Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Day 11: Are you waiting in vain?

Wait PATIENTLY upon the LORD 

For the past few days, God has been revealing this certain message to me and it speaks about WAITING. And not just simply waiting.. but waiting patiently upon the Lord. There are some things in our life that we can't explain and most of the time waiting is the hardest part. Ang hirap kayang maghintay ng maghintay tapos yun pala hindi naman pala para sayo. Eh mas lalong mahirap maghintay kung maling bagay/tao naman pala yung hinihintay mo. And as what I always say, PATIENCE is a virtue... We need to master the art of endurance. That despite the struggles of waiting patiently, we can endure all things and we can hold on to God's promises. It is written: I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

Wag kang NEGA! 

TOP 5: I've been waiting for 
(Nakakarelate ka?)

5: Waiting for that one text/call: Sino ang hindi makakarelate sakin dito? 
Scenario: Bakit hindi siya nagrereply?
May pinagdarasal ka kay God na babae/lalaki, gustong-gusto mo na siya. Umaasa ka na dahil sa prayers mo na yan ay magugustuhan ka din nya. Pero parang kahit anong gawin mo ay hindi ka nya napapansin. Tinadtad mo na ng text messages, tinatawagan mo pa... Pero parang ayaw pa rin. Nakakafrustrate diba? Ganyan talaga... Matuto kang maghintay. Baka naman iyong taong napupusuan mo ay hindi pa handa sa relationship kaya hindi ka nya pinapansin kahit anong pagpapansin mo. Kahit titigan mo maghapo't magdamag ang cell phone mo, eh kung hindi ka nya gustong sagutin eh hindi yan sasagot. Kaya kung tunay ngang malinis ang hangarin mo sa kanya, maghihintay ka. Kahit gaanong katagal pa yan, para lang sa isang reply nya. Wag kang susuko na gumawa ng paraan, pero kung talagang sinabi na nya sayo na ayaw niya... Eh wag ka ding makulit. Intindihin mo siya, at patuloy lang ang pagdarasal baka malay mo hindi pala siya ang para sayo, may better pa na ibibigay sayo si Lord. :)  

4: Waiting for that one result: Pasado ba o hindi? Positive or negative?
Scenario #1: EXAMS
Kakatapos lang ng exams, pakiramdam mo nag-aral ka naman... Kaya siyempre umaasa kang pasado ka. Kahit anong exam pa yan, ang pinakamatagal na oras ay ang oras ng paglabas ng results. Kumbaga, make or break. It's either you pass or you fail. Siyempre walang gustong mag-fail. Kaya ang pag-aabang ng resulta ng isang exam ang isa sa mga pinaka-nakakafrustrate na oras sa ating buhay. Akala mo ba na pagkatapos mo mag-exam ay tapos narin ang hirap? Nagkakamali ka, kasi ang mas mahirap ay ang maghintay kung pasado ka o hindi. Pero hindi ka dapat ma-frustrate o mainip.. Kasi kung tunay ngang nag-aral ka, o kung naniniwala ka na ipapasa mo ang exam na yun... Mangyayari yun. Maniwala ka sa sarili mo na kaya mo at siyempre wag kang makakalimot magdasal. Do your part and God will do the rest. 

Scenario #2: Medical results
Kung tayo ay may nararamdaman o karamdaman, ang paghihintay ng results ng ating mga medical exams ay nakakakaba. Umaasa tayong maganda ang resulta at normal lahat ng findings. Para naman sa mga nag-aaply, nakakafrustrate din ang paghihintay ng results ng medical exam. Kasi kapag bumagsak ka sa medical, parang sinabi mo narin na wala ka ng pag-asang matanggap sa trabaho. Pero eto ang realidad ng buhay, kailangan nating maghintay. We have to wait patiently upon the Lord. If we believe in God and then we also believe in His power of healing and restoration. Kaya kung ikaw ay may karamdaman, just believe that you will be healed and you will, In Jesus name. Don't ever give up on God because he will show you great and mighty things. You just got to have faith. 

3: Waiting for that one JOB: Career growth?
Scenario: I want a good-paying job.
Ang tagal-tagal mo na sa company mo pero parang wala kang nakukuhang personal and career growth. Pagdating sa compensation, parang lugi ka pa. Pagdating sa trabaho, parang ang dami-dami mong ginagawa. Mapapaisip ka talaga, "Lord, eto na ba yung trabaho na para sa akin? Bakit hindi na ako masaya?" Madalas nangyayari yan sa atin, kahit ako ilang beses ko din yang naranasan. Likas sa atin ang discontentment, we always want more. Pero siyempre pagdating sa trabaho, gusto natin ng growth diba? So hindi masama na mangarap ng mas magandang trabaho dahil para rin naman yun sa kinabukasan natin. Pero kelan nga ba natin ma-aachieve yung career growth na sinasabi nila? When will we stop aiming for more? When will we say that we've finally found this one job that will be able to sustain us and all of our needs? Well, may sagot ako para dyan... Ihiling mo yan kay God and definitely, iyong ibibigay niya sayo... it's a job worth taking and worth having. Just wait patiently upon the Lord and he will grant the desires of your heart. God wants us to be successful and blessed, so kung may dinedesire ka na mas magandang trabaho... Wag kang mahihiya na ipagpray yan kay God, in His perfect time... He will give it to you. Kung para sayo, para sayo yan. Wag ka lang mag-doubt at mainip, there is a perfect timing for everything. :) 

2: Waiting for that SOUL MATE. Lord, asan na siya? 
Scenario: Who's my better half? 
Lahat tayo, especially tayong mga single, we pray and wait earnestly for THE ONE. Pero alam ba ninyo na hindi dapat tayo ang gumagawa ng paraan para mahanap ang nakatakda para sa atin? Sabi nga, don't find love... let love find you. If that person is meant for you, God will make a way for your paths to cross and for you to meet. Love comes at the most unexpected times. Hindi maganda kung pinipilit natin ang mga bagay-bagay kasi minsan hindi maganda ang kinakalabasan nito and you will end up with a broken heart. If this person is for you, no one could ever separate you. Do not be in a hurry because TRUE LOVE WAITS. Being single is still a blessing, you will get to enjoy certain perks that you won't enjoy when your in a relationship. At ang partner, dinedesire yan... Pinagppray. Hindi sugod lang ng sugod. If you desire someone right now, pray for that person. Ask God to reveal to you his plans and ask God for signs. He will lead you the right person and this person will definitely be the best partner that you could ever have. Hindi tayo bibigyan ni God ng puchu-puchu lang, ibibigay niya iyong THE BEST among THE REST. So, do not wait in vain. Enjoy being single while it's there and when the right time comes, you will enjoy God's blessings through your soul mate. :) 

