KULAY NG PASKO, Ang Nais Ko Ay... by Ate Lotts Fabellore

Green, yellow, red, orange, gold at blue, ilan lamang sa mga kulay na nagbibigay buhay at sigla sa iba’t ibang bagay at aspeto ng kapaskuhan… kadalasan pangit ang husga sa walang masyadong kulay at matindi pa diyan tingin dito’y patay. Sa kabila ng ganitong impresyon sa totoo lang hangad parin ng marami ang Puting Pasko. Kakatuwa talaga ang tao. Pero kung iisipin, kung kulay nga ang Pasko, ano nga kaya ‘to?

Meron kayang ayaw ng White Christmas? Sabi nila’y, Paskong masaya, malaking bonus, may Christmas tree, maraming regalo at pagkain, kantahan, may snow, malamig at pamilyang nagdiriwang na may mainit na samahan. Idagdag mo pa ang mga batang ayaw magmimintis sa kanilang aginaldo. At sino’ng nag-iisa ang di naiinggit sa mga nagmamahalan?

Ngunit minsan, kahit na gaanong paghahangad at pagsisikap, bakit kinababagsakan parin ay ang Blue Christmas? Kung kailan naman magpapasko nu’n pa nawalan ng trabaho, nu’n pa nagkahiwalay, meron ngang mapagsasaluhan wala naman yo’ng gusto mong makasalo. Sa pamilyang may kanya-kanya nang lakad kahit wala ka mang pupuntahan iiwan mo rin ang tahanan, sino’ng gustong mag-solo’? Ito marahil ang malalim na hinagpis ng maraming magulang, ng maraming lolo at lola. Meron namang kumpleto ang pamilya, ang totoo, sobra pa nga! kaya lang mas ramdam ang kalam ng sikmura kaysa sa saya na sila ay magkakasama… nauuwi rin sa wala.

Party! Party! Parties! Sa sobrang enjoyment dito, maaaring Yellow Christmas na nga ito! At sa mga bumubuhos ang peso, dolyar at marami pang “suwerte” , sila marahil ang may Berde o Gintong Pasko. Bakit sila lang? – Ang umaalingawngaw na ungot! Minsan, maririnig mo rin ang inggit sa mga katagang,“ Sila lang ba ang anak ng diyos? ” Pusong may labis-labis na paghahangad ay kahungkagang napakahirap mapunan.

Sa bagay kung tutuusin, ang Pasko naman talaga ay bunga ng masidhing paghahangad ng isang Ama. Tama! Ang masidhing pagnanais na maipadama sa mga tao ang di masukat Niyang pagmamahal. Pambihirang Pag-ibig! Di nga ba’t ibinigay ng Ama ang nag-iisa niyang anak para sa ating kaligtasan. Habang ang mundo’y nagdiriwang sa pagsilang ng Tagapagligtas, ano kaya ang nararamdaman ng Ama na nakakaalam ng pasakit na tatanggapin ng kanyang Anak? At ng Anak na Siyang mag-aalay ng buhay para mabayaran ang ating kasalanan?

Emmanuel, ‘yan ang Kanyang Pangalan, gustong gusto ng Diyos na makapiling ang tao kahit sa mga pagkakataong lumalayo tayo. Pambihirang Pagmamahal! Lahat ay para sa’yo, para sa akin, para sa atin. Ito ang Pasko, Pula ang Pasko…, ang Kanyang paghihirap para sa ating kaginhawaan…., ang Kanyang pagsilang at kamatayan para tayo ay mabuhay ng masaya at kaigaigaya.

Salamat! Salamat! Salamat Ama! Walang humpay na pagpapasalamat at pagsamba ang dapat nating tugon sa Kanya at hindi ang makasariling mga hiling sa kaarawan Niya. Pula ang Pasko, hindi ipinagkait na pinadama ng Ama sa’yo ang kulay na ito upang maipadama mo rin sa mga taong naghahanap at nangangailangan ng Kulay Pasko. TARA MAGKULAY TAYO!

GATEWAY to Blessedness

PSALM 1

Gate 1: Source of Values

Gate 2: Outward Appearance

Gate 3: Ultimate Destiny

Emotional Pacquiaos

Fighting as Emotional Pacquiaos...

1. ROUND 1: Go to God First
2. ROUND 2: Feel the Pain but Fearlessly Hit On It
3. ROUND 3: Praise through Pain
4. ROUND 4: Live for Today and Let the Past Teach but Never Torment
5. ROUND 5: Serve Your Purpose

Cease or Persist?

Why Commit to Pray & Persist?

