Here comes September...

For us we always know that there is spirit of Christmas in the air when September comes. People start to listen or play Christmas songs.  As we always say, "ber" months is here. Wherein we are in the last quarter of the year. Time went so fast right? It seems yesterday that we have Christmas and New Year, now here comes again the days is fast approaching. It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air. 
Now I hear Christmas jingles on TV's, neighborhood and shopping malls as well. How come every time we hear more about Christmas it uplifts our spirit and get us excited? It is because the essence of Christmas is not just in gift giving, family gatherings but the real essence is we feel Christ Jesus in our hearts. Let us not forget that the real meaning of Christmas, is not just simply the traditional ways that we're used to it in celebrating the season. Now I can't imagine when was the last time I clear up my Christmas tree and now I'm getting excited putting it up again. I remember 2 years ago, I almost forgot how does it feel to be happy or look forward in celebrating Christmas. During that time Christmas for me is just an ordinary day, no holidays during my work. I am not with my kids and family, sadness almost covered my heart the moment we count down for midnight and yet what I am up to, working at midnight. I get doubled pay but the joy or essence of Christmas was lost. The next day was the 25th, people gathered with their family, but where am I... in the four corners of my room need to get some rest and sleep for I need to regain my energy for another day of work. So, that was an ordinary day for me... two Christmas celebrations I almost forgot that there is Christmas. I couldn't imagine that I would experience that in my life. I almost hated it.
This year, all I want is a gift bag filled with laughter & joy, with my kids. I am planning again putting up my Christmas tree in a motif of blue and silver. Last year I have it red and silver. Perhaps the best Yuletide decoration is being wreathed in smiles.
Then What else with September? Remember the 9/11?  This were series of four coordinated terrorist attacks launched by the Islamic terrorist group al-Qaeda upon the United States in New York City and the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. The attacks killed nearly 3,000 people from 93 nations. 2,753 people were killed in New York,  184 people were killed at the Pentagon and 40 people were killed on Flight 93. The collapse of the buildings left the site devastated, with ruins towering roughly 17 stories and spread beyond the 16-acre site. Thousands of volunteers came to Ground Zero to help with the rescue, recovery and clean-up efforts, and on May 30, 2002, the last of piece of WTC steel was ceremonially removed. Now, The Memorial park surrounds two enormous reflecting pools set within the footprints of the North and South towers. This is where the towers used to stand. The pools feature 30-foot waterfalls – the largest man-made waterfalls in North America. The water cascades into reflecting pools, finally disappearing into the center voids. The names of people who were killed in the 9/11 attacks in New York, at the Pentagon, and on Flight 93, as well as in the 1993 bombing at the WTC, are etched in bronze around the edges of the pools.

What always reminds me of this tragedy makes me very very sad, for a special good friend died on this, she used to work in  Marsh & McLennan Companies at the 99th floor of WTC. With all the success in her career all of a sudden this tragedy brings her to death. So every time September is here, it reminds me of a special friend that once I shared a friendship like more than a sister I could have. 
Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.
So let's welcome September with good vibes and look forward till the end of the year!

Let Love Find You...

I was thinking for a topic, when a friend told me about this. Says, usually people trying to look for love, chase for love, hunting for love and yet ended being hurt. Then told me why not write the other way around of letting love finding you. Many are anxious and only concerned with finding love. Whether they think that the time is right in their lives for love, or that they are lonely, or that they need to find love because everyone else around them has found love, it is important that we all must realize true love isn't something that is forced, it is something that just happens. Don't be a fool for love, choose your love as best as possible. 
All our young lives we search for someone to love. Someone who makes us complete. We choose partners and change partners. We dance to a song of heartbreak and hope. All the while wondering if somewhere, somehow, there's someone perfect who might be searching for us. I think that definitely is a better way of putting it, because more often than not they are saying it to that one person who is absolutely desperate to be with somebody. It's not healthy to be that consumed into finding a relationship, and nor is it conducive to finding one. So it's not a matter of not looking, but rather a matter of not trying to force it and not letting it consume your life and beat your heart into a fine pulp.

When people say, "Stop looking for love and let it find you," it is not meant in a literal sense. It means you can look around, but don't look just for the sake of finding love. Look for the sake of meeting people. Also, in the meantime, find things to do that you enjoy and make you happy. Doing things you enjoy and improving yourself will make you feel good about yourself. People will see that and will naturally want to be around you. Don't seek love. Let love seek you. But love yourself enough to receive love with an open mind when it visits you!! Don't be a slave to your past experience. Collections of experience are called wisdom. Life is not about the past, we cannot do anything about. It's about the present that we can do something about. Sometimes in our lives we had stories of love, which we had thought one of those was for us. But life is an interminable journey of affection until you have finally found the one in God's splendid era. In your life time you will find and meet one person who will love you more than anybody you have ever known and will know. They will love you with every bit of energy and soul. They will sacrifice, surrender and give you so much that it scares you. Someday, you will know who that is. sometimes, people realize who it was. Search a good heart but don't waste life in searching a beautiful face, because beautiful things are not always good but good things are always beautiful. Believe in your instinct, trust yourself and you will find someone trustworthy to share your inner world and your secret dreams in life. 

