If It Is Not Happy, It Is Not The End

As I was watching a graduation speech by Steve Jobs, I realized things in my life.

 

Connectedness is what we both share.

 

We both have faith in the links between all things. We believe there are few coincidences and that almost every event has a reason. Eventually I realized, I want to help others find meaning in the uncertainties and turbulence in their life. I want to help others find hope.

 

That he too had the same struggle and storm that I had.

 

We both were fired from the company that we owned. But that did not stop him from still continuing his passion. And that is the very same thing that is happening to me. The love and the loss that entered in my life right now is what keeps me going and burning. I will still create. I will create. And I will continue to create no matter what. As I am also an Activator. That part of me being an activator that can make things happen by turning thoughts into action. Put plans in motion. Make decision happen.

 

Eventually, Steve Jobs talked about death.

 

The very same situation that I am walking in day by day. The thought of everyone will die. It’s just that all have their own type of event on how they will die. I know one of my many ways that I might die, but that won’t stop me from living, appreciating life more and more every day. Doing my best to leave a legacy once the time, and I know it will come, that I am no longer here on the face of the earth.

 

But what inspires me and drives me is that amidst death, I know I was able to bless lives. I was able to live. And only not for myself, but for the reason that I also gave life to others. To inspire them, to touch their hearts, to move their soul. For my life will never be a waste, just the thought of even to touch just one soul, that is enough, that matters.

 

Stay hungry and stay foolish.

 

These are the words Steve Jobs quoted written at the farewell print from a publishing company that he read back then. I never understood the meaning of this until now. And more than understanding, I am able to appreciate it now more than ever.

 

Stay hungry. Stay foolish. Continue to learn. Never stop learning. Life is a life-long lesson. Teaching you every day and every moment of your life. Never stop and never settle. And as a Learner, I continue to have a great desire to learn and the want to continuously improve. In particular, I excite myself in the process of learning, rather than the outcome. Because in the end, what matters was the journey.

 

We all know the ending, it may be good and it may be bad. But the most important part is the story, the struggle, the battle, the journey, the ups and downs of your life, because in those stories, you will be able to inspire others who are facing the same struggles you went thru, and give a sneak peek and preview on whatever pain others may be facing in the future. But the thing that you are able to touch their lives with your journey, that matters. That would make a difference. And as long as you feel and sense that your story is still giving you bad scenarios, harsh scripts, and depressing situations, don’t be discouraged. For the Lord has greater plans for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

 

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

– Jeremiah 29: 11

 

We all are promised with a happy ending. If it is not yet happy, then it is not yet the end.

 

+ Lord, God, thank You for all the events that happened in my life.

Thank You for preparing me for today as You have been continuously moving in my life since the very first day I was conceived. That You for all the life experiences that I went through. I may not understand them before, but now Your glorious plans are unfolding. I may not understand things now, but I know Lord, You are preparing me for far greater things than I can imagine. Lord, use me, use my skills and talents, life and loss, my smiles and tears to touch others’ lives. Use all of me oh Lord as Your instrument to draw more souls closer to You Lord. Just like Jesus, Your Son, who brought us all closer to You oh Lord. I want to be like Jesus oh Lord, I want to be Jesus to others, Lord. Help me Lord. I know I am weak and I can’t do this alone. Be my strength, be my guide. Lord, I surrender everything to You oh Lord. To fulfill Your promises and plans for me oh Lord. 

This all I ask, in Jesus name. 

Amen.

 

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Do It, Just Do It, Do It Anyway

Lately I have been struggling with anger in my heart.  Why? Because I have been wronged. How? I was misunderstood. With what?  My act of love was interpreted as an act of selfish motives and disregard to others. I was thought and seen by others as unhelpful and unappreciative, yet all I know is I have been doing things for them all out of love. And what is worse is that somehow, I am sensing that all these acts that I am doing are being taken for granted, but when at times that they are demanding some things and acts from me, they point out that I am falling short and always never meet their expectations.

