Lonely Hearts' CLub

Ave Maria:-)

Good morning friendships... who cannot relate to the Lonely Hearts club.. in our younger days..there'd always be a running joke...kamusta naman Pasko or Valentine's Day mo...? And those who have zero lovelife (of the romantic kind) would roll their eyes and answer dramatically: " Malamig pa sa winter ang Pasko ko."  or  "I'll be all by my lonesome self this Valentine's Day...huhuhu... that stupid Cupid plays favourites and I am obviously not one of them. "  asarrr.

this would reach a point where as the "Ber" months start...Sept.Oct.Nov... many youngsters and hey even middle-aged would move heaven and hell to find someone, hay sus...Anyyy-one,plis and bilisss .. their very own smashing Romeo fast and quick.. coz pag inabutan ka ng Christmas or Valentine's na wala kang ka -date,with no one sending you flowers, chocolates...no candle-lit dinner date... tsk, tsk..tsk...ay ka awa-awa ka sa madlang pipol... . At least that's what the world would impose... whether directly or subliminally...

Was I exaggerating? what do you think...

It happens.. it has happened... and in fact maybe till we reach sci-fi age.. the human heart will be the same .. there will always be that supreme hunger for love and affection .. and acceptance.

Don't laugh now or find this queer..but especially when we reach adolescence.. the pressure begins.

Acceptance and Admiration by the peer group are strangely intertwined with who is rich, brainy, beautiful and yes Matilda.. who has successfully hooked her Prince Charming ..Talk about the total package.

And we thought stress begins only in married life or adult career life.... ay naku it starts in high school..and God forbid that these times: it probably starts at Grade 4... no eksaj there.

How crucial then that those who have known and experienced the saving love of Christ share with the young people.. as often as we can..to as many as we can reach out to.

For unless a young person discovers that his/her self-esteem  ,that his true worth is in Jesus Christ... meaning quite simply: That If the SON of God offered His life for you, to redeem you..if He paid for your life with His Most Precious Holy Blood... HOW MUCH WOULD OUR PRICE TAG BE? WE'D BE PRICELESS , gurl....

We would not need all the Romeos and Juliets in the world ..we'd wait for the right guy, the right time.. we'd conduct our love affair in a manner that glorifies the Lord. We would then go with God's flow, and not the world's flow.

Listen how the world dictates....this one long painful drone on our senses...

You are ugly..you are poor..you have no car of your own.. you donot move in the right social circles.. you are disabled..you are too old.. you are uneducated.. you're a widow..you're divorced..  your skin is coloured, you don't have the x factor  (huhhh..what X factor?? Is life showbiz? And are we supposed to put up a show?).. oh my.. how the world manages to complicate one's identity and true worth.

Even those who deem themselves religious or righteous unwittingly also make impositions.. you are not charismatic, you are not Opus Dei, you donot know theology or the bible.. you are of a different Christian sect...... while all that may be true.. yet what we must not forget is how Jesus died for all.

The salvation Christ offers is for all, however hard that is to fathom.
The forgiveness and joy, the healing, the new life... the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the spiritual wealth of Mother Church is ours for the asking and taking.... IF WE BELIEVE.

Lonely Hearts Club has exceeded membership..and really nothing ever happens there..
you'd just end up lonelier..wasting away.....

 instead let us think about the Lord's promises in these passages:

Jeremiah 1:5"Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart for my holy purpose. I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations."

Don't look now..but you and I just like Jeremiah can be little prophets....in the sense that we can do our share in sharing the gospel... before we were born, God already singled us out.. not to self-destruct.. but to be victorious in His love and by His Spirit.
Hmmm..a prophet is a cool career and it doesn't interfere with being a mom, student, doctor or businessman... it jives.



Ephesians 1:18
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

the hope of His calling.............. while we're so focused on this--Nobody-loves-me-cares-for-me-wants-me-needs-me-thinks-about me Mood --and on the verge of committing hara-kiri cause we really believe this LIE by satan...we forget the GOD ..THE FATHER WHO LOVES US AND CALLS US BY NAME... GATHERS US THROUGH JESUS OUR SAVIOUR... who intends nothing but hope and salvation - a renewed life for us..and what's more offers us DIVINE FUNDING : how was it stated...? "the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints"
 was how it was put.... I'll have to reflect one whole afternoon for that phrase alone.

IF I WALLOW IN SELF-PITY AND GIVE IN TO SENTIMIENTO PIMIENTO , I PUNISH MYSELF PLUS I COMMIT SIN BECOZ I REJECT THE TRUE NOTION THAT JESUS LOVES ME AND DIED FOR ME -and will help me out of whatever quagmire I'm in.

