Out With the Old; In With the New

Change comes with time.

Or maybe, time requires change.

Among the things that change over time is how the human race perceive, define, approach, and live life.

Few decades ago, the approach was individualistic. Competition was normal. Being famous and powerful was applauded. Owning mundane things was ideal. Grandstanding was a way of life. Money was the goal because it was thought to have made the world go round. I say so because I observe many older people are like these--a combination of these. They have these distinct characteristics.

At present, people magnify the importance of good health, being kind to oneself and others, inclusive growth, inner peace, living harmoniously with others, freedom over money. Now, money is just a tool, and freedom is the goal--time and financial.

The paradigm shift resulted in the revolutionary mindset and approaches of the new generation, among them are as follows:

-Inner peace is the new success.
-Gratitude is the new asset.
-Energy is the new charm.
-Humility is the new strength.
-Grit is the new strategy.
-Connection is the new attraction.
-Faithfulness is the new sweetness.
-Healthy is the new lifestyle.
-Calm is the new mindset.
-Happiness is the new rich.
-Spirituality is the new wellness.
-Self-mastery and self-respect are the new power.

May this new set of perspectives and ways of doing things work in your favor as you live through this new era--without completely leaving the old ones behind, such as the dignity in hard work and the importance of self-sufficiency and resourcefulness.

Accelerate: Go. Grow. Glow.

Accelerate your life. Constantly go to God and surely you will continuously grow in every area of your life and the people around you will see the glow in your heart.

Exhausted. Empty. Crushed. Confused. Broke. Insecure. Hopeless. Life is difficult!

.

Heavy words? Not anymore!

Now that we have encountered Jesus, we know that when we are being emptied it is because God wants to fill us with new and better blessings and when we are stretched, He just wants us to grow. So now, when life throws us dirt it’s okay. We simply shake it off, shake it off, and shake it off; and use it as a platform to step upon until we emerge victorious.

We are living in an era and area where almost everything is instant, where people are mobile, and where the demands and dynamics of daily life have evolved with time. At one point, we have become slaves of our work, unhealthy relationships, financial incapacity, family issues, personal insecurities, or other problems that dry our spirits.

We have become stray, hungry souls in the modern jungle of glass-and-steel skyscrapers of the present world.

Walking down the memory lane, our experiences a month, a year or years ago may bring pinch on our hearts, deep breaths, or tears in the corner of our eyes.

Thanks to our merciful and gracious Father Lord God, He called us in ways and times unexpected to give us new and better lives for us to do good and enjoy blessed lives. (He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. ~ Titus 3:5)

Through our transformation, the jungle turned into a mecca of love, care, and enlightenment that propelled us to do our best to become obedient to God’s word, to have better relationships at work and at home, and to be channels of God’s blessings wherever we go.

We now have new and better perspective about life and reinforced Christian values.

Breakfree! Move forward!

Whether by responding to a friend’s invitation, reconnecting with God due to necessity, or personally choosing to renew personal relationship with God, it is by no accident that we are transformed. We were all hand-picked by God and are now renewed in spirit and heart. It’s just up to us how we will remain in Him.

We are all works in progress!

Embrace your potential not your past. (But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ~ Philippians 3:13).

“Your past does not define you. God can take all your imperfections, so don’t stay there,” shared by Randy Borromeo.

Close your eyes. Take a deep breath. Remember the old days—what you were thinking of and how you were feeling.

Look at yourself now! People may know your transformation, but only you can truly tell how your life has changed. Perhaps, you have already moved forward and are now aware of your bigger and brighter life ahead.

When we listen to God’s word and make good use of our blessings—time, talent, and treasure—we feed our souls and nurture our life in general.

Accelerate your life. Constantly go to God and surely you will continuously grow in every area of your life and the people around you will see the glow in your heart.

Be Jesus’ torch-bearer. Listen to His voice. Respond to God’s call and reflect the light of Jesus’ wherever you go.

Accelerate your life! Move onward and upward.

