a prayer request

My friend Heather requested this for her friend Kate over at A Brain Tumor Story.

Kate is having another brain surgery today at 11 am to remove the right front lobe of her brain. I want to have people praying for her and her surgical team during that time, but also praying for her husband and her little boys. Her mom is taking care of the boys while she recovers, so she needs our prayers too.

Also, I would like to spread the word today. If you feel so led, will you make a post about it on your blog.

She has graciously put a list of specific prayer requests on her blog for every individual in her family.

Thank you.

for things we can't control...

We had a dinner meeting last night with our agent. He relayed how bad his days had been these past few days. And how he wanted to end the problem that he wanted the next day not to break anymore. That tomorrow never comes.

With all his might he wanted to solve the problem but he just can’t. There are no visible solutions so far despite his efforts. And he feels so ashamed. This shame is consuming him. I told him, there are really things we just can not solve and face on our own. There are really times when our efforts and knowledge just won’t suffice. These are the times when we just have to pause and trust HIM. I told him that tomorrow is gonna be a brand new day; that even if there seems to be no solution to the problem, there really are solutions. We just have to trust HIM and wait. Patiently.

But he said he’s not a Christian and that he has no GOD so he only has himself and no one else.

He said He wanted to end things. He made sounds of bombs. And said that with it, problem ends.

How very sad is it for people who do not acknowledge that GOD exists? How very sad is it for people to only trust on their own knowledge and capabilities and give up when things are beyond their control, when it’s a shame not to meet other people’s standards, when the pain is too much to bear?

The pain. The burden. When these are too much to handle, we can let go of them. The reason why they are breaking us up is that we do not give them up to The One who is in control. We hold them dear until they consume our being.

Ain’t it wonderful to know that Someone stands still when all else has fallen? He is the pilot, the driver. He is in control. He knows exactly which way to go. We are merely passengers. We can only take the ride and see as far as our eyes can see. Beyond that, are surprises. When we can not see, we just have to trust. Why not?

random thoughts

(1) There’s a difference between struggling to do right and automatically (yes, without pondering) doing wrong (as if it is what is right). Just like giving up without even (or thinking of) giving a try?

(2) We sin by doing something and yet still sin by not doing something (when it is called for). This is called the sin of commission and omission.

(3) The world changes its norms and standards. Yet the truth remains the truth, though its popularity fades (and gets overwritten) with time.

(4) Happiness isn’t directly proportional to righteousness. I can be happy and/or cause someone to be happy (and seem not to hurt anyone) by doing something stupid.

explaining those tears

The sight of Christmas decorations at the church brought joy to my heart. It’s Christmas. So soon. Everyone were in their most cheerful faces.

We were starting the Service by singing “Hark The Herald” followed by “The First Noel“, both in Japanese version.

“Noel Noel born is the King of Israel….“

Tears came running down my cheeks. The hurt. The pain. It’s all coming back. The song. It reminded me of how we attended Dawn Holy Masses (every year) days before the breaking of the 25th of December, together, as a family; of how we sat beside each other singing praises and saying our prayers. This reminded me of us. And it hurts. Still. Because, now, the “us” is incomplete, because he’s missing. My dad. And no matter how hard i divert my attention to some relieving thoughts, there was no escape.

So, I let my heart’s sweat (tears) out, tried my best not to create any noise.

The song. The sound of it brings joy. Yet it shatters my heart.

God… it ain’t gonna be the same.

how to spell Christmas?

My heart bleeds everytime I see this written "Xmas" to denote Christmas. The reason? The most important word inside the word is being replaced with an X. Don't you think it's unfair to the person Himself?

Would it be ok for you to have your name replaced with an X or any letter (that sounds like a good replacement for the lost word/name)? Say for example, Rose's Birthday = X's Birthday. Isn't it weird? It's like you don't know the person. It's like a birthday of someone unknown.

Admittedly, I also used the shortcut. Quiet often. But since my Algebra teacher pointed this out, I became more careful. X in Algebra usually represents an unknown. And replacing "Christ" with an "X" makes Him Someone unknown.

Indeed. And even if you don't know Algebra, you would know that replacing your name with a letter that sounds like it would make you appear someone the other person does not know.

Why have a (grand) celebration for someone you don't know (at least by name)?

who is the Messiah?

Sometimes, I wonder who he thinks the Messiah is, Jesus or me.*

for the sake of those who desired to understand this entry but just couldn't coz i originally posted in my dialect, here's the english version. my dialect version, deleted.

This is so true. Sometimes a boyfriend or girlfriend becomes the Lord to some. That's why those who don't usually go to places of worship start to go with their partner when they start to get into a relationship. If the partner doesn't go, the one who doesn't normally go, doesn't also go. If the relationship ends, going to places of worship also stops.

*taken from the book "Boundaries Before Marriage"

the art of saving

Never spend beyond what you earn. This is my golden rule when it comes to money.

Our Math teachers taught us a lot of complicated formulas to solve complicated problems. Yet, they never taught us that what works wonders to financial stability is simply subtraction.
Savings = Income - Expenses

Sure we all know how to subtract. It's way too simple that we tend to ignore its relationship to our financial world.