(I found this one in the Internet, and I loved the message, that’s why I’m sharing it with you guys… hope you get something out of it.)

Pain was not part of God’s original design. Love, on the other hand, was, and God knew that in order for love to exist, free will would also have to exist. In a world where He gave humans the choice to love or hate, He knew some would choose the latter and PAIN would inevitably be the price.

Yet pain breaks God’s heart, and so God has taken man’s misuse and abuse of free will and redeemed it. God isn’t about righting all the wrongs on Earth. But, He is big on taking the wrongs and making something beautiful of them. And so He constantly offers opportunities for His children to exercise that free will in love towards one another, so that some of what has been broken can be remade. Pain offers opportunity for growth in love.

Also, pain is a unique opportunity for humanity to choose whether it will love God for who He is, rather than for the gifts that He bestows upon His creation. Granted, God loves to give to His children. But in a life void of suffering, there would also be little need to love God for any reason beyond his role as Santa Claus. God wants to be loved for who He is — for His mercy, grace, kindness, compassion, and other attributes — and not because He makes life easy for us.

Finally, God allows pain to remind us that our home is not in this world, that our real life begins in the afterlife, in Heaven. He wishes for us to long for that place. And pain has a way of keeping our hope there, rather than on Earth. This is a good thing, for Heaven promises more wonderful, beautiful things than those which are found here. Earth is for deciding whether we will love one another as well as our Creator; Heaven is where our experience of life will find its fruition.

(excerpt from article by Connie Strasheim -700Club)

Are you single and tired of being alone? You have a desire in your heart to meet someone who you can share your life with, who you can love and who will love you back, but somehow, that person hasn’t arrived yet and you’re wondering… will the time ever come?

It’s a big and complicated world out there, and people have a hard time finding each other. Yeah, you probably look around and see couples around you, and you think why can’t I be like them? Why can’t I find a partner like they have? And you turn to God, asking why He hasn’t given you what He had given everyone else… a perfect match. There’s an unmistakable longing in your heart to fall in love and be happy. But the perfect guy or girl just hasn’t come yet!

It’s hard, and frustrating… but you know what, when you ask God all these questions, like “WHY?” or “WHEN?”, don’t think He doesn’t hear you because He DOES. You say, “But I’ve been praying for this my whole life, and yet I still haven’t found the one.” And you become impatient and even more lonely… But always remember that God has His own perfect timing. He hears what is in your heart, your desires and your prayers, and He will give what you want in His OWN TIME. He knows EXACTLY what you need at a certain point in your life, and He also knows when to give you the things that you’re asking for. All you have to do is to continue TRUSTING and wait patiently for that time. It’s definitely easier said than done, but have FAITH. God promised to bring you love, and HE will fulfill it when the right time comes.

God knows everything, He knows the person that’s meant entirely for us, where that person is, what that person is going through, and one day, He will bring that person to our lives, He will take that person by the hand and lead them to us, so we can experience true love. We just have to BELIEVE.

There’s this song that’s just so inspiring and speaks about God bringing two people together, it’s entitled “He Brought Me To You”. The lyrics and words are beautiful and the song relays a wonderful message about God bringing love into our lives. If you’ve been waiting for so long and you’re losing hope and thinking of giving up… think again. Just hang in there. God will bring you love, He will bring you to the person meant for you, when the RIGHT time comes.

Have you found the one meant for you?

Copyright©2008angel

To my Father, Brother, Best Friend, and Savior…

I’m taking this chance to thank you for everything you’ve done for me. No words can describe how grateful I am that you’re with me. All through my life, you never left my side, through the good times and the bad. I’ve been through so much, been through a lot of hurt and miserable moments, and through all that, you’ve helped me overcome my fears, my doubts, my weaknesses. I never could have done it without you. You helped me realize my worth, you made me feel that I am loved, no matter what.

Thank you so much… there have been times when I thought I couldn’t take the pain anymore, there were times when I felt I could no longer stand the loneliness, but you were there to comfort me and tell me that everything is going to be all right. Through wonderful people and things, you reached out to me and reminded me that life goes on. Because of you, I saw that life is worth living, that there’s still so much in store for me, that I shouldn’t waste my life in unimportant things. You taught me how to TRUST, and you strengthened my FAITH. It wasn’t easy, but I did it. I did it because you were there… you held my hand… and that was all I needed.

I’m so BLESSED to have you. Thank you for protecting my heart, I feel so at peace when I know that you’re in control. I don’t ever wanna be without you. Thank you for using me for your glory. I love you so much.

