Author Archives: Christine Lailani

Minimalist: What It Taught Me In Life

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Will I go back to acquiring more? Personally, not anymore. I guess all it took to made me answer that is the assurance that we all can survive even if we live having only the basic essentials.

How?

Well, to be perfectly honest with you all, my husband and I made it a habit to keep only 4 sets for each kind of dining utensils which consist of a spoon, teaspoon, fork, and steak knife. For the plates, we only have two pieces for each size. I’d like to keep my wardrobe a one-week set only for each occasion if I can. No kidding. 😀

When I had my first job back in 2008, I was a compulsive shopper and I always buy a new outfit every payday. New outfit means a new pair of shoes, new top, and new pants, skirt, or shorts with a matching bag.

Then at one point, my Mom asked me a life-threatening question. lol She asked me, “Is that what you plan on doing for the rest of your life? Collect and collect stuff?” When she asked me that, I also thought that she’s right. It made me ponder about life and what really is our purpose here. What really is it that matters? Are we only working and living to acquire more possessions and that’s just it? We all know that money can’t bring you happiness even if you buy every item you see and you like that’s up for sale.

Less clutter, more joy. Keeping only what you can accommodate and needed.

When my husband and I transferred to our second home back in 2017, our place was so small. You guessed it right, the new place is not going to be the home of my enormous stuff left in our other apartment. I had no other choice but to leave them all behind and bring with us what our new and tiny apartment can only accommodate. See how God teaches how to let go of possessions if He knew it’s your waterloo?

God will provide you all that you need knowing full well how much is how much and how enough is enough.

I guess God pinpointed a particular weakness in me and brought it out in the open. I grew up in a secure home surrounded with everything I needed and wanted. It was even magnified when I started working and earning a lot because I have the freedom and more means to buy anything I wish.

Only to find out later on most especially when I became a born-again Christian that there is a fine line between having what you need and having what you want. So now, acquiring possessions became a personal conviction for me. I let go of stuff yearly and I don’t choose who I will give them to. Let fate run its course, as they say. Whoever gets hold of the item, he or she is the one who’s meant to receive it. A friend of mine encouraged me to do a garage sale and earn from it. Unfortunately, I felt it in my heart that it’s best to give them away for free.

To date, I have about 20 bags, around 15 pairs of shoes, 30 pieces of clothing, and 30 items of accessories (excluding the ones I need and frequently use) for disposal – all worn just once or thrice. By the way, I stopped buying stuff that I don’t need when I got married – the time when my priorities shifted. So this stuff I am going to give away are the remnants of the hoarding stint from 2008 until 2015. I actually gave half of the entire stuff already and just imagine the extent of the clutter that accumulated in just a span of 6 years.

This was the season that God taught me I don’t need that much if I am secure in Him who provides me everything I need. Whether I have less or plenty, God taught me how to be content. The good thing about this, too, is that once you have learned how to let go of the idea that your possessions give you security, sharing becomes easier. You now know that there are other people who might need it more than you do. To me, one bag is for fashion styling purposes only. But to someone, it can be the only bag she’s got.

So this is also how I treated my compulsive shopping tendencies if I really can’t control it – buy things for other people as gifts i.e. birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, etc. 😀 But wait, God is still not yet done with me when it comes to handling my finances. You may find this very ironic but in my job now, I was assigned to research and write articles for our finance sites even if I don’t have any background in finance. How did I end up there? I also have no idea. 😀

Ah yes, God knew removing possessions is not enough. If my spending habits are already deeply-rooted, it means a total change of the heart. Take as an example what happens during a rehabilitation. You have to have constant therapy sessions that will help you overcome withdrawal symptoms to make sure you won’t relapse and go back to your old habits. Since I love to learn, God brought me to a whole lot of articles how to manage finances wisely using my job as the instrument to learn them.

I actually have so many experiences to share that are related to money management and all but I think this article is too long already. I might brush up on it again in my future articles.

If I am to make an assessment now how I fared back in 2008 and 10 years after, I’d say a whole lot has changed. It was a gradual (grueling at some point) but a faith-challenging season in terms of using God-given resources (money and possessions) wisely.

I just find it funny sometimes when I look back and contemplate that in everything when God makes lasting changes on you, it is always a 180-degree turn. From bad girl to good girl, from a hoarder to a minimalist, from greedy to a giver – it’s always the opposite but for the better. 😉

Before I end this article, here are a couple of bible verses to help you align your heart with what matters to God in the same way they have aligned mine:

Matthew 6:19-21 ESV

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

—-

Luke 12:33-34 ESV

Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

—-

Luke 12:15 ESV

And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

—-

1 Timothy 6:17-19 ESV

As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

—-

Matthew 16:26 ESV

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?

—-

1 Timothy 6:10 ESV

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

—-

1 Timothy 6:9 ESV

But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

—-

1 John 3:17 ESV

But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?

—-

Matthew 6:24 ESV

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

—-

Matthew 6:33 ESV

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

—-

1 John 2:16 ESV

For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.

—-

Acts 4:32-35 ESV

Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

—-

Psalm 37:7-9 ESV

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.

—-

1 Timothy 6:7 ESV

For we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.

—-

2 Corinthians 9:7 ESV

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

In what areas financially do you currently struggle with? I’d like to know as well how you overcame them. 🙂

From a minimalist by heart and forever will be,

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P.S.

There are still more bible verses related to money and possessions and you may find them here at this link: https://www.openbible.info/topics/material_possessions.

Dressing The Part

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Galaxy Wooden Dressing Up Station

Image copyright: Early Learning Furniture

I made it a habit to share a testimony every time we are in a different season. I have noticed every year God takes us to different places around the metro and mingle with different people. Through these instances, I have learned how to be grateful in any and every given situation though honestly, I used to have this fear of getting out of my comfort zone. I guess when God calls you out, He will also give you the courage and prepare you for what’s in store for you in every season. 🙂

“I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances.” – Philippians 4:11

The season before this, we got to appreciate how it is to live simply, minimalist style. We both got comfortable with it and had an idea how it felt to live life with God being the primary source of everything – total reliance on Him. You may read more about this in my next article.

So when this new season presented the opposite, I asked my hubby, “Should we dress the part?” 🙂

I meant that in a figurative and literal sense. I can dress the part but is it really what my heart wants?

I remembered this one incident at the mall and I was going through different shades of my ever favorite Wacoal brassiere design. Yep, I invest in it. No explanation needed for this one but basically, I love the support it gives.

So while I was checking out this bra and then another one, I noticed a saleslady hovering around. Because I don’t like that awkward feeling of someone following me around, I tried to engage her in a conversation. I went on by asking the bra size, color, other designs, etc.

The first thing that she did was scrutinized me (quickly) from head to foot with a smirk and questioning look. Ah yes, I know that look well enough of sales clerks. That look which says, “By your looks, you don’t have money to pay for it.” 😀

I’ve read this one article about it (What To Do When People Mistake You For Being Poor When You’re Truly Rich) and I couldn’t help but agree although not much with how the article ended. I won’t waste millions just because my ego was blasted right out front but that’s because I just don’t have millions to waste away. lol But seriously, the id is one of the causes of some of the unwise things humans do, unfortunately. 😀

This article though from Forbes Magazine might give you a different perspective altogether: Why You Should Stop Trying to ‘Fake It Till You Make It.’

