Tag Archives: Christianity

About Yesterday’s Holi-date

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This might be our last, only God knows, our last Christmas together as a married couple. Every goodbye is painful, and it would’ve been really easy to just walk away and leave everything behind.

But that is not what God is calling me to do. He’s asking me to wait a little longer because He still has some tasks for me to do here in Manila.

When I came here, I was asking God for an answer whether to fight for my marriage or not. An incident that took place on my birthday (sadly) prompted me to let go.

I was hurt. Deeply hurt. All the trauma of the past came back – lies, broken trust, and unfulfilled promises. I believe this is also why my infection got worse, my body was going through excessive emotional stress.

I was hoping for a change. But as they say, if people do not want to change, no amount of convincing is enough for them to do it. Unless they, themselves, decide that they want to change.

Finally, the right movie tickets this time. No need to change. 🙂

For the past 8 years, I have chosen to forgive even without the promise of change and at times the absence of apologies. It never mattered to me if I was disrespected or if boundaries had been violated.

Because the Bible says that if a brother sins against you and asks for forgiveness, forgive him every time. I was willing to endure. Though there were times when I asked God when will this suffering end.

A change in perspective. God, what else am I missing?

God’s answer to me was to endure until last December 22. I did cry a little bit, but a decision has been made. It was made in peace – a sign for me that God’s discipline is over. I endured, and God is releasing me from the bondage of sin and being unequally yoked.

I would’ve fought this decision over by being stubborn and by using my free will to fight for our marriage. But the day after, my infection got worse and God’s final words came:

“Your willpower is strong, Tin, but your body can no longer take it. I am giving you rest from everything, give you time to recharge, a time to heal so your body can recover, because I have more tasks for you to do. And the mission I am about to ask you to do requires that you are at your best self – healthy, at peace, and joyful. This mission requires helping others and you cannot help them if you, yourself, are dying on the inside and on the outside.”

I am claiming God’s beautiful promise that I will live long and die of old age though there are far too many times that I felt like maybe I would only make it this year or next year because all I ever did for the past years was to survive. So it does make sense if His first instruction to me for next year is to HEAL.

I will stay here in the city for now to help my husband because he needs a place to stay here in Manila while processing all the paperwork. This is the task that God is asking me to do while I am here. My husband is still my brother in Christ, and I will provide any help that I can give because that is the right thing to do in return for all the favors that he did for me and my family.

When awkward silences become unbearable, just take a photo. lol When you’re married, your best friend can also be your worst enemy. 😅

We all have our demons. We all have sinned. And yet, it is only God who can save us from these demons that haunt us every now and then and compel us to do things that we never want to do. And yet, this requires that we work with God, too. God can never save us if we feel like we don’t need any saving.

The acts of salvation and redemption always start with surrendering everything that is dark within us so God can eventually usher us out into the light. God is giving my husband another chance to change but without me this time, thus, God called my husband to work abroad.

My husband working abroad means it will be extremely difficult for us to navigate through every conflict that may arise in our marriage because of the distance especially if he still hasn’t learned from his past mistakes. Temptations will be even greater. If he comes back a changed man (for the better), then this marriage might still stand a chance until death parts us both.

But for now, we will pursue our dreams apart from each other because God wills it – his dream to work abroad and my dream to pursue agribusiness projects in Bicol. I may not see and understand the plans of God, but this separation is a divine calling, and God is asking me to obey.

The processing of my husband’s paperwork for his work abroad has also been smooth with very minimal hassle. I see this as a sign that this is what God is asking him to do for our own good. If my husband finds another woman to love while he’s abroad, then I will accept (though heartbreaking) the fact that I was never God’s intended true love for him.

And yet that will be another problem at another time. But for now, I will keep holding on to God’s promise for me when I saw my first perfect rainbow in Albay back in 2020 accompanied by the first Bible verse below. 🙏

“What’s more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. One day, I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you.” – Genesis 28:15

“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her!” – Luke 1:45

The Black Knight: A New Love

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So, Chick-Chick’s love story has an unexpected twist – she already found a new love. Yay! And I really thought she’s going to be single for a looooong time. lol For the backstory of her love life, you may read it here.

The Black Knight

Who’s the new flame, then? I call him “Black Knight” because his legs are all black, and he’s a fierce-looking rooster. He’s also way younger than Chick, but very assertive and has an air of authority.

