Faith When Your Life Is On A Detour 7:03 PM When Your Life is on a Detour Have you ever encountered a detour in your life? The road towards success is not a straight line. Detours are blessings in disguise.God's rejection is God's redirection.They bring us to our bigger destiny. When detours happen, God is telling us that our desires are too small compared to His big plans for us. When it feels like nothing seems to be making sense...When we pray and our prayers seem to fall on deaf ears and our plans don’t go our way...We are experiencing what we call the Principle of Obliquity (according to John Kay, this is where our complex goals are best achieved indirectly).When our lives seem not to go our way and the road we chose is leading us nowhere, we feel lost and hopeless. We are tempted to question God and to give up altogether.But as the cliche goes, everything happens for a reason. Joseph could have given up when his brothers sold him when he became a slave and was imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit. But he kept his faith until God fulfilled his destiny.Sometimes people don't recognize a blessing or an opportunity because it comes with responsibility, and people either hate or are scared of responsibilities. We miss the blessing not because it's not there, but because it doesn't appear to us the way we expect or want it to.We hear stories of people who went through so many obstacles before they reach their goals.Even Steve Jobs said getting fired by Apple was the best thing that ever happened to him.He wouldn't have done what he had accomplished, he wouldn't have been a better person and Apple would never have been as big as it is today if not for that one fateful day when he took a detour that changed him...and eventually changed the world.Is your life in a detour right now?Relax. You're being redirected towards your destination. Your story is not over yet.From Talk: Bounce! at The FeastThis post contains affiliate links so I'd get a commission if you purchase through my links at no additional cost to you. This helps me maintain my site. Thanks in advance!
Faith Sunday Will Come! 12:11 AM Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning. -Psalm 30:5 Black Saturday has always been the longest and most silent day in the Holy Week (at least in this part of the planet). After an emotional contemplation of the Lord's suffering and death on Good Friday, and while waiting for Easter Sunday to come there is a solemn pause which is Black Saturday. I wonder how and what the disciples and the Holy Mother felt and thought during this long agonizing gap. They weren't aware of the coming Sunday. They were still grief-stricken from what they witnessed. How would you handle it? Imagine when the truth you believed in for so long was taken away from you. When the one you've always looked up to, revered, served and worship was humiliated, punished without sin, and tortured right before your eyes. When what you've always thought as indestructible, invincible, and miraculous was destroyed helplessly. And you couldn't do anything about it out of fear or whatever reason that held you from fighting for it. They must have been lost. Beyond comfort. Nothing or no one to assure them that there is still hope. There is still tomorrow. Everything shattered just like that. Then again we don't have to imagine it, do we? How many times have we experienced loss of a loved one? Or seen a friend or family member suffer emotional or physical pain in front of us? How many times have we lost hope? Felt rejected? Betrayed? Humiliated? Hurt? Abandoned? When everything we believed in and held on for so long was taken away from us. Just. Like. That. We all went through a Good Friday one way or another. Then there's this long, agonizing, dragging, empty, deafeningly silent, dark pause that seemed endless. It's torture. There was uncertainty, doubt, confusion, anger even. We're still trying to figure out what just happened and what will happen next seems out of logic. Incomprehensible. Unimaginable. It feels as though the world stood still and time stopped, and we don't have the strength to keep going anymore. We lost everything including hope and the reason to go on. "Will tomorrow ever come again?" we keep on asking ourselves. And we get nothing but a deafening silence as answer. But, Sunday will come. No matter how painful our Fridays were and how uncertain our Saturday is now, Sunday will surely come! No matter how hopeless and helpless we may feel after the storm we went through, Sunday will come. No matter how uncertain, weak and shattered we came out of Friday, Sunday will still come. And then we will be restored. Good as new. Maybe even better somehow. Ready or not, Sunday will come. Our Black Saturday is a gift. A break from the grief. A pause. A time to breathe. A time to heal. A preparation from the big surprise that is Easter Sunday. It is the calm before the storm of blessings. Black Saturday then is when we stay still and wait patiently for the promise of God to come to pass (For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. -Jeremiah 29:11). Black Saturday may be the darkest part of the night before the dawn breaks, but Easter Sunday will always follow. Sunday will come. It always has, and it always will. See also: I Am To Die For Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email
