When Life, Himself, was Announced

Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, of the Annunciation of Life. When the Archangel Gabriel appeared to Our Lady with an important announcement.

Click here for Today's Readings and Gospel.

We first saw the hands-on work of the Holy Trinity "in the beginning" when God made man.

Then God said: "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. (Gen. 1:26; Emphasis mine.)

Prior to the creation of man, the words of God were: "Let there be ...". But at the moment of man's creation, God said, "Let us ...".

And in the Gospel today, we see again the hands-on work of the Holy Trinity for the salvation of man, starting with cooperation of the Blessed Virgin Mary:

God the Father finding favor with Mary:

Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. (Lk. 1:30)

God the Son being conceived by Mary (and born of her):

Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. (Lk. 1:31)

God the Holy Spirit conceiving Jesus in Mary's womb:

And the angel said to her in reply, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. (Lk. 1:35)

Archangel Gabriel's started his announcement to our Blessed Mother with, "Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you." (cf. Lk. 1:28). Our Lord found favor with Mary; and He is with Mary. And through Mary, our God came to be with us: Emmanuel, "God is with us" (cf. Is. 8:10, CCB).

Our Blessed Virgin Mary, with her free will, gave her "Yes" to God. She can say "no"; but she gave her "Yes", totally, freely, and selflessly. Her "Yes" was in total obedience, with total trust, and with total courage of heart for God. Her "Yes" was in the state of full and encompassing Grace from God: Rejoice, full of grace ... (cf. Lk. 1:28, CCB). Like Mary, we must always allow ourselves to be in the zone of saving, sufficient, and sanctifying GRACE. For the Grace of the Lord allows Man to say "Yes" to Him.

Out of his unfathomable Love did God choose to create man. And out of this same Love do God allows men to love him back. We love God because God loved us first. And God wants that this union of God and Man in perfect Love be a Grace from Him, with Man cooperating in full obedience of choosing God and of choosing Life. It happened to our Blessed Mother; it can happen to us. This is possible, for nothing is impossible with God, that's why he is God (cf. Lk. 1:37).

Let me get back to this: "that th[e] union of God and Man in perfect Love be a Grace from Him, with Man cooperating in full obedience of choosing God and of choosing Life". In Deut. 30:19, God asks us to choose: Life or Death; and in the same verse, God taught us to choose the best choice: Choose Life. When Life, Himself, was announced to the Virgin full of grace: Mary chose God by obeying his will. Mary chose life by allowing Life, Himself, to be conceived in her womb.

And this could be the very reason why the culture of death attacks the womb of a woman--abortion, contraception, etc.--because it is through the womb of a Woman is Jesus, the Source of Life, and Life, Himself, was born.

Therefore, for man to experience Life's fullness is for man to choose God, to choose Life.

+
The Angelus
V. The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary;
R. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary ...

V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord:
R. Be it done unto me according to Thy word.
Hail Mary ...

V. And the Word was made flesh:
R. And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary ...

V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray:
Pour forth, we beseech  Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts,
that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son,
was made known by the message of an angel,
may by His passion and cross
be brought to the glory of His resurrection,
through the same Christ, our Lord.
Amen.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
Most Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.
Mother of Divine Grace, pray for us.
St. Gabriel, the Archangel, pray for us.
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Death and Dying

According to Kubler-Ross' theory, there are 5 different stages of grief. These are more commonly known as: DABDA. 

(I don't wanna open my book anymore regarding Kubler-Ross' theory; so I'd just get stuffs from wikipedia just to give my point and my blog substance. Click here for more in wikipedia.)

DENIAL — "I feel fine."; "This can't be happening, not to me."

Denial is usually only a temporary defense for the individual. This feeling is generally replaced with heightened awareness of possessions and individuals that will be left behind after death.

ANGER — "Why me? It's not fair!"; "How can this happen to me?"; '"Who is to blame?"

Once in the second stage, the individual recognizes that denial cannot continue. Because of anger, the person is very difficult to care for due to misplaced feelings of rage and envy.

BARGAINING — "I'll do anything for a few more years."; "I will give my life savings if..."

The third stage involves the hope that the individual can somehow postpone or delay death. Usually, the negotiation for an extended life is made with a higher power in exchange for a reformed lifestyle. Psychologically, the individual is saying, "I understand I will die, but if I could just do something to buy more time..."

