Use those Rocks!

Pls Read God’s Silent Message: John 20:19-31

Have you been @ your rock bottom lately?

Have you committed some mistakes despite the many warnings na binigay sayo to save you from further pain? And has that been the reason why you keep on finding some other ways para sa iba ka maghanap ng comfort; -- or has that been your reason for you to be aloof of the one who kept on giving you some guidance & reminders, yet you doubted?

Dear friend, we have our freewill to lift our own-self from our rock-bottom! We can discern God’s voice “kung saan at ano” ang dapat nating i-persevere in our everyday life! We should also decide WHAT TO QUIT kasi if we won’t, we are surely dragging our life to a much deeper “bottom”!

https://trendingprof47.wordpress.com/2015/04/11/use-those-rocks/

Do you "Make Tents"?

Hi Friends, it's 2nd Sunday of Lent, may we strive to make some little preparations for our Spiritual Growth 

Pls Consider God’s Silent Message: Mark 9:2-10 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+9:2-10

Sabi nila, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!”

But come to think of it … TRUE BEAUTY is not actually something that we see 
– but “that thing that WE FEEL”! – it should be right there “in the heart” of an imperfect person who allowed him/herself to be held up for “a radiant makeover” 

– not for long period of hours in front of a mirror 
– but in life’s training grounds!  

Yet, not many of us are willing to go through such metamorphosis because we are more often apprehensive & pertified by “what we think we know”, yet no longer aware that we’re already being anxious with what we want to believe in.

When we don’t understand what’s going on in our life … when we struggle on things & we’re not comfortable with what’s happening … when we’re confused & we don’t know what to say; much that we actually don’t want to explore outside of our comfort zones … we’d rather “make tents”!

“Then Peter said to Jesus in reply,“Rabbi, it is good that we are here!

Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified.”

When we secure ourselves in-ward & hide-away; when we don’t respond in a loving & wise manner; when we tend to be self-centered & protect ourselves with pride; when we misinterpret good intentions & doesn’t want to “listen” … it could’ve made us feel good that we’ve already built our tents -- BUT it doesn’t maximize our experience “being here”! 

Dear Bros & Sis, God wants us to be BEAUTIFUL and He hopes that today, we could be inspired by His Transfiguration while He intends to make us realize how cool He is for giving us our family to whom He entrusted our complete “change of heart” so that such beauty will not only attract some beholders but will “affect” God’s legacy through us :)  #sunset

Reward Card.

by: Gail S. Montero

           

Feel God’s Message in Today’s Gospel:  MT 21:33-43

Since September 5 to October 5 is a Celebration of National TEACHERS’ Month, I’ve been receiving thoughtful messages from my Basic Ed High School students years back, until this ONE REMARKABLE message popped up in my Messenger:

“Salamat po Ma’am Gail,

I kept earning my plus-points!”

…made me recall when I would give my students “100 points” to represent a 100% grade in some components of their grade in their Values Education Subject.  They would love “starting-over-again” every grading period because instead of me telling them “back-to-zero”,  I would gladly announce that their grade-opportunity is “back-to-100%” -- which they have to “manage well” within the quarter.

How? … At the start of each grading period, I would give them few minutes to clean-up & organize their responsibility zones: Journals[notebook], lockers, bags & of course their entire classroom set up, including a new seat plan.   As we set-off spic-&-span, “all prepared” for the quarter, they would automatically get their 100pts.  Although there were some instances when they would get “minus points” because they naturally mess-up on some instances & fail to keep things in order  just before I would do some “surprise-random-checks & visits”, but then, they would strive to re-organize their personal zones -- so that they could “re-EARN” for their previous remaining points when I give them several “plus points” – which varied according to the extent of the effort that they have personally exerted – without comparing each of their creativity & effort to that of the others.  

I did not earn that much 20 years ago as a full time high school teacher; I kind’a level up a bit in my current pay as a part-time Professor to Masteral Students every Saturday – but still, not that much as of yet; not so sure if I already would, until I finish my Doctorate Degree -- pero ‘yong ipaalam sayo na “malaki ang naging contribution mo” in the life of one of your students dahil sa “maliit na bagay” at simpleng sistema na ipinaranas mo sa kanila, it’s MORE THAN FULFILLING na tumatanggap ka ng PAGTANAW NG UTANG NA LOOB -- kasi, napatunayan mo na “dahil hindi mo ipinagdamot ang 100% na opportunity, ITINUTULOY NILA na ma-SUSTAIN ang 100% na kaya din nilang ibigay.