 

Has this situation ever occurred in your life? Have you experienced being hurt by the ones dear to your heart? Have you ever been misunderstood even though all your intentions were pure and all out of love?

 

Did you feel the pain? Did it hurt badly? As if you just want to open your chest and crush your heart and squeeze out the pain that you are feeling so you can be spared of the hurt.

 

As the song Photograph of Ed Sheeran says,

 

Loving can hurt

Loving can hurt sometimes

But it’s the only thing that I know

When it gets hard

You know it can get hard sometimes

It is the only thing that makes us feel alive

 

Yes, loving can hurt. It hurts. But as human and children of God, we are born to love. We are made out of love and we are here because of love.

 

We love, because He first loved us.

– 1 John 4:19

 

Our Lord is our source of eternal love, and from Him, love will never run dry. All you need is accept Him and acknowledge Him that He loves you so much.

 

And yes, there will be times that loving can be really hard. And remember that when that time comes, just love, continue to love and remember how Christ loved us. It was hard to suffer the agony of being crucified, yet He went through all of it, fully accepted it for He love us and He wants us to experience His love. And with that love, we are made alive again. And just like in our life, you will feel in you that when you choose to love, you will feel this jump of joy within you, telling you that it is okay and that you feel alive.

 

And as the song Photograph plays, it also says,

 

Loving can heal

Loving can mend your soul

And it’s the only thing that I know (know)

I swear it will get easier

Remember that with every piece of you

And it’s the only thing we take with us when we die

 

It is mentioned in the song that loving can heal. It heals. Just like how God gave His Only Son for all of us to be saved.

 

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

-John 3:16

 

He wanted to heal our dying souls. Love can mend your soul, just continue to love, and eventually all the holes and scars within your heart will be mended by His eternal love. Because once you are filled with His love, there is no other way but to give it to others because as our Father in Heaven fills us up with His love, we overflow and the only thing we can do is to share.

 

And it is true as the song even swears that it will get easier, why? Because as you practice love more and more, there will only be love flowing through you. And as you move and live in love, every part of you, everything that you will do, will be brought about by love. And it is the only thing that we take when we die. Love that will be passed through generations and will give life to others. And only God knows that in your heart, all that you did was brought about by love.

 

Let me end this sharing with a poem from Mother Teresa’s wall entitled “Do It Anyway”. This was found written on the wall in Mother Teresa’s home for children in Calcutta.

 

Do It Anyway

 

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.

Forgive them anyway.

 

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.

Be kind anyway.

 

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.

Succeed anyway.

 

If you are honest and sincere, people may deceive you.

Be honest and sincere anyway.

 

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.

Create anyway.

 

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.

Be happy anyway.

 

The good you do today, will often be forgotten. 

Do good anyway.

 

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. 

Give your best anyway.

 

In the final analysis, it is between you and God. 

It was never between you and them anyway.

 

+ Lord God, thank You for loving me amidst my imperfections, amidst my downfalls and shortcomings. I know I have wronged You for a lot of times, yet You are forever faithful on loving me and giving me grace. Lord, teach me to become Jesus to others as well. Help me in loving them amidst all. To be like You Jesus is what my heart desires. Teach my heart to love anyway, despite of all the harsh moments here on earth. Let Your love be my strength, and let You be my source of love so I wouldn’t run dry as I continuously share and flow Your love to others.

This I ask, in Jesus name.

Amen.

 

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A New Look On Love Me Like You Do

The music starts playing…

 

You’re the light, you’re the night

You’re the color of my blood

You’re the cure, you’re the pain

You’re the only thing I wanna touch

Never knew that it could mean so much, so much

 

(cut to Chorus)

 

Love me like you do, love me like you do

Love me like you do, love me like you do

Touch me like you do, touch me like you do

What are you waiting for?

 

(music fades in the background as I start to think deeper)

 

Then it crossed my mind, not the usual interpretation of this song, not the usual understanding of this movie soundtrack. Let me share to you my new and enlightened perspective of the song Love Me Like You Do by Ellie Goulding.

