Who am I to not love You?

By: Uel Ceballos

In a humid, claustrophobic dungeon,

In floor of mire, I sat alone.

My weeping bounces off in the wall made of stone.

Tears are my water, silence is my companion.

I rip my clothes in sorrow.

I shave my head in shame.

I’m nothing but a disappointment,

I’m a sinner.

No one loves me except You.

You stretch out your hand with tears on Your face.

You bath me with Your own blood.

I come out clean; not the same person I used to be.

You stretch out Your hands and You struggle.

I reach out for it and I see the reason.

You stretch out Your hands in the cross for me;

To free me out from the dungeon; to take me out of the darkness.

While my tears are my water, yours is the bitter wine.

My suffering is nothing compared from yours.

Who am I to not love you when you have given us your all?

Just come and make your presence felt; it's all that He asked of you.

I live in Quezon City; but every March of the year I travelled to Taguig to rehearse for SADTC’s (St. Anne Dance & Theatre Co.) “Daan ng Dalamhati.” It’s a holy week presentation of Jesus’ way to the cross. “Daan ng Dalamhati” is a combination of songs, dances, and skit that lead everyone to contemplate on each station.

I used to perform in the theatre shows of Action-ARNAI, thus when they first invited me last year to take part in SADTC’s (same people composed the two groups) “Daan ng Dalamhati” I answered “Yes” right away. When they asked me last month if I’d be joining again this year I only let 2 seconds passed before I gave my YES! I was asked to take part on this annual performance for Jesus Christ; who am I to refuse this great privilege? I was called to perform; who am I to not heed? All through the year I lived a grace-filled life; who am I to not give back to Him?

The people in Action-ARNAI/SADTC are all good and talented people. I love them and they love me more than twice in return. Sometimes I wonder why they are so nice to me. What have I done to deserve such kind of treatment? When I arrived they would all greet me with wide grin on their faces, “Hi tiyang (they really mean ate Uel),” – okay, they may be a little naughty, for teasing me tiyang though I’m not yet that old to be called as such but they are good-hearted and jolly people. Their dedication to their craft and to their service to the Lord is incomparable. Last year when Tita Bunny first asked me she also added, “Uel, sali ka sa Daan ng Dalamhati namin, para lalo ka pang ma-bless.” You see how generous and thoughtful they are?! They want to extend the blessings to the other people like me. They want me to receive even more blessings too!

The preparation for “Daan ng Dalamhati” usually takes 1-2 month. Rehearsal is almost every night from 7PM to 11PM. This is a community project so unlike any other theatrical performances, this one has no compensation; a labour of love. You are performing not merely for the passion but for your love to God. I live in QC so I travel at 4 or 5PM to get there on time. It takes me one tricycle, three jeepneys, and one MRT ride for one way trip so just double the numbers and those are the rides I take in all. Rehearsal ended at 11PM. I’d start to travel home around 11:30PM and I’ll reach home at 1:30 to 2AM. The kinds of dances we do here in DnD are contemporary and extensive dances; limbs are stretched, skins are sometimes bruised, and bones are challenged. I can say “No” to them since I have a church near us where I also serve in ministry but why do I still take these extra sacrifices? One night, Tita Rolly told us to not look at DnD as penitential act but rather as devotion. Even so, why make myself endure the hassle of rush hours and late-night wakefulness? The answer: because even if I multiply this act 2 or 3 times more, it’s still nothing compared to what the Lord has done for me. He gave up His only son to wash away my sins. Jesus died for me. That’s too much to ask but Jesus took all the beating and persecution, because He loves me. The Father and Son love me.

Every time I attend a rehearsal, a dinner would be served. Before I go they would provide me a transportation fare. Last time Tita Nina gave me a new Jazz Shoes. A dancing Jazz shoes – I’ve been a dancer for more than five years now but never did I have a Jazz shoes! Just imagine how my heart jumped in so much joy. Sometimes I’m already feeling embarrassed because they’ve been treating me special; so special that I don’t feel like I deserve any of it.I feel ashamed of myself because at some point there were those times that I became greed and insensitive of other people's need. Yet, here are great people from SADTC, treating me nicely and kindly; here I am receiving so much grace. I came to realize one thing: I just need to attend and give time and they will take care of the rest -- food, transpo allowance, etc. My presence is all that matters. At that moment I suddenly heard the voice of the Lord, “Uel, I’ll take care of everything that you need. Just come. Because your presence matters to me. I want to see you using that gift that I gave you. I'd be happy to watch you perform.” 

In another moment of our lives, the Lord will say to us the same lines. "Come to me. Just come", "Use your gift child. I'm proud of you", "Your presence matters". All that He asked of us is to come and make our presence felt. He will provide all the rest that we need -- a shower of blessings and grace. All that we just need to do is come to Him. Just come to Him.

            

We Are Called To Forgive

Last night I was troubled by my thoughts that kept on flashing back to that one darkest chapter of my life. It caused today my ugly, dark, and nightmarish eye bags that tinted my ever beautiful, angelic face (okay this would be my last lie for today). What made me restless was the thought of seeing again this person whom I don’t want to see anymore; whom I hate to see, that by just remembering his face would already send my stomach turning upside down. I hate him to the marrow of my bones and it’s not an exaggeration. It’s the plain truth.