DEPRESSION  — "I'm so sad, why bother with anything?"; "I'm going to die soon so what's the point... What's the point?"; "I miss my loved one, why go on?"

During the fourth stage, the dying person begins to understand the certainty of death. Because of this, the individual may become silent, refuse visitors and spend much of the time crying and grieving. This process allows the dying person to disconnect from things of love and affection. It is not recommended to attempt to cheer up an individual who is in this stage. It is an important time for grieving that must be processed.

ACCEPTANCE — "It's going to be okay."; "I can't fight it, I may as well prepare for it."

In this last stage, individuals begin to come to terms with their mortality, or that of a loved one, or other tragic event.

(My thoughts start from this point.)

It is not necessary that a person undergoes the stages chronologically like, Denial first, Anger second, and so on. One may be on the Denial stage, and is also Bargaining. It is also not necessary that a person has to undergo everything of the DABDA stages, as one may not go through Depression. As I remember, for sure, Acceptance go last.

With due respect to Kubler-Ross, I would like to propose two more stages. Let's make it DABDATH. I agree and would not alter DABDA as Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance; for these are natural and human responses to death and dying. And as human as we are, these additions are, as well, essential.

First off, TRUST. Trust in the Lord that this is His wisdom. We maybe losing our earthly life, or the life of our loved one, but, let us trust God that this is His will. This is God's perfect timing. We may not be able to understand it now, yet we are assured of His love. 

Last proposal, HOPE. Hope that the Lord is up to something good. Romans 82:8 says, "We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose." Let us hope that in the end we will all enjoy eternity with God in his Heavenly Kingdom.

We believe in the communion of saints.

We believe in the resurrection of the dead.

We believe in life everlasting.

Amen.

May the souls of tito Felix, lolo Ato, lolo Ardie, lola Basi, tito Rory, and tito Ellie, and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.

And here's a song for all of us...

In pain or in happiness

In abundance or in absence

I will praise Your Name

In triumph of defeat

In sickness or in health

I will praise Your Name

For You said, You know well the plans You have for me

Plans for my welfare and not for my woe

Plans You give to me a future full of hope

When I pray to You, You listen to me

I cling to Your promise, my God


*Bible verses in here are from the New American Bible.

2011 and Still Counting

Instead of counting sheeps, why not count blessings. And that's what I'm gonna do while ending 2011 with praises for God who provides for all of this.

As the Gospel for today (December 31, 2011) says in John 1:

All things cam to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; --John 1:3-4 (NAB)

Here are some of 2011's highlights.
In between are households and meetings.

JANUARY
1-Happy new year for 2011. Lunch at the Rafael's. Mass at the Our Lady of the Annunciation of Parish.
5-Campus team meeting
6-8, 13-15-RLE: SLMC OR
8-CFC FFL Community conference. Kev and Meme's BDC.
11-13-Campus youth camp
15-Nova core: Laser tag and Shakey's
17-19-Completion for DR cases at Shalom
20-22, 27-29-RLE: ARMMC Pediatrics
23-Family with tita Glo
30-Core servants assembly

FEBRUARY
3-SLCN 8th year over-all champion
10-11-RLE: School nursing (TSNHS)
11-Live Pure Movement (LPM) forums at TSNHS and SMCQC HS
22-24-RLE: Community nursing (Kamandag)
24-25-C3 sisters' overnight
26-Truth & Dare: Jason Evert and Michael Voris

MARCH
11-13-All out! Campus youth camp
19-20-Mock NLE (SLCN-InReP)
20-Novaliches Diocese Chastity Youth Conference
21-22-Skills revalida
24-Clinical graduation
25-Prolife rally
25-26-Campus planning
26-Huling Hirit and Handog
28-University Graduation

APRIL
4-NLE Review starts
7-HC iSikat practice; WYC story conference
14-Dagupan-bound for WYC; WYC recollection; Mass at Lingayen-Dagupan Cathedral
15-17-World Youth Congress 2011: Lakas ng Diyos (Isaiah 49:5)
17-24-Holy Week
21-Pabasa
22-Visita Iglesia
23-2,000 Hail Mary's
25-Ynah's debut
28-Mission trip training
29-May 1-World Kids Congress