Anyway, going back to that brassiere sales clerk, she did entertain my queries but half-heartedly. The best part is when I did tell her I’m going to buy it, she asked again (just to make sure perhaps?) if I will buy it. I just held my tongue from making a crisp retort that goes like, “Of course I am going to buy it because I NEED it.” Yep, with the emphasis on NEED. lol I’ve been buying and wearing Wacoal bras since I was in college (2002) even if they cost 2k each. Being the practical me, you may find this unusual of me. But it’s never about the price nor the brand but the quality I’m after. I have to have all the support I needed. 🙂

But no, I see her as a darling salesclerk who is made in the likeness of God even if she treated me (harassed rather. lol) that way. I just simply said “yes” with a smile but no, I am not killing her in my thoughts. I already “killed” that initial response right away before it can even creep deeper into my heart – how to kill temptation, the temptation to be irritated or angry.

So can you guess what I was wearing that day? Well, your guess may be right – my usual “pambahay” (house clothes) look with matching “madungis” (soiled) slippers. Yep, going to the mall. lol I look no more than a beggar without the stains on the clothes though and with the “artistahin” skin as some would call it.

Just to inform you all, I have that skin not because of glutathione or any whitening products but because I am a homebody and a remote worker so I don’t get much sunlight. Also, my dad is one-fourth Japanese he doesn’t even have hair on his legs. Pretty flawless for a man, eh? 😀

So again I asked, should I be really dressing the part? Must I succumb to man’s stereotyping that when you are rich, you should dress with all the bling bling? Or that when you have a big house, you should only eat good food a la banquet or a feast? Or that when you have money, dress up in tags?

“Don’t judge the book by its cover.”

This is an adage which I have come to know since I was a kid but I cannot assume everyone knows it. If only I can educate people that it is not always the looks that define who you are and where you’ve come from. It’s been a social stigma that’s been ongoing for centuries and sadly, it has now become the norm and the reason why a lot of people are faking it.

So I was thinking of an experiment. I’ll dress up like a house help like I always would and if they stop me at the gate, I’ll just say, “I’m a helper, a different kind of helper.” 😀 On second thoughts though, I really don’t like to embarass these people when they find out who I am. It kind of gets awkward when they are like bowing to you now and greeting you with the “Maam” and all because they found out who you are and it’s their way of apologizing. 😀

One of the things I hate is this – entitlement. You can read more of my sentiments about it here: The Silent Millionaire. As much as I’d like for everyone to be treated fairly and with equality, I know there is no way to bridge that social barrier except through God, Himself.

Should I still dress the part? No, I’ll stick to what I already got used to because that is me and that is who God wants me to be. ❤

Have you ever been in situations where you felt like you should also be dressing the part? I’d like to know your experience too. 🙂

A journeyman by God’s will,

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P.S.

As for my husband, hmmm, he can wear what he likes. But he is even worse than I am. lol He wears shirts even with holes in it, wears them inside out, and doesn’t give a care. Or mismatched socks! Oh my geez whiz. No wonder we matched. Haha 😀

When All We Can Ever Do Is Wait

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Image copyright: Global Medical Co.

I was invited to be a guest speaker for this year’s graduation in my grade school alma mater. Our batch is the host and as a former valedictorian of the school, I felt inclined to say “yes.” Unfortunately, this is also the time when we are scheduled to move out and move in to 3 houses. No kidding. 🙂

My other reason for being hesitant to accept even if it’s considered as a privilege and an honor, I need to reveal all my accomplishments. Nope, don’t get me wrong. It is not that I haven’t accomplished anything. If I can list them all down, I have a long list. But then again, as a born-again Christian, I have learned to never give light on your achievements if they will never shed light on God.

Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the LORD.”

– 1 Corinthians 1:31

I am not sure my alma mater will like it if my speech will be more of a faith-based testimonial pointing everything to God. 😀 Ah yes, I have learned to say “no” to a lot of things at this point including a promotion which are the standards of this world. But I also believe there will come a time wherein God will say “yes” and instruct me where I go, what to choose, and what to do.

“Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.”

– 1 John 2:15‭-‬16

Yes, God also appointed leaders through promotions and yet those leaders He appointed all have greater tasks assigned to them all for God’s glory and not ours. It is all between you and God and all about things happening in His perfect time if you’re tasked to lead. Just keep in your heart that it’s God as the motivation always and nothing else.

Another reason is that my parents requested that all 5 of us, siblings, keep a low profile. In fact, I am the only one in the family who is very active on social media. 😀 So I am sure my Mom will kill me now if she reads everything here. lol Love you, Mom. 😀

Anyway, when it comes to waiting, sometimes it can be grueling. I guess patience and endurance are indeed among the characters God would like us to develop aside from having this attitude to serve. While you wait, you serve God. But for the record, my husband and I can attest to this when it comes to God’s provisions: “God is always on time. Never late but always on time.” Delays are a part of this though and knowing when to act on something.

Right now I am waiting for His instructions because decision-wise, I have so many on my plate right now. Deciding is easier if I am in complete control of everything. Unfortunately, there is God whom we need to consult first and foremost. 🙂

One thing that I am constantly asking God is His wisdom and discernment whether my husband and I will stay in my hometown for good. I can see a lot of reasons now including taking care of my parents (ages 78 and 72) and my 94-year-old grandma. Another reason associated with their old age is that they need a helping hand in managing the farm. Dad manages all the farm work while my 3rd sister helps around at home together with my Mom.

My 4 other siblings, meanwhile, are all here in Manila. My eldest sister is the directress of a SpEd school, her husband is an international law professor in UP Diliman, and they have 2 kids. My second sister is in Norway working as a head nurse in a nursing home and her husband is also working as a head nurse of another department in the same facility. My brother is currently serving in the military as a pilot in the Philippine Naval Air Group and gets deployed every now and then to different places and the same goes with his wife who is a flight attendant team leader in Cebu Pacific. My husband also has supervisory roles at work which leaves the spotlight on me.

My siblings will also kill me, btw, for mentioning all that stuff about them. lol Love you all too, siblings. 😀 But I just need to share it for the sake of making my message go through and never about bragging their credentials. My work’s nature as a brand journalist is remote work meaning I can work anywhere. Though it entails heavy writing, extensive research, and editing tasks as well, I get to arrange my schedule depending on the priorities of my tasks. This is the very reason why I pursued a writing career.

My siblings here have greater responsibilities at work and with their families. But if I am the one who will go home for good, I have to make sure my husband can go with me. When I consulted with my husband, he is all good with it and said that wherever I am, there he will be. 😀 Ah yes, one of the things I thank God for is having a husband who just supports you all the way in everything you do. 😉

But we need to think of an alternative when it comes to hubby’s employment there. In the province, the opportunities are limited. But I know if this is part of God’s will and plans for me and hubby dear and for the rest of the family, I believe He will provide and equip us with everything we need lacking nothing along the way.

But for now, it is all just a matter of waiting and waiting what He wants us to do next while serving Him in other ways. And so we wait. Let the waiting game begins. 😉

In this season of waiting, here are my guiding verses:

Ecclesiastes 13: “A Time for Everything”

“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.

A time to be born and a time to die.

A time to plant and a time to harvest.

A time to kill and a time to heal.

A time to tear down and a time to build up.

A time to cry and a time to laugh.

A time to grieve and a time to dance.

A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.

A time to embrace and a time to turn away.

A time to search and a time to quit searching.

A time to keep and a time to throw away.

A time to tear and a time to mend.

A time to be quiet and a time to speak.

A time to love and a time to hate.

A time for war and a time for peace.

What do people really get for all their hard work?

I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time.

He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.

So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.

And I know that whatever God does is final. Nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God’s purpose is that people should fear him.