My encounter to this person whom I met five years ago was among the greatest trials that I had in life. The pain it gave has drilled into me the life’s greatest lessons, of which I would never forget. I trusted this man and almost believed in the surreal possibilities of a good relationship. I was just actually hoping for nothing because it was clear as the water that we were just hanging out on the cliff, and we were bound to fall in the abyss – ah wait no, I WAS BOUND TO THE ENDLESS DEPTH OF THE ABYSS and he was up there by the edge. When I finally realized it I have touched down the bottom with a loud crash – with bones cracked and flesh bruised. I lost myself to this guy and I was left alone as the damaged goods at the end. At that point of my life I felt like a worthless, lifeless creature trapped within the figure of weaved flesh and bones. I didn’t even see myself as a human after all. I was in my lowest, downiest state. The experience was so traumatic that it took me five years before I manage to write this experience.

That was the moment that I first died but I was born again through the Holy Spirit. Though not literally but deep inside I knew I was born again in faith, hope, and love. This love is not the earthly love but the divine love given to us by the God the Father, the love that He sent to the world to wash away our sins and save us from the death and fire of hell. This love is Jesus. In the darkness I went seeking the light and in there, Jesus revealed Himself to me, He lighted up my world and washed me away from the mud of sins.

It took me time to recover; quite a long painstaking time of healing and recuperating. But it was all worth it because I know by now I was healed from the wounds of the past. However, there’s still that bit of hatred at one tiny confused corner of my heart. Or perhaps it isn’t hatred after all but my own fear; the fear of being back to that dark pit that stinks of sins. So I prayed harder because I know that’s the only way that I could get through this. While contemplating on this now, two verses have made it to my ever clogged up, messy brain. First, is the verse which I saw posted on the timeline of my brother:

Get rid of all bitterness, passion, and anger. No more shouting or insults, no more hateful feelings or any sort. Instead, be kind and tender-hearted to one another, and forgive one another, as God has forgiven you through Christ. (Eph 4:31-32)

            It isn’t all that easy, is it? Forgiving the person who hurt you and led you into sins. Instead of forgiving that person, you would rather despise him and wish him to rot in hell. But what if God does the same to us? God has all the reasons to hate us because of our sins. What if He does the same thing – despising us and sending us to burn in hell. What if He doesn’t forgive? The Good News is He does forgive. And that we should too. It’s not an easy thing I know – well, I should know. But it’s part of the whole process of healing. Unless we forgive, we will not be healed. In my case, perhaps I have already forgiven this person but not myself. Thus, I’m healed but not 100%.  Now if you’ll ask me what I will do when I come across with this person again, the answer is I still don’t know. May the Lord guide me at that time and teach me the right thing to do. Would it be best to sit down and put a closure to a long open-ended story? What if he’s still the same person? It would be wrong for me to judge him but you can’t blame me. However, I know now I can talk to him about our past and perhaps this is all what we need to do – to affirm the forgiveness. May the Lord be with us when that time comes.

Keep watch and pray that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. (Mt 26:41)

I have mentioned earlier about my fear of being drawn back to the dark pit. I fear for

such things to happen because I do not trust myself. We, humans are capable of things we have never imagined, both great and worst things. We are fragile to temptation therefore we mustn’t deal with it but do all means to avoid it. However, there comes a time that we are caught up in difficult situation and we got nothing to rely on but our self control. I have proven it effective over time that self control is strengthened by everyday prayers and devotion. It is like a plant that needs to be watered on a regular basis, it is like a human body that needs to be nourished. For your self control to be firm, you’ll need to feed your soul everyday with the words of God because when temptations got you cornered, the Holy Words will be your strongest armour.

            Now that I have realized it, I’m more relieved now. My worries are gone. I’m not alone. I know Jesus will never let me down. May God be with us always. Amen.

Blessed by the Pope ~ We Love You Lolo Kiko!

THE PEOPLE’S POPE

Photo credits to assets.rappler.com

Until now I’m still overwhelmed by the pontiff’s 5-day state and pastoral visit to our country. This morning as I watched his motorcade taking the way to Villamor Air Base, I feel like a seven year old child feeling sad as her grandpa is waving goodbye to her. Yes, that’s exactly how I feel. Within me, there’s a voice saying, “I’m gonna miss you paps, please be back very soon.”

I won’t mind feeling this Pope Francis’ fever until forever – because the Pope’s effect on me is so divine and inspiring. It gives me the strange chill, that whenever I look at him or listen to his words, I’m filled by the Holy Spirit. I’m truly inspired by his holiness and his call for us Filipinos, to be missionary disciples of Jesus. He keeps reminding us that he is not the focus of this visit but Jesus Christ, and his words really touched each and everyone, reminding us all that Jesus is never letting us down and never will He ever let us down. I think that the Pope Francis’s effect is coming from the One that he represents. The holiness in him is overflowing that we get to share with this divine experience. We are drawn, we are affected, and we are touched.