Naisip ko lang, isa lang si “Marc Jess” sa mga students na naging “devoted” na palaguin ang pagkakataon ng ibinigay sa kanya, pero sobrang saya na sa pakiramdam – as in!

How much more kung icoconsider pa natin ang iba pa na mga naging successful students ng mga “My Teacher, My Hero” nationwide – at kung ang lahat ng pasasalamat na ito ang ibabalik natin to OUR GREAT TEACHER: the CORNERSTONE OF OUR STRENGTH and ALL THAT WE HAVE – ilang “plus points” kaya ang pwedeng paulanin sa atin ni God dahil sa SOBRA-sobrang magigigng masaya Sya dahil we gave the right amount of FAITHFULNESS SUKLI sa pagiging generous nya?

We are but tenants in God’s Vineyard -- with all the 100% OPPORTUNITY that we could grab! Katulad ng isang Marc Jess na nakaramdam ng pasasalamat kaya ‘di kinailangang i-compare ang sarili sa kung anong portion ng vineyard ang napunta sa kanya, 100% nya ding sinuklian ang chance na ibinigay sa kanya – kaya ngayon, “he keeps on earning his rewards” … ang secret, he devotedly taught his “ear” to LISTEN with the wisdom coming from the Holy & the Teacher : H+ear+T = he listened with the HEART!  

                                                                                                                   

Happy National Teachers’ Month po sa lahat ng teachers IN A BIGGER CLASSROOM called LIFE!

visit #sunset’sblog @ trendingprof47.InspiringInfluence.com

Our "Emmaus" Journey

Please read Featured Gospel:  Luke 24.13-35

Hanggang ngayon, TRENDING pa din…
/ “do you wanna build a snowman” /  “g ka ba ka-build a snowman”? /
… and the LATEST I guess: /”do you wanna be my boyfriend?”/
…iba’t ibang lyrics, iba’t ibang version,  pero iisa lang ang origin: that great movie FROZEN!
One time naisip ko, “mabuti pa ang pelikula, may TULDOK ang happy ending!”
1.       Alam ng mga character kung hanggang saan nila paninindigan ang role na pino-portray nila;
2.       Malinaw ang time-line kung kailan “melted na ang pagiging FROZEN ng STUBBORN-HEART”;
3.       Identified ang scenario na “paid-off” na ang effort at sacrifice ng isang “OLAF” who never gave-up convincing himself that: “some people are worth melting for…”4.       and most importantly, may “closure” na “hindi pabago-bago”: ‘yong TOTOONG may REALIZATION NA NAG-SINK-IN sa pagitan ng isang “Anna:Elsa” relationship: “Only an act of TRUE LOVE CAN THAW A FROZEN HEART”!
 Madalas kasi kesa minsan, kung anu-ano pa ang hinahanap natin!
We keep on looking around, we keep on searching for other source
which will give us “that feeling which we want to feel” ;
But the truth is … “hindi natin totoong alam kung ano pa ang gusto nating maramdaman”;
And it’s quite sad -- na sa totoo, “hindi natin alam kung ano talaga ang hinahanap natin”
Kasi, hindi natin alam kung ano at KUNG SINO ang meron tayo !
 Sometimes we are like those two “disciples of Jesus” in this gospel. Hopes gone, a stranger walked with them; but not until Jesus vanished from their sight,  did they realize that it was actually Jesus who had their hearts burn within them as he talked and explained the scriptures to them along the road.
 Unaware, we might also be going through an “Emmaus Journey” in our life --  when we are supposedly hopeful yet suddenly in despair because we’ve gathered sorts of “unmet expectations”, feeling “unloved” and a lot of justifications which make ourselves STRANGERS from the people who love us and whom we should love in return.
 Trending na ang paggawa ng sariling version ng istoryang si God ang producer and we are given the opportunity  na tayo mismo ang maging director kaya dapat we create a good VIEW,  examine the things that we regard important in our life and identify the scenarios which will give our movie a “happy ending”. “Tingin-tingin din habang may time …‘wag sana na “wala na ang KUNG SINO sa buhay natin bago pa mag-sink-in sa atin na dapat pala ay hindi ang material things na “kung anu-ano” ang mas minahalaga natin! Let us seek to be enlightened! #sunset

It Doesn't Have to be a Snowman!

