what i re-learned today

... it doesn't matter who's at fault. when someone's hurt, you have to say sorry
... for you to fully receive the blessing, you need to learn contentment first
... there are still good strangers on earth. you just have to discern who they are.
... you will know if you are with the right person if that person brings you closer to holiness
... we are all called to holiness. it's just a matter of responding to it or not.
... when in doubt, follow your heart. but make sure that your heart is in the right posture.
... hold your temper when you want to burst out. nothing good comes out when you're angry.
... and allow yourself to be surprised by god. for nothing is too big nor small that God can't and won't be able to do.

indeed, our God is awesome and awesome is He!

God's love is for free!

"God's love is for free!"

That was what we always say in college when we evangelize other youths to build a relationship with Christ through our activities.

And this afternoon, I heard it once more as Kuya Pat gave us a free lunch - one pc. KFC fried chicken meal!

It was just an answered prayer since I don't have enough money to last me until payday. And I forgot to bring my lunch to augment my budget-less life.

And not only that, I got free raspberry Mc Do sundae and ride going home for free as well! Courtesy of Kuya Xavy.

It's just like God telling me "For my love is for free, Khymee. So grab it!"

Thank you for the free love, Lord!

random complaint.

i just hope you're not using me.
and i pray that what they tell me about you isn't true.
but sometimes, why do i feel that they're right about you?
and even how many times i tried to protect you, you keep on showing me that maybe, between the two of you, they tell more truth than you know you do.
argh. it's hard to be in a situation where you want to believe and trust the friendship that you have but you are shown the otherwise.
who to believe? and what to believe?
wake up to the reality and admit that you're wrong. and say sorry. and change some bad attitude. then be a better person.
maybe life would be easier for you. for me. for all of us.

ang TAHO.

Mahilig ako sa taho simula pa nung bata ako. Naalala ko pa na isa ito sa mga favorite kong breakfast tuwing weekend; may suki kami nun at alam ko na anjan na siya kahit malayo pa lang dahil sa boses niyang sumisigaw ng TAHO! at kami namang magkakapatid ay dali-daling kumakaripas ng takbo para kumuha ng baso at ng limang piso para makabili ng taho.

Habang lumalaki na ko, hindi na ako masyadong nakakainom ng taho dahil namatay na rin yung suki namin. Wala na rin masyadong nagbebenta ng Taho sa may amin. Nung college ako, meron naman sa school nagbebenta pero nauso na kasi nun yung cold taho; di ko masyado nagustuhan, syempre iba pa rin yung nakasanayan, yung mainit at matamis na taho sa umaga.
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mga ilang buwan na rin ang nakakalipas ng naulit uli ang pag-inom  ko ng taho ng madalas. Sa may sakayan kasi ng bus sa Megamall ay may nagtitinda ng taho sa gabi. Weird dahil taho sa gabi, eh nasanay ako na breakfast yun, hindi dinner o merienda. Pero nung natikman ko, aba, nag-iba na ang tingin ko sa taho nun. Alas 9 ng gabi pero mainit pa; at ang masaya pa nun, tingin ko (o tikim ko?!) na kalasa niya yung taho na tinitinda ni suki nung bata pa ako! Kaya bago ako sumakay ng bus, lagi ako nabili ng isang baso ng taho.

Pero mga dalawang linggo ng nakakalipas, parang di ko na nakikita yung nagtitinda ng taho sa pwesto nila. Di ko alam kung nasa'n na sila. Hindi kaya ipinagbawal na sila ng MMDA? Ewan ko. Pero nakakainis kasi ngayong naghahanap ang panlasa ko ng taho, hindi ko sila makita; at ang masaklap nito, wala rin akong makita na malapit sa office na nagtitinda ng taho! Tuwing umaga, umaasa ako na sana may nagtitinda ng taho ako masalubong, para naman kahit papano, mawala na yung paghahanap ng panlasa ko dito. Nakatikim ako sa Baguio nung isang araw, strawberry flavor pa, pero iba pa rin ang original flavor na taho.

