Strength

Let go, let be, let God. 

Looking forward to the wonderful blessings in 2013. :)

28 Cheers

I do feel so blessed. 

I just celebrated my birthday with the most wonderful people. It was indeed a celebration of life. Looking back at all my pictures, I can see genuine happiness in my smile. Like nothing was missing. I am happy I celebrated my birthday with my parents, brothers and my cousins, aunts and uncles, and most of all my dear friends.  

I woke to my parents singing "Happy birthday" since we shared a room at Crowne Plaza. I'm glad I woke up to them there =). Breakfast buffet at Crowne Plaza tells me that I'd definitely be overwhelmed for my 28th birthday.

Family bonding is what I always look forward to. We were all laughing and having a good time. Lunch was a feast (buffet hehe) and 3 times the "happy birthday" song played in the background in the restaurant. My two best friends are there to celebrate as well. It feels great to have them around with the family. They are the sisters I never had.

I had coffee with my brothers and cousins. We were all laughing and making plans for next year. I am looking forward to that Singapore and Malaysia trip =)

Walked around the mall and went to see Diche and Cris. I was there to cheer them both up! I'm a very thoughtful person so I decided to buy a cake to share with them. It wasn't in my plans to go visit Diche but I decided, what the heck? Add another person to my colorful birthday to share my blessings with.

Dinner with Ellainne and her family came after that (yes, I've been eating the whole day). Being one of my best friends, I know I couldn't let my birthday pass without her.

So it's been 28 years. Full of laughter, love, learning, heart aches, lessons, care, mixed emotions, met different people, made friends, had problems but found a solution, celebrations, frustrations, ecstasy.. and more. 

Wow. 28 years and I'm just starting.

I don't know what's next. I'm still taking baby steps. But I'm sure things are going to get better, future becoming brighter. And I pray the wishes for me, and the wishes on every candle I blew.. indeed come true.

Loving and cheering at 28. =)

And to everyone of you who remembered me on my special day, thank you from the bottom of my heart. God bless you. =)

Nothing Just Happens! (By Bo Sanchez)

Here's another blog by Bo Sanchez. It's true, everything happens for a reason. And maybe the reason that this is happening to me now is because God is preparing me for something greater, something far better than I have ever dreamed. :)

I especially live the verse from the Bible, Proverbs 16:9. I hope you do too. 

As quoted from Bo Sanchez: http://bosanchez.ph/nothing-just-happens/: 

"Here’s the truth: Nothing Just Happens. Because God had something to do with it. This was Divine Orchestration. The Heavenly Conductor arranged, maneuvered, and engineered various circumstances to position Ruth to harvest in this specific plot of land, which was her place of destiny.

I believe God is doing the exact same thing in your life. 

Say it after me, “Nothing just happens.”

When you feel discouraged by your current situation, when you feel that things aren’t going your way, when you find yourself caught in a quagmire of opposition, and people reject you, declare that “Nothing Just Happens!” 

---

The Bible says, We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps. (Proverbs 16:9). 

Right now, you may be in a place of poverty. I declare it now to be your place of prosperity. You may be in a place of anguish. I declare it now to be your place of abundance. You may be in a place of defeat. I now declare it as your place of destiny. Your physical surroundings may be ordinary to your eyes, but behind the curtains of the physical realm, God is doing something extraordinary in your favor. Declare that God is bringing you to your place of destiny because “Nothing Just Happens”.

Think of the most painful experience in your life and shout, Nothing just happens! Think of the people that have abandoned you and shout, Nothing just happens! Think of the anguish that you went through and shout, Nothing just happens!” 

When the winds are strong, the clouds are dark, the waves are high, shout, Nothing just happens! When there’s no food on your table, no money in your pocket, no friends on your side, shout, nothing just happens! When your prayers aren’t answered, when your dreams aren’t happening, and when your miracles aren’t flowing—Nothing just happens!"

Funny yet true =P

* I didn't make this. Saw them all online. How apt. :P

There's Good in Goodbye (Carrie Underwood)

I heard you laughing in a crowd outside a restaurant we used to go to

I caught a glimpse that stopped me in my tracks

It took me back

You looked happy with that little girl on your shoulders, happy

I know where she got those crystal eyes of blue

Time's been sweet to you

[Chorus:]

As bad as it was, as bad as it hurt

I thank God I didn't get what I thought that I deserved

Sometimes life leads you down a different road

When you're holding on to someone that you gotta let go

Someday you'll see the reason why

Sometimes, yeah sometimes, there's good in goodbye

I don't regret it

The time we had together

I won't forget it

But we both ended up where we belong

I guess goodbye made us strong

And yeah I'm happy

I found somebody too who makes me happy

And I knew one day I'll see you on the street

And it'd be bittersweet

[Chorus:]

As bad as it was, as bad as it hurt

I thank God I didn't get what I thought that I deserved

Sometimes life leads you down a different road

When you're holding on to someone that you gotta let go

Someday you'll see the reason why

Sometimes, yeah sometimes, there's good in goodbye

Yeah, yeah

[Outro:]

As bad as it was, as bad as it hurt

I thank God I didn't get what I thought that I deserved

Sometimes life leads you down a different road

When you're holding on to someone that you got to let go

Someday you'll see the reason why

Yeah someday you'll see the reason why

There's good in goodbye, yeah

There's good in goodbye

I'll Miss You.. Until We Meet Again.

The power of prayer is amazing.

It was painful knowing that I lost you for the last time. At the moment when we're about to mark our 3rd year together, you decided to have a change of heart. It was sudden and so unbelievable that I had to see friends and family just so I can put dangerous thoughts at bay.

Yes, losing you was very painful.