 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ~ Jeremiah 29:11

Sunrise: New Day, New Life

When a dream slips out, you can always make another one, a better one. When your drive withers, you can always take a break...but never stop progressing! Or sometimes on the way to your dream you get lost... just keep moving forward, you'll find a better one. Keep on keeping on! There is joy and wisdom in waiting and working.

Rise and shine!

New year, new life, new learnings, new opportunities, and new goals are here!

The holiday has just ended... Christmas, our time for loving, giving, and reconciliation. New year, our time to start anew and set our goals for the year and years ahead.

Some of us started the year right. Others did not.

The good news is, it’s okay! Whether it was because of our own choices and actions that we started the year right or not, the important thing is we sustain our desire to become better, wiser, and live a more joyful life.

Christmas, the time for loving, and New Year, the time to change, are NOW! Every day is a day to love and to become better.

Focus on your goals! Pray for them. Write them down. Read them everyday. Act upon them.

Better than new year is NEW DAY every single day.

You can always decide to transform and elevate your life every single day.

Everyday we have to test ourselves and do something for ourselves… if not, it would be a wasted unrecyclable, unreusable day that is supposed to be a priceless resource.

If some things get in your way as early as now, don’t be disheartened. Just keep on moving forward and upward. Dedicate yourself to your goals and remember your feelings and thoughts when you decided to make them your goals.

When a dream slips out, you can always make another one, a better one. When your drive withers, you can always take a break...but never stop progressing! Or sometimes on the way to your dream you get lost... just keep moving forward, you'll find a better one. Keep on keeping on!

There is joy and wisdom in waiting and working.

 

Don’t be fixated on the problems, trials, roadblocks, and vampires… focus on your PURPOSE. What are your goals? Why are they your goals?

Be patient.

When things don’t always turn out the way you plan them to be, it’s alright. God is not in a hurry anyway… Besides, impatience never works. Press on!

You cannot right a wrong with another wrong (impatience). Never operate out of ego, selfishness, envy, nor impatience.

If some people, things, or circumstances beyond your control try to dishearten you or pull you down, let them do their thing but you… you keep on moving like a snowball—getting bigger and better and rolling towards your goal.

Pray for your goals. Focus on them. Always do something about them everyday—no matter how small or simple—because God wants you to be involved and part of the solution and your improvement.

Don’t be concerned on how fast you get them, focus on how good you get them and how long will you be able to sustain them once you get them.

Focus more on your journey than on your destination. It is always better to get there equipped and deserving, than get there quickly and pass out or unhappy or could not enjoy things for long.

If along the way you lose something important… move forward focusing your time, resources, and energy to the new things you may receive, learn, and get hold of.

Keep on rolling! Be patient. God has a wonderful future for you… enjoy each step every single day.

Live out your PURPOSE! If you focus on the purpose, the problems and losses become irrelevant. Aspire and achieve!

Enjoy every sunrise! Hope and give hope. Be blessed and be a blessing.

Live each day a happy life… Decide uprightly and maturely. Like a piece of clay that we mold into whatever we want, our decisions are what form our future.

Rise. Shine. Give light to others.

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” ~ Isaiah 43: 18-19

PS: Joyful, meaningful, and blessed 2013! May you start the year with thanksgiving for the year that was, and with stronger faith, refreshed spirit, renewed ways, and transformed heart. More than relying on gems and charms, utilize and let shine your inner gem—loving, generous, cheerful, grateful, and faithful heart. Let prayer and faith in God be your shield and strength. Have a blessed and meaningful 2013! Pray. Work. Bless.

Spotting Your Vampire

The core of vampirism is low self-worth. Vampires are like little children desperate and hungry for love and attention.

Vampires are mythological creatures who subsist by feeding on the life essentials, like blood, of living creatures. They are animated corpses who rise from the grave at night to suck blood from sleeping people.

The idea of vampires started to become popular in the 18^th century in Western Europe. They believed vampires have no reflection in the mirror and they could be warded off by apotropiacs like garlic, wild rose branches, and hawthorn plants.

