When God Created His Masterpiece

To find a singer with an angelic voice is undeniably amazing;

To know someone who is a poet is romantically impressive.

A combination of both is extraordinary.

But to find someone who is a: singer-songwriter, poet-writer, scriptwriter-director-actor-vlogger, model, dancer, total complete package entertainer ALL rolled into one person is 
HIGHLY EXCEPTIONAL.

...a God's Masterpiece indeed...
(Psalm 139:7-I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; 
your works are wonderful, I know that full well.)

 In other words, SUPER PROMISE FOREVER EXPONENTIAL TO INFINITY AND BEYOND BELIEF! (adapted)

Well, not to mention that he runs two companies, an achiever, and an animal lover (I admire him since I, myself is not just an animal lover but an animal rights advocate. See my entry When God turned my mourning into dancing. But make sure you read it on some other days.)

It's been just a couple of months when I started to become one of his "not-so-fans" because of his viral tutorial videos. It didn't start with the "Filipino Accent Tutorial" since it didn't catch my attention that time (ooops, sorry) but I started to get hooked when I came to watch his Courting Video:



Then followed shortly by his CR Tutorial Video:



As a music lover myself, honestly, he captured my heart all the more when I heard his rendition of "Straight from the Heart" during his Canadian Idol days. I'm sorry to admit that I was too innocent to know that he was a part of a reality show several years back! I WAS AMAZED by his talent. He really sings from the heart (as his song goes).

From there I discovered his other cover songs but what captured my heart the most and became my  most favorite songs are "Tears in Heaven" and " Spanish Eyes" which originally sung by the BSB. Oh my! Do I need to elaborate?Just see for yourself :)

Consequently, I started to watch his other cover versions and also his originally-written songs like this one:



And the rest, as they say, is history :)

But why do I make this kind of entry? It's been quite a while when I put my last entry here in my page. Well, well, well...let's just say that this is my "simple present" to the one who's celebrating his birthday today, June 23rd.

He has been working so hard (video tutorials) just to be an inspiration to most of us particularly to Filipinos across the globe. I think this is the time to pay tribute to him for he is someone, we, Pinoys should be proud of. Asian breakthrough in North America by joining Canadian Idol is one thing; connecting Filipinos around the world because of his Filipino Tutorial videos is another thing.Until now, I just can't believe that a Canadian-born guy with roots of true Filipino blood has the personality of that of native Filipino and actually can do even better. He's proud to be Pinoy, as always. He grew up abroad but he never failed to nurture the Filipino values and traditions as part of his individuality. With that, I definitely salute his parents and even relatives who brought him up to be the person he is right now. (Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.)


Part 2 Here we go

This poem is entitled Bleeding Love because I strongly believe that Mikey will get "nosebleed" while reading my poem..."Love" because this was composed with love...(LOL!)

               Minsan ko nang namalas kanyang angking galing

                    Isang may dugong Pinoy bagamat sa ibayong dagat nanggaling

                    Kung talento sa pag-awit, pag-arte at sining

                    Espesyal na pagtangi ng Maykapal sa kanya'y ibinahagi

                    Yaman ng kanyang katauhan, kaligayahan ng Inang Bayan

                    Bawat Pilipino saan mang panig ng mundo

                    Umusbong ang paghanga dahil sa kanyang mga turo

                    Sa pamamamgitan ng kanyang pag-awit at palabas na video

                    Taas-noong pinagmamalaki tradisyon at kulturang Pilipino

                    O kay sarap isipin siya'y inspirasyon ng madla

                    Salamat sa iyo, MIKEY, isa kang tunay na pagpapala

Note:  Remember the card and pic I sent to you? this is the complete version of the poem. I ran out of space that's why i didn't include the last part of the poem.

Part 3 Just see for yourself :)



My Personal Message for Mikey:

"I thank my God every time I remember you." Philippians 1:3

You are one of God's living proof of His awesome power, the God who gives generously  talents to individuals; the God of creativity and awesome wonders.

Thank you for being an inspiration to me personally. I'll never forget those lines which I read from the broadsheet here in the Philippines which created a major impact on me.

It says there, "I feel people did not believe in my dreams as much as I do. But I learned early in life that I don't need them to get what I want. I began to associate myself with positive people who would listen to me, understand me and those who shared similar big ambitions just like mine.Eventually, the disbelievers became believers,”~Mikey Bustos

You just don't know how you've created in me a positive perspective about life and I thank God for that. Not to mention those quick replies you've made in FB and even featuring my question in one of your videos (success and forgiveness). Thank you. I will no longer give my birthday prayers for you since you've read it already through the card I sent to you (I've seen it in your wall!yey!). God bless you. :)

It's me,



My other entries you would want to read:
Warning: Subjective Content: 2009 Round-up
Tamaan ang Dapat Tamaan: The Blog Version
Mahahalagang Karanasan sa Aking Buhay: 0-1 yr.

Why Does God Allow Evil? by Os Hillman

“If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand" (Psalm 130:3).

One of the most common questions every person wrestles with in life is this: "God, if You are loving, just, and all-powerful, why do You allow good people to suffer?" Many choose not to believe in God because they cannot adequately explain this question. Evangelist Billy Graham addressed this question in his book Answers to Life's Problems:

We do not know all the reasons why God permits evil. We need to remember, however, that he is not the cause of evil in this world and we should therefore not blame Him for it. Remember that God did not create evil, as some believe. God created the world perfect. Man chose to defy God and go his own way, and it is man's fault that evil entered the world. Even so, God has provided the ultimate triumph of good over evil in Jesus Christ, who on the cross, defeated Satan and those who follow him. Christ is coming back and when He does, all evil will be ended forever and righteousness and justice will prevail.

Have you ever thought about what would happen if God suddenly eliminated all the evil in this world? Not one person would be left, because we are all guilty of sin.

Whenever we suffer, we should remember that the Son of God went before us, drinking the cup of suffering and death to the dregs. Because Christ is fully man and fully God, we know that God understands our fears, sorrows and suffering. He identifies with us. Most important of all, the Father has given us the gift of His Son so that we don't have to die and suffer forever in eternity.

Because Jesus suffered and died for us, our suffering can be made like His -purposeful and meaningful. Evil, suffering and death came into the world when the first man and woman listened to Satan and committed the first sin. Evil was never part of the Garden of Eden. The moment Adam and Eve crossed the boundary of God's command, evil became the terrible reality of this world.
There are some questions that will remain unresolved until we are able to meet face to face with our Creator in Heaven.

If You Want Joy … Real Joy by Mary Southerland

Today’s Truth
“I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10, NKJV).
Friend to Friend
Jesus lived and died so that we can experience abundant life, a life exuding joy, a life so full that others crave to know the source of that fullness. Jesus did not come so that we can merely survive life. Pagans can survive life. Jesus came to be our joy.
I came across this quote: “Joy is the flag that flies above the castle of our hearts indicating that the King reigns within.” If that is true, then why are so many women living lives with little or no joy? I’m afraid that we have bought the lies of the enemy, allowing him to steal our joy. Discouragement, weariness, disillusionment, shattered dreams and unrealized goals are some of his favorite weapons, but the truth is that the enemy can only use what we allow him to use.
It is time for us to reclaim surrendered ground. Do you sometimes think you are fighting the same old battles you have been fighting for years? I do. Clinging to familiar pain, we find our identity there. Consumed with our own agenda, joy is buried under a mountain of self.
Joy is not the result of outward circumstances. Joy is an inside job, a deeply rooted confidence that God is in control. Every trial or loss, every defeat or victory measured against this confidence can be counted as joy.
The Apostle Paul was a man of great joy. By human terms, he had every right to be angry and even bitter. Persecuted, imprisoned and facing His own death, Paul says, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:12-12, NIV).
The expression, “Have a good day” is a common greeting. I heard about one woman who, when told to have a good day, responded, “Thanks, but I have other plans.” Sound familiar? We rise to face each day with a perspective of pending doom instead of the certain joy that is ours through Jesus Christ. God created the world in a process of one day at a time. At the end of each day, He examined his work and announced: “It is good!” We, too, can learn to see the good in each day. We can learn to be joyful. How?

• Check your heart.

“My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God” (Psalm 84:2, NAS).
In this verse, “heart” literally means “body and soul” or “whole being.” In other words, what’s down in the well comes up in the bucket. Real joy is found in and flows from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. God’s very presence in our lives is His eternal reminder that Jesus died on a cross, rose from the grave and is coming again. Have you turned your heart and life over to Jesus?

• Choose to rejoice.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2, NIV).