What is happening now has happened before, and what will happen in the future has happened before, because God makes the same things happen over and over again.”

– Ecclesiastes 3: 1-15

Always waiting on God,

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P.S.

When I texted Dad a few days back, he told me this and nostalgia hit me:

And when my 3rd sister sent us these photos of them harvesting mangoes, so much of my childhood memories came flooding in:

Ah, yes. If it is God’s will too, I’d like my future kids to experience the same thing I did back when I was a kid. But for now, I guess I’ll just wait what God’s plans are. 😉

How To Handle Criticism The Christian Way

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This article is in response to the latest news regarding a student from a certain university (I’ll be discreet with the names as a respect to the student and the school) who bashed her professor online after receiving negative remarks on her research paper. Though it earned multiple varying responses, I believe there is a purpose why it needed to happen.

Some pointed it out as the professor’s fault. They say it’s a sort of projection wherein you place your insecurities on others and make them take the blame. As critics, there is this danger of falling into the same trap that you, yourself, tried so hard to avoid. You also have to meet the standards you try to implement so you’ll be credible enough to criticize others based on those standards. If you correct someone because of faulty grammar, for example, make sure you’re also grammatically correct all the time.

As this bible verse goes,

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” – Matthew 7:1

This is difficult to follow especially if you’re in a situation where it is part of your job to criticize other people’s work just like a teacher. I believe any position in any profession requires that you give a critical feedback.

I guess this is the part where I will be giving my advice to students in any academe that every teacher’s feedback is not for the purpose of shaming or belittling you but to teach and prepare you to what you will encounter when you graduate from the academe and start living in the real world.

You’ll face a lot of those criticisms every single day of your life when you go out there.

Huffington Post

Image Copyright: Huffington Post

Here’s one way to deal with criticism in light of outputs and deliverables. Put yourself in your critic’s shoes first, understand where the person is coming from, and don’t take the comments personally.

Instead, review your work and ask yourself these questions:

1. What did I do wrong?

2. How can I do what my professor/boss asked me to do?

3. How can I improve my output so it’ll meet the standards of the teacher/school or boss/company?

Always think of criticism as a way to make yourself better, not just academically or professionally, but holistically.

For the latter, this is the question to ask yourself: how did I respond in those moments?

This is where I will come in as a Christian and why I wrote this article: Sentimental: Who Am I? back in 2016.

Think of it this way. Let’s say we have this rat experiment and we’re going to study how it behaves given a stimulus. The stimulus is a piece of cheese. If we put poison on the cheese, most likely the rat can’t discern it. Instead of avoiding it, he will react otherwise. He’ll eat it because vermins lack what humans have – the ability to rationally think and discern. So if the rat eats the poisoned cheese, most likely he’ll die – because he lacks discernment. This is the consequence.

If we are to apply it to humans and let’s assume criticism is the stimulus, how do you think a human should react? When you react to criticism negatively, it’s literally poison to your body. How? Being angry, distraught, depressed and all release so much cortisol (stress hormone) in your body which can actually kill you in the long run. The only way to avoid that poison is to use discernment. How? By discerning how you will react to the stimulus – criticism. You cannot avoid criticism, that’s a given. But you can avoid feeling negatively when you receive them.

Well, you might say, “Tin, that is so hard and impossible to do.” Yes, it takes a lot of discipline to change your perspective on criticism but you have to do it. How can you start?

First, you have to be very receptive and always carry that teachable heart. I used to have this very stubborn and adamant attitude which can be traced back to my having an ODD (oppositional defiant disorder) and God changed that in a pretty painful way wherein I still suffer the consequences of it now. But it’s also one critical moment that made me to who I am now. I’ll share more of this in my next article.

In my work now, I receive a lot of critical feedback having 4 to 5 people who edit my output to the point that I even got to hear our CEO’s feedback (jitters! lol). How did I receive it? I consider it a privilege to receive a feedback from our CEO regardless if her feedback re my work is all negative or on red marks or she’d reject my entire output altogether as junk.

I may not know her personally, but I look up to her (I admire girl bosses) because I know she won’t be a CEO if she isn’t qualified and if she doesn’t have all the experience in the industry. God placed her there for a good reason and I actually would love to know what she has to say and what I can learn from her regardless of her background, age, etc.

Next, when receiving criticism or any kind of feedback, have an open mind. Don’t let your emotions intervene right away. If you’re in the middle of work when you got that feedback and you know what you’re going to read isn’t good, take a break first. Get a breather for like a minute or two, get water or coffee, go to the comfort room, wash your hands, do something else to clear your head, then come back and read the feedback.

If you’re going to read it and you know you’re not emotionally prepared i.e. you’re tense, you’re in a hurry, you’re in the middle of a task, most likely you will respond negatively. Why? Because you’re not in the right state to process your emotions while reading. When you don’t process your emotions right, always, you’ll mishandle the situation.

For the students, before letting any negative thought about your teacher and the feedback fill your mind, re-read your work and the feedback multiple times. Don’t react right away like how can she say this, how can she do this to me, this is too harsh for me, etc.

Honestly, when the same incident happened to me back in college along with all the red ballpen marks on my research paper, I felt like my whole life was shattered. I felt miserable. I vented it all out to my Mom and she comforted me by giving me other options to choose from. I wasn’t a Christian yet back then but I believe I was silently praying for God’s help from a distant heart. 😀

But no, those criticisms are not the end of your dreams or your life. It will break you but you have to be firm. You need it for more of those disappointments and failures you’ll encounter later on in life. Resiliency is the key. Nobody is perfect and everyone goes through that. You’re not the only one and you’re not among the selected few who gets to experience it. Nobody is exempted.

Take it as a CHALLENGE. Prove to your critics you can be better, you can improve, and you can meet those standards. But even after trying you still failed, then look for other options just like what we did back in college. Maybe God doesn’t want you to be there and He has other better plans for you. Now, in this case, it is all between you and God already. You need to ask Him what He wants you to do.

In my case, my previous research adviser came from a different department and they have a different approach when writing their dissertations. The way we did it obviously did not meet not just her standards, but the criteria set by the department as a whole.

We presented our dilemma with our department chair at that time because there’s no way we can pass the course since it’s not from our concentration. It’s as if we’re trying to learn everything from scratch. It’s a good thing she gave us an option which was our window of opportunity and yes, our hope to graduate and have that bachelor’s degree. That option though required we have to wait another year before we can work on our thesis because the thesis adviser from our concentration is on sabbatical leave.

In our university, you can only extend 2 years (undergraduate programs) to finish all your academic requirements. We already used up 2nd sem of our 4th year for that thesis course and got a conditional grade which means we have to retake the subject. Waiting for a year means letting two semesters pass by (5th year, 1st semester and 5th year, 2nd semester).

Again, we were only given 2 years as an extension under the MRR (maximum residency rule). This left me with one very critical situation, the last year (6th year) is my make or break moment. I only have a year to complete my thesis otherwise the college/university has no other choice but to kick us out, be college dropouts or transfer schools.

That very last sem was a very trying but life-changing moment. An office staff from the college secretary’s office sat down with me, discussed my predicament, and laid out the college’s terms and if I am in agreement with it.

I can only thank God for giving me the right adviser this time, the right resources for my research topic, and the courage to fight it all out no matter how difficult it is. It’s like you dread every day that passes by because it means your lifeline in the university is also decreasing and your chances of being kicked out are getting higher.

God loves you and He is always with you.

