LIVING BY FAITH

2 Cor 4:12-18
   For this reason we never become discouraged. Even though our physical being is gradually decaying, yet our spiritual being is renewed day after day. And this small and temporary trouble we suffer will bring us tremendous and eternal glory, much greater than the trouble. For we fix our attention, not on things that are seen, but on things that are unseen. What can be seen lasts only for a time. But what cannot be seen lasts forever.
Here are some quotations on Faith:

• Be faithful on small things because it is in them that your strength lies.-Mother Teresa
• Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it with the handle of faith. -Henry Ward Beecher
• Faith is like electricity, You can't see it, but you can see the light.- Author Unknown
• Faith is courage while despair is always destructive.- David S. Muzzey
• Faith is not like a delicate flower which would whither away under the slightest stormy weather.-Mahatma Gandhi

More quotations on Faith here.
Then I was inspire with this flower that speak so much of how life should be. A very simple way of celebrating New Year!

Nice to look at...

The Reason of my Death

I found this one on facebook, I downloaded the application and was a little bit scared.But then death should not be feared.

May the Lord God pardon me..

Then, I came to read about death in 2 Cor.5:1-10

       For we know that when this tent we live in- our body here on earth-  is torn down, God will have a house in heaven for us to live in,a home he himself has made,which will last forever. And now we sigh, so great is our desire that our home which comes from heaven should be put on over us; by being clothed with it we shall not be without a body . While we live in this earthly tent, we groan with a feeling of oppression; it was not that we want to get rid of our earthly body, but that we want to have the heavenly one put on over us, so that what is mortal will be transformed by life. God is the one who has prepared us for this change, and he gave us his Spirit as the guarantee of all that he has in store for us.

      So we are always full of courage. We know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord's home.For our life is a matter of faith, not of sight. We are full of courage and would much prefer to leave our home and the body and be at home with the Lord. More  than anything else, however, we want to please him, whether in our home here or there. For all of us must appear before Christ, to be judged by him. We will each receive what we deserve, according to everything we have done, good or bad, in our bodily life.

 

      

Today

       It's been my 33 years celebrating Christmas. I am confused. I feel void. There are emptiness in my heart. I have heard lots of people today saying Merry Christmas and I replied back the same words. I knew I have sin. Sin of negligence. I have trusted so much in myself when I know that there is God that I should cling to every time I stumbled and swayed. I depended so much on myself. How pity am I. Now it's Christmas, I have come to realized that I cannot be happy with myself alone. There's so much fault in my paths I have taken. I don't want to take a second glance of my life for the past 10 years. I have worked. yes. But I don't think I have been effective. I got tired of how others work.I make other business my business. Now I have seen my faults. Despite it all I learned that there is still a way to move on. To be different. To be relaxed. God is whispering to me." Go back to yourself." It's not too late.There will be hopes for everyone who seek His righteousness.

    I read and go over some blogs and there's something which caught my attention," Heaven is a prepared place for prepared people". I haven't prepared myself yet. I consumed my time and thoughts to trifle matters that could have  caused me depression. Most people including me prepared less time nurturing their soul. Have we tried to assess our spiritual aspect. Have we been nice or naughty all through these years? It could take a lifetime to nurture one's soul. It's high time to cleanse it today and remove some of the unwanted weeds that entirely occupied our hearts, our senses. But how?

    The answers are probably just along the way. I'll just wait. For the meantime, I want to take this moments to thank God for so many reasons  listed below:

• For a very understanding husband
• For a wonderful child
• For my parents who love me always
• For my sisters and brothers around
• For some good friends who trust in me
• For our little room which I consider heaven
• For my computer who connects me to everyone
• For my salary which has many  deductions
• For my very simple Samsung cellphone which connects me to those in need
• For my gel ink pen which gives me nice handwriting
• For this blog which allows me to express myself
• For my books all over the corners of our room
• For my little brain

      I have come over a reading from the Bible about "Spiritual Blindness". Jesus said," If you were blind, then you would not be guilty; but since you claim that you can see, this means that you are still guilty."

      I knew I have a perfect eyesight and for now I accept that I am guilty without further arguments. Let tomorrows be a struggle to live a life full of love and thankfulness to God Almighty.

       I really am thankful to my husband who had never cease comforting and encouraging me to hold on to my faith, no matter how strong or weak it may be. It's Christmas and so we go for a walk along the city despite the rain, attended mass and have some photo's for souvenirs.

