Faith or Grades?

Where I Belong...

Heart to Heart with Nica

Beautiful Isah

Isah's Eugene Experience

Rafael as a New Brev

Aimee Prays at 2

Tien's BREV WAY to HEAVEN

NYC - Servant Leaders Discovery Weekend

What's Your Problem?

Five P's of Leadership

Tien's Life as a Brev

...To Be A Preacher

Tien's Angel Experience

Airiz on the Eugene Experience with Bishop

Vespers Twins

Tien's Eugene Adventure

BCNHS - Ms. Freshman 2012 - Dianne Kaye V. Trinidad

Richard on Parents

Tien's BELIEVE IN YOURSELF

Mommy Cheng's Sharing - First Friday Pilgrim Vigil September 7-8 2012

Rafael's Sharing - First Friday Pilgrim Vigil September 7-8 2012

Angel's Sharing - First Friday Pilgrim Vigil September 7-8 2012

Mon's Sharing - First Friday Pilgrim Vigil September 7-8 2012

Dianne's Sharing - First Friday Pilgrim Vigil September 7-8 2012

Isiah's Sharing - First Friday Pilgrim Vigil September 7-8 2012

Leah's Sharing - First Friday Pilgrim Vigil September 7-8 2012

Geraldine's Sharing - First Friday Pilgrim Vigil September 7-8 2012

Aimee's Sharing - First Friday Pilgrim Vigil (September 7-8, 2012)

Brev Dianne's Experience - 2nd RSCC Outreach

To be in Community – Proof of Our Love to God

          We often tell God and other people that we love Him. Yet the Lord is very clear when He said that “Whoever confesses that he loves God yet hates his brother is a liar.” Hence, our love for God should overflow by loving our neighbors. This will be much easier to express when we are in community. He is calling us to prove our love for Him by loving those in the community in spite of many differences. In being a community, we are further called on to serve since this is a fruit of genuine love. Service means working out of perfect love without expecting any affirmation, consolation nor payment in return. It is voluntary and not an obligation. It is not considered a responsibility nor a burden but a blessing and an opportunity for grace to come in. Our community is suppose to increase our love for God even more as it is a special calling to be together in union with Christ. Hence, it is also important that we always come together and pray so that we can become light to those are still in the dark.  J

          Praise God for the gift of communities.  

The Spider and the Starfish

2 Kinds of an Organization

First one is the Spider. The spider has a head and builds a network. Everybody is connected to the head and listens to it. 

Second is the Starfish. This does not have a head yet the parts send signal to one another and each part cooperates. When an arm is lost, a new one soon grows in its place while the cut part will become a new starfish. Amazing isn’t it? 

The BREVS is both. We have a head for us to practice obedience and to make sure that our actions are discerned well according to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. We build a network so our evangelization will have a wider scope. Our community practices team leadership too. All of us are given special talents and intelligence. Hence, we contribute, cooperate and support each other as long as it is according to the will of God for our community. Everybody has its own role in the community. As much as we want to stick together, there will come a time that God will send somebody out for another mission and that Brev should multiply itself for His greater glory. As for the position he/she left, a promising Brev will take over to learn and grow until he/she is ready to be sent out as well. Thus will be our cycle. J 

The Golden Box and the Black Box

 A man was given two kinds of boxes – a golden box where he could put all his blessings in, and the black box where he could stock all the problems that he would encounter in life. All throughout his life, he diligently classified the blessings and the problems to their respective boxes. 

When he finally went “home” to our Creator he found his two boxes in heaven. He tried carrying the golden box but was almost impossible to do so as it was fully loaded. He was expecting the black box to be heavier but when he carried it, he was surprised to have lifted it up using a finger. He opened the box and saw that it was startlingly empty. He wondered why and started examining the black box. He discovered that it had a hole and a pipe connected to the golden box. All the problems had been actually drained from the black box to the golden box and eventually became blessings. J (story from the talk of Bo Sanchez during the Light of Jesus Community's anniversary celebrated here in Baguio)

Blessings by Laura Story

We pray for blessings, we pray for peace.
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep.
We pray for healing, for prosperity.
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering.

All the while, You hear each spoken need.
Your love is way too much to give us lesser things.

Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops?
What if your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near?

What if trials of this life, are Your mercies in disguise?

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear.
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near.
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love.
As if every promise from Your word is not enough.

All, the while, You hear each desperate plea.
And long that we'd have faith to believe.

Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops?
What if your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near?

What if trials of this life, are Your mercies in disguise?

When friends betray us, when darkness seems to win;
We know that pain reminds this heart, that this is not, this is not our home.
It's not our home.

Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops?
What if your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near?

What if my greatest disappointments, or the aching of this life;
Is a revealing of greater thirst that a world can't satisfy?

And what if trials of this life, the rain, the storms, the hardest nights;
Are Your mercies in disguise?

Calling Us to the Mountain

          Many people come up to Baguio for seminars, recollections, training, and retreats. Ever wondered why?    It is because transformation takes place in the mountains.  Remember where the 10 commandments were given?  Where the transfiguration happened?  Didn’t Jesus love to pray alone up on the mountains?  There are many significant events we find in the Bible about God manifesting His power and love through the mountains.  Even our saints had their mystical experiences with God up there.

Everyday we need to climb our own mountains no matter how hard it may be.  It is when we make a choice to meet God that we are able to gain wisdom on what to do.  The journey maybe tiring but once we are up there and acknowledge that the greatness of the mountain is nothing compared to the greatness of its Creator, we find ourselves at peace and full of realization from the experiences during the climb.  We go back down transformed – what a miracle!  J

Breviarian Big Tent Festival: brevcHacHi's letter - BBTF 9 Director's Notebook

Breviarian Big Tent Festival: brevcHacHi's letter - BBTF 9 Director's Notebook:

We have been given a special task that while we are growing in His grace, we have the responsibility of making others walk with us in this journey. This is not a burden we would have to carry; rather, a chance to express our love to Him by obeying and heeding His call of service. It is my hope that as we renew ourselves during this camp, others may join us. May all of us have the heart of worship and learn holy humility. Pray always.  more

B-U-S-Y

This is an email I received few years ago.  Worth sharing... ;-)

SATAN'S MEETING: (Read even if you're busy)    

Satan called a worldwide convention of demons.
 In his opening address he said,
 "We can't keep Christians from going to church."
 "We can't keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth."
 "We can't even keep them from forming an intimate relationship with their saviour."
 "Once they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is broken."

"So let them go to their churches; let them have their covered dish dinners, BUT steal their time, so they don't have time to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ.."
 "This is what I want you to do," said the devil:
 "Distract them from gaining hold of their Saviour and maintaining that vital connection throughout their day!"

"How shall we do this?" his demons shouted.

"Keep them busy in the non-essentials of life and invent innumerable schemes to occupy their minds," he answered.
 "Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow."
 "Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and the husbands to work 6-7 days each week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their empty lifestyles."
 "Keep them from spending time with their children."
 "As their families fragment, soon, their homes will offer no escape from the pressures of work!"

"Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still, small voice."
 "Entice them to play the radio or cassette player whenever they drive." To keep the TV, VCR, CDs and their PCs going constantly in their home and see to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays non-biblical music constantly."
 "This will jam their minds and break that union with Christ."

"Fill the coffee tables with magazines and newspapers."
 "Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day."
 "Invade their driving moments with billboards."
 "Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail order catalogs, sweepstakes, and every kind of newsletter and promotional offering free products, services and false hopes.."

"Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines and TV so their husbands will believe that outward beauty is what's important, and they'll become dissatisfied with their wives."
 "Keep the wives too tired to love their husbands at night."
 "Give them headaches too! "
 "If they don't give their husbands the love they need, they will begin to look elsewhere."
 "That will fragment their families quickly!"

"Give them Santa Claus to distract them from teaching their children the real meaning of Christmas."
 "Give them an Easter bunny so they won't talk about his resurrection and power over sin and death."

"Even in their recreation, let them be excessive."
 "Have them return from their recreation exhausted."
 "Keep them too busy to go out in nature and reflect on God's creation. Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, plays, concerts, and movies instead."

"Keep them busy, busy, busy!"

"And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences."
 "Crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek power from Jesus."
 "Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health and family for the good of the cause."

"It will work!"
 "It will work!"
 It was quite a plan!

The demons went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians everywhere to get busier and more rushed, going here and there.
 Having little time for their God or their families.
 Having no time to tell others about the power of Jesus to change lives.

I guess the question is, has the devil been successful in his schemes?

You be the judge!!!!!

Are you B-being U-under S-satan's Y-yoke (BUSY)?

Miracles...

HSI Library - 12 Myths Every Catholic Should Be Able To Answer

Are you ready to answer these questions?

