Remembering the goodtimes!

Lean on ME!

“NO thanks, I’ll get by” my friend said as I offered help. The tone of his voice reminded me of myself not so many years earlier. In the past, I stubbornly refuse when well-meaning people kindly offered to help.

Sometimes we see help as a sign of weakness and asking for help is very uncomfortable and embarrassing. When friends wanted to help, we find it difficult to allow them to do even small favors for us. We protest and complain because we don't want to be a burden to anyone. We try to be independent and show people that we can do it alone. But no matter how independent we might be, painful loss can push us off balance.

Because of our pride, it is very hard to open our empty lives and accept help from others. When we lose control, it is impossible to cope by ourselves. Let’s learn how to receive and acknowledge that we need others.

We should understand that often through these very human sources that God gives us what we secretly long for in our loss. There are times in our lives that we are going to need help from our friends. Friends to lean on in our time of desolation, friends to listen to and to hold us up when the limbs of our daily existence are wobbly and weak.

We all need help, above all, we need the help of our Lord as we go about our daily tasks, especially when we struggle to attend to our responsibilities and still find time for God.

The psalmist wrote, "Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord."
-Psalm 121:1

Life as we know it, accept help from your friends!

Pains & Heartaches!

Be patient if you can, and from sour grapes will come something sweet. - The poet, Rumi

Shall I Continue To Love Her?

Shall I Continue To Love Her?
By Nars

I felt something inside me, the first time I saw her.
When I met her, I knew that another chapter of my life will be written.
I wanted to be with her and love has grown deep.
Unfortunately, she did not feel the same way.

Shall I continue to love her?

I feel something inside me, every time I see her.
When I talked to her, I knew that another story of my life will have a happy ending.
I wanted to be with her and love has grown deeper.
Unfortunately, her feelings never showed.

Shall I continue to love her?

I felt something inside me, the first time I saw her smile.
When I heard her laughed, I knew that it was a music to my ears.
I wanted to be with her and love has grown deepest.
Unfortunately, she did not love the same way.

Shall I continue to love her?

I feel something inside me, every time I see her smile.
When I heard her cry, I knew that I wanted to be her “crying shoulder”.
I wanted to be with her and love has grown deep…deeper…and deepest.
Unfortunately, her love never showed.

Shall I continue to love her?

You are invited!

I HAVE noticed that in the span of six months, I had attended four weddings. Not to mention the invitations I had received for other special occasions.

Invitations are special. This only meant that our company is desired, that we have been asked to share in festivities celebrating an important event in the life of someone we care about, is not a gesture to be taken lightly.

Have you ever noticed the number of invitations found in God's word? The message of the Bible comes down to this, God the Almighty requests the pleasure of our company. In fact, each of us has a standing invitation to come where God is.

Jesus said, "Come to me." -Matthew 11:28

The psalms invite us time and again to come into God's presence with singing and thanksgiving (Psalm 100).

Jesus says, "Come!"

Jesus does not promise us lives without pain and struggle. But He does promise to be a steadfast and loving companion who will stay with us through our trials.

He is a gentle friend.

Some of us have a similar relationship with God. Yes, we are ready to receive God's blessings, but when God calls us to do the work that is ours, we close our hearts.

Why?

Because we are afraid of being asked to do chores we don't like, we try to live at a distance from God, hoping we will not hear when God calls.

God knows where we are. But rather than issuing commands, God invites us to come closer and share in the work of helping others. He is requesting the pleasure of our company.

Life as we know it, let's respond faithfully to God's invitations!

A Single Man's Prayer

A prose, I find so fascinating. To all single men out there. :)

A Single Man's Prayer

God grant me the patience to pass up the women
I may want but should not have --
the courage to meet those
I may not want but should get to know --
and the wisdom to know the difference.

Home

by Brian McKnight

I really love this song. It talks about a person yearning to come back home...into the arms of the Father. At the same time, this song also reminded me of the promise that Jesus made to the apostles. We can imagine how Jesus' followers felt when he ascended into heaven. Their teacher, guide, leader, and comforter. The One for whom they had given up their old lives -- had left them.

But Jesus assured the disciples that he wouldn't leave them orphans but would ask God to send them the Holy Spirit to be with them always. I believe that the same Spirit lives in my heart, too, and gives me the strength to face any sadness, any loss. I know that I don't have to feel alone or abandoned because the Holy Spirit is always with me -- to comfort me, to guide me, and, most of all, to love me.

Throughout my life I have experienced the ebb and flow of faith; yet as I look back, I can see a steady forward movement toward home. One day, we will reach the end of our journey and find a place of rest in God, the origin of our existence.

Life as we know it, is never alone!

Jesus said, "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you."
-John 14:18 (NIV)

Thinking back when we first met

I remember what you said

You said you'd never leave me

I let go of your hand

Built my castle in the sand

But now I'm reachin' out again

And I'm not letting go

Till you

Hold me

Mold me

Sometimes I feel so all alone

See, I gotta find me way back home

So why don't you

Shape me

make me

Wash me whiter than the snow

I gotta find my way

Back home

Master upon my knees I pray

I just want to be the clay

Put your arms around me

Place my life in your hands

Lord, I know I'm just a man

I know you understand

This time I'm not letting go

Till you

Anoint me

Appoint me

Somestimes I feel so alone

See, I gotta find my way back home

So why don't you

Chastise me

Baptize me

Wash me whiter than the snow

I gotta find my way

'Cause I'm lost and alone

I've been wandering

Long enough to know

Humbly I search for you

And I'm not gonna rest

Till you

Choose me

Use me

Sometimes I feel so alone

I'm on my way back home

So why don't you

Direct me

Bless me

Wash me whiter then the snow

I'm on my way

Back home

"I am just passing through"

ANOTHER day is about to end and here I am alone in my room. Reviewing previous text messages I received on my phone. One message that caught my attention was saying, "Pre, salamat. I am moving on now. Thanks for your advise." I suddenly thought of the past events that happened to me.

They say life is a series of unfortunate events. Either it is your destiny or it happened because of what you did. We all experience brokeness. We can listen to some advise and follow but in the end, the final decision is still ours. I realized that these are all just passing through. Events in our life will not stay. [Well, at least for me. :)]

It expressed my understanding that I wouldn't find myself in a challenging circumstance for long. I know that I would eventually get through it and go on to whatever God had in store for me next.

As scripture said, "If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." - Colossians 3:1-2

I have come to know Christ more personally, those words have taken on a new and deeper meaning. I realize suddenly that I'm not going to live on earth forever. I am "just passing through" this life on my way to a greater glory in the next. I have work to do while I'm here, a purpose to pursue in passing; but my sights are set on a world beyond the one where I live now.

Life as we know it, move on! :)