Faith New 6:25 AM For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. -Isaiah 43:19NewOur lives pre C OVID-19 is out. We will NEVER go back to that kind of life. It's time to let go. Of the old system, habits and practices we used to know. New normal has come.It's scary to face the unfamiliar and the uncertain. I know. I've been anxious since the p andemic started. But verses like this is giving me hope:God is doing something new and He has already begun.This may have taken place during the time of Isaiah, but He is an unchanging God. And oh, how apt it is for today's situation.He is that same God who is right now giving us this same promise.What a wonderful thought, isn't it? Uplifting!From the Feast service I saw today, Bro Arun talks about remembering God's greatness in our past as we speak good things for our future. Especially when we're in a crisis.Allow me to share God's greatness in my life:I had a hard time during college. I was struggling with the lessons, the adjustment, the hostility, the financial constraints. Thankfully, God helped me graduate. I was the first in our family to do so.When I was worried sick that my valuables would be stolen from my luggage during one trip, God kept them safe.When I needed a new phone but couldn't afford a new one, I won a blogging contest for a new smartphone.When I got sick, God restored my health.When I had only like $10 left in my wallet, God provided for me everything I needed.God brought me to the right people and circumstances. He steered me away from the wrong crowd.God orchestrated my meeting with my one true love. He gave me someone far better than what I asked for.I thank God for my job that allows me to stay home and work comfortably and more effectively. (I'm an introvert and this set up works best for me).When it's been raining for two weeks straight but He made it sunny on the day of my trip. Oh, it was a beautiful sunshiny day! When my clients terminated their contracts, I never ran out of blog sponsors and writing clients. Every day I'd get an email inquiring about how to collaborate with me. God provides abundantly!I'm surrounded with people who are generous with their time, talent and treasure.GfycatI could go on and on. From the most trivial to the life-and-death events, God has remained faithful to me.I think about how I was feeling before these things happened.I was scared, worried, frustrated, impatient, doubtful.Lo and behold! God turned things around and showed me that I am highly favored. Even though I would once in a while feel anxious during this p andemic, I know God is doing something behind the scene.He's preparing us for another breakthrough.We see a dead end but He's paving a pathway.We see drought and desert and wasteland, but He's creating rivers.And one day you and I will exclaim, "Lo and behold! God's made something new."Your turnRemember the times God turned a situation around for you. What did you learn from it?List down the things you are thankful for.
Faith Insomnia 6:52 AM Another night spent battling for sleep. I can't remember the last time I've had insomnia. Even during the stressful wedding planning stage, I was still able to sleep. Lack of sleep is bad for the body. Our health gets affected negatively. Immune system lowers. Every system seems to malfunction. Like an overworked machine, it crashes.InsomniaWhat to do when you can't sleep? Does counting sheep still work? Or counting 1 to 100? That one used to work for me. When I was about ten.Being an adult (ugh), I'm going to need more than that. I'm tired but my mind won't shut down.GiphyI don't like being idle because "An idle mind is the devil's workshop."It's when I'm sleepless that the devil whispers lies in my ears. Reminding me of my awful experiences. Plants worries in my head. Sometimes I stay and wait for sleep to come. When it's impossible to happen, I get up and start working again. Or blogging.I'm only human. And an over-thinker and worrier too. When crisis like this happens, I'm at my worst.I've said this before and I'll say it again:I won't be here without God's grace. My helpline, my refuge, my strength. Here I am running back to the word for comfort to help me deal with my insomnia.Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. -Philippians 4:6I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. -John 14:27When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer. -Psalm 94:19This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. -Joshua 1:9Do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? - Luke 12:22-26Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, "Don't be afraid; just believe." - Mark 5:36Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. -Proverbs 3:5Here's a beautiful Psalm 23 song to calm the anxious mind.The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul.He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.-Psalm 23Your turnWhat bible verse do you read to calm your mind?How are you holding up during this time?