In modern fiction, vampires are depicted as suave and charismatic blood sucking creatures.

But do vampires really exist?

Of course they don’t exist in real life. But we do all have vampire attributes and we are all personal vampires to somebody.

Vampires are the difficult persons in our lives. Much like the fictional character who doesn't have a mirror reflection, difficult persons cannot self-reflect. We all are vampires at one point, to one person, to a certain level.

Personal vampires are infectious. They either attack your immune system by stressing you out or they pass on the virus to you and influence you by their ways.

There are three types of vampires:

 

1. Pure Vampires

                -always difficult to all people

                -they think and feel that they are really good people and are always right

2. Personal Vampires

                -your vampire may not be a vampire to another person

                -they press a certain personal or sensitive button in us

3. Partial Vampires

                -all of us are this

But before we judge others as vampires or tag others as difficult persons, let us first look at ourselves. Perhaps, there are also areas in our lives that we must first fix or remove before we fix others’ or remove the speck from their eyes.

It is very important that we spot the vampires in our lives so we will be able to protect ourselves with the right apotropaics or ways to ward them off, without having to hurt them or allowing ourselves to be continually hurt.

There are eight common vampires:

1. Criticizing Vampire

                -it would seem that their divine mission is to correct the world

                -they always feel the need to make others feel small so they become big in others eyes

                -they think they’re going to explode if they don’t air their criticism or unsolicited correction

2. Controlling Vampire

                -they use intimidation, guilt, anger to manipulate your emotion

                -they cannot execute their good intention without hurting others

                -they’re like children that if you don’t give in to their plea or want they will whine or cry

3. Contradicting Vampire

                -they will disagree with you because for them “it will just not work”

                -they’re not open to new ideas

                -they are “that’s difficult, let’s not do that,” as opposed to, “that’s challenging, but we can find a way and do it”

                -they’re like children trapped in adult human bodies, they have good intention but they don’t know how to execute them

4. Clinging Vampire

                -they’re like parasites looking for hosts

                -his/her self-esteem is totally dependent on others, until they smother others

5. Crying Vampire

                -they’re overly sensitive people

                -they easily get hurt and they suck the energy out of you by crying

6. Complaining Vampire

                -wherever you put them they just love complaining and whining anytime about whatever

                -they easily lose interest and tend to be unappreciative or ungrateful
                -they easily look older than their ages

                -they are not aware that they have choices… to choose to be happy or to stop or to change

7. Coward Vampire

                -they don’t know how to say NO at the right time with the right reason

                -they love pleasing other people, that they are no longer able to attend to their accepted responsibilities

                -they tend to become liabilities instead of assets

                -they easily get burnt out

8. Con Vampire

                -can be very charming, kind, and good

                -they are good at convincing people, but they are also very good at telling lies after lies after lies

                -they are capable of making people believe them in the midst of their doubts, because he is good at supporting one lie with nine others

                -pathological liars

These difficult people becomes our vampires because they suck the energy out of us when they press our personal buttons.

The core of vampirism is low self-worth. Vampires are like little children desperate and hungry for love and attention.

One of their biggest problem is they cannot see their reflections in the mirror. That is why it is very important that we actively take the role of spotting them.

Once we find them and do our best to understand them—that we all have past and wounds or are going through something difficult at that moment—then we can help them by providing the right apotropaic to help them take off their masks, cloaks, and fangs that make them vampires to others, or if not, for us to put emotional space between us and them without having to cut relationships with them.

In fiction, once a vampire always a vampire. But in real stories, there’s hope. We can change! We have choices—to grow, be happy, improve, which company to be in.

Before we spot our vampires, it is also very important that we take the time to first pause and self-reflect. Sometimes the weaknesses of others that irritate us are the same unacknowledged weaknesses that we have.

As we assess ourselves, ask the right questions and totally take off our blindfolds. We cannot lie to ourselves; not acknowledging our defects will only worsen us. Accepting that we have problems to fix is the first step to solving them, to improvement.

