Trip to CCF Isabela

Last June 2012,  I was blessed by God to go to CCF Isabela with Ptr. Joey Batungbacal and his wife, Ms. Cecille.  Our department was giving a seminar to their members on the various services on Pastoral Care.
It was my first time to visit Isabela.  Our hosts, Manong Manny and Manang Nida, graciously welcomed us into their homes.   It was truly a bed and breakfast experience!

At the wonderful home of Manong Manny and Manang Nida

 

I didn't expect the people there to be so warm and on fire for God.   They are hard working people and yet have time for what really counts, which is sharing Christ to others and helping each other grow in faith.

Ms. Cecille with the ladies 

We also had a wonderful time fellowshipping with the ladies while Ptr. Joey was with the guys.

All the ladies were attentive in listening to God's message as Ms. Cecille teaches us how to do the Simply The Word method of studying the bible.

Here is a picture of Ptr. Joey with the guys.  This picture was taken after Ptr. Joey gave the message during the sunday service.

My stay in CCF Isabela was truly a memorable one.   The main atttraction for me was the love given by the people to welcome us there.  

I'm reminded of Paul's journey as he visited the various churches in Corinthians, Ephesians, Galatians.... when he would refer to the brethen with warm and fondest endearments.

I don't know when I'd visit CCF Isabela again or if I'd ever meet the lovely people I met there in this lifetime.  But one thing that comforts me is that when Christ comes again, I will surely spend the rest of eternity with them. :)

Ode to Arugula

O arugula
I so love ya
You might be bitter to the taste
but i will never put you to waste


You are also known as garden rocket
So small i can put you in my pocket
You have this peppery fragrant smell
So distinct it's easy to tell


You're so rich in vitamin A
Every time I eat you, my eyes say yay!
I love your bursts of flavor
Do go extinct? This is my favor


Oh arugula....
You make me sigh
I so love ya
I will never say goodbye




*Nearly 10 years ago, my friends invited me to go to a food trip with them to C's Italian Dining in Clark, Angeles, Pampanga.   This was where I met the love of my palate, Arugula.

Sound of Music

"Music has charms to sooth a savage breast, to soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak."  - Act 1. Scene 1.  The Mourning Bride, 1697.

I bought a classical CD that I was supposed to give to my friend, but in the end,  changed my mind instead.   I realized, my friend being a classical pianist, she can play all the songs in the CD herself.  I opted to gift her with something else.

Good thing I changed my mind.  The CD turned out to be a gem!  Well, for me anyway...

For your listening pleasure, I compiled snippets from the tracks in the album.  Click the video to listen.

So there I was on my way home from work, listening to the album. When I realized I was so happy and at peace.  All that was lacking was a skip to my step as I got down the car to open the garage door.  And I wondered. Could the reason be music?

Many studies will tell you that indeed music has the ability to affect one's emotional and mental being.   The effect can be a positive effect or a negative one depending on the song being listened to.  While some have the uplifting effect, other music elicits rage, anger, and depression.

But the narratives I like best about music is found in the bible.

1. When God's anointing on Saul was removed because of Saul's disobedience, an evil spirit started to torment Saul.  So Saul asked his attendants to find someone who can play the lyre. And who should the attendants find?  The ever so famous David who composed many of the psalms found in Psalms!    When the lyre is played, Saul felt better.

1 Samuel 16:23 ..."David would take up his harp and play, then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him."


2. Did you ever wonder why we always start Sunday service with singing?  I'd like to think it started many years ago when God's people often started a battle with the Levites singing songs of praise to God before actually hurting anyone.

Numbers 10:9  "When you go into battle in your own land against an enemy who is oppressing you, sound a blast on the trumpets.  Then you will be remembered by the Lord your God and (be) rescued from your enemies."


3.  And lastly, the ever famous story about the falling down of the Jericho wall.

Jericho 6: 2-5, 20  ²Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. ³ March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. ⁴ Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets.⁵ When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.”  
(One the seventh day) ²⁰ When the trumpets sounded, the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so everyone charged straight in, and they took the city. 

When we praise God with music and singing, something happens in the spiritual realms wherein our physical eyes cannot see, but our heart of faith envisions.  Fighting doesn't always entail having a sword nearby.  When we sing (and pray)  we acknowledge that the battle is the Lord's.

Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; burst into song, O mountains! For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones. (Isaiah 49:13)

The Good and Beautiful God 003

Chapter Three: God is Trustworthy
Soul Training Assignment: Counting Your Blessings

Fifi's Ongoing List of Blessings:

April 29, 2012
1.  Roof over my head.
2.  Food on the table.
3.  Work that I enjoy.
4.  Family.
5.  Helpful and Caring Friends.

April 30, 2012
6.  Office having aircon in this hot weather.
7.  Having hot weather instead typhoons.
8.  Driving a car with aircon.
9.  Living in a tropical climate country.
10. Living in the Philippines.
11. Holiday May 1 which is tomorrow. 
12. Eating good food.
13. Sleeping on a nice bed.
14. Watching cable TV.
15. Has internet access.

May 1, 2012
16. Having hands.
17. Having feet.
18. Having eyes that see.
19. Having ears that hear.
20. People who help clean at home every 2 weeks.
21. Staying at home all day. 

May 2, 2012
22. Providence.
23. Leading a dgrp.
24. Mature and committed D12.
25. Kind and patient boss with his wife.
26. Hardworking assistant. 

