Allowing God to Work on Your Behalf

As I was having my quiet moments after a day’s work, I recalled that it was exactly today a year ago, I posted this thought for the day on my FB wall:

“What is success? A big salary…an impressive title…a corner office?

True success goes beyond the trappings of wealth, power, and prestige – it’s honoring God in the workplace, whether you’re the CEO or the summer intern.

And when honoring God, your work has greater meaning and satisfaction.”

I am so grateful to God that He’s been always there for us in season and out of season, in good and bad times, when we are happy or sad, when we have distractions at times about anything that happens unexpectedly…And when you know your stand, you can still smile your troubles away…For with God on your side, and you take your strength from Him, it’s easier than you think to turn bad energy into good ones! Just learn to give everything to the Lord and you will be blessed to see that in whatever endeavor you’ll have, you will find greater meaning and satisfaction.

So if you’re looking for a productive way to spend your day, stop for some time. Allow yourself  to let your life unfold before you. Boring or exciting, happy or sad, the day is going to be whatever it’s going to be, and you can’t change it. Life has an important lesson to teach man: Every once in a while, you need to be able to give up a little bit of your control and allow the Lord to surprise you for whatever plan He has for you. Allow God to work on your behalf.

Let us be then inspired to do our best in whatever situations we are in as we stand in the promises of God in Jeremiah 29:11-14 that says:

“…For i know the plans i have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and i will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. i will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity or will restore your fortunes. i will gather you from all the nations and places where i have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which i carried you into exile.”

A blessed day everyone… 🙂 SMILE Jesus cares for you!!!

SIMPLY ME

Amazing Bananas

Image via Wikipedia

As I was reading some articles and emails I came across this useful information about bananas. I believed it doesn’t only help me improve my health conditions but also changed my perspectives about bananas.  I used to hear my mom telling me to eat bananas instead of junk foods and other sweet snacks. But I just smiled at her and ignored eating the fruit.

It was only until I started missing bananas when I came to Bangkok and bananas are so expensive. I realized that eating a piece of banana, I felt having renewed strength after a tiring day’s work.  My love for bananas grew more when I came to learn the beneficial effects of the fruit to our bodies.

Never put your banana in the refrigerator!!! It changes its color once it’s been refrigerated. The peeling turns black yet the inside is still fresh.

This is interesting. After reading this, you’ll never look at a banana in the same way again.

Bananas contain three natural sugars – sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.  Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world’s leading athletes.

But energy isn’t the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression:

According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS:

Forget the pills – eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood. Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure:

This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit’s ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power:

200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation:

High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers:

One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn:

Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness:

Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito Bites:

Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves:

Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at work?

Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels

Ulcers:

The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control:

Many other cultures see bananas as a “cooling” fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD):

Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking & Tobacco Use:

Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress:

Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body’s water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes:

According to research in “The New England Journal of Medicine, ‘eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%! ‘.”

Warts:

Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around  Maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, “A banana a day keeps the doctor away!

PS:

Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time!

I will add one here; want a quick shine on our shoes?? Take the INSIDE of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe…polish with dry cloth.

Amazing fruit!!!

A Test of Character

After my training in the Special Course on Dairy Production and Management, I anticipated a life of success and prestige. I had plans of going to New Zealand or UK and never thought that God could have a different plan. I had never expected of any future trips to Thailand…

When I get to Bangkok, I was confident to get a promising career. I wasn’t prepared for any disappointment. But in my disappointment, it was God’s appointment… I went for a teacher training course in one of the universities in Thailand to prepare myself for a teaching job appointment, only to find out that there were “farangs” who did not undergo the training but were given priorities just because they are native speakers of the English language and not to mention some were just the so-called backpackers who got hired. Much to my surprise, there were those who didn’t even have any education units but were hired and yet, here I am, with the qualifications they required; from a BS degree in Education, a teacher’s license and an almost perfect TOEIC Thailand exam result is here without a job! What a racial discrimination! Asian teachers rank only second when it comes to job hiring priorities.

