section, Mother Teresa was asked what they could pray for her.  She requested that her love for the poor would not eclipse her love for Jesus.  The word 'eclipse' jumped out of the page!  Well, what a timely reminder.  Whatever cause may motivate us, let this be our prayer: that NOTHING would eclipse our love for Jesus and that nothing would ever interrupt his love for people, love that Jesus desires to flow through us to others.

 

A lot of good things to do in life.  Maximus said in Gladiator, "What we do in life echoes in eternity."  Aha, I think I need some refocusing here.  Only one life will soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last.

simply love you

Simply Love You

by Ginny Owens

 

Seems that life's become so complicated

I don't think it was meant to be this way

I find myself so distracted

Caught up in the chaos of your day

 

When did I stop asking for your wisdom?

As if your words were meant for someone else

Why do I choose to second-guess you?

Oh I only frustrate and confuse myself

 

Chorus:

I just wanna love you, simply love you

The way it used to be

When your love was new to me

I just wanna love you, simply love you

To hear what you say and live every day

Like you asked me to

I just wanna simply love you

 

Many times you spoke of us as children

Childhood seems to me so long ago

You say I can trust you like I did then

If I give you my hand then you'll lead me home

 

(Chorus)

 

Oh...to fall on my knees

With the freshest belief

Stirred once again with the story

Of how you loved me

 

(Chorus)

 

-------------------------------------------------

 

simply said.  one of my new favorites lately.  plainly expresses what's in my heart these days.  :)

cry on my shoulder

Cry On My Shoulder
by Overflow

You say you're falling apart
Reached the end of the line
Just looking for your place in an ordinary life
No one calls you friend
No one even knows your name
You just want to feel loved instead of all the pain

You no longer have to say
No one's listening anyway

Chorus:
Come here and cry on my shoulder
I'll hold you till it's over
I'll rescue you tonight
Let my arms be your shelter
Your hiding place forever
I'll love you more than life

You're wearing a frown
Given up on hope
My heart is reaching out
More than you will ever know
Is your burden too much?
Is it more than you can bear?
I'll help carry the load if you're willing to share

Chorus

You no longer have to say
No one's listening anyway

You have had some hard times
Had thorns placed in your side
I know about what you've been going through
Tears of pain are falling down
It hurts so bad you're crying out
You're problems won't last forever
Let me put you back together

Chorus (2x)

==================================

God is reminding me of Matthew 11:28 and 1 Peter 5:7. He is our knight in shining armor. :)

do i miss him?

do i miss him?  do i miss his love letters?

these were the questions crossing my mind while waiting for the vesper service to start last night.  it seemed that i can't feel anything.  i don't know, maybe i was just tired and felt a certain pain in my right foot.  i've been quite busy the past few days.  for what?  i don't know.  but it's good to have a few minutes of solitude...being still and knowing my God.  i'm waiting.

i miss the moon. i haven't seen it lately.

i should miss him.  i should miss his love letters. :)

magmamahal ka ba...

magmamahal ka ba ng taong meron ng mahal na iba?

 

yan ang tanong na nakita ko sa TV nung isang gabi.  hmmm... napaisip tuloy ako. :)

 

naisip ko lang si God.  obvious na ang sagot nya ay "oo".  kahit si Job nga ay napatanong kay God ng "what is man that you are mindful of him?" kahit anong gawin mo, nandyan pa rin sya, naghihintay, nagmamahal.  naisip ko higit pa sa isang masugid na manliligaw si God, kahit saan ka magpunta, sinusundan ka, laging nakaalalay.  kahit hindi mo madalas pinapansin, nandyan lang at nakabantay. kahit may mahal kang iba, minsan nga paiba-iba pa, nag-aantay lang na bigyan mo sya ng panahon, hindi ka nya pinipilit.  naalala ko yung kanta ni Kathy Troccoli..."it's your stubborn love that never lets go of me, I don't understand how you can stay? perfect love embracing the worst in me, how I long for your stubborn love."  napapaisip ako ngayon, meron ba akong mahal sa ngayon na higit pa sa pagmamahal ko sa kanya?

