Category Archives: Feature and Fiction

Chop, Chop Those Tresses A La Quarantine Style

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I believe I’m not the only woman right now who’s faced with the dilemma of getting their hair trimmed and done since all the salons are closed. I have wavy hair, and I usually have it rebonded.

After some moments of deep contemplation (it’s a major life decision. lol), I finally decided to have my haircut from the comfort of our own home (thanks to my husband) because of the following reasons:

1. Use less hair products, save more.

I used to consume two bottles of shampoo and conditioner for my long hair in a month. But now, I use just one. I prefer hair products that contain natural ingredients because my hair’s been treated. They cost a bit more, however, than the regular shampoo and conditioner sold in the supermarkets.

2. You can save time and effort in managing your hair.

It became my habit to tie my hair in a bun without combing. Let’s just say I am too impatient to brush tangled hair, and it’s a bit painful too especially if you’re just going to brush them off without untangling the strands first.

There was one time where I got too impatient I brushed my hair intensely. The result? A huge chunk came off. Was it painful? I didn’t notice because I was so furious. 😂

3. I wanted to look my age.

Yes, I look like a high school student with my long tresses. Though looking young can be a compliment, it’s a disadvantage sometimes, let’s say, when you’re at work. If you want to achieve a professional look, a short hairstyle always does the trick.

The last time I cut my hair up until above the shoulders was back in high school. A shorter hair makes me look more matured, and I now look like someone in her 30s (I think). I still need your opinion on this one though. 😃

4. Less mane, less contact with COVID-19.

There are several instances that will make it easy for you to catch the virus if your hair falls everywhere. Like when you’re buying groceries and doing other errands, for example.

If your hair is long and untied, there’s a high chance your reflex is to tuck it behind your ear or brush it off your face. And this is what we all have to keep in mind while the COVID-19 situation is still ongoing – avoid touching your face at all times.

5. It feels light.

Ah yes, this is probably one of the best reasons why I chop my hair off down to half of its length if its long. It feels airy without that sticky feeling on your nape. My hair also tends to be greasy after a day.

No matter what our reasons are for keeping our hair short or long, it really isn’t the crowning glory. Go on and experiment with different lengths and styles. It’ll grow long anyway in a matter of months.

But what’s more important is how confident you are regardless if you sport a short hairdo or a long one. Beauty from within always wins the hearts more than what pleases the eye. ❤️

“Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes.” – 1 Peter 3:3

“You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. – 1 Peter 3:4

Beautiful in God’s eyes always,

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P.S. Having a gentle and quiet spirit is what I’m currently working on. Let’s just say I came from a generation that breeds alpha females in the society. 😉

Rising Above Adversities: First Fruit, First Blooms

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Dahil andito na naman ako sa moment na sabi ko kay Bri, susukuan ko na ulit si Kamatis. 😅 Dahil naabutan na sya ng rainy season, laging makulimlim at wala na silang sunlight na nakukuha.

Dahil wala ring araw, parang nagkaroon sila ng fungus at nanilaw at nalagas ang mga dahon nya. Natuyo rin ang ibang mga bulaklak.

Nagbabalak na akong palitan sila ng Poisoin Ivy at Aglaonema, mga proven na resilient kong plants, this week. Pero naisip ko na patagalin pa hanggang sa tuluyan nang matuyo ang mga kamatis. At hangga’t may green akong nakikita, patuloy ko silang didiligan.

When God’s Plans Prevail

Pag-check ko ngayon, nagulat ako na may bunga na pala ang kamatis. Sya ang kauna-unahang bunga at sana hindi rin sya ang huli. 😁

First fruit of Tomato and first blooms of Chili Pepper. 🙏❤️😊

Napa-smile lang ako at napasambit na, “Kakaiba ka talaga, Lord. Heto at gusto ko na i-give up ang plant na ito pero parang lagi na lang binibigyan mo ako ng reason to keep it kahit pa ang nakikita ko sa kanya ay wala na syang chance mabuhay pa.”

Parang tayo lang ngayon. Andaming adversities sa paligid natin. Pakiramdam natin ang hopeless ng mga nangyayari. Pero what if tulad kay kamatis, there is something good pala sa kabila ng mga ito na hindi natin nakikita sa ngayon?