I had a feeling that you were different, that you don't want me anymore. But I was surprised when you told my friend that you love me so much. Somehow I couldn't put the way you treated me and that, which what you told my best friend, together. Who was that who seek counsel from my friend, from the man who ignored me for more than two weeks? If you were confused about how we are, imagine how much I tore my head out trying to find an explanation from everyone why you would even treat me that way. And so I said goodbye to you, knowing deep inside, this is probably the very last time I will send you that message.

I thought you had changed and wanted to make everything better for us. I still don't understand why you would tell me that you don't want to talk to me. As always, you would keep things to yourself when you know someone right here wants so much to help you unpack that baggage of yours.

As I said, the power of prayer is amazing.

I know I will be broken up inside for a long time but I don't want people to know. Only a very few people know about my situation with you and I want to keep it at that. I know I will be sad and weepy but I need to show others that I am OK; there's nothing wrong with me. The next two days after my last message to you was hell. Truly hell.

But I know I need to turn to Someone with Higher Power. A love far stronger. Not knowing what else to ask, I prayed to God for strength. I could have asked for lightning to strike you or a passing bus to hit you and drive over you... I could have prayed for a lot worse things. Instead, I asked for my own strength. The will to endure the days and the people to give me support. 

Then, I asked God to stop the pain. I know I have a tendency to let my thoughts wander and make sad and bitter scenarios in my head. So I asked Him to give me one day, just one whole day, to carry the pain with me, and when I wake up, the pain will be gone. I told myself I will deal with this for one day and then no more. 

And He did just that. He took the pain away in just one night.

Mornings are better now. My routine is still the same but I feel lighter this time. I challenged my self to read through all your past messages and emails and see if I can deal with it. I looked at your pictures, read your messages, but this time I don't feel sad anymore. I just smile and reminisce about the wonderful and happy times I had with you. No more pain. 

So now I'm better, I'm OK. I'm on my road to recovery. 

The very last time I saw you, you were sleeping. I remember I kissed you while you sleep. My fondest memory is you sleeping beside me, your tender moment. I was really happy and that was my last memory of you. 

La Lune says thank you for the happy memories. 

Anne Hathaway

While going through the Yahoo website, I wanted to find out the trend about the actress Anne Hathaway and her recent marriage. I chanced upon the Wikipedia site talking about the wife of William Shakespeare who's name is Anne Hathaway.

The Sonnet 145 of Shakespeare is said to be directed to his wife, Anne. Though historians say that their relationship isn't all that good, I just think the message of this sonnet is sweet.

Excerpts from Sonnet 145


Those lips that Love's own hand did make
Breathed forth the sound that said 'I hate'
To me that languish'd for her sake;
But when she saw my woeful state
Straight in her heart did mercy come,
Chiding that tongue that ever sweet
Was used in giving gentle doom,
And taught it thus anew to greet:
'I hate' she alter'd with an end,
That follow'd it as gentle day
Doth follow night, who like a fiend
From heaven to hell is flown away;
'I hate' from hate away she threw,
And saved my life, saying 'not you.'

How to Make Relationships Last Forever

I love the articles that Bo Sanchez writes. I like the honesty in his writing and he tells it at it is, his feelings, what people really feel but are to scared to admit. 

I used to write like that (well that's what I think from my old, old blog posts). I wish I'd get the chance to write again and express how I really feel and what I really think (in better writing). 

Here's a lesson we all know but sometimes, we forget that lesson or we find another reason. Very simple: God is everywhere. In every relationship, in ever person.

And I especially love this line from the article: "I love you because I'm a loving person."

For more of his articles, click here: http://bosanchez.ph

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Do you Want Relationships to Last Forever? (by Bo Sanchez)


Do You Want Your Relationships To Last Forever?
Once upon a time, there were three little pigs. 

I know this story very well.  Because when I was a kid, there were no Plants vs. Zombies and Angry Birds.  We had no iPad or iPod or iPhone—so to occupy our time…  we had fairy tales.

        The three little pigs left their town in search of their fortunes.  Before they left, they bid farewell from their respective mothers.  And all three mothers said to their boys, calling them endearing names.  One mother said, “Little Lechon, always put a towel on your back when you perspire.”  The second mother said, “Little Liempo, always drink your vitamins.”  And the third mother said, “Little Longganisa, always read your Bible.”

        The three little pigs bought their plane tickets online, rode their budget airline, and when they landed, they texted their mothers, “Landed.  Mwah.” 

They liked the town they were in and decided to build their respective homes there.

The first little pig wanted things quickly and easily.  He built his house made of straw.  In no time, it was built, and he went inside, sat on a chair, and played Temple Run in his iPad.

The second pig built his house made of sticks.  It took him a little bit longer, but it was still easy and quick, and he too went inside his house to play Scrabble online with his friends from Canada.

The third pig took the longest time and the most effort, because he wanted something that would last for a long time.  So he built his house made of stones.  While the other two pigs were already snoring inside their homes, sleeping under their cozy blankets, the third pig was still sweating outside, working on his house night and day, carefully and slowly building his stone house, one brick at a time.  Finally, when it was finished, the little pig went inside, knelt down to say his night prayer, and collapsed in bed to sleep.

Suddenly, two big bad wolves appeared, very hungry….

The Straw House Falls In 2 Seconds

        They saw a straw house, peeked through the window and saw a little pig sleeping inside—and they said, “Lechon!”  So the two wolves knocked on the door of the straw house and said, “Little pig, little pig, let us in!”

The first pig answered, “No, no, no, not by the hair of my chinny chin chin.”

The wolves answered, “Then we’ll huff and we’ll puff and blow your house down!”

And the wolves blew, and in two seconds flat, the house crashed down.  And because of the wolves’ bad breath, the pig died of air poisoning.  And that day, the wolves ate Lechon.

The Stick House Falls In 20 Seconds

        But the two big bad wolves were so big, they were still hungry. 

