Giving God Your Best

This devotional article touched me--it made me realize that in all my days of living, I have mostly thought my life was about me, about people whom I've known and loved. In my case, I have sometimes left God out of the picture and underestimated His power to change my life for the better. I mostly relied on myself thinking that I know the best way to make myself happy--and this was to do anything I wanted and achieve for myself everything I've hoped for.

I always forget that even in the minutest of all decisions, God wants to be involved. He is my Father; and He has always intended to give me His best love. I hope to be able to give my best to Him, too.

This is from the devotional Experiencing God Day-by-Day, by Dr. Richard Blackaby; dated 8 August 2009:

Giving God Your Best

You shall not sacrifice to the LORD your God a bull or sheep which has any blemish or defect, for that is an abomination to the LORD your God. (Deuteronomy 17:1)

God’s love moved Him to sacrifice that which meant the most to Him—His only Son. Our response, if we truly understand His love for us, is the desire to give back to God that which means the most to us.

The Old Testament reveals that God set forth high standards for the sacrifices He required of His people. A worthy sacrifice had to cost the people something. As their hearts shifted away from God, the people began struggling to give God costly offerings. They would bring blind, lame, and sick animals, assuming God could not tell the difference (Mal. 1:8). God saw what they were doing and declared their offerings to be in vain (Mal. 1:10). Throughout the Old Testament period, God was setting the stage for the ultimate, perfect, and sinless sacrifice of His Son for the sins of humanity.

The offerings we give back to God reveal our hearts’ condition. A heart that overflows with gratitude for God’s love will respond in selfless devotion. If we are unwilling to sacrifice our time, our possessions, our money, or our energy, we indicate that we do not love God as He desires. God takes delight in the person who gives to Him cheerfully out of a loving heart, a person who understands that God is the source of everything he has and who knows that God will more than compensate for whatever is sacrificed for Him (2 Cor. 9:8).

If you struggle in giving your best offerings to God, pause and reflect on what God sacrificed for you. Trust Him and give Him the best that you have because you love Him with all your heart.

I hope you were blessed... I was, and still am.

Random Thoughts

I admire intellectual people--and sometimes envy them. They seem to have all the time in the world to read up on current events, philosophical ideologies, and other materials of depth. Other times, it is just natural for these sages to blurt out ideas at the top of their head that easily merit ordinary people's applause.

And yet, I also find it unpleasant to always think things through and lose the child-like bout within you. I, for one, wish to hold on as long as I can to my "childhood". I still want to be able to play with my stuffed toys, be naturally curious about trivial matters, do baby talk--to generally maintain the innocence and idealism I once was accustomed to. I long for the shallow times when I can just laugh out loud and people find it cute, when I spill ice cream on my shirt and not think that it's disgusting, when I just go out with my girlfriends and skate, all of us in a straight line, without neighbors and on-lookers finding it corny.

I want to enjoy the simple life; but I want to grow. Little by little, it is dawning upon me that there's always two sides to a story; more commonly explained in these words "with great knowledge comes great responsibility".

With increased education, you get to see a specific situation from another perspective and you learn how to do things more easily. But before taking the first step to pursuing a solution, a sage inevitably thinks deeply through the issue, since it is not only the ingredients in the recipe that he considers, but the whole concoction.

My question: How exactly does one live the simple life without being simple-minded? I'm not exactly sure if I want to know the answer to this--'cause it just might make my life complicated... or not.

Things to Remember

My boyfriend has been secretly crushing on me since May 2007. He doesn't want to admit it, but I have proof... from his own blog. :) Sweet and stalker-ish. I'm keeping these for blackmailing purposes. Haha.

