When we are hurt what do we do? Do you avenge? Do you fire back at them? Do you curse their lineage? Do you dump your friendship? Do you forgive and forget?
Most of us easily just do everything but forgive and forget. A lot of us would say that we forgive this person but will never forget what they did. If so, where's forgiveness then? A couple of weeks ago, during our T4V, we talked about forgiveness and how wonderful feeling can it give us once we practice doing so. However, as human beings, we just opt not to because we're hurt. One thing that struck me the most was that the reason why we cannot forgive is the fact that we just acknowledge that we are hurt that's why we cannot move on and by moving on means that we have to forgive first. We cannot do this the other way around. Just today, I felt a big thug in my heart for I was hurt by someone who is so dear to me. Without her knowing it, she did hurt me.
It all started when she hurt the people around our circle even those who are outside looking in and trying to get in to the impenetrable membrane of our group. She ripped them off their property and possession. I may sound very accusing but I know that there has been tarnished trust and damaged relationships. I would talk to her and verify if there's a sight of truth somewhere and she did but people are saying otherwise. I would in turn talk to each individual and they would say otherwise. At first, I gave her the benefit of the doubt that this person may have been a victim of a black propaganda however, as the week’s progress, names are popping out of no where and the stories are overwhelming.
One night, as I was preparing for work, I received a very concerning and alarming call from this person. She was ripped off by the sidewalk! I was so concerned about her and wanted to just get there to show support and to tell her that I'm here for her. When I stepped in, I went straight to her and made sure that I ask her how she was really and she said [while sobbing] that she's not okay. I hugged her and told her I'm here for her. The night progressed and I saw smirking look from a lot of people which I confirmed when one soul came up to me and told me that she doesn’t believe her. Of course, I asked what happened and what made her say her claim then the stories started pouring out. This person ripped off a lot of her friends and those outside looking in. I then talked to her what really happened so the cycle started all over.
Today, she's not here and people are waiting for her arrival because they are waiting for their prized possessions are returned to them but they failed. I confronted her through SMS and told her what's happening and all that but she gave me the entire alibi she can provide me. Towards the end of the day, the people gathered and I gathered more information about what went really wrong. As I try to dig deeper to the issue, I was still able to preserve my poise and kept my cool however, somewhere in my heart, I know that there are questions that I want her to answer. Then I and 3 more souls went up to take a little break when one of them said something that broke my heart. I cannot put things in detail but this person tarnished my integrity with our common ground. I know there's truth somewhere but what she said was totally unacceptable. I got my heart broken and checked my heart how's it doing now given these facts.
Honestly, I am deeply hurt but I don’t feel bad at all. I admit something went wrong down the road and there are a lot of favors that I did for her but shall I forgive her? YES and another YES for that. I don't want to get stuck on the fact that I am just hurt. I also want to move on because at the end of the day, she's still my sister in Christ. As mentioned in Matthew 6:12 "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors." It was also mentioned in Luke 6:37 "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven." Who am I to judge? Who am I to condemn? Who am I not to forgive? Jesus Christ forgave us PERIOD. No IFs. No BUTs. He did not say "I will forgive you because you were good in giving your tithes and I will not forgive that person for he did not give his tithe." In God there is no uncertainty. He is unchanging so as His Love for us. Yes, I am hurt but I forgave her. I love her because Jesus loves me.
My heart may be hurting and crying right now but God will give me rest, calm me and ultimately will comfort me. I will forgive for this is what God did for me --- He forgave my past, present and future sins so who am I not to forgive?
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
[Blog] My God, My Healer
I was anticipating for the power of God to come upon us last time. It was the second installment of our series and there was nothing more evident in the New Testament than the greatness of God in healing people - physically and spiritually. This gospel is very common to everyone perhaps, you have heard this so many times already only that You do not know what lies beyond the words printed in the Bible. Since Jesus became so popular in their land, people were all anticipating what will be his next move but little do they know, they would be grossed out by what they will be seeing that day.
One day, as Jesus went along, He saw a man who was blind from birth. People of their generation were speculating who sinned that this curse came upon their family and it was too unfortunate that he has to bear the burden of blindness. Unlike the previous stories in the Bible, people would cry out to Him to get healed, but not this man. He did not even care but Jesus did so he spat on the ground, played it with the dust of the floor and made mud out of it. If I were in His time, I would be grossed out and think what is this man doing? With all anticipation, this is what I'd see? GOSH! After seeing this, He simply instructed the mane to wash his eyes in the pool of Siloam then a miracle happened -- HE WAS ABLE TO SEE! Another miracle happened and I'm very sure people rejoiced to know this. But this is not what happened. Instead of rejoicing in seeing this miracle, they doubted; they questioned and; they did not believe. People started speculating if the man was really blind at all. The man was asked not even once nor twice but a lot of times by the unbelievers. The Pharisees asked him and his parents if indeed was he blind all these years. The man was healed but why can't accept the fact that he was healed by the man people say is the Son of God?
One realization I had after hearing this service that we can see in faith without seeing. Confused? Yeah. probably. Most likely but have we asked ourselves, do we really believe that God can do this - heal people? One afternoon back in college, our psychology professor asked us "how can you describe red to someone who was blind since birth?" We were dumbfounded and we were left at awe thinking that our mad professor stuck again! Since she has the baton, we tried to answer but we all failed to even conceive something in our head that we know would never be possible at all. Then she said, "Put your hand on your chest and feel your heartbeat. Your heart pumps blood in your body that keeps you alive and this blood is colored RED. So long as you feel your blood flows in your body, so you know what red is." We were like WHAT?!?! But this can be true to anyone who never had seen red at all. We can always say that one is wrong because we have our own belief but this blind person does not have anything to compare his own version of red but to himself.
I call this one FAITH. This word is so vast that would question us how much do we know about God. We say that we believe that God will do things wonderfully for us; that He is a promise-keeping God; that He is the beginning and the end; that he is the best provider ever; but do we actually believe these things? The man in last Sunday's gospel is a man of Faith. When he was blind - he did not have any belief at all but when he was freed from his blindness, he believed that the Son of God healed him even if he did not have any idea who that person really was. Was it really the Son of God or another demon in disguise?
I will leave the thinking to y'all. It was not our eyes that was freed from blindness. What was it really for you? Think and ask God to guide you in knowing the truth in darkness.
One day, as Jesus went along, He saw a man who was blind from birth. People of their generation were speculating who sinned that this curse came upon their family and it was too unfortunate that he has to bear the burden of blindness. Unlike the previous stories in the Bible, people would cry out to Him to get healed, but not this man. He did not even care but Jesus did so he spat on the ground, played it with the dust of the floor and made mud out of it. If I were in His time, I would be grossed out and think what is this man doing? With all anticipation, this is what I'd see? GOSH! After seeing this, He simply instructed the mane to wash his eyes in the pool of Siloam then a miracle happened -- HE WAS ABLE TO SEE! Another miracle happened and I'm very sure people rejoiced to know this. But this is not what happened. Instead of rejoicing in seeing this miracle, they doubted; they questioned and; they did not believe. People started speculating if the man was really blind at all. The man was asked not even once nor twice but a lot of times by the unbelievers. The Pharisees asked him and his parents if indeed was he blind all these years. The man was healed but why can't accept the fact that he was healed by the man people say is the Son of God?
One realization I had after hearing this service that we can see in faith without seeing. Confused? Yeah. probably. Most likely but have we asked ourselves, do we really believe that God can do this - heal people? One afternoon back in college, our psychology professor asked us "how can you describe red to someone who was blind since birth?" We were dumbfounded and we were left at awe thinking that our mad professor stuck again! Since she has the baton, we tried to answer but we all failed to even conceive something in our head that we know would never be possible at all. Then she said, "Put your hand on your chest and feel your heartbeat. Your heart pumps blood in your body that keeps you alive and this blood is colored RED. So long as you feel your blood flows in your body, so you know what red is." We were like WHAT?!?! But this can be true to anyone who never had seen red at all. We can always say that one is wrong because we have our own belief but this blind person does not have anything to compare his own version of red but to himself.
I call this one FAITH. This word is so vast that would question us how much do we know about God. We say that we believe that God will do things wonderfully for us; that He is a promise-keeping God; that He is the beginning and the end; that he is the best provider ever; but do we actually believe these things? The man in last Sunday's gospel is a man of Faith. When he was blind - he did not have any belief at all but when he was freed from his blindness, he believed that the Son of God healed him even if he did not have any idea who that person really was. Was it really the Son of God or another demon in disguise?
