Back to....Whew!

Back to the dessert.

Whew! 'Hot in here. ,Just came off from vacation ('wonder why it's always seems short when it's finished) and still picturing myself with my beautiful wife and daughters kidding in our front lawn. Whew! here comes the sandstorm, heat wave, humidity and camels.....why the hell am I......(excuse me!)

Back to bed space.

Whew! I miss my home already upon seeing my limited space where I am charge with amount equivalent to one month rent of a decent house from where I've been. I always can't help it but ask those questions that I already knew the answer from the start yet seems not convince the reasons.....well, somebody enlightened me!!! 'Need some positive reinforcement----FAST! :(

Back to my intermittent sleep

Whew! I need to catch on my sleep now, co'z I really fail and cannot sleep on the plane no matter how hard I try, 'dunno why? Well, at least I have my soft and well covered bed not yet infested by Dubai termites and I need to generate some good thoughts that will spark good dreams-that might remind me of why I am here. "Hey! Somebody turn off the lights and turn on the air conditioner will yah!!!" Screaming like a toughie eh? Ssssshhh, actually I'm talking to myself hehehe LOL!

Back to my dreams.

Whew! Quiet now.
Sssssshh.....ZZZZZZZZ......ZZZZZZZZZZZ....ZZZZZZZZZZZ..ZZZZNNGORRKKK!
NGOORRRRKKKK!...HUUUUUUHHUUUUU..NGOORRRKKKKK...(smiling face)-ZZZZZZZZZ.

And now...Back to reality

Ahhh! In all of these challenging everyday life in Dubai, I hold on, I keep on....and I conquer. In most of the situation, I am able to maintain my positive self due to "one thing"-----Belief-------FAITH!----to the Omnipotence Being who really controls the future of those who willingly submits. I value this for it is definitely the thing that keeps me sane and sufficient to contribute to my family, country, company and the cause as well.

OK! Back to work tomorrow. Have a blessed day!

Verse Meal
In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.(1 Thes. 5:18)
And we know all things work together for good to those who love God and called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)

The Choice Is Ours

For all its peculiarities and uneveness, the Bible has a simple story. God made man. Man rejected God. God won't give up until He wins him back.

God will whisper. He will shout. He will touch and tug. He will take away our burdens; He'll even take away our blessings. If there are thousands steps between us and Him. He will take all but one. He will leave the final one for us. The choice is ours.

Please understand. His goal is not to make you happy. His goal is to make you His. His goal is not to get what you want; it is to et what you need

--A Gentle Thunder--

'Quite a very strong message from my collections of Max Lucado.

Have a blessed day!

Verse Meal
Joshua 24:15b
"Choose ye this day whom you will serve.....but for me and my house, w will serve the Lord!"

You Make A Difference!

"Just dropped by from space!"
And along the way I picked up lots of inspirationals that somehow helped to lift one's spirit up especially when pessimism strikes....
Here's one.....

A high school teacher decided to honorall of her students by telling them the difference they each made. She called each student to the front of the class, one at a time. First she told each of them how they had made a difference to her and the class.

Then she presented each of them with a blue ribbon imprinted with gold letters, which read, 'Who I Am Makes a Difference.'

Afterwards the teacher decided to do a class project to see what kind of impact recognition would have on a community. She gave each of the students three more ribbons and instructed them to go out and spread this acknowledgment ceremony. Then they were to follow up on the results, see who honored whom and report back to the class in about a week.

One of the boys in the class went to a junior executive in a nearby company and honored him for helping him with his career planning. He gave him a blue ribbon and put it on his shirt.

Then he gave him two extra ribbons and said, 'We're doing a class project on recognition, and we'd like you to go out, find somebody to honor, give them a blue ribbon, then give them the extra blue ribbon so they can acknowledge a third person to keep this acknowledgment ceremony going. Then please report back to me and tell me what happened.'

Later that day the junior executive went in to see his boss, who had been noted, by the way, as being kind of a grouchy fellow. He sat his boss down and he told him that he deeply admired him for being a creative genius.

