Rest (Mark 6:31)

 

After a season of preaching and healing the sick, Jesus took His apostles aside to rest. Rest wasn't a reward, it was an essential. I didn't understand that back when I was very active in my service as a member of CFC-Singles for Christ. I had to be in the thick of things. I was the epitome of Martha. I knew I had to rest, but I didn't know how. So God taught me how to rest. About two years into my service, I was diagnosed with epilepsy. The months that I had to come to terms with my diagnosis is a whole story all together, but in a nutshell I didn't just slow down, I had to stop...and stop I did...but not for long. 

With my epilepsy at bay, thanks to my anti-seizure medicines, I was back to my ways. I even responded to the call to becoming a missionary going around the country training volunteer teachers. Then on weekends I would go up to the mountains to do values education in our child and youth development program. There were days when I was dead tired, but I couldn't bring myself to rest. It had come to a point that I even purchased a book entitled "Even God Rested: Why It's Okay for Women to Slow Down" to remind me that it was okay to rest. I never got around to reading the book. 

As I look back to those days, I think I felt guilty about resting...and I figure I still feel a tinge of guilt up to now. With this passage I am reminded that as Jesus calls me to rest, He is right by my side making sure that I do. 

The Happiness Advantage

Looking at reviving my blog...found this in my drafts. Should have been posted 2 years ago. Meant to be. :)

Our Busiest Months

As youth coordinators of both the Parish Youth Ministry and CFC-Youth for Christ, April and May are the busiest months for my hubby and I.  Ask me why... (Why?!) ... because most students are on vacation...that's why. 

Here's how we lived out the 4 weeks of April 2019...

WEEK ONE

April 5-7, 2019 | CFC-Youth for Christ International Conference | Davao City

We attended the CFC-YFC International Conference in Davao City with 12 of our members.  We left for Davao on April 4, 2019, with the hope of being able to go around the city since ours was an early flight out.  But just like most (if not ALL) of the flights to Davao that week, our flight was delayed.  Thus, we only got to visit 2 tourist spots in the city --- the Japanese Tunnel and Jack's Ridge.  I was hoping we could visit Museo Dabawenyo, however, it had just transferred to a new location and they weren't open yet.  

Japanese Tunnel

Being the life wide learner that I am, after entering the Japanese Tunnel, I had each member share what they learned from the experience.  When someone shared that it made real what they learned in school...I was like, "Hooray for this experience!" :)

Jack's Ridge

I wasn't bent on going to Jack's Ridge because one of our members excitedly told me, "Ta, para siyang Cloud Nine sa Antipolo!" So I was like, bakit pa tayo pupunta doon kung pwedeng sa Cloud Nine nalang.  But because Museo Dabawenyo was closed...nasunod ang gusto ng mga bagets.  The visit offered us some fresh air and IG worthy spots to take pictures.  

We ended our day with dinner in the Roxas Night Market.  

The next morning, Friday, April 5, 2019, we woke up bright and early to take part in the opening of the conference in the gymnasium of the University of Southeastern Philippines.  The inn that we stayed in was a 5-minute walk to the conference venue.  Talk about convenience. :) 

The next two days were all a blur with our members attending workshops, listening to talks, and worshipping the Lord with all their hearts.  Then before we knew it, we were back in the airport and you guessed it! Our flight was delayed again, but being the resilient bunch that they were, our delegation managed to keep themselves entertained while waiting.

Francisco Bangoy International Airport, Davao City

LESSON LEARNED: I was so focused on taking care of our young delegation, that I wasn't able to enjoy being in the presence of our God the duration of the conference.  At a certain point, I should have let go and let God.

RECOVERY PERIOD: Morning of Monday, April 8

WEEK TWO

April 9 & 11 | CFC-Youth for Christ Youth Camp Preparations | Our home

[to be continued]

Passion for the Mission

(My September 30, 2018 reflection -- the final day of the Novena to St. Therese)

St. Therese of the Child Jesus: 

Patroness of Missions

Good afternoon, brothers and sisters. I am Arlyne Acosta, assistant coordinator of the PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL. My husband, Noehl, is a lay minister. Together, we are the current coordinators of the Parish Youth Ministry and the couple coordinator of CFC-Youth for Christ.

St. Therese is the patroness of missions, but she never left the convent to go on mission.  However, she made sure to constantly pray for the missionary priests through the steps she would take inside the convent.    

