Week-Long Reflection..

The Piano "Lesson"
Author: Unknown

Wishing to encourage her young son's progress on the piano, a mother took the small boy to a Paderewski concert. After they were seated, the mother spotted a friend in the audience and walked down the aisle to greet her.

Seizing the opportunity to explore the wonders of the concert hall, the little boy rose and eventually explored his way through a door marked "NO ADMITTANCE." When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her seat and discovered that her son was missing.

Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway on stage. In horror, the mother saw her little boy sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."

At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano, and whispered in he boy's ear, "Don't quit." "Keep playing."

Then leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in a bass part. Soon his right arm reached around to the other side of the child and he added a running obligatio.

Together, the old master and the young novice transformed a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience. The audience was mesmerized.

That's the way it is with God. What we can accomplish on our own is hardly noteworthy. We try our best, but the results aren't exactly graceful flowing music. But with the hand of the Master, our life's work truly can be beautiful.

Next time you set out to accomplish great feats, listen carefully. You can hear the voice of the Master, whispering in your ear, "Don't quit" "Keep playing." Feel His loving arms around you. Know that His strong hands are playing the concerto of your life.

Remember, God doesn't call the equipped, He equips the called. And He'll always be there to love and guide you on to great things.

This story moved me. During my week-long video making, I really want to cry during those days. Although it was just movie maker, I got tired of making it. First was because I never was accustomed to making this kind of work. Second, it is a reflection video and I don't think the attendees of Kasangga Retreat will be moved by what I made. Third, it's for KR. And lastly, because I was really living into the standard of my ycom friends. They're the best. They can create wonders with their videos. Plus, they use awesome softwares. I don't really think I can be of they're caliber.

As I read this blog entry from a friend, I realized that this things that I have done are aren't my skills. If it was me, I wouldn't have done half of it. It was God helping me. Directing me on what to do. It was He who held my hand all those nights. It was He who gave me strength to endure the sleepless and tiring nights. It was He who whispered to me to keep on moving, to keep on striving hard. It was He who told me not to quit.

If I rely on my own skill, if I rely on my own strength, if I rely on myself alone, I would not be able to finish it. By this action of God, I became inspired to strive more, to do things not because I was told to do, not because I'm good at it, not because I am showing of, but because it was the message I heard and I have to proclaim it well and excellent for others to believe and trust it.=)

How come It's this great?

I talked to him on ym. Voice chat. It's already 12:45am at that moment. I should be sleeping or my senses would just be at ease at that time. But it became the other way around. He wanted to call me at home. I said, he can call me through ym. And so we talked. At that moment, my heart is pumping hardly. I don't really know how to act. And those ideas that are rushing into my mind earlier were gone with just hearing his voice.

I really don't like this because I think its a mortal sin (exagg). But I think it really is. We're friends. Very good friends from the start of our job relationship as program heads. I fell for him 'cause of his attitude. He's a good man. And I envy her girlfriend for having him.

I just hope I get my own man too. I my man to be just like him or better. It would really be nice if he'll fall for me but its just impossible. Totally impossible.

Why does it always seem like every thing's right when it's all about him? How come I have this feeling for him.

I just hope that if this isn't true, i hope it goes away easier. I hope the feeling will not anymore grow.

I shouldn't have done that..

"God Of This City" led by Chris Tomlin and written by Bluetree

You're the God of this city, You're the King of these people
You're the Lord of this nation, You are
You're the Light in this darkness, You're the Hope to the hopeless
You're the Peace to the restless, You are

There is no one like our God, there is no one like our God

For greater things have yet to come, and greater things are still to be done in this city
Greater things have yet to come, and greater things are still to be done in this city

Greater things have yet to come, and greater things are still to be done here

Earlier this day, before I went to sleep, I buzzed in Ate Dana to check on her. I forgot that she is a full time worker and that whenever you talk to a full time worker, it's either you'll have something to do or you're doomed (exaggerated:)). As I've said, I talked to Ate Dana and she became a blessing. She told me to make a video for talk 5 for Kasangga Retreat. How surprising, doesn't she know that I don't do those stuff? Anyway, I now how to use the movie maker and a little bit of premiere so I agreed. The hard part is, I have to sarch for my own materials. CRAP! So, here I am, looking for pictures. Good thing the audio material is already given. I pray that I'll have an idea when I get up later.

Prayer Time..