MAY
1-Divine Mercy Sunday
3-7-SHouT! ParaNoMa
15-Fiesta in Bulacan
20-22-Youth camp Pandi, Bulacan

JUNE
12-Back-to-school event
26-CFC FFL 30th Anniversary
26-27-NLE Mock Exam
27-Mass for NLE

JULY
1-3-CFC YFL HC Mid-year planning
2-Nurse Licensure Exam (Day 1)
3-Nurse Licensure Exam (Day 2)
12-VMobile
13-Start of Total consecration to Jesus through Mary
15-TUA Campus fair
22-LPM at Quezon
22-24-Youth camp at Lucena, Quezon
30-Campus PLUS (+) Party

AUGUST
12-14-Campus youth camp
14-Youth camp training at Mariveles, Bataan
15-Total Consecration to Jesus, Incarnate Wisdom, through the Hands of Mary
17-HC LeftoverTeam Dinner at Leslie's in Tagaytay: Bulalo FTW!
19-21-Campus youth camp
20-NLE Results: Registered Nurse
20-SFL CLS starts
28-Feast of St. Augustine
29-30-Youth camp at Mariveles, Bataan
31-LPM at FEU-FERN

SEPTEMBER
1-Overnight at Kapatid's house
8-Happy Birthday Mama Mary
16-Applied for a teaching job at I.EXCEL. Teaching demo
20-Long day
Met with Meme at West Avenue
Breakfast at McDo Morayta
PRC Registration. YES! R.N.
Lunch at KFC Morayta
Walk trip at Cubao
St. Pio de Pietrelcina Shrine
Dinner at Jobee Mega
Mass at Megamall Chapel
HC Meeting
24-Another teaching demo
25-At kuya Coi's house

OCTOBER
1-First teaching day
1-Love forum at PYM of Vicariate of Sto. Nino
8-Grand Rosary Rally
10-A Million Roses for the World
16-Work With the Poor (WWP) Medical Mission
20-Broadway Specials
22-Youth camp at Baras, Rizal
31-Nov.1-Baras, Rizal with Family and Meme

NOVEMBER
3-Advanced birthday gift: Watch from my sister
4-Youthfest Recollection and story con
5-IIAP Exam and Passed
6-Gripped Youthfest 2011
6-Blast of Praise
7-Legend of the Guardians
13-Happy 21st Birthday to Me!
14-Happy One Year of Sisterhood with my Kapatid Meme! BFFAEAE! Pizza Hut. There Be Dragons.
14-18-National Youth Day (NYD)
16-Community Week at Academia de Bellarmino
16-NYD Praise Concert
17-E.S.
18-Chastity Forum (LPM) at Batangas State University
22-Chastity Forum (LPM) at Lyceum, Batangas
28-Got my Nurse License
30-QC Circle with Family

DECEMBER
2-4-SMCQC Fair
4-Nova Chirstmas Party
7-8-LPM Isabela. 1st airplane ride. Rode a bus with CR.
16-Missa de Gallo
16-Catechesis on the New Roman Missal
17-Bataan Christmas Party
18-Life Direction Seminar
19-Ate April's Arrival. Resorts World Manila
20-MOA with Family. Bowling.
22-Eco park: Zipline and Wall climbing. Make-over Day. HC Christmas Party
23-Kuya Tony's Arrival. Lazer tag.
24-Last night of Missa de Gallo. Christmas Eve Mass. Family exchange gift.
25-Christmas Day with Family
25-29-Boracay, Malay, Aklan!!
26-Banana boat. Helmet dive.
27-Boat sailing. Red pirates.
28-Island hopping at Pulka Beach. Skim boarding. Grotto: Mama Mary!
29-Kalibo, Aklan then Manila bound
30-Seafood Island
31-Last day of the year

God has blessed me with so much this 2011. There are so much more than what is written in here. And I cling unto His promises for more in 2012.

For 2012, I will Choose Life. I will Choose Christ.

Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live, (cf. Deuteronomy 30:19, NAB)

Heart Status

Boracay from the 25th to the 29th of December 2011. It was my first time. Yey!

