My Daily Verse

If you notice my sidebar, there's a space there for Daily Verse. I can't count how many times these verses on the side has blessed me and reminded me of a lot of things.

Just a few days ago, my meditation has been about humility and today as I read this verse (on the side bar),

“Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”” Mark 9:35,

I'm reminded again on 'humility'. Yes, having this virtue is not very easy. There are just times that as humans, we want to express our 'rights' or show that we are worth more than how people treat us... but as Jesus has reminds us.. the humble will inherit the whole earth... and to be the first, we must be the last and servant of all. Amazing how God's principles are, very different from how we think ... but that's our God, a loving, humble and holy One!

The Almost 5 Year Old Laptop

I thank God for the laptop that I'm using now. It's not our own laptop but has been bought for our use. You see, this laptop , if I'm not mistaken has already been with us for almost 5 years! Yes, this gadget has served us faithfully for 5 years and it's still surviving. With the ever changing technology, almost everything is disposable these days, but not this lappy. Though we had to change the hard drive for this once but the not so cheap motherboards is still good. Ok, I admit this lappy is a bit sick as the monitor is a bit loose and the power switch need a special 'touch' to turn it on, but all in all, this is still very usable!

Thank you Lord for this Acer laptop..:)

Daiso the 5 Ringgit Shop

It was my first time to visit a Daiso shop in Malaysia last week. Boy, I got a shock as all the items (as in every item) is only 5 Malaysian Ringgit! Since I was not planning to buy anything, I decided to just go in to window shop. But I guess you know what happens when you see items for only 5RM, yes, you get to buy them! LOL!

But I just limited myself in buying a few things. Yes, I admitted getting more than is needed but at the end we had to take out the 'unnecessary' ones. Yes, that's my secret to staying in the budget. Sometimes, we tend to get things impulsively especially if we find the prices so low yet most of the time, we really don't need those things. Who needs spa covers if you don't have a spa, right? Or who would need a 5RM cute puppy dress if you don't have a puppy? Hehehe!

Anyways, next time we have to be more prepared if we go to a Daiso shop. It's really a great shop, but as a precaution you must to set an allotted budget first before entering the shop.

Someone Worth Dying For

This is one of my newer favorite songs, Someone Worth Dying For by Mikeschair. This song is inspiring as it reminds us that we are someone worth dying for. Sometimes, insecurities, weaknesses or other negative thoughts may dwell in our hearts and minds. But we must always remember that God loves us so much and He sent Jesus to die for us in behalf of our sins to have LIfe and life eternal. As sinful as we are, but because of His love and grace, we are someone worth dying for...

Here are the lyrics for the song:

You might be the wife,
Waiting up at night
You might be the man,
Struggling to provide
Feeling like it's hopeless

Maybe you're the son,
Who chose a broken road
Maybe you're the girl,
Thinking you'll end up alone
Praying God can you hear me?
Oh God are you listening?

(Chorus)
Am I more than flesh and bone?
Am I really something beautiful?
Yeah, I wanna believe, I wanna believe that
I'm not just some wandering soul
That you don't see and you don't know
Yeah I wanna believe, Jesus help me believe that I
Am someone worth dying for

I know you've heard the truth that God has set you free
But you think you're the one that grace could never reach
So you just keep asking, what everybody's asking
Find More lyrics at www.sweetslyrics.com

Chorus

You're worth it, you can't earn it
Yeah the Cross has proven
That you're sacred and blameless
Your life has purpose

You are more than flesh and bone
Can't you see you're something beautiful
Yeah you gotta believe, you gotta believe
He wants you to see, He wants you to see
That you're not just some wandering soul
That can't be seen and can't be known
Yeah you gotta believe, you gotta believe that you
Are someone worth dying for

You're someone worth dying for
You're someone worth dying for

Saved At Sea

I just picked up a book at my sister in law's house the other day, Saved At Sea by Rachel Hamilton. I was ready to put the book back on the table, but something in the synopsis caught my eye, the story was set at Boracay Island. This is a true story of a mother and a daughter who went to Boracay for a vacation but their holiday turned into a tragedy as the daughter was lost at the sea with her banca. This event was also the turning point for the daughter as this was the time she heard God spoke to her and saved her.