Faith How To Know Your Worth With 6 Important Questions 8:00 AM How To Know Your Worth With 6 Important Questions Every second you spend doubting your worth, every moment you use to criticize yourself, is a second of your life wasted, a moment of your life thrown away. -C. JoyBell C. What does knowing your worth mean?To know your worth is to realize your value, not according to what others think but how you see or measure yourself.How to know your worth?Here are 6 important questions you must ask yourself to know your worth. How do you want to be treated?How do you want to spend your time?How do you like to be reciprocated for what you give?What kind of relationship do you want to have?What kind of person do you want to become?What are your beliefs about yourself?1. How do you want to be treated?Knowing how you want to be treated is a step in realizing your worth.Do you want to be treated with respect and dignity in the workplace, by your circle of friends, or by your partner? Or do you want to feel rejected, unappreciated, or derided?If you say, "I deserve better," you know you're worth more than how you're treated.Giphy2. How do you want to spend your time?Where do you invest your time?Do you spend it chasing people who don't accept and appreciate you for who you are?Do you want to spend your day investing in your growth and improving the quality of your life?You know you want to spend time with people who lift you higher.Or on things that can help you improve and get you closer to your dream life.How you want to spend your time shows how much you value yourself.Tenor3. How do you like to be reciprocated for what you give?Know your worth by knowing how you want to be reciprocated.Respect begets respect. But some people feel entitled to receive respect-demands even-but has no intentions of giving it in return.Some partners want fidelity from their significant other but have no qualms about cheating.Be selfless in giving your love and service but know your limits.Know your worth in the relationship.Set up a boundary for yourself.Boundaries aren't there to build a wall between you and others. It's to protect yourself from abusers. It has self-respect.Tenor4. What kind of relationship do you want to have?Would you be happy to be in a parasitic relationship where only the other person(s) benefit(s)?Or would you be more content and at peace in a relationship where you and others involved (co-workers, family, life partner) gain and grow?Do you want to be with someone who will fight for you or who will give up easily?When you recognize your worth, you know exactly what relationship you want to be involved in.Tenor5. What kind of person do you want to become?Do you want to be striving or thriving?Do you want to be content and happy or perturbed and miserable?What you're allowing yourself to become shows how much you value yourself.Pinterest6. What are your beliefs about yourself?Your beliefs about yourself don't measure your self-worth.Newsflash: most of them aren't true!They're called limiting beliefs. Limiting beliefs are lies you tell yourself that restrict you from achieving your full potential.It's how you measure yourself influenced by how you were raised and what you've heard from others.Limiting beliefs tell you:You're not good enough.You don't have what it takes to qualify.You don't deserve to move forward.You're not worth it.GiphyYou will struggle to know your self-worth at first.Gauge yourself based on how your Creator sees you, not other people's opinions. He knows you best.Here are some Bible verses about knowing your worth:You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14).Because you are precious in my eyes and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, people in exchange for your life (Isaiah 43:4).So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised (Hebrews 10:35–36).You can do everything through Christ, who strengthens you (Philippians 4:13).The Lord is your helper, so you don't have to be afraid (Hebrews 13:6).Do not let your adorning be external-the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry or the clothing you wear-but. Instead, let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious (1 Peter 3:3-4).Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows (Luke 12:7).TenorYou'll know when to leave a toxic relationship when you realize your worth.You'll know what, who, and when to quit.You'll never apologize for things you should not apologize for in the first place.You'll let go of things that aren't making you happy or money.What happens when you realize your worth?You will not shortchange yourself. You will not settle for less than what you deserve.You know who you indeed are and will not negotiate that with anyone.You will not waste another second on people or relationships bringing you down.Knowing your worth is not arrogance. It's embracing the truth about who you are. Having self-worth is having self-respect and self-esteem.It's treating yourself with a healthy amount of self-love.You're worth more than eight cows.Have you heard about the story of the eight-cow wife? There's a village where a man gives a cow as a dowry to a woman's family to ask her hand for marriage. The more beautiful or "qualified" a woman is to become a wife, the more cows are given. Needless to say, a woman's worth is measured by the number of cows she receives from her husband-to-be. In this village lives a woman named Sarita. To say that she is plain is a compliment. Sarita grew up being told that she was worth only one cow. Everybody in their village-including her own family-expected nothing more than a single cow when a good-looking and rich gentleman named Johnny Lingo asked her hand for marriage. To everybody's surprise and her father's indignation, Johnny Lingo disagreed with the arrangement.Sarita's father was insulted. Sarita was heartbroken. She's accepted that she is worth only one cow, and a man refuse to give her that. But Johnny Lingo made himself clear. He will not give Sarita one cow...because he believes she is worth more than that. He saw something in her that no one else did. Sarita, for Johnny, is not a one-cow woman. She is an eight-cow wife. After their marriage, Sarita somehow transformed physically. She now walks with grace. She presents herself with confidence. She stands tall and proud because she knows and believes she is an eight-cow wife.Everybody in their village knows that by now, too. The old Sarita's gone. No one looked at her the same way again. Her joy became evident when she glowed. She radiates. Sarita is now one of the most beautiful women in the village. Because one man showed her and everyone around her her true worth. One man believed that she was extraordinary. I love this story so much. It's a good reminder that we are unique. We are more than the label others give us. Do you know how much you're worth? You're worth more than your number of followers and likes on social media. You're worth more than the price tag on your clothes and gadgets.You're worth more than your job or bank account.You're worth more than your grades in school.You're worth more than your relationship status.You're worth more than your social standing.You're worth more than what people say about you.Here's a beautiful reminder about knowing your worth by Jeremy Anderson: You are worth more than the throne.Think about this:God left His glorious throne to walk the dusty earth just to be with you...To feel how you feel and to understand your pain. You are worth the sacrifice. God did not just offer eight cows for you. He gave you His life. You are worth every single drop of blood...Every torn muscle...Every tormenting pain Jesus had to endure.You're worth every drop of tear and sweat from the body of no less than the Son of God.Imgflip Remember that the next time you forget your worth.(Most part of this reflection is from The Feast)
Faith God Is Not Fair 8:25 PM He makes His sun rise on the wicked and on the good, and makes the rain fall upon the upright and the wrongdoers. -Matthew 5:45 God is not fair. We say that God is a just Judge, but I also believe that He could be unfair. Why? God plays favorite. I know because I’m one of them. Instead of punishing me, He shows me mercy. When I run away from Him, instead of erasing my name on the palm of His hand, He runs after me. I could not escape His love. When I want Him to leave me alone, He patiently waits for my return. Because He knows no matter how long, I will always come back home to Him. He is a Lover who does not carry a grudge despite all the pain and the heartache I give Him. He does not keep a record of my wrongs (1 Corinthians 13:5). I lost count of the times He showed me that I am highly favored. Now, how can you say He is just? When all I do is disappoint Him and do wrong and all He does is forgive me every time, love me lavishly and unconditionally. Care for me patiently. Provide for me generously. God is not fair. God loves everybody, but I’m His favorite. Tee hee. Linked to:
Faith Where Is Your Arrow Pointing 9:30 AM True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less. -C. S. Lewis Where Is Your Arrow Pointing When people compliment us for achieving something laudable, it is so tempting to take all the credit. When people look up to us, it is easy to feel superior and forget where we came from. That's why I like John the Baptist. People follow him and some even regard him as the Messiah. It would have been easy to take the credit, grab the opportunity and play god. But, he remained humble. When people look up to him, he always points the direction towards Jesus. Even when Jesus came to him to be baptized, he was hesitant because he knows where his place is at. Some people choose to play small and use humility as an excuse. That is selfishness and laziness disguising as humility. When you play big, you bless more people. Tweet Ultimately, it boils down