The Start Of My Vegetable/Urban/Container Gardening Experience

Napaka-memorable sa akin itong first experience ko ng pagtatanim ng gulay dito sa condo. Dahil against all odds ang pagtatanim ko given na hindi ideal ang planting environment dito. Napipilitan ako to think outside the box palagi to keep my plants thriving.

When I got the first “tugging” na magtanim, alam ko na malabo kaya ‘di ko sinunod. And yet persistent din ang Dios at ang sabi lang Nya ay gawin mo what I asked you to do, all the rest ako na ang bahala. Aminado ako ang hirap magtiwala sa Dios lalo na kapag andaming problema na dumarating at wala kang solusyon na mahanap.

And yet, this is what faith is all about. Sabi nga sa Bible, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see“ (Hebrews 11:1).

Faith That Can Move Mountains

I believed, against all odds, na mamumunga si Kamatis. Although may konting doubts, but still, I held on to my faith. True enough, hindi naman ako binigo ng Panginoon which only shows na faith can indeed move mountains.

Kaya sa mga nangangamba ngayon, heto si Kamatis, una kong tanim, matagal kong inalagaan, nasa 30% ang survival rate as of writing. 2 months ago, muntik ko na rin syang i-give up. And yet she made it this far.

Ang aantayin na lang natin ngayon ay kung lalaki itong fruit at ma-harvest namin. If that happens, then ito lang ay patunay na God fulfills His promises whatever the circumstance that surrounds you. 😊

Kaya mga ka-urban gardener, stay tuned. Ia-update ko ulit kayo sa final phase ni Kam at kung mamamatay ba sya bago ko i-harvest o magagawa kong i-harvest ang bunga bago sya mamatay. 😃

In everything, let God’s will be done. 🙏

A faithful gardener,

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P.S.

Isa ding fighter itong si Labuyo. Kumulot at nanilaw ang dahon pero namulaklak pa din. Panibagong story din ito na aantabayanan natin. 😅👍🏼

Plugin Integration For Your Website: MailerLite Or Mailchimp?

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It’s 2:35 am, and I’m still wide awake tinkering with my laptop. I was supposed to write a new blog post about a different topic today but found out that the Mailchimp widget for my subscriber popup form was disabled.

Why was it disabled? When I logged in on my Mailchimp account, it says I need to upgrade my website to a business plan to be able to place the code for the Mailchimp subscriber popup form on my website’s header. I’m currently running a free domain, so it no longer works for my site.

Mailchimp Subscriber Popup Form Website Integration 

There’s another way though for your followers to join your mailing list using Mailchimp and that’s through the Mailchimp block. This can only integrated, however, inside a particular post or a page.

Here’s how to do it: https://wordpress.com/support/wordpress-editor/blocks/mailchimp-block/.

Mailerlite Subscriber Popup Form Website Integration

But fret not if you find it difficult to integrate a Mailchimp block. We still have another alternative to create a subscriber popup form – MailerLite. Generating the codes using Mailerlite for your subscriber popup form is easy. All you need to do is create an account for free, then follow the instructions provided.

Here’s the guide to do it: https://wordpress.com/support/widgets/mailerlite/.

I was able to create mine in just a couple of minutes and integrate it with my website’s settings. This time, I opted for a simpler interface. My previous subscriber pop-up form contains a photo, but the problem with it is that it doesn’t show up when you’re viewing on mobile mode.

Mailchimp vs. MailerLite

If you’re going to ask me which one is better, I must say that both are great plugins for your site. They only differ according to where you want your subscriber popup form to appear. If you want it to appear on the whole site, go for MailerLite. If you want it to pop up on a specific post or page, you can use Mailchimp.

I opted for the whole site appearance, and this is how my new subscriber popup form looks like now. Make it simpler, but clearer.

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Tinkering with codes every now and then,

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WP Community Appreciation: Kennedy Award Of Excellence

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First and foremost, I would like to thank my fellow blogger Tangie Woods of Mrs. T’s Corner for her effort in nominating my blog for the Kennedy Award of Excellence. Thank you so much for appreciating my posts. ❤️

The Kennedy Award of Excellence aims to recognize a blog which, “through its writing, presentation, and objectives, fosters human values; promoting intellectual, emotional and moral growth of peers.”

