LIGHTHEARTED TALK

I had a lighthearted talk with a friend whom I don't often care and thought of that much. We just had this opportunity to bond together because we were joining the same organizational activity. Our conversation highlighted the memories of our past that brought meaning and joy in our different lives. That lighthearted talk bring back those times when I had myself lived within a closet. I was so immature then and could hardly relate to people from different walks of life. I struggled from shyness, low self-esteem and neediness to be loved and accepted. I hide myself from the real world and could not grasp the essence of my existence. I have been searching for my life's meaning and mission. I thought before that I will have a bigger mission to accomplish. It was more of thinking that I'll become a missionary in far away lands serving the less fortunate brothers and sisters in Africa. However, it did not turn that way. There I am serving the academe as an ordinary support staff suffering from the tortures of indifferent colleauges. I became weary and turn out apathetic. I had myself isolated from those whom I cannot really trust. Gladly I elevated from such an unhappy life by choosing peace and by forgiving those who deeply scarred me. It takes time to heal, its a long process of forgetting and forgiving. I 'm now immune to heartaches but I discovered that loving is the strongest weapon to counter the emotional sadist.

By the way we had our Organizational Planning in Agua Azul Resort in Badian Cebu that's three hours ride from Cebu City.

WHY VOTE GOD

I went home to the province last Saturday and observed that the candidates were very busy campaigning and at the same time listing the names of voters who are surely a supporter of their candidacy. Why were they listing the names of their supporters?, its because they were configuring on how much cash they would prepare for these people. On the other hand, I also saw group of CICIMPEL volunteers orienting people to support the integrity of a clean, peaceful and honest election.They tell people not to accept money from the candidates. However; their force seemed very weak because they were not convinced that the people would have a change of attitude. They feared that they would still accept bribery and vote without proper discernment.

How dicernment works?
The key to easily discern the Will of God, even in very minor areas, is, first and foremost, to have a solid interactive relationship with God. God is not "a fixture" - He is a concrete Eternally living "entity" - for lack of the appropriate word to describe God. We were created in His Image, therefore, it logically follows that if we want to have a close and solid interactive relationship with God we should try, as a first step, whatever we would try to achieve that same type of relationship with another human being.

Another key - just as important - is to truly desire such relationship out of sheer Love for Him. Not for any material benefit; not for securing Eternal life; not for the sake of Holiness - simply for Love for Him and the consequential logically burning desire to serve Him, to please Him, to console Him, to thank Him for everything,... to be totally His. When you are His, all else will logically follow.

That is the meaning of: Seek ye therefore first the kingdom of God (1), and his justice, and all these things shall be added unto you. [Matthew 6:33]

If you really love God and want to serve Him vote for Him. The only way to choose the best leader is to free yourself from "utang kabubut-on". Do not be entice by a one time 500 or 1000 peso bill. You might say "why not, when everybody is doing so? otherwise you might say that you can receive the amount and just chose who you like to vote?. If you taint your right to vote you consent to corruption, you take part in backward progress of our country and you'll continue to starve. Choose someone who is God fearing, service oriented, morally upright, competent, and pro-life advocate. Make a difference this upcoming election, yes you can do it, I can do it. Yes! we can do it.

VOTE GOD

for more information log on to www.voteGOD.net

A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO FASTING

WHO IS JESUS CHRIST IN MY LIFE? JESUS IS MY SOURCE OF ENERGY

Jesus is my source of ENERGY

Sometimes I do not anymore think that my work is just a work but rather a mission. When I see myself working so hard giving my best and doing an extra mile service somehow it makes me feel proud but I don’t feel such reward often. There were really times that I like to give up, I like to resign and I like to shift career something that won’t really sap my energy. This is what I usually feel during peak season because I have to attend to a lot of job responsibilities. I sometimes observed that I do not anymore produce a good output. I feel much more down when colleagues do not appreciate my effort and instead destructively criticize me. Jesus had His own experience of feeling down. He had many critics and He received many ugly comments disregarding His effort. His joy of serving people did not subside but instead He became very passionate and loving of His mission, of His service to the people. In my work situation, despite so much stress felt and loss of energy I feel that Jesus Has his very meaningful way of making me smile and uplifting my energy. It pays off really to work with kids. I love children so much. I feel that I’m nearer to Jesus every time I talk to them. Here’s some of my experiences; one occasion I was not able to eat my lunch on time because I have to finish encoding test results due in the afternoon for releasing after finishing everything I went out of the office to buy something to eat. I was not really feeling ok at that time, I feel so tired and looked so haggard. Suddenly my stress was relieved and uplifted when I met in the corridor a three year old kid who was with her mother looking at me and giving me a big smile as she mentioned the word “ATE” for three times. That child was a stranger to me, I never encountered her nor her mother before but her angelic HELLO did really fill my empty battery. In another occasion, I experienced being energized by a kid who hugs and kiss me after the testing session we had. For me that’s Jesus way of uplifting my spirit especially when I almost break.

WHO IS JESUS CHRIST IN MY LIFE? JESUS IS MY SOURCE OF JOY

Jesus is my source of JOY

The very first time I experience Jesus working wonders in my life is when I started studying here in the city. At the age of six my father brought me to the city to study in USC-South Grade School. I departed from our hometown and started a life being away from my grandmother, mama and younger siblings. It was difficult adjusting to the city life. I became very lonely and unhappy. During the first few months of the school year I often get sick maybe because I was not able to adopt right away sudden change of my childhood life. My father often brings me to school very early. I am often the earliest pupil to wait outside of our classroom. Sadness and loneliness increase the moment my father leaves me for work. I usually stayed at the round table and there I will cry silently. I was scared to be alone, besides it gave me a chance to ponder on my family in the province that I miss so badly. The very first person to comfort me was not a teacher, not a guidance counselor, not a classmate, not a school official but a school janitress one of the “floor girls”. I was comforted by her and was assured that I’ll be fine. Reminiscing that experienced made me praise Jesus because I recognize Him empathizing and comforting me, somehow my sadness twisted into gladness. The janitress became my friend. I do not anymore cry early in the morning because I often see her around very early in the morning and she watched over me. Her presence assured me that I’m not alone and that I’ll be safe.

That’s my very first concrete experience of Jesus as a source of Joy. Jesus comes to our aid through those special people whom we think are just ordinary.

Who Is Jesus Christ?

I was ask to do a sharing about the topic Who is Jesus Christ? The task was very difficult for me. It trembled and feared me knowing that I'll be preaching about Jesus. I was anxious to do the sharing rather than feel very privilege because I was conscious if it would give Him honor and glory. Another thing I am not a good communicator, I also do not know how to organize my thoughts and words. I did a series of preparation for the sharing. I had myself renewed and gone through confession. I asked Mama Mary's help and the Holy Spirit's wisdom. But I was not prepared of what to tell people. I did not like preparing a speech because it was supposedly a sharing which i believe should be spontaneous. I somehow was able to do a good sharing. When I delivered it, i feel Jesus listening to me. I feel that He was happy and Mama Mary too. Conversely i feel down feeling deep humiliation of myself because i feel that there is something lacking in my sharing. Ibelieve that i still have to develop my communication skills. Overall my sharing was fine, i'll just have to let Jesus judge my heart.