Surrender at 27

Yes, 27 years of BEAUTIFUL existence. Happy birthday to me!

I’m entitling this post as such because I feel this is the Lord’s message to me, especially the past few weeks. It really is a good point to remember not only today but whenever I get caught up in my own worrying and faulty decision-making skills. I’m only human.

I love to dream. And to the best of my ability, I make sure they come true. But sometimes, our dreams and plans fall short of what is truly reserved for us. On that part, it becomes the most challenging to me – to accept that there is something much better, bigger than what I can ever dream of.

And to surrender to that which beyond my imagination is hard. I for instance would always say that I will certainly do my best, and would leave to God the rest. But after not getting what I want, I whine and complain without understanding that part of my decision to surrender is to accept the outcome for whatever it is. I realized after reading this week’s reflection that to surrender is to mean that:

1. You are open to God’s version of your dream. *Jeremiah 29:11

2. You let go of your own timetable and just leave it up to Him. *Ecclesiastes 3:1

I learned that if your dream consumes you to the point where you think you will never be happy unless you get what you want – that is not surrendering.

For the past weeks I felt so unsettled, and disturbed inside. It’s as if something is lacking in my life despite the numerous blessings… like I do not wish to function daily unless that thing I want is finally given to me. And that is SAD.

And real exhausting.

So today on my 27^th year, I have decided to surrender more of me and more of my plans to Him. Let it be that the more years added to my life, the more shall I give my trust completely to God.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.” 

- Proverbs 3:5 

Glorious Wednesdays: Men Should Pray

I know, I know. I’m never faithful to “Glorious Wednesdays” (perhaps I need more Filipino bloggers to blog about their Christian faith so this section gets more active – and on time. Heh!)

Anyway, I had this once-in-a-while talk with my dad over the weekend. Well, it is not a spectacularly big talk, but rather a topic we never spoke of when I was growing up. It is a shame to find out that when I was still studying in college, my parents would always discourage me from getting into a relationship since I’m still in school. Now that the time is right, they have no other goal whatsoever for me but to GET A BOYFRIEND A.S.A.P! Well, I do understand their concern since ladies my age are either getting engaged or getting married (while some are getting preggy too!).  Here’s some excerpt of the conversation:

Dad: Baket kase parating “busy” ang YM status mo? Pano ka magkaka boypren nyan?

Me: LOL. eh busy eh. Tsaka may shortage daw ng mga lalake ngayon

Dad: Huh? Hindi ah

Me: Or siguro marami namang lalake dyan, pero konti lang ang “quality” men.

Dad: Marami dyan, pero hindi nga lahat karapat-dapat. Totoo yan.

I don’t know if I should feel better for dad’s confirmation of my “limited quality men theory”, or I just have to feel depressed all together now. Hehe

So this takes me to a post by Bro. Jun Asis of MabutingBalita.net:

Men Should Pray

It is a delight to see men pray. Hulking, macho, baritone-voiced men putting their shields down to be one with the
Father. Strong, seasoned and firm leaders, hands clasped, eyes closed, kneeling.

Men have the special role, the primary task of praying for their community or family. Though every member should be praying for the group they belong to, it is the men who should be leading this charge.

It is a pity that women are more visible in churches. I enjoin you (if you are a husband) to take the lead to pray for your family alone, and with them. If you are a husband or woman, please pray for the men in your life to pray more.

-  (Adapted from the talk of Edwin S during our Men’s retreat)

• If only more men would take up the lead in relationships and spiritual direction of the family and community;
• if only more men would understand the special role God has entrusted them to take care of His flock;
• if only more men would desire for God’s plan instead of “my plan” (same goes for women I think);
• if only more men would choose girls like me (now, that’s just me flattering myself hehe!)
• And if only more men would pray…

… then maybe, just maybe… women will not be so much on the side of the disadvantaged.

Glorious Wednesdays: Shades of Gray

Moderation = Mediocrity = Sin.

I have to admit that one of my favorite sins is what I call the sin of moderation.  We often hear this in liquor ads, “Drink Moderately”. And unfortunately, this  brand of moderation we also tend to apply in our spiritual life. For one, I do  rush in my prayers (justifying that at least I prayed). Or I come to the Sunday  mass with the homily almost done (well, at least I went to church).

How about the classic case of keeping a few ball pens, or some sheets of bond  paper to take home from the office? When we do it moderately, does that mean  it is actually alright? I believe that moderation in sinning simply brings forth a mediocre kind of faith also.

This kind of sin is often more difficult to abstain from as compared to hard core murder, for example.