Our illnesses or defects are not who we are supposed to be. Rather, they are the ones keeping us from who we are supposed to be.

Also, these vampires or difficult persons will help us see ourselves clearly and know ourselves better.

We are all vampires to somebody else. But if we start thirsting for the blood of Jesus and desire to have it pour on us—on our wounds, on our confusion, on our hopelessness—Jesus’ blood can surely cleanse us and make us anew (Revelations 1:5, “To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood.”)

Jesus doesn't care where we have been and what we have been through… All He cares about and sees clearly is our potential and the direction we can take to the place we are supposed to be going—in His kingdom of eternal joy and love.

We can all change! It’s not the person per se that makes him a vampire, but his behavior. We are all boxes of possibilities… Don’t worry, we can all change for the better—if we want to and act upon it.

(Second installment, click Protecting Yourself From Vampires )

Metamorphosis

Like a butterfly, we were once a crawling caterpillar unappreciated by many; then surrounded by cocoon of problems. But as we persist and do our best to move forward, our sweat and tears soften the cocoon and the hardshell that seemed to block us sheds off… then poof!

In this material world, everything flows and nothing remains the same. As Heraclitus observed, change is the only permanent thing in the world.

If we are to improve, then we have to move upwards and onwards.

Nonetheless, as we act let us not confuse movement from progress; for our state of action doesn’t always translate to advancement and improvement.

We must know which change we have to accept as it is and which we have to deliberately act upon on. We shouldn’t just be purely passive accepting every change as it happens or purely active reacting on every change.

When it comes to our personal changes, every transformational change always comes with resistance. It is but normal.

Sometimes we become comfortable with our conditions that we no longer want to take another step or change positions or transfer locations. We settle to where we are. Sometimes we stagnate, or worse, we tend to deteriorate.

We don’t notice we no longer learn new things so our minds get rustic and we become left behind or narrow-minded. We feel too safe in our seats until our sedentary lifestyle brings us to the hospital due to illnesses we didn’t know we’re forming over time. We get stuck in our relationships that hurt us, stagnate us, or rotten us thinking we would never be loved again.

Desire change! Be willing to be transformed!

At first we will naturally feel resistant to change. We will become inconsistent with our desire to improve, or at least, change status in life.

No matter what you feel, just press on!

Remember the reasons you had in mind why you wanted to change, to improve. Revisit your feelings when you first acted upon the change you want to happen. Feel your excitement and joy.

Do not limit and doubt yourself to do great things.

Ask our faithful God to guide you every step of the way.

The best change comes from God—turning your good to better, and your better to best. He is faithfully transforming us from glory to glory.

All we need to do is be willing to submit to His wonderful ways of transforming our lives. For God desires nothing but our best.

Rest on God’s unconditional love and limitless grace. How?

I. Believe in God’s Transforming Power.

                -God’s love changes us for the better, He wants us to be saved and to enjoy the gift of life

                -God’s miracle, blessings, and healing are always available each day

II. Change Your Perception of Yourself

                -God created us with inherent capabilities no matter where we came from or how we look

    -God has equipped us with necessary tools to victoriously face our refining trials

                -When God calls, He equips.

III. Look at God differently

                -God is faithful to His promises and generous to both evil and good, sinners and saints (Matthew 5:45)

                -God is understanding and considerate, that He even allowed Himself to become human for Him to experience the things that we experience as humans, even the harder and most painful things, to relate to us and inspire us

                -God was tempted like us, but he managed the temptations well by remaining obedient to God’s word and by holding firmly to His faith

IV. Desire to be Healed Totally and Completely

                -Allow God to work in our lives through and through

                -While God is healing us at one area, don’t block Him to other areas so He may also transform us there because He wants to bless us and make our joy complete

V. Be Willing to Learn

                -Seek for wisdom, hunger for knowledge and share them with others

                -Acquire new information, modify existing ones, renew your ideas and incorporate with others'

                -Have the humility to be mentored… life is an open university that is pro-students who are willing to be taught

                -There are a lot of things we don’t know that we don’t know

                -Even the greatest men in the world get help from others

                -Leaning is the result  not the simply the process of being taught of

Remember that God is giving us our situations because He has a perfect and glorious plan for each of us. When God calls us to change, let us be responsive and be confident that all things work for our best.