With all my heart,
Angel

When I look at myself in the mirror, I see an imperfect person. Just trying to fit in… trying to do my best in this crazy world. Sometimes it’s hard when I see people around me and I get discouraged, but one thing I constantly remind myself, is never to let them destroy my faith and beliefs. Because these are the things that make me the person that I am. I refuse to let other people get me down. The world may have so much evil in it, but it’s also full of good… of love and hope. And that’s what I want to incorporate into my own world. Someday, I’d like to look at myself in the mirror, and what I’d want to feel is contentment. More than anything else, I’d like to look at myself and be satisfied about how I lived my life. When all else is said and done, I’d like to be able to smile and say to myself, I did my best.

Copyright©2008angel

My brother gave me a YouTube link this morning, saying I have to watch it because it’s the best video he’s ever seen. I was intrigued by his intro, so I watched the clip. Guess what, it sent goosebumps all over my body! This story has become so popular and is all over the Internet so I’m sure most of you might have come across this months ago, but it only just reached me now, and I felt compelled to post it here to share it with those who haven’t seen it yet.

It’s a story about an exceptional lion raised by two young Australian men, John Rendall and Ace Berg. They bought the lion cub from a store, they saw it was cramped and lonely in his cage, so they decided to bring the poor little guy home. They raised him as a pet, named him Christian, and it was the start of an amazing friendship and loyalty among the three. But when Christian grew bigger, they didn’t have a choice but to release him back into the wild. So they enlisted the help of George Adamson, the known “Father Of Lions“ and after some time, though it wasn’t easy, they were able to release Christian successfully into the wild.

After a year, Christian got accustomed to life in the wild and was even leader of their pride. John and Ace decided to visit him again, and despite warnings from George, that Christian might not recognize them anymore, they went ahead and sought their beloved lion. So what happened, you ask? Well, if you don’t know… you go find out for yourself by watching the video.

It’s such a heartwarming story about friendship, and how even a vicious animal like a lion is capable of love and affection. I have to admit, I was nearly moved to tears when I watched the video. If you haven’t heard of Christian, The Lion… you have to watch the video, and while you’re at it, you can watch the whole documentary dedicated to him too. It’s definitely worth the watch.

Copyright©2008angel

When I was a little child, my mother embroidered a great deal. I can remember the time when, as I was sitting at her feet and looking up at her, I asked her what she was doing. She informed me that she was embroidering. I remarked that it looked like a mess from where I was. As, from the underside, I watched her work within the boundaries of the little round hoop in her hand, I complained to her that it sure looked messy from where I sat.

She looked down, smiling at me, and gently said, “My child, you go and play for now, and when I am finished, I will put you on my knee and let you see it from my side.” I wondered why she used some dark threads along with the bright ones and why they seemed so jumbled from my point of view.

Later, after some time had passed, as I was playing, I heard my Mother calling for me to come and sit on her knee. I went to her, and as I settled into the comfort and security of her lap, my mother said, “My child, from underneath it did look messy and jumbled, but you did not realize there was a plan on the top, a design that I was following. Now look at it from my side, and you will see what I was doing.” Then, when she showed me her completed work, I was surprised and thrilled to see a landscape scene full of beautiful flowers adorned by the radiant glow of a magnificent sunset.

Many times, I have looked up to my Heavenly Father and asked, “Father, what are You doing?” He has answered, “I am embroidering your life.” I say, “But it looks like a mess to me. It seems so jumbled. The threads seem so dark. Why can’t they all be bright?” My Father gently says, “My child, you go and do My will for now, and one day, I will bring you to Heaven and put you on My knee, and then you will see the plan from My side.”

Author Unknown

I read a chapter about The Cross today. It was such a heartfelt passage that I cried.

What’s the meaning of the Cross anyway? Most Catholics simply know that it signifies the death of Jesus Christ, but some don’t realize the true meaning of it. Sometimes, I don’t fully grasp the importance of it and the extraordinary meaning behind it. But when I read that particular chapter, I was deeply moved.

So why did Jesus die in the Cross? He was innocent and pure, right? He didn’t deserve to be subjected to the harsh and cruel treatment that was given Him. So why did it have to happen? Why did He have to SUFFER and DIE? The answer is simple. He did it for You and Me. He did it because HE LOVES US. He did it because it was the only way for us to be saved and our sins to be forgiven. Yes, sinning is part of our humanity, but we shouldn’t downplay it or say that it’s no big deal. Because sins are, in fact, a big deal. And Jesus was willing to sacrifice His own life, so these very sins won’t destroy us.