Posted on 19 May 2007

Iced Tea

I know a girl
She puts the color inside of my world
She’s just like a maze
Where all of the walls all continually change
And I’ve done all I can
To stand on her steps with my heart in my hands
Now I’m starting to see
Maybe it’s got nothing to do with me

© 2003 John Mayer, Daughters

Posted on 26 October 2008

Secret Gardens

A professor of mine, one of the very few whom I admired throughout my college years, has reminded us a few times to take life a little more seriously. She said that life is not a game, neither is it a joke. That if we continue to see it as such, it would later turn out that life itself is the one that's going to play a joke on us.
--------------------------

I've been reading her journal. The one that's supposed to spill a few of her secrets yet is on the public domain. Truth be told, it was an accident that led me to her writings. I would never have intended to read it had I known that it was not for my consumption.

Her words showed a side of her that I haven't really seen for the few years that we've known each other. Or maybe I just didn't know her as well as I think I did.

She is in love. In fact, so much in love.

--------------------------

My soul does not know how to fight for what it feels -- for what it longs for. It is a knight without armor and it will remain as such until the summer heat begins to melt the coldness of its heart once again.

Posted on 12 November 2008

Non-Fiction

There are some things I wish I've learned directly from a person, said right in my face -- a far cry from learning these things through something written down in hypertext. There's nothing like witnessing uncompromising honesty, hearing the words I'd rather hear than overhear, and have the opportunity to express my own heartfelt relief in return. A relief from not having me guess -- from not letting you pick up pieces of somehow an unresolvable puzzle. After all, I'm not that sensitive.

There are some things I wish I've said directly in front of somebody. Even though it was killing me at the time, I still should have held back until it was the right time, should have waited until we were at the right moment. Even though it makes little difference to how the receiver feels about me, at least the hundred-night of constant well-wishing, passion, and suffering would have shown in my eyes. The shaking of my hands would have revealed how nervous I still can be from doing something I've rehearsed all my life. After all, she is worth it. She was worth it.

Find Hope Again

Attend these FREE lifestyle meetings that are guaranteed to change your life for the better!

Plus, get 50% OFF on your EXECUTIVE MEDICAL CHECK-UP!

Venue: Dusit Thani Hotel, Makati City
Dates: May 3-8; May 10-15, 2009

Health/lifestyle exhibits open at: 6:00 PM
Lectures on health/lifestyle start at: 7:00 PM
Nightly discussions on Hope: 7:45 - 9:00 PM

My Article in Collegiate Quarterly

Collegiate Quarterly, a quarterly devotional for young adults, published my article for its Oct-Dec 2008 issue. This material is translated into a number of foreign languages including Spanish and Portuguese and is used by Adventists all over the world.

Check out page 88, or 7/9 of this link. Enjoy!

Ang Paghihirap ng Isang Babaeng Nililigawan at Gustong Magpaligaw

GUY NO. 1: AT ANONG MAGAGAWA MO KUNG DI MO SIYA GUSTO?

Ang hirap nga naman pag ika'y nililigawan ng isang lalaking hindi mo gusto. Kahit anong pilit mong magpakabait, dahil ayaw mong masaktan yung feelings niya, minsan di mo mapigil magsungit para lang umalis siya sa mukha mo. Dikit kasi nang dikit, di naman kayo siamese twins... Obsessed kumbaga; yung tipong, all he wants for Christmas.. is YOU.

Kahit ayaw mo tuloy magkaroon ng kasalanan sa pagsisinungaling, di mo mapigilan gumawa ng excuse para lang di kayo magkasama. "Marami pa akong gagawin", "Di ako pinayagan ng parents ko eh", "Papakainin ko pa yung aso ko", "Manonood pa ako ng Kokey", "Sinusumpong ako ng allergy ko (sayo)", at "I'm so thankful we're FRIENDS (with emphasis)." Ano pa bang kailangang marinig ng ganitong klaseng lalaki? Sana naman may magic word na pag yun ang sinabi mo, bigla nalang siyang maglalahong parang bula. Pero nakaka-guilty rin, dahil sobrang gusto siya ng magulang at mga kapatid mo, wala siyang kasimbait, at di naman siya kapangitan, correct grammar pa! Di mo lang kasi talaga siya gusto... which is the most important thing.

