Woman of Worth

The warm smiles and hugs.

The rose petals on our beds.

The dainty card that held a promise of a weekend of pampering, discovery and love.

It was a welcome to a retreat like I’ve never experienced before. The rest of the weekend was an awesome journey that I took with sisters and new friends.

I’ve been meaning to write about this experience since the retreat happened over 3 months ago, June 25 and 26 to be exact, but I’m going through a whirlwind of blessings courtesy of my new book that I just couldn’t find the time to blog (Thank you, Lord!). What pushed me to sit and write is that the next batch will be having their retreat this weekend, on October 15 to 16!

I will not spoil it for them by going into detail because every activity, every talk is something that should be savored like beholding a rose bloom in slow motion. Let me just say that it was a weekend of laughter, of tears, of baring our souls, of being surprised that we women hold so much power within us.

What I will divulge are two things that made a great impact on me from the Woman of Worth retreat.

The first is a line from one of the talks and it went something like this: “It’s just one bit of information out of the (250 million things that happen every second).” That’s in parentheses because I lost my notes when my laptop conked out on me so I’m quoting from a memory that gets challenged quite often. But the point is that whatever is bothering us about our lives, our current problem, is just a teeny tiny part of the universe. That was a paradigm shift for me. It put the trials that we think are so huge into a different perspective – a view from the eye of the universe. That’s not to say we should ignore our problems. It’s just that everybody goes through some problem or other and we should not worry ourselves to death with what we are handed. When we trust that the One who holds the universe in His hand has His eye on us, things will work out for good in the end.

The other was the stone we were asked to choose in one of the activities. While many shared that they chose their stones because it represented some roughness, some lack or things that needed transformation, I latched onto my stone because of its evenness. The stone I picked was quite unusual because it was like a cube, almost flat on all sides. I realized that it resonated with me because at this point in my life, I feel fulfilled. Oh, I still have dreams that are unanswered and things I still want to accomplish that’s why my stone is not a perfect cube. But then, I feel like I’m on an even keel because I have found my purpose. It’s empowering to know that I’m doing what God designed me to do. That gives me the feeling I am a Woman of Worth.

To the next batch of WOW attendees, may you find the power within you! God bless.

The Jewel of Truth

“She is more precious than jewels; and nothing you desire compares with her.” – Proverbs 3:15

It’s been almost a month since I’ve written a blog for this site but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been receiving my B.A.G. of Miracles lately. On the contrary, I’ve been blessed recently with a couple of answered prayers. I’ve just been remiss in glorifying the One who has been showering me with these blessings.

And so today, I will catch up by telling you about one of them. Actually I plan a series of blogs on this topic because the experience and the materials are too rich to share in just one blog. So what’s this blessing? It was my attendance last April 30 to the 2016 Jewels Conference, the first one for Jesus-empowered women ever to be held here.

The day opened with spirit-filled worship led by an all-women ensemble – from the worship leaders to the full band. Then Rissa Singson-Kawpeng introduced the theme of the conference: Seasons of Truth.

She said everything starts with the Word and because God’s Word is TRUTH, it’s just a matter of time before it comes true. Do you have a prayer that has remained unanswered for so long? Are you about to give up on that dream? Have you reached the point of frustration that you already gave God an ultimatum? Is this your prayer now: Lord, If I don’t get that boyfriend I’m praying for when I turn 30, I’m invoking leap year and catching one no matter what size, shape or form he’s in?

The truth is: if you believe in something, it becomes true. There is no need to give God a deadline.

Rissa cited the story of Judith who used both her faith and the beauty and wisdom God gave her to gain victory for her people single-handedly. The Israelites were at the point of surrender and had given God 5 days to hear their prayer. But Judith prevailed on them to let her do what she intended to help her people.

I was intrigued by her story so I read up on her in the Bible. Now she’s what I call an empowered woman! She’s my new super heroine. One other thing I loved about her is she’s a widow like me – a woman after my own heart.

So sisters, remember this: when we hold on to God’s truth and are empowered by it, we can create our own miracles!

“Rather, as we wait patiently for him to save, let us plead with him to help us. He will hear our voice if such is his good pleasure.” – Judith 8:17

Stop, Look and Listen

“When the darkness tries
To hide my way
Your Word is the light
That guides my faith
I will trust in You…

When my heart is weak
And I've lost my way
I will lift up my eyes
And choose to say
I will trust in You…” – from the song Through Christ

Have you lost your way? Or did you think you were on the right path, then a big obstacle totally derailed your plans and now you don’t know what to do? Or are you just clueless about where you want your life to go?