“It Doesn’t Have to be a Snowman!”

by: Gail S. Montero        

Credits to: the Movie "Frozen"

Please read Featured Gospel: John 11:1-45


Anna: Elsa?

Knock, knock, knock

o you wanna build a snowman?


… We used to be best buddies


And now we're not


I wish you would tell me why! …

Elsa: Go away, Anna

Anna: Okay, bye ...


[sobs & walks away ... “It doesn't have to be a snowman”…]

LAZARUS HAS BEEN DEAD in our commemoration of today’s gospel.

At times, WE ALSO ARE!

 “we Conceal, we Don’t feel, we Don’t let them know”

We seclude ourselves in the “kingdom of isolation”!
We take care of our fears, of our guilt, mistakes which we never share to get corrected!
Secrets we’ve kept even from our friends because we don’t wanna let them know
how weak we are that we never triumph over temptations!

Even if given the chance, we never open up because of our pride.
When asked to tell “stories”, we never grab the chance to be honest.

Not even when we are ambushed with “God’s message” which we have no choice but “hear”
-- we still shut not only our ears to listen, but moreso our “heart” to truly feel and get “touched”!

Then there – we create out own grave of justifications!
… and even if we keep things in secret, it’s stench/unpleasant smell
could no longer allow us to deny that “there is something wrong”!

Subsequently, we either unconsciously become or even choose to make our hearts FROZEN –
that “FRAGILE cover-up” which DISCONNECTS us from IDEAL & WHOLESOME
“though not perfect” RELATIONSHIPS! -- – anytime AT RISK of becoming BROKEN!

JESUS ALSO WEPT, was perturbed and deeply troubled in the midst of Martha’s commendation: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.

BUT with all assurance He asserted:
“I am the resurrection and the life;
whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live,
and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.”

Dear friend, God has been reaching out to us all through out -- that’s why we still have those “annoying persons in our life” who doesn’t give up on us STILL until we could “HEAR this ONE BIG MESSAGE”:

“God will not stop loving you until He totally fixes your brokenness.”

“Today, if you hear His voice, harden not your heart.” -- Hebrews 3:15 . 

Never tell God to “go away”…

And that “one person” who still keeps on knocking in fulfillment of the task given by God,

give that person the chance to “thaw your frozen heart” this time …

for you’ll never know when God would prompt her to just walk away,

sobbing... 

“Okay, bye!...It doesn't had to be a snowman!”#sunset

Pay-back a Package

by: Gail S. Montero                  

Please read Featured Gospel: Matthew 4:1-11

Life is like a box of chocolates! -- Winston Groom

--  that if we crave for some, we get to enjoy some!

BUT -- not everything that’s within such a box would soothe our taste kasi may karugtong pa ‘yong famous quote na yon ng “momma” ni Forest Gump:

“…you’ll never know what you’re gonna get”!

Not everything that we will pick from that box will be our choice kasi “ASSORTED”!

We craved for it, but in dismay, “we didn’t like” what we got???

Habang hindi tyo nasa-satisfied, we keep on complaining, throwing tantrums, justifying our anger due to “unmet expectations” -- even sour-graping over someone’s failure to make us happy.  

On the outset, because we didn’t appreciate the variation of flavors, we are even unconsciously thriving to fill-in such box with something else.

Unaware of our actions, we’re already creating “mess” na kahit sa “mess box” natin ay hindi na pwedeng magkasya kaya ayan tuloy, we could no longer find comfort even in our own room kasi clutters are all around. Namihasa tayong sinisisi ang ibang tao at ginagawang excuse na naiinis tayo kaya “wala tayo sa mood” na ayusin ang mga dapat nating ayusin.

What we do not remember, just like what Jesus went through in today’s gospel, “the opponent” might just be “testing us” if such scenarios will lead us into temptation.

Friend, di ka pa ba napapagod sa kakaipon ng “kalat” sa buhay mo?

It’s Lenten season once more, today is the 1^st Sunday of Lent.

That box of chocolates na hindi mo gusto ang laman, baka pinuno mo na ng ilan sa mga ito: [1] Pride, [2] Covetousness, [3] Lust, [4] Anger, [5] Envy, [6] Gluttony and [7] Sloth. Bishop Fulton Sheen calls them "the seven pall-bearers of the soul" and gives them the following names: self-love, inordinate love of money, illicit sex, hate, jealousy, over-indulgence and laziness [http://www.thesevencapitalsins.com/sevenSins.html].