Love is never finding a hand that perfectly fits yours. It is finding the one who is willing to hold your hands no matter how unfit it may be. Love begins with our thoughts. We become what we think. Loving thoughts create loving experiences and loving relationships. Affirmations can change our beliefs and thoughts about ourselves and others. If we want to love someone, we need to consider their needs and desires. Thinking about your ideal partner will help recognize him or her when you meet. No one wants to be hurt or played, but you have to go through a few losers before you find someone worth keeping. 
The moment you decide that you don't need a man to complete your life. Is the same moment that God decides that it's time to show you him. People say just enjoy life and say if it meant to happen, it will. It is very true that sometimes love takes us over, and catches many by surprise. But for many love is something that they search for many times over and never really find because they never let it find them instead. Let your love find you, and you will be so much more grateful for it.

"And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."- Colossians 3:14 

Work and God's Eternal Purpose...

Life Management. Work and Destiny. Your work matters to God. This is the lesson we have been studying in our Immanuel Institute every Saturday night at Immanuel Christian Fellowship church. Last night we discussed about lesson 9 of Life Management 3, "Promotion through Excellence". It inspires me to write about this because it helps me or let me say give me that knowledge that work does not only mean for money or a career. I have learned that there are many wrong reasons for working which will never bring us into an area of true fulfillment and purpose achievement. We only know some reasons why work is to make a living, to work to rest let me say for leisure. To accumulate wealth for luxurious living, to secure the future, to enhance social status and yet all of these reasons are basically selfish. In this lesson of Life Management, I found out that in the perspective of God, there are many right reasons for working that will bring personal fulfillment to us and, at the same time, to glory to God. There are Godward reasons; to serve God and cooperate with His purpose for our life. To bring glory to God and honor to His name and to fulfill the dominion mandate and extend the kingdom of God in the earth. There are Manward reasons as well; to benefit mankind, to bless others, to meet the human needs. And aside from Godward and Manward, there is this Selfward reasons, which is to accomplish the will of God for our life. To become all that God has made it possible for us to become in Christ. To receive the reward from the Lord. 

Many people despise work because they don't understand the purpose of work. They see work as punishment, so they are unmotivated and as a result get little or nothing at the end of the day. That is why they complain and grumble about their work. Every man who lacks this understanding lives under punishment and pressure all the days of his life. Work is the Ladder to Elevation. Your work determines your rating and your rating determines your promotion. Nothing gives you the opportunity for promotion like work and nothing attracts promotion for you like work. Many people today make career choices and determine job loyalty on the basis of the amount of money that they will receive for their efforts. No matter what you do, your job exists for a reason. When you know that reason and when you fully understand how your efforts make the world a better place for someone else, you have found your job's purpose. Now, this isn’t one of those you must live in the moment posts. What I’m saying is that I discovered my purpose in work when I finally realized that it’s the experience of what I’m doing and living my work with passion that defines my purpose. Giving in to that idea is how purpose finds you. It is a true saying, that the highest reward for any kind of labour is not what you get from it, but what you become by it.

Let me share a quote from the book, Work, Work, Work! by Ben Patterson: "If we truly believed and ordered our lives according to  the biblical idea of work, we would also take in a new attitude toward both work and leisure. If we really believed that work is something for which God made us-- that we live to work, not work to live-- then we would not look upon our work as something we must hurry up to get done so that we can get on with our play. We would look upon our play and rest as a change of pace or rhythm that refreshes us for the delightful purpose of getting back to the work God created us to do. "
Regardless of  your specific job or career, every believer has a general call from God that will affect how he or she functions in the marketplace. If your job is your calling, it is the only one in which you can fulfill your destiny. If we are to understand and appreciate God's working in our lives we must come to an understanding of His will and purpose. Everything which God has and will do is to one glorious end.

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters," - Colossians 3:23

The Heart's Deepest Cries

We discover in life that no amount of money, fame, possessions or power can satisfy the longing within or fill the emptiness. History has proven that whatever man attempts to use to fill that void never brings permanent fulfillment or genuine inner peace. Instead, there is an acute dissatisfaction with what was thought to be the solution to fill the emptiness within. Life is lived in a lonely Shadow land, unseen by others, but seen and understood by God.

As we live our lives here on earth, each day we desire for more. Yes, admit it or not, each day we rise up, we grow hungry for more; we desire for more- and these things and affections that we desire more in each day, are the things which are the deepest cries of our hearts. Living each day may make us desire for more earthly things. And the topmost of these are money and power – the longer we live, the more we hunger for more love, especially for the earthly things. But then, the Lord sees it all. He knows and sees every detail of the things that we need and the things that we want. He hears the deepest cries of our hearts – even the things that we never know that we ever wanted and ever needed. And many of us have been living that way. We never take the time to listen to our inner selves for what we really needed and wanted, and we let our worldly desires rule us, thus, giving us the wrong words to ask from the Lord. Know the right things to ask from God.
When you cry, cry from the deepest of your heart! Cry all you want because by doing so, you renew your spirit and your feelings. Cry...because by doing so God almighty stands closer to you. Cry...because by doing so, God will be waiting to hear your words. Cry from your heart! Cry from the deepest of your tender heart. When you Cry, do not wipe your tears away...for that's God's job. Cry because by doing so your'e freeing your pain's and sorrow's away.

