Thursday, September 27, 2007

Rain, what does it tell you?

I received an email and I repost it here.

Stop at the picture for a second, and watch the Rain... then read on...

One rainy afternoon I was driving along one of the main streets of town, taking those extra precautions necessary when the roads are wet and slick. Suddenly my daughter, Aspen , spoke up from her relaxed position in her seat. "Dad, I'm thinking of something."

This announcement usually meant she had been pondering some fact for a while, and was now ready to expound all that her six-year-old mind had discovered. I was eager to hear. "What are you thinking?" I asked.

"The rain!" she began, "is like sin, and the windshield wipers are like God wiping our sins away." After the chill bumps raced up my arms I was able to respond. "That's really good, Aspen."

Then my curiosity broke in. How far would this little girl take this revelation? So I asked, "Do you notice how the rain keeps on coming? What does that tell you?" Aspen didn't hesitate one moment with her answer: "We keep on sinning, and God just keeps on forgiving us."

I will always remember this whenever I turn my wipers on.

In order to see the Rainbow, you must first endure some Rain.

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Opposing Principles

I was doing my reflection paper on chapter 3 of the book "Spiritual Leadership" when I realized that the Master's Principles are really different with men’s principles and most of the time, they are totally opposing.

Few examples are:
Men: If you want to be rich, keep your blessings.
God: If you want to be blessed, bless others.

“Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then
because of this the LORD your God will bless you
in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.” Deuteronomy 15:10

Men: If anyone hurts you, do the same thing to him.
God: If anyone hurts you, pay him with good thing.

“If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty,
give him water to drink.” – Proverbs 25:21

Men: A leader must exercise authority, make the most of it and rule.
God: A leader must serve.

“Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.” – Mark 10:43-44

Leadership for men is equivalent to “authority” but for God it is tantamount to “servanthood”.

It's amazing how God works in a different and unique way (very different from our ways). Sometimes we can't understand what He's doing and where He's leading us, but still He will say this: Just trust Me!
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.
"As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Isaiah 55:8-9

Thursday, September 20, 2007

God's ALWAYS-NESS

Let me describe what's happening here...
- I'm alone here in the office (Lahat sila umuwin na. I have to work over time to finish my boss' presentation or else I will be here on Saturday and Sunday).
- Wala akong makausap na matino (Minsan kailangan talaga natin ng comfort from people noh? pero walang ganon dito...thank GOD He's the God of all comfort! Maraming nagsasabi ang sipag ko daw mag-update ng blog. Honestly, busy ako as in...pero I need to update this blog once in a while kasi ito lang ang outlet ko since wala nga akong makausap. I let this computer be my silent listener aside from God of course).
- Now that I'm alone, I find it as an opportunity to cry to GOD.
- As I pray, I heard this song (...from my pc and I was reminded that even if the world leaves me, I can depend on
God's A-L-W-A-Y-S-N-E-S-S!!!
"Alwaysness"
Yolanda Adams

Although the sun has been around for a long time
Still have the ability to shine
And although the moon lights up the night
Sometimes it likes to hang out in the sunshine
Although green grass sometimes turn brown
Its refreshed when rain drops come falling down
Creation starts and its renewed
By a single touch from You
So, I depend on You know matter what I do
I know that You'll always come through
You'll never changed the rules
I can depend on the always-ness of You

Chorus:
Never change You'll remain
Faithful through life's ups and downs still the same
Everlasting love for me so heavenly
That's the always-ness

The seasons change without a calendar
And the breezeless know how and when to blow
Never have to wonder where the water goes
Cause it flows home to the ocean flow
Everything reacting in common sense
When placed beneath the of Your omnipotence
Please want you show how I should live
So, glory I can give
Cause I depend on You know matter what I do
I know that You'll always come though
You'll never changed the rules
I can depend on the always-ness of You

[REPEAT CHORUS 2x]

[BRIDGE:]
It's so simple when I do things Your way
So, I try everyday, but sometimes my path can get hard
Even when I start off with the best of intentions
I get weak and fall short
And I know when I'm down You'll be there to lift me up
Your love never waited no - no - no - no - no

[REPEAT CHORUS 2x:]
GOD's consistency is our security! Praise be to HIM!