Even before his arrival to the Philippines I’m already filled with so much excitement. That moment he arrived, when I saw his face peering through the airplanes’ window, I couldn’t help smiling and adoring the cute pope. He was smiling as he glanced outside where thousands of people were eagerly waiting to see and meet him. I was only watching on TV but I was affected by his contagious smile. Imagine all the people wearing that Pope Francis’ smile, what a peaceful world it would surely be!

I’m no longer a TV person but during the 5-day visit of Pope our TV has become active every day for 5 consecutive days. I kept up with all his activities from his first mass at the Manila Cathedral up to the send off coverage where I felt a strong emotional attachment, realizing to myself that I’m more than just a fan but I truly love Pope Francis deep within my heart. Who would not love this Pope who smiles so genuine and sincerely, who humbles himself in front of the many, who never judges the sinners but loves them instead? Indeed, Pope Francis is sacredly living in the Holy presence of God, in the Words of Jesus, in the presence of the Holy Spirit. And that divine truth is what makes him into a superb rockstar.

SUPERB EXPERIENCE, A GRACE-FILLED DAY AT QUIRINO GRANDSTAND

SPPSC laid their mats in front of the museum
Photo credits to Kuya Gerson Ranario

With our transparent bags and packed foods, the St. Peter Parish Shrine Choir camped overnight at the Luneta Park Saturday night. We wished to get a good spot on the concluding mass of the Pope so we got there as early as the night before. We arrived 10PM and found the areas around the statue of Lapu-Lapu almost jam packed with people who were planning the same thing: to be among the firsts to enter when the gate to grandstand opened at 6AM.

Picture time while waiting for the dawn
Photo credits to Kuya Gerson Ranario

We spread our mats in front of Museum of the Filipino People and in just few minutes the areas near us were also filled with many campers. People were nonstop from coming and the line to comfort rooms were unimaginably long. At 4AM we packed up and started walking towards the gate. At that time there was already a traffic congestion of people, who were shoulder to shoulder, skin to skin, and moving in a very slow speed. I didn’t know exactly at what time did the gate opened but around 5AM the slow pacing of the people improved. As expected of the always hyper Filipinos, everyone was anxious to get on the gate and there were surges of the crowd. You didn’t have to make an effort at all to move forward because you’d be carried away by the rush of people. When we got passed the scanner gate, the pace got slower again and this time was much challenging as it got harder to pass through the heavy swell of people in the area. The sluggish speed was even made slower by the people who did not proceed forward. Many had just laid their mats there, barring the path to walk on.

We persisted and cautiously squeezed our way through. From time to time we were hearing some groups shouting, “Medic! Medic!” It meant someone passed out and in need of medical attention. After we crossed the street going towards the Rizal Park the thick mob finally loosen up. We took the time to breathe and waited for our other companions who were left behind. People passed us by in haste, all racing to the grandstand area where the quadrants were close to being filled. We were quite confused because back in the scanner gate we encountered some people who were turning back. They said they had reached the grandstand and found it full already. But then it seemed like there were still spaces to occupy up there in the front because the people were still moving forward.

Photo credits to Richard Combenido

We reunited with our colleagues in front of the Chinese Garden. Being stressed by the active pack of believers, and fearing the possibilities of stampede, many of us had decided to just stay and get a spot near the huge monitor that was set up in the area. I understood their main concerns. Safety should always come first. But personally I really wanted to proceed; I wanted to try because there might be some little space left there for me in the upfront. One of my choimates, Sef, said he wanted to go and I said I wanted too. So we decided to try our luck and pushed our way through the swarm of the crowd.

It was a hard endeavour, squeezing through and squashing ourselves in the midst of other hopefuls. Every time we passed a tight gate there was always the surge of relief within us. It was like we were oxygenated after being choked up. Then another gateway would be braved and we would experience again the same feeling.

Photo credits to assets.rappler.com

Finally we made it to the grandstand and it was so much joy for us. With our legs and feet crying in pain, arms bruised, and body soaking in sweat, we luckily found a quadrant in the back area. The front was already filled but it was fine to be at the back, as long as it was within a quadrant where portalets were available. We spread our mat and took some rest. It was only 8:30AM by then and there were still long hours ahead of us before the holy mass. The line in the portalets was terribly long especially the line for the girls. I waited 2 hours before I came back to our spot and it was starting to drizzle already. We took our raincoat and enjoyed the light tapping of rain to our ponchos but in few hours the rain had poured out. It was around 12NN, still 3 hours before the Pope arrived. We were freezing in cold; our hands soaked in the rain, pale white and wrinkled. Our bags drenched and our shoes got a swimming pool inside where our feet were drowning. But we stayed and waited. And we didn’t mind waiting in the rain. The faith of the Filipinos is indeed, waterproof. No rainstorm could ever stop us.

