Making Miracles

We attended the first session of The Feast today and the topic was "How to be a Miracle Worker". It was the 4th of the 24 Building Blocks of the Champion's Life. Bo Sanchez talked about the 5 ways to create wonders in one's life.

Bo first mentioned that in Latin, the literal meaning of the word miracle is "something wonderful." These days we just associate "miracle" with "magic" or an occurence that is incredible and "out of this world." But if we revert to its original meaning, it is safe to say that we can always create miracles in our life. Having "something wonderful" happen to you can even be a daily occurence, if you will it to happen.

At one point in my life, I felt that I was neck deep in quicksand and any movement I make will make me sink even deeper and eventually take the living daylights out of me. I am talking about the time I left home and decided to be with Lyndon. I made a decision out of stubborness and pride and it severely affected my relationsip with my parents. It was a difficult time because not only were we financially unstable, we were also hurting my family really bad. I made some choices that I thought were right at that time, until the difficulties started pouring in. I was in a rut. We were deep in debt and living from paycheck to paycheck. I didn't know how to get out. There also came a point when I had to swallow my pride and move in with my sister, we just couldnt sustain living on our own anymore.

Those were dark days too because we had to abide by the rules of the household and animosity was beginning to broil. I was dying to move out again but my circumstances prevented me.

I was in a deeper rut. I never blamed the Lord for what was happening in our life because I knew perfectly well that my choices led me to where I was. However, I didn't also bother lifting a finger to ask for God's help. I told myself "I brought myself here, I'll bring myself out."

Then one day, Lyndon decided he would attend Bo's church service. We were being invited by his brother for so long but we never gave it a thought. He came back from the church service a different person. Soon after I started attending too. Little by little I came to realize that God has a better plan for my life. He doesn't want me to be in the mess that I am in. In fact, He wants me to be successful and achieve all my dreams.

Blessings then started pouring. For one, Lyndon got a permanent job. At 40, he was beginning to be desperate about the possibility of getting a full time job. I got retained amidst a major restructuring in our company with a promotion to top it off. We were able to move to a nice apartment building that fits our requirements and was within our budget. Most important of all we have been forgiven by my family and things are better between us.

My life today isn't all perfect. There are still days when I struggle. There are still moments when I blame myself for the mistakes of the past. There are still aspects of my life that need correcting. But I am better. I am healing and I'm learning to love myself more and more. I'm beginning to create miracles in my own life.

Celebrating Brokeness

Just got back from church service and today is one special day because I was able to bring my sister to "The Feast." I've been bugging her to join us every Sunday because I know she will be blessed by the encounter.

A couple of days ago, I texted her and asked if she could come with me and she gave me a half-baked yes when she said "sana magising ako" because she knows that we normally attend the 7:30 service. This morning, I woke up a bit late (9am) and a few minutes later she was already knocking on our door. We both attended the 10AM service.

It was heartwarming because I've been praying for this for so long. I've been wanting her to attend because I know that there are so many things she wants to resolve in her life. I can see what she is going through and it breaks my heart that I cannot do anything to alleviate her situation. All I could offer is to lead her towards finding her faith again, and making her realize that there is Someone she can always come to when things are tough. I personally cannot change her circumstances, but all I can do is lead her to Someone who can.

The topic of Bo's talk today was all about "Celebrating Brokenness." He talked about how we tend to respond to our weaknesses in different ways. Some people take flight (by being angry and bitter), some fight it (by burying weakness in an addiction), while others fantasize (by covering it up and pretending that everything's on the up and up). The best way however is to feast;to celebrate one's brokenness by acknowledging it, sharing it with others, asking for help, blessing others with one's weakness and accepting other people's weakness as well.

Bo's talk also featured a video of a preacher who was born without arms and feet but he is able to take care of himself, and he continues to touch the lives of other people through his preaching. After watching the video, all of us had the same thought in our minds..."Who are we to complain?"

I know my sister thought the same and I truly believe that she was greatly blessed by the experience. We both had tears in our eyes while we were singing our praises and gave each other the warmest hug after.

I asked her to come with me again next week and this time she readily said "YES."