In reality, that aching inner yearning is the heart cry of the human soul that is searching for God. It awakens in a child like a tender flower, but sadly, through time, it is quelled, suppressed within and often silenced throughout the growing up years. Every person who has ever lived has experienced the awareness of a profound inner thirst, deep within the heart. Our deepest need is to bask intimately in the fullness of God’s love. There is nothing apart from God that can truly fill the inner void, because that place within that was lost, was created by God, for His Spirit to fill, and only He can dwell there.

The shortest verse in the Bible is John 11:35: “Jesus wept.” But for all its grammatical simplicity, it’s packed with unfathomable complexity. Except that Jesus had come to Bethany to raise Lazarus from the dead. He knew that in a few short minutes all this weeping would turn to astonished joy, and then tearful laughter, and then worship. God is timeless, yet He pauses, draws near to our hearts, and listens to what we are truly saying when no one else is really listening. Cry. Forgive. Learn. Move on. Let your tears water the seeds of your future happiness.
Now I am living life to the fullest, no more worrying about the little things. I'm going to enjoy my life the way it is, with the people I have in it! To God Be the Glory!
"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”- Revelation 21:4

ICF Turns 11...

 August 18, 2013, 4:00 P.M, Venue 88, Mabuhay Road, General Santos City, Philippines : IMMANUEL CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP 11TH ANNIVERSARY
It has been months of preparation. Everyone is looking forward and so excited with this big event. And now the day has come with God's abundant blessings everything falls into place and indeed it was a great Success!!! 
Thanksgiving is a time when the world gets to see just how blessed and how workable the Christian system is. The emphasis is not on giving or buying, but on being thankful and expressing that appreciation to God and to one another.

Immanuel Christian Fellowship-Gensan is a Christ-centered, family-based church. We exist to glorify God and advance His Kingdom. To gather with God's people in united adoration of the Father is as necessary to the Christian life as prayer.

We are honored for Capt. Gerry Gambala who is one of the prominent figures alongside Navy Capt. and now Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, during the failed Oakwood Mutiny on July 27, 2003, as the event guest speaker. It is truly amazing how the Lord works in people's lives. The price to pay for the mutiny was huge...prison...life sentence! But with God's grace, his life is now being used by the Lord to pierce through the hearts of multitude and impart the message that there is hope and fulfillment in the Lord...no matter what! I thank Bro. Gerry for sharing his life and mission in life to the ICF Family. At this point in time he continues to spread the Word of God through the Military Ministry. Really God has changed this man from a rebel soldier to a soldier of GOD.

All the effort, time, talents and provisions are highly appreciated. God knows how big our hearts is be in service with his ministry and Church. Indeed having this family-based church is more than enough of all the  blessings God has given us. Coming up with this post inspire me to share how Proud I am to be part of this great Family. Now, I know inspite of what is happening in my life, the lost that I have was filled by all my brothers and sisters in this church. Thanks to Pastor Josiah Tan and Mam Mary Gay Tan for being there always, both of you are gifts of person from God that help me a better person and strong enough to face life challenges. 

Let me share as what Pastor Josiah Tan quoted via mobile in his status, "To GOD b d Glory!!! 11th years ago on d 3rd Sunday of August 2002, officially IMMANUEL CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP of GENSAN, was organized n had there 1st Worship Celebration in Maruz Subd. Mabuhay Rd. San Isidro, GSC, with Rev. Joanie Sumagaysay as der 1st Pastor till of May 31,2004. On June 2004 till present, I became der Pastor together w/ my wife n Kaye, serving d Immanuel Family! GOD s doin great things in d Ministry n I thank GOD for d Leaders He used in Advancing His Kingdom... Thank u Lord for all d Great n Amazing Things u done w/ d ICF. It will b a Year of Abundance!!! Happy 11th Church Anniversary..."

ALL ABOUT ICF

Three Sunday Worship Celebrations

We give importance to the next generation so we also have 2 KIDS Church Celebrations and Sunday School classess at 8:00 A.M. and 10:00 A.M

The iConnect, our Youth Group Fellowship, meets at 2:00 P.M. every Saturday.

Small groups for men, women, and yuppies take place during the week.

We also meet up every Wednesday for the Prayer Meeting at 7:00 P.M

Immanuel Institute every Saturday at 7:30 P.M. Be in learning and in knowledge as what the Bible says.

The perfection of Christian character depends wholly upon the grace and strength found alone in God. Being a Christian is more than just an instantaneous conversion - it is a daily process whereby you grow to be more and more like Christ. The Word of God well understood and religiously obeyed is the shortest route to spiritual perfection. And we must not select a few favorite passages to the exclusion of others. Nothing less than a whole Bible can make a whole Christian.

THIS IS ALL ABOUT YOU LORD! WE BRING BACK ALL THE GLORY AND PRAISE TO OUR GOD ALMIGHTY! 

"From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work."-Ephesians 4:16

When Your FAITH is Tested

Just when things couldn't possibly get worse, they do. Just when we set our expectations in life, the unexpected happens. Whether storms in life come out of nowhere, or we saw them coming all along, we struggle to hold on to our faith. When we have no strength to carry on, when disappointment and discouragement take hold of us, we find that our only way through it all depends upon our faith. We find our faith being tested as we endure suffering that may be physical, mental, social, financial, or all of them combined.

