33 Things about my Life on my 33rd Birthday.

Today, I turn 33.

 

On a good note, I SO LOVE my early thirties.

I have been thinking a lot about what I have learned over the passed 32 years. How God blesses me each new day. 12,045 days of living on earth (whoa!) as I open my eyes welcoming my natal day, alive and well, I can say all my days are all new every morning. How great is God’s faithfulness.

Since I turn 33 today, I love to share 33 things about myself, my life in the world of blogging.

33 Things about my life on my 33rd.

1. I’m a Christian, a follower of our Lord Jesus Christ. I strive daily to keep my life centered on Him. I am in love with our Creator and cannot imagine myself doing anything without Him in my life. I’m able to write this post because of the skills He had given me. I am alive and have found the true meaning of life because of our Lord Jesus Christ. I thank Him not just for the blessings at the same time for all the challenges I faced, I’m facing and will face, for He’s continuously changing and shaping my life. He hones me to be a better testimony of His goodness and faithfulness although I don’t deserve it. The salvation that He has given me I know is the greatest gift I have ever received or will ever receive in my entire life. All the many wonderful people, things, moments, experience both ups & downs and countless blessings. I owe everything to Him and I pray that whatever this life brings me; He will find me faithful, strongly standing on my faith.

In my life, being a Christian is the main thing that best defines me.

 I really pray I can live and practice my faith for His greater glory.

I am nothing, without GOD.

Sharing this wonderful poem.

2. I love my family so much they are my priceless treasures. 2012 is quite a challenging year for me. This year I become an orphan. 1989, my Papa, in his 40’s passed away and this year my Mama in her 60’s, they finally went back home to be with the LORD. I terribly miss the feeling of having both of my parents alive. The more I realized their value in my life and my responsibilities of being the Ate. I miss Mama’s preparation for my birthday and everything about her, I miss her terribly.

3. I’m the eldest child, I have 3 younger sisters. So in our family, it’s Girl Power! My childhood memories with my siblings and cousins – one of the sweetest.

4. I admire most two women in my life. My Mama and my Aunt Agnes, they are God’s wonderful blessings. I thank God for using them to hone me to be the kind of person that I am now. A big part of who I am, it’s because of them. I have my flaws and imperfections but these two are the most kind, humble, understanding and generous women I ever met. In all my ups and downs, struggles, dreams that I fulfilled, they incessantly help and support me all the way. I will be forever grateful and I know I can never out give what they shared to me and with tearful eyes I want to express how much I love both of you.

5. I love reading and writing so much. I really miss doing it frequently. Most especially keeping diaries started penning when I was 10. I still try to write some journals but usually only when I travel. My favorite books of course the best book ever written – the Holy Bible and Amazing Results of Positive Thinking by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale.

6. I really miss all my long distant friends and family members. They are the ones that I don’t talk to often enough, but when I do it feels like we spoke yesterday. I have only a few true friends in life so I embrace special friendships.

7. I love laughing. I thank God for blessing me a natural sense of humor, I’m not bragging that attitude but if you’re that close to me, you’ll see that I have my funny side. I blurt out jokes without any intentions of joking. I can laugh really loud. Humor-tried and tested, it’s truly an effective method to lighten up; I also use it when I’m teaching.

8. I badly want to be a better writer, it’s my frustration. If I have a chance to choose another profession, I’ll choose to be a writer/journalist or maybe a lawyer.

9. I realized that teaching is my passion. I never thought that this will be my bread and butter. I so loved it that when I teach most of my students and colleagues will tell me that I don’t need a microphone my voice is so loud that they can hear me from the other rooms, and when I explain things, it’s so vivid and full of spontaneity. They usually ask me what’s the secret for all the energy. No more, no less my Creator, never ending gratitude to my Creator for the gifts He graciously gives. I thank God for allowing me to discover and do the things that I love and working for one’s own passion is one of the most incredible opportunities one could ever had.

10. I wake up students who are sleeping in my class although it happens very seldom, if I caught one, I ask them to go back to their dormitory if they want to sleep, but of course there will be consequences if one tries to, anyway no one dares to do it or else…

11. I love traveling, who doesn’t? I’ve been to several countries, and it’s filled with unforgettable and fascinating experiences for me. I usually plan all my travel trips and I avoid going thru a traveling agency. I manage to try adventures by learning as much as I can about the place that I’m going before I get there so I can prepare myself. Thinking ahead is an essential key to navigating any country or any city without burning out. I love strolling when I travel. Until my feet get sore, I don’t give up. I realized traveling on my own is more exciting.Thank God for allowing me to roam  His wonderful creations.

12. I don’t like rushing. I walk using my baby steps; I take time to do things, slowly but surely. Through this, I try to enjoy and appreciate my surroundings.

13. I have learned how to budget my finances through the years of being God’s channel of blessing in my family; it’s a skill that needs a lot of practice and experience. Nowadays our present world is full of beautiful things to tempt and lure us to spend much and it will never run out for sure, so having financial freedom is so essential for me.

14. I don’t drink milk; I puke if I tasted it, sounds weird. For example, I don’t put milk on top of “halo-halo” but I do eat fruit-salads, ice-creams (except for vanilla flavor) and leche flan, some people find it strange.

15. I drink too much caffeine; admittedly I’m a coffee-addict. My fave- Frappucinno Java Chip with no cream and black coffee medium blend. Like what I mentioned I don’t like the milky taste so even creamer is a no-no for me.