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Sunday is for the LORD!

Hi there! How are you? Wasn't able to update my blog for quite sometime due to a bulk of office works.

Well, medyo tiring ang week na 'to for me. I went back to Dasma last night to attend our practice for Sunday. Then, back to Manila this morning. I suppose to be in Cavite again by Thursday night kaso mukhang 'di nanaman maisasakatuparan yon.

I have to work overtime for my boss' presentation abroad. She'll leave for a General Meeting in Taipei on Sept. 25. I have to collate all the materials (research) and make a presentation (for her). She wants me to be at the office on Saturday and Sunday. Of course, I can't commit because those days are for the LORD. She said I have no choice. I'm praying that I'll have all the materials by tomorrow so I can work on the presentation immediately and eventually be home on Friday.

Need prayers talaga. But I know that God will put everything in order as He said. I believe I can finish my work without sacrificing Sunday. Basta, I'll hold on to this: "SUNDAY is for the LORD" I fear God more than I fear my Superiors. I don't want to compromise...

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Potter & Clay

"Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker, to him who is but a potsherd among the potsherds on the ground. Does the clay say to the potter, 'What are you making?' Does your work say, 'He has no hands'?" - Isaiah 45:9 -

"...can I not do with you as this potter does?" declares the LORD. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand..." - Jeremiah 18:6 -

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Going through Spiritual Confusion

The Lord proved once again that He is a prayer-answering God. He knows our thoughts, our pains...and He is in control. He just wants us to trust in Him with all our heart and hold on to His words although we don't understand.

Below is God's for me and now I see things in a clearer view...

There are times in your spiritual life when there is confusion, and the way out of it is not simply to say that you should not be confused. It is not a matter of right and wrong, but a matter of God taking you through a way that you temporarily do not understand. And it is only by going through a spiritual confusion that you will come to the understanding of what God wants for you.

The Shrouding of His Friendship (Luke 11:5-8). Jesus gave the illustration here of a man who appears not to care for his friend. He was saying, in effect, that is how the heavenly Father will appear to you at times. You will think that He is an unkind friend, but remember-He is not. The time will come when everything will be explained. There seems to be a cloud on the friendship of the heart, and often even love itself has to wait in pain and tears for the blessings of fuller fellowship and oneness. When God appears to be completely shrouded, will you hang on with confidence in Him?

The Shadow on His Fatherhood (Luke 11:11-13). Jesus said that there are times when your Father will appear as if He was an unnatural father-as if He was callous and indifferent-but remember, He is not. "Everyone who asks receives..." (Luke 11:10). If all you see is a shadow on the face of the Father right now, hang on to the fact that He will fully justify Himself in everything that He has allowed into your life.

The Strangeness of His Faithfulness (Luke 18:1-8). "When the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on earth?" (Luke 18:8). Will He find the kind of faith that counts on Him in spite of the confusion? Stand firm in faith, believing that what Jesus said is true, although in the meantime you do not understand what God is doing.

Now I know that it's not a matter of how much you understand but a matter of how much you trust in God despite all odds!

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

No One Else Knows

Have you ever experienced that no one understands you? You can't also understand yourself? I did...

Good thing, there is someone who knows everything, our strengths and weaknesses but doesn't look upon us with contempt. He does look on us with love and mercy.

This song ministered to me and I hope it will be an encouragement for you too...

