If Jesus Can, Why Can’t We?

5th Sunday of Lent. Pls Read God’s Silent Message: JN 12:20-33

 

Are there people in your life that have hurt you and you have not yet forgiven?

Yong mga taong kinakasamaan mo ng loob kasi ang sabi mo nasaktan ka nila …

Yong mga taong sabi mo nakasakit sayo kaya nagalit ka sa kanila …

Pero ang tanong Friend … nalaman kaya nila na sumama loob mo sa kanila?

Nalaman kaya nila kung bakit at kung ano ang iyong ikinagalit?

And kung nalaman man nila, napag-usapan nyo po kaya ng tama where to draw the line of reconciliation?

Hanggang kailan ka po kaya magagalit?  Hanggang kailan hindi magagawang magpapatawad?

Just some of the questions we could reflect on. Sometimes it’s not really all about them – but about nobody than US!

Minsan kasi, kailangan din nating masaktan para maisip natin kung kailan din natin hindi sinasadyang makapanakit. Stories always have two sides of the coin. Supposedly, when we commit, we admit; when we omit, we submit! – but in reality, when one commits mistake & omits to ask for forgiveness, we normally judge & condemn – sacrificing the relationship to death.

Pero alam mo friend, what makes us uneasy to forgive is the fact that the real enemy that Jesus came to overcome was Satan who tempts the human race to create their own destiny through sinful pride and disobedience. In today’s Gospel, Jesus reminds:

“Amen, amen, I say to you, unless the grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies,

it remains alone. But if it dies, it will bear much fruit.”  – John 12.24

Only when the seed is destroyed by burying it in the ground, can it rise to new life and bear fruit. What it means is that, sometimes we have to die to our self-satisfaction of justifying why we’re mad.

If Jesus took our sins upon himself and nailed them to the cross to set us free from destruction, why can we not give up our pride and futility?

Friend, ayaw ni God na laging mabigat ang pakiramdam mo dahil galit ka dahil sa pagkukulang ng iba!

God has been striving to bring us into an inseparable bond of love & unity with Him. Only if we would be one with God would we be able to “free others from our unforgiveness” – then it would eventually free us to extend more love and bear much fruit of encouraging relationships! #sunset

 

published in The Feast San Lorenzo Weekly Bulletin. Issue #15. 18 March 2018. UNLEASHED Series. Talk 3: Freeing Yourself.

 

 

Its Time to Free Yourself

What is your picture of God in you?

Today at The Feast San Lorenzo, we realized that our merciful God does not want us to be the greatest punisher of our self because of our mistakes in the past.

Friend, pwede tayong maglambing kay God by confessing our sins so that we can free ourself from the shadows of our own unforgiveness. Minsan kasi ang yabang natin, we keep on running away from God’s love kaya we dont get what we deserve; instead, we get what we think we deserve because of the guilt that we have in our heart kasi we do not humbly confess to God kung saan tayo nagkamali. We also do not forgive ourself the way God wants us to kasi sometimes our disorientations are being mixed up, specially when we are already guilty.

God has that magic detergent that would wash away our sins which is called “forgiveness!” Out of His great love, He is telling us now that WE HAVE NOTHING TO PAY — for there at the cross, He already paid for our sins.

Kaya friend, wag na tayong pakipot, let’s free ourselves na from that thing that has been punishing us for the longest time! God loves us so much that He wants us to change our picture of Him in our life. Let us forgive ourself because God has already forgiven us. 🙂

That time we change our picture of God,

Would be the moment we will appreciate and enjoy God’s love. God will protect us from any sort of dirt in pir life and asure us that WE HAVE NOTHING TO PAY because He loves us unconditionally.

#youareloved #cometogether #thefeastsanlorenzo #unleashed #freeingself

“We Can Still Align”: The Antidote to Future Regrets

 2^nd Sunday of Lent

Pls Read God’s Silent Message: Mk 9:2–10

 

Hello, MILLENIALS!

Have you heard some at your age, with these lines?

“Sana pala, I didn’t give in that much, di sana ako na-broken hearted!

Sana pala, I didn’t keep secrets from my parents, na-guide sana ako!

Sana pala, di ako nagmadali, na-enjoy ko pa sana ang pagka-bata ko!

Sana pala, nakinig ako, di sana …”

 

Guess what, would you know that your parents share the same sentiments with you

“Kung sana lang nasabihan namin sya, di sana sya nasasaktan ngayon!

Kung sana lang nalaman namin, di naman nya kailangang maramdamang mag-isa sya!

Kung sala lang di kami na-awkward na masabihang stage parents, we could have enjoyed TIMES TOGETHER!

Kung sana lang, nakinig sya at napakinggan namin sya, di sana…”

 

Ang daming “sana”, ang daming time na parang nasayang na!

