Life is too short

I FEEL YOUR PAIN MY FRIEND

noreply@blogger.com (Norie) — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 03:22:00 +0000

Dear Friend

You said, the road to heaven is hidden on the cross and
that worry does not solve the problem of tommorow but
saps and robs the glory of today.

We really don't know how special a moment is until it pass,
then it is too late. You said grab life for all its worth and
don't let it go. Live, love, dance the music, for it too will pass.

All you will have is a fleeting memory melting like dew drops
in the early morning sun.

Remember a song is not a song until it is sung.
A bell is not a bell until it is rung.

Love is not love until is is given.
It is the reason you are alive.
I am love.
Live!

I LOVE YOU

THE BEST TIME TO LOVE IS NOW

noreply@blogger.com (Norie) — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 14:19:00 +0000

My friend

You are right. The best time for me to love is now. I don't know how long I will have the
opportunity. Really circumstances change. It is beyond us. People die. Children grow up.
We have no guarantee of tomorrow. Time is a restless continuous set of changes. Ahead
is a moment we call future. It quickly changes into present then quickly changes into past.
Time is a lens that capture dreams and turn it into reality. And God will judge us on how we
spent our time in this life. Time will be the scale of our before and after on the altar of the Lord.

So the best time for me to express my love is now. The best use of my life is loving. Yes, the best expression of love is time. Love is an inner attitude that involves the whole human being.
Love is a gift of self. My time.

Maybe if we watch more open this video (Premashu Mitra) it will give us a deeper insight
of a God who always gives us an endless chance to love. Love is not a feeling, nor emotion.
Love is a person and He is our Father. It is in loving that we become more like Him.

Let us watch this....... GOD IS LOVE. HE'LL BE THERE FOR YOU...HERE IS THE PROOF.

PEACE IN THE LOVE OF GOD

noreply@blogger.com (Norie) — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 01:16:00 +0000

My friend

It is said that peace is not the absence of conflict but the presence of God in our lives.

What is peace in the love of God my friend. Is it in knowing that He loves me? Is it in knowing
that He cares? Is it the thought that He is my Father and that fathers, good fathers I
mean, are Sheperds who would give His life for His sheep? Hirelings run away you said.

May we all have that peace that comes from the love of God. Peace be to you my friend!

" MY HOME IS GOD HIMSELF"

noreply@blogger.com (Norie) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:12:00 +0000

"My Home is God Himself ", Christ brought me there.

I placed myself within His mighty arms;

He took me up and safe from all alarms

He bore me " where no foot but His has trod."

Within the holiest as Home with God,

And had me dwell in Him, rejoicing there.

O Holy place! O Home divinely fair!

And we, God's little ones, abiding there.

" My Home is God Himself "; it was not so!

A long, lond road I traveled night and day

And sought to find within myself some way.

Nothing I did or felt could bring me near.

Self-effort failed, and I was filled with fear,

And then I found Christ was the only way,

That I must come to Him and Him stay,

And God had told me so.

And now " my Home is God, " and sheltered there,

God meets the trials of my earthly life,

God compasses me round from storm and strife,

God takes the burden of my daily care.

O Wondrous Place! O home divinely fair!

And I, God's little one, are hidden there,

Lord, as I dwell in You and You in me,

So make me dead to everything but Thee;

That as I rest within my Home most fair,

My soul may evermore and only see

My God in everything and everywhere;

My Home is God.

"LORD YOU HAVE BEEN OUR DWELLING PLACE THROUGHOUT ALL GENERATIONS"

Ps. 90:1

THE END OF THE WORLD

noreply@blogger.com (Norie) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 02:10:00 +0000

If it is a dream I want to wake up. But no matter how hard I tried my dream seems to point to a reality that it is the end of the world......my world.

The water is rising so rapidly that I knew in a few more seconds my world will be covered up with water and it did. "Ondoy", the storm has drop a month rain in six (6) hours and darkness is fast covering up the night like a blanket because all electrical services are one by one disconnected. Sooner than I think darkness sets in and it seems forever. There was an eerie silence intermittently broken by frightening sounds of people crying for help. Yes..it was my most unforgettable night.....Now I know what the wife of Noah felt the first night of the deluge. The moans, the shouts, the cry of anguish of those thirsty for help. It was a terrible night to experience I will never forget it. A Godless night it seems. That is what my daughter said and experience.