to your intentions. True humility is not forgetting where you came from and the people who helped you to get where you are. True humility is knowing you are special, and helping others discover their gifts and self-worth, not flaunting what you have and making others feel less. True humility is recognizing your greatness knowing you were created by The Greatest of All, but giving back to Him all the glory He deserves. It's rejoicing over your achievements but not being arrogant about it. When you achieve something big, when you are recognized for your talent, when people put you on a pedestal, do you revel in your fame and claim all the glory? Or do you magnify The Force behind you? Do you remember the people who has helped you along the way? When people look at you and see how blessed you are, do they see the Blesser working in your life? Where is your arrow pointing? Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email
Faith Don't Stop Trying 12:14 AM Making mistakes is a sign that you are making progress. Don't stop trying. I notice that every time I am nearing my finish line for a certain goal, when a breakthrough is about to happen, when great blessings are on its way, something terrible happens. A trial or a delay gets in the way. I get discouraged and I sometimes pause to question God. But always, my faith would intervene. I could only hold on and believe that I am almost there! I am an inch away from the prize! Don't stop trying. Making mistakes is a sign that you are making progress. That was the message at last Sunday's Kerygma Conference I attended. Not making mistakes is not trying, which is the biggest mistake you could commit. You are not your mistakes. You are not your past. You are not your failures. They play a great part in your growing, in your way to your goals, but they do not define you. So, don't stop trying. Don't let your mistakes stop you from becoming the great person you were destined to be. Don't let your past failures keep you from moving forward. The world needs your light to make it brighter. Don't stop trying. Tap into the Force that has always been in you and see yourself become the miracle you have always wanted to become. Linked here.
Faith Faith It Til You Make It: Powerful Steps For Personal Growth 1:49 AM Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God. -Corrie ten Boom "Faith it 'til you make it," is a line from Joel Osteen that has become a personal favorite.It encourages us to develop a strong and unshakeable belief in ourselves, even when faced with doubts.This unwavering belief acts as fuel, propelling us forward even when we can't quite see the finish line.Take action with faithJob Interview Jitters? Feeling under-qualified is common. Instead, focus on your strengths and experiences. Research and practice. Visualize yourself confidently presenting your skills. Faith is believing you're equipped even when you can't see it happening yet.Dream Chasing Doubts? Don't let negativity dim your light. Your naysayers simply can't comprehend the incredible things God has planned for your journey.Love Life Struggles? Dating can be tricky, but don't let past heartbreaks define your future. Trust that God has someone amazing in store for you. Relax and have faith that the right person will come along. While waiting, work on yourself. Build the future you want, so when someone comes, it's just a bonus.Move Forward with FaithFear of the unknown? It's natural to feel apprehensive about the future. But one thing is certain:Whatever the future holds, God is already there.Take a deep breath, release your anxieties, and believe He's working behind the scenes, even when you can't see it.Heal from HurtMaybe a parent, an elder, a teacher, or a mentor made you feel incapable or planted the seed of doubt in your heart.Past experiences can leave emotional scars. It can make you doubt your capabilities and worth.But with faith, you can rise above them. Take that first step, believing in your strength and resilience.Faith it til you make itFaith is a powerful tool for navigating life's uncertainties. So when doubt starts rearing its ugly head, choose to move forward and have faith in yourself. You'll make it.How has faith helped you grow?
Faith God Can Never Be Outdone In Generosity 7:00 PM You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. -Psalm 23:5 God can never be outdone in generosity. Tested, proven again and again. He always wins. Always. When you give one, he pays you back a hundredfold.When you give something away, it's as sure as the rising of the sun upon the earth that God will pay you back. That's why I'm inspired to give back regularly. Because then, blessings after blessings pour forth even without me asking for them. It's a contest we will never win with God. We can never and will never out-give Him. How can we if He owns everything and we are just stewards of His resources? I'm glad that despite my imperfections and unfaithfulness sometimes, He remains faithful to His promise.Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. - Malachi 3:10 Do you have a similar story?
