Black Angel

For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish,
disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures,
living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
But after that the kindness and love of
God our Saviour toward man appeared,
Not by works of righteousness which we have done,
but according to his mercy he saved us,
by the washing of regeneration,
and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Which he shed on us abundantly
through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
That being justified by his grace,
we should be made heirs
according to the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:3-7

No luck... the weather did not permit the launching of the space shuttle...
but not the picture taking. (Jellus is in green & white shirt beside me)

Orlando, Florida... our summer getaway! Together with our friends, the Madrids, the Aspirases, the Espinosas and the Doromals, vacation was made more fun. One day, we decided to make a side trip to Titusville, home to the Kennedy Space Center, to watch the launching of a space shuttle. I really did not care too much about it, but since everyone else thought that this might be the only chance to witness an event like this, then off we went... packed lunches and all, we drove a little over an hour. Parking was not easy to find, people scurried towards the water's edge for a perfect spot to watch that shuttle leave earth. Even in the humid summer heat, everyone, young and old, was eagerly waiting... waiting... waiting... until the announcement came off a loudspeaker from somewhere.... "NASA has canceled the launch because of the bad weather..." Suddenly, rain poured so hard, everyone was rushing to their vehicles... and so ended our launch watch, in vain. But the reflection to this blog's passage from the the Holy Book is not the failed shuttle launch...

In the midst of all the hustle and bustle, an older man, dressed in a shiny black gown and wings, pretending to be a 'black angel', was busy telling passers by how Christians are like cannibals... eating Jesus' body and drinking His blood. And Jellus (Espinosa) being Jellus, who could not just keep still, spoke his mind. He reminded the guy, "it's not real body nor real blood..." until one of the other kids started pulling him away lest a big debate might ensue. I walked away from the guy mumbling how stupid he was. Jellus, as young as he might be, was trying to defend his faith... why didn't I, and the rest of the other Christians who were there?

According to Father Bill, eating His body and drinking His blood, is a "metaphor of something bigger". When Jesus referred to the bread and wine as His flesh and blood, He was also referring to the reality of Himself. He is real, as significant as the bread being broken and the wine being poured, He gave His body and blood so that you and I might live. We repay Jesus with our good deeds... but is this enough?... or is standing up for our faith the better payment?

Only by His MERCY and GRACE are we all saved!... I have HOPE!

- no angel -

Repentance and Faith

"So I say to you:
Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks receives;
he who seeks finds;
and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

"Which of you fathers,
if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?
Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?
If you then, though you are evil,
know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will your Father in heaven
give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
Luke 11:9-13

I was out of work when I discovered blogging. I would sit in front of my computer with my thoughts running wild. I would start hitting the keys and in no time, a blog is published. I was constantly at it when suddenly our cousin's, Ting's, husband, Lyndon, passed away. An active and supposedly healthy man in his early 40's, betrayed by a heart attack. With heavy hearts, Bong and I immediately went to Saginaw to console Ting and her 2 little girls. The house was already packed with friends and my head was heavy and aching. Inday Ling asked one doctor friend to check on me. After checking my blood pressure, she announced that it was too high. After that, I found myself being seated on the bigger couch and surrounded by at least five doctors, who were also visiting. I hear scrambling... and soon, a pill was put under my tongue. More BP tests... 'tachycardia', I remember hearing but not understanding. Later an ambulance came for me and I was brought to the ER. At the hospital, I was made to undergo a lot of tests... blood tests, ECG, stress test, ultrasound, etc. All the results came back good. That was a relief. There was nothing wrong with me... contrary to what I was feeling. Back home, I went to see my doctor and he told me that I was alright but because of the incident, he prescribed for me a blood pressure pill in a very small dose. Still, everyday was a struggle. Even blogging was not enjoyable anymore. I was always anxious which resulted to a rise in my BP and a fast heart rate (I learned that tachycardia means a heart rate > 120/minute)... I was nervous. Lyndon's death was a reminder that it is anybody's time to go anytime and I was afraid for mine. I realized that no medicine can cure me. I have to cope with my own distress. Before I retire in the evening, Bong would pray over me. I asked brothers and sisters to pray for me and they did. I called my Tita Clavel in California and told her about my illness and she would constantly call me back and comfort me with her wise words... she also prayed for me everyday. I put all my trust in God as I prayed everyday. I have turned to the ultimate healer... God. Now, after a couple of months, I am proud to say that I am so much better... no more anxiety attacks and still praying that no more of it anymore, at all. When friends ask how I am, I tell them, "miraculously, I am healed". My faith has once again saved me and here I am blogging once more. PRAISE the Lord!