We cannot avoid pain but we can avoid joy. The pursuit of joy is a matter of choice. Our inward perspective does not have to reflect our outward circumstances. We can choose joy!
A little boy was overheard talking to himself as he strutted through the backyard, a baseball cap on his head, ball and bat in hand. He was muttering, “I’m the greatest hitter in the world!” Then he tossed the ball in the air, swung at it and missed. “Strike one!” He picked up the ball, threw it into the air and said to himself, “I’m the greatest hitter ever!” He swung at the ball again. “Strike two!” He paused, examined his bat and ball and threw the ball into the air, missing a third time. He cried out, “Wow! I’m the greatest pitcher in the world!”
Yes, the pursuit of joy is a matter of choice and perspective. It is also a matter of obedience. As Christians, one of our spiritual priorities should be joy.
“One ship sails east.
 One ship sails west.
 Regardless of how the winds blow,
 It is the set of the sail
 And not the gale
 That determines the way we go.”
 (Author unknown)
Set your sails for joy, girlfriend! Celebrate! Revel in who God is, in what He has done, is doing and will do in your life when you choose joy.
Let’s Pray
Father, I come to You with praise in my heart and on my lips. Forgive me when I doubt You and what You are doing in my life. Please help me to walk by faith – not by sight. Teach me to see my daily life through Your eyes and show me how to walk in Your joy.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

Guard your heart! by Mary Southerland

Today’s Truth
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (Proverbs 4:23, NIV).
Friend to Friend
It had been a very long day. My husband and I were both tired and looking forward to a good night’s sleep – but we needed to talk. We didn’t have any major concerns or problems to discuss; we just wanted to catch up on life and unwind a little bit. Dan was telling me about his day when he suddenly stopped, looked around and asked, “What was that beeping sound?” I hadn’t heard anything but suggested that the smoke detector battery probably needed replacing. “It was a different kind of beeping,” he said. We listened – nothing. We turned out the lights and went to sleep and I forgot all about the elusive beeping.
When Dan came home from work the next day, he grinned and said, “I figured out what that beeping sound was.” Since he had been at the church office all day, I was a little more than curious as to how he had managed to solve the mystery. “My defibrillator is beeping, which means that the battery is running out and needs to be replaced.” Why the man was grinning was beyond me, but it probably had something to do with the fact that dealing with heart issues is a common occurrence for us.
Dan has battled heart rhythm problems for years. In 2006, he went into cardiac arrest and became the proud owner of a defibrillator/pacemaker that keeps his heart in rhythm. The cardiologist told us at the time that the battery would eventually have to be replaced but we hadn’t given it much thought – until it started beeping. Dan called the doctor who immediately set up an appointment to replace the battery. Dan had an unusually hectic schedule and was hoping to buy a little time before having the outpatient procedure done. “What happens if I wait a few weeks to have the battery replaced,” Dan asked. The doctor laughed and said, “It will drive you crazy. Right now, the defibrillator only beeps once a day as a warning, but if we don’t take care of this now, it will start beeping every hour and then continually until the old battery is replaced. And if the battery is not replaced, the defibrillator will just stop working and your heart will not be protected.” Needless to say, Dan quickly scheduled the procedure.
As I waited for Dan to come out of surgery, I prayed. I asked God to give the doctors and nurses wisdom. I asked Him to guard my husband’s heart … and it was then that the Holy Spirit whispered to me, “And what about your heart?” Physically, my heart was healthy and strong. The spiritual health of my heart was an entirely different matter.
I was physically exhausted and had let my guard down. The minute I let my guard down, the enemy moved in with a vengeance. My unguarded heart was in trouble, wounded by the words of someone I love. I knew what I needed to do – deal with the hurt, forgive the one who had hurt me and let go of the pain. I just didn’t want to do it. And God calls that sin. As surely as that beeping defibrillator grabbed our attention, the Holy Spirit grabbed mine. I examined my life for ways to guard my heart against the inevitable attacks of the enemy.

• Be alert.

“Alert” literally means “to stay on guard” or “to keep watch.” Our Father wants us to stay alert and always be on guard. Columnist Herb Caen wrote in the San Francisco Chronicle: "Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up knowing that it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. And every morning a lion wakes up knowing that it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death. It doesn't matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle; when the sun comes up you'd better be running." It doesn’t matter how long we have known God, we must get up each day, prepared to guard against sin, knowing we will face temptation.

• Get in the Word

Psalm 119:11 “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (NIV).
The best way to stay alert and the greatest deterrent to sin is the Bible. It is important to remember that God’s truth came before Satan’s lies. When God’s truth comes first in our lives, we will be able to recognize the lies of Satan and temptation will be easier to withstand. When we get away from God’s Word, however, we become an easy target for temptation and sin. Sin will keep us from God’s Word or God’s Word will keep us from sin.

• Pray continually.

Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to “never stop praying.” But many times, we pray only as a last resort. I read about a kindergarten class that went to the fire station for a tour. The fireman was explaining what to do in case of a fire. “First go to the door and feel the door to see if it’s hot. If it is hot, fall to your knees. Does anyone know why you should fall to your knees?” A little voice spoke up, “Yeah, to start praying and asking God to get us out of this mess!” How true! The power to withstand temptation comes from a praying heart. The devil will do anything to keep us from praying. He laughs at our religious activities and mocks our human wisdom, but he trembles when we pray.
Dan’s surgery was a success. The cardiologist smiled and said, “This new battery should last for several years, but if you hear a “beeping” sound, you know what to do.” Wouldn’t it be wonderful if our hearts “beeped” a warning when we are in spiritual danger and on the verge of making a wrong decision, speaking the wrong words or taking the wrong step? Or maybe when our “battery” is running low and we need to take the time to rest? God’s warning is much louder and stronger. We just need to listen – and guard our hearts.
Let’s Pray
Lord, today I come to You with a new commitment in my heart – to pray continually and to read and study the Bible. Strengthen me through Your truth and empower me to stand against temptation and sin. Make me more aware of Your presence and power, Lord. I want to be a godly woman, a woman of discipline, a woman whose life honors you and draws other to You.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

Recalibrate Route! by Os Hillman

"The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth" (Luke 3:5).

I love the Global Positioning Systems (GPS) in the new cars. A voice comes on and tells me how far I have to go and when to turn. However, sometimes I get off course and the voice says: "Recalculating route." The GPS is telling me I have gone off course and it is now recalculating the route based on my wrong turn. Sometimes we can make wrong turns in our spiritual lives. We think we are going the right direction only to discover it was never God's will to enter that relationship, make that business deal, hire that person - the examples are limitless.

There is an amazing thing about God. He can make our crooked places straight. He has an ability to make whatever blunder you make turn out right. It may mean there might be some consequences to those decisions, but He will always allow your actions to work together for good for those called according to His purposes if we repent and seek Him fully to make things right. These lessons can even contribute to greater wisdom in our lives if we learn from our mistakes.

God's omnipotence is always one step ahead of our incompetence. Do you think He knew you would make that misstep? Absolutely. Do you think your life was planned even with that misstep figured in? Absolutely.
Isn't it comforting to know you cannot plan God out of the equation no matter how bad you mess up? He will always turn crooked places into straight places for those who are humble and contrite.

Do you need a crooked place straightened out today? Ask Him to straighten the course so you can flow in His perfect will for your life.

Max on Life #62
The following is a one of 172 questions and answers from the new book, Max on Life.

QUESTION #62:
I’m a new Christian who is trying to figure out how to grow closer to God. Friends tell me I need to have a quiet time with God each day, but I can’t figure out exactly what to do.

Denalyn and I like to go to the same restaurants over and over again. You could call our dates predictable, but for us they are special. We like the food. We like the servers. We like the atmosphere. When we’re there, we remember special moments we’ve shared before. Our hearts open up . . . we lose track of time . . . because we’re comfortable in that place. We talk to each other, listen to each other, laugh, and cry. I love those times!
A quiet time with God is very similar to a date. Here are some tools to help you keep your very special date with God.

Decide on a regular time and place. Select a slot in your schedule and a corner of your world, and claim it for God. A familiar place will remind you of similar feelings you experienced before with God. You need to get comfortable.
How much time should you take? As much as you need. Value quality over quantity. Your time with God should last long enough for you to say what you want and for God to say what he wants.

You should bring on your date an open Bible—God’s Word, his love letter to you. You won’t necessarily hear God speak out loud, but you can hear what he has to say through his eternal dialogue with humanity.
You also need a listening heart. Don’t forget the admonition from James: “The man who looks into the perfect mirror of God’s law, the law of liberty, and makes a habit of so doing, is not the man who sees and forgets. He puts that law into practice and he wins true happiness” ( James 1:25 PHILLIPS). Listen to the lover of your soul. Don’t just nod your head, pretending to hear. Your date knows when you’re engaged.