But the Lord invites us to realize that these “shades of gray” between good and bad should not bring us to despair. God didn’t give us a terribly long list of rules  to follow – so that He can punish us whenever we fall into the sin of moderation. But Christ has blessed us with the Holy Spirit – who helps us discern the will of God for ourselves and for others.

Glorious Wednesdays welcomes the Voices of Young People in Ministry with their post on Shades of Gray:

If all we have are a list of rules, guidelines and a kind of “faith police” to implement such rules, then we will be following Christ out of a sheer sense of duty and fear of punishment and reprisal. But God promised to write the laws in our hearts. With the Holy Spirit, Jesus enables us to enjoy the light.

Even in the midst of the shades of grey of our faith and our lives, the light of Jesus’ shines through. Haven’t you noticed, the sunrise and the sunset can be breathtaking as they show the shades of grey and the interaction of light and darkness. Even in the sunrise, in the sunset and late at night, the sun shines on us. Shades of grey even make the presence of light brighter and sharper.

Glorious Wednesdays: Where is the Real Storm?

Where Is The Real Storm?

Typhoon Ondoy came and went.

But the real storm is not out there.

The real storm is in your mind.

Do you believe that great things will happen to you?

Imagine a party balloon.

At first, it’s bright and fat and goes up to the ceiling.

But after a few days, it becomes deflated.

It stays on the floor.

We’re like balloons.

What keeps us up is hope.

But life happens, and everyday, we leak hope.

Especially when big trials come, we surely leak out a lot of hope.

And we’re deflated.

Here’s what you need to do: You need to refill your heart with hope.

So that you can rise up again.

Dispel the storms in your mind.

It may be stormy on the outside but it shouldn’t be stormy on the inside.

The only way to dispel the storms is to be grateful for what you have today and what will happen tomorrow.

God is redirecting you to something better.

Sit up straight. Out loud, say this declaration with me…

I’m strong in the Lord. I’m blessed. I’m forgiven. I’m protected. I’m redeemed. I’m equipped. I’m anointed. Healing flows in my body. New doors will open before me. I’ll meet the right people, the right opportunities, at the right time, at the right place. I’ll regain ten times what I lost…

In Jesus name!

Where Is The Real Storm?

Typhoon Ondoy came and went.

But the real storm is not out there.

The real storm is in your mind.

Do you believe that great things will happen to you?

Imagine a party balloon.

At first, it’s bright and fat and goes up to the ceiling.

But after a few days, it becomes deflated.

It stays on the floor.

We’re like balloons.

What keeps us up is hope.

But life happens, and everyday, we leak hope.

Especially when big trials come, we surely leak out a lot of hope.

And we’re deflated.

Here’s what you need to do: You need to refill your heart with hope.

So that you can rise up again.

Dispel the storms in your mind.

It may be stormy on the outside but it shouldn’t be stormy on the inside.

The only way to dispel the storms is to be grateful for what you have today and what will happen tomorrow.

God is redirecting you to something better.

Sit up straight. Out loud, say this declaration with me…

I’m strong in the Lord. I’m blessed. I’m forgiven. I’m protected. I’m redeemed. I’m equipped. I’m anointed. Healing flows in my body. New doors will open before me. I’ll meet the right people, the right opportunities, at the right time, at the right place. I’ll regain ten times what I lost…

In Jesus name!

Glorious Thursdays Wednesdays post coming from Bo Sanchez’ “Every Storm will End”

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Glorious Wednesdays: Tatak Pilipino

Because prayers are meant to be answered: I will be giving prizes here at  Glorious Wednesdays

As for the month of September, I had a difficult time picking the best  Wednesday post because all were worth-reading. However, I feel that I should  feature 1 last blog post specifically for the benefits of the Ondoy victims. For  that, I commend Fr. Jun-G of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). They are doing  God’s work by being active in the Simbahang Lingkod Bayan

Let’s hear it from the “Passionista” with his post “Tatak Pilipino”. This is so in-  rhythm with my being a proud Pinoy. Now you know why I chose his post:

salamat o Diyos… salamat.

mamaya… bukas… sa susunod… masasaksihan ko naman ang bagyong magbibigay ng hindi hapis… kundi kagalakan sa puso.

pagkakaisa. pagtutulungan. pagmamahalan.

ito ay tatak PILIPINO.

