Quickly Fading (version 2.0)

Only one life, 'twill soon be past,

Only what's done for Christ will last. -C.T. Studd

May tanong aq. Anung ginagwa mu ngaun? 

Madalas ito ang tinatanong ng mga kabataan kapag may katext sila. At syempre, sasagot naman si katext at sasabihing, "e2, nano2od ng tv habang nkahiga sa sofa", tapos with a smile pa =).

Ang tanong, ano nga bang ginagawa mo ngayon, kapatid, bago mo hawakan ang phone /computer mo at basahin ang sulating ito? At ano kaya ang gagawin mo pagkatapos mo itong basahin? We'll see.

Madaming kabataan ang nalilimutan kung gaano kahalaga at kaikli ang buhay. Minsan nga napapagtanto nalang ito kapag matanda na, kung kailan halos mahina na at nakalatay nalang sa kama. 

I tell you, life is really short. Sabi nga sa kanta ng Casting Crowns na Who Am I, "I am a flower quickly fading, here today and gone tomorrow..." Maaaring yang buhay na meron ka sa mundong ito ay mawala sa isang iglap lang. Hindi naman sa nananakot ako, pero dadating talaga yan. That's why Moses prayed to God in Psalm 90:12, "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." Dahil kapag alam natin kung gaano kaikli ang buhay, hindi natin ito sasayangin sa mga walang kwentang bagay tulad ng pagka-adik sa computer, pagsuway sa magulang, pagsisira sa katawan, pagiging tamad, pagpasok sa maling relasyon, atbp. But we will cherish every moment with our family and with every God-given people around us in love. We will make wise decisions and give our 100% in everything we do, especially for our Creator. Laging on-the-go for Him!

Kaya nga, habang malakas ka pa at kaya pang gawin ang maraming bagay, remember Who made you - the Living God. Honor Him while you are still young. (Ecclesiastes 12:1). He has a purpose for you, so don’t waste your life! 

Huwag ding kalimutang tumawa at ngumiti. May iba na araw-araw nalang nakasimangot at galit, kaya  naman ang mga tao ay takot lumapit. Life's too short to be grumpy, so enjoy life, love and be happy!

And the most important of all, LOVE the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind and your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37). Promise, wala kang pagsisisihan. Ang saya-saya kaya kapag love is in the air. As Henry Drummond said, “You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have truly lived are the moments when you have done in the spirit of love.” So the secret is “Do everything in love” (1 Cor. 16:14). 

Huwag nating sayangin itong buhay na ipinagkaloob sa atin. =)

I just want to share this lyric video of one of the new Christian artists this 2013, 1 Girl Nation. The title of the song is WHILE WE'RE YOUNG. This is a very great and uplifting song that encourages young people to live for Jesus while still young. Enjoy listening!

Waiting mode

Lack of patience can cause you to miss God's blessings.-biblestudytools.com

Isa sa mga pinakamahirap na gawin sa mundong ito ay ang maghintay. Gusto natin sa isang iglap lang, nasa atin na ang isang bagay. Kaya naman patok na patok sa mga tao ang technology because it makes everything faster than ever. 

Syempre, hindi matatawag na paghihintay ang isang bagay kung wala namang hinihintay. Ano-ano nga ba ang hinihintay ng karamihan? Marahil ito ay isang bagay na gustong gusto nating makuha, isang pangyayari na inaasam-asam o taong matagal ng hinihintay. Relate much?

Hangang-hanga ako sa mga nangingibang bansa noon dahil napakatiyaga nilang maghintay hindi lang sa end of contract ng kanilang trabaho maging sa paghihintay ng sulat galing sa kanilang mga minamahal. Yung tipong nagpadala ka ng Heart's day card on February 14 sa pamamagitan ng snail mail, tapos sa isang buwan o sa ikalawa pa darating. Minsan, ito ay nadi-delay pa. Ngunit kapag natanggap naman, hanep pa din sa sayang nadarama. Yun yung tinatawag na "it's worth the wait". 

Well, aminin man natin o hindi, we tend to rush everything in many other ways. Tandaan, kapag ang isang pakwan biniyak at kinain ng hindi pa hinog, hindi ito matamis at hindi masarap. Hindi na din ito nakakaenjoy kainin. Ganun din kapag pinipilit ang mga bagay na hindi pa napapanahon, gumugulo ang sitwasyon. Hindi na tuloy masaya.

