http://ifeelokay.com Tue, 22 May 2012 02:00:14 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://ifeelokay.com/you-see-me-through-the-seasons-of-life http://ifeelokay.com/you-see-me-through-the-seasons-of-life#comments Fri, 13 Apr 2012 22:50:00 +0000 Chin chin http://ifeelokay.com/?guid=3f34033a40bc58b7e7bf93acf93a55aa
While it is exciting to go back to our own country, there are a lot of uncertainties that we are facing right now. How would life be so different for us now that we're staying in the Philippines? Here, we are used to a simple and may I say comfortable life. There's no traffic unlike what I used to know in the Philippines. My kids can go to school in just 15-20 minutes. Unlike when traveling to school in the Philippines, it took me then about an hour.  The price of fuel and electricity here is very low so we could turn on the air conditioner all day long. I could just imagine how hot it could be now that it's summer time in the Philippines, but using the air conditioner is not advisable because of the high electric power charges. No wonder people are flocking to the malls. Here, we have a higher gross family income but not anymore since my husband just finished his work contract, the reason why we're coming back to our native land.

That sounded like a rant. Well, it's a new reality that we have to face. Despite of all these, I need to remind myself of two things:

The first is that God is always faithful. He's able to see us through the different seasons in our life. As King Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 3:1,
"There's a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven."  We cannot let anything including the changing season to bog us down. For my family who will be going to the Philippines, it is time for us to search anew for the plans and purposes of God for us there. For those whom we will leave behind, it's time to continue the work that was started. As mentioned in the Ma'asalaama party by some, it is somehow difficult to let go. But as I've learned some time ago, no one is indispensable. When God takes away someone who is fulfilling a certain job for His kingdom, He will raise up another to do the same job and maybe do it even better.

The second is that we need to learn to be content in whatever state we are. As the Apostle Paul said in Philippians 4:11-12,
"...for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."  Obviously, we cannot live the kind of life we are living here when we get to the Philippines. It's gonna be a day-to-day exercise of faith and trust in God, and a lot of common sense as well. We may not have everything we want, but I believe that God would provide everything we need. The secret in living a fulfilled and happy life is really contentment.

Finally, I like this song "Through it All." It resounds the important points of my thoughts in this blog post - God is faithful and He'll be there always through the seasons of life. I hope you'll be blessed by it as well.




]]> http://ifeelokay.com/you-see-me-through-the-seasons-of-life/feed 2 http://ifeelokay.com/i-am-the-bread-of-life-prepare-for-the-lords-supper http://ifeelokay.com/i-am-the-bread-of-life-prepare-for-the-lords-supper#comments Thu, 01 Mar 2012 16:00:00 +0000 Chin chin http://ifeelokay.com/?guid=436891201692ee0da17c4c8911d6357b The low whispers of some of Jesus' detractors turned into an out-and-out debate.

Crowd: What is He talking about? How is He able to give us His flesh to eat?

Jesus: I tell you the truth; unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you will not know life. If you eat My flesh and drink My blood, then you will have eternal life and I will raise you up at the end of time. My flesh and blood provide true nourishment. If you eat My flesh and drink My blood, you will abide in Me and I will abide in you. The Father of life who sent Me has given life to Me; and as you eat My flesh, I will give life to you. This is the bread that came down from heaven; I am not like the manna that your fathers ate and then died! If you eat this bread, your life will never end.

~ John 6:47-58, From The Voice New Testament
This is the first reading from The Voice Bible that I am posting in connection with the Lenten season.

Jesus said "I am the bread of life and whoever eats this bread will live forever." The people who heard him did not understand what He is talking about. How can anyone eat Jesus' flesh? Well, that is not what Jesus meant - to eat His flesh literally.

Image by Valentin de Boulogne, Last Supper (from the Public Domain) So, what did Jesus mean? To help us understand further what he meant, let us read the passage to the time when Jesus and His disciples were celebrating the Passover. That night, he instituted the practice of the Lord's Supper in Matthew 26:26-28.
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take, and eat; this is my body." Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." In the Lord's Supper, Jesus used the broken bread to represent his body and the cup or the fruit of the vine to represent his blood. What is so significant about his body and blood? He is pointing to a future time and event when his body will be broken and bear the sufferings of the cross and when his blood will be poured out. What for? Jesus said for the forgiveness of the sins of many.

The Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 11:26 concerning the Lord's Supper, "For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes." Anyone therefore who partakes of the Lord's Supper, that is, anyone who eats the bread and drinks the cup, is recognizing by faith the death of Jesus on the cross. Also, by his participation in the Lord's Supper, he is appropriating in his life the benefits of Jesus' death on the cross, mainly receiving the forgiveness of sins and the newness of life.

Jesus said "I am the bread of life and whoever eats of this bread will live forever." Eating this bread of life, therefore, is not just participating in the Lord's Supper, foremost it means believing and accepting Jesus for who He is, the giver of eternal life and for what He has done, His sacrifice and death on the cross.
Without our faith in Him, we can never be real partakers of the bread of life and the eternal life He gives.
]]> http://ifeelokay.com/i-am-the-bread-of-life-prepare-for-the-lords-supper/feed 14 http://ifeelokay.com/i-just-cant-take-it-anymore http://ifeelokay.com/i-just-cant-take-it-anymore#comments Thu, 19 Jan 2012 08:53:00 +0000 Chin chin http://ifeelokay.com/?guid=05eed7460fd328d694dcad8f3714d789
I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart, I have overcome the world. ~ John 16:33 The thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. ~ John 10:10
Now, Anthony DeStefano, author of the award winning children's book "Little Star" which I've written about before, has written a new book. It's entitled "I Just Can't Take It Anymore!" He wrote this book especially for people who feel wanting to give up on life now. He used really beautiful pictures and wrote descriptions or messages that goes with it to make people smile (or laugh) even when things doesn't seem right. Through the book, he wants to give an inspiring message to everyone who is stressed out and really hurting.
Read the embedded message by Anthony DeStefano below and see the following sample pages of the book. Then leave a comment on this post - a comment related to the book and not spammy. Like a free copy of this book shipped to you compliments of Anthony DeStefano? Sign the inlinkz widget at the end of this post (after commenting). I'll be using inlinkz to randomly pick one winner. God bless you!




]]> http://ifeelokay.com/i-just-cant-take-it-anymore/feed 22 http://ifeelokay.com/i-hate-cramming-for-exams http://ifeelokay.com/i-hate-cramming-for-exams#comments Sun, 11 Sep 2011 07:07:00 +0000 Chin chin http://ifeelokay.com/?guid=8a03c8d5ee9718b142ec85a6e082bf91
What is the meaning of cramming? Cramming means to try to learn a lot very quickly before an examination; a hasty study.  Studies say that it is not productive at all because last minute studying reduces retention of material and may hinder the learning process in the long term. Thus, the cliche "Haste makes waste" seems to ring a bell in connection with cramming. 


We've been encouraging our children to study in advance for their lessons especially if they do not have any or much assignment for the day. Also, we tell them to study first before playing. Sometimes they obey. But then sometimes, people and things distract them from doing so. I'm praying that they will learn to have better study habits and not be used to cramming sessions.

While looking for quotes on cramming, I found this which says
“I was thinking about how people seem to read the Bible a whole lot more as they get older; then it dawned on me . . they're cramming for their final exam.” ~ George Carlin 
It was a quote by an American comedian. This quote made me reflect, do we have to wait until we are old before we read the Bible, just so to prepare for the final exam? (He must be referring to the final exam when a person dies which will determine whether he will pass into heaven or not). 

Everyday, life is full of challenges. Life is made of tough choices. Life is a constant ground for testings. If a person does not learn the lessons everyday, especially those set forth in the Word of God, he will not pass the test.  That is why Psalm 1:1-2 encourages us to delight ourselves in the law of the LORD, and to meditate it day and night so that we will not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. Joshua 1:8 also says
"Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful."
As cramming is not effective for learning the lessons in school, it is also not effective for learning the valuable lessons that God's word want to teach us. Christians should not cram spirituality into their lives only on Christmas day or on Easter. It should not even be on Sundays only. Learning and living the Word should be everyday. One lesson builds on another then another. No wonder many Christians fail to pass the test when adversities and trials come. It is because they fail to learn the lessons beforehand. As such, they are cramming to know what they must do or not do on the day of testing.


To end this post, let me share this challenge to us. Do not cram spirituality. Let us build our relationship with God and get to know Him and His word everyday. Then, when trials come, we will be able to stand firm and succeed. May God bless us all.


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