Monday. 19th of Januay 2015 (lifted from my Facebook post)
And the Philippines just concluded the inspiring, encouraging, world-breaking (record of people) / changing papal visit. Here are my thoughts, if you may allow me to share:
1. Hooray! The 3 days off work is a much-needed break from my overwhelming workload this start of the year. I am thankful and happy to have spent the days with family and friends in Baguio.
The Pope encouraged us to dream for our families, to protect the beauty and truth of the family in God's plan and to support and be examples to other families as well. This is exactly my purpose of taking my own family on a trip. Because QUALITY TIME means QUANTITY TIME spent with family meaningfully - getting to know each of them more and strengthening our values as one family in Christ. In my quiet times, I prayed to God to bless us and reign over us in all our ways. Maybe next time, I can boldly pray with them too. God works in our midst!
2. Pope Francis is known to be simple yet I think we went overboard with all the merchandise that are Pope-related. I hope the profits we made from these were used to advance God's kingdom.
While it is always good to help others through our wealth, may we always focus our giving to the love of God. Remember, we are only channels of blessings to others. God blessed us to bless others. And that the Gospel is the greatest gift a person can ever receive.
3. Why does the media or us people have to tweak the message of the Pope? While we may be confused about issues of society today on LGBT and same sex marriage... all the more we should seek the truth and understand what the Bible truly says about it. While we do so, we are not entitled to judge/condemn the gays and the lesbians. Our response should be leading our brothers and sisters to Jesus. Only Jesus can save/change us!
4. I am not sure how to feel about Pnoy's supposed welcoming message to the Pope. It is not something that we expected and we have far better list of "petitions or intentions". With this, I urge each and every one of us to pray ceaselessly for the Philippines and our leaders. Let us stop putting the blame on them and act upon what we see/hear by praying. While they are already the ones elected and appointed as of this time, that they may encounter Jesus in their lives and that they can have a heart of a servant like Him. Of course, praying is only one thing but let us underestimate its power!
Side note: If we want change, be the change we want to be. Start by taking part of the elections also! Pwede na magrehistro as early as now.
5. If our spirituality can help us be disciplined in 5 days, why not carry this out in our daily lives? May we choose Jesus moment by moment so that the Holy Spirit can live in us and direct us in all our ways - even those that are not seen by others.
6. As Pope Francis said, he is not the center of the event but it is God. May we worship the only one true God!
7. The most impactful message he left to each of us is to be missionaries of the Gospel. To be brave in letting others about God's love. Wherever we are - whether we are running our own business, working for a company, still studying or doing a home-based job... that is our mission field. We do not have any excuse not letting others know about Jesus.
And the Philippines just concluded the inspiring, encouraging, world-breaking (record of people) / changing papal visit. Here are my thoughts, if you may allow me to share:
1. Hooray! The 3 days off work is a much-needed break from my overwhelming workload this start of the year. I am thankful and happy to have spent the days with family and friends in Baguio.
The Pope encouraged us to dream for our families, to protect the beauty and truth of the family in God's plan and to support and be examples to other families as well. This is exactly my purpose of taking my own family on a trip. Because QUALITY TIME means QUANTITY TIME spent with family meaningfully - getting to know each of them more and strengthening our values as one family in Christ. In my quiet times, I prayed to God to bless us and reign over us in all our ways. Maybe next time, I can boldly pray with them too. God works in our midst!
2. Pope Francis is known to be simple yet I think we went overboard with all the merchandise that are Pope-related. I hope the profits we made from these were used to advance God's kingdom.
While it is always good to help others through our wealth, may we always focus our giving to the love of God. Remember, we are only channels of blessings to others. God blessed us to bless others. And that the Gospel is the greatest gift a person can ever receive.
3. Why does the media or us people have to tweak the message of the Pope? While we may be confused about issues of society today on LGBT and same sex marriage... all the more we should seek the truth and understand what the Bible truly says about it. While we do so, we are not entitled to judge/condemn the gays and the lesbians. Our response should be leading our brothers and sisters to Jesus. Only Jesus can save/change us!
4. I am not sure how to feel about Pnoy's supposed welcoming message to the Pope. It is not something that we expected and we have far better list of "petitions or intentions". With this, I urge each and every one of us to pray ceaselessly for the Philippines and our leaders. Let us stop putting the blame on them and act upon what we see/hear by praying. While they are already the ones elected and appointed as of this time, that they may encounter Jesus in their lives and that they can have a heart of a servant like Him. Of course, praying is only one thing but let us underestimate its power!
Side note: If we want change, be the change we want to be. Start by taking part of the elections also! Pwede na magrehistro as early as now.
5. If our spirituality can help us be disciplined in 5 days, why not carry this out in our daily lives? May we choose Jesus moment by moment so that the Holy Spirit can live in us and direct us in all our ways - even those that are not seen by others.
6. As Pope Francis said, he is not the center of the event but it is God. May we worship the only one true God!
7. The most impactful message he left to each of us is to be missionaries of the Gospel. To be brave in letting others about God's love. Wherever we are - whether we are running our own business, working for a company, still studying or doing a home-based job... that is our mission field. We do not have any excuse not letting others know about Jesus.
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