COVID-19: DAY 52 SHELTER IN PLACE MAY 7 2020

The month of April was like a blink of an eye.  Now, we are in my birth month, this was supposed to be a big deal for me.  I am turning 40 in a couple of weeks and I was looking forward to my dream destination, Morocco.  Of course the trip has been cancelled.  I've read articles that say international travel won't resume until 2021 so I have changed my 2020 travel bucket list to just having a picnic by the beach on a beautiful California day.

I do pray that the last 52 days, with all it's challenges and seemingly unending bad news coming from all over the place, that you have learned things about yourself that you wouldn't otherwise learn.  Me, I learned all the more that I can live with less.  Over the last couple of years, I have really minimized my clothes, shoes, and bag shopping.  The last new t shirt I bought for myself was in December 2018.  I have bought a couple of pairs of pants that replaced worn, ripped (in the wrong places), unusable pants.  I still find myself looking at a lot of expensive purses and watches, but never had the courage to splurge.  I have heard a lot of people say, 'You deserve it for all the hard work you do.' I try to not to think I deserve anything.  All the I have is unmerited favor from the Lord.  I don't want to think I deserve anything.  

I learned how therapeutic cooking is for me.  When I feel the lowest, I turn to cooking and it cheers me up, even more so when I see the satisfied faces of my family who appreciate what I had just prepared.  

I learned, I really, really, really, don't like walking.  But I do, sometimes, because the dog drives me to guilt with those sad puppy dog eyes, begging to be taken for a walk around the neighborhood.

I learned, I really need to pray more, read the bible more, and hear Him more.  I don't know what happened to me, but the last couple of years, I just wasn't the same in my spiritual journey.  I will do my best to rekindle my relationship with the Lord.  

coping with grief

I have not posted in over a year.  Instagram has been my go-to for storing memories now but recent events have lead me back to this place where I can best express all my thoughts.


How does one cope with grief?  I lost my dad 2 months ago to what we initially thought was just a battle with pneumonia.  He was hospitalized twice, the second being worse than the first and that is when they discovered he had cancer.  Metastatic cancer of unknown origin, according to the oncologist.  Who knew there was such a thing?  Who knew that cancer can grow inside you, metastasize, and take your life without even giving you a chance to fight for your life?  Do they just say that when they don't have an answer?


I struggle with the thought of not praying hard enough so my dad's life could be spared.  I struggle with the image of him helpless on that hospital bed, tubes and IVs everywhere. Every day, I think, 'Maybe if I just prayed harder.  Maybe if I fasted along with my prayer.  Maybe if sang more songs to Him...'  There's also thinking about the decisions we made as a family.  Did we bring him to the right hospital?  What kind of medical examination would have caught the cancer earlier so he could have had a fighting chance?  Maybe the outcome would be different.  Or maybe it would all be the same.  It sucks that we will never know. 


No, I am not questioning my faith.  I am not questioning God's wisdom.  I know He gives and He takes away. But I wish I had more time with my dad.  Everyday, I wish I had more time.


I have a friend who lost her dad many years ago and to this day, it brings tears to her eyes when she talks about him.  I always wondered why that was the case.  I wondered, were they so close that she misses him everyday?  Or was their  relationship tense and she feels guilt that she was not able to reconcile with her dad?  Being in the same shoes now, it is the former.  I miss him every day and I don't know if I'll ever stop missing him.  He was an AWESOME dad.  He was an AMAZING grandfather.  He was kind, understanding and generous.  And no I'm not just saying these things because he is gone.  That was who he was.  He was not perfect but he was a GOOD MAN. 


I miss him so much. 

WHAT DO YOU WANT?

one of my favorite poems of all time is by Jessie B. Rittenhouse...

“I bargained with Life for a penny,

And Life would pay no more, 

However I begged at evening

When I counted my scanty store;

For Life is just an employer,

He gives you what you ask,

But once you have set the wages,

Why, you must bear the task.

I worked for a menial's hire,

Only to learn, dismayed,

That any wage I had asked of Life,

Life would have paid.”

today, I read Psalm 2 and it speaks about the same thing...asking what we want in life.  often times, I don't ask for BIG things.  I always ask for what i think i deserve, according to how 'good' i think i am.  But as a Child of God, I could ask for the world and God would give it to me, not because I deserve it but because the Father sees the Son in me, and that makes me worthy of the world!  It's not the size of my faith, because even faith the size of a mustard seed could move mountains.  so everyday i will remind myself to ASK, ASK, ASK!