Tears rolled down my cheeks for the fate I had, with so much frustrations and humiliation. God was not finished with me yet. A friend offered me a job back home to have as much as I would be getting in Bangkok. I love the idea of being at home, and be with my family. However, my heart was against the thought of going home without money. How would I face my family and friends, admitting to them my inadequacies? What about my status quo? What about my ego? Am I not really worthy to work in Thailand? I was battling with the pride of my life. It’s humbling me in the process!!! It was at this point of my life, that in my quiet time I submitted to God’s will and He spoke to my heart through a verse in Isaiah that says, ”I am the Lord your God who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.”

Despite the hurts, I knew I needed to humble myself before God and man. I realized that I have to live in Bangkok for a time to allow Him to deal with my life especially my pride. A time of character molding and preparing me for something great in the future. My character was more important to Him than anything He would want me to achieve. I learned to cast all my cares, my anxieties, my worries, my disappointments, my EVERYTHING in God’s hands.

Amidst the excitement of going home, I was met with another surprise. I was called to report to the school and was asked to sign a contract that very same day without even being interviewed. God’s timing is always perfect! A promising career was right there waiting for me just at the right time when I have given in my will to God’s will.

From then on, the Lord allowed me to feel compassion for my students. I couldn’t imagine myself managing a group of students with different cultures, different problems to deal with, struggling with language barriers… It was really a tough time for me at first. But God was there for me, my ever help in trouble, my joy and my strength. Somehow, the Lord reminded me why I had to undergo all those pains before getting the job. It was a matter of testing my character…teaching me to lean on Him in all circumstances. I learned to trust in the Lord from day to day.

It didn’t take me too long, I could see changes in the attitudes of the students, I gained the respect of a teacher that I had been praying for. One step at a time, God changes lives. Every day is a challenge…but with God all things are possible.

From EFL, I was moved to teach 2nd Grade up to the present. My 3-5 months probationary period was shortened to a month-long and I got a permanent work status. Wow! What an awesome God I have! I was not only blessed with smart, lovable kids to work with but I was placed in a workplace where I felt I belong. Where we are matters, the Lord simply reminds us of our purpose wherever we are…we may wonder why we are in such a place in a certain time…it’s because where we are matters. It’s God’s appointed time and place… 😀

Everyone Can’t Be In Your Front Row

This is a repost of one of the notes I have in Facebook. I just want to share this because I believe that people may come and go in our lives and we need to determine if they are worth to be part of us or not… It all came up as part of experiences shared by friends and people close to us…

Life is a theater – invite your audience carefully.

Not everyone is spiritually healthy and mature enough to have a front row seat in our lives.

There are some people in your life that need to be loved from a distance.

It’s amazing what you can accomplish when you let go, or at least minimize your time with draining, negative, incompatible, not-going-anywhere relationships/friendships/fellowships!

Observe the relationships around you.

Pay attention to:

Which ones lift and which ones lean?

Which ones encourage and which ones discourage?

Which ones are on a path of growth uphill and which ones are going downhill?

When you leave certain people, do you feel better or feel worse?

Which ones always have drama or don’t really understand, know and

appreciate you and the gift that lies within you?

When you seek growth, peace of mind, love and truth, the easier it will become for you to decide who gets to sit in the FRONT ROW and who should be moved to the balcony of your life.

You cannot change the people around you…but you can change the people you are around!

Ask God for godly wisdom and discernment and choose wisely the people who sit in the front row of your life.

‘Just because no one has shown up who can love you on your level, doesn’t mean you sink to theirs!’

This is just a simple reminder…think now before it’s too late…We cannot always build the future of the best relationship, but we can always build ourselves to be the best in a relationship now and in the future…

Brothers and Sisters

I just felt so impressed on how my son Justin thinks  being a brother to his sisters. Over the past days, he’d been asking me to write something for his English class. But as a mother and as a teacher, I wanted him to do his own. I will only be there to help and guide him. Today, we finally sat down together  and had a brainstorming on what he’s going to write for his project. I asked him questions to guide him. I really wanted to know what he really thinks about being a brother. I was so amazed as how he compared things the way it should be. This is his write-up and I only helped him edit his piece of art. He talks about his three sisters and how he feels for each one of them.