I will leave the thinking to y'all. It was not our eyes that was freed from blindness. What was it really for you? Think and ask God to guide you in knowing the truth in darkness.
Monday, March 21, 2011
[Blog] I'm serving a GREAT GOD
Another weekend had passed and a wonderful word from God was heard once again. The topic was about Turning Point and how God can raise someone from death to birth. He proved once again that he is the most powerful being ever walked on earth! Not a legion of demons can chicken Him out nor a mad man who had been in isolation for so long will stop Him from climbing the hill to heal Him. There are things that I have observed in this action packed gospel however, there was no usual protagonist's struggle over his antagonist.
First observation was that Jesus is recognized as the Son of the Most High God. Since Jesus was becoming very popular to the land, that even the legion of demons knew who He was and that He can do EVERYTHING even casting them off from one person. The legion knows that He is above everything in this earth and beyond that's why he called Jesus as such.
Second observation was that Jesus is Powerful. In Mark 5:8, Jesus commanded the legion to come out of the man and so they did. The legion got scared and even begged Jesus to send them to the pigs so they won’t get cast away. He did not have any of struggles at all. He simply said "get out of this man you evil spirit" and suddenly, the demons came out of the man, transferred to the pigs nearby and died.
Third observation was that Jesus is a Restorer. In Mark 5:15 it says: "When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid." This is clear evidence on how God can restore us from brokenness and make us whole again. He even instructed the man to go back to his home and to his own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for him, and how He had mercy on him. This very instruction that Jesus gave this man will restored his relationship with them and became the living witness of God’s power and might.
The Word of God is inspiring, powerful, healing and restoring even with one word; He can turn things around for one person. He showed in this gospel that He did not care whether there’s a huge amount that was lost in the water. Today, this may cost a raiser a whopping Php20,000,000 if He only saved from drowning but Jesus wants us to know that one saved soul is more important than what we will earn on earth than eternal salvation of one person. Sin separates us from God but He is willing to pay for our sins even if it would cost His life.
The Father gave us His only Son to wash away our sins and restore our relationships --- with our friends, family and GOD. The pain we have felt due to these ruined relationships and the bondages we created in our lives will remain in us but we have the Almighty God who can free us from these things and who will give us a better life. The gospel showed 3 things that God can do with His might:
Ruined relationship ===> Restoration
Bondage ===> Freedom
Pain ===> Love and Mercy
I am happy that I am serving a very powerful God who can cast away demons, give us salvation, and who is able to restore ruined relationships. Aren't you?
First observation was that Jesus is recognized as the Son of the Most High God. Since Jesus was becoming very popular to the land, that even the legion of demons knew who He was and that He can do EVERYTHING even casting them off from one person. The legion knows that He is above everything in this earth and beyond that's why he called Jesus as such.
Second observation was that Jesus is Powerful. In Mark 5:8, Jesus commanded the legion to come out of the man and so they did. The legion got scared and even begged Jesus to send them to the pigs so they won’t get cast away. He did not have any of struggles at all. He simply said "get out of this man you evil spirit" and suddenly, the demons came out of the man, transferred to the pigs nearby and died.
Third observation was that Jesus is a Restorer. In Mark 5:15 it says: "When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid." This is clear evidence on how God can restore us from brokenness and make us whole again. He even instructed the man to go back to his home and to his own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for him, and how He had mercy on him. This very instruction that Jesus gave this man will restored his relationship with them and became the living witness of God’s power and might.
The Word of God is inspiring, powerful, healing and restoring even with one word; He can turn things around for one person. He showed in this gospel that He did not care whether there’s a huge amount that was lost in the water. Today, this may cost a raiser a whopping Php20,000,000 if He only saved from drowning but Jesus wants us to know that one saved soul is more important than what we will earn on earth than eternal salvation of one person. Sin separates us from God but He is willing to pay for our sins even if it would cost His life.
The Father gave us His only Son to wash away our sins and restore our relationships --- with our friends, family and GOD. The pain we have felt due to these ruined relationships and the bondages we created in our lives will remain in us but we have the Almighty God who can free us from these things and who will give us a better life. The gospel showed 3 things that God can do with His might:
Ruined relationship ===> Restoration
Bondage ===> Freedom
Pain ===> Love and Mercy
I am happy that I am serving a very powerful God who can cast away demons, give us salvation, and who is able to restore ruined relationships. Aren't you?
Friday, March 18, 2011
[Poem] Amazing as You are
I saw myself there
Where my foot was bare
Feeling mud under it
Just like dirt on a pit.
I was in the dark for years
Those dreadful years of tears
Where I feel well on everything
Until they begin to get me thinking.
Why do I feel left out?
As if I'm alone in the desert with drought.
Why do I feel unloved?
And no one thinks I'm beloved.
Why do I feel unimportant?
That makes me feel so stagnant.
Why do I feel less blessed?
While eveyone is being raised.
One day I saw the light
A light so bright
That blinds me to fright
And fought my might.
That was the start of it
As if I were an engine full of gas in it
My life is like a car in race
To finish it even if it's in a maze.
My life is not perfect
It's like an ongoing project
Of what God wants me to finish
And what He needs in me to abolish.
I'm at awe and amazed
On how God lit my mind in a blaze
I promise to shine the same light
So people will see this even in plight.
Amazing as You are, oh God
Our sins had been washed by Your blood.
You gave Your life for our victory
So we can live it in celebratory.
Where my foot was bare
Feeling mud under it
Just like dirt on a pit.
I was in the dark for years
Those dreadful years of tears
Where I feel well on everything
Until they begin to get me thinking.
Why do I feel left out?
As if I'm alone in the desert with drought.
Why do I feel unloved?
And no one thinks I'm beloved.
Why do I feel unimportant?
That makes me feel so stagnant.
Why do I feel less blessed?
While eveyone is being raised.
One day I saw the light
A light so bright
That blinds me to fright
And fought my might.
That was the start of it
As if I were an engine full of gas in it
My life is like a car in race
To finish it even if it's in a maze.
My life is not perfect
It's like an ongoing project
Of what God wants me to finish
And what He needs in me to abolish.
I'm at awe and amazed
On how God lit my mind in a blaze
I promise to shine the same light
So people will see this even in plight.
Amazing as You are, oh God
Our sins had been washed by Your blood.
You gave Your life for our victory
So we can live it in celebratory.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
[Poem] Daunt naught
The sun is up and the promise it brings
Makes my heart go sing.
Another breath I breathed
Like a new born, a new breed.
I saw the light spread through the dark
As the sun lights up at a bark.
Thick curtain was set on the side
As we sweep through the day and slide.
I so love the morning
For God's grace and mercy is renewing
What people say dauntingly
God keeps us sparingly.
You are amazing
Even more than that being
You are the absolute almighty
We exalt you whole heartedly.
You are the beginning and the end.
My Father, my brother, my friend.
You are the God of promises, of love and of faithfulness
We can't wait for these to unfold and for us to bare witness.
Makes my heart go sing.
Another breath I breathed
Like a new born, a new breed.
I saw the light spread through the dark
As the sun lights up at a bark.
Thick curtain was set on the side
As we sweep through the day and slide.
I so love the morning
For God's grace and mercy is renewing
What people say dauntingly
God keeps us sparingly.
You are amazing
Even more than that being
You are the absolute almighty
We exalt you whole heartedly.
You are the beginning and the end.
My Father, my brother, my friend.
You are the God of promises, of love and of faithfulness
We can't wait for these to unfold and for us to bare witness.
[Poem] YOU
I was down and felt so low
No one's gonna be there
No one's gonna find me there
No one would come to dare.
But You spoke to my heart
A whisper of hope and love
Like a streak of light in the dark
Like a ray of sun cut through the clouds.
You said You'll be there
You promised wherever I am You'd be there
No matter how far I have come
You got my future and my past.
People think and feel your absence
That they would only believe your existence
If they come face to face with you
To touch and feel you.
You said we should walk in faith
You said not by sight.
Not all we see is true
'Coz You are the only one I know is true.
You are the only God I know
You are the God who'd pick us from low.
You said you're coming back for us
To fulfill a promise you gave us.
There is only one YOU in this world
The living God with living word
You will fulfill your promise
And I will wait so I won't have it missed.
No one's gonna be there
No one's gonna find me there
No one would come to dare.
