NAPOLES CASE

If Jesus were to handle Napoles case I think ito ang magiging judgement niya. "Anyone here who has never sinned cast the first stone at her."

I remembered the story from book of John 8:3-11

The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

11 “No one, sir,” she said.

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Grabe si Jesus noh? There is no condemnation in him! Kahit ano pa yang kasalanan mo, malaki man o maliit patatawarin ka niya at sa kanya mo lang talaga madarama ang tunay na kapatawaran. Nakaka panindig balahibo lang din yung sinabi niya sa babae na "Go now and leave your life of sin." Hindi siya sinabi sa babae na, "Go now and don't let me catch you sinning again." Gusto talaga ni Jesus na maging malaya tayo sa kasalanan. At kung magkakasala man tayo ulit there is no condemnation in him. 

Ayoko na magsalita about Napoles case. Never naman ako nag salita about sa kanya. Yung pag upo ni Jesus at pagsulat sa buhangin symbolizes something, he did it twice sa chapter na yan. If you know what I mean, your smart at gets niyo na ang ibig kong sabihin kaya better na wag na lang magsalita about Napoles. :) 

JESUS NEVER ATTENDED FUNERALS

Sa palagay ko nung nabubuhay pa si Jesus, hindi niya masiyadong trip ang pag attend ng mga burol. Malamang nung panahon niya maraming namamatay at marami rin ang binuburol. Wala akong alam sa Bible na umattend siya sa isang funeral. I think Jesus never attended a funeral. Bakit ko nasabi? I can't imagine Jesus sitting in a funeral. Laughtrip siguro ako nun kung umattend siya sa isang burol, tapos nakaupo lang siya habang pinapanood ang mga umiiyak na kamag anak ng yumao.

Kung umattend man siya at hindi naisulat sa Bible hindi ko na alam yun, o hindi ko pa lang nabasa. Pero mukhang 99.9% sure akong walang nangyaring ganong kaganapan. Kung umattend man siya I think all eyes had to be on him. The expectations were palpable knowing ng mga tao na kaya ni Jesus bumuhay ng mga patay eh malamang ipapabuhay ng kamag anak yung patay nila kahit kapalit pa ng bahay, ipad, iphone, baka, kabayo at mga kalabaw nila. Buti hindi naging business minded si Jesus, kundi instant millionaire siya nun sa dami ba naman ng namamatay araw araw. Business na lang ang pagbuhay ng mga patay. Cool!

Isingit ko lang, wala tong kinalaman sa pagbubuhay ni Jesus ng patay. Kausap ko nung isang araw yung isang pinakamalapit kong barkada itago na lang natin siya sa pangalang Gilbert. Habang nag uusap kami eh naitanong niya kung ano ba ang hinahanap ko sa isang babae. Sabi ko eh yung God fearing. Sagot agad niya sa akin, "God fearing? Bakit naman?God fearing ayaw ko ng ganon, si God is a friend dapat hindi ka natatakot sa kanya." 

Medyo napa agree ako sa kanya. Sabi ko "Oo nga noh, galing mo brad! Hindi pala maganda yung God fearing, mas maganda yung friend of God." Kanina lang eh bumalik sa isip ko yung sinabi niya na God should be a friend at hindi ka dapat takot sa kanya. Parang may mali kase pero parang ang ganda pakinggan nung sinabi niya.

Ito na ang nasa isip ko ngayon. Hindi ko pa nasabi sa kanya ito at di niya alam na di pa ako naka move on sa sinabi niya, pero pag nabasa niya ito malalaman niya na rin ang nasa isip ko. Haha! Okay sa palagay ko God fearing pa rin ang tama. I think fear of God will make us run away from sin. When we run away from sin, we then run to the arms of God. Parang two way direction isang tamang landas at isang mali. Kung may takot tayo sa Diyos hindi tayo pupunta sa maling daan, so pag nasa tamang daan tayo, papunta kay Jesus yun! Isa pa tama naman na God is a friend, pero mas gusto ko yung Daughter of God. Mas magandang connection yun, kadugo!

Okay dahil malapit na ang araw ng mga patay. Balik na tayo sa mga deads. JESUS IS ASTIG! HE NEVER ATTENDED A FUNERAL BECAUSE HE CAN RAISE THE DEAD! Kung may sakit ka man ngayon brad, pray and believe to God that he can heal you. Kung kaya niya ngang bumuhay ng patay yan pa kayang sipon, oy sipon lang pala yan!

Ano po?

Kung makakausap ko lang si Jesus ng one on one. Gusto ko yung parang normal na usapan lang habang nag iinuman  kakape. Yung parang ikaw at ako lang pag nag uusap. Casual.

Kaso alam kong malabo. Mahirap makapag salita ng tuwid dahil sa palagay ko, marinig ko lang siya, maiiyak na ako sa galak. In Psychology when somebody claim that he hear the voice of God, he will be called mentally ill or worst  he will be referred to as psychotic. In reality, you can actually hear his soft voice. Don't get me wrong I am not psychotic, base on experience lang.

Kung makakausap ko lang si Jesus ng tuwid, may mga bagay na gusto akong itanong sa kanya.

Una. "Uso na po ba ang pag gygym nung panahon mo?"
Kung uso na po, saan ka nag gygym? Sa Fitness First, Gold's gym, Jerusalem Fitness, Body Builder's Gym o  hindi ka nag gygym sa hectic sched mo? Baka talagang blessed ka lang ni Father God kaya ka binigyan ng 6 packs abs, borderline 8 packs pa nga eh! Sabagay hindi uso ang tsekot noon kaya lakad to the maxx ang ginagawa mo papunta sa mga misyon mo kaya ka siguro fit. Mabuti na lang at fitness buff kayo noh? Isipin mo kung kasing laki ng tiyan mo ang tiyan ni pareng Buds (Buddha), tapos naka pako kayo sa krus ng paganyan. Baka maging comedy ang arrive, baka hindi ako makapag pray ng masinsinan niyan ano po?

Pangalawa. "Kung nasa heaven na ako, paano po ako kakain? Kakain pa rin ba ako don?
Kung kakain pa ako doon paano ang food distribution? Sabi niyo nasa mansion kame titira, so talagang parang big event ang breakfast, lunch, dinner at snacks in between. I assume hindi di food stub at hindi di linya ang food distribution, walang suffering sa heaven di ba po?

Pangatlo: Anong shampoo ang gamit niyo?
Wala lang ang cool kase ng buhok niyo, sakto lang yung pag ka wavy ano po?

Sige po! Got to go. Pasok na muna ako. Sunod ko na lang ibang tanong.

May mga tanong ka rin ba kay Jesus? Try to seek him heartedly. Sasagot yun! Promise niya sa Jeremiah 33:3 eh  ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’

PORN ADDICTION

There's only a few things I really care about in life. My body. My pad. My ride. My family. My church. My boys. My girls. My porn. - Don Jon (Quote from the movie "Don Jon" 2013)

I was intrigued after a friend posted the movie trailer on her facebook. I haven't watched the movie yet, not sure if I want to watch it, but based on the movie reviews, it was a good smart movie. I guess the trailer caught my attention how Don Jon (the main character) included the church & the porn together.

