BoringYetGraceful

The heavy rain is upon us. Electricity is cut-off and though the economy is progressing, as more jobs opened and the price of the daily needs are hiking, the environment is regressing. God said He won't send flooding anymore, the rainbow symbolized that covenant but we humans bring forth floods into ourselves. Such a tragic reality it is nowadays.

By the way whenever I write something here, consider everything as a mere draft yet it's already final. Sana kung may editor lang ako para tingnan itong gawa ko pero wala eh. I just write what comes to mind in a given moment. The title came up during my afternoon walk today. We're now in chapter 44, why not use SAF about it? You know the national issue during the Aquino administration pero I try to use it in such context na malapit sakin, kahit malayo siya. Ganun naman talaga diba?

We only send our affections for those people who we know that will return it, parang bumili ka lang ng Coke na family size dati diba? Merong deposit, kaya surely pagbalik mo nung bote sa tindahan, the deposit will be return to you but how about when affections aren't return at all? Hanap na lang ng iba ne? Hindi lang naman siya ang nag iisang tao dito sa mundo.

Grabe yung mga anonymous post sa BW Community, majority there is single yet look how they face the harsh and bitter world of getting into romantic relationship. Kinaliwa, kinanan, inalipusta, iniwan ng walang dahilan, sumama sa iba na hindi man lang nagpaalam... Sana merong BW community para sa mga married people naman. Hindi na cactus ipupukol nila sayo, dapat yung 39 lashes na parang yung scene sa Passion, tapos ipako patiwarik sa krus. For the sake na magtino lang. Grabe ang harsh ko na.

In my closing, choose people are worth your affections yung bang willing to be affected sa buhay mo lalo na sa darkest moment mo kahit maitim ka naman talaga, like me, nakikita lang pag ngumiti. Our affections are for the few who knows what we worth for, and Jesus know that. He knows you all in all.

We're already halfway of 2023 and my goal of 100 chapters seems a mere dream if I don't write anything. I don't even know if people are reading this. Yet, I'm grateful for those few pair of eyes who are able to read my nonsense. Thank you whomever you are.

Recently I'm on my way to getting to know someone, I know it'll be a tough journey again, whatever God plans to be on this aspect of my life. All I can say, I'm uncomfortable with it, do I really need to be in this again? Pwede bang doon na agad? But we're back to square one.

Back to square one. There's too much square to fill in. Some are happy to fill every square in their life and post it to social media. Some do their best to fill it in, some are blessed someone filled it for them. Every squre has their own story, maybe post it in an IG story and tell them, I'm squared, but only one square matters of all and few only have fill it in. Some aren't filled fully.

The square of eternity. It only needs a little room but people forget about it and let their life drowned on squares that doesn't last.

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.