LOOKING WITH THE EYES OF FAITH

The unedited picture below wasn’t able to fully capture all of the participants of the very recent Youth and Y.A. overnight swimming of COG Lalaan which started yesterday at Celbert’s Private Pool in Lucsuhin, Silang, Cavite.

When the program was about to start, I was immediately astounded looking at the number of youth and young adults God has gathered for this fellowship. Even as I took the shot above, I was overwhelmed, overjoyed and blessed! The Lord isn’t done yet in what He’s about to do in the youth and young adults in Lalaan.

Majority of the participants were youth, and nearly all of them have attended or have been attending our church services. Only, I am not able to see most of them because I always attend our second service since I teach in Sunday Schoolevery 1^st service.

I admit that there is this burden I feel within me whenever I think of the Youth in Lalaan. For months, we are not able to have consistent fellowships. For months, I have this feeling that we were losing unity. For months, I was worrying that our blazing passion for Jesus and the lost youth is losing its flame and fuel.

But these were Satan’s deceptions. These were Satan’s belittlement in what God was doingamidstwhat I was looking at.

I was looking with the eyes of hopelessness, of disbelief. I was using the eyes of a pagan.

If I look back using the eyes of faith, every process and event that the youth ministry in Lalaan has gone through are necessary and not in vain.

That’s why to all the sisters and brothers in Christ (especially the Youth Core and workers of COG Main) whom God sent to us, I want to thank you. The sacrifices, time, effort and service you gave were never in vain and will never be in vain. You are an important part and foundation of the Youth in Lalaan. Your great contributions are not overlooked. May the Lord continue to bless you and use you as His channel of blessings and encouragement.

If I look at present using the eyes of faith, I see hope, I see the greatness of God’s plan in our youth. The bonding of our youth is strengthened. Every fire in our hearts is kindled. With the guidance of those who have helped us, we are starting to walk. We are learning from the things that we have been taught about.  We are being established.

If I look at the future using the eyes of faith, I declare that the Youth of Lalaan will have an established and equipped core. I declare that we will grow into a number that would make us say “This is God’s work!” I declare that we will love Jesus and the lost even more. I declare that because of this great love, we will reach out to the youth in Silang, Tagaytay, Alfonso, Mendez, Batangasand to anywhere God leads us. I declare that as we were helped and encouraged, we too, will extend help and encouragement to the youth of our satellite churches.

Looking at the eyes of faith, these are not mere words. These are not far from possible. These are accomplished and done.

The Cutest and The Happiest (Late Entry)

Jotjot (my favorite and one and only nephew) is the cutest child on planet Earth for us. And he celebrated his 5^th birthday last April 19. I bet that his 5^th year would be another season of cuteness, laughter, and wit.

                We wished and prayed for nothing today but the happiest birthday he could ever have.

                Aside from the guitar that Tatay desired to give him (since Josh told us that it was what he prayed for),we surprised him with a cake and Mickey Mouse balloon:

                        

                He was so excited about his balloon and cake that he did look like the happiest child on earth.

                But it was quite different from the time he woke up the morning of his birthday. His Daddy told us that though they posted his “Happy Birthday” banner inside their house, Jotjot was still sad and he said “Where are the peopleL?”

                We hope that when we ate in Yellow Cab at SM Dasmariñas, the number of people he ate dinner with was enough to make him feel like he had some kind of party. Only it was a more private and exclusive one this time.

               

                Moreover, Jotjot’s play time in SM also showed his overflowing joy and excitement and it did not end until the last moment we’re about to leave the mall.

                This picture would really prove that he’s the happiest and the cutest child on planet earth:

               

                And thank God our prayer for his birthday was answered! :D

Happy 5^th Birthday again to our Asher JoashAmbita Anicete or cuter known as JOTJOT! TitaAbbie loves you dearly up to the highest NTH power imaginable. :**

To My Mami

They say that we get to have our 2^nd mothers in school and they are our teachers. I say, I also got my 3^rd and almost-real mother in College. But she’s not a professor or just a mother to me. She’s actually a best friend, an older sister (sometimes my twin or even younger: D), an adviser, and a sister-in-Christ. She has multiple roles in my life that to sum it up, she’s an important person, one of the closest in my heart.