Yes, I have proven this from that crucial moment of my life as an undergraduate student because all the rest of us who were in that difficult ordeal made it through and got our diplomas. ❤

If I did have hangups over this before, I no longer have them now. I already let this all out when I had my water and Holy Spirit baptism back in 2013 when I got saved and became a born-again Christian. It’s enough to change my perspective on everything in my past, let go of the guilt, and forgive everyone including myself. I know you can do it too. 🙂

If you’re going through a similar situation like what I went through, I hope these verses will encourage you and help you understand how it is to obey God and trust Him with humility in everything:

“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God.” – Romans 13:1

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” – Philippians 2:3

If you’re also a critic, then these verses might also help you deal with a situation like this:

“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head.” – Ephesians 4:15

“Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.” – Ephesians 4:29

Always remember that we can never change or prevent the awful circumstances that will come along nor choose the persons we will meet. But we were given the freedom to choose how we will respond in those circumstances.

Did you go through the same ordeal? How did you manage all the criticisms you received? I’d love to hear your thoughts and stories how you overcame them.

With much love and always fighting for faith,

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P.S.

Here’s a screenshot of our CEO’s response just in case you’re wondering how it went:

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I can only thank God for the grace in helping me come up with an output that more or less meets my boss’ standards. I am actually doing it for God because this is my key verse when doing something as an act of service:

“Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.” – Matthew 7:12

The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ – Matthew 25:40

But whether I get a negative or a positive feedback, I’d still be grateful. Why? I already went through the same ordeal back in college and I came out alive. All future circumstances similar to that one will no longer break me, I know how to deal with it better this time. Yes, I owe it all to that college experience for giving me this resilient and humble attitude. And of course, faith. Also, we all need a rebuke every now and then. The bible has this to say when it comes to that,

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, or lose heart when He rebukes you. For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises everyone He receives as a son.”

Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?… – Hebrews 12:5-7

9 Things You Need To Know If You Want To Be A Writer

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Ever since I was a kid, I always try to search for ways how to be a writer. Yes, my favorite subject in class is English and my favorite part of that subject is the after-vacation essay. I always feel giddy when I share through writing how my vacation went. I also loved to join writing contests not to win the prize but to let my stories out. If you’re like me who wanted to pursue writing as a career, here are 9 tips you can consider and follow that dream of yours as a writer.

How to be a Writer: 9 Tips to Think About

1. If you want to be a writer, commute via public transportation every day.

The stories are out on the streets from the woman you helped get inside the crowded train to the guard who greeted you exuberantly with, “Good morning, Ms. Beautiful!” 😀

A whole lot more can happen in a day and every single moment can spark a thought or an idea that may be or may not be related to it. The comforts of your car can’t give you those experiences. Aside from that, you’re too focused on the road while driving you won’t have time to notice everything around you.

2. If you want to be a writer, mingle with people from all walks of life and not only the social circle you grew up with or you happen to spend most of your time with.

Talk to that vendor at the market where you always buy your fresh eggs or the barista at your favorite coffee shop. Your conversation need not take an hour, a few chit chats are enough.

You’ll realize how rich and colorful their stories are. Each story is special. If you can imagine them in your head, they’re like vivid images with so many details and colors of different tones, hues, and gradations.

3. If you want to be a writer, you don’t have to take expensive writing courses so you’ll come up with the most interesting pieces.

The old adage in our Literature classes back in college is a pearl of golden wisdom to uphold, “you write not to impress, but to express.” If you’re also born to be a writer, a “writer’s block” is never a problem and it can’t stop you from coming up with an exquisite write up. Why? Everything around you has a story to tell.

4. If you want to be a writer, always write from your heart.

Always remember that you never have to copy any other writer’s style. Find your niche and when you do find it, embrace it. Only then can you make masterpieces that are genuine, sincere, and reflective of who you are. Every writer is special in the same way that your individuality makes you unique from everyone else.

You can also be versatile by exploring different genres. But at the end of the day, always go back to your niche. I encourage you to write in the language that you’re most comfortable with. If you’re comfortable writing in the vernacular, do so. If it is the lingua franca, use it.

5. If you want to be a writer, always have a thirst for learning.

It is your knowledge bank that makes a writer a writer. Without knowledge, you’ll have nothing to write about. Knowledge need not be highfalutin. It can be as mundane as a cat lying languidly in your balcony basking its furry coat under the sun’s prickly heat. Then “boom,” you now have an article entitled, “When Cats Bathe Under The Sun.” 😉 You gain knowledge from anyone, anywhere, and anything. Knowledge is never limited to books alone.

6. If you want to be a writer, you need to be a wide reader.

My Mom never failed to encourage me to be one when I was a kid. Thus, we were surrounded by books while growing up. She is right. Reading is one avenue for you to gain knowledge. Reading also improves your vocabulary. Having a substantial vocabulary also makes it easier for you to process and express your thoughts and ideas. How? Words just flow freely. You always have the right words for every thought.

7. If you want to be a writer, you need to be observant.

Writers are keen on details. Details can make up or break up your story. If you presented them wrongly, you’ll come up with one sloppy article – not worth reading. Nope, I’m not referring to details in a technical way, but details you see around you. What you see is what your brain will process. What your brain will process is what will come out in your writing.

8. If you want to be a writer, keep on writing.

Never lose your focus. If there is any tinge of truth in the saying, “practice makes perfect,” I tell you, there is. Not just a tinge but a myriad of it.

But never plagiarize just for the sake of having something to write about. A copied thought is still plagiarism. But you can somehow make it your own by infusing it with your interests, past experiences you can associate it with, and your own interpretation of the thought.

9. Lastly, if you’re called to be a writer, trust your God-given ability.

He has a purpose why He showered you with that gift. As a writer, you leave an imprint, a legacy that will not just impact your generation but the next generations who will be reading your articles for as long as dear WordPress is alive and kicking. 😀

Writers don’t just leave a legacy, they’re also the greatest editors of themselves. They subject themselves to consistent improvements and rechecks their articles every day until it is polished free of errors. But no, you can’t always make your writing perfect the first time around.

At the end of the day, keep in mind that if you want to be a writer, always think you are writing for an audience of One and always bring God all the glory. Trust Him, He will never fail you. 🙂

From a Christian writer with all the love she can give,

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P.S. (A very long one.) 😀

I very much would love to publish a book, be a published author, and I know I won’t have a hard time achieving that by God’s grace and if it is His will. But my convictions told me that it will defeat my purpose why I am writing if I will publish the book for the sake of making a profit or earning money. If I will make a book out of my faith-based testimonials or anything about God, I will give the book to all my readers for free – the same way that the Bible is free. In the first place, it’s the Bible where I got all the wisdom from the experiences I went through and the reason why I’m writing.

God’s Word is never meant to be exclusive only to those who can purchase your book – it’s meant to be free for all. Always remember to never let money be your sole motivation in using your God-given ability to write. It has to be God and only Him that should be your motivation why you’re writing. Also, God will provide you other ways to finance your writing but never use your writing about God to earn money. If we plan to put God on the pedestal, place Him there without anything latched on to Him – self-glory, money, pride, popularity, etc.

“You shall have no other gods before me.” – Exodus 20:3

If you also want to be a Christian writer, don’t deprive your readers the chance to know God more due to financial constraints. Give them wisdom for free as a way of serving them, as a way of loving others so much you want to give them a source of hope through your writing, as a way of sharing the Word, and as your gift back to God who let you experience salvation for FREE.

“God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.” – Ephesians 2:8

This is why I have never monetized this faith-based blog even if there were offers to monetize it. All of my ideas and testimonies are free for all to read and share and it will remain that way for as long as I can write. I refuse to even make this a private domain and pay a monthly fee even if I can because I don’t want money to have anything to do with my faith except for tithes.

