LIVE A POSITIVE LIFE. INFLUENCE OTHERS.

Do not worry This is the first time I’m blogging using my...

Sun, 19 May 2013 19:49:00 -0400

Do not worry

This is the first time I’m blogging using my clever little technological contraption.

Cute, huh?:-)

I was in a rough time recently. Sometimes, the enemy really knows which button to push - or who to send to make us feel down or depressed.

In the past, I would mope around and maybe allow myself to drift into the negative thoughts. Today, however, I already recognize the attack coming from the enemy, the words he uses and the circumstances that he puts me in. However, there are times when I do not recognize his attacks. Suffice it to say that I still get deceived every now and then.

This is why we all need to increase our dependence on God - this means we have to read His word even more, to pray even more and to be around Godly people frequently.

Truth is, we cannot really make everyone agree with us.

I recently fell into a disheartening situation after someone misinterpreted my words because someone else tried to explain what I meant.I had a feeling it hurt the other person who received the explanation but it hurt me more because I really did not have any intention to hurt anyone.

I prayed to God several times and asked for help about the situation. I told Him that He sees my heart and He knows what I truly meant. I lifted it all up to Him and He has promised that the solution is on the way.

The devil will still try to deceive us but if we have enough ammunitions (Bible verses) to fight back, we have an increased chance to overcome every trial.

Here are helpful verses or ammunitions that we could use to avoid or repel deceit from the enemy

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? Matthew 6:25-27

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34

PS I have received quite a number of questions in my inbox from my readers. I am sorry if it took me a long time to answer them. I check my blog not as often as before due to an increased workload. I appreciate your interest in sending me your thoughts. If you have questions, you can also tweet me at: @I_will_flourish or through facebook.com/mannaforjenny. (^_^)

A Victorious Weekend

Sat, 11 May 2013 00:35:53 -0400

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36

The scorching summer heat pierced through my skin as I moved toward the pool to position myself in the best spot for taking photos. I was assigned by our Victory group leader to take pictures that day for one of our members who will undergo water baptism. The searing heat did not douse my excitement for my friend who will be making a public declaration of her faith and love for Jesus.

As I took snapshots of MR and the other participants of this quarter’s Victory Weekend, I remembered myself feeling the same excitement after making a heartfelt decision to truly surrender my whole existence to God in May last year.

I participated in Victory Weekend just a few weeks after coming out of a challenging episode that wounded my heart as much as it wounded my soul. Back then, I already had my mind set that God would lead me out of the dark pit soon and that He has given me the grace to overcome the obstacles that He allowed in my life. I saw baptism as a first step into ‘sealing the agreement’ with God that He would deliver me from the pain and that I would come out of it polished and better in many aspects.
It has been a year since the challenge and God has been faithful with His promise of healing and restoration. Not only did I come out of it better off than I thought I would, there were bonuses and perks along the way. God is more than amazing. I wish I could illustrate how many times ‘He showed up in my life’ to comfort me and to assure me that I am loved. God ‘hugged me ’ several times through His word and through the loving words spoken by some friends.
Interestingly, God has increased my friends too. Truly, the Lord has several ways to make sure His plans will come to pass.

Victory Weekend is a two-day seminar or retreat that includes worship, Bible teaching, prayer, and personal ministry. One2One is the prerequisite for the Victory Weekend. One2One is a six-lesson discipleship guide that includes discussions on salvation, the Bible and Prayer and repentance. Water baptism is a public declaration that God now lives inside us and that we have allowed God to have control in our lives.

As MR descended into the pool, two Victory group leaders prayed over her prior to her water baptism. I am especially proud of Kai, who was one of the people who baptized MR. Kai has turned into one of the most innately beautiful persons I have known. Young as she is, Kai’s maturity in emotions and in the spiritual aspect inspires me.
MR and I are in the same Victory Group that gathers every Sunday to pray and encourage each other. Yes, we also talk a lot about girl stuff. (^_^)

I almost became emotional when it was MR’s turn to be baptized because I remembered my experiences last year.
At a time when I was still hurting and coping from the pain of a failed love, I saw Victory Weekend as the most logical and most important decision I have to make if I want to move on happily sans anger or emotional baggage.

After the leaders prayed over me and I was dipped in the pool, I imagined myself rising from the pain and receiving God’s healing, restoration and blessings. Back then, I was already certain that the day will come when I will be completely healed and restored. I knew in my heart that God will use my story to serve Him - that someday, I will help people who are going through the same dilemma.

Here is my photo after my baptism. I believe my smile made me look like the happiest girl in the world. MR, I also think these are our best photos - second to our future wedding photos. (^_^)

**if you have a twitter account, I’d like to connect with you at @I_will_flourish <3

I Love Sundays. On Sundays, I am able to wake up late, that is...

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 23:22:00 -0400

I Love Sundays.

On Sundays, I am able to wake up late, that is 8 AM, so that I could attend the 10 AM church service.