16. I had 3 boyfriends in my entire life haha, now this is what you call a confession. No flirting, MU and whatsoever, my first one at the age of 15, (puppy love) I used to be one of those teenagers who belong to the hopeless romantic club, please don’t judge me, its part of teenage life. Most of the relationships lasted for years and then gone, remember if it’s meant to be it’s meant-to-be. Moving on with my life I’m happy and blessed the last one is now my better-half and we’re on our way, going to our 6th year.

17. My bed, hotel beds, on the floor, in the car, on the train, on the plane doesn’t matter where as soon as my head is rested I would knock out and fall straight asleep even ‘a brigade of guards could march but sometimes it would not wake me up’ (lol). I love lying on my cozy bed just sleeping and relaxing, feeling so mellow & comfortable it’s so nice to just stretch, feel the warmth of my bed just embracing the peace of mind sleep graciously gives. I can have 12 hours straight sleep when there are no morning classes or appointments and during weekends, for sure a lovely day awaits me!

18. I don’t like wearing sneakers or the so called rubber shoes I think it makes me look shorter.

19. My favorite color is sky-blue, powder blue and all shades of blue. So if you want to make me happy even a simple thing with shades of blue can put a smile on my face.

20. I really used to admire Winnie d’ Pooh because of its sweet, naive look considering it’s a bear, not sure though of its gender. I have a pink Winnie d’ Pooh designed casual dress that I’d loved to wear way back college days and almost 12 years had passed when I went back home to Pinas for vacation surprisingly, I saw one of my younger sisters still wearing it (good quality).

21. I really don’t like hand washing clothes and also washing dishes. I would rather clean the house for a day, involve my self in general cleaning projects at home but washing uhhmm, my grips are not too strong. When I was young my late Dad asked me to repeat the dishes that I already washed not just once but sometimes I have to repeat it thrice, I can almost see my own image on the plates (lol). He kept on reminding me that as a girl I should learn how to do household chores properly and washing dishes should be one of my trainings. So, I won’t miss this chance of extending my gratitude to the inventors of washing machines with automatic dryer and also dish-washing machines two thumbs up to both of you, inventors really make our life easier.

22. I used to join Math and Spelling quiz bees, declamation contest when I was young but when I reached college days I was so confused with all the long complicated symbols, numbers, combined with the letters of the alphabet and so on just like Differential Equations, my brain nerves bleed with all those mind-blowing never-ending mathematical equations which are common in engineering courses. Papa was my disciplinarian tutor in my studies most especially in Math, it’s his forte. When he passed away I realized the value of having someone to teach and guide me in my studies, ever since then I have to do most of the homework, projects, lessons on my own. People, cherish your parents remember they are also growing old (once a famous quote shared on Facebook).

23. I always carry my precious camera. I take it everywhere with me wherever I go and take pictures. Memories captured on it are priceless.

24. I’m an acrophobic, I’ve developed fear of heights like hiking on mountains, riding roller coasters, cable cars, and visiting highest skyscrapers but still I tried them, most of the time I agreed ‘cause of peer pressure haha. I thank God for sustaining me to overcome it.

25. Any kind of “ginataan” is my favorite food and also pasta dishes. I think I could eat it for lunch and dinner every day!

26. When a cuisine is so good, I keep on talking  how delicious it is for so many days, what a long hang-over, the people around me maybe will be annoyed haha, ’cause I’m so kulit, and pauli-ulit.

27. I always have 20/20 vision, though I’m such a book-worm and a computer addict. Since birth I have never tried wearing eye-glasses and also contact lens for the sole purpose of reading or seeing clearly, maybe in the future but hopefully not too soon.

28. I’ve been a procrastinator in some areas of my life, I want some changes, but I just keep putting it off. I’m not proud of it and sincerely I hope to overcome it.

29. My favorite alone time is spent at a store; it could be in supermarkets, malls, bookstore sometimes even a convenience store. I’m just like a hunter, meticulously hunting for treasures.

30. I’ll splurge on bags, shoes and techie gadgets – they are my weaknesses, sometimes feeling guilty on buying them until a few years later when I know I’ve gotten my money’s worth. One more thing I avoid wearing painful shoes. They’re just not worth it. I now prefer flat ones and kitten heels, 2 inches high won’t hurt.

31. I’m quite moody; sometimes I just don’t feel like talking. I believe we have our mood swings. If I suddenly change the tone of my voice in a lower tone it means I’m not in the mood, the worst if ever I’m silent it means I’m pissed off about something.

32. I’d been bankrupt. I experienced how to own and ran a business a few years ago together with my two good friends; an outsourcing company, we tried so hard to establish it and it’s never easy. I was a novice then, should I say the three of us. After a few years things didn’t turn up well; we have to shut it down. I realized and learned a lot from that humbling experience and I can say looking back that’s one of the lowest points of my life. That part of my life, had taught me so many lessons. It’s been years  by God’ graciousness in my life He helps me all the way to recover just like in Job’s story in the Holy Bible, He blesses me in so many uncountable ways that’s incredibly far more than I imagine it to be. I’m able to be victorious in all those trials because I have a Victorious God who stand by me. Though there times I’m haunted by my greatest regret – it’s not about the lost investments, it’s the reality that I lost friends, friendships I once treasured most.  and though I haven’t seen them and I still wonder where they are now. With all sincerity I do wish and pray that wherever they are their lives are better, peaceful and happy.

