Agape Day 7: Raindrops

I love the rain. The sound of raindrops remind me of many fun childhood memories - no school, having all day to play/watch tv, bathing in the rain. But today I was hoping it wouldn't rain. We're going to watch Mamma Mia and driving in San Francisco isn't one of my favorite things to do. Add the traffic and the slippery roads that the rain brings, then it becomes a nightmare waiting to happen. By 4pm, I was a bit restless and was checking my phone's weather app every minute, hoping that the by-the-hour forecast will change...4pm, 5pm, 6pm...all through the night - rain's the word.

We left Foster City at 5pm and sure thing, it was raining. Was already expecting the worse. By the time we were in Burlingame - not a single drop....all the way to SF!!! And not just that - no rush hour traffic to boot! The most shocking of all - we found parking around the block of the Orpheum Theater!! I call this "A Miracle in San Francisco" all on its own. ;P

What amazes me is this - I never asked God to do all this for me. Didn't think I'd bother Him with such a "menial" request as to "just move the clouds farther" so I can drive with ease. I wouldn't ask him to pull out those cars that drive into/from the City during rush hour...that would just be impossible. And to ask for parking near my destination? That's just asking too much. ;)

But He did all of these just the same. FOR ME. In a way that I'LL KNOW it's from Him. So that in the future, I know that I CAN ask...for whatever. And to assure me that He cares, not just about the big things in my life, but even the littlest ones as well. It's up to me to decide to trust him - with everything.

Agape Day 6: Irrational Fear

Last night Abi & I went to Planet Granite after our almost three month hiatus from rock climbing. It was really weird at first. I had no problem doing the double-eight knots, but had a really hard time doing the supposedly easier double fisherman's knot. These knots are used to ensure you are safely tied to the rope that will support you while you climb. First thing we noticed - our hands don't have callouses anymore! That's great and all for handshaking (or handholding ;p) & stuff, but not so great in rock climbing. The rough surface of the rocks seem to scrape into our palms and fingers. Second issue: my fear of heights was in full blast! We were just doing the easy routes and I was fearing for my life! The fact that I was safely attached to the rope and being belayed by a friend I trust with my life didn't seem to help during those times that I was in the middle of a twenty-five foot climb.

I realize that many times in my life too, irrational fear takes over when I don't stop to think and analyze the situation I'm in. I fear the future, I fear change, I fear the uknown. But if I just take the time to stop and think, I'd know that there isn't a need for worry. I'd be assured that I am fully cared for and protected by a God who even cares for the flowers in the field and the sparrows in the sky. A God who told me, "For I know well the plans I have for you, plans for your welfare, not for woe, plans to give you a future full of hope." With him, I can face my fears and whatever challenges the future holds. Because I know I'm safe.

Agape Day 5: Spiritual Training

A couple of friends and I went to Coyote Point this morning to enjoy the view and do some walking. We talked about getting fit and I invited them to join our Half Dome hike this year. It's a sixteen-mile tiring but beautiful hike to one of Califonia's iconic sights (trivia: it is the basis for Northface's brand logo =)). They were a bit intimated when I told them that it took me 15 hrs to climb Half Dome and back, but they took courage in the fact that by training for it, they are sure to drop the pounds and really get fit in the process.

At mass today, the priest said that this Lent is our spiritual training. The gospel was about Jesus spending forty days in the desert being tempted by Satan. That's his spiritual battle as he prepares himself for his mission ahead. As for me, I noticed that Lent has barely started and it seems like I'm already failing at one of my resolutions this year - staying away from sweets. I find myself craving for chocolate late at night and I can't even restrain myself. Because maybe, at the back of my mind I'm thinking it's just chocolate. How harmful can it be?

Thankfully, I can just hear Fr. Jun's voice in my head, asking me to remember what sacrifice means - from the Latin sacrum (sacred/holy), facere (to do/perform) - something that you do that makes you holy. Sacrifices should be done because they make you closer to God. You give up something because you choose God instead. Now there's a greater purpose than just giving up something for the sake of giving up something.

It's not about the chocolate.

Thank you Dad, for always being there to remind me of things I forget. And for affirming me through this song at mass today:
"For to His angels He's given a command, 
To guard you in all of your ways, 
Upon their hands they will bear you up, 
Lest you dash your foot against a stone..."

Agape Day 3: Second Chances

Lent is about prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. This season, I pledged to Dad that I will be more sensitive in practicing these three pillars of Lenten observance. As with any promise I give God, He always, always finds a way...and I mean He *NEVER* fails...to give me opportunities to fulfill it (or not).

Today, it was through the woman at the street corner. She was holding a big sign that I couldn't read. I figured it must have said "Hungry" or "Cold" or "No work". I saw her when I was approaching the stoplights and I frantically searched my car for anything I could give her...money, food, something.

I found three dollar bills on my dash. I was ashamed to give such a measly donation. Searched for the wallet in my bag....found a lone hundred dollar bill (unused from my Philippine trip) and...just..stared. I couldn't part with the Franklin. Worse, she saw me rummaging through my stuff and thought that I'd be giving her something...she was walking towards me.

Just then, the stoplights went green. I passed her just in time to catch the words "DIAPER" and "BABY" on her cardboard sign. I felt like the "selfishest" person in the world. Why couldn't I part with the hundred-dollar bill? What was it that triggered that instant, unguarded selfish reaction? How can I change it?

I realize now that I have so many things to work on. Fortunately for me, my God *NEVER* fails to give me opportunities to practice. He's a God of second chances...and third...and fourth...and fifth....and...

Agape Day 2: Steppin' out of the boat

At household tonight, the topic of discussion was Peter walking on water. Ya know, the one where the disciples were all in a boat being tossed about by the waves. They saw a figure walking in the middle of the sea....they thought it was a ghost, but it was Jesus. Impetuous Peter then said, "Lord, if it IS You, command me to come to you on the water."

To confirm Jesus's identity, Peter asked to do what is physically, logically, rationally impossible: to walk on water.

There's definitely certain points in my life when I felt being tossed about and just don't know how I'm going to get out of that situation. This passage gives me courage knowing that if I pay enough attention, maybe I will see Jesus's figure walking calmly in the middle of the raging waves. Maybe then I, too, will have the courage to ask the impossible: to leave the comfort and "safety" of the boat and walk towards him when everything around me seems to fall apart.

Jesus's reply to Peter? "Come." Yes, Peter walked on water. But he had to get out of the boat first.

Agape Day 1: Ash Wednesday

This Lent, I'm logging my 40 Agape days: short realizations and experiences of the day that speak of God's love.

Agape Day 1 (Ash Wed)
It's no secret to anyone who knows me that I'm a huge fan of both Apolo Ohno & Tim Tebow. They inspire me by who they are, what they do, and how they work hard to achieve their dreams. And I know I'd go to great lengths to have an opportunity to meet them. I did ...go to Vancouver Olympics two years ago to watch a couple of Apolo's events. With Tim, I've already "recruited" my friends to watch his games with me at a sports bar. This coming fall, I plan on maybe seeing a couple of his games live (Denver, anyone? ;p). But even going to these games or events do not guarantee I'd actually be meeting them, much less have a chance to talk to them.

When he walked this earth, Jesus had a huge following as well. He drove people crazy! Crazy enough to either leave everything behind or to plot to kill him. He was a poralizing figure long before Tim ever stepped on a football field. In the gospel today, the man on the mat had four of his friends bring him down from the roof to meet Jesus because of the crowd. That man on the mat had some really awesome friends. They had the ingenuity and resourcefulness to find a way. But they had to fight through a crowd to get to Jesus.

They had to fight through a crowd to get to Jesus. And yet today, two thousand years later, He couldn't be more accessible. He's available to talk to me anytime I feel like talking. He can handle all my crankiness, craziness, weirdness, whatever. He's just there. Always. And I never have to fight through a crowd to meet him. The opposite has occurred. He's the one who seeks me, fights for my attention, pursues me even when I've turned my back on him a thousand times.

Wait, whaaaat? The King of the Universe? The Lion of Judah? Creator of all things? The Alpha and the Omega -- wants to spend five minutes with -- me? Me? And He'd take more if I allow him. Alone time with the King of the Universe. Wow. I'm feeling like royalty today. ;p

Happy New Year!!!

i know, i know. it IS FEB!! but hey...feels like NEW YEAR to me!! ;)


how 'bout that awesome chapter assembly to begin the awesome 2012 that we are going to have?!!! kudos to our chapter heads and servant leaders!! i think it's great to be reminded so much of WHY we are in the ministry, and what we promised GOD. it is our COVENANT, after all. and for all of yah who have attended the covenant orientation, we know that covenants signify RELATIONSHIPs. isn't it great that this covenant of ours, if we adhere to it, will really strengthen our relationship with God and each other? AWESOME!!!


2011 was kind of a blur to me. worse, at the end of the year, i wasn't able to personally reflect on what happened in the past twelve months. i just felt lousy on certain aspects of my life...so i wasn't really excited to face this year. in my heart, there wasn't too much fireworks. i don't know. twas a different feeling than most of my new years past.


but....my DAD -- you know... our DAD -- He's just too stubborn to let me be. i am always amazed by how adamant He is at PURSUING me. He just lets things unfold before my eyes...and makes sure that i HEAR HIM. that i SEE HIM. that i FEEL HIM. He uses people, things, whatever (sometimes even TV!) to reach out to me. and sometimes i still wonder WHY.


why are you so CRAZY about ME, LORD? what did i ever do?