Making the ask is not for everyone, but reserved for God's children.  Not the naysayers, not the unbelievers, not for mockers, but for those who worship God in adoring embrace and celebrate in trembling awe!  Psalm 2:10-12

I ask for favor in this pending business.  I ask for favor in financing this business.  I ask for payment of all debts.  I ask for bigger giving.  I ask for good health and long life for myself and those who are near and dear to me.  I ask for my family's salvation.  I ask for lives changed, bondage and chains broken.  I ask for renewed lives that are dedicated to Christ.  I ask for wisdom and wealth to be shared with others.  I ask for ALL GOOD THINGS and ALL OF GOD'S PROMISES FULFILLED in me, through me, for Christ's glory!

lent

i thought about giving something up for lent....and then i wasn't able to do it (fail!). but the Lord reminded me that He already paid the price to save me from my sins.  what he actually asks from me is not to give up something...because that would mean i am still holding on to other things.  he wants me to give my life to him, to follow him and to  be obedient to him.  he doesn't want me to just believe that he is the son of God because believing simply isn't enough.  he wants us to follow him, to be his disciple.  to be a follower of christ is to live life that is dedicated to God, to live a Christ-centered life.  


i know it sounds easier said than done, but the thing is, he never asked us to be perfect. i think a misconception people have about christians is we think we are holier than thou...i think there are people in general, who think they are 'better' than other people.  doesn't matter if you're a christian or whatever belief you have.  but that is not the way God wants us to think about ourselves, or other people.  God tells us to love others, as we love ourselves.  so if i think highly of myself, then i should think highly of others too.  if you love yourself (and you should!), then you should give the same kind of love to others despite of who they are.  god loved me despite of who i am, despite of my imperfections.  


again, Christ doesn't ask us to be perfect.  i can't count the number of times i've failed and felt like i disappointed the Lord because of my stubbornness and lack of faith.  but despite all of my shortcomings, he does not fall short.  his love for me is the same kind of love when i am following him...it's also the same love when i sometimes go astray.  his love is constant.  his love is consistent.  his love does not depend on his mood or my mood.  can you imagine if God was moody and only loved us when he is not pms-ing?  hahaha!  Thank goodness, God is not like that!  


so this lent, instead of giving something up...what i ought to have done is surrender my life to him...and not just at lent, but everyday of my life should be surrendered and dedicated to him.  sometimes i forget that i am here to be the salt and light of the earth, and that i am here to live my life for God.  holy week is a great time to reflect on how our relationship with the Lord stands.  is my relationship with Him where i want it to be at this point in my spiritual life?  the answer, unfortunately, is no.  but God is great!  it is never to late to either start a personal relationship with him or to rekindle that relationship you had with him.  i have changed over the many years and my faith has seen peaks and valleys.  but the Lord has met me at whatever stage i was.  when i was at my lowest moment, He was there.  when i was at my highest, He was there.  all i had to do was to call unto Him.  he met me whenever i needed him.  i continue to be amazed by his love for me.


Lord, thank you for the sacrifice you made on the cross 2,000 years ago.  remind me everyday of your love for me.  you are wonderful.  you are amazing.  i humble myself before you and ask for your forgiveness for ALL of my sins.  you are the Lord and Savior of my life.  teach me your ways that i may continue to follow you.  thank you for your love.  amen.

John 14:1-3

“Let not your heart be troubled . . . . I go to prepare a place for you. And . . . I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:1-3).

I’ve always just read this verse and thought about death and about heaven…but today, this word spoke to me in a different way.

How many times have we made decisions without first asking God what his will for us is? How many times in this life have we disregarded the godly counsel of others to follow our own will?

Many times, when we become stubborn and do as we please, we end up in trouble. Our decisions are often born out of the intensity of our emotions and not the truth.

When the Lord said, "I go to prepare a place for you.." he wasn't just talking about heaven but everywhere we go, if we let him take the lead, he will prepare that place for us.  He will make sure that everything is as it should be because of his perfect love for us.  He does not want us to fall, to falter, and be discouraged.  He will lead the way and make everything good because he is a good God. 

Do you have an important decision to make? Let your heart not be troubled, the Lord said. If we listen to Him and let him lead our way and prepare the place for us, he will receive us to himself. Mauuna sya upang pagandahin ang sitwasyon para sa atin at susunduin pa nya tayo…may pagibig at pagiingat. God doesn’t want us to make hasty decisions. He wants to be involved in the many decisions we make in our lives so that he can prepare it for us.


