It always amazes me how my nephew, Jester Sean would show obedience to his mother. His love and allegiance go out only to her--no question about that. And this is inspite the fact that he got scolded almost everyday by her mom. I remember that there was one time I asked him to do something but he refused to do so without his mom's consent. I wondered, how can he be so obedient (loyal) to her? I don't scold him the way she does? I just don't get it. I couldn't seem to comprehend how his innocent love can actually lead him to obey no other person but his mom.
There probably isn't any easy way of handling my own confusion but I found the following realization somewhat acceptable to satisfy this little argument that kept on going in my mind.
I realized that my life right now is surrounded by people (men or women) who are in sinful relationships (meaning people who are: living-in with girlfriend/boyfriend, having sexual/physical relationship with someone outside marriage, in adulterous/bigamous/polygamous relationships, homosexual relationships among others). And despite the fact that these people perfectly know that the situations they are in are morally unacceptable and destructive to society (and to themselves), they just couldn't simply live their lives without these relationships. For whatever reason, they find it too difficult to leave either their partner or the relationship. I am disturbed, deeply disturbed that people no longer live by their conscience and that society seems to slowly accept that this is but a fact of life.
On the other hand, I also am reminded of some of my friends especially those who are in community who managed to follow a certain way of life...those who would rather be lonely than be in these kinds of relationships...those who believe in abstinence before marriage...those who are single and yet meaningfully living their lives.
Personally, I think that what separates those who can and cannot say "no" to a sinful relationship is a personal and deep relationship with God. It might be difficult to affirm a strong correlation between one's relationship with God and the decision to stay in or out of a sinful relationship but based on my own experience, my relationship with God compels me to do ONLY that what is pleasing and honorable in His sight. And for me though, being in sinful relationship is never a part of God's plan for us.
I will be forever grateful that God has somehow sheltered me from living the same life. If not for my relationship with Him, I probably would end up being in the same miserable situation. I owe my wonderful life to God. I must say that my life has not been easy; there were high mountains to climb and few storms to weather (and this holds true even in matters of my own heart) but God remains to be the Source of my joy and a Great Comfort in times of loneliness.
My life is a product of an everyday struggle to choose life over death, to choose good over evil and to choose God over other things. It knows no other love than that which springs from God and follows no other road than that which leads to Him. I want to believe that if I ever obey God, it is not out of fear but out of love. Such obedience is not inherent, I believe. It is but a response to God's abiding love for me over the years inspite of my unworthiness. I realized that when one is deeply loved, there seems to be no better way to respond than to obey the one to whom one has found and experienced love. Such, I think is better explained by a love between mother and child...between my sister and her son, Jester Sean...between God and me.
Note:
I obtained the photo from the web.
The God of the Covenant - Reflections from the Story of Noah and the Ark
I first heard of this story when I was still very small. I really liked that part when God sent a rainbow in the sky as His sign of promise to Noah. Back then, I never fully understood the lesson of this story. I realized later on that this is more than just a children's story. It tells so much about God's faithfulness and mercy to those who believe in His words and promises and remain faithful to His ways.
The passage is a bit long but I decided to pick the thoughts that are most important for me.
The Flood
Because of man's sinful ways, God decided to wipe away His creations by flood but exempted Noah and his family of this wrath because He found him to be a just and righteous man. The Lord God commanded Noah to build an ark to save him and his family from the flood. He gave very specific instructions to Noah on how he was supposed to build the ark - the size and all, as well as what he needed to bring with him inside the ark.
For an ordinary person like Noah, to be able to hear God's instructions simply tells us something about his deep and intimate relationship with the Lord. A person who listens to God can do the most unimaginable things to accomplish God's works and can bring His plans into fruition.
Genesis 7:17- 24: God's Silence during the Flood
It is noteworthy in this passage that when the rain begun pouring, the Scriptures did not make any mention on how God dealt with Noah. I am quiet sure that Noah and his family were very frightened and anxious while they were inside the ark. The water outside was continuously rising and the rain had not stopped pouring for forty days and forty nights. They might have been so terrified on what could happen to them amidst the flood.
In our own journey of faith, the same things can happen to us. We find God to be silent at times and this can cause so much anxiety on our part especially if we are in the midst of a very difficult situation. I think the best response is really that of Noah's. He remained steadfast and attentive and peaceful even when God became silent. He believed that the God who called him to make the ark would not abandon him and his family until the floodwaters ran dry.