So does God. Just as you wouldn’t miss your date with a loved one, claiming you were too busy, make sure your date with God is on the calendar, and do everything in your power to keep it special.

Know Your Armor by Os Hillman

"David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them. 'I cannot go in these,' he said to Saul, 'because I am not used to them.' So he took them off." (1 Samuel 17:39).

David, the young shepherd boy, heard the challenge from the Philistines to send someone to fight Goliath. No one volunteered to fight except David. King Saul reluctantly agreed and offered David his armor. David put on the weighty equipment, but quickly concluded he could not fight in this heavy armor. He gave it back to king Saul.

God equips each of us in such a way that is unique to our strengths and abilities. David knew who he was and who he wasn't. David was trained as a shepherd to use another weapon. For David, it was a slingshot. David showed great maturity in realizing he could not be effective with Saul's armor.

What are the gifts and talents God has given to you? Have you ever tried to accomplish a task with tools you were not trained to use? God allows each of us to develop skills that are unique to our life. He will not call you to use someone else's tools.

However, this is only half of the equation. These talents must be mixed with faith. Talent alone is not enough. Faith alone is not enough. It is only when the two are combined that God's power is released and manifested in the physical realm.

Sometimes we admire the talents of others and seek to emulate them. The temptation arises to be someone we are not. This is a mistake. Let God live His life through the unique you.
Then, mix your unique gifts with faith today; you will be surprised at the power of God that will be manifested.

Seeing Your Destiny from God's Perspective

And Jesus cried out and said, "He who believes in Me, does not believe in Me but in Him who sent Me. He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me. I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness. If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day..." John 12:44-49 NASB


Never doubt yourself or sell yourself short. Concentrate on your God-given abilities and assets. You must believe that you are important in the scheme of things in order to be successful. As a man thinks in his heart so is he. Believe in God and you will prosper.


Tell yourself, I am essential. I am special, important, intelligent and desirable. I am an overcomer. People need and want me. Prosperity and blessings are going to chase me down and overtake me.

God Has You Covered

Journal, number and take an account of your days. Psalm 90:12 says, "So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom." Don't worry or be concerned about last year's plan not being fulfilled. God has you covered – expect success!

Nothing takes God by surprise! Remember God's goodness and mercies. Give thanks for everything: the good, the bad and the ugly – it is all part of your process.
Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NASB

What Are You Afraid Of?

Reevaluate your attitudes; they will either empower you to succeed, or cause your defeat through depression, despair and fear. Fear will paralyze you. Fear will prevent you from making changes and destroy your future. Fear can make you physically sick, shorten your life and steal your possibilities. It is important to identify what you are afraid of. What types of fear do you suffer from? Fear of man? Fear of man is easy to triumph over if you allow yourself to see everyone as an equal. It is important to honor all men great and small, but don't devalue yourself. If you don't respect yourself, how can you respect others?

Do you have the fear of failure? Realize you are just as smart and talented as the next fellow. You are unique and special. Your thoughts and ideas are important and valuable. Proper planning and seeking out expert advice in your field of interest can alleviate many failures.

Do you battle with the fear of rejection? You are extraordinary, exceptional and very essential. You are just as important as the person you look up to and admire. Reject rejection! You are loved and accepted in the Beloved! The image we project to others will cause them to treat us in that way. If we project confidence we will be treated as a capable person who can handle great responsibilities.

Once you identify the type of fear that is hindering your progress, you can expel it from your life by taking positive actions.


Dreams come true when you put action to them. The more we place our confidence in the Lord, the more fear is diminished in our lives. A positive attitude that trusts in the Lord is powerful! Confidence is necessary to live a happy, successful life. The more confidence you can develop in God, the more success you will experience. Confidence produces success, increased production and brings swift promotion. We can build our confidence by recalling the marvelous things the Lord has done for us and through us. Reflect on your successful memories, accomplishments and things of excellence.

How Our Emotions Can Change for the Positive

The brain is an amazing organ. It functions much like a computer. The brain collects, sorts and stores our positive and negative thoughts and memories. These memories are what make up our self-image. If you view yourself with a negative self-image you will not respect yourself. Only gather, deposit and ponder positive memories, images, comments and experiences. Focus on and contemplate the good, true, honorable things in your life. Think about whatever is right, and pure, whatever is lovely, and of a good reputation. Things of excellence are worthy of praise; dwell on and practice these things and the God of peace will be with you. Concentrate on the positive aspects of people and situations.

Don't dwell on the negative weaknesses of others. Overlook the negative images. Don't entertain negative thoughts or opinions; obliterate them from your mind. Cast off every unpleasant, pessimistic, detrimental thought, they will only steal your energy. Negative thinking and emotions makes you tired and bitter. Don't dwell on failures, difficulties or problems. You empower what you focus on. Instead of focusing on difficulties or problems, count your blessings. Focus on the pleasant, encouraging things that edify and build people up.

Train yourself to recognize and manage your emotions. When you are able to control or manage your emotions, they will work for, not against, you. If you let fear run wild and unchecked, it will paralyze you. Don't give into extremes or mood swings. Adjust your emotions to match positive motions. When you learn to manage your emotions properly, you will not waste time on negative things but only recall the positive experiences in life.

Don't believe in, listen to or give into anger, rage, rejection or any other negative response. If you choose positive actions and habitually rehearse the proper responses, your emotions will begin to come into balance and fall in line. Your emotions will change for the positive when your actions and reactions positively change.

Relationships: Loving, Building Up and Encouraging Others

Are you a friend to God? Jesus is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. Are you friendly? To have friends you must show yourself to be open, warm, likeable and friendly.
Decide you are going to find something to like about everyone. Appreciate everyone you meet and look for ways to praise them. Celebrate their successes and accomplishments. It is so nice to receive a card of congratulations in the mail. Store up and invest compliments in the people you know; never treat anyone as a second-class citizen. Praise is a powerful tool that opens the door for goals to be reached. When someone praises, you learn to pass that compliment onto others. Everyone needs to be loved, built up and encouraged.

Getting along with diverse kinds of people is very important. Have you developed your people skills? The more people skills you have, the more successful you will be in life. Be willing to lend your spiritual strength to people who are going through a difficult time. Send sympathy cards to those who have lost loved ones. Sometimes it is difficult to know what to say, so let the card say you care.

Learn to love your enemies: "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord. 'But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:14-21 NASB).

When you meet a stranger, greet them with a pleasant smile. Work at building your bank account with new friends by introducing yourself. I am learning the names of people in airports, stores and restaurants. Some people are shy or insecure, so offer your hand in friendship first. Smile and introduce yourself by name. Then ask for their name and pronounce their names correctly. Try to remember their name. Make yourself a note and record their name in writing. You would be surprised how much better service you receive if you treat people with respect and greet them by their names. "Hello, Matt! How are you? It's good to see you again!"

If possible, get their email address or phone number and drop them a friendly hello later in the week. Let them know how pleased you were to meet them. Brag on your new friend to their manager, tell them about what a great job they do. If they are a waiter, tip them big and they will fight over who gets your table next time. Treat people the way you would want to be treated if you were in their position.


When you meet new people, try to put them at ease. The more comfortable, relaxed and easy-going you act around others, the more comfortable they will be around you. Don't act arrogant or proud. Keep the other person and their needs as your focus. Ask them questions about themselves. Be genuinely interested in them as a person. Focus on removing the harsh or irritating elements of your character. Resolve complaints, criticisms and offenses quickly. Extend grace and forgiveness when others make mistakes or anger you.
BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity. Ephesians 4:26-27 NASB
The better you are able to treat and relate to people, the further they will carry you in life. Successful people surround themselves with people who have varied skills, gifts and talents. People are the ones who sustain, transport and bring you through life. Cherish them.

Everyone in Your Life is Important to Your Success – Learn to Listen

Being a good listener is an art! Everyone likes a good listener. Are you a good listener? Do you dominate the conversations, continually talking about yourself? Do you cut people off or interrupt their train of thought? Do you look for every opportunity to bring the conversation back around to you? People enjoy talking about themselves, so let your friends be heard. Ask them questions to draw them out. A good listener ignites enthusiasm and stimulates success by inspiring others to fulfill their dreams. It's a real gift to make people feel loved, appreciated, valued and important. Everyone in your life is important to your success. Make them feel that they are significant.