God is giving you NOW the chance to at least clean up little by little. You have 40days to prepare … reflect-reflect din tayo pag may time. ‘wag nang ma-PRIDE kasi this is the deadliest among the 7 Capital Sins.  

God has packaged life like a box of chocolates.

You’ll never know what you’re gonna get, but the main intention of such a package is for you to ENJOY it!” It’s already up to you to give your best appreciation and meaning with what God has given you.

If you have already emptied such box, could it be that you’ll be the one to fill it in this time and package it as your “pay-back” gift to God?

God will bless you more J #sunset.

God's GPS is Within You!

Featured Gospel for Reflection: Matthew6:24-34

Usapang “Lost and found” – para BALANCE J!

Alin ang mas okey lang mawala sayo … bagay o tao?

Ows, sabi mo “tao”? … maniwala ako sayo?!

Eh bakit, mas umiyak ka pa nong nawala ang ipad mo … kesa nong itanong sayo kung okey lang na “wala na sila” sa buhay mo?

Pinanindigan mo pa, ni-“UNfriend” mo pa sila sa FB and umaalis at dumadating ka sa bahay na mistulang “wala kang nakikita”?

Naandyan pa naman sila … nagpapaalala, naninita, nagagalit , napupunuan ng pasensya pero sumusubaybay pa rin, pa-sikretong tinitingnan kung okey ka lang sa mga panahong sinasabi mong ‘wag kang pakialaman.

Mabilis kang nagagalit kapag sinasabi sa’yo ang mga dapat mong i-improve at mga dapat ‘di mo na ginagawa; kaya naman sa mundo mo, halos ayaw mong naandon sila. Para-paraan lang para “walain mo sila” sa buhay mo.

kung yong isang bagay na nawawala, hinahanap natin,

how much more na hindi hahanapin kung “IKAW” ang nawawala!?!

THIS IS HOW IMPORTANT YOU ARE!

Sobrang “mas mahalaga ka” kesa sa mga material things which you are mostly worried about.

Today, God have one great message for you!

He may have allowed you to retrieve that “lost thing” – but more significantly, mabuti na lang,  those people na pilit mong “winawala” in your life, they have this in their heart:

“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides.”

PRAYER GREATLY WORKS! The “striving part” is up to us … but with our humility to “hand things up to God”, the rest will follow.

for in today’s gospel, God is fulfilling a promise:

“Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself.

Sufficient for a day is its own evil.”

Walang nawawala na hindi nakikita!

Credits to "Find My iPhone" Application & Google Maps

… if and only if … we will  increase our wisdom to receive that  “gift of balance” – that is, kung nawala ka man at napunta sa mundo ng iba, God can always “locate” you wherever you are kasi “deep within you, God has implanted His GPS” kaya wala kang kawala – all you need to do is “surrender” in deep humility that you are willing to undo some mistakes!

Stop worrying … GOD LOVES YOU “that MUCH” kaya He has given you people who will never give up on you! #sunset

You can also visit My Other Blog

Think it Over & Beyond: Starting Over Again!

Think it Over & Beyond: Starting Over Again!: Please read FEATURED GOSPEL: Matthew 5:38-48. Minsan ‘di natin napapansin, ang “bitter” natin! We don’t want to let go of the p...

Starting Over Again!

Please read FEATURED GOSPEL: Matthew 5:38-48.

Minsan ‘di natin napapansin, ang “bitter” natin!

We don’t want to let go of the past kasi “doon”, may ginawa tayong hindi natin dapat ginawa.

May “pinanghihinayangan” tayo na until this very moment ay may mga natitirang tanong sa puso natin.

--mga tanong na nagpapahirap sa kalooban natin kaya pinipilit nating i-“fit-in” sa isip natin ang lahat ng “what if” sa mga ‘di natin nagawa pero dapat sana ay ginawa natin.

Kaya naman, it’s our tendency to believe that we can “start over again” with whatever there was in the past kasi this time, “gusto nating bumawi”!

It’s “what we believe in” that makes us determined to keep on working things out! Not only our eyes, but our heart is gazed on  that goal to be “at our best” this time. – kahit na dumating pa sa point na nasasaktan na tayo at nakakasakit na din tayo ng iba. 