                Today is her birthday. I’m not particular with her age, but I’d say she’s not growing any older. Her advanced years of wisdom and experience never hindered her from relating to us: the less experienced.

                Since she was born on the 18^th of April, I’d give 18 messages for the lover of words herself. (In a stream-of-consciousness order :D) I do hope to get an extra allowance for this :D

To my (almost-real) Mami,

1.       God sent you to complete the mother-daughter relationship I never fully had. Your concern and presence always made me feel that I am a loved daughter.

2.       We, the royal family, are blessed to have the “pretty genes” that run in our bloodline and in our chromosomes because of you! :D

3.       Speaking of pretty, you do look pretty in your new hair-do J

4.       Our favorite haven (NBS) and your favorite spot (near the shelf of classic books) would always hold my favorite memories of mother-daughter crazy, fun and “intellectual” times.

5.       McDo: I will always love this FASTfood chain because ironically, we always had our LONGEST “brain-twisting” talks here.

6.       Mami, we’ll solve the “us problem” of the world right? Can’t wait to continue our shared diary! :D

7.       The best thing about our mother-daughter relationship is that though it may not be real-life, it’s the ideal J

8.       Mami, I’m trying to be impulsive here (I’m in a computer shop) but I think it’s definitely hard. As hard as you trying to determine whether you’re reflective or impulsive. :D

9.       Probably when I was born I had a part of your brain and a piece of your heart, that’s why we often think and feel the same.

10.   You are the best mirror I can look into J

11.   Today, I prohibit you to frown and be “emo”!

12.   I am looking forward to another overnight in your house, wherein we could watch a movie while I’m battling against sleepiness. We could watch A Crazy Little Thing Called Love and I’ll cry over again.

                             

13.   Jane Eyre has bound us together: in our dear admiration for Charlotte’s great novel and for our UNFORGETTABLE NOVEL REPORT in English Literature. I surely owe our beautiful presentation to your nocturnal and artistic skills. And I also thank you for understanding your sleepy-head daughter! J

14.   Writing, aside from thinking, is another thing we enjoy in common. I want to read your new write-ups Mami. I also pray we’ll write a book together based on the lessons (recently on paradigm shift) that we’ll glean from our shared diary.

15.   I pray that your love life will not continue to wait. I know that we (your daughters) have our pseudo-daddies but I really pray a real one and the best partner for you J Of course, if one of our pseudo-daddies is the one, I pray that lightning (God, in this matter) shall strike him to make him realize he doesn’t need to look far. :D

16.   I know that you’re my Mami who loves collecting (superior to reading) books and I love the way you really invest your money in them!

17.   We are the slow-readers with deep comprehension, field-dependent with deep concentration and these prove the “Like mother, like daughter” cliché.

18.   I intentionally did not greet you through a text message (aside from the fact that I rarely have a load :D) and I want to greet you here. HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY, BLESSED BIRTHDAY MAMI! I love You!

P.S.

                I pray that these words are enough to let you love me more so that like my sisters, you’ll buy me a new phone. Haha! Smile Mami! :*

                

                                      

MISS-ery

Like an infant unable to speak

Like a child learning to walk

Like a teen-ager in confusion

Like a man who can’t express his feelings

Like a mother giving birth 

Is the feeling of a person long separated from her craft

In the moments of silence,

When things can’t be put into words…

The ache in the heart cannot be healed

The longing cannot be quieted

The shouting cannot be silenced

Unless words are weaved

Unless meaning and art are formed

Unless the silence ends

And the words speak, shout and STAND

MISS-ery

The state of a heart away from its joy

Away from its cause

MISS- the strong feeling and desire to do something

MISS-ERY?

Writing is the MISSing piece that will complete.