At the Cross

Oh Lord You've searched me
You know my way
Even when I fail You
I know You love me

Your holy presence
Surrounding me
In every season
I know You love me
I know You love me

At the cross I bow my knee
Where Your blood was shed for me
There's no greater love than this
You have overcome the grave
Glory fills the highest place
What can separate me now

You go before me
You shield my way
Your hand upholds me
I know You love me

At the cross I bow my knee
Where Your blood was shed for me
There's no greater love than this
You have overcome the grave
Glory fills the highest place
What can separate me now?(x2)

You tore the veil
You made a way
When You said that it is done(x2)

And when the earth fades
Falls from my eyes
And You stand before me
I know You love me
Oh.. I know You love me

At the cross I bow my knee
Where your blood was shed for me
There's no greater love than this
You have overcome the grave
Glory fills the highest place
What can separate me now?(x2)

You tore the veil
You made a way
When You said that it is done(x4)

Lord, we are experiencing typhoon right now. Many people are affected by the storm. Many are dying, starving and are loosing hope. Today Lord, I have learned that every people are just the same when it comes to Your perception. When You say we'll die, we'll die with just one snap of Your finger. I have learned that there are no places on this earth where we can hide from Your power. The good part is, there is no way we can get away from Your guidance, from Your love.

"33: But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well. 34: "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day's own trouble be sufficient for the day."

Today, I have learned that truelly nothing is really important in this world. And that Your family, friend, properties and luxury don't really matter in your life. The most important thing in this world is that you have a good relationship with God. And that you have a strong belief in His power that everything will be just fine as you abandon everything for Him.

Before, when I was just starting in this service (YFC), I have heard of this matter for like a lot of times. Leaders and coordinators here and there would always say this lines to us in order for us to be active and do our part in our service. As time pass by, the essence of this saying deteriorates in my heart, or just in my mind for it was not really in my heart. The fact that I do things with excellence, I really don't know if I am motivated by this.

And then I tried to go back to where I started. To what am I doing. To where am I going. To how did it all happen.

I don't have those kind of stories, of success stories that really from worst to good. I don't have stories that are shocking. I am just a girl, raised in a fine family. Very fine, if I may say. My family is God-fearing. We don't have problems like the usual family problem of having a black-sheep, of having a drug addicted parents/sibling. As I have said, we are a very fine family.

Four years ago, I became a Youth for Christ member. After 5 months, I was already a chapter head. And this is where my never-ending journey began.

Four years, I have been serving God for four years straight. Ever since I started, I have never stopped. Many times did my parents, although God-fearing, always tell me to stop serving God through YFC, but I didn't. It was my way of abandoning it all for the sake of the call.=)

I disobeyed my parents, I lost my scholarship, I have flunking grades. I thought these were all forms of abandoning it all for the sake of having a good relationship with God. I was wrong.

I came to learn that these were all wrong through reading a certain book. I forgot its title but it really struck me. Things like these, that I have done were all forms of like denouncing our God, of like justifying our faith in the wrong way.

But just as we disobey our parents, just as we stop excelling in our studies, just as we do things without excellence, it is the same as serving without faith. We are like living dead. We do things that are not in the proper way.

True service is giving God our all. But in the right manner. In the little-est ways like obeying our parents, doing the best for your studies and being excellent in everything that we do while we are serving God.

Gospel for the Day..

• First Reading - 2 Chr 24:17-25
  17 And after the death of Joiada, the princes of Juda went in, and worshipped the king: and he was soothed by their services and hearkened to them. 18 And they forsook the temple of the Lord the God of their fathers, and served groves and idols, and wrath came upon Juda and Jerusalem for this sin. 19 And he sent prophets to them to bring them back to the Lord, and they would not give ear when they testified against them. 20 The spirit of God then came upon Zacharias the son of Joiada the priest, and he stood in the sight of the people, and said to them: Thus saith the Lord God: Why transgress you the commandment of the Lord which will not be for your good, and have forsaken the Lord, to make him forsake you? 21 And they gathered themselves together against him, and stoned him at the king's commandment in the court of the house of the Lord. 22 And king Joas did not remember the kindness that Joiada his father had done to him, but killed his son. And when he died, he said: The Lord see, and require it. 23 And when a year was come about, the army of Syria came up against him: and they came to Juda and Jerusalem, and killed all the princes of the people, and they sent all the spoils to the king of Damascus. 24 And whereas there came a very small number of the Syrians, the Lord delivered into their hands an infinite multitude, because they had forsaken the Lord the God of their fathers: and on Joas they executed shameful judgments. 25 And departing they left him in great diseases: and his servants rose up against him, for revenge of the blood of the son of Joiada the priest, and they slew him in his bed, and he died: and they buried him in the city of David, but not in the sepulchres of the kings.
  
