Today Is Your Day

Bro. Arun Gogna is one of my of my favorite preachers aside from Bro Bo because he's also funny. This book has blessed me. Today could be your day because God always provides enough grace for you.

Below are some of my favorite lines. Be inspired and be blessed!

With faith, we have the freedom to enjoy life. -20

People may even forget your name, but God never.-22

Everytime you enjoy life, your Father in heaven is enjoying it, too, with you. -38

Be grateful, and you will.-40

It doesn't matter who you are. God loves you unconditionally.-44

Allow God to encourage you to take risks in order to achieve bigger dreams. -48

God indeed is our Provider, but we have to reach out to Him to receive His choicest blessings. -53

Do not hide your wounds.Expose it to the One who can heal it. God the Wounded Healer understands what you feel. -57

Relationships matter more than anything in the world. -60

Let's make Jesus smile as we love His people. -70

Be clear on what you wish for. -72

The true test of leadership is action. Anybody can be a leader.But not everybody is selfless.

The core of leadership is selflessness. -76

Only by communing with the Father do I acquire the grace to do His work. -78

Truly, God is magnified in His wonderful creation. -92

She(Mama Mary)always brings us to Jesus. -98

God desires your best always. -102

God is never wrong. -106

If you do not grasp the meaning of life, just love it, and know that you are infinitely loved. And someday,I assure you,every pain you have gone through will turn into a sparkling,one -of-a-kind pearl. -110

You are not your own; you were bought at a price. -113

Always believe that He carries your burdens with you. Try God. You won't regret it. -116

Whatever you can conceive and believe, you can achieve. -120

Childlike faith is simple. It is pure. It is honest. It is innocent to evil. It simply believes. It is beautiful. -122

We need to make decisions even if it means we could fail. At least, we won't have any regrets that we didn't play the game at all. -124

Bring someone to Jesus.-126

God wants to use you in the fashion that fits the person He made you to be. Be Jesus to others. -130

If what comes out of your mouth are uplifting words, you are going to have an incredible day. -134

God protects you by calling you to live within the circle of His love. -138

Find time to love God. Find ways to love others. And find opportunities to love yourself more. 

God

Only

Son 

Perish

Eternal

Life

-139

Believe in His Good News and you will have eternal life. -140

w/ Bro. Arun at PICC (Kcon 2010)

A Prayer Intended For Me

Pray without ceasing. - 1 Thessalonians 5:17

"Can you do me a favor? Please light a candle for me.", this was once her request when I visited the church. I believe that prayers are also gifts, so I prayed for her. While watching the white candle melting in front of me, I felt peace deep within. At that moment, I was also comforted knowing God answers her requests in His own perfect time.

Only a few months have passed and I read one of her blog entries. There then she revealed a secret. It's a secret about her request of lightning a candle for her.

In her blog she wrote, "My secret way to get through is to ask. I often ask favor. I often ask someone to visit a church and light a candle for me as my alibi. Then out of pity for me, or let's just say subtle emotional manipulation (haha), I would receive an affirming answer. It's then I would start my secret job (which is not a secret anymore) to utter my prayers, hoping that the light emanating from the candle will aid the hand that eagerly lit it. That in every melting wax comes with it the melting of the pain they bear."

I would like to thank that person who prayed for me. Thank you for being my prayer partner. Thank you for constantly praying for me. One day, when you visit a new church, I'd like to ask the same favor. Please light a candle for me too.

May this blog bless all the readers. Don't forget to bless others by praying for them. Remember, miracles happen in prayers. And prayers are also gifts. Send it now.

My Second Home

"Cast all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you." - 1 Peter 5:7

I started to be a volunteer in He Cares Foundation last year when my Caring Group Head invited me to join them in the feeding program. Since some of my friends were already volunteers, I said yes to the invitation.

I can still remember my first Saturday experience as a volunteer.

We first went to NIA road to pick up the street kids. In the middle of the road is a place they called home. A place without a roof on their heads when it rains, no bed and pillow at night when they sleep, no dining table where they can eat their meals, no bathroom to bath themselves, and no food whenever they're starving.

