We Can Still Align: The Antidote to Future Regrets

2^nd Sunday of Lent

Pls Read God’s Silent Message: Mk 9:2–10

Hello, MILLENIALS!

Have you heard some at your age, with these lines?

Sana pala, I didn’t give in that much, di sana ako na-broken hearted!

Sana pala, I didn’t keep secrets from my parents, na-guide sana ako!

Sana pala, di ako nagmadali, na-enjoy ko pa sana ang pagka-bata ko!

Sana pala, nakinig ako, di sana …

Guess what, would you know that your parents share the same sentiments with you?

Kung sana lang nasabihan namin sya, di sana sya nasasaktan ngayon!

Kung sana lang nalaman namin, di naman nya kailangang maramdamang mag-isa sya!

Kung sala lang di kami na-awkward na masabihang stage parents, we could have enjoyed TIMES TOGETHER!

Kung sana lang, nakinig sya at napakinggan namin sya, di sana…

Ang daming “sana”, ang daming time na parang nasayang na!

If dadating ka sa point na parang kulang na ‘yong time, saka mo lang masasabi sa sarili mo:

“Sayang, ‘di sana ako naghesitate na tingnan ang dapat kong makita,

di sana ako nagdalawang isip na sabihin ‘yong dapat kong sabihin;

naging humble sana akong ipakita at iparamdam na kailangan ko ng tulong;

kailangan kong maramdamang di ako nag-iisa.”

Millennials and “Me-linya” … come to think of it, “to each his own!” … sometimes, we just don’t realize and recognize that we both share the same sentiments towards each other in the so-called “generational gap.”

Madalas kesa minsan, we fail to make “both ends meet” kasi we are focused on our own emotions and expectations.

Today’s Gospel is reminding us to be spiritually awake and not miss God’s glory in action:

“The Lord Jesus not only wants us to see His glory - He wants to share this glory with us.

And Jesus shows us the way to the Father's glory: follow me - obey my words - take the path I have chosen for you and you will receive the blessings of my Father's kingdom - your name will be written in heaven.”

We would miss  God's glory and action if we wouldn’t strive to obey “as children” and submit to the path that God has chosen for us “as parents.” The Antidote to future regret is to align "as parents" and "as a child" NOW!   

Life is too short, we should maximize time, appreciating and enjoying “having each other” while we still have all the opportunity to “make things up with each other”. J #sunset

========================================================================
Article Published in: The Feast San Lorenzo Bulletin. Issue #12. 25 February 2018. The Light of Jesus Family in San Lorenzo, Sta Rosa, Laguna. https://www.facebook.com/thefeastsanlorenzo/

Happiness is a Choice

Minsan kailangan mong babawan ang kaligayahan mo para maging masaya ka!

Happy is he who delights in little things -- so that he becomes happier when big things come.

If only we will learn to appreciate the littlest of things accorded to us,
we won't have to look for happiness all the days of our life.

For it's only when we strive to open our heart to those who intend to make us happy that we will feel the amount of gratitude that we should give back.

Happiness is a choice -- and only those who never close their heart to little things find it.

photo credits: http://kjpwg.com/quotes-happiness/

Imagine your Reality!

photo credits to http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/22/03/7c/22037cdc1ce0132654bf67ca9f401309.jpg

You’ve been pained? … You felt small? 

Once, twice, so many times? and Somebody caused it?

BOUNCE! Be harder than you never thought you would be!

The person who caused you the pain could be the ground you fall in. But the harder you are, You will just bounce and never will stay where somebody made you feel down.

Strive to IMAGINE …

Paint a beautiful picture of you, overcoming that “feeling small”. No one could really bring you down if you wouldn’t allow yourself to feel so low!

Plan how to produce the dream that God has placed in your heart and trust that God’s anointing would eventually heal the pain of being belittled. Imagine your dream becoming a reality!

Claim that 2017 will be your BEST YEAR EVER!

#payitforward from #feastsmstarosa #thankyouBroDreus #gratefulgail #bestyearever

Never to Feel Small Again!

THAT NIGHT!

photo credits: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com

When you have so much desire in your heart to give -- but you just can't because you don't have any! 

THIS MORNING as i awoke to this brand new day -- I lifted up to God this pain in my heart. 

I DON'T WANT TO HAVE THIS KIND OF FEELING AGAIN!

Never will this happen again -- ever! 

Never will I cry myself to sleep again -- feeling pained because i've felt SO LIMITED!

When i want so much to share but i don't have my own resources to give out. 

I may have all the immaterial things i could promise to give 

but sometimes, it's not all there is! 

Sometimes you also want tangible things to prove what you have "there within"! 

That boy who shared to thousand people his "five loaves and two fishes" 

I AM HIM with this desire that I have RIGHT NOW!

