Handmaid of the Lord

"I am the handmaid of the Lord, let be it done to me according to your word" Luke1:38

I have always been fascinated by that verse. Amazed at how Mary could fully consent and trust in the Lord! And when I read that verse or hear it or see the CFC Handmaids of the Lord stickers on cars I would reflect on her deep faith and pray that I could be the same too.

Although I consider myself a prayerful person, there are times I find myself praying yet at the back of my mind I would be thinking on how I would solve my problems... and oh, I could be stubborn and persistent especially if I think that what I am doing is right! And there are times when my mind says "I believe You, Lord or I trust You, Lord" yet my heart feels otherwise... I feel burdened and it shouldn't be so!

Oh, I am not really being hard on myself. I know that the Lord always look through my intentions... and though my faith is not perfect, I know that He loves me and will always love me! I am happy though that I have finally finished Couples For Christ's Handmaids of the Lord Christian Life Program. I am also happy that the HOLD community has welcomed me... and truth is I like to be called a handmaid of the Lord! Now if I could just ALWAYS reply to God "Let it be done to me according to Your word"... then that would be a real blessing. I know that it could be difficult... but then again.. with God nothing is impossible!

~~~I luv u Lord!

I kissed dating goodbye n eleven minutes

Nope, I did not kiss dating goodbye in eleven minutes rather they are the title of the books I recently read -- Eleven minutes by Paulo Coelho n (N meaning AND) Joshua Harris’ I kissed dating goodbye (the upgrade edition).

They are two entirely different books that talk on relationships. I had previously read Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist which really fascinated me and somehow lifted me up from my depression that when I saw Eleven minutes in the bookstore which Lady Charlie considered to be sentimental, I decided to buy it. It was while browsing through other books that I also came to see the one by Joshua Harris. The title really caught my attention and made me smile as I thought “What’s this? Pretty weird title… I haven’t even kissed dating hello and now kiss it goodbye???” But while browsing it, I thought it will be good reading for my teenaged nieces… and as I always do, I always read the book I buy before giving to my nieces and nephews (even children’s books!)

Eleven minutes is a good book but I would not want to give it to my teenage nieces who have very sexually active minds. Some of the sex discussed there are explicit that I would not really want them to read it as yet… I liked how the thoughts of Maria, the protagonist who is a prostitute, was expressed though. She was honest, she does not justify her acts but she was making choices on how best she can live her life. There was one part there when the question of prostitutes being exploited arose, some would say they are but as written there (and to which I agree) they actually have a choice (of course the book does not talk on forced slavery as what happens to some of our Filipinas who are kidnapped or duped into believing they are going to have decent works but end up as prostitutes locked up in sex dens).

The book is now with Jane, she has started reading it and says she’s really excited to finish it… I think the book will do the round of girls in the office since Jane has convinced Aneth, even Roxanne about the book and they said that they will be waiting in line…

Now Joshua Harris’ I kissed dating goodbye is still with me. I am trying to convince my eldest niece to just take a look and she still says no way!!! What a pity since it is really a good book especially for teenagers… of course everybody would have a choice on what they would want to do with their lives but it gives a good perspective on relationships. It does not really say that you should totally avoid the opposite sex, in fact it encourages you to interact but not just encourage intimate relationship when you are not ready for such a commitment. It is actually an objective approach to knowing people… when you become intimate your views somehow gets distorted… talk about love being blind… plus you don’t really get to know the other when each of you are trying to put your best foot forward. You get to know the person in his normal environment while you, on the other hand should be comfortable to be just as you are while pursuing all your dreams.

Actually if you reflect deeper, you could parallel many things discussed there to other relationships. You should not really encourage something when you know that you will not be able to fully commit yourself to it for somehow someone will be bound to get hurt in the end. So it is really a practical book that says that you should not only consider yourself but other people (including God and your conscience) when you decide to pursue something... plus there is a perfect timing to everything.

Okay, it has taken me more than eleven minutes to finish this, guess it is time to kiss my writing goodbye today and set out on my other tasks…

Wishes on a bad weather...

Weather has been bad the past few days. The vendors downstairs are making a killing selling umbrellas especially with the alternating sunny weather and heavy downpours. The umbrellas they sell are cheap, just P50.00 sometimes even P35.00 each but oftentimes it is only good for one use and if you have bad luck sometimes not even good for one use. I remember buying one before and after a while it was also raining inside my umbrella… Ugh!

Good thing I don’t have to leave the office this lunch since I already got wet going to work this morning. The lower portion of my pants still feel cold and there are so many umbrellas scattered all over the work place waiting to dry (actually most of them are dry already but their owners still have not folded them).

How I wish there is an umbrella the size of a pen when folded but big enough to cover you in the rain...something light and durable you can always carry it in your bag or even your pocket!

It will be nice if someone invented a comfortable shoes that can be converted to waterproof rainboots just by pressing or even stomping your feet and it will even be better if that shoes has a built-in light waterproof cloth that you can pull up to your thigh so you won’t get wet a bit…

And if you do get wet… that there is a portable (size of a small perfume bottle) instant clothes and person dryer…you just spray it all over your body and you're dry!

Oh how is wish!!!

If I have those it is not only cloudy weathers that I’ll like…even rainy and stormy weathers will be fine too!

Actually since I don’t have to go out this noon... weather is just perfect… perfect for a short nap! There is still time to take a nap before going back to work!

Pete's birthday!

Today is the birthday of a special person. I am not suppose to think about him but then again how can I forget someone who has touched my heart deeply…

I could no longer cheer him or bug him but there will always be someone there to hug him if only he’d let HIM… Oh I hope he realize just how much God wants to hug him and continuously tries to hug him! I pray that he finally accept God’s sweet embrace and find comfort there.

As I sit in my monitor and watch the clock turn 12:00… I pause and say "God bless you Pete…may you find the happiness you’ve been looking for!"

happy birthday from bethist!!!

Children learn what they live...

I played nannie to my nephew this morning. Actually, he is already 6 years old and doesn't have to be cared for but mama told me to give him a bath so I bathed him. But prior to that I asked him if he wanted to help me wash dishes and he said yes... so he soaped the dishes while I rinsed them.

Actually there are 4 toddlers in my home... all courtesy of my siblings. Most nights when I get home from work, they will swarm at me and turn me into a playground... and mama would be shouting, telling them to stop!

My body could actually give jollibee and McDonald's a fair competition on their playground... imagine the toddlers turning it into an obstacle course... a slide (advantage of having long legs... or is it a disadvantage???)... a seesaw... a glider...what have you? Talk about the imagination of children and of course their tita beth :-) ... all these things going on in our family room while the oldies are watching the telenovelas and the children watching some too... Things could really be noisy... with children's laughter (sometimes crying too) and shouting on one hand and mama telling them to stop and keep quiet.

Oftentimes the kids really get too hyper that it drives my mama NUTS and scolds them. I could really understand her since sometimes they too get on my nerves but then again they are kids and they need to explore and learn things. We are a big household and sometimes the place could really be a riot and I wonder how these things affect the kids.

I remember a poem on a child learning what he lives. I wish I have that poster so I could place it in our family room to remind us, the oldies to have more patience and understanding for them. Anyway, thought i'd post here too:

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.
If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.
If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.
If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.
If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.
If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.
If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.
If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.
If children live with fairness, they learn justice.
If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.
If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.
If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.
~~~~~by Dorothy Law Nolte