Unto the Very Last Day

Friday, 31 December 2010.


Click here for the readings of this day.


The Gospel today: [1 John 1:1-18 (NAB)]

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came 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; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him.

But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God.

And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only-begotten Son, full of grace and truth.

John testified to him and cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’” From his fullness we have all received,
grace in place of grace, because while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The only-begotten Son, God, who is at the Father’s side,
has revealed him.

As I reflect for today's readings and Gospel, I heard God whispered: "Isn't this LOVE?"
Unto the very last day, God's message is LOVE.
His unfathomable, unconditional LOVE.


All of these are because of LOVE:

• All things were made through Jesus Christ.
• Whatever has come to be, found life in Jesus Christ.
• Jesus Christ is the light, which darkness can never overcome.
• Jesus Christ came for his own; for what is his.
• Those who received Christ, he empowers to become children of God.
• Who Jesus Christ owns are born of God; and not because of anyone's will, but God's.
• In Jesus Christ, we have received grace after grace.
• In Jesus Christ, we have truth and grace.
• No one has seen God, but through Jesus Christ, God has been revealed.

GOD loves us so much. And so, as his sons and daughters, we, like John, should respond to Him in love:

• Bear witness to introduce the Light, who is Jesus Christ, that others might believe.
• Testify to the Love of God.
• Share God's love and not our love.
• Live in the light. Live a pure life.

"GOD is the essence of life, the energy of grace, the reason of our existence, and the purpose of life. It is in this GOD that we live and move and have our being." --Bible Diary 2010


==============================

Man 1: I love you so much.
Man 2: Why?
Man 1: I don't know. I just love you.

***

GOD: I love you so much.
Man: Why?
GOD: Because I, your GOD, is love.


GOD has all the reason to love us. This is because He is, in Himself, LOVE. And He only has not all the reason to love us, but that He loved us first and His love is perfect. (cf. 1 John 4). And nothing can separate us from this love of God in Christ Jesus. (cf. Romans 8:38-39).
And He had proved His love for us in this: that while we were still sinners, Jesus Christ died for us. (cf. Romans 5:8).
Instead of us dying for our sins, Jesus Christ paid the price.
This is GRACE.
This is LOVE: unfathomable and unconditional

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Lord, I do understand your love and your grace; but I just cannot comprehend its greatness.
I just cannot even imagine it.
It is more than myself. It consumes me.
It is so uncontainable. You, oh Lord, is uncontainable.
Thank you Lord! Amen.
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Without Formal Training

Young as I am, without formal training, I was able to manage/direct a stage.
Young as I am, without formal training, I was able to head an event.
Young as I am, without formal training, I was able to walk and model.
Young as I am, without formal training, I was able to lead a campus community.
Young as I am, without formal training, I was able to go on a mission declaring GOD's love.
Young as I am, without formal training and with sure human weakness, I was able to see mountains move right in front of my eyes for GOD's power was made perfect!

But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you for power is made perfect in weakness." I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. --2 Corinthians 12:9 (NAB)

And there are a lot other things that I have been blessed to experience.
All of these I learned through GOD who sends people to train me. These people, who like me, are also without formal training. But through our Great GOD, all of us were taught to trust Him and to remind us that it is not us who will work but The Great I AM!

All of these, with just one YES!

You received it as a gift, so give it as a gift. --Matthew 10:8 (CCB)

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.

John 15:13

Shall I or shall I not?

Huwag na lang. Hindi na.

If this is Jesus', what would he do?

I don't know.

But what has he done?

Gone up to the extreme of things. Showed his extreme love.

No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. --John 15:13 (NAB)

If I am to follow Christ, then extreme things must also be done.

And so I did.

No one should seek his own advantage, but that of his neighbor. --1 Corinthians 10:24 (NAB)

If one does not know what to do, reflect upon the Cross,  where extreme love is; that extreme life may be one's lifestyle.

Less Than Calvary

.11.22.2010.
WOW! Who would have thought I will be able to walk this great a distance...