SINGING AND DANCING IN THE RAIN

Photo credits to newsinfo.inquirer,net
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/files/2015/01/0119Luneta.jpg

I’ve always fancied singing and dancing in the rain and the grandstand experience granted me this. The concluding mass of Pope Francis coincided with the Sinulog Feast so some of the attendees had brought their model of Sto. Nino. The emcee led the rehearsal of the Sinulog dance as preparation for the arrival of the Pope. It was followed by the rehearsal of the songs for the Holy Mass. Some might not find the emcee’s way amusing as he made the whole thing as entertaining as he could make it, such as teaching to the people the “Francis’ Wave”. It was the usual wave activity wherein the people waved their arms up from left to right, and the wave would be done in group from left to right as well. I’ve read some bashers wherein they thought the emcee had disturbed the solemnity of the event. While I shared with them the belief that the event was meant to be solemn, I quiet disagreed with the statement that the emcee had ruined it. We even prayed the rosary in between the rehearsal of the Sinulog dance and the Mass Songs. So how could they say that the emcee turned the event into a “Showtime” entertainment? In fact, it helped us to somehow stand the cold and the trembling that overpowering us. Standing there under the rain without moving or doing anything was a terrible suffering. But we endured it and when we go dancing the Sinulog dance the coldness was somehow lessened if not totally eased. The “Francis’ Wave” was also amusing that it diverted our attention from chilling to participating in the waving activity. I don’t think the bashers would say such a thing if they have stood there under the rain for long hours.

PAPA FRANCISCO, MAHAL NG PILIPINO!

Photo credits to newsinfo.inquirer.net

At 3PM Pope Francis arrived in his jeep-inspired pope mobile and the crowd became energetic and alive. The loud cheering of the people was the kind of merriment that I have never heard before. It wasn’t a fake or pretentious applause. The joyfulness was straight from the heart. And by just hearing the cheer of the crowd I’ve already had goose bump and tear-jerking emotion within me. Without seeing yet the pope but hearing only the people shouting, “We love you Pope Francis” I was already touched by what this good pope has done to Filipinos. He uplifted our spirit. He renewed our faith. And yes when he passed by our area the crowd was applauding and teary-eyed, you can feel the love that was coming from their heart because you feel it in your own heart too. And in there my emotional attachment to Lolo Kiko was made even stronger.

Pope Francis waved and smiled and he really glowed in personal. I thought he glowed only in photos because of the lighting effects but no, at that time, I saw him glowed in his pope mobile. It was normal for a white skin person to glow especially when he wore bright coloured apparel and under the strong lighting of the sun. But there was no sun at that time, and yet he glowed. I believed that was the Holy Spirit that was in him.

There was a moment of silence before the Holy Mass started. I must admit that I found it hard to concentrate to the mass due to the coldness that was killing me inside. But I have braved my way to get in there, and there should be no reason for me to not brave the remaining hours under the rain. I struggled focusing to the mass and I did it. In spite the trembling, teeth-chattering cold, I finished the mass and was blessed. It made me realized one thing though. The path to holiness is not an easy trail. We are all called to be holy but no one said it would be undemanding and trouble-free. There are lots of sacrifices to be made but it will all be worth it at the end. I realized it because through Pope Francis I got more inspired to devote myself to ministry, to serve the Lord with all my heart, with all my life. But yes, that day in the grandstand reminded me that it won’t be easy but it will all be worth it.

Here on earth there are many obstructions to our faith. We slide back to sins, we lose ourselves to human desire, and we forget the purpose of our beings. But through Jesus Christ we are redeemed and He’s never giving up on us, He’s never letting us down even though we did let Him down at some point in our lives. That day opened my eyes to the reality that the road to strong faith is not the smoothly cemented road with lush greenery and rich fauna on the side, but a rocky, steep, and often slippery road, that made us a survival at the end of the difficult journey. What I’m trying to say here is that there would be many things in the future that will challenge our faith and slide us back to being sinners, but we must get up after each fall, learn the lessons it taught us, and continue moving forward with Jesus Christ. There is no other way to do it, but with and through Jesus Christ. And that’s what Pope Francis keeps on reminding us.

WALANG SINUMAN ANG NABUBUHAY PARA SARILI LAMANG

The mass has ended and Archbishop Socrates Villegas delivered his speech of gratitude to our beloved Pope Francis. Every word spoken was true and sincere from the heart. I knew that we all shared with the same message that Archbishop Soc had given to Lolo Kiko. He indeed, is our sunshine in the rain. And yes, we are inspired by his call for us Filipinos to be missionary disciples of Jesus Christ. It has inspired me even more, fire up my heart to be a humble servant of Christ, and help in spreading the Gospel of Jesus’ love and salvation. It was a heartfelt speech of gratitude because this is what we really wanted to say to Pope Francis. There was again a loud cheering from the crowd and when the candles were lighted and the song “Tell the World of His Love” was sang, the whole Luneta was filled by the Holy Spirit. I knew it because I felt it and I knew the rest of the people had felt it too. The Holy Spirit was there, guiding us, uplifting us, renewing us.

