Weight loss
I went to the doctor today and had a check-up and underwent a series of physical exams and I'm very pleased to see that I actually lost  31 lbs! Now, the weight loss has become something more than just a blur of speculations. Yay!!! I went 2 sizes smaller. I'm down to size 16...watch out 12! I have my eyes on you!


The gift of life
I was waiting for my food and I was sitting alone trying to get lost inside my thoughts. But the place was bursting with people and everybody was busy talking and laughing. But I didn't find the noise intrusive but rather, at that moment, sounded like a mosaic of different voices - a harmony. The music of life.


Blooming flowers
I went out early today to look at the plants and was greeted by three dainty and beautiful white roses. They were so pretty, I just had to take a picture of them. Everyday, God sends us blessings to grace our lives with beauty and we just have to know where to look. Sometimes, we complain even before we open our eyes.

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I have made a decision that I'll be posting 3BTs everyday (if possible). I believe that it'll make me appreciate life more as an undeserved gift from God, helping me cultivate a thankful heart. And should times come where storms blow and try to knock down and trample on my spirit, I'll have a list of daily things to remind me how blessed my life has always been and giving up or losing hope and faith is never an option.

As I grow older and by God's grace, more mature, I come to realize that it is our choices that make or break us. That we carve our own destiny and we man our own ships. And with fervent prayer and faith in God, we can let go and let God.

These are excerpts from Max Lucado's book called Grace for the Moment. I feel truly blessed when I read them and feel inclined so to share them. Enjoy and be blessed!

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It's quiet. It's early. My coffee is hot. The sky is still black. The world is still asleep. The day is coming.

In a few moments, the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun. The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day. The calm of solitude will be replaced by the pounding of the human race. The refuge of the early morning will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met.

For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day's demands. It is now I must make a choice. Because of Calvary, I'm free to choose. And so I choose.

I CHOOSE LOVE ...
No action justifies hatred;
no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love.
Today I will love God and what God loves.


I CHOOSE JOY...
I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance.
I will refuse the temptation to be cynical...
the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see
people as anything less than human beings,
created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as
anything less than an opportunity to see God.


I CHOOSE PEACE...    
I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.


I CHOOSE PATIENCE...
I will overlook the inconveniences of the world.
Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I'll
invite him to do so. Rather than complain that the
wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment
to pray.Instead of clinching my fist at new
assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.


I CHOOSE KINDNESS...    
I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone.
Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to
the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.


I CHOOSE GOODNESS...
I will go without a dollar
before I take a dishonest one. I will be overloaded
before I will boast. I will confess before I will
accuse. I choose goodness.


I CHOOSE FAITHFULNESS...
Today I will keep my promises.
My debtors will not regret their trust. My associations
will not question my word. My wife will not
question my love. And my children will never fear
that their father will not come home.


I CHOOSE GENTLENESS...
Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle.
If I raise my voice may it be only in praise.
If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer.
If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.


I CHOOSE SELF-CONTROL...
I am a spiritual being...
After this body is dead, my spirit will soar.
I refuse to let what will not, rule the eternal.
I choose self control. I will be drunk only by joy.
I will be impassioned only by my faith.
I will be influenced only by God.
I will be taught only by Christ.
I choose self-control.


Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
To these I commit my day.
If I succeed, I will give thanks.
If I fail, I will seek His grace.
And then, when this day is done,
I will place my head on my pillow
and rest.


---
Grace for the Moment
Max Lucado

In my loneliness and fear,
through every pain every tear
There's a God who's been faithful to me
When my strength was all gone,
when my heart had no song
Still my God has been faithful to me

Every word He promised is true
What I thought was impossible
I've seen my God do

He's been faithful, faithful to me
Just looking back His love and mercy I see
When in my heart I have questioned
And failed to believe
He's been faithful, faithful to me

When my heart looked away,
the many times I could not pray
Even then He's been faithful to me
The days I've spent so selfishly,
reaching out for what pleased me
Still in love He's been faithful to me

And every time I come back to Him
I see Him waiting with His open arms and I know once again

He's been faithful, faithful to me
Just looking back His love and mercy I see
When in my heart I have questioned
And failed to believe
He's been faithful, faithful to me

(Carol Cymbala)

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This is the song we practiced today for the choir to sing for tomorrow's Sunday Service. This song just moves me to tears.

