Feb 01 2022 Social Media Madness

Two of my friends from UnionBank dared us to stay away from social media this February. I felt it was a good move for me to subtract something for a while and to find that JOMO, or the joy of missing out, is really a joy. 

As I often browse through Facebook feeds anytime in the day, of when I wake up at night from a deep sleep-- I found myself harboring little self-pities, aside from cultivating the habit of 'the need to know'. It has been told in "multiple studies have found a strong link between heavy social media and an increased risk for depression, anxiety, loneliness, self-harm, and even suicidal thoughts". While as a Christian, I know my foundations are strong, whenever I am drawn to social media during my hard times gives me the anxiety I never thought is cultivating in me.

I started on 31 January. With the usual bets we do whenever we have a deal, I find it easy for me to do it. It's been a day, and since I have deleted the social media, I have more time to do my daily task at work, or take time to read or watch. 

I am not drawn to knowing 'more things' or what's happening to friends these days. I am now leaning towards growing under my feet the joy of taking time for myself and to commune all the more with God. Undistracted by the urges to scroll endlessly on Facebook just to pass time.

In this, I am able to write this down again. Taking this journey to self-love, to love other the way I love myself. Not to love others more than myself; and ultimately to love God with all my heart, soul, and mind. 

First commandment says we are called to love God more than anyone and anything. Secondly, we are asked to love others as thyself. Not more than what we can give to ourselves.  As we give grace and compassion to others, we must not neglect to nurture self-compassion and grace. We love others commensurately as loving ourelves. 

We are not even called to be dependent on other people to be filled with love they can give, rather, to cherish a love that's from the Lord, lavishing the kind of love that He can only give as He is the source of Love. God is Love. When we experience His love within us-- we begin to love others the way He loves us. The love that overflows from the divine love and not of the love that human can give--always short, not enough, always craving.

I am not againts those with social media as I know to each his own. I just pray that when things are tough, we get attention and re-focus with the Lord and not from earthly, fleeing things.

I started with the book Moments of Grace and wishes to write more of what's been learned from the reading.

13 Jan 2022

Here again to write. It's been three years since the last blog. In 2020, pandemic began and made big changes in our lives.

Today I was browsing my social media wehn a post from a friend gotten my attention. She posted how she missed the way she was, particularly 2017 (we are now at 2022). 

She said all the things she was doing back then--reading, watching, all the youth pleasures she was able to do. Right now she has a child to take care of.

I read through the comments and was inspired by a particular comment which says we should not dwell on the things we missed in the past but enjoy what we have right now. We should not despair over the things we can't do but focus on what we can do. While good memories are understandable to miss, we need to grow from the current situation we have. Or else, we would be living in the past. 

Maybe now happiness is literally getting enough sleep vs reading a book like what it used to be. Here are some thoughts I wanted to share as it has inpsired me today.

1. Accept our current situation. Acceptance will always be the key to growth and growth means propelling us to a new level of experience, knowledge, and path. 

2. Appreciate what we have. While we cannot control what happened in the past or we cannot bring back old memories, appreciating what we have gives us direction. 

3. Be at peace with the truth that change is inevitable. We will always miss what we used to be - the time we don't have to think about any concerns and just play until we're tired; the time we don't think about the bills or responsibilities; the time we were once young and vigrouus to do anything we want. Until we make peace with it, we will just be trapped to the pit of loneliness and despair.

4. Encourage yourself in the Lord. The Word of God is hammer (Jeremiah 23:29) that has the power to change us and be molded again to the person we need to become. The Word of the Lord is the source of hope and be reminded of his promises. In this world, we'll have trouble but He asked us to take heart as He has overcame the world. 

8 Feb 2018 Hope

On the onset of February 2018, I had to finish a paper for a company. The whole week was full-packed. I wasn't able to blog.

Change isn't easy. It's a process. The good thing about reading the Word and holding on to His promises is that it gives you hope in times of despair and humility in times of joys.

29 Jan 2018

Because the Word of the Lord is a double-edged sword, it should also cut me before it cut others. On Saturday, I shared the Word of God. It was His grace that gave me knowledge on the topic. It was His mercy that put hope and humility in me.

As I have shared on reading the Word on everyday basis, I must too be reading His Word. It feeds my spirit with strength to battle everyday's journey and to win it every night for Him, and with Him.

Today's verse while on my way to office was to be reminded not to have troubled hearts, succeeding words point to believing in Jesus. It has given me the spoken word on the truth that to stay cool, my focus is to always look unto Jesus.

I was glad to have a great Sunday with best friend and the group of YAN. It is good to be surrounded by people of the same faith and passion for Jesus.

27 Jan 2018

For His name's sake.