It is must have been a very long night for my daughter who lived in Pasig. They took refuge to a nearby two story apartment because their house was entirely submerged on water and to escape to a higher ground is futile since a very large area of Metro Manila is also submerged ten feet high. Cars and buses were swept away like toys because of strong current. Streets are flooded and houses disappear that give you a feeling that you are in the middle of great ocean. It is really a very frightful and agonizing night for seeing people shouting for help and cannot do anything about it. It was a hopeless night. Faith dried by the thought that we cannot extend our helping hands to our brothers and sisters who desperately needed help. My heart she said was filled with sorrow. Tears begin to blur my eyes and began to flow.... a river of helplessness follows.

That fun Saturday night was turned into a horrible fright night. And when Sunday morning breaks the deafening silence of the night this is what they saw.

My friend I pray that you restore their spirit specially those who lost hope. Another storm is coming ............................

GOD SAVES US ALL............................................................................................................

LOVE

noreply@blogger.com (Norie) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 02:53:00 +0000

My friend

What do you think our blogger friends say about this?

Can happiness exist without love? Or can love exist without freedom?
It is said we exist for love and to love and we can only be happy loving
and being loved.

Truly love that is forced or that which arise from self-interest does not deserve the name.

True love, that is blessed loved only exist between two people when they freely surrender
themselves to each other.

Love is the condition of happiness. " man would not know how to live without love." says St. Catherine of Siena.

"Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides.

And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out

whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconcievable

that you should ever part. Because this is what love is.

Love is not breathless, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation

of promises of eternal passion. That is just being " in love" which any

of us can convince ourselves we are. Love itself is what is left over

when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate

accident. Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew

towards each other underground,and when all the pretty

blossoms had fallen from our branches we found

that we were one tree and not two." St Augustine.

Life is about love.

Love you my friend.

THE EYE

noreply@blogger.com (Norie) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:00:00 +0000

My friend

It was night when you were betrayed. Yes, it is always dark when we sin. The room was filled with eerie silence and the sounds of the last song of praise is slowly dying out.......... when you speak.

"One of you will betray me." Stun by your word, they all look up and saw you trying to subdue that loneliness in your eyes. And then with quivering lips you said, " do quickly what you are about to do. "

" Do quickly!" you speak aloud, yet in the silence of your heart they never heard the words trying to get out of your lips...."before my tears starts to fall."

" Is it I, my Lord?" they all said. Except the one who probably said to himself.... how did he know?

How did He know? Did He ever turn his back on us? Does he care? And when he looks at us? What is it like?

When I was younger. I never look up at the picture of Christ hanging on my wall whenever I pray. Simply because I am afraid. Afraid that I may see an angry Christ. A Christ with an accusing eye ...telling me how bad I am...charging me of my wrongdoing. Thats how I pray then. Yes...I never look at him.

Then one day, while praying inside the Chapel of St. Joseph, I felt a top on my shoulder, and I look up. I saw a huge picture of the face of Christ hanging in front of me. He is looking down at me. I got up and move at the back of the Chapel. Here I said to myself his eyes will not reach me. I was wrong. Now he's looking straight at me....it seems to me that I cannot escape the situation so I muster all the courage I have left and begin to stare. As my eyes meet his. My fear slowly banished away. It is not an accusing eyes. It is a compasionate eyes. The eyes that understand. The eyes that says....I LOVE YOU! IT IS ALRIGHT! I KNOW YOU! I UNDERSTAND! Since then I always talk to the eyes that speaks.

Every nice friend is a glimpse of God. It is one of life's blessings...a priceless gift that can never be bought, sold, or forgotten! Take care my friend...remember always I understand because I love you....

"If I had not come" Jn. 15:22

noreply@blogger.com (Norie) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 03:23:00 +0000

My friend

I am wondering what the world would be like if Jesus had not come. The world would drastically change isn't it. Santa Clause will not be coming to town. Churches, Cathedrals, Monasteries even the whole Vatican City will disappear on the face of the earth. Pastors, Priest, Nuns, and other charitable institution run by them will vanish. Life styles will radically change. It would be a very different world! I guess this is what we will find ourselves without Christmas. No Jesus ....no Christmas.

The words, faith, hope and love will eventually lost its meaning. Even the word.......forgive will change. An eye for an eye will prevail all over the land. The Bible if it could still be called such will be thinner. No new testament. No epistles of Paul....No word of God. That which is hidden in the old testament will never be revealed because there is no new. For that which is revealed in the new is hidden in the old testament. The Book will just be empty words.

There is a story about a Minister who fall asleep one Christmas morning. He dreamed of a world into which Jesus never came. No Christmas.

In his dream, he saw himself walking through his house, but as he looked, he saw no stockings hung on the chimney, no Christmass tree, no wreath of holly, and no Christ to comfort and gladden hearts or to save us. He then walked onto the street outside, but there was no church with its spire pointing heaven. And when he came back and sat down in his library, he realized that every book about our Savior had disappeared.

