yesterday morning, i was extremely well. i had my early morning devotion - about David Livingstone from the devotional book of Harold Sala entitled Heroes. i had a positive outlook for the day. and about 10AM, i received a text message from my cellgroup mate who just arrived from UK that she was in the office of our cell servant which is near my office. i took an early break to go to the office of my cell servant to see my "newly arrived" cellgroup mate and my cell servant as well (since we had a two-week vacation from our regular weekly meeting).
after i arrived in the office, i felt a sudden tolerable pain in my stomach. i thought it was just an effect of my quite brisk walk to and from my cell servant's office. i rested for a while. but then the pain didn't go away. it became worse that i don't know what to do. i went to the workstations of the agents who are close to me. i asked them if they have any ointment so the pain in my stomach would be relieve a little. but there's none. i felt that i can't bear the pain anymore. i decided to go to the sleeping quarters so could rest comfortably. i was rationalizing the cause of my strange stomachache. it couldn't be appendicitis since it is quite on the left side rather on the right side where the appendix is located. it couldn't be UTI since the pain doesn't radiate up to the left back side. all these rationalizations and i just thought of praying to God, what is your message through this pain? God didn't audibly speak to me but a thought crossed my mind. it could be that God is giving me a little test of faith. i've been living my life too comfortably, no problems, no hassles. i just thought that God is redirecting my trust and dependence to Him.
i thanked God that though there are things that i couldn't fully understand, i know that He is in full control on everything that's happening in my life. He even brought people who are concerned on my condition. i thanked God for them.
God is really good because not only did i finished my tasks on the office on time but i was able to have dinner with my "newly arrived" cellgroup mate and cell servant...plus i have a great time listening to my favorite radio station 98.7FM Now Radio. Again, God is really good!
Thursday, January 06, 2005
Sunday, January 02, 2005
new year!
happy new year!
as another year unfolds, i'm thinking of things i want to change in my life...old and bad habits, attitude toward life and others, etc.
it's nice to know that there are second chances...another chance this year to improve my life. one of which i want to do this year is to make my Lord Jesus the center of my life... it seems that i've just been saying that He's the lord of my life but i did otherwise...it's all in my mind not in my actions...
new year resolutions? worship MORE...read the Bible MORE...pray MORE...serve MORE...share God's love and about Jesus MORE...
may God bless the desires of my heart!
as another year unfolds, i'm thinking of things i want to change in my life...old and bad habits, attitude toward life and others, etc.
it's nice to know that there are second chances...another chance this year to improve my life. one of which i want to do this year is to make my Lord Jesus the center of my life... it seems that i've just been saying that He's the lord of my life but i did otherwise...it's all in my mind not in my actions...
new year resolutions? worship MORE...read the Bible MORE...pray MORE...serve MORE...share God's love and about Jesus MORE...
may God bless the desires of my heart!
Monday, December 20, 2004
the most important gift?
this is the season of gift giving, isn't it? i haven't completed yet my shopping list of gifts-to-be-given. (yeah, i can't imagine i'm one of those who are into this rush Christmas shopping!!!) i'm a person who has a difficult time to think of "what-gifts-should-be-given-to-whom". it's not just that it would be nice if the person whom you have given the gift will appreciate the gift but it's also the gift would be one of the memorable gifts they will receive this Christmas. (it's like your gift will be one of those mentioned when you ask them the question: "what did you receive last Christmas?"). well, just like the old cliché goes, "it's the thought that counts". but what will you do with the "thought" if the gift will not be put into use? anyway, enough of this "thought" vs. "use" comparison. we have the usual "monito-monita" in the office and we come up with a "wish list" so people would get the gifts that they want. oh, here i go again, i can't think of what gift i want to receive this Christmas. we have this price limit P200 and above. i know that we are facing economic crisis so P200 is somewhat expensive so i have to think of the gift that i would really love to receive and at the same time not that expensive. to make the long story short, i thought that a Joshua Harris book with a cute bookmark will be a nice Christmas present for me.