St. Therese had an immense desire to be a missionary priest. Though she COULD not actually become a priest, she had nevertheless a “priestly” heart. She told Jesus, “I would travel every land to preach Your name... One mission alone would not satisfy my longings.” 

After graduating from college, I became a teacher.  I never imagined that I would be one, but it turned out that I really enjoyed working with young children, so much so that I found myself CONTENT with the joys of teaching.  I thought that it was my mission to be a teacher. 

However, after 8 years, I had realized that I wasn’t getting any younger and that I needed to get married so that I could have children of my own. So, when a co-teacher of mine told me, “Teach, sabi ng parents ko 95% ng sumasali sa SINGLES for Christ tumutuloy sa COUPLES for Christ...let’s not be part of the 5%!” So agad-agad ako sumali sa Christian Life Program ng Singles for Christ at sa 12 consecutive Sundays ng CLP, syempre, wala... akong... absent... ganoon AKO ka desperado!

But as God would have it, He purified my intentions and my desire to enter into a romantic relationship was put on hold when I fell in love with Jesus.  As I delighted myself in the service of the Lord, He called me to become a full-time missionary worker for the education arm of Couples for Christ.  I was going around the Philippines training teachers who would be serving in the Child Development Programs of Gawad Kalinga. It became clear to me that my mission was to actually be an educator.    

It was during my mission in Gawad Kalinga, which was the work with the poor program of Couples for Christ, that I fell in love with my husband.  We had already been serving together in SFC for 5 years, but it was there that I saw his passion in serving the youth of GK Prayer Mountain. I was awestruck on how he would relate to these disillusioned youth as he conducted values formation sessions.  He was tough on them...ang ilan sa kanila ay mga rugby boys, tambay, out-of-school-youth...he would yell at them to get their act together, but in the end, kung yakapin at lambitinan nila si Noehl…damang-dama ko na mahal na mahal nila si Noehl at naisip ko, “Kung kaya niyang mahalin ang mga batang ito, lalo na siguro ang sarili niyang mga anak.”  

So naging malinaw para sa akin na yung FIVE (5) na binabanggit sa akin ng co-teacher ko ay ang five (5) years pala na paglilingkod ko ng buong-buo sa Panginoon bago ako nagkaroon ng GG o God’s Gift at napakabuti talaga ng Panginoon kasi hindi lang asawa ang binigay niya sa AKIN, kundi isang “Mission Partner” sa paglilingkod sa mga kabataan. 

We got married in 2006 AND in the following year, our FIRST mission as husband and wife, was to become chapter leaders of Singles for Christ in the Cogeo-Padilla area. 

In the summer of 2010 we found out that I was pregnant.  We were overcome with happiness.  Our mission for family life had begun!  But on the weekend of Mother’s Day, we were told that our baby had no heartbeat.  Our joy had turned into overwhelming sadness.  Hindi ba dapat misyon ng mag-asawa ang magkaroon ng sariling pamilya?

In 2011, the Lord put our hearts back on track with our mission during the Feast of the Sto. Niño, when before the beginning of the mass, our former parish priest, fr. Neil Tacbas, spoke to Noehl about serving as the coordinator of the Parish Youth Ministry and before my husband could say anything, the opening hymn of the entrance song began.  After the mass, paglapit ko kay fr. Neil para mag mano, sinabi niya sa akin na tinanggap na ni Noehl ang pagiging coordinator ng PYM.  Parang na ambush kami!  

But we readily embraced our mission for the Church.  However, the kind of love that we were so used to giving wasn’t well received by the youth and their parents.  In front of fr. Neil I was told, “Paano mo mahahawakan ng maayos ang mga youth dito, eh, hindi ka naman ina?”  I was devasted!  For a year, Noehl served the youth alone.  Hindi niya ako pinipilit sumama sa mga activites, pero nakikita ko yung kalungkutan niya kapag aalis siya ng mag-isa para mag serve.  Mission partners nga pala kami…at sa tulong ng Panginoon, bumalik ang sigla sa paglilingkod ko sa mga kabataan ng St. Therese.

Lalong sumigla ang paglilingkod ko noong tinawag kami na mag serve ulit sa Singles for Christ dito sa ating parokya.  I was happy to be serving in the community wherein I had grown in faith and in love…and the best part was that they were serving as kuyas and ates to our Parish Youth Ministry members.  We were one big happy family!

