Tag Archives: Christianity

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,

And So The Rebuke Came

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I just logged back in on Fb today. Naisipan ko mag-social media fasting buong araw kahapon after sharing about the issue with our neighbor to clear my head (the previous article). And yet nakita siguro ni God na my heart is still in turmoil kaya ito ang nangyari kahapon.

A Random Message But Just The Right One

I received a message sa LinkedIn. It’s from someone na hindi ko ka-connection and the message was about the last days here in this world before judgment day. It’s a random message from someone I barely know. Naisip ko baka nabasa nya ang blog ko at dito sya nag-message. Pero mukhang hindi.

Nagtaka din ako dahil professional profile ang account ko sa LinkedIn and wala akong kahit isang post doon about faith or Bible verses. Kaya naisip ko na baka inudyok din sya ng Panginoon to send that message randomly or on purpose.

How To Decipher God’s Message

Sa message ni Sir Joe, marami syang verses na pinapabasa as references. Naging habit ko na simula noong bagong born-again Christian pa lang ako na kapag may Bible verse na itinuro si God, I read the verses before it at ang mga susunod pang verses.

Sometimes buong chapter binabasa ko or several chapters. Pakiramdam ko kasi ang gusto ni God is malaman natin ang entirety ng Kanyang message hindi lang sa isang verse kundi sa buong konteksto ng Scripture.

How God Reveals Himself

Isa sa mga references na ibinigay ni Sir Joe ay Psalms 37:10. When I read the previous verses, doon ko nakita ang sagot ni God sa aking panalangin lately. Pero sino nga ba talaga si Sir Joe? Bakit nya ako pinadalhan ng message out of the blue but exactly at the right time – and exactly the answer that I was asking from God? Coincidence?

I guess paulit-ulit kong babanggitin na there is no such thing as coincidence sa faith. It is all part of God’s plans. When we seek Him with all our hearts and humble ourselves before Him, He always reveals Himself sa atin. At kadalasan sa mga paraan na ‘di kayang i-grasp ng ating human comprehension. Mahirap intindihin paano nangyari pero ang mahalaga, His message got through:

“Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper— it only leads to harm. For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the LORD will possess the land.” – Psalms 37:8-9

Nothing Is Ever Hidden From God

I guess patunay ito na God sees everything. Nakikita Nya anong laman ng mga puso natin. In my case, God knows how stubborn I can be and very determined when I want to do something. He knows all our plans, thus, He will rebuke when He knows our plans will do us more harm than good.

Regarding doon sa ibang Bible verses ni Sir Joe, curious ba kayo sa difference ng Earth and this world? Meron daw pagkakaiba. Share ko din dito anong idi-discuss ni Sir Joe na sobrang pinasalamatan ko for being used by God to deliver His message. 🙂 Pero patuloy pa rin ako sa pag-pray for God’s leading, wisdom, and discernment. We all badly need them ngayon. 🙏

Stubborn but still obeys when God says so,

Love In The Time Of COVID-19: A Wife’s Tale

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I initially thought about writing this article as a parody, but given the intensity of the pandemic’s impact on our emotional and psychological well-being, I decided to share my experiences as a wife during the community quarantine instead.

A lot of people have been sharing the positive outcome of this lockdown. They said it gave Mother Nature the time to heal. Some said it also gave opportunities for sharing, helping, and praying for others. Another benefit is we now have more time to strengthen family ties.

Learning All About The Complexity Of The Human Behavior

This last one is good, but I know some of you will agree it’s not as easy as it sounds. We all know that one of the complex concepts in this world is the human relationship. We were all created uniquely with varying personalities and characteristics.

Combine a group of different people in one room and one way or the other, there will be a clash of personalities. And also, let’s not forget domestic violence and how it can be aggravated during these times. This last one though is a serious case that requires professional intervention and assistance.

Some people felt awful they had to spend community quarantine alone, and yet some really wish this would end because they’re getting on each other’s nerves. The latter cannot be avoided. It is actually beneficial to get to know each other better and adjust accordingly regardless if this is a roommate, a sibling, a spouse, a relative, a parent, or a neighbor.

A Tale Of Two Lovers

That’s the case between me and my husband. This is, by far, the longest time we’ve spent together 24/7 since we got married back in 2015. And yet I appreciate the fact that my husband and I can spend even more quality time together now. I wouldn’t want any person to spend quarantine with other than him but next to God, of course. 🙂

Every single day, I discover something new about my husband. But since we’re the total opposite of each other, just imagine how hard it was for us to maneuver through this quarantine like gliding on smooth waters. On the contrary, it was like being back to the first few months of us being married. 😀

Seeing God In Others

Don’t get me wrong though. Most of our days together were spent meaningfully, peacefully, and happily. But as days turned to weeks and then now nearing to months, there were days when we would easily get irritated over something trivial because there were only the two of us in the house. And yet this setup reminded me how things are going to be when we grow old together.