RULES:

  1. The recipient may thank the person who has nominated him/her.
  2. The recipient should post a photo of the award on his/her blog in a post.
  3. The recipient may nominate as many blogs for this award (minimum five) but after careful thought.
  4. The recipient must answer questions from the nominee.

Here are my answers to Tangie’s questions:

  1. When did you start blogging? – I started blogging in 2014.
  2. What is your blogging objective? – I plan to use my blog as a testimony of my spiritual journey.
  3. What motivated you to start blogging? – When I was born again, I received the calling to start my blog and write about my struggles and triumphs as a Christian.
  4. Do you see blogging as a long-term goal? – Yes, I’ll continue writing as long as I am able to do so. 
  5. Is there a specific topic you enjoy? – I prefer reflective writing centered on faith and Christianity. 

It took me a while to write this post. Every blog I came across here on WordPress is beautiful in a special way and uniquely representative of each person’s character and life experiences. They can all transform a reader’s experience by words alone. So choosing blogs for this nomination was a bit of a challenge for me but also fun in a way.

I intend to feature other blogs for other future awards. But for the meantime, here are some of the blogs I’d like to nominate for this award:

  1. The Christian Blog Ghana 
  2. Saving Supergirl
  3. New Life in Christ Jesus
  4. Beauty Beyond Bones
  5. Bulan Lifestyle

To my fellow nominees, congratulations! Here are my questions, and I am looking forward to reading them and hope to get to know you even better (all your stories are worth reading). ❤

  1. How do you choose the topic for your next blog?
  2. What were your challenges when you started blogging?
  3. How has blogging helped you during this pandemic?

Thank you to all those who will participate and have participated in this community appreciation challenge. I also pray for every blogger out there to be the source of hope and light during these very difficult times. May the Lord give us the wisdom, the creativity, the passion, and the courage to continue what we have already started here on WordPress.

“I (We) can do all things through Christ who gives me (us) strength.” – Philippians 4:13

Always blogging from the deepest recesses of her soul,

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An Offer Of Comfort To Those Who Suffer Financially

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This pandemic has made countless of people jobless. It is never easy to lose your only source of income, most especially in a time like this. And yet, I would like to offer an assurance that God’s eyes are on us now.

How God Teaches Humility

Yes, I also included myself because this scenario isn’t new to me anymore. As a freelancer, there were times wherein every month I would send out job applications and proposals to get projects and earn. There were plenty of times, too, that my proposals were rejected or there were no projects available for me to do.

This was how it was for me in the last 3 years. So I know how hard it is to be constantly looking for ways to earn a living. I am already quite too familiar with situations where you had to rely on one source of income only to make ends meet at home.

What God Wants vs What I Want

I had this calling to pursue a remote career. It wasn’t an easy decision on my end, and I did share in my previous articles the reasons why. When doubt overcomes me, however, I’d once again apply to an office job only to be rebuked by God later on. Then, I would have to let go of the opportunity. I spent countless days and months asking the Lord “why” and what was His purpose for placing me in this predicament.

Little did I know that these were the times that God was asking me to rely on Him COMPLETELY for provisions. It is these moments of being so uncertain if you will have food on the table the next day or none the following week that made me view God as to who He really is as a provider.

His Love Never Fails, Always

Did God fail me?

NO. Not even once. And I would like to emphasize that because He was there for me and my husband when we needed Him most. God knows my former worrisome nature will always clash with my faith. It is what the enemy will use to attack me, make me defenseless, and eventually fall into his trap.

But take heart when I say that God always rescues those who seek Him with all their hearts in moments of need. He blesses those who call out to Him FIRST and rewards them accordingly. These rewards are even more than what we initially asked from Him.

When Rivers Run Dry, Turn To God

Yes, I understand how it can be unsettling to lose a job that literally allows you to survive in this world. And yet, when we see God as the one who provided that job in the first place, we can be assured that He will provide us with another one or another avenue where our needs will be met.

Here’s a fascinating testimony that I haven’t shared yet because we experienced it just this week. I lost some clients at the beginning of this year until now, which led me and my husband to once again rely on his income alone.

Keep The Good Fight Of Faith

Last year, there was a bounty of financial breakthroughs. And if my memory serves me right, it was my husband who asked me to set aside some cash on top of our usual savings. I placed it in a white envelope and put it inside a drawer.