I may write a book but I’ll give it for free. It is not the price of your book that matters but what’s in it – the story you want to tell. Your story is meant to be shared with everyone. Just like the Bible, there is no limit to where its wisdom can go. It’s the same with your book. Write a story, share it, then leave a legacy worth following through your articles and your readers when they also pass the wisdom to others. 🙂

Are you an aspiring writer? Are you still in a daze how to become a writer? Or have you been writing for years already? Let me know in the comment box below how you’re pursuing your love for writing. I’d pretty much love to hear your story too. ❤

The Silent Millionaire

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This article was inspired by a recent convo. It made me wonder about that “big” word – millionaire.

Before I start with this article though, I will be describing people not because I am judging them. First, I am no saint, I have my own flaws. Second, only God does all the judging and has every right to do so. Lastly, it is only for the purpose of driving towards my point and let the message across. No offense intended here, folks. *peace* ☺

Upon observation, there are two types of millionaires – the silent type and the loud type. The loud types are those who are very obvious when it comes to their riches for the world to see. There are those, however, whom people never knew as rich and some are heirs and heiresses by birthright because they were silent all the time living very low profiles.

The loud types have all the flashy wealth anyone could think of from high-karat bling blings, designer clothes, cool cars, huge houses, and all the “riches” this world offers.

The silent types, on the one hand, are the millionaires who are dressed simply, mingled with the commoners, refused to be addressed with the title he/she deserves, and live a simple life.

For the latter, I remembered this one incident wherein I encountered a man dressed in simple casual clothes without the “tags” while going inside a 30+-storey building. He greeted everyone courteously and offered to give way to other passengers going inside the elevator. Then after we went out, I overheard someone saying, “Didn’t you know that that’s the CEO and owner of this building?”

I didn’t hear what the reply of the person’s companion was because I was heavily processing the information with unbelief. A lot of questions went through my head like why would he dress that way, how can he become a CEO and still act like a regular employee, etc.

Another similar incident happened at a resort. While touring around the place, we asked for directions from a man dressed in working clothes – all shabby and soiled. We found out later on (much to our surprise) that he is the owner of the resort. 😃

Ah yes, never judge a book by its cover, eh?

I’m just amazed how these silent millionaires prefer to be identified and be associated with having a low profile in society when their bank accounts and assets speak the opposite. They have every right to claim power, entitlement, and authority because they are rich according to this world’s standards. But they did not conform to the standards of this world.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–His good, pleasing and perfect will.” – Romans 12:2

This reminded me of the life of Jesus here in this world. He is a silent millionaire too. The richest, if I may add. He’s the son of God and the son of Man but He never lived a life of comfort, splendor, and extravagance just like a King. It was actually the opposite – He lived life in SIMPLICITY, HUMILITY, and SERVITUDE.

Imagine a God serving mankind. I mean, you’ll never even see it in Greek mythology. All gods and goddesses are regarded in society with such high bearing.

If there is one thing that wealth, riches, and self-glory bring and if our souls are left unchecked, it is pride. Pride leads to arrogance and arrogance leads to greed, discontentment, and so on. It glorifies no one except the world, its standards, and its riches.

Then He said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.” – Luke 12:15

“Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.” – Luke 12-21

With humility, we acknowledge there is someone supreme who is richer, someone who provides everything we need, someone who is more knowledgeable, more powerful, and someone who deserves all the glory. With humility, it always prompts us to ask this question – what are the things that matter to God?

We are supposed to please no one with our lives except God and this includes our lifestyle. I’m sure your question then is this, “So Tin, are you asking that all of us should live like beggars?”

No, not really. It’s always between you and God and your own conviction how you live your life. It requires asking God if what you do pleases Him or not. The Spirit knows what is sinful in your nature and He will expose it.

If God thinks your weakness involves money and material possessions and you easily get carried away by its sinful nature, then certainly He will ask you to let go of your possessions.

If it is pride from achievements and God knows it will lead you to become self-sufficient and self-glorifying, He certainly will rebuke you in that area too.

On a personal note, I hated the feeling of standing out because I have “more” in terms of the riches of this world. I hate entitlement and biases. Back when I was in high school, my Dad drops me off at school with his company car. I studied in a public school and it isn’t common for public school students to be dropped off or fetched by a car going to school or going home.

So what I did, I asked my Dad to drop me off at the main road and then I’d walk about 1 km going to school instead. Pretty absurd, right? lol My Dad couldn’t get my logic behind that but as a loving Dad that he always is, he always gives in. 😉

Even now, I still have this guilty feeling when I eat in a fancy restaurant or when I dress up too much only to see a beggar on the street dressed in shabby clothes talking to himself, or an old woman who pees on her ragged clothes and sleeps on the side streets, or that kid rummaging the garbage can and someone treated him a meal at Ministop.

It’s that aching guilt that what I can only offer to them at that point were prayers. I felt that they deserve more than my prayers or a meal. I was saved by grace, I know they will be saved too by His grace. Though this world may be unfair to them, God is never unjust and I can only continue praying that they will live the life that they deserve. I am confident they will have that kind of life in eternity. But how do I share the Word with a stranger without being rejected? Yes, that is what I always ask every time I felt this need to talk about faith with those who aren’t saved yet.

There is no perfect answer how we should all live. But as far as I know, the Bible is clear in stating we should all be Christ-like in every manner. No, we can never be like Him when it comes to supremacy because He is the one and only TRUE GOD. But as followers of Christ, He gave us the Bible as a guide how to live pure and uncorrupted lives.

“So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you. In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord.” – 1 Thessalonians 1:6

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” – James 1:27

I guess what we can only ask ourselves is not a matter of whether we live like a beggar or live like a loud or silent millionaire but a question whether we’re going to allow the world to corrupt us or not?

My answer is a solid “NO.” And yes, “no” to excuses too. Let us never validate our actions even if they are wrong because what is sinful to God will always be sinful to God.

They say Christianity is a lifestyle. With that in mind, I constantly ask myself: are we really living it out? Or are we too consumed by this world we already forgot who we’re supposed to be living for?

“Live in freedom, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.” – 1 Peter 2:16

“Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.” – 1 Timothy 6:6‭-‬8

P.S.

This is a 1am thought, by the way, written a few weeks ago. It’s an unlikely hour but I always have this urge to write and browse through random bible readings from 12am until 3am. The thoughts just all come as fluid as they can be making me finish an entire article in just 15minutes compared when I write them during the daytime.

It’s the “bewitching hour,” some say. Or maybe the Spirit always come during these unlikely hours? Or maybe God whispered a la the story of Samuel? 😀

Ah, I am assuming and I can never tell but the verse below just popped into my head so I searched for the exact bible chapter and verse over Google. Are you also ready? 😉

“He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn. But whenever He comes, He will reward the servants who are ready.” – Luke 12:38

Mobile Game Apps Review: Ocean Is Home And Legacy

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Disclaimer: Being a mobile gamer requires INTENSIVE DISCIPLINE – strictly during FREE time only and once all tasks are done. 😀

Hi there, Friday readers! 🙂

I already made an article draft a few days back to be posted supposedly today. But I thought I’ll just post it next Friday. Meanwhile, I am feeling giddy today to share the new updates on the mobile game apps I am currently hooked on aside from my usual hobbies. Thus, the birth of this article.

