We Should be Imperfectly Mutual!

5^th Sunday of Easter

Pls Read God’s Silent Message: Jn 15:1-8

“The vinedresser must carefully prune the vine before it can bear good fruit.”

As parents, masarap sigurong marinig sa mga anak natin na sabihin nilang: 

“Dad, Mom, you did a good job in me!”

Minsan kasi, isa sa mga worries nating mga parents ‘yong “feeling natin, parang hindi pa natin nagagawa yong gusto pa sana nating gawin; … yong habang binibigay mo yong best mo, you’re still worried if you have already done what God told you to do.”

But then, sometimes too, we’re asking ourselves, “what should it take for parents to do a job well?” – is it just fair to also expect our children to do their piece of the job as well?

Minsan din kasi, as parents, we’re quite being harsh on ourselves na “akuin ang lahat ng pagkukulang” when brokenness in the family perseveres; while on the other hand, as children, we’re also unfair to point our fingers to our parents when things don’t work well.

Today’s gospel is reminding us a SIMPLE TRUTH:

The Lord promises that we will bear much fruit

if we abide in Him and allow Him to purify us.

This means that, as much as parents are striving to abide by God in performing their duties to their family, the children should also listen and cooperate with their parents in making their family imperfectly beautiful.

Just as what God wants, parents would also want each child to learn what’s more important in life. Sometimes there’s no easy way to understand that we have to sacrifice certain things for our family – but it is always grand when we learn to be humble in LISTENING with our HEART.

For, in the end, our humility to strive to understand and be in unity with our family will bring us the abundance that we hope to enjoy in life — over any material things that we cannot really keep for long.   #sunset

 

*this article is published as Gospel Reflection in The Feast San Lorenzo Bulletin

   Issue #20. 29 April 2018

 

“True Character is who you are and what you do

— even when no one is watching you!”

If Jesus Can, Why Can’t We?

5^th Sunday of Lent. Pls Read God’s Silent Message: JN 12:20-33

Are there people in your life that have hurt you and you have not yet forgiven?

Yong mga taong kinakasamaan mo ng loob kasi ang sabi mo nasaktan ka nila …

Yong mga taong sabi mo nakasakit sayo kaya nagalit ka sa kanila …

Pero ang tanong Friend … nalaman kaya nila na sumama loob mo sa kanila?

Nalaman kaya nila kung bakit at kung ano ang iyong ikinagalit?

And kung nalaman man nila, napag-usapan nyo po kaya ng tama where to draw the line of reconciliation?

Hanggang kailan ka po kaya magagalit?  Hanggang kailan hindi magagawang magpapatawad?

Just some of the questions we could reflect on. Sometimes it’s not really all about them – but about nobody than US!

Minsan kasi, kailangan din nating masaktan para maisip natin kung kailan din natin hindi sinasadyang makapanakit. Stories always have two sides of the coin. Supposedly, when we commit, we admit; when we omit, we submit! – but in reality, when one commits mistake & omits to ask for forgiveness, we normally judge & condemn – sacrificing the relationship to death.

Pero alam mo friend, what makes us uneasy to forgive is the fact that the real enemy that Jesus came to overcome was Satan who tempts the human race to create their own destiny through sinful pride and disobedience. In today’s Gospel, Jesus reminds:

“Amen, amen, I say to you, unless the grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies,

it remains alone. But if it dies, it will bear much fruit.”  – John 12.24

Only when the seed is destroyed by burying it in the ground, can it rise to new life and bear fruit. What it means is that, sometimes we have to die to our self-satisfaction of justifying why we’re mad.

If Jesus took our sins upon himself and nailed them to the cross to set us free from destruction, why can we not give up our pride and futility?

Friend, ayaw ni God na laging mabigat ang pakiramdam mo dahil galit ka sa pagkukulang ng iba!

God has been striving to bring us into an inseparable bond of love & unity with Him. Only if we would be one with God would we be able to “free others from our unforgiveness” – then it would eventually free us to extend more love and bear much fruit of encouraging relationships! #sunset

 

***published in The Feast San Lorenzo Bulletin. Issue #15. 18 March 2018. UNLEASHED Series, Talk 3: Freeing Others.

***you can also read this in: https://trendingprof47.wordpress.com/2018/03/18/if-jesus-can-why-cant-we/

 

We Can Still Align: The Antidote to Future Regrets

2^nd Sunday of Lent

Pls Read God’s Silent Message: Mk 9:2–10

 

Hello, MILLENNIALS!

Have you heard some at your age, with these lines?

Sana pala, I didn’t give in that much, di sana ako na-broken hearted!

Sana pala, I didn’t keep secrets from my parents, na-guide sana ako!