1. God is Not an UNJUST JUDGE
2. There is a Continuous Need to PRACTICE PERSISTENCE
3. God Grants Justice Against Our Enemy

Heart Work

God's Heart Work

1. He Deprives Us
2. He Distances from Us
3. He Delivers Us

Our Heart Work

1. We must Call
3. We must Believe
4. We must Know Him Better

Four for One

IF YOUR ONE OF THE FOUR...

If you’re not paralyzed what can you do?

1. Bring them to Jesus (at all costs)
2. Carry them
3. Prepare them

IF YOU'RE THE ONE...

If you’re the paralyzed what can you do?

1. Receive your friends help
2. Receive God's love and forgiveness
3. Fight your own fight

MENSAHE NG PAG-ASA by Lotts Fabellore

Sa dami ng mga trahedyang patuloy na nararanasan ng ating bansa- bagyo, kahirapan, kagutuman, sakit, krimen, at lamatayan, ang madalas bigkasin ng marami, “kailan ba tayo giginhawa?”

Sa mga banta ng muling paghyagupit ng kalikasan na paulit-ulit na ibinabalitang ito’y paparating na naman, ang tugon ng bayan, “wala nab a itong katapusan?”

At isipin na lang na ang lahat ng ito ay siyang bunga n gating mga maling aksyon sa ating kalikasan, sa ating kapwa, sa ating sarili at sa Maykapal higit pang nagugulumihanan an gating kalooban, “may magandang bukas pa kayang naghihintay?”

Nasaan ba si God sa mahirap na panahong ito? Tumingin kang mabuti sa paligid. Hindi mo ba nakikita ang pagsasakripisyo ng mga institusyon at mga indibidwal na halos ibigay ang buhay mailigtas lang ang mga nalagay sa panganib? Hindi mo ba pansin ang masigasig na pagbibigay tulong n gating mga kababayan maging ng mga dayuhan? Lingid ba sa’yo ang pagsiskap ng mga simbahan upang ibangon ang moral ng mga nasalanta? Ang mga ito, mismo, ang mapagligtas, mapagmahal at mapagkalingang kamay ng Maykapal. At tayo, maaari pa anting dugtungan ang mapagpalang kamay na’to.

Hindi lang tayo ang dumaan sa ganito kadilim at kasukal na landas ng buhay maging ang mga banal na lingcod ng Diyos ay dumanas ng labis na hirap at hinagpis ngunit sa kabila ng lahat, ito ang binigkas ng propeta Jeremiah,

“Simpait ng apdo ang alalahanin sa aking paghihirap at kabiguan…

Gayunma’y nanunumbalik ang aking pag-asa kapag naaalala kong:

Pag-ibig mo, Diyos, ay hindi nagmamaliw; kahabagan mo’y walang

Kapantay. Ito ay laging bago bawat umaga; katapatan mo’y napakadakila.”

Magsisi sa ating mga kamalian at magtiwala sa pagmamahal n gating Amang nasalangit dahil gaya ng Dakilang Pastol na nakatagpo sa kanyang nawawalang tupa ay masaya tayong papasanin ni Jesus sa kanya ring bubuhatin ang ating mga kabigatan at pasakit. Nasa Kanya, ang siguradong kaginhawaan ng Ngayon at Bukas. Manalig at Magtiwala sa Kanya!

RESPECT

The top reason people leave their jobs, according to Steve Miranda of the Society for Human Resource Management, is due to bosses that belittle their employees or exhibit various forms of disrespectful behavior. “Bad bosses are energy vampires,” Miranda says.

How should you respond when you’re under the authority of a boss or someone else you struggle to respect? Motivational speaker and Olympic swimming gold-medalist Josh Davis believes, “There is never any reason to be rude or abrasive to another human being.” Davis says, “I apply a biblical principle to help me: ‘Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people’ ” (Philippians 2:14-15).

Scripture says respect should be given to . . .

• Governing authorities: “For the Lord’s sake, respect all human authority—whether the king as head of state, or the officials He has appointed” (1 Peter 2:13-14).

• Everyone: “Respect everyone, and love your Christian brothers and sisters” (1 Peter 2:17).

• Managers: “You who are slaves must accept the authority of your masters with all respect. Do what they tell you—not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are cruel” (1 Peter 2:18).

• Christian leaders: “Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other” (1 Thes. 5:12-13).

• Seekers: “If someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way” (1 Peter 3:15-16).

Today, consider how God would have you demonstrate greater respect to others.