 I was once asked by a friend, says  "What was the difference between my life before and my life now as a believer?" She's pointing out with regards to trials and test of faith happening in my life now and then. I answered her, "Looking back where I was before, I have all what I got but the happiness, peace and contentment that I have now is all I got and still choose to be with my choice now." Every problem and troubling situation believers face in this life is allowed by God  for a specific purpose. We may be tested with trials and tribulations in life, when you focus on the fear and the "what if's", then you draw that energy to you. Like attracts like. Sit with your fear. Acknowledge it. Then take away it's power by filling your heart with love and abundance. Every day we must make choices that test our faith.  Do we make the easy choice of passing by the person in need, or do we take the narrow gate of helping the person who can never repay us?
Sometimes when difficult things come into our lives, we wonder why. Though we must be willing to trust and obey even if we don’t know why or aren't given that answer for some time, we do need to distinguish between tempting and testing. The testing of our faith is part of the refining process that continues within the Christian throughout his earthly sojourn. When we first become Christians, we are like babies, who need to be nurtured and strengthened until we become spiritually mature, fully equipped to do every good work.
The test of faith is the devil trying to steal your faith. The devil wants you to believe something other than God's Word. When my faith is tested, the Lord will help me pass the test. Start with the existence of God. Not in a general, abstract sense, but in the sense that you believe He exists in this situation. In my pain, God is!  In my loneliness, God is!  In my grief, insecurity or rejection, God is. 
I think there is a problem in always thinking of the “testing of our faith” in this way.  Yes, God is still in the business of doing truly supernatural things, but that’s not how life is day to day.  It’s also important to realize that many times we put our faith in some good outcome we want, but not something that God has actually promised.  If we put our faith in a supernatural outcome that God hasn't promised to us (that new job, a healed loved one, an answered prayer), what happens when the job doesn't come, or when the loved one dies, or the prayer you have been asking for was not answered? Even in the great faith chapter in Hebrews, it speaks of people being tortured, dying, and even “not receiving what was promised.”

I have gone into a lot of test of faith, if I only have a faith with no foundation and God is not with me... I don't know where am I now. People see me happy, but behind that is a woman of strength who have gone a lot of rough roads in life. No regrets! Those test have made me a better person and a new one. I am fortunate that God has given me the chance to experience and feel how I was loved by Him unconditionally. 
I am happy with my life now...so whatever I may encounter in the coming days, or a storm is passing through my life, it could be worse but I know it will get better. Stay strong, focus on what you can do, not what you cannot. Knowing by faith that God will not fail you.

"For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything." - James 1:3-4

Being a Parent

Motherhood is a choice you make everyday to put someone else's happiness and well-being ahead of your own to teach the hard lessons to do the right thing even when you're not sure what the right thing is... and to forgive yourself over and over again for doing everything wrong.
Being a parent means putting your selfish wants behind you and sacrificing everything you love for your child! A parent means praying your children will grow, while wishing they could stay little forever. Part of being a parent means keeping a smile on your face regardless of how much you may be falling apart inside. 
Regardless of how fantabulous you are at child-rearing, every mother, single or not, worries about their children. Am I raising them right? Am I teaching them the things they need to know to do well in the world? Am I a good mom? Do not ask that your kids live up to your expectations.  Let your kids be who they are, and your expectations will be in breathless pursuit. If you think that being a great parent requires a limitless amount of patience, you are wrong. You need more than that. Raising a family is difficult enough. But it's even more difficult for single parents struggling to make ends meet. They don't need more obstacles. They need more opportunities. Don't handicap your children by making their lives easy. Nothing you do for children is ever wasted. They seem not to notice us, hovering, averting our eyes, and they seldom offer thanks, but what we do for them is never wasted.  

They need your presence far more than any gifts you might buy for them. Children need quality time. You have to avail yourself to them as much as possible. 
I know its hard being a single mother but I'd rather do it by myself than with someone who doesn't want to. Our attitude towards what has happened to us in life is the important thing to recognize. Once hopeless, my life is now hope-full, but it did not happen overnight. The last of human freedoms, to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, is to choose one's own way. 
Remember to pray always and seek the guidance of God who so loves you and your precious children. Note that before God you and your children are the apple of His eyes.
My promise to my Kids: I am not your friend. I am your Mother. I will stalk you, flip out on you, lecture you, drive you insane, be your worst nightmare & hunt you down like a bloodhound when needed because I LOVE YOU! When you understand that, I will know you are a responsible adult. You will never find someone who loves, prays, cares and worries about you more than I do!

"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." - Proverbs 22:6

Up to singing again...

August is here. My first post for this month. I guess this is a long overdue, I should have my first post the first day of the month, but I got mood swings that I couldn't  come out of something to post. But I need to keep this page going, so let me share what I'm up to for the past few days. I'm into singing again!!! Whoaa!! But not in the sense of solo singing, 'coz I don't have that much talent of singing on stage. I was glad that I have joined group singing in preparation for our church Thanksgiving Anniversary this month. Indeed I enjoy it and at the same time waking up those sleeping vocal chords once again.  It has been 15 years since the last time I joined a Music Ministry. I love singing, I love music, and Thank God music loves me too. 