I know you’ve probably already heard this over and over again, in sermons, in Church, from pastors, and some of you might just dismiss it as, “Oh yeah, I already know that.” And I don’t mean to sound preachy or anything. But really, try and let this shocking truth capture your hearts. Coz it’s such a beautiful truth. Jesus loves us so much, He was willing to die and suffer, so we could live. Imagine that! We’ve made a lot of mistakes in our lives, we’ve sinned many times and we deserve all the pain and punishment for our sins. And yet, there He was, He took it all, even though He didn’t deserve any of it, so we wouldn’t have to.

See how unconditional His love is? And what about God? Do you realize how much God loves us too? He sent His only Son to save us. He loves Jesus so much, but He allowed His only Son to die and suffer for the sins of the world. I hope you realize the enormity of this sacrifice. He rejected His own Son so our sins will be forgiven! We put Jesus on the Cross, it was our sins that put Him on the Cross, but He did it, because He loves us.

If you’re reading this now, and you acknowledge that you’ve sinned, don’t think that because your sins are great, you will not be forgiven. Don’t think that because your sin is bigger than those of other people, God will take a longer time to forgive you. All sins, big or small, are the same in God’s eyes. So, no matter where you are, remember the Cross. Remember that Jesus loves you so much, He died for you. Remember the image of Jesus Christ’s extended arms, nailed on the cross, saying, “This is how much I love you. Believe and repent.”

Copyright©2008angel

I feel so at peace now. I don’t know exactly at what point I was able to feel this way, but I’m so at peace with the state of my emotions now, it’s great.

Like I’ve said, I’ve realized a lot of things these past month. But lately, this peace that I’ve been experiencing, it’s a different kind of peace and I’m telling you, it’s wonderful. I realized that I’ve been creating my own kind of peace, for so long. In the past, I felt peaceful every time things go my way, like when things are going well at work, with my family, with my friends and loved one… but now I realize that even though I can create some kind of peace by my own, it’s of a poor kind. It’s shallow and fleeting.

But this peace that I’m experiencing right now, it doesn’t come from me or from anyone else. It comes from God. I know this because it’s such a different kind of peace, one that’s pure and encompassing. I can’t really describe it, it’s a kind of inner light that sustains me throughout the day. Don’t get me wrong, I still feel sad sometimes, and scared too. But somewhere deep inside, a certain kind of peace steadies me, calms me, and keeps me going.

Now I recognize the difference. And I’ll have God’s peace any day.

Copyright©2008angel

I’m so glad to be back on the Web. I didn’t have access to the Net for 2 days because of power failure and Internet connection problems. See, it was a stormy weekend here in our city. And when I say stormy, I mean that literally.

At the wee hours of Friday morning, I woke up from the sound of heavy rain on my rooftop. I thought it was just a normal rain shower and that it will go away after a few hours. But I was wrong. It was, in fact, a typhoon that hit the country. And then suddenly, the power went dead.

So I was lying there in the dark, listening to the howling of the wind and the vigorous slamming of the rain against my walls, and I have to admit, I got a little scared. I know it’s lame, but I did. I thought my little apartment will be blown away by the storm. I’m not kidding, I did imagine all these horrible visions for about a minute or two.

But then I got a hold of myself, and prayed instead. I felt that it was really wild out there, the wind was so strong and the rain was nonstop for about a day or two. I prayed to God that He will keep my apartment safe, and I prayed for all the homes out there too. After a little while, with some soothing music, I was able to relax.

I spent the next Saturday in bed, with no power and just a little food. I couldn’t watch TV, or do anything online, so I was just sleeping and reading the whole time. Focusing on the positive side though, at least I was able to reflect this weekend. Sunday, I watched the news, and I felt awful about all the casualties from the storm. I thanked and praised God that I’m safe and my loved ones are safe.

I think this storm should serve as a warning and reminder for us all. We really should take care of our environment more. If we continue exploiting and taking the environment for granted, there will be deadlier storms than this… for sure.

Copyright©2008angel

Do you find yourself worrying all the time about what’s going to happen to you, or where you’re heading? I think all of us do, we worry in varying degrees. We look at our lives and wonder whether we’re on the right track, or whether we’re living the life we’re meant to be living or not. We look at our problems and we see them as even more reasons to worry.

Why do we worry anyway? I think it’s because we’re not certain of the outcome of events. We worry because we’re not sure if what’s going to happen next will be to our advantage, we worry that things won’t work out. It’s just the natural order of things, after all CHANGE is the only thing permanent in this universe, right? Every time we’re not certain of something, and it’s an important issue in our life, we worry.

