Respeto at pagmamahal sa sarili

Habang tumatanda ako, isang bagay na natutunan ko ay ang limitadong pagkakakilala nga mga tao sa pagkato ng iba. 

Ayon sa aking karanasan, may mga bagay na malaya ko nagpapakita sa bahay na hindi ko ginagawa harap ng mga kaibigan, katrabaho at kasama sa simbahan namin.  Ganun din sa labas.  May mga bagay na naipapakita ko sa mga kaibigan ko na hindi ko bukas na naipapakita sa pamilya ko.  Iilan lang ang nakakakilala sa buong katauhan natin.  At ang iilan na iyon ay maibibilang lamang ng aking mga daliri.

Napag-isip ako, na ang higit na mahalaga ay pagkakilala sa sarili.  Ang ating lipunan ay puno ng paghuhusga base sa kung ano ang nakikita, hindi ang nararamdaman.  Halimbawa ay isang puting papel na may malaking itim na tuldok sa gitna.  Gaano man kalaki ang puting papel, ang itim na tuldok lang ang mapapansin ng tao.  Marahil ito ay sa kadahilanang natural na inaasahan ang kabaitan sa isang tao habang ang isang pagkakamali lamang ay isang sukatan ng pagkatao.

Sumasang-ayon ako na kung ang tao ay walang iniiwan na respeto sa sarili, mahihirapan siyang matanggap ito sa mga tao.  Gayundin sa pagmamahal sa sarili. 

Mag-isip tayo bago tayo makapagbitaw ng mga salitang hindi naman kinakailangan sabihin.  Sinasabing ang nabibitawang mga salita ang pinaka matulis na patalim.  Maaring depensa o opensa.  Ang sakit na naidudulot nito ay hindi nagagamot ng pampagaang salita.  Ito ay umuugat sa puso. 

Mag-isip bago kumilos.  Maiiwasan nitong magsayang ng oras at makagawa ng pagkakamali.

Oo, mahirap ito gawin.  Pinapaalala ko lang sa iyo na ang buhay ng tao ay panandalian lamang.  Gawin mo ang tama habang nabubuhay ka. 

The Resume of Jesus Christ

The Resume of Jesus Christ

Address: Ephesians 1:20

Phone: Romans 10:13

Website: The Bible . Keywords: Christ, Lord, Savior and Jesus

Objective

My name is Jesus -The Christ. Many call me Lord! I've sent you my resume because I'm seeking the top management position in your heart. Please consider my accomplishments as set forth in my resume.

_____________________________________________________________________

Qualifications

I founded the earth and established the heavens, (See Proverbs 3:19)

I formed man from the dust of the ground, (See Genesis 2:7)

I breathed into man the breath of life, (See Genesis 2:7)

I redeemed man from the curse of the law, (See Galatians 3:13)

The blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant comes upon your life through me, (See Galatians 3:14)

_____________________________________________________________________

Occupational Background

I've only had one employer, (See Luke 2:49 ).

I've never been tardy, absent, disobedient, slothful or disrespectful.

My employer has nothing but rave reviews for me, (See Matthew 3:15 -17)

_____________________________________________________________________

Skills Work Experiences

Some of my skills and work experiences include: empowering the poor to be poor no more, healing the broken hearted, setting the captives free, healing the sick, restoring sight to the blind and setting at liberty them that are bruised, (See Luke 4:18).

I am a Wonderful Counselor, (See Isaiah 9:6). People who listen to me shall dwell safely and shall not fear evil, (See Proverbs 1:33 ).

Most importantly, I have the authority, ability and power to cleanse you of your sins, (See I John 1:7-9)

_____________________________________________________________________

Educational Background

I encompass the entire breadth and length of knowledge, wisdom and understanding, (See Proverbs 2:6).

In me are hid all of the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, (See Colossians 2:3).

My Word is so powerful; it has been described as being a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path, (See Psalms 119:105).

I can even tell you all of the secrets of your heart, (See Psalms 44:21).

_____________________________________________________________________

Major Accomplishments

I was an active participant in the greatest Summit Meeting of all times, (See Genesis 1:26 ).

I laid down my life so that you may live, (See II Corinthians 5:15 ).

I defeated the arch enemy of God and mankind and made a show of them openly, (See Colossians 2:15 ).

I've miraculously fed the poor, healed the sick and raised the dead!

There are many more major accomplishments, too many to mention here. You can read them on my website, which is located at: www dot - the BIBLE. You don't need an Internet connection or computer to access my website.

_____________________________________________________________________

References

Believers and followers worldwide will testify to my divine healing, salvation, deliverance, miracles, restoration and supernatural guidance.