1: Waiting for that one PRAYER: Yes, No, or Wait?
Scenario: Answered Prayer? 
We have been praying for this one prayer and it seems like God does not listen. Ilang araw, ilang buwan, ilang taon mo ng pinagdarasal pero wala paring sagot. Maybe God really does not listen to our prayers. But on the contrary, he listens. He actually knows our every need and he will provide our every need. But it always depends on the motives of our hearts. Is this prayer a need or a want? Is it for the good or for the bad? Minsan kasi, dasal tayo ng dasal about things na hindi pala makakabuti para sa atin or sa kapwa natin. We have to pray for the right things and we have to wait for God's timing. Be joyful always. Pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18. Sabi nga, pray continually. Just wait patiently upon the Lord, kung hindi pa nya sinasagot ang prayer mo ngayon... Maybe he has a better plan for you. Wag kang mawawalan ng pag-asa because we never know what God's purpose may be but always keep in mind that it's always for the better. We may not understand right now bakit  hindi tayo tinutugon ng Diyos pero in time we will understand and we will be amazed on how he will work in our lives if we will just allow him to. God will answer in three ways, it may be a Yes, No, or Wait. He is teaching us to be patient and to be fully dependent on Him. 

Do not wait in vain

Most of us wait in vain and in frustration but God does not want us to be like the rest of the world. While waiting let us rejoice, while waiting let us continue to serve Him, while waiting let us still praise and give thanks. Kung hindi pa man sinasagot ang ating mga panalangin, there's a reason and a purpose why. God will bless us in many ways and wag nating tingnan yung isang aspeto lang ng ating buhay. Always look at the bigger picture and always lift everything to God. Pray with a clean motive and a sincere heart... God will listen, don't ever give up on God because he never gave up on you. :) 

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper tie we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. 
Galatians 6: 9 - 10 



While God is silent, we are still to WORSHIP and SERVE HIM! 

Thanks for reading!

Be blessed and be a blessing! :) 


Saturday, March 17, 2012

Day 10: When it RAINS, it POURS

God said, "Test me on this!"

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.
"Test me on this," says the Lord Almighty, "And see if I will not throw open the 
floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have enough room for it. 
- Malachi 3:10



I will not be writing about giving nor tithing, but rather I will be writing about BLESSINGS. In our everyday lives, how often do we feel blessed? How often do we feel that we are so thankful that we are alive? How often do we receive the blessings coming from God? Do we really feel that we are blessed? Well, if your answer to this certain question is NO, better think again... The fact that you are still alive and kicking, is enough reason to be thankful. :)

For the past 5 months that I've been here in Jeddah, I have been asking God, "Lord, what is your purpose on why I am here?". Honestly, finding a permanent job here in Jeddah was not as easy as I thought it will be. I even reached the point of depression, thinking that I will never find a job here and all I wanted to do was give up and go back home. But then again, God always reminds me that His ways are higher than my ways, and his thoughts are higher than my thoughts... There are a lot of things that I myself cannot control, only God can. Truly God will move in ways that are beyond our control, and all we can say is... God, You are so great. Thank You for blessing me much more than I deserve!


National Guard :)
They say, PATIENCE is a virtue. And yes, it is true. God really taught me how to be patient knowing that I am very impatient by nature. He taught me that by waiting upon Him and His perfect will for me, I will be more prepared when blessings come. And yes, it is true, at the most unexpected times... at the lowest points in my life where I really felt neglected, depressed, frustrated, and abandoned... That's when God worked in my life mightily. That's when He showed me that "Hey, believe in me and I will show you great and mighty things."

All along I thought I will never find a permanent job here in Jeddah, but God is great. He is so good to me because just when I'm about to give up, He blessed me with a promise of a future. Of a good future here in Jeddah. He gave me National Guard... and then there's King Faisal waiting on the other end as well. I am so blessed. Truly, when it rains, it will pour. When you are faithful to his word, he will pour down all the blessings that you cannot even contain. He will shower you with love that you cannot even imagine. Right now, all I can mutter is a word of praise and thanksgiving to our God because truly he is able and he will never fail us. He never sleeps, he has perfect timing for everything. :)

Remember this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,
and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
And God is able to make all grace bound to you, 
so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, 
you will abound in every good work. 
- 2 Corinthians 9: 6, 8 


Thanks for reading!

Be blessed and be a blessing! :) 

Monday, March 12, 2012

Day 9: I can't get no SATISFACTION


The Secret of Being CONTENT

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. 
- Philippians 4: 11-13

Am I contented? I can not honestly say that "YES, I've reached the point of CONTENTMENT and SATISFACTION that I could not ask for anything more." I am still in the flesh and yes, I am still battling this human and carnal experience of  well, being a human. We, as humans, will never be contented in what we have. We will always ask for more, we will always want more, we will always strive for more. That's a fact and a sad reality. We are never contented with what we have even if we have so much already. There is no satisfaction in our lives.

Writing about CONTENTMENT is a challenge for me because I know for a fact that I am not yet contented in what I have may it be materially, physically, or even spiritually. There are still a lot of things that I want to do for myself, there are still a lot of things that I want to do for my family, there are still a lot of things that I want to give and do for GOD. I want to do all these things but I always don't have enough. I always want more but I still can't get it. That's discontentment. And I'm guilty of it. 