33. I don’t fear death.  An added year on my age is a celebration it means I’m getting closer to the dawn of life. I’m looking forward to going home to my Creator. Nothing compares spending eternity with Jesus. No one knows but no matter how painful it is I believe there’s beauty in death, we will all pass away. I’m being reminded of recent memories when Mama’s physical body was being buried deeply underground, I told myself we will all pass away, that it is just the physical body. I know our final destination is not of this world, I thank the Lord for giving me an eternal life because this world is just temporary it will not lasts. Having just one life isn’t so bad if you live it to its fullest, fulfilling the purpose of God in one’s life. We’re blessed enough to be born on this planet, at this point of time. I enjoy it while I can. So while I’m still alive, I learn how to celebrate life. Getting older is something to celebrate.

 So on my natal day, on being 33,

I’m happily embracing my age.

Life is a gift, a gift from the Almighty Powerful God.

To all my friends and loved ones thanks for being a part of my life, for celebrating with me,  each one of you is God’s precious gift in my life.

Let’s celebrate life, Cheers!

You have not walked in my shoes, who are you to judge me wrongly?

Writing has always been and will always be a good therapy for me.

For this time I choose to vent my feelings rather than staying in silence.

Expressing my thoughts on things that are getting out of control need to find their way out of my mind.

I’m telling you right straight to your face, YOU DON’T KNOW ME!

I’ve only met you once and that doesn’t give you any right to judge me and say awful things about me. Don’t put the blame on me; don’t drop my name most especially in a public profile where the rest of the world can see it. And as of the moment I’m really, really pissed off because of what you did.

Who are you to judge me wrongly? Do you know my life? Do you know what I’ve been thru?

Are we even close enough for you to drag my name in a pit where you are in?

You don’t know what I’ve felt or what I feel right now. So, find something better to do with your time than making your wrong judgments. You know nothing about me. You have not been down my road.
Remember you have not cried my tears; you have not carried my cross.
Do you think you know my story?
Do you think you know me? You don’t even know me.
I will not step down to your level; I’m not that kind of person. Yes, I’m venting out my thoughts now, but I chose not to drag your name in public because I still have decency, I can do that if I want to but I prefer not to.

I don’t know if that word is even in your vocabulary, decency doesn’t reflect in your attitude. Putting my name on the spotlight filled with your wrong judgments defies your purpose of putting my life into shame. The embarrassment falls back on you, just like a boomerang.

I seldom get angry, unless you’ve really stretched my patience to its limit. I tried to be fair and understand the situation the best that I can – but you have stretched my limits. You have step into the barrier where your words are too degrading, damaging to my reputation. Don’t pass the blame on people even to me for what’s happening in your life, the consequences of your choices you must take the responsibility. I can look straight to your eyes without any guilty feelings. I’m not a hypocrite just like what you’re trying to tell and broadcast to everyone, if ever I help people I’m not expecting anything in return, I don’t ask them to be in debt of me because I myself had been in challenging situations wherein generous hands helped me in different trials I had been through. So why should I act as one that’s too proud because I was able to lend a hand to some? Each time I have chances to help someone I take it as a blessing because the Almighty chooses me to be a channel of blessing for them. It’s not because of my own goodness but because of God’s goodness in my life.

So, DON’T rush to your wrong judgments on an issue when YOU DON”T KNOW ME AT ALL.

Think a thousand times before you speak, sometimes saying things without thinking very often a thoughtless remark may hurt others’ feelings or cause a misunderstanding or an embarrassment. We must, therefore, always think before we speak.

If there’s one thing I always avoid myself to get into that is to get MAD. Well, to be honest I believe I reached my boiling point, it has reached to a certain extent wherein it’s about to explode, and I want it to explode straight to your face.

Most of the time I’ve tried to take control of my feelings, most especially anger because when I’m mad, there are times I feel I have absolutely no control over a situation, feelings of powerlessness. If I try to express what’s in me and you never even bothered to listen, I would just keep silent and I might never try to open up again. Silence will engulf the totality of me. But this time it’s different. This situation is a test for me. I still feel the anger because of what you did, though I know I should always have an open, humble and forgiving heart but sometimes it’s really difficult especially if that “trying to be fair attitude” will just be hypocrisy.

It reminds me of the old French saying “tout comprendre est tout pardonner” –
“to understand everything is to forgive everything.” It is so easy to make wrong judgments about a person on a superficial level without understanding what is behind a person acting as she does. Sometimes what you don’t know about a person is more significant than what you do, on a slight acquaintance.

I’ve been ridiculed…
I’ve been persecuted…
I’ve been abused…
I’ve been lost…
I’ve been vulnerable…
And I’ve been at my worst.

Through all my pains…
Through all my nightmares…
Through all my failures…
Through all my anxieties…
Through all my loneliness…
Through all my weaknesses…

His Word comforted me.

It has been a steep, rocky road and I’ve been wounded along the way. But I’m telling you my heart just won’t give up! I had chosen this road, because God has chosen me first.

I have to finish the fight. I won’t give up. People like you can’t put me down.

God knows the truth. I gain my strength from Him.

Remember, you have not walked in my shoes, you were not there at all. Take time to judge yourself before judging anyone else.

In Matthew 7:4-5, Jesus says, ” Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.”

A good judge will not fail to judge himself. DON’T rush into your wrong judgments, for judgments should be rendered compassionately and in conformity with the facts.

You have not walked in my shoes, you were not there at all.

Staring at a Blank Wall.