Faith How to Prosper 11:35 PM My body clock has gone haywire since this lockdown life started. This Sunday, I woke up who knows when. Thank God for recordings. I got to watch today's Feast Bellevue service and was blessed by God's word. Core message: prosper.ProsperBuild houses and settle down. Plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters.Take wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Multiply there; do not decrease. Seek the prosperity of the city to which I have sent you as exiles. Pray to the LORD on its behalf, for if it prospers, you too will prosper. -Jeremiah 29:5-7This is a part of the letter of the prophet Jeremiah to the surviving elders exiled to Babylon. They were in a crisis.I like how Bro Arun broke this down.How to Prosper During a Crisis1. Build houses and settle down.I don't think we'll ever go back to the normal we used to know. That normal didn't work. It's what brought us here.This crisis unfortunately is taking longer than expected. To build houses and settle down means we stay. We adjust and adapt to the new normal.If we keep whining and forcing everything to be back to what it used to be, there will be consequences.We have to change our perspective. This is where we are now. What to do with what we have and where we are? That should be our focus.Or else, we'll go insane.Sadly, this c oronavirus is causing a spike in suicide rates. Please know you're not alone.I started this blog to not feel alone myself and to reach out to those who need someone to walk to. Someone to share their life journey with.Message me if you need someone to listen to you.Gfycat2. Plant gardens and eat their produce.Literally, we need to grow our food. I wish I have a garden where I can harvest potatoes, carrots, cucumbers, lemons, onions, garlic, tomatoes, herbs. Someday I will.Figuratively, we need to grow during this crisis.I admit I paused for a while. When the lockdown started, it took me some time to wrap my head around what's going on. I got stuck.I had so many questions.I was in denial and disbelief. I was in shock with the whole nation.But when I got a grip of myself, I started hustling again.Remember that famous line of Robert H. Schuller? Tough times never last. Tough people do.I can't watch myself staying stuck after falling. One day I decided enough is enough. I stood up again, dusted myself off and moved forward.Oh, it was hard. I literally dragged myself out of bed every morning.Anxiety still rears its ugly head once in a while. But I don't succumb to it anymore.I choose to plant seeds. Now, I'm harvesting little by little. Reddit3. Take wives and have sons and daughters.I know children are blessings. They're gifts from God. My sister gave birth just before the lockdown happened and our family's excited and glad to welcome her cute bundle of joy.I also know this crisis is not a good time to have a baby. There's a time for everything.So, when I read this passage, I got worried and confused.Have children during the crisis when there's shortage of essentials and there's a global economic crash?But as Bro Arun explained it, this crisis should be a time to strengthen our relationship with each other especially with our family. Or those we're stuck with during the q uarantine.This time is about discipleship. We should make disciples. We should propagate the Good News.Those disciples will make disciples who will make disciples in return.Phew!Giphy4. Multiply. Do not decrease. Prosper. Most of all pray. Pray for the city. For when it prospers, you prosper.I love that verse. 👆Most of us complain about what's happening and how the people in authority respond to it. I've been guilty of that. Especially when I see injustice.When I hear people cry dura lex sed lex when it's for the poor or powerless but seeks to extend compassion for those who are in position, that's too preposterous to stay quiet.Despite that, I keep praying for my country and for the world. For I believe that when the leaders fail, we all fail. How they think, what they decide are out of my control. But...I know Who's in control of everything and we have an open line communication through prayers.GiphyI love that God's plans for His people, even in the midst of crisis, is not to harm but to prosper.His promise is a life of abundance and not a life of insufficiency. How marvelous He is!Your turnHow's your Sunday?How do you think can you prosper during this crisis?