They excitedly approached the service van. Most of them didn't have any slippers at all. The dirt in their bodies and clothes are noticeable. Their smell was also remarkable. I was wondering when they took their last bath. I was holding back my tears then when one of the kids approached me and said, "Ate, may damit po ba doon? (Are there clothes in the center?)"

We went back to the center, and they lined-up to take a bath. It was my first experience to bathe the kids. Until now I enjoy doing it.

I was also amazed how the food was served to 300 street kids. All the volunteers helped each other passing the food on the long tables. What we considered a normal meal, for the kids it's like there's a party.

He Cares Foundation has become a home for them every Saturday. And it's been my home too. They know Jesus; they sing songs of praises; they pray to God. Their happiness is very simple. They play, eat, and laugh. At the end of the feeding, they're ready to go back to their places carrying smiles on their faces, hope for another day and feeling that they are always cared for and loved.

In this place, I've learned how to be more thankful for all the blessings I received. Happiness is well-defined when you see other people happy even by sharing your time with them. I can feel God's embrace and love through them. I found new friends and a family. He Cares will always be my second home.

  My first Saturday at He Cares.
 Food preparation with  some French volunteers &
 Bro. Joe Dean Sola, founder of He Cares.(Oct. 16, 2010)

 program & activities

My first b-day celebration.
He Cares-Montalban Anniversary. (Nov. 13, 2010)

Outing @ Punta Fuego w/ the volunteers

My second b-day celebration. (Nov. 13, 2011)

Have A Little Faith

Have a Little Faith is a book about a life’s purpose; about losing belief and finding it again; about the divine spark inside us all. It is one man’s journey, but it is everyone’s story.

The following are some extracts from the book:

Faith is about doing. You are how you act, not just how you believe. p44

When you come to the end, that's where God begins. p79

Be grateful. Be satisfied. For what you have. For the love you receive. And for what God has given you. That's it. p102

Whenever I would go to someone's home who had lost a family member - a young one,  particularly - I would try to be of comfort by remembering what comforted me. Sometimes we would sit quitely. Just sit and maybe hold hand. Let them talk. Let them cry. And after a while, I could see they feel better.

When we're still looking at ourselves through our past, we're not seing what God has done. What He can do. We're not seeing the little things that happen in our lives.

Because one thing God gave us - and I'm afraid it's at time a little too much -

is free will. Freedom to choose. I believe He gave  us everything needed to

build a beautiful world, if we choose wisely.

From the beginning God said I'm gonna put this world into your hands. If I run everything that's not you. So we were created with a piece of divinity inside us, but with this feeling called freewill, and i think God watches us everyday. lovingly, praying we will make the right choices.

The only whole heart is a broken heart. p240

You can know the whole world and still feel lost in it.

So many people are in pain - no matter how smart or accomplished - the cry, they yearn, they hurt. But instead of looking down on things, they look up, which is where i should have been looking, too. Because when the world quits to the sound of your own breathing, we all want the same things; comfort, love, and a

peaceful heart. p221

With a little faith, people can fix things, and they truly can change because a that moment you cannot believe otherwise. p244

God sings, we hum along, and there are many melodies, but it's all one song - one same wonderful, human song.

My Conspiracy Theory

This book is such a blessing to me. Find out how this ordinary person became a bestselling author, preacher, entrepreneur, and a friend to millions of people. 

I've highlighted my favorite lines from this book. Here are some of them...

- Every part of God's spiritual and physical universe is conspiring, plotting and conniving to bless your life with

massive abundance. All we have to do is say yes to that reckless love.

-...it's not the ability, but the availability, that counts in the Kingdom.

- believe in someone else especially when they don't believe in themselves.

-"I never recall feeling deprived in any way."

-"I believe embracing and being embraced is one of the greatest joys in the world."

- Marowe is her name, the one person I chose - out of 3.2 billion females.

-(FAITH) He called us there, that means He'll be there to meet us.

-(LOVE) God will bless us beyond our wildest dreams.

-...dirty hands mean great dignity. And hands that don't get dirty mean great shame.

- don't limit yourself. You're bigger that what you think you are.

- "My real wealth isn't my money. My real wealth is my network of friends."

- Each morning I wake up and ask myself, "How can I bless people today?"

- We have the power to attract anything in our lives.

