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29.05.2006
my lola passed away...
i've just received news that my grandma passed away. i cried as soon as i heard it, which was quite weird because i have never cried over these kind of things before...partly because i feel that releasing someone on to eternity is the most beautiful thing, sad but beautiful. i guess the sadness i felt was due to the way i had grown close to my grandma. she lives in the province, which is really quite far from Manila and the last time i saw her was 7 years ago. that was the time when i became close to her. it was after the death of my grandfather and she needed company so for a month and a half i was with her in the market, everytome she had her hair done, when she was going around town visiting relatives, even when she slept at night, i was not only her constant companion i also took care of her. the news that she had died really broke my heart because i had dreams that once i got a nice career i would be able to bless her and make her happy, now it won't come true anymore. what hurts the most is that i'm a million miles away from her. now it isn't just a bus ride that separates us...it's a whole ocean! i wish with all my heart that i could be with her for the last time . my other (paternal) grandmother who i share my first name with passed away when i was just seven and we were in Saudi then, i had no memory of her at all because we spent our childhood in Saudi and i never got to know her, that is why i esteem my maternal grandmother who also contributed her name to my name so much because she's the only grandma i've got. and you know what's weird? yesterday while at the MRT station i asked my sister, out of the blue, "where are the cemeteries here?"
22:00 Posted in cOntemplaTioN | Permalink | Comments (1) | Email this
a random thing...
ok, i haven't done this for a very long time, a random stream of consciousness entry slash confession (?) so i do hope you bear with me...for misspelled words and such. Ok so now we're almost a month here in Singapore and yes besides the uber expensive Sentosa and Night Safari I think I am well aware of the places to be here. The food isn't as much shocking because my mom cooks for us although I have tasted, hor fan, it's this special noodle dish with braised fish, shrimp and squid...quite tasty as I am a fan of anything seafood (though i have to do a raincheck on the sea cucumbers =) . Oh yeah, I also tasted roti prata, it's a type of unleavened bread from India and it reminded me of the unleavened breas that we used to eat in Saudi Arabia when i was growing up. The difference with this is that you can choose if you want it plain or stuffed with cheese and other fillings. Anyway it is also dipped in spicy curry ( and i do mean SPICY!). I have seen the baby Merlion and the Big Merlion which guards the mouth of Singapore River. I have been to the Esplanade and I marvel at the architectural feat, i mean it's really impressive. It's has spikes like the durian so it's also called as the DURIAN and it houses the first performing arts library in SIngapore...what else, i am enjoying church here and last sunday my dad taught us how to 'book' seats at the church, it was funny because people were already lined up ready to 'run' to their desired seats. as usual the place was jam-packed and i received fresh word. I think that every christian should receive fresh word from God everyday!Oh well. time's up...my brother is pestering me ....til here y'all!
16:21 Posted in sLiVers oF thOuGhts | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
27.05.2006
XENOPHOBIC
i just like it
my little
corner
here
on earth.
and i bloom
quite fine.
thank you very much…
so i
do not
need
another crocus..
another flower…
another herb…
to keep me company…
i detest,
the fact
that you
crowd
my
plant box
i
need
breathing
room
you know
sharing my patch
of earth
is quite
too much
for you to ask
i
LIKE
it…
and i
won’t
have
it
any
other
way
14:44 Posted in morning musings | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
20.05.2006
WHen you want something more...
More Than Just a Sunday Affair
judith lerma q. taan
More Than Just a Sunday Affair
I don’t want to wake early and dress up on a Sunday
Then completely messing my life up the next day
I don’t want to sing aloud and piously pray
Then finding myself saying things I don’t want to say
I just don’t want to listen to what You are saying
Then wake up tomorrow utterly forgetting
I know You’re the only One who’d care
I want You to be more than just a Sunday affair
Many people won’t understand why I think it’s a big deal
To worship You, know You, pursue You with zeal
They don’t know how You change lives, turn them around
That day when Your blood dripped to the ground
When I think of Your love, what You gave ,I think it’s unfair
That people don’t treat You more than just a Sunday affair
Because I have come to know You not just as Savior
You are my Friend, Joy, Love, Healer, Life-Giver
You’ve seen each tear that falls from my face
You see me through my un-beautiful days
You hold my hands and whisper my name
From Your presence, I emerge never the same
You are to me more than riches, fame or air
And Lord I want more than just a Sunday affair.
