Linawin mo kaya

Lumaki akong nangangarap.  Lahat naman tayo.  Sigurado ako, walang taong hindi nangarap kahit isang beses sa buhay.  Kasi lahat tayo may pangarap.  Bahay, lupa, kotse, laruan, magandang trabaho, mapagmahal na asawa, boyfriend, girlfriend, makalipad, makapunta sa ibang planeta, makita si Marian Rivera, maging kamukha ni Tom Cruise, at kung anu-ano pa.  Kahit anong naisip mo na gusto mong makamit sa buhay, materyal man o hindi, makatotohanan man o hindi, may kabuluhan man o wala, basta’t may hiniling ka, basta’t may gusto kang makamit, basta’t may gusto kang makuha, nangarap ka.  At yung gusto mo, pangarap yun.

At dahil hindi ko alam kung paano itutuloy ang pagmumuni ko, magkukwento na lang ako.

Meron daw isang lalake na namatay. Nasa tamang edad naman na siya noong kunin siya ni Lord kaya okay lang. Pagdating sa langit, nakaharap niya si Bro.  Kinausap niya si Bro at nagreklamo.  “Lord,” sabi niya, “bakit ka naman ganyan?  Bakit hanggang kamatayan ko e hirap ako.  Hikahos. Lagi naman akong nagsisimba.  Kahit hindi araw ng Linggo, nagsisimba ako. Sinunod ko lahat ng utos mo.  Nagsipag ako sa trabaho.  Di ako sumipsip.  Pero bakit hindi ganun kaginhawa ang buhay ko.  Wala akong kotse.  Tapos ang bahay ko ang liit lang.  Tapos yung mga anak ko hindi man lang nakaranas kumain ng mga sobrang sasarap na pagkain.  Pero yung kaibigan ko, tignan mo.  Ang laki ng bahay.  Ang daming kotse.  E ni hindi ko nga madalas makita yan sa simbahan eh.  Pag Linggo lang.  Tapos siya mas okay ang buhay.  Unfair naman Lord!  Bakit ganun?”

“Sandali lang ah,” sagot ni Bro.  Ipinasok Niya ang kamay niya sa bulsa at may inilabas na remote control.  Tapos pumitik siya.  At isang higanteng screen ang lumabas.  “Ano yan Lord?” tanong ng lalake.  “Buhay mo.  Lahat ng nangyari sa buhay mo naka-record.  At dahil patay ka na, tapos na.  So rewind natin.”

Ni-rewind nga ni Lord ang buhay ng lalake.  “Ooops.  Ayan.  Naalala mo ‘to?” tanong ni Lord.

“Yes Lord.  College graduation ko yan.  Kasama ko yung kaibigan kong sinasabi ko sa iyo na ang yaman.”

“O sige panoorin natin.” 

Ito ang nangyari nung graduation:

“Tol, ngayong graduate na tayo, anong plano mo?” tanong ng lalake sa kaibignan.  “Tol maghahanap kaagad ako ng trabaho.  Di na ako magpapahinga.  Gusto ko sa malaking kumpanya.  Yung malaki ang kita.  Kasi pare gusto ko ng malaking bahay.  Yung mansyon!  Tapos gusto ko rin ng maraming kotse.  Ayaw ko lang ng isa.  Gusto ko mga lima.  Para may choice di ba?  Tapos gusto ko mga anak ko masarap kinakain.  Tsaka anytime dapat nakakakain sila.  Tapos gusto ko nakakapag-abroad kami every summer.  Yung ganun tol.  Ikaw?”

“Ang ambisyoso mo naman!  Wag ganun pare!  Ako gusto ko simple lang.  Tamang bahay lang.  Tapos kahit walang kotse.  Okay naman mag commute eh, sanay na ako.  Tapos basta makakain lang tatlong beses isang araw okay na yun.  Abroad?  Gastos lang yun.  Sa bahay na lang.”

“Ooops!  Pause natin,” sabi ni Lord. “O ayan.  Di ba sabi mo yan?  Simpleng buhay lang.  Binigay ko naman ah.  Walang labis, walang kulang.  So anong unfair dun?”