- God created the universe that will conspire to give you what you need.

- "I believe God brought them into my life because I searched for them."

- Grace happens everyday.

Brida

Here are some remarkable lines I've quoted from the book:

-None of us knows what might happen even the next minute, and yet still we go forwards. Because we trust. Because we have Faith. (p25)

-..the path of wisdom means not being afraid to make mistakes.(29)

-Don't bother try to explain your emotions. Live everything as intensely as you can and keep whatever you felt as a gift from God.(87)

-The best way to destroy to destroy the bridge between the visible and the

invisible is by trying to explain your emotions.(87)

-...knowledge without transformation is not wisdom.(139)

-Having the courage to take the steps we always wanted to take is the

only way of showing that we trust in God.(172)

-We don't look for an answer, we accept, and then life becomes much more

intense, much more brillian, because we understand that each minute, each

step that we take, has a meaning that goes far beyond us as individuals.

-We realise that there is a reason for us being here, and for us, that

is enough.(173)

-What is now proved was once only imagin'd.(174)

-Alternatively, we can surrender ourselves to Divine Providence, take

God's hand, and fight for our dreams, believing that they always arrive at the right moment.(188)

-Soulmates always find each other in the end.(190)

-...finding one important thing in your life doesn't mean you have to give up all the other important things.(209)

-Love was above everything else, and there was no hatred in love, only the occasional mistake. At one point, men may have decided to make themselves representatives and subsequently made mistakes, but God had nothing to do with that.(213)

-Being human means having doubts and yet still continuing on your path.(214)

-Remember, the first road to God is prayer, the second is joy.(230)

-For God placed in the hands of each and every person a Gift, the

instrument He used to reveal Himself to the world and to help humanity.

God chose human beings to be His helpers on Earth.

-...the Hand of God always guides those who follow their path with faith.(247)

-You can only know a good wine if you have first tasted a bad one.(254)

-...the brave are those who make decisions dispite their fear.(260)

A Sufi Prayer - Aleph

“J. SAYS A SUFI PRAYER.
“O God, when I listen to the voices of animals, the sounds of trees, the murmurings of water, the singing of birds, the whistling of the wind, or the boom of thunder, I see in them evidence of Your unity; I feel that You are supreme power, omniscience, supreme knowledge, and supreme justice.

I recognize You, O God, in the trials I am going through. May Your pleasure be my pleasure, too. May I be Your joy, the joy that a Father feels for a son. And may I think of You calmly and with determination, even when I find it hard to say I love You.”  

God's presence is always with us and he has promised...

"And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." - Matthew 28:20 

Photo: Harry F.

...the answer was there before her

Extracts from Brida(p213-216). This book is very timely.
I almost cried after reading this part. Thank you Lord, my Unfailing Love!



‘...She regretted her thoughts before entering the church: nothing was explained here either, and people had to take a chance and plunge in to the Dark Night of Faith. Before her, arms outspread, was that seemingly simple God.

He could not help her. She was alone with her decisions, and no one could help her. She needed to learn to take risks. She didn't have the same advantages as the crucified man before her, who had known what his mission was, because he was the son of God. He had never made a mistake. He had never known ordinary human love, only love for His Father. All he needed to do was to reveal His wisdom and teach humankind the true path to heaven.

‘… She remembered a Sunday catechism class, when the priest had been more inspired than usual. They'd been studying the episode when Jesus sweating blood, was praying to God and asking Him to remove the cup from which he was being forced to drink. 

‘But why, if he already know he was the son of God?’ asked the priest. ‘Because he only knew it with his heart. If he was absolutely sure, his mission would be meaningless, because he would not be entirely human. Being human means having doubts and yet still continuing on your path.’

She looked again at the image, and for the first time in her entire life, felt close to it. There perhaps was a man, frightened and alone, facing death and asking: ‘Father, Father, why has thou forsaken me?’ If he said that, it was because even he wasn't sure where he was going. He had taken a chance and plunged, as all men do, in to the Dark Night, knowing that he would only find the answer at the end of his journey. He, too, had to go through the anxiety of making decisions, of leaving His father and mother and His little villiage to go in search of the secrets of men and the mysteries of the Law.