I could somehow relate to the character, I'd like to share how God saved me from porn addiction. I grew up in a christian school where the motto was "training in righteousness". I was blessed to come to know the Lord when I was in highschool. I remember we had a program in school wherein we are required to attend the youth service every sunday at 2:30pm in the school church. We are in church not because we are blessed or something, but because we are required to do so. The time 2:30pm and the day Sunday is a good time to sleep, watch a movie, hang out with family & just relax, some of us choose not to attend and make our own excuses the next morning signed by our parents why we're not able to attend the program. Thus, we commit more sin. Lol.

Despite having known the Lord, I struggled with habitual sin for many years. I started to watch porn & get addicted to it after a barkada from highschool introduced it. Dala na rin siguro ng raging hormones at works of the devil that is why I used to be tied in pornography and other forms of sexual impurity. Yes I go to church and yes I go back to porn. One day for church the other days of the week puro porn, I remember staying up late till 5 am just to watch porn, kahit may pasok pa sa school ng 7:30 am. Wala pang DSL dati, I buy and spend so much money for internet cards to gratify myself from watching the pornography. Ganon ka progressive at kalala yan, but I am now set free by the precious blood of Christ.

I tried ending the habitual aspect of this sin on my own for years. Grabe I go to church to ask for forgiveness then go back again to pornography then ask for forgiveness na naman. My thoughts are all twisted and I have this thought in mind na "Patatawarin naman ako ni God kaya sige na lang."  But then I attended the Victory Weekend on November 10, 2012, after crying out to God and with the help of prayer from a victory group leader, I realized that I cannot do it on my own. I cried out to God to save me and help me to overcome this sin.  I was then freed of my slavery to sexual impurity. The struggles still lingers, however, with many battles some of them were really intense like ayan na konti na lang bibigay, I still struggles all the way through december 2012 but I can say that I would win many of the battles by the grace of God, but I would also lose some battles. 

After the victory weekend God personally convicted me to stop browsing websites that would only gave the enemy an open door into my life. Although some of the sites were not pornographic, they still appealed to my sinful nature. I used to blog mga kabastusan at kalokohan from my old blogsite, never thought that since I started blogging in 2009 ginagamit pala ako ng enemy para mahulog sa kasalanan ang ibang tao. Although the site were not pornographic at all pero the thoughts and the contents does not glorify God, it was more on self & pleasure glorfying eh. December 2012 when I gave up the old blog and started a new blog, the Jesus is Astig blog.

Since I have stopped browsing pornographic websites, and stopped writing kablogstusan, I have had incredible victory in my life, Jesus is helping me to be obedient to his teachings by reading more on his word (the Bible & some christian books). Jesus is giving me the ability to resist every impure thought that crosses my mind and making me victorious on a regular daily basis now. I have learned that the more time I spend with Christ the more I become victorious from sin. Right now I am blessed to be used by God in mentoring some of my readers, former classmates and friends who would ask more about Jesus in my Jesus is Astig blog. It is my goal now to reach out to those who struggle with this addictions.

 If Don Jon quoted "There's only a few things I really care about in life. My body. My pad. My ride. My family. My church. My boys. My girls. My porn. "  I'll quote "There's only one great thing I should really care about in life. My relationship with JESUS."

Thank you God for saving me from this ugly past, if you are not astig, my life will result into a more uglier future. Thank you for the people you used for me to experience true freedom. Sobrang mas masarap talaga si piling niyo sa kahit ano pa man!

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; The old has gone, the new has come! - 2 Corinthians 5:17 

UPDATE DIN PAG MAY TIME

It's hard to say no to sin. Sin gives so much pleasure. Masarap talaga gumawa ng kasalanan, kung hindi ba naman masarap yan gagawin mo ba naman? Siempre hindi, but after that boooom! condemnation!

There are times in our life or most of the times, we choose to sin rather than to say no to sin. Example if somebody offers you a cigarette or a drink, its easier to say yes than to say no. Why is that? Because we protect our image, we want to be cool, be like them, we don't wanna be called KJ and all that. But the truth of the matter is (lalo na if you are a christian) after you fall into sin, sobra kang macocondemn.

Sa pag gawa ng kasalanan if we keep on practicing them it becomes a habit. The more you do it the more natural it's gonna be. I remember the first time I got drunk, nakakahiya umuwi ng bahay at first, cause you don't know what to say to your parents. Pero nung paulit ulit na akong umiinom, madali ng umuwi ng bahay ng walang takot kase I know what to say and I know how to deal with it.

 So paano tayo iiwas sa pag gawa ng kasalanan? Ganun din, example if someone offers you a cigarette or mag lasingan at gumapang ng sumusuka pauwi, learn how to say "No." Keep practicing on saying no, then it will become a habit. Hindi mo namamalayan ang daming beses mo na pala nakaiwas sa kakasabi mo ng "No!" Huwag naman No! in Jesus name I rebuke you! ang pagsabi. Just say "No." I tell you man, people around you will start to respect you."

I want to speak to my fellow Christians who are still struggling with sin. Pornography, drugs, lies, cigarettes, alcohol drinking, shabu pa o sapatos pa, all kinds of addiction etc. I say that God is in my life now but I'm still struggling as well. That means God still needs to do something in my life. I am no perfect, no one is. Pero we have to work with our best to stay out of it. We should pray for it and continue to seek him. The more time we have in seeking and knowing Christ the less chance we fall in temptations. Kaya sa mga fellow Christians na napapalayo kay Jesus, go back to him brother! It's not late yet! It will never be too late lalo when you involve Jesus in your life. And yeah don't forget to update your relationship with Jesus all the time!

Updating your iphone to iOS 7? Cool!
How about updating your relationship with Christ?

In Your Arms

(Me and my Mommy)

Naaalala mo ba nung bata ka, yung panahon na naglalaro ka tapos nakatulog ka sa sofa o di naman kaya ay sa sahig? Naaalala mo ba na minsan ay binuhat ka ng iyong ama o kaya ng iyo ina upang dalhin ka sa iyong kama? Marahil ay hindi mo na ito naaalala, kung may naaalala ka man, pa ilan-ilan lang. Pero ang katotohanan mula ng isinilang ka, ikaw lang tanging inintindi nila.

Noong bata pa ako, mga walong taong gulang, pagkatapos namin kumain ng hapunan, nakaugalian kong matulog agad sa sofa. Pagkatapos noon ay naaalala kong binubuhat na ako ng aking ina papunta sa aking malambot na kama. Minsan naman eh talagang nakakatulugan ko lang ang paglalaro kaya kung saan saan ako nakakatulog gaya na lamang sa hagdanan, sa upuan o sa sahig katabi ng aking mga laruan.

Naaalala ko rin na kapag nadapa ako o kaya napa away,  naaalala kong sa aking pag iyak binubuhat ako ng aking ina para ako ay patahanin. Naalala kong tumutulo ang aking mga luha pati na ang aking sipon sa kanyang mga balikat. At habang kanyang pinapahiran ang luha sa aking mga mata, patuloy niya akong pinapatahan at pinapaypayan. Kapag basa naman ang aking likod, lalagyan niya ako ng malambot na puting sapin sa likuran at pupulbusan. Naalala ko kung gaano kasarap sa pakiramdam kapag may malambot na sapin sa aking likuran. Alam ko na tuwing ako ay nasa kanyang mga braso, panatag ang loob ko. Ganoon niya ako inalagaan, ganon niya ako minahal.


Sa aking pagtanda ngayon, hindi ko na sila palaging nakakasama , malayo ang aking ina. May mga panahon na sa loob ng isang buwan, ni hindi ko man lang naririnig ang tinig niya. Oo inaalagaan ko ang ibang tao, pero ang sarili kong ina, ni hindi ko man lang marinig at maaninag.