Brothers and Sisters

By: Justin Uriel Maravilla-Arpilleda

            Brothers and sisters have their own different stories to tell. What is it like to be a brother? How do I get along with my sisters?

             To have siblings in the family is fun but at times, it’s not. One has to learn to share with the siblings especially to the little ones. The hardest to share is the attention we get from our parents. But it doesn’t mean we are not loved. Of course, we are all loved. And we need to understand that younger kids need more attention than we do. It’s so nice to take part in their growing up too. We learn to play fair and square, we learn to care for them and we don’t want to hurt them much as we don’t want Mom or Dad to punish us.

            My Ate Jo is six years older than me and I am six years older than my other two little sisters. I am their only brother. It’s so hard to keep in pace with them because of the gap of our ages. Sometimes, we’re best friends and sometimes we’re worst enemies. At times, I felt it wasn’t fair just because my sister is older, my sister can do better than me. But, it’s also great to be a younger brother. We get mad at each other a lot, but then we forget about it. I believe my big sister is the only person who understands how I feel. I hate her if she acts like a grown-up and we don’t have anything to talk about. I love her the most in times when she’s just like me.

            My younger sisters are too spoiled of my attention. I love them so much. I love to play with them if they played with my games but when they wanted me to play with their girlish games, then how I wish my Dad will take me with him to one of his mountain trips. Oftentimes, the two little girls like to play rough games with me and that’s where I have to show how I care for them. I tried not to be so harsh and hard in playing so they won’t get hurt.

            My dad used to tell us stories that when they were kids, he used to fight with his brother but they still liked each other the best. They’re grown-ups now and yet they still help each other a lot. On the other hand, Mom grew up alone with grandma, away from her other brothers and sisters. She used to say that it’s so nice to enjoy the company of your siblings. It’s a lot of fun where you will learn to care and to share, in food, toys or just anything around the house.

            Being away now from my sisters, I have learned so many things, I learned that even with our many differences, it doesn’t matter as long as we have each other to love and to hold. Enjoy every minute we can have with our brothers and sisters.

This is Justin, I am so happy about him. Children are blessed to have great parents but parents also feel proud and so blessed to have children as loving and thoughtful as he is. He just made it right as his name Justin Uriel which means “righteous judge.”  🙂

Tomorrow Can Be Too Late!

Reminiscing those good old times, I was so touched by a message  sent to me by a friend to my email and as I read it, it may sound funny but it makes sense. It’s meaningful and really nice!!!

It’s simply about how we care about our family, loved ones, our friends and maybe someone special…whom we don’t know that they care about us too. 🙂

If you’re mad with someone and nobody’s there to fix the situation…you fix it,

Maybe today, that person still wants to be your friend,

And if you don’t, tomorrow can be too late.

If you’re in love with somebody but the person doesn’t know…

tell him or her,

Maybe today, that person is also in love with you,

And if you don’t say it, tomorrow can be too late.

 If you really want to kiss somebody…kiss him or her,

Maybe that person wants a kiss from you, too.

And if you don’t kiss him or her today,

tomorrow can be too late.

If you still love a person that you think has forgotten you…

tell him or her,

Maybe that person has always loved you,

And if you don’t tell him or her today,

tomorrow can be too late.

If you need a hug of a friend…ask him or her for it,

Maybe they need it more than you do,

And if you don’t ask for it today, tomorrow can be too late.

If you really have friends who you appreciate…tell them,

Maybe they appreciate you as well.

That if you don’t and they leave or go far away today,

tomorrow can be too late.

Yes, this can be true to anyone of us, why make haste of doing things later if you can simply do it now? No man is an island. We need other people, we need our family, our loved ones, friends and even those who are right there in the workplace and those surrounding us. If we make the first move, we can make a new dimension of a better relationship with everyone be it near or far from you…

However, the most important essence is that we learn how to express ourselves to  what we think or feel about others. I am referring to the right communication,  the art to express oneself in a manner they would understand you beyond any doubt. Say it in a kind and sincere manner. If we say it right, others can think and accept it right and wholeheartedly. Do it while there is still time…it may be a little late but better than saying nothing at all… Am I right? 🙂

Remember the more expressive we are , the more we get appreciated.. Why not try to do it now?