We are in a world of modernization were everything around us is changing every single day. Ang daming bagong labas na gadgets, ang daming nauusong fashion, ang daming bagong gamit. TECHNOLOGY, it's never ending. Let's say, bumili ako ng Iphone 3G ngayon, after 2 to 3 months, andyan na at lumabas na ang Iphone 4. Pagkabili ko ng Iphone 4, may bagong labas nanaman ng Iphone 4s. Kung ikaw ang buyer, maiinis ka kasi pabago-bago ng model, pamahal ng pamahal ang presyo at nahihirapan kang mag-cope sa trend ng technology. This is the sad reality that everyone of us faces everyday. 

Now, how can we actually reach the point of contentment? If we will read this verse in Philippians, it is actually very simple. Living and dying JOYFULLY in Christ Jesus is the secret of being content. That whatever the circumstances may be, we can still PRAISE GOD, we can still THANK HIM, and we can still SHOW LOVE towards others - that's SPIRITUAL CONTENTMENT. 

In this life, we will always have our UPS and DOWNS. As they say, LIFE is a one big roller coaster ride, sometimes your UP and sometimes your DOWN. But what Paul is trying to say in Philippians is that in times that we experience TRIUMPHS and BLESSINGS, Praise GOD. In times of DEFEAT and TRIALS, still praise GOD. That's the secret of being content, that we are happy with whatever that's happening around us simply because our life is solely dedicated to Christ. That we are in a situation wherein we want to live fully for Christ. That we are pressing towards that GOAL, and that GOAL is to live eternally with CHRIST. 

Ang sarap siguro ng pakiramdam na masasabi natin sa ating mga sarili na "masaya na ako" simply because I have GOD in my life. He is more than enough. It is written, Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all this things will be added unto you as well (Matthew 6:33). If we seek GOD and if we surrender all to God right now, I know and I believe that GOD will do miracles in our lives. We can do all things through Christ who gives us strength. So never ever give up even when you are in a very low point in your life, always remember that someone greater than us is willing to carry us and listen to us. Truly how great our GOD is. I will never stop praising His name because He is truly an awesome, awesome GOD. 

Again, I can not fully say that I've reached this point of contentment, but I am striving and I am learning in the process. I believe and I pray that one day I can truly and earnestly say that I am happy with what I have simply because I have GOD in my life. That no material thing can ever surpass this HAPPINESS and JOY in the presence of our LORD. I pray right now that whoever will read my blog will also dig down deep within your souls... Let us check ourselves, how far did we allow GOD to move in our lives? How much do we need in order for us to truly say, "Yes I am Satisfied"? We will always be tempted, the devil will never stop... But if we have Christ in our hearts, we are more than conquerors. We will OVERCOME. :) 

Those who face that which is actually before them, 
unburdened by the past, undistracted by the future,
these are they who live, who make the best use of their lives;
these are those who have found the secret of CONTENTMENT. 
- Alban Goodler 


P.S. I will be sharing another preaching of Pastor Bong Saquing of CCF and he shared about CONTENTMENT. He will explain further on how we can reach this point of satisfaction in our lives, that all we need is CHRIST and CHRIST alone. I hope you learn something from him as I learn from his preachings. I praise and thank GOD for the lives of our preachers, truly they are used mightily by GOD as a channel of blessing and inspiration for all of us. Never stop learning, for in the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. :) 

Enjoy watching, be BLESSED and be a BLESSING! 




Thanks for reading! :) 3000 views :")

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Day 8: This is how we overcome

Just believe, live by FAITH! :) 

HEY PROBLEM, I HAVE A BIG GOD! :)

I can not fathom how amazing our God is because truly He is doing great and mighty things in my life, in our lives. Everyday, He is showing me how to live my life according to His will and how to live by faith. Yes, living in faith. We live by faith and not by sight, It is written:  We should fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18). At my lowest points, He is there to comfort me and listen to me. He blessed me with so much love from people around me and with that I am very grateful. He never left, He is there to comfort me and give me refuge. I truly have a BIG God and no problem is too hard or too small for Him, He always has an answer to every question. He always has a solution to every problem. 

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is GOD'S will for you in Christ Jesus. - 1 Thessalonians 5:18

SEVEN LAST WORDS

Yesterday, we had our 7 Last Words/washing of the feet service in church and I must say it was a humbling experience. I can not explain how life changing the experience was simply because I know it was God who was talking to me that time. He showed me how much Jesus suffered as a human but still He did not sin. Still, he forgave us from all our sins and still he LOVED us unconditionally. He did everything, he endured all the pain, mockery, and suffering just to save us from our sins. Whatever it is that I am experiencing right now, wala pa iyon sa dinanas ng ating Diyos, not even a bit. He endured all the pain, but he did not sin. Hindi siya nagalit, instead he still loved us more. He even loved us more. I felt so unworthy in front of God and I realized how selfish I am. How shallow I am as a person because I allowed my pain to somehow question God and His promises. I allowed all the negativity and the depression to take over my life these past few days. 

One of Jesus' seven last words speak about FORGIVENESS. And I know God is revealing to me that if God was able to forgive us from all of our sins, who am I not to forgive? Yes, truly it is challenging. Oo, mahirap talaga. But we have to forgive, this world will be a much better place to live in if only we learn to love our enemies and most of all learn to forgive. When God forgives, he forgets. We, as humans, we forgive and not forget. But with the grace of GOD, we can forgive and forget. Earnestly pray for it. Sabi nga, to err is human but to forgive is divine. We can only do this thru God's help. 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your heart and your minds, in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4: 6-8 

There is peace in God's presence. There is love, there is hope, and most of all there is JOY. In order for us to overcome the pain, let us look at the bigger picture. Let us praise GOD at all times. Let us pray at all times. At all times, in all circumstances, in everything we do, let us do it all for God's glory. :) 

THIS IS HOW WE OVERCOME

After our service yesterday, we also had our discipleship training and I can't explain it but I know that God truly makes a way to send his message across. Pati ung topic namin sa discipleship training ay napaka-timely. Temptation is an enticement to sin. Lahat tayo, natetempt gumawa ng mga bagay-bagay every single day. Andyan yung naka-diet ka, pero matetempt ka kumain.. Yung tipong ayaw mong gawin pero may bumubulong sayo na gawin mo. It's true. This happens every single day. TEMPTATION is everywhere. It's in your tv, in the internet, in your house, in your work, even in church. Again, it's everywhere. No one's exempted, even Jesus was tempted but He did not give in instead He used the word of God to defeat Satan. 