Malaking malaki na rin ang pinagbago. Hindi na nila ako pwedeng patahanin sa aking pag iyak. Hindi na rin ako kayang buhatin kung nakatulog man ako sa kung saan. At lalong hindi na rin niya ako pwedeng sapinan sa tuwing basa ang aking likuran.

Bumuhos ang luha ko. Naramdaman kong muli ang yakap at haplos ng aking ina kahit wala siya sa aking tabi. Nararamdaman kong muli ang pag aaruga sa akin ng aking ina. Ipinararamdam ito ng Diyos sa akin sa tuwing ako'y nakikipagniig sa kanyang piling. Ang pagmamahal ng Diyos ay tulad ng pagmamahal ng aking ina. Alam ko na sa tuwing ako'y mag isang mahihimlay sa gabing malamig at madilim, panatag ang loob kong ako'y mabuting makahihimlay sapagkat alam kong hawak ako ng Diyos sa kanyang mga braso't mga kamay.

Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my righteous right hand.- Isaiah 41:10

- - -Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” - Deuteronomy 31:6

- - -Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. - 1 Peter 5:7
- - - I am with you always, to the end of the age.” - Matthew 28:20

(Listen to this song and be blessed)

Q & A

Hi guys! Before I start this blog I would  like to thank all of you for reading and dropping by here always.  I am also grateful to all of you who liked and shared my blog on facebook, praise God we have more than 5000 likes on facebook. Due to the number of new likes I've been receiving questions from people who want to know more about Jesus. That is our goal to make Jesus more famous! Again thank you guys for being a part of sharing the word of Jesus. Let us continue to cause more parties in heaven!

I'd like to answer some of the questions I received on astig's facebook page lately. So let's get started. :)

1."Bakit pa ginawa ng Diyos na iba-iba ang language ng mga tao, yan tuloy kadalasan sa hindi pagkaka unawaan nag uumpisa ang digmaan at di pagkakaunawan." (Bulacan, Philippines)

 I was like "Wow brad ang lalim ng digmaan ah." Haha! I can say that our God is not a boring God. He is a very creative God and he is a God of variety. Kung mapapansin mo, hindi lang tao ang may variety. Pati hayop, iba iba ang ginawa niyang mga hayop. May pusa, kalabaw, aso, daga, unggoy, elepante, giraffe, kambing. Oh di ba ang dami? Hindi lang yan! May iba't ibang klaseng breed pa ang mga yan. Halimbawa ang aso hindi lang nanatiling aso na lang, may iba't ibang lahi pa yan (Example Shih Tzu, beagle, chihuhuahua, golden retriever, german shepherd atbp.)

Isipin mo na lang brad kung hindi creative si God. Ganto ang magiging usapan.
Siya: Ano ang pet mo?
Ikaw: Aso.
Siya: Ako din eh aso.
Ikaw: Wala namang ibang hayop sa planet earth eh. Aso lang.
Siya:  Alam ko. Wala lang, may matanong lang.

Oh di ba? Boring kung walang variety at walang ibang hayop. Ganyan din sa atin brad. Iba't iba man ang lahi natin, iba iba man ang kulay at anyo natin. Binigyan pa rin tayo ng Diyos ng paraan para magkaintindihan, tulad na lamang ng international language. Kung hindi man siya marunong mag salita ng english eh gumawa naman si God ng tao na tinatawag na "Translator." Nasa tao lang talaga brad kung gusto nila mag kaunawaan o hindi. May mga tao nga na iisa na ang language hindi pa rin mag kaunawaan di ba?

2. What does astig mean? What is it in english? Why Jesus is astig? ( New Jersey, USA)

Astig means. . ahmm.. hmmm...lemme think first.. . .hmmmm argghhh! I think there is no exact english translation for the word astig. Some says astig in english means thug. But no Jesus isn't a thug. Lol. The time I was thinking of a blog name, I am thinking of a word to describe Jesus, but I can't come up with just one word, cause there's a lot.  I remember the expression "astig" from the Philippines. When somebody says that you are astig it means you are cool, great, awesome, macho, tough man, amazing, admirable, stunning, wonderful, breath-taking, astonishing, overwhelming, jaw dropping, impressive, majestic, brave, amusing,  extreme and a lot more!!!! So when I say Jesus is astig it means Jesus is the every positive adjective word you can think of. So why Jesus is astig? Let's make it simple. "You won't be here on earth if he is not astig." :)

3. Can you write your blogs in english, so we can understand? ( California, USA)

I for sure have some blogs written in English but not all. The reason why I don't write in english most of the time is because aside from it is not really my primary language, I'd like to minister more on my fellow Filipinos. Filipino first. :) And I used to have a blog which is written in pure tagalog before I started writing in this blog so most of my readers expect me to write in tagalog. :)

For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe. - Deutoronomy 10:17I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the Lord, who does all these things. - Isaiah 45:7

CONTROL IT BROTHER!

(Photo Credit Google Image Search)

I went out to a concert party at a bar here in LA a month ago with my chum and his friends. On our small talk they offered me liquors and cigarettes. I refused to get some and I just had a carbonated drink instead. "Man you are wasting your life. You need to enjoy your youth, you need to loosen up! When you get old you can no longer enjoy these good things on earth. Have you ever smoked a marijuana? Have you ever been get laid? We're going to change you, this is California man, we will end up tonight in bed naked! I replied "If I should have known, I shouldn't have gotten here" then we laughed at it.

During my teenage years and early 20's I for sure did all these things (except for the marijuana). I mean I enjoyed drinking with friends and getting drunk, I enjoyed smoking cigarettes when I was working in a call center just to alleviate the stress at work, I had sexual encounters with people I'm not married to for the sake of curiosity and to feed my sexual desires. I've been there and been that.

Christianity aside, as a nurse I stopped doing these things because I started to take care of my body. I know for a fact that alcoholic beverages and cigarettes can harm the body. Lahat ng bagay na ito can cause your body organs such as your kidney, heart and lungs to deteriorate slowly. Kung mahal mo ang sarili mo at mahal mo ang pamilya mo you wouldn't be doing these things. Second hand smoke is worst. Kawawa naman ang mga nakikilanghap, cause they have no choice.

Yes a condom can protect you from getting pregnant or can protect you from acquiring sexually transmitted diseases but it cannot protect you from a broken heart. If you have been addicted to sex, mahirap na to get way out, you'll crave for more and will no longer be satisfied by just having one partner. You will never enjoy the beauty of sex when you get married because you have someone to be compared of, you get confused with lusts. They say na okay lang sa mag kalalakihan to have sex with different partners kase wala namang mawawala sa kanila, kumpara sa mga babae, I believe that is wrong.  Having sex with different partners is something dogs do. Hindi naman tayo aso, they might have no self control kaya gagawin nila yun anytime, anywhere. We are humans God gave us self control so we need to use it. Control it parekoy! I think it's not very manly to have maraming sexual partners, that means you are very weak in controlling yourself.

For people who watch a lot of pornography, I believe this will affect you someway or somehow, it will stick in your mind and it will affect how you treat women for instance. And if you've been into these kind of activity you need grace from God. He will erase everything and make you a new person.