For now, i may just be giving LITTLE ...

but AS I TELL THIS TO MYSELF NOW while GOD is healing this pain,

GOD WILL WORK HIS MIRACLE!

He will bring me to MY BREAKTHROUGH of earning to share THAT MUCH!

That night will never happen again!

On Our Third Decade!

WE'VE COME HOME! 

Na excite akong umuwi!
Na excite akong bumallik!
Umuwi sa kung saan ako nag umpisa.
Bumalik sa kung saan ko nakilala ang "ako" ngayon na dala ko saan man magpunta.
Yong naging "ako" nang "dahil sa kanila."

Sila na matiyagang nakinig sa bawat sharing ko na may paiyak iyak pa.
Sila na nag strategize ng mga activities na hanggang ngayon ay walang kupas ang epekto sa aking pagkatao.

Si Ma'am Myra Dizon Nicolas na mae-excite ka sa mga comments sa journal ko na hanggang ngayon ay itinatago ko pa.
Si Ma'am Twila Punsalan na sa bawat tanong ay talagang mapapaisip ka ng isasagot na magpapangiti at magpapaganda ng aura nya.
Si Ma'am Wilma Reyes na ramdam mong sumisimpatya sa bawat hugot mo in effect sa mga kwento nya.
Si Ma'am Kelly Fulgencio na naniwala sa mga kaya kong gawin noong practicum days.

Iilan lang sila dati na nagtaguyod ng aming pagpapakatao
-- at si Ma'am Tway ang pasimuno! ... hehehh :)
Nagtatag ng STEP Organization ... at pinilit palakasin Batch-after-batch kung saan na-challenge kaming 22 VE Majors : 3rd Batch, 1992!  

Hindi dapat sa amin huminto ang paglaganap ng Samahan; kaya naman bilang President kapit lang ang naging peg ko sa suporta ng mga mga ka-Batch ko ... laban sa pagtaguyod ng Samahan ng mga Tagapagpalaganap ng Edukasyon sa Pagpapahalaga! STEP!

Nakakakonsensyang hindi mo sila balikan para pasalamatan!
Kasi malaking parte sila ng kung ano ako ngayon.
At syempre, nakakapanghinayang na di mo gustuhing makasamang muli
ang mga classmate mong naging karamay mo sa hirap at sarap ng college life.
Sa bawat iyakan, tawanan, tambay sa "malaking puno ng mangga" 

-- yong katotohanan na malaking parte sila kung paano mo kinaya!

30 years na! On our Third Decade ... tuloy pa din ang advocacy bilang Values Education Major kasi dito ako nagsimula! Masarap lumingon sa pinanggalingan! -- an ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE ika nga!

Masarap lumingon sa pinanggalingan! An ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE ika nga!

At sa inyong lahat who made this day possible, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!

you can also view this post in
https://profgail67.wordpress.com/2016/11/28/on-our-third-decade/

A Mom's Late Post Letter

Today, you're about to leave for school and came to me to bless ... 'not sure if it's to your own will or again, just because your dad told you so.

at the middle of a task, i hesitated giving you my hand because i feel too pained with all of your "disrespects" to me.

I've already had a lot from you almost the whole of 2015 and i feel so sad that afterall the reaching outs that i did to you, after all the "forgiveness" i've accorded to you even if you didn't sincerely asked for,  you were never able to rule over your negative thoughts at the start of 2016 ...

You've already had a lot of sister-fights because of wearing and taking over something which is not yours -- but when i called your attention  upon seeing you again wearing your sister's dress, Surprisingly i just reacted: "oh, bakit mo suot yan?" ... i didn't even shout at you nor did i tell anything bad but you reacted negatively saying "bakit, masama?"  And so i went on saying "galing na tayo dyan, wag na natin uling gawin kasi alam na natin ang kasunod..." A humble heart should have just said:"okey po mommy, hindi na po." ... but instead you said "oo na!"

Just because you didn't want to get corrected from your mistake, --  there you go saying there was something wrong with my reaction! AS ALWAYS, THERE YOU GO WITH YOUR DIVERSION TACTICS -- just to COVER-UP, you'll keep on ANSWERING BACK DISRESPECTFULLY because you've diverted the issue, NO LONGER to what you've triggered at.

You can't imagine how much you're hurting your mother for ANSWERING BACK after diverting.  I never did hurt you physically just to impose on my being a mother to you.

Malaki ka na para paluin pa kita sa tuwing sumasagot ka. Hindi kita kayang saktan pero i had to say things THAT YOU NEED TO REALIZE.  Tama naman ang Dad mo, hindi kita dapat binibigyan ng pagkakataong sagutin ako.  Dapat nga siguro sinasampal kita tuwing ginagawa mo yon, at tama nga na dapat ini-impose ko sayo na WAG KANG SASAGOT DAHIL MAGULANG MO AKO ... pero mali ako dahil hindi ko nagagawa yon; DAHIL WHAT RULES OVER ME IS TO TELL YOU WHAT YOU NEED TO REALIZE AT SUCH MOMENT.