Last year, was a year of affirmation that we were truly going about the mission that the Lord had called us to do. We took on our current service as the couple coordinator of Youth for Christ and it was here that I became a mother when a handful of our youth started calling me “momsy”.  In fact, without our prior knowledge, when one of them led the worship at a community gathering of ours, HE adopted US as his parents. Nagpakilala siya at dinugtong niya ang apelyido namin sa pangalan niya because in the absence of his missionary parents, he considers us as his family.  

It was also last year that that one (1) of our members from the Parish Youth Ministry and two (2) of our youth from Gawad Kalinga joined me in working in a non-government organization with the mission of educating low-performing, underprivileged youth.  Full circle na…ang dating pinaglilingkuran namin, ay ngayon naglilingkod na rin sa iba.

Just like St. Therese, who wanted to be a priest but couldn’t be one...I might never BE a biological mother, but I know that the Lord has given me a “motherly” heart to have been able to go on mission after mission to serve and continue to serve the youth that He has put under our care.

St. Therese, patroness of missions, pray for us. 

(Picture courtesy of IPY)

You Have Chosen Me

If you really know me and I tell you that May 2017 was the "busiest month" ever in my life, you wouldn't believe me because I'm ALWAYS busy.  BUT it really was... and sadly, I was operating on sheer adrenaline.  Then before May came to a close, this song slammed into my face... Thank you for your reminder, Lord.  I am humbled.  I am nothing without You.

YOU HAVE CHOSEN ME

Verse:

Mighty One I thank You for Your goodness

Undying love that saved me from the darkness

You have chosen me, You have chosen me


With Your Spirit, I will carry on

To spread Your love to each and everyone

You have chosen me, you have chosen me

Chorus:
                          
Heighten my hearts desires to serve You Lord
    
To use me as a vessel of Your selfless love
   
Awaken Your spirit in me; fill me with Your grace
  
To bear a love like Yours

To bring people back to Your embrace

To the Christian Life Teachers and Theology Professors of the STCJPYM

To the Christian Life teachers and Theology professors of the youth we call the St. Therese of the Child Jesus Parish Youth Ministry:

     It is with joy that I share with you pictures (with credits to the owners) of how your students, the members of our Parish Youth Ministry (PYM), spent the last days of Lent this year: they woke up early to practice for their service in the High Masses or for their dances for Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday and then they also gave up their afternoons to practice for the living Stations of the Cross for Holy Wednesday.  Yes, unlike most of their peers, they resisted the desire to stay in bed until lunch time and bore the heat of the early afternoon sun during practice.  Needless to say, it was an inspiration to watch them live out their faith. 

Production team and cast of the Living Stations of the Cross

     I, too, am a former CL teacher (one member of our PYM was a student of mine) and I recall how a seasoned colleague of mine shared that unlike other subject teachers who teach inside the classroom, “We only begin our lessons when we step out of the classroom.”  I would like to believe that we have taught our students well (by the lives that we have lived) and that they have shared their faith with others in the same way that we shared our faith with them.

Sr. Judy and our kapitan 

Jesus falls 

The people of Jerusalem

The Women of Jerusalem

    While getting ready to put on his Crucifixion costume, the boy who played Jesus in our living Stations of the Cross stated, “Buti nalang love ko si Jesus.” setting his heart right (as well as the hearts of the rest of the cast and crew).  It wasn't just something to do to while away the summer...it was for the love of Jesus.

The STCJP Youth Ministry with our Shrine Rector and Parish Priest
Fr. Aly Barcinal

PYM Animators with Fr. Aly and Sr. Judy before performing the "Dance of Fire"

STCJP Knights of the Altar before the Blessing of Fire and Water

    Your students, our youth ministers, made my Holy Week a more meaningful one through their boundless energy and enthusiasm to serve God in more ways than one.  Let us all pray that they, together with the rest of the youth ministers around the world, continue to love Jesus and promulgate the Catholic faith.

All for God’s greater glory! 