....and He goes JUST BECAUSE.


I JUST AM!


and that's all i get from Him. huwaaat?!! too simple, Dad! but maybe, justifiably so. after all, He is the great "I AM"


last sunday, i was an unsuspecting massgoer. didn't expect much from our priest whose accent makes me really difficult to understand what he's saying. i was prepared to decipher the expected sunday rhetoric. what i wasn't prepared for was to find myself trying to keep my tears in check. his message went straight to my heart. i felt the familiar tugging in my heart that Dad was speaking to me. and i just couldn't help it. i just had to allow myself to BE LOVED by HIM.


and then....and then....just the perfect communion song:


Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?
Will you go where you don't know and never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown? Will you let my name be known,
will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?

Will you leave yourself behind if I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare should your life attract or scare?
Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me?

Will you let the blinded see if I but call your name?
Will you set the prisoners free and never be the same?
Will you kiss the leper clean and do such as this unseen,
and admit to what I mean in you and you in me?

Will you love the "you" you hide if I but call your name?
Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same?
Will you use the faith you've found to reshape the world around,
through my sight and touch and sound in you and you in me?


Lord your summons echoes true when you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you and never be the same.
In Your company I'll go where Your love and footsteps show.
Thus I'll move and live and grow in you and you in me..


whatya think? wasn't that just the PERFECT song? Dad just really knows me. He knows how to get through me. ok, Dad! i'm now officially excited for 2012! just grant me the grace to accept your love, your plans, your hand in my life. today and always. =)

Fasting Day 3

survived it!!!

though it was a bit difficult. felt kinda lightheaded & a bit weak. and a bit hungry! i don't know what's with this day, but it's definitely a whole day of temptation! at lunch time, some people left so much food at the pantry...and i don't mean just fruits or whatever -- they left ribs!! and those were smelling too good when i went to the pantry to get....WATER!! ayayay!!!

then...we were supposed to have a meeting at starbucks. i was thinking...great, no food there. but then...no seats in sb! we had to find another place -- and we found CREPEVINE! i've missed eating there. hehehe...

oh well! dinner looked good! and i had hot apple cider. hahaha!

what will tomorrow bring? =)

Lent 2011 - Fasting Diary Part 1

this year i decided to do another two-week Lenten juice fast. i was a little bit scared this time, as i've not been eating well, meaning, i'm eating a lot of junk foods and portions are kinda getting larger. ;) i was so scared i won't make it through one day. praise God that today is my second day of the fast! hurray!!

i started eating fruits only last thurs. i was hungry!! and afraid of the next two weeks. hehe. but i survived the chap assembly without eating the yummy food...hehe. good thing there were fruits there - mango, grapes, cuties. da best. thanks Dad for providing for me. ;)

friday, we had the speakers workshop. i was prepared this time. brought my own mango slices & cuties. survived again! check!

btw, i didn't give up coffee at this time...so not sure what the effect on the fasting is.

saturday, early morning lakad for the discernment retreat. labs & rp brought me coffee. awww! i didn't have time to cut up mango/cantaloupe slices so i brought my peeler & knife. turns out, they brought pomelo & cuties also. aww! divine providence once more!

at the retreat there were strawberries. for lunch,i had green salad. dinner, we went to a japanese place, and i had green salad & edamame. pero....dessert of avocado with sago! ay da best!!

yesterday, sunday...was the start of the juice fast. i was unprepared to say the least. just did water in the morning. at lunch, had to leave for the hosts taping. had sinigang soup & orange mango juice. when i went home, mama whipped up melon juice...so i had that & iced tea. ok! i was also able to pray the rosary! yehey!!!

today i have melon & pineapple juice as baon. it's after lunch, so far, so good. =)

clp talk??!

so today i started the day feeling kinda off. it just felt that everything i wanted to be, i'm not. that everything i tried to accomplish, i failed. it's just weird. it seems that everything doesn't seem to be how they should be. least of all me. wasn't even up to pretending otherwise. haaay. one of those days.

it's also the precursor of my 2-week lenten fast. and i don't feel like doing it. what's happening to me??

and then...out of the banality of today, comes this one call. i was asked to discern on giving a talk in the upcoming clp. didn't come as a surprise. tita cyn told me that they lined me up as a speaker. i just didn't know what....and today, i learned - it's talk 9! i was shocked at first. why would they think i could -- i should give that talk? that's the highlight of the clp! and me, well, let's just say that i'm not at the highest point of my spiritual journey right now. am i worthy to give that talk? do i have anything to say that's worth something? why would they pick me?!!!! i am SOOOOOO not fit. not at this time. haaaay.

but as with any service asked of me - i will pray about it. i'm not sure why Dad chose this very day to ask me this. but He has his reasons. and i intend to find them.

walking on water....

i have to admit that when i said yes to producing a show to help evangelize people, i didn't know what i was getting into. i thought i had an idea, but now i know that i really didn't. how anti-climactic! hahaha...

episode 1 is due on sat. my deadline is in six days and i have six segments to deliver, including the spiels. am i gonna reach it? dunno. i seem
nonchalant outside but i'm frantic, scared & worried out of my wits. to some extent i feel like i've bitten more than i can chew. but then again, aren't we called to take great risks for God?

it's times like this that make me feel i'm really crazy! what is it about you Lord that makes me do these things over and over even when they drive me crazy? aaahhh... questions questions... so many questions on my mind..

my jesus, have mercy on me, a sinner..
immaculate heart of Mary, i trust in you.
(got this "little prayers" from fr. corapi ;)

lenten fast?

it's the first sunday of lent.

it's been a whirlwhind 2011 for me thus far. the days have just been creeping up on me. before lent started i haven't made up my mind on what to fast. good thing no one's asked me yet the typical lent question, what did you give up for lent.

i've mixed feelings over that question. on one hand, it's good to share to one another the penances we pledge for, as a sign of affinity and as a witness to the Christian lives that we lead. on another hand, i feel like if you tell people what you're doing, then you lessen the effect of the fast & you already got your "reward."

i guess i don't have to worry about that since i have not even made up my mind on what to give up. but then, isn't it worry-worthy that it seems i have not prepared well
for this lent at all?

but wait, am i just stuck with the notion that i have to worry? as if i don't already have a hundred things to worry about.

but then, didn't He say "do not worry?" -- i think He knows what he's talking about. Lord Jesus, help me to just be still...and know that you are God.

i love you!

i finally found one of my all-time favorite songs online! i've been searching for it and didn't know that it was originally bosconian! kaya pala di ko makita anywhere...hehehe. this one really made my youth masses, especially communion time, so meaningful. sobrang felt that God loves me! da best!!

http://www.denofmusic.com/chorus/mp3s/2008/ILoveYou.mp3

I love you 'cause that's just what I am.
I could never turn away from you and leave you all alone.
Yes, I love you though you have gone your way, I could
never leave you all alone and leave your way behind.

REFRAIN:
Though you weigh no more than dust placed on the scale you rise.
Though your worth is just as much as sand I love you just the same.
I am love, I am love.
Though your sins be dark as scarlet I will turn them white as snow. Though your sins be red as crimson they mean nothing more to me.
For I made you and you're meant for me for all eternity.
I have loved you, yes, I love you. I always will... love you.

I love you 'cause that's just what I am.
I could never show you greater love than lay my life for you.
Yes, I love you what more proof do you ask?
Show me any love that's greater than the love I've shown to you.

REFRAIN:
Though you weigh no more than dust placed on the scale you rise.
Though your worth is just as much as sand I love you just the same.
I am love, I am love.
Though your sins be dark as scarlet I will turn them white as snow. Though your sins be red as crimson they mean nothing more to me.
For I made you and you're meant for me for all eternity.
I have loved you, yes, I love you. I always will... love you.

manila, i'm coming home...again!!

wooohooo!!

just can't keep my excitement to myself! i praise and thank my Dad for just the blessing of allowing me to go home, have fun, and reconnect with people and places i've missed.

it's been about a year and a half since i last went home, and in my previous two trips, i've always kept to myself and my family because i really wanted to spend time with them. we always had one major family trip but other than that, i'd always stayed home...oftentimes finding myself alone in the house as everybody was always out! but i savored those moments...those were real refreshing and peaceful. i love being home!

this time though, i decided that it would be an adventure trip. i wanna go and experience things, meet people, travel with friends and family, experiencing new things!!!

i've already researched and made bookings for two of our adventures: our family adventure to banaue & sagada, plus the september babies (mama, tita, & karen)bday celeb at a laguna resort! then, another friend is coaxing me to visit their family in singapore as a side trip...which i am sorta getting inclined to do as i haven't seen the place for 11 years!

haay, so many places to go! i wanna go to taal lake and take a boat ride to the volcano's crater. my sister also mentioned that mt. pinatubo's crater has become as picturesque as well. i wanna do the manila bay cruise, pasig river ferry, visit malacanang...etc. basta this will be an adventure trip that'd be unforgettable!!

excited!!! =)

something new!