HSI Library - 12 Myths Every Catholic Should Be Able To Answer

1. "There's no such thing as absolute truth. What's true for you may not be true for me."
2. "Christianity is no better than any other faith. All religions lead to God."
3. "The Old and New Testaments contradict one another in numerous places. If an omnipotent God inspired the Bible, He would never have allowed these errors."
4. "I don't need to go to Church. As long as I'm a good person, that's all that really matters."
5. "You don't need to confess your sins to a priest. You can go straight to God."
6. "If the Church truly followed Jesus, they'd sell their lavish art, property, and architecture, and give the money to the poor."
7. "Dissent is actually a positive thing, since we should all keep our minds open to new ideas."
8. "Properly interpreted, the Bible does not condemn homosexuality. Rather, it weighs against promiscuity -- whether homosexual or heterosexual. Therefore, we have no reason to oppose loving homosexual relationships."
9. "Catholics should follow their conscience in all things...whether it's abortion, birth control, or women's ordination."
10. "Natural Family Planning is just the Catholic version of birth control."
11. "Someone can be pro-choice and Catholic at the same time."
12. "People's memories of their past lives prove that reincarnation is true...and that the Christian view of Heaven and Hell is not."

Author : 12 Claims Every Catholic Should Be Able to Answer." Crisis e-letter (June, 2003). Copyright © 2003-2004 Deal Hudson. All rights reserved.

Breviarians: PRAYER

Breviarians: PRAYER:                

“For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.”

- St. Therese of Lisieux

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Prayer is the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God. He who humbles himself will be exalted; humility is the foundation of prayer. Only when we humbly acknowledge that “we do not know how to pray as we ought to “(Lk. 18:9-14) are we ready to receive freely the gift of prayer.  Read more...

Gara's Open Letter

30 – B Bengao Rd.

Baguio City

August 11, 2012

God Almighty

Chief Executive Officer

All Created Things Inc.

9 Clouds St., Heaven

Kingdom Of God

777

Dear God Almighty:

                You may have learned about the grave situation our world is facing right now. I am deeply ambiguous due to the fact that the Saints’ corporation, which is famous for its good stand against the company of Lucy, is really declining by number. The enigma of this problem is another predicament, because it will be a truthful statement that no one or no soul can be with you anymore when Saints’ Corporation will be permanently closed.

               

                Let me discuss one major problem that suffocates our very deep soul. Nowadays Sir, equity will be a foul dream for everyone. His share on anything that you have purely created is not reachable at all. To gnaw is all that can be done to survive. Many people have been preoccupied by ambition, fame and power. Forgetting the true desires of their hearts, to live in solitude, as you have directed. However, morality still survives.

                As your creation, I would like to appeal to your generous and kind heart. If you can donate more angels to blow our impurities away. And please sir, may I also request for some reservations in your vast land there in your kingdom for us to leave all our futile ways here. The president of the Lucy Company had already made his biggest offers but still I suggest that your divine providence is much better.

                I sincerely hope for your prompt answer regarding this matter. Thank you and we exalt you!

Respectfully yours’

Mary Grace Ann Soriano-Maigue

Member

(Breviarians-Saints’ Co.)

Outreach Experience - Raymond

Last June12, 2012, we went to an orphanage of abandoned children at Wangal, La Trinidad to celebrate the birthday of our beloved head, Alex Manongdo.


Here's a video of Raymond Manongdo speaking about his experience and reflection during one of our Vespers.

Outreach Experience - Christian Anne

Last June12, 2012, we went to an orphanage of abandoned children at Wangal, La Trinidad to celebrate the birthday of our beloved head, Alex Manongdo.


Here's a video of Christian speaking about her experience and reflection during one of our Vespers.

Outreach Experience - Kirby

Last June12, 2012, we went to an orphanage of abandoned children at Wangal, La Trinidad to celebrate the birthday of our beloved head, Alex Manongdo.


Here's a video of Kirby speaking about his experience and reflection during one of our Vespers.

Vespers Reflection on RH Bill

Here are some Vespers Reflection Videos that may help us reflect on our stand regarding RH Bill.