"Life is a series of waiting", according to Ms. Beng Alba, the editor of my writing mentor. Everyday, we wait. But what should be our attitude toward waiting? Tingnan natin ang example ni Abraham. Dahil siya ay matiyagang naghintay, natanggap niya ang ipinangako sa kanya (Hebreo 6:15). It's about WAITING PATIENTLY. 

Ngunit, dahil nga karamihan sa atin ay mainipin, many times, we try to control things. We try to control situations and the people around us to get what we want. And when the outcome is not good, we complain to God. Sinisisi pa ang Diyos kahit tayo ang may gawa. But now, it's time to be patient. We can't control everything. Only God can, so let Him. Dahil kapag si Lord ang kumikilos sa ating buhay, laging sakto. He is ALWAYS on time. 

Kung ano man ang iyong hinihintay, I encourage you to wait upon the Lord first. Wait on His answer. And when He tells you what to do, wait on His timing.  And when it's time, take action and He will give it to you.

Here's poem made by a friend that exactly told what the feeling of waiting is and the thing that must do about it. Check it out. =)

Waiting 

by Scarlett

I don't know how much I can hold it
I don't know how much I can bear
But I know I will have it
And it doesn't matter where

Self-control is what I can do
Patience is what I can show
What I stand is that it is worth it
And it's all I know

I will not rush until the time is ripe
No matter how I endure
It is His time that's always right
It's my motive He makes pure

Heartbeat

Have you ever checked your heartbeat? Was it fast? Surely, if you are going to a doctor, he would know if it is healthy or not after some tests. But what we are going to talk about now is something deeper than that. 

If there is someone that we should first ask about our hearts, it is the Heart Expert. He's the One Who knows everything that flows inside it. He's the One Who formed our inmost being (Psalm 139:13a). He's none other than our Heavenly Father - GOD. He knows the condition of our hearts in every season of our lives. He knows exactly why we do a specific thing. 

"The Lord says: 'These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.' Isaiah 29:13.

A heart far from God is so dry and empty. It is like a lake that has no water in it. It is vain and can't help those who want to drink to ease their thirst. Where's the flow of love and joy?

What's the use?

I wasn't exempted from experiencing this one. I have also come to the point that I was doing this and that and got burned out. Honestly, I felt exhausted. I forgot the ultimate reason why I was doing those things. Everything became a burden to me and not a joy. That was really a terrible feeling. I could imagine the face of Jesus when He was looking at me during those times. I knew He was sad.  Then I realized this: One of the saddest part in life is when you miss to honor your Maker and do His will. 

In this new world, men live only to gain popularity, honor and praises from other men. What a vain goal in life!

Then I recalled this Scripture verse: "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men" Colossians 3:23.

Working in the kingdom is important, but don't forget to be genuine in heart toward God while serving Him. Sometimes we get so busy for work, ministry and many other things in this world, but miss the whole point - glorifying God in all we do in love.  

Remember, we are here because God created us for Him alone. I know some of you don't like the fact that we owe everything to Him. But that's the TRUTH. Though we have so many mistakes and tend to be far from Him, He has given us everything, an undeserved grace, His unending love - His precious Son, Jesus. That's why He deserves our ALL. 

Whenever I feel down, He always reminds me of His love and it brings me to my knees again and again. I can't help, but feel loved and humbled even though I don't deserve it. And that love keeps me going.

When we do all things for Him heartily, even when washing the dishes, finishing school assignments, talking to people, singing songs, serving Him in the ministry, we'll feel a greater joy, peace and love that can't be expressed in words. Isn't that amazing?

So let us always check the beat of our hearts. The most important thing to God is not our empty words and works, but a heart that always beats for Him. And to remind us, this GOD IS THE REASON FOR EVERY HEARTBEAT.

Stress Reliever

"Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habit. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny." -Lao Tzu





That night was was so peaceful as I lay in my bed looking at the window. The silence was overwhelming. Then all of a sudden, I imagined myself opening the window and right away, I flew up in the sky.

I felt the cold wind kissing my lips as I fly rapidly all over the city. I imagined myself flying through the white clouds. For the first time in my entire life, I saw the moon and the stars smiling and shining near my very eyes. I also saw the oblivious people walking around the city not knowing that there's someone flying around and watching them. It was full of adventure and emotions. 

Finally, when my imagination came to an end that night, I felt I was like a little child. But it was such a great experience flying around (I think it is everybody's dream to fly right?) because I was able to see the beauty of God's creation, even if it was only from my mind.

