To A Waterfowl- William Cullen Bryant

I'm back. :D


These days I'm starting to really, deeply immerse myself to literature. In our English Literature, we're on to poetry in the Old English Period. Among the literary pieces we discussed were Anglo-Saxon Riddles, The Seafarer, and Dream of the Rood. The last two are quite religious in nature. I might post them soon (I'm not sure if I will though.) but for now I'm going to share my favorite poem since I was in high school- To a Waterfowl. I find the poem wonderful because of how the author realizes the power and goodness of God just watching a simple creature as a waterfowl. I hope you appreciate it the same way I do. 

Whither, 'midst falling dew, 

While glow the heavens with the last steps of day, 

Far, through their rosy depths, dost thou pursue 

      Thy solitary way?

     Vainly the fowler's eye 

Might mark thy distant flight to do thee wrong, 

As, darkly painted on the crimson sky, 

      Thy figure floats along.

     Seek'st thou the plashy brink

Of weedy lake, or marge of river wide, 

Or where the rocking billows rise and sink 

      On the chafed ocean side?

      There is a Power whose care

Teaches thy way along that pathless coast,-- 

The desert and illimitable air,-- 

       Lone wandering, but not lost.

     All day thy wings have fann'd 

At that far height, the cold thin atmosphere: 

Yet stoop not, weary, to the welcome land,

      Though the dark night is near.

     And soon that toil shall end, 

Soon shalt thou find a summer home, and rest, 

And scream among thy fellows; reeds shall bend 

      Soon o'er thy sheltered nest.

    Thou'rt gone, the abyss of heaven 

Hath swallowed up thy form; yet, on my heart 

Deeply hath sunk the lesson thou hast given, 

      And shall not soon depart.

    He, who, from zone to zone, 

Guides through the boundless sky thy certain flight, 

In the long way that I must tread alone, 

      Will lead my steps aright.

A Philosophical Issue

VERY INTERESTING CONVERSATION (Pls read til the end :)) ENJOY!!

An Atheist Professor of Philosophy was speaking to ...his Class on the Problem Science has

with GOD, the ALMIGHTY. He asked one of his New Christian Students to stand and . . .
...
Professor : You are a Christian, aren't you, son ?

Student : Yes, sir.

Professor: So, you Believe in GOD ?

Student : Absolutely, sir.

Professor: Is GOD Good ?

Student : Sure.

Professor: Is GOD ALL - POWERFUL ?

Student : Yes.

Professor: My Brother died of Cancer even though he Prayed to GOD to Heal him.

Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill.

But GOD didn't. How is this GOD good then? Hmm?

(Student was silent )

Professor: You can't answer, can you ? Let's start again, Young Fella.

Is GOD Good?

Student : Yes.

Professor: Is Satan good ?

Student : No.

Professor: Where does Satan come from ?

Student : From . . . GOD . . .

Professor: That's right. Tell me son, is there evil in this World?

Student : Yes.

Professor: Evil is everywhere, isn't it ? And GOD did make everything. Correct?

Student : Yes.

Professor: So who created evil ?

(Student did not answer)

Professor: Is there Sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness?

All these terrible things exist in the World, don't they?

Student : Yes, sir.

Professor: So, who Created them ?

(Student had no answer)

Professor: Science says you have 5 Senses you use to Identify and Observe the World around you.

Tell me, son . . . Have you ever Seen GOD?

Student : No, sir.

Professor: Tell us if you have ever Heard your GOD?

Student : No , sir.

Professor: Have you ever Felt your GOD, Tasted your GOD, Smelt your GOD?

Have you ever had any Sensory Perception of GOD for that matter?

Student : No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.

Professor: Yet you still Believe in HIM?

Student : Yes.

Professor : According to Empirical, Testable, Demonstrable Protocol,

Science says your GOD doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?

Student : Nothing. I only have my Faith.

Professor: Yes,Faith. And that is the Problem Science has.

Student : Professor, is there such a thing as Heat?

Professor: Yes.

Student : And is there such a thing as Cold?

Professor: Yes.

Student : No, sir. There isn't.

(The Lecture Theatre became very quiet with this turn of events )

Student : Sir, you can have Lots of Heat, even More Heat, Superheat, Mega Heat, White Heat,

a Little Heat or No Heat.

But we don't have anything called Cold.

We can hit 458 Degrees below Zero which is No Heat, but we can't go any further after that.

There is no such thing as Cold.

Cold is only a Word we use to describe the Absence of Heat.

We cannot Measure Cold.

Heat is Energy.