Genesis 8:1-9:17: God's Faithfulness and The Covenant
When the flood subsided, the Lord made a covenant to Noah that never again would He send flood to destroy humankind. And in order for the Lord to remember that covenant, He sent a rainbow to the sky as a sign of that promise.
The Lord never let the same tragedy happen to us. And although time and again the world disobeys and sins, God remains faithful to that promise.
A Rainbow in the middle of the Storm
I am a person who can really attest that when God promises something, He is faithful enough to keep it. Let me tell you a personal story of how His promise came to pass in my own life.
Back in 2003, when I was trying to get myself a job, I experienced difficulty in trusting the Lord. For almost three (3) months of bumming around, I found myself starting to question God's faithfulness in this particular area. At that time, I had this one job prospect I really liked and which at that time, I was earnestly praying for.
One day, after an interview with another company I went straight to a mall for a little strolling. I passed by a small kiosk selling beautiful wooden wall decors. My attention was caught by this simple display with a passage from Jeremiah 29:11-God says, "For I know the plans I have for you; plans not to harm you but to prosper you. Plans to give you hope and a future". I felt that God was speaking to me through that passage. So, I brought His words with me on my way home and really claimed that that promise would be fulfilled in His perfect time.
That passage gave me peace from then on and sustained me while waiting for that dream job. But in just about a week or so, I got a call from that company and they told me that I needed to start working on my requirements. I got my dream job, brothers and sisters! And to top it all, when my supervisor was introduced to me, I learned that his name is Jeremiah (and then I remembered Jeremiah 29:11!).
I always refuse to believe that that experience was coincidental. I am convinced that it was God's way of reminding me that I can always take His word for it. I can rest my life on Him for He is faithful and loving. God's words in the Scriptures served as my rainbow at that time. His words were more than enough to give me peace and hope in the midst of the storm.
Our own Covenant with the Lord
Brothers and sisters, truly we have a faithful God! As we approach the Feast of the Covenant, we do not only call to mind His faithfulness to us individually but also as a community. I believe that the Lord God wants to say to us the same words He spoke to Noah and his family, "...and behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you." His faithfulness does not only go out to us but even to those who will come after us if we remain faithful and steadfast until the end.
A blessed Feast of the Covenant to us all!
Note: Photo obtained from the web
Reposted from NDE Yahoogroups column "My Take on Scriptures: The God of the Covenant - Reflections from the Story of Noah and the Ark
Praise be to you, O Lord my God
For you are a God who takes delight to bless my heart’s desires
You have provided my life with small and great things
You have kept me resilient in times of difficulty
Whenever I forget you, you disturb me and leave me without peace until I return to you
You have blessed me physically and I believe that I am pleasing to Your sight
I am never desolated because You are the fount of my joy
You give me a simple family to take care of me, a community to teach me how to live according to Your will and friends who love me inspite of me
Ho w can I not praise You for Your great love that's ever present even in my childhood days
And as I wait on my future, Your words are light that guide me to where You want me to be
The joy in my heart is overflowing because of Your steadfast love, dear Lord.
And for all these, I will be forever grateful.
Amen!
Come! Walk through life with eyes fixed on Jesus (Reflections on Matthew 14:22-36)
Matthew 14:22-36 - Jesus walks on the water
In Psychology, water is tantamount to life. The way you look at the water or a body of water speaks of how you see life. Say for example, how would you feel if you're alone in a boat at the middle of the sea? Do you feel fearful or tranquil? Whatever your perception is, according to Psychology, that is how you see life. Thus, we can look at Jesus walking on the water as Jesus being above life.
Hence, this entire account personally tells me that God is truly in control of my life. It is some sort of a reminder that when I get frightened, doubtful, sad, happy or blessed even, I can always look at Jesus and find Him to be better than life itself.
Come! Walk through life with Me (Matthew 14:28-32)
Peter asked the Lord to invite him to step out of the boat so he too can walk on the water. When Jesus did invite him, he walked towards Jesus then suddenly, the wind blew and so frightened was Peter that he begun to sink. "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" were Jesus' words to him and immediately, He grabbed Peter by His hand to rescue him.
For me, it was not the wind or the water that caused Peter to sink, it was actually his fear, his lack of faith to the One who called him that pulled him down. Peter lost his faith because he allowed himself to be distracted by the wind.
Most of the times, we are like Peter. We find it so difficult to sustain that faith in God after we stepped out to respond to His call. It is so easy to lose sight of the Lord when things are getting more difficult and a bit uneasy for us to bear.
