Month: April 2014

One

We spent the weekend at Marco Polo Plaza. It was supposed to be our couple alone time with Rene but I begged him to bring along Nicole. Good idea as we didn’t know they had prepared a nice Easter activity for the kids that weekend.

Two

Got inspired from a blog of a grade school schoolmate from Ormoc, I started Nicole on this candle gazing exercise. It is aupposed to be something that can help my daughter jmprove on her concentration and focus. So far so good! We have done two sessions. Will report more of this after two weeks.

Three

My husband and I celebrated our 13th anniversary. Yup that long. We have been together for more than a decade already.

Four

Denise, my niece, turned Four last April. How time flies. It only seemed like yesterday when she was just a tiny bundle.

Five

I got on a boat and enjoyed my Free time alone with my staff. I really had a great time lathering myself with the mists from the cool waves in the ocean. I love the beach and the ocean and everything in it. Sadly my family is not very much into this ocean cruising thing but I was very glad I had the chance to go on a boat even alone for a day.

Summer is officially here as I am writing this. Thank you God for all the wonderful things happening!

                                                             (photo copied from the web)

Just like the earth, LIFe also involves seasons.  We all go through them whether we like it or not. Just like Summer, Winter, or Fall, our seasons in life are also unique from each other.  I remember a time in my life when I felt it was a season of drought (or dry season).  It was a season of extreme hotness, dryness, pain, and suffering for me.

For over a  of couple of years, a long time ago,  I went through all sorts of trials.  It involved financial, emotional and physical stress for me.   During those times, life moved very slowly for me, and  the burden seemed to get heavier and heavier each time I pressed forward. At that point, I have gotten to know what sadness and extreme worry was.

TO be honest, I thought it was going to be like that forever.  Little did I know, that as expected in seasons, it will end in due time and a NEW SEASON will begin.   The saying ” this too shall pass”  is VERY TRUE.

Right now, I believe that my husband and I are in a beautiful season in our marriage and our life together as a couple has never been better.  We have arrived at a certain maturity in which we see things in a better perspective.  A healthy  balance of work, business, family and socials is what we aim continuously everyday.  Although like most of us, this is a daily struggle, as life will never be perfect for anyone.

What have I learned from all the different seasons in life?

1. I learned that  in everything and anything, pray without ceasing and with thankfulness and gratefulness in your heart.  When I was in my dry season, I found myself in a very uncomfortable condition. However, it was also in those times that I began seeing the Lord and how his daily provision was evident in my life.  I can say that without his guiding hand, and protective grace, I wouldn’t be able to surpass everything with VICTORY in my hand. I was grateful for that defining moment, as I found my real character strengthened and that I learned to entrust everything to the Lord.

2. Learn to be patient as everything really “shall pass”.  Know that no temptation is uncommon to man. (Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation is uncommon to man.  He is faithful and will not give you something that is more than your ability to endure). Having quoted that, we also need to understand that no one is given immunity to trials. Having a little pity party in your heart is not a very great idea in fact, know that everyone has a fair share of crosses and trials to bear.    I can say this with confidence, whatever trial you have, it will pass for sure. If it doesn’t kill you, it will make you STRONG!  You will definitely be a better person after this season.

3. Learn to rejoice in ALL CIRCUMSTANCE.  As what Paul said in his letter to the Thessalonians “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 THesalonian 5:16-18)   Whether you are in a dry season or in a season of abundance, know that God knows where you are exactly and everything happens for your own good.   It may not look very pretty right now but soon you will know why you have to go through what you have to go through.,

4. Always think about God in whatever season you are.  It is easy to get drowned with prosperity, when your cup is full, your bank account is growing and when life is good.   When you are self sufficient, it is hard to see God because you do not NEED God. But do you agree with me when I say, it is impossible NOT to need God? What happens to a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul?    How about when life is hard? Will it be the opposite?   Not always.  Some people withdraw from God and blame God for all their problems.  This I say, it is WISE for a man to always know that he cannot live (and I mean truly live) without the blessings of God in his life.   It is WISE if we believe this rather than be forced to believe in God when the going gets tough.

As I close this, let me share to you what I told my friend last night who is on a bad season of her life.  I told her to TRUST in the LORD always, to stay calm and always remember, that this is ONLY A SEASON.  Before she knows it, the season is gone and replaced by a new one.  We will not always have problems, as the Lord would also like to give us rest. A time will come that we reap rewards, only when we are already ready for all our blessings. Whatever season you are now, know that it is the Lords’ will for you to be in that season.  Bask the learnings, listen to what the Lord is telling you RIGHT now.  YOu will be surprised that the Lord has never left your side. YOu only need to stay calm and stay still.  FOr HE is the LORD, the GOD of all creations. He will take care of you just as HE did to me and to all others who have experienced and are still experiencing the same.   God bless!

For those who know me, you will agree that I live a harried life.
Everyday is always like a breeze. I hardly have time to pause going from one task to another. I noticed though that during those times that I need to move like a flash –  time seems to move very FAST!  One glance it is 10:00 am the next time –  it rushes to an hour forward!  Before I know it, 24 hours have come and gone.

On days like today where I get a chance to rest, I say a special prayer to Jesus for time to move slower than usual. For the clock to tick at a pace where I can get a full satisfaction from my sleep.

                                      My favorite time of the day, break of dawn, a time for my reflection.

He answered my prayer today.   Time this morning seemed to have moved very slowly.  I woke up refreshed and not lacking with anything.  WHen I checked the time,  the day was still very early and I was already feeling very full and very satisfied from my sleep.

Here I am about to start my day, not lacking of anything at all.  THe day is beautiful and long, just like how I prayed it to be.

Thank you Jesus for stalling time for me to bask on your blessing of Rest. May I use my time today to glorify you in every action I do and every word I speak of.

Happy Easter!

Have you ever experienced being in a complete mess? When all around you seem to be in a complete awry. Sometimes it happens in relationships. When you wake up one day and you feel that you seem to have something going on with one or more persons all at the same time.  Sometimes it happens with money issues. When money is so tight and you feel that surviving  into the next pay day seems downright impossible.  Sometimes too, it happens in projects or business proposals, or any of the things that are supposed to have results, yet you get none after a series of events.  They say, when it rains it pours. What I am referring to, is when all of these pour on you all at the same time.

I have experienced this. In fact it is not a very beautiful thing to be in.   However on a spiritual perspective, it CAN be beautiful, if you attack such mess the correct way.

I learned that messes cannot be solved all at the same time.  We cannot just unknot a tangle by just one pull. One has to be strategic and careful and patient to do it one at a time. If you try to fix it all in one sitting, there is a bigger chances you may be in a bigger mess.

Here are the ways I resolve messes, whenever I find myself in one.

1. Pray and reflect as to what particular area this situation is telling ME  about myself.

2. Reflect if there is a SIN that I did which brought me to the situation I am in at the moment.

3. Humble down and seek forgiveness from the Lord.

4. Accept forgiveness and start anew.

5. Learn to let go and move to the next practical step to solving the problem.

6. Solve one problem at a time.  DO NOT overwhelm yourself with the task but instead be happy with small baby steps.

Getting out of a mess takes time.  It is NOT easy as it seems like, but slowly and with less expectations as possible, you will see that the problem gets resolved one knot at a time.

NOTE:  I am writing this on a GOOD FRIDAY.  Today, as we reflect on the death of Jesus on the cross, ask yourself this : Do you have tangled knots waiting to be resolved? Get on your knees now and start praying.

Have a good day ahead! Till next post.