Who would say that my type of music is rock? Well that was before. Remembering Sebastian Bach not Johann but of Skid Row, Mark Slaughter, Motley Crue, Guns n' Roses, Nirvana, Kirk Hammet and a lot from rock music. I almost remember getting in love with Sebastian Bach, that was crazy of me and now I couldn't imagine having that thought again. My renewal was blessing to me, such a grace that with me alone, I can't do it but with God's grace I was transformed. And now I loved singing for the Lord. 

I can’t express this enough. Singing is a very physical activity. You must be energized and excited about what you’re doing or else it lacks passion (and it’s flat!). Singing with energy helps you hit higher notes and helps keep the sound out of the throat. Allow yourself to get excited before singing…and believe what you're singing. Singing should feel like speaking.There should be no pressing, tension, straining, reaching, or grabbing when vocally active. These sensations usually happen when we try to force the sound out of us. If you’re not able to sing something, try to bring it back to speech first. You’d be surprised how easy that high “C” can be when you speak it.

I once read a quote that has stuck with me for years. It was something along the lines of, “that which comes closest to expressing the inexpressible is music.” Music is a form of expression. It’s alive and has a great ability to influence listeners. But that’s only true when you believe what you’re singing. Try to connect to the song through some personal life experience and see how alive the music you’re singing becomes. The joy is actually in the music. It's the music that supports you and tells you what to do. It tells you how to fill the music. You don't have to be shy about feeling the music when you're singing. If you believe in music—the power of music, the music will support you and take you to another dimension. Life is a musical so sing like no one is listening!

Right now, still we're into practicing and I believed on the day of performance, it will be Majestic. We're going to reap the effort, time and talent we are exerting. We are bless as well for having a very good and with a Godly given talented music Teacher. So remember God respects us when we work, but God Loves us when we Sing!

My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed.

Psalm 71:23

Loss of a Loved one...

Are you one of those people who have loss their loved ones not for a moment

but for a lifetime? Have you ever lost someone you love and wanted one more conversation, one more chance to make up for the time when you thought they would be here forever? If so, then you know you can go your whole life collecting days, and none will outweigh the one you wish you had back. I came to this post which inspires me to write about losing a loved one, what I mean death of a loved one. I just came from a funeral which touches my heart most as I saw someone who cried so hard as the departed person was about to bury down it's pit. The thought came to me, how does it feels after sending someone you loved for the last time, then go back to your place where you can see all the memories of in every corner of your place.I just can't imagined it, but still as I picture it out, my heart breaks. I haven't experience this yet in my life, but I know that my turn of grieving will just come.All of us has one destination, to our God the Father... so we must not be afraid of death. While you still have your gift of life, treasure every moment of it... follow and obey what is written for you to be ready anytime that your borrowed life will come to a point that we have to return it to the rightful owner. 

Every one of us is losing something precious to us. Lost opportunities, lost possibilities, feelings we can never get back again. That’s part of what it means to be alive. Because God is never cruel, there is a reason for all things. We must know the pain of loss; because if we never knew it, we would have no compassion for others, and we would become monsters of self-regard, creatures of unalloyed self-interest. The terrible pain of loss teaches humility to our prideful kind, has the power to soften uncaring hearts, to make a better person of a good one. It’s the emotional suffering you feel when something or someone you love is taken away. The more significant the loss, the more intense the grief will be. You may associate grief with the death of a loved one, which is often the cause of the most intense type of grief but any loss can cause grief. Feeling sad, frightened, or lonely is a normal reaction to loss. Crying doesn't mean you are weak. You don’t need to “protect” your family or friends by putting on a brave front. Showing your true feelings can help them and you.                 

 

When those you love die, the best you can do is honor their spirit for as long as you live. You make a commitment that you're going to take whatever lesson that person was trying to teach you, and you make it true in your own life... it's a positive way to keep their spirit alive in the world, by keeping it alive in yourself. It's only after we've lost everything that we're free to do anything. Although it’s difficult today to see beyond the sorrow, by looking back in memory help comfort you tomorrow. 

Your grief is your own, and no one else can tell you when it’s time to “move on” or “get over it.” Let yourself feel whatever you feel without embarrassment or judgment. It’s okay to be angry, to yell at the heavens, to cry or not to cry. It’s also okay to laugh, to find moments of joy, and to let go when you’re ready. There is no right or wrong time frame for grieving. How long it takes can differ from person to person. Don’t grieve. Anything you lose comes round in another form. Eventually, everything goes away. I guess by now I should know enough about loss to realize that you never really stop missing someone-you just learn to live around the huge gaping hole of their absence.

As ones said "The most beautiful people I've known are those who have known trials, have known struggles, have known loss, and have found their way out of the depths." and as Mahatma Gandhi says  “You don't know who is important to you until you actually lose them.” 

So while we have all the chances in this world to spend more time with people someone we loved, important to us, people part of our life... we must not waste every minute of our time. We never know how much time do we have to stay here on earth, so live...forgive...accept...treasure...spend...value...and loved every moment or chance that you have. Don't wait for the time when you say it's too late...

 “Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death.” - Isaiah 57:2

Women's worth, purpose and design...

What is the value that society places on women? It depends on where you live. I know in my world, there are a lot of mixed messages given by the media and culture. A woman is often considered valuable only as a sex play-thing, or as a career woman, or as someone who can have babies. Is our value to be found in our role, in our gender, in our looks? Even if the role is a good one, such as being a mother, is that where we women should derive our value? Is that all we should live for or try to live up to?