  
• Psalm - Ps 89:4-5, 29-30, 31-32, 33-34
  4 I have made a covenant with my elect: I have sworn to David my servant: 5 Thy seed will I settle for ever. And I will build up thy throne unto generation and generation. 29 I will keep my mercy for him for ever: and my covenant faithful to him. 30 And I will make his seed to endure for evermore: and his throne as the days of heaven. 31 And if his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments: 32 If they profane my justices: and keep not my commandments: 33 I will visit their iniquities with a rod and their sins with stripes. 34 But my mercy I will not take away from him: nor will I suffer my truth to fail.
  
  
• Gospel - Mt 6:24-34
  24: "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. 25: "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26: Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27: And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life? 28: And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; 29: yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30: But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O men of little faith? 31: Therefore do not be anxious, saying, `What shall we eat?' or `What shall we drink?' or `What shall we wear?' 32: For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33: But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well. 34: "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day's own trouble be sufficient for the day.
  

27th Couples For Christ Anniversary@Quirino Grandstand

Yesterday was the 27th anniversary of the Couples for Christ. It was already 1:30 am when arrived at home and was so sleepy that's why I am posting this entry just now.

I served as a runner for the CFC anniversary. I was assigned at the stage left. Call time was 10 am but I arrived at 1 pm because of some random reasons.. I was shocked when I saw who I am working with. Standing there on the stage left was DIANE. OMG! I thought she was not going to serve in ycom again. But it was okay, through this, she can forget that she hates ycom. And another shocking thing is, Ate Grace was there. She's going to be the Stage Manager in the stage left. so, Oh no.. I'm doomed.

All through out the celebration we were running here and there. Doing stuff and other errands. So, okay, the celebration was running smoothly. People were dancing the papaya dance and another dance also.

The parade started exactly at 4 pm. Then the rain poured down hardly and the electricity when down. The equipments were grounded and the connection went out. The 7 International Council and the hosts were all soaked wet. The electricity totally went out. So we were instructed to go down in the field and announce that we were going to pray the rosary so that the people won't think that the program and the celebration was cancelled. Amidst the heavy rain, the production team went in the vast crowd to tell the people that we were going to pray. And so we did the prayer and the heavens heard us, the rain stopped . We worshipped God for what had happened.

We were all soaking wet. Our feet were also wet and our pants were like rugs. We thought we were already going to faint.

After all that had happened, the celebration went well and the CFC community were all overwhelmed of everything that happened. I look forward into serving again in big events. God just used us, exhausted us and filled us with overwhelming experience.

Prayer Time..

What a day?!

I had all the worst things that could ever happen in a day. But not all are dismaying. Of course, some were okay but most of it was really disappointing.

1. I started my day, I woke up late. I usually wake up really late but just okay for my school preparation and stuff. But today, I woke up really late. Good thing there's no traffic.
2. I was late for my 12pm class. That was a major subject. As I pass through the table where my professor was, I bumped into his table and he really hates that. So okay another point.
3. There was no quiz. So supposedly, my plan of nt coming to school today was postponed because I thought there was a quiz. Grrr..
4. After the class, I learned that the succeeding classes were canceled so okay, I got really pissed with what happened. Plus the fact that the Math in Business class doesn't really exist said the SA in the Math office.
5. Rovie and I had a conversation awhile ago at the jollibee in rotonda. We were having a hard time figuring out our plans. We don't connect. I got really pissed. Really offended.

Lor, I really have big plans for YCOM. I don't know if Rovie's dreams for YCOm were good for YCOM. But I know that you have the greatest plans and that you will reveal it to us in the right time. May we always be excited about your plans and the next things that are going to happen.

AMEN.

Gospel for the Day..

• First Reading - Sir 48:1-14
  1 Till like a fire there appeared the prophet whose words were as a flaming furnace. 2 Their staff of bread he shattered, in his zeal he reduced them to straits; 3 By God's word he shut up the heavens and three times brought down fire. 4 How awesome are you, ELIJAH! Whose glory is equal to yours? 5 You brought a dead man back to life from the nether world, by the will of the LORD. 6 You sent kings down to destruction, and nobles, from their beds of sickness. 7 You heard threats at Sinai, at Horeb avenging judgments. 8 You anointed kings who should inflict vengeance, and a prophet as your successor. 9 You were taken aloft in a whirlwind, in a chariot with fiery horses. 10 You are destined, it is written, in time to come to put an end to wrath before the day of the LORD, To turn back the hearts of fathers toward their sons, and to reestablish the tribes of Jacob. 11 Blessed is he who shall have seen you before he dies, 12 O Elijah, enveloped in the whirlwind! Then ELISHA, filled with a twofold portion of his spirit, wrought many marvels by his mere word. During his lifetime he feared no one, nor was any man able to intimidate his will. 13 Nothing was beyond his power; beneath him flesh was brought back into life. 14 In life he performed wonders, and after death, marvelous deeds.
  