SO PLEASE.......

NO MORE LONELY HEARTS' CLUB .

Father God, heal us of all our distress and hurts...suffuse us with Your love ,peace and joy, we ask this in Jesus Name and in the Holy Spirit, Amen...have a wonderful day everyone!   love......te mye

Oh enjoy this joyful song sang during World Youth Day celeb at OLMC. click Humayo't ihayag --

Radar On

Ave Maria :-)

Hadn't seen this good friend for so many years... but she came home from abroad - for a family reunion.. By God's grace my friend, plus her 6?yr old daughter and another sister were able to make it to the prayer meeting last nite.. Since the balikbayan friend was scheduled to leave the following morning -- it was A MUST for us to have that chat--- typical  "KWENTUHAN" session . I almost want to play as background music Jose Mari Chan's " Can we Just Stop and Talk Awhile" . Something turned up at home... thought would not be able to join them at Mcdo (haha, where else can we hang out where it's cheap and many can tag along ) . But the Lord paved the way.

Thank you Jesus tho' our time together was perhaps just an hour and a half... still it bridged the long years of not seeing each other... of course there is the internet  and Facebook... but it just isn't the same. Physical presence is so powerful . You see the facial expressions... hear the voice and tone colors... can view for yourself  and experience first-hand  how the person has evolved.. there is laughter shared.. and while there may not be enough time to share all sob stories and troubles... it is enough that you have each other no matter if Time is oh so Limited. 

We mustav given the fastest updates ever... it was in fact more about how her life was abroad... there was not enough time for the "locals" -- me, Tanny, Mm to give our own "status reports".
She treated us all...the youth perhaps about 8 of them tagged along... they took care of the cute daughter... MCDO never tasted so good.
And Mcdo Visayas Ave..will always be the recorder of so many conversations between friends.

Of course we took pictures.... but it had to come to an end.

My girlfriend goes: " Bitin na bitin ako sa pag-uwi kong ito...."

I didn't want to fuel any Emo moment... we had to settle for that long hug.

Hugs... say it all... there was no time for deeper exchanges and blow-by -blow accounts of what happened thru the years..no time to show scars we accummulated ..no time for counseling ... or recounting of happier.. lighter moments in life. Just time for that one long hug that says it all.

Our battle -weary spirits and wounds make us much more grateful for moments like these.

We begin to notice that we are not alone making that trek..in life... that we have many fellow travelers walking along with us... sure they may be on the other side of the globe..but in spirit..because the friendship exists, and is rooted in our common love and faith for the Lord.. ..you know you are walking together towards Him... that as you walk... you serve Him.

She is not perfectly happy..as I am not either.. but the minutes we spent together... sharing about life...our victories.. our sadness ... in the shortest possible time -- it makes for a superb healing moment.

You are just too happy to see your friend bravely sailing her ship in life's tempestuous seas.

Perhaps you are both reading each other's minds... wondering how the other is coping with whatever is the challenge or trial ... but seeing each others bright smile and sharing gurgling laughter... noticing so keenly that God has taken good care of the both of you... it makes you rejoice in the Lord's faithfulness.

It is not about striking it rich... fulfilling dreams of getting it all: a perfect family, riches and fame ... as it is more about  knowing and discovering each day your true worth as a child of GOD.

these days...the Lord just keeps setting an alarm inside my heart : as tho' your personal radar is switched on each time you go out into the world...you sense the tuning and status quo of every soul you meet.

And so while reflecting on my own life cinema... I must as a fellow traveler note the pace of other souls who bless my life.

some  must come to terms with the brokenness of their family -- spouses considering  lawsuits for separation or annulment ...

A father bemoans the "fall" of his cherished daughter.. so young , so unprepared but already facing motherhood soon... we cry with him and enter his parental agony  but  must trust the Lord's mercy..God will see her thru...God will honor the father's prayers...

yet another of our youth leaves the safety of home and country to find good work and happiness in another land..she is all of 22.. we pray that as she finds these..she continues to grow closer to the Lord... that she keeps that flame of faith burning for Christ for HE is everywhere..

My cousin is awaiting his fate... whether the liver transplant will push thru.. waiting how and when God will heal him... in the mean time..he and his brave wife enjoy a new -found peace and happiness in their closer relationship with the Lord -- their faith never stronger!..how is it possible that one can rejoice in the midst of pain and suffering? Oh yes..how possible ! but only with Jesus. With Jesus.

a fresh college  graduate confessed her state of confusion.. not knowing for sure if there is a call to be a nun... or to help the family rise up from financial crisis thru possible future success in her chosen profession...