Kapatid, kung mangangarap ka, hindi pwedeng “Gusto kong magkaroon ng kotse.”  Dapat “Gusto ko ng brand new na Volvo XC60, kulay black, tinted yung salamin, Goodyear yung gulong, at kumikinang yung mags.”  Hindi pwedeng “Gusto ko ng bahay at lupa” dahil pag bahay-kubo ang binigay sa iyo, wag kang magrereklamo.

Ibibigay naman ni Bro ang mga gusto natin eh (basta’t hindi ito makakasama sa iyo at sa iba).  Naniniwala ako dun.  Magsabi lang tayo.  Kaso ang problema, magsasabi na lang tayo sa Kanya, napaka-general pa.

So anong point ko?  Eto: KUNG MANGANGARAP KA, DAPAT MALINAW.  Dahil kung hindi, baka ibinigay na pala sa iyo yung pangarap mo e naghahanap ka pa.  At imbes na magpasalamat, magrereklamo.

Malinaw ba?  ^^,

by Ilaw Cruz

Manila Feaster

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Wish Upon God

"Twinkle twinkle little star how I wonder what you are, up above the world so high like a diamond in the sky, twinkle twinkle little star how I wonder what you are.” Do you remember this song? When I was a kid, I used to sing this song while looking at the stars and whispering my wish hoping that it would come true. Yup! I grew up believing that the stars would hear me. Funny right? But it’s true and I know many of you guys, especially the young ones out there, experienced the same situation as I have. Let me share a story.

Ryan is like a lot of 17-year-old guys. He loves baseball and is a pitcher on his high school baseball team. He also plans to attend college and hopes to be on the school’s baseball team.

But unlike a lot of 17-year-old guys, Ryan had cancer. When he began chemotherapy treatments it took a lot out of him, but he managed to show up for team practices – even if he wasn’t able to participate. By the first official team practice, Ryan had lost all of his hair due to chemotherapy treatments. His dad, coaches and teammates were waiting in the dugout with a stool and hair clippers. Many of them shaved their heads in solidarity with Ryan. They rallied around him so he wanted his wish to include baseball and all the people who supported him when he was going through his toughest days. Ryan’s wish was to go to an Angels’ game and throw the first pitch in front of his teammates and family.

On Ryan’s wish day, while he was waiting for the game to begin, he was able to meet players during pre-game batting practice and get autographs and photos. Ryan then threw the opening pitch for the game with his family and teammates cheering him on as his perfect pitch went straight across home plate.

Ryan still wears his hospital admittance wristband. “It reminds me of what I went through” he says. “I’ll remember this, too” he says of his Angels’ Baseball experience – “I’ll remember this forever.”

 You see wishes wouldn’t be created without your aim, like Ryan, even though he has cancer he is still determined to do it!  That’s the magic of wish; it creates hope and determination to a person. For me wishing is another term for prayer, because as I wish to God I know and I believe that He will grant it and fulfill my desires. That’s how great and generous God is. And now as I take my steps to the highest peak in my life, I will never forget to look up and make a wish to God that every step that I will take and every breath I will make I will make sure that God is part of it.

Be Blessed and make a wish! *hug*

Abie Liwaliw

Manila Feaster

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GREAT-FULL IN THE STORM

"Mag-madre ka na lang kaya!” That’s what I used to hear from my dad especially ever since I started attending the Feast. He says that in irritation when I go home late from the Music Ministry practice and after our ‘Friday Party’. I’ve tried inviting him several times to the Feast but he just wouldn’t budge.

You see my dad is kinda strict. He doesn’t want me going home late for whatever reason, may it be for schoolwork, extra curriculars, business or ‘lakwatsa’. It has no difference for him. He worries a lot and usually expresses it in irritation and anger. “Madaming masasamang taong nagkalat dyan, umuuwi ka nang ganyang oras?! Hihintayin mo pang may masamang mangyari sa ‘yo bago ka madala!” That’s how my dad worries. Now, of course I wouldn’t answer him back even if I wanted to because it just wouldn’t ease his worrying and he wouldn’t listen to me anyway because his mind is not open to these things. I just try to understand him and keep quiet and try to have a ‘taingang-kawali’ because there’s just no way for me to do what he wants me to do—to stop going to the Feast. NO WAY, EVER! I’m not doing this as an act of rebellion but the thought of it just makes me cringe! (Yes, I’m addicted to the Feast just like you are.;) But what I would want to tell him if given the opportunity is that he doesn’t have to worry at all for me whenever I go home late. I am always with my BIG DAD who takes care of me and blocks every bad guy that might come my way! I feel His protective arms around me and I always feel safe even during the late hours.