I am about to share in our bible study later. I am reminded today to take my place of humility before Him because all glory and honor and praise should only be received by Him.

He allowed me to be taken to the depths of despair for I know it was to make me more yielded to Him. To see my weakness and suffering so He would help me and that He would shine in my brokenness.

I am far from perfection but I am up for continuous growth and I always acknowledge that apart from Him, I can do nothing, I am nothing.

26 Jan 2018 The Narrow Road

Today's devotion lead me to the same topic yesterday, but from a different author. The Narrow Road.

Following God means walking the “narrow road.” It means facing adversity
I believe He is leading me to the same Word He wanted me to learn once again. The path to righteousness is a narrow road.

The narrow road of living for God and not conforming to the ways of the world is often lonely. But the trade-off of gaining real intimacy with Christ is worth more than anything you could ever get from the world.

It means denying of self and being able to be Spirit-controlled. Letting go of what's wide and easy and taking the steps to steep and righteous.

25 Jan 2018 My Righteousness

In Psalm 23:3 David said it like this, “He leads me in the paths of righteousness.” The path of righteousness is a narrow, winding trail up a steep hill. 

Today's devotion lead me to Leaving Guilt at Calvary. It was very touching as I have been personally carrying spiritual heavy loads of burden and fears. The path to righteousness is a narrow, winding trail up on steep hill leading to the Cross of Calvary where we can leave our heavy baggage of burdens and fears and receive the comfort of His righteousness and salvation. 

The path to righteousness, to the cross, may be winding and fearful but as what David says:

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. / Ps 23:4

 He is always with us even in the tough and dark times.

24 Jan 2018 Rise Up

I was able to figure out what has caused me distress in the past days and I thank God for the discipline I had to go and going through. It was hard and painful. I was fearful. So I keep on seeking His Word everyday. Making sure I am able to read His promises and focusing my readings on the topics of the bible. I have acknowledge my sins and took on His promises on these verse:

Micah 7:
7
As for me, I look to the Lord for help.
    I wait confidently for God to save me,
    and my God will certainly hear me.
8
Do not gloat over me, my enemies!
    For though I fall, I will rise again.
Though I sit in darkness,
    the Lord will be my light.
9
I will be patient as the Lord punishes me,
    for I have sinned against him.
But after that, he will take up my case
    and give me justice for all I have suffered from my enemies.
The Lord will bring me into the light,
    and I will see his righteousness.


For though I fall, I will rise again. I will be patient as the Lord punishes me for I have sinned against Him. But while I was fearful of the punishment, His very Word has also given me hope:

For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading again to fear [of God’s judgment], but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons [the Spirit producing sonship] by which we [joyfully] cry, “Abba! Father!”
— Romans 8:15








 He is my Father and He is gracious and forgiving. He is patient with me, not wanting me to perish but come to repentance. 

⁷ In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!
— Luke 15:20

Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:9

 

23 Jan 2018 Fighting the Good Fight of Faith

I've been trying to find time to write in the past days, and after finishing task and waiting for another to arrive, I am getting hold of this moment to write.

Sometimes in our lives, we get too caught up with work, daily routines, stress, and needs that we fail to do the important things of guarding our thoughts, minds, actions, and spiritual health. Then we'd realize we've gone too far from taking care of what matters eternally. We forget to read the Word of God. We miss to pray and devote ourselves in the Lord, and the many distractions and sins the enemy wanted to put in our ways. We justify our acts with how sinful human is, that we bear the sinful nature of human (like it's a license to sin), leading us to unknown hurts and aches we can't understand until the Godly sorrow that brings repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10) remind us to come to refocus on Him.

Being a child of God, I firmly believe in His promise that when He says He won't leave us, nor forsake us, He really won't. That when we've been tempted into neglect of important things and our sinful nature, He won't let us get drowned by it. He won't let us fall beyond what we can bear. He will provide a way out. Only we need to acknowledge that we need His power and help. The Holy Spirit will convict us. He will remind us of His love and grace until we see the light once again. Never let your heart be calloused and your hearts be hardened for if we fail to see His move and heed to His voice, it's going to be more painful and devastating.

1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

The verse shares that there are temptations common to mankind, the next verse was important to the succeeding and ending words for it says that God is faithful for He won't let us be tempted beyond what we can and if we are tempted he will provide a way out. I might not be able to know how He will but I know He will. His ways are higher than us.

If we fall into sin:

1. Confess to God
2. Repent
3. Accountability - Be accountable for your actions and find people who can be accountable to you.

If we fall, He will always rescue us.
Isaiah 46:4 - Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

Once we are rescued, restoration shall come when we build our lives to Him.