_____________________________________________________________________

In Summation

Now that you've read my resume, I'm confident that I'm the only candidate uniquely qualified to fill this vital position in your heart. In summation, I will properly direct your paths, (See Proverbs 3:5-6), and lead you into everlasting life, (See John 6:47 ). When can I start? Time is of the essence, (See Hebrews 3:15 ).

Special Possessions

When I was younger, my brother and I took care of dogs.  One for each of us.  My female dog’s name was PeeWee.  I really do now know her breed but she was that type with short body, less than 1 feet tall.  She got stuck in a canal one rainy afternoon with her chain tied to the grasses.  It took me 3 days to find where she could be.  I just noticed the teeth and the tail.  She must have struggled from being drowned. We love her so much that we were mourning over her death.  She was the Madonna of the house.  From that day onwards I said I wouldn’t want to own a dog. 

My brother’s dog was a kind dog.  His name was Toytoy.  He was a kind dog, I was rude to him.  We left him at our old rented house when we moved to my grandma’s house.  But when we went to visit the village again, we saw him there so excited to see us again.  He did not leave us at all, he was following us wherever we went.  Surely, he took on the vehicle we rode going back to my grandma’s house.  Toytoy found it difficult to live in the new place.  We were from the village and moved to a city.  The cars were new to him, the street and the noise.  One day, there was fire far from our house.  He got hit by a car that made him limp.  He was older then.  He had fever and was chilling.  After few months he got used to it.  But his life was not spared when a flood came.  The flood was almost 4ft high.  I do not know what happened to him.  He must have struggled much.

Losing our dogs have impacted my life so much.  I became a person who is scared of losing someone I know I should always be with – family members and dogs.  As I mentioned, we never took care of dogs at all.  It is the same fear I feel when I think of my son.  I do not think I will be able to carry on if I will lose him.  I might end up not wanting to have any kid at all if that happens.

Common sense

"An intellectual is a man who doesn't know how to park a bike." - Spiro Agnew

Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.1

My worst date ever

at was your worst date? I met a man in a coffee shop. He was there sitting with cup of coffee infront of him which I believe was his and another glass of what I assume is a cold coffee across him. My first question was, did he see someone before I came? Second, Did the Gloria Jean Coffee people forget to clean the table? Assuming that the second point happened before I came, I sat and observed him while he was asking me how I was and how was my day. I came dressed in a cute black dress, black shoes, black bag and with make-up on. Infront of me was a man at his late 20’s wearing a gray sleeveless, dark blue shorts and slippers. He was good looking though, so it was ok. So, we went ahead with conversation. He asked me what I was doing the past days. I told him I was doing something for the church to help raise fund at least. Then he started sharing ideas on how a church can actually come up with financial returns. Then he next ask me about future plans. I told him I do have plans but I do not see them happening soon. So he continued asking me about my income, assets and insurance. I slowly felt I was either with a right person in a wrong place or the right place with the wrong person. It felt like a job interview, financial consultation and lifestyle evaluation. Damn, that was quick. In just 20 minutes he looked like a salesman to me! He told me he is going to let me meet his friend for further progress in my life. I said I will contact him about it but I never did. I blocked him on everything where he could possibly contact me.

Sigh.

Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.1

Pity party

When I told my Mom one day that I will not have anything to do with my brother at all, she stopped communicating with me.  I am now 29 years old.  I can still feel the favoritism.  :-(

OFW Agony

I miss home

I miss Philippines

But there is a part of me

That brings me back to wilderness

I do not have to

But I have to

Where opportunity leads me

I will go

My country is rich

But everywhere is glitch

How do we stay

When it is better to be away

Ah, a new president

Facing the so-called torment

He has a lot to do

How about jobs for OFW?

I want to go home

To where I belong

If there’s only job at hand

I can live in my native land

-TinaZ-

He will find me

For the past weeks since I went home, I have repeatedly said I did not feel God.  And that I do not understand how I feel.  It was like an empty space.  Annihilated?  Sort of.  There was nothing.  But my thoughts were still remembering the God I used to serve.  I remembered the time I traded my life to become a better person.  I watched videos of me and my friends from the church.  I gathered videos on Youtube that speaks of His goodness and my worth.  I went to watch concert of a worship band (encsmusic & Citipointe).  And I started praying.  I listened to worship songs while praying. 

I know myself.  I am that type who would rather slip away than be in trouble, that type who chooses to be silent and just wander like nothing happened.  But God knows me more than anyone in this world. And I know He was just looking at me struggling with my unknown emotion.  This is the time when “I am lost” line is very familiar.

