Rainy Blues

Bom Noite! Felt like doing a Portuguese greeting for a change.

First and foremost, how are you? Seems like forever since the last time we’ve talked…

Me? I’m fine. I have been adjusting well in the college I transferred since June. Pressures starting to kick in this week just as the rain decided pouring uncontrollably this time. Yet, with the gloomy feel accompanying the rain, the sentimental and introspective moods that it sends to the soul subtly refreshes.

Haven’t we all felt busy at one point like we’re always multi-tasking to finish one task after another? But at the end of all the frustration and stress, we still feel unsatisfied and ironically unfinished. As if there’s still something you need to do. If you totally and completely agree with my point, without any arguments, I just want to say welcome aboard. Don’t be confused with what you’re going through, it’s a usual phenomena in a person’s life. Majority of the human race is regularly suffering from this sickness and can be unaware of it or just passive and nonchalant about it. But if you really want change, you must get tired. Because after you become tired, that’s the time you change your course of action. When a person gets tired of running, they start to slow down and walk. Most of the time, we run and this is the reason why we always end up in the wrong place. When all we had to do was walk to get to the right destination. Then, how do I get there where I want to be? How will I feel fulfilled?

Have the right PRIORITIES. People have that tendency to believe when they do more, they gain more out of life. The truth of the matter is it’s not really the quantity of work that is most important, but the quality. If your quantity of work lessens, you’ll be able to acquire more time for quality work. I’ll ask you a question, if you only got a month left to live, what would you do? I won’t have to dictate to you your answer, it is a personal question after all. If you already have the answer to that question then I’d like to tell you that would be the things you should prioritize in this life. Secondly, you need to have FOCUS. It is the key and always has been the key. Focus, in terms of, what are the things we really need to do so we don’t have to take the longer route. Lastly, always, and I mean ALWAYS, remember that God made life to be simple and enjoyable. We’re the ones who try to complicate it.

I’m glad I was able to write here again just to freshen up my writing skills. I’m taking up journalism after all. As I say my farewell, I hope somehow this post has helped you give thought to the important aspects of life and I pray that it has also enlightened you with the things that truly matter most. You may ask me what I value most – I’ll simply answer (in order) God, family, then friends, and everything after them becomes least of my priorities.  God bless you!

P.S. (On photography)

Basic photography class is included in my curriculum, and I’m currently taking it up this semester. What would you advise me to get as a camera, more specifically an SLR/DSLR? The camera should be easy to handle and operate. I don’t it to be too complicated for a beginner, but I also want it to produce quality photos just like the pros. My photographer friend advised me to get a Nikon D90, and I’ve got a first-hand test-drive of one. It was good, but can you give any other options before I buy one. I want to be able to choose and not just stick with one choice. Thanks again for your help!

I’m still alive!

Yay! I finally got the time to write and update my blog. To tell you the truth, I’m not in the mood to write. It feels like I’m all messed up on the inside. Every emotions were mixed and mashed together that I couldn’t pinpoint what I’m exactly feeling as of this moment. I’ve got to get myself together before school starts, I’m not ecstatic of messing up every decision I make again.

Well, it’s obvious that I’m not enthusiastic with everything that’s happening to me lately. And it really irritates me when you’re the only person feeling this way when everybody else is celebrating life. I don’t want to be a pessimist and all, that’s why I tried avoiding people and socializing with them. I’m in refusal to be in contact with anyone. Now, I sound like an emo kid desiring to be alone, but I’m not at all. It’s just that for me, being in a crowd makes me feel more alone than when I’m in solitude. It’s very unlikely for me to feel this way again. I’m definitely not accepting what I’m feeling, I’m not letting my emotions get the best of me. I’m not taking a step backward after all the progress I have made through these years. If anyone with the same situation as me would have the opportunity to read this, I just want to tell you, don’t let your emotions control you and bring you further down. Learn to encourage yourself in the Lord. Out of every encouragement and advices anyone could give you, God is much more able to uplift you from the negativity you’re feeling and experiencing. He has the power to restore the joy and the healthy countenance of your heart. Like what David had experienced and relayed in Psalm 42:11,

“Why art thou cast down, O my soul?
and why art thou disquieted within me?
hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him,
who is the health of my countenance, and my God.”

Hope this post has also been an encouragement to you, and continue to hope and put your trust in the Lord. He has always been mindful of you from the first day you came in this world. He has prepared still the best for you and He cares for your well-being. He will, with all His might, bring you good things things and blessings that you may enjoy life abundantly. God bless you and take care.

An Unforgettable Ride in a Life-changing Summer Experience

Church Camp ’09, a dance workshop, and then an overnight for our youth fellowship at church, what’s lined up next for me this summer?