- no Angel -

War of Words

Therefore consider the members of your earthly body
as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed,
which amounts to idolatry.
For it is because of these things that
the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience,
and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.
But now you also,
put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander,
and abusive speech from your mouth.
Do not lie to one another,
since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices,
and have put on the new self
who is being renewed to a true knowledge
according to the image of the One who created him--
Colossians 3:5-10

I do not have TFC (the Filipino channel) but our cousin, Rose, in Saginaw has. That is probably the only channel they watch all day. Being in Saginaw for the weekend, I got a chance to watch some Filipino shows. I even attended mass on TV, where in his sermon, Fr. George Gomez touched the subject of warring factions of some showbiz plastic surgeons. In order to promote her business, Belo commented on live TV, "If you want to look like Boy Abunda, go to Dr. Manny Calayan. If you want to look like Piolo Pascual, come to Dr. Vicky Belo". Was that really necessary? Even if it was intended to be a joke, the words were spoken and people were hurt. These things that come out of our mouths, we can never put back in. There is no such thing as unspeaking what was already spoken. This is precisely the reason why I choose to keep my mouth shut whenever I am angry. Instead, I wait for my calm to set in, so then can I choose the right words to say to confront my tormentor. But real beauty radiates from the inside. If you feel that your looks need 'fixing', the one best surgeon to call is God Himself. It is painless and it is free!

God is GOOD!

- no Angel -

Meet Missy

And we know that God causes all things to work together
for good to those who love God,
to those who are called according to His purpose.
For those whom He foreknew,
He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son,
so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;
and these whom He predestined, He also called;
and these whom He called, He also justified;
and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
What then shall we say to these things?
If God is for us, who is against us?
He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all,
how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?
Who will bring a charge against God's elect?
God is the one who justifies;
who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died,
yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God,
who also intercedes for us.
Who will separate us from the love of Christ?
Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine,
or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Just as it is written,
"FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG;
WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED."
But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer
through Him who loved us.
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life,
nor angels, nor principalities,
nor things present, nor things to come,
nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing,
will be able to separate us from the love of God,
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:28-39

Missy is the youngest of Gene's and Wang's girls. She was born with Spina Bifida which resulted to her having Hydrocephalus. So as a newborn, water had to be drained out from her brain through a little incision in the head. Water drained and the incision stitched closed, they started to lovingly call her Missy... or is it spelled May-Si? With humor and a lot of love, Wang explained that it was really short for 'may sinulid sa ulo' (Filipino for with thread in the head).... get it?

How can a mother find something funny about a serious ailment of a daughter she just gave birth to, and which could alter her life forever? Instead of anger and resentment, she chose to rejoice and to love. Instead of sulking and crying over life's misery, she thanked God for her strength. She takes each day with a new thing to be happy about... for really, nothing can separate us from the love of God.... and JESUS is the proof.

- no Angel -

Wang & Gene

And He said to His disciples,
"For this reason I say to you,
do not worry about your life,as to what you will eat;
nor for your body, as to what you will put on.
"For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.
"Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap;
they have no storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them;
how much more valuable you are than the birds!
"And which of you by worrying
can add a single hour to his life's span?
"If then you cannot do even a very little thing,
why do you worry about other matters?
"Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin;
but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory
clothed himself like one of these.
"But if God so clothes the grass in the field,
which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace,
how much more will He clothe you?
You men of little faith!
"And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink,
and do not keep worrying.
"For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek;
but your Father knows that you need these things.
"But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you.
Luke 12:22-31

Wang and Gene moved to Michigan after a couple of years of comfortably living in Ohio. Being already members, they joined our CFC group and automatically blended in. One happy normal family... Gene works full time as an IT professional while Wang takes care of the home and their three beautiful girls. Their joyful outlook made everyone at ease and they instantly were part of our little prayer family.