I never got to finish reading the entire book as we had to leave to Klang today, but I got the chance to look through the actual photos ( taken in the 80's) of the characters. She got found by some fishermen who thought she was a mermaid. From there, I don't know whether she got transfered by medical air evacuation or not. Anyways, maybe I can get a chance to finish that book once we go and visit my sister in law next time . :)

Almost Settled

It has been more than a month since the flashflood in our city happened. I praise God my family is almost settled and they're soon to move to a more permanent place to stay. As of now, my mom and sister's family are still staying in our relatives' house while my other sister is staying in a friends' house. But soon, they will get settled and I thank God for His favor that is on them.

As for the other residents in the city, I also saw several photos from my friends' Facebook, that the other people affecter are also slowly rebuilding their houses though some are not yet thinking to put basement tiles or other finishing touches but at least they will have a roof over their heads and no longer have to stay at the evacuation center.

Oh, thinking about the state of my other fellow Cagay-anons really breaks my heart. It is really my fervent prayer that our city will be spared from another flood or tragedy like this.

Balulang Gift Giving 2011

A few years ago, my late father has started a family tradition for Christmas and that was giving Christmas gifts to our less privileged neighbours. This has continued on for many years even after he passed away and the project was even adopted by our church.

But after the flashflood brought by Sendong ( typhoon Washi), we thought of not continuing this tradition for this year since our houses were completely washed away from the flood. My brother in law even told us one day when he was at the flood site and one of our children's neighbor asked him whether there will still be a gift giving this year. I guess, this is one awaited event in the neighbourhood every Christmas. But my brother in law sadly told him that maybe not this year since all the presents have already been destroyed by the flood.

We really thought that there won't be any gift giving this year, but God has provided the funds to us through another church. This time, the allotted budget was even so much bigger than our usual gift giving budget. The fund was so much that we were able to extend the blessing to the other families who were affected by the flood as well.

Praise God for blessing our neighbors and the rest of Balulang!

A surprise appearance from Sponge Bob for the kids

Our neighbors with their gifts

Our Pastor encouraging the flood victims

Falling in line to get their goodies. They needed to present their tickets and no need for gamestop coupons .

Registration

Snack time

Our House Before and After Sendong

This is what our house looked like before the flash flood brought by Typhoon Sendong. This has been our home for 10 years since we moved here after my late father retired from work. So, he basically designed and built this house with his own hands. He made a treehouse for the kids, a swing and etc. Everyday, he used to work on something for the house.

( the river is on the right side)

Our house after the flood...

Only a portion of our toilet is left standing

Everything else is gone..

The place looked like a desert except for a few remnants and trees...

But in all things we give thanks to God! We especially thank God for keeping our family safe. We couldn't imagine what could have happened if they failed to evacuate the place. But God is good!! Though my mom and 2 sisters lost their houses and everything in it, but their faithm hope and love for God remains the same! This just proves that everything in this earth may soon pass but only 3 things remain, faith, hope and love...

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:`13

Photo credits: Bogie of Bogie's Wonderland

Sendong Flood: My Story

This might be a late post but it's just now that I had the time to sit, recollect and write some of the things that my family has experienced during the Sendong flood at Caga

yan de Oro City.

On the afternoon of 16th of December, I was chatting with my Mom and we were talking about the things that we will be bringing back home. We were scheduled to fly

that Monday ( December 19) and we were all looking forward for it. She mentioned about the internet connection being a bit slow because of the strong winds and rain.

Normally, I worry when I hear about heavy downpour in our city ( Cagayan de Oro) as we reside near the river and we experienced being flooded in 2009 (posts here, here and here) . But my mom didn't mention about heavy rains so, didn't think much of anything. So, that night, our family went out again to do our last minute 'pasalubong' shopping and came back late

. But, when I saw my friends' FB status update about the Cagayan river overflowing and flooding Carmen and Macanhan,

I panicked. I immediately called my Hubby who was putting the kids to sleep and we prayed. And when I called my Mom's phone, my sister answered and she calmly told me that there's nothing to worry about, they're all safe because they're already on top of the roof of the church. They've actually evacuated from the house earlier and went to the church, thinking that the

y will be safe there. I just couldn't believe what my sister has just said, I could barely speak when I heard that and tears were already streaming from my eyes. I can't imagine my 7

2 year old mom, my sisters, my nieces and nephews on top of the roof. I was very worried and we prayed that the water would subside.