Make a Difference, One Child at a Time

I would like to share to you this quotation that I have read in one of the stories. The quotation says: “It is better to build a child right than to rebuild a man.”

This is a life message of mine. I want teachers to know that failure not only affects students academically, it also damages students emotionally, and socially. When I had my second child I opted to stop working and be a full-time mom and wife. As my son was growing up I knew that he’s going to be like his older sister, smart and friendly and when he was just like 2 or 3 years old, he talks like an adult. There was even a time that he was the one who convinced the client of my husband to close the business deal because the man was so impressed on how the kid talked to him.

When he was in the Nursery School, he loved his teacher so much. He was so excited to go to school. But after a few months, the school hired another teacher to handle the class. Not long after the shift, the teacher had to take a maternity leave and there was a substitute teacher. Then my son started to cry in the morning because he didn’t want to go to school anymore. When we asked him why he would only say, “I hate school, teacher is bad.” So I had to find out myself what really happened. The teacher said nothing’s wrong with the kid. Until one day, as I was standing by outside the classroom, I saw with my own eyes that the teacher spanked the hands of my son just because she counted 5 and at the count of 5 all the things should be kept away. But that time, at the count of 5 my son was still trying to collect his coloring pencils which were borrowed by his classmates.

The boy came out crying and he told me, “Now, Mommy, you see why I don’t want to be in this school, my teacher is bad, she does not like little children.”

I couldn’t say anything. I didn’t want my son to know also that I felt bad with what happened. Although deep inside me, my heart grumbles against the teacher for what she did to my son but I didn’t want to show him that because after all we still wanted him to respect his teacher. We went home, and as a family we prayed about the situation. Although the school director had talked to the teacher but my son didn’t want to go to school anymore. He missed his classes many times. That incident was the beginning of the struggles we had. I watched as my son’s friendships dwindled when his learning difficulties became apparent. Before that year was over, I saw my four-year old son lost interest in learning.

The irony is that his IQ measured far beyond most of the students in his class. His vocabulary equaled that of a first grader, and his verbal skills were astounding. He could learn anything orally (except math), but he was unable to put what he knew on paper. He was far from being retarded but he couldn’t produce the proof like the other kids could.

The next year, my son got a wise, caring, and seasoned teacher who salvaged him. She promoted his verbal skills before the class. She asked him to give devotions, and lead discussions in Science. She posted his wonderful original art work on the bulletin board. She handled his struggles with Math, tests, focus, and written work privately. Difficulties were only discussed between the teacher, us, parents, and the student. The teacher’s response to his need made the difference. It was the same group of kids, the same school, the same curriculum. He’s got a teacher who had an understanding of how to teach the child and not just the curriculum. She gave my child the joy of going to school again.

Now, as this school year begins, he is here with me in Thailand. My fears came back when the school registrar told me that he’s going to be with the EFL class. When he knew about it, he told me, “Mom, I will just go back to my old school if they will insist that I won’t be in the same class (Grade 6A) that I am now.” My heart started to grow weary but I was so thankful that they didn’t move him to the EFL class. I could see the joy in his face now. One day, he told me that so far now, he felt he belong to his class. He liked his teachers and classmates.

We, parents, teachers, or anyone can make a difference for years to come, one child at a time. Are you willing?

If I Can Turn Back Time

This article is dedicated to all my classmates, friends and mentors in CSR Batch 1986.

Twenty-five years had quickly swift by without seeing any one of my elementary and high school friends and classmates. We parted ways after graduation and set up to our different directions, some proceeded to the university and  to some who did not make it to college. Some married early as I am one of them 🙂 and have their own families, and for some they opted to be single maybe for life or still waiting for the right partner to be with and spend the rest of their lives. Well, that’s life…  but I believe that each one has his own life story to tell.

Who could ever thought that all these years without any contact, no addresses to locate and yet through the help of  modern technology, friends and classmates meet again through the social network – FACEBOOK!!!  Not only that, it makes the batch closer to each other once again, though far and near, chatting online, posting wall or private messages and showcasing photos and videos of special events, memoirs of high school life that pulled us all closer to one another once again. Any messages can be easily shared and disseminated to others.

