In case you missed it.
I have a new book. For those who know me and wonder if I still do this kind of thing, the answer is yes, aside from teaching, I still write and try my best to come up with a collection or story every year. My prayer is to continue doing this for years to come since it is one of my dreams to be a writer. I am not a famous writer or one who receives royalties every month, I am not. Now, I write hoping it can help or inspire someone to keep moving forward all by His grace. My objective in writing evolved as I moved on with God in life before I wanted to write because I had a lot in my mind, heart, and soul; I must let them all out, I needed to, or else it would be the end of me. But that was before. I am beyond grateful and thankful to God for giving and blessing me with this medium to empower and encourage individuals, especially the young ones.
Here we are, another book from me all through His grace, the Undeserved Grace, my thirteenth (13th) published book. I offer it in digital format. Interested individuals may avail of a copy from this website, in the FreedomJoyFaithShop section. For only 100 Philippine pesos you will have an e-book copy of my latest work. I published it last December 2022. It is in the English language and only has 21 pages.
I still wonder did you ever feel sorry when you said you are sorry.You appeared on and off in my space and time.I knew there was something odd but I brushed it off.Told myself, to be content at least he replied or sent you letters.Settle for that because you've got nothing else.I even forgot for a moment I have everything I need, everything I love, of course, minus you in my life.I was blinded for a moment.Pained and hurt for a moment.But God shed the light once again like he always did.He showed me the truth.My prayers were never in vain.He answered them faithfully.I was kept in the darkness for a moment thinking about why I wasn't enough.He revealed the truth and freed me from your lies.You tried to cancel me. Were you scared? I wonder.I still forgive you even if you don't ask for it.And I'm still glad I met you even if the feelings were never mutual.Wander
Undeserved Grace is about a girl who pursued a guy who ended up hating her, and how she found God's grace again in that experience as she wondered what went wrong. Written in verses and stanzas, I tried to arrange the poems coherently, all by myself. I hope this book will inspire you to keep on holding on and never give up in life. Whenever you are tired, you can always rest in His presence. There is assurance in His presence. There is clarity in His presence. Even though there are uncertainties that surround us, our God is the assurance and clarity that we all need. God is overflowing with grace. He abounds in grace for we are saved by grace alone.
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God"Ephesians 2:8
We're just in the second week of 2023.
How are you keeping up with what life has been giving you?
Are you still pursuing that dream of yours or do you have a new dream now that we are in the new year? Have you made any plans? Have you listed down your goals? Have you made up your mind to be better? Are you overwhelmed or underwhelmed?
These are the same questions I ask myself. By now, I have decided to make an affirmation that this year is God's year in my life. He'd be magnified more and more in my life, His glory and majesty alone. That is how flawless my plan is. But the reality is there will always be a constant battle, and you have got to be a warrior. A warrior who never backs down. A warrior whose eyes focus on the cross. A warrior who keeps on moving forward.
Life is a battlefield, so make sure you and I put on the full armor of God found in Ephesians 6:10-18:
- The Belt of truth
- Breastplate of righteousness
- Shoes with the readiness of the Gospel of peace
- Shield of faith
- Helmet of salvation
- Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God.
Be on guard against unseen enemies.
And in the battlefield called life, maybe a lot of things have already been happening to you, or probably, you feel like it seems dull or uneventful. Are you tired of waiting for someone or something, chasing your dreams, making plans, and trying to change for the better just to end up feeling disappointed again and again with yourself at the end of the day?
Well, I hope you never stop waiting, chasing, making, and trying. The same hope I have for myself. I pray that you and I will always look and move forward, all through His grace.
Suki Day Book 2023
The planner year-end giveaway of Mercury Drug Store is one of the many things I look forward to at the end and beginning of a new year. It is one of the simple things that completes the start of a brand new year. If I remember correctly, I was able to redeem Suki Day Book three (3) years in a row since I started saving points in 2020 by purchasing essential products from Mercury Drug Store.