1. Go and sin no more. Remember His grace and the eternal rewards. The punishment from our sins was paid on the cross with the love, grace and obedience of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. His grace should always hurt our hearts not to be enticed again.
2. Don't blame yourself. If the enemy is putting on shame, God is putting out the shame in us.
3. Guard your hearts and minds through the peace of God.
4. Battle sin with the battle of faith. Wear the full armor of God.
5. Live a life of satisfaction with God. Anchor your thoughts on His Word.

11 Dec 17/ Handling Apologies Even If We Are Not Yet Ready

Sometimes, it puts us in the “wrong” if we tell the apologizer with 'I’m not ready', but when we're hurt and we are not yet ready to accept other people's apology, how do we deal with the pain?

I was afraid that when people apologize, it was to ease them of the burden but that doesn't imply that their behavior is going to change.

It was my thinking that I will only have to accept the apology and move on from it and accept the other person's limitations and probably their ignorance. It was to make them feel forgiven from the things they can't do for you.

I would often say that it was even better not to feel the feeling, and worse, telling them what you felt but I realize that it isn't always learning how to accept apologies but learning to protect ourselves from disappointments, handling disappointments better, surrendering your disappointments.

Here's some key points I learned.

But first, in as much as possible, try not to start a quarrel because 'starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.' ( Proverbs 17:14) but if it happens..


1. It happens.

Disappointment happens when our expectations fail. It occurs to every one and every relationships, but as easy as saying don't expect, our core does, our plans look forward to happening, and we surmise with the words of other people.

Our thoughts must not be 'don't expect' but to put our hopes (and anchor) it with the Lord.

Psalm 130:7...put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.


2. Allow to feel..because we will get exhausted with pretending we're not okay.

“Pain begs to be felt—or life will beg you to feel not one emotion at all. Emotion means movement — and emotions are meant to move you toward God.” ~ The Broken Way


3... but put limitations to your emotions. While we often dwell with pain, we can exert effort to remember all other good. Remembering how much you love the person, all the sacrifices, would help you put limit to the sad situation. Do not allow the situation to destroy relationships.  Try to look forward and think that you will only have to go through it to become better at handling emotions.Your relationship matters more than the faults.

4. Objective contemplating.  It is good to think about what happened in an objective manner (not influenced by personal feelings or opinions in considering and representing facts) so we can weigh things and be better at decision making.

5. Surrender. While it is inevitable, and you can't just ignore your emotions, and so allowing it (with limitations) would help, thinking objectively and ultimately surrendering will make us better at handling disappointment.

Running from it, staying away from it, and giving in it to it are not better options. Instead, cast your burdens and give your anxieties to Him (Ps 55:20. 1 Pet 5:7) because He always care. Come to Him and take rest. Learn His gentle and lowly heart so that our souls will find rest (Matt 11:28).

30 Oct 2017

Four months ago and the year that was, I had a lot of time of time writing and contemplating before the visions came to reality, I got the job I've been praying for after a year and 4 months! The longest period I was jobless. God's provision  was enough, I never thought I'd get to and from Manila with allowances from parents and sales from what I do at home.

So my first day at work was August 7. During my days in July, my going back and forth Manila went almost everyday for interviews, having meetings --even right before my birthday. I feel something's going good is on my way. I had to put an entry to IG that says I could almost feel it. I continued entrusting the Lord for His ways. I won't be able to share how many times I was overwhelmed by graces I receive, blessings I get, support I experience, the love and care I gain.

To top it all, I made peace with old friends I used to pray for redemption with. The learnings were far greater than the answer to my specific prayers. His blessings were far best than what I thought. The surrender means receiving more of what He could give.

It was in September when I graduated from worship team --His grace has sustained me to endure all those days of training. For an icing, I was blessed with what a sign from many years ago. 'Best days all ahead since that June outdoor.  

I make writings as mnemonics, photos as metaphors, words as revolutionary realities.  

To conclude why I wasn't able to write here: within the three months of working, I was busy adjusting, scheduling, making it big without intentions, being invited to president's office, receiving good favors, and working as if I've been working here for years. I write, I research, I make plans, I design, I photograph, I go out of office, I meet people, I teach them. 

I was inspired to write again.

08 Jul 2017

I will tell it here. I sort of stopped reading the bible (not that I fully stopped but yeah rested, which was wrong I know) in the past as I have been receiving His word about love and unity and fighting the good fight of faith and get desperate on His timing. So I allowed myself to some games, I mean all day I'm gaming, until I get to be visited in dreams to continue to love and care for the people hard to love. To be reminded to pray for them even if I cry of pain for justice, bowing to redemption, giving it all for hope.

Other aspects of my life seem pretty okay but this one's like what Paul said of a thorn. Where His grace meets me at my desperation.

Today I seek for His answers and behold, truth between us has been found and His tender love was relayed tonight. Sweet Jesus. He is gracious.