But You spoke to my heart
A whisper of hope and love
Like a streak of light in the dark
Like a ray of sun cut through the clouds.
You said You'll be there
You promised wherever I am You'd be there
No matter how far I have come
You got my future and my past.
People think and feel your absence
That they would only believe your existence
If they come face to face with you
To touch and feel you.
You said we should walk in faith
You said not by sight.
Not all we see is true
'Coz You are the only one I know is true.
You are the only God I know
You are the God who'd pick us from low.
You said you're coming back for us
To fulfill a promise you gave us.
There is only one YOU in this world
The living God with living word
You will fulfill your promise
And I will wait so I won't have it missed.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
[Blog] My past haunts me
I just had a heart to heart conversation with two of the important people in my life and it was so sad to know that a friendship is ending right before my eyes.
It all started with that one text message sent to me yesterday afternoon when I found out that one's life was in danger. I called that person to calm him down and so I did. I was able to pacify him and told him to always do precautionary measures whenever the need arise. So I went on with the day and went to my space. On my way there, the other person sent me a text message telling me that he got family matters to attend to and may not be able to come over. I'm just glad to know that he retracted and told me that he's following and so he did. The very first thing in my head was to send everyone the message to always take care and send us a message if ever they ride the same thing.
As the day drew near its end, the first person approached me and told me the truth. I did everything to make sure that the second person would be joining us. Upon this happening, I brought them to one corner where there is no one to hear us talking about this truth. My first question was: "Why do you think we are here?" after that I demanded to know the truth. So everything was unfolded right before my eyes and I felt like my past is haunting me. The feeling was so surreal. I felt like I was brought back to my earlier years when I was as young and restless as they are. I felt like God was talking to me through them but I realized that God used that opportunity to speak of truth to them.
I shared with them what I have gone through when I was their age and how impulsive I was with my decisions. I hopped from one to another. I start and end things so soon. People come and go in my life and happiness were all short lived. One day I'm like in cloud nine the next day, I feel like I was thrown out to the dumpster. I had one cool night, the next day I'm in front of my doc. I even have met the same as I am and made them part of that relational dysfunction side of me and the whole nine yards. I told them that my past was not as perfect as it is. I am not perfect though people look up to me thinking that there is nothing un-perfect in me. Yes, that's how they look at me but all they think of me is wrong. While I was talking to them I said that there is nothing good about what they are doing. Let it be known to them that the enemy is doing its job to destroy us and to separate us from God.
The world defines what we should believe in by showing us that the rest of the world does it so we should. I call this a fad and nothing but a fad. Let us not be conformed with what the world says is okay. OKAY is never OKAY when you are destroying what is not yours. They are hurting themselves and their Creator - Our God. I shared with them that in 1 Corinthians 6:19 it says: "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own."
Our lives is NEVER ours and we should be able to let the ends of the earth know that we are serious about God crushing the serpent's head for it not to get us anymore, snatch us from God and to push us to sin. What is the good about this? EVERYTHING for the Lord does beautiful things and being able to not sin is a beautiful thing. As it was said in Ecclesiastes 3:11 "He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end." He loves us from the beginning to end and no one should oppose this for God spoke this truth for it is the truth.
It is so sad to know that the world has conformed us with everything this enemy would want us to believe in. There is the word CONFORMITY again.It's sad, just sad to know that a lot of us live in it and we miss God's provisions for us because we're too busy keeping up with the world. Speak of truth in love and do not be ashamed of it. Be bold. Be not afraid. Let us not focus on what we can have from this world but be more expecting of what God has prepared for us in heaven.
Step out in faith and be moved by the grace of God all the time.
It all started with that one text message sent to me yesterday afternoon when I found out that one's life was in danger. I called that person to calm him down and so I did. I was able to pacify him and told him to always do precautionary measures whenever the need arise. So I went on with the day and went to my space. On my way there, the other person sent me a text message telling me that he got family matters to attend to and may not be able to come over. I'm just glad to know that he retracted and told me that he's following and so he did. The very first thing in my head was to send everyone the message to always take care and send us a message if ever they ride the same thing.
As the day drew near its end, the first person approached me and told me the truth. I did everything to make sure that the second person would be joining us. Upon this happening, I brought them to one corner where there is no one to hear us talking about this truth. My first question was: "Why do you think we are here?" after that I demanded to know the truth. So everything was unfolded right before my eyes and I felt like my past is haunting me. The feeling was so surreal. I felt like I was brought back to my earlier years when I was as young and restless as they are. I felt like God was talking to me through them but I realized that God used that opportunity to speak of truth to them.
I shared with them what I have gone through when I was their age and how impulsive I was with my decisions. I hopped from one to another. I start and end things so soon. People come and go in my life and happiness were all short lived. One day I'm like in cloud nine the next day, I feel like I was thrown out to the dumpster. I had one cool night, the next day I'm in front of my doc. I even have met the same as I am and made them part of that relational dysfunction side of me and the whole nine yards. I told them that my past was not as perfect as it is. I am not perfect though people look up to me thinking that there is nothing un-perfect in me. Yes, that's how they look at me but all they think of me is wrong. While I was talking to them I said that there is nothing good about what they are doing. Let it be known to them that the enemy is doing its job to destroy us and to separate us from God.
The world defines what we should believe in by showing us that the rest of the world does it so we should. I call this a fad and nothing but a fad. Let us not be conformed with what the world says is okay. OKAY is never OKAY when you are destroying what is not yours. They are hurting themselves and their Creator - Our God. I shared with them that in 1 Corinthians 6:19 it says: "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own."
Our lives is NEVER ours and we should be able to let the ends of the earth know that we are serious about God crushing the serpent's head for it not to get us anymore, snatch us from God and to push us to sin. What is the good about this? EVERYTHING for the Lord does beautiful things and being able to not sin is a beautiful thing. As it was said in Ecclesiastes 3:11 "He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end." He loves us from the beginning to end and no one should oppose this for God spoke this truth for it is the truth.
It is so sad to know that the world has conformed us with everything this enemy would want us to believe in. There is the word CONFORMITY again.It's sad, just sad to know that a lot of us live in it and we miss God's provisions for us because we're too busy keeping up with the world. Speak of truth in love and do not be ashamed of it. Be bold. Be not afraid. Let us not focus on what we can have from this world but be more expecting of what God has prepared for us in heaven.
Step out in faith and be moved by the grace of God all the time.
[Poem] My Lord...My First
It's been a long time since I wrote a poem but this will be My First to write about my Lord.
I lived a life
A life of lie.
So many things
So much it brings.
But when I met you,
My all's now you.
You reigned in me,
You are in me.
All I want is you,
All I need is you.
You're so good to me,
You're much loved by me.
Why it took me so long
To know where I belong?
It's with you oh my Lord,
The Almighty Lord.
I lived a life
A life of lie.
So many things
So much it brings.
But when I met you,
My all's now you.
You reigned in me,
You are in me.
All I want is you,
All I need is you.
You're so good to me,
You're much loved by me.
Why it took me so long
To know where I belong?
It's with you oh my Lord,
The Almighty Lord.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
[Blog] iServe
Yesterday, I was assigned to lead our Victory Group. This is my 2nd time but my first time with Gin and Nora. These women I can say are "hardcore" when it comes to knowing God's words. I say this because they have been Christians for a very long time already and that they know a lot of Bible verses that I know I cannot deliver. My memory is poor and a lot of times I get intimidated by people like them. I get intimidated by people who I know are better than me with practically anything. That day is not an exemption for these women are simply awesome when it comes to God's word.
I was assigned to lead our own victory group and unlike the first one I led before, I studied for that meeting but for this one, I did not get to prepare for it. On my way to church yesterday for the 11am service, I thought that I'm sure Pastor Robert will discuss this so I can have an overview of what to say. ALAS! There's no Pastor Robert in front to preach and the topic is totally different from the VG material. I was super blanked out but the service was so great that I did not think of our VG that afternoon. The guest pastor was very profound, spoke eloquently and gave us a very clear explanation on what MAKING DISCIPLES is all about. But I will tell you about this tomorrow perhaps on another blog. :)
It hit me hard when I realized that it's only 15 minutes left with the service and I am meeting the VG anytime soon. I know I worry of what to say and how will I lead the group but to my surprise, I was calm. Me and my BFF - Gin - had a very lengthy time to talk about so many different things until Nora came in. I did not tell them that I will be leading the VG session for the day for I don't want to put pressure on to myself. While waiting for others, I invited the Holy Spirit to speak to me and bless me with the write words to say and I was amazed on how faithful God is. He left me at awe of Him.