Faith Sleepless 9:17 AM Sleepless I am literally sleepless today. I took pain medicine yesterday for my headache and the caffeine in it is too strong. Despite me taking only half the dose. So here I am, feeling hangover from a drinking session I never went to. Still standing (or sitting down). Still hustling. The bad thing about not getting sleep is that our bodies are not functioning as it should. Previously, I wrote about having a life balance. Anything in excess is not good. And here I am totally sleepless. I can feel the effects of overworking my brains: dizziness nausea shortness of breath stomach upset uneven skin tone irritability Tenor My husband could attest to the last one. 🤣 If I will have to be honest, it's not just the caffeine that kept me awake. (I've already learned my lesson and only takes half the dose since that time I had palpitations.) But worry has once again conquered me. And no matter what tips you follow for getting a good night sleep, if your mind is filled with fear and anxiety, it's useless. I worry about what will come about after this p andemic. I worry about how the government leaders with selfish intentions would respond to this crisis. I worry about my career. I worry about a lot of things. Worry steals from today. As for me, it stole my rest. It stole my peace. It stole what would have been a more productive day for me. It stole more time I could have spent with my husband. Pinterest Instead of doing these things, I spent it trying to think straight. Trying to not lose my temper to my husband who's also in desperate need of sleep. Two cranky people who are also hungry trying to get by the day is not a good combination. I'm glad my husband is quick to apologize and even quicker to forgive. I spent today trying to function despite feeling lethargic and out of it. Antidote for sleepless night Searching on the web about sleeping, here's a verse I've found: In peace I will lie down and sleep for you alone, O LORD, will keep me safe. -Psalm 4:8 I feel bad for falling into this weakness again. When I worry and fear, I know I am insulting God. There are many times God commanded us to not worry in the Bible. But in my weakness, I allowed the enemy to make my mind a playground for his lies again. Lord, grant me the grace to believe and obey you. Calm my worries. Allow me to rest at your feet. May I sleep in Your presence tonight.Amen. Your turn What makes you sleepless?What are your tips for a good night rest?
Faith Balance 6:31 PM Anything in excess is not good. For example, too little or too much sleep can be harmful to your health. Balance is key. Balance I always try to keep an optimistic disposition. But the older I get, I realized it's better to also be a little pessimistic. The sweet spot between optimism and pessimism is where we should be. I've learned that those who did not survive the holocaust were mostly the optimists in the group.Because when what they expected did not happen, it hit them really hard. They lost their hope. And I've shared this quote by Hal Lindsay before but I'll share it again: Man can live about forty days without food, about three days without water, about eight minutes without air...but only for one second without hope. From experience, I know optimism has an ugly down side. Indeed when you keep your hopes up, it hurts terribly when what you hoped for did not come to pass. The higher the expectation, the bigger the disappointment. So, I like to keep a balance between being optimistic and pessimistic. We need to be realistic. We need to keep our balance. Dream big but also keep your feet planted firmly on the ground. Hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. Love others but also give yourself the right amount of self-love. Work hard but rest well. Keep yourself in check. I believe keeping a balance between positive thinking and negative thinking is better for our mental health. That way when things don't go our way, we don't get too beaten down. When things turn out better than we expected, we celebrate. I love the verse about the balance of everything in life. There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance. A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing. A time to search and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to be silent and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace. -Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 I hope we learn to find this healthy balance in our lives. Your turn Are you an optimistic or pessimistic person? What do you do when things don't go as expected?