Another emotional moment was when the “Pananagutan” was sung and Pope Francis started roaming around the grandstand in his pope mobile. Rosaries and handkerchiefs were waved in the air, hands raised up high, and the people were cheering at the top of their lungs. It was an overwhelming, tear-jerking experience, cheering and proclaiming the faith while hearing one of the most meaningful songs in the Catholic Church:

Walang sinuman ang nabubuhay para sa sarili lamang

Walang sinuman ang namamatay para sa sarili lamang

Tayong lahat ay may pananagutan sa isa’t isa

Tayong lahat ay tinipon ng Diyos na kapiling Niya

This encounter with Papa Francisco is a moment to cherish for a lifetime. I’m changed and renewed. I’m more inspired to remember and live by his teachings, etching them deeply into my heart. After the 5 Day stay of Pope Francis in the Philippines, I’m made stronger in my faith and for this I’m more inspired to be a missionary disciple of our brother Jesus Christ, our brother in the Lord our God, our Father. 

Thank you Pope Francis for giving us all the high the we need to uplift our spirit, our faith, our devotion to Jesus Christ. Mahal ka ng Pilipino! Mabuhay Ka! Mabuhay si Hesukristo na nasa Ating lahat! Amen. 

Quench the thirst with the living water

He works day and night to earn money and to put food in the table. His intentions are good though but as he earns more money, he feels like earning even more so he tends to work more without realizing that he’s been beating his self to health failure. More and more time are given to work, while lesser and lesser time is given to family and spiritual aspect of his life. There is this hollow feeling within him that he thought money and material things could fill in. He’s thirsty for wealth.

She has had many lovers from the past but all ended up to same fate of heartbreak and being left alone. She never gets tired of loving though, of hoping that someday she would come across the right man who will truly love him not only for a moment but for a lifetime. She never gets tired but she eventually gets impatient, so whenever she comes across with someone she likes, she finds way to get closer to him without taking into consideration the rightful attitude and manner that a woman should show. She’s thirsty for love.

He drinks as often as he can make it. He works hard and parties even harder. He has the belief that he should enjoy life while young and free. He chugs down beer like water, and smokes cigarette like a vehicle’s muffler. He enjoys life to bits, in active social lifestyle he thinks he has found the missing piece. He relieves his self from personal problems by dancing and partying and dating different women. He’s thirsty for fun.

She thinks having a strong personality all means getting to do what the men can do. So she plays around and makes a big mess of herself. She enjoys it though and keeps engaging herself to such indecent and immoral activities. Until she couldn’t control herself anymore, and she becomes slave to herself. She’s thirsty for lust, so she drinks fire instead of water, and she gets burn.

All of us are thirsty but in varying ways...some are thirsty for fame, money, power, or love. Whatever it is that we get thirsty for, we always look for something that can totally quench the thirst. When we are literally thirsty, we drink water to be relieved. But sometimes, instead of water we prefer other drinks like soft drinks, juice, or shake (milk, fruit and other else kind). However, as we drink these cold, flavoured drinks we still look for water afterwards because we only prefer the other drinks for its inviting flavour, icy coolness, and delightful taste, but it can’t fully quench the thirst that we are feeling.

Same with our life’s thirstiness, Jesus Christ is the only living water that can totally quench our thirst. We can work all day and night, but we’ll never be satisfied because we’ll just keep on desiring for more. But when we have Jesus in our life, our views on material things will change. Money and other material things are important but when we work first with our relationship with Christ, we will learn how to handle these earthy matters and how’s the right way to treat and deal with it.

When we have Jesus Christ in our life our broken heart will be healed, and our perception about love and relationship will take a 180 degree turn. We’ll learn to be patient enough and we’ll learn to prepare ourselves as we wait for our better half than go spend wasting our time over someone who doesn’t deserve us. With Jesus we are guided to our one perfect true love. We will get to realize what kind of person truly deserves to be in our life... and we’ll never go impatient about looking for that someone because we already feel confident about God working yet for our best love story ever.

With Jesus, we’ll never get thirsty again because He is the living water that quenches any kinds of thirst. Jesus is the love himself that fills our heart and that will quench that unforgiving thirstiness that we feel deep within.

How about you, to what do you get thirsty? No matter what you do to quench it, it will never fade because Jesus is the only way to satiate the dryness in our life. We are like the plants in the midst of the desert and Jesus Christ is the living water that keeps our soul alive and healthy.

To God Be the Glory! Amen!

Submission and Surrender aren't that bad at all

Life is not just about fighting and being the winner. There are some points in our life that we need to submit to defeat, and let others to rule us over. It doesn’t quite mean that we are losers or we give up on our faith; submitting and surrendering is not really as bad as most of us think it is.

In the book of Jeremiah, the Lord had commanded the people of Judah to submit to the ruling of Nebuchadnezzar of whom He has allowed to rule over. 

5 With my great power and outstretched arm I made the earth and its people and the animals that are on it, and I give it to anyone I please. 6 Now I will give all your countries into the hands of my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; I will make even the wild animals subject to him. 7 All nations will serve him and his son and his grandson until the time for his land comes; then many nations and great kings will subjugate him.