  
• Psalm - Ps 97:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7
  All are invited to rejoice at the glorious coming and reign of Christ. 1 For the same David, when his land was restored again to him. The Lord hath reigned, let the earth rejoice: let many islands be glad. 2 Clouds and darkness are round about him: justice and judgment are the establishment of his throne. 3 A fire shall go before him, and shall burn his enemies round about. 4 His lightnings have shone forth to the world: the earth saw and trembled. 5 The mountains melted like wax, at the presence of the Lord: at the presence of the Lord of all the earth. 6 The heavens declared his justice: and all people saw his glory. 7 Let them be all confounded that adore graven things, and that glory in their idols. Adore him, all you his angels
  
  
• Gospel - Mt 6:7-15
  7 And when you are praying, speak not much, as the heathens. For they think that in their much speaking they may be heard. 8 Be not you therefore like to them for your Father knoweth what is needful for you, before you ask him. 9 Thus therefore shall you pray: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our supersubstantial bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil. Amen. 14 For if you will forgive men their offences, your heavenly Father will forgive you also your offences. 15 But if you will not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive you your offences.
  

Prayer Time..

Through It All


You are forever in my life
You see me through the seasons
Cover me with Your hand
And lead me in Your righteousness
And I look to You
And I wait on You

I will sing to You, Lord
A hymn of love
For Your faithfulness to me
I'm carried in everlasting arms
You'll never let me go
Through it all

Hallelujah, hallelujah

I Can Only Imagine

I can only imagine
What it will be like
When I walk
By your side

I can only imagine
What my eyes will see
When your face
Is before me
I can only imagine

[Chorus:]
Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel
Will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of you be still
Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine

I can only imagine
When that day comes
And I find myself
Standing in the Son

I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever
Forever worship You
I can only imagine

[Chorus]

I can only imagine [x2]

I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever, forever worship you

Often times, I see myself wanting to have things that are good. I found myself wanting to have a cam, laptop, macbook, video cam, ipod, mp3 and stuff. I want to have does things but my parents can't buy me any of those. Tendency is, I get mad at them. I tend to shout at them and put an ill manner at them.

Today's gospel has strucked me. It tells me of riches that I want to have when I am still here on earth. But the gospel tells me that it's not important.

Often times, we want to have greater and much more than the things that we have. That's why people tend to steal, envy, or worst, murder people just to have those things that they think are necessities but in reality they are those things that we don't need the most.

When I was in grade school, I am fond of imitating my classmates. If they look rich, I pretend to be rich also. I don't pretend, I was rich before. When they have this new stuff, a day or two, I will also have one. That satisfies me but I am not contented. I grew up wanting much, geting much. I grew up in a wrong idealism.

But when I came to know Christ, everything changed. I became less concerned about what was new to my classmates. Trends and fashion became an irrelevant thing to me. The only things that I cared about was my service. I thought I was doing the right thing but I wasn't. I've realized that I was serving God in the wrong way. I will go to YFC events because I just want to show of. To show my leaders that I am good. That I am a potential leader also. Not the things and stuff but I aimed on position, on leadership. I aimed to be the best. Not for God but for myself.

And then I grew tired of proving my worth to them. I became unhappy with what I am doing. I got burned out of pretending that I am the best. And this is where I really get to meet God. I don't know how, but I do things in a way that none is pleased but I just know that God is very happy about my performance. God has gave me a new passion to serve out of the love that He has for me.

And then I grew to love Him more. Everyday, I am thankful that I have blessings that are hard to believe and hard to explain.

I don't really know what really will happen to me but by doing this, may God grant me the blessing and riches that I will need when I am in heaven. As of now, may God also give me what I need and what I deserve to have.

Lord, I have learned the importance of being faithful to You. I know It's been a long time since I denounce my dual life. May You continue on giding me towards the right path. May You allow me to stop the things that are unpleasant to Your eyes. May You strengthen everything in me, especially my heart and my mind. continue to prosper us with Your love. Bind us always. and may we always be reminded that we are one with You.

Amen.

Glory be to the Father, to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. AMEN.

Gospel for the Day..