The good news is that, no matter how often we fail to put our trust and hope in God, Jesus is ever ready to grab us by His hand to save us and bring us back to the boat where safety and comfort await us. What is certain to me is this--that God is able to keep us back on track whenever we lose hope until His plans and promises are finally accomplished in our lives.
I believe that Jesus invites us all to fix our eyes on Him as we walk through life. The wind will always distract us. Circumstances and people will lead us to doubt His promises to us but Jesus will never let us get drowned. He will not let difficult situations or people destroy us and separate us from Him. He will rescue us and He will do it without delay.
...and still walking on the water, my eyes fixed on Jesus
Two years ago, I decided to take up my master's degree. It has always been my dream to pursue a further study in Economics. I prayed about this decision and clearly, I heard the Lord gave me a go signal to proceed. But with His approval came a warning that this endeavor is not going to be easy and that I should be able to embrace the cross that goes with my decision no matter what.
I once believed that graduate studies are far too easy to complete than college degrees but experiencing it first hand, I realized that it is equally demanding and challenging. During my first term in school, I already failed one subject and failed another one come 2nd term. I even lost my scholarship because I failed to maintain the grade requirement (gosh...this is really embarrassing). The succeeding terms got more challenging because I had to personally finance for my tuition fees. I thought at that time I had enough reasons to quit; the failures and difficulties sort of like entitled me to give up. But whenever I would attempt to leave school, I would be reminded of God's call to pursue my dream. And I must say that He has been really faithful in terms of helping me deal with difficult subjects (and difficult professors!) and providing when there is lack.
Two months from now (assuming everything goes well in school this term), I will be taking the comprehensive exam (the last hurdle to get the master's diploma). Looking back, I saw many instances during the past two years when I was like Peter-when putting my confidence in God and surrendering my dreams to the Lord were such a struggle. Indeed, my experience in graduate school is my own journey of faith. I am happy and fulfilled knowing that I gained more than the knowledge I obtained in my classes. I gained what was essential and truly significant--a deeper conviction of that love God has for me.
Note: Photo was obtained from the World Wide Web
I had fun joining 10 other single women of Ligaya ng Panginoon in a Summer Household which started the week of Ascension and ended yesterday, Pentecost Sunday.
The past days were really fun and the Lord just allowed us to enjoy the company of one another and experience the joy of coming together as daughters of God. The laughter, the sharings of the sisters on what happened during the day, the morning and evening prayers...these, among other things made me thank God for allowing me to respond to His invitation to join the household inspite of hectic schedule.
Initially, my desire of joining the household was merely because I wanted to relax from the pressure brought by the previous school term but as days passed by, I realized that there was so much more in store for me in the household. And I felt God bringing all of us from one level of joy to another as He revealed Himself through the Scriptures, activities and sharings of the sisters.
One of the activities we had was watching pyrotechnics in Baywalk. The beautiful firework displays did bring out the child in us. Our eyes couldn't hide the joy as we gazed the beauty that was right before us.
The pyrotechnic is just a part of the wonderful adventure in JH. I realized that God has filled my stay in JH (and my life for that matter)with so much reason to be in awe of Him. I found Him in simple things during my stay in JH like a free tricycle ride on my way to JH one Sunday afternoon, another free ride to JH care of Beth Melchor (which was so timely as I was carrying a heavy laptop bag that time), an unexpected, sumptuous dessert (gelatin) served during one of the meals in the house (the sisters couldn't afford to include dessert in the meals because of time constraints)..these things to me were not mere coincidents...they were concrete manifestations of God's loving presence in my life.
I believe that the household did not end yesterday. For me, it was the beginning of a beautiful life lived through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit who inspired the Apostles to proclaim Jesus Christ and His Good News as in the first Pentecost, is the same Spirit who is at work in our lives today to inspire us to do greater things than what our minds and hearts can conceive.
Now, I see what no naked eye can see...I can hear what no human ear can hear...I can feel what no sinful heart can feel...I realized that I know God and His works in my life not by might but by the power of His Holy Spirit. And so, I rejoice in knowing that my life is not necessarily to be lived by what my eye, ear and heart can perceive but by the greatness and vastness of God's love for me.
"Eye has not seen, no ear has heard,
No heart conceived the hope prepared for us,
Now we see dimly but one day clearly,
Face to face we shall behold our God..."
(Our Hearts Will Rise, SOW)
It's been a while since I last posted a blog. I've been busy with school stuff and various office deadlines that I couldn't seem to find time to write down my thoughts lately.