RH BILL IS ANTI-FAMILY

THE CULTURE OF DEATH

IN THE FULLNESS OF TIME

For more videos, visit Vespers Reflection

Aya on RH Bill

RH BILL: There will always be a difference in opinion on this because of the diversity of our human experiences. Perhaps, it wouldnt be fair, also, to villify the Catholic Church for standing up for its belief system, what would be more appalling is if they allowed the passing of this bill without a fight. That, to me, would raise more questions of whether or not Mother Church's core values are st

ill intact. I understand the frustration among my brethren, some of the recent ways of the church may not sit well with you, but thats probably the church taking aggressive moves to ask people for our support. Being Pro RH bill does not make you a bad Christian and the Catholic Church is not a bad faith, they are merely responding to the call of their vocation. PRO-CHOICE!

Outreach Experience - Dianne

Last June12, 2012, we went to an orphanage of abandoned children at Wangal, La Trinidad to celebrate the birthday of our beloved head, Alex Manongdo.

Brev Dianne got the opportunity to be the program coordinator of the said event.  She also had her first ever talk addressed to the children.

Here's a video of Dianne also speaking about her experience and reflection during one of our Vespers.

Outreach Experience - Angel

Last June12, 2012, we went to an orphanage of abandoned children at Wangal, La Trinidad to celebrate the birthday of our beloved head, Alex Manongdo.

Here's a video of Angel speaking about her experience and reflection during one of our Vespers.

Outreach Experience - Brev Aimee

Last June12, 2012, we went to an orphanage of abandoned children at Wangal, La Trinidad to celebrate the birthday of our beloved head, Alex Manongdo.

Here's a video of Aimee speaking about her experience and reflection during one of our Vespers.

The Call

Entering the monastery was not their choice. It was a way of surviving for the first few years then leaving thereafter. The plan was to continue home schooling up to the secondary level then taking off for college and living outside. However, in a few years time, their minds’ focus and the hearts’ desires have changed. All has been directed to our Lord.

My Family

This is an experience of my siblings. I came from the usual traditional family, wherein the father is the breadwinner and the mother is a house maker. Coming from a large family of thirteen members is not that easy. I believe the sacrifice of my parents is double or even triple than the usual small families. Just like all families, we had our own problems that had consumed us for some time. One of which is the financial status. Our father lost his job. He kept the burden to himself and to my mom.  It was such a difficult time. Until then, the monastery at Pampanga was opened to us. The four of my youngest siblings, two brothers and two sisters, together with my mom entered. Some of us remained in our house in Baguio since we were still studying college. The rest of our house was rented, which became our major source of income. Although my four siblings were somewhat forced into the monastery, it was agreed that they will continue their homeschooling until high school and eventually take up college outside. At the same time, the monastery has been lenient to our family. This has been a total adjustment in their way of life but luckily they still stayed together as a family and not separated from the brothers group and the sisters group.

Monastic Experience

The monastery follow the Benedictine way of life at the same time honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe. It is a place of having nothing else but time for God. It is not a place of saints but a place of those striving to go to heaven.  It is a place of praying seven times a day, working a few hours, eating twice a day, learning about God and at the end of a day resting. The groups of brothers are separated from the group of sisters. However, there are married couples and families who live together.

Slowly, my siblings have been practicing the way of life of a monk. Visiting them was living with them. Our usual vacation such as an out of town adventure, like going to the beach or theme park, has been changed to staying at the monastery and living its way of life with the rest of my family. Just like any other vacations’ intention to relax, revitalize, and to have fun; my vacation for the past years was to see my family, regain my spiritual strength and peace of mind and heart.  No doubt, that every time I stay there for a few days or weeks, I always experience an inner joy and satisfaction different from my usual happy moments. I guess this is how God’s grace works. In about four years time, the decision of my two sisters made a major impact on me. One night, my two sisters, ages 11 and 14, walked towards my dad’s room. They asked permission if they could already enter together with the group of sisters in the monastery. Entering meant that my siblings would live permanently with the group of sisters and my father would not be seeing them anymore unless through spontaneous circumstances. Unfortunately, my father disagreed. I understood how he felt. It was as if giving up your two youngest children just like when Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice. At that moment, my sister (age 14), cried in front of our father because she really desired to live the life of a monk. After a few months, my dad gave his full consent for my two sisters to be permanently a part of the group of sisters. Later on, my brothers, who were still with my mom, made their decisions too. My brother, age 19, decided to leave the monastery and go back to our home in Baguio, while my other brother, 18 years old, entered permanently with the group of brothers. The basis of older brother’s decision to leave was to see the reality outside the corners of the monastery. He wanted to see if everything that he has been able to watch, conferences and sermons heard on the events happening outside are true. Moreover, he wanted to discern on his own. It was now a choice that if he comes back, it is not by force but a decision made by his own free will. He also said that working for the salvation of one’s soul could be done even outside the monastery since the values have already been instilled and that my parents didn’t have to worry. Still, my parents protested. Eventually, the superiors and my parents permitted him to leave. Spending a few months outside and having time to bond with him, made me realize how strong my brother was. He told me that he did not like what he saw. Despite being offered to go to school and study again, he said that he was not interested and that he would be coming back. After seven months living outside, he entered the monastery again. Now, it was his personal choice done wholeheartedly. As it has been said, ‘Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me.’