Ang message kahapon is in order for us to overcome temptaion we should PRAY. Communicate with God, talk to Him and tell Him everything. He will surely listen. Hindi natin kayang talikuran ang kasalanan kung tayo lang. We need someone greater than us, someone who will show us and teach us how to overcome it. Yes, we will always be tempted but there's a way out. When temptation comes, DON'T LOOK, DON'T TALK ABOUT IT, and AVOID IT. I feel blessed on how God is doing ways para to tell me to stop giving in to temptation and just let it go. Yes, I am being tempted so many times to go back and to try to patch things up with my past... But God's ways are higher than my ways, and His thought's are higher than my thoughts... He is telling me that this is not what he wants for me so I should stop giving in and start letting go. So, YES, as hard as it is. I will focus on GOD and I know with His grace and guidance I can OVERCOME temptation. 

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. - John 16:33

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. - Romans 12:21 

LIVE BY FAITH 

Hindi pa tapos si Lord, kasi after ng service at discipleship training, he continued to speak to me and reveal His message to me. Sabi niya siguro, "hindi pa nag-sisink in sa anak ko yung mga message ko sakanya." So again, He used someone to send his message across. Sa practice namin kagabi, magkausap kami ni Tatay Benz at nakwento niya sakin about sa preaching na naishare sakanya ng dating kasamahan namin sa JCCF about Turning your pain to praise. It was a message preached by Pastor Bong Saquing of CCF and tatay wanted me to watch it. So as I watched over youtube, I am so grateful to tatay for sharing it to me. I am so blessed with the message of our God and truly He is a glorious and awesome GOD. He will definitely make a way for us to realize things that we need to realize. 

I will be sharing this video to you now and I do hope you find time in watching the preaching of Pastor Bong. I just want to share this before I end this blog:

*Lay down your request to God, turn your nagging pain into praise, and exalt GOD. 

Words will never be enough to praise GOD but always try to sing Him a new song. 

Tell everything to GOD because He listens. He listens even if you think he doesn't. He doesn't need to explain anything to us on why things are happening, because HE is GOD. We just gotta have faith. Live by faith. BELIEVE. :) 

Enjoy watching and be blessed! Be a blessing! :) 




Thanks for reading! :) 

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Day 7: How long will it take?

I never told you..

It's been 6 long, dragging weeks since my heart was broken... AGAIN. I know I should be moving on, I know I should stop thinking about him, I know I should stop waiting... I know I should also stop pretending that I'm OKAY. I KNOW. But I know is different from I can.. I know I need to, but I can't. I've been trying to build my hopes up that one day this will all come to pass. This is just a phase. And people really do experience heartaches. Who doesn't? I've never met anyone who hasn't had his/her heart broken even for once. So, I know it's normal. I know this will come to pass. I know and I believe that God will help me through the process. 

How hard can it get when all of a sudden the person you thought would be the only person that you'll love, does not love you any more. How painful can it be when you're a thousand miles away from home and you can't do anything about it.... Honestly, I still feel the pain. Until now, I still feel it. It never left. It's just there. I just thank God for always giving me the strength and the comfort to stand and face every day, even if it's very difficult for me, I still try to move on. I want to move on. I want to let go. 

I still think about him.. I still think about us. I still think about the good times and the memories that we've left behind. We were inseparable, well that's what I thought. But if it's not meant to be, it will definitely end whether we like it or not. 

Wala talaga akong gana magsulat.. Hindi ko alam bakit. Tinamaan nanaman ako ng lungkot. Day 7. It's been a week since I've been writing. I wish this will all end. I pray that it ends as soon as possible. 

Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay. Lord help me.

Monday, March 5, 2012

Day 6: Keep Holding On

You're not alone
Together we stand
I'll be by your side, you know I'll take your hand
When it gets cold
And it feels like the end
There's no place to go
You know I won't give in...


I woke up late (as usual), still sleepy, and lying in my bed when I started to ponder on things that's happening around me and I just thank God for another beautiful day that's ahead of me. I may not be doing what normal "working" people do on a Monday morning, but I still thank GOD for waking me up and giving me another chance to make things right. Yes, I have another chance to make things right and make a difference. 

As I was browsing over the internet, I came across this song of Avril Lavigne, "Keep Holding On" and I just listened to it and the lyrics fit my situation right now perfectly. I am so glad that I have friends, real FRIENDS who are there for me and always telling me, constantly reminding me to never give up. Now this blog will be my mini-tribute to all my friends who's been there with me thru my ups and my downs. I am truly grateful for your lives. God has blessed me with so much love that I can not even contain. Who needs material things when you have all the love in the world? Friends are priceless possessions. :) 


Keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through
Just stay strong
'Cause you know I'm here for you, I'm here for you


SUPER FRIENDS - *def.* Friends from infinity and beyond. We'll definitely be friends forever. 




I just miss those times when I can just call any of you at any time of the day and we can just hang out and have coffee and talk about anything, problema man sa puso, sa trabaho, sa pamilya, o sa kahit ano mang bagay. Yung dinadamayan niyo lang ako sa mga pag-iinarte ko sa buhay. Yung kapag hindi madaan sa kapehang usapan, dinadaan sa maboteng usapan (ang lapit lang kasi sa Buko PCJ). Hahaha! Yung simpleng yakap niyo lang, SAPAT na para gumaan ang loob ko. I miss you guys. And thank you, because despite the distance I can still feel the love, care, and support from each one of you. Thank GOD for facebook, twitter, BBM, Viber, skype, and facetime. I miss you all so bad and my heart, heart, heart, is so jetlagged right now. I will see you all soon. :) 

There's nothing you could say
Nothing you could do
There's no other way when it comes to the truth
So keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through


TEACHERRRIFFFICCCSSS - *def.* were more than just teachers, were FAMILY. :) 


Hanung hitsura yan KAPS! HAHAHAHAHHAA! Love you :)

with Buntis and Babe. :)