As I was saying, the topic was about service. It was a wake up call for me that God was a servant in His entire stay with us. He never made the apostles feel that He is God even if miracles happen right before their very eyes. He remained humble but never timid. During the session, there were 3 bullet points that were given high importance as to what kind of attitude one should have as we follow and imitate our ultimate role model - JESUS CHRIST.
1. Considering the interest of others
"And the second is like it: "Love your neighbor as yourself." - Matthew 22:39
Most of the time, we put premium to what we have and how we look like and disregard things surrounding us. To so many people this is easy to do for it will glorify them at the end of the day but this is the same level of love that we should have when we love our neighbor. Doesn't make sense? Actually, it does not seem to make sense but here's the thing. We cannot give what we do not have. If we have that high regards to ourselves then that's the same regard God wants us to give to others as well. The love that we say we want to give others for God commanded so, we should grab a mirror and ask ourselves, "how do I love thee?" Funny as it seems but that is reality right in your face! We shall never forget that this is the command of our living God to love another and to do this to love our neighbor the same level of love we have for ourselves.
2. Humility
"For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you." - Romans 12:3
PRIDE is a killer! many relationships died because of this and a lot more in the future. When we care about others, we eliminate this because you know that you will hurt your loved one in the process if you do not. Same thing in serving. We should TOTALLY loose this one when we say that we want to serve God. Thursday, we had the Music Ministry's orientation day and one thing Pastor Robert said that the stage is a danger zone. I should say it's a permanent danger zone. It gives us the pride that we are good at it and in the end, we glorify ourselves and forget that we are serving our God by leading the people to worship. I stepped back and asked myself, "did I cross that line already?" Somehow, it made me feel convicted then I cried inside and made sure that only God sees the tears I poured out that night when I asked for His forgiveness. I asked for it because I don't know if I am already displeasing Him. However, since we have a loving and promise-keeping God, He comforted me in the midst of everything. Let us not cross that danger zone that we forget that we are serving our God Almighty. It is humility that reigned in God's heart when He sent His Son to serve us and save us from our sins. So have a Christ-like heart of humility.
3. Obedience
"Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else." - 2 Corinthians 9:10
Hmmm...this one is kinda hard, isn't it? OBEDIENCE is the enemy of REBELLION. As mentioned in the guide sheet, Jesus did not just have the willingness to serve but it was done out of OBEDIENCE to his Father. Jesus is such an obedient Son! What struck me during our session yesterday was when Gin said that she admires Abraham so much that he exudes obedience all over himself. Abraham is a good example of a person having trust in God, believe in God and Obedience. He trusted and believed God that he will give him and his wife a Son and it took him soooooooooooo many years til this happened. There's humility and patience while waiting for that promised day. Years after Isaac was born, God commanded Abraham to bring Isaac to the mountain and use as his offering to him. I cannot tell how much pain Abraham had in his heart when he heard this but out of OBEDIENCE to God, he just followed and believed that there's rationale behind doing this. :) At the top of the mountain, God provided a ram for Abraham to use as his burnt offering. Then Gin said, a lot of times, we tend to worry about so many things that we miss on God's provision.
We forget that God has a reason why he allows things happen to us. have you heard of the phrase, "bad things happen to good people"? Me, gazillion times already! But let me correct the person who authored this phrase. There are a lot of sides to this phrase and two are "good things happen to good people" and "good things happen to bad people as well". When I was not a Christian yet, I thought to myself, God will only favor those who are good ones and I categorically say I am the opposite of this. But I appreciate God more for he keeps His promises. As I said good things happen to bad people so how much more to those who obey Him? We call it in Filipino, "siksik, liglig, umaapaw" as mentioned in Luke 6:38"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
I may have swerved a bit but bottom line is, Obedience pleases God. When we give our service, we must keep in mind that we are obeying God when he sends us to serve others be it in ministry or elsewhere that we do this to exalt Him and His name to all corners of the earth.
After our session yesterday, it lingered in me that I have to look at Christ and how he lived His life before I can say that I am ready to serve. Christ Jesus who knows that He is God and that He was sent by His Father to die on the cross to save us still remained humble, thought of other's interest and just obeyed God even if the end would mean that He will suffer the shameful death at the cross.
WHEW! I got too much to say and my heart still speaks of so many wonderful things about God.
Be blessed and be a blessing!
I was assigned to lead our own victory group and unlike the first one I led before, I studied for that meeting but for this one, I did not get to prepare for it. On my way to church yesterday for the 11am service, I thought that I'm sure Pastor Robert will discuss this so I can have an overview of what to say. ALAS! There's no Pastor Robert in front to preach and the topic is totally different from the VG material. I was super blanked out but the service was so great that I did not think of our VG that afternoon. The guest pastor was very profound, spoke eloquently and gave us a very clear explanation on what MAKING DISCIPLES is all about. But I will tell you about this tomorrow perhaps on another blog. :)
It hit me hard when I realized that it's only 15 minutes left with the service and I am meeting the VG anytime soon. I know I worry of what to say and how will I lead the group but to my surprise, I was calm. Me and my BFF - Gin - had a very lengthy time to talk about so many different things until Nora came in. I did not tell them that I will be leading the VG session for the day for I don't want to put pressure on to myself. While waiting for others, I invited the Holy Spirit to speak to me and bless me with the write words to say and I was amazed on how faithful God is. He left me at awe of Him.
As I was saying, the topic was about service. It was a wake up call for me that God was a servant in His entire stay with us. He never made the apostles feel that He is God even if miracles happen right before their very eyes. He remained humble but never timid. During the session, there were 3 bullet points that were given high importance as to what kind of attitude one should have as we follow and imitate our ultimate role model - JESUS CHRIST.
1. Considering the interest of others
"And the second is like it: "Love your neighbor as yourself." - Matthew 22:39
Most of the time, we put premium to what we have and how we look like and disregard things surrounding us. To so many people this is easy to do for it will glorify them at the end of the day but this is the same level of love that we should have when we love our neighbor. Doesn't make sense? Actually, it does not seem to make sense but here's the thing. We cannot give what we do not have. If we have that high regards to ourselves then that's the same regard God wants us to give to others as well. The love that we say we want to give others for God commanded so, we should grab a mirror and ask ourselves, "how do I love thee?" Funny as it seems but that is reality right in your face! We shall never forget that this is the command of our living God to love another and to do this to love our neighbor the same level of love we have for ourselves.
2. Humility
"For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you." - Romans 12:3
PRIDE is a killer! many relationships died because of this and a lot more in the future. When we care about others, we eliminate this because you know that you will hurt your loved one in the process if you do not. Same thing in serving. We should TOTALLY loose this one when we say that we want to serve God. Thursday, we had the Music Ministry's orientation day and one thing Pastor Robert said that the stage is a danger zone. I should say it's a permanent danger zone. It gives us the pride that we are good at it and in the end, we glorify ourselves and forget that we are serving our God by leading the people to worship. I stepped back and asked myself, "did I cross that line already?" Somehow, it made me feel convicted then I cried inside and made sure that only God sees the tears I poured out that night when I asked for His forgiveness. I asked for it because I don't know if I am already displeasing Him. However, since we have a loving and promise-keeping God, He comforted me in the midst of everything. Let us not cross that danger zone that we forget that we are serving our God Almighty. It is humility that reigned in God's heart when He sent His Son to serve us and save us from our sins. So have a Christ-like heart of humility.
3. Obedience
"Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else." - 2 Corinthians 9:10
Hmmm...this one is kinda hard, isn't it? OBEDIENCE is the enemy of REBELLION. As mentioned in the guide sheet, Jesus did not just have the willingness to serve but it was done out of OBEDIENCE to his Father. Jesus is such an obedient Son! What struck me during our session yesterday was when Gin said that she admires Abraham so much that he exudes obedience all over himself. Abraham is a good example of a person having trust in God, believe in God and Obedience. He trusted and believed God that he will give him and his wife a Son and it took him soooooooooooo many years til this happened. There's humility and patience while waiting for that promised day. Years after Isaac was born, God commanded Abraham to bring Isaac to the mountain and use as his offering to him. I cannot tell how much pain Abraham had in his heart when he heard this but out of OBEDIENCE to God, he just followed and believed that there's rationale behind doing this. :) At the top of the mountain, God provided a ram for Abraham to use as his burnt offering. Then Gin said, a lot of times, we tend to worry about so many things that we miss on God's provision.
