GENDER REVEAL :)

​I love the second trimester! Although there are still days I just feel tired, generally this has been the best season of this pregnancy so far. I am able to catch up on my backlogs in terms of government documents—SSS, Philhealth, and BIR. I pay my own remittances and taxes, so I really enjoyed and took advantage of the priority lanes. Baby bump is quite obvious now, so it's easier to avail of these without getting skeptic looks and side glances.

CONGENITAL ANOMALY SCAN

We initially planned on getting just a regular 2D ultrasound to know baby's sex. However, after careful consideration and upon the advice of my OB as well, we considered a CAS might be better to also know how baby is doing physiologically. What was initially scheduled at Week 20 was moved to Week 22 to be sure that baby's body parts are bigger and more visible during the scan.

HAPPY NEWS!

If you've been following this blog, you would know that I've been MIA for more than a year -- a year and a half to be exact.  I wouldn't bore you with reasons but trust me, there's a lot. Also, this means you will have to read at your own risk. There's a myriad of thoughts I'm trying to organize right now and you know how much I fail at it when I get excited, like I am right now.

If you have not heard the rumors yet nor have seen the hints dropped in different social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram).. YOUR BLOGGER IS NOW A BABY MOMMA!!!

An Act of Respect for Marriage

I'll be perfectly honest. I'm writing about this topic because I'm bored out of my wits of the realization that it's been quite a while since I have written something that I can tag under the labels thoughts or point of view. In other words, I think I've been posting really relatively mundane stuff lately. Ugh! Blame Sidney Sheldon. Actually, no. Blame the awesome blogger, Nathalie, as the idea came from her. Now I'm on my third Sheldon book and I just can't stop! Late bloomer, eh?

Anyway, yesterday wasn't a very good Monday for me. Let's just say that I kind of expected myself to be really busy and productive at work being that I was primed that road traffic is indicative of how busy a day is going to be. And boy was it the worst Monday traffic that I have experienced in a while! Like mad I was late for work for 1 minute and I am never late! OK I'm babbling. I'll stop babbling right here. Yesterday, since it wasn't the usual kind of busy Monday, at least where my work load is concern, I had an ample time to ponder on some parts of my lifestyle that I had to tweak in relation to my recent change of civil status. And the big reveal is... *drumroll*

Haven Lia's Fruity 1st Birthday & Dedication

Just like with weddings, it was also my first time to attend a Baby Dedication last weekend. My goddaughter Haven Lia celebrated it in one with her 1st Birthday at KFC St. Joseph, E. Rodriguez, Quezon City on July 14.

Let me squeeze in a little FYI here: Unlike the Roman Catholic part of the population, Born-again Christians get baptized as a decision to publicly declare that they are surrendering their life to Jesus. Obviously, a 1-year old child does not have the capacity to decide on which spiritual track to choose yet so instead of infant baptism, we have Baby Dedication as a way of welcoming the child to the world and submitting his/her life to our Creator. This is more of a way for the family, relatives, and friends of the parents to celebrate with them, support them as they raise their child in a manner God wants them to (Ephesians 6:4, Proverbs 22:6, Proverbs 29:17, Psalm 127:3-5), and stand with them in prayer until the day the child can already make a decision on his/her own to follow God.

"Amalayer" girl has made the 180-degree turn

This video reminded me of how amazing God's grace and mercy is. I mean, yes I know it in my heart and my mind that God can do amazing things in our life. But it's really different seeing it happen even on other people's life. Like its realness increase immensely as we hear more testimonies like this.

I was once living a sinful life, too. I might not have had drugs or killed someone in the past, but I'm no angel either. I lied, I judged people, I cursed, I committed debauchery, and a lot more sins I'd rather not enumerate here (haha baka maloka kayo). My point is, my past is no different than hers. The only difference is that someone made a remembrance of that big snap moment of her in the LRT. She got caught. I didn't. But in the eyes of the Lord, we're no different. No wonder I myself broke down and cried like a lost child in the mall during my very own altar call back in 2006.

This is such a great love story to ponder. Congratulations to Paula for finally accepting Christ as the Lord and Savior of her life. Every time I look back on the time I made the same decision almost 7 years ago, I can't help but smile. Indeed, it was the best decision I made ever.

Happy weekend, folks! God bless us all. :)

Dissecting the Real Essence of Lent

I remember it has been almost  a year since I started this blog and one of the very first entries I made was in line with the then upcoming lent. Guess what? So as not to fail your expectation, I'm doing the same this year! Hurrah! Lol.