Are you able to listen to suggestions, the advice of, demands, or the critiques of others? Do you get offended or rejected when someone offers you their ideas or input on your job? Does it bring up insecure feelings that make you feel threatened? How do you handle constructive criticism? Do you hear it through a negative filter? Those that are above us are there for a reason. They have more wisdom or know-how. They have been with the company longer and have seen a lot of changes come and go. Try to embrace their evaluations, analysis or assessments as a positive bonus in your life. You can learn a great deal from people who have more experience.

Thank them for their advice. Let them know you appreciate the time they took to speak into you. Pay attention to the positive elements they brought to the table. Gladly make the necessary changes. Focus on their positive attributes. Don't tear someone down or belittle them, especially when they are trying to help you succeed. Embrace diversity, it makes life spicy and enjoyable. Be determined to learn something from everyone.


It is also important not to listen to someone else speak negatively about a friend or acquaintance. Don't take up someone else's grievances, offense, or negative opinions. Be a free thinker and formulate your own positive opinions about others. But treat people with dignity, honor and respect. Quickly excuse yourself from hostile company. Let judgmental people know you don't agree with their evaluation of your friend and move on. You should never allow yourself to be a dumping ground.

Negative words create a destructive environment. Remember the law of sowing and reaping. You will reap the words you sow into someone's life or into the atmosphere. We always reap more than we have sown because of the multiplication factor. Words continue to exist years after they are spoken. Let your words be sweet, because some day you may have to eat them.

People are a wonderful treasure; they are the ones who insure your happiness in life. Love thinks or hears no evil of others but always believes the best about someone. Treat people the way you want to be treated, always be kind, thoughtful and full of grace and love.

How to Recover From and Learn From Mistakes

The way you think and how you handle losses, adversity, criticism, or defeat will determine how long it will take you to successfully reach your next goals. It is helpful to regularly appraise your work. The road to success is always under construction. Determine how you can improve your skills. Choose one of your many abilities to develop.
We can learn a great deal from our mistakes if we don't allow them to bury us in remorse or self-pity. Recognize a mistake for what it is: a mistake. Don't label yourself as a failure or beat yourself up emotionally just because something didn't work out the way you planned. Refuse to allow discouragement or depression to enter your thinking. Instead, research your field of interest. Decide what went wrong. Experiment, explore new options and approaches, investigate possibilities, change it, discover how to correct it next time, let it go, persevere, be persistent and move on. Don't allow setbacks to discourage you from reaching your goals; expand your horizons.

With God's wisdom you can solve every predicament. Pray continually and meditate on the Word. Sing and make melody in your heart. Take a nap, relax, work out, dance, take a vacation and then revisit the problem with a new response. The experience you have gleaned from your mistake will change defeat into a successful victory. This valuable life lesson will not only help you in the future, but your new knowledge will help others be successful, too.


Barbie L. Breathitt

Praise The Perseveres by Gwen Smith

Today’s Truth
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. (Acts 16:25, NIV)

Friend to Friend
Andrea lives in Lake Mary, Florida and is the proud momma to four beautiful girls. Two of her daughters are identical twins who have cerebral palsy and are severely disabled. Over the past 14 years, Andrea and her husband have been through the ringer. Her days are spent caring for the twins. And they are grueling days: filled with many tears, outbursts of frustration, and bouts of anger. There have been times that she has felt abandoned by God. Andrea admits that on many days, she has called out to God like the psalmist did: Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer (Psalm 4:1, NIV).    

Through it all, however, Andrea has determined that she will praise God in spite of the daily complications. “I have always prayed for healing for my girls,” she shares. “I believe that with the mere thought of our God that my girls could be restored. I know that if He heals them I will spend my life praising Him for that miracle and telling others of His goodness. Of course, although God can heal them, I’ve had to learn to spend my whole life praising Him simply because He is God – whether He heals the girls or not. I decided very early on that God is still God no matter what He allows in my life. I can trust Him even when I can't understand Him.” She thoughtfully finished with this statement: “It sounds easy, but it hasn't been.”
Oh, how I can relate to honestly like that! How I’m drawn to this type of God-courage. Her challenges are great, but she is determined to praise God anyway. When I hear stories like Andrea’s, my heart stretches toward trusting God. I hear and feel that the trials in her life have led her to a greater dependency on God and a deeper trust in His sovereignty. I’m reminded that in every situation, I come to a crossroad and have a choice: I can pout or I can praise. I can turn away from God because I don’t understand or I can turn toward God in full assurance that His understanding is enough for the both of us – even if it hurts – even if anger lingers – even if doubt looms.
Have you been to these crossroads?

God shows us a powerful example of praise that perseveres in chapter sixteen of the book of Acts. During the Apostle Paul’s second missionary journey, he and his ministry buddy Silas encountered a collision of faith and trouble while in Philippi. After Paul cast out a demon that was terrorizing a young slave girl, he and Silas were seized by disgruntled Roman citizens and dragged to the marketplace before the rulers. They were then wrongfully accused of public disruption. They were stripped, beaten, and unlawfully jailed without a trial. After the flogging, Paul and Silas were taken to the in the inner cell of the prison, normally reserved for the most dangerous offenders, and their feet were placed in stocks.

Though they had every reason to sit and stew because of the injustice of their situation, Paul and Silas chose to trust in God's plan and praise their Lord, Jesus Christ. Though they had open wounds and would have been in severe physical pain, Paul and Silas chose to glorify the name of God. “After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them,” (Acts 16: 23-25).

Then God shook the earth and the prison foundations and loosed the chains of the prisoners. In horror, knowing he would be held responsible for the escape of the prisoners, the jailer raised his sword to kill himself – but Paul stopped him. He and Silas hadn’t fled. They stood amidst their dark circumstances and spoke and sang with confidence in their God.

As a result, several people, including the jailer and his family, came to believe in Jesus Christ. “The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’”

“They replied, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.’ Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household,” (Acts 16:29-34).
Though we won’t always rejoice in our circumstances, we are commanded to always rejoice in the Lord. “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus,” (Philippians 4:4, 6-7).

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance,” (James 1: 2-3). When we praise the Lord through, and in spite of what we face, our praise becomes our deliverance through the trial.

“We also have joy with our troubles, because we know that these troubles produce patience. And patience produces character, and character produces hope. And this hope will never disappoint us…,” (Romans 5:3-5a NCV).

No matter what difficult times we encounter, God is worthy of our praise. When we choose to praise, we choose to trust God. When we choose to trust God, the broken world around us lifts their eyebrows in wonder – just like the Roman jailer. Sometimes a sacrifice of praise is required. Offer it. We can and should choose to bless His name through the pain, which astonishingly can bring His joy into our hearts.

Let’s Pray
Dear Lord, Thank You for being trustworthy and praiseworthy! I ask that You will nudge me to trust You each time I approach the crossroads of faith and trouble. In spite of the burdens on my heart and challenges in my path right now, I praise Your name and celebrate that Your hope will never disappoint. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

When You Praise Him Mary Southerland

Today’s Truth

Sing to God, sing praises to His name; Cast up a highway for Him who rides through the deserts; whose name is the Lord, and exult before Him (Psalm 68:4).

Friend to Friend
I love the story of the woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and noticed she had only three hairs on her head. "Well," she said, "I think I'll braid my hair today. She did and she had a wonderful day. The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that she had only two hairs on her head. "Hmm", she said, "I think I'll part my hair down the middle today." She did and she had a great day. The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that she had only one hair on her head. "Well," she said, "today I'm going to wear my hair in a pony tail." So she did and she had a fun day. The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head. "Yes!" she exclaimed, "I don't have to fix my hair today!" Now that’s what I call having a good attitude.

Attitude can transform anything and everything – thoughts, habits, and perspectives.  We can literally change our lives by changing the way we think. In Isaiah 26:3 (NLT), we find the promise, “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, whose thoughts are fixed on you.” A mind filled with thoughts fixed on God will produce a heart filled with praise – and girlfriend, praise is a powerful tool in our spiritual arsenal.   
Praise brings healing to our spirit. When we honestly express our trust in God, then choose to give thanks, healing begins. Praise provides a highway upon which the Father conveys deliverance and blessing. Praise invites God to take up residence in the midst of our messy lives and becomes a free-flowing conduit of God’s very presence and power at work in us. God funnels infinite blessings into a life that praises Him. Stress and anxiety fade as peace floods the heart that is filled with praise. 

Sing to God, sing praises to His name; Cast up a highway for Him who rides through the deserts. (Psalm 68:4, ICB)

But You are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel. (Psalm 22: 3, NKJV)  

Don’t miss the life changing truth that we can enthrone God in every situation of our lives by praising Him. Praise converts our everyday surroundings into His dwelling place. It is from that throne of praise that God dispenses victory. Praise tunes us into His sovereignty and allows us to experience the reality and power of His presence. 