On this day, I am able to just take it easy, unworried about deadlines and other stuff that torment my mind on a regular day. I don’t know if it’s just me but every Sunday, I feel like everyone is also unhurried and relaxed.

It is on Sundays that I am able to realize how crazy that week has been.

I recharge and I connect to the Father. I have more time for God. I have more time to listen to His voice and instructions.

This is why I look forward to Sundays.

***

I recently read a tweet that talked about idol worship in modern times.

When we hear about idols, our mind usually goes back to those mentioned in the Bible – the golden calf, the statues that were made to be worshipped as gods. But what does idol actually mean these days?

According to the author, idols are those that we hold on to for security and comfort. These could be our jobs, friends, fame, money and all earthly possessions.

I actually forgot reading about this until I ran into a minor misunderstanding with a friend. After I had agonized about it for about an hour, this tweet came to mind and I suddenly thought that I may be putting much of my trust in some friendships because they are making me comfortable. Some friendships seem to give me the ‘assurance’ that I should seek only from God.

My friend and I were able to sort things out in a matter of two hours but the whole experience had me thinking I should assess my relationships and be especially mindful about how I look at them.

I felt sad upon realizing this and I immediately asked God to forgive me and to show me areas in my life where I may have been turning to idols unknowingly. God is faithful and has been walking me through this issue.

How about you? Ask God to reveal what’s in your heart so may know if you are also having the same issues in your life.

“You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.” Exodus 20:3-4 (NIV)

*If you want to read more scriptures about idols, I recommend the books of Ezekiel and Deuteronomy

*You could follow us on twitter: @I_will_flourish and in Facebook: www.facebook.com/mannaforjenny

Inspiration for the busy soul

Sat, 09 Mar 2013 20:37:04 -0500

(Image from tumblr)

Have you ever been squeezed into a really busy week that you keep putting off some tasks for the weekend? I would not even recognize I had fallen into this situation until I realized I have several backlog articles for my blog. My weekday evenings are now largely spent on watching TV (which is unusual for me) and then my quiet time with the Lord before I sleep. I suspect the daily pressures of work could be creeping into my system turning me into a TV-watching person which I no longer am.

Today, I have taken a few minutes to share with you a wonderful news that I have received from the mother of the boy that we were able to bless last December. Here is an excerpt of the SMS she sent me recently.

“kamusta na po? Nag-normal na po yung 2d-echo ni Lemuel…Sobrang miracle po yun…pakisabi po sa lahat ng tumulong marami pong salamat sa inyong lahat and God Bless (How are you? Lemuel’s 2D-echo is now normal…it is truly a miracle. Thank you to everyone who helped and God Bless).”

If you are interested to read Lemuel’s story, click here.

Aling Nenita’s text message was the best message I received that day. It truly shows how God is at work in our lives even though we don’t see it in the natural.

What are you asking God for? Do you have the patience to wait for His timing?

***

I recently watched a show that featured people who are living victorious lives despite their health conditions.

There were three of them that were featured in that particular episode but one teenage guy with a medical condition on his spinal cord easily won my admiration.

Patrick was almost a year old when he was run over by a car leaving one of his legs paralyzed. However, it seemed that Patrick had no room for the words ‘pity’ and ‘misery’ as he strives to live a normal life. He religiously attends his physical therapy sessions and even finds time to bond with his friends. He also spends some of his time by surfing, through the help of the Life Rolls on foundation. When I saw him on TV, I saw a teenager who is full of hope and expectancy in life. How I wish everyone has the same attitude in whatever battle they face in life.

On courage and faith - Bethany Hamilton's story

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 00:40:00 -0500

On courage and faith - Bethany Hamilton's story:

I found an incredibly inspiring video on Youtube last week. It’s about an interview with a female surfer who lost her arm in a shark attack.

Bethany Hamilton was 13 when she lost an arm after a gruelling experience with a ferocious shark in the sea. Reflecting on it, I believe many of us could not imagine living a life with one arm – especially when you’re a teenager. ‘Awkward’ has become a common phrase among teenagers today. Can you imagine yourself going out with friends sporting a prosthetic arm?

But I loved what Bethany said when the host asked her how she was able to live through it. I finally understood how she overcame the trials when she spoke about her faith.

Here is a short transcript of Bethany’s interview at the Tavis Smiley show for the film ‘Soul Surfer’:

Bethany: “When I was about five, I gave my heart to Jesus Christ and since then, it’s just been a stronghold in my life and really thought the shark attack and all the times that my family and I went through, He gave us unity and perseverance to push through all these crazy stuff that we never knew would happen. Just being able to have a good outlook in life and having a positive perspective on things has been really encouraging to share to people.”

Host: “Was there a time that you questioned God?”

Bethany: “God really just gave me a sense of peace through everything. My question was more like ‘God why did you allow this to happen and what are we gonna do from here’ and not just dwell on what happened or have a pity party on everything.”