Okay, though it may seem like I got a full-packed schedule this summer and don’t have a lot of time in my hands, honestly speaking, I’ve never been more aware of how much time I have, enough to do all this activities and more. Updating this blog has been a tiny bit problem for me since I’m rarely in the mood to write and there are no present motivations (ehem…readers…I need more of them). Maybe if I only had followers here on WordPress, I would forever be grateful to people and would be updating everyday. Let’s put it simply in one phrase, “More Readers, More Writing and Updating.” How would I be motivated to post if there isn’t anybody interested enough to read what I write? If I sound so desperate right now, I am. Just kidding. Okay maybe it was partly true. Next topic.

Our recent church camp was definitely one-of-its kind. Since our church held camps annually, this one is just plain a “Different Experience from the Former”. I’m glad most of the congregation was able to attend this ultimately distinct camp. This year, it was entitled “No Limits”. I’m not here to share my entire and amazing experience there, but just a bit of what I had taken in during that significant moment of my life. There’s one afternoon activity held during the last day which has given me much insight and a personal revelation from God. It was a team-building game where there’s a rope fence hanging in mid-air with a hole in the middle, and each participants of the group must come up with a strategy to get every person to the other side without touching the sides of the hole. Jumping through the hole is a violation. In short, you need others to carry you and push you to the other end. We’ve done this again in our youth fellowship recently.  Here’s a picture if you don’t get what I’m saying.

( that’s my younger sister )

*Sorry for the blurry pics, I’m too lazy to change the size.

What did I exactly learn from this activity? It has a relevance with our dreams in life. Let’s say the other side of the rope fence is the moment our dreams reached its fulfillment, and the rope fence are the goals you have put up in reaching your personal dream. From seeing the pictures, getting to the other side is an arduous task for a single person to do, there’s a bigger probability you wouldn’t be able to get to the other side without touching the boundaries of the hole. If touching the boundaries of the hole is an example of failure, then doing everything alone to reach our dreams would mean we are more prone in experiencing failures, and perhaps a bigger possibility we are not going to reach it. Since the activity required other people to get you to the other side, a difficult job considered by one person can be easily done. It teaches us one thing, we also need others, not just ourselves in making our dreams reality. I’ll give you the 3 Keys for the fulfillment of your dreams:

1.) Believe in yourself. – God did not deprive you of any talents or abilities to get you to the fulfillment of your dreams. Plus, it doesn’t hurt if you believe in yourself and the great things that you are capable of doing. Though it may be hard for some, just remember you are you, made into a unique being unlike others. The famous and great people also started as an unknown, but seeing they can do more with what they have, they made their dreams not just fantasy but reality. More importantly, everything that we have and do can take us farther in life if we know how to dedicate them to the Giver of talents and gifts, and that is God.

2.) Trust others. – Trusting others is essential. Some people may say, “I can do everything alone. I don’t need others to help me.” Then they are entirely wrong. Doing everything by themselves can only take them far, but not that far when you have others. Then who are this other people that could help me? They’re your family, your closest friends, and at one point in time, God will allow other people to connect with you to help you achieve step-by-step all your goals towards your dream.

3.) Believe in God. – Believing and trusting God is the first and crucial step to the fulfillment of our dreams. He is able to fulfill all the things that you are incapable of doing. We also have our limitations, but with God there are no limits. Just remember this, as it is said in the Bible,

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Jeremiah 29:11

Hope you have been inspired to dream again. It’s never too late for your dreams to be fulfilled. Just know that a mighty God is just waiting for you to surrender to Him, and He will bring you to a place of abundance and prosperity. God bless!

God to the rescue.

I fell. Into a ravine of misery.

Darkness consumed the place. Light was unwelcome.
Sadness crept inside me slowly, and eat of the life that remains.
Weak. I was growing weak day by day. Every bit of my strength was drained.
Suffocated, I can’t hardly breathe. When I thought it would be the end of me.

He came to my rescue.

I heard a sound, a mighty sound. Incredibly, a faint glow of light can be seen out of the corner of my eye. The little glow made its way into the ravine, it forced itself inside until it became a beam of bright light. I saw a man. My eyes could not look at Him directly. He was the most glorious person a human eye can behold. I have to close my eyes because I might turn blind. He was reaching out His Hand, I can feel it. He was there reaching out for me. And with a gentle voice, He comfortingly whispered, “I came here to your rescue.” With that words, strength began building up in my body. Joy encompassed in my whole being. Hope opened my eyes and my ears. Life was completely restored. With boldness, I reached out for the Man’s hand. I trusted Him, He can do all things. He carried me out of the forsaken ravine. Feelings of gratitude overtook me. I could not contain the redemption I had experienced. The moment my foot touched the ground, I began rejoicing. I was full of bliss. This was the miracle I’ve been waiting for.

When I turned to face Him, He touched my heart and my soul. With His final Words, He disappeared. But I know He was not gone. He was still there just unseen, but felt.

Want to know what His final words were.

“You are healed through my love, and what my Son did on the cross.”

Up to this day, His words still lingered in my ears. For I know, He found a special place inside my heart. I would never forget that moment when He came to my rescue.

His Love will forever remain the reason of my salvation and redemption.