I have so many things on my plate right now, but I believe that the Lord’s presence is a great comfort in times like these. I also believe in the encouragement of the believers so I would like to share with you some prayer requests.

1. Our church, Miracle Church of the Nazarene, is renting a lot where we have built a temporary place for us to worship. We have been staying there for 16 years now. A month ago, we have heard news from the owner of the lot that they want us to leave the place this coming January. About five years ago, we were able to buy a lot with the help of our district and the missions of the denomination but we still don’t have resources to build the church building we can call our own. Please pray for us as we look for another place where we can rent and hold our services and ministries for now. Please help us also pray for the building we have been praying for. We are waiting on the Lord’s guidance for our next step.

2. The end of the semester is near; but the aftermath of Ondoy had been too much for me especially with what happened to our house. I really appreciate all the help that the brothers and sisters have extended, also the prayers. You have been a great encouragement to me. However, please continue to pray for me as I write my requirements. I think my mind is struggling for motivation and I would need God’s mercy to finish the semester with grace.

3. Please pray for me and my family. That would really be a great encouragement to us.

• Decisions
• Health
• Financial Provision
• Protection
• Ministries

Now you guys are the best. I would like to know how to pray for you too.
You can email me at janary_s@yahoo.com and I would love to pray for you.

Much Love and Respect,

Janary

It had been 3 days since Ondoy came and hit Manila pretty hard, and I am still trying to process all that had happened.

I will never forget Ondoy, because it was the first time that our house was flooded up to our roof. We live in Ampid, San Mateo, Rizal beside a creek; a high place. Every time a typhoon hits our country the water rages along that creek but it never overflows. My dad would always say that if that creek overflows, Marikina would be submerged in water. My parents and I were all shocked when we received text messages from our neighbors that the creek overflowed and that they are on their roofs or at our neighbors’ second floor. During this time, Marikina and the rest of Metro Manila had been flooded like never before. People are on their roofs, while the strong current of water carried away the cars on the street, and some houses were washed away.

While this was all happening, I was in Kuya Irwin and Michelle’s wedding in Baguio, together with some of my classmates, professors, and pastors from Manila. We received text messages that the Seminary is taking in about 300 people who have lost their houses. It was happening on a Saturday, and I was anxious to go back right away since I have a speaking engagement the following day in Antipolo Church of the Nazarene. I went back home with Ptra Luz Tamayo, DS Oni Plantilla and the rest of their group at about 2pm, very uncertain of what the road back to Manila would be like.

Along the way, I felt so bad receiving text messages from neighbors asking for help. They were stuck for 24 hours and didn’t have anything to eat and drink, and they were soaked and cold. I can’t do anything at that point, even the people I asked for help. The group I am with on the other hand had to stop at several gas stations, avoiding being stuck in a place without a toilet. We reached Sta Lucia at 12 noon, Sunday, and got stuck there for about 7 hours. All the routes to our place were flooded, chest-high deep.

We passed by Marcos highway and saw how high the water was by the traces of mud. Lots of people were walking on mud, and the abandoned cars the night before were not even in a line. It was very chaotic. We got hungry and tried to look for food but the stores are closed. I can’t believe the convenience store ran out of food. It was unbelievable that all their goods were bought by the people walking. Kuya Kel lined up in Andoks to buy chicken while we lined up at Goldilocks. The baked goodies were running out, and after an hour of waiting, Kuya Kel came back because Andoks ran out of chicken. What greatly touched my heart were the  Goldilocks people that gave us free cakes. It was the best cake ever and I ate it with a grateful heart though parched. A couple of hours after that, Ptra Luz’ son Kuya Virgil braved the flood with his bike from Taytay and went where we were at. The rest of the guys in our group went back with him, walked through the chest-high flood for two hours to find if we can have another way back.

To cut the long story short, we arrived at 8pm, Sunday in Taytay Rizal. Yes, it was about 36 hours of getting stranded, and stuck. I could never grumble seeing how the other Filipinoes are going through worse. Some of the refugees have already left the seminary when we arrived and about 30 families remained.