It is true that we have become calloused of the the things in life we have become accustomed to. A difficult premise without feeling guilty, taking things around us for granted.

Just this late afternoon, I found myself staring at a blank white painted wall which I took for granted for quite sometime. I’d passed this wall almost everyday of my life but for now I looked at it in a different way.It’s just like my eyes were deeply attracted to its simplicity and individuality.

Blank Wall

Clock ticks, still I keep myself staring at a blank white wall.

Yes, I just did it over and over again. Allowing time to passed, staring at the wall in front of me. Letting my thoughts to viciously escape from my being.

Sometimes, though, there’s just the blank wall to stare, though there are no patterns to see though it all just looks blank…

I found beauty in it’s nothingness.

Plain, simple, pure.

Unclogging one’s mind. Freeing oneself.

Going back to basics, going back to simplicity.

The wall is just blank, where answers are nowhere to be found, nor even questions.

Just like in life we don’t always have the answers, or even where to look for it.And as we look all the harder, the more we can’t find what we’re seeking.

Because we’re looking at pointless directions, leading into a wrong journey. We can’t find it because we’re not seeking for the right way.

Aren’t you tired of seeking self-glory?

Aren’t you tired of living life just for yourself?

Aren’t you tired of loving yourself too much?

Aren’t you tired filling your walls with so many vain things, complicated patterns, running through and through?

Wherein everything just leads to selfishness filled with patterns of I, myself and me.

Look around, stare at your walls, what do you see?

I hope you recognize, you’re not alone, that this life is not all about you.

Sometimes we just have to admit the wall is blank.

Sometimes now is the best time to amend changes for new beginnings.

So if once again we stare at a blank wall, I hope now we’ll see the happiness of life through it’s simplicity and purity.

THE CARROT, EGG AND THE COFFEE

 

A friend forwarded me an article that is so interesting I want to share it with you.

 

The title of the article is this.

Are you a carrot, an egg or coffee?

A daughter complained to her father about her life and how things were so hard for her. She said, “Father, I do not know how I am going to make it. I just feel like giving up. I’m tired of fighting and struggling.

It seems as though every time one of my problems is solved, a new one comes along. I just can’t take it anymore.”

Her father took her to the kitchen. He filled three pots with water and placed them each on high heat. Soon the pots came to a boil. In one pot of boiling water, he placed carrots. In the second, he placed eggs, and in the last pot, he placed coffee beans. He let them sit and boil, without saying a word.

The daughter impatiently waited, wondering what he was doing.

Twenty minutes later, he turned off the burners. He strained the water from the carrots and placed them in a bowl. He lifted the eggs out and placed them in another bowl. Then he ladled the steaming coffee into a bowl.

Turning to her he asked, “What do you see?” “Carrots, eggs, and coffee,” she replied. He brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft and mushy. He then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee. She smiled as she tasted its flavor and smelled the rich aroma.

She humbly asked, “But what does it mean, Father?” He explained that each of them had been plunged into boiling water, but each had reacted differently. The carrot went into the water strong and hard but after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.

The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its soft, liquid interior. But after sitting in the boiling water, it became hard on the inside.

The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, the water did not really change them. They changed the water!

“Which are you?” the father gently asked his daughter.

“When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you more like a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?”

How about you? Are you the carrot that started out strong and hard long ago, but with the pain and adversity of your life struggles, did you become soft and lose your strength? Are you the egg that started out soft inside? Were you a fluid spirit, but after the pain of death, abuse, rejection, poor health, divorce, or a layoff, have you become hardened? Your outer shell might look the same, but have you become hard-boiled and toughened in your spirit and your heart?

Or are you like the coffee bean? The bean that was plunged into the rapidly boiling water actually changed the hot water and gave it flavor and aroma, reaching its peak flavor at 212 degrees Fahrenheit! THAT IS HOT WATER!

When people say bad things about you, do your praises to the Lord continue or do you blame Him? When the hour is the darkest and your trials are their greatest, does your worship elevate to a higher level or do you desert Him?

When you feel burdened by your own troubles, do you still reach out and help others? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean? When you get plunged into hot water, anything that is bringing you pain, like being plunged into the adversities of life, be like the coffee bean. When things are at their worst, you will get stronger and make things better around you, and … you will always leave a fragrance.

You know what?

The article is so nice I don’t want to add anything to it anymore.

So, which are you…a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?

Mama, in loving memory of you.

Looking back, I had written this post for my dear Mama last year for Mother’s Day. I love and I miss her so much, this time I have to face my greatest fear of losing her. Now that she’s peacefully with our Almighty Father,  I want to share this to remind myself, our family and all the people who loved her of the beautiful memories she left us.

Mama, this is in loving memory of you.

It  is virtually impossible, describing a mother’s love.

It is a feeling that can only truly be understood by those that experience it.

I can’t imagine, Where would I be without Mama?

 I once have all these worries when I almost lost my Mom but with God’s never ending grace to us, to me He always saved my Mom. I thank GOD for everything, God knows that my Mom is one of my sources of strength, I already lost my father and I know I can’t afford to loose my Mom, I’ve been pleading to HIM not now, not yet, bless us with more days with her, happier days. I treasure my Mom so much because I’ve seen and experienced for quite a number of times how her life was put into a test, due to illness, she had heart attacked several times, she had stroke for almost ten times, the  amazing thing of all our good LORD always saved her, always lengthen her days, her life and I will be forever grateful for that.