The Gifts of '07

I guess I'm a couple of weeks late in writing this blog but then again i haven't found the time until now.

Last night, a tragedy happened. Lyndon left his brand new cellphone in the taxi. He called me up just before he stepped out of the cab so we knew exactly where he left it. It was barely 4 days old and friends who saw it said it was a good buy... well, now its a good bye (pun intended hahaha)! He was feeling so down that i had to tell him to just pray for the guy who got it, and hope that he be blessed by having it. I couldn't believe i told him that, PRAY i mean...but one of the greatest gifts '07 brought was the gift of prayer. I re-discovered prayer when we started attending The Feast in March'07 and since then, i started appreciating again the powers of faith and humility.

Aside from the above (and to further veer away from the sad story of the lost cellphone), let me make a list of the gifts (or blessing) i received in the past year. In no particular order, here it goes...

1. A new apartment that's big enough, nice enough and near enough (to my office and my sister's house).
2. A promotion that rewarded my hard work and added a few more cash to my pocket
3. A church service to attend that reinforces my faith and allows me to appreciate God's presence in my life (add to that, a roster of great preachers)
4. A stable job for Lyndon that improved our finances and boosted his self confidence.
5. A week-long vacation in Cebu with my mom that allowed us to rediscover each other and improved our relationship
6. A great boss (also a great friend and confidante), who allows me to soar as high as she believes I can
7. Great friends who despite my shortcomings are ready to forgive and (hopefully) forget
8. A best friend who has memorized and adapted to my quirks and remained to be one of my biggest fans.
9. My dad who roots for me in every endeavor I take and loves me beyond measure and understanding
10. My family who's always fun and funky, and all the good that comes with it.
11. Kira Isobel who at less than 2 months old is gearing up to be the next darling of the family
12. Wifi connection that allows me to hook up (through YM) with old friends who have been out of touch for years
13. The opportunity to stay in my job amidst the horrors of restructuring
14. TV fare that allows me relax on weekends or after a day's hard work
15. Jef and his squeals of delight when he sees me, and his great big hug to boot
16. "Tulisans" who remained to be good friends outside the walls of HOC

There's got to be more than what I listed here, because '07 was one good year for me...but the challenge has always been seeing that one moment, one person or thing as a true blessing.

Maybe I'll challenge myself this year, at the end of each day, I will write down one blessing that came my way. And by then end of '08, I would have a longer list.

I can't wait!

Quintupled!

Turned 34 last week, and thus far this is the most number of times that I threw a party. Well, not really a party, just simple get togethers with friends and/or family to remind me that i'm well into mid 3o's. Jeez!

On my birthday, i took a vacation leave from work so i can spend the whole day tinkering with my new laptop and finding my way again through the world wide web. Got myself a broadband connection and hooked up with old friends through YM. I also cooked a simple dinner with Lyndon and Jen, and gave away spaghetti to the neighbors.

Went back to work the following day, feeling lightheaded because I was on line until 2am. Kisses and hugs from everyone who greeted me and had a fun lunch with Annie, Ayen, Mike and my boss. Odd group, but it turned out well. That afternoon, I ordered pizza and pasta for my officemates, my way of "giving back," having feasted on other people's birthday treat for the past 12 months.

Celebration #4 was with my mom and the whole family. We had dinner at Dencio's in Banawe and feasted on everything that would cause elevated cholesterol count. There was a live band, much to my mom's dismay: "too noisy, i can't hear myself think!" ...mom's thoughts probably. When the rest of the family left, Lyndon, Jen, Fel and I stayed a while for the music and a couple of beers then we headed home. I wanted to get a caffeine fix at starbucks but Lyndon insisted we head on home because he needed to commune with the toilet. Shucks!

Finally on the 13th, cooked dinner for my friends who came over and saw our apartment for the first time. We chose Sunday because it was also Annie's birthday the day before so we had to allow her to celebrate with her family.

5 celebrations for my 34th...how i come i don't feel celebrated? :D

Happy Birthday to me!

Got myself wifi connected today. Maybe I will have more chances to blog now; been absent for quit a while.

Got myself a new laptop as well, as a long overdue gift to myself.