That is the authentic Filipino Bayanihan spirit coming alive amidst the storm! When you think about it though you may ask yourself, does it have to take an Ondoy before we help our brothers and sisters in need? I’m just peaceful to know that in times like this though, we can count on the Filipino

I did not forget about your prize Fr. Jun-G hehe… but it comes in the form of a donation under your name – yep, to be given to your dedicated ministry: Simbahang Linkod ng Bayan. Hope you like the prize hehe! Gcash coming in a while (romela de leon)

Congratulations Fr. Jun-G, SJ.

To the winner, and to all the bloggers who wrote for September – Thank you for sharing your wonderful words on Glorious Wednesdays. Let’s carry on with the faith until next month

For those who want to donate via Gcash to SLB just type in:

DONATE_<Amount>_<4-digit pin>_SLB and send to 2882

Your help is needed most now.

Glorious Wednesdays: Heaven and Home

Heaven is neither America nor China. Heaven is where one finds not only the means to survive but the very meaning of survival and life.

That is from our famous running-priest Fr. Robert Reyes. I wish the CBCP would take him in now to say homilies. He’s a good and effective priest, I believe.

Today in our Glorious Wednesday post, I am featuring his blog about “Heaven  and Home”. I often talk with my IT friends about leaving the country to work in  greener pastures. But there seems to be a nagging desire to just keep our feet  here in the Philippines. Who knows, we could be losing our jobs if we go abroad  since most web-based jobs are being outsourced here in Asian countries like the  Philippines and India. Apart from that concern, the country is home to our  family and friends – the comfort zone that we know. Sure life is difficult here, but  survival is more meaningful because you are being called to share to those in  need (which are a big chunk of our population).

Anyway, here is one favorite part from Fr. Robert’s post on “Heaven and Home” written at Parokya on the Web:

When I was in China I pined for the motherland. The feeling of being a foreigner, an outsider, intensifies this longing. While I lived and worked in China, my inner eyes seemed to look further, beyond what my physical eyes saw. In fact, during the many times I prayed and closed my eyes, I did not see heaven. I saw what was around and within me. Heaven can be an escape, an alienating thought that allows us to avoid responsibility for our lives. Thus Jesus tells Nicodemus, “No one has ever gone up to heaven except the one who came from heaven, the Son of Man.” Here, Jesus reminds us to look hard at where we are and at how we live our lives where we are. Let us not waste our lives pining and wishing for what is not there and doing nothing more. For Jesus, heaven was always near. It was that moment of connection and union with His Father. It was also those many moments when He fulfilled His Father’s will where He was and with those around Him.

Dear Lord, teach us to find you not out there but right here where we live and work. Teach us the way Jesus lived, totally present and totally responsive. Teach us to live with faith and hope, without illusion, without desire to escape. Amen.

Glorious Wednesdays: Be Connected!

This is the second time that I went tardy on posting for Glorious Wednesdays (what’s new, rom?). I am beginning to be like this lately – late for meetings, late  for an exam, late in praying, etc. But believe me, I never intend to be this way –  ever. In fact, the moment I open my eyes what runs through my head are the  various “to-do-bullets” I have in my notepad.  Really, I think that is being so  short-sighted or narrow-minded amidst all the blessings around every morning.  Thus, I end up stressed out the moment I wake up (what a way to start a day!)

I start the day “disconnected” to the power source – and that could be the reason  why I go late most all of the time. Life has been a robotic routine in which I  depend on myself to get through daily.

As Fr. Stephen Cuyos puts it:

The robot mirrors how many of us live our lives. Like the robot, we want to do things by ourselves, independent of others.  Often we rely on our strength alone. Like the robot, we forget that without being connected to the source of all power we can do nothing. True strength, true power comes from God.

Read more about Fr. Stephen’s post

Have a Happy Faith and “be connected” this Glorious Wednesday Friday

Glorious Wednesdays: Life doesn’t always happen the way you plan it

Yesterday was Mama Mary’s birthday. It is just right that we offer our Glorious  Wednesday for this week to this wonderful woman-saint of true obedience to God’s call.  Had she not taken upon her the Lord’s will for her life, where could we have found  the Savior Jesus Christ on earth? In honor of our Blessed Mother, I chose Sky  Ortega’s Mercygrass.com to be our featured blog this Wednesday.

Here’s a favorite excerpt of her post: Life doesn’t always happen the way you plan.

And God of all creation is really hard to understand. Haha, how He maps out your life to be in accordance to His divine will. To be able to let you see the beauty that He has created for you. Sometimes you will just find yourself in another situation and asks yourself, why you are here but ultimately realizing that it is the best place you should be at the moment. Times when you make quick decisions and even whine of the happenings in your life, God will just be there to say, “Okay whine, and then after, I will talk to you.” And that is the most amazing feeling I get. When God allows me to realize the things that He is doing in my life. But of course, I have to do my part. I have to fulfill my own plans and then allow God to turn these plans into “His” plans.