The verse from Matthew 28:19-20 was just popping around – in books, videos, conversations, church sermons and everywhere.  This verse came so alive to me while I was reading a book in January this year.  That was that season of seeking God’s guidance for the future.  I shivered when I read the verse.  It did not only reminded me that I was made to be His servant but He promised that whatever I am going through, wherever it will be, He will be with me always.

Just in time, a pastor said “I can see God embracing you.  He is saying “I want you to feel me too, heart to heart”. 

It started to soften my hardened heart.  The songs I listened to made it softer than any marshmallow.  There is one song from All The Way album of Encsmusic that really moved me and made me feel God again.  Who will go, that is the title.  I felt that it was God singing, asking me who will do it for Him.  I am just one of the many, with little faith and my not-so-great ability, God knows I am able as He is the one who made me.

One thing I realized, being lost and found (again).  He owns me.  I am His.  No matter how far I drift away, He will find me.

Be like the bamboo: 7 lessons from the Japanese forest

The forests that surround our village here in Nara, Japan are filled with beautiful bamboo trees. In Japan, the symbolism of the bamboo plant runs deep and wide and offers practical lessons for life and for work. I summarized the lessons below with presentation and learning in mind, but as you read these seven lessons from bamboo, try think of practical implications for your own work.

(1) Bend but don't break. Be flexible yet firmly rooted
  One of the most impressive things about the bamboo in the forest is how they sway with even the slightest breeze. This gentle swaying movement with the wind is a symbol of humility. Their bodies are hard and firm and yet sway gently in the breeze while their trunks stay rooted firmly in the ground below. Their foundation is solid even though they move and sway harmoniously with the wind, never fighting against it. In time, even the strongest wind tires itself out, but the bamboo remains standing tall and still. A bend-but-don't-break or go-with-the-natural-flow attitude is one of the secrets for success whether we're talking about bamboo trees, answering tough questions in a Q&A session, or just dealing with the everyday vagaries of life.

(2) Remember: What looks weak is strongThe body of a single bamboo tree is not large by any means when compared to the other much larger trees in the forest. It may not look impressive at first sight at all. But the plants endure cold winters and extremely hot summers and are sometimes the only trees left standing in the aftermath of a typhoon. They may not reach the heights of the other trees, but they are strong and stand tall in extreme weather. Bamboo is not as fragile as it may appear, not by a long shot. Remember the words of a great Jedi Master: "Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size do you?" We must be careful not to underestimate others or ourselves based only on old notions of what is weak and what is strong. You may not be from the biggest company or the product of the most famous school, but like the bamboo, stand tall, believe in your own strengths, and know that you are as strong as you need to be.

(3) Be always readyUnlike other types of wood which take a good deal of processing and finishing, bamboo needs little of that. As the great Aikido master Kensho Furuya says in Kodo: Ancient Ways, "The warrior, like bamboo, is ever ready for action." In presentation or other professional activities too, through training and practice, we can develop in our own way a state of being ever ready.
(4) Unleash your power to spring back
Bamboo is a symbol of good luck and one of the symbols of the New Year celebrations in Japan. The important image of snow-covered bamboo represents the ability to spring back after experiencing adversity. In winter the heavy snow bends the bamboo back and back until one day the snow becomes too heavy, begins to fall, and the bamboo snaps back up tall again, brushing aside all the snow. The bamboo endured the heavy burden of the snow, but in the end it had to power to spring back as if to say "I will not be defeated."

(5) Find wisdom in emptiness It is said that in order to learn, the first step is to empty ourselves of our preconceived notions. One can not fill a cup which is already full. The hollow insides of the bamboo reminds us that we are often too full of ourselves and our own conclusions; we have no space for anything else. In order to receive knowledge and wisdom from both nature and people, we have to be open to that which is new and different. When you empty your mind of your prejudices and pride and fear, you become open to the possibilities.
  
(6) Commit to (continuous) growthBamboo trees are among the fastest-growing plants in the world. It does not matter who you are — or where you are — today, you have amazing potential for growth. We usually speak of Kaizen or continuous improvement that is more steady and incremental, where big leaps and bounds are not necessary. Yet even with a commitment to continuous learning and improvement, our growth — like the growth of the bamboo — can be quite remarkable when we look back at what or where we used to be. Even though the bamboo that is outside my window grows quite rapidly, I do not notice its growth from day to day. We too, even when we are making progress, may not notice our own improvement. How fast or how slow is not our main concern, only that we're moving forward. The bamboo grows fastest around the rainy season. You too may have "seasons" where growth accelerates, but is slower at other times. Yet with sustained effort, you are always growing. Do not be discouraged by what you perceive as your lack of growth or improvement. If you have not given up, then you are growing, you just may not see it until much later.