I know I haven't got the faith of a child and that I struggle with my doubts. When things don't to according to my plans, I often times (I am not going to deny that) falter and ask Him why? And there have been times when I already know the answer why but because I am stubborn and I hurt more because I'm proud, I still ask why.

I am in awe of His unfailing grace and mercy. I cannot ever understand how He can love a wreck such as I but I am eternally grateful that He is love and faithful.

To God be the glory and a blessed weekend to you all!

I let out a loud sigh as I scrunched up my nose and fanned myself with my hand. I tried to keep my balance as I gently wiggle in my seat so I won't fall off the motorbike. I turned to my left to hide my face from the angry glare of the sun. I looked down to my arms and thought to myself, "I look crispy enough."

I craned my neck in a futile attempt to see the traffic lights that are barricaded by the looming edgy back of the truck and I stifle a small cough. "Smoke belchers," I grumbled. "What could be taking so long? I'm frying down here," I added.

I cringe as I imagine how my back and chest would look like later on. Skin painted with sore red and slash marks of pale skin from where the strap of my tank top hid what little they could afford.

I turned to my right to look around and I see the woman driving the car beside me is glaring ahead. I turned to look at the man driving the van behind me and like the woman, his eyes were fixed straight ahead. From a good deal of distance, I could still see the crease lines of his frown on his forehead.

"Oh, this is gloomy," I thought. Isn't it supposed to be that everything should smell yellow? I mean, it's summer!

I reached down to my right pocket to retrieve the handkerchief to wipe the sweat that's trickling down my temple. I can feel my neck breaking sweat as well.

I turned again to my left and looked at the billboards. I scoffed as I look at the advertised products. Then I spotted an elderly woman walking slowly on the other side of the road. She was in a way, kind of hobbling. She had several plastic bags on one arm and her other hand was clamped as a visor over her eyes.

I could see she was trying to get out of the heat and was hurrying to rest under the shade of the stunted fox-tail palm, a few paces just under the billboards.

For a moment, it did seem like she's been walking forever. I could barely make out the expression on her face but I can tell her walk hadn't been easy. Still she tottered on, taking one small dedicated step after another.

Finally, she reached the small shaded spot and just as well, she rested there. She placed down her bags and wiped her forehead with the back of her hand and looked around. I can now fully see her and her face and suddenly, she looked too feeble. Like as if a mere gentle whisper of the wind would carry her off.

Suddenly she bent down to what looked like a dying thicket with scare-crow twigs and sparse leaves.

"What is she doing?"

I squinted my eyes to see if I could get a better and clearer vision that way and true enough, I saw a little crimson flower. What appeared to be like the scrawny bush was in fact, a rose.

She plucked the small flower and held it close to her face and took a long big intake of breath. She then placed the rose in her shirt's pocket and smiled excitedly at herself. She picked up her bags, threw her shoulders back and started marching on, braving the heat, with the pretty rose safely tucked in the chest of her shirt.

At that, she seemed no longer tired and weary but rather, refreshed and happy, like she could take on the world. Her steps, sure and steady, her face no longer hidden from the sun but was rather upturned and proud.

Most of the times, we get too caught up searching for something better than what we already have and we mourn for our present situations like as if they're hopeless and dead. We get too busy counting the faults that we miss life's little pleasures.

God, forgive me of my doubts and my impatience.

[26] Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? [27]And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? [28] And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, [29]yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.[30]But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? [31]Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’[32]For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.[33]But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.[34]“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
- Matthew 6:26 - 34