(Lifted from http://www.ourdailyjourney.org/2009/07/26/r-e-s-p-e-c-t/)

The Chalk

There was a professor of philosophy there who was a deeply committed atheist. His primary goal for one required class was to spend the entire semester attempting to prove that God couldn't exist. His students were always afraid to argue with him because of his impeccable logic. For twenty years he had taught this class and NO ONE had ever had the courage to go against him. Sure, some had argued in class at times, but no one had ever *really gone against him* (you'll see what I mean later). Nobody would go against him because he had a reputation.

At the end of every semester, on the last day, he would say to the class of 300 students, "If there is anyone here who still believes in God, stand up!" In twenty years, nobody ever stood up. They knew what he was going to do next. He would say, "Because anyone who believes in God is a fool. If God existed, he could stop this piece of chalk from hitting the ground and breaking.

Such a simple task to prove he is God, and yet he can't do it." And every year he would drop the chalk onto the tile floor of the classroom and it could shatter into a hundred pieces. All of the students could do nothing but stop and stare. Most of the students were convinced that God couldn't exist. Certainly, a number of Christians had slipped through, but for 20 years they had been too afraid to stand up.

Well, a few years ago there was a freshman who happened to enroll in the class. He was a Christian, and had heard the stories about this professor. He had to take the class because it was one of the required classes for his major. And he was afraid. But for three months that semester, he prayed every morning that he would have the courage to stand up no matter what the professor said or what the class thought. Nothing they said or did could ever shatter his faith, he hoped.

Finally, the day came. The professor said, "If there is anyone here who still believes in God, stand up!" The professor, and the class of 300 people looked at him, shocked, as he stood up at the back of the room. The professor shouted, "YOU FOOL! If nothing I have said all semester has convinced you that God doesn't exist, then you are a fool! If God existed, he could keep this piece of chalk from breaking when it hit the ground!" He proceeded to drop the chalk, but as he did, it slipped out of his fingers, off his shirt cuff, onto the pleats of his pants, down his leg, and off his shoe. And as it hit the ground, it simply rolled away, UNBROKEN. The professor's jaw dropped as he stared at the chalk.

He looked up at the young man and then ran out of the lecture hall. The young man who had stood up proceeded to walk to the front of the room and share his faith in Jesus for the next half hour. 300 students stayed and listened as he told of God's love for them and of his power through Jesus.

Father's Day

The Beginning of Father's Day Story

Historians have recorded that there was a tradition to celebrate Father's Day even thousands of years ago. Their study say that 4,000 years ago in Babylon a son called Elmesu carved a father's day message on a clay card. In his message Elmesu wished his father a long and healthy life. There is no knowledge as to what happened to this father son duo but it is believed that several countries retained the custom of celebrating Father's Day.

Genesis of Father's Day in Modern Society

The tradition of celebrating Father's Day as seen today originated in the last century. Though there are several people who are credited for furthering the cause of Father's Day, there is far greater acceptance for Ms Sonora Louise Smart Dodd's contribution. A doting daughter from Spokane, Washington, Ms Dodd is recognized as the Founder or Mother of the Father's Day Festival.

Inception of the Father's Day took place in Sonora's mind when she happened to hear a Mother's Day sermon in 1909. Sonora, who was 27 then, had begun to recognize the hardships her father must have gone through while bringing up his six children alone. When Sonora was 16, her mother had died during childbirth. Sonora's father a Civil War veteran by the name of William Jackson Smart raised six children including the newborn on his own. Sonora questioned that if there is a day to recognize mothers then why is not there a day to honor fathers?

Many people laughed and joked at Sonora's idea. But her will did not droop. She began a sincere campaign lobbying for the cause of Father's Day. Her hard work began to show signs of success when Spokane celebrated its first Father's Day on June 19, 1910 with the support of Spokane Ministerial Association and the local Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA). To pay tribute to her affectionate father, Sonora wished that Father's Day be celebrated on her father's birthday on June 5, but it so happened that there was not enough time for preparation and the day came to be celebrated on third Sunday in the month of June.

The noble idea of celebrating Father's Day became quite popular in US so much so that President Woodrow Wilson approved of the festival in 1916. President Calvin Coolidge too supported the idea but it was President Lyndon Johnson who signed a Presidential Proclamation declaring the third Sunday of June as Father's Day in 1966. Then in 1972, President Richard Nixon established a permanent national observance of Father's Day to be held on the third Sunday of June.

Fathers Day Celebration in Present Time

Father's Day has become a hugely popular festival. World over people thank their father and pay tribute to them. Most commonly children gift Father's Day cards and flowers to their father. Neckties are a popular gift on the occasion of Father's Day. Due to the tradition of giving gifts, cards makers, florists and gift sellers campaign for Father's Day Festival in a big way and cash in on the sentiments of the people. Exodus 20:12 (New International Version) says, "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.”