(7) Express usefulness through simplicity
Aikido master Kensho Furuya says that "The bamboo in its simplicity expresses its usefulness. Man should do the same." Indeed, we spend a lot of our time trying to show how smart we are, perhaps to convince others — and ourselves — that we are worthy of their attention and praise. Often we complicate the simple to impress and we fail to simplify the complex out of fear that others may know what we know. Life and work are complicated enough without our interjecting the superfluous. If we could lose our fear, perhaps we could be more creative and find simpler solutions to even complex problems that ultimately provide the greatest usefulness for our audiences, customers, patients, or students.

In a dry season

I’ve been standing strong.  I thought so.  Things are just not working favorably as I saw it for the past days.  And yet I know that no matter how I see things, it will NEVER be the same way how God sees me and my situation.  My quiet times and Bible reading have ceased.  I just do not hear Him, feel Him.  Yes, I still have short prayers.  But He doesn’t deserve it.  I am drying up and is in a dry season.  Because I know walking away from Him will not do me good, I still worship Him.  It is odd to need music just to lift my soul back but it is working for me and may work for others.  It is crushing my heart and is wanting more of Him.  I realized that no matter how heavy the circumstances are, I should not let go one of the following: prayer, Bible reading, talking to a sibling in Christ, worship and going to church.  Surely, one of it will heal me.  Then doing each back one by one will please Him.  Just like the bamboo, bend but don't break. Be flexible yet firmly rooted in Him.

When women writes

I had been writing for quite sometime now but I never really produced something that is really worth reading for.  I realized that I am emotionally driven when writing.  I tend to write when I am emotionally disturbed.  I can give perfect picture of how I think through words.  But again, this only happens when emotional hype strikes.

When does it usually strike?  Emotions.  Unpredictable.  There can be many reasons behind.

1)     Monthly cycle – There is a point in a woman’s monthly cycle that makes us emotional (usually on or before the menstrual period.  Women are soft at this stage.  We easily cry at petty things.  Some tend to be more hot tempered.  Emotions.  It may be both aggressive or regressive.

2)     Something happened that day – If she is the type of woman who takes hours before she speaks about what happened (or doesn’t talk about it at all), one of her outlets is writing.  She will pour out all the emotions and will reread whatever she wrote and would feel better after that.

Yes, I said many.  Others are yet to be explained how.

Lovely magazine covers

Rosas ng Digma

Sumibol sa isang panahong marahas

Bawat pagsubok ay iyong hinarap

At hangga’t laya’y di pa nakakamtan

Buhay mo’y laging laan

Namumukadkad at puno ng sigla

Tulad mo’y rosas sa hardin ng digma

At di maiwasang sa’yo ay humanga

Ang tulad kong mandirigma

(Refrain)

Ako’y nangangarap na ika’y makasama

Taglay ang pangakong iingatan kita

Ang ganda mong nahubog sa piling ng masa

Hinding hindi kukupas, di malalanta

Ang kulay mong angkin, sintingkad ng dugo

Nagbibigay-buhay sa bawat puso

Tinik mo’y sagisag ng tapang at giting

Sa langara’y kislap ng bituin

(Repeat refrain twice)

Gaya ng pag-ibig na alay ko sinta

I have included this song in my blog today to mark the death of Ka Roger.  A name I have always heard but never really knew in person.  I may not fully under understand why he went to fight (for what whatever he was fighting for).  I just want to honor him for everything he did, he was.

I am a writer

14 yrs ago (07-Oct-1997) I won 1^st price for Editorial Writing Contest.  It was such a fulfilling experience.  I need to write.  It expresses the cheese out of me.  Otherwise, I will be vague.  Vague in what I say because of those thoughts that are not put into words.  But for the past years, my passion in writing has diminished specially when I worked in a callcenter.  I just had to talk and key in important details in a system.  That was 3 years of talking.  I am living in a country where English is a slight challenge that I need to bend what I know so our ideas will meet.  3 years.  I can state many reasons why I stopped writing.  But I know there are more reasons to write.  I tried to write again through blog.  There is effort is producing topic, effort in producing words, effort in making it interesting, effort in the composition when all I need to do is write.  Rust.  Writing is writing.  It sounds easy to do but if you do not practice this passion, it will feel awkward to do the next time you try it.  Struggle.  As I write, I am also reading books.  This is to refresh me of the ways people write.  To refresh me with words.  To give me patience in focusing on one thing and squeeze ideas about it rather than agreeing to the only idea presented by the book.  I play word games.  I won and had been defeated many times.  Challenge.  Lesson learned.  Do not stop reading.  Do not stop writing.  Do not stop learning.