 

What I realized was that this song may be sung in a manner as if you are conversing with our Lord, our Loving Heavenly Father. And at the same time, Him responding to us. Here is how, let me detail the lyrics to you, then you decide.

 

You’re the light, you’re the night

God created the light, as well as the night.

 

You’re the color of my blood

We are created in the image and likeness of God.

 

You’re the cure, you’re the pain

For Him, nothing is impossible, He is the cure of all unnecessary pain in life, Yet He is also the source of necessary pain that we need to go through in life for us to be transformed into a better individual.

 

You’re the only thing I wanna touch

This can be restated as “only One I wanna touch”. Imagine a person reaching out to his Savior. Just by touching even the very tip of His clothes, you are already Saved.

 

Never knew that it could mean so much, so much

Before, you never knew that His love is all that You need yet upon knowing and accepting His love, you finally realize that it means so much, so much.

 

You’re the fear, I don’t care

Cause I’ve never been so high

This one may speak of our Fear of the Lord, yet we don’t care much of this fear for the reason that we also know that our Father is also a Loving Father and that through His love, you are lifted high and you will never be so high, only in His love.

 

Follow me to the dark

Here, mentioning that God follows us wherever we are and He never leaves our side, even when we are going through tough and dark times of our life.

 

Let me take you past our satellites

You can see the world you brought to life, to life

This part is like showing that God created the whole universe that He can see all, beyond the universe, past the satellites or moons, the whole world, our world that He brought to life.

 

So love me like you do, love me like you do

Love me like you do, love me like you do

In here, this is like a prayer and a reminder that we should love ourselves just like how God loves us. That we shouldn’t be affected about what others think about us, because what matters is what God thinks of us. And He thinks of us as His children and He loves us so much, so we should remind ourselves to love ourselves always through His eyes.

 

Touch me like you do, touch me like you do

Here, it is a prayer of acceptance and surrendering to Him and allowing Him to touch our lives and move our lives like what He really plans to, for His plans are even greater than our heart’s desire. He plans to prosper us.

 

What are you waiting for?

This is a question may be seen as asking God, what is He waiting for? Yet more likely it is a question to be asked within ourselves, what are we waiting for? Because our whole life He is ever waiting for us, waiting for us to accept Him and allow Him to love us, yet we are always running away from Him, and sometimes, just staring blankly at Him, or just standing there doing nothing. Ask yourself, what are you waiting for? All you need is to take the step towards Him, and accept Him.

 

Fading in, fading out

On the edge of paradise

This may be seen as our constant failure. Our continuous fading in and fading out of His love because we sin, yet even though we sin, He still offers us his paradise. It is just us that we fade in and fade out from His love, but still He continuously loves and blesses us.

 

Every inch of your skin is a holy grail I’ve got to find

The holy grail is seen in history as the one that will provide eternal life. And only in Him that we will have eternal life.

 

Only you can set my heart on fire, on fire

He is the one that sets the fire in our hearts, the one that sets the fire down in our soul, a fire that we can’t contain and can’t control, which you can only achieve if you want more of our God.

 

Yeah, I’ll let you set the pace

Cause I’m not thinking straight

My head spinning around I can’t see clear no more

These statements pertain to full surrender to God, allowing Him to set your life’s pace. He is already in control of your life because you already acknowledge that you need Him because you realized that you are no longer thinking straight and your head is spinning because you can’t see clearly anymore. You allow Him to take over.

 

What are you waiting for?

Yet again, the question is asked, what are you waiting for? But now you already know the answer. All you need to do is trust Him and let him reign over you through life’s calm and through life’s storm. And in His never failing love, He works everything for good, all you need is trust Him.

 

And then the chorus and bridge are repeated, signifying that still life is a journey and we may face trials and difficulties that our faith may falter, but all we need is to pray again and again, ask for forgiveness and remind yourself of His love repeatedly and how much He cares for you and love you.

 

We love, because He first loved us.