Praise strengthens our prayer life. Prayer is not only a remarkable privilege that we often fail to recognize or understand, it is also part of our worship to God. There is the asking side of prayer when we seek forgiveness, lay needs before God and intercede on behalf of others. Then there is the appreciating side of prayer when we offer praise and thanksgiving to God for who He is and what He has done. Our relationship with God is strengthened through prayer and praise.
Now here is my favorite truth about praise. Are you ready? Praise devastates Satan and his forces. Yes! I love it! In fact, Psalm 20:5 (NIV) promises, “We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God.” Satan is well aware of just how powerful praise is and I suspect he absolutely hates it … which absolutely delights me! I can almost sense his fury when I choose to praise God instead of questioning Him. He hates it when I walk by faith, setting aside feelings and emotions while focusing on God’s Word and His faithfulness in my life.

Through continual prayer, through the power of God’s Word and through faithful praise, we declare our trust in God to deliver us. Praise lifts up the shield of faith in spiritual warfare.  Praise makes a frontal attack on doubt and fear. Even in the midst of Satan’s best efforts, we can find victory when we praise Him. 

Let’s Pray
When you can’t seem to find the right words to pray – go to the Word of God and pray Scripture. Join me in a prayer of praise found in Psalm 150.

Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty heavens. Praise Him for His acts of power; praise Him for His surpassing greatness. Praise Him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise Him with the harp and lyre, praise Him with timbrel and dancing, praise Him with the strings and pipe, praise Him with the clash of cymbals, praise Him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.

Becoming the Head By Os Hillman

"The LORD will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom" (Deut 28:13-14).

Coca-Cola, at this time of writing, has a 40% market share in the soft drink industry. It is the number one brand in the world. When Coke comes into a business environment, they have authority in that realm. They have great respect because of their position in business.

George Barna, the U.S. Christian researcher on Christian activity tells us that 35-45% of the U.S. population is born again. Based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in the year 2005, there were 149 million adult workers. Simply multiplying this figure by 40% would give you a figure of 59 million Christian adult workers. If this is so, why aren't we having more impact?

I would have to say the body of Christ in America is not the head, but is still the tail. Part of the reason for this is that we have not understood our biblical mandate to have dominion on the earth as was modeled in Genesis with Adam and Eve. When Jesus returned to earth He came to save that which was lost and restore this principle of dominion (Luke 19:10). When Jesus prayed in the Lord's prayer: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Matt 6:9-10), He was praying that His dominion would be restored on earth just as it is in Heaven.

However, we have given over this leadership to the ungodly in our societies. In order to restore this we must win the battle in seven key domains in society. These include 1) business, 2) government, 3) education, 4) arts and entertainment, 5) religion, 6) media and 7) the family.

This begins by affirming the calling of men and women in the workplace as having a holy calling. Realize that whatever work you are doing, God has called you to express His life in that arena in order to have His dominion over the earth.

Mahahalagang Karanasan sa Aking Nakaraan ^_^ Age 14

Westlife mania...hay nako, dito nagsimula ang kinahumalingan ko sa Westlife..nako, dito rin nabuo ang Westlife sisters, though hindi pa kami natawag that time as such. This started our sistership:  me, Unai, and Mary Anne.

Dito rin nauso ang Calachuchi group..nabuo dahil sa Investigatory project namin sa biology class kay Sir Aquino. narung mag overnight sa rotonda dahil wala pa kaming mga pc nun para mag type ng docs, mag overniht either sa bahay namin or sa ibang lugar dahil kelangan ng "agar-agar" thing..may sterilization ng petri dishes, etc...grabe, so poor namin nun..buti dun sa mga sumunod na students, kumpleto na sa apparatuses..pero enjoy pa rin!he he..kakamiss yung mga bangag nights...pampagising eh yung pagsayaw ng That's what it's all about ng westlife c/o ofe..

Hay...saya talaga..at marami pang iba!:)

Mahahalagang Karanasan sa Aking Nakaraan ^_^ Age 13

Rizal High School..akala ko nun hindi na matatapos kalbaryo ko eh...pero God proved that it's just part of the process.

Hinding hindi ko makakalimutan kung panu ako nag super duper adjust from private to public school; from Christian to non-sectarian; from small population to very huge population; not to mention ang culture shock na naexperience ko...almost everything was a disaster!!!really...I never though it would be that hard, all i though that being in a pilot section is "beneficial." I almost gave up but Thank God, He didn't allow it.

Mahahalagang Karanasan sa Aking Nakaraan ^_^ Age 12

Grade 6...walang iba kundi Graduation!!!

Pero bago yun, hinding hindi ko malilimutan ang retreat namin sa Salvation Army sa Tanay feb.1999 un. Ganda ng place, ganda ng cabin..bonding to the max. Pero hindi ko rin malilimutan na nagkaroon ng debate sa girl's room, 6 Jericho...which is better color:  ang pink or purple??Parang kami ni Mia magkakampi nun against the rest kasi I love purple and si Mia may sinabi against pink??basta yun..Kesyo ang purple ay pang patay, pang luksa..ang pink pang girl. E whatever happens, purple pa rin fave ko..agaisnt all odds:) o e di mas sikat ngaun ang purple sa fashion di ba? Nasa trend..he he

Tapos after ng retreat, may sportsfest na sa skul..go Jericho bears!!saya..pero may iyakan..halos buong class un..anyway...

Masaya rin kasi kabonding ko sila Judith, kathleen, jobelle, Liezel, Aris, etc...nung malapit na graduation, puro laro na lang. pick up sticks, jackstone, concentration ek ek..etc...Sarap din balik-balikan ng Elementary years...I believe ito naging foundation ng spiritual life ko, undeniably..although I grew up in church, my school helped me to establish a strong foundation with my Lord and Savior. Cant thank PCA enough, though may mga not so good memories, these only prove na life isn't perfect, but it's always beautiful (because beauty is in the eye of the beholder ).

Mahahalagang Karanasan sa Aking Nakaraan ^_^ Age 11

Age eleven..that was when I was in fifth grade.

I could still remember that our teacher in Christian living at the same time in our school librarian became my close friend way back. Her name is ma'am Pearly. I became a regular visitor and "bystander" in the library because of her..wahaah! We talked a lot, we shared stories, and even shared prayer requests. I can also consider her to be my mentor that time...o di ba, at dahil dun, naging book lover ako. i just love reading books. Our library in PCA wasn't that big pero peaceful, sarap magstay habang hinihintay ko dumating sundo ko..este si papa pala yun.

Unforgettable moment din ang Subic adventure namin :) Ang saya ng Jungle trekking! we hiked inside the forest..pero enjoy. There wasn't Zoobic Safari or Ocean Adventure..That was the last time I've been there...sana naman anytime these year maka visit ako coz I miss Subic...

Mahahalagang Karanasan sa Aking Nakaraan ^_^ Age 10

Actually wala akong masyadong super memories nung 1oth year ko sa mundong ibabaw. All I know is masigasig akong estudyante (naks!), doing my best in school..achiever ba...ganun..pero as usual...wag na nga!ha ha!not so good memories. Anyway...moving on.

After several years, nagkita ulit kami ng childhood bestfriend kong si Gheng. My gulay1 ang laki nya ha...nanliit ako...samantalang nung bata pa kami magka-height lang kami...then nung napunta siya ng Canada, biglang laki! Sana pala pumunta rin ako dun noon para tumangkad ako..nyeheheh.

They stayed here in the Philippines for quite a while...vacation, ganun..I happened to meet her entire family...na before e only child lang siya but when they visited the Pinas, tatlo na silang siblings :)

Siyempre ako excited to see her..beso beso, hug hug... :)

I’m Not Going to Beg Anymore by Sharon Jaynes

Today’s Truth
“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” (I John 3:1).

Friend to Friend
Cary and Madeline Rivers read about the overcrowded orphanages in Eastern Europe and God stirred their hearts to look into adoption.  Foreign adoptions are very costly, but God had blessed the couple financially and the cost was not prohibitive.  They decided to adopt, not one, two or three, but four children.  After eleven months and miles of red tape, the adoption process was complete and the couple traveled across the ocean to gather their new family.

The trip home was 22 hours, so when they arrived at the Atlanta, Georgia airport for a two-hour layover, the family decided to let the rambunctious boys run around the terminal to work out some of their pent-up energy.  Of course, they never let their new sons out of their sight.  After a short while, Madeline noticed one of the boys, watching a man drinking at a water fountain.   Even though the child could not speak English, he seemed to be using his hands and body language to communicate.  To Madeline’s horror, the man reached in his pocket and handed her new son a dollar bill.