Let me share this post from one of the advertisement of a Telecom company on how Joppet Tan, a friend, a son of a Christian couple that I always look up who has a vital role in my renewal, sees the worth of a woman.  The post keeps on trending, reaches up to 2500 likes, almost 1500 shares and more than 300 comments in a span of time and until now it keeps on trending. So sad that a lot of people such as Atheist, feminist, liberal minded and people in different walks of life keep on bashing him, called him Sexist (Sexism - discrimination based on gender especially discrimination against women), Bigoted, been ask what century he lives in saying he has medieval thinking and a lot of criticism was thrown to him. And yet all of these does not affect Joppet from being bashed, he just quoted " Standing up for God and your generation is not easy, it will never be. But it's worth it." and followed by another quote " Being pursued doesn't mean you're powerless. It simply means that you are valuable :) Ladies, you are worth waiting for! Always remember that :)" says Joppet in his status. 

Here's a link:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10201340233416663&set=a.3475558776535.157525.1498188559&type=1&theater

Let me share one comment from Anna Cosio said " I don't think Joppet is sexist in posting this; he is actually the one here who sees the true worth of women. Men must be man enough to pursue the woman they want and not just lazily wait for her to make the first move. This "gender equality" thing some extreme feminists are clamoring for will be used against us women someday. It's being used against us now, actually. Gender equality ba? Ayan tuloy, no gentleman would give up his seat anymore for a lady in crowded bus or train. Tapos magrereklamo tayo? If you're a lady, act like one. If you're a man, be a gentleman. Walang kinalaman ang sexism at gender "equality" dito."

Definitely Anna Cosio is right! Sexism and Equality of Gender is not the point of this post. This is regarding the Worth, the Purpose and Design of a woman in the Bible that affirms it. The value of a woman is not based so much on her differing perspectives from that of a man, though they are different. Her value is not rooted in her gender, though her gender is different from man’s and should be valued for its femininity and “femaleness”. Her value in my view is not rooted so much in her role as wife, mother, sister or daughter, 

though those roles are good and when done well are quite wonderful. But the value of a woman is rooted in the fact that she was made by God who created her in His image because He loved her, sent His Son to die for her because He loved her, and sealed her, empowered her and gifted her because He thought she was worth it. The Lord who made you fashioned you very delicately and purposefully to be exactly the unique female you are. He has a plan for you, and His ideals transcend the here-and-now. In spite of what you may have been raised to believe, the worth of your womanhood is not determined by your looks or behavior or personality type or position in life. You're a beloved and righteous princess in the eyes of your Father the King.Your job as a woman is to rejoice in how He made you and find satisfaction in His love each day.

If you pursue men, you will pursue them for the rest of your life. So we should know, "A woman's heart should be so hidden in God that a man has to seek Him just to find her". 

WOMAN YOU ARE MEANT TO BE PURSUED, YOUR ARE WORTH WAITING FOR.

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. Proverbs 31:10

Have you been offended?...hurt?

Offenses are a primary cause of domestic, marital and family problems as well as in our society. Usually we don't really mean to offend someone or somebody whom we have met along our way. Words don't have the power to hurt you, unless the person who said it means so much to you.Have you ever experienced being betrayed or hurt by someone you loved? Someone whom you have gave your life to that person? Everyone in life is gonna hurt you, You just have to figure out which people are worth the pain. Being hurt is something you can't stop from happening, but being miserable is always your choice. The worst thing about that kind of prejudice... is that while you feel hurt and angry and all the rest of it, it feeds you self-doubt. You start thinking, perhaps I am not good enough. All men and women have an equal need for love. When these needs are not fulfilled it is easy to have our feelings hurt, for which we blame our partner. 

Accept that all of us can be hurt, that all of us can and surely will at times fail. Other vulnerabilities, like being embarrassed or risking love, can be terrifying, too. I think we should follow a simple rule: if we can take the worst, take the risk. 
When people hurt you over and over, think of them like sand paper. They scratch and hurt you a bit, but in the end, you end up polished and realized how grateful you are because of that pain it changes a lot in you and makes you realized that there's a lot more important in life to go on. You have to hurt in order to know, fall in order to grow, lose in order to gain, Because most of life's lessons are learned in pain. You have to get hurt.. that's how you learn... the strongest people out there...the ones who laugh the hardest with a genuine smile...those are the people who have fought the toughest battles. Because they decided that they're not going to let anything hold them down...they're moving on. Don't try to understand everything, because sometimes it is not meant to be understood, but to be accepted. 

I know when I am offended, I must quickly forgive.  Forgiveness is the only answer!  It is the way of escape! The quicker I forgive, the quicker I come back into my right mind.  When I am offended my soul is in control.  When I forgive, my spirit rises up above my soul and takes back over. One of the main reasons we are so easily offended is pride. The most humbling thing you can do is apologize when you are wrong. We are all wrong at some point. When it is your turn, do something beneficial about it. Apologize. It will force you to humble yourself and will speak volumes to the other person. Learn to listen. Most of us don’t. We listen to people that we agree with because we already like what they are saying. but we rarely listen to anyone else. The only way to understand another person is to hear what they have to say. To listen with the goal of understanding, not arguing. Taking responsibility for our actions is much harder than finding someone or something to blame. 