The youngest of the girls was born in the Philippines with spina bifida ... don't ask me, I am not in the medical field, but I believe it has something to do with her spine. She survived a lot of medical treatments. She is now six years old and goes to school, to a special school. She is paralyzed from waist down. Wang takes care of her daily personal needs. Gene carries her everywhere they go. This might be what they will be doing for the rest of their lives yet they have kept on living normal and happy lives. They depend on God's love for them so that everyday is not a struggle but a celebration.

Wang has a contagious laugh and every time I hear it, I am reminded that worry should not have any place in my heart.... instead, FAITH shall be my shield and everything shall be added unto me.

- no Angel -

GOD LIVES UNDER THE BED

The following is a message that my friend, Charles, forwarded to me in an e-mail. I deem this story worth sharing to the followers of this blog.

I envy Kevin. My brother, Kevin, thinks God lives under his bed. At least that's what I heard him say one night. He was praying out loud in his dark bedroom, and I stopped to listen, 'Are you there, God?' he said. 'Where are you? Oh, I see. Under the bed...'

I giggled softly and tiptoed off to my own room. Kevin's unique perspectives are often a source of amusement. But that night something else lingered long after the humor. I realized for the first time the very different world Kevin lives in.

He was born 30 years ago, mentally disabled as a result of difficulties during labor. Apart from his size (he's 6-foot-2), there are few ways in which he is an adult.

He reasons and communicates with the capabilities of a 7-year-old, and he always will. He will probably always believe that God lives under his bed, that Santa Claus is the one who fills the space under our tree every Christmas and that airplanes stay up in the sky because angels carry them.

I remember wondering if Kevin realizes he is different.. Is he ever dissatisfied with his monotonous life?

Up before dawn each day, off to work at a workshop for the disabled, home to walk our cocker spaniel, return to eat his favorite macaroni-and-cheese for dinner, and later to bed.

The only variation in the entire scheme is laundry, when he hovers excitedly over the washing machine like a mother with her newborn child.

He does not seem dissatisfied. He lopes out to the bus every morning at 7:05, eager for a day of simple work.

He wrings his hands excitedly while the water boils on the stove before dinner, and he stays up late twice a week to gather our dirty laundry for his next day's laundry chores.

And Saturdays - oh, the bliss of Saturdays! That's the day my Dad takes Kevin to the airport to have a soft drink, watch the planes land, and speculate loudly on the destination of each passenger inside. 'That one's goin' to Chi-car-go! ' Kevin shouts as he claps his hands. His anticipation is so great he can hardly sleep on Friday nights. And so goes his world of daily rituals and weekend field trips.

He doesn't know what it means to be discontent. His life is simple. He will never know the entanglements of wealth of power, and he does not care what brand of clothing he wears or what kind of food he eats. His needs have always been met, and he never worries that one day they may not be.

His hands are diligent. Kevin is never so happy as when he is working. When he unloads the dishwasher or vacuums the carpet, his heart is completely in it. He does not shrink from a job when it is begun, and he does not leave a job until it is finished. But when his tasks are done, Kevin knows how to relax. He is not obsessed with his work or the work of others. His heart is pure.

He still believes everyone tells the truth, promises must be kept, and when you are wrong, you apologize instead of argue. Free from pride and unconcerned with appearances, Kevin is not afraid to cry when he is hurt, angry or sorry. He is always transparent, always sincere. And he trusts God.

Not confined by intellectual reasoning, when he comes to Christ, he comes as a child.. Kevin seems to know God - to really be friends with Him in a way that is difficult for an 'educated' person to grasp. God seems like his closest companion.

In my moments of doubt and frustrations with my Christianity, I envy the security Kevin has in his simple faith. It is then that I am most willing to admit that he has some divine knowledge that rises above my mortal questions. It is then I realize that perhaps he is not the one with the handicap. I am. My obligations, my fear, my pride, my circumstances - they all become disabilities when I do not trust them to God's care.

Who knows if Kevin comprehends things I can never learn? After all, he has spent his whole life in that kind of innocence, praying after dark and soaking up the goodness and love of God. And one day, when the mysteries of heaven are opened, and we are all amazed at how close God really is to our hearts, I'll realize that God heard the simple prayers of a boy who believed that God lived under his bed. Kevin won't be surprised at all!

When you read this, say a prayer. That's all you have to do. There is nothing attached. This is powerful.