The boss seemed very surprised. The junior executive asked him if he would accept the gift of the blue ribbon and would he give him permission to put it on him. His surprised boss said, 'Well sure.' The junior executive took the blue ribbon and placed it right on his boss's jacket above his heart. As he gave him the last extra ribbon, he said, 'Would you do me a favor? Would you take this extra ribbon and pass it on by honoring somebody else? The young boy who first gave me the ribbons is doing a project in school and we want to keep this recognition ceremony going and find out how it affects people.'

That night the boss came home to his 14-year old son and sat him down. He said, 'The most incredible thing happened to me today. I was in my office and one of the junior executives came in and told me he admired me and gave me a blue ribbon for being a creative genius. Imagine. He thinks I'm creative genius.'

'Then he put this blue ribbon that says, 'Who I Am Makes A Difference' on my jacket above my heart. He gave me an extra ribbon and asked me to find somebody else to honor. As I was driving home tonight, I started thinking about whom I would honor with this ribbon and thought of you. I want to honor you. My days are really hectic and when I come home I don't pay a lot of attention to you.

Sometimes I scream at you for not getting good enough grades in school and for your bedroom being a mess, but somehow tonight, I just wanted to sit here and, well, just let you know that you do make a difference to me. Besides your mother, you are the most important person in my life. You're a great kid and I love you!'

The startled boy started to sob and sob, and he couldn't stop crying. His whole body shook. He looked up at his father and said through his tears, 'I was planning on committing suicide tomorrow, Dad, because I didn't think you loved me. Now I know you care. This is the happiest day I've known.'

The boss went back to work a changed man. He was no longer a grouch but made sure to let all his employees know that they made a difference.

The junior executive helped several other young people with career planning and never forgot to let them know that they made a difference in his life - one being the boss' son. And the young boy and his classmates learned a valuable lesson.

So who you are DOES make a difference and I wanted you to know that.

Have a blessed day!!!

Verse Meal
Isaiah 46:3-4
Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all you remain of the house of Israel, You whom I have upheld since you were conceived, and have carried since your birth.
Eve to your old age and gray hairs I AM He, I AM He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. (NIV)

The Rope

'Got sick last week. These influenza virus really put me down this time. Fever, cough, runny nose and phlegm rolled into one. Headache strikes once in a while too. Well..., to be productive, I tried to use the recovering time to reflect on those stories that I once heard and jotted down, such were quite oldies but the inspiration never subsided with its age, it's like a refreshing touch that boost my inner strength.

One of those stories that touched me is about a good mountain climber with so much passion and pride in climbing mountains and conquering it's peak. This man, one day started to climb the mountain on his own for he wanted the glory all by himself. He's quite confident, always considering his wide experience and skill about the craft. So eventhough the mountain is slippery due to the snowy weather and the visibility is hazy, he still went on confidently. In the middle of his climb and while its getting dark, a strong wind surprised him and made him loosed his grip from a rock, he fell into the air, falling at great speed but he was able to hold on to the rope as he fall. The rope, as expected helped to stopped his fall and support his weight. His body was hanging in the air. He can't see anything from his position for darkness already filled his sorroundings. At this point, he tied himself securely to the rope. And the very once confident man found himself nowhere, helpless, and with great fear. In the midst of the freezing and zero visibility weather, he cried out for help,"Help me God!" Because God cannot turn His back for anyone who needs Him, He answered with a clear and strong voice. "What do you want me to do? "Save me God!" he answered back. Then God said, "Do you really think I can save you?" "For sure You can my God!"he responded. "You'll be safe, just cut the rope and let go." God replied. Now, there was a moment of silence. The man was confused with the idea and did not find it logical to let go of the thing that is keeping him alive. He didn't followed the voice. He decided to hold on to the rope with all his strength.
Next morning the rescue team found him....frozen and dead, still hanging from his rope and holding it very tight. One of the guys remarked, "I wonder why he didn't let go of the rope, he's just 7 feet from the soft ground. He could have survived if he just let go."