I have marked with red the roads I have traveled by feet. Mayroong masasakyang jeep at taxi, ngunit lahat ay okupado. Manila with heavy rain = severe heavy traffic. Hindi gumagalaw ang mga sasakyan. Mas mabilis pa ang paa ng tao kaysa sa gulong ng ng mga sasakyan.


Rain started to fell by 2pm, I think. We were dismissed by 515pm after our inrep. And by 6pm I still found myself standing along E.Rodriguez Sr. Avenue waiting for the most awaited Proj.2-3 jeep. After that, I realized that waiting for a jeep would mean years and I felt the need to eat. Haha. I ate at a fastfood chain and stayed there for about an hour. I thought there would be a traffic improvement, but just as it is, it is just a thought. And I waited for about half an hour. And that was it. Cars were not really moving and I am left without a choice but to start walking. Haha. Huhu. And I was not only walking like carrying my backpack and umbrella with me. I am also carrying a paperbag that has more than ten tshirts in it.


Then I started to walk. Paused for awhile to rest my arm due to the paperbag. Haha. Then walk again. I started to walk for just this reason: "Sabik na akong umuwi. Gusto ko ng magpahinga." Until I reached Judge Jimenez-Sct. Ybardolaza-Kamuning Road, that's when I was able to ride a jeepney; not the Proj.2-3 one. I took another route just to get home. Haha. I got home by 815pm.


3 hours in the making, just to get home. When it would just normally take me half an hour. My "Lakad Para Maka-uwi" taught me a lot of things:


1. I was asking myself, "Bakit ganito? Bakit super trapik?! Bakit walang masakyan?! Bakit kailangang maglakad?!" And I further said, "Ang hirap hirap ng sitwasyon ko!" Imagine me with a backpack, then holding the umbrella at one hand, let's say at the right. Then on my left is the paperbag. That I may not pause from walking due to the paperbag's weight, I have to juggle both the umbrella and the paperbag from between hands. 


While I was walking, I saw a woman holding an umbrella in her left hand and on her right a not-yet-one-year-old infant, I think. And that thing humbled me. "Ako na nahihirapan kayang magpapalit-palit sa dalawang kamay ng aking mga bitbit. Pero 'yung babaeng 'yun kahit anong gusto niya hindi niya pwedeng ipagpalit-palit ng kamay yung bata at 'yung payong. Kapag ginawa niya 'yun, mauulanan 'yung bata. Kapag ginawa niya 'yun, baka masaktan 'yung bata." That thing I saw made me accept my situation. It helped me shut my mouth from asking why.


2. While walking, I prayed "Lord! Your plans are better than mine. What is it that you want to show me?" That was the first that that had happened to me. (I have not experienced Ondoy at school, so I don't know.) Truly, the word of God is strength to human heart. I remembered the verse:

My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong. --2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NAB)

No trial has come to you but what is human. God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength; but with the trial he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to bear it. --1 Corinthians 10:13 (NAB)

I was near to developing a wound at my left foot due to my shoes. And at the same time my feet, or my entire lower extremities, rather, is getting weary. That I knew I was near to develop a wound, I told myself that I need to have an adhesive bandage (band-aid). Haha. Si LORD laging on time and on place! After realizing the demand, I saw the supply. I was standing, twenty steps away from a drugstore!

3. I continued to walk. I remembered the EXTREME LOVE session. Kuya Cocoi asked, "Are you part of the generation who is willing to suffer for the love and cause of Christ?" As I remembered kuya Cocoi's question, I remembered my answer. And that as I have answered, I must live out my "YES". As I consider the things that are happening as part of my redemptive suffering, I offer it up to GOD that though it cannot, in any way, equate unto Jesus Christ's Cross, I may find it fulfilling.

4. Also, as I continue on walking and juggling the things I carry, I suddenly realized "this is less than calvary". My experience is far less than what happened to Jesus. My experience of pain, tiredness, and all cannot be compared to what Christ has done. That I am not in the right place to complain. Rather, I am in the right place to humble myself for what Christ has done.