GUY NO. 2: GUSTO MO LANG KASI MAGPALIGAW...SA IBA!

Nakalaan na kasi ang buo mong puso para kay Prince Charming. Problema nga lang ay... unrequited love ito--kumbaga suntok sa buwan... yung tipong puputi muna ang uwak bago kayo magkatuluyan. At dahil dalagang Pilipina ka, di ka makagawa ng first move.

Ibang klaseng paranoia nga naman ang mararamdaman mo pag ika'y bigo sa pag-ibig. Kinumusta ka lang ng crush mo feeling mo naman miss na miss ka na niya. Bigyan ka lang ng tira-tira mas masaya ka pa sa asong pinakawalan sa hawla at akala mo kung sino kang girlfriend kung maka-asta. Tinago mo pa yung tissue na ginamit niya, pinalaminate yung balat ng chocolate na kinagatan niya, hanggang pati pangalan ng asawa ng officemate niya inalam mo na. Pero, di mo malalaman kailanman kung ano yung nararamdaman niya. Araw-araw pinagdadasal mo, na sana ay magkatagpo ang inyong mga puso at ma-appreciate niya ang pagiging presidente mo ng fan club niya.

Ang mundo nga naman nakakatawa. Kung sinong gusto mo, siyang may ayaw sayo. This calls for a special song! Tunutuntutun... nuntuntun... tununununtun... tuntununun... tunutuntutun... nuntuntun... tunutuntutuntuntununun... are you gonna stay with the one who loves you or are you coming back to the one you love? Sing with me now!

The Power of Prayer

We are truly blessed to have been given a channel through which we can communicate with God--Prayer. I am delighted to share this excerpt from Ellen G. White's writings. I hope you'll be blessed by it as much as I have been.

Prayer is the answer to every problem in life. It puts us in tune with divine wisdom which knows how to adjust everything perfectly. So often we do not pray in a certain situation because that from our standpoint the outlook is hopeless.

But nothing is impossible with God.

Nothing is too entangled that it cannot be remedied.
No human relationship is too strained for God to bring about the reconciliation and understanding.
No habit is too deep-rooted that it cannot be overcome.
No one is so weak that he cannot be made strong.
No one is so ill that he cannot be healed.
No mind is so dull that it cannot be made brilliant.
Whatever we need or desire, if we trust God, He will supply it.
If anything is causing worry and anxiety let us stop rehearsing the difficulty and trust God for healing love and power.

- Ellen G. White
Review and Herald
2 October 1865

Just When You Thought...

Just when you thought you're finally over him, you see him with another girl, and suddenly you didn't know what to feel. Should you cry? or just die?

You probably have an instinct that he's your greatest love; the innermost creases of your brain just didn't want you to acknowledge it. And even after efforts to move on, the best of you (unintentionally?) is still reserved for him.

How can a love so strong be so wrong?

Maybe you just can't be together...and maybe, one day, you just have to learn to accept it...

I Love This

This video is so cute and it reminds me of my own stuffed toys...and how loving they could be. Yen even recorded the commercial from our TV and we watch it over and over :) Good stuff.

Central Luzon Conference Communication Convention

It was my and my friend Liz' pleasure to host the first regional gathering for Adventist communicators in Central Luzon. The event's theme was "Building Bridges of Hope" and welcomed broadcasters, journalists, photographers, web developers, and other communication leaders.

The convention was held in Cucueco Hall in the Central Luzon Conference in Malabon, Metro Manila on 17 January 2009. Check out information on and pictures from the event by clicking here.

This Week's Project: Save My Day

"TEXT US UP! ARE YOU HAVING A GOOD DAY OR A BAD DAY?", the DJ's question was perfectly timed.

Things haven't been going great at work recently. My Outlook has been acting up since last week--my old account couldn't be fixed anymore and now I'm in the process of downloading 15,000+ e-mails. I was having trouble deciding if I should laugh or cry when I saw the time remaining for the download was only 10 more hours.