Faith Waiting 10:32 AM If there's a level in the waiting game, I'd say I'm at Expert by now. I've waited for God's answers to my prayers for a long time. He's tested my patience, increased my faith and pruned me during that long waiting period. And now I find myself waiting again. Waiting I think we are always waiting for something at certain times. We wait for our water to boil so we can enjoy our tea or cereal. We wait for our flights. (Oh, traveling! I forgot how that feels. 😅) We wait for a client's reply if a project is a go or a no. We wait for a movie to premier after watching several trailers online. We wait for our food delivery to arrive and hope it comes before we turn into a hangry (hungry + angry) monster. We wait for this p andemic to be finally over. I don't know about you but sometimes I feel sick and tired of hearing about the news. Bad news after bad news after bad news. Every. Single. Day.2020 is really kicking all our asses. What have you been waiting for lately? Joyful are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home! -Proverbs 8:34 The waiting period is not exactly a joyful phase. Especially when you're not sure if the answer you've been waiting for is what you're going to receive. Aristotle said: Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet. When I was discerning if marriage was for me, I stayed single for a long time. I kissed dating goodbye. That's a title of a book I haven't read it. I heard it's good.[Click here if you want to order I Kissed Dating Goodbye by Joshua Harris.] I enjoyed every me-time I have. Oh, I had ample back then. Yes, I was happy. But there were long, lonely, cold nights too. Gfycat When I was waiting for my life after graduation to start, I was reviewing for the board exam. There were a lot of terms and formulas to memorize. I have no idea how I passed it. I'd say only by God's grace. 🤣 But the waiting period between after the exam until it was announced was filled with tension. It wasn't particularly joyful. This q uarantine period is fine. Because I'm working from home for years now, quarantine is not new to me. All these things going on around the world though are getting to me as the days go by. It's different knowing you're staying home because you want to and staying home because you're forced to. We humans love our freedom, don't we? Pinterest So this l ockdown has somehow messed up my mental health. There was a time when I had to disconnect from the world. As much as I wanted to be in the know of what's happening, I needed to step back.I had to take refuge in God's presence like never before. I had to desperately search for things to keep my mind off the crisis. I felt like a fish out of water hopelessly trying to breathe. Thankfully, distancing from the news and social media helped. See the simple therapies I found on my previous entries. Day 20: Unproductive Day 16: Lover Day 14: Self-growth Day 9: Hustle Day 7: Simple Life Day 6: Friends and Chosen Day 5: Disconnect Day 2: Gratitude List The whole world is waiting with bated breath for when we can all finally step out of the house, hug each other again and enjoy our freedom. When will that be? I don't know. It's not easy waiting alone. But knowing we're in this together makes it a little better. Your turn How long do you think this quarantine will last? What do you do while waiting for something? May contain affiliate link.
Faith Possible 8:31 AM Is it possible that this crisis will end soon? Is there something good that will come out of this p andemic? Will we ever survive this challenge? Is everything going to be okay? Possible If you're an over-thinker like me, you may have also suffered from anxiety attack during this quarantine. So many questions. I continue to believe that no matter how difficult the situation we are in right now, we will survive. We will even thrive. Not with our own strength, but with the help of God. Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” -Matthew 19:26 All things are possible. The good kind of possible. Because our God is good. When I feel like we're trapped in this situation and fear starts rearing its ugly head, I think about the times God made what's impossible for men possible. It's impossible for women of old age to conceive a baby. But God made it possible. He blessed Sarah and Abraham with a son. Elizabeth was at least 60 years old when she gave birth to John the Baptist. It's impossible to divide water. But God parted the Red Sea and made it possible for His people to escape their enemy. It's impossible to walk on water or to turn water into wine. But Jesus did so. God is unchanging. He is just as merciful, powerful and infinite now as He was before. For that, I will always be grateful. Grateful for my husband's love and service health and safety of loved ones the ability to work despite the crisis more opportunities coming my way nature healing; lesser pollution, animals are more free little luxuries like being able to watch shows and movies online Citron tea---oh, how comforting the taste! my blog which has always been my favorite therapy healing songs Speaking of songs and all things being possible with God, here's an old song I like. Maybe not too old but it's been a while since I've heard it. All Things are Possible Hillsong Worship Almighty God my Redeemer My hiding place, my safe refuge No other name like Jesus No power can stand against You My feet are planted on this rock And I will not be shaken My hope it comes from You alone My Lord and my salvation Your praise is always on my lips Your word is living in my heart And I will praise You with a new song My soul will bless You Lord You fill my life with greater joy Yes I delight myself in You And I will praise You with a new song My soul will bless You Lord When I am weak, You make me strong When I'm poor, I know I'm rich For in the power of Your name All things are possible Feels good to be reminded that we worship an awesome God with whom all things are possible. Your turn What uplifting song is on your playlist? List down 3 old songs that you still love to listen to.