That was when they saw a stick house, and when they peeked through the window, they saw a little pig sleeping inside—and they said, “Liempo!” They knocked on the door of the stick house and said, “Little pig, little pig, let us in!”

The pig answered, “No, no, no, not by the hair of my chinny chin chin.”

The wolves answered, “Then we’ll huff and we’ll puff and blow your house down!”

And the two wolves blew—and it took a little bit longer—about twenty seconds—but the stick house crashed down as well.  And because of the wolves’ bad breath, the second pig died of chemical warfare.  And the wolves ate Liempo that day.

        The Stone House Didn’t Fall At All

But the wolves’ stomachs were so massive, they still had room for more.  That was when they saw a stone house, and when they peeked through the window, they saw a little pig sleeping inside—and they said, “Longganisa!”

They knocked on the door of the stone house and said, “Little pig, little pig, let us in!”

The pig answered, “No, no, no, not by the Name of the King of kings!”  He then prayed Psalm 91 and Psalm 23.  “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High and abides in the shade of the Almighty, says to the Lord, ‘my refuge, my stronghold, my God in whom I trust.  Though I walk through the valley of darkness, I fear no evil for God is with me.’”

The wolves answered, “Then we’ll huff and we’ll puff and blow your house down!”

        And the wolves blew, and blew, and blew—and after blowing for 20 minutes straight—nothing happened.  The stone house was like a rock, standing solid as ever. 

Suddenly, in their extreme exhaustion, the two wolves had an asthma attack—their heart gave way—and both of them dropped dead on the spot.

        And the third pig stepped out of his stone house and sang, “I can do all things through Christ, I can move the mountains if you are the strength of my life….”

        And that day, the little pig had wolf steaks for dinner.

Protect Your Relationships From The Two Wolves

        Haven’t you noticed?  Everything dies.

We die.  People die.  Organizations die.  Institutions die.  Do you know that even planets and stars die?   I didn’t know how stars die, so I turned to my 12-year old son and asked him, “How do stars die?”  Without a second to think, he said, “A star can explode as a supernova, become a blackhole, or it shrinks into a white dwarf star and finally into a black dwarf star.”  (It’s creepy. I sometimes feel my kids are more intelligent than me now.)

Everything comes to an end, except for one thing.  The Bible says that anything built on God’s Word will last forever.

But not just listening, or reading, or memorizing the Word but obeying the Word.  Jesus said, But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.  (Matthew 7:24-27)

Today, I’ll teach you how to build your relationships that will last forever (all the way to Heaven).  I’ll teach you how to build your relationships on rock. 

Imagine ALL your relationships (your marriage, or your parent-child relationship, or your sibling-to-sibling relationship, or your friendships) built on rock.

That rock is none other than Jesus.

Here’s my big message for you today: Enduring relationships are built on enduring values.  If you want your relationships to flourish, your relationships have to be built on timeless, eternal, old fashioned values. 

Just like in the story of the Three Little Pigs above, relationships are like houses.  Some are weak and some are strong.  Some collapse quickly and some stand forever.

        What kind of relationships do you have?

        There are three types of relationships.  (More on this later.) But before that, let me first explain two wolves that can eat up your relationships.

The two wolves are Temptation and Trial.

1. The Wolf Of Temptation

Bottomline, relationships are destroyed by sin.  Sins such as selfishness, greed, temper, envy, jealousy, lying, stealing, hatred, unforgiveness, lust… 

Think about it.  Relationships flourish ONLY when it’s built on the enduring, eternal, timeless, and old-fashioned values such as trust, selflessness, patience, loyalty, humility, honesty, forgiveness…

When I was twenty-five years old, my father told me something I’ll never forget.  He said, “In all my married life, I’ve remained faithful to your mother.  Once, there was this woman in the office who liked me a lot, and she told me that I could do whatever I wanted to do with her.  But I turned her down.  Today, I’m so happy that I’ve never cheated on your mother.  When you get married, I want you to be faithful to your wife forever.”

His words are etched deeply in my heart.  Not only his words, but his example.  Before my father went to Heaven, Mom and Dad celebrated 62 years of happy marriage.

Today, I’m married and I have two boys.  And I want to have the same personal integrity my father had.  I too want to have the credibility to tell my sons, “I’ve always been faithful to your mother.  In all my married life, I’ve never cheated on her.  And I want you to do the same…”

And even if you have failed in the past—God forgives you.  Bring your sins to God.  And you’ll be able to start afresh.  You’ll be able to rebuild your integrity.  The Bible says that as far as the east is from the west, so far does God take your sins away from you.  So don’t let your past define your future.  In the eyes of God, you’re a new person now.

Here’s what I found helpful: When I’m faced with sexual temptation, I imagine my two small boys standing behind me.  (Yikes!)  All of a sudden, the sexual temptation doesn’t look very appealing anymore.  Because in truth, my children are always watching me.  They may not be there physically, but spiritually, they’re watching.  Whatever I do, no matter how secret, will affect them.  The umbilical cord was cut at birth, but the spiritual cord between parent and child will never be cut.

Have you noticed?  Your kids won’t do what you tell them to do.  Your kids will do what they see you do.

All relationships are built on trust.  It doesn’t matter if the relationship is a marriage or a parent-child relationship or a friendship or an entrepreneur-customer relationship.  If you’re not trustworthy, if you have no integrity, there can be NO relationship.

Here’s the second wolf…

2. The Wolf Of Trials

My married friend said, “Before the wedding, you get an engagement ring.   During the wedding, you get a wedding ring.  After the wedding, you get suffering.”

Most marriages don’t break up because of adultery, but because of adversity. 

When there are no problems, it’s easy to have a happy relationship.  

In a restaurant, do you know who are engaged couples and who are married couples?  Just look at how close they are physically.  If you see the guy and the gal joined together—hand to hand, forehead to forehead, nose to nose, bad breath to bad breath—and beneath the table cloth, they’re playing footsies together—and even if nuclear warheads fall on their right and left, they won’t even notice?  And nothing else exists except each other?    You can be sure, they’re not married!