He’s also very protective, but at the same time gives Chick the freedom to roam around all by herself. He may not be the typical dashing prince, but he sure has the aura of a knight in shining armor. Just perfect for Chick who’s a damsel in distress. 😉

Boosting Egg Production

This means only one thing for us – egg production will continue. So far, Chick laid 10 eggs already (all thanks to Black Knight). We left 1 egg in her nest so she will lay eggs in 1 location only thinking her nest wasn’t disrupted. Though 1 egg was eaten by a rat in her previous nest.

Will cook some of these tomorrow to assess egg quality i.e. color of yolk, hardness of shell, etc. 👍👍

I am currently playing the role of an animal behaviorist to learn more about chickens. lol My findings are quite interesting actually. For one, hens have this maternal instinct to protect their eggs, so finding a good spot to lay their eggs on is crucial.

Finding The Right Location

She tried 3 locations and the 3rd one was the most difficult to find. Maybe she realized that after 2 failed attempts at protecting her nest, she had to find a spot that was completely hidden.

So, how did we find the 3rd nest? My sister followed her around, and she saw Chick go under a sakolin, which we use to cover the water pumps. Voila, in between the water pumps, we found the eggs.

Why Poultry Farming

I did ask God why He placed a desire on my husband’s heart to pursue poultry farming in 2021. This is actually the reason why we came here to my hometown last year to explore opportunities in poultry production.

When my husband told me his plan, I suggested to him that we ask my parents if it’s okay to utilize a portion of our farm for poultry production. When we got here and did a site inspection, my husband and I decided that it will need a lot of work in order to get it started.

This was actually one of his reasons for deciding to work abroad. He wants to be in charge of financing the poultry project, and he wants me to oversee and manage it. I believe this is what God has planned all along. I’ve already been doing my research on poultry farming, which started last year since my husband doesn’t have the time to do it.

I was able to find a lot of online resources already on poultry farming including choosing the chicken breed, making the poultry house, preparing the chicken feed, increasing egg production, and marketing live chickens, dressed chickens, and eggs.

All I did last year was conduct research, and this year, we started preparing a portion of the project site. Then the surprise came later this year – a rogue hen grazed our garden. It’s as if God was telling me that it is about time I apply what I learned. No escaping God’s will, eh? 😉

And indeed, here I am taking care of this rogue hen, and God also provided a rooster. Although I might buy the rooster from my nephew because he’s the original owner. 😊

I never planned any of this to happen, but God made them happen. I just did what the Spirit asked me to do and kind of just went along with how things played out.

All I am praying for now is for my nephew to keep the Black Knight so he would stay with Chick forever. lol Indeed, God (love) moves in mysterious ways. Oftentimes, it will just come when you least expect it. ❤️

The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” – Genesis 2:18

Found this bookmark inside a Bible that belonged to my late grandma – such a beautiful reminder. 🙂❤️🙏

Happy 11th WordPress Anniversary || The Journeyman’s Moments

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I woke up today feeling all nostalgic when I saw a notification here on WordPress. It’s another achievement unlocked – today’s my blog’s anniversary.

And I can’t help but smile and thank God for the 11 years of being a storyteller, sharing the Good News, and just being me. 😉

Thank you to my WordPress community for making my blogging experience so worthwhile. This is where my purpose as a writer started, and hopefully will not end here, either.

As long as I’m breathing, I will keep on writing. Thanks be to God for this wonderful gift. 🙏

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

Juxtaposed – A Bargain I Never Asked For

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I saw it coming. I was more than ready. But it wasn’t what I hoped for. I never thought my Mom’s breast cancer would come back, a relapse. I mentioned in my previous articles how she survived her first ordeal with breast cancer. This time though, it was more serious. It was worse. Much worse.

Praying for healing over my Mom. ❤ Stolen shot c/o my husband, and I saw it on my phone just in time for this article. 🙂

So I asked. What are her chances of surviving Stage 4 breast cancer with only 20% of her lungs still working? Her condition is critical. She used to have 5 contraptions attached to her – a ventilator tube, ngt, central IV, catheter, and CTT tube (this was already removed as of writing, TYL).