In the Philippines where most citizens are Catholic, people have different ways of celebrating this season. There's Fasting, Pabasa, Station of the Cross, Visita Iglesia, Flagellants, and Alay-lakad. While I'm no expert in the Philippine culture to discuss this, I grew up witnessing people following these traditions. Sadly, as I have mentioned in last year's lent entry, more than following the God of their religion, people become followers of the religion itself. This is the reason why either they do things they don't understand, or they fall to believing false teachings.

I was a Catholic for the first 18 years of my life and I myself have experienced doing some of those. However, growing up, I must admit I hated the fact that there are things I should do or follow just to prove that I'm a good girl (esp. I really was not). I went to church every Sunday, completed the Simbang Gabi (I know this is more of a Christmas event but hey you get my point), prayed the rosary every night, confessed of my sin inside that cool amazing box, but at the end of the day, I didn't feel fulfilled nor did I feel I was a better person. Not to mention, I got tired of doing those things and still felt like God was so far away. They became dead-end routine to me. Until I realized what I was missing. I got tired of the religion, and so I started seeking for the relationship. And this is where the importance of the gospel emerges. When I found Christ in 2006 responded to Christ's call in 2006, it has been an amazing transition for me. I gained a different view of life and even a better view of myself. I realized how loved I was. I found what I was looking for and it's not religion -- it's a relationship with God, my lord and savior. I became a follower of Christ-- no longer your old religious girl but a new spiritual woman of God. Because of this, I got my fair share of the perks that Christianity has to offer.

1. Forgiveness. Psalm 103:12 and Hebrews 8:12 are some of the scriptures I had a hard time understanding when I was still starting as a Christian. I just don't understand how someone can forgive one's sin and totally forget about it. This came to me as a shock way back. I mean how can someone forgive me from sins I myself cannot forgive? If God is not merciful, I don't know who is.

Psalms 103:12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Hebrews 8:12 For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.

2. Salvation and Eternal Life. What I appreciate most about the kind of relationship I have with the Lord is that I am made aware of my weakness and His immeasurable strength. I delight in the fact that there is no amount of religious activity I can do to appease the judgment of my sins. No need to work hard for the salvation of my soul against the eternal fires of hell because He has already given it to us two thousand years ago, we just need to know and acknowledge this fact.

Collosians 1:13-14 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption,the forgiveness of sins.

3. Storm-proof Life on Earth. When I started following Christ, I was faced with so many types of struggles -- persecution, financial challenges, offense, broken relationships, and a whole lot more I dare not mention. Christianity doesn't promise an easy life. Actually, it guarantees the otherwise. However, what's amazing about it is that a God-centered life is a guaranteed storm-proof life. Again, not storm-free, but storm-proof.
Romans 8:31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 


But why do we need these things? Why not settle to the kind of life that we have right now? Why do we need salvation anyway?

Well, if you are someone who doesn't believe (or at least care) in life after death, then automatically, this will not make sense to you. But thank you for reading anyway. Below are the BAD NEWS that we should know.

1. We are all sinners. Because of the first fall (remember Adam & Eve in the garden of Eden?), we are born sinners. Our kids are born sinners. Ever wonder as a kid why you have mastered lying to your parents or classmates without having anyone to teach you? Whoever said that kids don't lie lies. That's reality, friends.

Romans 3:10-12 As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; 11 there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned away,  they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”

2. We cannot save ourselves. Because of our unholy nature, we cannot redeem ourselves. We need someone who is holy and blameless to save us from the judgement of our sins. I'll try to use the simplest illustration I can think of for this one. Say you disobeyed your college professor's instruction and failed to submit your final paper on time which will merit you a failing grade, say 5. Your professor, trying to be considerate without being unfair to those who were able to comply, then asked you to submit a make-up project so he can give you a passing grade for that particular major subject. Will you be submitting a mediocre project? Something that most of your classmates have already submitted before? Or you'll prepare the best that you can, maybe something unique, knowing that this is the only way you can gain not only a passing grade but an excellent grade of 1? Same is true with Christianity. The grade of 5 means eternal death and the professor is God. The only way God (the professor) can give us eternal life (grade of 1) is if someone holy, blameless, and righteous (excellent special project) sheds his blood for the humanity's redemption.

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Isaiah 64:6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.

Hebrews 9:22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

3. We are object of God's wrath. Most people do not realize that while our God is loving, He's also just. This means He hates sin and He won't tolerate sinners. Yes, He is merciful and gracious, but he is also a God that punishes those who will fail to follow His word.

Ephesians 2:3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

4. Hell is real. Hell is more than a mere imaginary place we create to use as threat to those who have offended us. Hell is not only a place of misery and punishment, but also a concept of eternal separation from God. I don't know about you but though the prior sounds painful, the latter sounds more unbearable to me.