Kugn may makita man kayo na nagtitinda ng taho, please naman, ilibre niyo naman ako kahit yung limang piso lang. para sumaya-saya naman ako. *wink*
      

experiencing God through the Eucharist

 

I go to mass every Sunday ever since I could remember. Sometimes with family, sometimes with friends, and there are times alone, when I just want to spend intimate time with Him. When we were in Proj. 7, we always attend either the 10:30 am or 6:30 p.m. mass (where my sister and I were part of the choir). When we moved in Cainta, we brought the same routine (but we're not singing here anymore).

Even if I was serving in the Church ever since I was a kid, I never got a full understanding of the importance of the mass was. For me, it's just an occasion where I could showcase my love for singing and where I could spend more time with my childhood friends. As I grew older, I get to grasp at least a little of its importance as what my Religion teachers and the Church teach us. But most of the time it is still a tradition that I have to follow or else, i'll get a sermon from my mom for days (than getting a sermon from a priest for only just an hour).
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The Church where Marie and I usually go to in Costa Rica: San Antonio de Belen Parish Church

When I went to mission in Latin America, we  had a training wherein our trainors - Gino and Mary Grace stressed out to us the importance of going to mass everyday as part of our daily nourishment. Since we will be more attacked in our mission areas as we do the work of God, we must equipped ourselves with more armors to shield us from the evil ones.

At first, it was struggle to wake up early and walk at least 1km just to get to the church. Not being able to understand the mass either (because of language barrier) made everything worse. But every time I go to the mass, even if I don't understand even a bit of what the priest was saying, at the end of it, I experience God more, as if I did understand what the homily was all about.

As I go to mass everyday, as part of my daily routine, little by little, I was able to understand what the priest was saying. I first learned my fluent Spanish phrases and sentences at the mass; and maybe because of the effort i'm giving to fully participate and understand the sacrament, I became more and more in love with it.

Whenever I miss a mass - because I woke up late or got my monthly visits - I feel like something was taken away from me that day. I have observed on those days that I was easily pissed off, I get angry easily and I was more prone of thinking negative things towards others. It becomes a curse missing a mass. Life is miserable without it. So even if sometimes it's difficult to keep up with that kind of lifestyle, I still strive to go to mass 'coz that is where I meet my God and receive His grace even if I am unworthy to receive one.
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What do I get from attending a Mass everyday?

One of our members asked me that when she learned that my partner and I were going to mass everyday. Well, here are some of the answers i gave her:
- it's our daily dose of vitamins for our souls
- that's where I meet my God and talk to Him directly
- I feel at peace after. It's like I receive grace and power to do whatever I have to do for the day.
- Answers to my prayers and questions are easily answered through the homily
- I meet interesting people (young and mostly old) who shares wisdom and experiences

I think she was satisfied with my answers that she tried going to mass every morning until she got a conflict with her new schedule in school.
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Unfortunately, when I got home to the Philippines last year, not everyone around me was a fun of going to mass. I don't know why, but whenever we (w/ other friends who view mass as I understand it) invite the people around us, they always have some reasons to give you just to be excused in going to the mass. How sad. But maybe, it's because of different perspective.

I never force anyone to go to mass now (unlike before. yeah, i'm guilty of that). Whenever I do to mass, I just tell the people and whoever wants to go is free to join me. I realized that we shouldn't force the people to God for they will not be able to appreciate His greatness, but continuously encouraging them and praying for them, and little by little it will be them who will make the first step towards God. And it will be a more wonderful and profound relationship that they will build with Him than forcing them.
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On my way home this evening, I was just playing with the thought of going to mass at St. Joseph's in Anonas. And to my surprise, as I pass in front of the Church, the mass was about to start. I couldn't explain the happiness I felt that I was able to attend the mass; that all through out the mass, I was just giving praises and thanksgiving to my God for His awesome power and majesty in my life. And then when I realized what I love going to Mass: it is where I receive the grace of God to entrust Him fully of my life. and that made me smile. =)