In today’s gospel, Jesus laid down another “reward”:

₄₄”But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you,₄₅that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.₄₆For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? … ₄₈So be perfect,^* just as your heavenly Father is perfect. ”

If we will not realize na tayo yong “enemy at persecutor na ‘yon sa sarili natin”, we will keep on reading through … even memorizing the lines and memories that should already be “deleted” in our system which hinder us from really “moving on” with the best memories instead.  We cause our own heart aches, we keep on allowing our “holding back” trends, to the point that we want to find ways to “un-love” so as to finally move-on. 

Such a nice “twist” … “starting over again” with a love that’s beautiful and new!

“PSP” … “past is past” – never be BITTER about it! – kasi, without that one part of our history, we will never be BETTER today.

That chance na makapagsimula na wala nang natitirang tanong sa puso natin,

that enough “time” hanggang sa mapatawad natin ang sarili with whatever mistake/s …

… these would be the “best gifts” we could ever give to ourselves. 

Let us increase our worship while we strive to “grow up” in our relationships – “this is loving in a different way”! 

Start it Over Again from within! #sunset

These, We Should Not Resist!

Please read, FEATURED GOSPEL: MT 5:13-16.

“Ang hindi naaalala ng isip, hindi nakakalimutan ng puso.”

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BzWvUKgwO4W2eUE0azBzVFowRHc/edit

They are already professionals; yet, they still remember as a child!

They smiled upon recalling the good; yet, they cried upon hearing those lines which hit the soft spot in their heart.

...this was how my TCP [Teaching Certificate Program] Students reacted when in one of our lessons,  I asked them to read one story: “Nang Mawala ang Tinig ni Darna” in my intention to make them recall their “values formation”as far as they can remember way back childhood days. 

When asked to share, may mga pinagdaanan na kung bibigyan lang ng isa pang pagkakataon ay hindi na nila gugustuhing daanan ulit kasi yon yong mga panahon na wala silang choice kundi tanggapin na lang na may mga magulang na hindi napagtagumpayang i-“preserve” ang pamilya na dapat sana ay panggalingan ng mabuting paggabay. 

Pero mabuti na lang, ang pilit kinakalimutan ng isip, sadyang naaalala ng puso…

kasi despite the pain, God has planted LOVE deep within us which makes us see “the other side” of the story and makes us find “alternative harmony” para patuloy na pagsumikapang hindi tuluyang masira ang dapat sana ay “buong pamilya”.  Nakikita ng pusong may pagmamahal ang mga bagay na dapat matutunan kahit na hindi ito direct na itinuro;  kasi God has also deposited that “conviction” within us that “we can always find light” no matter how dark situations have caused…because in today’s gospel, Jesus said:  

“You are the salt of the earth.
You are the light of the world…”

Literally, when Jesus told these allegory during the early first century Palestine, salt was significantly used to preserve meat and season food.  Same is true even until now, although with some sorts of modifications. Ultimately, THEN & NOW, God is always certain in His declaration that: “YOU ARE”! …

…the “SALT OF THE EARTH” na ang ibig sabihin ay:

[1]  dapat napre-“preserve natin ang ganda ng pagkatao natin” kasi “we are created in the image & likeness of God”;

[2] sana we could sustain our purity and be our own “driving force” against the temptations that lead us to sin;

[3]  dapat sana we could “intensify” our relationships with ourself, with one another & most specially with God;

…the “LIGHT OF THE WORLD” na maaaring:

[1]  magpaalala sa mga nakakalimot ng malalim na kahulugan ng “tunay na kagandahan” ng pagkatao;

[2]  magbigay-pag-asa na si God, laging may nakahandang “opportunity” for those who humble themselves in asking for forgiveness when they’ve messed up;

[3] maging “source of strength & inspiration” kapag ang iba ay pinanghihinaan nang magpatuloy at tapusin ang kanilang laban in this so-called life. 

Kung kaya lang sana nating i-increase ang pakiramdam na “INTRINSIC” naman sa atin ang mga values na ito, wala sanang mga anak na maghahanap ng nawawalang magulang, wala sanang mga tatay na sumasakabilang-BAhay; wala sanang mga anak na “may sariling mundo”, wala sanang pamilya na magsu-suffer ng effect ng ginawa ng kung sino mang kulang sa malasakit … at higit sa lahat, wala sanang part ng buhay natin ang gusto na nating kalimutan.

Good that you took the time to read this!