If dadating ka sa point na parang kulang na ‘yong time, saka mo lang masasabi sa sarili mo:

“Sayang, ‘di sana ako naghesitate na tingnan ang dapat kong makita,

‘di sana ako nagdalawang isip na sabihin ‘yong dapat kong sabihin;

naging humble sana akong ipakita at iparamdam na kailangan ko ng tulong;

kailangan kong maramdamang di ako nag-iisa.”

 

Millenials and “Me-linya” … come to think of it, “to each his own!” … sometimes, we just don’t realize and recognize that we both share the same sentiments towards each other in the so-called “generational gap.”

Madalas kesa minsan, we fail to make “both ends meet” kasi we are focused on our own emotions and expectations.

Today’s Gospel is reminding us to be spiritually awake and not miss God’s glory in action:

“The Lord Jesus not only wants us to see His glory –

He wants to share this glory with us.

And Jesus shows us the way to the Father’s glory: follow me – obey my words – take the path I have chosen for you and you will receive the blessings of my Father’s kingdom – your name will be written in heaven.”

We would miss God’s glory and action if we wouldn’t strive to obey “as children” and submit to the path that God has chosen for us “as parents.” The Antidote to future regret is to align as parents & child NOW!  

Life is too short, we should maximize time, appreciating and enjoying “having each other” while we still have all the opportunity to “make things up with each other”. #sunset

============================================================================

Article published in: The Feast San Lorenzo Bulletin. Issue #12. 25 February 2018. The Light of Jesus Family in San Lorenzo, Sta Rosa, Laguna. The Feast San Lorenzo

What to do When You Are Broken

Nakatambay ka ba?

Nakatambay ka ba sa problema na dapat ay dinadaanan mo lang?

Friend, if you sometimes feel so broken, here’s what God wants you to do:

https://gailmontero.blogspot.com/2017/07/what-to-do-when-you-are-broken.html

At the end of it all, ‘di mo kailangang tumambay in your brokenness. Your scars will connect with others’ stories if you let your learnings from it FLOW!

Your Cross is a Symbol of Life

Are you having difficult time right now?  Do you feel that you’re carrying a cross at this point in time? 

Don’t feel too low Dear Friend, God can transform your difficulties to grace!  

In today’s Gospel, Jesus challenged His disciples to collaborate with His mission by carrying their cross. 

In our life, we too are called to carry our cross and to follow Jesus. 

That cross which is a symbol of life and of our being saved. 

“We will not die forever bec we do not belong to death, we belong to God.” — Fr. Erwin dela Cruz

The call is for us to keep on trusting our God — for if we do, nothing could keep us apart from Him. 

Walang pagsubok at paghihirap na hindi natin kayang paglabanan because our weapon is the ressureccion of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Paying this forward, to you dear friend,  as inspired by Fr. Erwin Dela Cruz’s homily during the Mass @ The Feast SM Sta Rosa this morning, July 2, 2017. 

Photo credits: Earl Pascua, The Feast SM Sta Rosa

6 Ways to Be Your Own Best Friend

Hi, Friends, sharing with you again in gratitude, my personal notes on the 3rd Talk of the Series: MAGNETIC by our Feast Builder Bro Dreus Cosio @ The Feast SM Santa Rosa, Cinema 1,  two weeks ago.  

Sorry for posting this late; I just had to accomplish a lot lately — but  I don’t wanna miss this chance because being a mother of three daughters, I dearly hope this would be something they can always go back to when they come to the RIGHT TIME of finding their “Mr. Right”.  I sure do hope that this would also help a lot of parents out there while they fervently desire for their child’s best future. 

SERIES:  MAGNETIC

How to Attract The Right Person Into Your Life

Talk 3: The Bond

When you try to look for the right person,

“Hanapin mo yong taong gagawin kang priority, hindi temporary.”

Basically, both men and women — some, if not all — do not really know how to attract the right person in their life. 

Why? — because people are getting confused in their love story and with the way they look at themselves.  

Unconscious as they are, there is that tendency to carelessly submit or comply with the  3 Laws of Romantic Attraction:

  

1st law.  You don’t attract who you deserve.  You attract who you think you deserve.

Subconsciously, you see yourself in a very low way.   You’ve got to consider that your perception is your reality.  If you perceive yourself as somebody who is broken, you will be looking for another broken person. 

The perfect formula for a toxic relationship is a toxic self.

2nd law.  You don’t attract who you want. You attract who you are.

A wounded person will attract another wounded person. An emotionally healthy person will attract another healthy person.

3rd law.  You don’t attract how you want to be treated.  You attract how you treat yourself.

Long before he treated her as garbage, she already treated herself as garbage.To her, abuse felt like love.

Broken people attracts broken people.  “If you don’t do the inner work to heal yourself, your unhealed wounds will attract another wounded person.”

