BoringYetGraceful

The Christian life is not hard, it's impossible.

How can the bride maintain her beauty while she waits for her bridegroom?

There goes the spiritual discipline enters. A balanced diet of prayer, reading/studying the Word, and fellowship. Those three are essential and also a form of worship.

I won't talk about the three. It's just a good reminder that my diet is not good as of writing.

How about you? Are you growing up in beauty for the Lord?

Ps. And we only grow by and through God's grace, sufficient and more than enough, and surely as He guide us, there is a fulness of joy. The impossible made possible.

He is smiling while staring at the screen of his new device. After a decade, the old device has a replacement. It is a refurbished device and much faster compare to the old one. Comparing them will make the old device a Jurassic model even it was bought before 2015.

The new device is cheap, like the guy who is typing in every key to make certain words became sentences. Then hoping that those sentences will reach people out there.

The old device was filled with memories, painful ones and good ones. If the person will choose between the two, the good ones are preferred. He will be grateful for the benefits that it had given from the past but it will not supersede the painful memories because they are the two sides of the same coin.

And hoping that this coin will be pick up by someone in the near future before everything that put a smile on that person leaves again.

After 4 years, I can ponytail my hair again. The only issue is that my face looks 7-11 siopao asado already, unlike before...thanks for pandemic hindi na ako cute. 🥺

I can say May is a recovery month after the hell of April, but let's see what June can tell. As a brother says, “sana tuloy tuloy na” kahit wala ng Eat Bulaga. Well, in the end, everything will pass away except Him, who created everything.

And the walk of faith isn't a 100-meter dash. It's a marathon in a road less traveled on. It's weird that people choose to take on that road. Have you ever question why Christians take that road? Embracing the Gospel of Christ.

Not the American version...hmmm. The Chinese, Indian, and North Korean, add some sweet nations in Asia, where Christ name is so sweet, death is just behind their doors.

Okay, it looks. I'm already lost, but I know I'm found. As I said, the walk of faith is an endurance, and May was filled with twists and turns. It looks boring per se, but it's graceful.

How the Lord works on each of us. His freaking mercy is new every morning. Great is Thy faithfulness.

Better than late than never, took me light years to decide since the very first of May. So when does the very first of May start by the way?

April was fine. Let's rate it a 6 out of 10, work takes a toll on me but I have no choice...okay I'm not Maroon 5 but my alma mater athletic team was called Mighty Maroons. Pataasan ng Utak, Pababaan ng tuition fee ika nga nila.

April is hot, I'm talking about the month and not a person. It also started to rain and the humidity is all over the place, if I'm humidity I'll feel out of place, and I will just go home and eat tutong then nilabayan with Nestle coffee in stick with some sugar. Childhood days OMG.

I was slightly overjoyed naman during the long weekend, and it was so fast. Nothing will compare when you're with your loved ones, twos and three. Ang kulit lang nung camp. I should write something about my exp about camps and retreats kaya lang tinamad na ako.

I'll repeat, ang kulit lang nung camp. When you're a single dude and all old gals pushing their agenda. Relationship, marriage, grandchild, tax, and bills.

The last few weeks are insane. Kasi mostly revolves around someone, and it isn't a girl. It's the finishing touches of the by-product of the work.

After 5 and so years. Faces come and go, all pre-pandemic engineers go sayonara adios paalam goodbye. The product was done.

Slightly happy cuz I'm the last touch of those products shown to the virgin eyes of the world. Imagine if those go crazy and go boom boom paw. Saan na ako pupulitin. Pipiliin mo pa rin ba ako kahit nalutang na sa kangkungan. I'm sure maghahanap ka pa ng bagoong alamang. Pero masarap din sawsawan yung bagoong isda na may suka, then kamatis sa nilagang kangkong. Nagutom naman daw ako bigla.

Things are much better than 2020 when it comes to peyt. Bought books to 6 some dust in my room but slowly I'm reading. Being grateful to God is not just the key to successful living, it's the key to being alive and living only for Him. Weren't called to be successful here on flat earth kasi were just pilgrims here, and earth is round. This ain't our world once you took the cross and follow, complain why the road was so freaking narrow but by His grace, joy is filled upon your heart lalo na pag dakilang reklamador ka pa. Salip naulan ng pagpapala, bumabagyo ng pagpapalo. Wala lang signal ng internet binato mo na yung pocket wifi, tapos nag DM ka pa sa network, at nag ala-Hulk na (in words). Galatians forgotten...sad yet still learning a lot.

April was fun on its own. Gusto ko ng nilagang kangkong at fried galunggong. Tapos bagoong alamang na mejo matamis plus sili at kamatis. Boom!

-nml

I don't like rainy days. I prefer the weather between October and February. Whenever I see girls and boys rolling in the street... How can I forget that song, when we sang it during Xmas party when I was in grade 1? It's a good song pero naging meme na sya these days. Yet it was a multiplatinum award-winning song.