Since we don’t need the money at that time, we somehow forgot that we have it. So when we were making financial adjustments a couple of months later, it wasn’t included in the accounting.

God’s Grace Is More Than Enough

Then, the pandemic happened. We had to consolidate all our resources and make do with what’s available. By God’s grace, there’s more than enough for all our needs. Yes, all that we have now is more than enough.

While I do believe in saving for the future, I have such great faith in God that He is our ULTIMATE provider. Thus, we have nothing to worry about our future when it comes to all our needs.

Elijah’s God Is The Same God We Have Today

This is somehow similar to the story of Elijah in the Bible and how God sent ravens and the widow to feed him (book of Kings). The woman’s jug of oil and jar of flour never ran empty allowing Elijah, the woman, and her family to have enough food to eat and survive.

But since God can still sense a little bit of worry and doubt in me, He knew I needed an assurance that would once again prove that He is who He is when He says that nothing is impossible with Him.

God’s Surprises Just Never End

Fewer clients mean lesser work hours for me. I had plenty of time to contemplate, search for new opportunities, and do my hobbies. So I decided to pick up the pencil and do some sketches again.

The only available pad for me to work on, however, is a big one so I decided to divide a page into half. This means I’d have to place the new sketch paper on a different pad. And I would need something to keep it in place.

The paper clips came as a solution, and I rummaged through our office supplies but found none. Then I remembered that I used paper clips for the white envelopes we allotted for budgeting.

A Need Fulfilled At Just The Right Time

So I went to the drawer, searched for one white envelope, took it out, and I think you already guessed what I saw. Voila, there neatly tucked inside were 3 paper bills – safely forgotten.

I just couldn’t contain the surprising discovery to myself so I shared it with my husband who teased me that I’ve been secretly stashing money away. I think it’s his way of saying that he also forgot. 😁

God knows we would need it at exactly the right time. The money will still remain as emergency funds though, and yet I already have a plan where half of it will go. Ah yes, indeed, the five barley loaves and fishes are more than enough to feed thousands of people.

As this verse says,

“And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.” – Philippians 4:19

So to all unemployed brothers and sisters out there right now, I pray that you will hold on to this promise:

“And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” – 2 Corinthians 9:8

God will provide for you, too. Believe in this. ❤

I think I can hear God saying,

“My child, why are you still pursuing the demands of this world? Have I not shown you enough the past few months what really matters?

Why are you still worried about your needs? Have I not provided you with more than enough ever since you became My child?”

God would like to hear our answer, and let it be a good one. 😉

Always relies on God for provisions before and now,

P.S. This article is part of the 80 drafts that I am currently preparing as scheduled posts. I am targeting (by God’s grace) to reach the mark of 500 published articles here on my blog.

We just don’t know what could happen in the next few days, weeks, and years. But as long as there are technology and WordPress, these testimonies will live on. 😀

Methinks it is also best to wait it out until this worldwide crisis is over, and start looking for new career opportunities. Businesses will be flourishing by then. And yet, this entirely depends on God’s plans and His timing. In the meantime, have faith that God will cover all of your needs. 🙂

 

 

Let’s Play The Name Game: I Am CHRISTine

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When I was young, I don’t know what came over me when I asked my Mom how come I was the only one among her five children who wasn’t named after them, our grandmas, and our grandpas.

My eldest sister has my maternal and paternal grandmas’ names in her 1st and 3rd names. My second sister has my Mom’s name for her second name.

My third sister has the combination of my Mom and Dad’s names for her 1st name and our great grandma’s name for her second name. My brother has the names of my Dad, my maternal grandpa, and my paternal grandpa for his 1st, 2nd, and 3rd names consecutively.

Me? Well, my parents told me they ran out of relatives’ names to name me after. Poor me, right?

Who Am I?

So, how did the young me respond? I was sullen and bitter. Well, what could you expect? That was pretty harsh for a grade-schooler to take. And the great revelation never stopped there, of course.

They told me I was adopted, which explains why my brother (born before me) and I have a 5-year gap. What’s worse, they told me I was thrown by an “unknown mother” over the fence in our backyard.

You see, we have two adopted cats back home who went through exactly the same situation. Maybe that explains why I felt closer to our adopted cats than my siblings. We can relate with each other and it’s like I am more bonded and have a deeper connection with them.

