Why Should I Love him?

"But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!" - Matthew 5:44

This is the verse that struck my heart today. I am very much in guilt of letting anger stay in my heart and not forgive people who hurt me that easy. 

I experienced persecution before and it made me really down. Yes, we all have our own opinions and I know that we cannot please everybody but why is that it is very hard for me to forgive? When I experienced persecution, I felt really sad and thought of not coming to church anymore and even not serve the Lord anymore. But someone inside me told me, isn't it enough that Jesus paid his life for you? Even Jesus experienced persecution so why surrender that easy? This is just another challenge to face for following Christ.

We can't experience only happiness. We can't choose what will happen next. We can't expect all of the people to understand us. Instead of pushing them away, love them and pray for them as Jesus told us to. Who knows what reward you'll be having for obeying his word! Remember that God is using you. The battle is not yours, it's the Lord's.

Reveal the hidden ability in you

I love how rainy days energize me, I don't know why. Since I have no classes today, no school works,  I spent time surfing the net. I remembered that a friend of mine shared a link where you can edit pictures and even make a collage from different photos. Out of curiosity, I visited this site and started editing our family pictures. At first, I don't know what I want to do with those pictures so I just experimented some effects on it. I applied this effect, and that then walah! It resulted into a good picture.

I discovered another ability, an artistic ability which I wanted to have for a long time. According to research, an average person has 500-700 abilities. Amazed? Now try to list your abilities. There are a lot of it like the ability to sing, dance, walk, drive, fix a car, bake, debate, solve higher mathematical problems in your head, compose, and many more!

Explore things which you haven't done before. Who knows maybe you're the next famous painter or maybe the next Albert Einstein. Only you can discover the hidden talent in you.

Is Beauty Everything in This World?

Have you ever looked at the mirror and tell how ugly you are? Saying "If only I have Angelina Jolie's lips.." or "If only I have straighter hair.." or, "If only I have greater nose.." It's every woman's nightmare, to look ugly.

I saw a commercial from the television telling things what a woman would like to change in her face. It's a very persuasive commercial and I know a lot of woman would like to have that beauty make over. Who doesn't want to be beautiful? Of course all of us does but having a face surgery just to look beautiful? I don't think so. Don't count me in.

Imagine a painter who created his wonderful painting and considering it his masterpiece. For him, it's a very special painting because it's his masterpiece, but for some people it's just a piece of trash. They don't find it good. They don't even think the painter can paint good. What do you think the painter would feel?

Just like people. We always criticize people for what they look like or even what they wear. But have you ever taught what God feels when we criticize people? It's like criticizing Him as well because every single one of us is God's masterpiece. You're not just somebody that your parents made but you are God's masterpiece! So what do you think God feels then if you feel ugly? It's like telling God that He made an ugly masterpiece. Does it make Him feel good? Do you please God with that? NO!

Okay then just a review, what was the reason that God created us people? Is it to live beautifully? Is it to study, work, then die? God created us for His pleasure, to please Him. We don't live for ourselves but we live for God.

Why am I telling this? I just want to let you guys know, not only for the girls, that you are beautiful. You don't have to wear make-up or wear a fancy dress just to look beautiful. Being just yourself is enough. God didn't made an ugly masterpiece. He is perfect, He doesn't make mistakes and He even made us in His own image. How great is that huh? Let us appreciate each other and love each other just as God loved us.

Just to make it clear, I'm not against any beauty product. I'm just stating my opinion.

Cold Summer Days

Looking for a perfect summer tour? I have the perfect place for you! Welcome to the Summer Capital of the Philippines, Baguio. This place is called the "City of Pines" and is known for it's cold climate.

Before entering Baguio City, you will first see this lion at Marcos Highway. Some hotels offer an overnight stay for only 500php. If you have your family with you, I would suggest for you to rent a room. We stayed at Gonzales Inn near teacher's camp and it costed us only 1,500php a day with kitchen and 3 beds.

One of Baguio's greatest spots is Minesview Park. You can buy great things there for a cheap price. It also has a great view as you can see here in the picture.

At Burnham Park, you can have cycling, foot massage, boat rowing, and even taking a nap. Ha ha. Just kidding. It's the best place for you and your kids to have fun.

For souvenirs, you can clothe like the ethnics or dance like them and pay only 10php per head. Not bad.

These are just some of the places we've been in Baguio. I'll post the other spots next time.

My Valentine

Valentine comes,single people worries.

This is the common scenario every time Heart's Day arrives. Have you felt the feeling of craving to be in someone's arms? Or the feeling to love and be loved?

I am still single. I can't hide the fact that I felt the same feeling. I was a bit jealous because a lot of people have their girlfriend/boyfriend to celebrate Valentine's with them. I know that I don't have to rush because God has His own time. To be able to fight this feeling, I prayed to God ,"Jesus, if You really are my boyfriend during my youth, make me feel loved just as what I wanted to feel. Prove to me that You are there and You really treat me as Your girlfriend." 

The month of February comes - the color red is now in fashion, chocolates and sweets are in demand, images of cupid are posted on walls, and hearts are spread all over the world. And now what? What do i do?! Instead of panicking, I prayed again. After I prayed, someone knocked on our door and gave me a Goya dark chocolate bar. What an instant answer from God! On the next day, someone gave me McDonald's Oreo hot fudge sundae and on the next day, a friend of mine bought Cornetto's coffee caramel ice cream. I didn't ask them to give me these things. This is only during the first week of February.

On the second week,my co-dancer gave me another ice cream of Cornetto. Then, I received a Kitkat bar from my classmate. Next, is a Snickers chocolate bar from my church mate. The first two weeks are full of sweets. Jesus did it for me just as a guy would do to her girl. For me, this is enough proof that God really loves me. But there's more....

On the third week, Monday to be exact, is the Valentine's day. I was waiting for God's gift for me that day and surprisingly, my dad arrived with lots of seafood with him. He brought home about 2 kilos of crab, shrimp, oyster, and fish. What a good dinner for heart's day! On the next day, I was able to buy everything I need for myself and after that, my church mates and I had dinner in a restaurant named Chic-boy. It's another blessing from God to spend time with my friends in a cool dinner. What amazed me more is when I received a Nokia 2730 from my aunt in Australia. Just right in time when I needed a new cellphone. I didn't ask for the phone, it just came! What an overwhelming week.

Then the last week of Love month comes. I wonder what God will give to me this week. This is also our finals week in school so I was hoping that God would give me something that will help me in my studies. After a few days I was invited in my classmate's 18th birthday, so I thought to myself that I will be the one to give a gift this week rather than to receive a gift, but it doesn't matter. On the day of my classmate's birthday is also the day that I received the most special gift God gave me this entire month. I was able to win new set of friends that made me really happy that night. In that short time, we already spent moments of laughter and enjoyed each other's companion. It's something money can't buy.

How sweet Jesus is as a boyfriend and how amazing it is to know that He really cares for me. He did not just gave a gift for Valentine's day but He also provided gifts for the whole Love month. My prayer was answered indeed!