 To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you. How does one know if she has forgiven? You tend to feel sorrow over the circumstance instead of rage, you tend to feel sorry for the person rather than angry with him. You tend to have nothing left to say about it all. There is no revenge so complete as forgiveness. Forgiveness is not always easy. At times, it feels more painful than the wound we suffered, to forgive the one that inflicted it. And yet, there is no peace without forgiveness. Forgive others not because they deserve forgiveness, but because you deserve peace. Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look beyond imperfections. The amount of love you have for someone seems to always be greater than the amount of pain they give you. Because no matter how much they hurt you, we still choose to stay. We don't meet people by accident. They are meant to cross our path for a reason. You will begin to heal yourself when you let go of the things that hurt you in the past, forgive those who have done wrong to you and learn to forgive yourself for the mistakes you have made.

Immature people always want to win an argument even at the cost of a relationship. Mature people understand that it's always better to lose an argument and win a relationship. You want to believe that there's one relationship in life that's beyond betrayal. A relationship that's beyond that kind of hurt. And there isn't.

We need to give each other the space to grow, to be ourselves, to exercise our diversity. We need to give each other space so that we may both give and receive such beautiful things as ideas, openness, dignity, joy, healing, and inclusion. 

Open your eyes, look within... Are you satisfied with the life you're living? As a mother, you have that impulse to wish that no child should ever be hurt, or abused, or go hungry, or not have opportunities in life. I used to hurt so badly that I'd ask God why, what have I done to deserve any of this? I feel now He was preparing me for this, for the future. That's the way I see it.

Everyone can relate to love, hurt, pain, learning how to forgive, needing to get over, needing the power of God in their life.  Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. The most important thing is to enjoy your life - to be happy - it's all that matters.

"Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins" -Proverbs 10:12

Everything we do in life is a choice...

Everything in your life is a reflection of your choice you have made. If you want a different result, make a different choices. 
Everything we do in life is a choice, and I think most of us realize that. But what most people don’t seem to realize is that everything we don’t do in life is also a choice. Everyday we choose to do some things and to not do other things.
True that the choices we make are the ones that keep us going, if you choose to hate before you love then its up to you and again if you choose to question before you understand that's another problem....we all make choices whether good or bad.
 Reflections are your mirror into your life, where you recall images and slices of your life. It reflects the good times, the bad times, the sad times and the happy times, reflecting on the emotional highs and lows of your life and everything in between.  As you reflect back on all the choices you made in life. You must realize it is those choices and only those choices you have made which determines all aspects of your life as you know it today. I only hope all the choices you've made in the past and the ones you will make in the future will be the ones which will bring you a great deal of happiness and contentment.

                                                                There exists within us all, the power to do whatever we choose. We exhibit that power every moment of every day. Every thought we have, every action we take, every word we speak, is a choice. OUR choice. Whatever happens, you are in complete control of your response. You decide what value any event has in your life. Once you make an evaluation, you have the freedom to choose what comes next.
There are times that we have made the right decision that makes us happy and satisfied. But oftentimes, we failed to choose 'coz we made a wrong decision and we face the consequences of the result of that wrong decision we have made. No one else can make you happy, that’s up to you. No career or other person can bring you satisfaction if you are dissatisfied with yourself.

 It is like a two way path,a road or direction wherein we don't know what to choose. Then making a choice or a decision gets in. In everything you have done is something that you chose to do. Your life in its entirety is directly tied to the results of the choices you have made. When we reflect back up on our lives. We many times reevaluate those choices, and wonder what my life would be like if I had made other choices other than the ones I actually made?  Then why aren't you happy with everything you have done?

We are only held back from the things that we truly desire in life, by the choices we make on a daily basis. Most choose to make excuses and blame others for their poor results in life or in business or in a relationship and remain where they are right now, not realizing that if they would ask a few more questions about their previous choices, they might be able to push themselves to exactly the amount of success they desire. Notice that making the excuses and blaming others is also a choice. You don’t have to continue down this road to self-destruction. You could begin today to take charge of your life and begin to focus on every choice you make, big or small. Stop blaming others for your results and begin to take full responsibility for where you are currently in life. Take control of your life and get what is truly yours. If you’re not happy with what you have today, then make a choice right now to make a change in your life that will bring you more of the things that you do want.
Sometimes in life you just have to let things go, forgive, love and move on! Life is too short and you never know when your time is up.

Most people would like to change their life in one way or another. How about you? Are there areas of your life that you would like to change? Any time you want to, you can begin changing your life. You can change your physical, emotional, mental, or financial situation, and you can start today.

It all starts with a choice!

“Your life is the sum result of all the choices you make, both consciously and unconsciously.  If you can control the process of choosing, you can take control of all aspects of your life.  You can find the freedom that comes from being in charge of yourself.”     ~ Robert F. Bennett

 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21

Are you stressed out?

When circumstances are out of our control, we feel stress. When our basic needs are not being met, too much load at work, our boss keeps giving us stress, someone is stressing us out,  and our safety is threatened, we tend to get anxious. The stress that comes from this kind of interaction with others is the cause of many sleepless nights, lack of concentration on our tasks, and an inability to enjoy the things that bring us peace and happiness.  What you or others are really saying is that you are responding in stressful ways to these people or situations. The people aren't stressful, the job isn't stressful. Indeed there is no stress in the world – just lots of people having stressful thoughts.  And the irony is that by talking about how much stress you feel only tends to make you feel more stressed. In other words, you are just complicating yourself...your life!