Anyway, this experience I'm going to recount happened few weeks back...a weekend before the Holy Week (March 2008)to be exact. Just after attending a recollection in Ligaya Center, I found myself busy talking with few sisters when a beautiful rainbow suddenly caught my attention.
Rainbow never fails to fascinate me. It was God's symbol of faithfulness to Noah and his descendants in olden times and I feel the same is true between me and God these days. For me, rainbow symbolizes hope and it reminds me to trust God once again. And for some reason, rainbow would appear during times when I feel my faith and trust in Him are slowly depleting.
So going back, my friends and I were staring so amazed at this beautiful thing, when it started pouring. Isn't it ironic that a rainbow appeared just before it rained? There must be something behind it or could this be just one of the many spurious events in my life? Whichever the case may be, I chose to listen to that tiny little voice of God that kind of say "I have something special for you in here". And this brought me to ponder on God's help being readily available to us His children.
It seems to me that God's help is always available to us even before we acknowledge we are actually in need of it. God's generosity seems to work like this (perhaps not exactly) that even before we ask, He already provides -- so lavishly, never sparingly. Before we even ask for sign, glimpse of hope and manifestation of God's presence in our lives--it is already right before us--ready to be recognized. It only takes faith as big as a mustard seed to recognize God's grace present and alive in whatever situation we are in.
The rainbow is indeed amazing! But moreso, God's love and faithfulness. My Easter decision is to continue to preach to my soul--over and over--that God is faithful and merciful. I fall short, sometimes--no not sometimes--but a lot of times to recognize His love, faithfulness and mercy to me but God is a wonderful God, He never gets tired of sending rainbow wherever I go, whenever I need it.
Happy Easter to us all!
Note: Photo was obtained from the web
I was feeling down last week because I was dealing with some issues and concerns in my personal life. I decided to deal with it peacefully and to let these concerns be, simply because I'm powerless over them and it seems that the best thing I can do is to just wait and see.
I was at this state when my friend, Ken Noecker sent me a simple text message. Ken is a friend who never fails to amaze me with his friendship and brotherly love and his simple gesture of thoughtfulness would always make me feel that I am deeply loved by God. I believe that God did that on purpose. He sent people my way so I would know and feel that I am loved and cared for always. He uses people, things, situations, music, etc. so He could reach out to me and speak to my heart.
The Lord indeed is the ultimate source of my happiness and joy. At that very instant, I was led to reflect on the wisdom of finding true joy in God regardless of my state in life--married or single. Many single individual feel that being married will complete them but reality would tell otherwise. Being married won't guarantee you eternal happiness, there are pains and hurts that a wife cannot share to her husband (like the pain of childbirth, as a sister in community would put it). And I have met married women who would feel a void in their hearts at times despite the presence of loving men in their lives. This is because God alone could fill that void in our hearts that no one else can--not even the dearest person in our lives.
Again, I am not against marriage as I dream of being married myself. However, as a single person I think I have to learn to be content with what God has already blessed me with because I do believe that if I find it difficult to be happy while single, I am sure that I will have hard time finding happiness in married life.
So, I thank God for bringing joy and happiness and therefore, contentment in my life and I thank you for being His instruments of joy and love.
Note: Photo obtained from the web
Lent is here and as it has always been, God has something like an assignment for me to do during the season.
During one of my prayertimes, I found myself asking God what He wants me to give up for Lent. Without so much discussions/exchanges of thoughts, I believed that I heard Him command me to give up (just for this season) my Yahoo Messenger. Yes, you read it right. My yahoo messenger!
You see, YM is my way of communicating to a lot of friends and to special people in my life. It has become a source of happiness and joy to me these past months. I found it actually very life-giving and a good way to start beautiful and meaningful relationships. However, sometimes constant chatting can lead you to get so attached either to chatting or the people you're chatting with. This is not surprising; these things do happen especially when you allow them to happen. Not that I am worried or anything but I want to do something like a reality check. And more importantly, my heart somehow desires to just be with God during this time.
Through this simple act of sacrifice, I hope to spend more time with God especially during lunchbreak-- to be able to attend the Holy Mass rather than chat with my friends. Also, I plan to focus and give time to people, those I am not in constant communication with lately. I'm talking about my friends or people in my life who are not in my YM contact list. I've lost contact with them simply because I get to talk with my YM pals most of the time.
This is to me a tough decision. I am a person who values relationships and so, I feel sad just with the thought of being cut off from these wonderful relationships for a while. But just like a plant pruned to produce more fruits in due season, so are my relationships. They need to be continuously cultivated through this brief time of separation so they would grow stronger and more fruitful in the years to come.
