メランコリック 歌 (Song of Melancholy)

Silence filled the deserted place with the lush of green Bermuda grass, shivering whisper of wind and tall trees shedding this desolated place as Michael came and stayed for a moment.

He took the scented candles out from his old bag and calmly lit them with the patient flame one by one. Immediately, he placed them above the smooth marbled plate. Fresh red roses added more beauty to the name engraved - Juliet.  He uttered no words from his mouth sealed with grief and sorrowful memories. Such pain he felt as he sang the song they used to sing when they were still together. In the interim, tears fell down like crystals on his pale face. Suddenly, he pocketed a tiny bottle then stared the liquid inside it, then glancing back to the name of his dearest. Before the sun kissed the calm sea, he emptied the bottle at once.

Momentarily… such a lugubrious silence filled the place once again.

Dancing in the rain

The first time I looked at her eyes, I felt  Cupid’s arrow narrowed down my weary heart. The sound of her voice illuminates a beauty radiantly glowing in the midst of a gentle breeze of cold air like an angel sent from heaven above. 

Teary eyes speckled with gold stared at me and I felt myself melting in front of the huge crowd. Suddenly, a heavy downpour stroke down the earth with big drops of water.  I lost sight of her and my delighted heart turned back pale again. 

My skies turned gray as we parted ways. The melancholic sound of silence has numbed my lonely heart barely breathing under the wrath of the angry rain. Soaked and wet, tiny crystal drops of water fell down on my bursting eyes. I thought my life wouldn’t be easier without her.

 At my surprise, the rain stopped pouring all over my tormented body and all of a sudden, a warm embrace of a leather jacket cuddled around my waste. As I gaze upon this beautiful lady, it burst me to tears upon knowing that she came back for me.

Nobody knows what lies upon us. But the strong and powerful faith in Him will keep us dancing in the rain.

Barely Breathing

Gloomy trees all around

Overwhelming darkness surround

How deafening is the sound

When melancholy seals the mouth

A brink of light is barely glowing

Like autumn leaves slowly falling

The earth is cracking

Every day in the morning

Tears falling like crystals

Fragile and easily shatters

Flowing from faces

Cloaked in vast sadness

Oh! Such a beauty the rose I found

Lucky I was and proud

How long its beauty can last

If the world turns so fast?

Here I am barely breathing

Holding my flower, fading

Hoping that soon once again

I’ll find a rose and start all over again.

L.E.T his will be done!

L.E.T. result spreads over the internet.

Some felt extremely happy while others, depressed.

I still remember when I was in that shoe. I felt the blood rushing through my veins as the days walk near to the exam’s date release. I was really depressed and had uncountable sleepless nights right after taking the exam because my mind keeps on reflecting on the test. Daily routine had changed, some meals were skipped.

My point of view about the exam was enormous. I thought that if I fail it, I would be a total loser of the community. That’s why I was so afraid of the result’s coming.

Now, I realized that I was wrong. I got so much attachment to my emotions and to what people might say to me if I fail the test.

After you took the test, if you know that you have given so much effort to its fullest, you lay down your burden to the cross of Christ.

So….

"Worrying is a useless emotion". [Dr. Dyer]

 Optimism is not enough in facing these circumstances. Instead, you must believe that God’s Will shall always be done whether you pass or fail.

L.E.T  His will be done. =)

The problem is we perceive things based on what we see.  Don’t think that God hates you if you fail. Don’t also think that God loves them because they pass.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. [Prov. 3:5]

There are many surprises in our lives and some of them are struggles and pains. They are just part and parcel of your character development here on earth.

Believe because He is at work

Trust Him for He is the history maker

Be thankful cause He gives you breath

Never lose hope for He is never at rest.

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To the LET Passers:

Your life doesn’t end after you pass the exam. Remember to keep your feet on the ground and don’t be overconfident for it doesn’t mean you have achieved enough in your career. It’s just the start of your real journey in the world of chalk and chalkboard. There are a lot of things to learn much more than what you have presently. God speed!

Warning to rich oppressors!; Good news to the abused.

Warning to rich oppressors:

 
¹ Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. ² Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. ³ Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. ⁴ Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. ⁵ You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.^{[a] 6} You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you. 