Christmas Belen from Metropolitan Cathedral, Naga City

Christmas Belen inside the Church

Thank you Lord for sharing your Son with us. Life on earth is temporary. Let us try to prepare ourselves to the moment that will outlast it.

The Altar of Pamplona Parish Cam. Sur

These photos were taken during the Christmas Carols of Coro del Pilar from Archdiocese of Libmanan at the Parish of Pamplona.

Remembering Time

         I remember my childhood years when the people are still very simple. We live with radio alone, then a black and white TV came afterwards. I still remember those fishes in the well. Lots of them. I miss those moments when we just have to get guava near our house. Plenty of them. Most families then are sharing foods together, most Filipinos live in a house made of wood, other lived in a nipa hut with six or more children. The place where I grew up is really agricultural. Palay is the main source of income. The constituents work together to harvest the palay.

        Twenty years have passed, now I am 33. Changes had become abrupt. In communication,transportation, fashion, dwellings and even the Filipino values have changed instantly! Each one aims to be different. Each one aims to gain success. Each one aims to be financially stable.People become incredulous. You don't know those whom you can trust. Promotions has become in demand.Everyone wants a fast -paced way of living.

        Have they tried to assess themselves how tired they were? Have they look at the sky during night time. Have they dream of being simple and not extravagant. December 25 is Christmas day, a time for reconciliation not only for others but for ourselves. Changes should always starts with ourselves. Don't be at loss with worldly thoughts and views.

        Humility can surely lift you up, no matter how poor we are materially.As I walk around the area, I found this very simple lantern hanging in the covered court in our municipality along with others. Each has been creatively made showing their personal ideas of lanterns. This one caught my eyes as it has a very simple color, good enough to say that, "Hey, it's Christmas all over the world."

Made of Buri and Ragiwdiw leaves.

Christmas Belen

Daytime(This has been taken during the Final Judging)

Night Time(This has been shot during the first day that it has been constructed, the three kings, sheeps and angels has not been placed)

This Christmas Belen is the Official entry of Brgy. Tarusanan, Milaor, Cam. Sur created by my husband for the yearly Belen Making Contest sponsored by the Local Government Unit of Milaor. He has fond of making Belen( from the word Bethlehem, the place where Jesus was born as a symbol of Christmas celebration) to give color to the Christmas Celebration in our town.This is located in a patio near our Parish which brightens the night and serves as resting place to those passersby after hearing mass at 4a.m.

Filipinos has a unique way of celebrating Christmas. From 9 day Mass Aguinaldo to simple, creative and meaningful decorations to highlight the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.We aim for peace, joy and love to be with all the citizens of the world as we approach Christmas Day.

"O Holy Night" Jed Madela

This Filipino artist is the Champion during the 2005 World Championship of the Performing Arts(WCOPA) in Hollywood, California. He has a great rendition of the song"The Past" and and "If Ever You're In My Arms Again"  and others. I named my child after his screen name"Jed". A great voice and a handsome face all in one to make him what he is today in the music industry.

Christmas Party 2011

December 19, 2011 was set for our Christmas Party and at the same time Family Day. I was able to bond with my pupils and share some gifts with them. They surely had fun though we celebrated it in a very simple way we can.

Yesterday

         I went to school 10 minutes before 2 pm to meet my class and rearrange our Christmas Decorations.When I am about to cross the lane , people were rushing off to the main highway, they called it killer highway. I continue my way to the school's gate, only to be alarmed about the voices panicking around. To ease my curiosity I go back to the streets and witnessed for the first time, a man, whom I know, who lives just a few corners away from the school I am teaching, lying with the blood scattered around him .According to the source, he is trying to cross the street to dry some rice grain and was accidentally hit by a police mobile. There was no chance of restoring his life or bringing him to the hospital because he was instantly dead. His head perhaps had bumped on the cement one, two , three, I don't know how many times , that had caused him death.

      This morning I passed by their house and had seen the name printed in white and pasted in black wood to inform the passersby that somebody is dead. I had seen some policemen, too.

      Death is really just around the corner, we could never know when will our time be.Life could end in a tragic way at the least we expect it to be, but we cannot choose our endings.We can never know when will be our last breath.