Many of us find skepticism toward the faith. In these times of technological advancement and fast-paced lifestyle, we feel that something abstract like faith cannot stand the rigors of our situations and even our daily life, thus we continue to hold on to our "logical views", talents, money, skills, gadgets, and many more, to the point of disobeying God's words and being deaf when He speaks. Or perhaps we are too pre-occupied on pushing ourselves up for corruptible recognitions that we forgot about Faith--the thing that connects us to God. Surely without it, it's impossible to please God who dearly loves us. And this attitude of an individual limits His blessings and His hand to move for our sake. It's like a gift that's constantly rejected due to lesser treasures, and thus was't enjoyed.

Just a thought....how attached are we to our rope(s)? Will we believe strongly, then let go and let God?

Have a blessed day!

Verse-Meal
Proverbs 3:5
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your understanding."

"Breath-Prayers"

Hmmmm....(searching for a subject)

It's been quite a while since I sit down, concentrate and come up with a post on my blogsite. I seem to have been suffering from the razzle-dazzle virus, you know!...that virus of multi-tasking that pressures yourself and test your patience. And for some sudden reasons I found myself pushing more, beyond wee hours to accomplish a task passed by other people. Hey no regrets...for I believe that "all things will work together for good...", it's just that at times, I can't help it but ask myself how will I beat those deadlines of reports when I mostly spend my hours at the pier making sure that our shipment would arrive on time or else.....sigh! (somewhere, somehow and somebody will suffer)

Surprisingly...

In those moments of waiting at the pier, I find myself siezing the opportunity to talk with God, 'don't know why, it just occured to me, perhaps it's due to the absence of worthy reading materials while waiting or my spirit just longs for His presence or I haven't thank him quite enough for all the blessings. (ahh, definitely we can never thank him enough!) And possibly, it might have been the fruit of that daily scripture readings that I did during my youthful, aggressive and "pasaway" days. Yeah!, you read it right, I found those scriptures quite interesting that I was motivated to spend some time to ponder it. (Btw. 'am still young! hehe) Somehow, those praises in Psalms, liberating quotes in the Proverbs and other inspiring histories in the "Book" had instilled and embedded a wonderful and suggestive thought that has develop into a habit of simple "breath prayers". A clear indication that our spirit yearns for His Creator. I just talk about those things that I want to share with, whenever I'm alone with Him. Just anything I could possibly think of, I just tell God without hesitation, my longings, appreciations, verses that I was able to memorize or questions that's bothering me...just anything...with all due respect of course. As if I'm having a conversation to a very dear friend who knows practically just about everything in details about me.

Somehow...

These practice has helped me to feel relieved from some damaging stress of daily, fast-paced, busy and polluted Manila life. Yes it definitely does. It's quite a form of outlet for me. I find myself very rest-assured and relaxed after these "breath prayers". It also brings me inner peace afterwards. The assurance and confidence that I won't get lost or I won't be caught in a hopeless situation, is so overwhelmingly sensed. Indeed, it is refreshingly inspiring to move again and conquer whatever objective set before me after such breath of prayers.

Also...

It does deepened my closeness to the Prince of peace, a relationship that has started way back. I really didn't figure that this relationship would last to change me (Yes! I've been changed) and my whole perspective of life for I am very stubborn and sooo traditionally religious guy, an "Akologists" at it's best, yung bang ako ng ako lagi! (Always Me, Myself and Mine) but it does happened, Almighty has made a way for such a mess like me! Little by little I was able to leave those habits that damages me and learned to shift my attention to a more beneficial activities that contributes possitively. Relation did it. Not a new religion. Relation that bloomed because God was permitted to act through that simple prayer of surrender I made when I personally accepted Him.

Still...

At times I fall into traps along the way, you know.., all those weaknesses, persecutions, difficulties and wordly come-ons. Its hooks on me doesn't dissapeared overnight. It takes more dependence on the Higher Being. But these breath-prayers albeit limited and small, strongly helped me in avoiding such wrong turns. I am just reminding God of his promises (I tell you, we should know it by heart) whenever things comes too overwhelmingly for me.

Ooopppsss....

My breath prayers has been heard, here comes the shipment at last with out delays. Praises to God! I can rest my physical being now.