When I was reading the morning BBC News online, I was so touched to the story of a boy who was kidnapped 3 years ago in China and he was found and returned to his family. His father made all efforts to find him through the social network and thanks to the country’s half a billion internet users, he was spotted in one of the provinces in China and finally restored and reunited to his family.

Wow!!! Who could have ever thought that the Colegio de Sta. Rita Batch 1986 is also reunited through the social network? And the most important thing is, it’s going to hold its 25th year Alumni Homecoming in March 2011. Tears of joy flowing from my eyes when I saw the photos of my batch mates posted by our classmate Bella during their recent get-together party. My special thanks to Leila, Ursali, Juliet, Bella and Christie for tagging photos for me from time to time. As I was quietly browsing all the photos one by one in their albums, seeing the sweet smiles of my old pals, I didn’t even noticed the tears flowing down my cheeks. I missed everyone, I missed high school days and I felt the pain of the missing part of myself. The part of my youth back in San Carlos City. I always knew that no matter what will I become now, in success and failures that I had in life, my life as a teenager together with my friends, classmates, teachers and everyone I knew had been playing a special part of who I am now. I may not be able to remember all their names but as I was reminiscing the past, bit by bit I started recalling them one by one. But of course, please don’t blame me for not remembering everyone’s names. It’s over 25 years now. 🙂 However, nothing much had changed in our looks, maybe just  slight changes, as some have grown taller and some have become chubbier. Isn’t it something to be thankful for? We all have grown up in sizes and ages as well but what has never changed is the friendship and camaraderie regardless of distance and time between each other. Let us not weary of our present status because as quoted by B.T. Washington,

“Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life but by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.”

Yes, it’s true, some of us may have gone as far as UK, Middle East  and some in Asia & Australia and while others stayed in San Carlos City but the fact is, we are still united as one, we belong to our CSR Family. Miles away, I may be miles away from the group but my heart remains a Ritarian. The stamp of my Alma Mater can never be erased within me.

The countdown to the big day, the 25th Alumni Homecoming Batch ’86 is about to begin. How I wish I could be there, to share the joys and laughter of my high school friends, classmates and mentors.  I am hoping that through this blog,  they hear me out for what I have to say, something that’s from within,  the last memories I have kept all these years, trying to think back all of those times we shared.  All of those days we were there together. If I could turn back time, I would have done it. But I still hope that someday, we can all still come and gather, share the memories of  the past once more, all the fun times together and continue the friendship we had to the present and in the days to come. I know we might find a way for another reunion!!! A reunion that I can be there for everyone.

To Leila, how grateful I am for all the efforts that you’ve made to gather everyone for this great event, for keeping us all posted and updated to whatever is going on. I am so proud to tell the world about you Lei, you always have proven to be the best of friends, a leader of all times. I am two thumbs-up to you my friend. 🙂

I may not be physically around but my heart is with you all. I am missing you all. May God bless everyone.

Best regards all the way from Bangkok, Thailand.

(Meriam Maravilla-Arpilleda)

 

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High School Life

My Justintime Turned Fourteen Today

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It was on a cold and chilly morning 14 years ago when I was between fear, pain and excitement to seeing a cute, strong and healthy baby boy. Thank God, it’s you…

It didn’t matter to me giving up my career to stay in bed for six long months to save the fetus in my womb, and I was sure I wasn’t wrong because I got you. You’re one of the best things that ever happened to me. You are my precious jewel, my son, I love you very much…

The years pass swiftly, today you’re turning into a handsome young man, full of dreams and hopes… I could not express the joy, a feeling of a mother looking at her boy she used to cuddle and sing lullabies, read stories and put him to sleep. As I looked at you as you sleep I couldn’t help but smile reminiscing those moments you played around as I did my cross stitch. When you tried to push back your eyelids and resisted to sleep when you wanted to watch Tom and Jerry Show. How you seriously asked your cousin’s friend to be your girlfriend when you were three. On the other side of you, I was so proud when you don’t cry out loud when Mommy said no if you want to buy something beyond my budget. And how you had convinced Daddy’s livestock costumers by showing them your empty bottles to close the deals because you want to go home and eat lunch and watch cartoon movies.