So whatever situation you are in today...if you need to make a decision on what college course to take, what job to take, whether to quit your job and take a new one...pray and ask the Lord to go and prepare the place for you.  Put your complete faith in him because he is the good and perfect God and he will make your paths straight. 

ALL!

i read today in Romans 10:12b-13, "the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

it's for everyone.  FOR ALL!!!  and all we ever need to do is ask!

make a difference this christmas

ever since i became a parent, the plight of needy children has been even closer to my heart.  this year, at michelle's school, i learned about a wonderful cause called Operation Christmas Child from the Samaritan's Purse Organization where we are encouraged to put together one shoe box full of little things (toys, toothbrush, pencils, etc.) and send it to a child in need.  it is such a good cause and if you can see the video of the children when they receive their boxes, you'll see the joy in their faces.  i was moved to tears when i saw this and so, michelle will put together 1 box for a little girl and paul and i will put together another box for a little boy.  i know it's not much, but every little bit helps...and doing one little thing is better than doing nothing. 

so please, if you have $20 or less to spare, please consider putting together a shoe box full of hope for a child in need. 

the website again is www.samaritanspurse.org.  please go to the website and get the full details on how you can put together a shoe box for the children.  thank you in advance for your support and may God richly bless you for your generosity!

you'll never be hungry

sometimes i forget how good God has been in my life.  occasionally the worries of this world get to me and i wonder about the future and what lies ahead of me. 

but He reminded me that if i follow him, i will not lack in anything...instead i shall have abundance.  in this story from matthew, they crowd had nothing when went and followed jesus but went home not only fully satisfied physically and spiritually, but received an overflow of blessings enough to share with others.  

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand (Matthew 14:13-21)

When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 

As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”

Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

"We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.

“Bring them here to me,” he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

rejection

there's someone i know whom i invited to hang out with my friends...i have a small social circle so the people i hang out with are either my relatives, or my friends most of which are from church. upon knowing that the friends were from church, this someone brushed off the invitation and politely said, 'i want to hang out with you guys.  if it's with other people, wag na lang.'  

i knew that it wasn't because this person was shy.  i know this person has hung out with acquaintances of mine and this person doesn't have any problems hanging out with them. so even though this person declined politely, it still bothered me so i just prayed.  the Lord said, 'don't worry.  it's not you nor your friends this person is rejecting.  this person is rejecting me.'  nakakalungkot, but it is true what the Lord said in his word, "They are going to do all these things to you because of the way they treated me, because they don't know the One who sent me. If I hadn't come and told them all this in plain language, it wouldn't be so bad. As it is, they have no excuse. (The Message)" "They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me. (NIV)" John 15:21.

but God is good.  His plans are perfect and the best i could do is continue to pray for those that are dear to me and live a life that glorifies the Lord.  sabi nga, 'your life might be the only bible that people will read...'   so Lord, teach me and let your glory shine!

michelle's understanding of michael jackson's death

michael jackson's death is all over the news and i'm watching with michelle. she asks me when she sees paris jackson crying,

michelle: 'why is the girl crying, mommy?'

me: 'she's crying because her daddy is in heaven now.'

michelle: 'why?'

me: 'because he got sick and he died.'

michelle: 'why he not go to the doctor?'

me: 'he went to the doctor but the doctor wasn't able to make him better.'

michelle: 'oh! [she pauses for a second] i need jesus.' and she moves on to play with her toys.

yes, that's exactly how our conversation went. the bottomline really is we need jesus, even my 2 year old has acknowledged that. no matter who you are or what you have accomplished, at the very end of our life, people may give us memorials like the beautiful memorial given to michael jackson, but none of it we can take to the grave. having jesus in your life, well, that's a gift you'll have for eternity.

nalulunod ako!!!!

sa love at joy na binibigay ng panginoon! i am overwhelmed by his goodness. hindi ko maexpress yung ligaya na naramdaman ko today. i've been struggling in my spiritual life kasi (first time ko aminin dito sa blog ko), lalo na last week na matindi ang toyo ko...i know it was the lack of my time alone with God. nasan na yung pinramis ko dati na read the bible more, worship him more, sing to him more? NAWALA! naglahong parang bula! naku! kung alam nyo lang kung gano kahirap yung alam mong nagkukulang ka pero di mo makuhang gawin yung dapat mong gawin, hindi mo makuhang mag set ng time para dun sa hari ng mga hari. para dun sa nagpoprovide sayo ng lahat...dun sa nagsave sayo from the flames of hell. napakahirap and sobrang heart breaking ng sitwasyong yon.