We forget that God has a reason why he allows things happen to us. have you heard of the phrase, "bad things happen to good people"? Me, gazillion times already! But let me correct the person who authored this phrase. There are a lot of sides to this phrase and two are "good things happen to good people" and "good things happen to bad people as well". When I was not a Christian yet, I thought to myself, God will only favor those who are good ones and I categorically say I am the opposite of this. But I appreciate God more for he keeps His promises. As I said good things happen to bad people so how much more to those who obey Him? We call it in Filipino, "siksik, liglig, umaapaw" as mentioned in Luke 6:38"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
I may have swerved a bit but bottom line is, Obedience pleases God. When we give our service, we must keep in mind that we are obeying God when he sends us to serve others be it in ministry or elsewhere that we do this to exalt Him and His name to all corners of the earth.
After our session yesterday, it lingered in me that I have to look at Christ and how he lived His life before I can say that I am ready to serve. Christ Jesus who knows that He is God and that He was sent by His Father to die on the cross to save us still remained humble, thought of other's interest and just obeyed God even if the end would mean that He will suffer the shameful death at the cross.
WHEW! I got too much to say and my heart still speaks of so many wonderful things about God.
Be blessed and be a blessing!
[Blog] Lord, save me!
A lot of us had gone through a lot and there are so many of these things that we think that we cannot resolve anymore so we end up giving up and not finishing the game anymore. One thing that keeps me going in my faith and to continue growing in faith is the fact that Our God is very much able and willing to give us what we desire of having. However, since we commit sin, we hide our face from him and we decide to just be drowned to it as if no one's gonna save us from it. Like quick sand, when we slide to it, it catches us, slowly pulls us in and sadly, get drowned to it unless someone notices and quickly gets us out of it. This often happens in our life and I call it "QUICKSAND EFFECT".
There are so many things that we usually do everyday that we think is right because we are too conformed to the thought of it. That people do that too that's why we will just be like them as well. Just like in work. We are tasked to do many things and at most times, we end up whining and complaining and simply not do it. What happens? Things pile up right under our nose til we cannot see no more. Compliance to daily-weekly-monthly deliverables is something I fight at most times and I end up just giving up on them altogether. My boss called me one time asked me why is that metric not showing any improvement and I just told him bluntly that I gave up doing it months ago for whatever effort I put to it, nothing changes. He did not argue with me instead, he told me to just to do it and he will send someone to help me and my team understand how can we arrest this issue as soon as possible. He gave me an EOM target of only 2% when our threshold is only between -1% and 1%. At first I didn't believe that I can because we ended around 10% the month prior and we were heading 7% already that week of the month. So as promised, he sent us to the best person who can explain things to us patiently and she was successful to serve her purpose. Fast forward end of the month, I gave my boss 0.19%. This to us is very surprising that after almost two years of my stay in the program, I made it. FINALLY!
This only goes to show that if someone is sent to you who will guide you properly as to how things should be done, I am very sure that the end target will be met and even exceeded. I thank my boss for having that eye to see through it and believing that my team can do it. I also thank him that he was able to act on it that early on to that month and sent us the best person who would be able to make everyone buy in to the thought. She challenged the team that she will check on this on a daily basis and will wait til the end of that month to see our traction and we did not fail to amaze her day after day for the improvement we have been showing from the time she trained us about it. But more than all the efforts placed by everyone to make this possible, I thank Our God for making that possible. He is the one who see this day coming. He sent me to my boss to bring the message that I need to shape up and to address this issue immediately for this number shows behavioral issues on the agent's side, so as mine. I thank God for giving my boss the best decision making skills that he will have to send the best person who can turn things around for the team. But I give thanks to GOD and GOD alone for he made this happen.
As I mentioned at the start of this blog, I mentioned about the one I call "QUICKSAND EFFECT" but I realized that we will never be in that position have we had the right perspective and the right person to call and cry our hearts to. On the hind sight, we tend to forget that we have Our God whom we can hold on to and cry our hearts to in "quicksand" times. When we sin, we stumble down, it catches us and creeps in us slowly BUT if we call on to God to help us and take us out of this burden, He will come to our rescue, take our hand and pull us out of the quicksand. Just like how Peter cried out to God when He saw Jesus walked in water [Matthew 14:22 - 33]. He said “Lord, save me!” when he drowned and Jesus regarded him as man of little faith. Many times in our lives that we have little faith in God that we do not have anymore to call on to when we are already drowned deep in our sin but God.
Let me boldly say this to you, God sent His ONLY begotten Son to take us from the quicksand [SIN] and be saved from them - past and future. His blood cleansed us and washed all the sins of the world both our past and our future. As I finish this blog, the fire burns [LOVE OF GOD] in me and will never be put out. God is our only hope. God will rescue us. God will save us. God is the Only one who can pull us away from quicksand of sin. God is almighty to do this all in a snap of a finger.
As I write this, two songs keep on playing in my head and these are the songs that my heart worships at God right now. Come along and sing this with me.
----------------------------
FIRE BURNS by Jon Owens
Don't wanna go back Lord to the way I used to live, the way I used to live
I won't go back Lord to the way I used to be, before you rescue me..
I will not stop til' every tribe and nation bows before You..
I will not stop til' they all see your glory see your glory..
Lift up your eyes to see the glory of the Lord is on the earth
Arise.. Arise.. Arise..
Your Fire Burns within me
Burn within me with your fire
Arise generation no longer forsaken
Arise, Arise, Arise
----------------------------
CAME TO MY RESCUE by Hillsong
Falling on my knees in worship, giving all I am to seek Your face
Lord all I am is Yours.
My whole life I place in Your hands.
God of mercy humbled I bow down in your presence at Your throne
I called You answered and You came to my rescue and I wanna be where You are
In my life be lifted high
In our world be lifted high
In our love be lifted high
----------------------------
Arise and commission your life to God. Everything else will fall into proper places. If this is my only way to show my fellowship with God then be it and I will not stop til the whole world hears me that Our God is great! Be blessed and be a blessing to everyone!
There are so many things that we usually do everyday that we think is right because we are too conformed to the thought of it. That people do that too that's why we will just be like them as well. Just like in work. We are tasked to do many things and at most times, we end up whining and complaining and simply not do it. What happens? Things pile up right under our nose til we cannot see no more. Compliance to daily-weekly-monthly deliverables is something I fight at most times and I end up just giving up on them altogether. My boss called me one time asked me why is that metric not showing any improvement and I just told him bluntly that I gave up doing it months ago for whatever effort I put to it, nothing changes. He did not argue with me instead, he told me to just to do it and he will send someone to help me and my team understand how can we arrest this issue as soon as possible. He gave me an EOM target of only 2% when our threshold is only between -1% and 1%. At first I didn't believe that I can because we ended around 10% the month prior and we were heading 7% already that week of the month. So as promised, he sent us to the best person who can explain things to us patiently and she was successful to serve her purpose. Fast forward end of the month, I gave my boss 0.19%. This to us is very surprising that after almost two years of my stay in the program, I made it. FINALLY!
This only goes to show that if someone is sent to you who will guide you properly as to how things should be done, I am very sure that the end target will be met and even exceeded. I thank my boss for having that eye to see through it and believing that my team can do it. I also thank him that he was able to act on it that early on to that month and sent us the best person who would be able to make everyone buy in to the thought. She challenged the team that she will check on this on a daily basis and will wait til the end of that month to see our traction and we did not fail to amaze her day after day for the improvement we have been showing from the time she trained us about it. But more than all the efforts placed by everyone to make this possible, I thank Our God for making that possible. He is the one who see this day coming. He sent me to my boss to bring the message that I need to shape up and to address this issue immediately for this number shows behavioral issues on the agent's side, so as mine. I thank God for giving my boss the best decision making skills that he will have to send the best person who can turn things around for the team. But I give thanks to GOD and GOD alone for he made this happen.
As I mentioned at the start of this blog, I mentioned about the one I call "QUICKSAND EFFECT" but I realized that we will never be in that position have we had the right perspective and the right person to call and cry our hearts to. On the hind sight, we tend to forget that we have Our God whom we can hold on to and cry our hearts to in "quicksand" times. When we sin, we stumble down, it catches us and creeps in us slowly BUT if we call on to God to help us and take us out of this burden, He will come to our rescue, take our hand and pull us out of the quicksand. Just like how Peter cried out to God when He saw Jesus walked in water [Matthew 14:22 - 33]. He said “Lord, save me!” when he drowned and Jesus regarded him as man of little faith. Many times in our lives that we have little faith in God that we do not have anymore to call on to when we are already drowned deep in our sin but God.