The Minister dreamed that the doorbell rang and that a messenger asked him to visit a friend's poor dying mother. He reached her home, and as his friend sat and wept, he said, " I have something here that will comfort you." He opened his Bible to look for a familiar promise of hope and salvation, and all he could do was bow his head and weep with his friend and his mother in bitter despair.

Two days later he stood beside her coffin and conducted her funeral service, but there was no message of comfort, no words of a glorious resurrection, and no thought of a mansion awaiting her in heaven. There was only " dust to dust, and ashes to ashes," and one long, eternal farewell. Finally he realize that Christ had not come, and burst into tears, weeping bitterly in his sorrowful dream.

Then suddenly he awoke with a start, and a great shout of joy and praise burst from his lips as he heard the choir singing these words in the church nearby:

O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,

O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem

Come and behold him, born the King of angels,

O come let us adore Him,Christ the Lord!

LET US BE GLAD AND REJOICE THIS CHRISTMAS! HE HAS COME!

With Christ all roads leads home!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

ANGELS

noreply@blogger.com (Norie) — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 00:50:00 +0000

There was this little girl sitting by herself in the park. Everyone passed her and never stopped to see why she looked so sad. Dressed in a worn white dress, barefoot and dirty, the girl just sat and watched the people go by.

She never tried to speak. She never said a word. Many people passed by her, but no one would stop.

The next day I decided to go back to the park, out of curiosity, to see if the little girl would still be there. Yes, she was there, right in the very spot where she was yesterday, and still with the same sad look in her eyes.

TODAY, I was to make my own move and walk over to the little girl sitting all by herself. As we all know, a park full of strange people is not a place for young children to play or stay alone. As I got closer I could see the back of her dress. It was grotesquely shaped. I figure that was the reason why people just passedby and made no effort to speak to her. Deformities are a low blow to our society and heaven forbid if you make a step toward assisting someone who is different.

As I got closer, the girl lowered her eyes slightly to avoid my stare. As I approached her, I could see the shaped of her back more clearly. She was grotesquely shaped in a humped-over form. I smiled to let her know it was okay.......I was there to help if help is needed and to talk.

I sat down beside her and opened with a simple, " Hello." The girl acted shocked and stammered a " Hi" after looking deeply into my eyes. I smiled and she shyly smilled back. We talked until darkness fell and the park was completely empty.

I asked the girl why she was so sad. She looked at me with a wan look and said, " Because, I'm different."

I immediately replied, " That you are!" and smiled. The girl looked even sadder and muttered, " I know."

" Little girl," I said, " you remind me of an angel, sweet and innocent."

She looked at me and smiled, then slowly she got to her feet and said, " Really?"

" Yes you're like a little Guardian Angel sent to watch over all people walking by."

The girl with a worn out dress smiled , her face lightening up.

Straightening up, she opened the back of her crumpled dress allowed her glorious wings to spread, and said " I am your Guardian Angel!"

I was speechless.

She held my hand and said, " For once you thought of someone other than yourself. My job here is done."

I got to my feet, " Wait, why did no one stop to help or even just to talk to you, an angel?"

" With most people distracted by the material world, you were the only one who could see me."

With that, she was gone.

And with that my life was changed dramatically.

DO YOU BELIEVE IN ANGELS?

I DO.....................

A GOD OF A MILLION CHANCE

noreply@blogger.com (Norie) — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 00:46:00 +0000

Hi my friend. You are really a God of a million chance. You never fail to amaze me. I thought I am gone and you keep on giving me this precious time. Well I am writing again to tell you how grateful I am. I am writing to let your children know that you are really a great Father who looks not on weakness of His child but rather looks with an understanding heart. A heart that accepts everything... me. Yes.......a victory of grace no less...on me.

I always wonder what you see in me. My passion being shared by this God of compassion? My frustrations and pain is not mine alone? But His too? Why my friend do you love me so much? You burst forth life in me amidst its ashes.... joy in my sorrow...laugther in my tears, you're a great friend......and father. A savior!

When ever I contemplate the crucifix hanging on the wall of my room I think I am beginning to understand that there is really power in powerlessness. The cost of this unconditional love for us...for me....the humiliation and pain you suffered, all the way to your last breath just for me...for us.... brought me to this beautiful place called peace. A place where you accept with open arms suffering and pain, knowing that you are sharing the suffering of my ever loving friend who said, " forgive them for they know not what they do." Yes, even to those who tortured and put him to death. The cost it seems is too little compared to the gains of loving.

This story moves me.

" My friend isn't back from the battlefield, sir. Request permission to go out and get him."