Dad is just amazing! He knows me so well, and responds to my needs even before I expressly say them in my prayers. In fact, he just gives it to me, on a platter, just like that, because he loves me. wow.

i've been feeling kinda weird about work. i've been working here for so long that i really feel that i'm losing my drive. i notice that i wake up late even if i sleep early the night before, but on weekends i wake up earlier. i sometimes feel like i'm dragging myself to work, and i really don't like it. that's why i've been pondering on what i should do...whether to look for something else within the company, or whatever...i just felt like i really needed a change.

and just like that....voila! my boss calls me in his office and talks to me about this "opportunity" at another group. apparently something really wrong has happened with that group and they need someone to help them get themselves organized, to establish processes, and such. coincidentally, the system where i am a SME is also transferring to that group, which makes me the perfect choice to move there.

i felt an excitement i haven't felt in a long time at work. yes, there's a lot of work, and it's not a perfect scenario. but it just fits - with where i am now, with what i feel i need at work, with what i just feel on the whole about work.

Thank you, Dad!

"amazing love, how can it be? that you my king should die for me?
amazing love, i know it's true, and it's my joy to honor YOU,
in all i do, I HONOR YOU!"

great weekend! =)

my weekend was great! ;) i attended our cluster hh at tito felix & tita myrlyn's house in hayward, and i was reminded of our responsibilities as pastors of our members (ULT talk 1 - we are doing the ULT series in our hh even though all members are chap heads...galing no?!).i wanted to get home early coz i was planning to go snowboarding the next day. kaso...for some reason...i think i caught a virus somewhere...i kept sneezing at the hh, and by the end of the night i had colds! when i got home, i was feeling so bad, i had to text lloyd to cancel my snowboard participation! bummer!

saturday, i woke up to a text from agnes: "asan k? i hope not in snowboarding" - she's been worried about me since i had "vertigo" last thursday. it was my first time ever to experience that - everything was spinning! they had to take me home that day, and the next day, she drove me to and from work. awww! i feel so loved! =)

when she was dropping me off on friday, she asked what my plans were for the next day. she rolled her eyes when i told her i planned on snowboarding. so next morning, when i said i was home, she's ecstatic and said that prayers do work! hehehe. it was good. i was able to rest and upload some pics from our vancouver trip. ;)

sunday was spent bonding with wigi & the buenavistas. we scheduled a family portrait shoot with the bolidos. ang saya lang magkulitan while taking pics. the pics turned out great although we still need to do some tweaking on our set-up. haay, need to practice talaga! we should do phototours!

at night naman we went to see Disney on Ice at the oracle arena. it was great! when you watch the olympics, you'll realize how difficult it is to do ice dancing and do those tricks so you gain appreciation when you see it done for entertainment. aww! God's gifts are amazing!!


thank you, Dad, for making me realize again and again how wonderful You are! how magnificent your creation is! and how amazing the talents you have bestowed in each one of us! you're our WONDERWORKER! =)

my olympic experience

short track

yup, saw apolo & JR!!! didn't get up close & personal though - they were "heavily guarded" wehehe. i saw JR's bro on the hallway though. i initially thought i knew him from somewhere, like sfc or something and almost waved to him! bwahaha! good thing we were in a hurry...was already past him when i realized who he was. ;)

it was fun, exciting, & exhilarating to see them compete live! the atmosphere in the coliseum was absolutely electric. granted, most of the fans were canadian - the stands were a sea of red! but don't count us out! we were yelling wildly for our team while waving a flag that's bigger than us! hehehe. i have some great competition pics! will post them later! it was also great to see the athletes in-between competitions - seems apolo & JR are very close. also, they were the only team to huddle just before the relay finals, i think to pray. aww.

apolo's dq on the 500m was heartbreaking for us - and you can't say he didn't try his best to get to the podium! the crashes in the quarters & semis were crazy! he had to jump and 'skate on one foot' his way to the finals! but hey, that's short track! so yeah - medal or no medal, apolo's our champion! hehehe...

the relay was both chaotic and poetic. hehe. it's easy to get confused when there's twenty skaters on the rink, one set skating the outer rink while the other skating the inner. and yet, when you see the rhythm of their movements, it's just awesome to watch! we were happy to see JR on the starting line, then him pushing apolo on the final pass to anchor the team to win bronze. this was a difficult event for them because it takes four guys to medal, and apolo was the only veteran in the team; the other three were first-time olympians. in his usual fashion, apolo made his move on the last turn. it all happened very fast -- a blur to the finish line and we couldn't figure out which skater outskated which. after a few agonizing moments, we learned that canada won their second gold of the night, korea got silver, and the US got bronze. not bad guys! =)

btw, our event tix included the women's 1000m finals, and katherine reutter ended the medal drought that has plagued the US women's short track team since 1994. she was finally able to change her mental state and calm herself to drown down the noise and pressure and was able to skate to silver! yey! especially since the chinese skater was phenomenal! =)

since canada won two golds that night, the streets in downtown vancity were going crazy! people were shouting, cheering, and waving their flags - it was really awesome to see such otherwise quiet people get loud and really rally for their country. fun fun times!!! =)

other stuff:
the place we stayed at was a steal at $80/night. hotel rates were running at $500/night, and we were afraid that the deal we got (from craigslist) was too good to be true. as it turns out, there are still people who are not that greedy - our host (he was renting his guest suite) was pinoy! haha - explains the small rice cooker in the kitchen area. ;) he even visited us bringing chocolate chip cookies his wife baked! we are totally going back! hehehe.

we were able to take a pic at the olympic cauldron without the ugly fences! they now have a viewing deck where you can take all the pics you want with the torch as background. long line, but not too long of a wait. ;)

they are making big bucks on selling olympic stuff! the line to enter the olympic store went for about two blocks! very sad though coz when we got it, i couldn't buy anything! everything was crazy expensive. since we already spent an arm and a leg for the event, there was no way i was getting sucked into all this olympic marketing scheme! oooops, i did get a snowboard jacket - hehehe...exception to the rule. ;)

the sea to sky highway going up to whistler was amazing! it was raining on our way up so we didn't see much. but going back, the rain stopped and we were able to see the majestic mountains and sea! amazing!! nature is indeed sacred!! i'll be going back when the sun's shining! =)

as i've said, 'twas a short but fun and exciting trip! praise be to God! =)

vday musings

The season of love is on! The month of february never fails to make me think of all things related to love - red hearts, relationships, emotions, weddings, fairytales, and true love. It doesn't help that a few nights ago I dreamt that I got married. To whom? Well, it remains a surprise - even in my dream. I gotta hand it to "Dad" - he knows how to keep me hanging, even in lala land. ;) It actually made me realize that I have not been in a special relationship for more than five years! Do I hear an "Ouch" there? Hahaha. For some reason, I don't feel that way. For me, it's something that just IS. It's a fact of life. And in this partner-crazed world, that's saying something!

The world always wants you to think there's something lacking in you. That you need this, that, or the other thing to make you happy. That life is not just as complete until you get that perfect job, or until you own your dream house, buy your dream car, travel the world, or until you've met that one person in the universe who's supposed to sweep you off your feet and bring you to your happy ever after. Maybe I've been watching too many romantic movies eh? Or am I? Can we honestly say to ourselves that we are complete no matter what or who we have or don't have in our life?

A few years ago, I claimed that I would get married on 07/07/07, thus gnetski777. ;) Oh well, I guess I'm way past that deadline! But I'd say this, that day didn't pass without me realizing what God's promise meant - that I was His beloved, and nothing in the past nor future can ever change that. It was more than a girl could ask for. =)

I think I am at the point in my life where I feel so loved, first of all by my God, who is my Dad, my bestfriend, my loyal supporter, confidante, provider, encourager, and the person I run to when everything in my life is going crazy. I am loved by my family who has truly accepted and appreciated me for who I am, a family I am proud to belong to. I am endeared to so many special friends who have shown me Jesus's face through their constant support, prayers, advice and presence. I am truly blessed!

As St. Augustine said, "Lord, you created our hearts to rest in you, and my heart is restless until it rests in you." Happy Valentine's Day! =)

apolomania

sometimes, i can't help but think i'm crazy. for all i know, i may be right. hahaha. it's fifteen days before vancouver olympics, and i just can't wait. it's my friend myla's fault. i was resolved on watching the games on tv. yet one fateful january morning, she called me and asked if i still wanted to go. she said we had a place to stay, etc etc. it looked promising. i started researching on flights, car rental, events, etc. as of today though, our hospitality option had crumbled, and we need to pay all the way. on top of that, she couldn't get days off from work so we'd only be able to go on a weekend. actually i'm not even sure if she's coming. but since the passion to go has been ignited in me, i'm still going, even alone. wow, that's just really really crazy and so uncharacteristic of me.

and for what? all to see apolo skate. well, there's more, but i guess that's the main reason i have. i've wanted to go since i saw him at the 2006 olympics. and it's not for the usual "he's gwapo or cute" kind of thing. that's not what gets to me. it's the person behind the athlete that really impressed me. i was watching this event and the commentators were talking about how disappointing the US athletes were. those who were expected to perform didn't. they were talking about this guy apolo ohno who was disqualified during semifinals in his specialty event (1500m), and in this particular event (1000m) was expected to get the gold but got the bronze instead. though i could only hear their voices, i could picture their heads shaking in disbelief and disappointment at the results.

apolo was interviewed after. usually, when athletes fail the public's expectation or the ones they have for themselves, you can see their disappointment & frustration written all over their faces. apolo's was a grinning happy face. i thought...wow, that's....different. when asked how he feels about getting the bronze, he said that he was very happy just to get to the podium, and that he races against himself, and is all about skating the perfect race, no matter the outcome. i was looking at him incredulously and thought that he was such a positive person! the olympic games are very emotional events, and with the pressure that surrounds it, i've seen countless athletes fail and really get emotional in face of failure. after all, they gave up four years (or more) of their lives for this.