So you know how this picture went. The teary-eyed baffled me was looking for a defender. And of course, I looked pleadingly at my parents and siblings. They were all laughing. Ahhhh, cruel, cruel family. Tsk, tsk.

Okay, before you start to believe everything I am sharing, this is the part where they reassured me that it wasn’t the case. And they provided more ‘substantial evidence’ to prove their point.😁

The Real Deal

My Mom went on to explain that I was born in December, which is Christmastime, so they retained the word “Christ” in my name. My second name was lifted from the Hawaiian “lei,” which is a garland of flowers presented upon arrival or leaving as a symbol of affection.

But explaining that to a child still won’t have that much bearing – I still felt left out. I found it easier to accept that I was adopted. Why? Because it wouldn’t change anything. I am grateful that my parents now gave me a better life and such a wonderful family. Not a day passes by without me thanking God for this greatest blessing.

A Better Chance At Life

And I’d still thank my biological Mom (if ever) for making the most difficult and painful decision of giving away a child. A child whom she carried for 9 months in her womb, went through all the hassle of labor and childbirth, then left her baby to people she doesn’t know but she believes can give her child a better future.

Because she made the right decision, and that makes her deserving of the honor given to any parent who wants nothing more but the best for her children, and more importantly, for giving me a chance at life. But no, I wasn’t adopted. So let’s cut this here.

A New Identity In Christ

Going back to the name game, am I still resentful about my name? When I became a born-again Christian, that all changed.

If my siblings tease me now, I have the greatest answer as a defense:

“I am a daughter of GOD, because I have CHRIST in my name (and in my life), and He is the Great Father who owns all the heavens and all the earth. Therefore, I will inherit all the heavens and all the earth. Beat that. Ha!” 😂

“Therefore, God elevated Him to the place of highest honor and gave Him the name above all other names…” – Philippians 2:9

Yes, CHRISTine is thy name. And indeed, as ABBA sang it, “the winner takes it ALL.” CHRIST has won it all for us. 😉

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Truly a sister in Christ and God’s daughter,

P.S. If you’re a parent or a parent-to-be, do prepare an answer when your kid asks your choice for his/her name. 😃

 

 

My Blessed 2019 Birthday @ Camarines Sur Watersports Complex

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I have been used to celebrating my birthdays on the road since I started working. I cannot tell if it is a good or a bad thing. All I know is that each time, I get to have a fresh perspective on a lot of different things.

It’s like being renewed year after year. Maybe it really has something to do with the adage that as you age, you get wiser. Another year older, another year wiser so to speak. 🙂

Another Birthday Experience

My birthday last December was another new experience. Our maternal grandma passed away and the last night of her wake fell on my birthday. I was close to my grandma when I was young, and she’s one of my major influences when it comes to faith.

She was 95 years old, and hers was a peaceful death after a long wait. She’s been bedridden for about 2 years, and each passing year for her means asking when is our Lord going to take her. God prepared her well though during that long wait no matter how difficult it may be for her.

I never felt like celebrating my birthday last year. But as it turned out, God has different plans.

God’s Plans Are Sometimes Different

It was me and my hubby’s first time to travel by car going to our hometown – a total of 17 hours including occasional pee breaks. I decided we have a stopover halfway our trip and spend the night at Camarines Sur Watersports Complex.

As typical of me who plans everything ahead of time, I already booked an accommodation a couple of months prior to our trip. This came in very timely because our expected travel time of only 9 hours from Manila to CWC became 22 hours.

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Yes, my husband and I just felt like vegetables about to rot. lol It was SOOOOO TIRING. Our check-in time was 2pm, we were able to check-in at 10:30 pm. I informed the reservation officer we will be arriving late due to traffic congestion.

There were multiple roadworks in some parts of Bicol and Quezon, which lengthened our usual travel time. It’s also the start of the holiday break in schools and offices, thus, everybody’s going out of town.

Always Look At The Brighter Side

But here’s where God reminded me to always be hopeful and cheerful in every unfavorable situation. I asked the reservation officer if we can still avail of their massage services because I know our bodies badly needed them, especially my husband.

She said that we still can since they are open until 10 pm. So I booked one at 10 pm. We arrived at 10:30 pm, and we’re just so glad our massage therapists waited for us though we’re already 30 minutes late.