Well...

At the end of the day...you have to appreciate that opportunity to breath. And...if somebody, somehow, would be inspired to have a breath prayers...be sure to do it discreetly and orderly with senses fully functioning or you might miss your shipment, worse, some people might think you're crazy. (smiles..)

Have a blessed day!

Verse-Meal
Psalm 32:3
When I keep things to myself, I felt weak deep inside me.

What Dads Can't Do...

From a children's book about dads and kids,entitled What Dads Can't Do by Douglas Wood, illustrated in charming renditions of cute, huggable dragons. Here's little sampling:

"There are lots of things that regular people can do but dads can't.
Dads can't cross the street without holding hands.
They can push, but they can't swing.
When dads play hide and seek they always get found, but they have a hard time finding you.
Dads really need to be kissed goodnight at bedtime.
It's a wonder they make it through life at all!"

I especially like the hide and seek part because of how God reveals himself to us. On one hand, he hides from us; on the other, he makes himself very obvious to those who are truly seeking him. If you seek the Lord with all your heart, finding him will be a little like finding a big dinosaur-sized dragon hiding behind a palm tree. This is one of the reasons why people who see the reality of God in their lives and in their world can't understand why everyone can't see what they see. To them it is so entirely obvious, but to those who are not “in the game,” God and truth remain shrouded.

Now I know it's heresy to imply that there is something God (as Dad) can't do, but in one case I suggest this is true. He can't let everyone know who he is in order to uphold the integrity of the human beings he has created in his image who choose not to have him in their life. In a sense, you could say God has upheld the dignity of those who won't believe. If God were like a dinosaur-sized dragon hiding behind a palm tree for everyone, you would be a fool for not believing. As it is, you are a fool for believing because something not obvious to most people is obvious to you. The faith that God gives believers, through their ability to see and hear him, is strong enough to counter looking like a fool.

I think the lesson here is to make sure we give people the dignity God gives them. That is, the freedom to choose not to believe.

Jesus spoke in parables to hide the truth, and then said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” The implication being: Some people have other things to do with their ears than listen for God. Jesus never berated people for not believing, he just kept encouraging those who did.(J. Fischer)

Happy Father's Day to all!!

Verse-Meal
Deuteronomy 4:29
But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.(NIV)

Keep on...Let Life Flow!

Got an inspirational E-mail from a friend that is worth sharing. Amazingly, it is perfect for my present predicament in the office. Tsk, tsk tsk....

You may be under a lot of stress, but it doesn't help to get angry about it. Things may not be going the way you planned, but it doesn't help to be resentful about it. What does help is to keep yourself connected with the best that is within you. What does help is to remind yourself often of the positive path that you've chosen to be on.

Sure, the day-to-day events will not all go the way you planned. You may have long, difficult periods in which nothing goes your way.

And yet, you have the good fortune of being in complete control of your thoughts and your attitude. As such, you can choose an attitude that will always pull real, lasting value out of even the most difficult circumstances.

Imagine being at peace with yourself and with the world around you. Imagine how very much more effective you would be if you simply let life flow without letting it get to you.

And know that in this moment, in every moment, however complicated or contentious or stressful it may be, that is a choice you can make. Choose to let life flow, and you'll choose to be in positive, peaceful control.

R.Marston

God Loves You All! Have a blessed day!!

Verse-Meal
Proverbs 19:11
A man's wisdom gie him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.

Tagged by Ka Uro.

Thanks for the tag Ka Uro!

Rules: List of seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre. Whether or not they have words or even if they're any good, they must be the songs you enjoy right now. Post this instructions in your blog along with your 7 songs then tag 7 people and see what they are listening to.

I'm a guy who loves to hear music with the difference as they say. That difference is the possitive message of hope, inspirations, way of life and motivations. Here are some samples I'm very fond of listening and/or makes me pause and reflect everytime it is being played. Hope you like it as well.

1. Take Me Out Of The Dark by our very own Gary V.
This is quite a hit due to his very personal testimony.

Just what it is to me,
Sometimes I just don't know,
What keeps me in your love...
Why you never let me go...