" Permission refused," said the officer. " I don't want you to risk your life for a man who is probably dead."

The soldier went, all the same, and an hour later, came back mortally wounded carrying the corpse of his friend. The officer was furious. " I told you he was dead. Now I've lost both of you.

Tell me, was it worth going out there to bring a corpse?"

The dying man replied, " Oh, it was, sir. When I got to him he was still alive. And he said to me

Jack, I was sure you'd come.

FATHER'S DAY

noreply@blogger.com (Norie) — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 17:00:00 +0000

Today is my moms birthday. It is also Father's day. I am so grateful beyond words for both of them. What memory about your father makes you cry, they ask. How about you my friend. WHAT MEMORY ABOUT YOUR FATHER MAKES YOU CRY?

You know I have no memory about my father. I was not able to meet him. I can write books about fathers but it would be a lie for I have not experience one. My father died when I am only seven months old. I never knew him. His absence in my life must have made who I am today. What I am truly proud of is to be a part of a family who filled the vacumn of his absence. My brothers, my sisters have become my father and my mother. From them I have learned that it doesn't take much to make someone happy. Love is free and they have plenty of it. My father must have left a mark with my brothers and sisters for they all show his spirit in their lives. He must be a great father for it shows and is felt by this little old me with my family. I am the youngest.

HOW ABOUT YOU MY FRIEND. WHAT MEMORY ABOUT YOUR FATHER MAKES YOU CRY?

HAPPY FATHERS DAY! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM....I MISS YOU.

FOR MY MOM WHO DIED WITHOUT ME SAYING I LOVE YOU

noreply@blogger.com (Norie) — Sun, 11 May 2008 00:52:00 +0000

Our Mother is the Sweetest

Our mother is the sweetest and most delicate of all,

She knows more of paradise than angels can recall,

She's not only beautiful but passionately young,

Playful as a kid yet wise as one who has lived long.

Her love is like the rush of life,

A bubbly, laughing spring that runs through all

like liquid light and makes the mountains sing.

And makes the meadows turn to flower

And trees to choicest fruit.

She is at once the field and bower

In which our hearts take root.

She is at once the sea and shore,

Our freedom and our past,

With her we launch our daring ships

Yet keep the things that last.

I love you Mom I know you can hear me. I miss you soooooo much.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

A STAR

noreply@blogger.com (Norie) — Tue, 06 May 2008 06:49:00 +0000

Each of us represents a star in heaven. Sometimes we shine with the rest, sometimes we twinkle alone and sometimes when we least know it, we make others wishes come true.

If the sun shines in your soul, does it matter if it rains outside? Happiness within overlooks the sadness any event may bring. So stay happy and shine all the way through.

Thanks my friend.

THE DUCK

noreply@blogger.com (Norie) — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 12:35:00 +0000

There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm. He was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods. He practiced in the woods; but he could never hit the target. Getting a little discouraged, he headed back for dinner.

As he was walking back he saw Grandma's pet duck. Just out of impulse, he let the slingshot fly, hit the duck square in the head and killed it. He was shocked and grieved! In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the wood pile; only to see his sister watching! Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing.

After lunch the next day Grandma said, 'Sally, let's wash the dishes' But Sally said, 'Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen.' Then she whispered to him, 'Remember the duck?' So Johnny did the dishes.

Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing and Grandma said, 'I'm sorry but I need Sally to help make supper.' Sally just smiled and said, 'Well that's all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help' She whispered again, 'Remember the duck?' So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed to help.

After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally's; he finally couldn't stand it any longer. He came to Grandma and confessed that he had killed the duck.

Grandma knelt down, gave him a hug and said, 'Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing, but because I love you, I forgave you. I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you.'

Thought for the day and every day thereafter? Whatever is in your past, whatever you have done... And the devil keeps throwing it up in your face (lying, cheating, debt, fear, bad habits, hatred, anger, bitterness, etc.) ..whatever it is...You need to know that God was standing at the window and He saw the whole thing. He has seen your whole life. He wants you to know that He loves you and that you are forgiven.

He's just wondering how long you will let the devil make a slave of you.The great thing about God is that when you ask for forgiveness; He not only forgives you, but He forgets. It is by God's grace and mercy that we are saved. Go ahead and make the difference in someone's life today.

Thanks my friend.

THE SEEDS OF FAITH

noreply@blogger.com (Norie) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 02:50:00 +0000

" Today is the first day of the rest of your life." If my glucose (sugar) count did not rise the other day (452), I could not understand this beautiful poster I saw today. Yup, I forgot to test my glucose (sugar) for the past several months. I forgot that my body is intimately connected to the social, mental, spiritual aspect of my life. If Aida, my wife didn't insist to test it that day ....well it will be all over. Truly you speak in many different ways my friend. I am so grateful.