FRIENDS ARE ANGELS WHO LIFT US TO OUR FEET WHEN OUR WINGS HAVE TROUBLE REMEMBERING HOW TO FLY.

- no Angel -

Fireproof

'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD
‘plans for welfare and not for calamity
to give you a future and a hope.
'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 search for Me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:11-13

I am not a big movie fan so when Bong invited me to watch a rented movie with him, I was not at all enthusiastic, especially with the title "Fireproof". 'Nah, I don't want to watch some show that will just upset me', I told him. But due to his insistence, I did watch and I do not regret it.

The movie was not at all about fires and the misery that go with them. It was about a married couple who were on the verge of a divorce. Through the husband's caring father and the lessons that he taught him, at the end all went well... but it almost did not. The father's 40-day guide for him included a day devoted to prayer which he skipped at first because he thought that was not relevant. But when the realization of God's love was upon him, he started to believe and pray... and everything else fell into place.

God comes to us when we truly SEEK Him.

- no Angel -

Cha Ching $$$

But when the fullness of the time came,
God sent forth His Son,
born of a woman, born under the Law,
so that He might redeem those who were under the Law,
that we might receive the adoption as sons.
Because you are sons,
God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying,
"Abba! Father!"
Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son;
and if a son, then an heir through God.

Galatians 4:4-7

My mind was somewhere else. I was now next in line at the check-out counter. The grocery was not that busy, I did not have to wait long. The cashier, I thought, was a very pretty girl, and taking care of the purchases of this older man in front of me, they were engaged in a pretty heated argument. I easily caught up with what they were talking about. The old man, feeling a responsibility of educating the young, was saying how we should be thankful to God for all the blessings that we receive from Him everyday. The girl was angry. My chin dropped when her mouth opened, "I don't believe in God!"... suddenly, I cannot find the beauty that I just saw a while ago. The poor old man, hurt and furious, picked up his bags. But before he left, he managed to calmly tell the girl, "I was soldier. I went to war and I met many other soldiers. Some of them were like you... they did not believe. But in the end, hurt and dying, they call on God. And guess what?... I believe that God took them back."

We are entitled to the kingdom... we are His HEIRS.

- no Angel -

Foolishness

For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived,
enslaved to various lusts and pleasures,
spending our life in malice and envy,
hateful, hating one another.
But when the kindness of God our Savior
and His love for mankind appeared,
He saved us,
not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness,
but according to His mercy,
by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
so that being justified by His grace
we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:3-7

My daughter left a little book on the dining table entitled "Heidegger". She borrowed it from the Riverview library for one of her classes... maybe Philosophy. She reads a lot of books. some of them I also read. Seeing the book, I was curious. The first chapter read "An Ontology of Ourselves"... wooohh... big word. Then there's hermeneutic... this book is really too much for a little mind like mine. Well, that did not prevent me from googling such big words. On Christian biblical hermeneutics, Wikipedia states 'it has become increasingly common, at least in academia, to read Scripture just like any other writing, though precisely what that means is not without dispute.' My issue is: What is there to dispute about the Scripture? Faith is all we need... and lo and behold, Scripture becomes like a movie... there are things you don't get and there are things you do... and at the end, there is the 'aha!' moment.

The "Ten Commandments" being displayed in government property, especially in the courthouse... now, that is the dispute... the simple truth versus the arrogance of man. The commandments, as they are in the scriptures do not need scholars in order to be understood. And no matter how one says he can be good without having to believe that there is a God, comes back to the same question: What is the basis of good and not good?... and then it goes back to the same answer: God.

Even in all our foolishness, God, in His loving mercy, sent Jesus so that we can BE SAVED.

- no Angel -

What It Means To Be A Christian

Therefore if anyone is in Christ,
he is a new creature;
the old things passed away;
behold, new things have come.
2 Corinthians 5:17

"20 Things You Did Not Know About Fat" is the last article in the Discovery magazine that I was reading.
Fact#11 - "The total number of fat cells in your body remains constant once you reach adulthood. Even after radical weight-loss procedures... " and then they come back.
Fact#12 - "... Liposuction is the only way to actually reduce the number of fat cells... Diet and exercise just shrink them."