Bethany lost her arm but she has gained tremendous admiration from people all over the world with her awesome confidence and faith in the Lord. I believe she’s living a happy and fulfilled life. It’s like she never lost anything. God is awesome.

Wait I’m always in a hurry. This I found to be true. Maybe...

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 04:57:00 -0500

Wait

I’m always in a hurry.

This I found to be true.

Maybe it is because I work on deadlines every single day or that’s just my personality…Just like the rabbit with the watch in ‘Alice in Wonderland’, I feel as though the clock is ticking fast and I need to do something. I’m always in a hurry and this makes me feel confused and frustrated sometimes.

When I was young, I was in a hurry to grow up. When I was in College, I was in a hurry to graduate. When I entered the media industry, I joined reporters who are bound with daily deadlines. This set-up added hurried mindset.

This all changed when I encountered a huge challenge last year.

It made me realize that waiting on God truly produces good results.

First, it made me patient and appreciative of the people in my life - my family and friends.

Second, I knew myself better – my strengths and weaknesses.

Third, I learned to depend on the grace of God and rely on God’s timetable to work out the issues in my life.

Initially, I was in a hurry to get over the pain and start a new life. But as my relationship with the Lord progressed, I learned to relax and just allow God to work in me. It wasn’t easy but I understood why everything happened.

Today, the pain is gone and I am living a happier and more productive life.

In my journey toward healing, I encountered a poem by Russel Kelfer that reinforced my attitude on waiting in the Lord. I sincerely hope you’ll find inspiration in this beautiful poem as you wait for the Lord’s deliverance.

Wait

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried:

Quietly, patiently, loving God replied.

I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate,

And the Master so gently said,

“Child, you must wait.”

“Wait? You say, wait! My indignant reply.

“Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!

Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?

By faith, I have asked, and am claiming your word.

“My future and all to which I can relate

Hangs in the balance, You tell me to WAIT?

I’m needing a ‘Yes,’ a go-ahead sign,

Or even a ‘No’ to which I can resign.

“And Lord, You promised that if we believe

We need but to ask, and we shall receive.

And, Lord, I’ve been asking, and this is my cry:

‘I’m weary of asking! I need a reply!”

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate

As my master replied once again, “You must wait.”

So, I slumped in my chair and defeated and taut

And grumbled to God, “So, I’m waiting…for what?”

He seemed, then, to kneel

And His eyes wept with mine,

And He tenderly said, “I could give you a sign.

I could shake the heavens and darken the sun.

I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run.

“All you seek, I could give, and pleased you would be.

You would have what you want –

But, you wouldn’t know Me.

You’d not know the depth of My love for each saint;

You’d not know the power I give to the faint;

“You’d not learn to see through the clouds of despair;

You’d not learn to trust just by knowing I’m there;

You’d not know the joy of resting in Me;

When darkness and silence were all you could see.

“You’d never experience that fullness of love

As the peace of My Spirit descends like a dove;

You’d know that I give and save, for a start,

But you’d not know the depth of the beat of My heart.

“The glow of My comfort late into the night,

The faith that I give when you walk without sight,

The depth that’s beyond getting just what you asked

Of an infinite God, who makes what you have last.

“You’d never know, should your pain quickly flee,

What it means that, ‘My grace is sufficient for thee.’

Yes, your dreams for your loved one overnight would come true,

But, oh, the loss if I lost that what I’m doing in you!

“So be silent, My child, and in time you will see

That the greatest of gifts is to get to know Me.

And thought oft’ may My answers seem terribly late,

My most precious answer of all is still, ‘Wait.’”

Last December, we were able to help a 17-year old boy who needed...

Sat, 19 Jan 2013 02:21:34 -0500

Last December, we were able to help a 17-year old boy who needed a reclining hospital bed as he sleeps in a sitting position owing to his medical condition.

His mother, Nenita Copioso, asked for the bed but God was faithful enough to provide them with more than what she asked for.

Through the help of donors, aling Nenita received the hospital bed, bags of groceries and Christmas food. We were also able to buy medicines for Lemuel and there was still money left for the family’s other needs.

What an amazing way for the Lord to demonstrate what He meant by Ephesians 3:20!

I will always be grateful to the donors who believed in this cause.

In the beginning, I thought how could I ever raise such money? Would my friends join me in this endeavor?

Truly, God is in control. He has aligned the right people and He gave them the right hearts to answer His call.

To everyone who helped Lemuel, God knows who you are and He will bring your own victories in life. Thank you very much.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” Ephesians 3:20

P.S.

It was a tiring day scouring the Bambang area to get the best-priced hospital bed. After an hour of searching and praying, I found the store with the right bed.

I watched how aling Nenita’s eyes twinkled as the bed was being assembled in front of her.

To her, it was a bed that would give her son better sleep as he recovers from his illness.

But as I stood there, I saw not just a bed but a dream.

A dream was birthed in my mind and I heard a familiar call in my heart.