the next day at lunch, i told my coworkers about him. to my utter surprise, they all knew about him & his story - where he grew up, who his dad was, how he became an olympian, and of course, how he performed in the 2002 olympics. i was apparently the only one who didn't know these things. well, things have changed since then. i've been following him, just curious about what he's doing in his life, and as time passed he has continued not only to impress but actually inspire me. he always talks about how great his dad is, how we should give 100% to anything we do, how the sacrifices are not really sacrifices when you willingly do them, how to value TODAY. it's been amazing to see him grow as an athlete and as a person, venturing into different things, knowing what's important in his life, and just really LIVING LIFE.

i remember a very wise man said "i came that they may have life, and life in its abundance." we were meant to live our lives fully! so in a few weeks i'll go to vancouver as a tribute to this person who continues to inspire me, albeit without his knowledge, to be the best that i can be. i will watch him compete against the best of the best in the world, and i know that both of us will come home with joy in our hearts, no matter what the outcome of the games are.

cheers to apolo! =)


Dad, i lift up apolo, his body, mind and spirit. may He always see you as the giver of blessings and graces. may he continue to be an inspiration to me, and to countless others. Amen.

a new year...a new you! =)

wow, i can't believe 2009 is really over. and it's been a week of 2010 already -- time does fly! of course, with every new year comes our new year's resolutions. maybe wake up earlier? (not really successful on that yet) or work harder? (or work harder in finding a job for those of us in between jobs?), maybe be a better son, daughter, parent, or friend. whatever it may be, this new year allows us to look back to what has been and to look forward to what is yet to come.

interestingly, in our bible study last monday where fr. jun discussed the birth of the Church at pentecost, he mentioned that to God, everything is "present" - there is no past nor future for him. it's all NOW. like for the Israelites, when he promised the "Promised Land" - it was a future event for them, in fact, it took them forty years to get there, but to God, he's already done it. it's already there. it's the same thing with us, sometimes we fear that maybe our prayers are not being answered, that maybe God hasn't heard us, or we may be wondering why God's promises have not been fulfilled yet in our lives - let us not forget this - to God, there is no past nor future, everything is NOW - that means, whatever He promised us WILL COME TO PASS, no matter how fuzzy things might be for us at this time.

so i invite you, brothers and sisters, to hold on to God's word - because whatever He speaks HAPPENS. in Genesis, he SPOKE, and everything came to being. thru JESUS, His Word actually came to being - His Word became ONE OF US, so that maybe, we could understand him better. "In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and THE WORD WAS GOD...and THE WORD BECAME FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US! (Jn 1:1,14)....isn't amazing?!

in pope benedict's new book Saint Paul, he said that paul never mentions the event at damascus as his "conversion" because he thinks that for paul, this was not just a result of a psychological process, but of his ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS CHRIST. "in this sense, it was not simply a conversion but an actual death and resurrection for paul - one existence died, and another, a new one was born with the Risen Christ. this encounter is a real renewal that CHANGED ALL HIS PARAMETERS. now he could say that what had been essential and fundamental for him earlier had become "refuse" for him; it was no longer "gain" but loss because henceforth THE ONLY THING THAT COUNTED FOR HIM WAS LIFE IN CHRIST."

he continues on..."It means for us too that Christianity is not a new philosophy or a new morality. We are only Christians IF we ENCOUNTER CHRIST (in reading Sacred Scripture, in prayer, in the liturgical life of the Church). We can touch Christ's heart and feel him touching ours. Only in this PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST, only in this encounter with the Risen One do we truly become Christians. -- grabe, what a great reflection from our Holy Father!!

so i guess the challenge for us this year is to truly have that ENCOUNTER with our Lord, our Savior, our friend JESUS CHRIST. are we willing to shed our OLD SELF in place of a NEW ONE in HIM?

this is home =)

THIS IS HOME
by Switchfoot

I've got my memories
They're always inside of me
But I can't go back
Back to how it was
I believe it now
I've come too far
No I can't go back
Back to how it was
Created for a place I've never known

[Chorus]
This is Home
Now I'm finally where I belong
Where I belong
Yeah, this is home
I've been searching for a place of my own
Now I've found it,
Yeah this is home
Yeah, this is home

Belief over misery
I've seen the enemy
And I won't go back
Back to how it was
And I've got my heart set on what happens next
I've got my eyes wide and it's not over yet
We are miracles
And we're not alone

[Chorus]

And now after all my searching
After all my questions
I'm gonna call it home
I've got a brand new mindset
I can finally see the sunset
I'm gonna call it home

[Chorus]

Now I know, Yeah this is home
I've come too far
No, I won't go back
This is home

be a missionary! =)

salesians of don bosco

"that's ok. mahal pa rin kita. :)"

that's what a salesian priest said to me today when i told him i couldn't do what he asked of me. i smiled. it was a salesian signature remark. it brought back memories of a priest i hold dear in my heart who has always told me the same thing during my lousy teenage years. no matter how disappointed he was with me, he told me he loved me - and not in the alarming kind of way, but always in the fatherly, concerned, and understanding way. i was deeply touched not just by his fatherly love but with the friendship that he offered along with it.

reason, religion, and loving kindness -- the hallmark of the salesian way of raising up the youth. to be a salesian, you have to be a FRIEND of the young. i think that was don bosco's gift - he knew the human psyche. he knew that we don't want to be imposed upon, that we want to be heard, that we want to be treated kindly and with respect. i am very blessed to have met and encounter such inspiring salesians who have become dear friends and have brought me ever closer to Christ. through their love, understanding, and kindness, i came to know who God is. and now i continue this journey. i'm not there yet. in fact, i feel like i'm still very far ahead. but no matter where i am, i'm consoled with the idea that my God is a loving and merciful God; that he understands where i'm coming from; that he is quick to forgive my shortcomings; that He loves me no matter what. those are the seeds that the salesians have planted in my heart.

thank you Dad for all the salesians in my life! =)

best clp orientation ever!

i have to give it to the titos and titas in CFC. when they say MEGA-CLP - they MEAN MEGA-CLP! last night's session was BIG in so many ways! the first i noticed was the food at the kitchen (hmmmn...the fact that i came hungry could be the reason for this...hehehe)...it was like a banquet! trays upon trays of food lined up the kitchen counters. i looked around...so many couple participants...and some handmaids too.

then i saw...sitting in front...tito jj francisco, and i was like....whooaaa! one of my favorite speakers! he always hits home in his talks. so i was curious to find out how he will deliver the orientation talk. we in sfc find it difficult to deliver the orientation talk because striking a balance between making it light enough for new participants and delivering the message is really tough. yet, as we listened to him, we can't help but marvel at how coherent and integrated his talk was, including his jokes and anecdotes! i had to tell him it was the best orientation talk i've ever heard. and i've been in the ministry for nine years, so that's quite something. hehehe. he was very humble too, and attributed it all to God! wala lang, just inspired by servant-leaders like him.

also, the sharings were very touching. the CFC couple sharer - in particular the husband, had a very touching "conversion" story -- from a non-practicing protestant to becoming a full-pledged catholic! talk about transformation. the Handmaid sharer was jam's mom...and she shared how she turned from a depressed widow to now finding things to laugh and be joyful about, and finding deeper love in God. i cried during her sharing. waaaahh! the last sharer, from SFC, was didoy, and he shared about his struggle in forgiving his dad, and how God has helped him, through this community, to do just that, and he shared about his journey culminating in his now committed relationship with she. grabe...the sharings were amazing!

i just thank God for really using people from different backgrounds to send His message! thank you, Dad, for an amazing CLP night last night! =)

The Songs of People Power 1986

the death of former President Cory Aquino once again united Filipinos - from all over the world - in commmemorating a part of their history that was truly amazing. it was God's hand at work, and i just can't help but marvel at the resilience, strength, and faith of the Filipino people. i'm proud to be Filipino! =)



Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundoby Apo Hiking Society

'Di na 'ko papayag mawala ka muli.
'Di na 'ko papayag na muli mabawi,
Ating kalayaan kay tagal natin mithi.
'Di na papayagang mabawi muli.

Magkakapit-bisig libo-libong tao.
Kay sarap palang maging Pilipino.
Sama-sama iisa ang adhikain.
Kelan man 'di na paalipin.

Ref:
Handog ng Pilipino sa mundo,
Mapayapang paraang pagbabago.
Katotohanan, kalayaan, katarungan
Ay kayang makamit na walang dahas.
Basta't magkaisa tayong lahat.

Masdan ang nagaganap sa aming bayan.
Nagkasama ng mahirap at mayaman.
Kapit-bisig madre, pari, at sundalo.
Naging Langit itong bahagi ng mundo.

Huwag muling payagang umiral ang dilim.
Tinig ng bawat tao'y bigyan ng pansin.
Magkakapatid lahat sa Panginoon.
Ito'y lagi nating tatandaan.
(repeat refrain two times)

Coda:
Mapayapang paraang pagbabago.
Katotohanan, kalayaan, katarungan.
Ay kayang makamit na walang dahas.
Basta't magkaisa tayong lahat!