June 20
Friday

11th Week in Ordinary Time

First Reading: 2 K 11:1-4, 9-18, 20

When Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah, saw that her son had died, she was determined to wipe out all the descendants of the king. But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash, her nephew, and brought him away from among the king's sons who were about to be killed, and put him with his wet nurse in the bedroom. Thus she hid him from Athaliah, so that the boy was saved. And Joash remained hidden in the House of Yahweh for six years while Athaliah reigned over the land.
In the seventh year, Jehoiada the chief priest, summoned the officers of the royal guard and of the Carites to the House of Yahweh. After concluding a pact with them under oath, he showed them the king's son.
The commanders of the guards did what Jehoiada the priest had told them to do and they showed up with all their men, those who were to go off duty on the sabbath as well as those who were to come on duty on that day. Jehoiada entrusted to the officers the spears and shields of King David which were in the House of Yahweh. And then the guards stood from the southern corner of the house to the north, surrounding the altar and the House of Yahweh.
Then Jehoiada, the priest, brought out the king's son, crowned him and put the bracelets on him, then proclaimed and consecrated him king. All clapped their hands, shouting and crying out, "Long live the king!"
When Athaliah heard the noise of? the people, she approached the crowd surrounding the House of Yahweh. The king was standing by the pillar, according to the custom, and the officers and the trumpeters were with him. The people were filled with joy and they were blowing trumpets. On seeing this, Athaliah tore her clothes and cried out, "Treason, treason!"
Jehoiada the priest commanded the officers, "Surround her and bring her out to the courtyard, and kill anyone who tries to defend her." He gave this order, because he thought, "She should not die in the House of Yahweh."
They brought her out, and when they reached the palace of the king by the horses' entrance, there they killed her.
Jehoiada made a covenant between Yahweh and the king and the people so they would be the people of Yahweh. All the citizens went to the temple of Baal and destroyed it. They broke the altars and the images into pieces, and killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, before his altar.
Then Jehoiada, the priest, posted guards over the House of Yahweh. All the citizens were happy and the city was at peace. Now regarding Athaliah, she had died by the sword in the king's palace.


Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 132:11, 12, 13-14, 17-18
The Lord has chosen Zion for his dwelling.


Gospel Reading: Mt 6:19-23

Jesus said to his disciples, "Do not store up treasure for yourself here on earth where moth and rust destroy it, and where thieves can steal it. Store up treasure for yourself with God, where no moth or rust can destroy nor thief come and steal it.
"For where your treasure is, there also your heart will be.
"The lamp of the body is the eye; if your eyes are sound, your whole body will be in the light. If your eyes are diseased your whole body will be in darkness. Then, if your light has become darkness, how dark will be the darkest part of you!"

Commentary
Earthly riches and material possessions have quite a lure upon our hearts. We can easily become seduced by the desire for more and more things, thinking that our security will rest upon how many goods we are able to accumulate.
Jesus tells us that this is folly. Material possessions and money are relatively unim-portant. They can be used to do any number of good things, including putting bread on the family table, but in the end we will not be able to take any of the things of this world with us to the next.
Heavenly, not earthly treasures must be our goal.

Gospel for the Day..

June 19
Thursday

11th Week in Ordinary Time
Romuald

First Reading: Sir 48:1-14

Then came the prophet Elijah like a fire, his words a burning torch.
He brought a famine on the people and in his zealous love had them reduced in number.
Speaking in the name of the Lord he closed the heavens, and on three occasions called down fire.
How marvelous you were, Elijah, in your wondrous deeds! Who could ever boast of being your equal? By the word of the Most High you brought a dead man back to life; you brought kings to destruction and thrust famous men from their beds.
You heard a rebuke at Sinai and sentences of punishment at Horeb; you anointed kings to be avengers and prophets to succeed you.
You were taken up by a whirlwind of flames in a chariot drawn by fiery horses.
It was written that you should be the one to calm God's anger in the future before it broke out in fury, to turn the hearts of fathers to their sons and to restore the tribes of Jacob.
Happy are those who will see you and those who die in love, for we too shall live.
Such was Elijah, taken up in a whirlwind, and Elisha was filled with his spirit.
During his life no leader could shake him, no one dominated him. Nothing was too difficult for him and even in death his body prophesied. In life he worked wonders, in death his deeds were amazing.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 97:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7
Rejoice in the Lord, you just!


Gospel Reading: Mt 6:7-15

Jesus said to his disciples, "When you pray, do not use a lot of words, as the pagans do, for they hold that the more they say, the more chance they have of being heard. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need, even before you ask him.
"This, then, is how you should pray:
Our Father in heaven,
holy be your name,
your kingdom come
and your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today the kind of bread we need.
Forgive us our debts
just as we have forgiven those who are in debt to us.
Do not bring us to the test
but deliver us from the evil one.
"If you forgive others their wrongs, your Father in heaven will also forgive yours. If you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive you either."