Now, that I am writing (typing) this, it made me further realize that GOD's extreme love really do encompass our situations of highness and lowness. That HE can be found and be magnified by a heart who is willing to glorify His Name! This reminds me that the Cross of Christ is foolishness to nonbelievers; but is wisdom and strength to those who believe.


Post Scriptum. As I walk the following morning, I laughed saying, "Ang sakit sakit ng paa ko." Haha. And as I rode a jeepney taking me to the streets I was able to walk, all I said was, "WOW! Nalakad ko 'yan kagabi! Grabe!"


Naglevel-up ako sa paglalakad. Haha.
Baka i-level up ko din itong blog na ito by writing a "Part 2". Ang haba na kasi.

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!

Is it wrong to wear a bikini?

Male college students at Princeton University recently took part in studies of how the male brain reacts to seeing people wearing different amounts of clothing. The test subjects were placed in a brain scanner and for a fraction of a second were shown photographs of women in bikinis, as well as men and women dressed modestly.

When the young men viewed the scantily clad women, the part of their brain associated with tool use lit up. Even though some of the images were shown for as little as two-tenths of a second, the most easily remembered photographs were of bikini-clad women whose heads were cropped off the photos!

The purpose of the research, according to Susan Fiske, a professor of psychology at Princeton University, was to examine ways in which people view others as a means to an end. The findings of the research were presented during the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, held in Chicago.

Researchers also discovered that when some of the men viewed scantily clad females, the men’s medial pre-frontal cortex was deactivated. This is the region of the brain associated with analyzing a person’s thoughts, intentions, and feelings. Fiske remarked, “It is as if they are reacting to these women as if they are not fully human.” She added, “It is a preliminary study but it is consistent with the idea that they are responding to these photographs as if they were responding to objects rather than people.”

She considered this discovery to be shocking, because “The lack of activation in this social cognition area is really odd, because it hardly ever happens.” Researchers have witnessed such a dehumanizing absence of brain activity only once before, during a study where people were shown images of drug addicts and homeless people.

Another study performed on undergraduate students at Princeton found that when men are shown images of women in bikinis, they associate the women with first-person verbs, such as I “push,” “handle,” and “grab.” When shown images of modestly dressed women, the men associated the images with the third-person forms of the verbs, such as she “pushes,” “handles,” and “grabs.” In other words, the fully-clothed women were seen as being in control of their own actions, whereas the immodest ones were to be acted upon.

Although scientists were surprised by these findings, they won’t come as a shock to those who know the origins of the bikini. Its inventor was a Frenchman named Louis Reard, who worked for his mom’s lingerie business. When he created the first two-piece bathing suit in 1946, he had to hire a stripper to debut the outfit, because no model was willing to wear it on the runway! After all, what kind of woman would wear her underwear in public, just because it became waterproof? Over half a century years ago, these French models took for granted what today’s scientists from Princeton find surprising.

Dr. Alice Von Hildebrand once remarked, “If little girls were made aware of the great mystery confided to them, their purity would be guaranteed. The very reverence which they would have toward their own bodies would inevitably be perceived by the other sex. Men are talented at reading women’s body language, and they are not likely to risk being humiliated when a refusal is certain. Perceiving women’s modesty, they would take their cue and, in return, approach the female sex with reverence.”

Just as bikinis cause some men’s brains to overlook a woman’s intentions and thoughts, modesty does just the opposite. It invites men to consider how much more a woman has to offer. If bikinis objectify women, modesty personalizes them. Therefore, women who wish to be taken seriously by men may want to reconsider the power of modesty. Its purpose is not to veil the woman’s body because it is bad. Quite the contrary! A modest woman is not hiding herself from men. She is revealing her dignity to them.

Nothing on earth approaches the beauty of the woman. For this reason, the question must be asked to women, “How will you use your beauty?” Pope John Paul II remarked that the dignity and balance of human life depends at every moment of history and in every place upon who man will be for women, and who women will be for men. So, who will you be for men?

If women have become objects in the minds of many men, what can be done to restore the hearts and minds of both? If the world is ever to see a resurgence of values, modesty, and chivalry, it will require both men and women to take an inventory of their own hearts, to examine who they have become for each other.

from: www.Chastity.com