My friend, I come to you today to ask you to take off my old heavy garments of despair and heaviness. Make me new today. Give me that garment of praise so that I can be a display of Your glory and splendour. Make me an instrument of Your peace and love that they may know You through me. May I decrease so You may increase in me.

My friend, you gave us seeds to plant in our hearts . Seeds if we nourish and help grow would strenghten our faith and trust in you. Seeds we usually reject unknowing you are always close to help. That You are in the shadow, keeping watch over His own. You allow trouble to pursue us, as though You don't care, so we may be brought to the end of ourselves until we discover the treasure of darkness and the immeasurable wealth of tribulation. It maybe that I will only see You once the ordeal is nearly passed, but we must dare to believe that You never leave us alone in our trial. Although your presence is veiled...... the secret of your deeper love is shown.

Be strong, He has not failed you

In all the past,

And will He go and leave you

To sink at last?

No, He said He will hide you

Beneath His wing;

And sweetly there in safety

You then may sing.

(selected)

GOD RESERVES THE BEST MEDICINE FOR OUR TIMES OF DEEPEST DESPAIR.

TO GIVE A NEW MEANING TO WHAT WE ARE

EXPERIENCING NOW IN OUR LIFE

AND LOOK AT IT WITH THE

EYES OF GOD

ARE OUR NEW SEEDS OF FAITH

SURRENDER NOT YOUR

HOPE

THANK YOU MY FRIEND.

LOVE IS POWER

noreply@blogger.com (Norie) — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:05:00 +0000

My friend

You're right. Loneliness can be the most horrifying emotion we can ever experience. It can cause us to do and feel things which we may not normally do. Like over-eating, turning to alcohol, or other things like drugs. If we are not careful all the things we do to mask the pain of loneliness can actually intensify it. It takes a tremendous amount of courage to take on the challenge of fighting and winning the feeling of loneliness.

Motivated by a strange spirit to walk slowly, feeling lonely I guess, along A. Mabini St., last wednesday night, as a result of fatigue and poor health, and heavy financial burden when I suddenly notice two girls walking towards me just like the picture above. The bigger girl stop and smiled at me and that makes me also smiled and asked her " why are you carrying her? She's heavy and you're just a little girl. " And she simply answered " I carry my sister because I love her." As I gave the last ten peso coin in my pocket, I watch them move away from me thinking of the incident, it wakes me up from my deadining mind and senses.... from the problems I carry. " I LOVE HER. " she said. " THAT'S WHY. "

That's when I begin to think and understand that only because of love that all things we do have value. Love is for others. Love is merciful. Love is grateful. Love is power that enables us to carry not only the burden of others but our burdens as well. It is only when we live a contended life that all things we dreamed of will follow. You love me my friend inspite of my sins. It is your unconditional love that sustains me. You carry me when I can no longer walk and in pain.

Yes my friend. Forgiving is love. Forgiving is remembering! Remembering that my brothers and sisters is like me. Weak and prone to mistakes. If I forget this I will be angry, and unforgiving. Love will be lost. I cannot even forgive my self and I will be lost in self pity....this stupor.

Yes, love is power. Power to endure pain. Power to give even our very own lives for the sake of that someone we love. I remember the story of a mother and her child in Darfur, because of the proximity of the clinic from their place and because her child is crying prantically for milk and because she knew that without it her child will die allowed her child to sip her own blood from her drying breast as they walk towards that life saving clinic. Walking almost for hours, mile after mile the mother became weaker and weaker because of lost of blood. And when they finaly arrived her dying wish is for the nurses at the clinic is let her child live. And she gave her life in peace. It is finish. Her child is safe.

Life is a sweet sacrifice.

Sometimes God breaks our spirit to save our soul.

Sometimes He breaks our heart to make us whole.

Sometimes He sends us pain so we can be stronger.

Sometimes He sends us failure so we can be humble.

Sometimes He takes everything away from us so we can learn the value of everything we have.

A blessed day for you my friend.

THE CLOUD OF UNKNOWING

noreply@blogger.com (Norie) — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 21:37:00 +0000

"ASSALAM ALAIKUM" God's peace be with you!

My friend,loving is a hard thing. It is said that when you love be prepared to be hurt. Yes I think this statement is true. Loving is really not an easy task. More often the one who love suffers more than the one we loved. Specially when the one we love does not understand our language of love. Yes, love has its own language in every person. It is acquired on the culture He/She is born in. Like a Chinese talking to an American unless they study the language of the other they will never understand each other. Yes there is a need to study the language of love specially of your chosen lifetime mate if you want it to last forever. It is in knowing that loving comes.