Sana pala, di ako nagmadali, na-enjoy ko pa sana ang pagka-bata ko!

Sana pala, nakinig ako, di sana …

Guess what, would you know that your parents share the same sentiments with you?

Kung sana lang nasabihan namin sya, di sana sya nasasaktan ngayon!

Kung sana lang nalaman namin, di naman nya kailangang maramdamang mag-isa sya!

Kung sala lang di kami na-awkward na masabihang stage parents, we could have enjoyed TIMES TOGETHER!

Kung sana lang, nakinig sya at napakinggan namin sya, di sana…

 

Ang daming “sana”, ang daming time na parang nasayang na!

If dadating ka sa point na parang kulang na ‘yong time, saka mo lang masasabi sa sarili mo:

“Sayang, ‘di sana ako naghesitate na tingnan ang dapat kong makita,

di sana ako nagdalawang isip na sabihin ‘yong dapat kong sabihin;

naging humble sana akong ipakita at iparamdam na kailangan ko ng tulong;

kailangan kong maramdamang di ako nag-iisa.”

Millenials and “Me-linya” … come to think of it, “to each his own!” … sometimes, we just don’t realize and recognize that we both share the same sentiments towards each other in the so-called “generational gap.”

Madalas kesa minsan, we fail to make “both ends meet” kasi we are focused on our own emotions and expectations.

Today’s Gospel is reminding us to be spiritually awake and not miss God’s glory in action:

“The Lord Jesus not only wants us to see His glory – 

He wants to share this glory with us.

And Jesus shows us the way to the Father’s glory: follow me – obey my words – take the path I have chosen for you and you will receive the blessings of my Father’s kingdom – your name will be written in heaven.”

We would miss  God’s glory and action if we wouldn’t strive to obey “as children” and submit to the path that God has chosen for us “as parents.” The Antidote to future regret is to align as parents & child NOW!

Life is too short, we should maximize time, appreciating and enjoying “having each other” while we still have all the opportunity to “make things up with each other”. #sunset

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Article Published in: The Feast San Lorenzo Bulletin. Issue #12. 25 February 2018. The Light of Jesus Family in San Lorenzo, Sta Rosa, Laguna. https://www.facebook.com/thefeastsanlorenzo/

Keep, Drop, Change!

Gospel Reflection for 7 January 2018

The Epiphany of the Lord

Pls Read God’s Silent Message: Gospel of Matthew 2:1-12

“When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.“

It’s NEW YEAR once more!

“Picture-picture!” … selfie dito, groupie don! – natapos ang taon na maraming ganon – at nagsimula na ulit ang taon, GANON PA DIN! … at isa na ako don! “eto na naman si picture-picture!” – ganito lagi ang kantyaw sa akin kapag may “moments”!  Nagkamali nga daw ako ng course na kinuha – dapat daw ay Photography!

True enough! I have always loved “photography” because I have always loved “life & every bit of chance in it”!  Thanks to the leveled-up technology kasi digital na tayo ngayon … gone were the days na “kailangan ipa-develop mo muna ang film bago mo pa makita ang image”! – tapos saka mo pa lang makikita na ang epic-fail pala ang shots mo, gumastos ka pa sa developing charge!

Each picture tells “a thousand words” & God’s messages & signals are in-to-it! Images may be kept in the heart but God has given us another alternative to make us “see beyond” when we “take another glance” at those shots in our solitude.

God has always been great for creating great minds that brought us this “digital advantage” where we can easily keep good-to-see pics, drop unpleasant scenarios & elements and change some effects before we post pics that would gather many “likes” in social sites –- all because we’ve INSPIRED life!

What we do in photography, we do to “life”! – but let us be like those three WISE men who CONSIDERED God’s SIGNS which made them decide to take another route & save themselves from unseeming destruction.

So, my dear friends,  let’s reflect on this: what can we “keep, drop & change” in our life as we welcome 2018?

Happy & Blessed New Year po! #sunset

For a Thousand Years

Reflections for 2^nd Sunday of Advent

Pls Read God’s Silent Message: MK 1:1-8 / 2 PT 3:8-14

 

Has anyone broken a promise made to you?

Or have you ever broken a promise to someone?

As much as possible, we don’t want broken promises … right?

I, for one, would strive as much as I could, just not to break a promise — as to my bunso’s request:

“Mommy, gusto ko paglaki ko, nandito ka pa din po ah!”

Sometimes, there is no easy way to fulfill, especially when the situation that you’re in is on a “day-to-day” basis. ‘Yong tipong “one-day-at-a-time” ang peg. ‘Yong tipong gabi-gabi umaasa ka na sana “bukas ulit!” Hindi mo kasi sure kung yong masakit sayo today magsa-subside na bukas; kung yong kinaya mo today, kakayanin mo pa ulit bukas.