SUNDAY

I attended a meeting for the whole research team's planning session last Sunday. My mom was disappointed that I couldn't spend time with the family considering it was our special day; and I had to explain to her that the meeting had to be scheduled that time to accommodate everyone; and that it was a blessing because it didn't entail me to work during my Saturday Sabbath.

Things were going pretty well; until a friend frantically asked me where I was. It turned out that my mom called her and was trying to find out if I was just out on a date. Wow. I was really embarrassed. Even if it was Valentine's day twenty-four hours earlier, I'd rather be with the family than out on a date, especially on Sundays.

MONDAY

Monday was a happy day, and it somehow balanced things out. Five listeners have reacted to our hour-long radio program aired Mondays at DWAD 1098 kHz. I was ecstatic to have also received a call from a woman who wanted to know more about our church's teachings. Praise God!

TUESDAY

I received an e-mail from a colleague that made me feel really bad--and I still can't get over it until now.

WEDNESDAY

With a liter of diesel amounting to only P23.70 now, people are once again happily(?) driving their cars everywhere they go... and this results in muy muy muy trafico! You'd think that traffic in Manila couldn't get worse. I now spend 1.5 hours driving myself to work. Give me 30 minutes more and I could go to the Visayas region and back par avion! This is for a fact double the time I used to spend on the road every morning. Now I pass through twists and turns and sidestreets just for me to lessen my travel time by 30 minutes; but which leaves me stressed and tired; considering that my day hasn't even started yet.

In addition, about 160+ projects welcome me in the office; all waiting to be translated from French to English and uploaded on the company website. With barely 7 days until the deadline, I can't help but feel panicky.

All I could think of was...I just have to get away...!

MY SPECIAL "ME" TIME

I left the office early and went to Megamall for therapy...SHOPPING. As soon as I arrived, I realized two things:

(1) I missed walking... the only walks I took the last couple of weeks was from our front door to our garage and from the Ortigas parking lot to the office... and back.
(2) The "new arrivals" shoes in Gibi are not new! I already tried on the sandals on display last year... :)

I decided to check out swimwear in various ladies' boutiques; 'cause if there's one thing that made me excited about this week, it was our trip to Subic on Sunday. I went to Cinderella, Monnakiki, ForMe, SurfWorld, Mango (no swimsuits there), VNC (no swimsuits there too, but I couldn't help but look since it was my favorite shoe store)... to no avail. I was trying to look for the Speedo outlet when I realized that my time was about to run out; the mall was closing in 45 minutes.

I decided to check out SM Department Store and found Speedo bathing suits, but didn't like any. Finally, I found ones that I felt I could wear. As I was paying, the stuff I was buying turned out to be on sale-- I got P200 off! For only P998.00, I was able to buy a tankini, 2 bikinis, and another bikini top! FULFILLMENT!

I thought, however, that my day still wouldn't be complete without Monica Maye's infamous book. A couple of days earlier, I had a conversation with a colleague in Starbucks. We discussed about a certain book entitled, "What Should I Do with My Life?", by Po Bronson and which narrated true stories of how people struggled through problems to the point of cluelessness; and finally figuring out what they really wanted to do and actually doing it. Monica, my colleague, said the book helped her go through a lot of difficult things.

My sister Yen wanted to buy the book for me as a Valentine's day gift; however she wasn't able to find it in Bonifacio High Street's Fully Booked. This time, I went to National Bookstore, intentionally looked for it and found it. I was so excited! I bought it together with another international bestseller, "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell.

I was already a bit dizzy when I realized that I haven't taken anything in since 12 noon today; and that I have only eaten Chicken empanada for lunch. To serve as the culminating event of all events, I ordered baked ziti with mixed red and white sauce from Sbarro. I didn't mind that people were staring at me as I ate my meal as any hungry child from the streets would--and all alone.

As I left Megamall, I realized that I spent almost P1700...to date myself. I couldn't imagine how somebody could feel so alone with hundreds of Filipinos surrounding her.