If he had been through all that, then he must have know love, even thought the Gospels never mention this-love between people is much more difficult to understand than love for a supreme Being. But now she remembered that, when he had risen again, the first person to whom he appeared was a woman, who had accompanied Him to the last.

The silent image appeared to agree with her. He had known people, wine, bread, parties, and all the beauties of the word. It was impossible that He had not also know the love of a woman, which is why he had sweated blood on the Mount of Olives, because, having known the love of one person, it was very hard to leave the Earth and to sacrifice Himself for the love of all men.

He had experienced everything the word could offer and yet He continued on his journey, knowing that the Dark Night could end on the cross or on the pyre.

‘Lord, we’re all in the world to run the risks of that Dark Night. I’m afraid of death, but even more afraid of wasting my life. I’m afraid of love, because it involves things that are beyond our understanding;  it sheds such a brilliant light, but the shadow it casts frightens me.’ She suddenly realized that she was praying. That silent, simple God was looking at her, apparently understanding her words and taking them seriously.

For a while, she sat waiting for a response from him, but heard not a sound and saw not a sign. The answer was there before her, in that man nailed to the cross. He had played his part, and shown to the world that, if everyone played their part, no one else would have to suffer, because He had suffered for all those who’d had the courage to fight for their dreams.

Brida found herself quietly weeping, although she didn’t quite know why.

...love is liberty

How will you know who your soulmate is?

This book is a moving tale of love, passion, mystery and spirituality.

Here's one of my favorite excerpts from the book Brida  by Paulo Coelho (p262-263).

The Magus held out his hand to Brida and gave her a flower.

'When we first met - although it seems to me that I've always known

you, because I can't remember the world before that - I showed you the

Dark Night. I wanted to see how you would face up to your own limitations.

I knew that you were my Soulmate, and that you would teach me everything

I needed to learn - that is why God divided man and woman.'

Brida touched the flower. It seemed to her that it was the first

flower she had seen in months. Spring had arrived.

'People give flowers as presents because flowers contain the
true meaning of Love. Anyone who tries to possess a flower will
have to watch its beauty fading. But if you simply look at a flower
in a field, you will keep it forever, because the flower is part of
the evening and the sunset and the smell of damp earth and the
clouds on the horizon.'

Brida was looking at the flower. The Magus took it from her

and returned it to the forest.

Brida’s eyes filled with tears. She was proud of her Soulmate.

'That is what the forest taught me. That you will never be
mine, and that is why I will never lose you. You were my hope during

my days of loneliness, my anxiety during moments of doubt,

my certainty during moments of faith.

Knowing that my Soulmate would come one day, I devoted myself to learning

the Tradition of the Sun. Knowing that you existed was one of my reason

for continuing to live.'

'Then you came and, and I understood all of this. You came to free me from

the slavery I myself had created, to tell me that I was free to return

to the world and to the things of the world. I understood everything I

needed to know, and I love you more than all the woman I have ever

known, more than I loved the woman who, quite unwittingly, exiled

me to the forest. I will always remember now that love is liberty.

That was the lesson it took me so many years to learn. That is the

lesson that sent me into exile and now sets me free again.'

a walk with him..

"The universe only makes sense when we have someone to share our feelings with." -Paulo Coelho

The street lights are extinguished, I'm a bit afraid of the absence of light.
I found refuge on something that's holding my hand. I cannot fathom the face.

It was the first time he had appeared in my dreamland. By the way he held my hand,  

I know I was loved.

As we traverse an inconceivable road, I felt another hand on my left side.
Though it's pointless to say that the one on my right hand took the greatest
share. I barely recognize his face. We can barely utter words. 

All I know is that his touch is enough to say it all.
I don't know where the source of courage came from,
but I drew close towards him. He felt so close. He felt so real.

My unconscious mind returned to reality. It was only 30mins that I dozed off.
If having a nightmare means holding him again, I guess I'll never be afraid closing my eyes again.
Because it was a beautiful nightmare.  ❤

Happiness Exercise

"When you focus on the blessings - no matter how small - more blessings will come." - Bo Sanchez

Yesterday, I just finished reading another book while on my way to St. Francis

to attend the Roots Program(http://lightfam.com/roots/).

