I'm lovin' it.

The book I started reading today is Joel Osteen's Your Best Life Begins Each Morning

Hug of Grace

   
    The worst feeling in the world is knowing that you've let someone down. There is a certain agony in the waiting - standing by, powerless, as a person decides whether or not he will forgive you. The feeling multiplies because you know you don't deserve forgiveness.

    I betrayed a close friend of mine not long ago. I didn't tell him, but instead waited, hoping he would never find out. I sort of knew that he eventually would. He did discover my dishonesty shortly thereafter, and he confronted me. All the excuses I had stored up were suddenly useless. There were no words that could remedy the damage I had done to our friendship and to his trust.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

   One day that friend came to me and gave me a hug. He told me that he had decided to forgive me. He said he cared about me too much to let me go because of one mistake. His forgiveness felt great, but it also made me feel guilty. It seemed too easy, too quick and definitely undeserved.

    What I experienced is called grace, and it's God's gift to us. God loves us dearly; we are his most prized possessions. We take his love for granted daily and betray him with a constant stream of sin and deceit. The best part is, He still loves us. We certainly don't deserve it, but he gives us forgiveness anyway. He not only moves on, but he forgets our sins just as soon as he forgives them.

    Grace is a hard thing to grasp, but just think of it as God's make-up hug.

Confessions of A Sunday Morning Christian

      Strobe lights illuminated the room while the DJ played yet another great jam. It was a typical Saturday night. Stumbling teenagers gyrated against one another, beers in hand. I overheard some kid across the room say to his friend, " Doesn't that guy over there have church tomorrow? He's such a hypocrite, just as all Christians are."

Living Two Lives

      There are obstacles in each of our lives that we are forced to face every day. How we deal with those obstacles strongly affects others around us in ways we cannot always see.

      "The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians, who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, then walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyles. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable." That powerful statement by Brennan Manning should be a challenge to all of us believers.

      When I was in high school, I considered myself a Christian, but I was not really following God- I did what I wanted, when I wanted. I went to church every Sunday with my family, but that was the extent of my relationship with God.

      Though my friends knew I considered myself a Christian, they could not see any difference between themselves and me. I was what some people call a Sunday morning Christian. I would party and drink with my friends on the weekends and then go to church Sunday mornings. I never imagined the extent to which this type of behavior would hinder me in the future.

Ruined Reputation

      During my senior year of high school, I rededicated my life to Christ. I finally realized how wrong I had been before, and I wanted to live in a way that was pleasing to God. I stopped drinking, got involved in youth groups and Bible studies and tried my best to set a good example for others.

      But my witness was ruined before it even started. When I shared with my friends the reasons I stopped drinking, they thought I was trying to act like I was better than they were. They would just respond, "You have no right to tell us that drinking is wrong when you used to drink with us." They thought I was judging them when really I was just trying to love them.

      I never imagined that because of my former behavior, my credibility would be destroyed. It really hurt me, but I had no other choice than to accept it and try to keep living as an example.

      As sad that was for me, it taught me a lot. I am now much more conscious of my actions. I know I have to live consistently with what I claim to believe.

Second Chance

      Because I have stayed strong in following God over the past few years, people have begun to notice. My friends are now starting to see that my relationship with God is real. Some of them have asked to talk to me about my faith. One friend even gave her life to Christ as a result of our discussions. I never would have thought that I could have a part in something like that.

      It is amazing the ways God works in our lives. He wants us to be examples of him. We can affect so many people's lives just by living out what we believe.
  
      Always be aware of your actions. Do not be the reason that someone else does not know Jesus. But remember that even if you do mess up, God will forgive you if you ask. He can still use you in unimaginable ways to further his kingdom.

Actions and Consequences

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Galatians 6 : 7-8 

 Life is a basic responsibility structure. We sometimes ascribe a basic irrationality to life by thinking that what we do does not have consequences. We do one thing and sonehow and hope that something else will result. It is like planting a coconut and hoping for mangoes.

Interestingly, we tend not to have these expectations when we are doing good deeds. From good deeds we expect good results. It is when we do wrong that we hope things will not turn out too badly. And it is in this that we demonstrate our irrationality, for the law of life is none other than this: Whatever we sow,we shall reap. If we sow discord, then discord will be the result. It will hurt others and ourselves.

We need to assume responsibility for our thoughts and actions. Only then can we receive God's forgiveness and the forgiveness of those we have wronged. God can and does redeem our situations but what we cannot do is to excuse our wrongdoing.

Our hope is that somehow things will turn out for the better is unrealistics. They will not. Negative and harmful things we have done will not just go away.They remain working as leaven in our lives and those we influence. We need to face up to what we've done. We also need to evaluate our actions and motives. Above all, wee need to be big enough to acknowledge our faults and failures.

Living responsibly is the affirmative side of the law of sowing and reaping. We can purposefully plan to do that which is right and good.In planting good seed, we affect positively the person we are becoming. We can in faith expect a good harvest.