– 1 John 4:19

 

Now play the song and decide and feel the love of our Lord, now that you are aware of a new look on Love Me Like You Do.

 

+ Lord God, thank You for this life that You have given me. Thank You for all of the wonderful blessings You have showered upon me. Sorry if at times I take
them for granted, I fall short and run away from You. But amidst everything
that I have done, You remain faithful to me and You continuously love me. Lord,
remind me of Your love for me. Make me love my self the way You love me. Let me
see myself through Your eyes and how loved I am by You. Let me realize how much
You love me. Clear my heart of all the marks that others have given me and that
I have placed importance to them. Let me remind myself that what matters is what
You think of me and how much You love me.

This I ask, in Jesus name. 

Amen. 

 

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Friends Are The Family That You Choose

And the radio started playing… 

 

It’s been a long day without you, my friend

And I’ll tell you all about it when I see you again

We’ve come a long way from where we began

Oh, I’ll tell you all about it when I see you again

When I see you again

 

One of the most popular songs that talks about friendship. Friendship that turned into a familial love. Yes. There are situations when your friends are so dear to you that eventually you consider them part of your family. And eventually accept them as your family. As the saying goes,

 

“Friends are the Family that you choose.”

 

That is true in life, because in your lifetime, there are a lot of people that would come and go. But the people that you would allow to stay are the people that you chose to stay. They are the ones that you chose to be with you. And even if you are looking at it in your own perspective that you want to go through life with them through thick and thin, the same goes within their minds and hearts that they would also want you to stay in theirs. It is just a matter of decision whom you would do it for.

 

And in life, not all can be friends, not all will stay friends, and not all will be there for you and love you and accept you. True friends are those who know all your flaws and yet love you just the way you are. They are also the ones that inspire you to become a better person and grow, yet does not dictate or force you to become a different person aside from who you really are. The one that who will catch your heart in a snap and give out their hearts as well because they know and both of you know that you are interconnected through a special bond that surpasses even the word “friends”. The one that will be with you throughout your life, you may be separated by physical distance, but you know in your hearts that you are together and that you will journey life till the very end. Because both your hearts know that you are family.

 

How can we not talk about family when family’s all that we got?

Everything I went through you were standing there by my side

And now you gon’ be with me for the last ride

 

It’s been a long day without you, my friend

And I’ll tell you all about it when I see you again

We’ve come a long way from where we began

Oh, I’ll tell you all about it when I see you again

When I see you again

 

instrumental sounds starting to fade….

Radio song ends…

 

What is really fascinating in life is that aside from the friends that we choose to be family, we have a Friend that has always been there standing by our side, looking out for us, protecting us and just waiting for us to accept Him because long way before we ever existed here on earth, He already loved us. He is the type of Friend that when your strength starts failing, He is lifts you up and carry you by His arms. And before we even do anything good for Him, He has already done countless of goodness in our life. And when the time comes that you think you can say the words that you would die for a friend because he or she is already family, He has already died for all of us because He greatly love us. He is Jesus and He can also be your best friend if you would just allow Him to. He is the most loving best friend you will ever have because His love is unfailing and unchanging. All you have to do is accept Him into your life. Because before you have done anything, He first loved you.

 

We love, because He first loved us.

– 1 John 4:19

 

+ Jesus, thank you for always being there for me. Thank you for being the best
friend that I have dreamt of ever since I have realized that I needed a friend
that would travel with me in my journey in my life. Thank you for giving me my
best friends here on earth and for allowing them to become my family as well.
Thank you for your overflowing love for me and for showering it to me through
them, but at the same time never leaving my side because you are also my best
friend. The one that I can run to, the one that I can lean to, the one I can
cry to and also the one whom I can share the joys of life. Thank you Jesus.
Amen.

 

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Tea Time

One thing that tea has taught me is delayed gratification.

 

You patiently wait while the tea sets in. You place the tea in water with hot temperature. At times even pumped with pressure. Until the true flavor comes out. And then you get to enjoy the flavorful drink after all of these processes were done. Delayed Gratification.