And yet through this seemingly very hopeless situation, I remained hopeful. Why? First, I believe in Jehovah Rapha. Second, my Mom is a fighter. And last but not least, she has the best team of doctors.

I’d like to thank these awesome “superheroes” who are doing their best to give Mom more months or years to live (77 years old is still young IMO) – Dr. Bolinao, Dr. Mortel, Dr. Donor, Dr. Manzano, Dr. Llacer, and Dr. Leones of SMMGH. I was actually thinking about which of the Avengers characters will best represent each one of them. 😀 Seriously, thank you so much, super Doctors. ❤

My family and I would also like to thank everyone at the hospital who has been helping us take care of Mom. Thanks as well to some of our relatives and family friends who took the time to visit my Mom at the hospital and extend their help. We wouldn’t be able to get through this without all of their support and prayers. At the moment, though, we were advised to limit the visitors coming in and out of her room as she is immunocompromised.

So why juxtaposed? Why a bargain?

I wasn’t expecting Mom to have it again, but me. As I have mentioned in my previous articles, breast cancer did not skip a single generation on my mother’s side starting from my great-grandmother, grandmother, and now my Mom. They all had a mastectomy.

In short, cancer genes are dominant in our family. The next generation who’s expected to have it is the generation of my siblings and me. Among the 5 of us, who could be the one carrying it? We are also at the right age when breast cancer is usually detected – around the late 30s to early 40s.

I am fully aware of what future I could have if it’s me who got it. Thus, it was my prayer that my generation would be the last generation to carry this generational curse. This is how I bargained with God.

I am willing to do anything and everything to stop these cancer genes from being passed on to the next generations. I prayed fervently that my siblings and I would be the last generation to experience the haunting trauma of battling cancer.

God took the bargain. BUT it was not the bargain I was hoping for. Mom got diagnosed with breast cancer the second time around. The second time was more painful and more grueling, and it’ll take her a long time to overcome it if, by God’s will, she overcomes it.

And I thought, maybe this is why she got it twice in her lifetime. So that our generation won’t get it anymore. Though looking at my Mom now, I somehow wished that it should be me. It should’ve been me.

No child would ever want to see their parent suffering. If only I could share in her suffering and take on some of the pain she is going through now, I would gladly take it. Every single bit of all the pain.

It was a juxtaposition. The opposite of what I prayed and bargained for. And yet, I think, it is for the better. How?

My generation now offers plenty of opportunities to treat and prevent cancer. It all started with this curiosity of mine which urged me to do my research about ways to prevent cancer genes from being transferred to a fetus while it’s still in its early stages of development.

I wondered if it is possible to remove cancer genes through gene editing. It was a farfetched thought. But well, God does make some things impossible to possible through Science. Because voila, the farfetched thought did not seem farfetched at all – it is now a reality.

My research brought me to CRISPR-Cas9. What is CRISPR-Cas9?

“Genome editing (also called gene editing) is a group of technologies that give scientists the ability to change an organism’s DNA. These technologies allow genetic material to be added, removed, or altered at particular locations in the genome. Several approaches to genome editing have been developed. A well-known one is called CRISPR-Cas9, which is short for clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and CRISPR-associated protein 9.” – https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/genomicresearch/genomeediting/

This discovery is quite new, and there were only a few studies performed on humans using this technology because of ethical concerns. A Chinese scientist was sentenced to 3 years in prison for conducting CRISPR on a human embryo.

The reason? If done wrong, it can cause serious side effects to the human embryo’s cells, thus, lose huge quantities of the genetic material. The child may come out with disabilities or as a “child with special needs (CSN)” as we call it in Special Education.

So this gave me an idea. Why not be a study patient for a gene-editing experiment? A very willing study patient. I might need to ask Dr. Leones, Mom’s oncologist, about this. 😀

I am already 37 years old, but I still would like to have kids. I am considering freezing my eggs so I can have the baby through IVF and/or surrogacy if the time comes that I’m already incapable of carrying the baby in my womb.

It’s a very big risk. And yet, I believe that if the CRISPR technology becomes a success when it comes to human embryos, then it is such an amazing breakthrough in the field of Science. Just imagine how many people will be able to live life cancer-free even though their original genetic composition has dominant cancer genes.

A lot of children will be freed from the generational curse of getting cancer genes from their parents and ancestors. As the adage goes, “Prevention is better than cure.” But for now, I wait.