Faith Fixate 4:45 AM Fixate And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.-Philippians 4:8-9 If you can fixate on one thought, what would it be? If your life is a movie and you have to keep playing one clip from it over and over, which would you choose? I bet you'll pick something nice, happy, wonderful. When you finally graduated or passed an exam that will change your career. When you finally got over a heartbreak When you found your true love. When you climbed that summit you've always wanted to conquer. When your baby was born. When you got your first puppy. Imgur We are automatically drawn to what makes us feel good. Nobody wakes up every morning wanting to sabotage their day. "How do I ruin my life today?" That's a disturbing thought, isn't it? "Every day may not be good but there's always something good in every day." I know, sometimes it's hard to find the good especially when you feel like your life is going down the drain. I've had those days. I frequently get those since this crisis started. We all have our own way to cope with our own issues. We all have our own demons to wrestle with. When bad memories resurface, when the devil whispers lies in my ears, when I feel lost and hopeless, I go back to that verse from Philippians. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. What is true is that this too shall pass. God is still in control and He's the same God yesterday, today and forever. What is honorable is not using this p andemic as an opportunity to take advantage of people who are desperate. It's thinking about ways to help. What is right is giving yourself a break. Letting yourself rest if you have to. Distant yourself from toxic people and news. Keep your mind and body healthy. We Heart It What is pure are dogs and babies. Watching dog and baby videos reminds me how beautiful innocence is. It reminds what genuine love looks like. What is lovely is the planet we live in. Nature that's not abused and defiled is incomparable in its beauty. I look at the places I visited before and those I would love to go to someday. Lovely thoughts are those with my wonderful husband, family and friends. Lovely also are the news about people showing what humanity really means especially in the time of c oronavirus. What is admirable are the people who continue to give and serve without political gain. Those who continue to fight bravely for what is just. Those who are not afraid to speak up and get ridiculed just to call out the abusive people in power. What is admirable is knowing that we are on day___ of our quarantine yet here we are. (It's longer than 25 days I know but I started when enhanced q uarantine was announced in our city). Those who are scarred and still beautiful. Those are admirable. The noise outside is too loud. Sometimes the voices of doubt and fear in my head are deafening too. But I fight and choose to fixate to only what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. What is excellent and worthy of praise? God's steadfast love. His mercy that's new every morning. The good work He has began in me. His purpose behind all these which we are yet to know and understand. I want to fixate on these things. Your turn What are you currently preoccupied with? What scene in your life do you love to keep playing in your head?
Faith Grace 9:16 AM Grace I watched separate interviews of two C OVID-19 survivors today. What they both went through was scary, painful and life-changing. They both said two things that are noteworthy. We should never underestimate the virus. They survived purely because of God's grace. Grace. Gift Received At Christ's Expense I used to take this gift for granted. But now I know I am still here only because of God's grace. I realized grace is: being able to wake up every morning and being given the chance to experience life again having a normal and healthy body family and friends surrounding me having enough food still earning despite the crisis being under God's protection just being able to breathe normally (because those C OVID survivors said breathing was a difficult task) I didn't receive any help from our government (despite being a taxpayer) but at least I don't go to bed hungry. I am safe. I am well. I am loved. I have grace. This C OVID-19 made me more content. But I hope this ends soon and that we change for the better. Your turn What are you thankful for today?
