Note: You’ll notice my consistency in using “we” on the 1^st part. I’m including my room mates in that case. We’re four – Cess from Nueva Ecija, Che from Bataan, Da my classmate in high school and niks from Batangas . God connects us as we start walking with Him. This unity spells our accountability with each other. We become each other’s witness as we grow more and more in love everyday – love which is eternal.

Summer class is over…all requirements are complied with…bags are packed ready for home. What more we’ve missed? Yeah! You got it – celebration.

A toast for the past two years – the turning point of our lives. Too short it may seem, but they are comprised of moments we won’t exchange for anything else. From being nostalgic, to becoming independent until reaching freedom – that’s where we are now after such a time. We thought, studying is just the mere purpose why fate and choice brought us in Manila, but we’re completely wrong. God has greater and bigger plans behind our decisions. He puts us on the track of salvation and leads us to the truth.

The night before we travel back to province is a book-free evening, neither assignments, quizzes nor will reports hinder us to unwind from all those school works and schedules. It’s time to take off the cloak of seriousness among us.

We went to SM Center point for our “big night” to eat a family size pizza then we go to the food court for half a gallon of double dutch ice cream. Eat – talk – laugh – talk – laugh –eat – laugh – eat – talk. Until we realize that it’s so late. We can now close the mall. And we go beyond the curfew! So we decide to leave. But instead of using the escalator heading to the first floor (because we’re on the ground floor), we intentionally choose to experience the one moving against our direction.

While I am struggling for every leap, a word is impressed to me, a word which becomes bigger and bigger in my mind as each step brings me down. It’s as if a voice keeps on repeating the word which I can clearly hear in spite the noise. The word which keeps us moving even everything seems to be going against us, that is FAITH – a matchless and unchangeable word.

It’s the hidden source of my strength in combating the lies dictated by the enemy to prevent me in becoming the person Jesus had died for me to be. It’s the building block of my system in carrying out the purpose which God had planned ahead of my existence and it always becomes the sole remaining reason why the “new” me keep on believing the things that my other side doubts…

1.) That in spite of who I was and what I had done in the past, God will mold a young woman with a heart acceptable to Him, who is designed to be loved and to fill others’ love cup.

2.) That in spite of being weak in people’s eyes, a feminine strength will be vested upon me to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me.

3.) That in spite of my lack of self-confidence, a huge God-confidence will fall upon me to make the most of the person He shaped me to be.

4.) That in spite of my family’s differences, time will come  that we’ll be serving the same God who save us from darkness.

5.) That in spite of our tight finances, all good things will flow in abundance in our doorsteps to allow us excel in giving to show off the world that our God is a God of unlimited resources.

6.) That in spite the corruptions inflicted in the society right now, the future will remain upright to those who drowned of His grace.

7.) That in spite of my naiveté, I’ll be showered with a heavenly wisdom to preserve the most precious of the relationships which make my earthly life worth-living for.

8.) That in spite of the extinction of what we can call “real” men, I’ll still meet the one ready to swim against the current.

9.) That in spite of my fear of rejection, I’ll still have that insurmountable courage to tell others about the hope Christ gives His people who surrendered in his dominion. I myself have experienced that. Life without Him is pointless. It’s like a message in a bottle lost in the vastness of the sea.

That’s FAITH – sure of the things we hope for, certain of the things we cannot see.

Three more leaps, two more and finally, first floor! We take some pictures and we go straight our boarding house.

Small talks, giggles and we go to sleep. Throwing myself to the pillow is like diving to the clouds. Life has never been this great. I may not be with my family but I have such an authentic relationship with these young women beside me. Together we walk on the path which makes every day a day to celebrate. No loud music, nor crowd, just God’s love which abounds.

Related posts:

1. New Life In Christ – Anger Management

As the bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Anyone who is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone and the new has come…” How lucky are we if it will be that easy. Changing our lives will take a whole lifetime. Everything will be tested, and each of us will be tempted.

Anger is one of the most common sin that people commit. In fact, it is a very ordinary reaction we have. But of course we all know that ordinary doesn’t mean its right? In our world, sin is common but as christians we need to show people the proper way of living our lives according to the Word of God.

Even the Apostle Paul wrote, “Be angry, and yet do not sin.” (Ephesians 4:26). You may probably ask, how is that possible? Let me give you an example:

“Imagine yourself walking on a busy street while on your way to your workplace. Then suddenly a man just bump in front of you and causes your things to fell of the ground“. Our normal reaction is to confront on a negative manner even if other person  feels sorry about what happened.

How would you react knowing that you are a christian now? Would you react like most people do? Or will you accept the persons apology? No doubt, as christians we should learn how to accept other peoples’ apology than being angry. Even God according to the Book of Psalms is slow to anger, slow to Wrath.. How much more us humans? Other people deserves to be forgiven.

In your everyday life, you will face a lot of temptation just to make you angry. But before you react, think first. Cool down. And let the manifested love from God manifest in our lives. Though anger is a normal expression, it is not an excuse to sin! Always remember, sin is very destructive. A simple anger may lead to murder if not given attention.

Learn how to manage yourself, your attitude! God will help you defeat anger, that’s for real…

Related posts:

1. Life Has Never Been This Great