She rushed over to the man and asked, “What are you doing?”
“Well, I could tell this boy couldn’t speak English, but I could also tell that he was begging.  So, I gave him a dollar.”

The parents looked in the boy’s pocket and he had ten one-dollar bills!  The little boy had no idea the riches that came with his adoption.  Even though he was now part of a family with great wealth, he continued to do what he had done all his life…beg.

Oh dear sister, do you see yourself in the little boy’s eyes.  Are you begging for handouts when your daddy owns the “cattle on a thousand hills?”  Are you scavenging for crumbs when your heavenly Father provides “everything you need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (I Peter 1:3)?  Are you searching for acceptance and approval from others when God longs to lavish you with His?  Are you begging for what is already yours?

John wrote: “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” (I John 3:1).  To lavish is to give freely, profusely, extravagantly, and abundantly.  He doesn’t give us everything we want when we want it.  No father wants spoiled children.  Rather, He gives us everything we need to become well-behaved children who bear His name well. 

Let’s Pray
Dear God, forgive me for acting like a spiritual pauper when I am a child of the King.  Open my eyes to see all that You have given me.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen

Mahahalagang Karanasan sa Aking Nakaraan ^_^ Age 9

Isa sa hindi ko malilimutang karanasan ko ay yung na-meet ko si Ate Nikki Dolores (na super late ko na narealize na ang real name pala nya ay rachel hannah...he he), na eventually naging penpal ko. She was in 6th grade and halos ka-height ko lang siya nun..petite girl kasi. Buong mag-anak namin kasi ay pumunta sa International Baptist Church in Makati and may ginawa ata si mama dun..I dunno kung seminar or what..basta may nakita kami ni kuya na little girl, naglalaro kami ni kuya then sumali siya. She's so friendly. Sayang wala kaming picture that time kaya ginawa ni mama kinuha na lang address nya and vice versa para magsulatan kami. Ate nikki was the first one to write letter then nagtuluy-tuloy na until college ako..sadly medyo nag-stop kasi busy na nang onti sa buhay at nauso na rin ang email, then friendster, then currently sa facebook. Pero I tell you, iba pa rin ang regular mail..yung maghihintayan kau kung kelan darating yung sulat, kelan magrereply..you know the thrill of having penpal...may effort at paggastos..ha ha!ngayon, mahala na, grabeh. Dati parang 11 pesos overseas..ngayun umaabot na ng 50 pesos. Hindi naman s apagtitipid...pero busy rin talaga. Naku, babawi talaga ako...hindi pa nga lang masimulan ngayon..he he.


Isa pang hindi ko malilimutan nung grade 3 ako is....medyo nega..ha ha!kaya nevermind na lang...matagal na panahon naman yun...wala nanag magagawa pa. At least may napatunayan naman ako in the end :) Thank God kasi kung hindi ko rin na experience yun wala rin akong motivation. tsaka ganun talaga ang life, kahit anung pagsusumikap mo, pwede ka maging biktima ng injustice.

Love is Patient (1 Corinthians 13:4) by Max Lucado

Patience is the red carpet upon which God’s grace approaches us.

The Greek word used here for patience is a descriptive one. It figuratively means “taking a long time to boil.” Think about a pot of boiling water. What factors determine the speed at which it boils? The size of the stove? No. The pot? The utensil may have an influence, but the primary factor is the intensity of the flame. Water boils quickly when the flame is high. It boils slowly when the flame is low. Patience “keeps the burner down.”

Helpful clarification, don’t you think? Patience isn’t naive. It doesn’t ignore misbehavior. It just keeps the flame low. It waits. It listens. It’s slow to boil. This is how God treats us. And, according to Jesus, this is how we should treat others.

He once told a parable about a king who decides to settle his accounts with his debtors. His bookkeeper surfaces a fellow who owes not thousands or hundreds of thousands but millions of dollars. The king summarily declares that the man and his wife and kids are to be sold to pay the debt. Because of his inability to pay, the man is about to lose everything and everyone dear to him. No wonder “the man fell down before the king and begged him, “Oh, sir, be patientwith me, and I will pay it all.” (Matt. 18:26–27 NLT, emphasis mine)

The word patience makes a surprise appearance here. The debtor does not plead for mercy or forgiveness; he pleads for patience. Equally curious is this singular appearance of the word. Jesus uses it twice in this story and never again. Jesus reserves the word for one occasion to make one point. Patience is more than a virtue for long lines and slow waiters. Patience is the red carpet upon which God’s grace approaches us.

Had there been no patience, there would have been no mercy. But the king was patient, and the man with the multimillion-dollar debt was forgiven. But then the story takes a left turn. The freshly forgiven fellow makes a beeline from the courthouse to the suburbs. There he searches out a guy who owes him some money.

“But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment. His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. “Be patient and I will pay it,” he pleaded. But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and jailed until the debt could be paid in full.” (vv. 28–30 NLT, emphasis mine)

The king is stunned. How could the man be so impatient? How darethe man be so impatient! The ink of the CANCELED stamp is still moist on the man’s bills. Wouldn’t you expect a little Mother Teresa–ness out of him? You’d think that a person who’d been forgiven so much would love much. But he didn’t. And his lack of love led to a costly mistake. The unforgiving servant is called back to the castle. “Then the angry king sent the man to prison until he had paid every penny” (Matt. 18:34 NLT).

Whew! we sigh. Glad that story is a parable. It’s a good thing God doesn’t imprison the impatient in real life. Don’t be so sure he doesn’t. Self-absorption and ingratitude make for thick walls and lonely jails.

Impatience still imprisons the soul. For that reason, our God is quick to help us avoid it. He does more than demand patience from us; he offers it to us. Patience is a fruit of his Spirit. It hangs from the tree of Galatians 5:22: “The Spirit produces the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience.” Have you asked God to give you some fruit? Well I did once, but … But what? Did you, h’m, grow impatient? Ask him again and again and again. He won’t grow impatient with your pleading, and you will receive patience in your praying.

And while you’re praying, ask for understanding. “Patient people have great understanding” (Prov. 14:29). Why? Because patience always hitches a ride with understanding. The wise man says, “A man of understanding holds his tongue” (Prov. 11:12 NIV). He also says, “A man of understanding is even-tempered” (Prov. 17:27 NIV). Don’t miss the connection between understanding and patience. Before you blow up, listen up. Before you strike out, tune in.

“God is being patient with you” (2 Pet. 3:9). And if God is being patient with you, can’t you pass on some patience to others?

Mahahalagang Karanasan sa Aking Nakaraan ^_^ Age 8

Grade 2 Ezekiel..first time na mapunta sa pilot section kaya medyo nag adjust pa ako..may pagka "eng-eng" pag may seatwork, at andame kong mali..pag naaaala ko yun kahiya hiya talaga :p

Teacher ko nun si Mrs. Valiente. Naku, winner din ang teacher na ito...very talented in making concepts sa school presentations and even sa drawing/sketching. Nung foundation day namin kami pa nanalo sa banner making...siya gumawa nun..tapos yung field demo namin maganda rin..can't remember kung kami ba nag first place nun :)

First time ko rin marinig ang music na Magkaugnay at sinayaw pa namin ito..winner din :)

One sad memory nung unang makunan (miscarriage) si mama. I was excited pa naman na magkaroon ng little sibling pero unaware kasi si mama nung una na buntis siya, ayun, hindi nagsurvive si fetus :(

Mahahalagang Karanasan sa Aking Nakaraan ^_^ Age 7

New environment..new surroundings...new classmates...new teachers..new faces...Grade 1 na kasi ako..I was transferred in Pasig Christian Academy formerly known as Sunbeam playschool and gradeschool. Section ko nun Grade 1 Ezra and adviser ko si Mrs. Narciso. Sunbeam (PCA) had one motto:  SPEAK IN ENGLISH ALL THE TIME. O di ba,,parang nasa America lang ako...kahit sa canteen or sa janitor lang makipag-usap dapat English mode ka...in fairnes, hindi pa uso nun ang nosebleed kaya pipilitin mong matuto talaga. I could still remember yung one na tinuro sa akin ni mama "May I go out" daw pag lalabas ako..ha ha!! Mukhang hindi naman ako nahirapang matuto ng English kahit papaano since nasa learning stage pa ako nung mga panahong yun.