I ADMIRE a beautiful lean body... flat belly, sculptured chin, firm arms, legs not logs... and the health benefits that go with it. And then... Boom! That was quite a revelation. From a distance, I will just have to watch these ladies in skimpy bikinis. The doctor said, "10 more pounds to lose and maybe you'll get off your diabetes pills". Have I just accepted defeat? Is it useless to FOLLOW my dream to get that beautiful lean body now?

What has 'fat' got to do with the subject matter? Forget the 'fat'. Pay attention to the words in caps: ADMIRE and FOLLOW.
To admire is to regard with pleasure, wonder, and approval. If one has a high opinion of someone, he/she is said to be an admirer of that someone.
To follow someone is to accept that someone as a guide or leader. To be a follower, one has to accept the the leader's authority and be faithful to him/her.

Jesus Christ was made flesh to be among us. He was admired by kings and scholars. He was followed by fishermen. Should we just sit up on our throne and wow Him from afar?... or Are we willing to drop our nets and walk behind Him? We are all invited. The choice is ours. Admirer...or Follower.

Let us take up our cross and FOLLOW Him!

- no Angel -

Drama!

for, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord
and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead,
you will be saved.
For one believes with the heart and so is justified,
and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved.
For the scripture says,
"No one who believes in Him will be put to shame."
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek;
the same Lord is Lord of all,
enriching all who call upon Him.
Foe "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved".
- Romans 10:9-13 -

Life is full drama!

Dennis was my college boyfriend. If we were going on a date, he would pick me up at my house or at my Dad's shop downtown. But this one time, I was expecting him at home but he was expecting me to be at the shop. I was waiting and angry. He was waiting and angry. That was the last day of our relationship. Nobody was willing to accept who broke the promise.

Adam broke his promise to God by eating the forbidden fruit and was banished from Paradise, and so was all of mankind. Our relationship with God was smeared. But then, Jesus came. God handed over His only Son for us. The sinless took all the punishment for all our broken promises to God. Every time we sin, we break God's heart... we become unworthy of His love. Yet, He gave us Jesus in exchange for our worthlessness. The Lamb was slaughtered for our nothingness. Jesus is God's gift to us and who refuses a gift? Certainly, not me. How about you?

My Jesus will save me... iCONFESS.

- no Angel -

God Loves You!

For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son,
so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish
but might have eternal life.
For God did not send His Son into the world
to condemn the world,
but that the world might be saved through Him.
Whoever believes in Him will not be condemned,
but whoever does not believe has already been condemned,
because he has not believed in the only Son of God.
- John 3:18-18 -

Right after graduation from college, I was one of the lucky few to get hired by the then largest steel complex in Southeast Asia, National Steel Corporation. But that did not happen in a wink of an eye. Like the others, I was subjected to a battery of tests and interviews, the final being a panel interview by five(?) managers. Let me say that it was not the funnest thing to be in... tears, sweaty foreheads (and pits), escalated BPs, weak knees, deafening silence... all the works that spell N-E-R-V-O-U-S. To make the long story short, I got the job! NSC is in Iligan City, an overnight boat trip from Cebu, which was my home. I have never been away from home and it took a lot of adjustments on my part to be 'at home' in this new place. Being an Engineering Management Trainee (EMT) for the first two years of my employment was not easy either. It was a lot of hard work... sleepless nights doing projects, seemingly unending arguments defending the projects, constant fear of rejection at project implementations... all made comfortably normal by the friends that were made along the way. I got married to a fellow EMT, Bong, had children and got settled in a home that we built. We were living a very comfy lifestyle. Ten years, I quit my job, trimming our household income in half, trading my gray shirt jack for short pants and my brain for brawn (I do not mean muscle, I mean the paper towel). I became just MOM. I became unafraid of being left without a maid, I had all the time to take care of my house and my children. I drove them to and from school everyday. I brought them hot lunches to school and I ate with them. I did not miss PTA meetings. My daughter can even volunteer me to dance at the Christmas party because she was sure that I had time for practices. I put down my hard hat to watch my children grow. I sacrificed my very comfy life for a simple one. In other words, I traded my career for parenting. This is how I love my kids... I will die for them.

Without a doubt, in all His power and might, God could have saved His Son, Jesus, from death. Yet He gave Him up for His love for all of His other children, US, so that we can share the everlasting life with Him. God loves us! Just BELIEVE!