Fortunately, it was at that specific minute when my mom texted me that she was singing "I Have You (To Save My Day)", and that she couldn't help but think of me. It dawned on me that I wasn't alone after all; and all I could say was, "Thanks for saving my day too, Nay."

Mensa Day!

I would like to invite you all to Mensa Day, an awesome event held by my friend's organization, MENSA Philippines! Mensa is an international society in which the sole criterion for membership is a score at or above the 98th percentile on any of a number of standardized IQ tests. I'm not a Mensan, but as they say, you are who your friends are!

The event, which will be held on 22 February 2009 (10 AM to 7 PM) in Fully Booked Bonifacio High Street, features seminars on:

- The Art of Blogging
- Entrepreneurship
- Mind over Matter: Improving yourself with the power of the mind
- Bikram Yoga

The event will also end with a musical performance by Kitchie Nadal!

Comment on this note (with your cellphone number) and I will forward you a text message that will let you get in for FREE! Reserve your seat too by pre-registering through: http://www.emailmeform.com/fid.php?formid=231948. Come with your friends and family!

Forever Yours

This Valentine's fever is really getting to me. Here's another one of my poems...

Forever Yours

I want to hold your hand,
To make sure everything's fine.
I want to kiss your lips
So I would know if you're still mine.

I longed for you day and night,
It made me miss you so;
My eyes pined for your sight,
They didn't want to let you go.

Our love lost, the trust gone;
This shall never be forgotten.
But all the while, still way before,
These things have already been forgiven.

Don't worry, I'm here,
I'll always take care of you;
I have all the time in the world,
'Cause I have forever to share with you.

Stand by me, day by day,
And walk with me real slow;
In your arms I want to stay,
Please never let me go.

And if I'm going to lose you,
You'll still have me as a friend,
For now until forever,
My sweetest love I'll send.

Touch me now, hold me tight,
And make everything around me feel alright;
Kiss me gently, and open your doors,
By then, I'm sure, I'm forever yours.

Paalam

I was ecstatic to have found my poem notebook while our library was being re-arranged. This notebook was given by my mother because I frequented writing poetry when I was younger, can you believe it!?!

After flipping through the pages, I encountered one of the poems I wrote on June 14, 1999; and which was featured in our high school newspaper.

"Paalam"

"Mahal kita," ang sabi mo
Naniwala ako sa'yo
Dahil ika'y mahal ko rin
Sana'y ako'y 'di mo lisanin.

Nagtagal ang ating pagsasamahan,
Iyong mukha'y nasa aking isipan.
Akala ko'y ikaw na talaga
Ang inisip ko'y, "sana nga."

Ilang taon din ang nakalipas
Tunay na kulay ay lumabas
'Di ko akalaing magagawa mo,
Ang maging mapang-abuso sa tiwala ko.

Paalam sa'yo, ika'y mahal pa rin
Ang mga pinagdaana'y wag sanang limutin.
Sana'y maging masaya kang totoo,
sa bagong kasintahang kaibigan ko...

I actually wrote this for my girl best friend who lost her boyfriend because of another girl; who was also our batchmate in school.

What About Now?

For some reason, while listening to Yahoo! Music LAUNCHCAST (like how I always do when online), I was taken aback by Daughtry's "What About Now". I always hear this song play, but it was the first time I was really able to listen to its lyrics, and some lines from the chorus struck me. I don't know if I'm just being love-smitten being it's Valentine's day and all tomorrow, but at the other side of it, I totally believe that love is something that shouldn't be denied if it could be given. Love is not something that we should take for granted; and we don't have the luxury of time to laze around and just wait for something to happen.

To love is a choice that we can make... NOW.

"What About Now"

Shadows fill an empty heart
As love is fading,
From all the things that we are
But are not saying.
Can we see beyond the scars
And make it to the dawn?