It’s always been my prayers that you will be able to achieve the highest level of your dreams. To give you the best education no matter what the cost for that’s the best legacy I could ever leave you behind. Wealth and fortunes will be lost and can be taken away from you but the things that you learned in life will never be. And that will be your ladder to whatever you wanted to be in the future.

All that I could ever wish for is that you remain to be content and learn to live the simplest life possible, keeping love and respect for your parents and siblings, friends and the people around you who fondly love you. Keep up the faith in God that you have, be utmost in prayers seeking the Lord’s guidance and protection. We all know that you are loved by God, and he allowed you to experience how to trust in him at all times. He has never left you nor forsaken you. He has provided everything that you asked for. As we used to call you when you were a small kid “Just-In-Time” for God had always been just-in-time for you in all circumstances.

May God richly bless you and keep you. Happy Birthday Justin Boy!!! Dad, Mom, Ate Jo, Bliss, Olel, Mama-lola and your Nene love you very much…

There’s So Much to Be Thankful For

A colleague sent me a message in lantalk asking: “If you knew that today is the last day of your life, what will you do differently?”

Without a doubt and hesitation I replied, “Praise and thank God for my life….” I smiled while sending back my reply because I knew I made my answer right.

I Thessalonians 5:18 says “Be thankful in all circumstances. This is what God wants from you in your life….”

Each one of us may have different levels of experiences at different times. If I am to ask you now, how would you react to this? Of course, when we are happy, it’s so easy for us to say “Thank you Lord.” Maybe for some, by expressing through singing, dancing or prancing around and tell everyone you meet how happy you are.

But what if it’s on a different level? When you are in tough situation, can you still say “Thank you Lord for all my troubles?”The Bible says, “Be thankful in season or out of season.”

As my son Justin was in the hospital emergency room during his accident, the doctor said he needed a surgery. Before I talked to the doctor I told my son to pray with me. And part of my prayer was “Lord thank you that everything will be fine with him because you are in full control of this situation.” And indeed God made a way for him and no surgery ever happened.

Just recently, the Immigration Officer withheld him at the Nong Khai border. But in less than 10 minutes after we prayed for him, the officer allowed him to leave with the group he was traveling with. Not only that, he was given a note for the officer at the Thai Embassy in Laos to grant him a 90 days visa when others had only 15 days visa. Isn’t it something to be thankful for?

Some days we forget to look around us. Some days we can’t see the joy that surrounds us. Why? It’s because we are so caught up inside ourselves… Indeed, it’s up to us to be the change. Even though we all can still do more, yet there’s so much to be thankful for.

As we look beyond ourselves, let us try to see the many instances, when God gave us such abundant blessings we need to be thankful for…blessings of love, life, family and friends, our career, our plans and dreams. If we do, we certainly can say there are not enough right words to express how thankful we are for each day, hour, minute or second that we live.

P.S. Thanks to Ms. Joanne Rose for asking me a thought provoking question because you inspired me to write this article. 🙂

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When You Wonder Why Things Turned Out the Way They Did…

The past days were quite hectic, classes, sports day, in-service training on a weekend when we are supposed to be relaxing at home and the disturbing low CBC (complete blood count) that certainly affects me causing weakness and telling me to slow a bit down when i knew I had to cope up with everything on time.

But all I know is that all things worked together for our good although sometimes we don’t see how they could…We don’t understand if we don’t see His plan and yet we can trust his heart.

Somehow as I was reading my emails, I came across a very short story of one whose character and attitude taught me lessons to ponder upon. It tells of how a mere taxi driver coped up with his day-to-day driving and adjusting to the many different attitude and lifestyles of his passengers and other drivers he met on the road.

One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us.

My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. I mean, he was really friendly. So I asked, ‘Hey, why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!’ This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call: The Law of the Garbage Truck. He said: “You know, many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage – frustration, anger, disappointment and sadness. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it, so sometimes they’ll dump it on you.”