While Cleaning Up My Yahoo Account

While cleaning up my Yahoo Account, I found something I had copied from a blog last year.  If my memory serves me right, I came across this while preparing for our school's orientation.  Anyway, I just posted it on Instagram and tagged a number of friends with toddlers.  Got a handful of likes already. It was also favorited by "Dads Being Dads" on Twitter...don't even know who owns that account.  Hmmm... So I guess it struck a chord for a number of folks out there, so I believe it is worth sharing here.  Here's to parenting and teaching!

One Thousand Gifts to Thank God For (66-75)

66)  October 28, 2013 R & R in Tagaytay with Mike and Iya before THE planning.
67)  Catching up with "birthday boy" kuya Jojo (and the rest of the family) over cups of coffee (still in Tagaytay).
68)  PTC planning (in Tagaytay pa din) last October 29 & 30, 2013 with the guidance of our awesome brother and mentor, Arcie.
69)  2 PTC centers in 4 years!
70)  Sunday mass, breakfast at Rustic Mornings and grocery galore with the folks.
71)  Daddy Rudy is home after a night in the hospital.
72)  50 days before Christmas!
73)  50 days before hubby turns another year older!
74)  52 days before my (not so) baby brother comes home!
75)  Renewed zealousness to protect and pursue my personal prayer time and scripture reading.  

One Thousand Gifts to Thank God For (58-65)

58)  Silid Aralan, Inc. learners giving back to their community
59)  Short but meaningful chat with mom
60)  Opportunity to learn how to handle children with special needs
61)  Reminder to "Reinforce the best and ignore the rest"
62)  Text from Romy
63)  Sunday nightcap with good friends
64)  Found a "Diet Buddy"
65)  CCE Outing to Villa Escuadero and Ugu Bigyan's Garden and Restaurant  

One Thousand Gifts to Thank God For (53-57)

53)  Dinner out with dad and mom: Dinner Time = Family Time
54)  My folks and Noehl's folks get along 
55)  Order of the Phoenix
56)  Making old people happy
57)  Making young people happy

Brain Fart: Unplugged

I have observed that it takes longer for an iPad to charge when it is plugged into a computer than when it is plugged into a wall socket.  This is something I have observed in myself as well....

I have been plugged into my computer every evening for so many months now that I have been slow to charge spiritually.  It has been so long since I really plugged into the one true source of strength.  My prayer time is at an all time low...my scripture reading is barely passing and I have been doing things that dishonor my God.  It is about time that I clean up my system.       

I really need to learn to discipline myself once again when it comes to faithfulness to my promises to my God.  I haven't been showing up for our "dates" for quite a while.  I'm a lousy date!

Message to brain:  It takes 21 days to form a habit.  Let's bring back the habit of defending our prayer time (by God's grace)!   

4 Days of Voice Lessons

Guess who has been taking voice lessons?  Me!  LOL!  But seriously…

Every year since we got married, I would tell hubby that I wanted to take voice lessons during our summer break.  His response would always be, “Sige!”  But I never did.  This year, when I told him I wanted to enroll, his response was, “Dati mo pa sinasabi yan.  Ikaw lang naman, eh.”  So I felt very much compelled to finally enroll and long story short, yesterday was already my fourth session.  It’s been quite a journey!

My voice coach is none other than Jojo Acosta, the first person here in the Philippines to offer customized voice lessons.  He has 30 years of voice coaching experience tucked under his arm.  He can play the guitar, flute, and keyboards.  He is a loving son, dependable kuya, loyal husband, awesome dad, and yes, he is my brother-in-law. =)

After four sessions with kuya Jojo, I have greater respect for singers.  I used to think that dancers sacrificed more since to hone their craft they have to move their whole body.  With singers, I always thought it was just about the “voice box” and diaphragm.  However, if singers sing properly, they must use their whole body to perform!  Oh, and more than anything, it is about good posture and proper breathing.  As kuya Jojo would say, “Singing is just a breath away.”  Nice!

Being the teacher that I am, I have learned about the different Learning Styles of individuals, and I am very happy that my “customized voice lessons” have been feeding the “analytical” me. I figure since kuya Jojo has known me for more than 5 years already, he has seen the need for things to be broken down for me first.  I have sung only twice in my four sessions with kuya Jojo.  Once during my first session when he wanted to hear me sing and the second time was yesterday, and it was just a verse of a song, but mind you, I feel like I know so much about singing already.  Here’s why:

Day one – kuya Jojo talked about good posture and he explained to me how the different body parts contribute to singing properly.  Singing with your chin held not too high and not too low.  Think “dangling earrings right above your shoulders” is what he says.  But after executing homework in front of the mirror, I’m now thinking, “Hide double chin.” and this works perfect for me.  LOL!  Kuya Jojo got a good laugh out of this when I told him about it during my 2^nd session.

