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?

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

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb."Psalm 139:13

♫♪Jesus loves the little children. All the children of the world. brown and yellow black and white, they are precious in His sight. jesus loves the little children of the world.♪♫

Ayan ang theme song ni Pastor Gani sa tuwing maerong dinededicate na baby sa church...siyempre, hindi naexperience ko rin yan :)

Highlight kasi ito nung baby pa ako...since wala pa akong maalala kasi wala pa akong kamuwang muwang nung mga panahong yan...gawain ko lang nun matulog, gumising, umiyak pag gutom na, magpacute sa magulang at sa mga tumitingin (kahit negrita ako..wahahah!)...anyway...

At dahil wala pa nga akong maalala..masasabi kong isang malaking pagpapala na na ipinanganak akong malusog, walang kapansanan, cute (o, walang kokontra, page ko toh), at higit s alahat, kumpleto ang family ko..andyan si mama, si papa, at ang walang kamuwang-muwang at maamo pa noong si koya nenja.

             Isa rin akong negs!negs!pero cute pa rin noh..because I'm fearfully and wonderfully made!LOL!!

Continued:

Mahahalagang Karanasan sa Aking Nakaraan ^_^ @ Age Two

Mahahalagang Karanasan sa Aking Nakaraan ^_^ @ Age Two

Ito yung mga panahong natutunan ko na magsalita..actually mga 1 year at 5 months ata una ko raw sinabi yung "pulbo" as in powder..he he..hindi mama or papa kundi yun..kaya naisip ni mama siguro raw mahilig ako mag-ayos..contrary naman yun nung lumalaki na ako...gusto ko lang simple ako.

Two years old...wala pa rin ako naaalala nung mga panahong yun kasi bata pa ako..kaya naka-base lang ako s amga kwento ni mama. For sure isa sa natutunan ko rin yung align, close open...teka, di ba dapat 0-1 year yun?ha ha...kaso wala na akong maalala..alangan namang magsalita na ako ng mga salitang "Czechoslovakia" or "resuscitation" or "treacherous" :p

                       Ako at si koya nenja..happy happy noon..ewan ko lang ngayon..wahahah!

Other links:

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

Mahahalagang Karanasan sa Aking Nakaraan ^_^ Age 3

How to Stay Encouraged When Everything Else is Falling Apart

Keep Your Lamp Full by Remembering...

Your daily goal as God's child is to simply stay in union with the risen Savior.
Keep your lamp full (Matthew 25:1-8) by remembering:

1. Life in Jesus is easy when you know you have but one responsibility: Staying in union with Him, abiding in Him (John 15:4). Unless we are in union with Him, we cannot keep the commandments. We will not have the strength. Besides, everything we do outside of Him will produce things that add up to nothing. Nothing means zero, blank, zilch, you lose, unproductive, no lasting fruit.

2. Life in Jesus is hard when you load your heart and mind with burdens you were not meant to carry. When you let yourself carry unassigned burdens, His will is misunderstood. You begin to think He is not fair or that you have to measure up to the task. Soon you begin to think the task is too hard to do. Some blame it on a non-existent demon, wondering why he doesn't obey the name of Jesus. Carrying a burden you were never meant to carry can turn into bondage (Galatians 5:1). The devil wants you to think serving Jesus is impossible. Serving Jesus is meant to be a joy. Yes, there are demons, but they are not meant to run your life, Jesus is. Take the authority Jesus has given you and walk in freedom (Luke 10:19)!

3. Life in Jesus is easy when you realize His commandments are not grievous (I John 5:3). Jesus will never give you more than you can bear, temptation-wise (I Corinthians 10:13) and burden-wise (Numbers 11:11-17). Life is easy when you realize His grace is always sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9) for each day.

4. Life in Jesus is hard when you carry any burden except the one He has for you. Here are three types of burdens: 1) Yours (Galatians 6:5); 2) Others that are assigned to you – help each other when it is in your power to do so (Galatians 6:2); 3) and Christ's (Matthew 11:28-30). We must stay in union with Him and "learn of Him." Many saints started out serving Him with great energy and sincere commitment, but having familiarity rather than intimacy with Jesus, they wound up frustrated, discouraged and confused. God's rest eludes them.

5. Life in Jesus is easy when we recognize that He can appear in a vast array of disguises, ready to become visible in any circumstance or through any vessel. Jesus can be mistaken for a gardener (John 20:15) or a stranger (Luke 24:16). When we are in union with the Master, we will be amazed at how He will suddenly manifest Himself to us. The Lord will sometimes speak through the most unlikely vessels, like you and me.

The Rest Available to Us Through Jesus
When Jesus died on that Cross, He made something available to you and me...the ability to rest in the midst of chaos.

Many years ago, a little boy was given a priceless possession: his deceased grandfather's gold pocket watch. How he treasured it! But one day, while playing at his father's ice plant, he lost the watch amid all the ice and sawdust. He searched, becoming frantic, but no watch. Then he suddenly realized what to do. He stopped scurrying around and became very still. In the silence, he heard the watch ticking.