8 “‘“If, however, any nation or kingdom will not serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon or bow its neck under his yoke, I will punish that nation with the sword, famine and plague, declares the Lord, until I destroy it by his hand. – Jeremiah 27: 5 – 8

God has his good reasons for doing this. People have so much pride within them that submitting to others whom they think does not deserve to be bowed is something that they wouldn’t do for any cause. Nebuchadnezzar is regarded to as the arising “destroyer of nations” as described in Jeremiah 4:7 but the Lord sent a message through Jeremiah that if the nation followed and obeyed as He the Lord had commanded, he will let the nation live. 

11 But if any nation will bow its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serve him, I will let that nation remain in its own land to till it and to live there, declares the Lord.”’”

12 I gave the same message to Zedekiah king of Judah. I said, “Bow your neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon; serve him and his people, and you will live. 13 Why will you and your people die by the sword, famine and plague with which the Lord has threatened any nation that will not serve the king of Babylon? – Jeremiah 27: 11 – 12

It doesn’t implies that by doing so we become weakly submitted to other people and become less of a human being but by following so, we are submitting ourselves to God himself, and we are preventing war and suffering to fall upon us. War, battle, starvation and death do happen because of the people’s wickedness and thirst for money, fame and power. With all the people battling and struggling for these earthly ills, then peace wouldn’t really be at hand. 

So what if we are subordinates to others, so what if we are in a lower position in the society; if we’re doing as the Lord said and live our lives in obedience to the Lord’s commandments then we are securing a good place in His Kingdom. Let's keep in mind that this is not our home after all, wicked people who savor the fame, money and power here on Earth will only enjoy if for good number of years but in return they will suffer all kind of pains in the life beyond and that would be for eternity.

Let’s strive hard to conquer the pride within us and learn to humble ourselves in spite of all the success, recognitions, and achievements we are receiving in life. If we are subjected to others ruling or system, let’s do our best to do our duties and responsibilities and do not entertain resistance that would only lead to quarrel, chaos or worst, war. Let’s deal with each situation in calmest way possible, do not start a misunderstanding that would only threaten peace and safety. 

To God Be The Glory, Amen!

God taps me on the shoulder this morning

I woke up late this morning and as I rose from my bed all I was thinking of is getting straight to my laptop to work. This late I have been greatly anxious about earning money to see the Wicked Broadway musical before it ends the season next week. Plus, there are still expenses that I would need to settle. I’m such a workhorse for this whole month trying to make the ends meet.

After getting out my bed, washing my face and gurgling, I was hit by the idea that I haven’t opened the bible yet since last night. I wasn’t able to read because I’ve fallen asleep immediately. So I calm myself and said that work can wait, and money...money can get your bank account nourished and your wants satisfied but not your soul. I opened up my bible to the marked page where I stopped reading the last time.

But I will bless the person who puts his trust in me. He is like a tree growing near a stream and sending out roots to the water. It is not afraid when hot weather comes, because its leaves stay green; it has no worries when there is no rain; it keeps on bearing fruit. – Jeremiah 17 : 7-8

I was greeted by this beautiful verse from the book of Jeremiah. As I was filled with worry, God sends me His comforting words. But we could get so unfocused and distracted sometimes that though we are hearing it we do not fully understand it. Half of me still wandering somewhere else – I need to do this then I need to do that and so on.

Someone told me before that we should take time every day, an hour or half to meditate and empty our mind from everything, as in from everything. We don’t have to do a thing or think of anything, just empty it out and let your mind relax adrift. In silence, we will hear the Lord talking to us, we will hear and understand much clearer what His message is. And this quite works, indeed as soon as we empty ourselves from all the things that bother, distract and even those things that excite us, more spaces are given for the Lord to fill in with His words and messages for us. On such moment that we finally condition ourselves, soothed down and relax, is the perfect time to open the bible and read the scripture. By then, we are much focused, with our full attention on His words.

This wouldn’t eat so much of our time, but we often neglect doing such reflection because we are too caught on the hurly-burly of life. After reading this morning I closed the bible at once and proceeded to the kitchen to prepare my breakfast while my father is already preparing to eat  his lunch. I never sit with him in the dining table but found a place at the other table where my laptop is. I started on my stuffs with coffee and pandesal on the side. I opened my online writing account and was glad to see that I have assigned article. I’m a freelance online writer and often times I have to compete with other writers  for the available articles to grab. It’s always flattering to find out that an article is assigned to you because this could mean that they want no one to write that article but you. So I opened it and was surprised to see that I was assigned to do an article about the Easter Celebration and on how to make it fun-filled and meaningful especially for the children.

I was hit by the realization that God never stops sending me His messages until I could finally grasp it. While I was writing about creative ways that we could make the children learn and understand about Jesus’ journey to the cross and beyond, I’m eventually forgetting about my fears and worries which keep on eating me just minutes ago. I’m reminded again that I should focus not on things that matter only to this world, but on things that matter on life beyond and that is the Salvation which is given to us through Jesus Christ who resurrected from the death. ­After writing the article, I find myself thinking of ways to spend a meaningful holy week with my family.Once again, I feel relieved with the storm within me already subsiding. 