I believe other families, parents, or married couples can relate to our experience. An example is when kids start to fight over who gets to use the iPad next or who will throw the trash out. Or when a parent gets irritated because all the kids are hooked on their gadgets all day long. Another instance would be sharing a room with a sibling you just don’t get along with very well.

God’s Eyes Are On Every Household

My husband and I would have some disagreements every now and then, and we’d both sulk and give each other a cold and silent treatment afterward. But since we live in a condo, it just doesn’t work very long given the very small space. 😅

I’d have to interact with him one way or the other and whether I like it or not because we’re just too close to one another, and yes, we only have each other. In fact, this was the case last week when we had our first huge fight during the quarantine.

Dealing With Differences

I told hubby to try cooking a new dish, and he’s also willing but he wanted me to teach him the step-by-step process. I’m a teacher, but given the heavy demands lately at home, I quipped a remark that offended him.

I told him to research how it’s done and to not get used to me spoon feeding him with how everything works here at home. Hubby explained he doesn’t learn new things that way, and I insisted that I learned new things that way and he should give it a try.

When Opposites Repel

Since hubby and I have such totally different backgrounds and upbringing, we somehow clash with how we do things at home. My mistake here was that I could’ve been more patient. But no, I guess the enemy took advantage of this sensitive situation to bring us back to our old fights.

Hubby retaliated with harsher words that made me do the same. And in the heated discussion, I just broke down and cried. I guess all those heavy emotions I’ve been keeping these past months just all welled up on me.

Trying To Play God

And my last retort to my hubby was, “you couldn’t see my pain and understand how I feel because God is not in you.” Then hubby retaliated by saying he’d leave once this quarantine is over.

I told him that he can do it now if he wants to because he just doesn’t care about me knowing we can get the virus anytime, and I’d be alone here if ever I get sick. Then, after saying that, I went inside the bedroom sobbing.

When Pride Gets In The Way

Hubby followed me and apologized saying he couldn’t just leave me here, especially not this time. But I guess the enemy just took hold of my pride, so I didn’t accept his apology and told him to leave me and I wouldn’t want to talk to him for the rest of the day. This happened around lunchtime.

I took a pitcher of water and crackers because I planned on fasting for the day. I was crying so much that the only thing I could do was grab my devotion notebook, read my daily devotion, and pray, all at the same time.

A Cold Heart Has No Room For God

I can hear my husband cooking in the kitchen and watching a cooking video. I felt awful that I didn’t help him out. But then again, pride just got in the way and I told myself that I won’t forgive him because he just hurt me a lot with his awful words. But no, he didn’t curse nor shout.

I finished my devotion and yet there was still hatred in my heart. I was somehow expecting him to come back and apologize again, which I know he wouldn’t do because I already turned him down the first time he did it.

Don’t Let The Sun Go Down Angry

Then, the entire afternoon passed by until came midnight. I can hear him scuffling in the living room and washing the cooking utensils so I assumed he has already eaten.

My heart was so heavy and I kept on praying like how Jesus prayed to God while He was on the Cross. That may He take this cup of suffering from me and yet not my will but let His will be done.

Thorn In A Flesh

I guess at this point the enemy came close to blinding me with lies. He almost succeeded but I guess God heard my prayer. I thought so negatively about my husband that I saw him as the “thorn in my flesh” who tempts me to sin.

Thorn in my flesh. I looked up that phrase on the internet and I found one article from Desiring God. There was my rebuke. John Piper said in the article that a thorn in the flesh is a beautiful gift but it comes with so much pain.

God’s Power Works Best In Weakness

And yet this is the pain where God reveals our weakness because it is in our weakness that His power works best. His Grace will be displayed in our weakness. But no, my heart remained stubborn. I don’t want to talk to him and make amends.

But I guess the Spirit just won’t allow it I let the sun go down angry and with bitterness against my husband. Then, a chapter in the Bible came into my mind (Matthew 24) on how Jesus speaks about the future – how loved ones and friends will betray believers.

Jesus Speaks About The Future

I wanted to reread it just to know if it’s already happening now between me and my husband. I read the NLT version of the entire chapter, and yet betrayal of loved ones and friends in particular wasn’t mentioned.

So I read the entire chapter again and again until the last couple of verses resonated with me deeply. I guess this time Scripture was able to break down the wall of lies that the enemy has placed in my heart.

“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

– Matthew 24:45-51

Am I A Good Servant?