 We will always see at close range - souls dear to us..hear them.. agonize with them... our loved ones..friends.. who have not yet succeeded in making that defining break with sin.. STILL they persist in living that "double" life... balancing that insane dance of serving two masters...God and the world/or one's self.
 We pray for them..counsel them.. listen and reach out to them... help them as best as we can... at times , we might succeed -- and a soul is brought safely back to Jesus the Good Shepherd... but many times... and it seems to take forever ... we must watch, wait and pray for  souls who still linger in the shadows of malevolent darkness... bringing upon themselves such sorrow and suffering..and at times you are victim to the evil arrows they continuously shoot out.

The easiest way is to leave them ..and let the devil have his way with them.. but Christ's love poured in our hearts gives us that patience and enduring love to watch over them... patiently waiting for that golden moment when they finally decide to Cross-Over to Almighty God.

Let us be grateful for the wisdom , love and peace that God uses to shield us.. after all He wants us all to return home .

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Romans 5:3-5 NIV

May Christ's peace cover us.God bless you...........te mye

 

Bakasyones sa Desierto

Ave Maria:-)

What is it with us human beings...  there  really is a micro chip malfunctioning in our system that makes us persist in doing things that definitely HARM US INSIDE- OUT.

Today I find inspiration . from today's 1st Reading for the holy mass.

the story????

Lo and behold..it's a continuation of the Moses saga --> our hero  leading the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage.. to bring them closer to the Promised Land..and more important to restore them to that intimate friendship with God the Father. 
 Oops in this particular passage... they already succeeded getting out of Egypt...were freed from the cruel  Pharaoh with God just about performing all kinds of signs and wonders you could think of --ERRR TO MAKE HIS POINT TO PHARAOH OF WHO WAS TRULY BOSS.  

  As a grand finale, God even parts the Red Sea so that His people can make their escape..!   We all know this grand adventure...where the Israelites are allowed by the Lord to cross the parted waters and then God engulfs the Egyptian army...drowns them.KAPUT...Pure cinema that one.
Now is that a display of divine power or what..and was this sufficient to move the hearts of the willful Israelites.? To make them extremely , permanently irrevocably grateful and loyal to Yahweh?
Uhhh..ask again.
In this passage we see them starting the trek in the desert.....

Numbers 20:1-14
The whole congregation of the children of Israel
 arrived in the desert of Zin in the first month,
 and the people settled at Kadesh.
It was here that Miriam died, and here that she was buried.

Then true colors show start to show.....

As the community had no water,
they held a council against Moses and Aaron. (poor guys)
The people contended with Moses, exclaiming,
“Would that we too had perished with our kinsmen in
 the Lord’s presence!
Why have you brought the LORD’s assembly into this desert
where we and our livestock are dying?
Why did you lead us out of Egypt,
only to bring us to this wretched place
which has neither grain nor figs nor vines nor pomegranates?
Here there is not even water to drink!”

Clearly na mental block or na-amnesia our Israelites... konting aray , gutom, hirap , sun and wind elements..heyy a little taste of the good life..freedom  and then they switched right aways to BRAT MODE...Yan na nga ba... maybe we can't handle freedom well? St. Paul reminds us ..the freedom Christ gives us is the freedom to do good..to love God and others... not the freedom to commit sin. tsk,tsk....!

does this remind us of someone we know well.
Uh...our self?

After God delivers us from our assorted monumental problems --after we make His ears bleed with our incessant pleas laced with promises to serve and love Him and Him alone forever and ever...JUST GET ME OUT OF THIS RUT LORD...NOW NA. God saves us ...and then when the Lord allows us to get back into the mainstream of life.... we too like the Israelites rant :
 "THIS WAS NOT OUR AGREEMENT LORD. Walang ganyanan, God. Labo naman ."
How about the gut reaction of Moses and Aaron after they were beseiged by the people.??..ahaha...nagsumbong kay GOD... they ran for safety at baka litsonin sila ng mga pikon na kababayan.

But Moses and Aaron went away from the assembly
to the entrance of the meeting tent, where they fell prostrate..
 
.. well this is a healthy gut reaction and we'd be wise to imitate Moses and Aaron..when people  start grumbling to us about God..about a situation.. about their having to obey  God's commandments..about bearing one's cross with joy -- when they confront us  and turn to us for  immediate answers --and when we are not sure of what answers  to give....or we are so cornered , we end up being confused ourself  InakuPU thennnn....we too can take it to the Lord like Moses and Aaron did We too humbly ask God for guidance and intervention..and recieve His final Word on the matter. The buck stops there.



twas good --- at least Moses and Aaron didnot go barging in....screaming ultimatums to the Lord.
"ayaw na nila sa Yo.... Gutom na po sila... walang aircon sa desierto... walang kuryente... walang niteclub... walang internet at facebook... walang ka buhay-buhay daw po dito. "  Boy..we do that to the Lord ALmighty and we're really asking for it.