Dating 5 Common Worries Of A Single Woman & What To Do About Them 2:35 AM 5 Common Worries Of A Single Woman & What To Do About Them Is being single worth losing sleep over? It’s 2 AM. The world is quiet and sleeping. But here you are. Lying awake in bed wondering if you’d ever find The One. You wish you could fast forward and skip to the good part.But you can’t.You’re single AF. Uncertainties start to overwhelm you. Self-doubt begins to dampen your spirit.The future looks scary...mainly because you feel alone.You try to shake off that negative feeling and ask, “How do I stop worrying about being single?”Don’t fret. For every anxiety, there is a remedy.What do single women worry about the most?Here are five common worries of a single woman and what to do about them. Worry #1: All my friends are getting married or pregnant!When you see your peers celebrating milestones and feel like you’re stuck, it’s easy to feel insecure.You start questioning what’s next for you.When am I going to meet my spouse? Will I ever be able to start my own family?You don’t want to feel left behind.People will be pressuring you to settle down.Some of them are well-meaning. But it does feel intrusive and disrespectful sometimes.So what to do when you start to worry about your friends moving forward and ahead of you? Remedy:It pays to be patient. There’s nothing wrong with taking your time. How you spend your lifetime is at stake here, so don’t jump into hasty decisions and settle for just anyone.Don’t sabotage your future just because you’re lonely at present.Strip away envy.Be genuinely happy for your friends’ achievements and breakthroughs.Celebrate your victories too. You may not have found The One yet, but the freedom of being single is priceless. Seize every moment. Unlike you, your friends may enjoy their time with their new baby but cannot sleep as much as they want. You can go to bed and wake up at any time.You have everything in your hands to experience life as you please.No commitments. No hassles.Embrace your alone time.Because one day, when you least expect it, it will all be over.Gratitude is the best antidote for envy. Be thankful for what you have and for where you are. Remember when you used to pray for those things? And you have no idea how many people wish they could trade places with you. Giphy Worry #2: My biological clock is ticking! Age affects the fertility of men and women.Studies show that as women age, the chances of conceiving drop.Women are born with all the eggs they will ever have, and as they get older, the eggs get fewer.A woman’s fertility starts to reduce in her early 30s. By age 40, only 1 in 10 women will get pregnant per menstrual cycle. Remedy:Freeze your eggs.Believe in miracles.Consider adoption.If you really want to be a biological mother, your age may be another source of worry if you’re still single.Thanks to modern technology, though, there are ways to increase your chances of having a baby and a healthy one even when you’re 35 and up. Some women opt for other fertility options like IVF or donor eggs.If you can afford it, you can freeze your eggs until you’re ready to have a baby.Remember the stories of Sara and Elizabeth in the Bible? Some people don’t believe in miracles or God, but that’s their call. If God can make Sara a mother at the age of 90 and Elizabeth was 88 when he gave birth to John...Don’t you think you also have the chance to get pregnant even when you’re beyond the ideal age? Hopefully, not as old as these legendary women in the Bible, of course.Nothing’s impossible with a God who can turn water into wine and raise the dead.Believe that you are just as highly favored as the people in the Bible.Or maybe the child for you is already out there, from another family. Waiting for a parent who can give them a better life. GfycatWorry #3: When is Prince Charming going to rescue me? The problem here is all in the head.Maybe because Disney conditioned us to believe that Prince Charming is the only way to get us to the life we want.So when it takes too long for your knight in shining armor to come and get you, you wonder if he’ll arrive.Or if there’s something wrong with you because why wouldn’t anyone want to rescue a fair lady like yourself?Remedy:Get rid of your Cinderella complex. You’ll get disappointed if you depend on others to give you what you need. Waiting for The One will be easier if your love tank is full. Then, it will be an exciting adventure.Remember: You’re not a damsel in distress who needs saving. You’re capable enough to take care of yourself. Stop waiting for love, marriage, and Prince Charming to come along and rescue you, and start designing a life you don’t wish to be rescued from. - Mandy Hale Gfycat Worry #4: I’m not desirable enough. Am I not pretty?Am I too short? Or too tall?Am I not smart enough?Don’t I have the right personality?Am I not dating, girlfriend, or wife material?What is wrong with me? Remedy: Carry yourself with grace.Work on finding your self-worth.Believe that you are enough. Because you really are.Be