Paper Roses

Monday, he called up to remind me that he is in the country.  Damn, how can I forget that he informed me about it 2 months ago.  So I hurriedly went to the meeting area to see him and our batchmates from elementary years.  Oh man, his eyes were the same.  Looking at it brought me back to our 4^th grade when I gave him a short love note with letters only I could understood.  But I never told him it came from me.  I told him it was from a friend.  2011, after 16 years since highschool, this is the first time we saw each other again.  The intensity of being-ok-though-it-felt-awkward was high. In short, I did not know how to act.  But I did.  We had dinner and toured around the city, had laughs and short talks.  But yeah, the feeling was a little awkward.  Yet I hope it will happen again when we see each other again in November.  My crush.  He still is.

What does the Bible say about money?

Warm up question:  If you will be blessed with wealth (money), how much would you would want it to be and why?  Please be a little specific with the figure.

Why do we need to talk about money?  Money is a personal possession and is a sensitive topic.  We talk about money only with people we are very confident with, close friends, financial advisers, or family members.  Why?  Nowadays, money has become our identity statement.  It is featured through the way we dress, the brand and model of our hand phones, bags, shoes, and the way of living.  There can be many things that will benchmark our financial value.  As Christians, we view this state as being blessed.

In the Bible, there are 800 scriptures referring to money.  There are stories about money, love of money, tribute of money, and warnings.

1)    Where do material blessings come from?

·         Psalm 24:1 “The earth is the LORD's, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” Example: CREATION.

·         Deuteronomy 8:18 “But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.”

·         Riche men in the Bible:

1)    Abraham – Animals, maidservants, son.  Abrahamic covenant.

2)    Isaac – Land, animals, crops – Blessed through Abraham.

3)    Jacob- Blessed through Isaac.  Blessing rivalry with Brother Esau.

4)    David- I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread [Psalms 37:25].

5)    Solomon – son of David.  The wisest and richest king.

6)    Joseph the disciple. - Built the first Christian church.

·         Your money is not your own.  It all belongs to God. 

2)    Why is not everyone wealthy?  God has always wanted us blessed even from the beginning.  God wants us prosperous.  But because of greed and love of money, it has led us to destruction. 

Ø  1 Timothy 6:10 “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

*Contentment, discipline, investment, tithing, seek His kingdom first, know your priorities (family/future), every blessing has a purpose, know your goal.

Ø  Matt 6: 24 “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”  KJV

Mammon is a term, derived from the Bible, used to describe material wealth or greed, most often personified as a deity, and sometimes included in the seven princes of Hell. (Personification) Mamon -Dinero in Spanish.  He is one of the 7 prince of hell.  Prince of Greed.

This craving for fortune is nothing new. Two thousand years ago Jesus said, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." (Mark 10:25 NIV)

Why is that? Jesus, who knew the human heart better than anyone ever has or ever will, understood that it's a matter of priorities. Too often, rich people make wealth their number one priority instead of God. They spend most of their time making wealth, spending it, and increasing it. In a very real sense, money becomes their idol.

God won’t stand for that. He told us so in his First Commandment: "You shall have no other gods before me." (Exodus 20:3 NIV).

Why is there suffering/ lack of money?

a)    Sin – Esau and Jacob

b)    Discipline – warning, prevention to further evil

c)    To seek Him – Jehovah Jireh

d)    To bless us again

3)    Wealth cannot buy happiness

Despite all their money, many rich people feel empty and without meaning.

-       Some surround themselves with a dozen hangers-on.

-       Confusing opportunists with friends. Loyal during the times of troubles and happiness?

-       No time for most important people of their lives, most important things to do.

-       Others get pulled in by New Age beliefs and religious cults

-       Searching in vain for something that will help them make sense of their lives – surgeries.

4)    Seeing Ourselves as we Really Are

Because of the world's false values, we seldom see ourselves as we really are. The truth is that in the eyes of God, every believer is rich and famous. We possess the richness of a salvation that can never be taken from us. This is the treasure that’s immune from moths and rust. We take it with us when we die, unlike money or fancy possessions. We are famous and precious to our Savior, so much that he sacrificed himself so we can spend eternity with him. His love surpasses any earthly fame because it will never end.

It’s time to stop comparing houses, cars, clothes, and bank accounts. It’s time to stop feeling inadequate because we don’t own the outward symbols of success. Instead, it’s time to turn our eyes to our intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. That’s where we’ll experience our greatest fulfillment. That’s where we’ll finally find all the riches we’ve ever wanted.