May the Lord bless all of the fathers! Happy father’s day!

Source: http://www.fathersdaycelebration.com/story-of-fathers-day.html

AMA ni Lotts Fabellore

Ikaw ag haligi ng aming tahanan,

Lakas ng iyong bisig ang tanging tanggulan.

Imahen ka ng pag-ibig at katapangan,

Pamilya ay nakahilig sa iyong katatagan.

Buong tiyagang nagbabanat ng buto araw-araw,

Sa gayon ang ginhawa'y 'di lang maabot ng tanaw.

Disiplina't aral sa puso't isip ko'kinikintal,

'Di kinakaligtaan ang pagsuyo sa minamahal.

Mahal kong ama, ako'y may hindi mawari,

Kay raming pamilya ngayo'y nangungulila't humihikbi.

Nasaan ka ama? Tila ikaw ay nagkukubli!

Nananabik na akong, masilayan kang muli.

"Brooklyn Bridge": A Story of Determination

In 1883, a creative engineer named John Roebling was inspired by an idea to build a spectacular bridge connecting New York with the Long Island. However bridge building experts throughout the world thought that this was an impossible feat and told Roebling to forget the idea. It just could not be done. It was not practical. It had never been done before. Roebling could not ignore the vision he had in his mind of this bridge. He thought about it all the time and he knew deep in his heart that it could be done. He just had to share the dream with someone else. After much discussion and persuasion he managed to convince his son Washington, an up and coming engineer, that the bridge in fact could be built. Working together for the first time, the father and son developed concepts of how it could be accomplished and how the obstacles could be overcome. With great excitement and inspiration, and the headiness of a wild challenge before them, they hired their crew and began to build their dream bridge.

The project started well, but when it was only a few months underway a tragic accident on the site took the life of John Roebling. Washington was injured and left with a certain amount of brain damage, which resulted in him not being able to walk or talk or even move. "We told them so." "Crazy men and their crazy dreams.""It`s foolish to chase wild visions." Everyone had a negative comment to make and felt that the project should be scrapped since the Roeblings were the only ones who knew how the bridge could be built. In spite of his handicap Washington was never discouraged and still had a burning desire to complete the bridge and his mind was still as sharp as ever.

He tried to inspire and pass on his enthusiasm to some of his friends, but they were too daunted by the task. As he lay on his bed in his hospital room, with the sunlight streaming through the windows, a gentle breeze blew the flimsy white curtains apart and he was able to see the sky and the tops of the trees outside for just a moment. It seemed that there was a message for him not to give up. Suddenly an idea hit him. All he could do was move one finger and he decided to make the best use of it. By moving this, he slowly developed a code of communication with his wife.

He touched his wife's arm with that finger, indicating to her that he wanted her to call the engineers again. Then he used the same method of tapping her arm to tell the engineers what to do. It seemed foolish but the project was under way again. For 13 years Washington tapped out his instructions with his finger on his wife's arm, until the bridge was finally completed. Today the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge stands in all its glory as a tribute to the triumph of one man's indomitable spirit and his determination not to be defeated by circumstances. It is also a tribute to the engineers and their team work, and to their faith in a man who was considered mad by half the world. It stands too as a tangible monument to the love and devotion of his wife who for 13 long years patiently decoded the messages of her husband and told the engineers what to do. Perhaps this is one of the best examples of a never-say-die attitude that overcomes a terrible physical handicap and achieves an impossible goal.

Often when we face obstacles in our day-to-day life, our hurdles seem very small in comparison to what many others have to face. The Brooklyn Bridge shows us that dreams that seem impossible can be realised with determination and persistence, no matter what the odds are. Even the most distant dream can be realized with determination and persistence.

Remember People Who Care...

You don't actually have to take the quiz. Just read straight through, and you'll get the point, an awesome one. .....

Take this quiz:

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the team who won the PBA Finals.
3. Name the winner of the Miss Earth contest.
4. Name five people who have won the Famas Awards
5. Name the person who won best actor actress in the Urian Awards.
6. Name the undercard boxers who won in the Manny Pacuiao fight. Nasagutan mo ba lahat?
   
   The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are
   no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel, appreciated and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
6. Name half a dozen heroes whose stories have inspired you. Easier?

LESSON:

The people who make a difference in your life are not
the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care.

Start caring for people who are your family members, best friends, close friends, or any person God leads you to have contact with. Life is too short to live if you invest more time in planning to put down you enemy rather than really caring for those who matter most.

Wait for the Vision

This is an inspirational article I received from Ate Phin Lopez which came from Edwin A. Peraz (Executive Director, SPACE, Inc.)....Here it goes...