Magkaisa Virna Lisa

Ngayon ganap ang hirap sa mundo
Unawa ang kailangan ng tao
Ang pagmamahal sa kapwa'y ilaan
Isa lang ang ugat na ating pinagmulan
Tayong lahat ay magkakalahi
Sa unos at agos ay huwag padadala

Chorus
Panahon na (may pag-asa kang matatanaw)
Ng pagkakaisa (bagong umaga, bagong araw)
Kahit ito (sa atin Siya'y nagmamahal)
Ay hirap at dusa
Magkaisa (may pag-asa kang matatanaw)
At magsama (bagong umaga, bagong araw)
Kapit-kamay (sa atin Siya'y nagmamahal)
Sa bagong pag-asa

Ngayon may pag-asang natatanaw
May bagong araw, bagong umaga
Pagmamahal ng Diyos, isipin mo tuwina

(Repeat Chorus)

Magkaisa (may pag-asa kang matatanaw)
At magsama (bagong umaga, bagong araw)
Kapit-kamay (sa atin Siya'y nagmamahal)
Sa bagong pag-asa

SFC ICON 2010 - Davao

hmmmn....thinking about attending!

The Warrior is a Child

one of my fave songs by gary v. i thought about it while driving home from the tongues workshop. because in there i saw soldiers...ready to fight for the Lord. but i also know full well that even though we fight for the Lord, we also have our own demons we fight each and every day. only in Him do we find strength. only in him do we find hope. only in Him do we find rest.


Lately I've been winning battles left and right
But even winners can get wounded in the fight
People say that I'm amazing
I'm strong beyond my years
But they don't see inside of me
I'm hiding all the tears

They don't know that I come running home when I fall down
They don't know who picks me up when no one is around
I drop my sword and cry for just a while
'Cause deep inside this armor
The warrior is a child

Unafraid because His armor is the best
But even soldiers need a quiet place to rest
People say that I'm amazing
I never face retreat
But they don't see the enemies
That lay me at His feet

They don't know that I come running home when I fall down
They don't know who picks me up when no one is around
I drop my sword and cry for just a while
'Cause deep inside this armor
The warrior is a child

They don't know that I come running home when I fall down
They don't know who picks me up when no one is around
I drop my sword and look up for a smile
'Cause deep inside this armor
Deep inside this armor
Deep inside this armor
The warrior is a child

rest

labs posted this on her fb account today:

Abi got a message that on this day, God wants her to know...
... that it's OK.

Just rest for a moment. It's OK. Yes, things are crazy, yes, the world is going nuts. Yet, deep underneath the stormy waves, there, in the core of your being, there is pure silence, pure love. And ... it's ... just ... OK.

***********

i've been getting the same message. i'm currently reading facing your giants by max lucado, and one of the chapters that really struck me was the one about brook besor. it talks about king david and his men composed of 600 soldiers coming back to Ziklag, where their families were. they stopped on brook besor. when they got there, the place have been burned down, and all their wives, children, and things were gone - all taken by the philistines.

david prayed to God for guidance, and the Lord told him to go after the philistines. so he gathered his men...but 200 of them were so tired and weak that they couldn't (or wouldn't) go. so he took the 400 who were willing and they defeated the enemies. they got back all their families, animals, properties as well as some properties from the enemies.

the soldiers who went to battle were (rightfully?) upset with those that stayed. they asked king david to let go of those men who stayed behind once they have their family back, and to not share with them the loot. but king david said that the properties they got were all from the Lord, and it will be divided among those who fought the battle and those who "watched our baggages" -- he didn't call their shortcoming.

galing.

also, fr. max oliva, sj, our speaker at the last mcg assembly, spoke about the two patrons of the missions - st. francis xavier, who went everywhere, and st. therese of lisieux, who has never been outside her convent. it's not the first time i've heard of this, but i'm still amazed at the fact that st. therese never went anywhere and yet is the co-patroness of the missions. it's because she prayed for them. prayers are powerful!

so yeah. there is a time for battle and there is a time for rest.

soldier, it's okay to rest! =)

monday blessings!

after i dropped mama off to her ESL (English as Second Language) class, i went to Shell to get an oil change. i've been postponing it due to my busy sked, but i felt that my car was already complaining so i went ahead and did it.

in doing the oil change and tire pressure check, the mechanic found a nail on my rear left wheel! wow. my tire could've blown while i'm on the freeway, but God guided me so i could avoid the accident. thank you, Dad! =)

not only that, i was having trouble getting on the street because i wanted to get on the leftmost lane to make a U-turn. the lane was full of cars. then i see the guy waving at me to go ahead of him! grabe, nice guy. God bless his soul.

ayun lang. these are my monday blessings. share ko sana sa bible study but we're off tonight. =)

january

i had the weirdest dream last night - i saw this written on a paper "hanggang sa january na lang ha" - and for some reason, i understood it to mean that i'm given only til january to live. i was actually crying on my dream but i felt peaceful about it. like it was meant to be. then for some reason, it reached the conscious part of my brain, and i became aware that i was dreaming, but also knowing full well the details of the dream. i didn't open my eyes because i knew the details will be lost as soon as i did. so i kept my eyes closed, and after a few moments fell back to sleep. i made a mental note to remember the dream.

so what do i make of that dream? i don't know. i know that nobody's supposed to know when their life is going to end. but what if it's true? and what of the saying that we should always live our days as if it were our last? so how do i live the next (or the last?) six months of my life? so many resolutions are coming to me. it means i'm nowhere near where i want to be in my life.

Dad, help me to live only for you, each and every day of my life. Amen.

1234

this is the song we will be singing at acoustic night. it's the song sarah g sang at ASAP on john lloyd's bday. go EBG Band! thanks to mommitch!!



give me more lovin than i've ever had.
make it all better when i'm feelin sad.
tell me that i'm special even when i know i'm not.
make me feel good when i hurt so bad.
barely gettin mad,
im so glad i found you.
i love bein around you.
you make it easy,
it's easy as 1 2, (1 2 3 4)

theres only one thing two do three words four you.
i love you.
theres only one way two say those three words
and that's what i'll do.
i love you.

give me more lovin from the very start.
piece me back together when i fall apart.
tell me things you never even tell your closest friends.
make me feel good when i hurt so bad.
best that i've had im so glad i found you.
i love bein around you.

you make it easy
it's easy as 1 2, (1 2 3 4)

theres only one thing two do three words four you.
i love you.
theres only one way two say those three words
and that's what i'll do.
i love you. i love you

you make it easy, its easy as 1234

theres only one thing two do three words four you
i love you
theres only one way two say those three words
thats what ill do
i love you

amazing day

last night i had one of the most intimate prayertimes i've had in the recent past. it was so raw, and it was just Him and me. i was just me - no pretense, no false assertions, no covers - just me, humbly coming to my Lord with all of who i am.

i was thinking about my life, and what's important to me, and i realized that i really love Him, and our relationship is most important to me. and yet, when i look at my life, i see that it doesn't seem so because i haven't been spending time with Him or working on our relationship. i realized all my shortcomings, and i wept. i don't deserve Him, and yet he still loves me.

"amazing love, how can it be? that you my King would die for me. amazing love, i know it's true, and it's my joy to honor you. with all i do, i honor you."

i really felt Him, and i was at peace.

this morning he greeted me with the clouds. i have this thing with clouds and i feel that when it's cloudy, He is saying hi to me. so i just felt like he greeted me. and then someone texted me and asked, "how are you on this cloudy tuesday morning?" -- i just felt doubly greeeted by Him! he made sure pa that i noticed thru someone else that it was cloudy!! haaay.

i was scheduled to have a one on one with a sister today, so i texted her and asked if we're a go. she said yes, but asked if we could do it half an hour later, so we can go to mass at san bruno.

i was shocked. is He giving me a chance to go to mass on a weekday?! it's one of the things that has been bugging me because i really wanted to go to mass everyday, and i can't seem to find a way to do so. then....he just offered it to me. just like that.

but then i couldn't leave work til 5:45, which gave me only 15 mins to drive to san bruno. i thought to myself that by 6pm i'd only be in millbrae and won't be in time for the mass. i already accepted the fact and told him that i really wanted to go, but if i can't because of traffic, then at least He knows i tried.

you know what He did? he moved traffic for me! the traffic at 101N in san mateo which usually doesn't move much during rush hour was not in its usual mode...we were moving, not fast, but not super slow either. when i reached the exit, all lights turned to green as soon as i approached them. i was inside the church at 6:10pm and i was in time to hear the start of the responsorial psalm.

my friend later told me that mass actually started at 6:07, which is unusual because it usually starts exactly at 6pm. waaaaahhhh!!! He waited for me!!!

the priest celebrating the mass was not one i would consider "gifted" in his calling. on my regular mode, i'd think to myself that maybe i should've just prayed alone coz it would've been so much better.

but today was different. it's as if i was hearing the prayers for the first time. they were so meaningful for me, and i really felt Him. i was reciting the prayers at mass with my whole heart. and when it was time for communion, i begged him if i could receive him (i usually don't receive him if i don't get to mass in time for the first reading). i just said that i really really needed him. so i did. and i was at peace.

in that moment, God made me realize one thing - no matter how ill-equipped or inept we are at doing His work, He can and is able to do His work, dispense His graces and touch people's hearts, if He so chooses. because we are mere instruments. it's not by us that His work happens, He is the only giver of grace and changer of hearts.

after mass, i went to starbucks for my one-on-one. i saw my extra copy of "swear to God" by scott hahn , which i intended to give to another friend. i thought she would appreciate it as well, and i was meeting with her anyway, so i took it.