 “If you don’t heal your own wounds, you’ll go into a relationship, seeking for someone else to heal your wounds.”

credits to http://www.lightfam.com/images/talkslides/Magnetic%203.pdf

You get attracted to many wrong people because you don’t really think of your self too well.  

TO ATTRACT THE RIGHT PERSON, you’ve got “WORK ON YOUR SELF FIRST!”  Unless you have a healthy relationship with yourself, you’ll never have a healthy relationship with others.

Its ok for you to declare that you are wonderfully made.  You have to love yourself!

photo credits:  amendesigns.com

 

You’ve got to BE YOUR OWN BEST FRIEND! 

How? 

Here are these 6 WAYS  to be your own BEST FRIEND:

1. Forgive your faults.

    Imagine yourself at the end of the day and forgive yourself.

2. Fix your fences.

    Fix your defense system — your boundaries.  Protect yourself from meanness. 

3.  Feel your feelings.

    All emotions are valid but not all expressions.  Affirming your feelings is respecting yourself. 

    Put a gap between emotion and expression. 

4. Focus on your fantasies.

    What do you picture in your mind? 

    Stop thinking about the bad stuff that’s happening in your life.  

5. Follow your fun.

    Don’t take yourself too seriously. “tumawa ka naman!” 🙂 

    Laugh more often! 

6. Find your flow.

    Go on, pursue your passion as a person!

    If you find your flow — your “zone” — you feel alive. 

                  

Go back to yourself.  Be comfortable with one thing in life — be comfortable with God’s love.

The bond simply means you have to fix your relationships at home by fixing your self first.  You have to love your self every day.  You have to feel good about yourself because it all boils down on how you see yourself!

Bro Dreus concluded with this advice:

“Everyday, start declaring the wonderful characters that you are!  Couples as well, you could start to embrace your differences and start fixing your relationship.”

Pwedeng may part ng buhay mo na hindi ka sanay

But you need to be comfortable in that place— how? 

Magpamahal ka kay God.

Allow God to tell you how much He loves you! 

#sunset

https://gailmontero.blogspot.com/2017/06/6-ways-to-be-your-own-best-friend.html

 

Don’t Dilly-Dally

Cor Dei 1.  3^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Pls Read God’s Silent Message: MT4:12-23

 “the people living in darkness have seen a great light…” — Matthew 4:16

photo credits: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com

CHANCES … grab or drop it! 

Once in a while we’ll first have to be despicable before we’d realize that we’ve already missed a chance!  Sometimes we fall short of foresight that we overlook what should have been done at a certain required time.

I was recently bereaved by a friend who had been sick. I wasn’t able to visit her again when I started battling against mine.  I had her in my mind several times last December. I planned to call her up too, but scheds and events had just piled up until I ended receiving that sad news; Facebook feeds were filled with posts, mourning for her.  I felt so guilty; I should have told her, “let’s fight together!”; I should have made her feel stronger knowing that she’s not struggling alone. I cried hard in regret; I was just consoled when a friend told me, “marami pa kami!; we also want to hear from you!”

When you come to that breaking point that you wouldn’t want to miss chances, your only choice would be to MAXIMIZE TIME! Each time we wake up for a day, God is giving us “that invitation” to come after Him and leave our comfort zones of excuses.

Friends, today let’s IMPLEMENT that decision: REACH OUT, DO NOT DELAY!

Days may be dark at times, but if we will only consider God’s calling to “come after Him”, we will surely see the LIGHT that will mark the turning point in our life. More Dreams & Plans will materialize which will make our BEST YEAR EVER! #sunset

==========================================================================Published in FeastSMStaRosaBulletin. Series of 2017. Issue #2, 22 January 2017. Light of Jesus’ BEST YEAR EVER: Imagine Your Future Now Series. Talk 3: Implementation

also posted in: http://gailmontero.blogspot.com/2017/01/dont-dilly-dally.html?spref=fb & https://profgail67.wordpress.com/2017/01/24/dont-dilly-dally/

“True Character is who you are and what you do — even when no one is watching you!”

How to Shift from Poverty to Prosperity Mindset

photo credits: https://www.instagram.com/brotherbosanchez/

 

In gratitude, I would like to share with you my personal notes on our Feast Builder Bro Dreus Cosio’s Talk @ The Feast SM Santa Rosa, Cinema 1, 9:00am & 11:00am Sessions.

SERIES:

Money Pakyaw:  Knocking Down Your Biggest Financial Problems

Talk 2: Prosperity.  I Have Everything I Need

ONE BIG MESSAGE: “Blessings are chasing after me.”

 

Psalm 23 : God’s message of prosperity & peace to us.

“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.”

We have everything that we need.

When we recognize that we are complete, there is peace.