- no Angel -

Meekness is not a Weakness

In Him we have redemption by His blood,
the forgiveness of transgressions,
in accord with the richness of His grace that He lavished upon us.
In all wisdom and insight,
He has made known to us the mystery of His will
in accord with His favor that He set forth in Him
as a plan for the fullness of times,
to sum up all things in Christ,in heaven and on earth.
- Ephesians 1:7-10 -

My friend, Engie, just got back from his month long vacation to the Philippines. Our 'pasalubong' is a year-long supply of the daily bible reflections guide, Didache. I open the January guide and on the first page, in red letters, this word caught my attention : MEEKNESS. Meekness rhymes with weakness but one does not necessarily mean the other.

Meekness doesn't mean letting people step on you like a doormat. It is being like the door, open and welcoming so that you are understood.

Meekness is not allowing yourself to be trashed around, instead, it is by throwing that pride into the trash, you become more considerate.

Meekness is a collection of sensitive words that inspire, not a set of hurtful insults that provoke.

Meekness is the willingness to own a fault and be ready for change. It is not to cast blame and break relationships.

Everyday, we succumb to all sorts of things that bring out our weaknesses. And every moment that we give in to our weakness, we fail to show our love. If this was an ailment, God has provided for us the cure. Take it and share it. Accept and give FORGIVENESS.

- no Angel -

Stewards of His Gifts

It is the Lord's blessing that brings wealth,
and no effort can substitute for it.
- Proverbs 10:22 -

The Dead Sea can be found deep in the Jordan Valley. Many ancient texts and writings were discovered in the caves around and in it, including the famous Dead Sea Scrolls. The scrolls are said to contain some of the only known surviving copies of some biblical documents. Another sea that has a strong relationship to the Christian bible is the Red Sea. In Exodus, we read how Moses led the Israelite from the Egyptians across the parted Red Sea and into safety.

Although salty like the sea, the Dead Sea and Red Sea are both inland bodies of water and not part of the ocean, so by definition, are actually lakes. These two lakes have striking differences:

• The Dead Sea, as the name connotes, does not support marine life. Water supplied by the Jordan River with all the nutrients get deposited there. It has no way out and only evaporation maintains its level. This has prevented fish and plants from living in it because the salt concentration just keeps on growing.
  
• The Red Sea on the other hand, is very alive. It is the habitat of over 1,000 animal species and 200 soft and hard corals. The main reason for the better development of marine life is the efficient water circulation pattern. The Red Sea water mass exchanges its water with the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean via the Gulf of Aden.

Our challenge: Shall we remain oblivious to the needs of others and remain lifeless like the Dead Sea?... or are we willing, like the Red Sea, to share what we have been blessed with and be alive once more?

- no Angel -

Nothing is Impossible

Remain in me, as I remain in you.
Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own
unless it remains on the vine,
so neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine, you are the branches.
Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit,
because without me you can do nothing.
Anyone who does not remain in me
will be thrown out like a branch and wither,
people will gather them and throw them into the fire
and they will be burned.
If you remain in me and my word remain in you,
ask for whatever you want
and it will be done for you.
- John 15:4-7 -

There was a visiting priest from India in our parish, St. Cyprian. He had this story to tell... A bishop was summoned to Rome to be in the pope's staff. Before he left, one of his friends, a couple, asked if he could light a candle for them in the Basilica. Not being blessed with any after years of marriage, having children was their fervent prayer. So, that was what the bishop did when he got to Rome. After many years of serving the pope, he went home to India. Visiting his couple friends, he found out that God had answered their prayers. The mother, looking very tired, was holding a baby in her arms while a toddler was tugging at her skirt. Two little girls were fighting over a doll while a playful little boy was jumping all over the couch. When the bishop couldn't find the husband, he asked. The wife replied, "he's on his way to Rome". And seeing the surprise in the bishop's face, she continued, "he's going there to put off the candle that you lighted for us". The point of the story is: there is nothing impossible with God. Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find.... and be careful what you ask for. Have FAITH.

- no Angel -

His Plan

For I know well the plans I have for you, says the Lord,

plans for your welfare, not for woe!

plans to give you a future full of hope.

When you call me, when you go to pray to me,

I will listen to you.

When you look for me, you will find me.

Yes, when you seek me with all your heart,

you will find me with you, says the Lord,

and I will change your lot;

I will gather you all together from all the nations

and all the places to which I have banished you,

says the Lord,

and I will bring you back to the place which I have exiled you.