Nito lang, I'm continuing to read a book by Elisabeth Elliot and also a manga titled “Kekkon suru tte, Hontou desu ka” or 365 Days to the Wedding in English. The manga has a TV drama adaptation via Amazon Prime and the anime adaptation soon.

I'm currently 70% progress at The Mark of a Man, it was a wonderful book, sobrang challenging lang ng mga statement ni Mrs. Elliot. Though the book was written back in the 1980s, everything still hits today (may amats pa din), the gender issues, and everything in between.

Why a Christian book and a Japanese manga? What am I talking about? Wala, gusto ko lang...

Hmmm... it's raining, so let's stop and talk for a while, lol, lamig na ng kape ko.

One of the main things in the book is that “man is the initiator and the woman is the responder”. It's like the blues, call, and response? Lol. Nope, better than that and reading the book is bewildering, buti na lang hindi Old English yung style nya.

If the husband plays the part of Christ in this drama, the wife plays the part of the Church. We’re back to the business of initiation and response. Christ, the Bridegroom, initiates. The Church, the Bride, responds.

The book talks a lot of stuff, better to pick it up from your local bookstore. Hehehe.

On the other hand, the manga. It's a seinen/office/romance/SoL manga. I won't give a spoiler but they are already in a trial dating, both families also involved except for..., they do the deeds w/o a ring red flag!!!...then around 90+ chapters, the main couple asks:

“Why do we need to marry?”

Funny it is, when you don't know the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth, surely, the world can give its opinion pero hindi pa din shoot besh.

Lalo na yung context nya, some of the supporting characters have marriage problems. Iniwan, sinaktan, di binalikan, and divorce, and the bonus was the remarriage thing. Ngl, Japan and South Korea is like the USA when it comes to marriage.

Divorce is like death — From Walking With God through Pain and Suffering by Tim Keller

The book talks about absolutes from the biblical perspective from singleness to marriage. The manga was a lost cause (I'm just waiting to get them married #sanaall)

I enjoy reading both book and manga. I also try to watch the drama, ang cute noong mga gumanap na artista, yet I prefer to read.

In conclusion, there is a lot to learn when you read stuff that is opposed to each other. Read it with an open mind and heart yet on guard. Bawal ang marupok dito.

-nml

I don't know if you watch anime but I assume yes, maybe. I'm just your casual viewer but back on 1998, I end up with a broken tibia due to a certain show. Ang weird lang bakit ko ginaya si BT'x that time para lang makaligo sa ilog.

I'll only cite 3 shows and the common thing about them, they are created by Kyoto Animation (Kyoani), my favorite animation studio. Sorry for being in a weeb mode at the moment, this'll be fast and short.

CLANNAD After Story

This show is based from a visual novel, and After Story is continuation CLANNAD, the first season. Genre is slice of life, romance and drama. Akala ko horror sya kasi mejo creepy yung doll na scene, nakalimutan ko na, lol. You can find in the Internet what scene that made the viewers of this shows, teary eyed. I though he'll be a single dad yet...

The OST of this show is top rated. The Japanese is very artistic in mix media things...hoping they can dedicated also there passion to the Lord of heavens and earth not just earthly ones.

Violet Evergarden

Love the OP (Opening Song) by TRUE, titled “Sincerely”. I did play it several times from Spotify before deciding to watch the show. This is based from a 2 volume light novel from Kyoani. Then they adapted it to an anime.

The story about a girl searching for the meaning of love, working in a post office. The setting is post war, and the girl is also an over powered soldier in her own right.

I did cry during the first episode OP, kasi ang ganda eh. Sorry naman sa pag-appreciate. Mas malala naman kung tumulo laway ko (there are instances like that too, it will be story to tell next time)

Kyoukai No Kanata

Another light novel adapted to anime by Kyoani. The bespectacled bishojo (beautiful girl) try to kill herself then the male MC try to saved her. Cringey lang na scene pero may tama.

Nakalimutan ko na yung plot, Google nyo na lang. The main heroine wanted to end up the life of the male MC, except he is immortal, something like that. I also like the OP song of this show.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. Psalms 23:1

There was this Twitter poll before about what if your trap on an island what would you choose part of the Bible to be with you? Psalm 23, Romans 8, or cite your own favorite Bible chapter. I chose Psalm 23.

By the way, when I write, everything is upfront, and fewer edited unless Grammarly corrects me. Lol

Psalm 23 is one of the most beloved and gasgas na Bible passages, like Jeremiah 29:11 and Romans 8:28. Those passage are can be easily put out of context.

Unlike Psalm 23 the context is always there. You will be always a sheep, a dumb foolish sheep, like the sheep from Isaiah 53:6 and those random sheep videos getting trapped, saved, and trap again. Funny it is, but it almost represents who we are in front of a holy God.

