CONTENTMENT

Philippians 4:11-13
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

In this current world, contentment seems to be something that rarely exist. Everywhere we go, everywhere we look, it seems that all things around us dictate that we actually need everything in order for us to survive or be accepted by the society. I remember a friend telling me that one time, her 17-year-old daughter named Trisha was browsing Candy magazine. She commented that she feels as if that the teenagers are being dictated to buy all the things that are featured and that teens should look a certain way to fit or be noticed.... Sadly, the world works mightily on making people more focused on temporal and worldly things, the lure brings great amazement on the very people who think highly of themselves as someone important or those who hide behind the the smiles of confidence but quietly cry inside, seeking to be accepted.

I used to be someone who's very conscious about everything that can be seen by the way I dress, the way I speak, the way I will be perceived by people, etc. etc. for I thought that it was something that will help me succeed or rather be accepted in the world where I belonged. I was able to afford everything that I wanted, everything that will help me improve people's perception about me -- branded clothes, accessories, killer shoes, jewelries, anything that will help boost my confidence. My dependence on money increased, the higher the salary, the higher I spent, buying things that I don't even need (of course at that time I was justifying to myself & to others that I actually need it). My career became my idolatry for the monetary reward that it brings... contentment was something that I thought I had, only to realize that in reality it was just a word but never took it by heart.

When the Lord decided to take away the very thing that defined my life, I felt so devastated and lost. I felt I lost everything, the thought of giving up my own life crossed my mind.

I've gone through a lot of really painful experiences in the past years, things that I never imagined that I would have to go through in this lifetime. I came to a point when I doubted God's love for me, but the Lord revealed that He allowed me to go through things that would hurt me the most in order for me to appreciate everything that the He has given and is continuously giving me, for me to realize what contentment by heart means wherever and whatever situation I may be. Now, I can truly say that I learned the secret of being content in any and every situation and that is only through JESUS CHRIST.

I may have lost some things in the past but now with God in my life I gained everything that I would ever need -- true bliss, pure joy, heartfelt peace, unconditional love and real contentment.

Lord, thank you for the fire and faith-strengthening experiences, without it I will not be purified and ready for your will for me. I'm still a work in progress but I will always be humbly ready to take on anything for the praise, honor and glory of God.

GOD'S BEST (MR. RIGHT)

James 4:17

So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.


God’s Best or better known to most people as Mr. Right is often casted in most discussion of most women my age (okay I am already in my mid 30’s…fine 35 to be exact!). Sure, we all (or at least most of us) dream of having a family of our own and a prince charming who would nurture and love us, someone who would give us a promise of F-O-R-E-V-E-R and would remain committed despite and in spite of. Unfortunately, some rush themselves in the dating scene when they see a potential (good looking, successful, confident, etc) who somehow showed some signal saying “hey, I’m available to date”. But the BIG question is…IS HE THE RIGHT GUY TO DATE? Before we rush ourselves to anything, we should always put into serious consideration our present and future compatibility and is he a gift from above? We should always ask these questions before we get stuck to something that will eventually bring us pain.

Dating can be really fun but I think the best way to get to know someone is to be in a comfortable environment of “friends” for a period of time; this would help you both to get to know his true self when he is with a comfortable company (lets face it, people always put their best foot forward). Try to find your common denominator; do you have the same future dreams? Would he rather live in the city or in the province? Would he rather live in a house or in a building? It is important to talk about this cause even if love conquers all but of course you want to at least lessen possible frustrations that might exist in the future.

One thing that you also have to seriously consider is if you see eye to eye on the issues of faith? You need someone who can share every aspect of your life, someone who can pray with you, commit to you, honor you no matter what and most importantly raise your children for the praise, honor and glory of the Lord, that is the very reason why the Bible warns us in 2 Corinthians 6:14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?

You might think that men might scare away if you ask these tons of questions but remember it’s HOW you ask; you may get to know important infos about the guy that you are checking-out in a very subtle way. You might also think that dating is still far-out from marriage but be wiley as a fox. So, date with caution and seek for GODLY wisdom. Search for someone who has godly character and pray that God would speak to your heart for you to know if he is the one or your life-long God’s Best for he only knows who’s the ONE for you….So what if you’re currently unattached? Smile, don’t rush, keep on praying, be patiently obedient and trust God.

MOM

Deuteronomy 5:16

"Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

Growing up with my mom seems to be very challenging for me, 80 to 90% of my memory about her were those times where I am being physically and verbally abused whenever she’s mad about something that I did. I’m sure mom did a lot of things for me but funny cause the only heartfelt memory I had about her was the time that she fixed the collar of my uniform before I left home for school, I was like in grade 7 or 8 then. I never understood her, all I thought was she was always after me, her love language of discipline bruised my heart and soul more than my physical body, so much that it affected my behavior ‘til I became an adult without me realizing it. I felt unloved and unaccepted by the only mom that I knew.

My life had so much up and downs in search for the love that I thought I never had but when I met God, He revealed to me so much things that I’ve never seen nor realized and one of which was my mom’s love for me and how much I truly, truly love her. Sadly, I realized it in a painful way when time seems to be running out…

I received a news the other night that mom seemed to have lost her appetite and that she has a fever, it honestly brought a lot of fear in me for I am afraid that her cancer might already reached its worst stage. Mom has stage 3 breast cancer, one breast was removed last November 2009 but no further treatment was given to her for we cannot afford the chemo and radiation treatments plus the fact that we are all afraid that she might expire earlier than it should be. It’s been almost 8 months since then and I thank God for His grace that He kept mom alive and strong but in spite of it all I know that fear is just hiding in the core of my heart.

I wrote a letter for mom last night and I intend to give it this weekend, I poured my whole heart into it, for the first time I had to courage to tell her my vulnerability. I asked for forgiveness, for all my shortcomings and disobedience and for the times that I hurt her, I said sorry for not telling her face to face how much I truly love her. I can’t recall if there was a time that I actually told her how thankful I am to her for adopting me, for caring for me, for loving me and for treating me like her own. God made me realized that there may be a lot of unsaid sacrifices and uncried tears but mom chose to just be silent about it. I thank God for opening my eyes to what mom did and continuously doing for me, there may be several irritation and misunderstandings from the past and from time to time but the fact still remain that it all rooted because she loves me.

Lord, please give my mom and me more time to have a godly relationship. I know in the past 8 months I somehow remained to be the person that I was, a little tamed and better but somehow distant out of so much fear, fear of loosing her….Lord, I am deeply sorry!!! Please help me to have the boldness and the courage to show her how much I truly, truly love her, how much I cherish her and how much I truly care for her; Lord, at times that the enemy is trying to tear our relationship apart, please protect us and allow us to see each other through your eyes, let no disrespect exist at all cost no matter how painful it may become, let your love bridge us to have better understanding & compassion, help me not to dishonor my parents even at times of pain. Lord, please, allow our family be reconciled and have the time and opportunity to enjoy each others company as a whole family, worshipping and serving you Lord. Please make our family a living testimony that by your grace all things are possible…Lord, please comfort my heart, please heal my mom completely and please reconcile our family…Lord, I am begging for your mercy and grace, In Jesus name…

Mom, I love you so much and you may not have loved me the way I wanted but my heart knows that you have loved me and continuously loving me the best way you know how and for me that is more than enough.



Note: Please do include my mom (Natividad Marcelo) and our family in your prayer. Thank you and God bless