One way of easing your mind is thinking of good things, instead of excessively thinking of your struggles and fears. When you keep on thinking and dwelling on negative things like other's business (gossip), irritating co-worker, heartbreaking love life, difficult school paper, tons of pimples, past mistakes, current sickness, uncertain future or financial scarcity, you are just burning yourself out. Don't stress yourself with useless thinking. It won't do anything to solve them. In fact, it only affects your health badly.

According to Dr. Cindy Trimm, "You could change your thoughts because thoughts are the primary conduit of your reality.

The Bible says, "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things" (Philippians 4:8).

Things that are going around your mind are very important because they really affect the way you view life.

So if you want true peace of mind, go ahead and meditate on God's Word, ponder on God's beautiful creation just like what I did and lay down everything that causes you to be stressed at Jesus' feet.

Anong Gusto mong maging? Tatay Eric: A man of dreams and purpose

Throwback article. I wrote this for our Human Resource management magazine project, the KWADERNO magazine two years ago (2011) that featured my father, not knowing that his dream for our family would come true (agad-agad) the next year (2012). All thanks to our God! Part 2 of this article, SOON.

After asking all the members of our HR magazine team about what they want to be someday (we are talking about dream careers here), smiles came to their faces. Most of the members said, "I want to be a finance manager and a Chartered financial analyst." It wasn't surprising because our major is financial management. But what I've observed in this situation was that this kind of dream affects your entire life because your dreams give you a sense of hope to live life full of purpose.

Some people already knew what they want to be at the age of four, but others haven't discovered it yet until they are old. It follows no particular time frame. Inevitably, it may be simple or extraordinary, but it doesn't really matter because people were made to be different from each other.

Photo from Ptr. Naeem Callaway's Spiritual Inspiration

At an early age, my father already discovered his life's passion. He was interested in traveling and mechanical equipment. He dreamed to be a seaman someday to travel around the world. Strongly driven by his financially unstable life, he promised to himself that his life's situation would not be a hindrance to reach his dreams. From grade school to high school, he was a newspaper boy. Before the sun rises, he delivers newspaper to houses and earns a very small amount of money, but he strive even harder.

In college, he studied in Philippine Maritime Institute College, Manila and took marine transportation. Fortunately, after studying he became a seaman for many years. Amazingly, he was able to fulfill his dream to travel around the world and see many beautiful places.

I asked him, "How did you fulfill your dream career?" He said, "Simula pagkabata nakatatak na talaga ang pangarap ko sa aking puso't isip, hindi ito nawala and I achieved that by just focusing on it and trusting God." After fulfilling his dream, he decided to settle back in the Philippines and lived with his own family. But that's not the end of his successful career. Now, he works in an international company called Team Energy Corporation as a coal plant operator and continues to use his abilities and skills.

Did he stop dreaming? No. But what is his next step? He wants to go back abroad not just by himself, but he wants to take his family with him. He joyfully revealed, "I want to experience God's blessings and goodness to the fullest with my family. Hindi na ako ngayon nangangarap para lamang sa sarili ko, nangangarap na ako para ikagiginhawa ng buhay ng aking pamilya." That's why I call him a man of dreams and purpose.

This man's life story is just one of the thousands successful career stories in the world. Do you want to be one of them? If yes, DARE TO DREAM. DON'T GIVE UP, instead, TRUST GOD.

You, what do you want to be someday?

100 meter dash mode

Naranasan mo na bang sumali sa isang 100 meter dash? Kung hindi pa, nakapanood ka na ba ng paligsahang ito? Anong mapapansin mo? Hindi ba’t bawat manlalaro ay nagmamadaling tumakbo para makarating sa finish line? Madalas, ganito din ang mga kabataan ngayon pagdating sa buhay pag-ibig, parang laging nasa karera—nagmamadali.  

Mayroon akong nakakwentuhang isang nanay. Sabi niya, 17 years old daw siya nung sila’y nagsama ng kanyang boyfriend. Apat ang kanilang naging anak. Ngunit ngayon, sila’y hiwalay na dahil sa biglaan pag-iwan sa kanila nung lalaki. Simula noon, hindi na ito nagpakita sa kanilang mag-iina. Kitang kita ko ang galit sa mga mata ng nanay na ito sa kanyang dating ka-partner. Sobra siyang nasaktan maging ang kanilang mga anak. Nakakalungkot ang ganung pangyayari. Siguro napa-isip din siya na sana hindi nalang sila nagmadali. Napakaraming ganitong cases na ang aking nakinig dahil sa pagmamadali ng magkasintahan.