A Surprise Birthday Gift

Here’s another surprising scenario. When we got to the lobby, the receptionist informed us that our accommodation was upgraded for FREE from a Tiki Hut to a Small Cabin. She told me that there was a problem booking the accommodation, and it was a mistake on their end. I was so overjoyed, and I can’t help expressing my heartfelt gratitude to her.

I thought this must be God’s birthday surprise for me. 😀 My husband and I also haven’t had our dinner yet, so I asked her if we can still order food and have it served in our room. We were able to order our favorites (comfort food) and then headed to our room.

A few minutes later, our massage therapists came and after apologizing to them for waiting, we had our much-needed massages. A few minutes later, our food arrived. We were just so filled with goodness. Why? The massage was superb and so was the food!

As Simple And Yet Meaningful As It Gets

Although we missed Saturday’s acoustic performance, the night ended quite well actually. And of course, it was even made perfect when my already very tired husband hugged me and said, “Hon, things may have happened differently than we planned, but this day still ended happily. Happy, happy birthday.”

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No, I didn’t cry. We are not just super mushy types. lol And my husband loves to tease me so I know he can never be that serious. Although I did feel the sincerity of his greeting. 😉

So when the clock struck 12, I just can’t contain my happiness – it’s now my birthday. We were tired and plans have changed, but I slept soundly with a smile on my face that night. 

Even if there’s pain, God never fails to remind us that it still is possible to experience joy.

Truly, how can we ever outsmart a God who knows things even before they happen and makes all things beautiful in His time? 🙂

A Day Full Of Activities And More Errands

The next day, my husband and I woke up just in time to try wakeboarding and double kayaking even though we’re already much pressed for time. My mom texted me to be home by 7 pm for our grandma’s vigil service so we’re pretty much in a hurry.

As we slowly approached our home and saw the yellow lights, I knew my grandma was waiting for us. Days prior to coming home, I was worried that I won’t be able to hold it all in and just burst into tears. But because God made me experience joy, He lifted all those heavy emotions and made me experience a little bit of joy in the midst of pain.

God knew I needed strength. He gave it during the times I needed it most. He used my husband and other circumstances as an avenue for me to have it. So when I saw my grandma peacefully sleeping, I smiled a faint smile and was filled with peace that comes from knowing God had it all in control.

A Peaceful Farewell

“Today is my birthday, Mama. It is sad that this will be the last day, too, that you will be with us. But I also rejoice that you can finally be with the Lord.”

This was how I celebrated my birthday last year, and the experience was another one for the books – a keepsake remembrance down the memory lane. A sad memory but still a joy to remember. 🙂

If you’re wondering why I was named Christine, watch out for my next article and find out the (funny) story behind it. 😉

Grateful for yet another year to live in this world,

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Summer Came In Early During The Holidays

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A beach escapade during the months of December and January in our hometown won’t exactly fit your idea of a perfect getaway. Because it is during these months when super typhoons frequented our town, thus, you can expect rainy days for the most part of your vacation. In other words, it’s a bad idea to plan your beach trips in our place during these months.

We live in a coastal area. So every time we visit our hometown, nostalgic childhood memories of fun moments at the beach always make us want to relive those scenes. We then made it a habit to spend our family get-together during the holidays by nature tripping, which includes visits to the beaches and hot springs in our area. This is regardless if we have a rainy or a sunny weather.

Simple But Meaningful Holiday Celebrations

Last December, God gave us a sunny day despite the two super typhoons that left extensive damages on some properties in our town. Thank God, too, the electricity was restored before Christmas day, and most of the damaged houses were repaired by the 2nd week of December.

It was all made possible by the combined efforts of private organizations and good Samaritans who helped us recover from the onslaught of the typhoons. Since the entire town prepared for the worst case scenario, there were a few to no Christmas decors displayed in most of the homes. Personally though, I still wanted to put up our Christmas tree and other decorations just so we won’t break the yearly family tradition.

Mom disapproves the idea, however, and advised me there’s no need to go through all the hassle since we’re technically mourning my grandma’s death. It would be inappropriate that we’re all joyfully celebrating. Besides, we only have about 10 days left and the holidays will be over.

So we decided to celebrate the holidays quite simply instead. And yet the grace of God made it possible for us to cherish every moment spent with every member of the family. Indeed, we don’t need lavish decorations and extravagant feasts to enjoy bonding moments with the family.