Looking back, I am always reminded of the fighting spirit that she always showed to us. The smile, the tears, the laughter, the sadness that we shared together. Being the eldest in the family, I and my Mom often have our heart to heart talk about our lives, decisions to  be made, arguments,so many memories together, we are magkatuwang in almost everything. I’ve seen how much she had tried her very best to provide us a good life, her being the mother and the father in the family, it’s not easy. I remember all those nights that I would wait for her to come home sometimes late at night and I could see the tiredness in her eyes to earn a living for us, I silently uttered a prayer always for God to give her more strength and seeing this situation, it has continuously inspired me to do better in things that I do so that one day I can help her. I’ve told myself one day I could give her the best in life and I thank GOD for allowing me to do so.

 As I am writing this post I started to cry because once again I am being reminded how deeply blessed I am, we are for having Mama. And I would not want to miss this chance to once again let her know how much love I have for her. I had written several poems, stories about and because of her.

 I have so many memorable days with Mama and up to now we are counting and adding more memories, but there’s one of the many that’s so memorable to me it was a day before my birthday, a day before she had a major stroke and we have to rush her to the hospital. But not all people knew that night before, the last thing she even thought of was the preparation for my birthday. Mama knocked on my room and asked me ” What dishes will we have for your birthday, tomorrow? What preparations we have to make?”. We talked and then went back to our bedroom, calling it a  night. But then again a few minutes later, my sister was banging the door of my room,” “Ate, Mama’s having an attack” and so the story goes…On that day, my birthday we were at the hospital, at the Heart Center and I’m still in my pajamas but I don’t care anymore how I look as I am trying to hold back my tears, asking for strength, I just care for her nothing else. She’s in coma, I can’t bear seeing her in that condition, especially being the eldest I have to show courage but deep inside I am slowly tearing apart. I knew my Mom was also counting on me.

 When I saw her lying on bed, I just held her hands and prayed. My mother was barely able to let the words escape her lips. An ineffable fear and pain came over me. My mother and I both held each other and shed tears of pain and the unexpected. On that moment,  I saw strength in Mama, though she’s in a coma I know she could hear me,  my eyes filled with tears I whispered to her, ” we will get through this, just be strong, we got to be strong for each other, God is good everything will be fine with God’s help, don’t worry, you’ll be okay, don’t give up.”  I will never forget that moment. The main force that kept me with a positive attitude was the love, and support from family, friends and most of all my faith in GOD.

 Throughout the most trying time in her life, she remained solid as a rock. Thankfully, she is a “survivor” with God’s help.

 Through the years, the more I realized that she’s really a woman of true strength, her courage and determination has withstood the test of time and these things has a great influence on me on how I view life. Honestly, I have never seen anyone overcome a hurdle quite like these with such abundant grace from GOD considering how many times she’s been in and out of the hospital.

 The more I realized it’s really the wonderful works and  miracles of GOD. He’s in control of everything, our life, my Mama’s life. God has taken this astonishing victory in our lives, I know it’s all because of HIM.

 Our  hardships and experiences together  have given me strength, determination, and character. I now see the value of life and all that it has to offer. I awake every morning considering each day a blessing from above and a true gift, knowing Mama is with us, alive and well.

 The Almighty blesses us the greatest mom in the entire world for a number of reasons. It is simply not possible to express my love and admiration for Mama,  not only is she the most compassionate woman I know, but she is the strongest, most understanding mother and my best friend. She would do anything for anyone, never expecting a thing in return. She has a heart that one can only love, and a drive for life to inspire.

 Mama,  We love you so much…

I LOVE YOU, I’ve been deeply blessed because I have you. 

Thank you for everything.

 Quoting these words:

 “And more than anything, a Mother is God’s wonderful gift,  she is the one person in the whole, wide world you can always come back to. No matter what you’ve done. Because wherever she is – is home. “

The purest and deepest love comes from a mother’s heart. The bond between mother an   child is stronger than anything on this earth. The seeds planted by a mother’s love, remain in her child’s heart for a lifetime.“

 I pray the love of God will touch the lives of  all the mothers, everyday.

Life is a MIST.

To be in silence, slow pace of life is needed to contemplate if you’re still living a “life”.

There are times I just want to be in silence, serene, just in tune with my inner-self with GOD and this is one of those days. I remembered the words in scripture that “Everything is vain, all these things will pass.”.

There are times I told myself I think too much, thinking deep thoughts,

and I ended up writing my thoughts  once again.

“A lot of people asked “what’s life purpose?”. One definite answer is to live for GOD, your Creator no more, no less. Unless you find this truth you’ll keep on searching and going on different pointless directions. Live for HIM and everything else will fall into its place ’cause He’ll do everything to bless you and give meaning into your life. :)”

I just posted these words in my FB status because basically first thing in the morning I thought of this.

Life is just a mist.

Life here is temporary.

Life will soon pass.

Life needs purpose.

Most of us had made ourselves believed that we found our purpose and we’re living it. But still if we’ll look around us we’ll see so many living their lives with no direction eventhough they thought of that they already living their purpose.

Souls roaming around , having a good time with everything that they have worked hard for.

Partying.Shopping.Eating.Drinking.Traveling.Sleeping.Chatting. Facebooking.Blogging. Twittering.Working.etc.

Acquiring fame,wealth,power,knowledge,position,love from others,pride.

and so the list goes for all the “-ing”- form of the verbs.

But are these enough?