(This photo is in front of APNTS in Tikling, Taytay Rizal)

It was so nice to get reconnected again with the APNTS community who were very busy helping these people. The next day, the students cleaned up the APNTS chapel that was flooded. Everyone had their task and ate together and helped clean up the place.

In these moments, we still thank the Lord for the small things, and the grace that He gives.

I am thankful for several stores in NLEX that were very kind to let me charge my phone so I could stay connected with the other APNTS group finding their way home, and be connected with so many people back in Manila.

I am thankful for Goldilocks, and the store that sold boiled eggs.

I am thankful for the people that prayed, the people who went out of their comfort zones to help those in need.

I am thankful for another chance to start again.

It had been three days since and I am humbled to see that in moments like these, we don’t have control of everything, but we can see God’s grace through people that extend their hands and whisper a prayer for you.

It had been three days since our house got flooded and I wonder if I had been worrying too much about all of our stuff. But that too is temporary, and I couldn’t be more thankful that we are still alive.

Let’s not forget to remember the victims in our prayers.
Let us not forget that there are small ways to help these people;
they are just around the corner.

I will praise the Lord,
and may everyone on earth bless his holy name
forever and ever.

Psalm 145: 13b-21
(New Living Translation)

My heart finds comfort in You Oh Lord.
My heart will sing.
I will rejoice that You Oh Lord are my God.
‘Nuff said.

]]> http://scarlet12.wordpress.com/2009/09/24/the-lord-is-my-comfort/feed/ 0 scarlet12 n548995178_4601586_5499 http://scarlet12.wordpress.com/2009/09/23/unfailing-love/ http://scarlet12.wordpress.com/2009/09/23/unfailing-love/#comments Wed, 23 Sep 2009 04:00:35 +0000 Janary http://scarlet12.wordpress.com/?p=911 ]]>

Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.
Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
your justice like the ocean depths.
You care for people and animals alike, O Lord.
How precious is your unfailing love, O God!
All humanity finds shelter
in the shadow of your wings.
You feed them from the abundance of your own house,
letting them drink from your river of delights.
For you are the fountain of life,
the light by which we see.

Psalm 36: 5-9 (New Living Translation)

How can you define unfailing love? Is there such thing as unfailing love?
I want to define unfailing love in a way that is real, that we can understand; and as hard as I want my mind to find examples of unfailing love, I can only remember all that the Lord has done.

I remember the Israelites when they were on the way to the promised land. Though the Lord has promised them the land flowing with milk and honey, the Israelites were afraid, they doubted, they couldn’t trust. They grumbled, and what could have been a few days of travel became 40 years. Yes, because they were stubborn. They wandered around the desert. It is most probably the hottest place during the day, and darkest at night. I wondered if there was ever a time that God had not given them the pillar of fire or the pillar of cloud and had to ask my classmate to be sure. I know that God was with them all throughout the 40 years; though they grumbled, and were stubborn, God never left them- the fire was there at night, the cloud in the morning, and also the manna for them to eat; the whole time they didn’t trust, the whole time they are suffering the consequences of their sins.
God is just, but He is slow to anger, abounding in love. You wouldn’t want to miss the opportunity He is giving you to realize you won’t, and have never even done anything on your own- that YOU NEED HIM.

Today, I still see moments of his unfailing love. In the midst of all the trouble that I have done, I still see His hand and mercy. He has given numerous chances to those who turn away from Him, and when they had fallen, He was still there to pick them up. He became like us, and took the sin of the world on his shoulders. He took the shame, the blame, the punishment. The unfailing love He gave to the Israelites didn’t stop in them; it was extended to us, to all- and the Holy Spirit continues to reach out to people’s hearts today, offering this unfailing love.

Have you ever wished for unfailing love?
This unfailing love was completely shown in Jesus.
He is giving it freely to you.
Reach out your hand to his hand that reaches out for you

- then believe and trust.

So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.

In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. All power to him forever! Amen.

1 Peter 5:6-11 (New Living Translation)

As I read these verses, the following words jump out of the page, screaming maybe.

