Before I turn 19

June 15, Friday

I went into confession today and I realized that the best way to break free from sin is to confess to God and never commit the same sins again. It may be helpful though to go confess to a priest because he may be God's instrument to let you hear what you need to hear when you're not listening very attentively. 


I felt strange today. I felt my whole body go weak when I knelt to pray. Then I felt better than when I first entered the church.

* * *

What the world needs are not Christians but credible Christians.

What God needs are not resolutions, not promises, not rhetoric but action. 

New Day

June 14, Thursday

God woke me up with forgiveness today!

Blessed

June 13, Wednesday

Today, 

I'm blessed to have been a part of the Kids's party at Lingap in celebration of Ate Jaja's birthday.

I'm blessed to have Mani, Gerald and Eunice as my friends 

who came to Lingap with me.

I'm blessed to have my brothers and sisters in YFC.

I'm blessed to have been drawn closer to God.

I'm simply blessed beyond measure

One Friday afternoon

June 8, Friday


We went up Calvary Hill today - my YFC brothers and sisters and I. I don't know why they decided to go up there. I just went with them anyway. We took pictures. We laughed. We prayed when we reached the top. Now isn't that a nice way of bonding?

We also greeted Sarah a happy birthday while we were at the peak.

It had a great view of the sea and the mountains but it also had a not so great view of Tacloban City especially the squatters' area.

It has the Stations of the Cross which tells of Jesus' story of suffering and it has a huge statue of the Almighty. It looks very nice from afar at night. It can be seen from McDonald's main.

We climbed down and went to Ate Jaja's house. We had a little salo salo for Sarah's birthday. We ate bread and drank softdrinks on the side of the road. Talk about bangaw. YFC nga naman.

Then, we decided to play Mafia. I've heard how fun this game is but I've never actually played it. So we played. But we didn't just play. We played while rolling up and packing the used clothing which Ate Jaja will be giving to the needy. The work did not seem the least bit of a burden because we were always laughing while we played and worked. YFC nga naman. It's more fun in YFC. 

I thought about Jesus

June 7, Thursday

Prayerful

Peaceful

Wise

Humble

Jesus was all these and more -- much more.

He was not annoyed by the many people who followed him around hoping that he would heal them. Instead, he was moved with compassion and made a miracle out of the few loaves of bread and fishes to feed the people. That's not even what he came here for. 

He came to tell us to repent so that we may be saved from sin. But before we believed him, we had to ask so many things from him and watch him die on the cross and rise again.

Indeed, he is gracious like the Father. He forgives. 

We have been cleaned from sin. Forgiven.

The only way we can repay him at the very least is to live like him -- full of love, willing to forgive and do anything to please God.

Holy Trinity Sunday

When you make the sign of the cross what comes to your mind?


When you say "In the name of the Father" think of God who provides you with everything you need; who showers you with countless blessings; who is a father who is always there for you. Be thankful.

When you say "of the Son" think of the man who died on the cross for you to be saved from sin; who sacrificed for you. Learn to love like him.

And when you say "of the Holy Spirit" think of God's continuous guidance in you life. Trust God.

Happy Sunday to you :)

Mark 4

We say we are Christians. We believe in God; we believe in Jesus Christ; we believe in the Holy Spirit; we listen and receive the Word of God. But are we rooted deep enough to bear good fruit?

After church on Sundays, what do you do?

Do you meet up with your friends and gossip? Or do you spend alone time with God, reflect, maybe sing praises to Him and later on tell the world how blessed you were to hear the Gospel? What we do after going to church matters more than whether or not we go to church at all.

“Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? And not be set on a candlestick (Mark 4:21)?” When we receive the Word of God, it is not for us to simply keep. It is for us to share. It is for us to be the candle light and let others see the light; more so, inspire them to be sources of light themselves.

So how do we spread the Word? We receive it, keep it, live it. Walk the talk. That’s how we bear good fruit.

Jesus said, “Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and to you that hear shall more be given. For he that hath, to him shall be given and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath (Mark 4:24-25)”.

I don’t want to live a life that’s far from the teachings of Jesus or not know it at all. That’s a miserable life. In this busy life, it is a challenge to find time to read the Bible, reflect and write about it. But I don’t want to be a seed that thrives “among thorns; such as hear the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word and it becometh unfruitful (Mark 4:19).” So I try to find time. The problem is that, sometimes, we forget what we’ve read which is why I think it’s best that we read and reread the Bible until we know it by heart and until we have shared it with others.