And this time, I answered and I committed myself for the Lord’s assignment…

Sharing with you a video of my recent trip to Switzerland. This...

Sat, 29 Dec 2012 20:28:01 -0500

Sharing with you a video of my recent trip to Switzerland.

This beautiful region has become my second favorite country in the world - next to Tokyo.

The Alps are more than magnificent.

Spending a few days here will certainly refresh your mind and recharge your spirit.

Enjoy watching!

‘Spring cleaning’ your mind for the New Year and having a positive mindset

Fri, 28 Dec 2012 22:43:00 -0500

It is a few days away before the New Year. Have you done some spring cleaning in your closet?

(image from tumblr)

Remember what they say: if you have not worn it for six months or so, give it away so other people may enjoy it. Of course, it goes without saying that you should also be mindful of what you give. I think tattered clothes should be relegated to the trash bin. Those that are missing one sleeve or are torn beyond repair are good candidates for rags.

But there is another type of cleaning that we have to do before the New Year sets in. We must also rid our minds with past hurts and worries.

In the coming year, I encourage everyone to forgive people, make new friends and dream new dreams. Rid yourself of negative thoughts and emotions and stay positive and hopeful. Do a ‘spring cleaning’ of your mind. Mentally note the people you need to forgive, the things you need to work on in yourself and the worries that you have kept in your system for the whole 2012. Remember what the Bible said in Matthew 6:33-34: “Seek first God’s Kingdom and what God wants. Then all your other needs will be met as well. So don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will have its own worries. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

In the recent seminar conducted by wealth and life coach Chinkee Tan, he clearly pointed out the role of possessing a positive mindset in order to live the best life.

“Everything that is happening on the outside is only a manifestation of what is happening on the inside…For every problem there is a solution. One thing I learned, you may have a bad experience, a bad past, you may have no supportive parents, and they may have said hurtful words instead of encouraging you. One thing I learned, we cannot change our past mistakes but we can change our future by making a right decision today.”

In his seminar ‘The Power of Mindset’, ‘Mr. Chink + (Chink positive) clearly enunciated how we can rid ourselves of the ‘victim mindset’ because we have a choice in life.

“Do you know that our life is a product of choices. We have a choice what to do and a choice what we feed our mind. Nobody inside this room is actually a victim. You can become a victim once but you can never be a victim forever. People can treat you…they may say hurtful things to you but you have a choice to stay away from them,” he said.

Chinkee Tan emphasized how we should stop entertaining bad thoughts because it wears us down. He also offered four ways to stay positive all the time.

“Choose the people you associate with. The attitudes of people are very infectious. Stop going around with people who always talk at the back of other people…Choose the entertainment you watch. Choose the seminars you attend, the books you read. Not every information is good information. Choose and you process. Choose to focus on the positive and not the negative. Let us be careful what we feed our minds every single day because we will withdraw what we deposit.”

*follow us on twitter at: @I_will_flourish

*Please like our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/mannaforjenny

Cultivate your relationship with family members “There is no...

Sun, 23 Dec 2012 20:43:00 -0500

Cultivate your relationship with family members

“There is no use enjoying anything if you have no one to share it with.”

This made a strong mark in my mind as Pastor Joey Bonifacio was making his talk about relationships which is the central theme of his book, The Lego Principle.

In the second round of the Caring Cup Conversations held at the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf in Robinsons Magnolia one fine Saturday, Pastor Joey echoed what I have felt in my recent Europe trip.

There I was enjoying all the beautiful sights in my recent travels in Europe: Vienna, Switzerland and Berlin but more than once I caught myself wishing that the experience would have been better if my whole family was there. Sure, my sister and my mother and my brother-in-law were with me but I thought it could be more fun if my two other sisters and my father enjoyed the sights too.

“The overarching theme of life is all about relationships,” Pastor Joey said.

He went on to say that in our last days, we will be surrounded by our close family members – the ones whom we should cultivate love the most.

Think about it, we are too busy doing so many things during the day and sometimes, when we get home, we are overly fatigued. We nod at our family members, take a quick dinner, perhaps make a short chat with one of them and head straight to bed (or in some cases, watch some mindless TV). We don’t even have time to really bond with them. We know we need to invest in our relationships with our loved ones but due to the demands of life, many of us find little time to achieve this.

I think this is something many of us really have to work on in the coming year.

God's Christmas gifts

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 05:30:00 -0500

In my mind I’m doing cartwheels because I am ecstatic after receiving a gift from a friend.

That is how thoughtful The Father is. He knows just what to give us even before we ask Him, even before we forget to ask Him.

I travel a lot and I’ve made a mental note to buy a universal adaptor for about five times in the last three years.

Electrical outlets abroad are different from ours and more than once I have experienced having difficulty charging my gadgets because I failed to bring an adaptor.

God has faithfully given me a gadget that I have prayed for in the last five months. I received it as a grand prize in a raffle draw in one of the Christmas Parties I attended.