2 Peter 2:4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment

I hope by this message it's now clear why some of the traditions I mentioned in line with celebration of lent is unnecessary if not irrelevant. Don't you think it's an insult to the Lord that we think what He has done is not enough that until today we are still trying to use good works (if those are good) to save ourselves? Can't we just be happy & thankful that it's done? No more need for torture, self-denial, and sacrifices. No need to pretend holy during only a particular week while continue sinning the rest of the year. Again, aside from the blood of Christ, NOTHING can purify us.

 In this note, I'll leave you with one last scripture which I hope we ponder on not only during lent, but for everyday of our borrowed life.

I hope you all have a blessed Holy Week ahead  (long weekend yes!) and a fun time with your family and loved ones! ♥


Suggested Reading: The True Meaning of Lent

To my single friends out there..

(Operational definition of SINGLE = someone who is not married)

I just had to make this post because of a very random text message I got from a very close friend of mine. The message goes like this:

"..before mo pa makilala si Ralph single na ko. Ngayon ikakasal ka na.."

(before you met Ralph, I was single. Now you're already getting married [and I still am])

I don't know where this thought of her came from. Was it because yesterday was the infamous Single Awareness Day? Or because I'm getting married and most people didn't expect it to come this soon? Whatever the reason is, I think it's best for me to finally post my two cents on this matter.

WAITING IS NOT EASY. I myself made a vow that after the first immature ungodly high school relationship that I had back when I wasn't a Christian yet, the next relationship I'll have shall be with the man I'll marry someday. I was single for 6 years and if I'll be honest, it wasn't a piece of cake. I was tempted in every way. I even gave in to temptation of dating just for the sake of. There are so many things I regret which I just charged to experience. Though I don't remember Valentine's Days to be dreaded, I remember the feeling of wishing I have someone with me to get the groceries, watch movie, or even just to stroll in the park text "good morning, i love you" every day. 

PRAYING MAKES WAITING SHORTER. When I became a Christian, it didn't necessarily become easier for me 'cause I was just given another reason to be sad -- I don't have a boyfriend to attend Sunday services with while I see a lot of couple attendees surrounding me. The joy of worshiping the Lord with the person you love, ugh! Yes we have that tendency of noticing what others have that we don't. But one thing I learned in church is the cliche that God has a purpose for everyone and everything. Waiting wasn't less hard when I became a Christian but at least I learned and understood the value of prayer. When reading the bible became a habit, I became stronger in waiting. The bible speaks a lot about patience. Personally, waiting made me hopeful and the bible made me see every waiting period as an opportunity for my faith to level up. Not only did praying for the right person make me busy, it also helped me better myself as a Christian and a person in preparation to Mr. God-sent's arrival. Ladies, let's prep up so the right person will actually see us and won't just see through us when the time comes.

Psalm 33:20 "We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield."

WAITING IS WORTH IT. What makes waiting hard is the anticipation that what you're waiting for might not come. This is where the question of faith emerges. There were countless nights when I argued with the Lord and was tempted to just forget about this whole waiting thing and stop praying. But then I realized, I can't not pray because it's practically forgetting that there's a Lord above that loves to listen. And there was no assurance that Mr. Right will come sooner if I stop praying anyway. So I persevered. True enough, in God's time, Ralph showed up.

Romans 5:3-4 "..because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."

Proverbs 19:14 "Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the LORD." 

(I believe this goes for husbands, too.)

GOD'S WILL IS BEST FOR US. Praying for our needs and wants is OK but I say praying for God's will is the best thing to do if we want to be secure. We might think we know what we want and like but trust me, God knows best. You might be praying for a certain type of guy, maybe someone with a car, a graduate of whatever university, must be good looking, a manager, with a certain height, et cetera but you'll never know he's perfect for you until God says so; and the only way for us to know what He has to say is by reading the bible. Bottom line is, just like praying for a promotion, higher salary, latest gadget, good grades, we pray specific prayers and always make sure that it's in accordance to God's will.

Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

To all my single friends out there, even Beyonce would agree with me when I say that if a guy loves you, he shoulda put an engagement ring and eventually a wedding ring on it. Let us be wise. Being alone does not always equate to loneliness. I can attest to the fact that most of the good things happened to me while I was single. Let's get busy while waiting-- excel at work, embrace more family time, join fellowship groups what will stand in prayer with us, and befriend more people who are of the same faith as ours (who knows one of them is The One?). Let's pray for the God's best to find you in God's time. Let's not rush into disposable relationships -- 'here and now' relationships. 

Lamentations 3:25 (KJV) "The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him."

God bless you, single person who's reading this.