Habang hindi kita kayang saktan, YOUR PRIDE AGAINST ME AS YOUR MOTHER has already created a path ... me, away from you! Pero dahil i don't want to give up on you being your mother, nandito pa din ako, HOPING TO BE RESPECTED and my concerns, NOT MISINTERPRETED!

PAKIUSAP: DON'T GAZE YOUR EYES ON ME EACH TIME, JUST TO SEE MY MISTAKES & ANNOUNCE IT TO YOUR DAD as if i am one of your competitors! There are things na kahit kulang or kahit wala, or kahit di ko masyadong achieve, i'll just need to breathe & slow down, keep it to myself & internally process deep within until i'm ok again; ang tawag don "sacrifice" -- pero kahit don sa mga moments na 'yon, you don't pay me due respect; kung sitahin mo ako, parang ka-level mo lang ako. ENOUGH!

I cannot give you all of your demands which in the long run 'wont actually help you; neither all the material things that you need.  I would NO LONGER STRIVE TO PLEASE YOU just to ease your comparisons over your other siblings.  I also won't tolerate your lavish unwise use of time! PURE LOVE -- YON LANG ANG KAYA KONG IBIGAY!

ONE DAY, the path that you have created will be a road kasi 'yon yong lagi mong dinadaanan kahit di naman 'yon yong totoong daan. The mess that you create in your room each day is also a reflection that you never mind any of your mom's intention to TRAIN YOU TO HOW YOU SHOULD BE: AN ORGANIZED ARCHITECT IN THE MAKING.

SORRY, I AM NOT A PERFECT MOTHER, I HAVE A LOT OF MISTAKES SA PANINGIN MO! This is just me, no longer confident to voice out to you my being "a mom" BECAUSE EACH TIME, I AM WRONG!  SORRY FOR THAT!

You are More than Enough!

Source: You are More than Enough!

http://wortheet.com/slider-videos/everyone-of-us-must-realize-one-thing-i-am-enough

Sometimes we've got to pause for a while and give ourselves the benefit of looking "at our SELF" in the mirror!

Have you tried this? Try watching this video http://wortheet.com/slider-videos/everyone-of-us-must-realize-one-thing-i-am-enough ... or even if this video is not or no longer available by the time you read this, GO GRAB THAT CHANCE, LOOK AT YOUR SELF IN THE MIRROR!

What can you say about what you see?

How do you feel about what you see?

What then can you tell TO WHAT YOU SEE?

Not everyone will tell US the appreciation that we want to hear from people around us, specially from the ones we love. It would take a lot of "self mending" to still GO ON living a life of good deeds for others; yet, it would take a lot "paying forward" what God have given us if we could tell ourselves "I AM ENOUGH" while we still grab all the chances to get better each day amidst whatever difficulties.

So, GUYZZZ, LADIES & GENTS, let's grab telling this to ourselves: "I AM ENOUGH!" and KEEP HOLDING ON, NEVER EVER GIVE UP, there's more to life than that money-problem, there's more to life than whatever tough times! God has always been backing us up, we only need to feel it deep within our heart.

How we think about ourselves will make us FIND ALL THE REASON TO LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST.

                                                               Sometimes we've got to tell this to our "SELF"!

*.* credits to http://wortheet.com/slider-videos/everyone-of-us-must-realize-one-thing-i-am-enough for this video and captured image. Thank you so much for the inspiration. 

In our Present Lifetime

Our paths had to meet for reasons we may not understand; and then  "Two by Two" -- AS PARTNERS, God sent us TO FULFIL A MISSION and @ that, we need some alignments & compromise!

Gone should be the days when we "do things on our own, for our own"! 

Gone should be the days when all that we consider is our own feelings and disregard what & how others would feel because we assert the "SELF" that we are. Normal as it usually is, along the journey, we're bringing with us our BACK PACKS: fully loaded with reasons why we think, act & talk the way we do -- some are our strengths; and some are our weaknesses which both make us Beautiful, endowed with the image and likeness of God.   

Relationships matter! It could never be true that "lone nomads" never yearned to have somebody by their side! We may not be aware, but let's be more ALERT of such "pretences" -- for more often than not, we may just be too proud to make amends but the truth of the matter is that: we're actually in unspeakable need of acceptance and concern and approval and praises and commendations and the likes -- all of which would actually give us that sense of belongingness and worth as a person. Well, this is normal & there's nothing to be ashamed of -- BUT, we may tend to become egocentric if we would yearn to receive these favours "at the expense of", or "in disregard of" the other's equal needs like ours. 