And yet if breaking the generational curse does not happen in my generation, then I can only pray that the generations after us will get to be a part of this scientific breakthrough.

My bargain was juxtaposed. But it opened doors of unlimited opportunities to finally defeat breast cancer once and for all. May God help us, and may Science be the answer.

I also would like to take this opportunity to ask for your prayers for my Mom’s recovery. If it is not God’s will for her, then I am still grateful that we were given the time to make peace with her situation and accept whatever the outcome will be.

In everything, let God’s will be done always. And may His Name be glorified even as we go through this very difficult season of pain and sadness. Because well, I still have more reasons to rejoice knowing life doesn’t really end here, and there’s life after this world. 🙂

“My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever.” – Psalm 73:26

P.S.

We’ve been watching over Mom for about 2 months now at the hospital. Then, I tested positive of Covid after experiencing Covid symptoms (rashes, cold, flu, cough, and very itchy throat).

And yet I’m still grateful. Why? Because Mom did not contract the virus though I am one of her very close contacts, and she’s immunocompromised because she is currently going through chemo sessions. It was a miracle, and I am believing for more miracles in Jesus’ Name. ❤

Si Ulysses At Ang Mini Greenhouse: Foundation

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Disclaimer: I wrote this article to ask for prayers and any kind of help you could give after the onslaught of Super Typhoon Rolly and Typhoon Ulysses in the Philippines.

Kindly visit this link for more details: https://victory.org.ph/TyphoonPHRelief/?fbclid=IwAR3bmv5Ptv0DJAB3d9PdUXagG2RolDOvpqjZeyJiZAVFstH_x7peilO4WCI

Thank you, and may God continue to be with us all always. 🙏🏻

The Mini Greenhouse

Wala ito sa kalingkingan ng matinding pinagdaanan ng mga nasalanta ng bagyong Ulysses. Pero share ko lang din paano naka-survive itong mini green house dahil akala ko mahina lang ang bagyo kaya hindi ko siya niligpit at ipinasok sa loob ng condo.

It’s made from very light metal and plastic materials. Yaong kapag walang laman, kaya syang patumbahin ng isang tulak lang ng iyong daliri. May maximum weight din na pwede mong ipatong sa kanya.

Thank God, both the balustrade cover and the mini greenhouse survived the strong winds brought by Ulysses. 🙏🏻

Keeping It Safe

Dahil dati nang malakas ang hangin dito sa condo na para bang laging may bagyo, nakatulong ito para siguraduhin kong secure ang mga gamit at alagang pananim dito sa 10th floor terrace.

Naisipan kong dagdagan ng pabigat ang base ng mini greenhouse pero yaong kaya lang nyang dalhin. Ito ay para sya ay maging matibay at hindi agad liparin o matumba gaano man kalakas ng hangin.

Saved By Grace

It worked out, at sa awa na rin ng Dios, na-withstand ni mini greenhouse ang sobrang lakas na hanging dala ni Ulysses. Buong direction sya binayo at ito rin ang dahilan kung bakit madaling araw na akong nakatulog dahil nakikita kong nayayanig sya ng sobra.

Pero sabi nga ng asawa ko, “Hindi sila matitinag. They will be fine.” At nakatulog sya ng maaga, samantalang ako ay nagaalala pa rin at napapaisip kung ipapasok ko ang mga pananim o hindi sa gitna ng paghampas ni Ulysses.

Building The Foundation

Ngayon ko lang napagtanto na tayo ay kahalintulad ni mini greenhouse at akong gardener ay parang si God. Alam ng Dios ang mga paparating na mabibigat na problema kaya binibigyan Nya tayo ng mga “pasanin” na oo, mabigat, pero kaya nating dalhin.

Pero dahil doon sa “pabigat,” nagagawa nating maging handa para sa mga susunod pang mas “mabigat” na pagdadaanan natin. At dahil din sa mga “pabigat” na ito kaya lumalim ang ating pananampalataya na syang nagsisilbi ngayon bilang ating matibay na pundasyon.

God Is A Firm Foundation

Kaya naman anumang unos ang dumating, yanigin man sa kaliwa at sa kanan, mananatili pa ring nakatayo. And the Bible has the same sentiments about it:

Jesus said, “As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock.