HUMBLE; POWER OF GOD; RIGHT TIME; LIFT UP

GIVE ALL WORRIES; GOD CARES

STAY ALERT; WATCH OUT; ENEMY; DEVIL; LION; DEVOUR

STAND FIRM; BE STRONG; CHRISTIAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS; SUFFERING

CALLED; SHARE IN ETERNAL GLORY; SUFFER A LITTLE WHILE

RESTORE; SUPPORT; STRENGTHEN YOU; FIRM FOUNDATION

These are mere words written on a page, but to the heart that believes, these are gems. These words carry encouragement, a hope in the firm foundation that can be trusted.

We all go through difficulties. We all have struggles, all are unique. Our hearts carry a desire for something big; and we probably find ourselves in a place that is not enough for all of it. These circumstances are all different, but the encouragement remains the same: we can bring all of our cares to the only ONE who cares; who knows it even before you say it. He sees. He listens. He calls you to cast all of it on HIM.

While in this moment, we should humble ourselves. We should realize who holds time, and sees the big picture. We should stay alert, for in these moments the enemy wishes to eat you whole until no more is left. Don’t ever let the enemy deceive you, for he doesn’t want you to have that peace. We should be strong, and fight the good fight of faith… “We,” for you are not alone.

Hang in there. This is all temporary. This too shall pass.

]]> http://scarlet12.wordpress.com/2009/09/22/this-too-shall-pass/feed/ 0 scarlet12 6331_265840550178_548995178_8607693_7565833_n http://scarlet12.wordpress.com/2009/09/21/i-will-come-to-you/ http://scarlet12.wordpress.com/2009/09/21/i-will-come-to-you/#comments Mon, 21 Sep 2009 02:27:28 +0000 Janary http://scarlet12.wordpress.com/?p=905 ]]>

“If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live.

Have you ever wished you lived when Jesus was on earth, in Jerusalem to be exact? Whenever I use the time machine icebreaker, I hear most of our youth wish they lived in that century and see all that Jesus have done. Sometimes I wish the same thing too and feel that the disciples during that time had more advantage than us. These verses in John 14 can remind us that we shouldn’t feel that way; since His Holy Spirit is with us, and is actually in us now.

When Jesus was telling the disciples that He was about to suffer, die and leave, it must have been a very confusing and troubling time for them; but Jesus gave them words of comfort.

He promised that He would prepare a place for his disciples and that he will gather them when He comes back again; that He is the way, the truth and the life; and that He will never leave them as orphans.

Jesus can be trusted, since the Holy Spirit- the comforter, advocate, counselor, is indeed with us now. He is the same Spirit that was at work in Jesus life, and the same Spirit that is at work in all who believed in Him. Through Him, we get a taste of what eternity is like, having this intimate relationship with the Father and the Son. We receive the power to heal in His name and bring the good news of salvation to all. We share in Jesus ministry, just like how He reached out to people before.

Jesus can be trusted with our past; as He has fulfilled the promise of salvation when He died on the cross for our sins and rose again from the dead.

Jesus, who took the punishment of our sins can be trusted with our future; that He has prepared a place for us someday, and will be with Him when He comes back again.

Jesus can be trusted today and each day; as He has given us His Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth and be our advocate, our very present help in time of need.

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30 (New Living Translation)

Our lives come to that point in time when we get so busy and it seems like 24 hours is not enough for all the things that we need to do. We tend to lose our patience easily, grumble easily, and get tired easily. Sooner or later our health will show signs of stress-related illnesses or our emotions are in a crazy roller coaster ride; we search for rest, for our weary soul.

If it were only the hectic schedule that is giving us all this stress, I think it can be easily dealt with by letting go of the unnecessary things; but in reality we have more to bear than the busyness of everyday life. There are other pressures, problems, struggles, and hard-to-deal-with people.

The question is, what keeps you going? Who keeps you going?

Jesus calls everyone to him: Come to me, all you are weary and carry heavy burdens.

The world’s pressure is just too much to handle on your own. When you feel like everything is still under control, do you wonder why it still seems like something is missing?