I fervently hope, you could find some courage to make humble reflections 

to accept these gifts

– kasi sa totoong buhay, this is what will make us a WORTHY PERSON :)

#sunset

Think it Over & Beyond: A Life-time for a Certain Promise?!

Think it Over & Beyond: A Life-time for a Certain Promise?!: “A Life-time for a Certain Promise?!” by: Gail S. Montero                   Please read Luke 2:29-32. How long should it take for...

A Life-time for a Certain Promise?!

“A Life-time for a Certain Promise?!”

by: Gail S. Montero                  

Please read Luke 2:29-32.

How long should it take for us to believe

that a certain promise will still be fulfilled?

That day: December 31, 2013 @ Josephine’s Restaurant in Tagaytay, in an unexpected moment -- God sent an angel that made me recall “a promise” …

– that one which “no voice” told me back then,

yet I believed in my heart that it will be fulfilled – maybe “when I grow up” ! J

I was just a kid then when God first comforted me “not with an answer” to the truth that I should know.  It has been 30 years at this point  --  ang tagal na din pala!  I’m already raising my own kids now … but somewhere in my heart, “I’m counting…STILL on that GUARANTEE!”.

“Promises are made to be broken!” … that’s what they normally say!

Kasi along the way,

-- bigla na lang, nagbabago ang tao: either the promise-giver or the receiver;

-- dumadating ang mga pagsubok na hindi napagtatagumpayan;

-- nagkakaroon ng mga pagkakataon na nagiging magka-iba ng landas na tinatahak. 

Or, worse than expected,

-- NAKAKALIMOT na magsumikap na ibigay ang BEST sa magparehong pagkatao

   sa kalagitnaan ng mahihirap na mga pagkakataon.

-- kung hindi man ang isa sa kanila, neither of the promise-giver nor the receiver are able to courageously  JUMP over the TEST OF TIME kaya naman, tuluyan nang natatapos ang  relationship na inasahan sanang mag-grow!

Ilan kaya sa atin ang pwedeng maging katulad ni Simeon in today’s gospel?

-- an upright and devout OLD MAN who received and blessed Jesus when Mary and Joseph presented him at the temple.  It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.

It had to take him “a life time” before God finally rewarded his hope:

‘Now, Master, you can let your servant go in peace,

just as you promised;

because my eyes have seen the salvation

which you have prepared for all the nations to see…”

Hindi madali ang umasa na isang umaga naandyan na ang sagot “to the truth that you should know”.  Lalong hindi madali na magpakabuti tayo at gawing “deserving” ang sarili natin sa kalagitnaan ng mga panahong nahihirapan tayo at halos we are at the summit of giving-up.

Pero sige lang, let us give ourselves that extra effort to keep on JUMPING even higher than we normally can -- kasi God is surely preparing us to that day when HE would REWARD us with the FULFILMENT of HIS PROMISE!

Afterall, our attitude while waiting would matter most! “Payback” to God that gift of gratitude and patience without worrying – then it could be the best that we would have in our futureJ. #sunset

A Life-time for a Promise?!

“A Life-time for a Certain Promise?!”

by: Gail S. Montero                  

Please read Luke 2:29-32.

How long should it take for us to believe

that a certain promise will still be fulfilled?

That day: December 31, 2013 @ Josephine’s Restaurant in Tagaytay, in an unexpected moment -- God sent an angel that made me recall “a promise” …

– that one which “no voice” told me back then,

yet I believed in my heart that it will be fulfilled – maybe “when I grow up” ! J

I was just a kid then when God first comforted me “not with an answer” to the truth that I should know.  It has been 30 years at this point  --  ang tagal na din pala!  I’m already raising my own kids now … but somewhere in my heart, “I’m counting…STILL on that GUARANTEE!”.

“Promises are made to be broken!” … that’s what they normally say!

Kasi along the way,

-- bigla na lang, nagbabago ang tao: either the promise-giver or the receiver;

-- dumadating ang mga pagsubok na hindi napagtatagumpayan;

-- nagkakaroon ng mga pagkakataon na nagiging magka-iba ng landas na tinatahak. 

Or, worse than expected,

-- NAKAKALIMOT na magsumikap na ibigay ang BEST sa magparehong pagkatao

   sa kalagitnaan ng mahihirap na mga pagkakataon.

-- kung hindi man ang isa sa kanila, neither of the promise-giver nor the receiver are able to courageously  JUMP over the TEST OF TIME kaya naman, tuluyan nang natatapos ang  relationship na inasahan sanang mag-grow!