But if you see a man and a woman in a restaurant seated separately, so far apart that a six-by-six truck can pass between them, and the woman is fiddling with her cellphone, and the man is looking at the ceiling counting the light bulbs and wondering how much the electric bill the restaurant is paying…  you can be sure, they’re married.

Why?  Because of the wolf of trials.

It’s easy for unmarried couples to stay sweet.  They’re not yet burdened by the daily problems of monthly bills, demanding kids, and pesky in-laws.

Tip: The Only Way To Survive Trials Is To Trust

The Bible says, walk by faith, not by sight.  If I walk by sight, I’ll see all the trials around me.  Frankly, I’ll go insane.

But if I walk by faith, I see the trials, yes, but I also see a God who is at work behind those trials.  Because I walk by faith, I have peace no matter what storm is going around me.

Without that inner peace in my soul, I’ll have very troubled relationships, because I’ll be merely passing onto my family and friends my worries, my angers, my fears…

        How do you withstand the two wolves of Temptation and Trial?  By building your relationships on rock.

Which brings me to my next point…

Three Types Of Relationships

        There are three types of relationships in this world. 

1. Relationships Based On Charm

Why do people love certain people?

Most relationships are based on charm or attraction.

·         “I love you because you’re beautiful!”

·         “I like you because you’re sexy…”

·         “I want you because you’re rich.”

·         “Your personality is so appealing, that’s why I like being with you…”

·         “I like hanging out with you because I feel alive when I’m with you…”

·         “I love you because you complete me…”

In other words, “I like you because you’re so likable.”

The “straw house” in the story above symbolizes relationships that are based on charm.  They’re based on attraction. 

But from experience, these relationships won’t last. 

Three reasons…

Why Relationships Based On Charm FAILS

First, because the reason of the relationship doesn’t last.  Sexiness doesn’t last.  Beauty doesn’t last.  Personality doesn’t last.  Wealth doesn’t last…

        Second, the relationship isn’t born out of decision.  That’s why Scott Peck says that “Falling in love” is never real love.  Why? Love is always a decision.  And falling in love requires no decision.  (I have yet to meet someone who says, “I’ll decide to fall right now.  Ready, one, two, three….  Ooops!”)  When you fall, you don’t decide to fall.  It just happens.  You stumble.  You trip.  You get dizzy.  And you fall.  So it’s counterfeit love.

Third, attraction is fake.  You’re not really attracted to the person himself.   You’re simply attracted to your projection of that person.  So when you’re “attracted” or have a “crush” or “infatuated” or “in love”, you’re not in love with the person, you’re in love with a photograph of the person in your mind.

Because there’s a big difference between the person and the person’s photograph.  The person will make mistakes, the photograph won’t.  The person will grow old, the photograph won’t.  The person will have bad days, the photograph won’t.

This is the same as having fans.  People ask me all the time, “Do you get affected by all the attention you get?  You’re like a celebrity!  You’re got thousands of fans.”

My answer: I’d rather have one friend than a thousand fans.  Fans are fickle.  They come and they go.  Because fans don’t love me.  They love an image of me in their minds.  Once I do something that doesn’t agree with that image, they leave.

Here’s the second type of relationship…

2. Relationships Based On Convenience

        The “stick house” in the story symbolizes relationships based on convenience.  People in these relationships say, “I want to be in a relationship with you because you’re useful to me.”  It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement.  It’s a “You scratch my back, I scratch your back” transaction.  It’s give and take.  We meet 50/50.

        The stick house takes a bit longer to build compared to the straw house, but even this “working relationship” falls when the winds of trials and temptations blow on it as well.

        Life changes.  Stuff happens.  Either I change or you change.  So what if these changes mean that you’re no longer useful to me?

The moment convenience doesn’t work, we leave.

And the big bad wolf eats up the relationship.

3. Relationships Are Based On Character

        The “stone house” symbolizes relationships based on character.  Timeless, eternal, old fashioned values.  Faithfulness.  Loyalty.  Selflessness.  Sacrifice.  Humility.  Forgiveness.

        A relationship based on character says, “I love you not only because you’re likeable or you’re useful.  I love you because I’m a loving person.”

Next time someone tells you, “I love you,” ask why.

If he says… “because you’re lovable…” you’ll feel flattered.  Same thing if you hear these words, “I love you because you’re so kind, so generous…  I love you because you’re such a wonderful person…”

But here’s a fact of life: You won’t be lovable and wonderful 24 hours a day.  Will that person still love you during your off days?

It’s not very flattering, but I’d rather hear these words… “I love you because I’m a loving person.  That’s just who I am.  I will always love you no matter what happens.”

Friend, that’s God’s message to you.  God loves you not based on charm, or on convenience, but on His character.

God’s Love is an eternal love.

It’s not based on what you did or what you do.

If it was, we’d be in big trouble.

The Cross

I read a beautiful article by Jenn Giroux.  She said that in the small town of Siroki-Brijeg in Croatia (Population: 13,000 people), not one single divorce has been recorded. 

Why?  Personally, I believe it’s because the “old fashioned” values are still part of their life and culture.  And a powerful expression of these old fashioned values is a beautiful twist in their wedding ritual.  (If you’re wedding is near, read carefully.  You may want to include this for your wedding rites.)

In our present wedding ceremony, the priest says at the end of the rites, “You may kiss the bride.”  But in the town of Siroki-Brijeg, the priest says, “You may kiss the cross.”  And both of them kiss Jesus in a crucifix.

Let me backtrack a bit to the start of the ceremony.