as i was worrying of all these Christmas gifts that i would buy and of the gifts i would receive, i really gave a deep thought on what is the most important gift of all. is it money? clothes? peace? love? then i thoughtof God giving us His one and only Son, Jesus. John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." aha, Jesus is the most important gift. i've heard a pastor of ours gave this statement after their ancestral house was burned down, "...for some they may think that we've lost all our possessions but for me as long as I have Jesus in my heart, I have everything..." wow! what a strong faith! for every gift, in order for it to be ours, we should gladly receive it. same with the gift of God for us, Jesus, we should receive him in order to have eternal life. what an offer! friend, have you received the most important gift?
some verses to ponder on: 1 John 5:11-12 "And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life." John 6:35 "Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty."
as i was worrying of all these Christmas gifts that i would buy and of the gifts i would receive, i really gave a deep thought on what is the most important gift of all. is it money? clothes? peace? love? then i thoughtof God giving us His one and only Son, Jesus. John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." aha, Jesus is the most important gift. i've heard a pastor of ours gave this statement after their ancestral house was burned down, "...for some they may think that we've lost all our possessions but for me as long as I have Jesus in my heart, I have everything..." wow! what a strong faith! for every gift, in order for it to be ours, we should gladly receive it. same with the gift of God for us, Jesus, we should receive him in order to have eternal life. what an offer! friend, have you received the most important gift?
some verses to ponder on: 1 John 5:11-12 "And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life." John 6:35 "Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty."
Friday, December 17, 2004
what can i do to make you love me...
this is a line in a famous song by the Corrs from UK... a thought crossed my mind while hearing this song...
if we will just have the power to know what our love interest really wants from us in exchange of his/her precious love...i think all will be happy and well. but we are living in this fallen world where perfection is far from reality.
anyway, we don't have to ask the question "what can i do to make you love me...?" to God. you know what, i have come across this verse found in Romans 5:8 that says: "But God has shown us how much he loves us -- it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us!" what a relief! it was Jesus who first loved us no matter who we are or what we have done!
in this time of the year, statistics shows that there is higher rate of suicide incidents than other times of the year...the common reason is depression. in this season of love, most people don't feel loved. here's the good news...God loves you so much that He is willing to give His One and Only Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for you and me! (John 3:16) All we have to do is put our faith on Him alone. It is by faith that we have been saved (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Christmas is just around the corner. more than anything else, spread love, joy...and most especially the love of God!
advance Happy Holidays everyone!
if we will just have the power to know what our love interest really wants from us in exchange of his/her precious love...i think all will be happy and well. but we are living in this fallen world where perfection is far from reality.
anyway, we don't have to ask the question "what can i do to make you love me...?" to God. you know what, i have come across this verse found in Romans 5:8 that says: "But God has shown us how much he loves us -- it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us!" what a relief! it was Jesus who first loved us no matter who we are or what we have done!
in this time of the year, statistics shows that there is higher rate of suicide incidents than other times of the year...the common reason is depression. in this season of love, most people don't feel loved. here's the good news...God loves you so much that He is willing to give His One and Only Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for you and me! (John 3:16) All we have to do is put our faith on Him alone. It is by faith that we have been saved (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Christmas is just around the corner. more than anything else, spread love, joy...and most especially the love of God!
advance Happy Holidays everyone!
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
speaking of angels...
one of the greatest angels on earth i've met is my mother... by the way she just celebrated her birthday last Sunday!
a mom who is perfect. i thank God for her...if i were given a chance to choose who would be my mom, i would choose her all over again!!! =)
just like to share a poem i made for my mom intended for mother's day a few years ago... i'm so sorry it is in Filipino, i haven't made a translation to English yet.
here it goes...