Will it satisfy the longings of one’s deeper soul?

Will it really gives true joy, happiness?

Is this everything life has to offer?

There must be something more profound, meaningful beyond all of these.

Maybe some will say who are you to judge what brings happiness to someone’s life.

Well, I know I’m not in the position. It’s hard to say and I don’t want to sound judgmental.

But how many have ask themselves this question ” What’s my purpose in life?”.

Soon, I’ll be thirty-three and I may have lived almost half of my life span, only my Creator knows.

There are times this question still hits me…Have I really lived my purpose?

It’s hard to tell especially when you feel that there’s still something you can do,

something best that you can give not for ones’ self nor for others but for GOD.

“Oh yeah here she goes again, trying to sound holy, religious, righteous.”

(maybe a few will think in this way ).

Should I say I don’t care what others think, well I’ll be a hypocrite if I’ll say that.

I care more on what my Abba Father will say.

But I can’t help it, my life has changed ever since He found me, I’m living my life for HIM.

Yes, still there are struggles, setbacks, failures, disappointments.

But now my life has direction.

I’m truly happy.

Not just because of all the material blessings or things that this world consider precious and essential.

But because I come to know the Almighty.

The Giver of  Life.

The Great Provider.

The Source of Everything.

The Creator.

The creation has came to know personally her Creator.

I thank GOD, He found me.

As I stare around and keenly observing people’s lifestyle around me.

As I read stories, watch news about the world.

Still there are so many who are lost and keep on searching.

We can draw ourselves to what we thought will make us happy.

Maybe on what others advice us of what will make us happy.

The reality, the only truth is unless we live our lives for our Creator, that’s the only time that we can truly say

“I’ve known and lived my purpose.”

It’s a life changing experience.

Really the truth, one definite answer is to live for GOD, your Creator no more, no less.

Unless you find this truth you’ll keep on searching and going on different pointless directions.

Live for HIM and everything else will fall into its place.

He’ll do everything to bless you and give meaning into your life.

It assure us that this life journey has a clear ending.

and that is to be with HIM in eternity.

Everything shall pass but the journey knowing the true living GOD will never come to an end.

I hope and sincerely pray , Thy will be done in mankind.

That though life is just like  a mist, this mist should only find its way going to one direction,towards the Almighty.

For only in HIS presence one’s life purpose is fully, completely fulfilled.

Happy Thanksgiving Day – Say Thank You to our Creator

Psalms of Thanksgiving and Praise

Say Thank You to God

There are times when awe and gratitude overwhelm us, whether we’re seeing a sunset, watching a child laugh or just appreciating a special moment. These are the moments when we just want to thank God for the good things in our lives, and praise God for the amazing world around us.  The Book of Psalms is full of beautiful words that do just that.

Psalm 92: How Great Are Your Works

 

It is good to praise the Lord
and make music to your name, O Most High,
to proclaim your love in the morning
and your faithfulness at night,
to the music of the ten-stringed lyre
and the melody of the harp.
For you make me glad by your deeds, O Lord;
I sing for joy at the works of your hands.
How great are your works, O Lord,
how profound your thoughts!

Psalm 92:1-5

Psalm 107: His Love Endures Forever

 

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
His love endures forever.

Psalm 107:1

Psalm 95: The Mountain Peaks Belong to Him

 

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before him with thanksgiving
and extol him with music and song.
For the Lord is the great God,
the great King above all gods.
In his hand are the depths of the earth,
and the mountain peaks belong to him.

Psalm 103: Praise His Holy Name

 

Praise the Lord, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits-
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
The Lord works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:
The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

 

Psalm 117: Praise the Lord, All Nations

 

Praise the Lord, all you nations;
extol him, all you peoples.
For great is his love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.
Praise the Lord.

Psalm 117:1-2

Psalm 100: We are the Sheep

 

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his ;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 145: Make Music

 

Praise the Lord.
How good it is to sing praises to our God,
how pleasant and fitting to praise him!
…
Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;

make music to our God on the harp.

Psalm 147:1 and 147:7

Psalm 98: Let the Mountains Sing

 

Sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done marvelous things;
his right hand and his holy arm
have worked salvation for him.
The Lord has made his salvation known
and revealed his righteousness to the nations.
He has remembered his love
and his faithfulness to the house of Israel;
all the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth,
burst into jubilant song with music;
make music to the Lord with the harp,
with the harp and the sound of singing,
with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—
shout for joy before the Lord, the King.
Let the sea resound, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it.
Let the rivers clap their hands,
Let the mountains sing together for joy;
let them sing before the Lord,
for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples with equity.

Psalm 98:1-8

Psalm 118: Give Thanks to the Lord

 

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
His love endures forever.

Psalm 118:1

Psalm 145: God’s Wonderful Works

 

I will exalt you, my God the King;
I will praise your name for ever and ever.
Every day I will praise you
and extol your name for ever and ever.
Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.
One generation will commend your works to another;
they will tell of your mighty acts.
They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
They will tell of the power of your awesome works,
and I will proclaim your great deeds.
They will celebrate your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love.
The Lord is good to all;
he has compassion on all he has made.
All you have made will praise you, O Lord;
your saints will extol you.

Psalm 111: He Provides Food

 

Praise the Lord.
I will extol the Lord with all my heart
in the council of the upright and in the assembly.
Great are the works of the Lord;
they are pondered by all who delight in them.
Glorious and majestic are his deeds,
and his righteousness endures forever.
He has caused his wonders to be remembered;
the Lord is gracious and compassionate.
He provides food for those who fear him;
he remembers his covenant forever.