 Ingat lang tayo sa approach natin sa Panginoon. Lumagay tayo sa lugar as we say in Pinoyspeak.

Then the glory of the LORD appeared to them,
and the LORD said to Moses,
“Take your staff and assemble the community,
you and your brother Aaron,
and in their presence order the rock to yield its waters.
From the rock you shall bring forth water for the congregation
and their livestock to drink.”

God clearly issues a command..He hears the supplication of Moses and Aaron , He provides a solution (thank God for prophets ...which serves as a reminder for us..we too are often placed in a prophetic position.. we implore God , beg grace for others...and we listen intently to what the Lord says...and most of all..we must execute His orders TO THE LETTER.
 Di puedeng dagdag-bawas where God's commands are concerned.
To The Letter.

So Moses took his staff from its place before the LORD, as he was ordered.
He and Aaron assembled the community in front of the rock,
where he said to them, “Listen to me, you rebels! (tama ka po Ka Moses)
Are we to bring water for you out of this rock?”
Then, raising his hand, Moses struck the rock twice with his staff,
and water gushed out in abundance for the people
and their livestock to drink.

But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,
“Because you were not faithful to me
in showing forth my sanctity before the children of Israel,
you shall not lead this community into the land I will give them.”

These are the waters of Meribah,
where the children of Israel contended against the Lord,
and where the LORD revealed his sanctity among them.

Poor Moses was not allowed to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land..this honor was given to Joshua, next leader in line.

How long will we persist in being like our forefathers.. how long must we test the Lord's patience?And how long before we realize..all this disobedience makes us suffer first ... even before the venom of our wrongdoings reach our "victims"  (ex. our revenge..our spite..our anger..our criticisms .. our lust) we donot realize we our self are the first recipient of our sinful act -- our self and then the harmful results cascade unto our families...our community..our life! Sin knows only one math sign...Multiplication of sin.

We don't like the desert or wilderness experience yet we unwittingly invite it upon ourself. 

We pronounce ourself Christian but we don't even have enough faith to believe Jesus can renew us in his love and by his Spirit.

We don't really believe  Jesus can broker a Better Deal for us... we think: "our sins will remain unforgiven..and we will remain UNCHANGED." No new life , no new beginnings.. no forgiveness...no abundant love...JUST A STARK DESERT BECKONING US THAT GOES ON AND ON.......
Jesus goes thru the whole Salvation Bit and we painfully throw back at Him..." But LORD, You couldn't change one letter in the story of our salvation .You failed us , Jesus."
RADICAL THOUGHTS?
We may not say it..but our actions, our decisions, our way of life..our goals..our parameters..all these will yield whether we believe Jesus has redeemed us... all these dictate where we will ultimately be.  The Israelites chose to send in spies to survey the country (Promised Land). And  10 of the dozen spies said that they wouldn't be able to take on the people of the land (they're giants, too big and powerful) ; only Joshua and Caleb showed any amount of faith in God. Because of their disobedience and lack of faith, God told them to turn around and wander in the desert for 40 years, until all but Joshua and Caleb had died ... even Moses

Perhaps the Lord has determined our need for a desert experience  since it takes us so long to know Him and understand His commands.  It's sad how we cause the delay in entering the Promised Land (peace, joy, love and all good things we recieve as we repent and turn to Christ)
  due to our own lack of faith and cowardice.

The Lord declared to the Children of Israel: "Because the men who explored the land were there for forty days, you must wander in the wilderness for forty years-a year for each day, suffering the consequences of your sins. You will discover what it is like to have me for an enemy." (Numbers 14:34)

Lack of faith coupled with cowardice reaps us an extended free vacation in the wilderness.... mind you, the desert is not the ideal vacation spot in the world.It's not even a place ..but a state of mind and heart and soul. ARID AND LIFELESS.

Let's beg the Lord for wisdom..and ask Him to grow in us a more obedient and braver heart, one that obeys first and asks later. And may He sanctify our desert experiences that we learn from them..that our soul benefits and seeks God all the more.

It's August.......this Sunday will be the Feast of God the Father, ask and you shall recieve everyone God bless you all....

Sister Act Ain't No Mountain High Enoughhttp://youtu.be/9kP8IRXBymE

.............te mye