My heart needs to grow in total dependence on God and His words during this time. I trust that His grace is more than enough for me so I can faithfully carry out my decision so He could work His will in my life and in the lives of those around me.
"Certain as the sun rising in the east" are beatiful lyrics from a song entitled Beauty and the Beast. These were also beautiful words spoken by the Lord one morning while I was on my way to the office.
You see, I have been struggling to believe His promises to me. Yes, I clearly understand His words and His promises but to believe that they would come true sometime in the future is another thing. My being in community, reading scriptures almost everyday and being with faithful people seem to fail me to trust, without any form of doubt, that He is really a faithful God.
I did not understand at first why God had to make His point that way. I realized later on that my thoughts and the things in my heart must have bothered Him that much to the point that He felt He had to use very concrete example to make me grasp the meaning of His faithfulness.
None of us would doubt that the sun will rise tomorrow or the next day or the day after next. All of us believe with conviction and certainty that there will be morning everyday. This is not something that we need to worry about that it just might not come or might get delayed in coming. No, definitely not. For sure the sun is up at a specific time of the day and this is a certain phenomenon; no manipulation is needed from our end for it to happen.
I guess, it is the same thing with God's promises in our lives. We can be sure 100% that they will come true. His promises will come as sure as the sun will rise every morning, every day without fail. We can even claim it now and just wait for it to happen because there is no doubt they will be fulfilled.
And so, during times when we are tempted to doubt His promises and when circumstances lead us to doubt His promises, we can always turn to God for mercy. Let Him shower us with His grace so that we might be able to walk joyfully side by side with Him all the days of our lives.
Psalm 145:13
"The LORD is faithful to all His promises and loving toward all He has made."
Note: Picture obtained from the worldwide web
Your love Oh dear Lord is amazingly amazing
Pure and true, strong and nurturing
It looks beyond age or appearance
Beyond laws and sacrifices
Your love heals
Your love hopes
Your love never fails
Even in death, Your love is victorious
You are the Lover of my soul
Faithful and wonderful
Just and gracious
Therefore, I give my life to You
How could I not delight in You
How could I not love You
You have won my heart time and again
And will never let me go
Note: Picture obtained from worldwide web
I have been receiving comments from different people how my a bit long, a bit curly hair fits me. Thanks a lot for your compliments (blushing)! Anyway, one evening on my way home from school, I had the chance to chat with God and I just thanked Him for giving me a curly hair; I told Him I really love it. You see, I never dyed my hair. I never made major treatment on it because I want it just the way the Lord made it. Simple and natural....
And so, this thought made me basked even more on the knowledge of how God meticulously and carefully handpicked each part of my body to create me. He figured out a skin tone that will best fit me. My eyes He made sure, have the right color; and those that are perfect for my round-shaped face. He made sure I have fairly thick eyebrows to go with it too. My nose, lips and ears He made sure have normal sizes and shapes. He even made my body slim and small yet very healthy. I was just in total awe on the fact that He is such a loving and generous CREATOR! And so therefore, I intend to keep my body the way He created it to be.
I'm just wondering sometimes why people need to physically change appearance just to look beautiful. Aren't we already God's masterpieces? And if so, we are already right, without flaw or defect of any kind. If we are God's creations, then we are already perfect because God never makes mistakes. I do not have anything against people who decide to forever change the way God made them. I am not against those who have had lyposuctions, breast implants, nose lifts, hface lifts and other types of unnecessary surgeries. But, I do feel that this in not how God wants us to feel and see ourselves--incomplete. He made us and He made us complete - not lacking or in excess of anything.
Let me just end this sharing by imparting this lovely poem. It reminds me that we are perfectly crafted by God--that we are beautiful, wonderful and truly complete.
All Things Bright and Beautiful
Refrain:
All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small, all things wise and wonderful: the Lord God made them all.
1. Each little flower that opens, each little bird that sings, God made their glowing colors, and made their tiny wings.
2. The purple headed mountains, the river running by, the sunset and the morning that brightens up the sky.
3. The cold wind in the winter, the pleasant summer sun, the ripe fruits in the garden: God made them every one.
4. God gave us eyes to see them, and lips that we might tell how great is God Almighty, who has made all things well.
Words: Cecil Frances Alexander, 1848 (Genesis 1:31)
Music: 17th century English melody; arr. by Martin Shaw, 1915