Psalm 111:1-5

Psalm 105: Call on His Name

 

Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name;
make known among the nations what he has done.
Sing to him, sing praise to him;
tell of all his wonderful acts.
Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
Look to the Lord and his strength;
seek his face always.

Psalm 105:1-4

Psalm 104: He Make the Clouds His Chariot

 

Praise the Lord, O my soul.
O Lord my God, you are very great;
you are clothed with splendor and majesty.
He wraps himself in light as with a garment;
he stretches out the heavens like a tent
and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters.
He makes the clouds his chariot
and rides on the wings of the wind.
He makes winds his messengers,
flames of fire his servants.
He set the earth on its foundations;
it can never be moved.

Psalm 104:1-5

My LOVE for Writing…

My love for writing pours from deep within , a love for prose and verse, words to express my thought and emotions. It helps me to express my joys and pains. Every time I feel I have so much deep within and I want to let it out, I write.

TThe first syllable of my name  is “Riz” which comes from the name of our national hero “Rizal”, to be specific Jose Rizal. It’s my late dear father who gave me that name since I was born on Rizal Day. What’s the connection, well Jose Rizal is one of the greatest writers in the Philippines, he had written  a lot of famous novels, books to express his longing desire for his country’s freedom and independence just like ” El Filibusterismo’ and “Noli Me Tangere”. I’m aware I can never be as great as he is, being our national hero but at least I can try to write my thoughts in my own simple and creative way.

 

As I’m writing this post, I am thinking how could the love for something that you do starts,

is it just like a wild plant that sprouts out in the wilderness?  I remember one of my friends  probed me about about writing, she asked  ” How could you write so many words and a very long post, wherein I could not even start one simple poem or a short article, or even have any idea on how to start?”. I told her, well it comes and pours from within. For me, I believe that if you really like to do something and you love doing it, you just don’t stop there, you will do something to improve yourself , to be better, to push yourself to the limit, to find time to do it. That’ why every once in a while I try my best to post something and write diverse topics of different genre. When I was young I have  diaries and I still keep those old diaries up to now, that’s how I value it. The scratch papers that I used for my drafts that others might consider as trash, I still keep it in a box and asked my family not to open it and take good care of it until I go back home,it’s one of  my priceless treasures.

 

I have always loved writing.  From the time I could pick up a pencil and paper I have always liked to write my ideas and thoughts.  It has always been a good way for me to clear my head, organize my thoughts and relax, it’s also a form of a good therapy for me.

It doesn’t matter what mood I am in I can write about a happy experience, or something that has made me sad or something that disappointed me. It doesn’t matter when and where I am as well, I’ve tried writing at the cemetery , on a train, on the plane, in a coffee shop, at a store, in a restaurant, in the restroom, at a bar, in the office, in class during break-time, on the mountain while hiking, in my room most of the time and so forth. As I looked back I realized so many things about my life, as I read all the words that I had written sometimes i can’t help to be in tears, tears of joy because the memories… it’s all coming back vividly whenever I read it.

It’s just like what Steve Pavlina had written on his blog, listing his reasons why he loves writing- apparently, Steve stumbled upon the tactic on accident — according to his post, he’d originally meant to write “20 Things…” and made a typo, and, on a whim, decided to keep the extended number — but it’s an excellent number “200′.

“Initially the ideas flowed as quickly as I could type them. Most of them were ego-based surface thoughts along the lines of success, achievement, recognition, and so on. Once I got those out of the way, I slowed down considerably for the second half of the list and felt like I was connecting more deeply. Some of those items gave me a strong emotional hit. By the time I reached the end of the list, I felt a much deeper sense of gratitude for the opportunity to write. I also had a clearer sense of which reasons were truly meaningful to me and which were socially conditioned responses.”

Being a frustrated writer, I could understand how he feels about it.

I thought some people might find it interesting why I love writing, especially other writers or bloggers. So I’m sharing the full  and this was all stream of consciousness, so expect to see some redundancy.