 

Just like in life, Delayed Gratification is usually experienced.

 

We are the tea leaves, are always immersed in hot water, hot circumstances that usually makes you mad and crazy. You are even placed under pressure, so much pressure that you are even pumped up and down by certain situations. And as we set ourselves and allow and accept these forces of nature, our true selves emerge and comes out. Showing how flavorful and great we are right in the inside.

 

There are times in our lives that we think that we are these useless dried leaves, broken and chopped into pieces.  But what is true is that we are flavorful teas waiting to be sipped and enjoyed. If we allow God to move us and change us into these flavorful drinks, then we can achieve our true purpose and greatness in life and that is to offer a heart-warming drink to others with our overflowing love that we receive from our Father up above. Together with a little life’s honey and sweetness, you can enjoy your life either with milk, or iced and sometimes you can dash it with some gems and pearls.  But amidst all these dashes, additives, what you truly enjoy is really the drink, the tea, the flavor, the essence of it all. And that what matters.

 

As it is said in the Bible,

 

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

-Jeremiah 29 : 11

 

So whenever you are being faced with such adversaries in life, remember that God is moving in your life. Just like the tea being pumped and immersed in hot water, so your true flavor will come out for you to be able to serve our Lord more.

 

+ Lord, thank You for all of the life experience that I went through. Lord, thank You for moving into my life, as I know that these experiences happened for a purpose because You wanted me to grow into a better person that You have planned for me. Lord, thank You for making me the tea as You planned and prepared for, bringing out the flavor within my life. Thank You for the love that You have given me to quench my thirst. Lord, make me an instrument of Your overflowing love so that I can also be a tea of love to others as well.

In Jesus Name. 

Amen.

 

 

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Jelly, Jelly, Jealousy is Eating Me!

 Wobbly, jiggly, shaky, all of which are jelly.

Ang mga salitang maaring masabi mong katunog o kasing kahulugan ng salitang Jelly. Pero ano nga ba ang Jelly para sakin?

 

Mula sa salitang JEALOUSY, ang salitang JELLY ay nai-coconnect buhat ng ilang
katuwaan.

 

“Nagjejelly kana naman!”

Sabi nga ng iyong mapanuksong mga kaibigan. 

 

Nangyari sakin to with a friend. I am actually a jealous friend, it has been my struggle since. Being possessive and somehow overstepping boundaries. As a jealous friend, I know I can be irritable at times. Now this scenario happened after I have tried several years of resolving my jealousy issue.

 

It started about a topic on faith, about a conversation about how good I feel with my faith and belief in Jesus and how He has changed me. But the topic about another person was brought about due to his lack of faith and eventually no longer believing on what I believe in. It did hurt me knowing someone is letting go of Jesus amidst what I know He has done for me. And then another friend started defending the act of the said non-belief. I don’t know, but anger struck me because this person knows how God moved within my life, yet he is defending the other person, and it seems he is siding with him. Then not noticing my jealous heart, I started seeing the situation as they are both against me, but all I wanted to is to let them realize, that Jesus loves them as well. To sum up, we argued about defending another friend’s disbelief, wherein he could defend to the other friend about my belief. Jealousy creeped within my heart unknowingly, despite my good intention of
letting them know that Jesus loves them.

  

“Wrath is fierce and anger is a flood, but who
can stand before jealousy?”

– Proverbs 27:4

           

Upon much reflection and with help from my other friends as well, I examined my conscience.

“What did I experience?”

“Was I being jealous right at that time?”

“Were my actions brought about by love for them or just by mere envy on another friend siding another one against me?”

“Was my jealousy a legitimate one, brought about by love?”

“Or was it an illegitimate one, which is brought about by envy?”

And then it came to me, as if I was splashed with ice cold water, the realization of what happened within me. It takes courage, but I have to admit that I was wrong.