but today, i woke up early, and the Lord told me, 'almira, if you can't take leaps, take small steps.' so i did. gumising ako ng maaga, binuksan ang aking bibliya at nagsimulang magbasa. one small step for almira, one great leap towards a renewed relationship with god.

this afternoon, i spent some time with my pastor...although we were working on something, nakakarenew parin pag kasama mo is someone who is on fire sa panginoon. nakakahawa yung fire na yun. this evening naman, i invited bishop gaor's family to have dinner at home. i thought to myself, 'if i can't bring my parents to church, i will bring God's people to them.' and they came and we talked about God's wonderful plans of blessing, joy, and prosperity to those who choose to trust and obey Him.

after dinner, bible study naman at sister karen's house just a stone's throw away from our home. napakaganda rin ng tinuro ni bishop kanina! (i will write about that tomorrow.) god is just great. with that small step i took, yung konting salita nya na binasa ko kanina, inulan ako ng magagandang balita at pangako ng panginoon from his dedicated servants.. promises that i will hold on to for the rest of my life. words that i know have already began to change my life. excited ako sa mga susunod ko pang matututunan at mga susunod pang pagbabago sa buhay ng pamilya ko.

i will praise his name always

what is YOUR purpose?

You will enjoy the new insights that Rick Warren has, with his wife now having cancer and him having 'wealth' from the book sales. This is an absolutely incredible short interview with Rick Warren, 'Purpose Driven Life ' author and pastor of Saddleback Church in California.

In the interview by Paul Bradshaw with Rick Warren, Rick said:

People ask me, What is the purpose of life?

And I respond: In a nutshell, life is preparation for eternity. We were not made to last forever, and God wants us to be with Him in Heaven.

One day my heart is going to stop, and that will be the end of my body-- but not the end of me. I may live 60 to 100 years on earth, but I am going to spend trillions of years in eternity. This is the warm-up act - the dress rehearsal. God wants us to practice on earth what we will do forever in eternity.

We were made by God and for God, and until you figure that out, life isn't going to make sense. Life is a series of problems: Either you are in one now, you're just coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go into another one.

The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character than your comfort; God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making your life happy. We can be reasonably happy here on earth, but that's not the goal of life. The goal is to grow in character, in Christ likeness.

This past year has been the greatest year of my life but also the toughest, with my wife, Kay, getting cancer.

I used to think that life was hills and valleys - you go through a dark time, then you go to the mountaintop, back and forth. I don't believe that anymore. Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it's kind of like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times you have something good and something bad in your life. No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on. And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for.

You can focus on your purposes, or you can focus on your problems: If you focus on your problems, you're going into self-centeredness, which is my problem, my issues, my pain.' But one of the easiest ways to get rid of pain is to get your focus off yourself and onto God and others.

We discovered quickly that in spite of the prayers of hundreds of thousands of people, God was not going to heal Kay or make it easy for her- It has been very difficult for her, and yet God has strengthened her character, given her a ministry of helping other people, given her a testimony, drawn her closer to Him and to people. You have to learn to deal with both the good and the bad of life.

Actually, sometimes learning to deal with the good is harder. For instance, this past year, all of a sudden, when the book sold 15 million copies, it made me instantly very wealthy. It also brought a lot of notoriety that I had never had to deal with before. I don't think God gives you money or notoriety for your own ego or for you to live a life of ease.

So I began to ask God what He wanted me to do with this money, notoriety and influence. He gave me two different passages that helped me decide what to do, II Corinthians 9 and Psalm 72.

First, in spite of all the money coming in, we would not change our lifestyle one bit.. We made no major purchases. Second, about midway through last year, I stopped taking a salary from the church. Third, we set up foundations to fund an initiative we call The Peace Plan to plant churches, equip leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick, and educate the next generation. Fourth, I added up all that the church had paid me in the 24 years since I started the church, and I gave it all back. It was liberating to be able to serve God for free.

We need to ask ourselves: Am I going to live for possessions? Popularity? Am I going to be driven by pressures? Guilt? Bitterness? Materialism? Or am I going to be driven by God's purposes (for my life)?