But He didn’t stop there.

A week later, God surprised me again.

I laughed and became teary-eyed when I opened a package that revealed a beautiful white adaptor – much prettier than the one I was planning to buy in the last three years.

For the nth time, I’ve already forgotten the need to buy this essential gadget but the Lord remembered!

How thoughtful God is.

I love you Lord. ^_^

Destination Vienna: the Schönbrunn Palace

Sun, 16 Dec 2012 03:33:00 -0500

It was love at first sight.

Just months after a challenging episode in my life, I suddenly found my heart beating excitedly again while screaming ‘Lovely’ everytime I gaze at my newfound love.

Even after more than a week of constant traveling and minimal sleep did not douse my spirit. I’ve found a new love and love was staring back at me.

It’s Name: Vienna.

I was the only first time visitor in the capital city of Austria. My mother, sister and brother-in-law have been there a few times before and they were all excited to show me all the lovely sights in the city. I imagined it to be somewhat similar with Salzburg where there was music all over and picturesque old structures. But Vienna certainly has its own charm.

It was a little past noon when we arrived in our hotel. We made our quick lunch and quickly boarded the train for our first stop: The Schönbrunn Palace.

The Schönbrunn Palace is a splendid Baroque style complex and was the former summer residence of Emperor Franz Joseph and his wife Empress Elisabeth or ‘Sisi’ as she was fondly called by family and friends.

The words ‘Lovely’, ‘charming’, ‘beautiful’, ‘impressive’ and ‘awesome’ seem to be inadequate in describing this famous palace complex.

We arrived an hour or so after 12 PM so we were not able to get the grand tour. Instead, we were offered the Imperial tour that allowed us to enjoy 22 out of the 40 rooms of the palace. If you are planning to visit the Schönbrunn palace, please come earlier so you can enjoy the grand tour where guests will be ushered in all the 40 rooms of the palace.

Sadly, though, photos were not allowed inside the rooms that were mostly decorated in Rococo style. I was extremely awed by elaborately designed pieces of furniture in the receiving rooms and bedrooms of the royal family.

The palace also features a round Chinese room that contained impressive furniture and elaborate floor to ceiling furnishings decorated in Chinese style that became popular in those days.

My favorite room in the palace is the grand gallery that featured rosewood decorations that lined even the ceiling of the room. Imagine the grand ballroom in fairy tales where the prince and the once embattled princess finally seal their vows and kiss in front of hundreds of other royalties. This huge glorious hall is now a setting for Austria’s state receptions when heads of state come to visit the country.

One of the rooms in the palace featured Sisi’s statue with her back turned to the guests showcasing her glorious heel-length hair which she cared for seriously. I was initially frightened by that tall statue that stood in front of the huge mirror with its back turned against me. Its long, flowing black hair and white gown reminded of Asian horror films (cue Asian horror music). Silly as it was, I think my reaction is forgivable as there were only a small number of guests who were touring the rooms that afternoon. For a few minutes, I stood alone with the statue until a few guests came and I realized that I have been staring at it for a long time.

Vienna’s Schönbrunn Palace and its gardens is a UNESCO world heritage site described as one of the most ‘outstanding’, ‘impressive’ and well-preserved Baroque ensembles in Europe.

Walking into the garden, we were greeted by rows of tall trees and colorful flowers. A brown squirrel crossed our path and moved back and forth while looking at us perhaps wondering if we came with food.

This is exactly what I have always dreamed of: strolling along a cozy path with the tender heat of the sun, fresh air, lively chirping of birds and squirrels occasionally crossing my path. The words ‘beautiful’ and ‘magnificent’ are not enough to justify the beauty of the place. While walking, I silently muttered: ‘This is a dream come true’.

I imagined Empress Sisi enjoying the same sights I was enjoying that day. Living a high-profile life in the palace must be a really tough one. Research said the young empress, who married at 15, disliked court protocols so much. I am sure the splendid Schönbrunn garden was a fitting refuge from it all.

I took a shot of the old photo of the Gloriette situated on the other end of the palace compound. This majestic monument was built in 1775 and bears the inscription: JOSEPHO II. AUGUSTO ET MARIA THERESIA IMPERANTIB. MDCCLXXV (Erected 1775 under the reign of Emperor Joseph and Empress Maria Theresia).

The base of the Neptune Fountain located just below the Gloriette. The Neptune Fountain is named after the Roman god of water, Neptune.

A group of joggers enjoying the vast expanse of the palace compound

If you have time, please visit the Palm garden, the zoo and the labyrinth and tell me about it. The Schönbrunn Palace is definitely one of the places to visit if you ever go to Vienna.

It was a long tour and we were hungry gorillas when we got into the first restaurant that could fill our then growling stomachs. What better way to cap a strenuous day of walking than a buffet at a Chinese restaurant near the palace.

Bon Apetit!