Faith Expectant 7:20 AM Expectant Expectant ex·pect·ant (/ikˈspektÉ™nt/) having or showing an excited feeling that something is about to happen, especially something pleasant and interesting. When you pray for rain, bring an umbrella. That's expectant faith. That's it. That's the post for today. Thank you. Goodbye. 😛 Okay. I want to write more than that. I'm sharing about one of my favorite stories about faith which involves rain and the prophet Elijah. But Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel and bowed low to the ground and prayed with his face between his knees. Seven times Elijah told him to go and look. Finally the seventh time, his servant told him, “I saw a little cloud about the size of a man’s hand rising from the sea." Giphy Then Elijah shouted, “Hurry to Ahab and tell him, ‘Climb into your chariot and go back home. If you don’t hurry, the rain will stop you!’” And soon the sky was black with clouds. A heavy wind brought a terrific rainstorm, and Ahab left quickly for Jezreel. Then the Lord gave special strength to Elijah. He tucked his cloak into his belt and ran ahead of Ahab’s chariot all the way to the entrance of Jezreel. -1 Kings 18:42-45 About this story Elijah prayed earnestly and desperately. When was the last time you prayed down low to the ground with your face between your knees? This position denotes desperation, right? Seven times he asked his servant. The experts say that seven indicates perfection and completion in the Bible. How many times do you pray and try again before you give up on what you're praying for? A big storm starts with a tiny cloud. The cloud the servant saw was the size of a man's hand rising from the sea. Imagine the tiniest cloud you've ever seen. That must be how small it was. For Elijah though, he saw a storm coming. And he was right. Life lessons from Elijah and the rain See things with the eyes of faith. Prayers can move mountains. Or bring rain in the dessert. 😉 God favors those whom He chose. Breaking news: He chose us! Pray unceasingly. Again, when you pray for rain, bring an umbrella. Pinterest This is how I'm trying to deal with the uncertainties today. The world says there is drought, but my God brings the storm. The world says impossible, I say with God all things are possible. (Matthew 19:26) The world says C OVID-19 will kill us all, but my God will restore us to health and heal our wounds. (Jeremiah 30:17) Your turn What are you expecting to receive today? Do you like the rain too? 😊
Faith Adaptable 5:39 AM Adaptable Notice the glorious bamboo tree. It is tall and sturdy but when the wind blows strongly, it bends. It's resilient even during a raging storm. Because it is adaptable. It goes all the way down to the bottom and all the way up that the camera can't capture the actual size 📸: Instagram husband We need to learn this important life lesson from a bamboo tree. Now more than ever, we need to be adaptable. Because all of us are going through a crisis. The whole damn world. No one's exempted. This p andemic is perhaps the biggest change and challenge the modern world has experienced so far. And I couldn't agree more. Giphy Aside from this global crisis, we each are going through major life-altering events. We need to adjust. If we keep resisting change, we will break. Personal change I've seen this change in my career recently. I know it will be tough in the coming days and if I keep thinking about the what ifs, I will be having fresh breakouts and be losing sleep again. Anxiety ain't pretty. So, instead I decided to declare this: My God is bigger than this crisis. My God is more powerful than this p andemic. He will never let my cup run dry. Here are other encouragement I keep in my heart to help me get through this like a warrior I was born to be: You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. -Psalm 23:5 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. -2 Corinthians 9:8 The LORD will send rain at the proper time from his rich treasury in the heavens and will bless all the work you do. You will lend to many nations, but you will never need to borrow from them. -Deuteronomy 28:12 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:19 The LORD gave me what I had, and the LORD has taken it away. Praise the name of the LORD! - Job 1:21 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. - 1 Thessalonians 5:18 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. -Romans 8:28 But in that coming day no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the LORD; their vindication will come from me. I, the LORD, have spoken! - Isaiah 54:17 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. -Hebrews 13:8 Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. -James 1:17 I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. -John 10:10 And when it gets overwhelming I have to remind myself of this verse: I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. -John 16:33 Realizations I don't think I'll be standing here today if not for God's grace. He is my hope and my strength. There are many times in my life when He delivered me and fulfilled His promises. He never fails and He won't stop now. (I got that from this song. 😛) I've realized that if we want to thrive in our lives during this c oronavirus p andemic, we need to adapt. In the end, the strongest among us is not the one who looks and acts tough. It is the one who learns to bend. Be strong. Be adaptable. Your turn What quotes or verses do you read when things get tough? How do you adapt to change?