“Mag-madre ka na lang kaya!” Now my sister hears that statement too since she started getting involved in the UP Feast and comes home late every Tuesday for their Caring Group. Now I worry for her. Not because she comes home late but because she might not be able to withstand the objections of our dad. She might stop attending because she’s not as hard-headed as I am (hehe…). I’m afraid that if she stopped attending, she might backslide again. My efforts of trying to magnet this family back to our God would be in vain… Or if she withstands the objections, I would be worried for our dad because of the headache that we’re gonna give him. In either situation, I have my worries waiting. But in the middle of these worries and fears, a song saves me once again. The song that brought me to tears the first time I listened to it. I haven’t heard this one for a long time and now I hear my sis listening to it. “Whom shall I fear, whom shall I fear? For I am yours…” That is ‘Who am I?’ by the Casting Crowns. He assures me once again of my identity and tells me to stop my worries because He is in control.

For the meantime I cannot change them no matter how much I wanted to. God did not give me the power to change them anyway. The only power He gave me is to love them. So I do my best to love them in my own little ways. They may not see it right now but I have faith that they will, eventually. ;)

It might seem like there’s a storm in my family. It might seem like they wouldn’t want to be a part of this wonderful community. But I strongly detest that! In one of our sessions, I remember it was said, “All of us have happy endings. If it’s not happy, then it’s not yet the end.” I have a vision and I’m claiming that one day, God is going to bring my whole family in this bigger family of believers. He’s gonna fill them with so much love and they’re gonna become active members of LOJ. Together we’re gonna worship Him and give Him thanks for bringing all of us here. That vision alone makes me want to jump and praise God even during this storm. Being nurtured by the Feast, my heart has amazingly become “great-full” in ALL circumstances! =D

by Anna DelaCruz

Manila Feaster

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Ironic God

In the PROSPER series, God demanded me to be generous despite my family experiencing financial crisis. In the OVERCOME! series, He expected me to become a conqueror even though, at that time, everything seemed to be falling apart in my academics.

In A LIFE OF NO REGRETS series, He anticipated me grabbing every opportunity, when it was difficult to take risks. In the AWAKEN THE HEALER IN YOU series, He expected me to have His power to heal when I was struck by physical and spiritual illness.

Yep. That’s how ironic He is. I don’t know why or how but every passing teaching series suited my life situation during the period when they were being delivered in the FEAST. It was like God was intentionally having them as His challenges to me.

Now, as the T3 series had its debut, He was expecting me to give my all.  To give the TOTAL of me to Him.

Well, I have no problem with that. After all, He deserves everything.  My God has blessed me so much in my relationships, in my studies, in my service and in my health. In every aspect of my life, God has poured His Great Love on me since the time He gave His life for us at the cross.  And yes, He’s worth of my time, my talent, my treasure, my everything.

Definitely, I have no problem with giving my all to Him. That’s what I thought —- at first. Because, lately, I’ve felt something lacking within me. I couldn’t determine what it was but I felt that there was something missing.  So, I turned to God and asked, “Lord Dad, how can I give You my all if there’s lacking within me?”

He had blessed me with everything but yet, all of a sudden, I felt incomplete. I contemplated. And, then, I sobbed. I finally realized what was lacking.

I felt incomplete simply because I had not yet given my all to Him. I had not yet surrendered all my weaknesses to Him because I still kept on sinning. I had not yet offered all my fears because I still kept on worrying. I had not yet dedicated all my best for Him because I was still satisfied with my mediocrity.

I had not yet given the total of me to Him because I still felt incomplete.

