Trample Mediocrity. Rise to Excellence

Arrows of Conviction





The pastor’s words turned into arrows flying in every direction of the room, one arrow landed straight into my heart.  The word MEDIOCRITY lingered through me. I searched for its synonyms.  I found inferiority, deficiency, inability, inadequacy, lack, weakness, averageness, commonness, normality, commonplaceness.  For the entire week after I heard the Pastor’s sermon, I was convicted to search my inner self for any mediocrities that I need to dig out and get rid out of my system. Mediocre by definition means “of only ordinary or moderate quality; neither good nor bad; barely adequate; and rather poor or inferior.” (Dictionary.com)

A mental inventory of my mediocrities took place at my daily meditation. 2011 is just around the corner, and I have a little time to spare to put together my New Year’s Resolution Packet that I would like to take with me to 2011. Looking for ways how I can unleash my excellence and get rid of mediocrity I turned to His Words, knowing that in God’s Words, I will find a wealth of information and guidelines to help me replace my own mediocrities with excellence.

The following prayers came to heart from Ephesians 3:14-20. 

1.    Praying for God’s strength:  I kneel before You, O Almighty God. I pray that out of Your glorious riches, you may strengthen me with power through your Holy Spirit so that Christ may dwell in my heart.

2.    Receiving God’s Power: I pray dear God, that I will continually be rooted and established in love, and to be clearly committed and in agreement to Your will, and believe that your love surpasses knowledge, that I may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of You, that your Holy Spirit will continually dwell within me.

3.    Accepting God’s Purpose: God, You are the Power of all power. You are able to do far more abundantly that I ask or think, according to the power at work within me. Lord, I fully accept Your purpose for me. Just give me the Word, and I will obey You. To You be the glory forever, Amen!

Mediocrity to Excellence

I believe that praying for God’s strength and power, and for His power to dwell in me, God’s Word is telling me that the Lord Christ is able to do in me and through me more than I can imagine. Allowing God to work through me, His work will shine forth. My flesh may be weak but the power of the Holy Spirit within me will shield me from the weaknesses of my flesh and strengthen my being according to God’s will because I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me. Rising above mediocrity in all aspects of my  life is doable and can be accomplished through the backing of the Mighty God, and be transformed into a woman that God intended me to be.

1.    What do I want to accomplish in 2011? Getting out of mediocrity and moving into excellence is to find out exactly what I want to accomplish in 2011 – in my life. Knowing what I want to accomplish, I will be able to tap into excellence and accomplish excellent results. Being clear with what I want, I will be able to do it with my full potential.

2.    What is my plan to accomplish it?  I will not just talk about what I want in my life, but I will develop a plan to accomplish it. Reflection and meditating on God’s word can lead to a well-established plan.

3.    What is my action according to the plan?  No lip-service but taking action. To create results is to take action. It is all right to talk about your plans and share them with others, but making sure that there are some movement of action that is taking place. One step at a time, leads to the end of the journey.

4.    What is the result of my action? Am I producing the fruits of my labor?  If I am not producing the desired results, it is best to change my approach and strategies. A heart of ‘never give up’ should be within me – being committed to keep on trying until I get the results.

5.    What is my approach to learning? I need to keep on learning and find ways to improve at all times. By being consistent in my approach to learning and improving, I will be able to produce.  Reading books and articles, networking with people in the same field as I am, brainstorming with colleagues will definitely help in the journey to excellence.

Choosing excellence takes effort.  It means hard work and transforming ones mindset. An individual choosing excellence is willing to be taught, mentored, and coached. Excellence requires a person’s lifestyle to be in sync with the same goals and desired results. So if you are currently living a mediocre life, how do you change it?  Are you willing to make a thorough inventory of all the mediocrities in your life? Are you willing to change? Are you going to rock your own boat? Do you have the power of the Holy Spirit within you to help you rock the boat? A successful child of God lives a life of excellence. Trample mediocrity. Rise to excellence. Glorify the Lord with your life. Live in excellence!

Juicing with Ampalaya

Ampalaya Garden

Ampalaya or Bitter Melon, or Bitter Gourd, has been part of my childhood diet.  Because of its bitterness my Mom would squeeze the sliced gourds with salt and water to extract the bitterness.  Mom would then mix the sliced gourds into a mixture of eggs and onions and stir fry them. I’d always wonder how anyone can eat this extremely bitter vegetable. I always thought it was out of necessity because there was no other vegetable from our backyard garden. Fast forward, a great deal of discussion revolved around the bitter melon, not only of its bitter taste but its effectiveness in treating a number of skin diseases from sores to psoriasis. The bitter melon was also found to be effective for diabetes as it helps reduce glucose level and also helps to improve the production of insulin. Other benefits include detoxification and improvement of the cell function. The Philippine variety is known for its more potent anti-diabetes components.



Ampalaya Juice

 When I was first introduced to ‘juicing’ with bitter melon as part of the main ingredients, I was very skeptical. I attended a series of fellowship from my church that discussed about the importance of ‘juicing’ and how it could transform ones physical body. The juicing is composed of carrots, celery, apple, cucumber, and bitter melon. I chose to use one stalk of celery, one carrot, one-half of the cucumber, one apple, and one-third of the bitter melon. This concoction of fruit and vegetables became part of my normal diet which I drink at night before I go to bed.