Good News to the abused

⁷ Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains.

Either  which side you are right now.

You’ve read the truth.

So be it.

How do I love thee?

How do I love thee?

Let me count the ways.

I love thee till the morning sun rises in the west

Till the moonlit shines in  daylight

Till the stars kiss the sky

Till the earth breaks its crest

I love thee till the sun kiss the  night

Till the flowers bloom in autumn

Till the ice melts in North pole

Till the penguin learns to fly

I love thee till apple turns orange

Till  UFO reigns the world

Till Cinderella meets the 7 dwarfs

Till Justin Beiber becomes a rockstar

These are just a few of my plea

More is waiting for you to see

How glad I am to tell you these

Cause that’s what my heart please.

Awesome God

Awesome in power

I call on your name

Mighty and everlasting

F’rever in eternity

You’re the compass I rely on

Leading all points of direction

Yours is the point of salvation

The only I am counting on

Every word of You is flawless

Nothing I couldn’t find worthless

Infusing hope,transforming circumstances

Overcoming adversity,blessing effectiveness

O God what have I become

If I didn’t overcome

If I didn’t realize

How to live my life

(Here am I )

Take me and use all of mine

Come! consume my life

Give me wings so I can fly

And lift the weak to rise

The Secret Place

Take me to the secret place

where no one has ever gazed

take me right away

for I can no longer wait

I am saved by your amazing grace

The greatest sacrifice none can ever make

This life I have is worthless

Till I live with its best

How long should I wait

Satisfy my thirst  or else I’ll fail

Hear my worship today

Hear me crying out your name

Everlasting God you reign

For you I won’t faint

I’ll push through the crowd

Though I can no longer understand

(Till I meet you on the other end)

Come Lord and take me to the secret place

Where moments of peace and happiness is

Where I find strength and joy

Where I  belong.

A memoir's lesson : Psalm 23

I remember so well when I was a child and we had several goats in our backyard. And I just love to watch my brother how he flocks them to the green field.

My brother really likes to raise goats in which he had kept himself busy with them.

Early in the morning at 6, he would bring them to the meadow which is quite far from our home.

Taking them to that place is not a piece of cake. Why?

He does it every day by himself.

Some goats would veer to the left and others to the right.  A few of them would go too far until they reach the road while others wouldn’t follow my brother’s command.

When the time clicks at 5 p.m. He patiently collects the goats and he would never send them home unless the goats are complete. 

By the end of the day, my brother is totally exhausted but I did never hear him complain about it. Not even a murmur.  He never grew weary in taking good care of them all.

He loved every single goat he had so much that he even gave a name for each of them.

This simple memoir reminds us of how God cares for,loves,treasures,endears, each of us.

He is the shepherd, and we are the sheep.

Sometimes we go astray and we don’t want to listen to his word because of the wordly things that we see along the road. Sometimes we think that we are wise enough, we are better, and no longer need His help.

But the most stirring part is he never ceases to take us there in the green pasture no matter how tedious it   is for him to do it. He cares much to all of us even you turn away from him. He is never tired of searching for you because we are his sheep and He is our loving shepherd.

Maybe some of us are still lost. And it’s not yet too late to come back to our shepherd. He is still searching and longing for you to come back to his loving arms.

Thingamajig! Thingamabob!

“Ipod is going to release its new Iphone 5 this coming year expectedly.”

“Samsung has released its new Galaxy/Bada smartphones where each of which bears different designs and features.”

“Nokia’s unexpected partnership with Microsoft opens its door to a groundbreaking history in the phone industry.”

No one wants to be left behind now in these hi-tech yet pricey gadgets most especially smartphones,netbooks, and other cool and fancy gizmos.



Whenever we hear breaking news about gadgets from a friend or on a global t.v., most of us could not wait to get our own too. Many would spend all the money they have in their pocket or bank account. Some would swipe it off on their credit card. While others (whom I know) would never think twice to loan big money from a friend who is more in need of it too.



Our reasons for purchasing them varies from Eiiiiiiiiiiiiii to Zeeeeeeeeeee.





Technology is good unless it swallows your whole lifestyle.




Sadlly, nowdays, many people unconsciously do this. They have become too much attached with them.

Communication with Him has turned from always-often-sometimes-seldom… and the worst – never.

