Going to church every Sunday has always been a routine since the day I was born. “Wake up early, wear your best clothes” – these were the things that everybody in the family used to tell me. But attending the service has never really made me fell that I was spiritually growing. Deep inside my heart, I felt the emptiness that brought about by not knowing God. I used to ask God about the purpose of my life. I believed that living in this world was just a punishment. I regretted the day I was born and I cursed my parents for that. I used to ask Him about myself. Why am I like this? Why am I like that? Why do I have this? Why don’t I have that? I had a lot of insecurities, anger, envy, and even hatred. Yes, hatred. I hated the world for everything. I hated my parents for raising me. I hated my sisters, I hated my friends, and I hated myself. I didn’t understand myself. I didn’t have my own identity. I didn’t even know the reason of doing the things that I used to do. All I said was, “I don’t care! As long as I am happy with what I am doing, I’ll never care about you!” I only thought that I was happy but I never was. I knew I craved for more. I craved for something new, something different. I craved for happiness – happiness that was enduring and true. And then I stumbled along the way. I had a very big problem that almost ended my life. No one knew about it except some friends. I was so down. I didn’t know what to do. I kept on crying and crying and crying. I prayed to Him. But I doubted if He would hear me. I doubted if He would listen to me. I doubted if He would comfort me. I doubted if He would help me. I doubted Him. Days passed and I found myself realizing that He has helped me solve my problem. He didn’t let things go worse. He didn’t even let me cry more tears. He made it at a blink-of-an-eye. It was so fast; I couldn’t even remember how it happened. At first, I was thankful to Him. But I went back to my old deeds again weeks later. I forgot Him again. I didn’t pray again. I was stubborn again. Things got worse everyday. Until, I encountered another problem. It was bigger than the first. This time, no one knew about it except me. I couldn’t ask for help because I was afraid to tell them about it. I was so helpless. I knew that He alone could help me so I prayed to Him. I didn’t doubt Him anymore. I knew He would hear me and help me, and He did! He didn’t make me suffer long. Two days later, I received the results and I was so happy about it. I was so amazed with His faithfulness. I knew I didn’t deserve it but He was still there. I thanked Him but I still forgot Him. A few months later, He touched my heart. I didn’t know how it happened but it seemed that I was motivated to give up everything for Him that day. I knew He wants to use me. I knew He wants to work in me and I knew that He wants me back in His arms. This time, I intentionally forgot my stubbornness. I invited Him into my heart and my worldliness slowly went away. Now, miraculously, I no longer care about my magazines, posters and cassette tapes. I’m no longer making scrapbooks for my celebrity idols. My worldly interests are no longer present inside my system. I can now afford to miss a basketball game, if my time is going to the Lord. I no longer enjoy watching TV a lot. These drastic changes in my life are caused by His awesome power. For the first time I can say that I am happy. I am happy because I know He is using me. He is making me feel His love. He continues to shower me His blessings. He is giving me more than I deserve. I now understand the reason of being in this world. I now understand His plan for me. I now know that He loves me so much. I pray that all the people who would read this would be touched by Him that they may be able to know their purpose in this world; that they may be able to understand His plans; that they may be able to accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior; and that they may be able to serve Him with all their hearts, minds, and souls. After all that has happened in my life, I have realized three things: God loves me, He has a plan for me, and He wants to use me. Let me close with some lines of my favorite song: I am Your beloved, Your creation And You love me as I am You have called me chosen for Your kingdom Unashamed to call me Your own I am Your beloved I am Your beloved God loves us all so let us give back to Him the unconditional love He has shown us.
A hate mail has been circulating in the web right now against Filipinos and Philippines as a country. It is clearly a product of ignorance and I am greatly outraged and that the same time saddened by the contents of the open letter. The letter was written by a man named Art Bell who is reportedly a radio commentator. I don't know where he based his opinions but they are really ridiculous! His letter entitled "Filipinos Make Me Puke" is in blue below. A response to the letter by a fellow Filipino is in green while my own response is in red. Filipinos Make Me Puke By: Art Bell As we've all come to notice, in the past few decades, Filipinos have begun to infest the United States like some sort of disease. Their extensive involvement in the U.S. Armed Forces is proof of the trashy kind of qualities all Filipinos tend to exhibit on a regular basis. You can see this clearly by studying the attitudes and cultural Icons of most Filipino Americans. Origins of Pinoys/Pinays
Comments
Post a Comment