See more of my travels in my future posts and here: www.facebook.com/mannaforjenny.org

Happiness is… What makes you happy? Is it watching the sun...

Sat, 01 Dec 2012 23:10:00 -0500

Happiness is…

What makes you happy?

Is it watching the sun rise or getting high grades in school?

Today I have compiled 11 of the things that make me happy - simple but meaningful things that put a smile on my face.

Remember, we don’t need always need a momentous occasion to remind us that life is meant to be celebrated. A simple hug from a true friend is always more precious that several meaningless parties combined.

11 things that make me happy:

1. A good night’s sleep

2. Traveling to a new place and discovering its wonderful sights

3. Making new friends

4. A new book

5. Sipping milk tea

6. Having a lively chat with my sisters and friends

7. Coffee with close friends

8. Accomplishing my set of goals for the day

9. Helping a friend in need

10. Eating my favorite foods

11. Reading good books that give me new insights on life and entrepreneurship

Make a list of the things that make you happy. You will realize that life is happier than you think. ^_^

**For more inspiring posts, please do like our facebook page: www.facebook.com/mannaforjenny

The Bible: the never-ending story of God’s love for His people

Sat, 24 Nov 2012 21:28:00 -0500

I wish everyone would take time and read the Bible so that they would know the story of God’s immense love for us. I think it would be life-changing to read about how God added years to Hezekiah’s life when the latter bargained to God. I wish everyone would know how three teenagers Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were saved from being baked alive because they would not bow down to the king’s ungodly requests. I wish everyone would know how God gave Abraham and his wife Sarah a son when everyone said it is already impossible to bear a child. I wish everyone would know that despite our iniquities, God desires that all of us could be with Him in heaven (read the book of Revelation). I used to think the Bible is boring too. I thought it had no place in my busy, dynamic life and that only old people could read and understand it. But when I finally took the time to read the Bible, I realized how beautiful it is. I hope you do too.

How do you define your worth? Some people feel worthy because...

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 19:13:00 -0500

How do you define your worth?

Some people feel worthy because they have a good position at work. Some feel secure because they think they have the money to buy everything. Some are even fooled into thinking that they could buy the affection and admiration of other people.

If it isn’t money or the love of people, then how do you define your worth?

Preacher Joyce Meyer says our value is not in the things of this world but in God.

I know some people who cling to their work positions strongly like they are their only hope in this world. They probably think that as long as they are in that position, people fear them, they have control, they have power, and they are worthy.

But what if your boat shakes? What if you lose your title? What if you lose your job?

Let us not put our value in the things of this world because nothing here is permanent.

Meyer says that people who ‘buy’ other people’s affection must continue doing the things that they do in order to keep the latter’s approval. In other words, seeking to please people is a very exhausting job because we have to keep doing the same things over and again just to make them agree with us in every way.

This is also true with people who instill fear on others so they could boss them around. They do not have peace in their hearts.

They do not have peace so they do not have power at all.

But if we put our hope in the Lord trusting Him in every way, He will guide us to the right path. If we are kind to people, encouraging them in every way, blessing them and forgiving them for their iniquities, then we will surely get our reward from God.

Beauty, money and power fade but our worth in God is real and lasting.

“But those who hope in the Lord, the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar like the eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31

Joan

Sat, 13 Oct 2012 01:53:00 -0400

It was 2004 when she left.

The sister I was closest to opted to start a life abroad and embark on a new ‘adventure’ away from her family. It broke my heart to see her leave because it meant somewhat like losing a sister and a bestfriend. But her heart was set on not just finding her way in a foreign land but to actually conquer her dreams.

And she did more than that.

I am proud to say that she had done well.

Today, she is living a secure and comfortable life abroad and speaking an almost flawless Deutsch.

She not only conquered her dreams but Joan is instrumental in giving birth to new dreams in me as I continue to explore the land where fairy tales were born.

(Switzerland)

(Frankfurt)

(With mama in Vienna)

But more than that, her life is a testimony that we are more blessed when we give.

‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ Acts 20:35 (NIV)

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This entry is not meant solely to trumpet the achievements of my sister but also to salute OFWs who toil abroad in order to provide for their families.

I will always remember the woman I saw at the airport in Abu Dhabi on my way back to Manila in 2009.

The woman, perhaps in her late thirties or early forties, sat on the waiting area along with other OFWs bound to Manila that day. Garbed in an old denim jacket, she pulled out a large doll in one of her hand carry baggages and stared at it for several minutes.

She must have imagined how her little girl would jump for joy when she sees the beautiful blonde doll. It must have been a Christmas wish made by her little one.

But the little girl must be happier to see her mother come home More than the plastic that was fashioned to form an object that many little girls long to have, it must be her mother’s embrace and attention that the little girl treasured the most…

Back in 2007, when I traveled to Macau with my sister, I sat next to a woman who began to weep as the plane went up. She must have left Manila for work and her tears were meant for her growing children and her husband whom she would not see for a couple of years or more. I wanted to say something to her to comfort her. I wanted to tell her that the present technology allows us to talk to our loved ones daily – or as our schedule permits. It’s as if we never left. It’s like being there, albeit virtually.