Why Christ Was Born

Just enjoying the presence of one another is more than enough. God must have instructed us to plan the summer outing earlier this year. Because He knows we won’t have the opportunity during the COVID-19 outbreak.

December 2019 was a very special month of bittersweet experiences. And yet, it was also the month when I really felt the presence of God and became much closer to Him than before.

In fact, I was once again reminded of the reason why He sent Jesus Christ to be born in this world. This made me think. What could be God’s purpose why I was also born 3 days ahead of Jesus? Let’s find out together in my next article. 😀

Receiving God’s grace in every moment,

 

Eventful February Part 3: Family Bonding And Memories To Cherish

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The end of 2019 and the start of 2020 were a series of tragic events. I’m very grateful to God that my husband and I have been given the opportunity to spend some quality time with my family before this COVID-19 pandemic broke out.

Since the virus is highly contagious, it limits our physical interaction with our loved ones, especially if we have aging parents. They are at a higher risk of acquiring the virus. My parents who are 80 and 74 years old aren’t here with us, but we are fervently praying that this deadly virus won’t get them.

I just want to share a couple of photos during our recent family get-together, which was also the birthday celebration of my nephew and eldest sister. Ah yes, these are the memories that are now more precious than gold and silver and no insurmountable amount of money could ever buy. ❤️

February Celebrants 2020

These photos were taken during our sleepover at my eldest sister’s place. We were almost complete except that we’re missing our parents and my 3rd sister who are in the province.

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The Ginete siblings with the spouses and kiddos. 🙂

It was an awesome, fun-filled family bonding albeit short with lots of games, food, and laughter. Praise God for all these wonderful memories that are worth reminiscing here and beyond. ❤ 🙂

Praying for more family bonding and moments, 

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Fighting An Enemy That We Don’t See And Hidden Within Ourselves: COVID-19

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I’d like to begin this article with a Bible verse that I felt came in timely during this COVID-19 pandemic.

“For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” – Ephesians 6:12

COVID-19: Fighting The Enemy Within

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Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

One COVID-19 patient who recovered said, “It’s more of a psychological battle than a physical one.” Because the struggle takes place inside us where the enemy can attack us with other forms of spiritual warfare such as deception, lies, fears, worries, doubts, and other negative emotions. 

I am currently experiencing symptoms, but they disappear and then reappear after a couple of days. I am closely observing any other changes and make sure they’re not caused by my allergic rhinitis.

As of writing, there are 707 positive cases, 45 deaths, and 28 recoveries here in the Philippines. I believe these numbers represent only 1/2 of the actual COVID-19-related cases in the country.

These statistics didn’t include pneumonia-related deaths of those who weren’t tested for COVID-19 or still waiting for the results. Given these numbers, data analysts have calculated that the peak of the pandemic is still about to take place come April – June.

Replacing The Bad News With The Good News

As more and more of these bad news start circulating on social media the past days, more and more people are getting enraged by a whole lot of different things. I guess that is what panic and fear can do to people who don’t have any idea about what’s in store for them when they leave this world.

I must admit, I sometimes feel this panic, fear, and paranoia, too. I noticed this when I spend so much time browsing my newsfeed and all the posts I read are all bad news. And it takes so much discipline to “not conform” to the worries of this world.

Behaving As Salt And Light To The World

Why? Our human nature always has an automatic response to everything that is negative. It’s part of our worldly flesh that we constantly wrestle with. Thus, it takes so much discipline for a Christian to behave otherwise.

Instead of cursing people left and right, a Christian needs to carefully weigh every word that goes out in his/her posts. Instead of anger, there has to be understanding. Instead of punishment, there has to be compassion. Instead of retaliation, there has to be forgiveness.

We can always have a “say” in every social issue that goes around, but I believe it will be better if we say our opinions in a manner that brings light, peace, and healing not just to our social network, but to the entire world that is watching and listening.

Assessing Panic And Fear

Why do people panic? It’s because of fear. Fear can be in any form. It could be the fear of being broke, fear of losing a job or a business, fear of hunger, fear of getting sick, fear of being alone, and lastly, fear of dying.

The last one is, by far, the toughest battle that everyone needs to face one way or the other. Because we will all die eventually. The only difference lies in the manner and the time of our deaths.

