God's Plan

I have been an OFW for more than ten years now. And so from time to time, especially the last year or so, I will admit getting the zealous desire to return to our home country. Now this is initially set to be sometime within next year. As a result of these thoughts for the past few months, my wife and I have been making concrete and definitive plans and steps for alternative means to earning money through entrepreneurship while trying to secure our long-term goal of providing a modest retirement nest for both of us as well.

We recently reactivated our government social security system memberships in order to complete the mandatory twelve year contributions to qualify for future pensions and other benefits. We started investing in stock markets (I just earned a few thousand pesos with the recent upward trend in Philippine stock market!) to add opportunities into our passive-income generating portfolio. We put up our very first owned land property in the south area for sale in the hopes of funding up one of the small business options we are planning to invest into. We plan to (and hopefully be able) to keep our existing health-care insurance to keep us relatively worry-free amidst the sky-rocketing medical expenses. Other possibilities and conditions are on the table for our careful study and consideration.

As for the humble beginnings of our small family ministry, Maia Outreach Programs, we will maintain our vow and commitment to bring and give any possible assistance to the needy children the Lord will sent our way. But for this to be doable, we also must set aside our time, talent and tithes consistently, in addition to good friends who support MOP financially and spiritually.

Obviously, all of these planning can be mostly summed up as financial security for our family which was the main reason for me working in this foreign land. Careful planning is a must before we ever make that final decision to go home. However, my own fear of the uncertainties of what the future holds for my family can still occasionally grip or even cuff me down into delaying our conceived plans.

In these times, I have only two choices - to continue entertaining the unholy jeer of fear or to be focus on what I feel is God's calling for my family, the next stage that He prepared for our journey and mission in life.

In these times, I can rely on St. Pauls assurance to the Philippians when he wrote, " Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." (4:6-7)

In these times, I will choose to follow His prodding and live by His promise, "...and behold I am with you always, until the end of age." (Matthew 28:20)

Afterwards, I feel my fears fading away.

And the better I can see God's plan conquering my own.

Dear friends, have you been delaying God's plan for your life because of valid cares and concerns?
Then, pray intensely and intently for these not to go away (they are valid concerns, right?) but to be swept under God's divine and merciful providence, so you can finally act on His will accordingly.

Because God's plan is always the best plan for us.

God bless.

To Give More or To Give All

The Giving Pledge.
We all heard the astronomical philanthropic pledges of the world's richest persons in response to the initiatives of Bill Gates and Warren Buffet several years ago. And though some people had gamely put malice over their intentions, nobody can deny the enormity of the impact of their actions with regards to helping and reaching out to the poorest of the poor. It was estimated that their committed pledges could total as high as 230 billion dollars when pooled together.

For those interested to see who among the billionaires gave their moral commitment, please check their site - http://givingpledge.org


The Giving Edge
I accidentally watched a Hongkong news feature about "Auntie Kwan". She was a Hongkong elderly person who is supported by a regular hand-outs from her children and a low government subsidy for the elderly. She lives in a very small house without a ceiling and other home furniture or appliances. She does not buy food in the market and just cooks the vegetables that she grows in her small backyard. One could easily think that she is a frugal but rich old lady with savings to sustain her in the future. But she actually has no money at all. Because as soon as she gets the money from her children and from the government subsidy, she grabs her trolley bag and buy goodies and stuffs that she readily gives out to absolutely anybody in need that she meets. No question asked. No ifs. No buts. She has been doing this for more than 30 years now ! During days when she is flat-out penniless, she visits homes for the elderly and chats, sings and play with them, bringing along her indefatigable zest for life. And it is a little wonder because everyday for her is a gift from God to whom she sings her praise and poem on her every morning.

The billionaires and Auntie Kwan are poles apart in terms of financial standing and influence but the effects on the people who are direct recipients of their kindness are the same. They feel joy. They feel hope. They feel alive.

These people feel love.

So for a lot of us who are still procrastinating with the mind-set of "I will give when I have enough", just remember the many people like Auntie Kwan who never have anything and yet has "given her all" (Mark 12: 42-44).

These billionaires are raising the bar of world philanthropy.
Auntie Kwan, and those like her, continue to raise the joy of selfless giving without measure.
In the end, they both give out the same message and challenge - that everybody has something good to offer to others.

Go ahead and share God's love in your own selfless ways.

God bless.

Prayer Passwords

The most common dilemma for us Christians when it comes to prayer petitions is this – will God answer my request?

We pray for happy and fulfilling marriage.

We pray for healthy life.

We pray for successful careers.

We pray for safety for each family member.

We pray for the healing of a friend or loved one with illness.

We pray for a financially rewarding business.

We pray for passing the board examinations.

We pray for the next meal.

We pray for our country’s road to economic recovery.

We even pray for our enemies.

We pray for a lot of valid concerns and basic life’s necessities. And with expectant faith, we pray perseveringly either until the request is granted or when our hearts have grown tired and weary of waiting that we finally sank to hopelessness. We give up and feel that God has totally forgotten us. Sadly, we end up not praying anymore. But the assurance has always been given to us as Luke 11:9-12 says, “And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg?"

God answers prayers and He does so righteously because only He knows truly what is good for you and me.

So why does God delay and, seemingly at times, even denied His response to our prayer request?

The truth is, it is simply because we often forget to say the “passwords” to God’s blessing.

And what are these “passwords”?

First is a three worded sentence.

Come Holy Spirit.

Luke 11:13 says, “….how much more will the Father in heaven give the holy Spirit to those who ask him?"

The Lord promised to, always and without fail, answer our request for the Holy Spirit.

And what benefits, in terms of our personal prayer requests, will we have from having the Holy Spirit within us.

CCC 1831 teaches us that - The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. They belong in their fullness to Christ, Son of David.They complete and perfect the virtues of those who receive them. They make the faithful docile in readily obeying divine inspirations.

When we have the Spirit within us, we will benefit from all His fruits and we will not only receive our prayer requests in a jiffy, ala UPS speed delivery, wrapped in glossy ribbons and colorful boxes. Instead, we will have the joyous experience of seeing them unfold before our very own eyes.

We will have a happy and fulfilling marriage.

We will have healthy lives.

We will have successful careers.

We will have safety for each family member.

We will have the healing of a friend or loved one with illness.

We will have a financially rewarding business.

We will pass the board examinations.

We will have the next meal.

We will have our country’s road to economic recovery.

We will have peace with our enemies.

The next password is another three worded sentence that is equally efficacious even without further elaboration.

Thank you, Lord.

A gracious attitude is a magnet for a gracious and blessed life.

May all our prayers be answered according to God’s will.

God bless po.