I don't want to sound like self-righteous here. Like what I said I've been into it and I learned a lot from it. Habang ginagawa mo ang kasalanan, there is so much pleasure in it pero after you do it, what do you feel? You feel bad right? Sobrang parang binabarena ang emotions mo. Kahit anong sabon ang gawin mo sa katawan mo you will still feel dirty. You feel immoral, unloved, unaccepted and condemned. That's what the demons want you to feel. We all need God to save us from all of these thoughts and I believe if we focus our eyes on Jesus alone, mawawala ang lahat ng ito at lilinisin niya tayong lahat sa ating mga kasalanan like a new born baby.

I ended up the night on my bed. Hindi nag yosi, hindi nalasing at hindi nakipag sex. Buhay pa naman ako! Temptations will always be there. Sinabi na ni Jesus yan, sa prayer niya nga hindi niya pinag pray na alisin niya tayo sa makasalanang mundo na ito, but his prayer is for us to overcome sins, to overcome evil. (John 17:15) At pwede naman mag enjoy ng buhay without comprising our health. Mas masarap kaya mag enjoy sa presence ni Lord at alam mong nagiging victorious ka sa pag gawa ng kasalanan. Try mo! :)


Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. -1 Corinthians 6:18

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. - 1 Corinthians 10:13

Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways. - Psalms 119:37

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God- Galatians 5:19-21

(If you like to be prayed for send me a message and I will pray for you) 

Bakit Single Ka Pa Rin?

(Photo from arclicks.tumblr.com)

One of the family member asked me "Bakit single ka pa rin?" Boom! Tumama ang tanong niya! Last year a friend asked me kung hindi ba ako nalulungkot dahil single ako. (If you want to read my post last year sa sagot ko sa kanya click here.) 

Anyhow, inihaw. For some of you who didn't know. I had a very little history of having a relationship with a woman. Hindi pa lalagpas sa daliri sa isang kamay. Medyo, matibay kase ako pag nag mahal eh todo todo parakundo, kaya pag nasaktan tagal din bago maka alpas! At saka pagtapos nung huli, eh sobrang nahirapan na ako makahanap ng iba. Complete package kase niya eh!

So bakit single pa din ako? For in the moment, I am so contented for being one. Don't get me wrong, I mean for now I am okay, but the Lord knows my heart. I don't want to be single for the rest of my life, but even if I'm single kahit tumagal pa ng ilang taon pa, kung hindi naman will ni God na magkagirlfriend ako in the near future I wouldn't mind, like what I said I am that happy and contented right now. I don't wan't to get things that God won't provide for me. Ayoko naman ng kahit sino na lang magkameron lang. And yes just to clear things out I am interested to be in a relationship but in God's perfect time. Malay mo sa isang taon o isang buwan eh padalhan ako ni Jesus via FedEx ng supah hot, supah smart, perfect girl na para sakin. Nothing is impossible eh~ pray without ceasing! Haha! At yang relationship na yan pinag pepray talaga yan. :)

Kidding aside. I think it's better to fix your relationship first with Jesus before engaging into a relationship na hindi God's will. It's better to have a good relationship with Jesus first because he is the one who created love. If you have a good relationship with Jesus, the human aspect of engaging into a relationship will be easy. But if you don't have a good relationship with the creator of love, I think you will never really understand what love is. You'll end up crying for a broken relationship lang. So sayang lang.

Like what I said from my previous blogs "I had a very heart-breaking past love experience." Medyo masakit talaga Kuya Eddie. But I thank God, napupunuan ng pagmamahal ni Lord ang sakit na iyon. Right now I can say na tanggap ko na at masaya na ako para sa kanya, para sa kanila. Mahirap kase talaga ang long distance relationship, hirap i-work out. Hantay na lang talaga ako sa pa FedEx ni Lord. :)

At para sa mga brad natin diyan na single at may very heart-breaking past love experience, Psalm 147:3 say's Jesus heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Bigay mo na kay Jesus yan brad because he will fix your heart, papahirin niya ang luha sa mga mata mo at papawiin niya lahat ng sakit diyan. Give it up to Jesus brad and fix your relationship with him first!

So bakit ako single? Kase I'm enjoying my relationship with Jesus right now. I think this is better than engaging into a relationship that does not glorify God. I believe na pag maayos ang relationship ko kay Jesus, magiging maayos din ang pagpapamilya ko someday. At next time na manliligaw ako I'll make sure that she is the one I would like to marry, and hope that someday, pag kinasal na kami eh mabasa niya ito :)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths - Proverbs 3:5-6
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”- Revelation 21:4
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.- Psalm 34:18

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.- Psalm 147:3

LAHAT NG BABANGGA AY MAGIGIBA

Kapag matibay ang iyong pundasyon, hindi ka basta basta matutumba. Sabi nga ng kanta ng Sandwich "Lahat ng babangga ay magigiba, humanda ka!"

Hindi ba mas maganda na ikaw yung astigin na hindi basta basta nagigiba? Hindi ikaw itong konting bangga lang eh, tumba agad, plakda kung plakda! Literally kung may bumanggang problema sa atin, hindi ba maganda na alam mo na meron kang magandang pundasyon na masasandalan?

Let me tell you mga brad, if Jesus is our solid foundation hindi tayo basta basta matutumba. Alam natin na kapag may pagsubok eh meron tayong Jesus. Na sobrang astig, sobrang solid, hindi basta bastang matutumba, King of kings at Lord of lords ba naman eh, alam natin na kaya niyang gawin ang lahat ng bagay para sa atin, kase with him all things are possible. (Mark 9:23)

I'd like to share this parable about the wise and the foolish builders.

The Wise and Foolish Builders (Matthew 7:24-27)

24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Si Jesus ang tinutukoy na rock diyan at ikaw yung bahay. Kung sa bato ka nga naman nakatayo, kahit anong bagyo o pagsubok ang dumating, hindi ka basta basta magigiba, matibay ka, hindi ka basta basta nagkakatumba tumba. Pero kung hindi si Jesus ang pundasyon mo, may maliit lang na problema, humangin lang, crash ka agad, tapos matagal bago mo malampasan ang problema. Eh paano pa kaya kung bagyo ang dumating? tumba ka talaga sa buhangin, plakda, lunod kung lunod.

Hindi lamang sa problema nangyayari ang mga pagkakalunod na yan. Minsan hindi natin alam na pwedeng ikasira din ng relasyon natin sa pamilya kung wala tayong matibay na pundasyon sa mga pangaral ng Bibliya.
(Example: May asawa ka o kaya girlfriend, may dumaan na seksing babae - sunod ka naman agad kay chicks. So ano ang susunod na mangyayari? Wasak ang relasyon niyong mag asawa. O kaya naman may bigotilyong lalakeng maraming buhok sa dibdib - sunod naman si babae - wasak din ang pamilya)

Kaya naman dapat punong puno tayo ng mga teachings ni Jesus para hindi tayo basta basta nagkakatumba tumba. :) At in case na may dumaan na sobrang lakas na bagyo at mawala ang faith natin, matumba man tayo, malunod man tayo. . .

We know that JESUS will be our all time lifeguard. We know that he will save us from drowning. Kaya whenever I'm at my most low, I know that he is all the way up there in heaven looking at me down below and for sure I will never be too low for him to lift me up. He can even walk on water to lift me up. :)

It is Jesus who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. He is astig! (Psalm 18:31)
#sharehisword

ANG TSISMIS

Have you ever been a victim of gossip? or have you ever been a participant in this activity? Sa palagay ko isa ito sa pinaka masalimuot na pang yayari na pwedeng maranasan ng isang tao. Yung tipong pinag pipyestahan ka ng mga tao at ikaw ang pinag uusapan. This morning I saw facebook statuses that talks about Chito & Neri's scandal. Some of them even posted the actual video. I almost played the video but something in my inner conscience stopped me. Siguro dahil hindi ko magawa ay dahil hinahangaan ko bilang magaling na pinoy artist si Chito Miranda.