Jesus is offering us a wonderful thing: Rest!

Rest cannot be bought. Rest is hard to be found when there are still problems unsolved.

Rest is far from the unforgiven soul.

Jesus is calling you to himself. He longs to be a part of your life and be the person that you can depend on. He is willing, all you have to do is come to Him, and ask.

He will do what He has promised.
In Him there is rest.
In Him there is forgiveness and joy.
You can come to Him now.

(This is a poster I made for our Print Media Class homework, *wink wink*)

As I sat down in the chapel for our service this morning, I knew that the message would have something to do with Children because the Holistic Child Development Class was presiding the whole program and I saw the ever coolness Dr. Natz. I would like to thank them for helping us with Kids Club this semester. It is really a great help to have more people as more kids show up on Saturdays. While Dr. Natz was speaking, I knew right then and there that I am and will always be an advocate for children.

I have been working with children since I was twelve, when our pastor’s wife asked me to teach Sunday School at the church. This love for children has grown inside me and I know it is the Lord that has blessed me with a big heart for them. Though I am currently involved in children’s ministries in and out of the church, I walked back to the dorm after the chapel service with a plan to do more and be an advocate for children until I die.

Would you like to partner with me?

I know that there’s so much to do that we can’t meet all the needs of the children all over the world, but we can start with the need where we are. Recently, the Lord is showing me the Badjao kids that give out envelopes in the jeepneys while one of them plays these mini-congo-like cans. They are from a tribe in the southern island of the Philippines, Mindanao, as it is written on the envelopes with a message asking for some money to buy food. Every time I ride the jeepney to church and back to the seminary, I encounter these kids and I always get this tug in my heart. I know that I can do more than just give them a few coins which I wonder if they really use to buy food for themselves. I have seen groups of them near 7-11 in Taytay and Tikling and last Saturday, I got to talk to a Badjao girl drenched in rain, without slippers, handing out these old and torn envelopes to resentful jeepney passengers. She smiled at me and was looking giddy. That sight hurt me, because I was grumbling the whole day though I am in a better situation than her. I asked her if she’s with her family, and the answer was no, and that was just about it as it was time for them to go.

I know I can do more. I want to bring food to them and find where they are hanging out. I want to talk to them and give them a hug. I want to buy them slippers. I want to talk to them about Jesus. I want to do this every week.

Would you pray for me and these Badjao kids as I start this ministry?
Would you like to sponsor some food?
Are you in a place where we can find help for these kids and secure a shelter for them?
Would you want to join me as I go and reach them?

Truth Thursday # 32: Back to Identity

]]> http://scarlet12.wordpress.com/2009/09/08/truth-thursdays-todays-visions-for-my-life/feed/ 2 scarlet12 poster copy http://scarlet12.wordpress.com/2009/09/03/compassion-as-a-lifestyle/ http://scarlet12.wordpress.com/2009/09/03/compassion-as-a-lifestyle/#comments Wed, 02 Sep 2009 18:46:50 +0000 Janary http://scarlet12.wordpress.com/?p=867 ]]>

I strongly believe that the church is more than just a group of people that gather inside a room on a Sunday morning. It is about a group of people that have received love beyond measure, and are transformed to love beyond one’s capacity, through the Holy Spirit. I know how the human nature longs to be in that state of being recognized by the world’s standards, or however you may call it and it makes my heart really sad that the church can be tempted to succumb to the world’s standards. I am carrying a big burden inside my heart; A GREAT BURDEN that we, as a church, should be relieving those in need, being advocates of the oppressed, the unloved, and the poor and not just be a group of people trying to be somebody we shouldn’t be.

