June 28

It's my birthday today and I would like to thank the Lord for His unfailing love and for the people who love me.

Thank you Lord for:

Alo, Kelvin and Ian for always being there for me no matter what

Mommy for being what a Lola should be to me and Ronjay for the respect which I appreciate very much

Ate Ofel and her family for making me feel special always

Bebitoy for simply being the child who bring wonderful color to our lives

Tita Elvie and family for loving and accepting me as a member of their family

Nanay Lina and family for treating me like one of their own

Ate Etey, Paulo, JC, Joan and Kuya Jojo for the respect, it means a lot to me!

and for Ryan - who until now never gave up on me

Just knowing these people love me for what I am makes me feel I always have a home.

Thank you, God, for giving me another year of life.

Thank you for all the experience of this past year;

for times of success which will always be happy memories,

for times of failure which reminded me of my own weakness and of my need for you,

for times of joy when the sun was shining,

for times of sadness which drove me to you.

Forgive me

for the hours I've wasted,

for the chances I failed to take,

for the opportunities I missed this past year.

Help me in the days ahead to make this the best year yet,

and through it to bring good credit to myself,

happiness and pride to my loved ones,

and joy to you. Amen.

Never Alone!

Dad!

The greatest gift I ever had 

Came from God; I call him Dad! 

Happy Father's Day!

Dealing with difficult people

Have you ever experienced having to deal with difficult people? That no matter how you try to help them and be nice to them, they are still treating you badly? What if you have to deal with them every single day of your life? What if the people that pisses you off are the same people you see everyday? I am telling you, it will drain you. Sometimes I feel like asking them, what else do you want me to do for you to be nice to me? Is it all times right to say, I don't care about you as long as I know I am not doing anything wrong? What if you get fed up?

Let me share to you the four gifts you can receive when you deal with difficult people. This was written by Bo Sanchez. He is is an author, entrepreneur, preacher, celebrity and lay evangelist in the Philippines.

Gift #1:

Difficult people can teach you how to love,

preparing you for Heaven!

§ You learn to become more patient, more understanding, more persevering.

§ You have pity for them because you realize that “Hurt people hurt people”

§ You learn to see the good qualities even among difficult people.

§ You learn how to be compassionate as God is compassionate.

§ You learn how to forgive, to remove bitterness from your heart.

Gift #2:

Difficult people can teach you to protect yourself

and learn to say “No” to abuse.

§ You learn to love yourself, respect yourself, by no longer allowing abuse.

§ You learn to be courageous and stand up against bullies.

§ You learn to give tough love—refusing his abuse again. It may be the most loving thing you can do for a difficult person.

§ You wizen up, learn tact, and learn how to distance yourself from harmful people.

Gift #3:

Difficult people can help you

get to know your weaknesses.

§ Difficult people remind you that you too could be difficult to others.

§ Difficult people teach you many important lessons in life. By seeing the tragic results of their actions, you’re inspired to do the very opposite of what they do.

Gift #4:

Difficult people can bring you closer to God.

§ Difficult people force you to pray a lot. (“Lord, help! I can’t take it anymore!”)

§ Difficult people force you to trust in God. (“Lord, I give up! I’ve done everything but she’s still a monster…”)

§ Praying for difficult people may not change them, but YOU will.

§ “Your cross (difficult person) is your key to heaven…” St. Poveda

§ You realize that YOU are God’s difficult person—yet you’re still loved by God!

Click here for more tips on how to deal with difficult people.

Tale of the Tape

I just need to write something about Manny Pacquiao's recent fight against Timothy Bradley.

He didn't win not because he chose to become a CHRISTian.
He didn't win not because he chose to study the word of God.
He didn't win not because he chose to be very vocal about his faith and his belief.

How can people blame Pacquiao's defeat in him choosing to become a Christian? Just because he didn't win, it is already wrong to become a Christian?

What is your definition of CHRISTIANITY? Is it all glory, happiness and victory?

You are very wrong. It is written:

Romans 8:18

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.


2 Corinthians 12:9-10
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

My message to Manny Pacquiao

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.


Let me just quote this from Yahoo News by Reuters 35 minutes ago:


"I accept what the result is," Pacquiao said ringside. "I respect the judges, I cannot blame them. It is a part of the game. I give thanks to the Lord. I do my best but my best wasn't good enough."

Short and Sweet

Money

Let me just borrow some of the lyrics of Jessy J's Price Tag song:

Seems like everybody’s got a price,

I wonder how they sleep at night.

It’s not about the money, money, money

Why is everybody so obsessed?

Money can’t buy us happiness

Can we all slow down and enjoy right now?

These past few days, I feel like singing the part of the song aloud so that the people around me will hear:  It’s not about the money, money, money!

I feel like my head's going to explode! Oh my! Why is everyone around me whining about their lack of money and their need for more of it?!

I am not rich (rich meaning someone with abundant material possessions; who possessed a large amount of property). Of course, I know how it feels to have a desperate need for money, more of it. I've been through that for a long time and very much afraid of having to go through it again that is why I work hard. It's sad that people will hold grudges against you just because you weren't able to help them this time. They have already forgotten how many times you helped them in the past. Well, that's life. We are all different individuals. I just hope that they will come to realize we have our own responsibilities.

For everything in life that I've went through, this has become my principle - I don't know if this is good or bad but I have learned not to depend on other people. - ayaw ko ng umaasa sa ibang tao dahil ayaw ko ng nasusumbatan. Alam kong likas na sa tao na ipaalala sa iyo ang mga bagay na naibigay o naitulong na. Kung meron mang itinuro sa akin ang buhay, yun ay matuto na tumayo sa sariling mga paa at magsikap para sa ikakaunlad. Hindi dapat iniaasa sa ibang tao ang pagunlad ng buhay. At wag maging tamad dahil lang merong ibang maaasahan. Pinagkalooban ako ng Diyos ng kakayanan at kaisipan upang pagyamanin ang buhay na Kanyang ibinigay. Hindi ko ito iaasa sa ibang tao.

Philippians 4:11-13

For I have learned to be content, whatever the circumstances may be. I know now how to live when things are difficult and I know how to live when things are prosperous. In general and in particular I have learned the secret of eating well or going hungry of facing either plenty of poverty. I am ready for anything through the strength of the One who lives within me.

I am not rich but I KNOW I AM BLESSED.