     Here's some quotes on death to  inspire us in our moments of living:

• "We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will.- Chuck Palahniuk
• "You have a choice. Live or die.Every breath is a choice. Every minute is a choice. To be or not to be."- Chuck Palahniuk
• "Every man dies. Not every man really lives."- William Ross Wallace
• "The first step to eternal life, is you have to die."-Chuck Palahniuk
• "Death is not romantic, and death is not a game which will soon be over...Death is notanything...death is not...its the absence of presnce, nothing more...the endless time of never coming back...a gap you van't see and when the wind blows through it, it makes no sound..."- Tom Stoppard
• "When the game is over, the king and the pawn go into the same box."- Italian Proverb

          May we all live in peace while on earth. To the man who had died yesterday: you may not be a known person on earth, but I know that God has done something for you. May your soul  rest in peace as God called you yesterday, for sure we cannot question God's will. It's His will. We just have to obey. This will be his journey to eternal life.And we'll  pray for him.

        I got this flower somewhere and good enough to remind us that    life is just temporary. So smile if you can..

What Do We Expect In life?

          Good relationship. Forgiveness. Power. Freedom. Peace . Love. Prosperity.Financial Stability.

          There are many reasons to live and celebrate Christmas in our hearts. Going back to the moment when Jesus Christ has lived and influenced the innocent people., but still there were stubborn people even at the very young age of the world. They compete for power, they argue much about religion.

          There are no system, no laws to govern the people. Until such time that rules and laws were made to protect the rights of every people. In the year 1800's there were  many struggles for power and properties among nations. Battles occurred everywhere. Blessed are the men who had sacrificed and fought till the end for search of freedom and independence. They become heroes. Recognition and celebrations are given to them.

          The 19th century came, still we crave for power. People had become intellectually aware  of industrialization and aim for modernization. Every country aims to be different. Everyone works harder to achieve greatness and perhaps popularity. In every aspect there were competitions; in sports, music, arts, science discoveries , new technologies , beauty pageants and everything. We aim to discover new things , to gain more avenue to business and entrepreneurship for we believe that it is the best way to achieve success.

          Twentieth century begun. The computerized age. The period of fast and easy access to knowledge. We compete not for powers anymore, but for wealth, personal wealth. People work harder to achieve financial stability. Traveling to other countries had become luxury and perhaps status symbol. People had improved themselves materially. From cellphones, to single motors, cars, vans, elevated houses and others.Communications had improved so much because informations can be digitally wired in every part of the world.Who doesn't like that? Is God, happy for us? For the achievements we have made? perhaps. Perhaps not.

          Why do I point this out? Because of so many things that worries me, Envy, ambitions and greediness to position. Christmas is approaching, I just hope that it's really a good time for reconciliation and humility. let love reign in this world. let peace be in our hearts...always. May God bless all the nations of the world on this Christmas season!

Sir Winston Leonard Spencer- Churchill( November 30, 1874- Jan. 24, 1965)

        I heard many times about  Sir Winston Churchill, but haven't write anything about him. Yesterday, I visited the booksale at SM, I found this book "The Story of Winston Churchill", published in 1957. It was an old book, but is still very presentable and the font are readable so I bought it for only 45 pesos. With only 181 pages , I've done reading it today.

 I got this picture from him because I like the way he pose here.
I learned that he was the only British prime Minister to have received the Nobel Prize in literature.
I learned also that there were three things which Winston was determined to do in life: to defend his father's belief's and actions, to make a great name for himself before he died and to serve his country.

The most famous quote from him which I got from this book:

• "Now or never"
• "When there is no fighting, I shall go into politics."
• "I love life but I do not fear death."
• "But the victory was won at a terrible cost!"
• "And so, they would listen to no reasons. And in the twinkling of an eye, I found my self without an office, without a seat in Parliament, without a party and even without an appendix!"
• " I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat."
• ". . . We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and the oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island whatever the cost may be; we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills. We shall never surrender."
• " Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few."

CHRISTMAS LANTERNS ALONG THE WAY

               As part of Christmas Celebrations, Lanterns are being displayed in every Filipino homes and along the streets. A moment of telling the passersby that Advent season has begun . It can never be a perfect Christmas  without the glamorous display of Parol(Lantern) along Panganiban Avenue. It is a contest offered to all barangays of Naga City. It was not an ordinary parol, an extra-ordinary-sized  that you will really take a second glance as you pass by the area. Out of recycled materials, they were able to make the lanterns creatively.