careful how you talk to yourself because you listen (Lisa M Hayes).God doesn’t create rejects. Just because the glossy pages of beauty magazines tell you you’re not the standard of beauty doesn’t mean they’re right. Who are they to say? They’re just as imperfect as you are.Those women are loaded with heavy makeup and are Photoshopped.Remember that you are beautiful and worthy just the way you are.Nothing is more beautiful and irresistible than confidence. GiphyWorry #5: I’ll end up alone and miserable!Maybe you’ve met old single women who are grumpy and hateful.Maybe you’ve been watching too many movies where they portray women beyond their marrying age as desperate and hostile characters.Or maybe you’ve been putting your happiness in other people’s hands.That’s why you’re worried that you’ll never find joy if you don’t find a partner.Remedy:Choose to be happy! You are as happy and as lonely as you decide to be. Happiness cannot and will never be found in another person or from an outside source. Find the pros of being alone. Being alone is not tantamount to being miserable. You can be in a relationship and still be discontented and lonely. Two happy individuals make a happy relationship. If you’re unhappy in your own company, don’t expect others to be. Giphy Summary: Common Worries and Remedies for Single WomenThe next time worries about being single rear their ugly heads, you know what to do.Kick envy with gratitude.Believe you are favored.Design a life you don’t need rescuing from.Know your worth.Choose to be happy. Never ever compare your story with others, especially those in the movies. Your story is unique. Don’t insult your Maker. It’s not hard to be single. There are many perks to being alone.You’re free. You have a blank canvas.It’s actually exciting if you think about it.Knowing you have many options is like walking at a buffet table.Don’t listen to those making you feel like an outcast because you’re not in a relationship.You’re not!And they don’t hold your future. Stop overthinking and start believing.Stop betting against yourself and start being your own cheerleader.You’re exactly where you should be. But no, you won’t be stuck there forever. Unless you want to. Are you single? What worries you, and what do you do about them?
Faith There's Nothing Ordinary About You 5:13 AM Before you know if you have red hair or brown, before you know if you are black or white, before you know of what religion you are a part, you have to know that you are loved. -Michael Jackson There's nothing ordinary about you. The reason why we feel inadequate and unworthy is because of shame. Shame is the cancer of the soul. We feel ashamed for what we have done in the past. We feel ashamed if we don't fit in; if we don't speak the right words, if we don't drive the right car, if we don't wear the right clothes. We feel unworthy because we are unkind to ourselves. We keep playing the mistakes we have done in the past over and over again like an old movie. We look down on ourselves. We become our own judge and executioner which makes us hate ourselves more. Don't be too hard on yourself. Get involved in a community or group where people don't judge you and look at your wrong but those who lift you higher. Bask in God's unconditional love, kindness and mercy. Be like the sponge. The sponge may be dirty, but it can clean.Use your scars to be like stars that light up other people's darkness. Turn your mess into a message. You are extraordinary because an extraordinary God created you and loves you like you haven't sin at all. If God can make the sinful women in the Bible like Tamar become Jesus' ancestor, He can use you to make extraordinary things happen. Treat yourself with kindness the way God treats you and live an extraordinary life. Because there's nothing ordinary about you. From Women Gone Wild Talk 1: Dangerous at The Feast
Faith To A Devoted Mother Who Never Left My Side 12:00 AM When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! -John 19:26-27 I was baptized as Catholic, went to Catholic schools from kindergarten to college and grew up in a household observing Catholic traditions. Having said that, you would think I would automatically be a Marian devotee. Wrong. I wasn't. I knew her from the lessons in our Theology class. I knew she's Jesus' mother and I've been told she constantly prays for her children. I prayed the rosary because it was required. I didn't know her on a personal level. I never felt her presence in my life before. I even doubted her role in my Catholic faith at one point. Then one day I was so hurt I couldn't bring myself to pray. I didn't know what to ask or thank for. I felt all my prayers were in vain. But my faith---or resilience made me hold on to what I believe in. That...All things work for good to those who love the Lord (Romans 8:28). I don't know how exactly I survived that dark age but this I'm sure: 1. I took it one day at a time. 2. I've got an army of supporters. 