Cold is Not the Opposite of Heat, sir, just the Absence of it.

(There was Pin-Drop Silence in the Lecture Theatre )

Student : What about Darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as Darkness?

Professor: Yes. What is Night if there isn't Darkness?

Student : You're wrong again, sir.

Darkness is the Absence of Something

You can have Low Light, Normal Light, Bright Light, Flashing Light . . .

But if you have No Light constantly, you have nothing and its called Darkness, isn't it?

In reality, Darkness isn't.

If it is, were you would be able to make Darkness Darker, wouldn't you?

Professor: So what is the point you are making, Young Man ?

Student : Sir, my point is your Philosophical Premise is flawed.

Professor: Flawed ? Can you explain how?

Student : Sir, you are working on the Premise of Duality.

You argue there is Life and then there is Death, a Good GOD and a Bad GOD.

You are viewing the Concept of GOD as something finite, something we can measure.

Sir, Science can't even explain a Thought.

It uses Electricity and Magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one.

To view Death as the Opposite of Life is to be ignorant of the fact that

Death cannot exist as a Substantive Thing.

Death is Not the Opposite of Life: just the Absence of it.

Now tell me, Professor, do you teach your Students that they evolved from a Monkey?

Professor: If you are referring to the Natural Evolutionary Process, yes, of course, I do.

Student : Have you ever observed Evolution with your own eyes, sir?

(The Professor shook his head with a Smile, beginning to realize where the Argument was going )

Student : Since no one has ever observed the Process of Evolution at work and

Cannot even prove that this Process is an On-Going Endeavor,

Are you not teaching your Opinion, sir?

Are you not a Scientist but a Preacher?

(The Class was in Uproar )

Student : Is there anyone in the Class who has ever seen the Professor's Brain?

(The Class broke out into Laughter )

Student : Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor's Brain, Felt it, touched or Smelt it? . . .

No one appears to have done so.

So, according to the Established Rules of Empirical, Stable, Demonstrable Protocol,

Science says that You have No Brain, sir.

With all due respect, sir, how do we then Trust your Lectures, sir?

(The Room was Silent. The Professor stared at the Student, his face unfathomable)

Professor: I guess you'll have to take them on Faith, son.

Student : That is it sir . . . Exactly !

The Link between Man & GOD is FAITH.

That is all that Keeps Things Alive and Moving.

*************************************************

I just reposted this from a friend and it says there that the student was Einstein. Well, I'm not sure if that was true but the conversation itself makes sense. I hope someday those people will realize that there is a God...


Have a nice day!

Quote for the Day

"It's impossible to spell good without G O D."-Mellis, 2011

Just came to my mind yesterday, and I realized it's a quotable quote.hehe

I remember our first meeting in one of my subjects, Philosophical Analysis, where we defined philosophy and shared ideas related to it. My professor told us that in order to find happiness, you need to find the truth. And where truth is, there you will find goodness.

That moment, I recalled what Jesus said in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me." Though I know our professor only pertained to philosophy itself and not God, still there is a connection between the two.

I have met a lot of people of different beliefs and denominations, both believers and unbelievers, both faithful and unfaithful, but I haven't seen a person who can be completely good without God. God is the truth and only through will we find goodness and not only happiness, but joy. There might be Confucius and other philosophers but all good things they say also originates from the Bible, from the commandments of God. Thus, morality is all about spirituality. So people who don't believe God couldn't possibly be like God. Same with those who don't follow God. Even though we're already saved, still we cannot do what's good and acceptable if we don't obey God. There sin and immorality starts. But the reason why true believers cannot be completely evil is because they have the Holy Spirit in them that speaks to their hearts, and that Holy Spirit is God himself.

God is everything about us. No matter how hard we try to deny Him, to forsake Him, to ignore Him, still He is there and we cannot hide that truth. Just like what the Bible says, "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good." God exists. He lives and He is the truth.

Another Reading Challenge!

Alright! I know I am an English major and being one, I need to read, read, read, and READ.



*sighs*




So here I go, coming up with another reading challenge and I hereby entitle it as..."Novel Marathon"!
Well that doesn't sound so interesting. hehe But anyway, the content and purpose is much more important. (tries to reason out)

This challenge will be about reading novels, as the title says. I'm going to read novels of random genre since I must appreciate any type of literature, so though I'm not fond of reading novels, I guess I have to work on it this time. The other day, one of my best friends (they're only two, don't worry) lend me a book entitled, The Girl with a Pearl Earring. I've got no idea about this except for the fact that it's some sort of related to the painting with the similar name.