Ilan kaya sa atin ang pwedeng maging katulad ni Simeon in today’s gospel?

-- an upright and devout OLD MAN who received and blessed Jesus when Mary and Joseph presented him at the temple.  It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.

It had to take him “a life time” before God finally rewarded his hope:

‘Now, Master, you can let your servant go in peace,

just as you promised;

because my eyes have seen the salvation

which you have prepared for all the nations to see…”

Hindi madali ang umasa na isang umaga naandyan na ang sagot “to the truth that you should know”.  Lalong hindi madali na magpakabuti tayo at gawing “deserving” ang sarili natin sa kalagitnaan ng mga panahong nahihirapan tayo at halos we are at the summit of giving-up.

Pero sige lang, let us give ourselves that extra effort to keep on JUMPING even higher than we normally can -- kasi God is surely preparing us to that day when HE would REWARD us with the FULFILMENT of HIS PROMISE!

Afterall, our attitude while waiting would matter most! “Payback” to God that gift of gratitude and patience without worrying – then it could be the best that we would have in our futureJ. #sunset

On the Rebound...This May be the Magic

Please read: John 1:29-34

“Non-Champions may know how to persevere,

but you can’t just persevere in all things.

Because in some areas,

the wisest thing to do is to actually GIVE UP.” 

– Bo Sanchez

May mga pagkakataon na ayaw mo nang magpatalo kasi mukhang “one-man win” na lang palagi ang peg, and you were made to feel insulted mostly -- even below the belt.

-- mga pagkakataon na minsan ka nang nanahimik dahil inasahan mong may makukunsensya sa hindi mo pakikipag-brasuhan; pero mas lalong naramdaman ng opponent na 

sya ang “wagi” at ikaw, “asar-talo”!

 At that point na halos naibigay mo na lahat hanggang sa “respect” na lang ang ipinaki-usap mong itira sayo at pag namamayani na ang galit sa pagkatao mo, LET GO! 

– Gail Montero

Much is true … “Going through life is just like coursing through a “basketball court”!

There are really instances when it’s more sensible to “give-up and just let go” than to put-up a BAD FIGHT!

When set-backs attack and when we’re on the losing-end, “CATCH BALL- OFF BACKBOARD” MOVE lang ang katapat nyan … REBOUND in short! -- but we’ve got to be more cautious with our STRATEGies the next time we’re ready to SPRING BACK!

Minsan, kapag nakaka-stress na, mabuti pang daanin mo na lang sa kanta:

          D               G                  D               G

         Take me to your heart,    Show me where to start ...

         C#m               F#m     Bm              A                Em

         Got to believe in magic,  Tell me how two people find each other

         C                     

         In a world that's full of strangers; . . . 

Pero oo nga noh, at some point, we no longer get to enjoy the  “court of life” kasi, parang “strangers” na halos tayo sa mga kasama natin --  dahil may mga ilang bagay na nakakalimutan na natin:

When was the last time  na tumingin ka sa mga mata ng kasama mo while dribbling the ball to the same direction kasi magka-team kayo?

When was the last time na inintindi mo ang ibig sabihin ng mga galaw nya para alam mo kung kailan nya kailangan ng back-up at support mo?

When was the last time na sinalag mo ang atake ng kalaban para di sya tuluyang masaktan?

When was the last time na ni-recognize mo ang effort nyang mag-assist sayo habang pareho nyong pinagsusumikapang maka-goal?

& when was the last time na may nasabi kang maganda tungkol sa kanya kasi na-appreciate mo ang role na ginagampanan nya sa team nyo?

This was exactly how John the Baptist “teamed-up with Jesus” in today’s gospel. It hasn’t been easy & he really had to take it upon himself to EDIFY Jesus & proclaim that Jesus is the “lamb of God” -- because even him, did not know where to start; but his willingness to “understand God’s heart” made him finally persistent in doing God’s will.

Ang i-give up ang hangaring di-matalo 

kahit na pwedeng maraming masaktan,  

ang  i-let go ang galit sa puso natin  at

ang pagsumikapang i-prove 

that we have God within us

sa mga kasama natin sa ating “life court” 

bilang isang team

kahit na to the point na 

may mga bagay na kailangan nating i-sacrifice

just for the sake of  “putting up a good fight 

until we finish the game”

-- this may be the “magic” 

which we’ve got to believe-in!  #sunset