God feels jealous like we do. And that’s the saddest part of it – giving your closest friend (supposedly) less attention which you never did before.



We put value in the wrong place.


We forget to acknowledge that everything – our life, that we enjoy on this Earth, came from Him.


Thus, for without HIM, we don’t exist NOW.


Paul said, “I once thought all these things were so very important, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done.”

Our existence on earth is temporary. Eternal life comes hereafter.



So, don’t get so much attached with these earthly things. Don’t value things that are temporary.

Find the true value in eternal things. ( Ptr. Bill Miller)


There are much greater things awaiting us in the eternal life that no one can ever imagine.

Suggestion: Have a cup to tea and…..reorder your priorities.

Happy 1000th birthday!

During the most celebrated event in our life – birthday, we usually wish for more birthdays to come.

Good News: Molecular biology has finally placed a cure for aging according to Aubrey de Grey – an English scientist.

This means you can possibly live up and celebrate your 1000th birthday.

That’s going to be a lot of birthdays!!!



Question: Does the length of life really matter now?



Answer: The long life only postpones the ultimate question that we have to face after death.



After death, what comes next?


The bible says that we are appointed to die once, and after that, THE JUDGMENT. (Hebrew 9:27)

Same goes during the most stressful point comes into your college life.


Remember the college days?


After you fattened yourselves with principles,theories,and such, you have to undergo the final test. The test will determine whether you pass or fail the course you’ve taken.

Therefore, whether you live up to a big number in your life, the most important thing that we have to look forward is the readiness when we meet face-to-face our Lord Jesus Christ.


From then on, your wish for eternal life will be granted.

A Stick to Greatness!

To start and boom a business, we need a large financial source, talented manpower, and other innovative ideas.

Yet… these things don’t matter to God.



Shamgar delivered Israel from 600 Philistines singlehandedly by merely using an oxgoad (a stick sharpened on one end to drive slow-moving animals).

Sounds crazy huh?! :D Find his story from the book of Judges 3:31…



Moses used an ordinary rod stick to convince the people to follow him, to turn the Nile River into blood, to bring plagues in Egypt, to part the Red Sea, and to perform such miracles. [Exodus 4]




Look at the people around you. Some of them are physically challenged, and yet they unstoppably give grace to Him and do great things in their own simple ways.




God is not looking for people with great abilities, but for those who are willing to follow Him.


God can use what little we have (not a stick nor a toothpick). Make use of your God-given talent, skills or special ability. He can turn them to great things if we only believe, surrender and dedicate such for Him.

Sweet Revenge: How sweet are you?

What would you do if any of the following circumstances happened to you?

1. If  you found out your girlfriend/boyfriend cheats on you;
2. If one of your colleague insulted you in front of  other colleagues;
3. If someone took advantage on your generosity; and
4. If someone killed the person you love.



Most of us would probably say, “Wait for the payback time!”, "I shall never forgive you!",

We have a natural tendency to fight back someone who wounded us deeply. We want them to get hurt twice more than they did. We think about getting even, and settling the score, then we forget to forgive.We do this thing because we believe in this old law:


“An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.”

BUT…


Jesus doesn’t want us to fight back.

There’s a following line omitted to the law. (Matthew 5:39)


“…Do not resist an evil person".


Romans 12:17-21 (NIV) Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.


Don’t do evil just because someone did evil to you. This is lame and childish. Don’t you recall when you used to argue with your brothers or sisters over a toy or a lollipop when mom or dad arrives, we pinpoint at one another and say, "He started it first!

When I tell my old friends about forgiving someone, they would always say...

"If no one stands up to the aggressor, if we don’t give him what he deserves, then he’s just going to keep on doing it!"


Well it sounds heroic and justified but God had answered it already before it happened to you.


“Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.


This policy is not a lack of justice. It is a call not to take personal revenge in order to get justice. Leave justice and revenge to God.



Overcome evil with kindness, as the Lord says.

Jesus has the rights to say this because He sets as the best example. He has been insulted, slapped, tortured,humiliated and crucified on the cross of our sins.Yet, He didn’t move a muscle to fight them back. Not even  a single thought of revenge flashed in His mind. He did not stoop on their level because He knew they didn't know what they were doing. Instead, He gave forgiveness and salvation. Not Vengeance nor Hatred.