when i gave her the book, she looked so surprised and asked if i was serious. i looked at her blankly. she said she's been thinking about buying the book. and i was like, "this exact book?" -- she said "yes! that's exactly what i was looking at at borders. how did you know?" i was like, "i didn't know. i just felt like i should give you this book." it's amazing how He ties things together.

the coffee was great. we did a lot of catching up and sharing about our journey with God.

before the night was over....it rained a little bit. and just so i wouldn't miss the message, Dad asked another friend of mine to send a text: "it's raining! happy ka malamang! :-)"

i was indeed.

thank you Dad for an amazing day. love you! =)

i'm different

i was uploading my album full of cloud pics as i've been obsessed with clouds in the past few years. i'd take pictures of them wherever i am - in my car, in a bus, walking, on the plane, on the beach. wherever. as long as i see nice formations, i'll take out my camera & take a shot.

clouds remind me of God.
(http://gnetski777.multiply.com/photos/album/121/clouds_obsession)

isn't that weird? people look for sunshine to feel God's love. i feel God in the rain. people look for sunny skies to feel like it's going to be a good day. when i get out of my house and see the clouds, i feel Dad telling me He loves me.

i love being different. and i love seeing, feeling, and hearing my God in the exact opposite of what others look for. =)

prayer

another thing that fr. corapi talked about today was prayer. he said that our whole life should be a prayer. it just made me think coz i always picture prayer as me taking the time out of my day to talk to him. instead, he said that when we are fully united with God, our whole life becomes an expression of praise and thanksgiving to Him. ang galing lang! i never thought about that.

humility

on my way to work, i was listening to fr. corapi's talk, and he talked a little bit about humility. kasi oftentimes in my blog i am always ashamed to go before God, kasi i always feel undeserving of his love, and that i'm always not accurately representing him to the world.

anyway, i'm just happy to hear fr. corapi say that it's a good disposition to have, because humility is facing the truth. and the truth is, we are far from who we ought to be, and we have a long way to go to being our best for God.

but that doesn't mean that we'll spend our life moping. we have to spend each and every day trying to improve. trying to take that next step. because the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step!

all for love...

last night was amazing.

not the part where i gave the talk. in fact, that might be the low point of the evening. wahaha. i honestly don't know how i did. to talk about the holy spirit and the gift of tongues is not easy at all. i tried to convey the greatness of this third person in the trinity, and the power that he's able to dispense. not sure how affective that was though. oh well. gave it my best shot anyway. i hope they were able to learn a thing or two.

anyway, the great part for me is the worship. wynn lead it. need i say more? hehe. it was powerful for me kasi in praising God i shift my focus from myself to Him. and it's always heartwarming to look up to Him. this is my favorite song of the night...ALL FOR LOVE!

http://www.imeem.com/people/VRJ9DF/music/VJ3eVVsI/hillsong-all-for-love/

Verse 1:

All for love a Father gave..

For only love could make a way...

All for love the heavens cried..

For love was crucified.

Pre-chorus:

Oh, how many times have I broken your heart...

But still you forgive if only I ask..

And how many times have you heard me pray..

Draw near to me..

Chorus:

Everything I need is You

My beginning, my forever

Everything I need is You

Verse 2:

Let me sing all for love..

I will join the angel song.

Ever Holy is the Lord,

King of Glory, King of All.

Chorus:
Everything I need is You
My beginning, my forever
Everything I need is You

Bridge:

All for love a Saviour prayed..

Abba Father have your way..

Though they know not what they do..

Let the cross draw man to you

Chorus:

Everything I need is You

My beginning, my forever

Everything I need is You

forever by hillsong

this is labs' new fave song. love ko rin.....kasi it addresses God as Dad! da best!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nxtl4SQcVP8

Intro:

D - D - G - Bm - A

VERSE:

D2

I´ll Worship at Your Throne

D2/F#

Whisper my own love song

D2/G

With all my heart I´ll sing

Bm7 A7sus4 - A

For You my Dad and King

D2

I´ll live for all my days

D2/F#

To Put a smile on Your face

D2/G

And when we finally meet

Bm7 A7sus4 - A

It´ll be for eternity

Em7 Bm7 A7sus4

And Oh how wide You open up Your arms

A

When I need Your love

Em7 Bm7 A7sus4

And how far You would come

A

If ever I was lost

Cadd9 Em7/B* A7sus4

And You said that all You feel for me

A Cadd9

Is undying love

Em7/B* Em7-D/F#-G

That You showed me through the cross

CHORUS:

A

I´ll worship You my God

A/C#

I´ll worship You my God

D

I love You

F#m7 E

I love You

A

Forever I will sing

A/C# D

Forever I will be with You

F#m7 E

Be with You

I can only imagine

I Can Only Imagine (labs & samsam's fave song! =))
by Mercyme

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. I can only imagine.
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!

I can only imagine, when that day comes,
when 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! I can only imagine!
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! Yeah! I can only imagine!

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! Yeah! I can only imagine!
I can only imagine! Yeah! I can only imagine!!
Only imagine!!! I can only imagine.

I can only imagine, when all I do is forever, forever worship You!
I can only imagine.

MY PASSION TEST

we did this at unit household last night. this is my results:

MY PASSION TEST 05/27/2009 (to be revisited on 11/27/2009)

When my life is ideal, Iam
1. intimately and personally connected to my God, my Dad
2. regularly going to confession and hearing mass daily
3. serving God with passion
4. in a God-centered, fun, and committed relationship
5. working in a job that excites and energizes me

This or something better!

Through the intercession my Holy Mother Mary, in Jesus's name. Amen!

my weekend

i really praise & thank the Lord for all the blessings!

saya last chap assembly! the food was abundant - and delicioso! hahaha. she' & emil's members did a great job of preparing inexpensive but fulfilling meryenda for all of us. da best! also, the icebreaker was a hit. michelle was hilarious! the topic was really good too. we still have a lot to learn in the topic of LIFE, but it was a good start, and i really hope we can continue to learn about it.

last friday, i was so ecstatic that i was finally able to attend the CLP! wooohoo! the CLP team was very lean, but everyone did a great job. everybody gave their own contribution. i am just amazed with the total giving of self. that's L-O-V-E! my only regret is that i didn't hear the talks & sharings, which i heard were great! oh well. at least i can say that my mom & i did a good job being prayer warriors. hahaha. she knew all the songs in the prayer warrior sheet!! =)

last sat naman, we went to lau's bday celeb at wynn's house. then didoy & i tried to make habol at the sector family day. we drove an hour and a half to get to blue rock springs park in vallejo - and got there in time for the closing prayer! bwahaha. then drove an hour and a half back to wynn's house. great. we stayed at wynn's for a bit, then proceeded to visit pocs & raffy, and their new baby rui at mills peninsula. rui is so cute. she is fair-skinned, like pocs. but raffy insisted he was fair-skinned when he was a baby. i told him i will reserve judgment until i see his baby pic. hehehe.

so since i got tired saturday, i decided that mama & i will stay "local" yesterday. =) instead of taking her out to the city, we attended a bday/mother's day celeb of a friend in hayward. it was fun. food was great. and the drive was very short. da best! haha. i even had time to wash my car after. yehey!

praise God!

i had a relaxing weekend after a relaxing & fun vacation at sunny and warm cabo, mexico!! (http://gnetski777.multiply.com/photos/album/116/Cabo_Mexico_April_2009_-_Part_1) wooohoo! i know, i know. swine flu right? but we didn't even hear about it while we were there. i think it's for the best, so that we enjoyed our vacation instead of vacationing in fear. wahaha. so far, i don't have any symptoms, but just in case - people should stay away from me. hahaha.

i just want to praise and thank the Lord for the blessings! i had a hectic work schedule the past four months, aside from the hectic sfc schedule we already have in sfc, so my body (and soul) was aching for some rest and recreation. cabo was comfortably warm, the beaches were amazing, and there's always something to do for fun. it was good. i did something crazy (for oni, it's just fun) hehe - went on a canopy tour (ziplining). for me, it was not just physically challenging, but also mentally and emotionally as well. i wanted to chicken out when i saw the commando rope bridge...but i didn't want to regret it, so i went ahead and sang some praise songs while at it (so i can forget that i'm crossing a river on a rope!). my whole body was trembliing after!!

but i learned a valuable insight - though sometimes in life, situations might seem insurmountable, if we have faith in our God and in ourselves, we can make it through. we discover our hidden strengths and endurance when we decide to go for it. =)

holy tuesday

happy holy tuesday. it's my 9th day of fasting today. woohoo! so this year, i decided i'll do my fasting for 2 weeks. the first seven days i was fine. i could tolerate the smell & look of my favorite dishes and snob them. i even had energy to play badminton, go to the gym, and go snowboarding last weekend. but yesterday, the 8th day, i was having difficulty. i felt hungry and i really wanted to eat and stop my fasting (coz i was thinking i did seven days na naman). but then, i remembered that really, this week is the more important part of my fasting. eto talaga yung "panata" ko. siguro kaya ganon kalakas yung temptation. but today, so far, has been good. i don't feel hungry & i'm energized naman. so yeah! five more days to go! =)

weekend...

i really enjoyed the household last friday. sarap makinig sa kwentong buhay buhay. sayang, ej missed it. si lau namiss yung kwento ko. hehehe. pero ayun, puyat galore last week kaya medyo cranky ako nung sat. wehehe. pero i really had a good, even if short, confession with fr. mark. leigh's right, ang sarap ng feeling!