Family is the most important relationship we should STRIVE TO WORK FOR!

Sometimes, a Husband may not understand why his wife would get mad at him when out of his anger, he already forgot to be considerate in his actuations toward their kids. In the same way, Kids may not be able to fully grasp or may resist the many things their parents want them to understand.  Sometimes too, parents may not perceive the intended meaning of where their kids are coming from with the reactions that they give.  MANY TIMES AMIDST ALL THE MISUNDERSTANDINGS, "a Wife and a Mother at the same time" could only absorb and tolerate and manage that much.  Without everybody being sensible enough, some hearts could STRIVE TO MEND  -- but yearning for an answer: how would we ever BREAKTHROUGH?

"Two by two" HE MADE US "PARTNERS"! -- but why You and why Me? -- Only God knows!

It could never be anybody's fault why it had to be us! 

So TWO-GETHER, we should never be each other's opponent! 

The He made us PARENTS! 

It will never be easy! -- it actually never is!

Individually, we both have our own PASTS. our own USED-TO-BEs. our own good and bad EXPERIENCES which explain "THE WHO THAT WE ARE TODAY!"

We may justify that HABITS & ATTITUDES throughout those years have already been something we can never do without. -- But the thing is, while Jesus is sending us off at PRESENT TIME, He doesn't want us to bring anything -- not anything from our past -- except A PIECE OF STICK: OUR FAITH -- GOD'S ASSURANCE that He would be with us every step of the way.  

God wants our YOKE to be easy as we deal "hearts-on" to the Mission that He wants us to accomplish in OUR PRESENT LIFETIME -- for it's not only us whom He declared "partners" -- but the "two of us" as His partners! 

HOPEFULLY, may we see eye to eye &  feel heart to heart with Him  in all HUMILITY for us to willingly GROW IN-LOVE: THE KEY that would make EACH HOME one of the DOORS OF GOD'S UNFAILING LOVE! 

GOD Sent us "Two by Two"!

Our paths had to meet for reasons we may not understand; and then  "Two by Two" -- AS PARTNERS, God sent us TO FULFIL A MISSION and @ that, we need some alignments & compromise!

Gone should be the days when we "do things on our own, for our own"! Gone should be the days when all that we consider is our own feelings and disregard what & how others would feel because we assert the "SELF" that we are. Normal as it usually is, along the journey, we're bringing with us our BACK PACKS: fully loaded with reasons why we think, act & talk the way we do -- some are our strengths; but some are our weaknesses.  

Relationships matter! It could never be true that "lone nomads" never yearned to have somebody by their side! We may not be aware, but let's be more ALERT of such "pretences" -- for more often than not, we may just be too proud to make amends but the truth of the matter is that: we're actually in unspeakable need of acceptance and concern and approval and praises and commendations and the likes -- all of which would actually give us that sense of belongingness and worth as a person. Well, this is normal & there's nothing to be ashamed of -- BUT, we may tend to become egocentric if we would yearn to receive these favours "at the expense of", or "in disregard of" the other people's equal needs like ours. 

Family is the most important relationship we should STRIVE TO WORK FOR!

Sometimes, a Husband may not understand why his wife would actually get mad at him when out of his anger, he already forgot to be considerate in his actuations toward their kids. In the same way, Kids may not be able to fully grasp or may resist the many things parents want them to understand.  Sometimes too, parents may not perceive the intended meaning of where their kids are coming from with the reactions that they give. WHILE MANY TIMES AMIDST ALL THE MISUNDERSTANDINGS, a Wife and a Mother at the same time could only absorb and tolerate and manage that much.  Without everybody being sensible enough, some hearts could STRIVE TO MEND  -- but yearning for an answer: HOW LONG WOULD IT LAST ... WOULD WE EVER 

"Two by two" makes us PARENTS! 

It will never be easy! -- it actually never is!

Individually, we both have our own PASTS. our own USED-TO-BEs. our own EXPERIENCES 

Your Symbol is an Alternative

https://trendingprof47.wordpress.com/2015/07/07/your-symbol-is-an-alternative/

"LIFE IS LIKE A BOX OF CHOCOLATES ...

YOU'LL NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU WILL GET!" -- Forest Gump

Then here goes YOUR BOX:

Your SYMBOL could be an ALTERNATIVE!

Out of any BLANK SHEET, you were asked to CREATE SOMETHING -- A SYMBOL that would tell  ABOUT YOU! Then you had to PONDER: "why such a symbol?" -- what does it INDICATE?

And YOU, thriving through the course "Management of Alternative Learning System", you just need to THINK FURTHER ... why did we have to START WITH YOU?

With this captured-lecture to help you out, feel free to THINK, FEEL & VOICE OUT: "what do you have in YOUR BOX OF CHOCOLATES"?

What is it that you can give?

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.