When I get up in the morning, I sit on the side of my bed and say, God, if I don't get anything else done today, I want to know You more and love You better. God didn't put me on earth just to fulfill a to-do list. He's more interested in what I am than what I do. That's why we're called human beings, not human doings.

God's Blessings
Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.
Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.
Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.
Painful moments, TRUST GOD.
Every moment, THANK GOD.

food for the soul...

The lovingkindness of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children's children. - Psalm 103:17

God is good, all the time!

my portion

"Whom have I in heaven but you?

And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,

but God is the strength of my heart

and my portion forever."

Psalm 73:25-26

Praise God for He alone deserves all the honor and glory!

Grabe talaga ang kabutihan ng Panginoon. Hallelujah!

don't panic!

Our need is not to prove God's faithfulness, but to demonstrate our own, by trusting him both to determine and to supply our needs according to his will. FAITH is refusal to panic.

very timely sa situation ng mundo ngayon no? my friend ron shared this with me this morning. he was listening to pastor rick warren's podcast (of purpose driven life fame) and he felt that the Lord was speaking to him directly and it blessed and reassured him so much he had to share it with people he knows....and i am sharing this with you also. when the urge to panic starts creeping up on you, remind yourself that God is truely faithful!

the bridge

i used to be able to post videos from youtube but i think you can only do it now for videos you own. my cousin from italy sent me this...

.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRLRSXd4fzA

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i hope you like it

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a thankful heart

on wednesday, i was seated at the patio or the americano restaurant in san francisco. there was a slight breeze and white puffy clouds were moving across the blue sky. to my right, i had a view of the bay bridge and to my left was the ferry building...i immediately grabbed my blackberry to type what was going on in my head.

and this is what i wrote:

There are days like today when I feel thoroughly and completely blessed. God has indeed been the constant in my life whom I know I can always count on. I am blessed to have a gracious God in my life, a wonderful family and friends that are true to the end.

I pray that my life is a celebration of all the things that Christ has sent my way. The good and the bad experiences all testify to the great plans he has for me and how he helped me overcome all the trials that came my way.

I have yet to discover the many things that lie ahead. But a life in Christ has me looking forward to the best that He brings.

christmas gift

I’m thinking about what to get the Lord for His birthday. What do you get someone who owns EVERYTHING? Because he does own everything doesn’t mean he does not deserve to receive anything on this special day.

So on this, his 2000th something birthday, what is it that he would like?

1. more time spent with him in prayer – I know I haven’t spent as much time with him as I should. Although he knows everything there is to know about my life, I still have to pray to him and confide in him everything that I feel. I have to thank him for blessing me with so much and for his gift of salvation. I want him to know that I am proud to bear his name (a Christian) and I will continue to walk with him in love and faith.

2. more time spent in praise and worship – He has given me the gift of a singing voice and I should use it more for his kingdom. So this Christmas (December 23rd actually) I will sing for the lord again. I used to be part of the church’s music ministry. The last time I sang at church was in may. It’s been difficult to find time because I have to take care of michelle. But I should start singing more kahit pa isa isang kanta lang and on my own time at home.

3. to spread the good news of jesus Christ and to tell the world about his love – how? Through this blog, I am able to reach out to friends and relatives that I don’t talk to on a regular basis…this is one way to keep all of them up to date on the wonderful things god has done in my life. I should also live this life as pleasing sacrifice to the lord. Let my actions reflect the goodness of the God whom I faithfully serve. Like Andrew’s mom said, ‘your life may be the only bible people will read.’ So if you or anyone were to read the pages of my life (like you do when you read this), I have to make sure that on every page, through my life’s peaks and valleys, I have to make sure that you don’t miss god’s hand at work and how I put my trust in him and how he never fails.

4. give to the poor – the lord said in his word ‘Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed. Proverbs 19:17’ so this Christmas, I will give to those who are in need. This doesn’t have to be just money or material things…poor doesn’t only mean lacking any of those things. It could be a teenager who needs a mentor, or a kid needing help with homework, or an elderly who needs a hand with groceries. It can be a multitude of ‘things’ people need and if I have the ability to help them, then I will.

This is a short list pero I pray, that everything I do be all for his glory. The words of this song is my gift to the Lord. I pray that you, too, may find the heart to offer your life to the Lord.