14:45 Posted in cOntemplaTioN | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this | Tags: Christian
19.05.2006
A Call to Arms
Paint The Town Red
You know I feel there's something 'bout to break now,
You know I feel there's a city here to take now.
And it's not so tough for these ordinary hands,
When we trust someone with extraordinary plans.
You know I feel this heart's about to break now,
Cos I can see what the devil's trying to take now.
We've got this leather backed book and a freedom cry,
And we're an army of God who are ready to die.
You give us hope where hope is gone,
You fill the streets with a holy song,
We’re gonna paint this big old town red.
Oh, Here we come, here we come
Oh, Here we come, here we come
You know I feel this sky's about to break now.
You know I feel our city's gonna shake now.
And we hear you call every woman and man,
"Ring the mission bell" and storm the gates of hell.
Miracles run from street to street,
Rise up Church for a holy meet,
We’re gonna paint this big old town red
We’re gonna paint this big old town red
With the blood of Jesus!
Written by Delirious? ©2005 Curious? Music UK
14:57 Posted in shOUT OuT | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this | Tags: Christian
My Daddy God
Romans 8:15-17 (THE MESSAGE)
15-17This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It's adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike "What's next, Papa?" God's Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what's coming to us—an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we're certainly going to go through the good times with him! (emphasis added)
In My Daddy’s Arms
When I feel they’re
planning my destruction
The whole world
is crumbling in slow motion
Whom shall I fear?
My God is near
In my Daddy’s arms
I am safe and warm
In my Daddy’s arms
Even through the storm
I know I can run
And be still…
In my Daddy’s arms
Lord, I feel they are out to get me
I break down and cry
Still I know Your hand is upon me
I am Your child
Your love never fails
Your Word prevails
I wrote and laid notes to this song during one of my ‘quiet times’ with the Lord. During my devotionals I usually have my guitar with me aside from my journal and Bible. There will be a moment of stillness as I wait upon God. Then that is when I start to praise Him, not only for what He’s done but more importantly for who He is.
This song simply states the intimacy that a child of God feels with the Abba, Father –the Daddy God!
14:42 Posted in shOUT OuT | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this | Tags: Christian
18.05.2006
This Is a Nice Read
16:05 Posted in qUick biTes | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
16.05.2006
Stuck on My Mind
“It is in our youth that love awakens and our heart is directed. It is supposed to. But we must actively control and determine which type of love arises and begins to dictate our actions. We must allow romantic love to DREAM until the time of its awakening, so natural passion will remain dormant, but at the same time we must arouse a passionate love for God.”
-Lisa Bevere
from, “Kissed the Girls and Made Them Cry”
“You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them."
-Michael Jordan
“People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in their true beauty is revealed only if there is light from within.”
-- Elisabeth Kübler-Ross
“Nothing splendid has ever been achieved except by those who dared believe that something inside of them was superior to circumstance.”
— Bruce Barton
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
13:38 Posted in inspire me | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this | Tags: Christian
11.05.2006
REDISCOVERING GOD'S KINGDOM
REDISCOVERING GOD’S KINGDOM
Dr. Myles Munroe
April 21,2006
- A Lesson in Economics
VALUE is determined by RARITY
e.g. diamonds are valuable because they are hard to find
- A human being is valuable, as proof, there is no one else on the planet who possesses the same set fingerprints as you have
If you want to be cheap – imitate others
If you want to maintain your value –be yourself
- Matthew 4:17
- REDISCOVER
DISCOVER – recover something that has always been there
Note: It never went away, you just lost it
The Power of A Concept
Ideas: control the world; it’s powerful; it is the raw material fir creation of concepts; dead men rule the world today because they have left their ideas behind (e.g. Aristotle, Plato and Galileo)
An idea is also known as crystallized thought that becomes a theory then a philosophy after which it becomes a way of thinking that influences our way of living.