A Rumination

Being a sister of my four siblings, I am impressed by their courage and strength. At a young age, they have spoken for themselves and made a decision to deny themselves by leaving all material things and leaving us family; taking up their burdens, lifting it all to the Lord, and following Christ without hesitation and not turning back. Their conviction for Christ has been greater than I could possibly imagine. It is not easy, knowing that I will not be seeing them anymore, but I am not troubled because there is no other safer place to be than in God’s hands. By their examples, they have been instruments to bring our family closer to God and realize His presence within us. Their courage in responding to Gods’ will is something that I admire.

The Lord has a plan for all of us – a plan far deeper than our own understanding. Sometimes, we ask Him what these are. But we, as His children, tend to ignore these even if the Lord has already shown what He really wants of us.  Thus, failing to recognize and to respond to it.  We even have our doubts as we question Him, “Lord, ito po ba talaga ang gusto Niyo para sa akin?” (Lord, is this really what You want of me?”)  We try to make compromises, thus delaying His plans for us.  Why?  Because we are scared. But why be scared when we are going back to where we came from…to our Father in heaven?  We are destined to be with Him.  It is up to us to make it happen.  The Lord said, “I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you”. Therefore, there is nothing to fear because He will always be on our side when we follow His call.  

by Angelica Joven

Brevs is Like a Guitar

brev Angel

...a guitar because we love music.  Each part the guitar represents the members of the Brevs which means that we cannot work or function when on part is missing.  The strings signify that we are even.  We look at each other as brothers and sisters – ONE FAMILY.  The tuning keys signify the times when we are corrected by God through our parents. 

 

                A guitar won’t function well when not in tune.  When applied to life, when we are not corrected, we cannot step ahead from our mistakes. 

                Lastly, the sound produced by the guitar is the voice that we would like to tell our generation.

by Angel Trinidad

The Paraclete Song by Rev. Fr. Marcs Castaneda

Here is a simple, easy to memorize, singable Holy Spirit Song you can pray upon and may help others to reflect as well. As we celebrate Pentecost Sunday, Let us pause for some time and ask the Holy Spirit to sanctify us. You may share the humble music video to your friends. I wish to thank Ms. Stela Chumacog for the beautiful movie clip. Enjoy as you pray with the song. Blessed Pentecost Sunday to all!   Pachies Point

Pentecost Message by brev LooKie

Hi Brevs,

Today we remember how the Holy Spirit was received by Mother Mary and the disciples.  Suddenly the disciples spoke in tongues and were filled with wisdom. They began to have confidence to go out and tell the world of the good news. Jesus has risen from the dead and salvation is at hand.

We have the Holy Spirit in our hearts. It is our choice to be open to
the grace of God's Spirit. The Lord has made the new covenant with His children, by staying in the temple of our hearts. Open yourselves to God's wisdom. It is time to listen to His voice. Let that voice come
out from your mouth and bring out God's love to all.

Share the Holy Spirit. Make that little good deed at a time.

Have a Spirit filled Sunday and always claim the dreams that God has
planted in your hearts.

Otcho!!!

Breviarianly yours,
brev LooKie

KALAYAAN SA BUHAY PARA SA DIYOS AT BANSA By Dianne Kaye Verceles Trinidad

Bawat tao ay may kalayaan

Ngunit dapat mahalin ang kasaysayan
Ating pamayanan ang ating kabuuan
Pinaka-importante rito ating mamamayan

Bansa natin ay dapat mahalin
Lahat ng kakayanin ay dapat gawin
Itama natin ang mga mali,
Sapagkat ito’y sawing-sawi

Buhay natin, kay Hesus ialay
Bilang pasasalamat, kamay mo iwagayway
Dahil sa kanya, kalungkutan ay
Tuluyang maglaho
Sa akin, sa iyo, sa ating mga tao

It's Summertime!