All that I am, all that I have

I lay them down before you O Lord

All my regrets, all my acclaim

The joy and the pain, I'm making them yours

Chorus:

Lord I offer my life to You

Everything I've been through

Use it for your glory

Lord I offer my days to You

Lifting my praise to You

As a pleasing sacrifice

Lord I offer You my life

Things in the past, things yet unseen

Wishes and dreams that are yet to come true

All of my hopes, all of my plans

My heart and my hands are lifted to You

my heart desires...

my routine when i get to work is open my read emails and then visit my top 5 favorite websites: cnn.com, sfgate.com, msnbc.com, inquirer.net (do you see a pattern here?), and last but not least, gospelcom.net

i am always hungry for information that's why i visit these sites, but nothing enriches me more than reading the word of the lord and today's daily bread really struck my heart and encouraged me to turn to the Lord to fulfill all of my hearts desires.


Beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses. —Luke 12:15

Driving through Ireland to a Bible conference, I saw a fascinating billboard. It was large and white with nothing on it but a woman’s red shoe and the bold caption: "Is Shopping The New Religion?"

The pursuit of possessions continues to be one of the most powerful motivations that people can experience. But can the accumulation of things bring true satisfaction?

In Luke 12:15, Jesus answered that question with a firm and uncompromising "No!" During a discussion on material wealth, He said, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses." Life must always be more than just the inventory of the things we own.

King Solomon also attempted to find satisfaction in the pursuit of things. He discovered it to be full of emptiness (Eccl. 2:1-17). If we have placed "the abundance of the things" we possess at the center of our lives, shopping may, in fact, have become a substitute for God—a new religion. But such endeavors will always result in emptiness.

David prayed, "You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing" (Ps. 145:16). Only God is able to bring real satisfaction to our lives. —Bill Crowder

O Lord, help us to be content

With all that we possess,

And may we show our gratitude

With heartfelt thankfulness. —Sper

You are rich when you are satisfied with what you have.

God is truly my all in all. when he says, 'I Am', he is all we ever need.

lessons from veggie tales

the other day, out of boredom, i watched veggie tales on tv. the story was about madame blueberry and how she was "blue, blue, blue, blue, blue."

madame blueberry was rich and lived in a house high on a tree and had two butlers at her beck and call. despite her wealth, she was still unhappy. she wanted what her neighbors had: better appliances, better tableware, a better house, etc., etc. she thought that buying everything she wanted would make her happy.

on her way to her shopping spree, she saw a girl who was celebrating her birthday with her parents. they only had one slice of apple pie to share among the three of them. and yet she heard the little girl say, "thank you Lord for always being there, and for always hearing my prayer. thank you for my parents and this pie we are to share." despite not having a lot, the little girl was happy and thankful.

while madame blueberry was shopping, she saw a little boy with his father shopping for a toy. the boy wanted the big expensive train but they could only afford a bouncy red ball. he was a little bit disappointed but he smiled at his dad and thanked him for the ball. he said he was looking forward to playing with his new toy once they get home.


madame blueberry and myself realized that no amount of material wealth can make us happy. there will always be another person who has more than what we have. i noticed that the older i get and the more money i get paid, the more expensive my lifestyle has become. but nothing i owned has given me the true happiness that i get when i look at my family and my daughter's beautiful eyes, or when i soak in the presence of the Lord.

as i was watching veggie tales, in my head i had a mental picture of the many things i owned but don't need (some are a complete waste of money). i'm sure i am not alone in this, but many of us seem to have an insatiable appetite for material things. my christmas wishlist is full of things i want to have but don't necessarily need. i saw the ipod shuffle and found it so cute i wanted to buy it even though i don't need it. i want a new big leather bag for work, i want a new pair of shoes...samantalang i just bought a purse and shoes the other day...and yet i want more, more, and more =(. sabi nga ni paul, "new purse and new shoes nanaman???" before i saw that episode of veggie tales, my response would always be, "a girl can never have to many shoes or purses!" =( but that shouldn't be the case.

i pray that the Lord will give me the grace to really learn to appreciate what i have now and not to look for temporary happiness in material things; to consider myself extremely blessed for having so much, to be grateful and thankful for all that i have. i don't want to be materialistic, that's not what the Lord wants me to become. i have to do my best and and be a good steward of all the things that He has given me so far. in matthew 25:29, it says "To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have abundance. But for those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away."

lesson from veggie tales: the secret to happiness is having a thankful heart. a thankful heart, is a happy heart.