So, never let your thirst for justice turn into a quest for revenge. Don’t get even. You’ve been attacked and cheated, forced and taken advantage of. But answer evil with kindness and then leave everything else to God.

Pacify. Endure. Forgive

Forgiveness 

by Mr. Felix Pineda

It is a trait a person must possess
When sins he has to confess
It is easy to utter it
But often times hard to forget.

Man's forgiveness sometimes a lie
For at his back there is a cry
He would then say, " I'm just a man,
The pain it caused still in mind"

In love affair if forgiveness has no treatment
Its ultimate end " cool off " and no again
In a couple once forgiveness is not settled
A broken home; a broken dream are melted.

Forgiveness is quite universal
Positively if followed life is cordial
Negatively if not pursued life is fatal
Which of the two is man's focal?

Guys be reminded forgiveness is from God
Lesson it brings to all of us a real guide
How many times let us forgive to a defiled?
Not seven times but seven times ten as implied.


Vengeance is sweet momentarily and it has a long lasting bitterness.

photo credit: horizontal.integration via photo pin cc

photo credit: DaveAustria.com via photo pin cc

A Focus on Failures

In the verse of Joshua (1:9), it says,

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”


During the last worship service of Ptr. Gordon he said: “ Do not let temporary failures keep you down permanently.”


The ever popular life verses from Proverbs: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”


Psalm 32:8 says, “ I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.”


As the worship song says, “All the way, My Saviour Leads Me. Jesus Never Fails.


One of my favorite verses – Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts if peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end.



Failures are truly hard felt and yet victorious you become after you conquer them.

Whenever we feel lonely and deserted in the midst of our failures, there’s one Big and everlasting God to lean on, who is ever merciful and faithful.

AMEN. :)

The Amazing Scientific Fact

Science is a systematized body of knowledge. (-from my very old  Oxford dictionary)



Science is being taught since the primary years (most schools) and we do learn a lot of things and find the answers to our questions we encounter in our daily lives.



Through science, man begin to discover and create technology which continually develops sorts of new machines and hi-tech gadgets to suit our satisfaction and needs.



Well, I must admit, I pretty love science (especially the experiments) since my primary years and I just love it how it explains the phenomenon. It’s cool and there’s a way lots of fun things to do.



As I grow older, I became to realize that there’s even greater than science.



And...when I saw this picture for the first time during the Sunday school, I was sitting on one corner, and I was extremely stunned.

This is a protein molecule that glues our body together and there are about trillions of these inside our body. (That’s a massive amount of glue!). That’s how this tinny tiny cell gives a huge function into our body. It’s called Laminin.




Have you realized that no matter how you turn your back to Him, no matter how you let Him go from your life, yet He still never let us go? Still, His arms are spread wide open for us whenever we want to come back to Him.



Yes!He lives in every single cell of our body. Thus, He holds our body together. He holds everything together. (Col. 1:17)


For that reason,no reason is enough for us to quit when we feel like we cannot take a single step further anymore for He is with us and He will never ever keep us down... as HE always promise since the beginning and for sure, He will keep it.


That made me say how Great He is more than science, more than anything on earth, and in the whole wide universe.

A Foolish Prayer

Many people fail to understand on what praying really means.



A vain repetition (Matthew 6:7) though is not the worst case (for my part).

There’s even this extreme case that is firmly forbidden for all mankind (in my opinion).



I have just figured it out recently about this futile praying attitude. (I hope this message could get through to many of you)








Pay heed.

Don’t ever (never ever) pray, unless you are willing to listen to the answer!

Don’t dare ask for something/seek for an answer when you are not ready/if you are soooo tenacious to listen.

Don't be a FOOL.

Metamorphosis

Have you ever come across with a sudden change that has left your jaw dropped wide open?

Why do some people resist change and why do others embrace it?

How do we begin new chapters in our lives?


Change is abundant. We can see it from ourselves as we age up. We can also see it from our surroundings which are mainly brought by technology. Everything does change and it is the only thing here on earth which doesn’t change until apple turns to orange. It is a lifetime process that gradually unfolds in due time.