The Church of the Nazarene’s call to responsibility:
Manual of the Church of the Nazarene (2005-09)
903.4. Responsibility to the Poor

The Church of the Nazarene believes that Jesus commanded His disciples to have a special relationship to the poor of this world; that Christ’s Church ought, first, to keep itself simple and free from an emphasis on wealth and extravagance and, second, to give itself to the care, feeding, clothing, and shelter of the poor. Throughout the Bible and in the life and example of Jesus, God identifies with and assists the poor, the oppressed, and those in society who cannot speak for themselves. In the same way, we, too, are called to identify with and to enter into solidarity with the poor and not simply to offer charity from positions of comfort. We hold that compassionate ministry to the poor includes acts of charity as well as a struggle to provide opportunity, equality, and justice for the poor. We further believe that the Christian responsibility to the poor is an essential aspect of the life of every believer who seeks a faith that works through love.

Finally, we understand Christian holiness to be inseparable from ministry to the poor in that it drives the Christian beyond his or her own individual perfection and toward the creation of a more just and equitable society and world. Holiness, far from distancing believers from the desperate economic needs of people in our world, motivates us to place our means in the service of alleviating such need and to adjust our wants in accordance with the needs of others. (2001)
(Exodus 23:11; Deuteronomy 15:7; Psalms 41:1; 82:3; Proverbs 19:17; 21:13; 22:9; Jeremiah 22:16; Matthew 19:21; Luke 12:33; Acts 20:35; 2 Corinthians 9:6; Galatians 2:10)

I am reserving more of my bloggable thoughts after another
possibly expensive dinner, Friday night.
What Lifestyle have we chosen? Sigh.

Three months ago, while I was sitting inside a movie theatre, the trailer of the new movie by Pixar was shown. Since that time, I kept waiting for it, only to be frustrated in June when it was said the screening was moved to August. Finally I was able to see what I call my “most awaited” movie for this year and what can I say but it was “A great work of art”.

I am a fan of animated movies. For some reason, they carry a better storyline compared to other movies; that is, most of the time. This movie tops all of it, not to mention how superb they’ve shown it in 3D. It seems like they are real, I was wowing at the visuals. It was also cool that they had the less-dialogue-part-but-oh-you-get-the-point-and-capture-the-moment scenes.

To be honest, I waited for this movie because of the balloons (yeah right) and that it had something about a flying house (did I tell you it’s my dream to fly) and a cute chubby cub scout kid (the kid was just adorable). Little did I know that this movie was way beyond the typical animated movies for its mature content.

This movie was honest about life’s frustrations, without being afraid of showing it right on. I even wondered if kids are supposed to see this, but well, it had a great animation that the kids will enjoy. Maybe I worried that those who are in this situation would realize that yeah, they are in that situation. The movie moved me from giggling, to longing, to shedding a tear, to feeling bad, to gaining hope, to getting mad. Then getting excited, to wondering, and then hoping, to laughing, and then hoping, and guessing what happens next, to seeing a twist, and being surprised. I was thinking it must have a closure, or a happy ending… but to me, it didn’t have that (at least the happy ending I wanted it to have). It was like- NO. Life is not all the time about happy endings- but about dealing with your frustrations and seeing that there are still other people or things that are still there. (Now writing this paragraph was hard as I didn’t want to give you the whole story and be a spoiler, YOU HAVE TO WATCH IT, and take my word for it.).

But for the synopsis:
“Up” tells the story of Carl Fredricksen (voice of Ed Asner): a 78-year-old retired balloon salesman who – after the loss of his wife – is left agitated by the world around him and regretful of desires unfulfilled. An unfortunate altercation pushes Carl to escape society and finally chase after the couple’s lifelong dream.

Carl quickly realizes he’s not alone in this adventure as 8-year-old wilderness explorer Russell (voice of Jordan Nagai) has secretly stowed away for the ride.

The adventures that ensue and those they meet along the way – namely Kevin, a flightless crazy-for-chocolate bird; Dug (voice of Bob Peterson), a loyal and talkative dog; and Charles F. Muntz (voice of Christopher Plummer), worldwide explorer and Carl’s childhood idol – take off in this moving and monumental story.

This movie receives 5 stars from me.
Thumbs up to Pixar. FANTABULOUS.

P.S.

The Credits part was really BRILLIANT. Great Idea. Great. Great. Great.

This movie didn’t frustrate me at all.
Thank you for all my friends who waited for me
so I can watch this with all their awesome and fun reactions.