1. humor
2. being witty
3. getting positive feedback
4. getting links
5. seeing people comment on my work on other sites
6. spawning interesting discussions
7. helping people grow
8. sharing myself
9. baring my soul
10. being honest
11. coming up with great new insights
12. being creative
13. expressing myself
14. connecting with my higher self
15. connecting with other people
16. making friends
17. building a reputation
18. earning income
19. being successful
20. being good at writing
21. being a popular writer
22. having lots of readers
23. seeing people extend and refine my ideas
24. seeing people make my ideas their own
25. seeing people apply my ideas
26. seeing people get positive results with my ideas
27. seeing people follow my advice and have it work for them
28. seeing people have a-ha moments
29. raising people’s awareness
30. creating a large body of work
31. doing good quality work
32. being in the zone
33. experiencing flow
34. experiencing timelessness
35. being enthusiastic about the flow of ideas
36. reading an article I wrote and knowing it’s good
37. anticipating a positive reception for something I wrote
38. being able to write anywhere
39. using my laptop and writing in public places
40. being inspired
41. incubating ideas
42. writing a cool series
43. building web traffic
44. seeing people debate my ideas
45. stimulating people
46. waking people up
47. disturbing people
48. writing a piece I’m proud of
49. coming up with truly elegant wording
50. writing poetry
51. coming up with new ideas that work for me
52. inspiring myself
53. tapping into a source beyond my ego
54. experiencing oneness
55. tuning in
56. being free
57. being free to write about whatever I want
58. owning my own outlet to write
59. getting thank you cards and letters in the mail
60. hearing people’s stories
61. seeing the word writer next to my name
62. opening up with people
63. letting people get to know me
64. transforming painful lessons into inspiring stories
65. turning my life into a lesson
66. living by example
67. being responsible
68. doing what’s right
69. feeling fulfilled
70. knowing the flow of ideas is endless
71. being satisfied
72. feeling connected to other writers
73. being an authority
74. writing for myself
75. writing for people I know
76. expressing myself through written language
77. having a global reach
78. connecting with people I’ve never met
79. changing lives of people I’ve never met
80. making a positive difference
81. changing people for the better
82. changing myself for the better
83. feeling connected
84. turning off my ego
85. turning my back on fear
86. expressing courage
87. writing daily
88. enjoying the flow of fingers on the keyboard
89. hearing the clanking of the keys
90. typing fast
91. brainstorming
92. finding the third alternative
93. doing something unique
94. writing something new
95. writing something that never existed before
96. adding to the substance of the universe
97. creating information out of thought
98. manifesting pure thought in physical form
99. putting nonlinear concepts into a linear structure
100. storytelling
101. coming up with good analogies
102. simplifying complicated ideas
103. being understood
104. being loved
105. being loving
106. allowing people to know me
107. bypassing people’s surface selves
108. connecting with people’s true selves
109. communicating soul to soul
110. sharing energy
111. expressing divinity
112. being wrong
113. accepting all outcomes
114. being detached from outcomes
115. letting people know I care about them
116. reminding people they aren’t alone
117. giving hope to people who’ve lost hope
118. encouraging people who are discouraged
119. learning from mistakes
120. being kind
121. being generous
122. giving without expecting anything in return
123. being human
124. teaching people it’s OK to make mistakes
125. teaching people not to be so afraid
126. releasing my own fears
127. hugging people through words
128. showing people we are the same
129. remembering that I’m not alone
130. building a community
131. seeing people support each other
132. bringing light to darkness
133. seeing someone smile
134. deepening my connection
135. growing
136. changing
137. changing my mind
138. disagreeing with what I’ve written
139. knowing I’m on the right path
140. knowing this is what I’m meant to do
141. knowing that writing is good
142. seeing the good in other people
143. helping people see the good in themselves
144. preventing a suicide
145. helping people embrace life
146. helping people reconnect with what matters to them
147. being a teacher
148. being a student
149. sharing discoveries
150. making people laugh
151. making people cry
152. writing while crying
153. writing something powerful
154. writing something profound
155. writing truth
156. empowering people
157. helping people raise their standards
158. seeing people happier
159. changing the world
160. shedding the nonessential
161. understanding essence
162. knowing people by knowing myself
163. egoless writing
164. writing for the planet
165. writing for the highest good of all
166. heart-centered writing
167. being discouraged and still being able to encourage someone else
168. writing in the dark
169. seeing a blank screen and knowing it will soon be full
170. writing without fear
171. writing as Source
172. becoming one with the ideas
173. becoming nothingness
174. becoming pure awareness
175. losing awareness of my fingers typing
176. listening to music while writing
177. smelling vanilla
178. instant publishing
179. watching birds outside my window
180. writing about my family
181. feeling good while writing
182. writing peacefully
183. writing all day
184. losing track of time
185. becoming my writing
186. reading something I wrote and not remembering I wrote it
187. writing for a timeless reader
188. writing for people who aren’t born yet
189. knowing my writing can outlive my body
190. reincarnating in a future life to read what I wrote in this one
191. loving to write
192. being in a state of joy
193. wanting to write even though I don’t have to
194. writing even when I think I have nothing to say
195. being surprised at what comes out of me
196. being relaxed
197. writing on paper
198. writing with a candle burning
199. writing for no reason at all
200. writing by being instead of doing

200 reasons, whew that’s a lot.  It only shows that when you have passion in what you do you’ll find hundreds or even uncountable reasons to do it.

 

How about you? Consider making  a list of why would you love to do something or like to start to do something. Don’t let the hustle and bustle of life, blocks you from doing things, obviously everybody knows life is too short, it’s limited. We should have the initiative to choose,try and enjoy things that we love to do, let’s make a reasonable and intelligent choice to start to put it into action.  It gives essence to our being.

My Love for Writing is a gift from my Creator , for everything that I have comes only from One source and that’s GOD, the Giver of everything , what I do with His gifts and talents is my way of saying Thank You to HIM.

Oh! How I love writing …

Sa Baligtad kong Mundo

Ibinaba ko ang telepono, napaupo  sa isang sulok.

Pumikit ako.

Tila biglang tumigil ang pag-ikot ng mundo.

Naramdaman kong nangingilid ang mga luha sa aking mga mata.

Hindi ko na namalayan nang tumulo ang mga luha mula sa aking mga mata.

Babaybayin na naman ba ang mundong ito na nakagapos sa isang bagay na walang katiyakan?

Batid ko isang araw hindi na ako iiyak,

hindi na papatak ang mga luha.

Subalit hindi sa mundong ito.

Kung hindi sa baligtad kong mundo…

” Kung minsan may mga saloobing mas mabuting sarilinin na lang dahil kailangan, tanging ang Maykapal lamang ang laging handang makinig…Salamat sa Kanya.”