Concepts:are products of ideas; it is the foundation of communication and determines the success of the process.
Misconception: It is the result of wrong concepts that produces wrong conclusions and is manifested as a raging conflict
A misconception is not a misconception to the one who misconceived it.
KINGDOM CONCEPT
THE MESSAGE OF THE BIBLE
- Original Purpose
- Original Plan
Family Business: rulership
Home Office: heaven
Ext. Office: earth
- Original Assignment
Note: Christianity has been focused on teaching about heaven, about “coming home” but this is not what God had intended!
THE FALL OF MAN- was a fall from DOMINION and not from HEAVEN. Therefore, we cannot lose heaven because it was not given to us in the first place. Wanting to be in heaven is like wanting something that was never really meant for us. Going to heaven won’t restore man from his fall from dominion of the earth.
The program of God’s redemptive work was to restore mankind to His original will and prepare kingdom rulership over the earth.
RELIGION AND THE KINGDOM
- Man’s search for God and His purpose produced religion
- Religion is the most powerful source of opposition of the kingdom principles
- The Bible is not about religion but a kingdom from another realm – heaven
- Remember : the religious leaders were Jesus’ strongest enemies
- Luke 16.16-17 everyone is seeking the kingdom
- God gave Adam dominion not religion
- Galatians 4:3-5 fullness of time
- ponder this: why didn’t God send Jesus a week after the fall? Or during the time of Assyrians, Egyptians or Babylonians? Why was Jesus sent during the Roman Empire
- Roman Empire: closest prototype to the Kingdom of God. Before the time of the Romans, other invading armies would burn villages, rape the women and enslave the men and plunder their occupied territory. When Romans took over, they did not destroy the city, they left it intact. Instead the Roman Emperor would send a governor (ambassador) to CONVERT the territory for Rome. This is what God had intended for the Christians to do.
- Illustration: The word colon means the part of the body from the tongue (head, in this case Rome) to the rectum (part of ROME’S COLONY).
- What passes from the tongue moves on to the rectum (ideas, way of living, customs, traditions, etc…)
- As Christians, it is our job to ensure that the information (truth) we receive from God (head) will be sent out to the colony (earth).
- WE ARE AMBASSADORS!
- The message of the Bible is about a kingdom, His kingdom and His royal offspring
- Jesus’ message and mission is the Kingdom
Note: This were my notes on the Pastors and Leaders Seminar, "Rediscovering God's Kingdom" with DR.MYLES MUNROE, last April 21, 2006, held at the Word for the World Center at Makati City. The event was hosted by the Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International.
22:35 Posted in inspire me | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this | Tags: Christian
07.05.2006
First Public Appearance
utterly scared.
beyond my wits...
thoughts that were wafting through my head...
"what am i doing here?"
michael buble's "HOME" playing in the background...
terrified, weird accents, weird dialects, felt uneasy...
methinks i'm getting quite a bit old, novel experiences scare me and make me feel...
lemme see...
oh, yes,
threatened!
i miss home, i miss classmates and friends, i miss cable tv (HOUSE), i miss tagalog, i miss UP (who would have known?).
I did not know that the scanner was placed beneath this sign, so I placed the card ( used at buses and MRT) at the wrong place and the alarm went off and people were looking at me like I haven't done it before (which really, i haven't right)
you've ever felt that you wanted to blend in the crowd but manage to draw even more attention to yourself? that was me...
I went to church, grabe, 7000 people in attendance, and it was a 'normal' thing, you know having that kind of number, are all Singaporeans, you know, Christians?
Rev. Casey Treat spoke about 'renewing the mind' through the 'truth' which is God's Word...and by knowing this and walking in it, a Christian will prosper in every aspect.
20:36 Posted in qUick biTes | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this | Tags: Christian