Ang iba naman ay kung ano-ano pang ginagawa para lang magka-BF/GF. Minsan, si babae pa ang gumagawa ng first move. Si lalaki naman, dahil estudyante pa lang, humihingi pa ng panggastos sa magulang para lang makipag-date. Gusto nyo ba talaga ay agad-agad? Hindi ba pwedeng maghintay muna sa tamang panahon at tao na nilaan talaga ng Diyos?

Ito yung 100 meter dash equation: Rush in love = Severe Heartache. Sobrang dami ng puso na ang nagkasugat-sugat dahil sa pag-aapura ng pagbibigay ng emosyon sa isang tao na hindi muna sinuri at pinanalanging mabuti. Yung iba, alam na hindi pa naman talaga panahon, sugod pa din sa maling relasyon at emosyon. Maraming makukulit kaya tuloy nasasaktan at napapahamak.

Isa sa mga paborito kong love team sa Bibliya ay ang tambalang Jacob and Rachel (Genesis 29:1-30). Jacob waited 14 years for Rachel. Napakatagal nun. Kung hindi siguro wagas ang pag-ibig ni Jacob para kay Rachel, hindi siya maghihintay ng ganun. Love is patient (1 Cor. 13:4). Hindi ito nag-aapura.

Sa totoo lang, alam na naman ng marami kung anong magiging resulta ng padalus-dalos sa pag-ibig, sakit sa puso (emotionally speaking). Apektado din nito ang ating hinaharap. The Bible says, "Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do" (Ephesians 5:17). Huwag maging mang-mang. Kung alam na mali, huwag ng gawin. Kapag sinabi ng Diyos at ng mga magulang o spiritual leaders na huwag muna, huwag muna.

May tamang panahon din para sa love life. Ang challenge ay matutong maghintay, unang una, sa Panginoon. Grow in love with the Lord first. Huwag sayangin ang buhay sa mga bagay na alam nating tama pero mali naman talaga. But make the most of your time to fully serve God in love.

Tandaan, ang buhay pag-ibig ay hindi katulad ng 100 meter dash na kailangang dali-dali. Manalanging mabuti at pagbulay-bulayan ang Salita ng Diyos upang malaman ang Kanyang kalooban. Hindi madaling maghintay. Nevertheless, let your heart be still and just be excited to His perfect plan. Di na dapat mag-alala dahil lagi namang may tamang panahon ang Diyos sa lahat ng bagay. Trust Him. At kapag alam na Niya na handang handa ka na, He’ll give you the “GO” signal.

God Chasers for teens Book Review

This book is full of God’s presence literally. As I read it throughout the night, I started to feel God’s presence also as if I was one of the people in the church in Houston. With the author’s clear description of the whole situation, I thought I was there too. He put an emphasis on knowing and chasing the real God. This book will prepare the young generations to fully experience mighty supernatural breakthroughs across the globe.

It teaches readers to seek God for Who He is and not for the blessings that they will receive from Him. Tenney emphasized that real hunger for God is totally running to Him no matter what.

Before I read this, there was a big question that was playing around my mind. I was wondering how the gospel will be spread around the world if it is full of satan’s dark schemes, if people’s heart have really grown cold and if everything in the world seems not right. I’d sadly say that I doubted Him. But as I went through the pages, God opened my eyes of what HE CAN DO. He was telling to me that night that surely there is nothing impossible for Him. God is active everywhere and He is saturating every land to come to His feet. His power is limitless and He wants everyone to experience it.

The book was full of true stories about how God moved mightily in unusual but powerful ways. As I kept on reading, the presence of God became stronger and my tears fell down on my cheeks in an uncontrollable manner. It gave me a desire to search and know Him more and to be with Him more in my everyday life. The author also showed that Christian walk is not a joke. It costs us our lives.

Each amazing event the author wrote was packed with supporting Scripture verses which helped me see that God’s works in the past are still happening today. Those Biblical truths also keep me in track with God’s voice. The “Chase in God prayer” reminded me to pray harder for God’s divine intervention in every people around me, in every community, in my country, in my church and family. In addition, I really like the “Catch phrase”. It keeps the readers remember what they have read every chapter in order to apply it in action.

Finally, God Chasers for teens addresses the readers to be world changers as they live a life full of God’s presence. I found this book really heart and soul touching. It shares a deeper passion for our Lord Jesus, a faith that can move mountains and a life that shares His presence to bring people to God’s Kingdom in an extraordinary way.

I strongly recommend this to all youth who want to have a deeper walk with God and who have a heart to saturate this generation with God’s presence. This book will certainly encourage us to be God chasers.