For many children, it is not easy to wave goodbye at a parent who is leaving to work abroad.

I know because I came from a family with an OFW parent.

But we have all grown up and the emotional pain and struggles we had in the past are distant memories. We are now learning to see our mother as a dear friend. Yes, we are just ‘getting to know her’.

…and I could tell that it is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Youtube stars Jayesslee goes to Manila

Sat, 29 Sep 2012 23:33:30 -0400

It was an intimate setting, very much like a worship service, but it was exceptional as the crowd came home inspired with sweet memories of the Youtube sensation Jayesslee who graced Manila last June for its 2012 Asia tour.

For nearly two hours, identical twins, Janice and Sonia Lee rendered their amazing covers of songs that made them popular on the internet. They opened the show with their cover of ‘Jetlag’ by Simple Plan featuring Natasha Bedingfield.

At a time when we have to be especially cautious in listening to contemporary music as many songs have been peppered with explicit words, it is a breath of fresh air to see artists who carefully choose their repertoire for their fans to enjoy. The 24-year old twins Janice and Sonia Lee are true ambassadors of good music

“We don’t choose the song, the song chooses us,” Sonia Lee said. She said some songs call their attention naturally and they become drawn to it. She recounted a day when they were sitting inside the car and the song ‘Coming home’ was played on the radio. The twins looked at each other and they realized they are in for a new song.

Jayesslee said the song ‘Coming home’ reminded them of the parable of the prodigal son. As they performed the song, the duo graciously changed some of its lyrics to emphasize the great truth that the Lord awaits repentant sinners with open arms and overflowing love.

In YouTube, the duo is followed mostly by youngsters - teenagers and young adults. This was evident in their Manila gig as the crowd was almost homogenous in composition – mostly teenagers – save for some adults who also came to hear their music. Though considered ‘young’ in the live music scene, the twins already possess the much-required ‘showmanship’ quality that keeps many performers’ careers afloat. They have learned to interject hilarious statements that kept the audience glued to them.

“Recently, just maybe a month ago, we watched a movie and it’s an interesting one. I’m sure you watched that movie. It was called something like ‘Hungry games’,” Sonia said as the crowd roared in laughter.

“She’s not my sister. We’re not related,” Janice said as it elicited more laughter from the crowd.

The twins went on and performed the movie’s theme song ‘Safe and Sound’ which they described as ‘frighteningly beautiful’.

Jayeslee’s version of the version of the song was so pretty, there was no hint of it being ‘frightening’ at all.

Interestingly, the twins have taken a fascination for the word ‘bongga’ repeatedly mentioning it throughout the whole gig. The twins must have asked for the Tagalog equivalent of ‘Fabulous’ or ‘amazing’ in anticipation of a great night with their Filipino fans.

The crowd also enjoyed Jayeslee’s renditions of ‘Breakeven’ by the Script, ‘Just the way you are’ by Bruno Mars, ‘Payphone’ by Maroon 5, ‘Nobody’ by Wonder girls, and ‘Dare you to Move’ by Switchfoot among other songs. They also performed an excerpt from their original piece ‘Failure in disguise’ which they wrote when they were going through challenging times. Their encore song ‘Price tag’ by Jessie J. was also well-received by their Filipino fans.

The highlight of the evening was when the twins related how a family tragedy led them closer to God. Their mother’s death several years ago made a very strong impact on their lives that eventually sealed their faith in God. Lying on her death bed, their mom never showed them an angry or frustrated stance despite knowing that she would soon leave the world and her young children. Instead, she spent her last days glorifying the Lord.

Though she was losing her strength, the sick mom poured out all her strength in raising her hand to praise God as a Korean Christian song came on the radio. This scene would later become the strongest testimony of Janice and Sonia Lee and they are now bringing this story everywhere as they travel the world with their music. The twins’ mom may have never seen her children grow up and become the laudable ladies that they are today. But her strong faith and graciousness left a very strong mark in her daughters’ minds that led them to become who they are today – faith-filled, talented and gorgeous ladies – truly what the music scene needs to have more of.

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A visit to the fourth smallest state of Europe, Liechtenstein

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 03:26:00 -0400

While on our way from Switzerland to Salzburg, Austria to fetch my mother for the trip to Vienna, we passed by the charming small nation of Liechtenstein.

Information from it’s official website said Liechtenstein is the fourth-smallest state in Europe which lies in the center of the Alps, between Switzerland and Austria. Honestly, I did not even know it existed until my brother-in-law purposely drove by it even if he’s been driving for already six hours straight. Such a sweet guy.