God has given each of us the priceless gift of resting in Him. How easy it is to lose His rest in the business of our life. Yet, it is always there to find, if we will but pause and listen to the presence of Jesus in our hearts.

Today, rest in Him. Lay that burden down at His feet. He is waiting to lift it off of you. The spirit of heaviness is about to be lifted off of many (Isaiah 61:3). Go to Him today and:
Stay in union with Jesus...if you do this one thing, everything else will fall into place.

When You Are Low on Hope by Max Lucado

When You Are Low on Hope
by Max Lucado

Water. All Noah can see is water. The evening sun sinks into it. The clouds are reflected in it. His boat is surrounded by it. Water. Water to the north. Water to the south. Water to the east. Water to the west. Water.

He sent a raven on a scouting mission; it never returned. He sent a dove. It came back shivering and spent, having found no place to roost. Then, just this morning, he tried again. With a prayer he let it go and watched until the bird was no bigger than a speck on a window.
All day he looked for the dove’s return.

Now the sun is setting, and the sky is darkening, and he has come to look one final time, but all he sees is water. Water to the north. Water to the south. Water to the east. Water to the …
You know the feeling. You have stood where Noah stood. You’ve known your share of floods. Flooded by sorrow at the cemetery, stress at the office, anger at the disability in your body or the inability of your spouse. You’ve seen the floodwater rise, and you’ve likely seen the sun set on your hopes as well. You’ve been on Noah’s boat.

And you’ve needed what Noah needed; you’ve needed some hope. You’re not asking for a helicopter rescue, but the sound of one would be nice. Hope doesn’t promise an instant solution but rather the possibility of an eventual one. Sometimes all we need is a little hope.
That’s all Noah needed. And that’s all Noah received.

Here is how the Bible describes the moment: “When the dove returned to him in the evening, there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf!” (Gen. 8:11 NIV).

An olive leaf. Noah would have been happy to have the bird but to have the leaf! This leaf was more than foliage; this was promise. The bird brought more than a piece of a tree; it brought hope. For isn’t that what hope is? Hope is an olive leaf—evidence of dry land after a flood. Proof to the dreamer that dreaming is worth the risk.

To all the Noahs of the world, to all who search the horizon for a fleck of hope, Jesus proclaims, “Yes!” And he comes. He comes as a dove. He comes bearing fruit from a distant land, from our future home. He comes with a leaf of hope.

Have you received yours? Don’t think your ark is too isolated. Don’t think your flood is too wide. Receive his hope, won’t you? Receive it because you need it. Receive it so you can share it. Receive his hope, won’t you? Receive it because you need it. Receive it so you can share it.
What do you suppose Noah did with his? What do you think he did with the leaf? Did he throw it overboard and forget about it? Do you suppose he stuck it in his pocket and saved it for a scrapbook? Or do you think he let out a whoop and assembled the troops and passed it around like the Hope Diamond it was?

Certainly he whooped. That’s what you do with hope. What do you do with olive leaves? You pass them around. You don’t stick them in your pocket. You give them to the ones you love. Love always hopes. “Love … bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Cor. 13:4–7 NKJV, emphasis mine).

Love has hope in you.

The aspiring young author was in need of hope. More than one person had told him to give up. “Getting published is impossible,” one mentor said. “Unless you are a national celebrity, publishers won’t talk to you.” Another warned, “Writing takes too much time. Besides, you don’t want all your thoughts on paper.”

Initially he listened. He agreed that writing was a waste of effort and turned his attention to other projects. But somehow the pen and pad were bourbon and Coke to the wordaholic. He’d rather write than read. So he wrote. How many nights did he pass on that couch in the corner of the apartment reshuffling his deck of verbs and nouns? And how many hours did his wife sit with him? He wordsmithing. She cross-stitching. Finally a manuscript was finished. Crude and laden with mistakes but finished.

She gave him the shove. “Send it out. What’s the harm?”

So out it went. Mailed to fifteen different publishers. While the couple waited, he wrote. While he wrote, she stitched. Neither expecting much, both hoping everything. Responses began to fill the mailbox. “I’m sorry, but we don’t accept unsolicited manuscripts.” “We must return your work. Best of luck.” “Our catalog doesn’t have room for unpublished authors.”

I still have those letters. Somewhere in a file. Finding them would take some time. Finding Denalyn’s cross-stitch, however, would take none. To see it, all I do is lift my eyes from this monitor and look on the wall. “Of all those arts in which the wise excel, nature’s chief masterpiece is writing well.”

She gave it to me about the time the fifteenth letter arrived. A publisher had said yes. That letter is also framed. Which of the two is more meaningful? The gift from my wife or the letter from the publisher? The gift, hands down. For in giving the gift, Denalyn gave hope.
Love does that. Love extends an olive leaf to the loved one and says, “I have hope in you.”

Love is just as quick to say, “I have hope foryou.”
You can say those words. You are a flood survivor. By God’s grace you have found your way to dry land. You know what it’s like to see the waters subside. And since you do, since you passed through a flood and lived to tell about it, you are qualified to give hope to someone else.
 

From
A Love Worth Giving:
Living in the Overflow of God’s Love
Copyright (Thomas Nelson, 2002) Max Lucado