Don’t get me wrong, worrying isn’t a bad thing in itself. It’s actually a normal emotion that comes with being human. But excessive worrying, now that isn’t healthy. There are all kinds of things we worry about… we’re worried we won’t find love, worried that we’ll never amount to anything, worried about what other people will think, etc. What we fail to remember is that there’s a grand design. God has already mapped out our lives for us. He knows where we’ve come from and where we’re heading. And it is my belief that every little thing that happens in our lives is no coincidence. It’s actually all part of the grand scheme of things, all part of God’s Master Plan for us.

Now we may not understand His wisdom, we may not understand why certain things in our lives are happening, or why we have to get hurt, or why we’re experiencing what we’re experiencing. There are times when we get so tired and defeated, that we don’t see the point anymore. It may even feel like it’s all just one misfortune after another, and you wonder when it’s gonna end, or how you’re gonna turn your life around. Sometimes, life gets so messed up that we don’t know where to turn or what to do, so we worry.

For me, the way I handle things, first I worry, then I deal with it and move on. It has always been my firm belief that I am nothing without God. I will be the first to admit that I’ve done a lot of worrying in my life. But at the end of the day, I know I’m right where He wants me to be. Of course, that doesn’t make the pain go away, and it doesn’t make it any less, but somewhere inside me, I’m comforted. I still do have fears, but I force myself to think that God knows what He’s doing and He will lead me to where He wants me to go. I just have to constantly remind myself that I’m not in control, that God is.

When you put God in the center of your life, you put your life in His hands. You let Him take the wheel, and make Him the driver of your life. And when God is driving, you need not worry because He knows the way. It’s really amazing when you are able to surrender your life to God, when you say, “Okay, God, you know what’s best for me. Take control of my life.” It’s the most amazing feeling, you won’t need to worry because you know that whatever happens, He is behind it. And you know that you’re in safe hands.

Just a piece of advice from me to you. It may not mean much to some, but it may help others: Try lifting everything up to God, and surrender your problems to Him. We may not know what to do with our lives, but God has plans for us. He works in mysterious ways, even ways that we never would have dreamed about, if we only let Him. So don’t worry, there’s a Master Plan.

Copyright©2008angel

Imagine going to heaven and standing by God as He lovingly shows you the calendar of His plan for your earthly life. It begins with the day you are born. Once you received Christ as Savior, every day that follows is outlined in red. You see footprints walking through each day of each week of your life.

On many of the days, two sets of footprints appear. You inquire “Father, are those my footprints on the calendar every day and is the second set of prints when you joined me?”

He answers, “No, My precious Child. The consistent footprints on your calendar are Mine. The second set of footprints are when you joined Me.”

“Where were You going, Father?”

“To the destiny I planned for you, hoping you’d follow.”

“But, Father, where are my footprints all those times?”

He answers, “Sometimes you went back to look at old resentments and habits while I was still going forward, hoping you’d join Me. Sometimes, you departed from My path and chose your own calendar instead. Other times, your footprints can even be seen on another person’s calendar because you thought you liked their plan better. At other times, you simply stopped because you would not let go of something you could not take to the next day.”

“Father, what are those golden treasure boxes on certain days?”

“Blessings, My Child, I had for you along the way. Those that are open are those you received. Those still closed were days you did not walk with Me.”

“But, Father, we ended up OK even if I didn’t walk with You every day, didn’t we?”

He holds you close and smiles, “Yes, Child, we ended up OK. But, you see, OK was never what I had in mind for you.”

Author Unknown 

I just found out today that a schoolmate of mine back in high school was diagnosed with a tumor and is to undergo a very delicate operation. The tumor is located in the middle of his brain stem and his spinal chord. His neurosurgeon said that it can be removed with 90% assurance and 10% risk. The risk being that if one of his brain stem or spinal chord is touched or damaged, he might end up paralyzed or placed in a respirator. He’s asking for help in the form of prayers, that the operation will be successful and he will have a full recovery.

I felt awful and sad when I heard this news. I realized that life really is too precious and too short to waste. Oftentimes, we get so caught up with our everyday lives, our busy schedules, our day-to-day problems, that we can’t even take the time anymore to enjoy and appreciate LIFE itself. I mean, how many times do we actually pause each day and just thank God for our health, well-being, and the blessings that we receive?

Most of us get so worked up with even the pettiest of problems, and even experience self pity because we feel like we have the biggest problem in the world. But sometimes we forget to be thankful for the most important blessing of all, our HEALTH. Instead of complaining about how unfair our lives are, we should just be thankful because we’re lucky to be alive and healthy.

With that said, let me just take this time to thank GOD for my HEALTH, FAMILY, FRIENDS, JOB and for all the blessings He has given me. Guys, treasure and make the most out of your life. Remember, life is too short, and we only have ONE life to live… don’t waste it.

Copyright©2008angel