Let me boldly say this to you, God sent His ONLY begotten Son to take us from the quicksand [SIN] and be saved from them - past and future. His blood cleansed us and washed all the sins of the world both our past and our future. As I finish this blog, the fire burns [LOVE OF GOD] in me and will never be put out. God is our only hope. God will rescue us. God will save us. God is the Only one who can pull us away from quicksand of sin. God is almighty to do this all in a snap of a finger.
As I write this, two songs keep on playing in my head and these are the songs that my heart worships at God right now. Come along and sing this with me.
----------------------------
FIRE BURNS by Jon Owens
Don't wanna go back Lord to the way I used to live, the way I used to live
I won't go back Lord to the way I used to be, before you rescue me..
I will not stop til' every tribe and nation bows before You..
I will not stop til' they all see your glory see your glory..
Lift up your eyes to see the glory of the Lord is on the earth
Arise.. Arise.. Arise..
Your Fire Burns within me
Burn within me with your fire
Arise generation no longer forsaken
Arise, Arise, Arise
----------------------------
CAME TO MY RESCUE by Hillsong
Falling on my knees in worship, giving all I am to seek Your face
Lord all I am is Yours.
My whole life I place in Your hands.
God of mercy humbled I bow down in your presence at Your throne
I called You answered and You came to my rescue and I wanna be where You are
In my life be lifted high
In our world be lifted high
In our love be lifted high
----------------------------
Arise and commission your life to God. Everything else will fall into proper places. If this is my only way to show my fellowship with God then be it and I will not stop til the whole world hears me that Our God is great! Be blessed and be a blessing to everyone!
Saturday, March 12, 2011
[Blog] Tall-Dark-Dark
Not so long ago, I met someone very charming. He is not the typical Aga Muhlach or Robin Padilla type but I got smitten by him. He often refers himself as “Tall-Dark-Dark”. He’s an intellectual, charming and enticing guy. He speaks with conviction and you know that you will be blessed after you hear him speak. Yes, he is a pastor – our church pastor. His name is Robert Hern Jr. I do not know that much about him but I will write however I know him to be.
He is 40 years old. He studied in UE. He got saved when he was 18. He was an usher in church and was once assigned to clean the ceiling fan. He was part of music ministry for so many years. He was a marketing manager. He was married to Mailene Hern. He has two beautiful kids. He is newly single.
He is our senior pastor. He laughs. He makes people laugh. He cries. He makes us cry. He prepares well for the service. He prepares our hearts for his sermon. He is focused. He makes sure that we focus on God not on the person speaking in front of us.
He is bald. He has a moustache. He gives a beaming smile to everyone. He smiles with his eyes. He laughs loud and fills the entire hall of it. He shakes hands firmly. He hugs tightly (to men of course). He bends down when taking pictures with you unless you are of the same height with him.
He values time so much. He hates late comers. He rebukes ways that do not please God. He is a health buff. He runs kilometers. He plays basketball as if it is his last. He reminds us all the time about finishing the game strong and winning it.
He worships. He gives praise. He honors God. He fish for men. He makes disciples. He commissioned his life to God. He loves God.
He is an inspiration. He is TALL, DARK and DARK.
That’s all the words to describe about PRH.
He is 40 years old. He studied in UE. He got saved when he was 18. He was an usher in church and was once assigned to clean the ceiling fan. He was part of music ministry for so many years. He was a marketing manager. He was married to Mailene Hern. He has two beautiful kids. He is newly single.
He is our senior pastor. He laughs. He makes people laugh. He cries. He makes us cry. He prepares well for the service. He prepares our hearts for his sermon. He is focused. He makes sure that we focus on God not on the person speaking in front of us.
He is bald. He has a moustache. He gives a beaming smile to everyone. He smiles with his eyes. He laughs loud and fills the entire hall of it. He shakes hands firmly. He hugs tightly (to men of course). He bends down when taking pictures with you unless you are of the same height with him.
He values time so much. He hates late comers. He rebukes ways that do not please God. He is a health buff. He runs kilometers. He plays basketball as if it is his last. He reminds us all the time about finishing the game strong and winning it.
He worships. He gives praise. He honors God. He fish for men. He makes disciples. He commissioned his life to God. He loves God.
He is an inspiration. He is TALL, DARK and DARK.
That’s all the words to describe about PRH.
[Blog] We did it!
Looking at the bright side of things is the best way to fight negativity. A lot of people psyche themselves up that things will turn out to be fine which does happen sometimes. However, there are events in our lives that we really cannot control happening. Like raining in a big wedding or a big ocean wave tripped you over while you're wedding picture is taken with ocean as the background. How would you react to it? Would you be happy about it? Or you'll tell yourself "it's okay"? Many times in our adult life that we are caught up in these situations as if we cannot get a hold of ourselves anymore. We bounce back and move on where we last left off.
This week is one of the longest weeks in the calendar for the big wig came to check on us. People started strategizing on how to showcase our site and our numbers. We have our counterpart in the other city and we know that we are better than them. We started cramming to finish a lot of things and running around like chickens without head. There were times when this big square is closed out, jam packed with people meeting about the big wig's coming. When they learned that the eagle has landed, pressure started going up and people were figuratively being strangled to lay golden eggs. This feeling has a downward spiral effect that the front liners felt it as well for they are the ones being placed under the microscope in the way they handle things for our beloved callers.
Last night was the leads’ round table with the big wig and this is my 2nd time to be in a meeting with him. As usual, I was a bit scared of what’s going to happen for there are pressing matters that we need to deal with as of the moment. There are numbers that dipped for days now and we are set at a bad light then a round table is set for us? P-R-E-S-S-U-R-E. I cannot anymore put stress to that word anymore for it is by itself it is. :) As expected, he was super nice and very strategic on how we are to deal with the bad numbers for he has been there wired to his station once in his life. I am very positive that he was very much pleased on how we handled things even if the numbers are going out of hand. He knows that we have already have plans at hand and a follow through on these people will put us back in track.
As the day drew near its end, so as his visit, I can say that we did it! We were able to deliver well and present things successfully. The plan materialized and it was good! It is my honor to be part of the best and the brightest for we were able to brave the storm and get through it even if we know that we need to deal with the debris that the big storm has left us with. I am very positive that the other projected string in the current lines we have will be a success but expect a neck-to-neck battle between us and the one in the other city. God will be with us as we traverse this big sea of challenge. We will step out of faith and believe that it is HE who will make this work and we will be triumphant on it. We believe and we lift up this to you, Oh God, for you are a promise-keeping God and you will grant this one for us.
GOD BLESS US ALL!!!
This week is one of the longest weeks in the calendar for the big wig came to check on us. People started strategizing on how to showcase our site and our numbers. We have our counterpart in the other city and we know that we are better than them. We started cramming to finish a lot of things and running around like chickens without head. There were times when this big square is closed out, jam packed with people meeting about the big wig's coming. When they learned that the eagle has landed, pressure started going up and people were figuratively being strangled to lay golden eggs. This feeling has a downward spiral effect that the front liners felt it as well for they are the ones being placed under the microscope in the way they handle things for our beloved callers.
Last night was the leads’ round table with the big wig and this is my 2nd time to be in a meeting with him. As usual, I was a bit scared of what’s going to happen for there are pressing matters that we need to deal with as of the moment. There are numbers that dipped for days now and we are set at a bad light then a round table is set for us? P-R-E-S-S-U-R-E. I cannot anymore put stress to that word anymore for it is by itself it is. :) As expected, he was super nice and very strategic on how we are to deal with the bad numbers for he has been there wired to his station once in his life. I am very positive that he was very much pleased on how we handled things even if the numbers are going out of hand. He knows that we have already have plans at hand and a follow through on these people will put us back in track.
As the day drew near its end, so as his visit, I can say that we did it! We were able to deliver well and present things successfully. The plan materialized and it was good! It is my honor to be part of the best and the brightest for we were able to brave the storm and get through it even if we know that we need to deal with the debris that the big storm has left us with. I am very positive that the other projected string in the current lines we have will be a success but expect a neck-to-neck battle between us and the one in the other city. God will be with us as we traverse this big sea of challenge. We will step out of faith and believe that it is HE who will make this work and we will be triumphant on it. We believe and we lift up this to you, Oh God, for you are a promise-keeping God and you will grant this one for us.