- Jeremiah 29:11-14 -

I was heavy with my youngest child when Bong and I attended the Christian Life Program of the Couples for Christ. Since then, CFC became our way of life. Coming to the U.S. when that child was already 9, we found ourselves in unfamiliar territory... no friends, no family nearby, no household prayer meetings, no CFC brethren. But it did not take very long until we found new friends and reconnected with old friends that were now living in nearby Canada. Frequent phone calls to family closed the gap. Soon, the kids were comfortable in their new surroundings and this new place became home. Yet, there was still a longing that we needed to satisfy. We searched and searched and searched. Calls were made, e-mails exchanged, still the void remained unfilled... we almost gave up. Suddenly, after seven years of seeking, our new little CFC household was formed. Four old CFC members who were complete strangers brought together by the same faith, gathered together by the same God. Today, the family of four couples has grown into ten. He listened to our prayers. We have found what we were seeking. This is His plan and we will continue to go where His plans take us. Our future is full of HOPE!

- no Angel -

Lead to the Water

Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer,The Holy One of Israel;
I, the Lord your God,teach you what is for your good,
and lead you on the way you should go.
If you would hearken to my commandments,
your prosperity would be like a river,
and your vindication like the waves of the sea;
Your descendants would be like the sand,
and those born of your stock is like grains,
their names never cut off
or blotted out from my presence.
- Isaiah 48:17-19 -

We discuss a lot of different things at dinner time. One evening, my daughter told me that one of her friends is agnostic. As a parent of already grow-up children, I try my best to let them be their own person, hoping that what we have taught them during their growing-up years are never forgotten. Everyday I worry about their travel from home to school and vice versa, I worry about the temptations that might come before them and how they react to them, I worry about their safety, I constantly worry about everything and anything. It never occurred to me that their faith was something to worry about. As our discussion progressed, it became clear to me that, as smart as she is, the condition of her faith is very fragile. As my husband, Bong, would tell me, "we can lead them to the water but we cannot force them to drink". It breaks my heart, but I have stopped waking her up on Sundays for church, but on some Sundays that she decides to come with us, she is always welcome and my heart rejoices. My prayers comfort me. My prayers will lead her to the water and let her drink it. My prayers give me assurance... that her name shall never be cut off or blotted out from His presence. iPray.

- no Angel -

Present

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.
As high as the heavens are above the earth,
so high are my ways above your ways
and my thoughts above your thoughts.
- Isaiah 55:8-9 -

The days following the holidays were lazy days. Call us couch potatoes, but my family and I would just curl up on the couch and watch movies all day. One of the movies we watched was "Kung Fu Panda". It is a story of a panda who was to become a hero. But before he could become one, he had to train. It is one hilarious comedy with a few lessons in the background of the story. One that struck me was this, from his master (the tortoise): " Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift, that is why it is called present." While it is true that we have seen the past, we can never know the future because it is all up to God. If we do good today, we might have a better tomorrow. But if it doesn't turn out the way we want it to be, we know that He has His reasons. One thing is sure, everlasting life awaits us. Believe!

- no Angel -

God's Love

• Winter. From inside my house, where it is warm and toasty, I see God's canvass through the window. So white, so serene. The snow glistening under the brightness of the sun while the now lifeless trees sway softly with the wind. Little animal tracks on the thin white coating on the pavement tell me that there is life outside. But the sun sets quickly. The moonlight shines and the snow shines back. The nights are longer yet they are much brighter than all the other nights. Then the coldness of the season turns bleak and soon wears us out. We look forward to...
• Spring. The tulips never fail me. By my kitchen door, where the grass do not grow anymore because of the rocks that cover the soil, each spring, these red and yellow tulips bloom. Not born with green thumbs, I want to believe that they bloom for me, made perfect by God's loving hands. Then I see my friend squirrel jumping from the ledge of my deck to the tree that has started to grow some greens. The neighbor's children are now playing outside, the sound of their laughter and the chirp of the birds that has come home after the cold winter, together, is like music. Soon, everything becomes alive and it's time to cut the grass. It is still cold. We long for more warmth and sunshine. We look forward to...
• Summer. Picnics in the park. Camping in the woods. Swimming in the beach. Just having fun outdoors. The cold season is forgotten... welcome warm sunshine! The days become longer than the nights. Yet, it seems like there is so much more we want to do during the day that we don't want it to end. Then it becomes very hot. The bees take over our picnic tables. The trees has stopped dancing since the breeze that brings the music is gone. We sweat. We complain of the heat. We look forward to...
• Fall. The air starts to get cooler, a refreshing change after that very hot summer. We watch with excitement as the leaves change colors. The road once lined with green becomes vibrant with the different colors of autumn... gold, yellow, orange, brown, purple, magenta, red. Oh, what a sight! But then the leaves start to fall leaving us with so much to clean up day after day until all the leaves have fallen. And everything seems lifeless. We cannot wait for the whiteness of the snow to cover the lifelessness around. We look forward to... Rewind from the top.