Thank God too I finished early today with work and with our meeting. I intentionally woke up around 7:45am which is too unusual for a nocturnal being like me. I also usually sleep at around 2am then wake up at 9 or 10am. But then again, I have to finish my tasks early so I can write this a.k.a. discipline. 😉

Nope, just to set the record straight, I am no online game addict. In fact, I used to detest it. Why? I had this pretty awful experience back in college wherein I totally got addicted to StarCraft. One semestral break, my older sisters allowed me to play it with no time limits – classes are over. Can you guess what happened? I played all day long until night time and woke up too early the next day which went on for several days. You know what happened next? I experienced blacking out literally while going to my sister’s bedroom. Yep, lack of sleep. 😀

It’s the worst feeling to not see anything at all but you can still feel your limbs, you can move around, and I was still walking! Yes, just like a zombie. When my 3rd sister saw me, she probably wondered why I was walking aimlessly and she asked me if I’m okay. I told her that I’m okay but I remembered stopping for a moment (because I can’t see anything), then I leaned on the wall with my back against it. That was before I slumped to the floor. lol

Ah yes, the first and only experience I’ve had so far of blacking out. When I told my sisters a few hours later what really happened, they agreed to only one solution – have a time off from playing it. Nope, they didn’t ban me from playing it – just exercise discipline. 🙂

Alright, so much for my disclaimer it already filled up half of my article. lol 😀

Ocean Is Home and Legacy Review

So on with my review for Ocean Is Home and Legacy. My review will be divided into two parts, what I liked about the game and what I don’t like about it. I’ll start with Ocean Is Home since it’s the first mobile game I played after the “blackout” incident – 16 years after. 😀

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1. Ocean Is Home: Survival Island

I already gave a brief description of this game in one of my previous articles. I also shared some screenshots of it on my Instagram account. But this one will be a detailed review.

What I like about the game….

  • you can now have your own pet, a Rottweiler, when you build the doghouse (the dog comes along with it)
  • the dog has two tasks: follow you around or walk around
  • there is a new, bigger island (I spent around 2-3 hrs trying to discover what’s in it)
  • there are now zombies and monsters (the old version only has Steve as your enemy)
  • they now have a boat which you can use to travel to the other island
  • absolutely digging the graphics, the ocean almost looked real!
  • the loot packages are just the right amount
  • the new update fixed the controls of the boat for easy maneuvering
  • more guns! (they now have the Dragunov which is perfect for shooting the zombies from a tower)
  • more options for building materials (loved their CAD concept of it)
  • the bunkers aren’t open yet but I take it this is how they keep your excitement going

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What I don’t like….

Well, not really “not like” but sort of a bit challenging to the point that some tasks are impossible to achieve. I love challenges though because we all learn from it one way or the other. Or let’s just say I haven’t discovered the proper technique to get my way around it yet. Here they are:

  • killing a deer, boar, and bear is so difficult it requires a lot of ammo and I still wasn’t able to kill one. lol (poor me, I need those animal skins to try the tanning rack and make my leather clothes)
  • the set of coins now cost more compared to the previous version (pretty understandable, this is how they earn to make the game better)
  • if you use the vehicle, you need to stack up on car parts which you can create if you have enormous supplies of rubber, plastic, etc. (you can buy them or build one but it will take you a long time)
  • new update releases take quite some time (they add a lot of new features that’s why it takes them that long, so all the long wait is still worth it)

All in all, I gave it 5 stars in Google Play. If you love to build and design, you love working on your own, you love to discover new things, you love to strategize and improvise, or just all in for an adventure, and very patient, this game is the perfect one for you. 😉

You may download the mobile game app here: Google Play Store & Apple Store

2. Legacy of Discord: Furious Wings

This is the newest mobile game I am currently interested in. Well, I sort of got intrigued how hubby (a true-blue RPGamer) does it with Lineage. 😀 We found out both Legacy and Lineage have the same game controls, concept, and even similar characters.

This is the first role-playing game I played and since I enjoy working alone, I was pretty much comfortable without a guild. But lo and behold, hubby was intrigued too so he joined in. He noticed I easily leveled up in my BR (Battle Rating) because I maximize the use of single player arenas. lol He urged me to put up a guild and be the leader. When he told me that, of course, you know my answer – NO. lol

How can I lead a team when I never even played an RPG game before in my entire human life?! hahaha 😀 Well, I made a deal with him instead. We will put up a guild on one condition – he will be the leader. We will just use my BR to acquire more points during guild wars but he will lead all the guild members to battle.

Every time we enter an event I always follow my husband where he goes. But at one point I totally got separated and I was like, “Where did everybody go?!” When I looked at my husband, he’s so laughing out loud and teased me, “Hon, didn’t you see the map? You always have to look at that so you’ll know where all of us are going.” My answer was this, “Insert gameface on.” lol

Anyway, enough with the “mushy talk” and let’s get on with the review, shall we? 😉

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What I like about the game…

  • like any RPG, leveling up is pretty fast (everything happens too fast also, this requires multi-processing in your brain. lol)
  • there are so many ways for you to regain your stamina/energy without leaving the game at all (I call it the “side games”)
  • it’s interactive in a way that sometimes you have no choice but to invite someone to join you in a multiplayer scene if none of your guild members are online (especially if you are targeting awesome prizes)
  • the design of the character’s wings are absolutely enigmatic
  • you easily acquire diamonds which you can use to revamp your character’s costume
  • you can change your character’s name and your country (you have to wait a couple more days to change your country if you have previously selected one)
  • the controls are easy and you have two modes of fighting, manual or auto fight (for someone who’s a chicken like me, the auto fight mode is perfect)

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What I don’t like….

  • there’s no filter for “trash” talk in the World chat (though you can minimize it, you’ll still see a line or 2)
  • methinks some of the women characters are over-personified physically
  • some pet characters look pretty “hell-ish” I don’t use them even if they will bring me a high BR (this is just my personal preference but let’s just assume they are enemies to extinguish 🙂 )
  • the tasks can be pretty overwhelming if you’re a newbie player
  • if you have a high sensitivity to light, you might need to lower down the brightness level of your screen as the light flashes during battles can be too bright

Even if I am new to this game, I’d still give it 4 stars. If you are more of an instant-gratification-kinda-gamer, this game will satisfy you since acquiring gems and gaining experience happen real quick. It’s also action-packed and if you love the effect of aurora borealis, the character’s wings have the same kind of effect. It’s actually one of the highlights of my gaming experience with Legacy. 🙂

You may download the mobile game app here: Google Play Store & Apple Store

So that’s my review of the two mobile game apps. Don’t get me wrong though, this is not the only way for me to spend my idle time. I also play the guitar or do artworks if I need some time off on any screen. 😉

How about you? What are your favorite mobile game apps before and now?

For more on hobbies, arts, and crafts, you can check out this article: Asian Ancestry.

Lukewarm: A Letter To The Laodiceans

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Hello, Friday readers! 😉

I am writing this on a Saturday and will post it Friday of the following week. I just write thoughts as they come in even if I am in the middle of a task. Right now, I am in the middle of my lunch eating leftover “isaw,” pork bbq, and “pinakbet” from our last night’s dinner. 😀

That’s how I write articles. They all came from a random thought, a random word, a random verse, or even a random scene. It’s always a spur-of-the-moment thing for me. 😉

For this article, I was bothered by something which I can’t explain (yet again) what it is. It’s possible it came from an observation or something I recently experienced. I can’t pinpoint what it is but somehow, after prayer time and devo, here came the thought – LUKEWARM.