One of the hardest part of love is forgiveness. No one can profess to love without forgiving. It is easy to condemn and not forgive enemies that are impersonal distant, and without human face. And it is equally easy for us not to ask forgiveness from person or people who are faceless, far, foreign, and perhaps belong to another period of history. Yet forgiveness is essential in loving.... without forgiveness there is no love.

Maybe my friend you will ask, what credentials do I have to write about this difficult subject where I too am a spiritual beggar. Maybe my friend I say what I believed in and besides it gives me somewhat a spiritual freedom. I write what I see.

One does not really have to look too far or too hard around us to see the signs of brokeness and dis-order; deep seated conflict, hidden wounding, unrepented sins, unredressed guilt and costly ignorance. Something is fundamentally wrong with our present understanding of the human person's make-up. Modern living has redefined humanity. The meaning of love has been truncated and watered down or altogether ignored that it has cause confusion and even cynism in its usage.It is symptoms of an ailing world. It is a spiritual illness.

Maybe it's secularism. Secularism is a spirit and an attitude that puts God at a distance, removes Him from what goes on with this world,separates Him from human society and human history. Have you ever heard of the song "God is watching us from a distance"?

God who is love is not watching us from a distance. Immanuel! God is with us and in us! This is the God of Jesus..the God of the Scripture..the God who suffers with us and for us in Jesus. Not just in the human nature of Jesus but in Jesus as Son.

In the end I would like to share the life testimony a woman I admire so much for her courage some years ago in a workshop. I would like to hide her in the name Sherbet.

Sherbet's mother was killed by her very own father. She was estrangled, mauled and dumped in a vacant lot. Her father had a mistress and had fallen into bad company. He left and was never heard again. Sherbet hated her father for what he did to her mother but she tried to hide her dark past. Her aunt adopted her and her elder sister legally. Their surname was changed and they were transfered to another school and introduced as their biological children. She was happy for her new family because they were treated as real children. During grade school years, she had been consistent honor student. People admire her for being the prettiest, wealthiest and the brightest in the class. She wanted to prove to the world that she is not like her father.

When she fell in love with a senior student, her parents did not like him. She got pregnant but her boyfriend was not ready to marry her and advised her to have an abortion. Her parents were very angry when they knew about it. She discovered that her boyfriend was irresponsible. His own father was an alcoholic and his mother went abroad to escape. Sherbet broke up with him and returned to her parents who accepted her with open arms.

She joined the Life in the Spirit seminar and was reconciled to God.After recieving the Lord in her heart she was healed of her guilt feelings. She then forgave her real father and asked the Lord to touch him and bring him back to her someday. She also asked forgiveness to her parents for the times that she disappointed or hurt them.

She is grateful to her parents for their support and their presence in her moments of cisis and for loving her as their real daughter.

It must be the grace of reconcillation no less. The grace of love. God was unveild in her life. What do you think my friend.

SOME PICTURES

noreply@blogger.com (Norie) — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 03:10:00 +0000

If I sow love, I will reap love a hundredfold.

hmnnnnnnn......it is only in silence that I can clearly hear the voice of God, which guides my life. I really have to count my blessings. What do you think my friend?

An Old Man's Wisdom

noreply@blogger.com (Norie) — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 13:18:00 +0000

A man of 92 years, short, very well-presented, who takes great care of his appearance, is moving into an old people’s home today. His wife of 70 has recently died, and he is obliged to leave his home. After waiting several hours in the retirement home lobby, he gently smiles as he is told that his room is ready.

As he slowly walks to the elevator, using his cane, I describe his small room to him, including the sheet hung at the window which serves as a curtain.

"I like it very much", he says, with the enthusiasm of an 8 year old boy who has just been given a new puppy.

"M. Gagné, you haven’t even seen the room yet, hang on a moment, we are almost there. "

" That has nothing to do with it ", he replies.

" Happiness is something I choose in advance. Whether or not I like the room does not depend on the furniture, or the decor – rather it depends on how I decide to see it. "

" It is already decided in my mind that I like my room. It is a decision I take every morning when I wake up. "

" I can choose. I can spend my day in bed enumerating all the difficulties that I have with the parts of my body that no longer work very well, or I can get up and give thanks to heaven for those parts that are still in working order. "

" Every day is a gift, and as long as I can open my eyes, I will focus on the new day, and all the happy memories that I have built up during my life. "

" Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw in later life what you have deposited along the way. Every day is a gift, and as long as I can open my eyes, I will focus on the new day, and all the happy memories that I have built up during my life. "

So, my advice to you is to deposit all the happiness you can in your bank account of memories.