Change the colors of the sky.
And open up to
The ways you made me feel alive,
The ways I loved you.
For all the things that never died,
To make it through the night,
Love will find you.

What about now?
What about today?
What if you're making me all that I was meant to be?
What if our love never went away?
What if it's lost behind words we could never find?
Baby, before it's too late,
What about now?

The sun is breaking in your eyes
To start a new day.
This broken heart can still survive
With a touch of your grace.
Shadows fade into the light.
I am by your side,
Where love will find you.

What about now?
What about today?
What if you're making me all that I was meant to be?
What if our love, it never went away?
What if it's lost behind words we could never find?
Baby, before it's too late,
What about now?

Now that we're here,
Now that we've come this far,
Just hold on.
There is nothing to fear,
For I am right beside you.
For all my life,
I am yours.

What about now?
What about today?
What if you're making me all that I was meant to be?
What if our love never went away?
What if it's lost behind words we could never find?

What about now?
What about today?
What if you're making me all that I was meant to be?
What if our love never went away?
What if it's lost behind words we could never find?
Baby, before it's too late,
Baby, before it's too late,
Baby, before it's too late,
What about now?

What's your pledge?

Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher gathered their friends to give support to Obama--and assure him that being president is not the loneliest job in the world, unlike what Harry Truman said.

What's your pledge?

@ Yahoo! Video

Pinggu Introduction

BOCHOG

FULL NAME: Bruce Reeko Yamamoto Darcy
BIRTHDAY: March 24

If there's one word that can describe Bochog, it is SPOILED. Commonly the object of everyone's affections, Bochog has a number of pet names: Bochie, Bebot, Bobet, Baldhead, Bro, and Little Nini. Bochog believes himself to be the cutest baby in 17 Ocampo, the house of the Talaveras.

Compared to his cousin Santi, and though older, Bochog is still baby-ish in his actuations. He is loud and very manipulative; his charming ways will make you do what he wants. What's dangerous is that when you turn him down, he cries, and when he cries, he gets asthmatic, and only a kiss on his cheek or beak can calm him down.

Bochie is also very forgetful--he will often ask people around him what he did or where he went for the day, as if he didn't experience anything. He also loves to eat (though in reality he can't) and tries to earn money so he can buy chocolate gold coins. He is a fan of all penguin movies including Happy Feet and Penguin, penguin, paano ka ginawa? (March of the Penguins).

Bochog takes a bath only thrice a year to make sure that he doesn't get torn up and uses only Goat's Milk soap so he'll stay soft and cuddly. His favorite song is Gasolina; but he dances better to Flo-rida's "Get Low". To see his dancing abilities, you may click here.

Pinggu Introduction

SANTI

Full Name: Santiago Talavera Camacho
Birthday: May 27

Santiago Camacho, or Santi, as he is fondly called, hails originally from Hong Kong, in a Watson's Store. He has travelled to the Philippines to find his foster parents, but spent most of his time growing up in Singapore. His lucky parents are Mabby Talavera and John Jo Camacho.

At a very young age Santi has had his share of fame already. He has been photographed in various countries to form content of a book, an imitation of the original, "Penguins Travelling the World"; which Mabby gave to John Jo as a present.

Santi loves reading books; he is an IT freak and enjoys discussing about philosophies and life. He is mostly quiet when people are around, but every time he opens his mouth (or beak?) to say something, people are amazed. They can't believe that such profound thoughts can come from a barely three-year old baby.


Santi loves his mom very much. He greets her often with a "Mama!" and a hug and he defends her from all people verbally attacking her. He is also well behaved; he makes sure that his parents know his whereabouts all the time, especially when he sleeps over with his Granny Nanny.


Santi is also nicknamed "Bugnu", short for bugnutin (temperamental or moody). And who can blame him? He is mostly characterized by high ideals and is easily disappointed by negative circumstances. He is a pit the depth of which you cannot fathom, in terms of intellect and understanding.


His big tummy and erect stature preventing him from moving freely; his only pitfall is he can't dance that well.