We’ve got to know the difference between our wants & needs.

We have to weigh our  financial capacity and discern to buy only what we need without struggling “just to conform” with “what’s IN”.

“He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.”

People who thinks they are poor “feels the lack”.

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

God wants to bless us forever.

We have to know that God’s goodness & love will be with us all our life.

The causes of poverty are multidimensional!
There should be a shift from Poverty Mindset to Prosperity Mindset!

We need to BREAK that “feeling of lack” in terms of:

Psychology

Don’t reinforce poverty mindset
Poverty mindset pleases people.
Prosperity mindset loves people.
Our psychology about money matters.

Theology

How do you see money?
How is your “Psychological Wallet”? We have to be comfortable in earning bec we have to be comforted in giving.

God blesses people to bless people
How do you see God?

Economy

When you start believing that blessings are chasing you, you become rich.

While there are times in your life that things are difficult, believe that God can transform any problem into the biggest blessing in your life.

The purpose of  money is love
God is our model of generosity.

Be a blessing builder!

A Psalm of David.

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 

3 He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 

4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,I will fear no evil, for You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 

6 Surely Your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

“True Character is who you are and what you do — even when no one is watching you!”

Let God Direct.

Pls Read God’s Silent Message: Luke 19:1-10

photo credits: machano.blogspot.com

Have you ever thought of the truth na kung minsan “ang tigas ng ulo mo?”

And have you ever had that feeling na minsan you dread yourself for caring less sa mga bagay na dapat ginawa mong mahalaga pero binalewala mo lang?

After all these years, I had to come to such realization … “how could I have focused a lot on certain things, yet actually “care less” on more important things?”   I’ve done all the “one-act-play” of making things perfect as I give my best; yet, I came to the point of sacrificing what could have been best for my health. With all the might of sleepless nights, I strive accomplishing more than a lot; only to regret the days that I could not even put a check mark on any task in my “to-do-list.” How could I have been so stubborn justifying on things that I want to get done with the vindication that I am actually doing it for a good cause?

With all these FLAWS, all the while I was a “Jonah”! — who had a small heart for God’s directions, yet whom God saved!–

For all a period of time, how dare me for not really being passionate about what was entrusted to me. I had to go through some dark episodes in my life, not wanting to loose what I did not take care of for the longest time — before I could realize how insensible I was to God’s love and silent messages.

Buti na lang, ang buhay, parang isang pelikula.

There could be some occurences na kahit minsan parang “series of unfortunate events” ang pinagdaanan, pero pwede pa din maging “epic” ang flow that would lead to an impressive ending.

BUT HOW?

… only if we could be HUMBLE ENOUGH to ALLOW GOD TO DIRECT the story of our life! Bawal “matigas ang ulo” kahit na ikaw pa ang main character ng istorya mo! The way we submit ourselves to our Life Director, while we submit ourselves to God in PRAYER would make a lot of difference which would make our story a BLOCKBUSTER to those whose lives we’ll touch — because we chose to empty ourself to God’s love & mercy while we strive to overcome our flaws. #sunset

==========================================================================Published in The Feast SM Sta Rosa Bulletin October 23, 2016 Issue. Light of Jesus Family BLOCKBUSTER Series: Epic Stories That Changed The World. Talk 4. Finding Jonah.

Miracles Happen There “Within”.

Some of us may have all the unanswered questions that may shatter us instead of making us whole again.

But why? … maybe because we just tend to stop rising above our weaknesses that tend to pull us down, then we delimit all the opportunities that are given to us to believe that we could actually perform our own miracles with the love and mercy of God.

Sometimes, situations tend to paralyze us in our own comforts — that we are almost blinded to see how we can touch others’ lives. Sometimes some of us are reluctant to use our sensitivity to others’ needs; yet, some of us are persistent and keep on striving for SURVIVAL just to inspire others who are already losing hope.

Friends, we may be at our weakest at this point in time. It may be more comfortable to just give in to whatever difficulty we’ve incurred because of our own lapses; it may even be easier to close our eyes and never fight against any pain – BUT it’s not God’s original design in our life!

When occurrences make us broken, we need to strive to be WHOLE AGAIN. For the times when we’re right there at the edge of giving up, we should have all the humility to seek for an ounce of Miracle — if we want to still be there for the ones we love who would never want to see us just giving up.

Yes friends, MIRACLES ARE JUST THERE IN THE DOORSTEPS OF OUR HEART – we just need to make it happen there “within” – then declare in our actions that we’re giving our battle a good fight because we want to give hope to those who are also struggling to live for some missions yet to accomplish. “Laban lang!” #sunset

photo credits:http://www.thequotepedia.com/images/102/its-not-about-what-god-gives-to-you-its-about-how-you-handle-what-god-gives-to-you-miracles-quote.jpg