When I’m in pain, I was like that voice of one crying out in the desert; I’m like striving for a thousand years with all those prayers, meditations, and “any source of hope” — just to still be alive the day after. That fact that cancer is a traitor thing, I can never tell when it would break my chance “to still be there” years more.

But you know what friend, on top of it all, it’s only a matter of MINDSET!

Isipin mo lang na kaya mo, makakaya mo kasi you have enough!

Walang hindi kakayanin ang taong nagmamahal since God loved us first. No matter how pressed with time you may feel, as long as you fuel your life with that desire to glorify God with your survival because you chose to trade your “not so good habits” with renewed ways and you advocate on inspiring others with your story, surely you won’t break a promise at all.

Friend, are you by some chance in the same situation as mine? Kung hanggang saan at kung hanggang kailan, be grateful enough that you have that ONE DAY – for with the Lord, that one day is like fulfilling a promise for a thousand years.  #sunset

What to do When You Are Broken

Nakatambay ka ba?

Nakatambay ka ba sa problema na dapat ay dinadaanan mo lang?

 

Friend, if you sometimes feel so broken, here’s what God wants you to do:

https://gailmontero.blogspot.com/2017/07/what-to-do-when-you-are-broken.html

 

At the end of it all, ‘di mo kailangang tumambay in your brokenness. Your scars will connect with others’ stories if you let your learnings from it FLOW!

photo credits: http://www.lightfam.com/index.php/the-feast/feast-teachings

Bridging the Gap for Transformation Towards Higher Horizons

Check this out friends, my 1st Semester 2017 Starter.

Something should be done to bridge the academe and the industry.

https://trendingprof47.wordpress.com/2017/06/23/bridging-the-gap-for-transformation-towards-higher-horizons/

 

6 Ways to Be Your Own Best Friend

Hi, Friends, sharing with you again in gratitude, my personal notes on the 3rd Talk of the Series: MAGNETIC by our Feast Builder Bro Dreus Cosio @ The Feast SM Santa Rosa, Cinema 1,  two weeks ago.  

Sorry for posting this late; I just had to accomplish a lot lately — but  I don’t wanna miss this chance because being a mother of three daughters, I dearly hope this would be something they can always go back to when they come to the RIGHT TIME of finding their “Mr. Right”.  I sure do hope that this would also help a lot of parents out there while they fervently desire for their child’s best future. 

SERIES:  MAGNETIC

How to Attract The Right Person Into Your Life

Talk 3: The Bond

 

When you try to look for the right person, 

“Hanapin mo yong taong gagawin kang priority, hindi temporary.”

 

Basically, both men and women — some, if not all — do not really know how to attract the right person in their life. 

Why? — because people are getting confused in their love story and with the way they look at themselves.  

Unconscious as they are, there is that tendency to carelessly submit or comply with the  3 Laws of Romantic Attraction:

1st law.  You don’t attract who you deserve.  You attract who you think you deserve.

Subconsciously, you see yourself in a very low way.   You’ve got to consider that your perception is your reality.  If you perceive yourself as somebody who is broken, you will be looking for another broken person. 

The perfect formula for a toxic relationship is a toxic self.

2nd law.  You don’t attract who you want. You attract who you are.

A wounded person will attract another wounded person. An emotionally healthy person will attract another healthy person.

3rd law.  You don’t attract how you want to be treated.  You attract how you treat yourself.

Long before he treated her as garbage, she already treated herself as garbage.To her, abuse felt like love.

Broken people attracts broken people.  “If you don’t do the inner work to heal yourself, your unhealed wounds will attract another wounded person.”

 “If you don’t heal your own wounds, you’ll go into a relationship, seeking for someone else to heal your wounds.”

credits to http://www.lightfam.com/images/talkslides/Magnetic%203.pdf

You get attracted to many wrong people because you don’t really think of your self too well.  

TO ATTRACT THE RIGHT PERSON, you’ve got “WORK ON YOURSELF FIRST!”  Unless you have a healthy relationship with yourself, you’ll never have a healthy relationship with others.

Its ok for you to declare that you are wonderfully made.  You have to love yourself!

photo credits:  amendesigns.com

 

You’ve got to BE YOUR OWN BEST FRIEND! 

How? 

Here are these 6 WAYS  to be your own BEST FRIEND:

1. Forgive your faults.

    Imagine yourself at the end of the day and forgive yourself.

2. Fix your fences.

    Fix your defense system — your boundaries.  Protect yourself from meanness. 