You have probably heard how stress affects the human body. It is not unusual for people to suffer all kinds of psychological and physical problems because they are afraid of dealing with the factors responsible for their stress. In reality stress is not a medical condition, but a psychological one that triggers physiological responses in the body. Yet how many times you heard yourself or others say things like…" I had a stressful day", "You're stressing me out", "My job is so stressful"... and so on and so forth. 

Well the most common signs are, constantly gritting your teeth, nausea, having trouble breathing, panic attacks, pain of any kind, depression, sleep problems, obesity, and digestive problems...meaning you don't have the appetite to eat. You tend to be impatient, hot tempered and now worries attacks you and then people around you are affected as well especially those who are close to you and at home. 

In order to succeed in life, we need to continually be taking on challenges that push us outside our comfort zone. That often  means placing ourselves in situations that are potentially stressful. 

Now think of all the good things in your life that will happen and have happened. Now look at all the stressful things and come up with a good, and positive solution for each one. Try doing this once a week, or if you feel like you're under a lot of stress. Try being happy and positive and understanding of those around you.

Let today be a good day for you. Let your day be void of strife. Let your attitude be always pleasant as you walk in your confident and competent nature.

A stress-less and struggle-free life is very possible when you make the quality decision to let it be. You can rise early every morning feeling excited about your life and retire every night, knowing you’re closer to your destiny, in a confident and self-assured way. If you ask what is the single most important key to longevity, I would have to say it is avoiding worry, stress and tension.   

Stress boils down to one idea - lack of Trust in GOD. Do share the thinking that God is sovereign and in control of our lives. We believe he is the author and composer of our life of faith. We believe he has given us everything we need for life. So, most of the time when stress dominates our lives, somewhere along the way we have failed to Trust God.

Just trust God more and you'll never deal with stress again! Instead of worrying over our problems, further compounding our anxiety and stress, the Bible recommends taking everything to God in prayer.

 

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." -Philippians 4:6-7 
                       Get Rid of all Your Worries, Doubts, Fear and Stress….No More!
                                               YOU'RE NOW STRESS FREE!

VERANZA Mall...the newest pride of Generals

June 29,2013... the Opening.
Everyone was so excited when one of the newest mall in General Santos finally open its gate to the Generals. The VERANZA MALL! It is the first "GREEN" shopping mall in the South that will bring you to a new level in shopping, highlighting the General five elements of nature that will feature verdant landscapes, a roof garden and an elegant waterfall.

VERANZA Mall connects the existing KCC Mall of GenSan to the new structures via a skybridge. What Amazes me is the Waterfall that captured the attention of every shoppers and can't take the action of not taking pictures in front of it imagining that your in Niagara falls, just a thought, not bad at all.

What about the stores newest in town? Let me mention some of them ESPRIT, BAMBU (store for flip flops like iPanema, Grendha), VANS, 158.DESIGNER's BLVd (high end fashion boutique carrying world class brands like Burberry,Prada, Ralph Lauren, Banana Republic and others), CINDERELLA, AEROSOLES,CACHE CACHE (apparel brand based in France), PABDER (an Italian apparel for men and women), TERRA and AGUA, OFFICINE (shoes and bags specialty), SAMSONITE, KEVIN'S TOYS AND LIBRARY (playroom for kids mostly with branches in Metro Manila), ABENSON, DIY SHOP and there are so many to mention aside from this.

Now let's talk about the foods and restaurants. I know this is your favorite part, you will not end your shopping without eating your favorite food or trying a new and exciting restaurants newest in town. Let me mention some of them. The J. CO DONUTS, well at least they are finally found it here. The GERRY'S GRILL, one of Bitoy's fave hangout every night. THE COFFEE BEAN and TEA LEAF Born and brewed in Southern California since 1963, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® delivers the taste and aroma of the world's best coffees and teas. 

The YAKIMIX, Manila-based eat-all-you-can buffet restaurant, with 699 all in buffet per person. My favorite Korean food is here in town as well, I'm so excited... the CHICKEN BONCHON, Korean-based restaurant they have the tastiest chicken ever! And of course I miss this as well during my college days the CHIKA-AN from Cebu serving the best Pinakbet with chicharon and Crispy Pata!

 

 

There also the CAFE LAGUNA, authentic Filipino Cuisine, one of my favorite as well is the GILIGAN's Restaurant how I loved their Sisig! Surprisingly, the owner of Mix and Magic wants to put up a cake store with different name... the SIS CAKE AVENUE. And I almost forgot one of my fave pizza, the YELLOW CAB PIZZA CO., A New Yorker's favorite pizza concept. They have also the MOOON CAFE this is really chicken mozarella and its the best!  Actually there are lots of them like Pancake House, Teriyaki Boy, BreadTalk and Arpochi Seafoods and Resto.

So what would a General could ask for? The moment I saw VERANZA, I feel that I am one in the malls in Manila. VERANZA MALL is indeed to change the General's Lifestyle. Magandang GenSan!!!