So for now, I'm going to list all the novels I have read and post it here.

I'll do my best!


Novel                                                      Date Started                 Date Ended

The Girl with the Pearl Earring                       June 16

COUNTDOWN POST: Brigada Eskwela

Yes, this is a super late post but I'm going to post it anyway. :D



June 7 is a very wonderful and memorable day in my life!



That day, our department head in English department asked us to come and help cleaning the rooms in our campus. I missed my school and classmates and was willing to help so I eagerly came. I managed to arrive there ahead of time, perhaps thirty minutes ahead. I recognized only one of my classmates waiting under the tree near the court. (It was often our automatic waiting zone.) I came and sat with her while waiting for our other classmates to come.

One by one, my other classmates arrived; there were loud greetings and giggles heard among us due to the long period we weren't able to see each other. Someone tapped another's back, some teased a friend with new look, while others talk about what happened to them during the grand vacation.

Not everyone of my classmates believes in God (or a real God) but I do love them very much. In fact, they are the only ones I really put my heart into. I had good friends back then in my high school days, but this class is different for me. It's like everyone of them could be a close friend. Everyone cares for each other. That was why I felt happy when I saw their smiling faces that day. Of course I'm continuously praying for those who have harden their hearts that the Holy Spirit itself will soften them and their souls will go to Heaven someday.

The Brigada Eskwela, what they call the day's activity, started with an opening program wherein we were appointed, each of us, a room to clean. The groupings each room were rambled, some second year, some third year like us, some fourth year so that we will be able to meet new friends from the department. After all, we, as they say, are a family. We also had an appointed faculty per assigned room who supervised us as we did the cleaning.

After the said program, everyone went to the assigned rooms for them; mine was BPS 209-B. We were expected to bring the materials, but not everyone did so we had a little problem at the start looking for some more. I was able to bring a scotch brite and a bar and our rich friend provided the small rags, so I had mine.

The cleaning then started. I can't remember what I was supposed to be doing that time but our appointed professor asked me to remove the spider webs and dust at the walls and ceiling with a broomstick so my job was changed. Lucky for me, I brought the scotch brite so I was able to scrub the walls as well. It was fun to see the sparkling walls after you scrubbed them (hard).

Later on, I saw my classmates coming to the room one by one. They were asked to help us. I supposed our room was the dirtiest. haha

Lunchtime finally came in but I didn't want to leave my work unfinished. I rested for a while, drank water, ate a cupcake then continued doing my job. My new friend pushed me to take a rest but I insisted. There was a lot more to do I wanted to save time as much as possible. Knowing I couldn't be stopped, my friend decided to help me instead. I was so grateful!

The walls became instantly white and clean. Adhesive tapes of different kinds were removed. The work was amazing! Another two helped me in my scrubbing job (since I was the only one doing them before). One of them was my best friend's friend. I had a nice talk with that person after we cleaned. I thought the conversation would be a little cold and awkward, but it was the opposite. We had a good time together that same day. I met three new sweet friends that time. I felt so glad.

After the activity, our professor said we would have a raffle-free stuffs for those who attended. I didn't expect much. Helping the group and having fun with them was enough for me. But they gave me a full cross stitch set and a free pattern along with it. I was so happy. I wanted to have those stuffs. The set was from our department head. I am planning to do the pattern, though it was a very hard one. I do hope I finish that since I haven't tried making one yet.

That day is very fulfilling for me. My time and  effort didn't go to waste. I was able to help, had fun cleaning and having fellowship, and build new relationships. Speaking of fellowship, while cleaning, someone asked me why she always saw me wearing skirts. I wasn't able to explain it to her properly but I'm praying I would be able to meet her some time and tell her the reason. Please pray for me.

Have a wonderful day!

Dare To Be Different

When you see this picture, what comes to your mind?


As for me...

I see a unique person. A walking Bible. A Christian.


Aren't we designed by God to look like this first of all, in His sight, then to everybody both believers and unbelievers. The Bible says in I Timothy 4:12, "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." 


We become someone different. But not just different or weird. We should be different in a way that we will shine in the darkness, just like in the picture. People can see Christ living in our lives. People can see how happy we are because there's someone who gives us joy no greater than anyone else has in this world. No matter what turmoils, problems, and challenges we face. It's not like we're living a light just to "show off" but this is a way that we can lead them to the real Saviour.


Jesus says in Matthew 5:16, "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

That just means it's not just plainly winning souls or working hard for the ministry that can lead the lost to Christ. By living a sanctified life, a shining light, we can show them the true God not for our glory but for God's. Of course it is essential to share the gospel to someone who needs it, but without a sanctified life, it will be hard for us to show that God is God. How then can we show it? By our good works. And who will be glorified? God.