I am with (from Left to Right) ate April, kuya Tony, Paolo, Nino, (and that's me), Kevin, Daddy, and tito Pol, who took the picture.

BORACAY FORMED MY HEART.

Banana boat. Helmet diving. Boat sailing. Island hopping at Puka Beach. Skim boarding. Eating. Sleeping. Food coma (Sleeping right after eating). Walking and lots of it.

Doing this new things (plus the Zipline and Wall climbing done in Eco Park, QC.), all of them for the first time except for the eating-sleeping-food coma part, reminded me of what I stood up for God at the beginning of the year 2011: To live a FEARLESS life for Him. And to live a fearless life is to always grip on to God's sufficient, saving, sanctifying GRACE because He is always gripping on us. If I have remained in my fear of doing new things, I wouldn't be able to experience how great those things are, and ultimately, how Great GOD is.

I don't have much interest in adventurous stuffs, but as I did the above-mentioned activities, the more I became awed of how great God is. The more I get to bask in the greatness of our Creator. 

God is the Master of all. In all the things I saw and did, what I always say is: "Ang galing ng Diyos!" (Great is our God). That for every wave tossed in the ocean, He is in control. That the coordination of His creation, sea, wind, and all, was designed very well. That the entire scene is God's artwork. And that Boracay is one big playground created by God for His children.


BORACAY BROKE MY HEART.

As hotels and restaurants were all over the place, so are bars and beers. We went there on the 25th. And it was heartbreaking to see some who celebrates Christmas without having the real Reason of celebrating it: JESUS. It breaks my heart that Christmas--God becoming Man, uniting Himself fully: physically and spiritually, with man--became just a holiday to some.

It breaks my heart to see some who do not respect their bodies as exposing them as if they are having a private time, forgetting that they are in a public place. And that there are also a lot of shops offering temporary and permanent tattoo; and I even saw kids having one.

If you don't respect your body, who will? . . . Our bodies is an invitation to love, and not an invitation to lust. --Jason Evert, Catholic chastity speaker.

It is heartbreaking to see that the virtue of chastity and purity of life, of body and soul, were abandoned by many. Maybe because they just don't know or, worse, they have forgotten about it. My heart breaks when I see people missing out the point of living life to the purest. 

As these things broke my heart, it also affirmed me that there are a lot of work to be done and we are on the right track.


MMH.

When Jesus saw [his] Mother, and the disciple, he said to [his] Mother, "Woman, this is your son." Then he said to the disciple, "There is your mother." And from that moment the disciple took her to his own home. --John 19:26-27, NAB

At the very last day of our stay in Boracay, by God's plan and grace we saw a grotto of Mother Mary; elevated, situated in a rock. I wasn't expecting it in Boracay. And it reminded me that even Boracay is under the Motherly love of our Perpetual Blessed Virgin; and that Mary will not forsake us. She is our Mother, and we are her children.

I noticed, as well, that when some climbed up to the grotto to take picture, they won't include Mary in. They'd just take advantage of the elevation of the place. And yes, it broke my heart again.


There is really a lot of things that needs to be done. And I have to have a heart like Mary: MMH (Mama Mary Heart). A heart full of obedience, trust, and courage. 


God will meet us right where we are. Whether on mission or on vacation, God will. He never stops surprising His children. And as He surprises them, He teaches them. He assures His children that He is God. 


I have to remain FEARLESS for my God is now my Strength!


Most Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.


A blog of Boracay pictures will follow; I just don't know when that will be.

This is Your Lesson Number One

Lesson #1 to becoming SAINT:

SELF-DENIAL

That I almost cried denying myself.

I thought self-denial was something easy to do. 

But this is what God taught me, to deny myself because of His LOVE for me and for LOVE of Him.

Fearless

LORD, make me always remember that Sunday morning when I stood in front of almost 1,500 young men and women, together with my missionary brothers and sisters, and declared that we'll be FEARLESS FOR YOU!

Despite of our fears, we'll be FEARLESS FOR YOU!
Despite of the pain, we'll be FEARLESS FOR YOU!
Despite of our difficulties, we'll be FEARLESS FOR YOU!
Despite of the persecutions, we'll be FEARLESS FOR YOU!
Despite of our uncertainties, we'll be FEARLESS FOR YOU!
Despite of the unknown, we'll be FEARLESS FOR YOU!