And then I realized that this morning event is God's way of tapping me on the shoulder saying, “You’re getting harsh on yourself again, worrying too much on things, stressing yourself to death. As long as your trust is in me, you are at your best.” True indeed, because God never stops giving me my needs. Whenever I need it, He always sends me opportunities to make the end meets and still with enough quality time to spend with family and friends. Only that, we must learn to keep balance on everything because everything that is too much is not good for us. As they say, we don’t need the excess things on our lives so we got to share those instead of keeping them to ourselves. Let’s keep balance on our lifestyle by having and keeping only what we need because God assures us that we will never get less than what we deserve as long as we are putting our trust on Him.

To God be the Glory! Amen!

Spread the Love!

Love! Love! Love! Yesterday we celebrated the Valentine’s Day and there were lots of sweetness and cheesiness in the air. Until now hangover of yesterday’s event can still be felt over the social media as people keep posting roses, chocolates and other valentine’s stuffs given to them by their loved ones. Your Facebook and Twitter homepage are filled with photos of couples on their Valentines date – so cute and sweet. Seeing the love everywhere make the world a happy place!

But not all people are seemed to be happy about celebrating the Valentines’ Day. There were some who posted instead some bitter quotes or comments that were making fun of the celebration. Why? Because some of them still feel the heartbreaks that keep giving them pain while others are still waiting for that one true love to come into their lives.

But how could we really know if it’s the one true and righteous love? What is the perfect definition of love? And how can we show and express it in the most honest way? The answers, brothers and sisters are written down in the Bible.

Loving makes the world a happy place but an unguided love can cause so much pain to us. Oftentimes we are deceived by various emotions or feelings, seeing it and thinking of it as Love but we wonder in the end why it has broken our heart and wreck our lives. Then we ask ourselves what have we done wrong when all we did is to love? Isn’t love a beautiful thing? Isn’t love makes the world a colourful place? Yes it is. But beyond that, love has a wider and more significant definition. It is written in the scripture.

Jesus has given us the new commandment to guide us and be an everyday basis of our living:

"And now I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. If you have love for one another, then everyone will know that you are my disciples." ~ John 13:34-35

Spreading love is a good thing because by doing so we become Jesus’ disciple. But there is one thing that Jesus says on how we should love one another – and that is by the way that he has loved us. Jesus’ love is the blueprint of love that we must practice in our lives because that love is certainly pure, sincere and true. Jesus says, “Love one another” therefore it doesn’t only confine to your family or closed friends but also include all the people around you. You can show your love not only through romantic things but also through showing compassion and sincerity; through giving respect; and through understanding.

To make us understand more the concept of love, the bible has given us one of the most beautiful definitions of it.

"Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous or conceited or proud, love is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable; love does not keep a record of wrongs; love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth. Love never gives up; and its faith, hope, and patience never fail." ~ 1 Corinthian 13:4-7

True love is just as exactly as that. Nothing is written about love being painless but in loving truly and sincerely it will be all worth it. Because with true love, we become able to do great things; and we become a better person than we were yesterday. We get to straighten our path and perform only the righteous thing. In true love, we get to live in the way of our Lord Jesus Christ -- and that is the greatest achievement that everyone of us should strive aiming for. Let Jesus live in our hearts so our hearts can be healed from all heartbreaks, bitterness and any sort of wounds. With our hearts healthier and stronger, we get  to gain wisdom and strength to find that true love that we've been looking for, we get to endure anything and everything just to make that true love survive the challenges and test of time, we get to spread love and happiness wherever we may go. 

Let’s all be guided by what the Holy Bible says about love. Let’s keep it in mind and plant it in our heart. More importantly, let’s practice it at every minute and second of our lives.  Love is not just for couples but it's for everyone to feel and share! Let's spread the Love everyday my friends! Let's fill the air with its heavenly scent and breathe it with all happiness. 

Jesus is the Bread of Life

We eat foods to fill our hungry stomach and drink waters to quench our thirst. Food and water are among the basic necessities of human to survive the life on Earth, thus we have been working hard every day to provide these needs. You often hear it to most workaholic persons that their foremost reason for working more than eight hours day and including even the Saturdays and Sundays is to put foods on the table. We stuff our belly with sumptuous meals from feast and drown ourselves in various beverages. There is nothing wrong with this brothers and sisters. In fact, God wants us to enjoy life that is why He’s been gracious to provide all our needs. Feasting and revelries are good activities because through such things we are glorifying Him who has given all those foods and drinks that are laid on the table. But let’s not overdo things and forget the right thinking and manner over such things that we acquire here on Earth. Foods and drinks fill our body and give us strength but it can never give us an eternal life. But there’s a food that does – the bread of life, Jesus.

In John 6:27, the scripture says, “Do not work for food that spoils; instead, work for the food that lasts for eternal life. This is the food which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father, has put his mark of approval on him.”

Jesus is referring to himself as the food that lasts for eternal life because He is our salvation. In today’s time, many are suffering from hunger. This kind of hunger is not the physical starvation but the famine of the soul. Jesus is teaching us to work for the food that will give us the everlasting life. When we eat the bread of life we are strengthening our soul which would make us last forever. The scripture is not saying that you should resign from your current job now and refrain from working but instead, it is only saying that you should know better than to focus much of your time and energy to things that only make you lasts for certain number of years. Wealth will give you good life on Earth, but you’ll soon get old and die. In the judgment day the living will be gathered and the dead will rise to life and they will all be judged according to how they had lived their life. While you assured a better life for yourself on Earth, you should assure all the more a better life beyond death.