His advice? “Don’t take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don’t pick up the garbage others are trying to get rid of. If you do, you’ll take it with you and will end up dumping it on people around you, at work, at home, or on the streets.” (story retold)

If you want to be happy, do not let garbage trucks – your own or other people’s – overtake your day. Let go of anything that’s not positive because life is only ten percent of what you make it and ninety percent is how you take it!

In addition, love the people who treat you right and just simply ignore the ones who don’t and won’t. At any rate you can pray for them. Just as our speaker in the seminar had quoted Plato’s saying, “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” Wow! It’s true, we just don’t know that by just simply giving a smile or saying hi and hello, whatsoever, we can be the only right thing that ever happened to their lives that very day. Be blessed to be a blessing today. Happy Hearts Day!!! 😀

Be Still

The past days was quite tough for me. A not-so-good health, a lot of activities like paper works, class works and the changing climate that makes it worse. I only wanted to stay in bed but when I was lying down my brain won’t let me sleep. So many plans, so many things to ponder upon. Then last night I woke up and sat by the study table, not knowing what to do. I just keep quiet for some time staring blank at the laptop but when I grabbed a hold of my cellphone, my fingers quickly browsed the Bible apps and there I found the verse that says “Be still, and know that I am God…” Another chapter of Psalm says, “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.” What an uplifting word from the Lord!
Instead of playing my favorite popcap game as I always do when I don’t feel like sleeping, I just bent my knees beside my bed and started praising the Lord until I felt his presence all over me. I felt all my worries, my fears, my anxieties concerning myself, my family, my career and everything and anything that bothered me for some time had left without saying goodbyes. Now I knew I won’t have to fret for what tomorrow will be for the Lord is always there for me. All I need is to seek him and give my utmost for his highest, my great and mighty Lord. He deserves our praises and all he wanted is for us to praise him in good and bad times, in everything, in season or out of season and surely he will never leave nor forsake us. He has all the best of the blessings in store for us and all we need is to unlock the storeroom through prayers and praises to him. Try it yourself and see what God can do for you too!!!

Sotanghon For Long Life

I was invited to a friend’s birthday party. There were many different kinds of food served, lechong baboy (roast pork) fish sinigang, kinilaw (raw fish), grilled fish, fruits and cake for dessert. We have just finished helping ourselves with the sumptuous meal when the host of the party started to cook again. She cooked sotanghon guisado, something that signifies long life. It’s so “aruy mak” (delicious) and the aroma filled the room that everyone who was there turned back to see what’s freshly cooked. And before we knew it, everyone grabbed a plate and fork to enjoy the yummy taste of the long-life giving food, the sotanghon guisado garnished with shrimps and red and green capsicum.

One menu that I love cooking is sotanghon guisado. I used to go to my friend’s Fastfood kitchen just to see and learn for myself how to cook one. I remembered  back in my country that every time there’s a birthday party, my mom never missed preparing spaghetti, pancit (yakisoba) or sotanghon. I really don’t know the real significance of having anything long to represent longer-life in a birthday or new year celebration but it’s common among the Filipino and Chinese families. One thing I know for sure is that it gives the nourishment our bodies need to be healthy. When one is healthy, there is a hope to live life longer and to its fullest. Not only that, kids and adults love this food. 🙂

Hello Yellow

I was looking around for flowers to make a headdress and a flower bracelet for the coming dance presentation of my students. I was trying to imagine which of the cute flowers would match the little arms of my second graders. Just when my attention was diverted to something else. I saw a yellow cattleya and started to take pictures that when I came out of the shop, I totally forgot why I went inside the shop was to get some fresh small flowers to make into a headdress and bracelet. Oh, oh,… I need to go back again to the shop tomorrow after school. But this time I have prepared a list of things to buy. I still wish the yellow cattleya will still be there.

 

 

 

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Fountain of Youth

There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of the people you love. You have truly defeated age because you had tapped this source. It’s a delight to have walked with you through the decade, and I know how you had managed when it comes to staying young, your smile, your humor, and your mind-lift beats a face-lift away. HAPPY BIRTHDAY…I LOVE U!!!