“Liechtenstein is a landlocked country between Switzerland and Austria. The official currency is the Swiss franc, though euros and dollars are therefore accepted. Liechtenstein is small, so everyone knows each other. The national dish is ‘Ribel’, Which is made using cornmeal or wheat semolina. ‘Cheese dumplings’, a type of doughy pasta covered in melted cheese, is so popular. Fine-dining enthusiasts will find no fewer than four restaurants highly rated by Gault et Millau. In years gone by, cider and wine were the main drinks, while a brewery that is produced beer. Today, Liechtenstein’s wine has vineyards in exellent reputation thanks to the innovative approach used by the region’s vineyards,” it’s official website said.

Such beautiful sculptures in front of the City hall

According to the state’s official website, Liechtenstein is a business center ‘with proven financial expertise’ with about 30 large companies whose employees number around 8,000 while 30,000 more work in branches of foreign companies based in Liechtenstein.

“A number of institutions and universities in the country offer education and research opportunities. As a fully fledged member of the United Nations and the European Economic Area, Liechtenstein has developed in recent decades to become independent of state on an equal footing with other European countries. “

Music school

We just walked around Liechtenstein’s plaza for a short while. Truth is, it felt like another European city I’ve been to except that it had a ‘cozy feel’ to it.

We drove by the residential areas of Liechtenstein but I was not able to snap photos of them. As I mentioned above, it looks the same as all the other European countries I’ve been to. Suffice it to say that the houses and roads are very similar to its German or Austrian counterparts.

“The name ‘Liechtenstein’ was given to the region by the Princes of Liechtenstein, who purchased the County of Vaduz (1712) and the lands of Schellenberg (1699) and united them to form the Principality of Liechtenstein in 1719. The name of the eponymous princely house can be traced back to a castle in the town of Maria Enzensdorf in Upper Austria. Built by Hugo von Petronell-Liechtenstein around 1130, this castle is said to stand on a rock known as the light (‘Licht’) stone (‘Stein’).”

Sadly, though, we weren’t able to see the castle because it would mean staying here longer. Perhaps some other time, yes? ^_^

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Today, I would like to share a part of the introduction of my...

Tue, 18 Sep 2012 15:53:17 -0400

Today, I would like to share a part of the introduction of my favorite book of the moment ‘The Power of a Praying Woman’ by Stormie Omartian. We may already know how to pray but in this book, the author graciously shares the power of prayer and how it can bring us closer to God. This part of the book really touched me and I felt like I had to share it with you. I hope the Holy Spirit will also move your heart into praying more and spending more time with the Lord.

“Before I came to know the Lord, I was involvedin all kinds of occult practices and Eastern and New Age religions. I searched for God in each of them, hoping to find some meaning or purpose for my life. i was desperate to find a way out of the emotional pain, fear, and depression I had experienced on a daily basis since I was a child. I thought there surely must be a God, and If I could just be good enough to get close to Him, perhaps something of His greatness would rub off on me, and then I could feel better about myself and my life.”

“…But it was here at the lowest point in my life, when I was 28 years old, that I learned who God really is and received Jesus as my savior. This began a process of deliverance, healing and restoration, the likes of which I had never dreamed possible. From the time I received the Lord and began to feel His life working in me, I could see the common thread in all those other religions and practices I had dabbled in previously. This similarity was that the gods of each of those religions had no power to save or transform a human life. But the God of the Bible did. He is the one, true, living God…I also learned that He can be found. A God who can be known. A God who wants to be close to us.”

Hello from Europe

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 02:26:00 -0400

It’s my first time to blog overseas and I am excited to show you the places we’ve visited this year.

In just a week since I’ve arrived here, we’ve gone to Switzerland and Vienna and Salzburg in Austria. We stayed home in Frankfurt for two days and now we’re bound to hit the road again for a few days in Berlin. God is so good to let me experience all these especially after being challenged in the past few months.

It wasn’t so chilly when I arrived here in the first week of September because it was still summer. Thus, my photos in Switzerland in cool shorts and t-shirt. Come to think of it, I dreamt of wearing summer clothes in Europe. When I first came here in 2009, I literally didn’t want to go out all the time because of the cold air. I am so much of a tropical climate person. Unlike many, I do not have desires of seeing a ‘white christmas’ because, naturally, it comes with freezing temperature.

Before we hit the road today, I’d like to post a photo of the Swiss Alps. They are more captivating up close and I really felt giddy like a child when I first laid my eyes on them. If I were alone or perhaps with a group of friends who are visiting Switzerland for the first time, I would have jumped like a kid several times to declare my love for the alps. I would have rolled on the grass, laid on it for a few minutes while staring at the blue skies. It is so liberating to declare openly that it’s not a painting you’re looking at, it’s the real deal.

Hiking down the trail in Riddes, Switzerland

My sister invited me to come here again so we could ski together. Hmmm…

A cup of warm chocolate on top of the hills

Cows in Switzerland wore bells on their necks so that owners will easily know their location. Sadly, though, I was not able to snap any photo of them. Next time, perhaps.

More pictures on my next post. Until then, have a blessed day.

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