There are times when we feel so afraid to share the gospel to our friends and loved ones. Not because we can't speak the right things- the Holy Spirit guides our speech anyway. It is Him who guides us and should guide us and not our own. Sometimes it is because we're afraid that we might have a bad testimony to them. How can they believe if they don't see the light in us? And even if they don't think it that way, we are still afraid because we are guilty of it.


We Christians are separated from the world. We were crucified with Christ ever since we accepted Him as our personal Saviour. That's why we should live like Him. Hard but not impossible. When we surrender our lives to God, we will realize that He can change us more than we could ever imagine. And soon our light will shine bright and God will be glorified.


This is what I learned from here. You might have heard it a couple of times but I hope you were encouraged by this. Have a wonderful day!

When You're At Your Wit's End...

I just heard a preaching of Rev. Meljun Laurena from Christian Bible Baptist Church from their site. It was entitled, "At Your Wit's End". It was really a blessing for me.

Being at your "wit's end" means not coming up with a good solution to a problem, and thus, becoming very frustrated.

When we are at our wit's end, we may try to find love from other people- our peers, worldly friends, loved ones,  
and perhaps those with the opposite sex. We may try to find pleasures from this world, looking for things that will make us happy...well, temporarily happy.

But always remember, whatever the problem you may be facing, don't run away. Don't try to solve it yourself. There is only one right thing to do, and that is...to go to God.

Everything that happens to us has a purpose. Everything is for God's glory. In the end, our duty will be offering our lives for His glory and pleasure.

COUNTDOWN POST: Long Skirts Pictorial

Three days to go and I'll be...a THIRD YEAR COLLEGE STUDENT!

I can't explain how I am feeling right now. I've got two years more before graduating from our beloved university, so I'm very excited. But somehow I admit I'm more of afraid than excited. With all those terrible news about my future professors, how can I be calm? But I'm glad God continually gives me courage and strength. After all, this is a part of my journey. And I have to overcome this that I may grow in my life. It's amazing to know that my past devotionals were usually about courage and faith in God. God will help me get through this.

Oh, what would I do without Him?

Besides, I believe that behind the scary image that professor shows everybody, is a loving person who cares for the welfare of her students and is willing to help them grow as an individual. That is the primary duty of a teacher, isn't it? And she couldn't possibly love her job without the ability of fulfilling these duties. I believe God will use her to help me become more matured. That is why I'm trying to do better this time. He will not give this challenge if He knows I cannot do it. With God, all things are possible.

But for now, enjoying my last days of vacation, I have decided to do things both fun and memorable. Last Saturday, I had picture taking together with my mother and sister in Christ, Vanessa, wearing my new beautiful tops and skirts. And believe it or not, I bought them for Php 20 each...very cheap.

The top I'm wearing is a black turtleneck long sleeve with stripes on the upper part. The white skirt is one of my favorites. I really love it!

I changed my top here. :D This one is a violet long sleeve with floral designs (as you can see). My dear friend, Vanessa gave it to me. Thank you so much!

Wanna see what my sweet friend looks like? There she is! Isn't she lovely? Here are more pictures of her:

Pictures together:

I loved these clothes...

Is it just me or she looked Korean in these pics? Especially this one with my mom...

Now the funny pictures...

And this is my favorite outfit...:D

It's the longest skirt I've ever had, so I feel like I belong to old times. haha

I took a lot of pictures with this outfit but this one's my favorite.

We had a wonderful time together this day. Such a memorable moment before the next school year. Being able to wear skirts this long, I feel more feminine. (And I don't have to worry about being modest. :D)

Have a wonderful day!

You're All I Need

My new favorite song!


Yes, and I'm planning to sing it with my friends. Just listening to this song makes me feel calm. The message made it beautiful, so did the soothing melody. It reminds me of God's mercy and power. We cannot do anything without God. We are weak. But we can do anything with God by our side. God has been so good to us. This song is such a blessing to me. Thank you Lord.

photo credits to: http://www.lemaze-studio.com

Oft times I've tried to live my life according to my will

When darkness comes it's difficult to rest and just be still

But Lord you are my Shepherd that guides me in the way

And I will learn this glorious truth if I your word obey

You're all I need, you're the Lord of everything

All I need this is why I humbly sing

Your strength is sustaining and your grace has made me free

You're my heart's lone desire you're all I need

By wanting more I've wanted less, then all you've given me

You gave your all by laying down your life at Calvary

So I surrender O Lord, my past to you I give

And thank you now for giving me a reason to live

(Repeat Chorus)

More than enough you're all I need

The Writing Challenge

I was supposed to go to school now, but I'll post another one anyway. ;)

It's really nothing. I just find myself becoming really, really poor in writing stuff. Writing is my favorite hobby since I was a child. Lately, though, I found myself losing interest at it. So with my reading hobby. I still read articles, blogs, and things which are beneficial and informational for me but other stuffs like novels became nonsense to me these days. Like, I don't feel like reading them even though they are required.