 

hay, kamanghamanghang Dios!

for the love of him

I'm really amazed how love can do to people. It makes one does what seems to be impossible. King Solomon wrote in his songs, "for love is as strong as death". Countless Christians from history till the present have been risking their lives for Jesus' sake. This bold act of risking their own lives was driven by their love and devotion for their Savior.

I'm beginning to have a "love" affair with the moon. It brings a different "high" feeling whenever I see it on my way home. I have read that it's full moon on April 14. I have this growing fascination with the skies...makes my heart sings...Praise You God of earth and sky, How beautiful is Your unfailing love.

Lately, I have been planning to do a lot of things. I'm asking God what He wants me to do now. It's best if He has a go-signal. I've been reflecting about my life, my love and devotion for my Savior and a line of a hymn keeps on crossing my mind...I wonder have I done my best for Jesus, when He has done so much for me? :)

getting ready

An office mate sent a forwarded email with subject title "bus incident at ayala ave. last 03.13.2006 [mag-ingat sa pagtawid]".  The email contains pictures of a man lying in the middle of the road with his head flat (looks like deflated tire) and his brain on the road.  [sorry for those who are eating.]  Anyway, my office mate was trying to put a joke on us because he sent it few minutes before lunch time.  But seriously, he commented, "sana ready na yung soul nya...hindi mo talaga alam kung kailan ang oras mo." 

 

It's quite strange today in the office.  People are in their smart casual attire (though it is a company policy).  All the house lights are open, utility personnel are sweeping the floor and wiping the surfaces all the time, tables are neatly arranged, etc..  The occasion: We have "visitors" today.

 

My reflections for the past week were related to this...dwyl, getting ready, purpose of this God-given life that I have.

I was reminded again to be careful in crossing the streets (well, I just celebrated my street accident's 5th monthsary last week!).  I was reminded to be ready at all times...ready to share the hope that I have to others, ready to face God when my time comes.

 

I pray that God will find me faithful...someday, I hope to hear Him say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant!" :)

 

 

ALL

Give Them All

 

Are you tired of chasing pretty rainbows?

Are you tired of spinning round and round?

Wrap up all the shattered dreams of your life

And at the feet of Jesus lay them down

 

Give them all, give them all

Give them all to Jesus

Shattered dreams, wounded hearts, broken toys

Give them all, give them all

Give them all to Jesus

And He will turn your sorrow into joy

 

He never said, you'd only see sunshine

He never said, there'd be no rain,

He only promised us a heart full of singing

At the very thing that once brought pain

 

======================================

 

God gave me this song early in the morning.  It's such a relief that we could give ALL our worries to Him for He truly cares for us. 

I just discovered that this song has a second stanza. :)

hide

"Truly, You are a God who hides Himself, O God of Israel, Savior!" Isaiah 45:15

 

I stumbled upon this verse in one of my readings this week.  It's comforting to know that Isaiah wrote it.  It means I'm not alone feeling that way towards God.  Sometimes I'm thinking that it would be better if God will answer our questions, point by point.  In this way, we will not be left hanging in the air.  But, if He will, then we will cease on trusting Him. :)  I remember Philip Yancey's Where Is God When It Hurts?  People wants to know where is God in times of difficulties, trials, suffering and pain.  It's like we're looking for Superman when something went wrong.  God's ways are different from ours.  He works in mysterious ways.  He is there, He promised, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

 

"You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance." Psalm 32:7

 

This is the reference verse of an old favorite praise song of mine...You are my hiding place, you always feel my heart with songs of deliverance, whenever I am afraid I will trust in you... I used to sing this song when I feel afraid and alone in the dark.  :)

 

"You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13

 

God promised and He is faithful.  "...when you search for Me with all your heart" is the only condition to find Him.  The problem with me sometimes is I want to find Him but I don't seek Him.  :)

 

 

Just a needed reminder for myself. :)

dwyl, fire and best crush

Today is exactly 5 months after my street accident.  As I look at the scar on my leg, can't help but think about my life.  I thank God for the extension in my life. :)  DWYL is not a signature brand of clothing.  It means Don't Waste Your Life, a title of John Piper's book I saw in a bookstore.  It reminded me to re-examine my life. 

