Category Archives: Faith

Find the Good in Goodbye

FIND THE GOOD IN GOODBYE by Five Words

Let go.
Move on.
Don’t hold on.
Shut up.

More often than not, something ending, whether a relationship, a job, a situation, or life, is God’s way of teaching us many lessons. I believe that God brings us out of comfort zones to bring us to a place where He can bless us more. This I’ve proven many times in my life as a single woman, as a daughter, as a wife, and now, as a mother.

The end of a matter is better than its beginning,
and patience is better than pride.
(NIV) Ecclesiastes 7:8

I used to fear the end of something but I realized that I have to face the many realities in life. I cannot simply hold on to the past. I hope to develop this attitude—grateful to God no matter what the circumstance.

Disciplining Children With Love

“Fathers, don’t exasperate your children
by coming down hard on them.
Take them by the hand
and lead them in the way of the Master. ”
Ephesians 6:4 (The Message )

How does one became a good parent? A husband and wife team like Joshua and I desire to be good parents to Noah. We’re only realizing now that it isn’t a walk in the park. Taking care of a baby is different from raising a child. The first one is physically exhausting but the latter can be emotionally demanding.

To educate ourselves, we bought books to read, bookmarked parenting websites, and subscribed to family-related magazines. We invested on materials we know could help us and give us ideas on how to raise a child. But these are mere guides. Most of them remain untouched, remain unread.

While we have these resources we know could teach us, we forget that there is One perfect example of what a good parent is–our Heavenly Father.

We have our parents to look up to but they are not perfect. They’ve made mistakes like every one else. We learn from them. But God, in His infinite greatness, “parents” with gentleness, loving kindness, and with the goal of correction.

He disciplines us His children by way of training. God trains us, He doesn’t only teach. He trains us because He wants us to be prepared for life. He teaches us because He loves us and He wants us to be wise and ready for the future.

The Heavenly Father administers disciplines without any delay. He disciplines us His children immediately and works to bring us closer to Him. God still desires a closer relationship with us despite out rebellious ways. (This was perfectly illustrated by the Parable of the Prodigal Son.)

Parenting is more than a privilege. I believe it is a big responsibility. To care for a child is such a tall order. You may think you can leave the disciplining to the grandparents, teachers, books, television, computer, gadgets, or daycare centers, but you can’t. And you shouldn’t.

My husband and I are at a season of discovering what method will work best with Noah. There was a time that I considered him rambunctious that I didn’t want to bring him out the house with me. You just couldn’t ask him to sit still or stop running around. I would get impatient at times, choosing to leave him with his very patient dad at home. I am grateful to God for blessing me with a husband who is very hands on with our son. No wonder Noah prefers to be with him (and because mommy is boring!).

But God reminded me that there is hope and that I can be the kind of mother He wants me to be. I know it isn’t to0 late as Noah is only 2 years old. This is nothing compared to the problems some parents are dealing with right now. Noah is just under 3. It’s not yet the end of the world. There is hope.

Actually, I only needed to be reminded of my role as a mother.

I learned once again that…

  • I am a mother by blessing.
  • I am responsible to provide a spiritual heritage for my child.
  • I am called to show Noah that God is real by planting the Scriptures in his heart.

The kind of discipline God administers to us helps us to take responsibility for our actions and teach us what we need to know in the future.

God promptly disciplines and quickly restores fellowship with us. There are parents who choose to avoid conflict and ignore their children when problems arise. They do not talk and discipline their kids when they go astray especially when they are already adults. That is not the kind of parent I want to be.

I don’t want to hurt my child emotionally because it might scar him for life. I hope to discipline him with love. I desire to learn loving discipline…the kind that lasts..the kind that will make my child respect and honor me and my husband.

One practical tip which I recently leaned and I can share to the parents — have a time out. But don’t take too long. When the toddler is misbehaving, send him to a corner or pull him away from the crowd. Count 1 to 10,  1 to 20, or up to 100 if you are the impatient kind, do this before you talk to him and tell him what he has done and what shouldn’t be done in the future.

I realized that it is important to give time to release my anger or frustration so I wouldn’t physically hurt my child and say things I would later regret. I know from painful experience that words aren’t easily taken back.

God as our Father should be our role model for parenting. And how can we discover more of how our Heavenly Father leads us? Spend time in prayer and read The Word. It’s how we learn how our Father parents us, so we can also raise our children to be responsible, loving, obedient…the kind that bring honor and glory to God.

 

___________________________

Dear Lord,

Thank you for the privilege of being a parent and a wife. Thank you for my husband who is very supportive and my son who brings so much joy in our lives. I pray that I become the mother you want me to be–one that is devoted to You, my child’s father, and to training the little one. Teach me to become more patient when it comes to disciplining him. Train us…lead me and my husband to the path of godly parenting.

Amen

PS: I do not claim to be an expert. The three years I’ve been a parent is not enough. The things I’m sharing here are the ones I’ve learned about parenting so far. I’m still new in this wonderful journey called motherhood. I pray parents, especially my momma friends, learn from my realizations and experiences too. 🙂

PPS: I wrote this on my journal within five minutes last Saturday, October 13. It was one of those times that I felt compelled to grab the pen and just write. Looking forward to more of this writing and sharing what I learn.

 

Little Miss Sunshine

A beautiful countenance brings glory to God.

