He Stood for Us

“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.” (Isaiah 53:3-4)

When I read about this, I imagined the scenes from the movie, Passion of the Christ. The suffering Jesus got before he was crucified at the cross. And every time I watched that movie, I always cry because I felt guilty of all my sins and start telling myself it should have been me but He did it all...for the good of mankind.

What He has done to wipe our sins clean is just like getting our colon cleanse from toxins that we have eaten by our selfish desire. We did many bad things but He was the one who paid for it with His very own LIFE.

I am not a perfect person but I also hope to be a better one for Him, for my family, my friends and to those I do not know.

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Jewelries

Image Courtesy of BellaTrue.com

Jewelry is one of the things a woman could hope for, especially gold embedded with precious stones. Well, I am a woman and I do love receiving jewelries (if there is someone who is willing to give) but I don’t buy that often. And if I decide to buy one, it’s definitely a silver jewelry! I like the way it matches all the colors of the dresses I used and it can be used both in formal and casual occasions. I find it elegant and fashionable too!

Silver is also mentioned in the Bible several times. It has value in olden and modern times, just like gold.

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Baby Boy Asked

Just yesterday, I have shared to you about the story of a blind girl who asked the sales man if he was Jesus. Today at our Sunday Service, my son was asking what the guest Pastor was talking about. So I replied to him that he was talking about the instruction God wants us to follow. Then a little later, maybe he was really thinking hard. He came up with another question. He asked, Mommy is he Jesus?

So I smiled and said no dear. He is a pastor and he is here to teach us about God’s word. Then my boy went his way back with the children. Well, I guess my son was so curious who’s the new person preaching in front. Since he was a guest Pastor, I think he didn’t recognize who he was but the fact is. He was curious about Jesus and who he really was. That is a good thing!

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Speaking of Summer

Summer is officially here. School is closed and the heat can be felt from morning and even during the evenings. Most families are already planning where to spend their summer vacations. Some have already planned their destinations while others, like us, are contemplating where to go.

Image Courtesy of GoIloilo.com

Anyway, my husband told me he wanted to visit Mambukal Mountain Resort again. Since he opened it up, I readily agreed that it would be a great idea especially the summer’s heat is burning us even we stayed inside our house. Going to Mambukal would be much lesser than spending dollars on some Vegas vacations. But to be honest, if we do have the money, why not right? As for now, what we can afford is the only thing that matters and the happiness it would bring the children!

So, have you already decided where to go this summer?

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Are You Jesus?

A beautiful story that can help us realize if we are truly living as Christians.

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A few years ago a group of salesmen went to a regional sales convention in Chicago. They had assured their wives that they would be home in plenty of
time for Friday night dinner.

Running through the airport with their briefcases in hand, one of these salesmen inadvertently knocked over a table which held a display of apples.

Apples flew everywhere. Without stopping or looking back, they all managed to barely reach the plane just in time for the final boarding call.

All but one.

He paused, took a deep breath, got in touch with his feelings, and experienced a twinge of compassion for the girl whose apple stand had been overturned.

He told his buddies to go on without him, waved good-bye, told one of them to call his wife when they arrived home and explain his taking a later flight. Then he returned to the terminal where the apples were all over the terminal floor.

He was glad he did.

The 16-year-old girl was totally blind.

She was softly crying, tears running down her cheeks in frustration, and at the same time helplessly groping for her spilled produce as the crowd swirled about her--no one stopping and no one to care for her plight.

The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them back on the table and helped organize her display. As he did this, he noticed that many of them had become battered and bruised; these he set aside in another basket.

When he had finished, he pulled out his wallet and said, "Here, please take this $40 for the damage we did. Are you okay?"

She nodded through her tears.

He continued on, "I hope we didn't spoil your day too badly."

As the salesman started to walk away, the bewildered blind girl called out to him, "Mister..."

He paused and turned to look back into those blind eyes.

She continued, "Are you Jesus?"

He stopped in mid-stride. Then slowly he made his way to catch the later flight with that question burning and bouncing about in his soul: "Are you Jesus?"

Do people mistake you for Jesus? That's our destiny, is it not? To be so much like Jesus that people cannot tell the difference as we live and interact with a world that is blind to His love, life and grace.

If we claim to know Him, we should live, walk and act as He would.

Knowing Him is more than simply quoting Scripture and going to church. It's actually living the Word as life unfolds day to day.

You are the apple of His eye even though we, too, have been bruised by a fall.

He stopped what He was doing and picked up you and me on a hill called Calvary and paid in full for our damaged fruit.

--author unknown

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Safety and Security

Since we will be transferring next month (to a house yet to be found), I am wondering if the neighborhood will be safe for the children and our things. There are some neighborhoods that are infested with many thieves. They steal your clothes when you hang them dry or go into your homes when you are sound asleep and still your bags and wallets.


Well, since we belonged to the third world countries, wireless security systems and other security measures are not widely used in homes. Only rich people can afford to have them installed. The safest way to prevent from other people stealing your things is to live in an area with high morality and education. And that only means, you need to rent a place higher than the usual rate. The ambiance of the neighborhood is sometimes proportionate to the people around them.

I hope God will guide us to a perfect place to rent.

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Hoping, Not Counting

I know it’s not good to count the chicks if the eggs haven’t hatched yet. But I am really hoping that this coming April 2009, my husband will fulfill his promise to buy new appliances for our new home. We are planning to buy a new refrigerator, gas stove and a dining set. I am not sure the blessing will be enough to cover all that I have mentioned but I hope we can buy some video and audio racks. Some of our appliances need to be organized once we will have a living room to attend to.

Anyway, if it won’t fit, I don’t mind having a spacious house for awhile. I guess we need to prioritize other things too especially the baby is arriving soon!