Faith Easter Sunday 7:54 AM He is risen! I don't know about you but I felt I finally put down that heavy weight I've been carrying around for a while now when I realized it's Easter. I love this day. Easter is a wonderful reminder that all sufferings end. There may be hardships today. Our cry may feel like it falls on deaf ears. It may seem as though the night never ends but Easter is here to remind us that morning is not too far away. Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning. -Psalms 30:5 Easter Sunday Today is different of course because we can't leave the house. But I told my husband we need to celebrate somehow. Jesus defeated death! Giphy That is HUGE. And 2,000+ years may have passed but it's still worth celebrating. So, after almost an hour of browsing through my food delivery apps, we finally ordered pizza. Maybe because we've not been eating outside food for quite some time now due to the q uarantine, I thought that pizza was hea-ven-lyyyyy. Gifling Binge-watching We spent the rest of the day watching movies. At first we watched Onward. A kid's movie that has a surprisingly deep and emotional message about family. A touching story of two brothers who both wanted to see their deceased dad one last time. I highly recommend it! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ We also watched the last episode of Young Sheldon season 2. As usual, we laughed out loud. And finally, we finished the first season of The Chosen series. Also a must watch! For the first time since the q uarantine, I can honestly say that this has been a great day. Your turn How did you celebrate Easter Sunday? What are you thankful for?
Faith Black Satruday 3:09 AM Black Satruday A day of total bleak silence for Jesus' followers after His death. Imagine their grief from losing a friend and a teacher. Their hope. Wow, imagine losing your hope! Man can live about forty days without food, about three days without water, about eight minutes without air...but only for one second without hope. -Hal Lindsey That must be one difficult time for the disciples. They had to deal with their personal loss, their confusion of what's happening, maybe even pain of betrayal (I really thought He was the One. Why did He let it happen? Why did he not fight back if He was powerful?). They also had fear. What if they would come after them next and make them suffer the same way? There was uncertainty of the future. Black is an apt word to describe that day. It must have been figuratively the darkest time of their lives. Our Black Friday It got me thinking about what we're going through today. Our present life is filled with uncertainties. When is this l ockdown going to end? What will happen after this? What changes await us? What kind of person are we becoming during the darkest moment of our lives? Do we doubt like Thomas did? Do we hide from the world like an injured dog? Or do we, like the women of Galilee continue our connection with the Lord and follow His commandments? The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. They went home and prepared spices and ointments to anoint his body. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment. -Luke 23:55-56 I'd like to claim I did what those women did when I had my Black Friday. But I'm more of a hiding and doubting kind of person and it will take me a few days before I get a grip and move on. This crisis is like the longest, most silent, most excruciating Black Friday we're all experiencing at the present. This will be over soon. While it isn't, I will keep holding on to God's promises. That's all I can do really. He is my hope, my refuge, my source of strength, my inspiration. He went through all the pain of Good Friday and went radio silent on Black Saturday because He knew Sunday is coming. Your turn What is your Black Friday? How do you deal with times like these?