Day two – was all about proper breathing.  I felt like I was having a workout with all the different breathing exercises.  It was hilarious and enlightening at the same time!  The “proper” way of breathing is an individual thing because what is most comfortable for me may not be the same for someone who has a left nostril that is clogged, or whatever.

Day three – had to do with facial positions.  Tapping on my visual way of learning, kuya Jojo used animals to show the proper way of opening one’s mouth when singing.  Here are the three animals that he used:

Again, there is no real “best” way of opening one’s mouth since it all depends on which one is the most comfortable to you.  Though there is a preferred type for majority of singers.

Day four – had me “drinking vowels”.  Who would have thought that each of the five vowels place themselves in different parts of our “home”?  The letters “A” and “O” come from the dining room, letters “I” and “U” from the main gate and letter “E” from the front door.  Huh?  I’ll hold back on this lesson because you just might want to discover all about it on your own…for as kuya Jojo would say, “Anybody can be a singer!”

I have six more sessions to go for the summer program and already I’m thinking of enrolling in the whole year round program.  Lea Salonga, eat your heart out!  LOL

Old Notebooks

I found these on one of my shelves the other week...

Inside each notebook are hundreds of quotes (and a whole lot more) that I wrote down (copied) since my HS days.  I totally forgot I ever did this.  Amazing!

Here are some quotes/advice that are worth sharing:

• Give compliments.  One of the easiest ways to feel good about ourselves is to recognize the beauty in others.
• A good friend laughs at your worst jokes, puts up with your worst moods, goes along with your worst ideas...and always sees the best in you.
• Do not free a camel of the burden of his hump, you may be freeing him from being a camel.
• Could we see when and where we are to meet again, we would be more tender when we bid our friends good-bye.
• What soap is for the body, tears are for the soul.
• When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say I used everything you gave me.
• When you reach the edge of a cliff, trust God enough to let go.  One of two things will happen: either He will catch you when you fall or He will teach you to fly.
• The will of God will never lead you where the grace of God cannot keep you.

Found a very short poem (I have long ones, too):

• I once had the blues, 'coz I had no shoes.  Until upon the street, I met a man who had no feet.

Pang-asar lang:

• I may be fat, but you're ugly and I can diet.

Even some passages from "The Gospel According to Forrest Gump" (I think I got this from a book with this title):

• Nobody ever got into trouble by keeping his mouth shut.
• If you can' sing good, sing loud.
• Whatever you do, try to have a reason for it.
• Always be nice to your mama.
• When you are feeling really down, read the Book of Job --- and see what he had to go through!

At may short story pa!

It was Worth it

     During the First World War a soldier in the trenches saw his friend out in No-Man's Land -- the ground between our trenches and those of the enemy -- stumble and fall in a hail of bullets.  

     He said to his officer, "May I go, sir, and bring him in?"  But the officer refused.  "No one can live out there, " he said.  "I would only lose you as well."  

     Disobeying the order, the man went to try and save his friend, for they had been like David and Jonathan throughout the whole war.

     Somehow he got his friend on his shoulder and staggered back to the trenches, but he himself lay mortally wounded and his friend was dead.

     The officer was angry.  "I told you not to go," he said.  "Now I have lost both of you.  It was not worth it!"  

     With his dying breath, the man said, "But it was worth it, sir."  

     "Worth it?!" said the officer.  "How could it be?  Your friend is dead and you are mortally wounded."  

     The boy shrank from the reproach, but looking up into his officer's face he said, "It was worth it, sir, because when I got to him he said, 'Jim, I knew you'd come.'" 

I even copied paragraphs from my favorite books!  LOL!  Baka ma copyright infringement (is that what you call it?) ako.