The chase is on!

Nakaraan

Mahirap kalimutan ang mga bagay na talagang nagdulot sa iyo ng kasiyahan lalo na't ang mga ito'y pinahalagahan mo ng lubusan. Ngunit kailangan mo ding tanggapin na ito ay pansamantala lamang at magiging alaala na lang ng nakalipas na pangarap at panahon o di kaya naman ay magiging bahagi na lang ng isang nakaraang hindi na maibabalik kailanman. Nais mo mang ibalik ngunit hindi na maaari sapagkat naganap na. Parang isang halamang nalanta sa gitna ng parang dahil sa sikat ng araw na kahit paulit-ulit nang diligan ay hindi na maibabalik ang nawalang buhay nito.

Lagi mong naiisip na sana'y maulit muli. Hindi mo namamalayang sa paglipas ng pahahon, ika'y nakukulong na ng lubusan sa mga rehas ng iyong nakaraan. Ang buhay ay napaka-ikli lamang kung iyong titingnan. Kung patuloy kang mamumuhay sa mga bagay na nakalipas na, hindi ka magiging ganap ng malaya't maligaya.

Habang lumilipas ang panahon, malalaman mo din ang sagot sa mga katanungan na patuloy na naglalaro sa iyong isipan dahil sa mga pasakit na iyong naranasan.. Patuloy kang nasasaktan sa tuwing ang mga ito'y pumapasok sa iyong isipan, ngunit dapat mong mapagtantuan na pagtanggap lamang ang kailangan upang makamtan mo ang tunay na kalayaan sa nakapangungulilang nakaraan.

Laging pakatandaan na ang lahat ay may kadahilanan kung bakit ito nangyayari na minsa'y mahirap maunawaan dahil sa mga matang nagbubulag-bulagan sa katotohanan. Nararapat lamang na ipagkatiwala sa Maykapal upang malaman at maranasan ang tunay na kaligayahan na nagtatagal at hindi mapapawi kailanman.

Kapatid, huwag mabuhay sa mga nakaraang nagiging hadlang upang mamuhay ka ng malaya. Isuko na sa Kanya yaong lahat ng mga bagay na matagal mo nang hinahawakan ng mahigpit. Makikita mo ang malayang pagkilos Niya sa buhay mo. Piliing maging malaya.

A Total Life Revised

Before my real encounter with Christ, I was already exposed in the Christian world even when I was still in my mother’s womb. Nanay said that during her pregnancy, she kept on playing Christian cassette tapes for me to listen even when I was inside her womb. My parents were already Christians before I was born and before they met each other. That calls me a kid who grew up in a Christian family and community. Because my parents were Christians, I thought I was too.  I was grade 2 at that time. Many times I heard the word “salvation” and John 3:16 from, but I didn't know what it really means. I also knew Jesus. I watched people praising Him every Sunday and I try to imitate what they were doing. I joined them in singing and clapping. I also attended Sunday schools in our church and even studied in a Christian school. But I did not understand. I think it’s because I only care about playing Chinese garter, piko and Barbie.

Moreover, it’s not so long when I accepted Jesus Christ as my Personal Savior and Lord. I was eight years old, and I won’t ever forget that day. Even now, I still can picture it in my mind. It was our devotion

in school. Our administrator preached every morning and that day was about salvation. After the preaching, he asked us to form a small group with a student from higher year. She helped us to pray and asked Jesus to forgive our sins and to be our personal Lord and Savior.

After that moment, there came a breakthrough in my life. I began to pray and I could feel His presence. There was something that was changed in my heart. At that same year, my teacher and I discovered that I could sing, but I never thought that I would be a song leader in our church in the future. And I am now. I realized, “Oh, that’s why God has given me this talent”. The next year, I became a member in the tambourine ministry. This was my first ministry at church. Joyfully, I was able to use those blessed experiences to teach dancing to children and youths.

During my high school and college days, I became more mature in my spiritual walk. God thought me so many things that until now, I’m still using them. He put leadership and writing in my heart. I also became passionate in helping others to grow in their spiritual life and sharing the gospel. It was totally a life revised. Though I experienced trials and testing, God still helped me to overcome them. And if I’m going to count His grace, favor and blessing in my life, I really couldn't count it. Without Christ working in my life, I honestly don’t even know what would happen to me. I know He’s not yet finished that’s why I am praying that God would continually reveal His will for my life and use me mightily to be a blessing.

Because Jesus is alive, people’s lives will be amazingly revised.