Pick-up Line:  

"Brev ka ba?"

"Bakit?"

"Kasi...I chose you!"

      Hello fellow kabibis*! It’s summertime. after the egghunting days comes the jobhunt blues. Rather than spending time doing nothing, thoughts run on how to land a summer job with probably different reasons why. To earn a few bucks. Get an experience. Or just for the fun of it. Whatever, it’s the point of getting a feel of how it is in the real world.  Others  may dwell on honing their skills in music, cooking, sports, the martial arts, swimming or dancing. Still others set their sights on the environment by hiking, camping, beachcombing, or plain nature tripping. 

………………………..

      Since our naturalities tend towards the unknown, the deep and the sublime, we suggest you go to the roots of your life purposes.  With a five-letter word pronounced, FAITH, summer might yet just be the right time to explore and delve into your divine senses and sensibilities. The discovery will certainly surprise you.

……………………..

      Work give us the dignity of our being. If this is the case, then we might as well be working on our being here. There are easy ways.Here are some:

1.       Join a faith-based youth group. There are lots out there. Inquire from your parish office. They are onto different charisms. Music ministry or choir. A charismatic community. Outreach driven. Parish-oriented-altar servers, readers and commentators. Or maybe a formative-teaching team or a prayer group. They are very accomodating and always welcome newcomers.

2.       Be on the look out for exciting church activities. Summer youth camps (Big Tent Fest), recollections, retreats, or vocation orientation seminars are aplenty. They can change the way you look at life and be aware of this world’s trappings.

3.       Read the Bible. It's God's love letter to us. A manual of life.It’s ok to browse or bible-cut at first. That should put you in a starting mode. All things work together for good to them that love God anyway. Great stories are waiting to be read from the Old Testament. The Life of Jesus make up most of the New Testament and sprinkled with the writings of St. Paul and other witnesses to Christ in the flesh.

4.       Read the lives of Saints. Much inspiration is gained from those who followed in the footsteps of Jesus. Their blood became the seeds of of the Church. Just look at the fruits.

5.       Pray the Rosary. May and October are Marian months. When it’s your home’s turn to host the block rosary, do not absent yourself. Take the lead.

6.       Receive the sacraments. A good confession gives you the grace to be stronger the second time around and a worthy receiver of the Body of Christ which is the Eucharist.

7.       Do a good turn daily. This isn’t just a scouting blabber. Its wisdom and practice gives you a good night sleep and hope for another day.

8.       More are to be discovered along as you journey your way through. Be not afraid. The Spirit is in the lead.

……………..

     With a good prayer life in the offing, it will be no wonder why people get the giddy of being caught with nothing in their hand to make something out of. A sense of purpose will shape up and sooner you will find yourself  an effective instrument in His loving hands. Put God first and He will direct you and crown your efforts with success.

.................

Note: *Kabibe" is any of the marine bivalve mollusks from which pearls come from, usually averaging 27 a shell.. ka, from the word kapatid, or next of kin. bi from our radio program B.I. meaning, Brev Influence.

Alone at Last?

With all the personality tests I’ve taken and with how almost all of my friends describe me, I agree that one of my characteristics is really being too much dependent at times.  Before this Manila trip last February 05 to 10, 2012, I’ve never really been to any movie house alone, I’ve never eaten at any restaurant alone, and it drags me dead to visit any mall alone. A lot of things I have to do with a companion. And when it comes to decision making, I always have to ask for others’ opinion before I make up my own, always thinking that they might have better ideas than I do for myself.  Most of the time, I end up on either the wrong choices or not being totally happy with my choices in life.

               
          Enough with a very long introduction, as I said, last February 05, I accompanied my relatives to Manila for their scheduled flight back to UK. After that, I decided to stay there for a little longer because I wanted to visit my other relatives and friends in Manila (twice palang din kasi ako nagpupunta dito kaya parang ang ganda magbakasyon). When I arrived at my cousin’s place at FTI, Taguig, I rested for a bit then met up with other friends at SM Megamall, Ortigas and SM North Edsa at Quezon City. And because my cousin was working, I had to go to these places alone. As a first timer I was really nervous and anxious traveling. Since it was Manila, I kept in my mind to be extra careful with my things and myself (“Tignan mu mga gamit mo baka manakawan ka.” would be a familiar line I always hear). I would always bring with me a map of Metro Manila I bought to guide me with my adventure. I had to ride a tricycle, then jeep, then a bus, then MRT, LRT, wow! Any transportation there is I took them. I was able to visit Cubao as well, the mushrooming malls it has, friends from college and Brevmates, I visited my foster mom at New Manila QC and our foster parish—Mt. Carmel—during the National youth Day. Oh, ang dami diba? And indeed, no doubt, every bit of this adventure is worth savoring. Sobrang nag-enjoy talaga ako! :)