When the bride and groom enter the church, they already carry a crucifix.  The first thing the priest does is to bless it.  And as the man and the woman say their vows, they are holding on the cross—with the priest’s stole draped on top of their hands (Note: the stole is the long piece of cloth around the priest’s neck)

After the vows are said, they won’t kiss each other.  They will kiss the cross.

The newly wed couple will then bring home the crucifix and set it on the family altar.  Around it, they will establish daily family prayer.  That daily family prayer says that Jesus is the center of their family life.  When they are blessed, they sing their gratitude around Jesus.  When they are in trouble, they kneel at the foot of the cross. When they are fighting, they look at His kindness, His forgiveness, and His selflessness as an example of what they should do.

When you marry someone, you’re not looking for an ideal partner.  You’re looking for a cross.

Yes, my wife is my cross.  Because loving her isn’t convenient.  If I wanted to remain comfortable, I should have remained single.  But I don’t want to remain comfortable.  I want to remain committed. 

Yes, my wife is my cross.  My beautiful, lovely, glorious cross.  Because she has brought me closer to God and enlarged my capacity to love.

Eternal Love

I heard a preacher share this important insight…

Imagine if you went to a fortune teller.  (Obviously, I don’t approve of this, but ride along with my imagination.)  After reading your palm, the fortune-teller said, “Tsk, tsk, tsk.  24 years from now, when your spouse is 63 years old, he would do something terrible against you…”

So you go home very angry.

Imagine your husband coming home at the end of his workday.  He enters the house in a good mood and says, “Hi Sweetheart!”

And you say, “I hate you.  Get out of my house, you creep!”

He’s taken aback.  “What’s gotten into you?  What have I done?”

You tell him, “24 years from now, you’ll do something terrible!”

“What?  How do you know?”

“A fortune teller told me!”

Here’s my point.  If we knew that people would do bad things against us tomorrow, we’d treat them in a different way today.

Flash News: God knows the future like the back of His hand.  He knows every sin you’ll commit for the rest of your life.  But He still loves you today!

God doesn’t tell you, “Thirty-eight years from now, when you hit 68, you’ll blow it.  You’ll fail me.  Get out of here!”

God isn’t like that.  He knows the failures you’ll be doing in the future—but He has decided to love you.

I thank God that His love doesn’t depend on what we do, past, present, or future.  His love doesn’t depend on your character but on His character.

Because God IS Love. 

He’s decided to love you. 

He’s committed.

His love for you will never change.

May your dreams come true,

Bo Sanchez

Red Flag Men

Saw this post from Cosmopolitan. Ladies, let's learn from this.


http://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/dating-advice/dating-red-flags#slide-7

Help yourself before you help others

From Bo Sanchez's blog: http://bosanchez.ph/give-yourself-the-gift-of-limits/

Here’s my lesson: Don’t always save people from the painful consequences of their decisions.  (It was his decision to be an inefficient messenger, not mine.)  Sometimes, the kindest thing you can do is to allow a person to experience the bad results of his bad choices.

The Bible talks about Tough Love.

St. Paul said, If one will not work, neither let him eat.  (2 Thessalonians 3:10)  Pretty harsh, don’t you think?  But that’s the point.  That harshness may be the trigger that will force him to change his life. 

The Bible also says, A worker’s appetite works for him, for his hunger urges him on.  (Proverbs 16:26)  Don’t always save people from their hunger.  Because that hunger may move him to change.

Self-love

Quoting from Bo Sanchez's blog (http://bosanchez.ph)



"The difference is simple.  “Selfishness” is meeting your own needs and your own needs only. “Self-love” is meeting your needs so that you can meet the needs of others even more.


Within you is a Love Tank.  And your Love Tank has a faucet.  The only way for love to flow out of that faucet is if your Love Tank is full.  If you don’t receive love, you won’t be able to give love.  You can’t give what you don’t have.  You can’t love anyone if you don’t love yourself.  You can’t even love God if you don’t love yourself.


Even Jesus honored his needs.  The Bible says that when crowds of people came to him for healing, he honored his need to be alone.  But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. (Luke 5:15–16)


I know people who don’t even know their needs anymore.  They are so overwhelmed by the needs of other people, they don’t have time to listen to their own needs.


Why? 


Early on, they were brainwashed that their needs weren’t important.  Correction: They were brainwashed that THEY were not important.


People with Toxic Shame feel they don’t deserve to meet their needs, whatever needs they have."

Ten Commandments for Peace of Mind

Reposting what I saw from old emails. Here are some nice thoughts for you. 


1. Do Not Interfere In Others' Business Unless Asked


Most of us create our own problems by interfering too often in others' affairs. We do so because somehow we nave convinced ourselves that our way is the best way, our logic is the perfect logic and those who do not conform to our thinking must be criticized and steered to the right direction, our direction. This thinking denies the existence of individuality and consequently the existence of God. God has created each one of us in a unique way. No two human beings can think or act in exactly the same way.


All men or women act the way they do because God within them prompts them that way. There is God to look after everything. Why are you bothered? Mind your own business and you will keep your peace.


2. Forgive And Forget


This is the most powerful aid to peace of mind. We often develop ill feelings inside our heart for
the person who insults us or harms us. We nurture grievances. This in turn results in loss of
sleep. development of stomach ulcers, and high blood pressure. This insult or injury was done
once, but nourishing of grievance goes on forever by constantly remembering it. Get over this bad habit Believe in the Justice of God. Let Him judge the act of the one who insulted you. Life is too short to waste in such trifles. Forgive. Forget, and march on. Love flourishes in giving and
forgiving.


3. Do Not Crave For Recognition


This world is full of selfish people. They seldom praise anybody without selfish motives. They may praise you today because you are in power, but no sooner than you are powerless, they will forget your achievement and will start finding faults in you. Why do you wish to kill yourself in
striving for their recognition? Their recognition is not worth the aggravation. Do your duties
ethically and sincerely and leave the rest to God.