Resist your resistance, not God’s transformation of us.

God continuously pour forth His blessings to us even as while we are asleep. If we think we don’t receive His gifts, or we question why others are better than we are, it is because we unconsciously resist God’s blessings.

Our laziness, our procrastination, our envy, our crab-mentality… our attitude toward receiving God’s graces is the one which hinders us from enjoying them.

1. Remove your umbrella of laziness, procrastination, skepticism and catch God’s blessing with open arms.

2. Patch the holes in your lives so the blessings you catch will not leak. Constantly train and desire to improve. Focus! Be diligent . Be self-discipline. When things become part of your system, they gradually become easy and automatic… they become you!

 

3. Share the things you receive and learn. What you learn and receive triples when you share them with others because others share what they have or their learnings to you too. And the good news is, even if others don’t share what they have to you, God will bless you in other amazing ways you deserve.

Like a butterfly, we were once a crawling caterpillar unappreciated by many; then surrounded by cocoon of problems. But as we persist and do our best to move forward, our sweat and tears soften the cocoon and the hardshell that seemed to block us sheds off… then poof!

We become the most beautiful insect in the field, flying high from one flower of opportunity to another. We have just been transformed by the transforming love and grace of God, through our own desire to improve and our constant action to press on.

Surprised as we are, after the refining fire of difficulties, we are now the precious gem in the midst of the vast quagmire of struggles giving hope to others—if the once feeble person has improved and so can they!

Onward and Upward!

Decide to improve. You are in charge of your life. Your life will only change inasmuch as you let it.

So much beauty in the world! So much things to be thankful for. So much things to enjoy.

Yet, not everybody sees them. Not all seize the good life. Let’s not cheat ourselves of the happiness we deserve!

Unlock the source of joy and blessings by being grateful.

Life is a series of choices. Some personally choose to be free and happy; others opt that other people and events dictate the kind of life they live.

Decide to improve. You are in charge of your life. Your life will only change inasmuch as you let it.

Choose to be happy; it takes a lot of energy to hold anger. Accept your situation at the moment and do something about it.

Living a passive life is a fate worse than dying the hard way. Don’t just sit down, keep silent, and refuse to risk. Own up the responsibility of making your life better and happier. Live, don’t just exist. Be grateful for the new day to live by!

When negativity peeps through, don’t mind it. Be indifferent. It will go away sooner than you think when you don’t give it attention. Plant seeds of positivity! Smile.

If people seem cruel… let them be. What matters is how you treat others and yourself. Getting even will only hurt you. Making others suffer will not make your pain go away. Fight evil with good! Understand and be compassionate.

Yes, good things are easier said than done. Nobody said worthwhile things are easy. But always remember, where there is hardship, there your growth is. So when your character is tested, keep on keeping on!

Building a good character is like building a house on a solid rock. When trials, pains, or calamities come, one will not be overwhelmed and falter; instead, one may maturely soar over these storm of difficulties and remain grateful for yet another blessing in disguise.

Take occasional breaks. Pause and breathe. Appreciate your journey… Your trials and triumphs, downs and ups are what give life texture and color. Take some time to re-introduce yourself to yourself.

Regularly check your parameters and boundaries so you know your pace and limit. Both freedom and improvement require setting limits.

It is also important that you ask life for the great desires of your heart… Ask for your dreams. Feel them. Believe you will receive them. Go get them!

Dreams don’t die. Sometimes we've just grown out of them. Then, we just need to make new ones, better ones. If we are faced with roadblocks along the way, just remember that trials are just like fire in the fiery furnace that polishes our ability and intentions so we may know clearly the good desires of our hearts.