We'll be FEARLESS FOR YOU, because YOU LOVED US FIRST!

My GOD is now my Strength [Part 1]

I've lost myself for good within God's promise.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011.

I entered my review class with a heavy heart. Everything the reviewer says was mere noise to me. I was not in the mood to study and learn. And since everything was just noise and I can’t digest and understand anything, I moved out of the room, went to the veranda of the building. I tried to cool myself: Nagpahangin ako ng magulong puso.

It was supposed to be a me-time moment. But God made it as a God-time moment. As to where I am, I had a view of the houses, the cars, the other buildings, etc. As I sit in the veranda, I saw a flock of birds just flying in circular manner. This is where the Lord spoke to me.

God says:

See the birds fly? As they fly, they are able to worship Me. In their very act of flying and in simply flying, they are worshipping Me. They are able to worship Me by just doing what they are made to do. And Kaye, I made you for Me. By simply being human, you are worshipping Me. In doing the things I made you to do, you are able to worship Me. I MADE YOU FOR ME; and not for anyone else, not even for yourself. And with this, I promise that you are DESTINED AND MADE FOR GREATNESS, that I may be worshipped.

With this, it occurred to me that I should get back to class and review. This is because by just reviewing and doing it for God, I am able to worship Him. What God told me created both fear and excitement. Fear of not even having myself; and excitement for what the Lord will further do for me to witness and experience. Before going back to review, I prayed and thanked God for the affirmation. I went back to review, and heard another affirmation.

Through our reviewer, I believed that God affirmed our work of being missionaries. Our reviewer was discussing “transcultural nursing”; and in the latest book of Madeleine Leininger (proponent of transcultural nursing), she says that Filipinos is the best example of transcultural nursing. With this discussion, I am affirmed that God has really set the Filipino people for His Work: that God would use the Filipinos in the Church’s work of evangelization and mission.

Thursday, April 14, 2011.

A day before the much-awaited World Youth Congress 2011. It was about 6AM. A carpool of missionaries was bound to the north of Luzon at Dagupan City, Pangasinan, for a five-hour drive. We were able to reach Dagupan City by almost 12PM. As we enter the main venue, CSI Stadia, and as I saw the stage, aesthetics, the largeness of the venue, etc., I said to myself: “Huwaw! This is the life! Ang lakas! Sure win ang congress.” Everything in Stadia was big. Ang laki ng stage. Larger than twice the human height ang mga designs. Kakainin ka ng venue if you are not prepared for its greatness.

Then we had our Mass at the Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist. After celebrating the Mass there, we went to the Blessed Sacrament. Everything was just beautiful and everything was worth experiencing. ‘Yung pag-Simba ko lang sa Cathedral at sa pagpunta sa presensya ni Kristo sa Blessed Sacrament, panalo na ang congress ko!

In the evening, we went back to Stadia for our recollection. The message was very powerful: 

JESUS CHRIST IS THE MASTER OF BOTH THE SEEN AND THE UNSEEN.

The congress proper has not even started. 

But the strength of God was very present. 
On the feeding of the five thousand: Lahat kayang pakainin.

Totoo, Walang Imposible Sa Lakas Ng Diyos!


My God is now my strength.
-cf. Isaiah 49:5

Planning Ahead

The best gift anyone can give me this new year is a planner.
I like planners because I am a planner.
I like thinking ahead.
I like being prepared.
I get a high from being on top of things.
But some things are beyond planning.
And life doesn't always turn out as planned.

You don't plan for a broken heart.
You don't plan for a failed business venture.
You don't plan for an adulterous husband.
Or a wife who wants you out of her life.
You don't plan for an autistic child.
You don't plan for spinsterhood.
You don't plan for a lump in your breast.

You plan to be young forever.
You plan to climb the corporate ladder.
You plan to be rich and powerful.
You plan to be acclaimed and successful.
You plan to conquer the universe.
You plan to fall in love - and be loved forever.

You don't plan to be sad.
You don't plan to be hurt.
You don't plan to be broke.
You don't plan to be betrayed.
You don't plan to be alone in this world.