4. Do Not Be Jealous


We all have experienced hew jealousy can disturb our peace of mind. You know
That you work harder than your colleagues in the office, but sometimes they get promotions; you do not. You started a business several years ago, but you are not as successful as your neighbor whose business is only one year old. There are several examples like these in everyday life. Should you be jealous? No. If you are destined to be rich, nothing in the world can stop you. If you are not so destined, no one can help you either. Nothing will be gained by blaming others for your misfortune. Jealousy will not get you anywhere: it will only take away your peace of mind.


5. Change Yourself According To The Environment


If you try to change the environment single-handedly, the chances are you will fail. Instead, change yourself to suit your environment. As you do this, even the environment, which has been unfriendly to you will mysteriously change and seem congenial and harmonious.




6. Endure What Cannot Be Cured                       


This is the best way to turn a disadvantage into an advantage. Every day we face numerous inconveniences, ailments, irritations, and accidents that are beyond our control. If we cannot control them or change them, we must learn  to put up with these things. We must learn to endure them cheerfully thinking, "God wills it so, so be it." God's plan is beyond our comprehension. Believe in it and you will gain in terms of patience, inner strength and will power.


7. Do Not Bite off More Than You Can Chew


This maxim needs to be remembered constantly- We often tend to take more responsibilities than we are capable of carrying out. This is done to satisfy our ego. Know your limitations. Why take on additional loads that may create more worries? You cannot gain peace of mind by expanding your external activities. Reduce your material engagements and spend time in
prayer, introspection and meditation. This will reduce those thoughts in your mind that make you
restless. Uncluttered mind will produce greater peace of mind.


8. Meditate Regularly


Meditation calms the mind and gets rid of disturbing thoughts. This is the highest state of peace of mind. Try and experience it yourself. If you meditate earnestly for half an hour everyday, your mind will tend to become peaceful during the remaining twenty-three and half-hours. Your mind will not be easily disturbed as it was before. You would benefit by gradually increasing the period of daily mediation. You may think that this will interfere with your daily work. On the contrary, this will increase your efficiency and you will be able t0 produce better results in less time.


9. Never Leave the Mind Vacant


An empty mind is the devil's workshop. All evil actions start in the vacant mind. Keep your mind occupied in something positive, something worthwhile. Actively follow a hobby. Do something that holds your interest. You must decide what you value more; money or peace of mind. Your hobby, like social work or temple work, may not always earn you more money, but you will have a sense of fulfillment and achievement. Even when you are resting physically, occupy yourself in healthy reading or mental chanting of God's name.


10. Do Not Procrastinate and Never Regret


Do not waste time in protracted wondering "Should I or shouldn't I?" Days, weeks, months, and years may be wasted in that futile mental debating. You can never plan enough because you can never anticipate all future happenings. Always remember, God has His own plan, too for you. Value your time and do the things that need to be done. It does not matter if you fail
the first time. You can learn from your mistakes and succeed the next time.



Sitting back and worrying will lead to nothing. Learn from your mistakes, but do not brood over the past. DO NOT REGRET. Whatever happened was destined to happen only that way. Take it as the Will of God. You do not have the power to alter the course of God’s Will. Why cry over spilt milk?

True Friends

You turn your back on the people who have known you for years, who have been there for you and supported you. 


You turned your back on them because you think they betrayed you. What really is happening is that you don't want to hear the TRUTH. True friends tell you what you are doing wrong and encourage you to do better. They want to inspire you but I guess you'd much rather see it as bragging instead. Talk about being a walking bad vibes. You are too scared to face the reality and you don't want to be better at all. 


You didn't just turn your back on your friends. You turned your back on the truth. 

Strangers, again.

Such a nice short film.. something to think about when you find yourself in that situation again. ‎

"Every relationship goes through stages. Where and how each stage develops is ultimately up to 

each person. While we always hope for the best, we often can't avoid the inevitable."

"And all that will be left, is this. A box.. random stuff from a  faded period of time when, this stranger was the most important person in my life."

Watch it here: Strangers, again.

Quote 2012

"When you're with the right person, it's impossible to do anything wrong, and if you're with the wrong person, no matter what you do, it won't be right." —Unknown

You Miss Me (The Matrix (feat. Adam Longlands and Katy Perry))

Everything comes around again
The circus returns to town again
Oh, no, oh, yeah
Now you are at my door again
Crawling around my floor again
Oh, yeah


'Cause your love is gone and you're all alone
And you miss me
But you didn't miss me
When I was all alone, you're back, 'cause you know


I can't help but love you
I can't help but kiss you
I can't help but let you in
I'm off to the slaughter
And off to the lifehole
Right back to where we begin


'Cause the love has gone and your on your own
'Cause you missed me
La, la, la, la, la, la
You just press rewind, we go back in time


Everything comes around again
What goes up will come down again
Oh, no, oh, yes
Wearing your old white dress again
Making my head a mess again
Oh, no


'Cause your love is gone and your all alone
And you miss me
But you didn't miss me
When I was all alone, your back, 'cause you know


I can't help but love you
I can't help but kiss you
I can't help but let you in
I'm off to the slaughter
And off to the lifehole
Right back to where we begin


'Cause the love has gone and your on you're own
'Cause you missed me
La, la, la, la, la
You just press rewind, we go back in time


'Cause your love is gone and your all alone
And you miss me
But you didn't miss me
When I was all alone, your back, 'cause you know


I can't help but love you
I can't help but kiss you
I can't help but let you in
I'm off to the slaughter
And off to the lifehole
Right back to where we begin


I can't help but love you
I can't help but kiss you
I can't help but let you in


You miss me, you miss me
Your love has gone and you're all alone
You miss me, you miss me

(I think you just miss me... And when she's back again.. I'll be back in the dumps. Things will not be the same every time you come crawling back.)