2. Love Will Be Our Home by Sandi Patti
This is our choice for wedding song when we tied the knots December 18, 1993. No expiration date on the contract. (lol!)

If home, is really where the heart is...
And home must be a place we all can share,
And even with our differences, our hearts are much the same
And where love is...we come together there.

Whenever words are kindly spoken
where a vow is never broken
We can live together there,
Love will be our home

3. I'm not religious, I just Love the Lord by Scott Wesley Brown (SWB)
I love its beat, it could make you ride along and of course! with a great message.

And there's no doubt about it!
I really really wanna shout it. (now)
Singing, I'm not religious,
I just love the Lord!

Well, you can go to church every Sunday
And think its kind of neat.
But the good Lord wants you to love Him full time
Seven days a week.
Well you can give away anything you own.
And even, give it to the poor
But listen my friend, in the end
You gotta love the Lord

4. What A Difference You Made In My Life (Sorry 'Forgot the singer)
This was one of my favorite song I sing when we were forming a band then. Unfortunately the band was disbanded, perhaps because I'm one of the singer or maybe I'm different (LOL!)

What a difference you made in my life (2X)
You're my sunshine, day and night.
Oh what a difference you made in my life.

What a change you have made in my heart (2X)
You replace all the broken parts,
Oh What a change you have made in my heart.
Love seems to me is just a word in a song.
That have been way overused
But now I've join in the singing,
Cause you've shown me love's true meanin'.
That's why I want to spread tne news Ohh!..

5. We Are The Reason (also sang by M. Nievera)
Plenty of singers sang this quite old song, but the convictions that goes with it never fails to stir my heart evertime...

As little children, we would dream of Christmass morn
The giving of our toys, we knew we'll find
But we never realized
A baby born one blessed night
Gave us the greatest gift of our lives.

We are the reason that He gave His life
We are the reason that He suffered and died
To the world that was lost,
He gave all He could give
To show us the reason to live.

6. Hanggang.... by Wency Cornejo
'Love its melody and conservative delivery of the singer. Stir up the romantic person within...

Ilang ulit na bang tinatanong sa 'kin, hanggang saan?
Hanggang saan, hanggang kailan ang aking pagmamahal?,
Hanggang may tinig pa akong naririnig dito sa 'ting daigdig,
Hanggang may musika akong tinataglay, kita'y iniibig.

Giliw wag mo sanang isiping ikaw ay aking lilisanin
Di ko magagawang lumayo sa iyong piling
At nais kong malaman mo kung gaano kita kamahal...

...hanggang may pag-ibig laging isisigaw, tanging ikaw....

7. Skyline Pigeon by Elton John
Who can not remember this hit?? 'Love this one.

Turn me loose from your hand. Let me fly to the distant land.
Over greenfields, tress and mountains, Flowers and forest fountains
All along the lane of the skyway
For this dark and lonely room, projects a shadow lies in gloom
And my eyes are mirrors of the world outside
Thinking of the ways that the wind can turn the tide.
And this shadow turn to purple into blue...

Now, I will tag these persons...Wendy, Malaya, Raven, Blue, Bing, Prayer Warrior,and Luchie

Make Yourself Lucky

Do you wish you had better luck? Then stop wishing and start making it so. Good luck does not just randomly appear. Good luck comes to those who attract it. Live this day as if it is the most precious and important day in your life, and you'll make yourself lucky. Seek ways to provide real, lasting value to others, and you'll make yourself lucky.

Be anxious to learn, to explore, to hone your skills and you'll make yourself lucky. Live with patience, discipline, integrity and a commitment to truth, and you'll make yourself lucky.

Focus on the positive possibilities, and you'll make yourself lucky. Take the actions that will manifest the best of those possibilities into reality, and you'll make yourself lucky.

There's no limit to the amount of good luck you can enjoy when you take the positive, productive actions that will bring it your way. Make yourself lucky, and experience for yourself how great it can be.

--R. Marston--

Do your best and God will do the rest. Truly..., luck favors those who works for it.
Have a blessed day!

Verse-Meal
Colossians 4:5
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.