Commentary
This simple prayer sums up all of the prayers contained in the scriptures, and gives us a keen insight into the mind of Jesus. The Lord desires so much for us to be in a close relationship with His heavenly Father, and opens His arms on the cross to reconcile us with Him. Teaching us to call God "Father" is Jesus' innovation. Never before would a human being dare to approach God using that name, yet ever since Jesus taught us this simple prayer have we found such solace in doing so.
Daily may we pray this prayer until we are united forever in the house of Our Father.

Prayer Time..

Lord,

Good Morning! I've changed the time of my prayer time so that we'll meet each other easily. I think it's more convenient for the both of us. I am always awake at this time of the night and I think every people are already at peace in their beds.

Starting the day with You is so much overwhelming and exciting. For the past months or years, my prayer time was really irregular and I can't find a way to make it up to you. Good thing You placed me in YCOM. Plus You have given me so much like having a new computer set and an internet connection. Through this blessings, You assured me of our relationship. And of your unfailing and unconditional LOVE.

First, I really want to thank you for everything that You have given me. For the program of service (YCOM) that I'm into right now. Thank you for giving me the most functional, the most hectic, the hardest, the busiest and all -est program in the face of our community.

For the past years, I felt that my passion in serving is really deteriorating and I felt that I'm loosing my love for You each day. But amidst all these, I still found the reason to still serve, to still follow You, to still love You, and that is Your love for me that I can't repay and I can't measure.

I've been really exhausted over the years. I've been hurt by many people. I've been through a lot of pain and hardships in my life. But through out those years, You keep blessing me. Me and my family.

I am very grateful that I have this kind of family. For I can talk to them anytime that I want and need them and also with the manner that I like. Most of the times, my parents would notice that I'm a bit harsh when I talk to them. But It's really my way of loving them. I am a sweer person, but they don't notice it because of my harshness to them. I love my family so much. My heart is focused more on my family now.

Lord, thank you for the gift of friendship that I have with the CFC community. Before, I was condemned by everyone. All were placing a wall against me. They judged my attitude and my personality. Because of these, I've learned to leave alone, to be just by myself, to be independent and a loner. But because of the community, I found confidence in myself again. I found myself smiling and laughing again. I found myself so inloved to the community that You have given me. But what I'm most thankful about this community, I found You. I have Loved You. Through this community and the people in it, I have learned to appreciate the beauty of the things You have planned for me.

I'm also grateful for the gift of being a student. I'm thankful that I am one of those people that can afford to go to college. And also, I'm thankful that I am already in third year now. I know I have wasted those years that I must have done and performed great in my studies. I am scared that I can't get the job that I want. With high salary and with the capacity to keep my family from living a good life. I pray Lord that You would help me through my studies. I want to get high grades, I want to be a scholar also. I want to prove to people that I am not good in anything. Help me to build my goals and dreams, to fulfill it in the most possible way. Help me to study well. Give me wisdom and knowledge to study and the willingness also to do things.

I am also grateful for the gift of singleness that You have given me. Through this gift, You made me Your woman. You made me love You even more. You made me really excited about Your plans for me. I pray that someday, when the time comes that WE shall meet, he'll be the man that I have dreamed and prayed about. As of now, I pray that You guide my heart. I admit that I am weak. Often times I think of a certain feeling as love for real. But I ask You Lord to purify my intentions to people that I meet. May I treat them as my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Lord, I want to lift up to You my family, especially my brother. He is sick at the moment. Help him to believe that You are the only one who can heal him. I lift him up to you because I want Him to believe that You are real and that You live and that none can love him more than how You have loved him over the years. My parents who are aging. I lift them up to You. May they have long life and that they may see Your coming to this world. May their dreams and aspirations come true. And may they always find peace in YOU. My sister who is now in college. May she find the joy in going and studying in college. May she learn how to choose the right friends to join. And may she find enjoyment in her college Life. Ate Kat, may she find the joy in working to the call center. May she untirelessly love her family, especially her husband and daughter. May their family prosper always and may they find love amidst all the things that are happening into their life. Kim, may she continue to be the joy of our family. May she give more smiles to all of us that may lessen our burden and stresses. May our family grow more and more in loved with You each day..

I also want to lift up this comunity, the Couples for Christ-Global Missions Foundations Incorporated. May all of us find peace in serving You. May all of us be in peace amidst everything that had happened in our community. May we always find joy and love in union with You. Especially Central B, In our upcoming sector conference, may we all hear where You are really heading us. May You show us the path.and may we hear You're every message to us.

In our upcoming sector conference, I pray that my committee would be of my interest and of my forte. I pray that You will put me in a position wherein I can glorify and love You more.

I also want to lift up the current situation of our sector. May you give us everything that we desire and everything that we need.