Naisip ko lang bigla kung bakit may mga taong pinag lalaanan ng oras at pansin ang pagkakalat ng mga gantong pangyayari. Kung hindi ipagkakalat sa text, sa facebook, iti-tweet at gagawin ang lahat para sirain at pabagsakin ang taong na involve dito. Tanong ko lang brad, kung ikaw ang nasa sitwasyon ni Chito? Ano ang mararamdaman mo kung pag pyestahan ka ng mga tao? Sa palagay ko, kaya may mga taong gustong manira ng taong mga sikat ay dahil gusto nila ma-idikit at ma-iangat din sila kahit papano sa kasikatan.

Dati noong hindi pa uso ang text at facebook eh mahirap magkalat ng tsismis. Pupunta ka pa sa kapitbahay para lamang ipagkalat ang balitang iyong nasagap, badtrip pa pag walang tao. Ngayon instant kalat na agad, isang tweet lang, facebook mo lang, intagram, tumblr, lahat yan madaling ikalat ang mga tsismis. Totoo man o hindi ang tsismis dapat hindi tayo sumasali sa mga ganyang uri ng activity. Hindi magandang hobby ang paninirang puri. Dapat kapag nakakarinig tayo ng hindi magagandang bagay eh hindi na natin pagkakalat, sa hanggang atin pa lang eh dapat nailibing na ang ganyang usapan.

Kapag may nasagap kang balita. Huwag mo na i-forward sa iba totoo man o hindi, lalo't ikakasira ng iba. Parang ganto lang yan brad. Ipag palagay natin na ang tsimis is equals to tae (tsimis = tae). Kapag ba ang tae nadaanan mo, bubungkalin at ipapakita mo pa ba sa iba? Hindi di ba? Ang tsismis ay parang tae, madumi, dapat itong iniiwasan, kinakalimutan at hindi na babalikan pa.

It says on Proverbs 26:20 "Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down. Kapag may hindi magandang bagay na nangyari sa kapwa eh wag na pag usapan para tumahimik na. Apoy man kung wala ng masusunog eh titigil din yan. Huwag mo na lalagyan ng panibagong kahoy o gasolina para hindi na lumagablab. Iyan ang ginagawa ng mga nasa showbiz twing hapon ng linggo eh. Magkabilaang istasyon eh pag uusapan ang kung sino sinong artista. Tayo naman na nakakanood eh unconsciously na,  unaware pa na kung ano anong basura na pala ang nailagay natin sa tenga papasok sa utak natin.

Dapat gayahin natin si Jesus Christ. Nung time na may dinala sa kanyang babae na nangangalunya para batuhin ng bato hanggang mamatay, uso kase to noon eh. Astig si Jesus kase hindi na niya tinanong ang babae kung totoo ba ang pinararatang sa kanya, hindi na niya pinuntahan ang lalaki kung totoo ba o hindi. Ibig sabihin iniwasan na ni Jesus yung tsismis dahil alam niyang wala naman siyang mapapala. Baka madumihan lang ang isip niya at mahusgahan niya pa ang babaeng ito. Kaya sabi na lang niya "Mauna nang bumato ang walang kasalanan." Sure enough walang bumato at nag alisan na lahat. Let's be Christlike when we hear tsismis, wag na natin alamin at suriin kung totoo man ito o hindi, sa atin na lang yan brad, huwag ng ipagkalat pa sa iba dahil sa bandang huli kung ikaw man ang nagkalat ng tsismis, ikaw at ikaw din ang masisisi. Kaya brad. Dwell on things worthy of praise na lang.

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. - Philippians 4:8

(Please share para mabasa ng iba. Salamat!)

LOVE ON TOP

If Love on Top is a christian song, the lyrics will go like this. . .

JESUS it's you.
You're the one I love. (Luke 10:27)
You're the one I need. (John 14:6)
You're the only one I see. (John 8:12)
Praise you JESUS it's you.
You're the one that gives your all. (1 John 2:2)
You're the one I can always call. (Jeremiah 33:3)
When I need you make everything stop. (Mark 4:39)
Finally you give your life for me!. (John 3:16)

"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." - Romans 5:8
JESUS IT'S YOU!

You're the one I love. (Luke 10:27)
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind"

You're the one I need. (John 14:6)
Jesus Answered “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

You're the only one I see. (John 8:12)
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Praise you JESUS it's you.

You're the one that gives your all. (1 John 2:2)
"He gave his life to pay for our sins. But he not only paid for our sins. He also paid for the sins of the whole world."

You're the one I can always call. (Jeremiah 33:3)
"Call out to me. I will answer you. I will tell you great things you do not know. You will not be able to understand them.”

When I need you make everything stop. (Mark 4:39)
"He got up and ordered the wind to stop. He said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down. And it was completely calm."

Finally you give your life for me!. (John 3:16)
“God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son. Anyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life.

JESUS IS ASTIG!

Culture Clash and His Words

Marami talaga ang pagkakaiba nating mga pinoy sa amerikano o kaya mexicano. Example if a fly suddenly appears when you guys are eating. They would normally freak out and try to do something to get rid of the fly and say "I hate flies." For us average Filipino's its a part of our life to eat with flies hanging around. We don't really care that much. It's normal. Minsan sa karinderia sahog pa yan sa lugaw. Lols.

We filipino's have pamalo para sa langaw, minsan naman we will light up a candle para mawala ang flies. Which I think it actually works. One time when we were eating at a party there's a lot of flies. So a Mexican friend said "I'll go get a bag of water and put pennies on it." "For what?" we asked. He answered "Flies don't like that." And we were like "Lol what the?"

Another example. I have a housemate he is American. One day he asked me "What is this thing doing in the toilet? What do you use this for? (he is referring to water dipper or tabo). I didn't actually responded to his question correctly, I just said "Just leave it there, I use it every time I use the toilet so leave it alone don't mess with it!" Napa okay na lang siya. Americans are fond of using toilet papers kase pamunas ng pwet. Mas pakiramdam ko mas malinis kase kapag binuhasan pa rin ng tubig ang pwet. Lol. Wala pa ring tatalo sa tabo! big time!

Mexicans naman treat avocado's like how we treat tomatoes. They put it in the sandwich, they dip their nachos in it (guacamole), they put it every where!  I know a Mexican guy who can't eat without avocado. I mean I can live without eating avocados for 10 years. Lols. One time he saw me putting milk on my avocado. He was like "Wait wait wait what are you doing? That is grose!" I said "No! This is good! You should try it!" He ran away from me and he said he feels like throwing up. Like what I said they treat avocado like how we treat tomatoes. Masusuka din ako pag lalagyan niya ng milk ang kamatis ah!