Thank you for your part in filling my account with happy memories, which I am still continuing to fill…

Remember these simple guidelines for happiness.

1. Free your heart from hate.
2. Free your mind from worry.
3. Live simple.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.

If you have been blessed by this message my friend, tell this story to your loved ones and your friends….it is the way we touch each other with simple truths that spread goodness in the world. Who knows, a miracle may happen as a result….

Thanks friend.....

PONDERING CHRISTMAS

noreply@blogger.com (Norie) — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 22:40:00 +0000

I have a dream, Joseph.

I don't understand it, not really, but I think it was about a birthday celebration for our Son. I think that was what it was all about. The people had been preparing for it for about six weeks. They had decorated the house and bought new clothes. They'd gone shopping many times and bought elaborated gifts. It was peculiar, though, because the presents weren't for our Son.

They wrapped them in beautiful paper and tied them with lovely bows and stacked them under a tree. Yes, a tree. Joseph right in their homes. They'd decorated the tree also. The branches were full of glowing balls and sparkling ornaments. There was a figure on top of the three. It look like how an angel might look. Oh, it was beautiful. Everyone was laughing and happy. They were all excited about the gifts. They gave the gifts to each other, Joseph, not to our Son. I don't think they even knew Him. They never mentioned His name.

Doesn't it seems odd for people to go through all that trouble to celebrate someone's birthday if they don't know Him? I had the strangest feeling that if our Son had gone to this celebration He would have been intruding. Everything was beautiful, Joseph, and everyone so gay, but it made me want to cry.

How sad for Jesus not to be wanted at His own birthday party. I am glad it was only a dream. How terrible, Joseph, if it had been real.

Hmnnn......I wonder........

Christmas is not a season

noreply@blogger.com (Norie) — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 23:12:00 +0000

When I was little my heart get excited when the "ber" months start appearing in our calendar.....October-November-December. Lights will soon begin to appear like fireflys scattering everywhere, in houses, in trees, in streets. Like in fairyland my world would metamorphose into a world of light. Yes it's beauty is unsayable. Then my soul will be illuminated by some strange presence...of a spirit...Joseph never spoke a word when he first experience it...all is silent in this act of creation ..It is the sound of silence, the Voice of God, the Speech of God, the Breath of God stirring over the waters, it is the Word made flesh, a living splendor, woven of love, by wisdom, with power...it is compassion wrapped in a human flesh.It is a new life offered in a crib.

Yup I think this is what Christmas is all about. It is a life illumined by the light of divine grace. It is a sign of His continual presence within us. Christmas then is not a time, nor a season. It is a person.

Let us take this to heart. God is a Word. The Word. This Word was made flesh. He dwelt among us. This Word was incarnated...born...a man. Like you. Like me. This Word became a concrete visibility, a Person. The Person of God no less. And His name? Jesus, not Yaweh, not El Shaddai, or any other name but Jesus. Just Jesus. Simply Jesus. He was one of us.

And Why?

To remind us of what we have forgotten, or never really knew;

WHAT we are: A Word too, of the Father, in the flesh.

WHO we are: Persons too, Sons of God.

HOW we are: The image, the likeness of God. And this likeness? A LIKENESS in LOVE!

Of such is the dignity, the majesty, the splendor of the Person, the human Person. The dignity , the splendor of God are His in the Son, the Second Person of God, and our own Brother in grace no less! Jesus in us.

How then to celebrate Christmas? How to celebrate Jesus? If we can only turn all the tinsels in our Christmas trees into persons and people...If we can fill those Christmas stockings, et al, for those little persons without stockings.If we can turn our Christmas banquets into feasts of the truly hungry persons and people...true Eucharist no less. If we can transform our shopping sprees into frensied shopping for the lost. If we can turn our exchange gifts into --exchanges of self instead...If.....

In brief,

To birth this Word, this Person..JESUS.. in us, and in others this Christmas and everyday hereafter until the consumation of our life must be truly CHRISTMAS.

Blessed be the Lord who did not leave Us!

IT IS ALMOST TIME

noreply@blogger.com (Norie) — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 23:45:00 +0000

Time is Gods gift to us. It was set in motion when God called forth light and divided light from darkness to make day and night. Yes, that was how earthly time begun. There is a great difference between God's time and earth time. Literal reading of the Bible will create much problem if we interprete the creation narrative in Genesis literally in terms of six twenty- four hour days. For instance, how were the first three twenty-four-hour days measured if the sun wasn't made until the forth day? I too believe that God can create the whole thing in a second or much faster than that if He so desire there is no problem with that. But "day" (Hebrew - Yum) does not always refer to clock-time; so it isn't necessarily used here to refer how long God took to have the job done. I think literal reading advocates are not aware of this problem. Well, it is not my intention to create a debate about the creation narrative here but simply to say that time is Gods gift to us and we have to use it well. It has it's beginning and it has it's end in each of us.