No One Else Knows
Building 429

My world is closing in on the inside

But I’m not showing it
When all I am is crying out
I hold it in and fake a smile
Still I’m broken, I’m broken
Only One can understand
And only One can hold the hand
Of the broken
Of the broken

Chorus:
When no one else knows how I feel

Your love for me is proven real
When no one else cares where I’ve been
You run to me with outstretched hands
And You hold me in Your arms again

I need no explanation of why me

I just need confirmation
Only You could understand
the emptiness inside my head
I am falling, I'm falling
I’m falling down upon my knees
To find the One who gives me peace
I am flying, Lord I am flying

I have come to You in search of faith

Cause I can’t see beyond this place
Oh You are God and I am man
So I’ll leave it in Your hands

"O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways." Psalm 139:1-3

Friday, September 7, 2007

Wavering Faith?!


It was around 9:30 in the evening when I left the office last night. Overtime pero wala namang ginawa...

I was about to leave at 8:00 pero pinigilan ako ng boss, kumain daw muna ng dinner. So, sunod naman ako. Ayoko namang mag-eat and run so I decided to go home at 8:30. Nagpaalam na ko by that time, pinigilan na naman ako ng lola mo! Isasabay nya daw ako sa sasakyan nya... I waited for several minutes (nakagawa na nga ako ng assignment for CLDP kahihintay). Sobrang kinakabahan na ko kasi naman ang delikado pala sa lugar namin (sa apartment). If you happen to know MARICABAN, dun nakalocate ang apartment namin. Maraming nagsasabi sobrang delikado daw dun since yun ang taguan ng mga snatcher, hold-upper and so on. So kabado to the max ako. I texted my dad at kung sino-sino pa, asking for prayers.

It was exactly 9:30 when I left the office. Ang saklap lang talaga...hindi rin naman ako sinabay ng boss ko (sayang ang oras sa pag-iintay di ba? ginabi pa ko!). So kumusta naman ang mag-isang paglalakad sa madilim na kalsada palabas!

Kahit anong verse ang i-recall ko hindi pa rin mawala ung takot ko. Finally, when I rode a jeepney to Nichols, sumakay din si Ate Jinie, yung kasama ko sa apartment na ka-work ni Ate Thine! Pambihira talaga si Lord! In short, nakauwi naman ako ng safe at may kasama.

Nahihiya lang ako kay Lord because of my wavering faith. All the time, He gives me the assurance that He will protect me and be with me no matter what happens. Kaso ang tigas ng ulo ko! I entertain doubt and worry!

God's love is so sweet! He will remain faithful even if we doubt His power.

"If we are faithless, He will remain faithful, for He cannot disown himself." - 2 Timothy 2:13

Thursday, September 6, 2007

Walang kwenta ang buhay ko!

"Walang kwenta ang buhay ko!!!"

Ito ang linyang isinigaw ng officemate ko sa kasagsagan ng matahimik na umaga the other day, na itago na lang natin sa pangalang "Ampalaya" (that's her favorite vegetable)...na sinundan nya pa ng "Boring na boring na ko sa buhay ko!" So, tawanan kami sa office as in to the max na tawa. Wala kasing mga boss that time dahil may event(Exhibition) sa CEBU. Ang tagal nga bago ako nakarecover. Hirap palang pigilan ng tawa noh? Sa cubicle ko sa office, super pigil dahil baka sabihin nila OA ako tumawa.

Actually kaya ako natawa kasi nakarelate ako sa kanya that time (remember my second blog entitled BE ENTIRELY HIS?) naboboring din ako sa buhay. I realized di ako nag-iisa..un nga lang wala pa ko sa point na sumisigaw sa gitna ng office at maraming makakarinig (umiiyak lang sa gabi..sa prayer). I also realized I could also be at that exact state if my life is not in Christ. Walang kwenta ang buhay, no meaning, no direction.

God gave meaning to our lives and we came to know that the purpose of this life is to glorify HIM. I believe, as Christians, we need to extend our hands and reach out to those people who say the same thing; that their lives are worthless. They won't feel that they are precious until they know how God loves them!