It's another transformational book of Bo Sanchez entitled, "How Your Words Change Your World". I flipped  the last few pages & read the 31 faith declarations with joy & conviction that something good will happen to me.

The 3rd session of the talk was about biblical inerrancy & redemption.

One of the speakers, a priest, introduced a wonderful excercise.

I named it "Happiness Exercise".

He said to write down 3 good things that happened to you before you go to sleep every night.

Those 3 things shouldn't be the same on the following day. At the end of the week,

before you go to mass, you should have listed 18 good things. That's God's grace.

This is a good way for us to appreciate small blessings. So instead of focusing on the

bad things that happened to you, why not try doing this exercise?

Just like what my mentor said,"What you focus on, grows".

Last night, in my journal, i wrote the ff.

1. dinner @ Bonchon Chicken

2. received free Companion book & a cd(compilation of KCon videos) 

3. learnings from the speakers of the Roots Program (*now i feel more excited to go to mass) 

Keep on seeing the blessings that overflow. Have a fantastic happiness-excercise! =)

God Provides

“Ask, and you will receive; seek, and you will find;

knock, and the door will be opened to you.” – Luke 11:9

This is one of my favorite verses in the bible and I read it again

this morning in Didache. What a comforting promise from our loving God!

Aside from this verse, I was blessed by what our security guard

in the office told me. His name is Kuya Angelito and he's about my father's age.

He's also a regular attendee of The Feast.

I mentioned to him my Saturday volunteering service in a foundation and the conflict of my Saturday work.  

After hearing what I said, he picked a book that he's currently reading,

entitled "God Provides", and read this line..

"Everything is possible, we are all powerful! But only if we have faith."

Kuya also added, "Hanapin mo ang saya sa puso mo. Kahit ano man ang  desisyon mo, sasamahan ka Nya".

I went back to my workplace & thanked God for his wonderful message.

Indeed, God provides. Always. =)

Five Paths to Profound Happiness

5 Things You Need To Do Before You Die

Author: Bo Sanchez

I'm fond of reading inspirational and life-affirming books. So i highly recommend this. You'll

never be the same person again if you apply these five things.

How to Follow your Bliss and Live a Life of No Regrets:

1. Celebrate who you are

-Celebrate yourself. Be yourself. Be true how God created you.

-God loves you as you are.

2. Live in your courage zone

-All success is just outside your comfort zone.

-God is saying, "Don't be afraid. I am filling your heart with courage. I will be with you.

I will never forsake you."

3. Put people before things

-God wants you to be happy by having happy relationships.

-Be grateful for the people in your life. Even if they don't respond.

-Let love be your highest goal.

- Our most painful regret is that we didn't love enough.

4. Enjoy life in the present moment

- Enjoy your "now". Embrace God's love today!

-Where you are now is exactly where God wants you to be.

5. Sacrifice for something bigger than yourself.

- God created you to bless the world, to inspire, to serve, to care, to live, and die

for others.

- Your wealth will never be enough for you. But if you offer your wealth to God,

it will be enough for the world.

- Live something bigger than yourself.

Batang Lansangan

Masdan mo silang mga bata

Palaboy-laboy at ulila

Pagkain nila hingi at pulot lamang

Higaan nila malamig na sa kanila

Chorus:

Dinggin nyo ang tinig kong ito

Panawagan ko pakinggan ninyo

Sila'y mga bata yagit sa mundo

Kailangan nila kalinga at awa nyo

Maari ba sila inyong matulungan

Salapi, sapatos, o damit kaya

Ngunit meron pang higit na mahalaga

Nang sila'y makakilala...

Sa Diyos na may likha

(Chorus)

*This song was composed by Kuya Marlon(one of our street friends in PICC) together with his other friends.

August is LOVE Month

 

Love in an extraordinary way and live an extraordinary life.

I received a love-month-leaflet from PICC Feast last Sunday. Here's the lists of the daily-love-mission.

Week 1: Love is patient

Day 1- Love is patient

Make a commitment not to say anything negative to any of your loved ones,

friends, relatives, and colleagues. If the temptation arises, choose not

to say anything.