3.  Feel your feelings.

    All emotions are valid but not all expressions.  Affirming your feelings is respecting yourself. 

    Put a gap between emotion and expression. 

4. Focus on your fantasies.

    What do you picture in your mind? 

    Stop thinking about the bad stuff that’s happening in your life.  

5. Follow your fun.

    Don’t take yourself too seriously. “tumawa ka naman!”  

    Laugh more often! 

6. Find your flow.

    Go on, pursue your passion as a person!

    If you find your flow — your “zone” — you feel alive. 

                  

Go back to yourself.  Be comfortable with one thing in life — be comfortable with God’s love.

The bond simply means you have to fix your relationships at home by fixing your self first.  You have to love your self every day.  You have to feel good about yourself because it all boils down on how you see yourself!

Bro Dreus concluded with this advice:

“Everyday, start declaring the wonderful characters that you are!  Couples as well, you could start to embrace your differences and start fixing your relationship.”

Pwedeng may part ng buhay mo na hindi ka sanay

But you need to be comfortable in that place— how? 

Magpamahal ka kay God.

Allow God to tell you how much He loves you! 

#sunset

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you can also visit these sites:

https://trendingprof47.wordpress.com/2017/06/07/6-ways-to-be-your-own-best-friend/?iframe=true&theme_preview=true

https://gailmontero.blogspot.com/2017/06/6-ways-to-be-your-own-best-friend.html

God’s promise will be fulfilled in you soon! It may not be just as you expect but just keep on doing the right thing & trust God’s way. 
#abruptthoughts #abruptthoughtsbygailmontero #Godsprompting #trustGodsway

Thank you, Angels in Disguise

https://gailmontero.blogspot.com/2017/05/thank-you-angels-in-disguise.html

Once, a baby asked God, “They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?… who will protect me?”

God answered: “Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you. Your angel will LOVE YOU AS I DO & defend you even if it means risking her life.”

Such God’s answer eased the baby’s worry and for the last time asked: “God, if I am to leave now, please tell me my angel’s name.” Then God said, “You will simply call her, ‘Mom’.”

Just as Jesus said in today’s Gospel, “Do not let your heart be troubled!”, He sent us an “angel in disguise” to protect us from helplessness and to make us feel secured amidst worries.

God could have been so happy if every child would recognize how His assigned angel has done her tasks so well. But sad, that sometimes, it would take a story like this before a child would realize the importance of a Mother:

“Hello Operator, does Heaven have a phone number? Mommy went to Heaven, but I need her here today, my tummy hurts and I fell down, I need her right away. Operator, can you tell me how to find her in this book? Is heaven in the yellow pages, I don’t know where to look.I think my daddy needs her too, at night I hear him cry.I hear him call her name sometimes, but I really don’t know why. Maybe if I call her, she will hurry home to me. Is Heaven very far away, is it across the sea?  She’s been gone a long, long time she needs to come home now!  I really need to reach her, but I simply don’t know how. Help me find the number please, is it listed under “Heaven”?I can’t read these big big words, I am only seven.I’m sorry operator, I didn’t mean to make you cry, Is your tummy hurting too, or is there something in your eye? If I call my church, maybe they will know. Mommy said when we need help that’s where we should go. I found the number to my church tacked up on the wall. Thank you, operator, I’ll give them a call.” 

Whew!!….be worried if this simple short story didn’t make you cry. I read it twice and I shed tears thrice — only to realize that a Mom’s task does not end where she had to stop.  

She trains their kids to live the values that would make them dignified persons. She corrects and even reprimands each time a child disobeys and does things under peer pressure & other not so good influences.  She reaches out even when kids do not appreciate her every effort. She persists even when kids does not respond to her messages — just to explain what kids should understand. She bears any sort of pain until so unaware her physical health already suffers.  She missions out not only to “bridge her every child’s needs” but also to the father of her kids.

If we will only read between these lines and allow God’s message to dig deep within our hearts, we would realize that every Mother’s bit of sacrifice is because “The Father who dwells in her is doing His works.”

“I don’t speak on my own authority.

The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it.” –John 12:49

In gratitude, we’d rather do something that would make her feel how much we hope not to give a heaven’s operator a call.  Instead, we would give HER the warmest HUG and whisper to her our heart out:

“THANK YOU, MY ANGEL, IN DISGUISE!  I THANK GOD, HE GAVE ME YOU!

If you’re a “child” who came across this, please honor every STRIVING MOM you know,

especially yours whom Heaven-sent!

Happy Mother’s Day  Dear Angels in disguise!

Credits to http://www.boardofwisdom.com for the short stories.

https://gailmontero.blogspot.com/2017/05/thank-you-angels-in-disguise.html