  

Credits: Charles Ringma

Accepting Our Mortality

'For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.' 1 Corinthians 15: 21-22

Death is the final intruder into human affairs. It comes to all of us. With it's awesome power it calls to a halt human activity, notwithstanding all its significance and pomp, or its folly and fragility. The inevitability of death's knock at our door is usually far from our minds. We are far too busy with life and the things that seem so important. It is only when we are stricken with some illness that we have to face our mortality and begin to evaluate the motives and purpose of our busyness and existence.

Some on contracting a serious illness, are propelled into a frantic search for healing, particularly when conventional medicine has nothing more to offer. Such a search is not inapprppriate for death should be resisted, more so when its intrusion appears to be premature. ( What is unhelpful is the frantic nature of such a search. ) God's healing has certainly come to some but clearly not to others. The significant difference in most cases has not been a lack of faith or prayer. The difference remains shrounded in mystery.

Healing through God's intervention is never a matter of human technique nor it is under human control. Thus the search for healing can be embarked upon but healing can never be demanded nor made certain. It can only be a cry of faith in the face of mystery.

At the same time, there needs to be a recognition that it may well be time to go home. Living in the hope of the resurection, that homecoming  need not fill us with fear, and may even be a welcome prospect. In all of this, we need to recognize that our human life is ultimately fragile. We need to accept its limitations and embrace the reality of our own mortality. Then we can cast ourselves upon the grace and promises of God.

- Rest in Peace Patrick Swayze.Too Bad, no more dirty dancing for you but you will be remembered and missed.
- Rest in Peace Mark Reyes. You will be missed especially your Music.


credits: 
www.monash.edu.au
www.biblegateway.com
Life in full Stride, Charles Ringma

Day 11

On this day of your life, Rc, we believe God wants you to know...
... that you've been talking to God too much, and not listening enough.

Prayer is when you talk to God. Meditation is when you become quiet and listen to God. You've learned how to talk and ask well. Time to learn how to listen and hear, because God has been answering you.

Insecurities and Imperfections

while searching for the video that my former classmate want me to see on youtube, I noticed this video on the upper right that says: featured video (watch this video), so I immediately hit the right button. While watching, I said "that's true, ako i have lot of insecurities(before), but now I admit kahit konti meron pa (especially my body) but the good thing I learned how to overcome such insecurities. Before I used to hide it but naisip ko how can i overcome such insecurities kung forever ko n lng hahayaan or itatago. Attending Victory Christian fellowhip helps me to overcome such trash, it's a long story pero this one I am sure, I accepted Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior and everything else follows. So here's the video:

Day 3

On this day of your life, Rc, we believe God wants you to know...
... that you are perfect as you are.

God doesn't create faulty life. No. Everything created by God is perfect, and so are you. So stop driving yourself mad with endless ways to improve, and just accept the glory of your being as is.

-What a beautiful morning.Thank you Jesus for everything.:)

Bubbly Bubbles.

Busy Sunday:

• Lola's b-day celebration @ my Aunt house in Antipolo.
• Victory Christian Fellowship after ( i miss my family in VCF U-BELT) now I'm currently attending at Fort.
  
• Tapsilog sa Carinderia near UST( 1st time..ang sarap)
• As usual..checking my FB. Twitter and my Blog. (my day is not complete pag di ko ito nagawa.fmbo!)

Okay...I was checking my twits earlier and to my surprise may Blog pala si Bubbles Paraiso (yes, you heard me Ms.Bubbles Paraiso. I follow her on Twitter.) so I immediately visit her site. I enjoyed reading her entries. Her personal thoughts about anything and everything. I love her entry about the Carinderia (Soms ata), I never thought a supermodel like her kakain sa ganun( honestly, masarap talaga minsan sa Carinderia..lol). Ok, after reading almost all of her entries, her first entry was the one that really captured me. So I decided to repost her entry and I hope na Makatulong and Maka Inspire din in a way sa inyo.

since multiply has gotten complicated (read: i dont like their new format), i decided to go back to blogspot for my blogging needs :) ive been blogging for years, but its been an on/off thing.. and i always end up deleting my old entries. this time, i wont be doing that anymore though :) i think this blog shall be retained... (or so i think at the moment)

anyway, as my first entry, i'd like to share something that my friend sent me... i loved it so much, i hope you do too!! (if it's in bold, then it means its something that i, myself have learned in life too :))

45 Lessons life taught me

Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio "To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written." My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it..

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you, really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone, everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative - dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."



to ms bubbles paraiso: tnx for posting this. And keep on posting entries that will inspire, encourage everyone. And God bless you more and more. For you: Psalm 37:4 (NIV).

• If you want to read her other entries visit: http://bubb-p.blogspot.com/
  

Day 2

Good Morning. Second entry of God wants me to know (hey, He also wants you to know for sure. Read and think about it) that:

On this day of your life, Rc, we believe God wants you to know...
... that you can't rid the world of sorrow, but you can choose to live in joy.

Sorrow is with us not because we are bad at stopping it, but simply because it's part of being human. What matters is not whether good or bad things happen - both will, but your relationship to them. Just think back over the last 24 hours, - what had you taken hard that you could have taken lightly?

...oooh! I'll think about that. :)