Sen. NoyNoy Aquino announces his candidacy for the presidency on Sept 9, 2009

And truly the Lord’s plan is just perfect. Look at the news  today at 09-09-09 (September 9, 2009 – also the 40th day of Pres. Cory Aqunino’s death).  They say now is the “signs of the times”. Well, I normally do not believe in signs. What I do know hoewever, is that God has allowed it to happen – that Sen. NoyNoy Aquino will announce his decision to run for the 2010 Philippine presidency today. It wasn’t NoyNoy’s plan in the first place, but the Lord has a way of rearranging our lives according to His will.

A lack of fund for the big presidential campaign is the challenge for the only Aquino son (it’s a good thing he has Kris as his sister ). For my part, I think this would be my way of helping his campaign. You can help him too if you believe that democracy should be a free (but not cheap) commodity for all Filipinos, regardless of your net worth.

Glorious Wednesdays: beautiful One-liners

I’m truly sorry for posting this late, a lot has came up yesterday, so this sounds more like  ”Luminous Thursdays” na, hehe. But anyway, I’d like to share how special GW is this week.

Do you believe in the power of one-liners? Yeah like when you first heard the love of  your life say “I love you”, for instance… or when your college professor has struck a chord  in you when he said something of wisdom… or when you hear a long-time enemy say his  heartfelt “sorry”. One-liners are more powerful than we think.. sometimes they are better to  hear than all words summed up together. Today, I honor the blogger who is an inspiration to our feature post. The author is anonymous (I think), but the inspiration lies here. Be Inspired Now!

I like item number 9. It makes me reflect, so much for all the Bible interpretation wars of our generation, when in reality –  We don’t change God’s message — His message changes us.

1. Give God what’s right — not what’s left.

2. Man’s way leads to a hopeless end — God’s way leads to an endless hope.

3. A lot of kneeling will keep you in good standing.

4. He who kneels before God can stand before anyone.

5. Don’t put a question mark where God puts a period.

6. Are you wrinkled with burden? Come to the church for a facelift.

7. When praying, don’t give God instructions — just report for duty.

8. Don’t wait for six strong men to take you to church.

9. We don’t change God’s message — His message changes us.

10. When God ordains, He sustains.

11. Plan ahead — It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark.

12. Most people want to serve God, but only in an advisory position.

13. Suffering from truth decay? Brush up on your Bible.

14. Exercise daily — walk with the Lord.

15. Never give the devil a ride — he will always want to drive.

16. Nothing else ruins the truth like stretching it.

17. He who angers you controls you.

18. Worry is the darkroom in which negatives can develop.

19. Give Satan an inch and he’ll be a ruler.

20. God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

And I’d like to add one which I saw when I was still working in Amorsolo St. in Makati. This one is posted at the Blessed Sacrament of the Don Bosco Church:

“If your problems are deeply-seated and long-standing… try kneeling”

Glorious Wednesdays: Why Am I Not Blessed Yet?

Today is the first Glorious Wednesday episode. Wednesdays represent the Glorious Mystery of  the Rosary (and Baclaran day, too! ) So in honor of this holy mid-week, I will be featuring  inspirational blog posts about faith from various bloggers all over the globe. Who knows, I  might send a GW (Glorious Wednesday) love token for the best post each month!

For today, August 26 – we read from YourDailyWord. This blogger has a very impressive  profile  to start with – “An Electrical Engineer, Call Center Team Lead, and most of all – a minister of God!”

Here’s my favorite part of his post: Why Am I Not Blessed Yet?

The issue is not whether God wants to bless us or not. In fact, God wants to bless us. That’s already a given fact! [Gen. 12:3] The question we should ask ourselves is “Why are we asking for the things we’re asking?”

James clearly said, “we don’t receive what we ask because we ask with wrong motives.”

So much for my turbo-panic-mode of finding an apartment to stay before the month ends. If you are not among the people I see everyday, you are lucky for you are deprived of my endless whinning over finding an apartment near Villamor or Makati. I have this deadline with my landlord up to end of August only. After that, I sleep on the streets. Lol!

If you are like me, you’d probably be asking the Lord too “why I am not blessed yet?” I’m a good girl naman eh. Maybe I’ve been asking with the wrong motives in mind – or I am just of little faith.

Whatever you are going through right now, if you are waiting for some miracle or blessing to happen (and it’s not happening you ask!) – then surely there’s a reason for it. One is that you need a quick check of the heart