See God

Do you remember those stereograms where you need to stare at something for several seconds (or minutes… or hours!) in order to see the hidden object?
Slowly a dinosaur or a man or an iceberg.
You know what? I could never get those.
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t find it.
Others could, but me, I couldn’t.

Do you ever get like that with life?
When others see a blessing, you don’t. Instead, you see the problem.
Even when there’s so much to rejoice about, you still see what’s not going right. I have a question. Are you happier that way?

When you think of a happy thought, doesn’t it bring a smile to your face?
When you think of a sad thought, what happens?
Naturally, you tend to frown. It’s quite simple, really.

When all you see is sad, negative stuff, you tend to be sad and negative as well. But when you choose to see the good in every situation, it results in a happier life.

Today we’re talking about seeing God in every moment, area and person in our lives. Some of us carry pictures of the people we love in our wallets or as wallpapers on our cell phones or laptops. If those make us smile, what more if you see God’s face before you every second of the day?

I encourage you today to open your eyes and see the love of God that is right in front of you. In the air you’re breathing… in the words you’re reading… in the person sitting next to you. Enjoy His presence today!

Source BGC Feast

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ARE YOU GIVING 100% TO GOD?

(October 23, 2011 PICC Bulletin)

Today, I’ll talk about having a pure heart for God.

It’s really very simple: It’s about giving 100% of yourself to God. It’s actually the greatest commandment of life – Love the Lord your God with all your heart.

Jesus said that if you have a pure heart, you’ll see God. (Matthew 5:8) Not just when you do religious stuff.

I’ll be wary if I see a religious person is grim when he’s not praying. Because a person who has a pure heart will see God everywhere – even when he’s not doing his religious duties.

Aside from seeing God in church, you’ve got to see Him in the majestic sunrise, in the chirping birds, in the lovely flowers, and in the hearty breakfast on your table. But you’ve also got to see Him in the monstrous traffic, in the monstrous smog, in the monstrous taxes, and in your monstrous boss.

You’ve got to see Him when your wife is happy and your kids are little angels. But you’ve also got to see Him when your wife has her monthly period and your kids seem to have tails, horns, and pitchforks.

Everything becomes a window whereby you can see God.

Have a fantastic Feast today!

Source PICC Bulletin

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A Message Of Hope

Do you have a tiny booklet called the Novena to God’s Love? In it, you are asked to write down seven dreams, your heart’s fondest wishes, and are encouraged to pray for it daily.

Last Thursday’s speaker, Bro. Jan Silan, requested everyone to bring out their novenas. He asked if the Feast attendees believed that their novena prayers would be fulfilled. The “yeses” were not too loud at first. He asked again. By his repeated question, everyone was reminded that God does not forget His promises. The answer was a louder “yes” the second time around.

He shared about his parents’ dreams. His dad’s dream was obvious – every time a Toyota Altis passes by, he will lift his hand toward the car’s direction with an audible “Ahh.” But it didn’t seem likely they would be able to own an Altis soon because they couldn’t afford it. Of his mom’s seven dreams, the one that seems the most attainable is for her younger son to be able to graduate from college. The dream of a car and of being able to pay off debts seemed to be impossible dreams.

One day, her son confessed he wouldn’t be able to graduate as scheduled. She cried and railed against the Lord. Fresh from her crying bout, she met her husband at the door, to see that he drove home on a new Toyota Altis.

The Novena to God’s Love is a reminder that it is okay to hope. In fact, we should maintain a hopeful attitude if we believe that we have a big God. Hope is knowing God is with us. God has a plan. He promises to guide us, to remain beside us.

Happy people find treasure in their trials. In times of trials, we find comfort in our community, in our caring group. When it seems that nothing is happening, our character is being molded. Having undergone trials, we feel compassion for others and are moved to help them. Comfort, character and compassion are the treasures we find in our trials.

written by Gail Franco

Makati Feaster

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HAPPYTUDE

Happytude: a cute term for “happy attitude.” As said during last week’s Feast, “Happiness is an attitude.” And yes, it is!

It has been more than a year since I decided to live a happy life every single day.  It is not that I will not allow myself to feel sad or I will deprive myself the comfort of crying. Living a happy life everyday is a choice that we can make even during times of trials, during times of darkness.