You plan to be happy.
You don't plan to be shattered.
Sometimes if you work had enough, you can get what you want.
But most times, what you want and what you get are two different things.

We, mortals, plan. But so does GOD in the heavens.

Sometimes, it is difficult to understand GOD's plans especially when His plans are not in consonance with ours.
Often, when GOD sends us crisis, we turn to Him in anger.
True, we cannot choose the cross that GOD wishes us to carry, but we can carry that cross with courage knowing that GOD will never abandon us nor send something we cannot cope with.

Sometimes, GOD breaks our spirit to save our soul.
Sometimes, He breaks our heart to make us whole.
Sometimes, GOD sends us pain so we can be stronger.
Sometimes, GOD sends us failure so we can be humble.
Sometimes, GOD sends us illness so we can take better care of ourselves.
Sometimes, GOD takes everything away from us so we can learn the value of everything He gave us.

Make plans but understand that we live by GOD's grace.

Note: Got this somewhere. Not mine.

SUPRA!

Last night was another inspiring household!


THANKSGIVING!


'Pag uwi ko, umupo ako sa sofa. Then I suddenly found myself reflecting on the events of the past; lalo na 'yung nangyari last semester (4th year, 1st sem). Just the recently concluded semester. Events flashed before my very eyes.


Duties.
Lectures.
Cluster activities.
Campus activities.


After reminiscing these things, wala akong ibang nasabi kung di, "Thank you Lord! Thank you sobra!"
At wala akong ibang nagawa kung di ang magdasal!


Ang magdasal na ang laman ay pasasalamat.
Pasasalamat sa mga naging hamon ng nakaraang semester; na sa huli ay naging hamon na food!
Pasasalmat na nakalagpas sa mga istriktong propesor and all.
Pasasalamat sa lakas na alam kong hindi nagmula sa akin, kung di mula kay God.
Pasasalamat sa biyaya ng pag-aaral.
Pasasalamat sa biyaya ng pamilya na laging nakasuporta.
Pasasalamat sa biyaya ng YFL community, na nag-iinspire sa akin.
At higit sa lahat, pasasalamat sa biyaya at regalo ng buhay sa pagkakataong maranasan ang lahat ng ito!


LORD! SUPRANG THANK YOU!


SUPRA = Super + Sobra


At sa ikaw na bumabasa nito, salamat sa oras sa pagbasa ng mga bagay-bagay na pinasasalamatan ko.
Ikaw, anong mga pinasasalamatan mo?
Kung ano o sino man yan, pasalamatan mo na!


Deo gratias!

13.5 Hours na Household

13.5 hours? Haha. Joke lang. 13.5 hours lang akong wala sa bahay. It was an experience! Ang haba daw ng household namin sabi ng tatay ko.


6.30PM kami ng Saturday night umalis ng pinsan kong si Niño papuntang Nova Core Household. Tapos naghintay kami ng ibang mga kapatid sa core sa Jollibee Tandang Sora-Palengke [si Baby James lang pala at kami ang magpunta sa meeting place], then dumiretso na kami sa may St. Anthony Academy, QC. Kung saan nandun na sina DR Pogi at Mikki. Dumating na si MacMan. Ang Roque siblings: ate Sweet, Precious, and Mac. Tapos sina Louie at Faye. Tapos nag-household na kami [kwento ko maya ang saya ng household]. 


After ng household umuwi na kami. Nabali yung susi ng kotse ni ate Sweet. Lesson learned: magpa-duplicate ng susi. Kaya ako magpapa-duplicate na ko ng susi. Susi ng bahay. Alangan namang car key, eh wala naman akong car. Wala kasi akong susi ng bahay. Susi lang ng gate ang meron ako. So, kakatok pa din ako kahit anong mangyari.


"I believe that the Lord is telling us to close the household", as verbalized by Mikki [subjective cue]. Since pauwi na kami. Gusto ko na talagang umuwi. Kahit sana i-drop na lang ako somewhere na alam ko kasi gusto ko sa bahay umuwi. Kaso out of concern ng mga kapatid ko sa core dahil gabi na nga, minabuti ko na lang na kina Niño umuwi at matulog. Natulog ako sa kanilang "E-Room" as Ian will refer to it [pwede din pala yung ER. haha]. And since natulog ako sa bahay ng iba, mababawa lang ang tulog ko. "Ate Kaye gising na" sabi ni Niño; at gising agad ako!


BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD! I believe He wants me to appreciate some things that I forgot. I missed that early morning walk under the still-good-rays of the sun! Reminding me of the goodness of waking up at seven in the morning with that good feeling knowing this is Petiks Day!


Nung ginising ako ni Niño, honestly gusto ko pa matulog. Pero ibinangon ko ang aking sarili sa simpleng rason: GUSTO KONG UMUWI DAHIL GUSTO KO NG MAKITA MGA MAGULANG AT KAPATID KO. Imba! Isang gabi lang akong hindi nakauwi sa bahay. Nangulila na akong tunay! Pag-uwi kong bahay, nagsimba kami. Baon ko galing sa Misa: DISCIPLESHIP IS LEARNING.

Discipleship is Learning: Learning to Imitate Christ: Imitating Christ by embracing the Cross: The Cross which manifests the Wisdom and the Power of God.

Now, our recent household. Let's have a rest. Opo. Nagpahinga lang kami sa household.


Here are some Pahinga Verses:


Psalm 62:6-9 [NAB]

My soul, be at rest in God alone, from whom comes my hope. God alone is my rock and my salvation, my secure height; I shall not fall. My safety and glory are with God, my strong rock and refuge. Trust God at all times, my people! Pour out your hearts to God our refuge! 

Psalm 23:2 [NAB]

In green pastures you let me graze; to safe waters you lead me

Matthew 6:33-34 [NAB]

But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.

Matthew 11:28-30 [NAB]

"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."

I've read Matthwe 11:28-30 before and never have I bothered to know what the "yoke" truly is. Hahaha. Here is a picture of the "yoke":

A yoke is shared by two animals. 
As children of God taking his yoke, finding rest is connecting with God!
That we may find our burdens light because it is not us who's carrying it anymore but Jesus Christ who carries it all and us as well.


Ang magpahinga ay ang mag-REST.


Redemptive suffering.
Endure and mortify.
Surrender and empty ourselves to be filled with God.
Trust in God.


Sure ka? Ang magpahinga ay mag-suffer? Mag-endure? Mag-mortify? Oo naman! To others, this may sound foolishness. But to us who finds rest in God, this is wisdom! Knowing that through our redemptive sufferings, trials to be endured, and mortifications, we ready our hearts in full hope and trust that one day we will find our full reward of eternal peace with God! Enjoying the rest we long for.


Laus Deus!

Live Pure!

Isang gabi.

Isang gabing nagliliyab.

Ng mga pusong naniniwalang posible.

Na posible lahat.

Posibleng magsaya kasama ng mga kaibigan at makipag-kwentuhan.
Makipag-kwentuhan ng walang halong mura, green jokes, at katulad nito. Live Pure.

Posibleng magsaya kasama ng mga kaibigan at makinig.

Makinig sa musikang walang halong mura, walang halong konteksto ng desecration ng sex. Live Pure.


Posibleng magsaya kasama ng mga kaibigan at sumayaw.

Sumayaw ng walang halong sensualidad. Live Pure.

Posibleng magsaya kasama ng mga kaibigan at uminom.

Uminom ng walang halong alkohol at walang sigarilyo. Live Pure.

Posibleng magsaya kasama ng mga kaibigan at mag-picture.

Magpa-picture na naninindigang mabuhay ng malinis. Live Pure.

Posibleng magsaya kasama ng mga kaibigan at umawit.

Umawit ng kasiyahan kasama si Kristo. Live Pure.

Isang gabi.

Isang gabing inumpisahan ng isang party.

Isang kasiyahan na magpapatuloy kailanman.

Hanggang sa araw ng selebrasyon ng pagbabalik ni Kristo!

LIVE PURE.

Live a pure life, that's the only way to live.

A.M.D.G.

God Loved Me First

LORD! I put You in the center.

In all of the things You have given me;
that I may see things with Your LOVE.

That I may share Your LOVE and not mine;
for human love is weak,
but Your LOVE is perfect that it casts away all fears!

Fulfilled and Contented.

Yes, it is true that you cannot have everything in life.

Yet you can still have a full life.

A full life is a life centered on Christ!