May classmate akong napagkakamalan kaming kambal..si nesnel...ate nesnel pa nga tawag ko s akanya kasi mas matanda siya sa akin. Anyway, may kambal din kaming classmates nun..si philip at christian at in fairness, natagpuan ko silang tatlo here sa FB (maraming salamat sa FB..wagi!). Nung grade 1 din ata akong unang tinawag na Grace Ruth instead na Ruth Grace..he he..at meron kaming classmate nun, I won't mention her name, basta merong something siya..basta...ayokong mag-label..maligalig na bata...tawag sa akin either "Grace goot" or "Pruth Grace"...natatawa pa rin ako tuwing naaalala ko un...no wonder, andaming version ng names ko until now...siya nagpauso pati si Mam Narciso :)

First time ko rin maging "little teacher" nung teacher's day. Teacher ako nung mga classmate ko on GMRC...Thank God I made it :)

Nga pala, before I forget, theme verse ng school ko is Matthew 5:16, Let your light shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven. o ha, i still memorize it by heart♥

At ang walang kamatayang Sunbeam song with matching wagayway ng watawat ♫A sunbbeam, a sunbeam..Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam..a Sunbeam, a sunbeam..I'll be a sunbeam for Him!♪

Dito rin ako naka experience ng chapel service na enjoy na enjoy ko..parang nasa church lang..then we'd sing hymnals...hindi pa kasi uso ang hillsong nun, sonic flood, planetshakers, etc..kaya walang rock-rockan..he he. pero very memorable mga chapel services namin kasi I was learning a lot spiritually..tapos andame pang memory verse..na until now memorize ko pa :) 

Dear Friend
by Max Lucado

Dear Friend,

I'm writing to say thanks. I wish I could thank you personally, but I don't know where you are. I wish I could call you, but I don't know your name. If I knew your appearance, I'd look for you, but your face is fuzzy in my memory. But I'll never forget what you did.

There you were, leaning against your pickup in the West Texas oil field. An engineer of some sort. A supervisor on the job. Your khakis and clean shirt set you apart from us roustabouts. In the oil field pecking order, we were at the bottom. You were the boss. We were the workers. You read the blueprints. We dug the ditches. You inspected the pipe. We laid it. You ate with the bosses in the shed. We ate with each other in the shade.
Except that day.

I remember wondering why you did it.

We weren't much to look at. What wasn't sweaty was oily. Faces burnt from the sun; skin black from the grease. Didn't bother me, though. I was there only for the summer. A high-school boy earning good money laying pipe.

We weren't much to listen to, either. Our language was sandpaper coarse. After lunch, we'd light the cigarettes and begin the jokes. Someone always had a deck of cards with lacy-clad girls on the back. For thirty minutes in the heat of the day, the oil patch became Las Vegas—replete with foul language, dirty stories, blackjack, and barstools that doubled as lunch pails.

In the middle of such a game, you approached us. I thought you had a job for us that couldn't wait another few minutes. Like the others, I groaned when I saw you coming.

You were nervous. You shifted your weight from one leg to the other as you began to speak.
"Uh, fellows," you started.
We turned and looked up at you.
"I, uh, I just wanted, uh, to invite … "

You were way out of your comfort zone. I had no idea what you might be about to say, but I knew that it had nothing to do with work.

"I just wanted to tell you that, uh, our church is having a service tonight and, uh … "
"What?" I couldn't believe it. "He's talking church? Out here? With us?"
"I wanted to invite any of you to come along."
Silence. Screaming silence.

Several guys stared at the dirt. A few shot glances at the others. Snickers rose just inches from the surface.
"Well, that's it. Uh, if any of you want to go … uh, let me know."

After you turned and left, we turned and laughed. We called you "reverend," "preacher," and "the pope." We poked fun at each other, daring one another to go. You became the butt of the day's jokes.

I'm sure you knew that. I'm sure you went back to your truck knowing the only good you'd done was to make a good fool out of yourself. If that's what you thought, then you were wrong.
That's the reason for this letter.

Some five years later, a college sophomore was struggling with a decision. He had drifted from the faith given to him by his parents. He wanted to come back. He wanted to come home. But the price was high. His friends might laugh. His habits would have to change. His reputation would have to be overcome.

Could he do it? Did he have the courage?
That's when I thought of you. As I sat in my dorm room late one night, looking for the guts to do what I knew was right, I thought of you.

I thought of how your love for God had been greater than your love for your reputation.
I thought of how your obedience had been greater than your common sense.

I remembered how you had cared more about making disciples than about making a good first impression. And when I thought of you, your memory became my motivation.
So I came home.

I've told your story dozens of times to thousands of people. Each time the reaction is the same: The audience becomes a sea of smiles, and heads bob in understanding. Some smile because they think of the "clean-shirted engineers" in their lives. They remember the neighbor who brought the cake, the aunt who wrote the letter, the teacher who listened …

Others smile because they have done what you did. And they, too, wonder if their "lunchtime loyalty" was worth the effort.

You wondered that. What you did that day wasn't much. And I'm sure you walked away that day thinking that your efforts had been wasted.

They weren't.
So I'm writing to say thanks. Thanks for the example. Thanks for the courage. Thanks for giving your lunch to God. He did something with it; it became the Bread of Life for me.
Gratefully,

Mahahalagang Karanasan sa Aking Nakaraan ^_^ Age 6

Six years of age also means last year for preparatory education :)

Parang dito ata ako nagsimulang maging "competitive" in a sense...he he...As far as I can remember ulet, this was the time mama was teaching me to read Filipino words, then sentences, then paragraphs. At times din English naman...

In school pa rin, parang natatandaan ko competitors ko sa horrorolls este honor roll...si Crisostomo Mantes!na hindi ko akalaing mamimeet ko sa FB..at si melody..bright girl din yun :) Nasan na kaya siya ngaun noh?

Same thing nung 4 and 5 years old ako, hindi pa rin mawawala ang larong bata...yung pisikal ba..bihira kasi magstay sa loob ng bahay, unless palabas na mga bonggang anime nun. Idagdag ko pa ang bahay-bahayan, nanay-nanayan, tatay-tatayan...larong bahay...kusina, lutu-lutuan, and many more!in short, enjoy talaga maging bata!halos walang iniisip na problema. basta makakain, tulog, laro, pasok, uwi, nood ng teebee...ayan, parang hindi iniisip na ganun ka-challenging ang buhay. At least na experience ang ganung part ng buhay di ba?

Mahahalagang Karanasan sa Aking Nakaraan ^_^ Age 5

Five years old ako nung ma-meet ko si Gheng (R.I.P.), bale niece siya ni kuya June, yung hubby ni Auntie Dang na nung mga panahong iyon ay suitor pa lang ♥

Naging close buddies kami ni Gheng kasi tuwing aakayat ng ligaw si Kuya June eh kasama siya..so happy happy kami! Naging flower girls din kami nun (una't huli kong pag flower girl sa isang kasal, FYI) nung kinasal sina Auntie Dang. Kaso hindi nagtagal eh umalis na si gheng papuntang Keneda! este Canada pala. Pero I considered here as my childhood bestfriend :)

Actually classmate ko rin siya sa Day Care nun..at theme song namin is yung ♫ Let's sing Merry Christmas, and a happy holiday...na na na na na♫ kahit hindi pasko yun ang kanta namin. Kung hindi ako magkakamali, December din umalis si Gheng nun for Canada..


At age five din ako naaliw manood ng Batibot...nako, yung mga pinanganak ng 80's at 90's for sure alam na alam ang theme song kahit umpisa pa lang ♫Pagmulat ng mata, langit nakatawa sa batibot, sa batibot♪




Para sa mga kabataan ngayon, ito nga pala ang kinahuhumalingan namin nun. Maganda kasi andaming mapupulot na magagandang aral unlike sa mga palabas ngayon, kulang na kulang sa values.

Kinder...dito rin nauso yung palabas na Cedie, Sarah, at Peter pan, at marami pang iba..na kahit sa laro eh sinasama "Sarah Sarah, prinsesa! Lavinia lavinia, inggitera! Loti Loti iyakin..si Ermengard ba yun?nalimutan ko na eh...Nagtataka rin ako kung bakit crush ko nun si Peter Pan...poging pogi ako sa kanya nun..bakit ngaun hindi ko lubos maisip saan banda?LOL!

Aba, at siyempre, active din ako sa mga larong pambata..yung langit lupa, siyato, patintero, tagu-taguan, building body, chinese garter, ten-twenty, one by one..two by two...basta yun yung puro may lastiko ang gamit..tapos dampa, teks!at marami pang iba. At uso pa nun yung:  Taym pers!!! "saksak puso tulo ang dugo!" shake shake shampoo, mataya taya..agawan base..hay!bigla ko tuloy namiss childhood ko :)

Mahahalagang Karanasan sa Aking Nakaraan ^_^ Age 4

Well, age 4...I started to go to school..nako, grabeh, ang layo ng pinagpapasukan kong school...dun mismo sa loob ng compound ng Star of Hope day care kung saan din kami nakatira! he he. Tagabantay kasi ng school nun sila mama and papa..siyempre, privilege na makapasok ako dun..libre pa nun yung education sa day care kaya bongga!