When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation.

The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.” – Luke 6:47-49

May we all build our foundation securely – not on something temporary, but on something that is firm. It may be a rock, and it can be God.

Praying for strength always,

P.S. Next bagyo (apat or lima pa daw ang papasok bago matapos ang 2020 sabi ng PAGASA) ipapasok ko na silang lahat para makatulog ako ng matiwasay.

Which reminds me, too, na it looks like I still have such little faith. Kaya kailangan pa siguro ng marami pang “pabigat” para maging solid ang foundation. 👍

Debunking Worldly Claims Through Godly Truths

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I was having late lunch one early Saturday afternoon when these “nuggets of wisdom” crossed my mind. These ideas are no longer new, and yet I was briefly reminded how they are in stark contrast to one another.

Without wasting a single minute, I grabbed my phone, opened WordPress, and “scribbled” a few of the salient points. This, my friends, is what I love about WordPress.

You don’t have to log in on the internet to be able to write articles. You can write thoughts down the moment they come in, and they are automatically uploaded the next time you go online.

Sadly, gone are the days of a writer’s most famous companions – the pen and the notebook. But personally, I still prefer to keep a journal where I write Bible verses and prayer points during my daily quiet time. Let’s just say I’m a bit old-fashioned.

Going back to the “nuggets of wisdom” I mentioned earlier, what are they exactly? They are none other than the worldly claims debunked by Godly truths as explained further below.

How Godly Truths Can Debunk Worldly Claims

1. The world claims to have no place for the weak; Scripture glorifies human frailty and vulnerability.

“He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.” – Isaiah 40:29

“That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” – 2 Corinthians 12:10

2. The world sees arrogance as confidence, power, and authority; Scripture encourages humility, gentleness, and meekness.

And He gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” – James 4:6

“God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.” – Matthew 5:5

3. The world celebrates the rich; Scripture exalts the poor as coheirs of God’s Kingdom.

“Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. 

For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.” – 1 Timothy 6:9-11

“The lowly will possess the land and will live in peace and prosperity.” – Psalm 37:11

4. The world satisfies the eyes and the flesh; Scripture feeds the heart and the soul.

“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 2:16

Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” – John 6:35

5. The world repays evil for evil; Scripture dictates repaying evil with good.

“Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and He will grant you His blessing.” – 1 Peter 3:9

“But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” – Matthew 5:39

6. The world idolizes many gods; Scripture reiterates serving only one true God.

“You shall have no other gods before me. You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea.

You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me.” – Exodus 20:3-5

7. The world offers security in material possessions; Scripture offers salvation through Christ Jesus.

No one can serve two masters: 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 both God and money. 

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?” – Matthew 6:24-25

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 6:23

Seeing The World Through His Eyes

These are my lingering thoughts for the past few months. The pandemic might or might not last forever. And yet it caused a massive paradigm shift, a complete turn, wherein the worldly ideals no longer provide the truth and the hope.

It removed the blindfold that has been covering the eyes of many of us and preventing them from seeing the true riches that God has prepared and is now offering to us. What people used to consider essential is now proven useless. And what was considered lowly was now elevated as a priority.

Money, Wealth, & Possessions

Money, though still a tool and a necessity to survive, cannot beat COVID-19. Regardless of the billions in our bank accounts, if we’re hit hard, this stash of money can’t save us.

Flashy clothes, cars, accessories, and some gadgets, are now seen for what they truly are – merely as wants satisfying our worldly cravings and fleeting desires. Now that everybody’s staying at home most of the time, they seem to have little use and of less value.

I, for one, am troubled by the fact that I have several cosmetic products (used and unused) that are expiring in less than a year. I stay at home all the time, and I don’t have Zoom meetings every day so I have no choice but to wear makeup while doing household chores (no kidding).

Essentials vs Non-Essentials

My wardrobe now has 60% of clothing that I won’t be able to wear since I no longer have any use for most of them – outfits for gatherings, social events, travels, etc. The same thing goes for shoes, accessories, and bags.

I’m still finding a way to make good use of my DSLR and capture something interesting here at home. But for the most part? It’s just lying in the corner of my work table eating dust and probably rusting away.