A message to the former gazer named Alex

"I might not be everything you ever wanted, but I’m always going to be more than you deserve."


- Too bad you didn't work it out with me. 

Be Unstoppable (by Bo Sanchez)

I'm posting here an inspiring article made by Bo Sanchez. (http://bosanchez.ph) Read on.


I wonder why Jesus asked him that silly question.


Here’s the story. One day, Jesus saw a paralyzed man lying near the pool of Bethesda. The guy has been paralyzed for 38 years. Jesus asked him, “Would you like to get well?” (Read the full story in John 5:1-9)


       I find that…uh, rather strange. 


Why ask that question?


       The paralyzed man could have answered, “Helloooo… Is the sun hot? Is the Pope Catholic? Is Bo Sanchez handsome? Of course I want to get well. Goodness, are you blind, Jesus? Isn’t it pretty obvious? When you were a kid, I was already lying here. Before you were born, I was already lying here. I’ve been stuck here for 38 years. My gosh, why wouldn’t I want to get well?”


       But Jesus asked that question because he knew human nature. 


Let me shock you: Suffering people are ambivalent. Torn. Confused. Conflicted. Two-minded. 


Many sick people aren’t sure if they want to get well. Many poor people aren’t sure that they want to get rich. Many problematic people aren’t sure that they want all their problems to be solved. Many abused wives aren’t sure if they want to get rid of their abusive husbands.


       It’s crazy, but true. 


       How do you know if someone is ambivalent? If he gives excuses for not doing what he’s supposed to be doing.


       That’s what the paralyzed guy did. He said, “I can’t, sir, for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.” (The people there believed that the pool was miraculous.)


Believe me, I’ve heard the line, “I can’t…” a million times already. I hear it from suffering people who seemingly want to get out of their suffering—but don’t. After saying “I can’t…” they’ll give their excuses.


       Let me give you one example…


 “I Can’t Because…”


I’ve talked to a number of jobless people. Here are the actual statements I heard from them…


o   “I can’t find a job because there are so many others looking for a job.”
o   “I can’t find a job because I don’t know anyone…”
o   “I can’t find a job because I don’t know how to make a bio-data.”
o   “I can’t find a job because I have no one to accompany me.”
o   “I can’t find a job because it’s so hot these days and I’m allergic to the heat.”
o   “I can’t find a job because I lost my cellphone.”
o   “I can’t find a job because I don’t have anything nice to wear.”


       I repeat—Excuses are simply signs that they’re ambivalent. Bottomline, they don’t want a job. At least, they don’t want a job bad enough.


Here’s what I learned in life: If you want something bad enough, nothing much can stop you. Not a million other job applicants. Not the heat. Not the lack of a companion. Not the lack of a cellphone. Not the lack of nice clothes.


       Why are people ambivalent?


Two reasons…


Two Reasons For Ambivalence


       This seems insane—when a suffering person is not sure if he really wants to get out of his suffering or not.


       But there are 2 real reasons for this ambivalence…


1. Suffering Has Become Your Identity


       The paralyzed man had been paralyzed for 38 years. That’s a pretty long time. He saw himself as paralyzed. I bet he couldn’t see himself in any other way—until Jesus came along.


       For many people, their suffering becomes their Safe Zone. They’ve gotten used to the pain. And what is familiar is safe—no matter how painful that situation is.


       Listen to this statement from author Robin Sharma. The most dangerous place is your safe zone. If you want growth in your life, you have to get out of your safe zone. Because your safe zone is the place for dead people.


       At the root of all ambivalence is Fear. What kind of fear? The fear of the unknown.


       No matter how painful suffering is, at least we’re familiar with it. That suffering has become our identity. And once there’s an opportunity to get out of suffering, fear of the unknown grips our heart. Result? We become ambivalent.


       When I converse with the poor in slum areas, I cannot count the number of times I’ll hear these words, “I’m poor”; “We’re poor”; “My family is poor”… It’s a common refrain you’ll hear again and again.


Poverty has become their identity.


Many of them have gotten so used to it, if you give them an opportunity to leave poverty, they’ll not take it. Because they’re afraid at what will happen to them if they lose their identity of poverty.


Here’s my big question to you: What problem has become your identity? The man’s paralysis was his identity. So much so that his mat became his master. His problem ruled his life. His mat controlled him, not the other way around.


What is your Mat?


Jesus said, “Stand up and pick up your mat.” Don’t let that problem control you. Take control of your problem! Take charge of that sickness. Take charge of that debt. Take charge of that situation. Stand up!


       Here’s the second reason for ambivalence…


2. Suffering Has Become Your Income


       Problems have side benefits. Always.


       For the paralyzed man, his paralysis was the reason why he could earn a living as a BEGGAR. For 38 years, his paralysis put food on the table. No wonder Jesus asked him, “Do you want to get well?” In other words, Jesus was asking, “Hey Buddy, if you get well, you’re going to lose your income. You’ll have to change your career. Are you sure you want this?”


       This is a fact. We derive all sorts of income from our problems, not necessarily financial.


       I met a woman who was sick with hypertension, diabetes, allergies, and heart disease. And every year, she’d have a new sickness. She was going to different doctors almost every week, sometimes two or three times a week, for 12 long years. 


       After talking to her, I realized she was such a lonely person. She had no real family around her. And here’s my suspicion: She likes getting sick. The only time someone talks to her, or listens to her, or holds her hand, or touches her arm, is when she is sick. Her 6 doctors, all the nurses, and the clinics’ receptionists have become her small community. 


       Believe me, she’ll never get well. Unless she finds an “income-replacement”. (I invited her to join me at the Feast each week. So she’ll find a new community there!)


       Here’s my question to you: What income do you get from your suffering? Identify your income. And identity your “income-replacement”. If you don’t, you’ll always have ambivalence. Fear of the unknown will always hold you back.