Appreciate each day—the new days itself is a wonderful opportunity to become better.

Thank each trial—trivial things stretch you and teach you valuable lessons; they make you wiser.

Acknowledge each pain—uncomfortable feelings and situations allow you to explore your other emotions; they make you know yourself better.

Value each difficulty—hard people, things, or circumstances to deal with polish you and enable you to establish self-concept and appreciate self-worth.

Unlock your gifts, joy, and fountain of blessings by being grateful, hopeful, and by constantly utilizing the things you’ve just unlocked.

Life is a series of choices and decisions and a combination of moments—little ones that add up to big ones, and create who you are. You're not letting others make those choices for you and to dictate who you are, right?

Live. Enjoy. Improve. Keep moving onward, upward!

Keep on smiling and the world will smile with you. :-)

Lent: Understand Backward to Move Forward

This Lent, let us remember that when God looks at us, He looks at us with our future and not with our past, which is comprised of our history and layers upon layers of sins. So don’t give up on your journey towards God’s promised land, for God is never giving up on you!

We must know our roots and the vestige of who we are to know who we can be. Look inside to see what lies ahead.

The season of Lent is a very good period to retrospect and understand life backwards. Although we can contemplate everyday, Lenten season is the time for Christians to channel and focus most of our thoughts to the greatest love demonstrated by Jesus and the importance of humility for our proper growth.

Jesus loves us more than we can ever imagine! Some of us may not realize it now, but it’s okay. Our Lord God is patiently waiting for us to come home; and as He waits, His loving hands are at work in our lives for our good.

Imagine being betrayed by a loved one or a very dear friend. How painful is it? Judas did that to Jesus, who treated His disciples as His own family (Matthew 26:14). How about voluntarily taking on the punishment for something you did not do? Would you do it, to the point of being whipped? Jesus did more than that! He took all the whipping, wore the crown of thorns, was mocked at, carried the cross, and courageously allowed Himself to be nailed on the cross.

Can you see yourself washing the feet of your friends? Of course you can! (You may even think, “I can even manicure or massage them!”). Well and good! Jesus, the Most High, the King of Kings, demonstrated His humility by washing the feet of His disciples and wiped them clean. This King doesn’t love being in the seats of honor, instead, He loves serving others.

Jesus our Lord did all these things that we may do the same to our brothers and sisters. As it is written in John 13:

“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵ I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. ¹⁶ Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. ¹⁷ Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”

Humility is the mother of all virtues. It is through humility that we learn and we grow. With humility, we become generous and grateful. Because of humility we diligently work and give credit to whomever credit is due. Humility fuels us to love selflessly and genuinely.

Humility brings us more friends and wealth after we learn to righteously deal with others and after we nurture a big heart. It makes the last first and the servant greatest.

Whatever our status in the society is, in the eyes of God, we are all His children and are all given the opportunity to live a well-lived life. It is just up to us how we will live life—to obey God or trust our own wisdom.

Starting this Lent, may we take the time to open our hearts and open our Bibles to listen to what God is telling us. It is through prayer that we talk to God and it is by reading the Bible that we listen to God.

By listening to God’s word, we are able to know what is the real right and the real thing. With God’s guidance, we are able to establish our standard and parameters on how we must uprightly and joyfully live our lives.

As we know God more and more, we will realize that God is not a limiting Father. We will learn that God is the God of fun and freedom. When one knows what he must do, he can freely decide and act upon His decisions.

This Lent, let us remember that when God looks at us, He looks at us with our future and not with our past, which is comprised of our history and layers upon layers of sins. So don’t give up on your journey towards God’s promised land, for God is never giving up on you!

If you think you’re now on a boat rocked by huge waves, remember that God will never let you sink. If you think life is throwing you dirt to burry you, shake it off, step up, shake it off, step up until you emerge to the surface victoriously. God meets us at our point of need, and God is never early nor late to rescue us. God gives us the freedom to utilize the blessings we receive from Him, and more importantly, God is always on time to meet and save us.

Let us allow God hold us, instead of us holding unto God, for God never lets go.