Highlights..hmm...isa sa hindi ko malilimutan ay ang pagsayaw namin ng lambada..if I'm not mistaken, ito yung pinakaunang sinayaw ko sa tanang buhay ko.. At para sa nagtatanong ano ba yung lambada...here's the video:






Honestly, ngayon ko lang na search sa youtube yang music, at ngayon ko lang narealize na may pagka sensual pala ang steps! Kung bakit ba nung bata pa kami eh cute yung steps namin at cute din ang costume namin :)

At eto pa, sumasali rin kami sa mga dance contests..parang division level ek ek..basta, nakailang join na rin kami ng contests, at nananalo rin.hindi naman sa pagmamayabang, pero magaling yung batch namin nun (well, actually...). remember ko pa mga kapwa ko dancers, sina nica, rea, yung iba nalimutan ko na..basta ang "soyo soyo" non!!!

Then nag start na rin akong mag attend ng Sunday school sa church namin sa Christian Faith Church sa Crame. Si Ate Amy pa nga teacher ko nun (na eventually naging kumare ko dahil inaanak ko pala isa sa mga anak nya ) eh...kakatuwa lang mga sunday school songs and Bible stories...kakaaliw in fairness.Until now natatandaan ko pa yun..at siyempre, hindi mawawala memory verses..although tinuturuan din ako ni mama kasi siya teacher ko nun sa Christian living :)

May isang point din nung nag-aaral ako..ewan ko ba kung bakit inabot ako ng katamaran..gayong ilang hakbang lang mula sa bahay namin eh classroom ko na..nga pala, nursery ako nun, teacher ko si ninang fe (o di ba)..ayun, tapos pinapapasok ako ni papa...narung pinalo na ako ng walis tambo in front of my classmates!ngawa ako siyempre..pero eventually napapasok din :)  may activity kami nun eh, humikbi ako habang ginagawa ko ung drowing ng prutas...hanggang marinig ko sa teacher ko na"buti pa si ruth, kararating lang, mabilis natapos, ikaw kanina ka pa hindi ka pa rin tapos dyan," sabi nya sa classmate ko. ;P Partida, kaiiyak ko pa lang nun!bata pa emotera na.

Isa pa pala, bago ako magtapos ngayong moment na'to...I can still remember, may pagka glamorosa pa rin ako nung bata ako. hindi ako papayag na pumasok sa school nang walaaaaaaaang....make-up!yes!you read it right!madalas kung hindi si mama eh si auntie dang taga make up sken :)  ewan ko lang talaga kung bakit kung kelan lumaki ako eh bigla nawala interes ko sa make up ever na yan.

Mahahalagang Karanasan sa Aking Nakaraan ^_^ Age 3

Isa sa hindi ko malilimutang karanasan ko nung 3 y/o pa lang ako ay nung nakatikim ako ng bonggang bonggang disiplina mula kay mama. Basta ang natatandaan ko, nasa dinner table kami, kakain lang..then hindi ko maalala kung anu sinabi ni mama at kung bakit sinagot ko siya ng "OO!" (all caps talaga yan at with exclamation). At dahil dun, isang bonggang sampal sa bibig ang natanggap ko. Siyempre, bilang bata, umiyak ako nang pagkalakas lakas..ikaw ba naman ang dumugo ang labi! Ganun magdisiplina magulang noon...ewan ko lang ngayon...kasi sa nakikita ko, ibang iba na mga kabataan ngayon..iba na inaasal..mas malala...buti na lang pinalaki ako ng mga magulang ko na hindi natututong magmura or anything na unwholesome talk ^_^

Age three...dito na akong magsimulang magrecite ng mga winning pieces tulad ng "Oh, Captain" o kaya'y "I have a Dream" ni Martin Luther....hindi, joke lang...as if..pang declamation yan...hindi naman ako genious na bata..he he.Isa sa natatandaan ko yung

Ako'y may alaga, asong mataba
buntot ay mahaba, makinis ang mukha
mahal nya ako, at mahal ko rin siya
 kaya't kaming dalawa ay laging magkasama!!!!! (ganyan kabongga ang last part, may pagsigaw tulad ng I love you piolo ni toni gonzaga sa isa nyang commercial)

Ito nga pala ang favorite kong laruan...tanke!!!ha ha!!meron pa nga akong kotse-kotsehan eh, ewan ko bakit wala dyan sa picture..tapos kay kuya yung lego na galing sweden.

Mga yagit ng Christian Faith Church...ako, si ate aubs (naka red), si jo, koya nenja, jay, Kuya E.g. Ate jenny, at Joyce!!!makikita nyo transformation namen later on..

Kahit boyish ako noon sa laruan..aba!fashionista rin pala ako??wahehehe!kung todo posing pa eh noh?hanep ang shades!

Other links:



Mahahalagang Karanasan sa Aking Nakaraan ^_^ 0-1 Year

Mahahalagang Karanasan sa Aking Nakaraan ^_^ @ Age Two

Will God Really Come Through? Mary Southerland

Today’s Truth
“The LORD says, ‘I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you’” (Psalm 32:8, NLT).

Friend to Friend
When our daughter, Danna, was a toddler, she and her daddy had a favorite game. Dan would place her in some high spot then stand back, hold up his arms and say, “Jump to Daddy!” I hated this game but Danna loved it and always jumped into Dan’s arms, laughing and giggling. But one day, Dan put her in a spot that Danna thought was just a little too high. She did what I do when I get scared. She closed her eyes. When Dan ordered her to jump, Danna wailed, “I can’t! I can’t see you, Daddy!” Dan softly responded, “It doesn’t matter, baby. I can see you!” With a smile on her scrunched up face my daughter bailed off into the strong arms of her Father, secure in the knowledge that he would catch her - just as he always had. 

The apostle Paul understood and lived by the truth that God is constantly at work in and around us, monitoring every circumstance. Paul writes in Philippians 4:10, “I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.” There is a truth in this verse that is easy to miss - the truth that God is always at work around us. Paul’s circumstances did not show that God was working, but Paul knew He was. Paul was secure in the belief that help was on the way, so he stood firm and began watching for God to show up.

Paul examined every circumstance, understanding that it had already passed through His Father’s hands - with His permission. And God came through. To find real security and contentment we must learn to search for the handprints of God in the every day circumstances of life.

Life is not a series of accidents but a series of divine appointments made by our heavenly Father – each one designed to prove that He loves us and orchestrated to illustrate His provision for us. That interruption we complain about or that intrusion we resent may well be a window of opportunity sent by Him. God is our provider. The word “provider” comes from two Latin words: “pro” which means “before” and “video” which means “to see.” In other words, God will take care of it beforehand. God caused the church at Philippi to become concerned about Paul’s needs when Paul needed their love most. God always comes through when we need Him the most. It is a picture of the Good Shepherd meeting every need of every sheep. 

John 10:4 (NLT) “After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they recognize his voice.”

The Shepherd is always ahead of his sheep - out in front - which means that any attack upon the sheep has to take Him into account first. What peace and security we can have knowing that God has gone before us through every valley, across each mountain of life. He knows what tomorrow holds and will give us everything we need to face it. When we begin to understand and walk in the truth that God monitors every circumstance, we will walk in contentment – knowing that He really is in control.

You may find yourself in a frightening place filled with darkness and doubt. Your fragile heart may be wondering if God knows where you are. He does. You think that because you cannot see the hand of God or sense His presence, it means He is not working. Nothing could be further from the truth. We may not understand or even like His process, but God is always at work in our lives. Rest assured – God really is in control – and He will come through for you.

Let’s Pray
Father, I confess that when the darkness comes and doubt invades, I sometimes complain that I don’t understand and cannot see Your hand at work. Forgive me, Lord, for my demanding and faithless attitude. Forgive me for not trusting You and help me, by the power of Your Spirit, to trust You completely. 
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

Now it’s Your Turn
By faith, accept the truth that God is always at work in your life and thank Him for His steadfast provision. 

Look back over the last few days, weeks and months of your life.  Now praise Him for the things He has done.

Identify the people or things that you tend to think of and rely upon as sources of security and contentment in your life.

Read Proverbs 3:5-6. What are the steps listed in this passage that – when taken – will produce contentment?
What hedges of protection can you put in place today that will prepare you to face tomorrow with security and contentment?