       Today, I’d want to give you the three steps to get out of your paralysis, three steps to get out of your suffering…


3 Things To Do To Get Out Of Suffering


Are you paralyzed by your problem now?


There’s hope. You can get of your paralysis. You can pick up your mat and walk.


Here’s how…


1. Remove Ambivalence


       Every week at our Feast, I ask people to lift up their list of dreams written in their Novena to God’s Love. (We give this Novena to all first timers for free.)


       Why do I encourage people to pray for their dreams daily?


       Here’s why: Because Abundance is attracted to Clarity. 


Not Ambivalence.


       You need to be very clear with what you want. Let the question of Jesus reverberate in your heart.  He asks you, “Do you really want to get well? Do you really want to get out of your suffering? What do you really, really, REALLY want?”


Abundance Will Give Her Heart To
Someone Who Really Wants Her

Abundance is like a beautiful woman, waiting for the right suitor to win her heart.


Mister Ambivalence shows up at her doorstep, but looks terrible. He’s wearing an old pair of shorts and an ugly shirt. And he smells. He hasn’t taken a bath for a week. It’s clear he hasn’t come to court her. 


When Lady Abundance opens the door, he looks at her and says, “Miss, you look interesting.  I think I like you. But I really don’t know. You see, I’m in a complicated relationship with another girl right now. Her name is Poverty and she’s a real pain in the neck.  But I’m not ready to give her up just yet.”


What will Lady Abundance do? She’ll tell him, “Bye!” and shut the door. She’ll drive him away.


And then Mr. Clarity arrives. He looks dashing in a tie. He smells fresh. And he has a red rose in his hand. He says to her, “People told me you were lovely, but gosh, you take my breath away.   This might be too fast, but I have to tell you what’s in my heart. No, I don’t expect you to answer me today, or tomorrow, or next week, or next month. It doesn’t matter. I will wait. But I need to tell you that I will pursue you with all my heart until the ends of the earth. And I have to ask this question in Tagalog… Bangin ka ba?” (Are you a pit?)


Miss Abundance asks, “Why?”


“Nahuhulog ako sa iyo.” (I’m falling for you.)


What do you think will Miss Abundance do? You can bet she’ll be more attracted to Mr. Clarity than Mr. Ambivalence.


Do you want to get out of your suffering? Do you want to get out of your paralysis?


Remove ambivalence. Be unstoppable.


And you’ll get out of your suffering.


Here’s the second step…


2. Restore Authority


       The paralyzed man thought that healing came from the pool. The superstition was that the first person to jump into the water when it starts moving would be healed. 


       So far, for 38 years, he’s not been healed. Why? First of all, no one offers to carry him to the pool. Second, he’s never the first guy to dive in when the water bubbles up.


But Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!” In other words, Jesus said, “Forget the pool. Forget about waiting for someone to carry you to the pool. You don’t need the pool. Stop waiting. The power isn’t in the pool. The power is in you.”


       Let me say that again: The power is in you!


       So many people look for power elsewhere. They believe that the solution to their problems depends on someone else. 


They wait for the government to help them. They wait for Mommy and Daddy to solve their problems. They wait for a friend to rescue them. They wait for their boss to promote them.


But unless you understand that the location of the power is within you—you won’t get out of your suffering.


       Jesus said, I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. (Mark 11:23)


       You can change the topography of your situation. God has given you the Authority to command the mountain of your problems to move!


       When you believe that the power is within you, you become unstoppable.


And finally, the third step to get out of suffering…


3. Repeat Action


       Psalms 23 says, Even though I walk through the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me. (Psalms 23:4)


       Face it. There are many valleys in our lives.  Many places of suffering.


But I love this Psalm because it says that we don’t stay in the valley. We don’t sit in the valley. We don’t stand in the valley. We don’t sulk in the valley…


We walk through the valley.


       I love the illustration of walking because walking is a repeated action. Walking is putting one foot in front of the other foot. If you want to get out of suffering, you have to keep on doing the right thing again and again until you walk out of the valley.


          Jesus told the paralyzed man, “Walk.”
For 38 years, this guy has never walked. He was rusty. I can imagine how clumsy it must have been at the start.


His toothpick legs were wobbly.  Shaky. Unbalanced.  People probably held him up so that he wouldn’t fall. But he took that first wobbly step. And he took another step. And another… Until he walked out of his suffering.


To walk out of your suffering, you have to keep on doing the right thing again and again.


Are you jobless right now? Do the right thing again and again until you walk out of the valley. Keep developing yourself. Keep training yourself. Keep applying. 10 companies, 20 if necessary.   Don’t stop. Soon, you’ll walk out of the valley.


Are you buried in debt? Do the right thing again and again until you walk out of the valley. Don’t borrow again. Keep paying your debts. Keep living simply. Don’t stop. Soon, you’ll walk out of the valley.


Be Unstoppable


Let me repeat my big question to you: Are you unstoppable?


       The reason why you don’t have what you say you want is because you don’t want it bad enough.


       You say you want a strong relationship with your kids. But do you want it bad enough, you’ll do anything to make it happen? Like spending more time with them? Like giving up golf, TV, computers, games—so you could hang out more with your kids? Do you want it bad enough that you’re willing to humble yourself before your kids to ask forgiveness from them?


       You say you want to become wealthy.   But do you want it bad enough? Will you live simply so you can invest every month? Will you be willing to sell and be rejected? Will you get training? Will you read the right books, attend the right seminars, and seek out the right mentors?


       You say you want to be healthy. But do you want it bad enough? Will you do anything to achieve it? For example, will you eat the best nutritious food? Will you walk everyday?


       Remove ambivalence.


       Be clear with what you want.


       Be unstoppable.


       And walk out of the valley.


       May your dreams come true,


       Bo Sanchez