By using your Suki Card points, you can redeem one planner for only forty-five (45) points. Such a steal! Warning. It is not for sale, only redeemable. So, if you have Suki points, don't miss this chance to get a high-quality planner for free. I chose the 𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒆 𝑮𝒐𝒍𝒅 design from their Better Tomorrow series Suki Book Day 2023. It has three (3) dainty designs and classic colors you can choose from:
- 𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒆 𝑮𝒐𝒍𝒅 (calm, peaceful, and tranquil)
- 𝑹𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝑻𝒆𝒂𝒍 (joy, good health, and love)
- 𝑫𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒚 𝑮𝒓𝒂𝒚 (soothing, cooling, and relaxing)
Just like the meaning of the 𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒆 𝑮𝒐𝒍𝒅 design planner I got by redeeming points, I am so looking forward to a calm, peaceful, and tranquil life ahead of me. We move forward to a better tomorrow with Him.
Disclaimer. This post is not sponsored.
Another Boring Year
Bye 2022, hello 2023!
So what, then?
This cycle comes every last day of the 365 days of every year. What's new? What could be special about it? Matter of fact, I can't seem to comprehend sometimes the hype people give into this kind of tradition, and that would make me appear so weird and out of this world, am I the only one who thought of it? I do wonder.
I don't mean to minimize or cancel the effort of the people who try their best to cook mouthwatering meals and wonderful dishes, decorate their houses to vibe in the holiday trend, and put up a table with all the best food in the town. In fact, I love it and appreciate it. I want delicious food! Hehe.
Where do they get all the energy every year to consistently participate in this worldwide tradition and share it with the world for all the people to see what they have on the new year's occasion?
I feel like I'm making myself sounds bitter here. Haha. But, I truly wonder. Because I tried following the trend like taking a photo of our food on the table from the little resources we had and I attempted to post a photo of it like some of the posts we can see on our social media news feed, but I couldn't. I lack consistency in this area of my life. Why is that? Am I an odd one for thinking like that? I questioned myself with this petty or silly thought.
A Better Tomorrow
Sometimes, I wish I have the desire, energy, and of course, consistency to put up exciting posts on my social media handles, instead of my boring content about books and my musings. But I am still glad that most of the time, I am good all by God's grace. That wishful thinking only comes in a while, once in a blue moon. I guess I am the type of person who prefers boringness. Or in other words, the kind of life that isn't exciting and happy as it appears to others? And why would I care anyway? Why would you even care? HAHAHA.
Just live your life, I live mine. Simple as that!
The important thing is to live a life with a purpose. Live your purpose. Do not leave it. Live it! Do I sound like I am demanding you? No, I am not. This is just a reminder for you and me. Find your purpose and live it.
A better tomorrow is ahead of us. Another boring year is also another exciting year. I am quite excited about another boring year ahead of me. I am positive that there are a lot of surprises in store for all of us. So prepare your heart, mind, and soul. It is reassuring that God holds our future, I pray that we are all hopeful because the hope that comes from Jesus is much, much greater than the hope that this new year brings. So be hopeful, always!
I've finished another book by Marcelo Santos III. Yay or nay? Yay, of course!
As I read the book Para sa Hopeless Romantic, I couldn't help but feel the cringe that loomed just around the corner. I almost put down the book and stop reading it, but I was committed to reading and seeing it through until the end. I have to see the ending of everything that was going on with Maria, Ryan, Becca, Nikko, Jackie, Matt, and RJ. I need to know if the author decided to give them happily ever after.
I believe every character deserves the happily ever after ending in their story. I empathize with characters who don't get their good ending in some of the books I read, such a bummer. It hurt me as well to see the characters, be they, the antagonist or the protagonist. They so deserve the happy ending. They need it! Though they are fiction, I can't help but relate them to the people around me whether they are good or bad, they still deserve a happy ending. Every character has a background story, and if we are not aware of it, it is better to put on hold our judgment and never comment negatively or insensitively on their lives just because they appear weird or peculiar based sometimes on our biased standards, especially if they never do us wrong.
The path to happily ever after is not an easy road and for some, it is even impossible. The fairytale-like ending seems not very fitting to the real world we deem to exist. Most grown-ups no longer appreciate the magic, and it no longer amazes them. Some realized that happy ever after is completely BS, which is very similar to what I feel sometimes.
This book brought me back to my high school days, while reading this I thought I was too old for this teenage love story, the cringe almost suffocated me in the middle of the story. But I continued reading anyway, I was sure that the story was good in its own way and I came to like all the characters. They all have their own story to tell. I admire the author and the whole team for making sure that the book will turn out well for every character.
Everything happens for a reason, be it good or bad. Destiny is real. One big shot is real. Taking a chance is real. Our happily ever after is so real. If we are yet happy, then it isn't the end. Be rest assured that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).
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