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 -