As the new year starts, it would be good to STOP and take a look at where you are and reflect on where you want to go. Often, you waste a lot of time when you just keep on going without finding out the correct route.

Take this funny skit at the last Feast about a lost biker. His starting point: Mines View Park in Baguio. His desired destination: Burnham Park, also in Baguio, just a couple of pedals away. But there he was in Feast Bellevue in Alabang because he just kept on going without checking the roads he had to take. Stopping to ask for directions would have saved him from that long unnecessary trip.

If you don’t want to get lost like that biker, Bro Arun told us to do these 3 R’s to get you on the right path:

• Retool. Equip yourself and learn the right skills that will keep you on your chosen path.
• Reflect. Recall the things that happened to you the past year.  Remember to be grateful for all the blessings big and small.
• Rest. Let God be God and trust that He has your life map in His hands.

The most important point that hit me in this portion of the talk is “STOP AND ASK THE RIGHT PERSON”. Where will you end up if you ask directions from someone as clueless as you are? Bro Arun encouraged everyone to make attending the Feast a weekly habit because it’s one of the best places to get the “right direction”.

LOOK at the Word of God to get your bearings. The Magi who were searching for the true King, went through a progression. They looked at the stars for guidance before they started and kept their focus on one particular star as they journeyed to find Him. In our case, knowing God’s directions by reading His Word daily will ensure we will not get lost.

Many times, we do stop and we do look but then we forget that last important thing – LISTEN!

There’s a line I keep telling myself when I become too busy with my service: “Be Mary.” It’s to remind myself that in the midst of all the community duties I have to fulfill, I should also take time to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen to Him through the talks at the Feast. It happens often that I am at the Feast yet the buzz inside my head, a.k.a. my to-do list, drowns out the lessons being imparted. So I make it a point to attend another session and quiet my mind to just listen.

You will not lose your way when you STOP, LOOK and LISTEN. And don’t forget to TRUST that the Lord is guiding your way as you take these three steps.

Solo Parents...Twice the Love…Triple the Blessings

This poster on the Feast Alabang Solo Ministry Facebook wall sums up what it’s like to be a solo parent. We carry the burden alone so the rewards of raising our children are returned to us in double portions.

It’s stressful and tiring to be a solo parent. But not a trace of that was seen on the faces of 78 happy moms (including 10 from Feast Bataan) who gathered for the Solo Parents Retreat on October 18 and 19, 2014 at the Angels’ Hills Retreat and Formation Center in Tagaytay.

It was a cool weekend and it rained – with an abundance of blessings.

Blessing #1

The people who organized and conducted the retreat.

They made the experience something we will remember as a rejuvenating break in our hectic solo mom schedules:

• Juvy Ramirez, Solo Ministry head, and her Core Group
• Cris & Lani de Guzman, Discipleship Pillar heads
• Fr. GC Carandang, retreat master
• Bro Arun Gogna, guest speaker

Blessing #2

The fun, the laughter and the new friends.

It’s an all-female retreat, so tears were expected. We had trials to share and insights to reflect on. But the laughter, the singing, the dancing and the camaraderie overshadowed everything else.

We rollicked with glee during group activities like the alien invasion – an exercise that showed just how confused the picture gets when we don’t communicate.

We danced with abandon – during worship, during the retreat proper and during the impromptu Sunday morning exercise. We zumba-ed and swayed like the Atomic Bomb Dancers that we felt we were.  

And, we found sisters to share our lives with. Some have taken the solo journey before us while others are just taking the first steps.

Blessing #3

This last one is personal – the anointing to lead a spirit-filled worship.

It was a wish whispered by my heart that was granted, not a privilege I asked for but was freely given. I was honored yet anxious about it because I didn’t know the arrangements about the music. I didn’t want to assault the attendees’ ears with my solo singing so I prayed to the Lord for angels who will sing with me – heavenly or earthly, I left it up to Him.  I got my angels: the keyboardist and 2 music ministers. Not only that, God gave me a bonus, a dance minister, to rev up the worship.    

The retreat’s blessings are God’s reminders that we have a special place in His heart. We may stand solo but we get double the love and a host (many times not just three) of God’s graces.