3. I've got a Mother who never left my side. When I couldn't bring myself to talk to her Son, she was there to listen. When I couldn't seem to put an end to the pain I felt, she held me. When I was so troubled I couldn't sleep, she comforted me until I can get some rest. When it felt like the nightmare won't stop, she was my defender and constant companion. When I felt like straggling from my faith, she held my hand and made sure I won't go astray. Of course I know Jesus was there but I was so clouded by doubts and pain I didn't want to believe He exists. How can He let me suffer? So, His devoted mom took over. There was a presence of motherly comfort as I cry myself to sleep every night, holding my rosary beads in silence, not really praying but just trying to be still. And in the morning, the pain did not go away magically but I always felt a bit lighter than I was feeling the night before. Like I've been embraced to healing. Like I've been showered with love. No non-Catholic nor non believer can convince me that Mary has nothing to do with my life after that. Nothing compares to a mother's devotion and great love. Happy birthday, Mama Mary. For sacrificing your youth to give birth to Jesus at such an early age, you taught me obedience. For patiently walking the dusty long road to your cousin Elizabeth's place and take care of her when you had your own needs, you taught me service and selflessness. For being silent while your Son takes the limelight, you taught me humility. For accepting your fate and the fate of your Son no matter the consequence, you showed me trust. For believing in your Son when He Himself felt He was not ready, you taught me to have faith in myself and in others as well. I'm eternally grateful that God gave us a mother like you. I love you!
Faith Just Another Sunday For An Ordinary Christian? 9:33 AM By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another. -John 13:35 Today I woke up from a long blissful sleep thinking about the day ahead; prepare for The Feast, meet my friends, deliver the orders of my customers, decide where to eat. Ordinary things. Worry free day. Just another Sunday for an ordinary Christian. But is it? I suddenly remembered the Christians in Gaza. The horror that they have to live through just because they chose a different path. I can't help but admire their bravery and steadfast faith in the face of adversity. Even keeping their Christian duties---providing shelter and food to Muslims, who are also affected by the war. Will I be able to keep my faith if my life and those of my loved ones are also being threatened? I'll be the biggest hypocrite in the world if I'll say yes. In my weakness, I don't know the answer. I might for myself (or maybe not), but for the people I love, I might give up everything. And God? Why is He so silent in all that's happening. Why does He allow His children to suffer? The answer? I don't know. I don't know because I'm only human with limited knowledge. If I had infinite wisdom, then I'd be God. That's when faith comes in. When everywhere is pitch dark, it is finding that tiny flicker of light and holding on to it. But, is it really God who did all these? I don't believe so. When He gave us life, He gave us free will. It is up to us how to live the life He's given. He's provided us everything that we NEED. It is up to us how to use these things. You want to understand free will in a not so religious and serious way? Watch Bruce Almighty. Honestly, I learned so much about free will in that movie than in all the years I spent in Catholic schools. I digress. While all of us who proudly carry the name Christian are living comfortably and abundantly, we have brothers and sisters who are oppressed, losing loved ones, self worth, livelihood and dignity, threatened, getting sick, dying or watching a loved one die. It's so easy to be a Christian when things are going smoothly. Those who are putting their lives in danger for the sake of their faith are those who are to be applauded. We are so not worthy. If they will give up their faith, I will understand. And I believe God in all His omnipotence, mercy and love will understand, too. He is not sadistic nor is He judgmental. He wants nothing but the best for His children. I'm not an expert but with my relationship with Him, I know how merciful He is. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. (1 Corinthians 1:25) It's just another Sunday for us ordinary Christians in this side of the planet. But, let's not forget those who are fighting for their lives, fighting for their faith, and living out Christianity in all its essence. More importantly, let us pray for their persecutors, that their own gods will touch their hearts and remind them that being spiritual means respecting life and not playing gods. That if they are in the right path, people will see it and they will follow not because they're forced to, but because they want to experience it as well. My fellow Feaster and friend Faith Balmonte wrote about respecting religion on her blog so beautifully. I couldn't have expressed it better myself. Read about it here.