Starve your body and feed your soul! A seed must first die in order to grow and continue bear fruit. In the same way, if we want to grow and continuously improve in any area of our lives, we must intentionally deny ourselves and willingly take up our cross daily. Simply put, we must be humble enough to acknowledge our need for God and confidently face each challenge life throws at us knowing God is always holding us.

Know God and His commands. God prefers obedience than sacrifice; acknowledgement than offering.

Let us check our hearts and know how we must live our lives.

In whatever situation let us all remind ourselves, WWJD--"What would Jesus do?"

Enjoy your quality time with our Creator and Savior! Blessed and meaningful Lenten season!

~Ut In Omnibus Glorificetur Deus~ 

Great Day, Sunshine!

Live each day with a purpose. Engage in various activities that fuel your interest. Make a difference in your life and in other’s. Do not monitor what others do. Just enjoy acting upon your personally determined purpose.

 

As long as the sun shines, the plants survive and serve their purpose. In the same way, as long as our hearts beat, we can move and make a positive difference of any degree. When we do good things, others who benefit from them, and even those who just observe us, find hope in us and through us.

We must be thankful everyday we are alive! We have our faculties functioning well. We can move. We can think. We can talk.

I am inspired by the living testimonies of our “these abled” brothers and sisters, who, despite their physical disabilities, manage to make a positive difference in their lives—and even leave an impact on other lives, without these special persons knowing it.

Some enjoy their gift of life by doing good in sports like in Paralympics. Others eke out a living to help their families by doing handicrafts, massage services, and even professional jobs inside the modern steel-and-glass skyscrapers. Still others serve the people through non-governmental organizations, governments posts, or self-initiated services—sweeping their surroundings, cleaning their houses, and the likes.

There are also those unsung young heroes who never let their poverty hinder them to reach for their stars with flying colors.

Yet, many of us so-called normal people complain about life, as if we have no power to change the status of our lives, or worse, as if we are not blessed.

So now, what makes the difference between these special people and us normal ones? Disposition! Because of their gratitude and humility, they give off more love, pronounced hope, and infectious joy.

They are grateful they experience the wonder of life and are humble enough to acknowledge their need for a God to strengthen them and other people to teach and assist them. They don’t compete with and envy their mates.

Instead of looking at their deficiencies, these special people are zealous to learn, willing to take challenges, and appreciate their circumstances. They accept their situations as they are and take off from there.

So to us born complete, let us not puddle ourselves with laziness, anxiety, or envy.

Do not stagnate. Achieve! Do not criticize. Inspire! Do not regret. Enjoy!

As long as you breathe, you have the power to maneuver your life to the direction you want to go. Even though going there doesn’t happen in a flash, you are guaranteed to benefit from a fruitful and joyful journey if you just wake up each day gratefully, pray faithfully, learn earnestly, work passionately, share cheerfully, decide justly, respond humbly, love genuinely, and go to bed peacefully.

We don’t have to be caught in a snag or to go through permanent challenges in life just for us to learn and appreciate the beauty and goodness of life.

Live each day with a purpose. Engage in various activities that fuel your interest. Make a difference in your life and in other’s. Do not monitor what others do. Just enjoy acting upon your personally determined purpose.

One day you’ll just be surprised how much you have learned, how far you have gone, how much you have improved, and how many people you have awakened, if not inspired.

Remember that each day is another day to live in the moment with our God, who provides us with everything we need. Just up to us how we will utilize our blessings.

Time is the only thing that everyone—regardless of abilities, race, sex, and social status—is equally blessed with. While you have time, utilize it doing the things that you love, maximize it for learning, optimize it for service that bears eternal good fruits, and spend it letting your loved ones know how much you love them.

Our general purpose: pass on the light of goodness God has planted in our hearts by utilizing them. Be a torch that lights up long-lasting hope to one life at a time.

Ignite the light in your heart. Bring light and warmth to the people you meet. Reflect Jesus to others.


Great day, sunshine!