*Photos courtesy of Annabelle Ignacio 

TCOGB: Taking Care of God’s Business

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this…and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.” – Malachi 3:10

The manual for new recruits I was writing has been stuck on Step 3 for weeks. The prospects list I had been planning to fill up has remained an untitled Excel file. This week, I thought I’d finally have time to input the data needed for my business. All the family and community events I had to organize were done.

Then a rush project for the Media Ministry landed on my lap – the Tithing Bulletin. It was needed this Sunday to cap the Tithing Challenge issued at The Feast. The thing was, only 2 testimonies were submitted on the deadliest deadline I gave. That was not enough, so everybody was pressured to search out people with stories to tell. We were deluged with 8 more testimonies. I even had to reject two because of time constraints.

I was tasked to interview a couple of sharers and write the articles. I also had to rewrite or edit the other submissions. It was crunch time and I didn’t want to waste time hunting down my members I can delegate the tasks to. I only roped in my trusty Associate Editor, Bern, to help me proof and do additional edits. 

“There goes the manual and my prospects list again,” I thought. My business mentors have always stressed we need to do something every day or at least every week to take a step towards success. I’ll be missing that chance this week. Or so I thought.

Bro Arun Gogna, our Senior Feast Builder, says this prayer every time we have a Servants’ Assembly: “Lord, bless your servants. Please take care of their business because they are taking care of yours.” Many times in the past, I could only sigh and add my supplication to his prayer. Last Wednesday, this prayer was very clearly answered.

In the midst of all the rush, I got a call from one of my prospects. She said she was ready to purchase the products we were selling and asked if I can meet her in the office. It was unexpected. I didn’t even have time to follow-up on her yet. Of course, I agreed and hurriedly texted JB, my upline and mentor, to ask if he can go to the office for 2 things: for the interview for the Tithing Bulletin and for support with this prospect. By God’s grace, his very busy schedule was open. 

But I hit a snag. JB was delayed and my prospect just wanted to buy on retail instead of signing up as distributor and getting a complete package. I tried to convince her because there was just a small difference in price but she said she had no use for the other items in the package. Being a greenhorn in the business, I failed to convince her otherwise. 

Downhearted, I lined up at the counter to purchase her items. Then out of the corner of my eye, I saw JB at the door. My hope leaped and I was amazed by God’s perfect timing. I hurriedly introduced him to my prospect. And, to make a long story short, he found a way to convince her to sign up as an independent distributor instead. 

After my new recruit left, I interviewed JB. His story and mine where one: when you give your time, talent and treasure, God will always out-give you. When you take care of God’s business, He will take care of yours.

Healing Hands

“…and laying his hands on each one, he healed them.” – Luke 4:40

The x-ray showed a fracture in my younger son’s hand. The orthopedic resident in the emergency room presented a grim scenario – my son will need surgery to insert a pin so the bone will set correctly. It has to be done under general anesthesia. 

The diagnosis was from the orthopedic surgeon the resident had sent pictures of the x-ray to. We were advised to consult with him the next day.

My insides churned with fear. Surgery. The word brought images of my son in pain, complications during the procedure, and a gaping hole in my pocket. That was a heavy load for a mother’s heart to bear so I requested for prayers from my community that we find another doctor and my son will not need the operation.

The wonderful thing about being in community is the avalanche of prayers you get with just a couple of text messages. A prayer brigade was started by The Feast Alabang Intercessory Ministry and the request spread like wildfire. 

I wanted a second opinion, one that didn’t involve surgery so I asked for recommendations. I got another doctor’s name from a doctor-friend we trusted. The appointment was set two days after I brought my son to the ER. But my son wanted to be checked right away so off we went to the doctor who made the original diagnosis. 

I was not very hopeful because he already gave his opinion through the resident. He gave two options: 1) to put a cast and hope it heals properly and do the surgery if it doesn’t; 2) go straight to surgery. My son chose option 1. The doctor manipulated the bones in my son’s hand and sent us to get an x-ray to see if he was able to align it before putting the cast. I thought that was it. Nothing more will be done.

Then I saw God’s healing hand move. The doctor followed us to the X-ray Department and said he will try to set the bone correctly while viewing it through the x-ray. I sent a couple more requests to friends to be prayer warriors. After two attempts, the bone was aligned and the surgery option shelved (this I claim in Jesus’ mighty name).