 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Philippians 4:4

 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
Proverbs 4:23

Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure,
and lovely, and admirable.
Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
Philippians 4:8

Dear Lord,

Teach me to be a woman after Your own heart. To be at peace with myself, to have a meek and quiet spirit, and to a have a servant’s heart. I long to be that woman so joyful in every circumstance. And to be a woman of prayer and devotion to You.

Amen

*Attributes of a Godly Woman

 

Faith Friday: A Blueprint That Works

God has given each one of us a plan and a purpose. To know those things can be a challenge to some but He gives us the Holy Spirit to reveal to us. God is also able to reveal the ways how those plans are to be carried out in our lives.

His Word is perfect and true. The Word of God is worthy to be read and studied over and over again. God’s Word is a Blueprint. Like an architect that makes and follows a blueprint of a house, the Scripture is the Lord’s instructions for living.

It is the truth. It never changes. Why? Because the Author is God and He changes not.

When stress gets the best of you, read a Scripture and allow the peace of God to calm you down. Meditating on God’s word can help you overcome anything: your fears, worries, and heartaches.

Read His Word. Spend time meditating on it. Apply His Word in your life.

 “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.
Do what it says.”

James 1:22 (NIV)

 

What Oktoberfest means to my husband…

It’s not what you think. Josh doesn’t drink. He never enjoyed drinking and hates the taste of beer. And now that he has gout, there really is no way he’d come to love it. While most guys (and girls) look forward to October because they can drink all they want to celebrate Germany’s most popular beer festival, Oktoberfest means time to buy something for his music.

Every year, the local music store Yupangco, holds a grand promo which they call as Handog Sale. I regularly receive newsletter from the company because I want to be updated with the products. Every year, Joshua buys something. Mura nga kasi. And since because he is not a shopaholic (thank God!), rarely buys stuff for himself, and is a hard-core musician, I have to give in to his request. Haha! He doesn’t buy every year but he just enjoys checking out the store.

He sold his old amp and he bought himself this Marshall MG60DFX Amplifier a month before I gave birth to Noah last 2009. Last hurrah na daw:

Noah and Daddy Joshua jamming

Continue reading What Oktoberfest means to my husband…

A Declaration of Faith

If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. – Daniel 3:17 (NIV)

What’s interesting about this passage is not the verse itself but the verse immediately after it. Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego after declaring verse 17 say in verse 18, “But even if He does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” This speaks volumes about the honesty, humanity, pragmatism and solid faith these three possessed. In their shoes, I would have myself exclaimed the second statement (possibly instead of the first, being the “still growing” Christian that I am) and leave everything to God as I pray my final prayer, which would be along the lines of, “Lord, remember me in paradise…” I love the honesty and humility in these three men’s “declaration of faith” to King Nebuchadnezzar. Even in honest practicality, there can be faith that is not “reckless abandonment” but acquiescent assurance in a God that saves. By: Joshua Padla

A Life Pleasing to God

Are you living a life pleasing to God?

 

NIV

8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord..

One of my favorite books in the Bible is Ephesians. It gives practical instructions on how we should live as Christians. Sure, instructions of God are written all over the Bible, both in the Old and New Testament, but Ephesians to me, strikes at the core.

I’m often amazed at how different versions of the Bible present verses in the Bible.  The Internet, as well as, mobile apps nowadays allow Bible readers to go through the Word with only a few clicks which makes Bible-reading and exegesis easier than before. Easy, baby.

I recently got to thinking about the phrase “Walk as children of light“. To be a Christian is “to walk in the Light”– most people know this. But really, HOW DO WE LIVE AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT? Continue reading A Life Pleasing to God

Healthy Living

Warning: This is one long post. Read at your own risk. Hehe.

Back in April, I was almost rushed to the emergency room because I was having extreme stomach pain, was sweating but feeling cold, and was feeling dizzy. It was midnight and I was inside our bathroom calling for my husband to give me water. I was seeing stars already. I didn’t know what to do so I told Josh to get dressed and bring me to the hospital. It was midnight. Noah was at the bathroom door looking confused and scared.

I tried walking to the sofa to rest. Actually, I didn’t remember how I managed to get there or if my husband was assisting me. I sat on the sofa feeling really dizzy, almost crying because I wanted the pain to just go away. I was sweating profusely yet was feeling chilly. Oh God, this was something I didn’t want to feel again but it was happening (it wasn’t the first time). It happened so fast. I was calling on the name of Jesus, praying that He would heal me quick. I remember I was already having a hard time breathing so I laid down on the sofa with the electric fan in my face. Thank God I became okay after some time. I stopped panicking and told my husband that I was feeling better. I needed more water. At this time, Noah was still confused. I don’t how you would call what happened but it’s something I don’t want to happen again. Nahilo lang? Vertigo? I had no idea but I knew something was wrong with me then. Continue reading Healthy Living

Saved in Order to Do Good

Forgive me Lord for the times I’ve been too proud and thought that I am above others. I have not been too humble. I seek for your forgiveness. Teach me humility–true humility that only comes from you.

Remind me always to respect the authorities and be obedient. Help me to follow the laws. Help me to obey your word and do good, to not slander and avoid foolish talks, to avoid fighting back or quarrelling.

Jesus, I ask for your grace and teach me to be gentle, quick to listen, slow to anger, and slow to speak.