For Indians naman. Thank God wala pa akong kaibigang Indian. Pero everytime talaga na may nakakasalubong ako eh gusto ko tanungin kung wala ba sa daily routines nila ang pagligo. Ambabaho eh. Not all naman but I think most of them. Ni wala nga sa bucket list ko ang kumain sa Indian Restaurant kase maamoy ko pa lang parang hihimatayin na ako. Yung mga Chinese naman maka kain ng uod at fetus maryahosepmaryano! Anyway. . .we still need to respect each other and value individuals culture. :)

Anyhow, inihaw kahit iba iba pa tayo ng culture, iba iba man ang mga nakasanayang gawin at hindi gawin. One thing is for sure! The word of God is the word of God. It's for all the people! Whether toilet paper lang gusto mo ipunas sa pwet mo, whether may langaw ka sa lugaw mo at kahit hindi ka naliligo, the word of God will always be the same. It's not like oh this word is for these group of people, this for this. No it's not like that! Standard yan para sa lahat.

Kaya huwag nating gawin parang buffet table ang word of God. I mean you just take what you want and leave what you don't want or eat what you like and forget what you don't like. We should follow every single word written in it. Lahat lahatan yan.

Example you like this verse. "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24. So diyan tuwang tuwa ka kase sarap ng promise ni Lord! Then nabasa mo naman to "But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart." - Matthew 5:28. Tapos yan ayaw mo kase sarap na hobby niyan eh. Huwag yan Lord pleasure ko yan eh. Oh di ba parang that's something that does not come together. Dapat lahat kuha! Di pwede ang culture clash na yan sa word of God! :)

God's Minion

What is a minion?

I know what you are thinking. You are thinking of the small, yellow, funny, cylinder-shaped, genetically humanized kernels that have one or two eyes, cute little guys from the movie despicable me. These minions are so adorable! But what really is a minion?

According to pareng wikipedia, a minion is a follower devoted to serve his/her master relentlessly. Ang tindi pala ng mga minions, kaya pala from the movie despicable me kahit anong sabihin ng master nila na si Gru eh talagang sumusunod sila whatever it takes. If you've watched the first despicable me, you know what I'm saying. If you haven't watched the first Despicable Me yet, you might wanna watch it free online. Then watch Despicable Me 2 in theaters naman, cause aside from it's illegal to watch it in pirated dvd's, it is no fun, pangit ang sound at may nag tatayuan na tao and it's still showing pa naman. Sobrang dinudumog ang movie ng mga 3 years old! (Free ad ah)

Going back to my topic. Lols. I want to be God's minion. So when I say minion dapat sagad sagad talaga, devoted & willing to serve my master (God) relentlessly. Right now, dahil sa situation ko, medyo limited ang mga taong nakakasama at nakakasalamuha ko so medyo slow ang progress ng sharing the gospel personally to other people, though I still share his word through the internet, but I guess it's not enough. Eh why do I need to share the Gospel, eh okay naman na ang buhay ko?

It's a command from God (Matthew 28:19). As a believer yan ang dapat kong gawin, like what the purpose of this blog, I'd like to share the Gospel in every way. We Christians should not stop sharing the Gospel so that other people will also be able to know God. Imagine if everyone of us will stop sharing the gospel, wala nang maliligtas, wala ng magiging masaya, wala na ang teaching ni Jesus na love your neighbor as you love yourself, magiging magulo na ang mundo, walang ng peace, puro digmaan na. Yan kase talaga ang nabibigay ng merong Jesus sa buhay, merong peace! Kaya gusto natin na pati ang pamilya natin, ang mga tao sa paligid natin eh magkaroon din ng Jesus para kahit nasa trials sila eh merong peace sa buhay. Kaya we should continue to share the gospel because it is a command from God, and we are his minions.

For sure marami pa ang hindi nakaka kilala kay Jesus, marami rami pang pwedeng maka kilala sa kanya ng lubusan at dapat tayo ay maging instrumento para maka kilala sila. "The harvest is plentiful but the minions are few. (Matthew 9:37) . Oh gusto mo maging minion ni God? Share the gospel parekoy!

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

Tanong: Bakit ang daming tinik ng isda sa blog mo?

Sagot: Ah kase kinain na nila yung laman ng isda. Alanganan naman pati tinik kainin nila! Wala pa namang dala si Jesus na mineral water o kaya saging panulak sa mga matitinik. Napa instant himala pa siguro siyang mag tanggal ng tinik sa mga lalamanunan ng matitinik.

Bale five thousand men besides women and children ang pinakain ni Jesus sa pamamagitan lamang ng limang tinapay at dalawang isda.( Back read on Matthew 14:13-21) Whoaaaahhhhhh!!! Ang astig ni Jesus noh? Sobra! mantakin mo, mag pakain ba naman ng libo libong katao? Eh kahit yung kumandidatong Mayor sa may amin nung naka raang eleksyon hindi kayang mag pakain ng isang libong katao eh. Tapos naulit pa ulit ang pag papakain niya ng libo libong tao sa Matthew 15. Ang astig pa dun, di niya na kailangan mag luto pa ng kung ano ano, dinaan na lang niya sa panalangin ang lahat. Hestiiiiggg~~

Ang nakaka mangha ng sobra doon eh yung compassion niya sa tao. Sabi niya sa mga disciples niya "Pakainin natin itong mga tao, sunod ng sunod sa atin ilang araw na eh mga gutom na yan, kapag di natin pinakain yan eh magtumbahan sa lansangan yan." Sumagot ang isa sa mga alagad "Wow Jesus lansangan ang lalim na tagalog naman niyan! Hahaha! Kidding aside wala tayong pagkain na dala! pero may bata diyan may dalang limang tinapay at dalawang isda. So kinuha nila sa bata yung tinapay at isda (nang may paalam). Buti na lang naturuan na ni Jesus yung bata na maging mapag bigay sa kapwa, eh kung hindi, nganga sila sa gutom, mag lumpasay pa yung bata sa kakaiyak kase siempre pag nawala na yung baon niyang isda at tinapay siya naman ang magutuman. Lakas din ng faith at obedience ni bata noh?

Grabe yung pagmamahal ni Jesus, eh kung wala wala lang siya eh pinauwi niya na lang yung mga taong yun. "Magsi-uwi na kayo, gabi na wala kaming papakain sa inyo!" Oh di ba hindi ganyan si Jesus! Nag himala siya para makakain man lang ang mga tao bago sila umuwi.

Hindi lang nabusog ang mga tao kundi na satisfied pa. Iba yung busog sa na-satisfy eh.

Jesus is Astig kase hindi hinayaan ni Jesus magtumbahan sa lansangan ang more than five thousand men sa gutom!

I Am Not Here for a Show

Someone posted on my facebook wall after seeing my shared photo from a pastor about the filipino movies that needs to stop. He said to me "OA na ang pagka-born again christian mo" "nakatapak ka pa ba sa lupa?" "perfect ka na rin?" "Nakakatawa na nga ang mga status mo, nawawala ka na sa reality" etc.

I honestly got hurt after reading that, maybe because that someone is also a christian. He is from the church I used to attend to before I attended victory. I messaged him privately and told him that I respect his opinion.  He then unfriended me on his facebook this morning. Sayang he is someone I am looking up to because he is one of the well known writer in the Philippines. He is also a family friend kaya medyo masakit ang pag block niya sa akin sa facebook.

Para sa akin okay lang masabihan na OA ang pagka christian ko, kesa naman walang makahalata na christian ako. I am not acting or pretending to be a christian. I pursue to live by his word, I am not here for a show. Kung nakita man niya na nagbago ako it's because of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). Mahirap din naman na ipagsabi ko na christian ako pero walang pagbabagong nakikita sa akin. Kung ganun at ganun pa rin ang ginagawa ko, kung maka mundo pa rin bale wala ang pagiging christian ko. Bale wala tong mga pinag sasabi ko sa blog na ito.

