Welcoming the New Year

I cannot wait until this year is over. I love welcoming the New Year each year simply because I cannot wait to start the year fresh and I also cannot wait to see what is in store for all of us. A lot of people plan their New Year's resolution before December of the year that is about to end. However, the most popular New Year's resolutions we hear of are about dieting, handling finances, doing better at work or school. Although there is nothing wrong about all of these so-called New Year's resolutions, however, people tend to forget the most important thing in life-- their spirituality. Our spiritual being needs an overhaul every now and then too. Nobody is perfect and a lot of us succumb to vices every now and then. Mistakes in life are part of human nature...of our frailties; however, it is also important to scrutinize each one of our mistakes in order to avoid them in the future.

Gaining spiritual strength is important in order to live a well-balanced life. Far more important than losing weight, saving money, career advancement, good grades, etc...is our spiritual health. Our spiritual being balances our existence...it is what would keep us strong against all adversities, it is also what will keep us humble...reminding us always that there is someone that reign above us, the One who we answer to. It is our connection to our Great Creator, it is what we have to nourish each time. And when we do, we can reach our other goals easier since we have the strength that can empower us to do what we put our minds and our hearts into.

Our spirituality helps us to give love better, keep our faith, and find hope when it seems there is no more. It is what speaks to us in a form of conscience to avoid the evil temptations in this world. It fuels the mind, body, and soul. It is what completes us.

So, for the coming year...ensure that you put more thought first on your spirituality over the things that do not last forever. In the end...it is what you can bring with you.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

Unsurpassed Love- A Thanksgiving from the Heart

This poem is wholeheartedly dedicated to Our Lord God who had showered the Iglesia Ni Cristo with so much blessings through the years. As we commemorate the 94th Anniversary of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church of Christ) in the Philippines and the 40th Anniversary in the West.

We thank you, Oh Lord,
Our hearts filled with joy as we sing;
All these years you were true to your words,
Giving us your unsurpassed love and blessings.

You have given humanity one last chance,
In the Far East, as prophesied;
Your true Church was re-established,
Decades had passed...until now It still stands!

Little did anyone know,
That this little church would grow;
With throngs of devoted followers;
Everywhere across the globe.

As we witnessed your Church's growth,
We are proud to be called your own;
As we await Christ's returning,
Until the end we will be devoted to You.

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

How do we overcome the pain that we feel inside when we are missing someone terribly? We find ourselves at times sobbing due to our loss that had resulted in a huge void in our lives. Oftentimes, after we cry we try to go about our daily chores, trying to keep ourselves busy to make the hands of time move faster. It is amazing how time flies when we are busy toiling each day. There are different ways people deal with sadness; it is during these tough times that we end up in search of ourselves...of our existence!

For so long as human beings depend on each other for material needs and companionship, we will always feel some void when we lose those we depend upon. Whether this loss was due to a passing of a loved one, breaking up, or the unavoidable separation due to job relocation or residential moves. There could be a hundred reasons why we are separated from people we care about...people we hold dearly in our hearts. There may also be a hundred ways to deal with these situations and each time we try to cope.

So, how do we cope? Aside from crying or keeping ourselves busy all day? The answer is to kneel down in prayer. Oftentimes, we hear people who pray that it can help heal your wounded soul and it can give you strength to face another day. Trusting in what our Almighty God can do to help us ease the sorrows and pain of missing our beloved. There is also a saying that time can heal all wounds. So, the pain and aching feeling you feel inside your heart will go away, with God's help and guidance, in a matter of time.

With every pain, suffering, trial, and separation that you endure...you will become resilient--- a better and stronger person!

How Was Your Day?

Everyone of us goes through our daily lives, with our so-called daily routines. At the end of each day, we rest after performing our daily tasks. But, have you ever done a mental recap of what you have done for the day? Do you gauge your day by exclaiming whether you had a good day or a bad day? The reason I asked is that all too often people go about their daily lives even before the sun comes up, doing their daily chores, then gasp at the end of the day that it just went by so swiftly. Some of us even whine that the day is too short, that there should have been more than 24 hours to do all the tasks at hand. I, like many others, am guilty of thinking that the day is just too short. I tend to multi-task a lot, juggling three or four different things at a time. However, even when I start earlier than usual to do my work and end later to try to finish it, it's as if I still have a mountain of tasks to accomplish ready for me to tackle again the next day.

The idea of writing this article was brought about by the single question that my teenage daughter asks me whenever she and her Dad would pick me up at the train station after I get off from work. She would always ask how my day was...to which I often answered with a simple single word that describes my typical work day- "Busy". It's funny because now that I think about it, I answer the same way almost everyday for how many years now. So, what does this word really means to me? I recapped my day from the moment I woke up in the morning. I did a mental list of the things I have done.

From the time I woke up before the dawn breaks, to the time I came home just when the sun is about to set, there were indeed a tremendous amount of things to do each day. Never-ending tasks, a lot of challenges; both at work and at home to worry about. I am not going to bore you with the details of my day to day activities, besides, the list is a mile long, and we might run out of space!

Kidding aside, I am here to proudly say that each day I start with saying my thanks to God, for He allowed me to wake up with renewed health and strength that I can use to get through the day. After I hop on the train to and from work, I say a little prayer for Him to take care of me on my travel. When I have difficult challenges at work, I close my eyes and say another prayer for Him to help me solve those problems. At the end of the day, before going to bed I have my own prayer, unless all three of us are at home, then we say our family prayer together before we go to sleep. Through out the day I pray from 5 to 6 times, more if there are situations that call for one such as, worship services, prayer meetings, illnesses, problems at home, and the like. It may be a lot to some people, but considering the other tasks and the amount of time each one takes to complete, it doesn't take too much to say a prayer. Some people even spend time talking on the phone much longer, even lasting for several hours. A prayer doesn't too take long... a couple or so minutes should be enough in most cases.

So, what am I saying is that there should not be any excuse for us, no matter how busy we get each day, not to say a prayer. You may be on a train, on a plane, or driving a car you can utter your prayer or speak in your mind. The important thing is that you have that communication daily with our Almighty God. You should put God as your top priority...for He can make all your worries fade away.

So how was your day? Have you spoken to God lately?