For me, this is God's love. It is the life that He gave me, the excitement of each new season, the beauty of all His creations, the hope that each new day brings, the everlasting life that I look forward to...

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
John 3:16

- no Angel -

Snow Angel

How to make a snow angel:
- Be ready to go outside in the cold. Wear your heavy coat, scarf, mittens and hat.
- Once outside, find a nice spot on the snow covered ground where you want to make your snow angel. Lie down on your back.
- Swing your arms from above your head to down below your hips. Repeat a few more times.
- Together with your arms, move your legs sideways, away & together.
There, you have made a nice snow angel.... but what I really want to talk about is my own personal snow angel.

He works hard to feed his family. He goes to school to advance his knowledge, setting an example for his children. He prays often for all his loved ones and for those in need. He sees to it that all the vehicles are safe to drive for all his family members. He fixes the leaking faucets in the house. He puts out the trash when his son neglects to do so. He even does the household chores when his wife is sick, or just plainly lazy. Aside from the million other things he has to do, he still has time to clean after the snow. This is why he is a snow angel... not just mine, but the neighbor's too. And this is also why I am married to this angel. Thank God for snow angels!

- no Angel -

Faith & Reason

Not everything that can be counted counts;
Not everything that counts can be counted.
- Albert Einstein -

Faith and reason. What cannot be counted and what can. Faith cannot be quantified like Physics or Chemistry, but it surely counts. On the other hand, reason is the explanation that science offers and as significant as it may be, it does not touch on all the important questions that we face: Whom should I love? What should I hope for? What should I do? Science alone is not enough to answer such questions. We need both faith and reason working together to guide us everyday, both at home and at work.

We know Einstein for his his tousled hairdo and his famous equation: E = mc² . But for this scientist who has contributed so much to Physics, it was the little pocket compass that first stirred his quest for knowledge and discovery... that there is much more beyond this earth. What does it cost to stir yours?

- no Angel -

Helloooo New Header

Old header, created by amateur me.

Notice my new header... it's everything that I want it to be! Courtesy of my friend, backseat blogger of Ms. Randomness (also my remote bloggger). Even in the net, I meet an angel. Thank you, Mr. Randomness (can I call you that?).

- no Angel -

Falling and Rising

Sunday was the feast of the Baptism of Jesus. That was two days ago but still the voice of our pastor keeps ringing in my ears... "falling and rising, falling and rising". Thirty years after His birth, He was baptized in the river Jordan by His cousin, John, when the heavens opened and the Spirit came down like a dove to rest upon Him. Then the voice of the Father thundered: 'This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased' (see Mt 3:16-17). Thus, began His public ministry. Three years into His death, we see His falling and rising... rejected and praised, falling and rising... doubted and trusted, and finally falling and rising... crucified and resurrected.

Everyday, we experience the falling and rising rhythm... break up and make up, slipping away and coming back, sickness and good health, failure and success, tears and laughter, sadness and joy. But they are just sections of a bigger work of art that is life. Baptism is the first sacrament, a visible sign (water) of an invisible reality (Holy Spirit), we receive. As I remember my own baptism, I am also reminded that I follow Him who came BEFORE me... that every time I fall, I rise WITH Him... how grateful I am because He did it FOR me... He did it FOR you, too!


- no Angel-

I Heard

After a long list of blog titles that my husband, Bong, and I made, came a final decision: An Angel's Whisper it is! It is hard to explain why I thought and chose this title but maybe... maybe I heard an angel whisper. Hear ye! Hear ye!