Latly, May you gigve me the power to see, listen and believe in everything that Youy are telling me. May YCOM people live and proclaim Your message clearly.

This I pray in your most moghty name,Amen.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, AMEN.

My Heart Says..

Dear Lord,

I’m so tired and wasted. I really don’t know what to do next. What to do first and what to expect. Although I’ve been to the YCOM SHOUT, although I’ve learned so much on my stay to the SHOUT house, my worries, my insecurities are still there.

Before, I don’t care what my family will say, what other people will say regarding my service and my conviction. But now, it seems that everything that they say or think, I take it into heart. I know it’s wrong. It’s not them whom I serve but God alone.

Before, I don’t care if people will leave me. I don’t care if people have hard feelings towards me. I have learned to live alone. But now, it seems that I can’t live without them.
I cared about what they think. I cared about what they say.

I really don’t get it. Why suddenly I have this feelings of insecurities. I hate this feeling but I can’t control myself.

I am also bothered about my prayer time. No matter ho I busy myself on scheduling it, still it really won’t work. I can’t even concentrate on reflecting, on starting my plan of having a prayer notebook.

I love writing. I thought Ate Dana’s sharing will inspire me and motivate me into keeping my prayer time regular and strong. I am so concerned with this because I know I have to pray, I need to pray.

Lord, please help me regain my strength and passion in serving. I so love you Lord. I don’t want this feeling anymore. Fire me up again, please.

This I pray in your most mighty name, Amen.

Glory be to the Father, to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

AMEN.

Gospel for the Day..

An Upright Intention in Almsgiving, Prayer and Fasting

(Jesus said to His disciples,) [1] “Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in Heaven.

[2] “Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. [3] But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, [4] so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

[5] “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. [6] But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

[16] “And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. [17] But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, [18] that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”


*** Commentary ***

1-18. “Piety”, here, means good works (cf. note on Matthew 5:6). Our Lord is indicating the kind of spirit in which we should do acts of personal piety. Almsgiving, fasting and prayer were the basic forms taken by personal piety among the chosen people --- which is why Jesus refers to these three subjects. With complete authority He teaches that true piety must be practiced with an upright intention, in the presence of God and without any ostentation. Piety practiced in this way implies exercising our faith in God who sees us --- and also in the safe knowledge that He will reward those who are sincerely devout.

5-6. Following the teaching of Jesus, the Church has always taught us to pray even when we were infants. By saying “you” (singular) our Lord is stating quite unequivocally the need for personal prayer --- relating as child to Father, alone with God.

Public prayer, for which Christ’s faithful assemble together, is something necessary and holy; but it should never displace obedience to this clear commandment of our Lord: “When you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father”.

The Second Vatican Council reminds us of the teaching and practice of the Church in its liturgy, which is “the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed; it is also the fount from which all her power flows [...]. The spiritual life, however, is not limited solely to participation in the liturgy. The Christian is indeed called to pray with others, but he must also enter into his bedroom to pray to his Father in secret; furthermore, according to the teaching of the Apostle, he must pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17)” (“Sacrosanctum Concilium”, 10 and 12).
A soul who really puts his Christian faith into practice realizes that he needs frequently to get away and pray alone to his Father, God. Jesus, who gives us this teaching about prayer, practiced it during His own life on earth: the holy Gospel reports that He often went apart to pray on His own: “At times He spent the whole night in an intimate conversation with His Father. The Apostles were filled with love when they saw Christ pray” (St. J. Escriva, “Christ Is Passing By”, 119; cf. Matthew 14:23; Mark 1:35; Luke 5:16; etc.). The Apostles followed the Master’s example, and so we see Peter going up to the rooftop of the house to pray in private, and receiving a revelation (cf. Acts 10:9-16). “Our life of prayer should also be based on some moments that are dedicated exclusively to our conversation with God, moments of silent dialogue” (“ibid”, 119).

16-18. Starting from the traditional practice of fasting, our Lord tells us the spirit in which we should exercise mortification of our senses: we should do so without ostentation, avoiding raise, discreetly; that way Jesus’ words will not apply to us: “they have their reward”; it would have been a very bad deal. “The world admires only spectacular sacrifice, because it does not realize the value of sacrifice that is hidden and silent” (St. J. Escriva, “The Way”, 185).

Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate.
Commentaries by members of the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and by Scepter Publishers in the United States. * gso/eao

Felt really bad..