My earthly time begun when I was born. From the dark room of my mother's womb to the bright light of my first day on earth. Looking back I could say its wonderful to think that God has set my earthly time ticking like a clock that will go off when its time to wake up to God's time. Death then is waking up to God's time.

Yup it is nice to think that I am not of this world and that I am just passing through and I will soon wake up to His Light of Glory. With these thoughts I realize now that I should have spend my time on earth loving because life is all about love. It is all about relationship and relationship is all about love.

My time is God's gift to me. It is all mine. To spend it with others means sharing a portion of my self to them. Yes sharing my life .....because my time is my life and the time I shared with others , I will never get back. My life ends when my time cease to tick and sad to say it is almost over. It is almost time....to wake up to God's time.

My friend, now I know that the essence of love is not what we think or do or provide for others, but how much we give of ourselves and I often did not understand that. The desired gift of love is not diamonds or roses or chocolates or a beautiful card. It is time. My time given in love.

It is said that we cannot give with out loving, but cannot love without giving. Yes love means giving up...yielding my preference, comfort, goals, security, money, energy, or time to the benefit of someone else ...sacrifice is the essence of love.

Yes my friend, people die. Children grow up. Circumstances change. And I don't know how long I will have the opportunity. And it is almost time....... procrastination is a legitimate response to a trivial task.

CANVASS OF LIFE

noreply@blogger.com (Norie) — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 23:10:00 +0000

Life have it's mixtures of colors, of light and shadows. It has mountains, hills and valleys. It is beautiful if seen through the eyes of the artist who painted them in this so called canvass of life. The poetry of pain eloquently spoken through laughter and tears, of failure and success of his subjects are vivid pictures of the beauty of life.. of love.....of hope.....of faith that one can live with dignity and pride inspite of any odds. Life I suppose is mystical...it is spiritual...it is beautiful.

K. Gibran once wrote: " Your children are not your children. They are the sons and dauthers of Life's longing for itself. They come through you but not from you. And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you. "

FROM GRACE TO GRACE..... truly there is no human relationship so intimate and loving than this.....P. Divarkar is right in saying: " Everything is precious because it is from God, and yet everything is relative--precisely because everything is precious only in relation to God. "

" One Act of Random Kindness at a time. "

from: Evan Almighty

So profound is your wisdom, my friend, so absolute.

Unite my thankful heart with Thine, my friend.

(Painting by JoeyVelasco)

ATTITUDE

noreply@blogger.com (Norie) — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 04:08:00 +0000

ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING
There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror,and noticed she had only three hairs on her head.Well," she said, "I think I'll braid my hair today?" So she did and she had a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that she had only two hairs on her head. "H-M-M," she said, "I think I'll part my hair down the middle today?" So she did and she had a grand day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that she had only one hair on her head. "Well," she said, "today I'm going to wear my hair in a pony tail." So she did and she had a fun, fun day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head. "YEA!" she exclaimed, "I don't have to fix my hair today!"

Attitude is everything.

Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Live simply,

Love generously,

Care deeply,

Speak kindly.......

Leave the rest to God

have a gr8 day too!!!! Cheers.......Friend....

What do you think?

SOPHIAGURL

noreply@blogger.com (Norie) — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 23:21:00 +0000

My friend

I would like you to continue blessing my daughter who celebrated her birthday last August 27. She is the one responsible to this beautifull blog which you now see. She never give up fighting for me an old bulb loosing it's glow. Yup, thats what happen when we grew up in age...light is dimmer. So I say while the fillament is still new, young and strong continue glowing and light up the way of others specially your children for they will do the same to you when your light grew dim. When your bones no longer hold ground. When you're cold and needs warm. Their light will shine on you. Yes, their love will see you through.

Daughter, be careful not to let your age and experience work against your keen sense of discovering novel ideas. A person who thinks he knows it all has actually stopped learning. The antidote for old age is a suspension of judgement. Dont be too quick to say no.Do not let your experience and ripeness of age blind you to new opportunities.

The secret? It has nothing to do with your age. It has everything to do with God---how He can use you. How much are you willing to be used by Him for His glory. Age doesn't matter really. Only God does.

Happy Birthday Sophiagurl! My love will always be there for you. I LOVE YOU!