I am not perfect, nag kakasala pa din naman ako. I know all of us are struggling to overcome temptations. We can easily be tempted to engage into sin because we are humans. But that is not what the Lord's want. Matindi pa nga ang sinabi ni Jesus sabi niya in Matthew 5:48 " Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly father is perfect." Mahirap hirap yan pero iba ang kayang gawin ni Lord eh.

Sabi nga ng pastor na nakausap ko "Kung babad ka sa salita ng Diyos, hindi ka basta basta matutukso at mahuhulog sa kasalanan." Nararanasan ko yun, nagiging victorious ako sa kasalanan na kina adikan ko. I praise God for that na napag tatagumpayan kong huwag mahulog ng paulit-ulit sa kasalanan. Mas greater joy ang nakukuha ko pag alam kong victorious ako.

Kung marami kang time kay God mawawalan ka na ng time sa mundo. Kaya kung sinasabi niya na nawawala na ako sa reality, hindi ko alam, pero baka siguro nga, kase hindi naman ganto ang lifestyle ko dati. Dati I do whatever I want to do, kahit kasalanan pa yan for the sake of pleasure. Pero ngayon hindi, meron na ata akong tinatawag na conviction. Parang hindi ko na kaya gawin ang mga kasalanan na iyon dahil nakakahiya kay Lord.

You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. - Matthew 10:22

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. - Romans 12:2

"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. - Matthew 6:24

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. -
1 John 2:15

If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. - John 15:19

                                              I WILL LOVE YOU FOREVER JESUS! 

                                          KAHIT ITAKWIL MAN AKO NG MUNDO.

(It's best to pause first and wait for it to load)

Patience

Somebody from The Voice Ph said something like this "People from the Philippines thought that life in America is easy, but they didn't know that life there is so hard and you have lot of things that you need to overcome."

True enough! My Tita won't even let me wash the dishes back in the Philippines. Here if you're not working yet, you have to do all the household chores like cooking, cleaning the house, doing the laundry, cutting the grass, etc,, as in you have to do everything by yourself. Unless you have thousands of dollars to spend to hire for a helper but you don't wanna do that. Di uso ang katulong dito ah! But my thought in his statement "It doesn't matter where you are, it's about your choice. Pwede mong padaliin at pahirapin ang buhay mo kahit saan ka man ilagay."

I feel right now that my patience is being put on a test. Sabi nga ni Angelica "Ang pera natin hindi basta basta nauubos pero ang pasensiya ko konting konti na lang!" Ako yata parehas nauubos na. Haha! At nung nag pasabog ata ang Diyos ng patience, natutulog ako o nasa banyo kaya di ako masiyadong nakasalo, pero Lord please mag pa door to door naman kayo ng patience dito. Salamat Jesus. I lab you po!

There are times right now that I become weak, there are trials & problems yes I know it's normal but right now it was just this hard. Like what I said feels like my patience is being tested, which I think I'm doing good and I'm handling it very well but sometimes I think I will be better if I have a rebreather attached on. I don't really want to share my problems in details cause it's too personal. But this night I was reminded by this scripture in the Bible from Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." 

Ahhhrrrggghhhh! Yun oh sarap Lord! Just by your word nagkakaroon ako ng lakas ng loob at magkaroon ng patience. Whew. Astig ka talaga at ang mga salita mo!

I'm Sorry Dad.

For those people who knew me before I got saved by the grace of God, you guys knew how I hated my dad, part of it is because I am young and not yet matured by that time. During my teenage years I have this feeling that my Dad isn't a great father & he always control me in everything I do. It always been like moving around acting like you were remotely controlled by some higher being. He always ask me to do this, do that, I want you to be this and to be that. Yes, I have the benefit of living by myself, and yes I have the freedom to do anything I want, BUT I have to do within. . What he want me to do and what he want me to be. 

I guess that is all I see. On my teenage years my relationship with my dad grew worse. The relationship was so unfavorable. Have you ever experienced your dad and you being not in the level of your relationship as father and son? Tipong hindi ko na talaga siya kinakausap. Para kaseng sobrang perfectionist, no matter how obviously he gets wrong or commits mistakes he'll never accept or admit it. So if I'm thinking of correcting him with some things, I'd rather be silent because for sure it will end up me being on the wrong side.

I remember when I was young, when all of our family members used to live in one roof. That early morning my dad would wake me up to eat breakfast and he would fix me with a glass of milk which by the way I would cry in front of him cause I really hate the taste of pure milk and drinking that one big glass is just one perfect punishment for me. There are also times when I have to drink one big glass of carrot juice, which I don't really like and that every time I'm done with it I would go inside the bathroom and throw up because it really feels icky. He does that for me to drink milk cause he knows I don't drink milk when he is not around. Well he thinks I might be immune of it someday. Which i did a bit. I do like milk i mean it depends its like I go with the taste that suits me.

I've read a scripture in the Bible that says "  “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good,your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! -Matthew 6:22 -23

In this Bible verse I learned to see and focus on what is good on a person. Here Jesus describes the eye as a lamp which lights the entire body. Our eyes are the entrance to our hearts and minds. Good eyes not only means to see well, but also perceive well. It is not only what we see, but how we perceive what we see that makes the difference between good & bad. Bad eyes lead to bad perception and will also make your life miserable, kung laging pangit lang ang tinitingnan mo sa isang tao, you will never appreciate what is good on a person. Makita mo pala ang taong yun nawawalan ka na ng gana.

That's what happened to me, I focused too much on his mistakes & failures. I never looked on how he managed to provide our needs. Masiyadong naging theme song ng buhay ko ang "Perfect" ng Simple Plan, nakalimutan ko na sobrang buti at bait pala ng Daddy ko. If I could only go back to the time when I refused to talk to him every time he wanted to talk to me, at hindi ko siya pinapansin pag alis at pag uwi ko ng bahay (I realized how painful it was and I'm really sorry), I will go back and I will erase all the bad memories at papalitan ko ng magagandang bagay lahat.

Diyahe man to say this but "Dad you're the best dad in the whole wide world." Kapakanan lang namin lagi ang iniisip mo. I'm sorry for all the pains I gave you, I am the absolute imperfect son. I realized the reason why you treated me like that during my childhood and teenage years, and that is because you want me to be a better person, and I think not only to be better but to be the best. If you didn't insisted that I have to drink that one big glass of milk every morning and that one big glass of carrot juice in the afternoon, baka malabo na ang mata ko, bali bali na ang buto ko, mahina ang utak ko at hindi ako tumangkad ng ganito. You are the best Dad! You did that because of love. I might not know all the pains you went through to make us what we are. But, what I know now is that I love you, I'm proud of you and I will take care of you until forever.

Happy Father's Day Daddy!

I am Weak.

Minsan iniisip natin na kaya nating gawin ang lahat ng bagay. Lalo na kapag nag papasikat ka sa isang tao. Halimbawa sa minamahal, sa crush o sa kinaiinisan mo. Kala mo parang ikaw si Superman na kayang lumipad ng naka brief  sa himpapawid.

Ganyan tayong mga tao. Gusto natin tayo lagi ang ang highest sa lahat ng exam, ang pinakamagaling sa trabaho, yung number 1 number 1, yung tayo lang dapat ang magaling, ang sikat, ang superhero. Nagmamagaling tayo masiyado, hindi natin kayang aminin ang ating kahinaan.