Who would've thought that in a profession where seriousness and competition is a must that you can actually find TRUE friends? And not only your typical kind of friends, but friends who will really stick it out for you, stand up for you and we'll hold you tight when you're losing grip. True friends are rare to find, and I am blessed because working in AAM is not just another work experience for me... I was able to find a FAMILY, or better known nga as "kapatiran". We are like brothers and sisters, daig pa sa magkapatid ang turingan. Even if I am a thousand miles away, the communication is constant and hindi sila nagbabago. They stayed the same, as if kasama parin nila ako. They always keep me updated with school happenings na minsan pakiramdam ko teacher parin ako hahaha! Maraming salamat mga kapatid dahil hindi niyo ko iniwan especially nitong mga nakaraang linggo na talagang kailangan ko ng kaibigan at kausap.. Thank you for helping me keep my sanity just by simply talking to me and telling me that everything will be alright. Zieggy, pebs, buntis, and babe - Salamat. Basta, words can't explain how thankful I am to have you guys as my friends. Sorry na ang drama ko. Magdrama din kayo sa blogs nyo hahahaha! I can't wait to go home and see you all. Super excited. :) 

So far away
I wish you were here
Before it's too late, this could all disappear
Before the doors close
And it comes to an end
With you by my side I will fight and defend
I'll fight and defend
Yeah, yeah


JCCF - *def.* Brother/sisters in Christ. TROPA. FAMILY. :) 








I have only been in Jeddah for exactly 5 months but I felt like I've been here for 5 years now. No joke haha! Parang ang tagal-tagal ko na dito. Hindi ako nanibago sa kultura dahil dito na ko lumaki, hindi ako nahirapan mag-adjust sa oras pero ang pinaka-fear ko nung unang dating ko dito ay kung may makikilala rin ba kong mga kaibigan. I've been so used to having friends beside me back home, kaya sobrang worried ako noon kung may magiging friends ba ako dito. 

But GOD has been so good to me, He blessed me with a family in JCCF where I feel loved and accepted and I felt genuine friendship from everyone. Sobrang malaking blessing sa amin ang JCCF hindi lamang spiritually, but also emotionally. 

Special thanks to my dear Sissy, Louie, na hindi nagsawang pakinggan ang mga hinaing ko sa buhay. Kay Bugay, na palagi akong pinapatawa pag sobra akong seryoso. Kay BB, na kahit nasa Pinas ka na ay nandyan parin ung love and care mo. Kay Iscraaatch at moonstar, sa pakikinig at sa mga advices. Kay Lonskie at sa WT, sa lahat ng masasyang araw ng practice at praise and worship. Kay Panyero, na kahit minsan hindi ko magets ang mga sinasabi mo, nararamdaman ko parin ang concern mo. Hindi ko na mababanggit kayong lahat pero lahat talaga kayo may special place sa puso ko. Sobrang laking blessing nyo sa buhay ko. Maraming Salamat. Hindi ako nakakaramdam ng lungkot dahil alam kong dito sa Jeddah ay may pamilya narin kami ni Mommy. Thank you for the love and support. :) 

Hear me when I say, when I say I believe
Nothing's gonna change, nothing's gonna change destiny
Whatever's meant to be will work out perfectly
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah


Best friend - *def.* No need for definitions. A friend that loves you at all times. :) 


With besty, Marz :) 



We have been best friends since grade school. We haven't seen each other for the longest time when we were in the Philippines kasi etong bespren ko ay nasa Bacolod habang ako nasa Manila. We may have lost contact of each other at most times but the friendship never stopped there. Hindi mahalaga kung araw-araw kaming nag-uusap kasi everytime magkikita kami, it's like nothing changed. We are still the same old best friends who would goof around and laugh at the same old corny jokes we had when we were younger. 

Thanks bes, ngayong pareho tayong nasa Jeddah, naaappreciate ko na you still give time to listen to me and to just simply be there for me. We'll definitely be best friends even until our hair is gray, that's one thing's for sure. Iwan na tayo ng mga jowa natin, basta tayo solid tayo. :) Love you bes! Ang cheesy ko, pagbigyan. hehe! Gala soon. I really need a coffee date or a shopping date. :)



There's nothing you could say
Nothing you could do
There's no other way when it comes to the truth
So keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through...


Ang KAIBIGAN ay isang makabuluhang salita... dahil ano ang IBIGAN kung wala KA? :) Maraming salamat aking mahal na mga kaibigan. :) 


Thanks for reading! 

Be blessed and be a blessing! ;) 



Sunday, March 4, 2012

Day 5: Are you afraid to FALL again?

Bangin Ka Ba?... Kasi Nahuhulog na ko sa'yo. 
Hahaha! 

Boom! Before any violent reactions, this pick-up line does not apply to me for the time being. I am not falling for anyone else, nor have any plans for the next 6 - 12 months. Yes, give me 12 months maximum, before I can finally say: "I am ready to mingle with the rest of the world and let's go find Mr. Right." 

I am writing this for the sole purpose that I know I am not the only one reading my blogs and I know I am not the only experiencing the same situation as well. If you think you are ready to fall in love again after a bad break-up, then GO ahead. But be sure you're doing it with the right motives and that you truly and sincerely love that other person, not because you needed someone just to help you move on. Don't be unfair and let's not use other people just for us to move on. Reality check. And yes, I am also keeping that in mind. haha!

If you are afraid to fall in love, you are not alone. Even if you have only been seriously hurt once in a relationship, you might not be able to get over it or trust someone else. But there is no reason to be afraid once you have found someone who truly deserves to be able to see you for who you really are. Once you gain back your confidence and broken spirit, you will be able to enjoy a pure, honest relationship again. But take things slow, one step at a time. As the famous song goes, "You can't hurry love, Ohhh, you just have to wait.. You see love don't come easy, it's a game of give and take." It is true, when you hurry love, you have the tendency to end up with the wrong person... AGAIN.

Understand Why You Were Hurt


It is not your fault that someone has hurt you. But it is still important to understand the situation from the other person's point of view. You are a wonderful, lovable person, and you know it. Your last boyfriend/girlfriend might simply have seen things in a different way. 