So I typed in “lukewarm bible verse” in our ever beloved search assistant Google and so my research began. Here are a couple of things I found out what the biblical context of “lukewarm” means:

  • It was mentioned in the book of Revelation.
  • It was addressed to a particular church.
  • It has something to do with the status of your faith and your spiritual journey as a whole.

When God Spoke to the Laodiceans

1. It was mentioned in the book of Revelation.

You may find it in Revelation 3:14-21. Parallel verses can also be found in Colossians 2. John’s vision for this church came as a judgment with the call to repent.

“The letter to the church at Laodicea is the harshest of the seven letters to the churches in Asia Minor. By His indictment of their “deeds” (Revelation 3:15), Jesus makes it clear that this is a dead church. The members of this church see themselves as “rich” and self-sufficient, but the Lord sees them as “wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked” (verse 17). Their lukewarm faith was hypocritical; their church was full of unconverted, pretend Christians.”

– https://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-lukewarm-faith.html

2. It was addressed to a particular church.

This particular church is the Laodicean church, one of the Seven Churches of Asia or Seven Churches of the Apocalypse. Today, it is part of Greek and in the Bible, it is described as a city with great finance and banking. Wikipedia also described it with this statement:

“In 60 A.D the city was hit by a major earthquake. The city refused help of the Roman empire and rebuilt the city itself.”

– https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laodicean_Church

With all seriousness aside, this made me look up the fault line here in the Philippines via this site: https://philnews.ph/2017/03/31/phivolcs-launch-map-valley-fault-system-guide-users-ensuring-safety/. I don’t know how relevant is this to this part but I just felt I had to post it. 😀

“Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.” – James 1:27

“It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning.” – 1 Corinthians 5:12

3. It has something to do with the status of your faith and your spiritual journey as a whole.

Now for this part, what I have are questions. It is true that church founders and pioneers have all the fire and fervor (hot) when it comes to the faith which ignited church-building just like my great-grandfather. In the case of my great-grandfather and grandfather, it was during World War II – a time of great social instability, political upheaval, and economic downturn. People were hopeless during these times. As I mentioned in my previous article, where there are despair and hopelessness, people will look for a Savior who can help them out of their desolate situations. Thus, the rebirth of churches.

How about the generations that came after them who already grew up in the comforts of the church and everything else is doing well in the country for the most part? Are they more prone to fall lukewarm in their faith? If yes, what can the church do to ignite them since we all know genuine salvation is a personal walk and relationship with God? How do these younger generations experience true and genuine salvation – a need for a Savior?

While re-reading this article, I felt like my late maternal grandpa is speaking through me. 😀 Ah yes, if only I can relive the days when he shares the Word of God, I really think he’ll be perfect in apologetics. The only difference he and I have is that he declares them verbally whilst mine, through writing. 😉

Honestly, when everything becomes smooth in my life now, I sometimes come to a point that I ask God to challenge me. I always tell Him that I don’t want to be “cold” nor “lukewarm” in my faith. Thus, if He will test me like what He did to Job, I am all for it. Why? I know that it will bring fire to my faith. I don’t want to be a coal whose flames are extinguished because of neutrality just because I am living a life of prosperity and comfort – lack of problems.

“Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.…” – Romans 5:3-4

“By your patient endurance, you will gain your souls.” – Luke 21:19

“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.” – James: 1-12

Have you watched the movie “God’s Not Dead?” If not yet, pretty please do watch it – it’s an awesome movie. If you watched it already, can you still remember the role of Dean Cain (Mark Shelley)? He plays this rich corporate employee who is so full of himself, self-sufficient, and basically consumed by this world.

While watching his character, the story of “The Rich Man and Lazarus” (Luke 16: 19-31) came into my head:

There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.

So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’

But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’

He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.

Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’

‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.

He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’

Now, we already have Jesus as our bridge from condemnation towards eternity. I do not wish for my soul to lament in torment and anguish because I became lukewarm. Nor I wish for my family to experience the same thing. If I can ask God to send the Spirit to rebuke us even every day, then I will definitely ask Him that – every day. 🙂

Do you have prayers for your loved ones to never fall into the trap of becoming “lukewarm”? You may share them as comments below. ❤

Read more: The Judgment at Christ’s Coming

Serious Talks: Insurgencies and Helping Hands

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As you all know I barely touch on political and social issues here on my blog. This is also the reason why the articles before this are pretty “light.” I intended to organize them in this manner because today’s article is heavy reading. Definitely not heavy reading similar to academic or scholastic reading but let’s just say most points are all serious talks. 🙂

Another reason why I also skip covering these topics is that they are highly debatable. I love to hear varying and opposing views because you get to see both sides of the coin. However, when it becomes a heated discussion that leads to an argument, there is a tendency for the discussion to go off-topic. This is with the exception of debate teams, of course. They were trained how to keep their arguments well within the premises of the discussion and topic on hand.

On the contrary, when I share about faith, my appeal is usually reflective and personal. Yes, no one can question your experiences or what you have learned from your experiences. It is your story, you own it, nobody can nullify your “arguments.” Unless, of course, if it is a rebuke by the Spirit in cases where your testimony contains any of these – arrogance, pride, selfishness, self-entitlement, etc. and never in a way brings glory to God but glory to self.

Sometimes the Spirit’s leading brings me to topics that I would like to swerve away from but found myself writing about it just like now. So before I wrote this post, I asked God’s leading that I may choose the right words (never to condemn anyone) to let the message across. By the way, as of writing, it is Sunday but I will post it Friday. The tugging already came in now. 😉

Yet another reason why I don’t post heavy political writings is that I graduated from a university stereotyped as the university where most student activists were born and made – the University of the Philippines (Diliman). I cannot junk this statement either as truth or fallacy. It is partly true and it is partly false. I love my alma mater. I owe so much from this academe though it brought me bittersweet experiences. On a broader perspective, it made me to who I am now – just like faith.

Now for this one, a current issue about UP students becoming activists and doing nothing but to rally on the streets instead of focusing on their studies became the limelight of Facebook newsfeed as of the late. I read extremely derogatory accusations targeted towards the entire community of UP. I wanted to defend my alma mater. But I chose to keep mum about it on social media.

Why, Tin?

I know there are so many things that are beyond our control much more the human reactions and the human thoughts. I can never force people to understand where I came from and why my sentiments are such in those matters. Even if, let’s say, my sentiments have so much more bearing because I have first-hand experiences about growing up and living in the UP community as an “Iskolar ng Bayan.”

Iskolar ng Bayan – that is the second name UP students go by. Translated into English, we are scholars wherein our education is funded by the state. We were the high school students all over the Philippines who qualified by passing a mind-boggling entrance exam in layman’s terms. 😉 Our education is not free. But we pay low tuition fees for a good quality of education. Yes, UP is considered as one of the premier state universities in the country.

Not all of us are activists who rally on the streets. But all of us are ACTIVISTS BY HEART. The indoctrination of the university to serve the country as a way of giving back to the privilege of having scholarships granted to us lies embedded deep within us. It taught us resilience, to fight for what is right, to defend those who can’t, and to help those in need.

If there is one factor that I appreciate being an alumna of this university, it is the fact that I first became aware of the social and political issues when I was a college student back in 2002. The social experience and acculturation of the UP spirit are more defined and rooted among the undergraduates than on those who studied in the campus for their graduate studies. I guess this is self-explanatory? But I’ll explain it anyhow. 😀

Graduate students commonly meet once a week only and are not required to be involved with the university’s non-academic student functions and affairs. The only exception is when it is the grad student’s personal interest to immerse in those activities voluntarily. It is more likely too that grad students are preoccupied with a day job. Whereas if you’re an undergrad student, the peer pressure is greater. When your college friends started joining organizations, attending UP concerts, hanging out in dorms, etc., you are more or less forced to join the crowd.