SALAMAT INAY
Simula pa lang ng aking pagkabata
Ikaw ay palaging bantay
At sa aking paglaki
Iyong kamay ang siyang gabay
Walang kapantay ang pagmamahal mo inay
Ito'y hindi magmamaliw kahit kailanman
Sadyang hindi maikakaila
Ang iyong walang humpay na pag-aaruga
Ang aking pasasalamat sa iyo ay inihahatid
Sa aking munting tula sa iyo'y iparirinig
Tunay ngang wala kang katulad, wala nang hihigit
Sa iyong pagmamahal ay wala nang makapapalit
At sa aking pagtanda aking babaunin
Ang iyong mga pangaral at mga mabubuting gawi
Mahabang buhay at maayos na kalusugan
Ang hiling ng aking puso para sa iyo
Anumang gawin ay hindi matutumbasan
Ng yaman nitong mundo't kalawakan
Pagmamahal na sa aki'y inilaan
Buong buhay ma'y hindi masusuklian
O aking Diyos salamat sa Iyo
Sa pag-iingat at pagkalinga mo
Sa aking inay na kung magmahal ay lubos
Kaya't pasasalamat sa Iyo'y wagas at taos,
SALAMAT PANGINOON, SALAMAT INAY.
a mom who is perfect. i thank God for her...if i were given a chance to choose who would be my mom, i would choose her all over again!!! =)
just like to share a poem i made for my mom intended for mother's day a few years ago... i'm so sorry it is in Filipino, i haven't made a translation to English yet.
here it goes...
SALAMAT INAY
Simula pa lang ng aking pagkabata
Ikaw ay palaging bantay
At sa aking paglaki
Iyong kamay ang siyang gabay
Walang kapantay ang pagmamahal mo inay
Ito'y hindi magmamaliw kahit kailanman
Sadyang hindi maikakaila
Ang iyong walang humpay na pag-aaruga
Ang aking pasasalamat sa iyo ay inihahatid
Sa aking munting tula sa iyo'y iparirinig
Tunay ngang wala kang katulad, wala nang hihigit
Sa iyong pagmamahal ay wala nang makapapalit
At sa aking pagtanda aking babaunin
Ang iyong mga pangaral at mga mabubuting gawi
Mahabang buhay at maayos na kalusugan
Ang hiling ng aking puso para sa iyo
Anumang gawin ay hindi matutumbasan
Ng yaman nitong mundo't kalawakan
Pagmamahal na sa aki'y inilaan
Buong buhay ma'y hindi masusuklian
O aking Diyos salamat sa Iyo
Sa pag-iingat at pagkalinga mo
Sa aking inay na kung magmahal ay lubos
Kaya't pasasalamat sa Iyo'y wagas at taos,
SALAMAT PANGINOON, SALAMAT INAY.
Monday, December 13, 2004
angels on the earth
i'm a believer that there are angels on the earth...those are people who choose to pause and look for other people whom they can be of service, no matter how small the help maybe, to be a blessing in their own little way!
i'm a recipient of the help of an angel on the earth...the possibility of this blog came from the information given by the said angel...she didn't hesitate to give that 'small' piece of information...i want to thank you 'my angel' from the bottom of my heart (hope you can visit my blog to read this short but sincere thank you note! and i will not forget this, i'll pass the goodness that you've shown ala 'Pay it forward' movement!).
i just remembered a Bible verse found in Ephesians 2:10: "God has made us what we are, and in our union with Christ Jesus he has created us for a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for us to do."
may the love of Jesus overflow in our lives through our good deeds!
i'm a recipient of the help of an angel on the earth...the possibility of this blog came from the information given by the said angel...she didn't hesitate to give that 'small' piece of information...i want to thank you 'my angel' from the bottom of my heart (hope you can visit my blog to read this short but sincere thank you note! and i will not forget this, i'll pass the goodness that you've shown ala 'Pay it forward' movement!).
i just remembered a Bible verse found in Ephesians 2:10: "God has made us what we are, and in our union with Christ Jesus he has created us for a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for us to do."
may the love of Jesus overflow in our lives through our good deeds!
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