Recognize the mistakes you might have made in the past. Perhaps you were too clingy, or controlling. It is natural to have some disappointments and errors in past relationships. Don't mull over them or allow yourself to be too sad. Learn from your mistakes and develop yourself to be a better partner for someone who is more deserving and compatible to you. 

When you face the problem instead of walking away, it is much easier to handle. Believe me. What I'm doing right now - blogging, this is how I face my problem. I write what I want to say to release all the negativity and pain, I talk to people particularly my family and friends, I cry, I pray, I cry again.. and I pray harder. Reality check, we have to face the problem whatever the circumstances are. But after understanding the reason why you got hurt, LOOK at the BIGGER picture. Focus on not what is seen, but what is unseen. Set your eyes upon the author and finisher of our FAITH. God did not allow us to experience this problems simply because he wanted to punish us... He wanted us to grow, he wanted us to learn. 

Therefore, we do not lose heart. 
Though outwardly we are wasting away,
yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. 
For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4: 16, 18 

Whatever it is that you are experiencing right now, it is temporary. It will definitely come to pass and when you've overcome the obstacle, you will just laugh about it and realize, there's no problem I cannot handle because I have a BIG God. :) 


GUARD your HEART <3

Do not be anxious in anything, but in everything, 
by prayer and petition, 
with thanksgiving, present your requests to GOD. 
and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 
Philippians 4: 6-7 

When I was younger, I remember someone telling me: "Sis, guard your heart". And that time, I didn't exactly understand what he was telling me. I get his point though, but I didn't know exactly how is the process of guarding one's heart. All I know is, I am protective of my heart and my feelings, so I thought, all along I was really guarding and protecting it from getting hurt. Pero hindi rin pala. 

What do we mean then when we say, guard our hearts? Ingatan ang ating mga puso pag tayo ay nagmamahal. The easiest way that the devil can deceive us is through our mind, and when we are deceived it goes straight to your emotions or your heart. So the heart and the mind goes hand in hand. What one feels, one thinks. If we are deceived by what we see definitely, it will deceive as well our approach or our emotions towards a certain person. So we should not be caught off guard by our emotions; when you think what you're feeling is not right at the moment, immediately, brush it off. Avoid it, pray for it and seek God's wisdom and guidance for you not to make any harsh decisions. It is more than just avoiding pain, it's more on surrendering your feelings and emotions to GOD alone and allowing Him to move in your life. I believe that's the best way to guard our heart and mind from getting hurt again, when you truly surrender every bit of sorrow and pain to GOD and allow Him to move in your life - to take control. 

Take Your Time... Stay Single (for the mean time)

Amen!

You might need some time to learn how to love yourself again. Remind yourself of your best features.  Remember how special and unique you are. If your last partner verbally abused or insulted you, forget everything he has said to make you feel bad about yourself. Reinvent and rejuvenate yourself. DO it for yourself not for anyone else. 

Being single is not the end of the world. It is a great feeling when you are not attached to anyone and you can just mingle and get to know other people. But always, always put in mind that we are no longer living in the pattern of this world, we are the SALT and LIGHT, so even when it comes to dating, do not let the world take you. Dating should lead to a relationship and this relationship should eventually lead to marriage. Don't just jump from one relationship to another. Pray for it, earnestly desire it, and God will grant the desires of your heart if it is part of His will. Just keep on seeking God's kingdom and everything else will be added unto you. 

But don't ever be afraid to fall in love again. Love is still the best feeling we could ever feel because we are made out of love, our creator is the perfect epitome of LOVE. God is love and love is God. Falling in love and taking the risk is part of life, don't be afraid to embrace it when it is time. Just don't hurry, enjoy life. Experience LIFE. Don't come chasing after love, LOVE will definitely find its way to you. If its for you, its for you... No one can ever take that away from you. :) 


A blessed Sunday to everyone! Thanks for reading!
Be blessed and be a Blessing! 


*http://www.truelovedirect.com/are-you-afraid-to-fall-in-love-how-to-lose-your-inhibitions*

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Day 4: Endless love

30 Years of a Successful Marriage 

Love is patient,

love is kind, 
it is not jealous,
love does not boast, 
it is not inflated.
It is not discourteous, 

it is not selfish, 
it is not irritable, 
it does not enumerate the evil.
It does not rejoice over the wrong, but rejoices in the truth  
It covers all things, 

it has faith for all things, 
it hopes in all things, 
it endures in all things.
Love never fails.

1 Corinthians 13: 4-8


I have always been in awe with my parents' marriage. They are inseparable; like Sponge bob and Patrick, Batman and Robin, and Peter Pan and Wendy. They are definitely a match made in heaven. They are made for each other. They are the exact opposite but they certainly attract each other. And they are each other's better half... They are Soul mates. 

At Leslie's Alabnag, dinner before leaving for Jeddah. :)
For 30 long years, they were able to withstand countless and numerous trials and hardships and still, they are getting stronger and stronger as the years pass by. That's definitely what TRUE love can do. It will defy the odds and it will persevere amidst problems. It's the kind of love that's worth fighting for. It's the kind of love that no man can ever separate because their love for each other came from God and He is in the center of their relationship.

I could not thank them enough for the love, care and support that they've given me and my siblings. They are always there for us, no matter the circumstances are, definitely, we can count on them anytime.

Now, this blog will be extra special for me since I will be writing about the two most important persons in my life. They are my life savers. Sila ang mga taong nagpalaki sa akin (kahit di ako masyadong lumaki hahaha!), sila ang gumabay sa amin ng mga kapatid ko para marating namin kung ano ang narating namin ngayon sa kasalukuyan. We may not understand each other at all times, but because their love for us is unconditional, they still accept us and our faults with open arms.