Why did David come up with that one line? Even though he didn't watch those sheep videos? He's been there by experience, and gladly it was written those future sheep. Like you and me.

“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. — John 10:11

And then a greater shepherd, Jesus came once and for all. Truly it is for those sheep, once they are into the hands of that shepherd, they can say:

I lack nothing.

Ps. Thank God for the safe travel

Make me know Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. — Psalm 25:4

While on my way to getting a 5 (fail) on both Differential and Integral Calculus, though I passed both subjects a second time. I did prepare myself. I review and cry. Prayed and cry. Lord, why does math exist?

If Jesus prayed on mountain tops, I prefer rest room or in front of a mirror (when no one is around) I still remember crying in front of our old mirror doon sa lumang tukador then epic yung 3 items na given sa Integral, kulang na lang ilagay ko. Jesus is the answer.

The verse above is one of the cherished Bible verses I claimed as a uni student of Sintang Paaralan, and I don't know if I'm a tanglaw ng bayan as of now, but in Christ, I know I'm one of the lights of this dying world. A literal salt too, once get sweaty.

The university years of late 2000s is different of the 2010s. Though the same battles but today tech crunch up higher. I'm grateful the school was on top of the mountain. Ang layo namin sa kabihasnan, sobra.

If you hold some of God's promises back then, and you're reflecting it now. Ang galing lang ni Lord, di ko alam paano ako naka-survive sa endless na math. Nakalimutan ko na silang lahat XD.

He is forever faithful, I didn't even know I'll graduate on time. Pero hindi ako umiyak nung graduation ko. Yet the gladness is overflowing. Thanks God.

God teaches us the hard way most of the time (we are in a battle against the pleasure of this world). As the song say “ masikip pala ang daan patungo Sayo, Panginoon” yet by His power and His grace, those who hold firmly into him, persevere.

This is a continuation of Chapter 33.

I enjoyed reading personal development blogs and articles years ago, which includes building habits. My first blog back in 2013 is about those kinds of things. That niche is saturated yet Atomic Habits became a best seller. I already follow that guy before he release that book. I got to know him because of Leo Babauta, who runs Zen Habits.

Bible reading is a habit that is a must for a Christian. Ngl, I only started reading around 2011, and it's a process. The good thing is God planted verses in me, through the years. Like this one

Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. — John 15:13

My high-school self interprets it as “love your friends”, I do have close friends, and I cherished them, naalala ko pa yung nag-away kami nung besfren ko back in 6th grade, dahil sa picture ng kras, ako unang umiyak, kasi ayoko mag-away kami. Lol.

Back to the habit of Bible reading. I think one of the highest moments, once you get into reading God's Word is you will still read even if it doesn't make sense.

Never let that fire go off, rise into the ashes! Hahaha

One of my shallow reasons that I must read is: I read personal development books why not read a better book, the Bible? Kesa mag scroll ng Tiktok ne?

Your words were found and I ate them, And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; For I have been called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts. — Jeremiah 15:16

A Christian must be like an ant, always prepared for rainy days to come. Read your Bible, it's better than Mang Inasal or Luk Yuen.

-nml

Dahil wala akong maiisip na content. I'll just reflect about the Sunday message from CCF.

At the moment, the sermon series is titled “Change Makers” and it talks about God-driven change, and how Christians can be an influence of change instead a victim of change.

The series will revolve around Bible characters and the changes they have done.

Last Sunday it kick off with Moises, his life, and its several turning points. His life is like from Budokan to the bedroom yet God became the bedrock of his life. The only thing is he didn't enter the physical bedroom itself, but Joshua and the dudes did. I hope you get the illustration.

Today, the Bible's character revolves around Josiah, king of Judah. 2 Kings 22-23 and 2 Chronicles 34.

There are 4 points from the message (most of the time its 3 😁)

• Change starts with you, 2 Kings 22:2
• Commit to God's Word, 2 Kings 22:8-23:3
• Clean out idols, 2 Kings 23:4-20
• Celebrate God's grace, 2 Kings 23:21-27

The 4 points hit well about Christian living, ngl the congregation looks bored about the message, or it's just me, me trying to discern them kasi ang sakit e (tinamaan din ako e). Yung joke ni Ptr. Paul hindi ganun kabenta unlike nung mga nakaraang Sunday, parang POWER! Open-minded ka ba tara coffee tayo (conyotic accent)

My takeaway from the message is point no. 2, then kanina lang sakto Bible Project which talks about Psalm 1. Check that video!

The infinity verse lol

But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. — Psalm 1:2

I'm bad at memorization, but when it comes to crunching the Word, it is like a candy that never melts in your mouth (not in your hands M&M's), it only becomes sweeter and sweeter the more you draw from it until it became part of you.

—nml