“Though it tarries, wait for it …” (Habakkuk 2:3).

Patience is not the same as indifference; patience conveys the idea of someone who is tremendously strong and able to withstand all assaults. Having the vision of God is the source of patience because it gives us God’s true and proper inspiration. Moses endured, not because of his devotion to his principles of what was right, nor because of his sense of duty to God, but because he had a vision of God. “… he endured as seeing Him who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:27).

A person who has the vision of God is not devoted to a cause or to any particular issue—he is devoted to God Himself. You always know when the vision is of God because of the inspiration that comes with it. Things come to you with greatness and add vitality to your life because everything is energized by God.

He may give you a time spiritually, with no word from Himself at all, just as His Son experienced during His time of temptation in the wilderness. When God does that, simply endure, and the power to endure will be there because you see God.

“Though it tarries, wait for it … .” The proof that we have the vision is that we are reaching out for more than we have already grasped. It is a bad thing to be satisfied spiritually. The psalmist said, “What shall I render to the Lord …? I will take up the cup of salvation …” (Psalm 116:12–13).

We are apt to look for satisfaction within ourselves and say, “Now I’ve got it! Now I am completely sanctified. Now I can endure.” Instantly we are on the road to ruin. Our reach must exceed our grasp. Paul said, “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected;

but I press on …” (Philippians 3:12). If we have only what we have experienced, we have nothing. But if we have the inspiration of the vision of God, we have more than we can experience. Beware of the danger of spiritual relaxation.

What Have You Learned

One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live.

They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.

On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, “How was the trip?”

“It was great, Dad.”

“Did you see how poor people live?” the father asked.

“Oh yeah,” said the son.

“So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?” asked the father.

The son answered: “I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.

“We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight. “We have servants who serve us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. “We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them.”

The boy’s father was speechless. Then his son added, “Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are.”

Just a thing about our heavenly Father...he shows us the situations of other people so that we can be moved to reach out to them or even learn from them. Just open you heart and mind to what God will reveal to you.

Pasko Na Naman: An Easter Message

Pasko na naman sa Pilipinas dahil Pasko ng Pagkabuhay ng ating Panginoong Jesus. Marami sa atin ang nakapaghanda nang dumagsa sa mga malls at pasyalan dahil maraming mga gimmick ang iba’t-ibang establishments sa araw na ito. Wala namang masama kung ialabas nating paminsan-minsan ang ating pamilya mas makabubuti pa nga sa ating ‘yon upang mapagyaman pa natin ang ating relasyon sa bawat isa.

Idagdag natin sa ating kasiyahan ang malalim na kadahilanan ng araw na ito. Ito ay ang muling pagkabuhay ng ating Panginoong Jesus mula sa kamatayan. Namatay siya upang iligtas tayo sa ating mga kasalanan--ang tanging dahilan kung bakit nalalayo ang tao sa Diyos. Nabuhay siya upang pagkalooban tayo ng buhay na pag-asa.

Isaisip lang natin ng saglit...Ang unang pasko ay nagpakita sa atin ng pagmamahal ng Ama sa ating lahat sa pamamagitan ng pagpapadala sa kanyang bugtong na anak para sa atin. Sa ikalawang pasko ang kanyang sakripisyo sa krus ang nakapagpalinis sa ating mga kasalanan. Sa ikatlong pasko siya ay babalik muli upang sunduin ang lahat ng mga nagbigay tiwala at buhay sa kanya. Pasko ng pagkapanganak, pagkabuhay at muli niyang pagdating. Lahat ay nagbabadya sa ating mag-isip ng malalim, manalangin ng mataimtim at magsaya ng lubusan.

Damhin natin ang lubusang kabutihan ng Diyos sa ating lahat. Ipagkaloob natin ang ating mga buhay sa kanya ng walang limitasyon. Manatili sa kanyang kabutihan at kabanalan. Igalang at isabuhay ang lahat ng kanyang mga sinasabi sa kanyang Salita. Magmahal sa ating mga kapwa tulad ng kanyang pag-ibig. Siguraduhing malalim ang kadahilanan ng iyong ligaya sapagkat kapag dumating ang panahon ng pagsubok malalim din ang balon na paghuhugutan mo ng kalakasan. PASKO NA NAMAN!

My BIG Love

God is our Greatest Lover who Loves us BIG Time!

He Expects Us to Also Express and Extend Our Love for Others! 

The Bible as Life Manual

The Bible is the best life manual.

It is the inspired and inerrant Word of God.

Use it daily to experience God's Wonderful Favor!