 

It's Fire Prevention Month this March.  But I'm asking God to keep me "burning".  :)  This song keeps on playing on my mind lately...Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning, burning, burning, Give me oil in my lamp I pray, Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning, burning, burning, Keep me burning till the break of day.  :)

 

There are times when I'm tempted not to read the Bible.  I just remember a statement in the Revolve 2 (Biblezine) about the Bible, it's something like..."the Bible is a love letter from the best crush you'll ever have".  Tell me who's not going to read the Bible? hehe :)

He loves me not?

He loves me?  He loves me not?

He loves me??  He loves me not??

He loves me???  He loves me not???

(while pulling the leaves in a malunggay plant?! hehe!)

 

Well, I'm not talking about a mortal being here, He's a personal Friend, the Eternal One. :)

I'm tempted to think this way sometimes when my prayers seem to be unanswered and in vain...in short, when I don't get what I want.  The enemy is giving me this thought: "If God really loves you, He will give you what you want.  He is such a killjoy depriving you of things you deserve."  Thank God I wasn't brainwashed!  It's like, if a good father really loves his 3-year-old son, will he give him the sharp knife that the boy really wants to have?  Of course not!  Because the good father really loves his son that's why he's not giving him the sharp knife now...not this time yet...maybe in the future when the boy already knows how to handle the sharp knife or maybe not at all.  He's a good father anyway so he knows what's best for his son, right?  "...He is such a killjoy depriving you of things you deserve."  What do I deserve anyway?  What makes me think I deserve something in this life?  I'm a sinner who deserves death...(Rom. 3:23; 6:23).  He took my place and died for me...with His outstretched arm He said, "I love you this much!"  If I expect God to give me all I wanted in this life, am I not seeing Him as a genie in a bottle instead of a God? :) 

 

Oh, I forgot my life verse so quickly... "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).  "And we know..." it means I'm aware of this fact, I believe.  "All things..." means good and bad things, things I like and don't like, etc.  "Work together for good..." means every thing (either good or bad) when blended, combined, and mixed will come out for my good (the good that God knows best).  "To them that love God..." well, it's obvious, those who love God (and that includes me!). :)  "To them who are called according to his purpose..." what's his purpose?  "...to be like His Son, Jesus Christ."  A devotional I read said, it's like making a cake...if you will taste each ingredient (e.g. yeast, salt, flour, sugar, butter, chocolate, etc.) some may taste good and some may taste bad but when made into a cake by the Master Baker...oh it just tastes good and delicious!!! :)

 

O how He loves you and me

O how He loves you and me

He gave His life

What more could He give?

O how He loves you

O how He loves me

O how He love you and me

 

He loves me not??? Nah... He loves me so much! :)

he knows my name

There are days when I feel so insignificant.  It feels like I don't exist in this world.  I didn't receive any phone call, text message, email, or even a simple "hi" or "hello" personally in a day...in short I was forgotten?!!(hehehe i'm in a senti mood huh?)

 

Anyway, I just thought if I'm generous enough today to send a text message to a friend, to give a phone call, to send a short email, to say a simple "hi" or "hello", or just to give out a simple smile. :)

 

I remembered a stanza of a song sang by Tommy Walker in the recent Metro Manila Franklin Graham Festival...

He knows my name

He knows my every thought

He sees each tear that falls

And hears me when I call

 

The Lord says in Isaiah 49:15 "Can a woman forget her nursing child and have no compassion on the son of her womb?  Even these may forget, but I will not forget you."  God knows everything about me...He knows when I sit down and when I rise up and He's intimately acquainted with all my ways (Psalm 139).

 

What more can I say?  O Lord, thank you for loving me.