Sometimes we doubt if we are doing the right thing or we feel that we are asking the wrong person. But when we surrender everything to God, everything falls into place. He can touch anyone and correct anything with His healing hands.

Burn Notice

“Had the Lord not been with us…” – Psalm 124:1

Blam! The contents of the pressure cooker exploded on my hands. I screamed from shock and pain. Bits of matter scattered all over the floor.

I wasn’t anywhere near the Boston Marathon. I was in my kitchen preparing what was supposed to be a delightful Crispy Adobo Flakes dish for my sons’ lunch.

My hands and my chest were scalded by the sauce. The stove area looked like it was part of a crime scene except that there was brown sauce instead of blood and garlic cloves instead of shrapnel.

It was one of the stupidest mistakes I’ve ever made. It ranks way up there in the Top 5 together with turning on my laptop that was just drenched in a storm. 

Of course I knew I wasn’t supposed to force open a hot pressure cooker. But the guy in the department store said its new safety feature is that it won’t open if the button wasn’t down. It looked kind of down already…sort of midway. I was hurrying because my son was leaving for work soon. This was his packed lunch. And I still had to fry it to get that crispy goodness. 

My hands were so red, they looked like steamed crabs. I thought I needed to go to the emergency room for treatment. But after I soaked my hands in ice water and applied ointment, they didn’t look like they just suffered a horrifying experience. And the sting even lasted for a shorter time than when I de-seeded jalapeño peppers with my bare hands the first time I made Grilled Bacon Jalapeño Wraps (also in my top 5 stupid mistakes).

Although they looked like a leper’s hands when the peeling began, now, 3 weeks after the incident, they look like I just had them exfoliated at the spa. The skin is soft and smooth where the burn was.

I thank the Lord that despite my stupidity, my hands are scar-free and that He is always watching over me to keep me safe from permanent harm.

Blessed To Be 1!

“Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who sent his angel to deliver the servants that trusted in him.” – Daniel 3:95

I know it’s cliché but I just have to say this: time does fly. Two Saturdays ago (March 9), Saturday Feast Alabang (SFA) celebrated its first anniversary. I just can’t believe it’s been a year since we started.  

It was one hectic year! Many times I felt like a triathlete as I raced against time to complete the tasks I had to finish. My days were crammed with things I had to do for SFA Events. Added to that were my responsibilities for the Media Ministry and extra duties thrown my way like assisting in the production of the Kerygma Conference Catholic Faith Stream and our upcoming Holy Week Recollection*. And of course there are also my family duties and work assignments for the magazines I write for.

I must admit that getting things done the past year was like swimming against the tide,  balancing on a unicycle and running on a sprained foot all rolled into one. But as the passage above from Daniel said, the Lord sent His angels to deliver me. 

How else could I have survived the year that was? There were various instances when the Lord sent me angels in the form of family, friends and co-servants who helped me do the job and get through some nerve-wracking glitches. There were also many lessons I learned through my “angels”. 

As for SFA, it continues to bless many people because about a hundred committed servants have entrusted to God their time, talent and treasure for Him to use in this ministry. SFA would not have made it to its first birthday without their untiring support.

Let me end by sharing the blessings we received during SFA’s first anniversary:

• The spotlights blew up a few hours before the event. Naturally, I was clueless about how to fix that. One brother from the community came early to take care of that. 

• Our program flow got really messed up because one of our speakers was delayed. But the rearrangements in the program worked for the better and the audience did not notice we had to turn things upside down. 

• It was a fun, fun first birthday party for SFA. Like the kids we were dressed as, SFA Builder James Nicolas, servants and attendees enjoyed the party fare complete with ice cream cart. In the beginning our Food Ministry head was afraid the food will not be enough but like the miracle of the loaves and fish, the multitude was fed. 

• The builders (Arun Gogna, Jonathan Yogawin and Mike Viñas) and pillars of Feast Alabang came in full force. We got a delightful treat with the presence of SFA’s very first builder, Makati Feast Builder Randy Borromeo.

• AND, we got a big surprise when Bo Sanchez graced the occasion. We thought he wouldn’t be able to make it as he had another appointment. 

Truly when we trust in God, He will deliver us from all our difficulties just as He kept Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego safe in the white-hot furnace. He even surprises by throwing in a couple of unexpected blessings.

*Be Still, Feast Alabang’s Holy Week Recollection will be on March 28 to 30, from 8:00 am to 12:00 noon at the Filinvest Tent, Muntinlupa City.