Honestly, our God doesn’t need our time, our talent or our treasure. If He does, that would be crazy! He is God! I’m sure He can have everything He wants with just a split of nanoseconds. What God really wants to have is just you; the good part of you, the bad part of you, the whole you.

by Mark Maliwanag

Manila Feaster

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BUO

May isang ina ng isang gwapong pari ang tinanong ng kanyang kumare.  “Mare, bakit mo naman pinayagang magpari yung anak mo e sobrang gwapo?  Sayang lang.”

“Mare, ito ang natutunan ko sa buhay: kung magbibigay tayo sa Diyos, hindi pwedeng kalahati.  Hindi pwedeng kakapiranggot.  Hindi pwedeng kakarampot.  Kung magbibigay tayo sa Diyos, dapat buo!”

Madalas sa buhay natin ay marami tayong magagandang biyayang natatanggap.  Malamang.  Nakatanggap ka na ba ng regalo na luma?  Kung oo, anong na-feel mo?  Hindi masaya di ba?  Siyempre kung may magbibigay na rin lang sa iyo, yung bago na di ba?  Lahat tayo gusto natin makuha yung maganda, yung bago.  At kung pwede, yung the best.

Pero pag tayo na ang dapat magbigay, minsan, biglang nagbabago ang ihip ng hangin.  May iba sa atin na galante talaga magbigay.  Pero may iba naman na biglang inaatake ng kakuriputan.  Kung pwedeng makatipid, gagawin talaga.  “It’s the thought that counts naman eh” ang madalas nating banggitin.

Oo, thought really counts.  Sa mga kaibigan natin, sapat na ito.  Pero paano kung si Lord na ang dapat bigyan?  Masasabi pa rin ba natin na “It’s the thought that counts naman eh”?

Madalas tayong magdasal sa Panginoon.  At sa tuwing may hihilingin tayo sa Kanya, lagi nating hinihiling yung maganda, yung bago, yung the best.  Pero pag oras na para sa atin ang magbigay sa pamamagitan ng tithe o love offering, wala na, nagkakalimutan na.  Kung hindi barya, lumang bente pesos o kaya isang daan na may scotch tape yung nilalagay natin.

“Eh brother hindi naman kailangan ni Lord yang mga materyal na bagay eh.  Mas tinitignan niya yung kalooban natin.”  Tama.  Sang-ayon naman ako dun.  Pero minsan ba naitanong natin sa ating mga sarili kung ibinigay na natin ang lahat ng ating mga ginagawa sa Kanya?  Sa trabaho ba natin iniaalay ba natin ang mga gawain para sa Kanya?  Pag sumasagot sa exam, sinasabi ba natin “Lord, ibibigay ko lahat sa exam na ito.  Kung ano man ang makuha ko, para sa Iyo”?  Sa panliligaw, relasyon o pag-aasawa, nasabi na ba natin na kung paano natin mahalin ang ating kabiyak e ganun din natin Siya mahalin?

Hindi naman talaga tinitignan ni Lord kung gaano kalaki o kamahal ang binibigay natin.  Ang tinitignan Niya e kung gaano ito kahalaga sa buhay natin.  Kung sobrang halaga ba.  Yung tipong pwede nating ikamatay o kaya ikabagsak sa buhay pag nawala yun.  Kung nakakapagbigay tayo sa Kanya ng mga ganitong kahalagang bagay sa buhay natin ay dun lang natin masasabing nagbibigay tayo talaga.  Dahil ako na ang nagsasabi sa iyo, pag nagawa mo ito, sobrang higit pa sa halaga ng ibinigay mo ang ibabalik Niya sa iyo.  We can never outdone the Lord in generosity.  Naisip mo na ba kung kanino talaga nanggaling yung mga ibinibigay mo sa Kanya?  Kung magbibigay tayo sa Diyos, hindi pwedeng kalahati.  Hindi pwedeng kakapiranggot.  Hindi pwedeng kakarampot.  Kung magbibigay tayo sa Diyos, dapat buo!

Handa ka na bang magbigay kay Bro?

written by tagaseminaryoako
Manila Feaster
Sunday, 14 August 2011

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