John 6:28-29 So they asked him, “What can we do in order to do what God wants us to do?” Jesus answered, “What God wants you to do is to believe in the one He sent.

What God wants to do sounds simple and plain, but we people finds it difficult to establish our faith. Because as we grow more rational we are affected by certain things and events and we learn to always look for concrete evidence of truth before we believe. God knows this of course, thus He gave us the Holy Book, the bible to where we can feed our soul with the Words of God. Because the Words is Jesus, He is the Messiah and Jesus is the bread of life. The truth is laid there inside the bible, all we need is the wisdom and the will to read it and understand its message. Read it and understand it, because in understanding comes respect and love. You can’t love someone you didn’t know but the spreading of the Good News is all enough for you to ponder things through and get yourself all the more curious to know about it. Who wouldn't want to be saved?The Good News is there is a Salvation and Jesus is our Salvation. Get to know Him deeper, Communicate with Him, Accept Him – once you do, there’s no way that you can’t love Him after you’ve learned everything that He has done just To Save You.

God wants us to believe in the One He sent us and by doing so, believing in Jesus means accepting Him in our lives, in our Hearts. With Jesus living in us, we are living the life according to His teaching. Jesus is sent here on Earth to teach us and most of all to save us and give us eternal life. Living the life according to God’s will is living the life according to the sample and teaching of Jesus, the One that God sent. Let’s eat the bread of life brothers and sisters and let Jesus lives within us. Amen. 

The things that matter most

I thought there was an early practice for the choir this afternoon so I went there around 3PM. When I got there in our rehearsal area I was surprised that nobody was in there yet wherein fact I was already late for the supposedly 2PM schedule. I texted our coordinator and asked if there was an early practice (that was the original schedule discussed from the previous week), and she replied that there was none. At that moment I felt like I was being left out. I didn’t receive any message that the rehearsal was cancelled but before I got into this sort of self-pitying I reminded myself that it was also my fault to not ask and confirm the rehearsal. I wasn’t able to attend the other practice before which was last Friday. Maybe they have announced it there about the cancellation of today’s practice.

The good thing is I was able to control my temper and be rational about my thinking. If I’m the same person that I was about two years ago, I would probably burst out in rage complaining about the inaccuracy of information and failure of communication. I would rant about the unfair treatment that I should be staying at the house instead with more time to rest. I shouldn't be coming there early with nothing to do and no one to talk to. I used to be short-tempered back then, imitating my previous bosses who were strict about everything, yelling on imperfections and swearing on the flaws. I have just realized by now that I have changed somehow and that is because of my deepening relationship with God.

It was still two hours away before the time of our mass service. Instead of going somewhere, I entered the church and attend the 3PM mass. It has been a year since I attend the mass as a plain churchgoer. When I joined the choir I’m always attending the mass together with my choir mates in the comfort of the choir loft – secured chair, electric fan, free from the claustrophobic crowd. Today, I experienced again to be seated there in the row, in the last row. I was able to get a seat (people who comes late rarely has the chance to get one) and sat there thinking about the thing that happened to me. Then it was sort like a voice has whispered into my ear, “It just that God wants to spend more time with you today”. I saw Jesus there in the cross, and it seemed like I heard him say, “I want to spend longer time with you today.” If I hadn’t come there early, I would probably be spending time at home facing my laptop doing the same stuffs I bury my nose on from Monday to Saturday. God has made a way to give me a break and cuddle me in his loving arms, rocking me as a baby, whispering in my ears that everything is going to be okay because He's there to take care and watch over me.

I attended the mass and heard the sermon of the priest. After that, it was still an hour away before our 5PM mass service but I went up to the choir loft anyway. I sat there in the corner, browsing my phone and realized that there have been three birthdays for the past week of which I missed to send my greetings. So I send them all my belated greetings assuring them that I didn’t forget their special day. I really didn’t forget, it just that I didn’t get the time to stop from my busy activities and spend some seconds to greet them “happy birthday”. . .

While I typed this article, I came to realize about so many things about time and priorities. Because of so many things that I worry about (financial, career, future), I’m giving less of the time that I should be giving to Him. Most of the time I’m failing to be there in our choir rehearsals (which happen twice a week only for 2-3 hours), and there are even Sundays that I’m absent or nowhere. Why? Because I feel like spending my time instead to things that could earn me money or recognition. There are lots of resources now to communicate with friends from mobile to different gadgets through the internet but I’m still failing to send them even the shortest HBD greeting for their special day. Why? Because I think I could always send them a belated greeting when I’m no longer bombarded with things-to-do – which never really happen.

God has reminded me today to take note of these more important things. Our time is indeed very limited so let’s not consume it all in work alone – remember that other than our job there are more important parts in our life that also need our time and attention. Let’s not miss the most important. There’s more to life than money and fame and those are the people around us and most of all is the Lord our God to whom we owe everything that we have in life.