after the retreat we went to corpus christi for the clp announcement. grabe, napaka-welcoming talaga sa sfc ng mga priests ngayon. fr. monza welcomed us with open arms last saturday, and aside from announcement, pinag-offertory pa kami sa mass. at saka, the titos & titas in cfc were also there, kasi saturday ang clp nila. nag-announce din sila sa mass. ang galing nga eh. i really praise God kasi i feel that he has really anointed this mission for us. i just pray that we'll have the strength to do it for Him.

at night, we went to brainwash cafe to watch franz's band (with our very own ALAINESTERS opkors!) perform. grabe...nakakatuwa! sarap to enjoy coffee (well tea & hot choco for me) with music & friends! naks! reunion na naman dahil ang dami daming tao dun! muntik na kulangin tables & chairs. wahaha....

sunday naman, i dedicated to rest. punta sana ako kina tita oma dahil nagyaya for lunch, pero i really needed to rest na. my body was shouting for it. wehehe. so nasa bahay lang ako the whole day. i was gonna do laundry, but someone was using the washer/dryer. so talagang rest na lang ako the whole day. woooohooo!!

so now, back to work. waaaaaaahhhh!! i need to accomplish much this week.

great weekend!

i feel so ENERGIZED this monday morning because of the weekend! yup, it was a hectic one, starting off with fr. jun's talk on st. paul last friday (which was a GREAT talk grabe!), the walk for life (very tiring, but FUN -- i had "kids" that day), and of course yesterday's filipino mass.

haaaay. it seems very tiring...but i'm just left with so much awe at how amazing God works in our ministry. i thank Him for counting me to be part of His work. He's da best!!

LIFE - why is it an issue?

Life is an issue because God is the author of life. It is God who forms us into being, who breathes his spirit unto us. That's why we're all here. He has a plan for each one of us, no matter how difficult our life circumstances are. Life is a gift. and so I'd like to personally invite you to take part in PROTECTING LIFE here in our country. this coming elections play a very important role on what will happen to our society with regards to abortion practices and so it is important for us to vote wisely, but more importantly, we can PRAY for those who are affected by the tragedies of abortion.

although 40 days for life started in sep 24 and is about to end in two weeks, i believe it's not yet too late to join! please let me know if you're interested in joining me to ADVOCATE and PROTECT life thru prayer. watch the clip below and read further down for more information on 40days for life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-rt7Q7Rvt4

a busy day

it's the first time in a long time that i literally had a busy day at work. i know this because i have forgotten two of my personal activities: lunch with winnie and booking of MLK recreation center for the christmas party. i only remembered my lunch with winnie when i saw her name blinking on my phone screen. i jolted out of my seat, and began apologizing as soon as i answered the phone. then off i was to pick her up from her office.

we ate at langkawi, a relatively new malaysian restaurant in marina. i think i haven't gone to marina for a while coz i didn't even know about the existence of the said restaurant despite its close proximity from where i work. haaay. but...the food was good! we had roti prata for appetizer then jumbo prawns battered in fried oats...ummm...yummy, and chicken satay! but i was taken aback since wins didn't order rice. i couldn't not order rice so i did, but didn't finish even half the cup. hahaha. feeling. omg, we were out for an hour and a half! it's been a while kasi since we last had lunch. had to catch up, though it still wasn't enough. haay. next time ulit. =)

the other one i forgot was to call back MLK to book our reservation. if oni hadn't called, i wouldn't remember!! and alas! someone already beat me to it and the hall is now taken! waaaaaahhhhhh!! now i have to find another place that wouldn't cost us an arm and a leg to rent. Lord! i need help!

shucks, such a chaotic day. but all in all i am at peace, because for some reason, i have made my pact with God again. as nems puts it, "i'm back in my place with God". i now know (again) where i am and who i'm here for. i live only for jesus, my richest treasure, my highest joy, my only hope. it's not all happy and dandy as i had to give up something important to me in the process, but DAD is MOST special to me, and i know that He loves me, so i know that what i gave up is nothing compared to what He has in store for me. i thank Him for being the dad who runs to embrace me when he sees even my shadow coming back to Him. He's the one who tells me, "i love you, inspite and precisely because of who you are - MY DAUGHTER." i just want to bathe in His love forever. i don't ever want to forget it. or to look for it from something or someone else. Dad, please don't ever let me go!!

last stretch of the year

wow. i can't believe it's the third week of septemBER already! if i was still in manila, i'd be hearing Christmas songs now being played on the radio. oh well. but all i hear these days are about the upcoming election in november. oh, speaking of which, all of you US Citizens out there, our faith calls us to VOTE responsibly! the catholic bishops have issued a teaching on this.

anyway, back to septemBER....i still can't believe much of the year is gone. i feel like i haven't accomplished much yet. but i also feel that it's been a year of tremendous blessing. for me this year was fun, scary, exciting, painful, blissful, frustrating, and amazing. wow...all those adjectives in the same sentence. but God allows us to experience EVERYTHING, even the bad times, so we can have an appreciation of the good times when they come.


i'm just really thankful to everyone, for all the shared experiences, for this walk together towards Him, and just for being my brothers and sisters. we will finish 2008 with a bang! we'll give it all to the Lord! to Him be the glory, forever and ever! amen! =)

saved by grace, though undeserving

Jesus, you're the sweetest name of all
Jesus, you always hear me when I call
Oh Jesus, you pick me up each time I fall
You're the sweetest, the sweetest name of all.

Hi Lord. I dunno. I just felt like singing that song to you. I didn't even think about it. It just automatically played on my mind while I was starting this blog. It was a song we used to sing at mass during gradeschool days. Wow. That was a long time ago.

I've been really tired the past couple of weeks. Not just physically, but emotionally and also in my service. With all the issues that's been coming up, there are times that I just want to walk away and quit. But I know I can't because my commitment is with You, not with the people I serve, so it won't be quitting on them as much as quitting on You. And You know I can't quit on you coz you never quit on me. Kahit na I'm so undeserving.

Which leads me to the reason I'm writing this entry. It's been tough Lord. I am ashamed to call myself Christian because oftentimes I don't even reflect who you are - not in thoughts, words, nor actions. I'm just me. And then I begin wondering if this is really where you called me to be. Kasi I'm not deserving eh. And I sometimes feel na I can't do it. Kasi mahirap. Kasi I can't be up to that standard that you deserve. Sorry Lord.

I don't know why, and sometimes I really don't understand why you stubbornly love me kahit na ganito ako. Pero thank you Lord for never quitting on me. Thank you for speaking your words to me at this time when I really need to hear it.

"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom we have gained access (by faith) to this grace in which we stand,
and we boast in hope of the glory of God.

Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions,
knowing that affliction produces endurance,
and endurance, proven character,
and proven character, hope,
and hope does not disappoint,
because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts
through the holy Spirit that has been given to us.

For Christ, while we were still helpless,
yet died at the appointed time for the ungodly.
Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person,
though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage to die.
But God proves his love for us
in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.
How much more then, since we are now justified by his blood,
will we be saved through him from the wrath.

Indeed, if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God
through the death of his Son,
how much more, once reconciled, will we be saved by his life.

Not only that, but we also boast of God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom we have now received reconciliation."

St. Peter was right when he said, "Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." I have nowhere to go, except where you lead me Lord. I have nothing worth doing, except your will in my life. I have no one to hold on to, except You, in good as well as in tough times. Thank you dahil mahal mo ko. I will strive to be a better version of myself para sa yo. I love you Lord...

dad's not doing well

dad's latest chest xray & abdominal ultrasound revealed progression in the cancer's metastases. meron na rin syang spots sa liver, that's why he's been complaining of abdominal pain.the liver metastases caused his liver to enlarge kaya sobrang sakit. he's very thin, as in parang yung mga pics ng malnourished kids na nakikita natin. he's in pain all the time, and sometimes di umeepekto yung pain relievers.

i can't describe how difficult it is to see him in pain. sometimes i just want to fly away to a place na hindi ganito ka-diffcult. but it is what it is. i have to accept that everything is part of God's plan. thank you for continuing to pray for us. we're taking it one day at a time. i still hope in the Lord and try to get strength from him.

but we're really trying our best to deal with the situation. sometimes lang pag nagmumuni muni ka na, you get to feel the gravity of it all. pero we still have funny moments naman and i'm happy to be here in manila. i've realized it's still home to me.

am i ready for worst-case scenario?

it's such a difficult question, and i'm afraid i don't have an easy answer to it. maraming sides ang question na yan, and there's so many different answers as well.

am i ready for the worst-case scenario? i don't know if i'll ever be ready. wala kasing manual on how to do it eh. hehe. it's like playing poker. walang specific instructions on how to play your cards. basta you just get the cards, and it's really up to you if you want to fold, or to stick it out til the end even if you have bad cards. i guess in this case i'm sticking it out with the bad cards. a lot of people will call it naive, i want to call it faith. faith in a God who has power over nature. a God who calms the sea and the storm. a God who says "I will it" when the leper said, "Lord, if you will it, you can make me clean", a God who calms the parents of a daughter that just died and says "do not be afraid. just have faith." - that's what i'm placing my bet on. am i afraid to lose? of course. but i'm still willing to bet on Him nonetheless. don't know if that's being in denial. maybe. pero wala eh. that's where i am. for me, it ain't over til it's over.