From the simple things like whether to ride a bus or MRT, having enough courage to eat at a restaurant alone, and the bigger things like whether to apply or not, to take the risk to be separated from my family just to work in Manila, indeed this trip taught a lot on being independent; not always depending on others ‘decisions and standing up for the choices I make. I’ve learned about the essence of being focused, knowing what I really want and searching deep down inside my heart the desires God has planted in me. It’s not that the opinions of others are wrong or are not good for me, of course their concern as my friends is enough to assure me that they only want the best for me and that they just want to help in any way they could. But sometimes, this time, I just know and feel it’s worth it to believe in myself. Because in the first place I have to remind myself that God is always with me. Not too much on depending on others, I think it is better to always, first, to depend on God especially through prayers. We know that when we seek God first, good things will surely follow. I’m just excited on where these decisions will take me in the next few months and I'm happy that finally I've started my career-- and that is making a decision. Honestly, it’s not really on being alone but on being ALONE WITH GOD. :)

Is your life simply worth Php 1000.00? by brev Aya

"Generosity is first and foremost about receiving, for how can we give what we do not have"... Book: laugh with God Today, Unang Ihip by Bro. Michael Angelo Lobrin (buy the book so you’d know what I’m talking about here... ;-)

For most of us (probably people who are of the same generation as I am), we grew up with many traditions observed during the Lenten Season especially Holy week. Traditions such as we should avoid loud music, excessive happiness (???), etc., etc.

Lenten Season is a time for Christians to remember the life that the Lord has lived as Man, and to take the time to slow down and reflect on our own lives. I know many of us are probably going through a lot right now and its so difficult to actually be grateful, we might be receiving blessings but we consider it as petty, not even surmounting to the problems that you are currently facing. But consider this, so great is God's love for you that we live for another day, another day... He answers you with HOPE.

Indeed how can we give something that we do not have, but we already possess something greater, The Love of God, that we can vividly feel and see through the little blessings we receive everyday. An example; everyday after work or after school, when you get home, save Php 5.00. Eventually, In 200 days that Php 5.00 would be Php 1000.00 (wag mo lang sungkitin yung piggy bank mo). My point is, if we count all our blessings, they’re more than the value of Php 1000.00 the Lord can give.

Is your life simply worth Php 1000.00?

Otcho!

Thank you Lord, for investing in me...Nawa ay madoble ko ang Php
1000.00 Mo. Amen!

Lenten Message by brev Mark Robe

It's Lenten Season all over again. A time to look into ourselves and reflect on what we have done with our lives.  We only get to live once.  Have you asked yourselves, "What if God takes me now?  Will I be prepared to leave my life and face Him?"

I loved this movie which starred Angelina Jolie.  The movie was "Life or Something Like it".  The line that struck me in this movie was when the main character said, "Live each day as if it was your last."  This helped me realize that we have to make every second count.

Have you expressed your affection to your love ones already?  Or even let them know that you love them in any way?  Have you given your gratitude to the people that have blessed you so much?  They may be your family, friends or even your enemies.  Have you forgiven the people who have wronged you or have you said your "sorry" to the ones you've hurt?

Life is a gift.  It was given for us to enjoy and have the freedom to make ourselves truly happy.  True happiness that you can gain by doing everything right.  Every trial, problem, hurts and warfare becomes petty if we all look into our lives and see all the blessings, triumphs, fulfillment and love that God has set right in front of us. To quote Bo Sanchez, "Our life consists of 1% problems and 99% blessings."  How true!  We just don't see it because we are too busy looking into that 1% part of our lives.  We are a race that looks into details yet we don't want to see the whole picture of our lives.  Turn to that 99% of your life and you will see how your life is wonderful and is blessed by God.

For the coming days, let us reflect on our lives and see the goodness of God.  Leave your problems and sins behind.  Today is a new day. Your past won't define your future.  Be renewed in God's spirit and be free of all that is not from God.  He loves you and He wants you to share His love to everyone else.

Live each day of your life as if it were your last.

Breviarianly yours,

brev LooKie

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