ask for more?

Sometimes I tend to think that I deserve more in this life. Thank God He’s quick to bring me back to reality. Who deserves more? I don’t deserve anything but He’s just so gracious allowing me to experience good things…the air that I breathe, my great family, wonderful friends, techie gadgets, cute Suzuki, good books, my favorite comfy rubber slippers, a box of flat tops chocolate, good food – fried tilapia with atsara, ramen noodles, German franks and fried rice, homemade pizza and spag, etc., etc., etc………

Sometimes (or most of the time?) I’m just forgetful to count all the blessings God is giving to me. How great is God’s love lavished on us! What a wonderful God!

Dear Lord, how I long for contentment. Help me to be thankful not only for what I have received, but for what I have escaped. Teach me to think of yesterday without regret and tomorrow without fear as I learn to have an attitude of gratitude. Amen.

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My guitar has no strings now. I decided to remove its more-than-6 years-almost-corroded strings. Nothing is really permanent in this world huh?! Anyway, as I’m looking at my stringless guitar, I thought “what’s the use of having a guitar without strings?” And then God reminded me, “what’s the use of living life without Christ?” :)

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Pics...

Sunset last May 19, 2006...currently my cellphone's wallpaper... hay, how great is our God! :)

Almost full moon last May 10, 2006... another "hay, how great is our God! :)"

"Traffic jam" -- some days I wish I could carry the car in my pocket or have "ala Back To The Future car"... hehe :)

another past-time during heavy traffic -- take some pictures!!!

goodbyes, driving lessons, crying moments, etc...

A week ago a dgroupmate of mine left for States. I was both sad and happy. I'm kinda used to it. We've been praying for it for some time now. Good thing there's the technology of email and text message..."malayo man, malapit din" (sounds like a telecom commercial ü).

End of 1st quarter already. Our Japanese language teachers will be leaving us. Huhuhu. :( They will go to Japan for further studies. I will definitely miss them especially our grammar teacher. It's seldom to find caring teachers nowadays who are passionate in their profession.

I've been driving a car for more than a month now. And I've been learning some driving lessons... be alert, don't forget to look at the side mirrors before changing lanes, don't drive when you're hungry (most likely you'll be hot-tempered and impatient), always wear seatbelt and most of all put on a lot of patience (for pasaway na drivers and traffic jams). There are days when it's like "traffic-jam day". :) Well, I've thought of some things to do during traffic jam... play your favorite song and do some "karaoke" (with matching banging your head and tapping the steering wheel...never mind the people looking at you thinking you're crazy...hehe)... think of brilliant ideas...like "how can you save gas during heavy traffic?" (I thought of having a "Flintstones mode button" where you could stick out your legs on the ground and walk or run with your car during heavy traffic...isn't it gas-saving? hehe). Well, it was said that with great power comes great responsibility (hello, spiderman?). I just thought that being able to drive a car is some kind of a power so every person driving a car has responsibility... that is to drive safely. :)

I have some crying moments recently. The Bible says, "there's time for everything... a time to weep..." Anyway, God is indeed in control and keeps on encouraging us during difficult times. He is seldom early and never late. He encouraged me through Tommy Walker's "He Know My Name" especially the line... "he sees each tear that falls and hears me when I call." I was reminded of Psalm 56:8 "...You have kept a record of my tears..." During my crying moment I heard "Cry On My Shoulder" by Overflow being played over the radio...speaking of God's perfect timing...He's so sweet! :)

Speaking of timing... I'm having some rhinitis attacks lately. I don't know if this was caused by the pollens in the campus...I started to have rhinitis attacks when I was in college due to the pollens in our campus. I have frequent sneezing moments and itchy eyes. Well, I'm staying at home and enjoying my very short vacation. God has just some ways of saying things to us. :)

Let me just share this prayer I've read from a book...
Dear Lord, help me remember that my ways are not always Your ways. Life does not always unfold as I plan or imagine. Help me accept the imperfections, the changes, and the unexpected events that come into my life. Teach me to embrace what I am given, without wasting my time grieving for what might have been. Amen.

various

Exam

Since I left my work two months ago, I've been experiencing new things. Welcome adjustments! I got used to wake up earlier than my usual wake up time. I'm learning to stay awake for a total of 8-hour lecture a day. Adjusting to different personalities of my classmates is another thing. Driving to school is quite a challenge. And most of all, there are inevitable exams! It's like you want to sing James Ingram's "I did my best but my best wasn't good enough.." everytime the test results are posted on the bulletin board. It's like a famous movie title "Tinimbang ka ngunit kulang!" Hehe :) It's just that I thought about God. Thank God for all the new things He's giving me and all the lessons I'm learning from these. Good thing He's a good God. :) I just thought that life is just a series of exams (as what Rick Warren mentioned in The Purpose Driven Life). There are patience exam, love exam, faithfulness exam, kindness exam, etc. And I hope that I would past each and every exam. Hehe :)

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Traffic... Traffic... Traffic...

Patience is a virtue, so they say. Traffic is one of those "patience-busters". I'm getting used to this traffic but it never fails to trigger my not-so-long temper. Hehe :) This afternoon is the traffic-est of all. I tried every route going home from Diliman. Good thing I'm quite familiar with the alternate routes (thanks to our city atlas!). But... it's traffic everywhere! It took me about two hours to go home instead of the usual 1 hour ride. I thought of some wild ideas how to get home faster... I thought it would be better if there's a technology where I could make my car to a pocket-size one so I could put it in my pocket and I will just walk... or I wish there's a technology in the car where there's a button for wings and rocket (ala Back to the Future car!). Hay... I think I went home not losing my sanity thinking of ways to get home faster. Hehe :)

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Nihongo

If there's one subject I'm enjoying the most this quarter.... it's quite unexpected but it's my Japanese class every morning. Haha, I expected it to be difficult at first but so far I'm enjoying... So desu ka! I think there's a teacher factor also. I appreciate my Japanese language teachers. It's like I want to be a teacher also! Hehe :)

It's quite difficult and so my other subjects but... Ganbatte kudasai! :)