Kaya napahanga nga ako sa kanta ni Yeng Constantino na "Messiah". May lyrics doon na sinasabi na,
"Sasagipin kita
Kung kaya ko lang sana
Pero di ako Messiah!
Pero di ako Messiah!"

Accidentally na transfer yang kanta sa Ipod ko so bale ngayon na LSS na ako (pakinggan niyo rin). Anyhow inihaw, humanga lang ako kase sa kantang yan sinasabi niya na hindi siya Messiah (Savior), ibig sabihin hindi niya kaya gawin ang lahat ng bagay. Gusto man niyang may gawin para sa isang tao pero hindi niya kaya. Edi kung kaya niya lang sana si Yeng na lang yung pinako sa krus para ma save yung mga gusto niyang isave. Meron someone bigger na kayang gumawa ng bagay na iyon para sa ikaliligtas ng tao.

Minsan maganda rin na aminin natin ang ating mga kahinaan. Hindi naman tayo laging malakas. Masarap sa pakiramdam na aminin sa Diyos na mahina tayo at kailangan natin siya para maging malakas tayo. Paano nga naman tayo tutulungan ni Jesus kung di naman natin hinihingi ang tulong niya at pilit nating pinapaniwala ang sarili natin na kaya natin gawin ang lahat ng bagay ng wala siya?

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Kaya brad kung tingin mo eh malakas ka at di mo na kailangan ng Messiah. Ang masasabi ko lang eh mahina ka dahil hindi mo kaya aminin ang kahinaan mo. JESUS is ASTIG because of Him I can do all things (not this thing but ALL things) kase He gives me strength (Philippians 4:13). At iba ang strength na nanggagaling kay JESUS. Hindi strength na pang sports lang, pampamilya pa (ting!)

Who is your Master?

How can you say that the Lord is your master when you actually don't obey him? Tinawag mo pa siyang Lord, then ikaw pa din ang masusunod sa buhay mo. I mean yeah you go to your church every Sunday, you attend your support or life group, you pray everyday, you even pray for your church mates but still you continue to live in sin. Nasa kasalanan ka pa rin kapag ikaw na lang mag isa at wala ng nakakakita sa iyo.

Ang kasalanan ay parang isang malalim na sugat. Kapag hinayaan mo lang ang sugat sa isang parte ng katawan mo, tatakpan mo lang para hindi makita at hindi mo ito lilinisin, mabubulok ito at unti unting hahawaan ang kalapit na parte ng katawan mo hanggang sa lumaki at ma impeksyon ka na nito.

Para gumaling ang sugat na iyan, kailangan mong linisin araw-araw, lagyan ng antiseptic at takpan ng malinis na gasa para gumaling agad. Let's put it this way. Si Jesus ang tagapag-linis at ikaw ang may sugat. Dapat lumapit ka sa kanya, sabihin na ikaw ay may sugat at hayaan mong linisin ka niya sa iyong sugat. Kapag ginawa mo iyon, gagaling ka na sa mga sugat mo. Magiging malaya ka na sa kasalanan mo. Pero pag patuloy mo itong itatago, mabubulok at mabubulok ito at kahit kailan hindi ka magiging malaya sa kasalanan na iyan.

The Lord said "Be holy because I am holy." (1 Peter 1:16). Holy means banal. Wow banal! ibig sabihin hindi nagkakasala. Kaya kaya natin yun? Pero hindi naman siguro sasabihin ni Lord yan kung alam niyang hindi natin kaya yan. It's just a matter of self control at pagbababad sa salita ng Diyos.

Naitanong ko na dati sa isang pastor. Para kaseng na guguilty ako noon na kahit alam ko na, na kay God na ako eh nahuhulog pa din ako sa pag gawa ng kasalanan. Simple lang naman ang naging sagot niya. Actually binalikan pala niya ako ng tanong. "Sino ba ang master mo?" Saan ba mas marami kang time? Sa pag seek kay God o sa pleasure ng katawan mo.? Nganga na lang muna for a second.

Then I realized oo nga! sino ba talaga ang master ko? Si Lord nga dapat talaga. So kung si Lord nga, I should obey him in every aspect of my life.  Master nga eh! Lahat ng sinabi niya dapat paniwalaan at gawin ko. Dapat sinusunod ko siya at hindi dinidisobey mula sa pag gising hanggat pag pikit ng mata ko, kapag babad ako sa salita niya eh less ang pag gawa ng kasalanan at more amaze ako sa kabutihan at kayang gawin niya para sakin. Actually nakakahiya nga gumawa ng kasalanan kapag babad ka sa presence niya eh! Mas masarap magpaka alipin kay Jesus kesa sa magpaka alipin sa kasalanan! Yun oh! Try mo!

Ikaw brad? Sino ang master mo? Yung panlinis ba sa mukha na may papaya extract? este Kasalanan pa rin ba? I have a good news for you! Kaya kang patawarin ni God at linisin ka sa mga kasalanan mo. In 1 John 1:9 it says there  "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 

FEAR NOT!

Merong isang theologian na wala siguro magawa kaya niya naisipan na bilangin kung ilang beses sa Bibliya sinabi ng Diyos na "Fear Not." Pagkakataon o talagang pinahintulutan ng Diyos na maging 365 times binanggit ang "Fear Not!"

Nakakapang lakas lang ng loob na isipin na merong 365 times na sinabi ito ng Diyos. Ibig sabihin sa loob ng isang taon, kapag nangamba tayo eh pwedeng sabihin natin sa sarili natin "Fear Not! For God is with me." tas bukas ulit takot ka na naman,may another fear not ka naman, tas may natitira ka pang 363 na fear not. Bale matatapos ang isang taon mo na hindi ka nangangamba kapag pinanghawakan mo ang sinabi ng Diyos na "Fear Not, for I am with you".

Marami nga siguro tayong mga kinatatakutan, mga simpleng bagay na kapag nag focus tayo sa problema eh lumalaki ito sa ating paningin. Tapos nakakalimutan na natin na meron nga palang Diyos na kayang gawin ang lahat para sa atin.

Dalawang taon na ang nakakalipas simula ng dumating akong muli sa Pilipinas. Sa tuwing natutulog ako sa hapon o gabi, lagi akong ginigising ng takot. Pumapasok siya sa panaginip ko. Pinapawisan ako ng malamig. Hindi ko alam kung saan ako natatakot, basta ginigising niya ako araw araw at hindi na niya ako pinapatulog muli. Hinahayaan niyang dumaloy ito sa dugo ko papunta sa utak ko. Nakakatakot ang mga araw na iyon.

Simula ng magbalik ako sa Diyos, pinawi niya ang lahat ng takot, ang lahat ng lungkot. Simula noon hindi na ako nagising ng dahil sa takot. Wala na siya sa panaginip ko. Payapa na ang loob ko. Sa tuwing binabasa ko ang Bibliya, palaging may pangako ang Diyos. Nakakalakas ng loob, mas naging malakas ako. At alam ko sa pag balik ko sa Amerika, kung may malaking pagsubok man akong kakaharapin. Hindi na ako tulad ng dating takot, dahil alam ko sa puso at isip ko na kasama ko ang Diyos.

JESUS IS ASTIG!
Because He took away all my fears!
Kaya ngayon brad, steady lang ako kung may pagsubok man at ang sarap na kaya matulog sa gabi. :)

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you  wherever you go." - Joshua 1:9

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous hand. - Isaiah 41:10

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? - Matthew 6:25-26