The typical city affairs at night where gambling, drunkenness, and immorality sometimes take place are also gone. The need for temporary pleasures dissipated. Things may resume slowly to how they were before the pandemic. But with the looming threat of COVID-19, which can still strike anytime and anywhere, the freedom to do things normally is never assured.

Now, everyone’s craving for the country lifestyle. Plants became the “Kings and Queens” of every household. From seemingly unnoticed wild grasses, they are now as precious as jewels. The farmer now becomes a celebrated profession, whereas, before COVID-19, it’s a non-glamorous career. The least in the list of professions, I must say.

For The Better 

I just find it amazing and ironic at one point how God can really turn things around in an instant by using only one weapon although it’s a powerful one. It’s as if I can hear God saying, “Enough already. This world has had too much.”

People groaned and demanded that changes must take place. And this is it. It might not be exactly the change we’re looking for, just like how the Jewish people have anticipated a different Messiah, but it did create the change that we all need.

This is the change that we are actually not honest enough to admit that we badly need. Because once again, we were all blinded back then. Now that the Godly truths have been revealed, what transpired in the first three quarters of 2020 can debunk the worldly claims that have made us believe we are living life the right way.

This is the reset. This is a step back from what was to what should be. The truths are already out in the open. Will we believe them or will we remain behind the shadows of the blindfold?

Seeing the Godly truths 20/20,

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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. 😅👍🏼

Kwento Ni Kam, Kwento Ng Pagasa

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I originally posted this as a caption of a photo on Facebook. It was supposed to be one paragraph long. But, as we all know it, writers often end up writing more than just a paragraph. Voila, it became an article. 😅

This is written in the vernacular, and once again, I am putting my hopes on Google to make a fine job in translating it for you, my dear readers.

Sa bawat bad news na natatanggap namin ni Bri, binabalanse ito ng Dios with good news. Na para bang sinasabi Nya an “patuloy kayong umasa sa Akin at huwag sa mga circumstances nyo sa paligid.”

Parang itong si Kam (kamatis). Umabot sa punto na nag-50/50 sya. Ilang araw nalanta, nanilaw, namatay ang ibang dahon, at natuyo ang ibang flower buds. Ni-try ko syang i-revive na may kasamang dasal sa Panginoon.

Pero sure ako sa nakikita ko na walang matutuloy na mga bulaklak at ‘di na rin sya mamumunga. Pakiramdam ko nga tuluyan na syang mamamatay at mauuwi sa wala ang halos 4 mos naming pag-aalaga sa kanya.

Pagasang Hirap Hagilapin

Ito ang aming “panganay” sa aming mga tanim sa pagsimula ng quarantine. May mga times na gusto ko syang palitan dati dahil wala naman akong makitang mga buds. Kasing tangkad ko na rin sya dahil indeterminate variety sya, ang hirap nya i-stake.

Gusto ko syang sukuan in other words. Pero mas pinili kong patuloy syang alagaan, hinanapan ng paraan ang stake nya, at habol ko na lang is dagdag sa clean air ang mga dahon nya kung sakali mang ‘di sya mamunga. At dahil nga sa nag-50/50 sya, parang mas gusto ko na talaga syang palitan ng iba ngayon.

Magandang Balita Sa Kabila Ng Lahat

 

Ngunit noong Sabado, biglang nagbago ang lahat. Ang asawa ko ang nakapansin na nag-open na iba nyang mga flower buds.

At ang kulay pala ng bulaklak ng kamatis ay dilaw (first-time tomato grower here 😃). The color YELLOW symbolizes HOPE.

Alam kong hindi coincidence itong lahat. Yaong sya ang una kong tanim, maraming hirap at sakripisyo ang binuno sa kanya, muntik ng mamatay, at nabuhay sya sa panahon kung saan napakagulo ng paligid.

God knows what we need at exactly the right time. He knows we need something/someone to encourage us to keep on hoping against hope.

Kahit pa sobrang labo at hirap ng sitwasyon natin ngayon. Pero ito ang hinihingi Nya sa atin – to wait and to trust Him completely. Nasa atin na lang kung gagawin natin ito o hindi. 👍🏼

A hopeful gardener who’s always willing to wait,

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P.S.

Napakahalaga ang discernment kung kailan tayo mag-aantay at kailan tayo kikilos kapag nag-utos na ang Dios. Dahil kung tayo pa din ang gagawa ng solusyon sa lahat, we end up frustrated, disappointed, at nabe-burnout. Parang ako kay Kam.