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When You Thougt I Wasn't Looking

Another inspirational article from AllWorship.com:

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I heard you say a prayer, and I knew there is a God I could always talk to and I learned to trust in God.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing and I learned that those who have something should give to those who don't.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't feel good and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw tears come from your eyes and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw that you cared and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I looked at you and wanted to say, 'Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking.'

Little eyes see a lot.

Each of us--parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher or friend--influence the life of a child.

How will you touch the life of someone today?

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Sometimes I really felt guilty if I am not watching how I act in front of my children. I might have influenced them the other way around. :(

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Birthdays and More Birthdays!

My daughter has just finished celebrating her 9th birthday. The next birthday in line for the family is me and that would be in four months time. Well, I don’t mind about celebrating my birthday. I am just fine with the fact if they would remember me.

Anyway, since I am pregnant right now, I am already pondering on any 1st birthday party ideas. That would be another adventure for my children. Oh well, since that would be next year, I would have plenty of time to gather ideas. But for now, I am wondering if I have a girl or a boy, then we will go from there.

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Need to Organize

It’s been awhile since I have updated here. I have been busy with all the travels and my daughter's birthday. Now that all is finished, I find myself pondering on what had happened to this blog. Yes, I have been posting several updates and personal thoughts here but I haven’t written anything related to my faith or my long lost loved ministry for the children.

Oh well, I guess my busyness is not an excuse but I have to work extra harder to maintain and update my blogs. Having all these blogs is also having a great responsibility. Not only for my reader’s sake but also to myself. I know blogging is not only keeping memories but also for a greener pasture as a stay at home mom. With that comes the responsibility to provide useful information that can help others too.

I will not make any promises but I will start organizing my blogs, write informative and useful posts and also update them every week. I guess now would be the time to use my organizer to jot down my schedules.

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What is Quite Time?

I am a newsletter subscriber of AllWorship.com. Here is the latest one they sent me and its written by Ron Luce. I really liked the topic that is why I am sharing it here.

"A quiet time is an intimate, face-to-face, heart-to-heart connection with God through His Son, Jesus Christ. It's the time when you actually build your relationship with Jesus. Specifically, it is a time for you to get up every day and read the Bible and pray and get closer to Him.

A lot of people say to think to themselves: "I prayed a prayer, but I don't feel closer to God; or I felt really close to God when I was at that retreat or camp, but now I don't feel very close to Him."

You're not going to feel close to anybody if you're not spending time with them.

If you were married and didn't spend time with your spouse, the two of you would not grow any closer. Actually, you would move farther and farther apart.

A quiet time is an expression of your commitment to be a true follower of Christ. It's as if you're saying, "Lord, I'm going to make sure that I don't accidentally get farther and farther away from You. In fact, I'm going to use this time to get closer and closer to You.

I'm going to use it as a time to get fed by You and to get filled up with You and to understand more of You." Before you do anything else, start your day with God. Talk to Him, seek Him in His Word and pray through your day. Make it your top priority.

Maybe you've never had a quiet time with God before. Start thinking about what kind of quiet time you want to have and where you want to have it. Think about what time you need to get up in order to have enough time to read your Bible and pray before you start your day with the world.

Your personal relationship with God is the dynamite that it will take to affect this generation. You will begin to spread the gospel as your character becomes like Christ. This transformation process can only happen
in direct relationship with Christ.

The more we know Jesus, and look like Him, the easier it will be to lead people to him."

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My Son's Favorite Toys

My son is very fond of playing games with his toy guns. He has three of them no including the water guns he has. Aside from that, he loves watching military related movies and wishes to be one someday. Some people think that tolerating him makes him a violent child but for me, I don’t want to think of it that way. I guess he just identifies himself as a man if he plays such toys. I believe proper parenting and good long talks can still guide him accordingly together with God’s help.

Anyway, to make him open up to many possibilities, I also tried encouraging him to play with his remote controlled cars. I also showed him some pictures of Carrera slot cars. These cute little cars that mimic the elegant and original ones are really nice looking. They perfectly fit my boy’s hands and even the big boys are fond of these little ones. He showed a little interest though but somehow I wished he would continue to explore many toys aside from his favorites.

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Cleaning and Health

It’s been awhile since I have done some major cleaning at our room. My pregnancy has prevented me from doing heavy tasks. For the past few weeks, I was in bed most of the time because of the health problems I am having.

Anyway, since my health is improving now, I am planning to do some major cleaning but first I need to buy some disposable gloves. Since I am pregnant, I have to protect my skin. Chemicals can seep into your skin pores and may affect the baby inside me. Some of you may think I am over reacting but honestly, the fact that chemicals can really get into the system is very much real and can damage our liver and in my case, probably my baby too.

But if I were not pregnant, I might not be wearing any disposable gloves. I want to feel what I am cleaning with my own fingers. I like doing things as manual as possible.
How about you?

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Our Phillippines

This is an interesting survey from DNEERO.

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My Hubby Left for Manila

My husband just left for Manila today. Their company is having an anniversary celebration. He was able to go since he won the male part of the love duet contest. And tomorrow, would be the day he will sing together with his partner against other contestant too.

At first, I really didn’t want for him to take part of the contest since before I detested him singing with some other girl but since we needed the money, I consented against my will.

Anyway, when he left, I just told him to have fun and don’t forget to bring me some custom promotional products that their company might be giving away. I have seen the t-shirts they gave him before he left for Manila. So probably they might be giving some anniversary souvenirs. At least I have something to fondle when he returns.

As for them winning, I hope they’ll get the grand prize but I am already satisfied if they go through the contest successfully. All I want to see is my husband back with us on Saturday, safe and sound – unblemished too!

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