How about I even wrote down text messages...and who they came from:

• It is wonderful to get answers to prayers but its even more wonderful to let God mold you and make you into an answer to someone's prayers. - Rye Benemerito
• In life, God doesn't give you the people you want, instead He gives you people you need...to teach you, to hurt you, to love you and to make you exactly the way you should be. - Iya Pagui
• What God is doing, you may not know now; but someday you'll understand why; questions that taunt you and trouble your mind, will one day have Heaven's reply.  Trust in God's ways! - Lannie Blas
• Good teachers smile in trouble, gather strength from stress, and grow brave by reflection and prayers.  Send this to a worthy teacher...I just did. - Jennie Wi
• I wish you woke up this morning realizing what a wonderful person you are and the world is blessed to have you as a part of it.  Claim and enjoy God's blessings! - mommy
• In life, we can't change the direction of the wind.  However, we can adjust our sails and take advantage of the wind.  May God sail with you always. - ninang Hermie Hernandez
• This coming Easter, let us, like birds, leave behind what we don't need to carry -- grudges, sadness, pain, tears and regrets -- fly light.  Life is beautiful. - Doods Lavapie

And this is where I end, a few minutes into Easter.  What a way to welcome the Resurrection of our Lord...to be reminded of where I came from and how it got me to where I am now...I am where I should be.  Thank you, Lord!

My Redeemer lives!!!

Good Friday Reflection

I’ve been wallowing in pain the past few months.  Not in physical pain for I believe I have a high tolerance for that.  Emotional pain is more like it – pain that I allowed to mutate into spiritual pain.  I have come to understand the reality that when you wallow in your pains and sufferings, it will envelope you and make you so self-centered that you feel the whole world is against you.

This pain hits me hard at night, when I go to bed not tired enough to simply fall asleep.  I would go about my day distracted by a 12-hour workload with the bliss of working with children.  Then at night, usually after a hearty chat with my hubby, I am reminded once again of the feelings brought about by betrayal.

Last Holy Tuesday, hubby and I lined up for confession.  It was a long line and the chapel was warm, I felt like I was going to pass out for lack of oxygen.  But I knew it was more because of the fact that I had to face my self-centeredness.  I could have simply just let go of the pain, but I waltzed with the devil for the past months, embracing all the hurts and bad thoughts that betrayal can pour upon you.

In the confessional, the priest patiently listened to my tearful litany of wrongdoings focusing mostly on the bearing of pain that caused me to take for granted a good number of promises to my God.  Then after all the soul bearing, the priest in a gentle and caring tone told me, “I will not tell you what to do.  Just reflect on the Gospel of the Last Supper and read how Jesus, who did not deserve to be betrayed for He was all good, was betrayed by His own disciples.”  After the priest gave me the rest of my penance and as he prayed over me and I prayed my contrition, I was a basket case.  I had again been released of the bondages of my sins, and it was truly up to me to let go of all the bitterness in my heart. 

Through the Gospel of Matthew (chapter 26, verses 26-56), I am reminded of how Jesus was betrayed by his friends, not just by Judas and Matthew, but by ALL of his friends.  At the Garden of Gethsemane, Matthew and the two sons of Zebedee fall asleep as Jesus prays, even after he explicitly asked them to stay awake with him.  Then of course, the kiss of Judas…why a kiss?  Why after calling Jesus, “teacher”?  How painful was all of this?  I recalled my pain as I was being spoken to by one of our church elders, I could literally feel my heart breaking.  What more Jesus?  I still had my husband, family and friends to see me through, but at that time, Jesus had no one.  How did He feel at that time?  Since He is God who became man, for sure He felt all the emotions one can feel when you are hurt not by any enemy, but by someone you love…betrayal, rejection, loneliness…it is more than an insult for it truly breaks your heart. 

I reflected further on the Last Supper by reading the chapter entitled “When Your World Turns Against You” of Max Lucado’s book, “And the Angels Were Silent”. 

“As long as you hate your enemy, a jail door is closed and a prisoner is taken.  But when you try to understand and release your foe from your hatred, then the prisoner is released and that prisoner is you.”  

How could I have allowed myself to be a prisoner for so long?

“…‘Who ever told you life was going to be fair?’  God didn’t.  He didn’t say, ‘If you have many kinds of troubles’, he said, “When you have many kinds of troubles (James 1:2).’  Troubles are part of the package.  Betrayals are part of our troubles.  Don’t be surprised when betrayals come.  Don’t look for fairness here – look instead where Jesus looked….Jesus looked to the future.”

I am not of this world.  My home is in heaven…oh, that I may always fix my eyes on you, Lord.