I want you to get to know them a little bit so here's the 5 things you should know about my Mom and Dad. If you don't know them yet personally, they are definitely the best parents anyone could ever have... and I am blessed. God blessed me with a wonderful family na hindi kayang palitan ng kahit na anong materyal na bagay. :)

5 Things you should know about my DAD 



1. He is very SWEET and FUNNY. Umabot na ko ng 23 years old, pero kaya ko paring yakapan at lambingin si Daddy sa public. He is a very huggable person and you can say what you want to say to him.. Hindi ka mahihiya na mag-i love you sa kanya because he will make you feel he loves you just as well. :) Kahit nga ang baby boy namin na si Hatchi ay love na love siya, sobrang sweet sakanya kasi nga naman, talagang lovable si Dad. He is also very funny, he is really good in cracking up jokes (sa kanya ko ata namana un haha!). Usually, if we have nothing to do, magtatawanan lang kami sa bahay at magbibiruan. Laughter is definitely the best medicine especially when your doing it with the ones you truly love. :)  I miss you dad, yung mga heart-to-heart talks natin, yung mga joke time natin, at higit sa lahat, yung mga times na pwede lang kita yakapin pag nalulungkot ako.. and all I need is just someone I could cry to. 

2. He is a COFFEE drinker. Like father, like daughter. Hahaha! At hindi lang basta coffee ha, mahilig din sa Starbucks ang dad ko. His favorite drink si Starbucks' Mocha Frappuccino, everytime na uuwi ako ng late sa gabi, kailangang may bitbit ako na Starbucks para hindi uminit ang ulo niya. hahaha! Mahilig kaming tumambay sa Starbucks para uminom ng kape at magkwentuhan lang at magbonding. That's one more thing that I miss right now. 

3. He is very THRIFTY. Yes, I'm proud to say that my dad's so good in handling finances. haha! Being the only man in the house, he has no choice but to be thrifty. Kasi kung hindi, ubos lagi dahil sa gastos namin! hahaha! He knows very well how to handle our finances together with my mom of course but he always finds ways to make sure everything will be paid on time. If I will be married one day, I would want my future husband to be just be like my dad, oo pagbibigyan ka nya sa mga gusto mo but he knows when to stop and when to say NO. So if it's not necessary, he will tell it straight to you: "We don't need it."

4. He is the MAN of the house. He knows everything. You can discuss anything with him and he will listen. He won't judge you for what you did, he will simply listen and he will tell you what's on his mind, no pretensions just the facts and the truth. Hindi mahirap kausap si Daddy dahil napaka-lawak ng kanyang pag-iisip. Pero hindi mo rin siya gustong galitin dahil hindi siya madalas nagagalit, kaya pag nagalit siya... be prepared. hahaha! He is very understanding and he will definitely fight for you if alam niyang nasa tama ka. Hindi niya hahayaan na may maagrabyado sa amin, sa kahit na sino sa amin, a proof that he is definitely the MAN of the house. :)

5. He loves GOD and GOD loves him too. Even before we became Christians, my dad and my mom always instilled with us good moral values. We always pray together as one family and we always make sure that we go to church on Sundays. I know my dad always has this strong faith with our God because everytime we experience trials, lagi nyang sasabihin, "Just believe, anak and pray." He is definitely a blessing to all of us not only physically, financially, emotionally, but also spiritually. He always reminds us to never stop believing in God and just focus on our faith. God will never leave us nor forsake us. :)

5 Things you should know about my MOM 



1. She is very GENEROUS. She is the most giving person I've ever known. Hindi madamot, if kaya niyang ibigay, ibibigay nya even without anything in return. Madalas, kahit wala siya, basta kami mayroon... masaya na siya. And that's what I love about her, talagang ramdam na ramdam mo ang pagmamahal ng isang tunay na ina kapag nakikita mo sakanya na masaya na siya basta masaya ang mga taong mahal niya.

2. She is a very POSITIVE person. One thing that I admire about my mom is her outlook in life. Lagi siyang positive, she always believes that everything has its own reasons but God always has a purpose. Hindi mo maririnig sa kanya na nanghihina siya when it comes to her faith and that's why I believe that God continues to bless her continually even after she got sick and all. Talagang sa kanya ko nakita na, whatever happens, GOD is on our side. She will never give up her faith. She always holds on to GOD's promises and because of that, lahat kami sa family mas nagiging stronger and mas nag-hohold on kami sa isa't isa because our mom never gives up... so we shouldn't as well. :)

3. "Mommy ng lahat". I am blessed because I still have my mom by my side. Ang sarap ng pakiramdam na maraming nakaka-appreciate kay mommy as a mom. She is definitely the best mom anyone could ever have, she knows what we need and she always wants what's best for us. My parents both strived hard to work for our future, and nakita ko ang dedication nila para lang mapag-tapos kami sa mgagandang schools at magkaroon kami ng mas maganda pang future. But she's not only a good mom to us, her biological kids, she is definitely a mom for everyone. Especially, here in Jeddah, she really treats everyone as her own children. You can really feel the "mother's love" kasi kahit hindi niya kadugo, talagang genuine yung pagmamahal at pag-aaruga na binibigay niya. And I am proud to have her as my mom, she is definitely one-of-a-kind. Love you ma! Thank you for always being there for us, especially for me... I really, really appreciate it.

4. She loves shopping. Hahaha! Who doesn't love shopping? Another trait that I got from my parents, I love to shop as well. Eto ang bonding time namin ni mommy, hindi mahalaga kung anong klaseng shopping yan, basta we love to go out and shop. Not necessarily, expensive stuffs, kahit nga sa mga ukay-ukay nagkakasundo kami hahaha! Pero lumalabas parin ang mother's instinct pag si mommy na ang nag-shoshopping, kasi usually ang pinapamili nya hindi para sa kanya.. It's always, always for us. Lagi niya kaming naaalala pag namimili siya at lagi niyang sinisiguro that we have everything that we need. She always takes care of all the necessities na minsan na-neneglect namin. She is truly the LIGHT of our home, kasi pag nasa bahay si mommy alam mong andoon ung maternal care. Wala paring tatalo sa pag-aalaga ng isang ina. The best parin :)

5. She has a faith that can move mountains. This is more than enough. She believed she will be healed, and she was healed. She believed that God will bless us with a good business, and we were blessed with L.A. Glaze. She believed that I will be able to find a job here in Jeddah, and now everything is happening according to God's plan. Hindi mo matitinag si mommy, she will and always will serve the Lord. May it be in the midst of triumphs or hardships. I thank God for their lives, they are not only a blessing sa aming mga anak nila, but they are a blessing to everyone.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE

Love may be a strong ingredient in a successful marriage, but it takes more than love. 