This is the UP culture itself. It urged me to look beyond the social dogma and to learn how to work hand in hand with fellow students from all walks of life may it be the son of a senator or the daughter of a farmer. I became aware what the society is lacking, what the government is trying to do, and how the entire citizens are faring. And what can you, as students and in your own little way, give back to help?

We are not all activists who rally on the streets. BUT we are all aiming to become CATALYSTS OF SOCIAL CHANGE. Now, these two are completely different. An activist opposes a particular system, rule, or law and DEMANDS CHANGE. But catalysts of social change are those who, in their little power, INITIATE CHANGE and make the world a better place. Yes, not just my country. But it is very well a good advocacy to help those around you first, right? This is where the community comes in.

Rallies are the same as insurgencies. It is always an upheaval against the current way of governance regardless of who is the appointed leader. When we decided to utilize a property whether it is for commercial purposes or not, we are faced with one particular challenge – dealing with insurgencies and revolutionary taxes.

When I was a kid, I am already aware what “revolutionary taxes” are for. My dad, as a farmer and an engineer, gives these so-called “revolutionary taxes” along with other farmers and business owners in our town. They are an amount of money provided to the CPP-NPA or the Communist Party of the Philippines- New People’s Army.

They are very active in the provinces. Sometimes we hear news of people being shot point blank in public and rumors going around that the person was killed because that person committed an offense to someone. Then that someone sought justice and help from the NPA.

We do not condone such practices but sadly, it has already become the norm. When I asked Dad back when I was a child why we have to give, he just said it is mandatory. If you can’t pay the revolutionary taxes, they usually resort to destroying your establishments or property if you are a business owner. I asked Dad who these people are. He said that they are the ones who protect the people. If I interpreted it right, the people’s hope and savior.

When I was a little girl, I have always loved the idea of your “Knight in Shining Armor.” Ah yes, who among the ladies wouldn’t be bedazzled with that? Even guys loved the idea of having saviors like a superhero – the one who saved the world. Marvel has so much of that. 😉

But I also thought, the wrong notion of “saviors” and “salvation” can actually lead to even more lost lives, more chaos, more war, more pain, more hunger, and more poverty. Countries where there is zero violence, like Norway, are the richest countries all over the world (Source: http://fortune.com/2017/11/17/richest-country-in-the-world/). But in countries where war is anywhere but there, there are all sorts of endless social problems from hunger, poverty, illnesses, to murder, crimes, robbery, etc.

Salvation is an ideology to some. Society may not tackle it like how the church does but at some point, the church has a greater responsibility in informing the public what TRUE SALVATION is and who is the RIGHTFUL SAVIOR. It definitely is not our President who can save us from all the calamities that will befall our land and neither can it be the “Knight in Shining Armor” no matter how shiny his shield is. Salvation is never ideological but experiential. You will never know salvation if you haven’t been in a situation where you truly sought for God’s help because no one else can help you.

Going back to businesses, businesses are there to help communities. It helps build a community and a society in fact. Where there is revenue, there is commerce. Where there is commerce, there is an industry. Where there is an industry, there is manpower and livelihood. Destroy the businesses, the livelihood, and the communities, everything else will follow. Where there is destruction, there is hopelessness. People look for “saviors” who can lift them out of their desolate situations.

A changed life surrendered to the rightful Savior in the name of Jesus Christ will result in the salvation of a community. Bring that one person home and surely his influences will go on to his children, grandchildren, etc. When it becomes magnified, it can change a community. It is easier said than done but think of Jesus, Pilates, and the Romans. Jesus instilled change, Jesus was considered an “insurgent,” and many opposed it which brought Him to His death on the Cross. But little did everyone know that it was the kind of death which magnified Him as the Son of God and the power of God, Himself. This is now the HOPE that we cling on to.

CommunityHelp

Helping people cross over. 🙂 Photo copyright: istock.com

My prayer now is for God to lead us in helping communities progress through our sustainable projects not just with the livelihood, but to shed light upon who is the ultimate Savior – the one who died on the Cross for us. May more minds and eyes are opened and more hearts be touched, may it be in whatever medium that God will use as His instrument for the Good News to break through. Yes, we can only do so little in helping others compared to how God can completely transform the life of one human being, of one community, of one nation, and ultimately, of the world.

By the way, this is supposed to be a Holy Week special but I thought about posting it earlier since most of us will have our own moments of reflection during the week. 🙂

I just hope this article will remind us how to commemorate what took place on the Cross hundreds of years ago and how we can all be catalysts of social change through God’s grace and guidance. May His Saving power allow us all to fulfill the tasks set out before us in His perfect time – how we will carry our own crosses. ❤

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” – Acts 1:8

“And then He told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” – Mark 16:15

P.S.

If you aren’t sure how or where to get started in initiating change, start by helping fund a student’s education. Some of the organizations listed in the left panel (web version) or lower portion (mobile version) of my website help kids get a scholarship. You can also ask your local church if they sponsor outreach activities and medical missions to communities. Or if you know a certain family, reach out to them. Helping doesn’t necessarily have to involve money. You can help by offering emotional and spiritual support through mentoring or even by prayers. Yes, never underestimate the power of prayers. 🙂

Also, these serious talks won’t be complete without this – it is Dad’s 78th birthday today! To honor him, I made him a portrait sketch which looked like he is in his 40s. 😀 Ah yes, may the good Lord bless the work of his hands, give him good health, protection, and strength in the coming years. ❤ ❤ ❤

Daddy

“Daddy” (9″ x 12″ Pencil Sketch)

Adopt, Don’t Shop: Animal Love

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Hello, WordPress and non-WordPress folks! For today’s post, it will be something light – pets. ☺

Allow me to introduce to you some of the pets we have back in my hometown. If you are wondering why I have no pets here in Manila, sadly, it’s not allowed in the condominium we are renting out. So without any further ado, here are our adopted babies: Peekah (orange cat), Tippy (black and white cat), Polly (black, white, and orange cat), Torti (turtle), and Birdie (lovebird).

All five of them were adopted and rescued from the streets and from our backyard. They all stumbled upon our home looking for a furever home and they indeed found one. Thanks to my 3rd sister, Ate Abeden, for taking such good care of them and for being their furever foster Mom.

I could still remember back when I was a kid, my Mom told me having a pet entails a lot of responsibilities. She made sure I completely understood what I am getting myself into the first time I asked her if I can have a pet cat. I was around 7 or 8 years old back then.

When she finally agreed, I was ecstatic and anxious at the same time because the challenge was real – keeping my pet alive. Through the years, most of my pets died because of an illness and we don’t have a vet available 24/7 in town (even until now).

It was only when I got older and found out by researching on the internet that there are actually a lot of pet illnesses which you can avoid. This can be done through simple pet care tips which will also prolong your pet’s life and improve his/her overall health.

We treat all of our pets as members of the family. They also have different personalities and special antics that can either make you crack in laughter or annoy you big time. Still, we love them all just the same. 😀

I couldn’t really tell how or why God intended these fur babies to stumble upon our home. But I have one clue – I am an animal advocate and it is possible a shelter home is one of His projects for me and my siblings to work on in the land we plan to utilize.

Well, it can or it can’t be. Ah yes, so many plans and yet surely, the Lord will direct our steps. We are just patiently waiting for God’s perfect time to execute His instructions. I am praying the timeline we have set is aligned with God’s timeline as well. ☺