Faith Good Friday 10:21 AM In my Catholic faith, we commemorate Jesus' passion and death today. Good Friday. Have you seen the movie The Passion of the Christ? It's controversial. It's bloody. It's horrific. At every whip, splatter of blood, Christ's cry in pain and tears in Mother Mary's eyes, I could feel my heart crushing. And I find myself asking God, "Why me, Lord?" Why did you allow Yourself to go through all those pain and suffering to save someone like me? For all the sins I've committed, I deserve such punishment. But, not You. When I think about it, it makes me wonder why we call this day Good Friday. There wasn't good from what Jesus went through that day. That one movie's title is more fitting. Today is a terrible, horrible, no good very bad day. I watched today's The 7 Last Words Good Friday presentation by The Light of Jesus Family. And this is what I've learned. Good Friday It may seem for Jesus' enemies that He was defeated effortlessly today. He did not resist arrest. He allowed the mob to mock him. He didn't fight the soldiers. He didn't flee. He didn't perform any mind-blowing miracle to show off His power and glory. He was seized, scourged and persecuted like a common criminal. What's good about Good Friday? It's good because on this day, God manifested His great love. That while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8) Giphy It's good because God sent Jesus to bridge the gap between us and Him that was brought about by our sinful ways. It's good because Jesus showed us the best example of humility, obedience to the Father, surrender and faith. It's good because in Jesus' human form, He exhibited remarkable courage. That while He was praying at the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was in such agony and fear that He sweat blood. Scientifically speaking, hematidrosis or sweating blood generally happens when a person feels intense fear or stress. Leonardo Da Vinci wrote that soldiers sweat blood before battle. This gives me hope. That even when situations get extremely scary, I can carry on knowing that God's is with me and His will I just need to pray and surrender. Good Friday is still good maybe not while it's happening, but because of the promised victory that comes after it. Giphy It may feel like we're defeated by the enemy, but the final battle is not over yet. We have this saying in Filipino, "Ang bida ng pagpapabugbog sa simula." The protagonist of the story---the hero---makes it look like the bad guys are winning at the start. Plot twist! He wins in the end. In our lives, many times it seems the enemy is winning. Good Friday is proof that suffering and setbacks happen. But it is only a set up for our success. Giphy Plot twist: God always wins. Ah, what a beautiful thought to carry in our hearts. Good Friday is a really, really REALLY good day. Your turn What is your Good Friday reflection?
Faith Holy Thursday 10:17 AM Holy Thursday I've said it before and I'm going to say it again: thank God for technology. Today I get to watch The Feast's Holy Thursday retreat. Reflection God's rejection is God's redirection. How many times have you experienced rejection? I think it's one of the most painful feelings in the world regardless of who or what caused it. It feels like somebody grabbed your heart from the inside your chest, crushed it mercilessly and threw it away. You feel helpless. Worthless. It's like all your dreams ended in just one snap. What to do now? What happens next? This is one of my favorite verses: 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 I like to go back to this verse especially when (1) my plans didn't work out or (2) when I face uncertainties. Like this life in the time of c oronavirus. When is this going to end? What do we do now? What happens after the l ockdown has been lifted? What if clients would stop paying because of this crisis? Too many questions. Even the experts can only give us an estimate. It feels like all the plans we have for 2020 and the years to follow have been put on hold. Is God rejecting my dreams? Are my plans not going to come to pass? Hundreds of questions sure kept me awake during the first few weeks of the C OVID-19 outbreak. I believe right now we are all being redirected to something better. Tenor Better for nature Hey, nature is thriving. People are enjoying cleaner air. Even water in famous Venice canal is now clearer. Animals freely strolling without the danger of humans and cars. Ducks in the streets. Cows at the beach. Deers and goats going around the cities. I don't know about you but I find it lovely seeing that we share this planet with these beautiful creatures. Giphy (A little scary too though because they also spotted a cheetah in India. Predators roaming around your neighborhood is not a good thing.) But live animal markets or meat markets are closing. What environmentalists and animal rights activists have been trying to do for decades, Mother Nature only did for months. Of course it's not over yet. The use of animals as commodity for food, accessories and lab testing is not going to end altogether soon. But it's a good start. People are realizing that growing your food in the garden is more practical especially during a p andemic. We are learning that plants are safer and better alternatives because you'll never find a broccoli with a flu. A carrot does not carry a virus. We're seeing how the earth thrives if we respect other creatures and care for nature. Be still We are so busy with our modern fast-paced life that sometimes it feels as though life is just passing us by. This l ockdown has forced us to stay still. If you're used to juggling many tasks and a busy lifestyle, you may feel restless at first. Just be in the moment. Enjoy this break while it lasts. Indeed there is a blessing behind this challenge. I declare with faith that there is something good that will happen to you and me. Your turn What are you thankful for during this l ockdown? Share you experience of rejection and how it redirected you to something better.