I think it is the reason why I feel like I can't write good stuffs any longer. Sometimes, when I want to write and express my feelings, I would get my paper and pen (or go to my blog) but then, I couldn't express anything into words. If I do, they become messed up. I think I have lost my passion and I have lost my 'little ability' in writing.

So I guess I have to train myself again.

Don't let them say, "WHERE IS THY GOD?"

We call ourselves Christians.

We believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and are assured that through accepting Him as our personal Saviour, one day we will be going to Heaven.

We claim to be peculiar people- people chosen by God to be His.

We know, that by being Christians, we are the light of the world and the salt of the earth.

And (hopefully) we are proud of it. We speak of Him and preach His name to whoever needs salvation and encouragement. But there are times that we might notice there is something wrong about them. We wonder why there are certain people whom we cannot lead to Christ no matter how hard we try. Or we cannot be a blessing nor encouragement to their lives. We exist in their sight yet we are merely "decorations". We do not make a difference.

Yes, they know we are not just an ordinary friend, an ordinary classmate, an ordinary neighbor. We are Christians and we testify that. But sometimes, our lives do not reflect those of a true Christian. We go to church every Sunday, yes. We pray and carry the Bible with us everywhere we go, yes. Yet still we live in such a way that leaves a question to the unbelievers. We push them away by letting them doubt and ask, "Where is thy God?"

In what circumstances do we make them doubt of our God?

1. When we lose our good testimony

The Bible says in Matthew 5:16, "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven." We ought to be the ones who do good. We act different, we don't do the things that they do. But still we are tempted, we allow ourselves to be tempted by the pleasures of this world. We follow them in fear of being abandoned, ridiculed, or even persecuted. We then lose our good testimony to them.

When problems come and we are burdened, we feel sorrowful. We complain about our misery. That is what unbelievers do. But we are different because we have God. We should give to Him all our troubles and understand that He is perfect. There are always a good reason why such things happen. A Christian should reflect Jesus through his face. We can reflect Jesus through our smiles. Remember: Everybody is looking at us.


2. When we fail to trust God.

We often call "God" but sometimes we don't mean it. We just call him that because that is His name, but we don't treat Him that way. We don't trust Him as God. We are carried away by our problems. God is God. He is omnipotent (all powerful), omniscient (all knowing), and omnipresent (everywhere). Nothing is impossible with Him and we must rely on it.

We are ambassadors of Christ. And what we are, how we act reflects those of our Lord Jesus. We should prove to them that God is worthy to be praised and glorified. Don't let them say, "Where is your God?"

   picture credits to: trigger.photoshelter.com

                                                

By the Way of the Cross- lyrics

Condemned to die on a cross for crimes he had done
He was guilty everyone could see
But his destiny was changed as he looked at Christ and said,
"When Thy Kingdom comes, remember me."

In paradise that day he stood
Just like the Lord had said he would
Surrounded by those who have gone before

One said, "Friend how do you come?
What are the deeds you have done?"
With tears in his eyes, I can hear him reply,

"There are no merits for my name
No works that I could claim
He who brought me here told me to say,

I have come by the way of the cross
I have come by the way of the cross
It is nothing I have done, it's the blood of God's own Son
I have come by the way of the cross

I have nothing to claim but my guilt and my shame
Hopelessly lost I could not find my way
Till His glorious light of love shone down on me
His mercy washed all my sins away

And what He did for me that day
Was the price I know He paid
By His grace, I too can say

I have come by the way of the cross
I have come by the way of the cross
It is nothing I have done, it's the blood of God's own Son
I have come by the way

I see billions gathered round the throne
In every kindred and tongue
Those redeemed by the blood of the Lamb

As the cast their crowns down at His feet
This will be their story, this will be their song

"We have come by the way of the cross
We have come by the way of the cross
It is nothing I have done, it's the blood of God's own Son
We have come by the way of the cross
Of the cross

----------------------------------------------------------------

If you are a real Christian, you will also come by the way of the cross.