May 3, 2012 (Let's go to the specifics)
27. My mom who taught us the value of being responsible and accountable, of having integrity.
28. My sister who's so careful of offending other people and adjusts well to their differences. 
29. My 2nd eldest brother who comes to our house when we need help even if he lives in Paranaque.  (Special mention of cleaning up the smelly dead rat who got trapped in the bathroom of the spare room).
30. My eldest brother who is very masipag in his job and doing errands for his family.
31. My sisters-in-law and brother-in-law who adjusts so well with our family's crazy jokes and antics.
32. My nieces and nephews who are very obedient and who always go with the flow without complaint when we have family outings or gatherings.

May 4, 2012
33. My D12 leader who rarely gets mad and is so patient with her D12 members.
34. My dgrp members who lovingly accepts me for who I am and who graciously forgives my short comings and faults.
35. Having office mates who have the teamwork mentality and quickly help even if its not part of their job description.
36. Having abundant water.  (Imagine if we didn't have water in this heat.) *Trivia: Did you know that Singapore doesn't supply their own water?  They need to import their water from Malaysia. 
37. My every so patient boss who encourages instead of criticizes when I need rebuke. 

Lastly.....
38. My one and only Jesus Christ who gave His life for me so that I can be free.
39. My Abba Father whom I can always be a Papa's girl to Him.
40. The Holy Spirit who convicts me of sin and who empowers me to obey God. 

Why only 40?  

John 21:24-25

²⁴ This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.

²⁵ Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

The world would not have room for the many things I am very thankful for! 

Thank you God!

Laboring on Labor Day

At a whim, some of my friends were convincing each other to go to Baguio last night since today is Labor Day holiday and we don't have work.   I was so tempted but I decided to decline since I really had something else planned today.

1 Corinthians 10:23  “Everything is permissible”—but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible”—but not everything is constructive. 

I'm so glad I decline!  Look how I spent my time today.   I cleaned my closet.  It looks so neat.  Hmmm..... I should have taken a "before" picture so you can see how awful it looked.

Additionally, since I cleaned up my stuff, I have a basketful of old clothes that I can give out.  


I also did some laundry too before cleaning up my closet.


So happily productive today!!!

Cat and Dog Theology

Sometime ago, I heard of a book that captured my attention.  Two reasons could be 1) I'm an animal lover and 2) I'm a Christian.   The title of the book is Cat and Dog Theology by Bob Sjogren and Gerald Robison.   My interest was piqued.

Click here to read a short excerpt of the book.

"It is said that a dog thinks to itself regarding his master, “He feeds me, he shelters me, he cares for me, and he loves me.  He must be god!”  The cat makes similar observations but says  “He feeds me, he shelters me, he cares for me and he loves me, therefore I must be god!"

Looking at my own life, the people I've met and continually meet, and even some that I've counseled, there is some truth to the statement above.   

I created this short test for fun.  Click this link to answer the Cat or Dog Personality Test.

Quizzes by Quibblo.com | SnapApp Quiz Apps

What was your result?  Are you a dog or a cat? 

Kidding aside, most of us tend to switch between the dog and cat personalities, depending on what the situation is.  Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "A woman is like a tea bag; you never know how strong she is until you put her in hot water."   The same goes for Christians who experience trials and testings in life.   Our true character comes out.

However, when it comes toward our relationship with our true Master (Jesus Christ), we need to embrace the trust, loyalty, and faith of a child towards his Father.   Many of us fail to realize that God is the ultimate loving Master who cares for our littlest and grandest of needs.


Hebrews 13:5 says Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

God indeed will never forsake us if we submit our lives to Him that He, above anything else, must come first.  But many of us panic and refuse to wait for His goodness.  As soon as problems arise, we ask God for the solution ASAP as if God existed to please and cater to us, and not the other way around.   God created us for one and one thing alone.  To worship Him and praise Him for who He is, for what He has done, and what He will continue to do in our lives.

Exodus 7:16  (God speaking to Moses) ¹⁶Then say to him (Pharaoh of Egypt), ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to say to you: Let my people go, so that they may worship me in the wilderness. But until now you have not listened. 

I, for one, am listening  and two, would always like to imbibe a Dog Theology towards my true Lord, Savior, and Master, Jesus Christ. 

*Note: If this entry has touched you and you know God is personally talking to you, you might want to say a similar prayer like this: Dear God, help me to trust You more and more each day.  Forgive me for those instances where I blamed You and demanded solutions right away.  Help me increase my faith. I want to worship You and praise You with childlike faith. Amen.

Family Outing in Boracay

It takes a great event to gather great people for a cause. In this case, my mom's 70th birthday.    


For the first time in almost 20years, we as a family, finally took time off to spend four wonderful days together in Two Seasons Resort Boracay.   


Day 1 was spent shopping for basic groceries (which constitute 99% snacks and water) to fill our always hungry tummies.

Day 2 was an adventurous banca ride and walk towards the Crystal Cove Island.  When the tides were high, waves would crash into this small hole splashing water all over you.  

We also went snorkeling which was a first for my five (out of nine) pamangkins.   Even the youngest who was only five years old refused to stay in the banca. 


Day 3 
More swimming of course!  More posing for picture taking...

And of course, surprising my mom with a video presentation in the evening.  Video was filled with messages and clips of her grandchildren singing and dancing. 
Happy birthday Mom! We love you!

Day 4
Time to go home...... :(


I realize that spending moments with family is never a waste of time.   Time flies so fast.  Memories like these are worth treasures to keep.