Day 2 - Love lets the other win

Demonstrate love by willingly choosing to give in to an area of disagreement

between you and a loved one. Tell them you are putting their preferences first.

Day 3 - Love is not rude

Ask your spouse or a close friend 3 things that they think you should improve

on. simply listen and do not react.

Day 4 - Love seeks to understand

Prepare a special dinner for your spouse or a loved one at home. Get to know

your spouse or that loved one better, maybe in areas you rarely talk about.

Make it enjoyable.

Day 5 - Love is satisfied in God

Pray and read the Bible today and everyday. Refer to the Catholic Daily

Readings as a guide in reading your Bible daily. Immerse yourself in the

love and promises God has for you.

Day 6 - Love makes sacrifices

Think of someone in need in your family. Do an act of sacrifice by meet that

particular need for that loved one. Whether big or small, do whatever you can

to fulfill that need.

Day 7 - Love is kind

Do at least one unexpected act of kindness to one person in your life who you

find difficult to love.

 Week 2: Love is not envious

Day 1: Love is not selfish

Share a gift to your parents as a gesture of gratitude

for all they did for you.

Day 2: Love is Thoughtful

Talk to your spouse or to a friend you haven't gotten

in touch with for a while and ask how he or she is doing.

Also, ask if there's anything you can do for them.

Day 3: Love believes the best

List down positive things about each of your siblings.

After listing them down, pick one positive trait for

each sibling and thank them for having that characteristic.

Day 4: Love encourages

Encourage your spouse, a friend, or your children to continue

pursuing his or her dreams. Invite them to pray with you at

that moment and lift their dreams to the Lord.

Day 5: Love completes each other

sit down with your spouse and with your family(do this separately),

then draw up future plans and joint-dreams together. Pray for these

plans and dreams as a family.

Day 6: Love is honourable

Think of way to show honour and respect to a loved one and start

performing that gesture to him or her regularly. You can affirm

that person, or hold the door for him/her, or speak more

lovingly, or listen more intently, etc.

Day 7: Love intercedes

Pray for the dreams and needs of each member of your family.

Ask God to also bless your relationship with each member.

Happy birthday!..."Friend"

I heard about him only through his books and blog entries.

Each day he sends email to thousands of people, including my sister.

I also have an officemate who reads his book entitled "How to Find Your One True Love". ;)

I was in Cebu having a vacation a year ago when i first saw him

on the television. I was struck by what he said.

There’s a giant difference between a religiously mature people and spiritually mature people.

Religiously mature people do their religious duties like praying everyday,

going to church everyday, reading their Bible, etc.

Spiritually mature people are totally different: They love like Jesus.

They express their faith through action."

Two months after, i was invited by my dormate to attend a Catholic gathering called

The Feast which means "a party of God's Love". It was where I first met this new friend.

Let me give you some of the important things I've learned from him.

1. We are swimming in an ocean of blessings. We can't see this ocean,

but it's there surrounding us. There's no shortage of blessings only our readiness to receive it.

2. The greatest success is When you help others become successful.

God is a big God and He doesn’t make small people.

3. Have a "weekly-date" with your family. Invest in love and relationships; and

always focus on the good.

4. Don't settle yourself for less. (how to find your OTL). ^_^

5. Your God is a Happy God. Like any father, God wants His children to be happy.

Today is his birthday. At the PICC-Feast yesterday, we celebrated his birthday.

I personally greeted and thanked him. Then, he held my hand yesterday with his sincere thanks.

Happy birthday friend!.. Bro. Bo Sanchez.

A Valentine Letter

I've been receiving lovely letters from You every day and now is my turn to write mine for You.

I know You don't expect this from me. (surprised?! ;p)

I wanna say "Thank You!".

Thank you for rescuing me during the darkest times of my life. Because of my brokenness,

I was made whole again. The greatest miracle I received is Your greatest love for me.

You've been there despite of all my lapses and recesses.
Thank you for the big warm embrace, the loving comfort that's telling me, "my child don't be afraid, I'm here with You."

Thank you for healing this broken heart of mine.
Thank you for filling my love tank, overflowing & ready to share to others.

I want to know You more. Please continue writing me. I miss you too! I love You!

Happy Valentines God!

Your Valentina,

Robz