For two weeks now, I have been having a personal dilemma. There are nights when I can no longer control my feelings that I just burst into crying. I cry aloud as I pray to God and ask for comfort, for Him to ease the pain in my heart and lead me on what to do. But the moment I wake up, I decide to be happy the whole .. >>  view complete article

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PHP 500

Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. (1 Cor 1:26-29)

May kakaibang appeal ang limang daang piso.  Hindi ito masyadong relihiyoso.  Bihira kasing nakikita sa simbahan.  Puro barya ang napupunta sa misa.  Ngunit maraming itinuturo ito.

Napansin minsan ni Bernie ang kanyang anak.  Hindi maipinta ang hilatsa.  Maasim pa sa sampalok na sinamahan ng kamias at pinigaan pa ng kalamansi ang mukha nito.  “Hi anak!  Kumusta ka na. Bakit sambakol ang mukha mo?” tanong ni Bernie.

“Masyado po akong napahiya Daddy.  Tinanong ako ng teacher ko sa History sa aming graded recitation.  Hindi lang mali ang sagot ko.  Sobrang layo.  Hindi kasi ako nakapag-aral.  Hindi lang ako basta napagsabihan ng teacher.  Na-insulto ako masyado.  Wala na raw akong pag-asa.  Pinagtawanan pa ‘ko ng buong klase!”

“I understand how you feel anak.  Ganun rin siguro ang mararamdaman ko kung sa ‘kin nangyari ‘yun.  Halika may ipapakita ako sa ‘yo” ang paanyaya ni Bernie.

Bumunot ng 500 hundred pesos si Bernie mula sa wallet.  Wala isa mang linya ng lukot, malutong, at mabango ang bagong-bagong bill na ito.  “Ano ito?” tanong sa anak.  “500 hundred po Daddy” ang kanyang sagot.  Hindi inaasahan ang sumunod na eksena.

Nilukot ni Bernie ang pera.  Hindi pa nakuntento, nilamukos pa ng madiin.  Pinukpok pa ng kamao na para bang labada sa ilalim ng palu-palo.  “Anak, magkano itong hawak kong pera?”  “500 pesos po Daddy” ang sagot ng bata.  “Ha?  Hindi ba nabawasan ang kanyang value pagkatapos ng mga paulit-ulit na pag lukot at pag hampas na ginawa ko?” ang follow up na question ni Bernie.  “Hindi po Daddy.  500 pesos pa rin po ‘yan.”

Kinuha muli ni Bernie ang perang ito.  Inapakan.  Inulit-ulit.  Nilundag-lundagan pa hanggang dumumi na at naputikan pa.  “Anak, magkano na uli ang perang ito?”  “Limang daan pa rin po Daddy.  Sigurado po ako” sagot ng bata.

“Tama ka anak.  Kahit anong gawin mo sa perang ito.  Hindi nababawasan ang halaga niya.  Gawin mo na ang lahat ng gusto mo.  Dumihan o sirain mo man ito, sigurado ako, hindi mo pa rin basta-basta iiwan at ipapamigay ito.  Kasi, alam mo na kahit anong mangyari, 500 pesos pa rin ito.  Hindi nagbabago ang halaga.

Ganun din tayo anak.  Maaring nagkamali, nagkasala, or nabigo ka.  Pakiramdam mo, wala ka nang halaga.  Wala ka nang pag-asa.  Minsan nga, ang ibang tao, ipapamukha nila ito sa ‘yo.  Bagsak ka na, aapak-apakan ka pa.  Ididiin ka pa sa pagkaka-lugmok mo.  Pero ‘wag kang mag-alala, anak, sa mata ng Diyos, kahit kailanman, hindi nababawasan ang halaga mo.  Tulad ng 500 hundred pesos na ito, kahit ano ang gawin ninuman sa ‘yo, kahit ano man ang maging paghuhusga nila, at higit sa lahat, kahit ano pa man ang paghuhusga mo sa iyong sarili, ang iyong halaga sa mata ng Diyos ay hindi nagbabago.  Hindi pa rin nagmamaliw ang pagmamahal Niya sa ‘yo.  Naghihintay pa ring Siya’y iyong paglingkuran.  Hindi nagbabago ang isip ng Diyos para sa ‘yo.

Your value does not change because of your mistakes.  Your identity does not change because of your sins.  Your destiny does not change even if you failed.  God already made up his mind about loving you.  And it’s not going change.  Until forever.

Kwentuhan tayo sa Feast!

Source Laguna Feast

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