Why do people fear death? It’s because they don’t have an idea about what will happen afterward. For born-again Christians though, it is the opposite. Scripture has given us already a glimpse of what life after this world looks like as described in the book of Revelations. It is a VERY BEAUTIFUL PROMISE.

The Promise That We Can Hold On To

It is the opposite of all the pain and suffering in this world. Everything that we consider as beautiful, pleasing, and perfect, we will see them all there. The very few seconds of pain and suffering that we will feel as we struggle for the last breaths are all worth it.

While listening to an online Sunday service in our church, I had this image inside my head. I sketched and posted it on my Facebook account. I was hoping the body of Christ (visual artists and filmmakers) could make a short movie or skit depicting a similar scene.

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What Heaven Looks Like

I thought this is what the people need now amid the bad news bombarding us every single day. This image shows a COVID-19 patient surrounded by the doctor, the nurse, God, and His angels. Although God and the angels are more like a hologram that only the patient can see.

God is pointing a vision of Heaven to the patient and all its riches are displayed on the road. Beside it, there are people who are smiling and waving as if they’re a welcome party. And there stood at the gate is Jesus, ready to take the lead into His Father’s Kingdom.

Scenes From The Movie “The Shack”

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The image was so vivid that it actually reminded me of a scene from the Christian movie that my husband and I watched a couple of years ago entitled The Shack. It was a story about a grieving dad who lost his daughter to a pedophile/psycho killer during a camping event in the woods.

It was a very tragic experience seeing his daughter’s bloodied clothes and a bloodied floor of a shack, but without any trace where his daughter’s remains are. The killer’s still on the loose and there seemed to be no closure.

Unforgiveness, guilt, anger, hatred, bitterness…they all hardened the dad’s heart, which led him further away from God. But God, who is also a loving Father, never failed to reach out to this dad who mourns over the death of his daughter even several years after the incident.

Until came the scene where God showed him where his daughter is now. She looks very happy playing with the other kids in Heaven and Jesus is with them. I guess, we, too, can take comfort in this idea that any believer who leaves this world never leave it alone, and in fact, is in a place much better than ours.

Heaven Rejoices For Every Death Of A Believer

When my faith-filled maternal grandma passed away 7 days before Christmas Day last year, our pastor in our mother Protestant church chose this Bible verse to be placed on her coffin. Today’s devotion reminded me again of this Bible verse and I thought maybe God wanted to show us that there really is nothing to fear.

“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His faithful servants.” – Psalm 116:15

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In fact, while trying to destress before I sleep, I opened the Spotify app on my phone and searched for my favorite Piano Hymns playlist. This was the first song on the roster.

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I also posted on Facebook the Bible verses I discovered on the shampoo and hair conditioner bottles I’m using, and friends started sharing theirs, too. It was an enlightening experience when you bring all the Bible verses together.

Here they are:

1. My Shampoo and Hair Conditioner Bottles

“For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.” – Galatians 5:13

“And she will have a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through His prophet:

“Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” – Matthew 1:21-23

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2. Sis Ann Jane

“For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.

They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.” – 2 Timothy 4:3-5

Sis Ann Jane

Photo courtesy of Sis Ann Jane 🙂

3. Sis Claud

“Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.” – Deuteronomy 15:10

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Photo courtesy of Sis Claud 🙂

4. Sis Gessa

After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the Good News!” – Mark 1:14-15

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Photo courtesy of Sis Gessa 🙂

To end this article, I guess what we only need to do during this crisis is to fervently pray and let God fight this enemy that we don’t see and is hidden in the recesses of our souls. I believe God has been reiterating it since Day 1 of this pandemic.

We can never do it alone, and we most certainly can’t do it without His help. The support of our government, the hospitals, our families, or our communities won’t be enough. Only His help is enough to conquer it once and for all. In other words, let our trust be upon Him completely.

Be rest assured that even if we felt like we lost the battle here in this world, Jesus already won the fight. Victory is already ours in another life that sure has no end. Wouldn’t that be better than living in this world that is bound to disappear anyway? 🙂

Declaring God’s victory here and now,

P.S. While waiting, we must never forget to do what God asked us to do according to His Word and His instructions. We must never let our guards down by staying equipped with the Armor of God. The battle is far from over but always take heart. ❤

I was also instructed by the Spirit to write this post, thus, I obey. 😀