These verses are all about being a faithful and sensible servant and how God appointed him to look after other servants in the household and feed them. And that those who wouldn’t do what God has instructed will be torn into pieces and thrown into a pit where there will be gnashing of teeth.

I really felt like it was literally God’s message for me during this misunderstanding with my husband. Yes, I didn’t feed him and serve him, literally with food and figuratively of God’s love. God’s messages during this pandemic that kept on popping up in my devotion or in my heart are to serve one another in love and love one another as He has loved us.

How God Teaches Humility

Sadly, I failed God and yet He was so graceful to remind me once again of this calling. So I summed up the courage to go out of the room and talk to my husband. But there’s still a little bit of pride in me so I did go out but only to refill my pitcher with water.

Then this was where I was first struck down with humility. The rice that my husband cooked was untouched. So I checked out the dish rack and searched for eating utensils.

I found none. This only meant one thing – he didn’t eat the entire day (oh my dear Lord, what have I done 😭😭😭). So this slowly destroyed the enemy’s weapon. I went to my husband who’s seated in the dining table pretending not to notice me.

Be Ready To Forgive Always

I hugged him tight and kissed him in the forehead. I did that for a couple of minutes without saying anything because I was too convicted. Then it was my husband who apologized first and I followed it with my apology.

What pierced my heart even harder was when I asked him why he didn’t eat. He answered that he didn’t eat because I didn’t come out to eat, too. Oh my, more heart-wrenching moments there. I hugged him even tighter and apologized many times.

Being Unselflish Is A Way To God’s Heart

You see, hubby isn’t used to intermittent fasting. I told him he shouldn’t do that because it will shock his body. I, on the one hand, is used to it since we do it in church every now and then. He said it’s okay because we also need to lose weight since we did nothing but eat during the quarantine.

My consience though just won’t let him sleep through the night with an empty stomach. So I rummaged in our food shelves. Then I asked him to eat something even just a little to lessen the acid in his stomach, and we ate a couple of cupcakes together. The guilt and humility just all went through me.

God Shows Grace When We Least Deserve It

And it didn’t stop there. My husband who’s not used to not eating the entire day and fasted with me, came up to me while I was washing in the kitchen, hugged me, and said, “I really missed you today.”

Gaaaah, Lord, I’m so sorry for what I’ve done. 😦 I get it now. I’ve been doing this love thing wrong all this time. So, I looked at my husband and joked that we needed some “me” time and “me” space, too, since we live in a condo and we literally just rub elbows with each other often. I went on that we also need to apply social distancing even at home. This one made him laugh. 😉

A Beautiful Reminder

God used my husband – who may be or may not be my beautiful flesh in the thorn – to bring me pain that will make me a better servant. And I believe God knew this will happen. The night before this incident happened, we just started watching a series on Apple TV. And I know it’s not a coincidence that it’s entitled “Servant.”

And then just like how God sees everything, He reminded us gently about reality. This reality that we might actually die tomorrow, next week, or next month because of the pandemic. It’s as if He was asking us both why we’re wasting precious time on grudges and selfishness.

Letting Go Of Unforgiveness And Hatred

I did tell myself that I’d like to die at peace with everyone including him. This means there should be no room for bitterness, hatred, and unforgiveness. It’s just not the time for all of these.

All the more when this pandemic requires we die alone without any loved one beside us. We can never hug and kiss our loved ones or even hold their hands before we take our final breaths.

I know we wouldn’t want our last moments in this world full of regrets and not being able to make amends with people whom we have hurt or those who have hurt us. We no longer have the opportunity to do so. So yes, this is no longer the time for hate, but a time for love.

No matter how much we’re offended or how bitter we are by a lot of things, we can no longer let hatred linger in our hearts. Not in a time like this.

It Is Just All About Love

And I guess this is what God is trying to tell us. To “love others just like how I loved you.” To forgive others like how He has forgiven us. And to ask for forgiveness from Him and from others.

This is how God shifts our mindsets from seeing only what lies in front of us to realizing the bigger picture that lies ahead. It is about appreciating relationships more than ever. It is about being grateful and being accountable for the people He’s blessed you with. It is about celebrating what love is in the truest essence of the word. And lastly, it is about the simple things that we normally take for granted, but are actually more precious than money, silver, and gold.

Right now, I appreciate having my husband around. It made the quarantine more bearable, and it made me fully understand how it is to love my husband as a wife according to the standards of God’s Words. There are a lot of things that my husband does now, which made me realize I should be proud God married me to him.

Basically, that is all that God is asking from us now. Just. Plain. Love.

“We love each other because he loved us first.” – 1 John 4:19

Staying in love until the worst,