GOD BLESS US ALL!!!
Friday, March 11, 2011
[Blog] Life is not perfect.
No matter how much we paint it or the effort we put to make it perfect, these will all be put into waste. It ain't true when your friend nor your parents would say that it is possible but it will make you ponder and wonder why yours isn't for it will never be!
However, we can make the most out of it by enjoying the times you have with you family and knowing our God. He has planned things perfectly for us and if we wait enough for them to happen, we would realize that life has its corners that we missed seeing beautifully esp when we're being pessimistic of life.
I may have missed a lot of things but I know that I can always rebound from it. We may have been down for a while now and we think that nothing positive will happen anymore then it's high time that we set our eyes to our Creator. Set a quiet time to talk to our Almighty God and tell Him stories the way you do with your friend.
My bad because there are a lot of times that I'm taken by the situation and that my quiet time has been compromised several times already because of excuses. Rebound and get back in track is the only way to do it. I am telling this to myself already and I should pick myself up from where I left off. GOD is a loving, forgiving and compassionate God that He will make sure that His children are always in a better place with Him.
I'm excited for another day for it means that I'm going to live a new life full of blessing, grace and mercy from God. I am sharing this to everyone who has the eyes to read, a mind to understand and a heart to feel that we cannot find perfection in this world but God alone is and the sole example of a picture perfect thing that we are eager to look for. He is the beginning and the end. He keeps His promises and fulfills them for us to enjoy the benefit of living in His wings.
Haaaaayyyy.. what a beautiful day! I am looking forward to more of this. I love you, God!
However, we can make the most out of it by enjoying the times you have with you family and knowing our God. He has planned things perfectly for us and if we wait enough for them to happen, we would realize that life has its corners that we missed seeing beautifully esp when we're being pessimistic of life.
I may have missed a lot of things but I know that I can always rebound from it. We may have been down for a while now and we think that nothing positive will happen anymore then it's high time that we set our eyes to our Creator. Set a quiet time to talk to our Almighty God and tell Him stories the way you do with your friend.
My bad because there are a lot of times that I'm taken by the situation and that my quiet time has been compromised several times already because of excuses. Rebound and get back in track is the only way to do it. I am telling this to myself already and I should pick myself up from where I left off. GOD is a loving, forgiving and compassionate God that He will make sure that His children are always in a better place with Him.
I'm excited for another day for it means that I'm going to live a new life full of blessing, grace and mercy from God. I am sharing this to everyone who has the eyes to read, a mind to understand and a heart to feel that we cannot find perfection in this world but God alone is and the sole example of a picture perfect thing that we are eager to look for. He is the beginning and the end. He keeps His promises and fulfills them for us to enjoy the benefit of living in His wings.
Haaaaayyyy.. what a beautiful day! I am looking forward to more of this. I love you, God!
[Blog] I am wearing a ring
Many people surely will react to this but has it crossed your mind why are we stunned by the thought of it? There are so many types of rings - friendship, engagement, wedding - but all these don't make sense unless we put a tag to it. Right now, I am wearing a simple silver band on my point finger. Does it mean anything at all?
Last Saturday, I borrowed it from Mica and I initially put it on the finger next to the pinkie. How do you call that finger again? Anyhow, I looked at it several times and indeed, the feel was different for I know that is where married people put their wedding band but don't I get the right to put it anywhere? I transferred it from one to another but someone told me it will not change the perception of other people who do not know me that I may really be married so I decided to put it where it is right now.
A ring is just a piece of a round shaped thing that we put on our fingers. Its meaning differs depending on how it looks, who puts it, why put it and where it is placed but nonetheless, it's just a ring. Let us not be conformed by what the society tells it is for we end up being mislead by it. Let us be guided by our GOD who is the ultimate gauge on how we live and interpret life. Let's not live in conformity else, live a life pleasing to our God.
Have a blessed day to all!
Last Saturday, I borrowed it from Mica and I initially put it on the finger next to the pinkie. How do you call that finger again? Anyhow, I looked at it several times and indeed, the feel was different for I know that is where married people put their wedding band but don't I get the right to put it anywhere? I transferred it from one to another but someone told me it will not change the perception of other people who do not know me that I may really be married so I decided to put it where it is right now.
A ring is just a piece of a round shaped thing that we put on our fingers. Its meaning differs depending on how it looks, who puts it, why put it and where it is placed but nonetheless, it's just a ring. Let us not be conformed by what the society tells it is for we end up being mislead by it. Let us be guided by our GOD who is the ultimate gauge on how we live and interpret life. Let's not live in conformity else, live a life pleasing to our God.
Have a blessed day to all!
[Blog] Change is inevitable
People find it a cliché when you say that the only thing that is permanent in this world is CHANGE. As cheesy as it can be but yeah, it is true. There are times when you need to step out of your comfort zone to see what's still out there to find out, explore and discover more for yourself to stretch your horizon. Many people miss on great opportunities because they are just sitting there comfortable with whatever they have for it is what they do for how many years already. As posted by a friend in his FB wall, he quoted the famous Albert Einstein saying "A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new." I am sure you all will tell me that you still make mistakes. Yeah perhaps because we have not yet perfected the art of doing things right the first time. Not that I am saying that I am perfect, else I shouldn't be here on earth, it's just that there is an addicting feel of being cushioned by the comfort we created for ourselves. YES, we create this invisible comfort zone because we don't want pain or stress in facing big waves.
Change is something staple in the industry I am in. You see people come and go it's like a big room where things move in and around then the next thing you know, they're gone. In the recent events, I have seen how the big ones had been moved around. My station is just in front of the room where changes happened and still are happening. There was this bold woman who joined the bandwagon months ago. This person is an advocate of change. She just fire things away the way she thinks will work for everyone's benefit which include us all. Of course we expect people whine and complain that this and that are not good and that it eats up a lot of their time and the whole nine yards. I am part of that "PEOPLE". I got stressed, I whined, I complained but did not challenge myself to step up. Instead, I fight it by being who I am - a rebel. One day, this lady asked me to step into her square and did all the weather check. I answered all her questions point blank with the thought in my head that I would not care if she will get hurt with the truth I'm about to tell her.
She asked bold questions so I answered her boldly as well. She's brave to ask these for I think she knows that I speak truthfully, fearfully. Just like what my friend once told me so what if she tweets with celebs, they are still human so I fired away with my answers. There was one portion in our Q&A that made that day a memorable one. She asked me how I find her doing and changing a lot of things. I thought to myself this is the moment to tell her what my heart feels about her leadership. So I said all my apprehensions, hesitations and my dislikes about her leadership but you know what, it fired back at me. She made me realize that those are the same apprehensions, hesitations and dislikes about me and probably about others as well. I forgot that she's also human who feels and senses about these things. That Q&A day made me think deeper and I told myself to shape up and change. There is the word again - CHANGE. The 10-minute conversation I had with her was very insightful for me as a leader that in order for us to move, we need to change and try different things other than what we normally and usually do; that to become a better leader, you need to push yourself out of your shell. One day we all realized that she moved out so there was change again. Months down the road I look back, she really made a lot of changes and I want to give her credit for whatever liberation I feel right now. A tap at the back for you.
Change is such a huge thing to face. We lose the cushion then we see ourselves bleeding from the pain. This picture is hard to look at but we forget that we bleed because we fight it and never want to try a new approach. At times we even lose our faith in everything including God for you have been in the battle alone by your own self. We forget that we still have our Almighty Creator to comfort us when we are in pain. As He said in Psalm 55:22 "Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken." Another one is in Matthew 11: 28-30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Rodney Howard Browne amplified it as "Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]” He also said in 1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." WHOA! Those were just powerful verses that assure us that even if change is inevitable, we have our God to comfort us. He should be the cushion from all the pain that we experience due to these changes. Let's be brave to face life's challenges with God by our side. He will comfort us all the time for He promised us so.
GOD BLESS US ALL!