Ngunit hindi rin pwedeng mag-antay na lang tayo forever at walang gagawin. Ika nga sa Bible, “faith without deeds is dead.” It is finding the right balance between faith and deeds that makes what we do a success and a fulfilment.

And always, kailangan nakabatay ang ating mga ginagawa sa mga plano ng Dios. Not our will, but let His will be done. 🙏

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “These are plans to PROSPER you and not to harm you. Plans to give you HOPE and a FUTURE.” – Jeremiah 29:11 ❤️

P.S.2

Do take note that “prosperity” in the Bible doesn’t always mean wealth and worldly possessions. Kasama ang mga ito. But it could also be prosperity o kasaganaan sa good health, sa peace, sa love, etc.

Bearer Of Good News: Why Do Doves Signify Peace?

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Ever wondered why doves were chosen to symbolize peace and hope? It’s one of the questions that sparked my curiosity ever since I was a kid. Thank God for technology and Google, all of the answers are on the internet (credible ones).

A Winged Visitor?

Yesterday (Sunday), I found this feather on our condo’s terrace. I thought an angel visited us. When I looked up, I saw several doves hovering and some were perched on the ledges of the other building. Oh, and by the way, I found some bird poop, too, along with the feather.

So yes, there was no angel, but only birds who visited our terrace either as a friend who brings “good news” or as a foe who destroys my plants. The latter, I would still have to find out. 😀

Was It Really Just A Bird?

This incident brought me back to my curiosity about doves as symbols of peace. The logo of our Protestant church in my home province also bears the figure of a dove with a branch on its beak.

I did my research, and here’s what I found out. There are several passages that mentioned the dove in the Bible. For one, it symbolizes the end of a long wait after the flood in the story of Noah’s ark.

The dove also represents the Holy Spirit as mentioned in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. When John baptized Jesus, the Holy Spirit came down in the form of a dove.

[and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in a bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”] – Matthew 3:16

You may find more cross-references in the Bible through this link by Bible Hub: https://biblehub.com/matthew/3-16.htm.

Why The Visit?

We are all having financial challenges right now. There are also looming threats of acquiring COVID-19 since my husband is also a front liner although not in a COVID-19 facility. There are also issues in our community that we are currently dealing with. Our country also has so many political and social conflicts.

I guess I might have silently prayed to God to give me the courage, the strength, the wisdom, and the peace to withstand all of these trials and the trials to come.

What Are The Trials In The Future?

What are these possible dangers? There is the possibility of another Martial Law being declared in the Philippines as more people oppose the Anti-Terrorism Bill. Some of them have already been arrested.

The economic recession is just starting, and some businesses might not even be able to recover from it. There are so many unemployed Filipinos, and the number will continue to rise in the following months.

Positive cases of COVID-19 also increase each day. There were many discrepancies in the data provided, and there’s no way to find out what info is reliable and what is not.

Across the globe, US-China tension is continuing to build up, and others assume that World War III is not impossible. All the looting and violence in America caused by racism have reopened a wound that’s supposed to be a scar already.

A Prayer For All

We don’t have answers why they are all happening, and yet all I know is that they will never go away and we all just have to get through them. I think all of us, at one time during this year, have shed tears praying for deliverance from all that is happening around us.

We all have groaned. I sometimes ask God how long will His people have to endure this suffering. Is this the “fasting, weeping, and mourning” He is talking about as we give our hearts to Him?

That is why the LORD says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning.” – Joel 2:12

And I was reminded of my late maternal grandmother who passed away last year. She’s the first woman I know who’s a devout Christian and a Bible woman. Tears would always accompany her prayers every time she prays during family gatherings or even during the Sunday service as a church elder.

Every time my grandma prays this way, my cousins and I would glance at each other with that question mark look on our faces. It was only when I was born again and a bit older that I found out the reason behind her tears.

God Listens To Heartfelt Prayers

As a survivor of World War II, both my grandparents in my mother and father’s side went through extreme trauma losing not just possessions, livelihoods, and homes, but also loved ones. My grandma’s two brothers were drafted to serve the military during the Japanese occupation. We don’t know what happened to them after the war. My paternal grandma also lost a child (my Dad’s sister) during the war.