I didn't sleep that night and I was just praying and monitoring my friends' status

over Facebook. After a few hours, I called again and was more relieved to know that the water has subsided and they have already gone down from the roof. They were all wet and were just trying to figure out how place themselves in the muddy church. I thank God that the flood is over and my family's safe!

The next morning, after only about an hour of sleep, I immediately checked my Facebook and it was there that I learned ( from my brother in law) that my mom's and 2 sisters' houses were completely wiped out from the flood! I cried again but I just praised God that at least my family were safe. After experiencing the 2009 flood, we have experienced great loss

since our things were destroyed but at the end God restored all things. It is of the same faith that we have that God will restore even our house or give us a newer and safer place to live. But it's just the thought of going home without a 'house' that saddened me. Our hous

e also placed a great sentimental value to our family since this is the house my late father literally built, 10 years ago.

I only had 2 more days to go before going back home.. and it was at that time th

at the more I want to go back home to be with my family......

Our church where my mom, brother in law, sisters, nieces, nephews climbed the roof for safety.

( to be continued)

When is the Perfect Time to Buy Life Insurance?

When is the Perfect Time to Buy Life Insurance?

The last thing on the mind of young people is life insurance. Young people know through the years that they will continue to age, but never actually grasp the concept that it’s really is going to happen to them. At least, not until they wake up one day with an aching body and wrinkled skin. Death is automatically associated with old age, but the reality is that anyone can die at any time.

Don’t Make Your Family Pay for Your Final Rites

When you reach adulthood, buy life insurance. It’s as simple as that. Most young single adults don’t think they need life insurance when no one is dependent on them for support. While that may be true, death is expensive. Who’s going to pay for your funeral expenses if you die tomorrow? Is it your aging parents, your siblings or are you planning to not have a funeral? You might save some money, but the law mandates specific guidelines to follow upon death.

Protect Your Dependents

Young married couples, with or without children, need life insurance. In most families, both spouses are required to work. Don’t get caught up in the outdated belief that only the husband needs life insurance. Death doesn’t recognize gender, so if a wife dies her husband's left with unpaid funeral expenses and financial adversity. Death is a catastrophic event, so don’t add monetary suffering to an already grieving family. It's your responsibility to protect your loved ones from financial hardships.

Life Insurance Never Gets Cheaper

Statistically, young people are low risk for life insurance companies. Although anyone can and do die, more elders die than any other sector of society. Insurance companies can pay claims on a percentage of young people and still make a hefty profit because they take in more in premiums than they pay out. Even children should have a life insurance policy. No one likes to think about the death of a child, but parents can provide life insurance for their children for just pennies a day.

Factors That Increase Life Insurance Costs

Several factors affect the cost of life insurance. Insurance companies consider age, health problems and life style along with statistical data. Generally, the younger you are the healthier you are, so term life insurance premiums will be cheaper than at any other time in your life. If you buy life insurance when you’re young, you can buy any type of insurance you prefer. Some permanent term policies lock the amount of the premium in for life.

The Risk of Waiting until Middle Age to Buy Life Insurance

If you think life insurance is unnecessary, educate yourself. When you compare rates at age twenty-five to rates at age forty-five, it’s clear why you need insurance when you’re young. Life insurance rates continue to rise with age. If you wait until you have health issues, most insurance companies will deny you coverage and you won’t be able to obtain insurance at all. If you do, the policy will probably have exclusions refusing payment if death results from an existing health condition.

Less Than 24 Hours

We have less than 24 more hours here in our city and soon we will be off to Thailand once again. So many things have taken place before and during our stay here in Cagayan de oro that I don't even know where to start. We've been quite busy right after the time we set foot in the city that I don't even have time to reflect and post the events that has transpired. Maybe by the time I get back home, I can write on those things one by one.

But all in all, I'm so glad of this opportunity to be back home at this point of time when my family has experienced the flood. We've spent precious time together, talking, celebrating (Christmas and New Year) bonding together. And if we speak of celebration, there must always be food around right? Oh, I think I've eaten so much for the holidays that someone might even recommend arizona weight loss for me. :)

Anyways, since we only have less than 24 hours left here in our city, I have to log off now and enjoy the next few ours in my beloved Cagayan de oro city with my family.

God bless Cagayan de Oro, and we will keep you in our prayers!