does it mean though that i'm living in a fantasy world? hardly. i can't live in a dream world when i hold his body and feel the skin on his back touch his ribs or see him get really tired after pacing his room a couple of times. if it were up to me, he wouldn't need a feeding tube just so he can get the nutrients he needs for the day. if it were up to me he would be able to do things on his own, not having to rely on everybody for everything. if it were up to me all the bad things will go away. but there's no escaping this reality, i experience it everyday.

grabe, so many thoughts and emotions come to me these days. everyday is an adventure and a kwento all by itself. i wish i had the time and energy to write about all of them, but alas, that's the one thing i seem to be running out of. so yeah. this is where i am. dunno exactly where. hehe.

some people are afraid to ask me this question directly. hehe. naintindihan ko naman. and i know that people are just concerned. sometimes lang pag inisip ko i get weirded out. kasi when you go thru something difficult at nagpapakaloka ka dyan, people keep telling you to be strong and that everything will be ok. kapag naman medyo nagpapaka-strong ka and you want to believe that everything will be ok, iniisip nila in denial ka. ang labo. hehehe.

i guess what i'm going thru now is similar to jesus's experience in gethsemane. he said, "if it's possible, take this cup away from me" - that's what i'm asking for. that's what we're hoping and praying for. that the illness be taken away from us. but as jesus concluded, "not my will but Yours be done" - ultimately my will is surrendered to God.

will i be ok if God's will is to take my dad with Him? maybe. maybe not. i don't know. walang assurances sa life eh. parang stocks yan, "past performances do not guarantee future returns" hahaha -- i've been able to deal with some painful experiences in the past and made some difficult decisions while holding on to God. will i be able to do it again if ever? probably. but as i've said, no guarantees, although knowing me, ultimately i will be fine. it may not be fast, but i'll get there. i think. =)

in the meantime i'm taking things one day at a time. i rely on God's grace to get us thru the day, kasi that's the only thing i can hold on to.

unconditional love

ok...so these past days i've been irked with one of my sisters. kasi it seems like she doesn't appreciate the gravity of our situation. she rarely visits dad in the hospital and is always out partying somewhere or whatever. basta parang she has her own life, and she doesn't care. i was so inis with her that i wanted to boycott her graduation. anyway, since my dad wasn't able to go, my other sister was showing him a video of my sister receiving her diploma. all of sudden, tears started falling down my dad's eyes. he said he was sad because he wasn't there to witness it. and then he said to me, "bigyan mo ng pera, kawawa naman", then cried some more.
there i was, having this "righteous anger" because my sister wasn't showing enough respect or love for my dad, and yet my dad was crying because he wasn't able to go to her graduation, and even comes to me on her behalf! i was so ashamed kasi i realize again how a father loves. i guess that's what we call unconditional love - that you can love beyond reason, beyond circumstances. when you just talk about a love like that, it's interesting, but when you see it manifested, you are just left in awe of it.
if this is the kind of love that an earthly father can bestow to a seemingly ungrateful child, then i get a glimpse of how and why God, our Father, loves us that much too. kahit di tayo deserving. kahit na nakakalimutan natin sya palagi. kahit wala tayong time para makipag-chat sa kanya in prayer. kahit na di natin sya sinusunod. ganon pala yun. He just loves. that's just amazing.
and that's what Jesus achieved for us - divine sonship/daughtership. =) because of Him, we became sons and daughters of God. as i've repeatedly said in our bible study, we were not just redeemed. we were adopted. ang redeemed, parang wala ka na lang utang, but a son/daughter is much more. you now have rights. you are an heir. you are cared for. you are loved - unconditionally.
my prayer for all of us is that someday, we may all learn to love like Him. after all, He said, "love one another as I have loved you." ang galing!

faith

last night at bible study, we read about the story of a father whose only son was demon-possessed since childhood. when jesus came down from the mountain (after transfiguration), he went to him to ask him to heal his son, and the following conversation took place:

"But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us."
Jesus said to him, " 'If you can!' Everything is possible to one who has faith."

Then the boy's father cried out, "I do believe, help my unbelief!"
-- Mark 9:22-24

Jesus exclaimed, "IF YOU CAN!" -- as if to say, is there anything I CAN'T???

but sometimes, in our very own lives, when things are not going our way,
when our wishes and dreams seem so far away, when we are faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles, sickness, and problems, that's the time that WE DOUBT. when that's the EXACT time we should have the opposite - FAITH!

HAVE FAITH! and enjoy the journey! =)

happy easter!

happy easter! =)

i'm so happy! coz i'm finally done with my juice fast! i can eat now! wooohooo! =) wala lang, i learned (again) that our body can go pala without eating for a number of days. i did it for a week, though some do it for 20, 30 or even 40 days. what jesus did was not totally unreal. there are people who do that still. ang galing! parang ang hirap no? pero you'll never know until you try. next time i want to try a longer fast. kung kakayanin. ;) kayo rin! next lent let's try doing the juice fast on holy week! and we will learn that truly, "man does not live by bread alone, but from EVERY WORD that comes from the mouth of God!" =)

God is always in control

i'm doing much better today compared to my sorry state last night. wehehe. last night i learned that my dad had trouble breathing and he had to have an oxygen mask placed on him. i guess when you hear that kind of thing, your mind tends to go overboard and you start thinking of all the bad things it could lead to. i was just feeding off one negative thought after another. basta it was just crazy.

but then, i was reminded of my favorite verse: "FAITH is the realization of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen" (hebrews 11:1) - i guess this is where the rubber meets the road. it's easy to say i have faith when things are going well. but how about when things are not going well? what is MY belief? where do I stand? i am confronted with this as i have to face the reality of my dad's illness. and it's tough. sometimes i can't help but give in to all my fears....because it's just a scary world di ba?

but then God doesn't give up on me. He keeps reminding me over and over and over how much He loves me. He keeps telling me that ONLY HE is in control. kasi i sometimes have the wrong notion that NOBODY is in control since I have no control over things. mali pala yun. holding on to something even though circumstances seem to prove otherwise is the very definition of faith. without discounting the facts, faith allows us to HOPE, even when there seems nothing to hope for. and i choose that, because it's better than the alternative. i have to live my life according to what i know in my heart to be true, no matter what the world tells me.

GOD IS GOOD, ALL THE TIME!

a letter to my friends

dearest friends,

i just want to thank you for your overwhelming support and PRAYERS. i am truly blessed to be a part of this caring community, with brothers and sisters who are there for each other thru the good and the bad. when i heard that my dad's tumors were found to be cancerous, tears just started flowing down my face and i couldn't speak. i felt so helpless. it was as if someone told me i'm losing my dad. and i'm not ready. and it's not fair.

i'm doing much better now. i guess i was kinda down for a day or so, but then sabi nga, you can't change the hand that life deals you with, but you can choose how to play it. so i'm choosing to "walk by faith, and not by sight", to believe in miracles, to hope in a God whose love for me is immeasurable and unconditional. it's not that i don't grasp the gravity of my dad's illness, on the contrary i know and feel the reality of it all. but i'm choosing to focus on the reality of the bigness of God's heart, His overflowing grace and mercy, and in His MIGHTY POWER.

my dad refuses to undergo chemo or radiation, because he doubts that his body can take it. some people are telling me to influence him to do so, but i am reluctant because i believe that he knows his body more than i do, and i don't want to make a decision for him that might be bad. we will be searching for non-traditional ways of fighting cancer, maybe in diet, supplements, and a bit of exercise. if you guys know of anything or anyone who knows about things like this, please let me know.

thanks for sharing your experiences, advice, comforting words, and especially for PRAYING WITH US - this is the BEST HELP we can ever ask for.

labs,
=) gnetski

love is in the air!

hmmn, hearts day tomorrow! time to spread the love....so i thought i'd share with you some of the notes i've taken from class last night. =) someone gave a book report on "how to win friends and influence people" and i just think these concepts are timeless and especially applicable in this season of love. naks. enjoy! =)

BEST PRACTICES
- Don't criticize, condemn, or complain
- Give honest and sincere appreciation
- Arouse in the other person an eager want

6 Ways to get people to like you
1. become genuinely interested in other people
2. smile =)
3. remember people's names
4. be a good listener and encourage others to talk about themselves
5. talk in terms of the other person's interests
6. make other people feel important, and do it sincerely

How to influence others to your way of thinking
- to win an argument, avoid it
- in disagreement,
- distrust your first instinct
- control your temper
- allow the other person to speak
- look for areas of agreement
- be honest
- admit errors and apologize
- carefully consider the other person's ideas
- revisit the issue and consider
- could they be right? (completely or partially)
- will my reaction relieve the problem or just my frustrations?
- will my reaction reflect poorly on me?
- will i win or lose? (at what cost?)
- is this an opportunity?

How to avoid making enemies
- show respect for other people's opinions
- if you are wrong, admit it quickly and emphatically
- begin in a friendly way
- let other people talk-talk-talk
- look at the situation from the other person's perspective
- let others feel that their ideas are important
- be sympathetic of other people's ideas and desires
- appeal to a nobler cause
- throw down a challenge

BE A LEADER! -- when correcting someone:
- begin with honest praise & appreciation
- call attention to other people's mistakes indirectly
- talk about your own mistakes before criticizing other people
- ask questions instead of giving direct orders
- let the other person save face
- praise the slightest improvement and praise every improvement
- give others a fine reputation to live up to
- use encouragement - make the fault seem easy to correct`
- make other people happy about doing the things you suggest

that's it folks. happy wednesday!

GOD LOVES YOU!!