Meanwhile, my parents’ generation experienced the unfolding of Martial Law under the Marcos regime. Both generations of my parents and grandparents witnessed the horrors of crime, violence, death, fear, hunger, and loss at their peak.

Thus, it was with tears that my grandma prayed for her kids, grandkids, and the coming generations that may we all be guided and protected by the Lord. Because after how many decades, it is now our turn to experience them again. Only this time, the enemy has sent some of his most powerful warfares.

If my grandma’s still alive, I know these will be the Bible verses that she would share to us as part of her heartfelt prayers:

“We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.

Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies. So we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you.

But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, “I believed in God, so I spoke.” We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you.

All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory. That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.

For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!

So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”

– 2 Corinthians 4:8‭-‬18

You Promised, Lord

And because God always keeps His promises, He will always find ways to remind us to hold on to what He has already given to us – salvation. The present is in chaos, the future may be dim, and yet the light of God’s offering of peace and life in eternity remains.

I’ve mentioned several times here in my blog how Paulo Coehlo’s planner (my brother and sister-in-law’s consistent birthday gift every year) has played a huge part in delivering God’s messages. I know it is not a coincidence that the quote for this week is this:

And accompanied by the dove’s feather, all I can say is that God is really everywhere. You just have to be in tune with the Spirit to know when He comes.

Feeling God’s presence everywhere,

My Heart Was Overwhelmed

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This will be a very short post (shorter than my usual 1,000-word articles). I felt it timely amidst all the negative things that have been going on around us lately. But to give you a heads up, this is an appreciation post.

Being Married To A Roman, His Surname Is Rome

Most of my topics here on my blog are all about God, my faith, and my marriage. My husband is one of the things I truly appreciate in my life right now as one of the greatest blessings I received.

If you’ve read my previous articles, you would probably know by now that it was never easy peasy between me and hubby. This is most especially true during the first 2 years of our marriage. It was pretty rough and crazy.

But by God’s grace, here we are nearing our 5th year together as a married couple. And by God’s grace, too, I am claiming we will surpass even our golden wedding anniversary.

When Love Just Makes You Swoon All Over Again

Ah yes, I love my husband so much it sometimes makes me cry every time I realize how blessed I am to have him. Yes, there sure came a time when I doubted God for choosing Bri as my husband. And yet as time went on, God’s answers became clearer.

They were even made clearer when the pandemic happened. Ever since it started up to now, I was amazed by how my husband dealt with all the issues we encountered. It made me admire and respect him even more as the head of our household and the leader in our marriage.

For one, I am grateful that he doesn’t smoke and is just as concerned as I am when it comes to second-hand smoking. Oh yes, that was my number 1 requirement back when he asked me out on a date. Just imagine how miserable my life would’ve been if he is a smoker given that I have allergic rhinitis and the COVID-19 now.

When You See God In Others

He displays so much of God’s character, too, that oftentimes leaves me a bit guilty knowing I am a ‘more devoted’ Christian than him. He is very patient, I am not. He has self-control, I don’t. He is a man of action, I am all talk. He serves without complaining, I sometimes whine.

I see him looking more like Jesus, too, with his now bushy beard and mustache. *wink* That means Jesus was handsome, too. But seriously, how did Jesus really look like? 😁

More than the looks though, I love my husband because of who he is. I couldn’t ask for more. He and God are all I need during these very difficult times. I know every trial we face whether it’s a neighbor who incessantly smokes or me losing my clients/job, God and him are more than enough.

God Is My Savior, My Husband My Protector

They should be. Why? I have a dashing knight in shining armor and a mighty King who leads every battle and avenges His people, victory is a sure prize. And I claim that over every single enemy (seen or unseen) who comes in our paths.

I felt very exhausted in the past days. And yet, when I look at my husband each day, he reminds me of all the beautiful promises God has given me and will bless me with. That, alone, is enough to put a smile on my face.

My husband though, just like the rest of the world, is only here temporarily. I know there will come a time when we will have to part our ways.

And yet I am extremely grateful I have these wonderful memories with him (some painful but mostly happy) that I can cherish for as long as I am breathing in this world. I am looking forward to seeing him in the new Heaven and the new Earth. 🙏❤️

Cheers to all awesome husbands out there,