“….The Father’s loyalty to Jesus is the Father’s loyalty to you.  When you feel betrayed, remember that.  When you see the torches and feel the betrayer’s kiss, remember his words:  ‘I will never leave you; I will never forget you (Hebrews 13:5).’” 

Thank you for not leaving me, even if I have left you.  Thank you for dying for my sins, even if I have yet to really learn how to die to myself. 

It is truly a Good Friday.

 

It is a Gift to be a Catholic (#52)

Another Gift to Thank God For (#51)

Fr. Jerry Orbos gave a talk on Mama Mary this morning at our parish.  Needless to say, our spiritual cup was filled to the brim.=)  So loved by Jesus and Mama Mary!♥

Fr. Jerry Orbos @ St. Therese of the Child Parish

Here are some points that struck me the most:

♥ Keep your life simple --- like Mama Mary

♥ Stay focused on the following:

    1.  Money can be earned.

    2.  Stupid quarrels can be resolved.

    3.  The life of a loved one is irreplaceable.

    4.  The loss of your soul is your greatest failure.

♥ The Lord and Mama Mary want you to be happy.  

♥ Have a heart that is light and a face that is bright.

♥ Make Mama Mary happy.  Always be joyful!

  

  

One Thousand Gifts to Thank God For (35-50)

It's been more than 2 months, can't wait for tomorrow...so here I am counting God's gifts on a Sunday:
35)  I thank God for my former gr.7 tutee from AdMU.  He has this front that he doesn't really care about people and I blame it on teenage hormones that have begun raging in his body. This boy really grew on me during the months that I tutored him.  He's working with a new tutor this year and they're doing very well together.  But once in a while, he'd ask if he could sit at my table while waiting for his brother to finish.  Of course I let him, until he gets bumped off by a current tutee of mine.  The other day, I went to the rear of the center to get something, and I passed by his chair.  I greeted him "Good afternoon!" and he nonchalantly returned my greeting.  Then just loud enough for me and his current tutor to hear he goes, "Hey! I miss you."  Awwwww...♥  
36)  I thank God that we've fit in badminton into our schedule.  I look forward to losing weight while engaging in this sport...but how?!  We play at night after work.  So the QIL (Question in Life) is when should we eat, before playing or after?
37)  I thank God that we finally got to attend our HH after how many months...and we have new members joining us!  Praise God!=)
38)  I thank God for opening the doors for us to serve in the parish: PYM, EMHC, Music Ministry, etc.
39)  I thank God that we've finally been able to open a S/A so that we can save up for our trip to...=)
40)  I thank God for my "birthday date" with MK.  HP7 was at the top of the list of our things to do that day.  (We actually watched the FFS and guess how many movie goers there were in our cinema...7!  haha!  Naaliw lang ako.)
41)  I thank God for 38 years of life, love and laughter!♥
42)  I thank God for my former head teacher who continues to inspire me with her posts in her blogspot.  Check her blog out for yourself: Shine Like Stars.
43)  I thank God for giving me the opportunity to work with Silid Aralan, Inc. again this year.  I look forward to moving forward with all my co-learners.=)
44)  I thank God for giving us manang Thelma and Neneng to help us with our household needs.  Even if they give mom a headache when it comes to remembering things to do...still, they make life so much easier for all of us.  
45)  I thank God for the textbooks on my table...they continually remind me that I need to make exam reviewers for my tutees...NOW NA!  
46)  I thank God for our PYM president.  He's got a good head on his shoulders and a big heart manifested in his service.  I thank God more for his mother, who raised him up properly.  
47)  I thank God for the comeback to the statement, "Iba na ang kabataan ngayon!"  The comeback statement is..."Iba na ang magulang ngayon!"  A reminder to everyone (especially me) that parenting is serious business.  A mother of a friend once told us that parents nowadays are breaking their backs sending their kids to "good schools" but they're forgetting to spend time with their kids.  A point that was stressed by a sharing of one of our PYM members.  Their family gets to eat and visit places that not everybody can afford to go to, they all study in reputable schools, they have gadgets that every teenager would want...but they'd willingly give it all up to spend time with mommy.  
48)  I thank God for my snoring husband.  LOL!
49)  I thank God for the afternoon breeze...
50)  I thank God for His reminder this morning (via the Sunday homily of our parish priest) that He is my lifeguard.