Change is something staple in the industry I am in. You see people come and go it's like a big room where things move in and around then the next thing you know, they're gone. In the recent events, I have seen how the big ones had been moved around. My station is just in front of the room where changes happened and still are happening. There was this bold woman who joined the bandwagon months ago. This person is an advocate of change. She just fire things away the way she thinks will work for everyone's benefit which include us all. Of course we expect people whine and complain that this and that are not good and that it eats up a lot of their time and the whole nine yards. I am part of that "PEOPLE". I got stressed, I whined, I complained but did not challenge myself to step up. Instead, I fight it by being who I am - a rebel. One day, this lady asked me to step into her square and did all the weather check. I answered all her questions point blank with the thought in my head that I would not care if she will get hurt with the truth I'm about to tell her.
She asked bold questions so I answered her boldly as well. She's brave to ask these for I think she knows that I speak truthfully, fearfully. Just like what my friend once told me so what if she tweets with celebs, they are still human so I fired away with my answers. There was one portion in our Q&A that made that day a memorable one. She asked me how I find her doing and changing a lot of things. I thought to myself this is the moment to tell her what my heart feels about her leadership. So I said all my apprehensions, hesitations and my dislikes about her leadership but you know what, it fired back at me. She made me realize that those are the same apprehensions, hesitations and dislikes about me and probably about others as well. I forgot that she's also human who feels and senses about these things. That Q&A day made me think deeper and I told myself to shape up and change. There is the word again - CHANGE. The 10-minute conversation I had with her was very insightful for me as a leader that in order for us to move, we need to change and try different things other than what we normally and usually do; that to become a better leader, you need to push yourself out of your shell. One day we all realized that she moved out so there was change again. Months down the road I look back, she really made a lot of changes and I want to give her credit for whatever liberation I feel right now. A tap at the back for you.
Change is such a huge thing to face. We lose the cushion then we see ourselves bleeding from the pain. This picture is hard to look at but we forget that we bleed because we fight it and never want to try a new approach. At times we even lose our faith in everything including God for you have been in the battle alone by your own self. We forget that we still have our Almighty Creator to comfort us when we are in pain. As He said in Psalm 55:22 "Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken." Another one is in Matthew 11: 28-30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Rodney Howard Browne amplified it as "Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]” He also said in 1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." WHOA! Those were just powerful verses that assure us that even if change is inevitable, we have our God to comfort us. He should be the cushion from all the pain that we experience due to these changes. Let's be brave to face life's challenges with God by our side. He will comfort us all the time for He promised us so.
GOD BLESS US ALL!
[Blog] GOD tamed my heart
Many times in our lives when we just want to do a lot of things and oftentimes, this happens during our teen years. Not with me. I had this episode not so long ago when I am not in my teen years anymore. I am the type of a person who does everything that pleases me. I rebel with whatever and whenever there are changes around me and I fight it til I breakdown. I remember one time when my previous boss told us that there will be changes in the way things are audited. Of course, me being rebellious and a non-fan of change, I just did not mind what she said. I fought it as if it’s a never ending battle every time but I always end up doing it anyway. Saturday is the deadline and Monday is the reports day where all the shenanigans and the nitty gritty side of my job happen. Since I don't want it, I do it on the reports day but my BFF told me to choose my battles. Take this task. I can never win the fight for it was a directive from the bosses. After so many sigh I aired out, they still won over my stubborn self for they are the bosses. The battle my friend was saying is the battle I felt fighting to all the time.
Taking years after that, one morning, it came to a point that God intervened in my life. Literally, I felt like the lost sheep whom He searched in the fields and when He found me, He put me on His shoulders then brought me home with Him. Back then I was like, "God must have big and sturdy back and shoulders for He was able to carry me around His neck without breaking it!" hehe.. Kidding aside, I really felt that. I was a lost sheep and when I was found, God gave me a better place to stay in - His shoulders - as if telling me that I am safe with Him as the song of Rivermaya goes "You'll be safe here.". The night after I went under the knife was the most important night of my life - my turning point. It was the night when I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Just this weekend, someone approached and asked me how did I become a Christian and I answered, "I am a product of unending prayer of my friends." Then there were flashback of my previous life. Tears fell and thugs came from everywhere.
I had so many heart aches and heart breaks in life and the reason why I fight things before it's because that's the only way I know I can win things over. Unfortunately, I never did win any of it til I find myself worn out. Before, I thought being a Christian is a "jologs' kind of thing but it isn't. I admire my BFF for she is a good example of a disciplined Christian and I thought to myself that if I become a Christian, my life will be as boring as hers but I never had a boring step in my walk with Christ. Christ taught me a lot of things and these are the things I only learn from school - from the books - but never put that into practice so never that He had an effect in my life. Patience, Humility, Compassion, Love, Respect and a lot more did he teach me and up to now is still teaching me but the very first step to take is not to copy any of these then you'll experience Christ . It is in the act of surrender that is a sign of denial of one's self and letting God control our lives. It gives us such a liberating feel that gives us a worry-free feeling that you know someone got your back.
When I realized this, I suddenly feel the stillness inside me that I never thought of feeling at all in this lifetime. I thought that it will never happen and that people like my BFF are the ones who deserve this feeling but God is faithful and a loving God. He wants ALL of His children to experience such wonderful things in life - only the BEST - and ALL means including ME. With all these things given to you, would you still rebel and fight things hard? NO MORE. You should not anymore. You will learn how to respect your boss and his decisions for you know that God gave him that position to serve his purpose as a manager then follow him. You will learn how to care for your workmate then this shows compassion to them and then love comes after it. You will learn how to respect your parents for this pleases God and has been His command to honor them. My heart was tamed by God and there is nothing in this world that I would risk the kind of relationship I have with Him with something that is temporary and conditional. There's nothing I can compare a tamed heart with anything but a heart with God at the very center of it continuously improving the very me from what used to be a rebel.
For it is written in Matthew 17:20 -- "He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Nothing is really impossible with God. I had little faith but God changed me and my rebel heart. I know God has a purpose in me and he started by taming my heart so I can serve my purpose well. So let God control you and wonderful things will happen.
Taking years after that, one morning, it came to a point that God intervened in my life. Literally, I felt like the lost sheep whom He searched in the fields and when He found me, He put me on His shoulders then brought me home with Him. Back then I was like, "God must have big and sturdy back and shoulders for He was able to carry me around His neck without breaking it!" hehe.. Kidding aside, I really felt that. I was a lost sheep and when I was found, God gave me a better place to stay in - His shoulders - as if telling me that I am safe with Him as the song of Rivermaya goes "You'll be safe here.". The night after I went under the knife was the most important night of my life - my turning point. It was the night when I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Just this weekend, someone approached and asked me how did I become a Christian and I answered, "I am a product of unending prayer of my friends." Then there were flashback of my previous life. Tears fell and thugs came from everywhere.
I had so many heart aches and heart breaks in life and the reason why I fight things before it's because that's the only way I know I can win things over. Unfortunately, I never did win any of it til I find myself worn out. Before, I thought being a Christian is a "jologs' kind of thing but it isn't. I admire my BFF for she is a good example of a disciplined Christian and I thought to myself that if I become a Christian, my life will be as boring as hers but I never had a boring step in my walk with Christ. Christ taught me a lot of things and these are the things I only learn from school - from the books - but never put that into practice so never that He had an effect in my life. Patience, Humility, Compassion, Love, Respect and a lot more did he teach me and up to now is still teaching me but the very first step to take is not to copy any of these then you'll experience Christ . It is in the act of surrender that is a sign of denial of one's self and letting God control our lives. It gives us such a liberating feel that gives us a worry-free feeling that you know someone got your back.
When I realized this, I suddenly feel the stillness inside me that I never thought of feeling at all in this lifetime. I thought that it will never happen and that people like my BFF are the ones who deserve this feeling but God is faithful and a loving God. He wants ALL of His children to experience such wonderful things in life - only the BEST - and ALL means including ME. With all these things given to you, would you still rebel and fight things hard? NO MORE. You should not anymore. You will learn how to respect your boss and his decisions for you know that God gave him that position to serve his purpose as a manager then follow him. You will learn how to care for your workmate then this shows compassion to them and then love comes after it. You will learn how to respect your parents for this pleases God and has been His command to honor them. My heart was tamed by God and there is nothing in this world that I would risk the kind of relationship I have with Him with something that is temporary and conditional. There's nothing I can compare a tamed heart with anything but a heart with God at the very center of it continuously improving the very me from what used to be a rebel.
For it is written in Matthew 17:20 -- "He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Nothing is really impossible with God. I had little faith but God changed me and my rebel heart. I know God has a purpose in me and he started by taming my heart so I can serve my purpose well. So let God control you and wonderful things will happen.
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