TRUE! I've seen this with my parents' relationship that it takes more than LOVE to have a successful marriage. It takes trust, forgiveness, acceptance, humility, and most of all communication. My parents are physically away from each other for the longest time but their love did not stop there. Constant communication and TRUST is the foundation of their relationship with GOD as their guide and us as their witness. 

I may never surpass this kind of relationship that my parents have, but one day... I still desire to find someone like my dad, someone who will fight for me in whatever situation, someone who will accept me for my flaws and still love me unconditionally. Someone who will make me laugh when I'm sad, and someone who will remind me that it's not my own but it's GOD's. And of course, I desire to be someone like my mom, who will never stop believing in the power of prayer and someone who will never stop loving the people around her. I know one day I will find my own happiness but I will never forget what my parents taught me and all of it I will surely value for the rest of my life. 

Thanks for everything Ma and Dad. I hope that this blog can send the message that I am so proud to be your daughter and that I love you both so much. I am sorry for all the times I've not been the daughter that you expected me to be... And I thank you both for accepting me as I am and for loving us unconditionally.

God has endowed every man and woman with a heart and soul. He's also the one who puts love in your heart to bind you to another. 

Happy 30th Anniversary, I pray for more years to come. I love you both! 


HONG KONG! I missed this!


Thanks for reading! Be blessed and be a blessing! 


Thursday, March 1, 2012

Day 3: It's all about Forgiveness

Forgive and Forget. 

Hindi ako magsusulat ng mahaba ngayon, instead I will be sharing a daily devotional message that I've received from OMF literature last February 27. This excerpt is all about making errors, asking for a second chance, and FORGIVENESS.  Isa sa pinakamahirap na ibigay sa taong nagkasala sayo ang pagpapatawad. Kumbaga sa struggle, struggle ang magpatawad lalo na kung tayo ay nasaktan ng sobra. Pero sabi nga, kung ang Diyos nakapagpatawad eh paano pa tayo, na tao lamang? Oo. Mahirap. Maniwala ka sakin, hindi madali. Kahit ilang beses mong sabihin na "Oo pinatawad na kita", hindi ibig sabihin nun ay nagawa mo na. It will take time to heal and eventually it will take time to forget. 

Ang message kanina ni Kuya Manny is also about forgiveness. Na dapat ay matututo tayong magpatawad kahit gaano kasakit dahil un ang kautusan ng Panginoon. Magagawa lamang natin ito kung meron tayo pagmamahal sa ating puso. Dahil ang tunay na kapatawaran ay kung nasabi mo na sa sarili mo na kaya mo ng bitawan ang mapait na nakaraan at yan ay dahil sa pagmamahal, pagmamahal mo sa iyong kapwa at higit sa lahat pagmamahal mo sa Diyos.

Sa ngayon, hindi ko pa masasabing narating ko na yun, pero alam ko sa tulong ng Panginoon mas pinalalakas niya ko at mas pinaparamdam niya sakin na kailangan ko ng bitawan ang mga bagay na nakakapaglayo sakin sa Kanya at mag-focus ako sa Kanyang salita.

Hindi ko na pahahabain pa. Please take time in reading this excerpt, marami tayong matutunan at dito, masasabi natin na tunay ngang ang Panginoon ay hindi tumitingin sa ating nakaraan kundi sa kung anong nangyayari sa atin sa ngayon at sa mangyayari pa sa hinaharap. Just keep on serving God and everyone always deserves a second chance to make things right, just like the asterisk (*). :) 

**********
The Asterisk
 
"The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness;
His mercies begin afresh every morning"
Lamentations 3:22-24
The asterisk. Asterikos  in Greek that means “little star.” Of all its meaningful uses, the one I like most is its chat room function. Whether Facebook or Yahoo chat, I love how the splat sign operates. Mr. Asterisk is like a superhero, swooping in when trouble comes. Always in time at the scene of the crime, he corrects errors when they arise. When a word is misspelled, mistyped or misaddressed and then sent, the asterisk sign emerges as the chance to right what’s wrong. Intending to say “Hello” one time, my fingers skipped and missed the “o.” So instead of sending “Hello,” I greeted a chatmate  with “hell!” In another instance, I was chatting with a friend whom I haven’t spoken to in a long while. After I typed in my send-off to him and pressed the Enter key, I was shocked to see what I typed in the chat box: “God less you.” (I intended to say “God bless you”). “Hell” for a greeting, and a farewell wish for God to “less-en” a friend. Two letters altered my messages. Minor mistakes led to night-and-day differences.
 
Good thing there’s the asterisk. To someone who just fouled up, this little star becomes the superstar. It represents another chance to make things right — the sign for a possible rise after a fall. When a mistake could’ve led to gloom and doom, the asterisk comes as the error-doctor. Imagine the chat room without this sign. No room for mixups! Typographical bloopers forbidden! Finger-lapses not allowed. The chat room becomes strictly for the perfect. This is what makes the splat sign beautiful. It un-wraps God’s gift called grace in the chat room. And for us who makes mistakes a lot, the asterisk is a reminder that a mistake doesn’t have to be the end.
 
So the next time you encounter this little star, take it as a reminder from God that He gives second chances. When all hope is lost, understand that God never gives up on us and hands us asterisks along the way. And if you had just messed up or made a major foul up, here’s one * for you, a fresh “mercy,” a second chance. Take it now, make your wrong right, and start again.
 

Prayer: 
Lord, today I want to say sorry for all my past sins. I pray for forgiveness. I also want to appreciate You for Your grace. Thank You that Your mercies never run out. I receive the second chance to make things right. I pray that You give me strength and courage to start again now and begin anew with a life that is lived for You. I love You, Lord. Amen.

*** This devotion is taken from Refuel by Ru dela Torre an original title from OMF Literature. ***

Thank you for reading! Be blessed and be a blessing!