 

I was wrongbecause my anger and jealousy was driven by envy, not by standing up for my faith. Yes, I was driven by envy. Instead of allowing love, humility, and gratefulness destroy jealousy that springs in my heart, I allowed it to cloud my real intention. To love them, to accept them. For love is not selfish, it puts others first. I could have been Jesus to them, instead anger munched sides of my heart and took the best of me at that situation. I could have just opened my arms, hugged them and let them in my life and loved them, just like what Jesus would have done.

 

In the end, I garnered my strength and apologized. I know that I falter at times, struggling to be Jesus to others. And for so many times that I may have felt about giving up on being good, I know that God never gives up on me. So I will keep on trying, on becoming Jesus to other for I know that Jesus lives within me. And I want others know about how Jesus moved me and sustains life within me.

 

­+ Lord God, thank you for not giving up on me at times that I falter. Sorry if I struggle when there are situations that I need to be more like You, Jesus, to other. Grant and bless me strength and wisdom to ease my personal conflicts whenever I am faced with such situations. Fill me with your love so that I can overflow to others.

In Jesus name.

Amen.

 

 

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Is It Too Late To Write My Story

“Happy birthday to you!

Happy Birthday to you!

Happy birthday…Happy birthday…

happy birthday to yooouuuu!!”

Sambit ng mga kakilala ko, mga kaibigan ko, mga kamag-anak ko. Pero para sa akin, it is another year that has passed, pero parang walang pagbabago. Isang taon na naman ang nakalipas at isang taon na naman ang bubunuin ko at malapit na akong mawala sa kalendaryo, pero ang mga pangarap ko ay hndi ko pa din natutupad.

While searching online, I stumbled upon this song lyric,

“Is it too late to say I’m sorry now wooohhoooo woohhoooo”.

Pero iba ang lyrics na tumakbo sa isip ko, na alam kong sinisigaw ng puso ko.

“Is it too late to write my story now wooohhhoo wooohhoooo”

Joke time sya, pero malalim ang tusok nito sa akin. Gusto kong sumulat ng panibagong ako, gusto kong simulan ang istoryang ako naman ang bida. Palagi na lamang iba, ibang tao ang nagpapaandar ng storya ng buhay ko, sa puntong nakakalimutan ko maski ang sarili ko. Nakakalimutan kong mahalin ang sarili ko. Ano nga ba ang gusto ko? Ano nga ba ang simbuyo ng damdamin ko?

Then I searched again, is it really too late to follow my heart’s path, the path I believe could bless more people and at the same time is my passion? If it is my passion, then I know I’m giving love for myself at the same time I’m loving others, pero una ang sariling kong pagmamahal. Sabi nga sa mga quotes,

Choose a job you love,

and you will never have to work a day in your life.

Totoo ito, sapagkat may mga ginagawa na ako sa buhay ko na alam kong yun ang pag-ibig ko. Mga bagay at gawain na alam kong mahal ko. And I know that God did not place all these passion and talents out of nothing, but for me to reach out to others, share it to them and bless them as well. I even have great dreams that I know will bless more people, and I know that God did not put these dreams just for my sake alone, but for me to bless others more. Diba nga, 

When God created you, He didn’t create you just for you.

God designed you to be a blessing to others.

* insert background music *

 

Walang sinuman ang nabubuhay para sa sarili lamang

*instrumental*

You may find it corny, pero siguro at this point of my life, being a blessing to others is a part of what I am in search for. I want to bless others more, I want to bless myself as well. I want to love others and at the same time love myself.

But how can I overflow with love if I am not filled with love? That is why I always remind myself that He has great plans for me and He loves me. And even though my age is increasing and at times I forget to love myself, I know that He has never forgotten me and His love would never falter.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

-Jeremiah 29 :11

 

+

 

+ Lord God, thank You for all the years You have provided me, and for all the years that are yet to come. Thank You for not giving up on me at times I myself was already giving up on myself. Thank You for Your enduring love. And thank You Lord for the dreams that You have planted in my heart, for I believe that these dreams will bless others as well, in time that it is fulfilled.

In Jesus name.

Amen.

 

 

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