There are two possible types of change. The first one is driven by us. We choose to make a change in our old routines. On the other hand, it is what I call the unexpected change. This change can have either the two sides of Yin and Yang.



Most people find hard in coping up with the unexpected and unaccepted change for whatever reasons. Truly, it is hard to handle that sort of change because you don’t feel comfortable and you want to get rid of it immediately. New decisions will be soon hard to apply because of that strange feeling. Yet, we don’t want to see ourselves to get stuck in such circumstance and let our whole life be devastated with a single and yet enormous change.




So, how do we start then?

Facing up with an unaccepted change should be started with the ATTITUDE towards it. It is the way on how you look at it in all angles. It’s either you see it positively and call it opportunity or see it threatening and see it as something to be feared and dismayed.


Your attitude toward change plays a big part in how you will deal with it. If you view all change as bad, it sure won’t happen easily for you. If you look at change as opportunity, you will be more open to it and willing to make it work. If you are done with your attitude, the decisions will follow naturally.

We shall accept whatever kind of change that life gives us for what really strikes is the learning that we experience and gain as we come along through the process. We need not to over analyze the situation-change. (Overanalysis leads to paralysis! –Ate Rain) It is a wrong and deadly move. (Checkmate!!!)


Therefore, we need a big plus sign towards any major changes in our lives. We do need to communicate with Him about what’s happening into our lives and surely, he will give us the answers.

If we are confused, by any chance, don’t know how to start making new decisions for which road to take, let’s seek His guidance and infinite wisdom in making our decisions. He would be more than glad to listen for He is our father and we are His children.

Dealing with lemons

Way back in college, we used to edit write ups made by our classmates from our creative writing course with our ever dearest humorous teacher – Mr. F. Right there, we learned how to become decisive and strict in grammar and composition.
I can even look through microscopic errors contained in each section of a certain paragraph.(that’s cool)

From then on, I tried to carry it over in my personal life which in return, has made me vulnerable and weak unexpectedly. I bent over on the negative side of life much more than the positive. I would always think and look for what is wrong (that is absolutely not cool) and failing to see the good things within them.



I admire the undying endurance and faith of Apostle Paul during his suffering in the cell and yet rejoicing and preaching the gospel of Christ. He did not focus on the negative. But instead, he chose to look at the positive and rejoice in it.

Most of us are complaining about the bad things happening into our lives. We always see and even magnify the problems that are placed upon our shoulders failing to notice the good things contained in them.



God wants us to be cool and calm in these circumstances (Chill chill!!!!-Eivan) and not to be critical and discouraged for He is in the driver’s seat. All we have to do is fasten our seat belts and look forward to our point of destination whatever road we take because wherever we go, there would always be bumpy roads lying ahead of us.

One most thing: “If life gives you lemons, make a lemonade.” – Dale Carnegie

...and don't forget to share it!

Cheers!!!!!

Cancer of Depression: Its symptoms and treatment

There are times that we feel depressed. It is often triggered by life circumstances, such as a loss of job, losing of a loved one, divorce, and others.

Depression is based solely not only from our rational mind. Primarily, it is a spirit. It’s a spirit that will hold us close (if we allow it to happen) like a shadow. Those suffering from depression can experience intense feelings of sadness, anger, hopelessness, fatigue, and a variety of other symptoms.

They may begin to feel useless and even suicidal, losing interest in things and people that they once enjoyed. Could you even imagine how depression can affect your life if you don’t know how to handle it?

Mostly people find hard in fighting depression especially when they are vulnerable and weak in their faith. They are more than confused and troubled. They don’t know how to deal with it.


They focus on cutting off the fruit (of depression) not even thinking that it would grow back all over again.

We have to cut off the root- the spirit of depression, not its fruit.

Now is the time for us to remove the cloak of the spirit of depression.


The bible mentions many citations about how to deal with depression.

The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. (Rom. 8:26)

If God is for us, then who can be against us?

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously gives us all things? (Romans 8:31-33)

God will never allow temptations into our lives that are too much for us to handle (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Emotions can lead us astray, but God's Word stands firm and unchanging. We must maintain strong faith in God and hold even more tightly to Him when we undergo depression.

Once again, If God is for us, then who can be against us?