Tonight's household I think was the worst. I don't know but for me it really is. I never felt really that bad about myself until lastt night. Almost all were there. Doyle and KC, Nelman and KR, JJ and Aisha, Pedro and Nian, Ags, Pipz and me. The Household was suppose to start at 7pm, I arrived at 7pm, but only aisha was there. We waited for the others and guess what, we started at 10pm. As we moved to the sharing part, All were exhausted and when it was my turn, I felt really bad because they weren't listening. I saw them talking and chatting to each other as if I wasn't talking. I felt really bad. Why do people don't pay attention to me. Am I talking of nonsense things?
I know they are tired, all of us were,but I listened to their sharing. How come they do things like that to me everytime it's my turn to talk.

How I wish, my voice would be so powerful and attractive.

Many say that my voice is so loud, but why is it that when I talk of things that are relevant, it seems that they don't hear it.

"Listen to me for some time. Please.."

Friday the 13th..

obviously its friday, and the 13th day of the month (according to the title of this blog entry). This day really sucks.. From the moment I got out of bed 'till I went home.

9:15 Got out of bed. I don't really want to get up nut my tummy ached. I need to get up. I have a 12pm class, so I need to fix myself.

10:15 Ate breakfast. I don't want hotdogs and eggs because I'm avoiding it. But still my mom cooked those.

10:30 Went to school. I rode a jeep going quiapo. The jeep was very fast so the wind blew my hair and as usual, I had a frizzy hair.

11:15 Arrived at school. I don't understand why some students prefer to just sit at corridors and plant boxes or roam around the campus and shout, "Edukasyon, Edukasyon.. Dagdagan dagdagan.." Hello! What do they get from doing stuffs like those?! They are irritating those people who wanted quietness and peace (like me).

12:00 Marketing Research. Prof. Alcantara came late. My classmates were so noisy. I hate noise. I hate disorderliness!!!

2:00 Math in Business. What duh?! The other section took our classroom. We stayed at the corridor, which I hate doing the most! RAWR!

2:30 onwards What duh?! All classes are cancelled. I thought It was okay so I can prepare my things and come to the YCOM SHOUT earlier than expected.

5:30 Home. My mom won't allow me to come to the SHOUT! Plus the dinner at tita vicky's house, I won't be able to attend both.T_T

8:00 Writing this blog.

This day sucks.. I hate this day!

What duh..?

It's independence day but I don't feel a single independence in my life.. YCOM Shout tomorrow and HELLO, my parents won't support me. My registration fee, all the things needed. They would allow me to come, syempre I need money.. Eh they won't even bother to give me a single centavo.. Tapos sasabihin nila, do your best in service, eh hindi nman nila ko supported..=(

What duh? Kailangan ko kaya 'to. And HELLO, bago kaya ako sa program.. Tapos nakakahiya na kina tita lalen and sa ibang mga coordinators, everytime I would have stuffs like this, palagi nalang wlang money tapos after nung event, kung anu-ano yung meron sa bahay..

Don't they know na ako yung napapahiya.. And besides, buti nga hindi ako humihingi ng money for gimmicks and stuffs.. Duh!! Nakakainis na..=|

Perstaym sa Blogspot..

First time ko sa blogspot. I've tried making one when I was still in College but resources won't allow me to have one..
Finally after several years, I got one..
Oh well, I think I won't really be able to maintain this 'cause I'm pretty much into multiply.=)
As i've said, I just want to try it.
I think it's cool.
A bit.:|

I am Unique

For the past days, I was really pre-occupied with my thoughts about certain stuffs like SHOUT, school, and other stuff. But what really bothered me most was the SHOUT. As mentioned on my earlier blog entries, I 'm so pissed about the idea of not being to attend the SHOUT. Since it'll be my first time to really serve in a new program, I really want to come and equip myself with learnings and teachings. BTW, my new program of service is YCOM.

I started n community based. I grew up in that program. All about community based, I know. But putting me into YCOM, It's like putting me as the vocalist of a famous band. And of course, what will happen, DISASTER!

SO okay, I got to attend the YCOM SHOUT. I came late. It started friday but I arrived at 3pm of saturday. I am very much doubtful of myself,of my abilities and capacities. I was also scared that people may ask me to do things that I don't know how to do.

That night, God spoke to me. With all the worries and insecurities inside me, I won't be able to work as what was recquired in YCOM. The program is all about BELIEVING to the MESSAGE and PROCLAIMING the MESSAGE to people. This how creative evangelization starts. I may not know how to use premiere,photoshop and other softwares used in doing wired stuff. I may not know how to dance,act or sing. I may not be good in writing. My grammars may not be perfect. But as long as I give my all to HIm, skills wouldn't matter at all. He doesn't want the best people to do the proclamation of His message but He wants people who know how to listen and knows how to believe.

In serving God through YCOM, there are things that would change in my life. But I am really sure that this is to make a better person for God.

YCOM..?

YNOT!!!