"...live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more."
- 1 Thessalonians 4:1

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Embassy!!!

I woke up early in the morning to submit VISA requirements sa Taiwan Embassy in Ayala... pero hindi para sa'kin ha...para sa boss ko.

'Pag dating ko dun pinaghintay ako sa 'Smoking Area' para kumuha ng number (so, kumusta naman ang amoy usok na damit, ang aga-aga!). Good thing maaga ako sa embassy, pag-10 ako. I was about to submit the requirements tapos hindi tinanggap dahil medyo pixelated ang ID pic ng boss ko (eh kc naman inedit ko lang yun sa photoshop). I went back to the office to get the file of that picture, made necessary adjustments and then pina-develop ko sa MOA. After that balik ako agad sa Embassy para ma-file na. Ayaw pa rin tanggapin... :'(

I texted my boss about it kaso nagalit ata.. ang reply sa'kin, "You should have told me..." (dati ko pa nga sinasabing original pic ang ibigay eh). Anyway, ganon talaga...there's no way to rationalize! Ang masaklap lang minsan, pagod na pagod ka na papagalitan ka pa! Pero syempre patience... I was reminded of this text message: "You are never in the wrong place to serve God. Even if no one acknowledges your efforts, God sees and knows. Bloom where you are planted!"

So, babalik na naman ako sa Embassy on Friday or early next week.

Ganon pa man, I just want to look on the brighter side. Natawa ako sa receptionist..kilala na nya ko dahil naka-ilang balik na ko dun. I went there two weeks ago tapos today, twice! (opportunity to "enlarge my tent" hehe!) Time will come, babalik ako sa Embassy to apply for VISA... for me and my family! haha... SOON!

"I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD." - Psalm 27:13-14

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

Be entirely HIS!

Last night I was really crying out to God because I know spritually I'm not fine. 'Di ko maintindihan ang sarili ko..kung anong gusto ko, anong nagpapalungkot sa'kin at kung ano yung heavy load na dala ko...bsta di ko ma-explain. I've been in this state for several weeks. But as I prayed, God revealed what's wrong in me...NABOBORE ako sa takbo ng buhay ko ngayon. Everyday is just the same with yesterday, there's nothing special about it - I sleep, wake up in the morning, work and be at the office, receive mails and send replies, answer phone calls, eat, be in Dasma by weekend and so on...and worse, I read the Bible but not filled, as in wala akong ma-absorb!

I let myself be deceived by the enemy that I'M USELESS. The ministry, the office is not benefiting from me because I'm of NO USE (parang lagi lang akong nagpapalipas ng oras whether at church or at the office). Suddenly, I was reminded of God's message few days ago during my devotion. The striking question goes like this: "USEFULNESS or RELATIONSHIP?" For God's child, direction and guidance come from God Himself not some measure of that child's usefulness.

It doesn't matter if we're being useful or not, what's important is that we KEEP a STABLE RELATIONSHIP with GOD. In HIM, there are no DULL and BORING MOMENTS. We need to ask God to open our eyes and help us recognize that He's working in all things, then, we will see that LIFE WITH HIM IS BEAUTIFUL! Just let HIM use us mightily and it's better if we're unconscious about it. Let's KEEP the relationship and BE ENTIRELY HIS!

"...you are not your own." - 1 Corinthians 6:19

Monday, September 3, 2007

Hello!!!

well, nagkaron din ako ng time na usisain ang ano mang meron sa bagay na ito...haha!

Actually, matagal na kong ini-invite nila Hannah at Mae na magcreate ng blog...si Gian lang pala ang makakapagconvince sakin...

Ngayon, ako na babati sa sarili ko..."Karen, WELCOME TO BLOGSPOT! kasama ka na ngayon sa 'blog ministry' at isa ka ng ganap na 'blogger!' "

Saka ko na i-momodify ang ibang settings, still have works to accomplish. :)