Ampalaya or Bitter Melon or Bitter Gourd

  According to several herbal articles, ampalaya could help treat and reduce the symptoms of rheumatism and gout ailments for the spleen and liver. It also helps in lowering the body’s blood sugar and blood pressure levels. It enhances the body’s immune system to ward off infections; serves as an effective antioxidant, antibacterial and antipyretic agent, and most of all, it helps with reducing the cravings for food.  Since I started with my juicing, I went down from a size 12 to an eight.
Also bitter melon salads are ready good. I always look forward to our church potluck when the Pastor’s wife brings in her bitter melon salad that I always enjoy. I might ask for her recipe one of these days. But, here’s a recipe that is similar to what she makes:

Ingredients:
3 cups ampalaya, pulp and seeds removed and sliced thinly
6 cups mango, sliced into tiny cubes
½ cup red bell pepper, chopped
1 cup cilantro, chopped

Combine the following ingredients for the salad dressing.
½ cup sugar
1 cup vinegar
1 teaspoon ground pepper
1-2 tablespoon salt

Pour over salad mixture, mix well and serve!

The Value of Diversity

A great deal of confusion exists about what diversity is. Webster Dictionary defines diversity as the condition of having distinct or unlike elements. In our interaction with people at work, at home, at church, at the grocery store, the post office, at school, etc. This means the variety among people related to such factors as age, culture, education, employment status, family status, financial status, function, gender, national origin, physical appearance, race, regional or provincial origin, sexual orientation, and thinking style. Though these differences are undeniable, individual acceptance to these differences varies. Others have understood the differences and learned to incorporate their understanding into the way they interact with others. Others though have completely devalued or ignored these differences.

Valuing diversity means acknowledging that other people, other races, other voices, and other cultures have as much integrity and as much claim on the world as we do. It is the recognition that there are other ways of seeing the world, solving problems, and working together. Managing diversity means promoting inclusion, creating an environment where all differences are valued, and in which each individual can develop to her or his full potential. From a business perspective, managing diversity is valuable because it means an organization gets the most from its employees. From a Christian perspective, effectively managing diversity is valuable because it means valuing each other’s skills, gifts, knowledge, status, etc. to serve, honor, and glorify God’s kingdom.


 There is one fragment of Agur’s thought in Proverbs 30 that can help us understand diversity. The following verses 24-28 are: “Four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise: Ants are creatures  of   little strength, yet they store up their food in the  summer; coneys are creatures of little power, yet they make their home in the crags; locust have no king, yet they advance together in ranks; a lizard can be caught with the hand, yet it is found in kings’  palaces.

The rhema I received from these verses is a revelation that valuing others represents our understanding and acceptance of the little things. We could learn from the small but yet extremely wise creatures. As believers, we are not immune to giving negative criticisms or render unwanted stares at others, but as we grow spiritually and truly understand our salvation, and ultimately develop a more honest-to-goodness-relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ, we will eventually rid off these unpleasant traits.

We can learn from the ants. The ants have little strength, yet it stores up its food in the summer. There are a lot of one-dimensional people in the world who believed that they are better than the rest of us. If we think little of ourselves, it is easier to think big with the rest of the “little people”. Harmony spread all through a group of people, thinking big together and working big as one.  We can work together as ants, helping one another carrying the load as to store food in the summer for the abundance during the winter freeze.

We can learn from the coneys.  Coneys are creatures of little power, yet they make their home in a steep rugged mass of rock projecting upward or outward. Coneys are rock badges and they blend well among the rocks. They are impossible to see as long as they remain among the rocks.  To judge a person who shows his or her own vulnerabilities as of less worth or not a valuable contributor to the group is a seemingly a non-Christian way. If a coney decides to go off the prairie, venturing away from the rock, then it is vulnerable. The reason, why the coney does not venture out at all! If one has the wisdom of a coney, he or she will know where the security is – in God himself. Individuals who are coneys should not be viewed as a non-active member of the group. In the business world, others are more comfortable working alone and unsupervised than being with a group. The coney is smart enough to realize its own vulnerabilities and weaknesses.

We can learn from the locusts. Agur says, “The locusts have no king, yet they advance together in ranks.” What the locust cannot do alone, it can do in community with others. Diversity is being with one in a community. “There-is-no-better-than-me” attitude is the best practice for a harmonious group or organization. As Christians, we cannot be Christians alone. We must be in a community with other Christians. If we do not know where we derive our power, we do not understand that other Christians need us and we need other Christians, or we are not going to make it. If we do not understand the concept of community, we do not have the good sense of a locust.

We can learn from the lizard.  A lizard can be caught with the hand, yet is found in kings’ palaces. Rooted in that image is the image of grace, and grace is out of place. Everything the culture deems right, the Bible claims to be wrong. Because God uses the nobodies and the nothings, ultimately by His grace, they will be in kings' palaces and join fellowship with the king. How do your perceive the nobody and the nothing at your workplace or at church? Do you smile at that person? Do you say a word to that person? Do you respect his or her function at work? Do you consider that person a blessing or a curse?

Let us remember that a lizard can be caught with our hands, but yet it can be found in kings’ palaces. The lizard might be out of place, because of appearance, but we need to remember that people who are small and frail and not particularly attractive will one day be in king’s palaces.

We are diversity! There is no denying that we are weaved in a fabric with various colors, status, functions, thinking, etc. Let us learn from the small creatures mentioned in Proverbs 30:24-28. Let us find the goodness in each and every one of us. Enhance the strengths! Develop the weaknesses. Correct the mistakes. Let us be proactive in spreading acceptance, the way our Savior taught us, because the value of acceptance will result in understanding the true meaning of diversity.

Practicing Patience Daily



Heceda Lighthouse [Photo by: Yadni, Inc.]

 James 1: 2-4  Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Patience is a work perfected with practice and discipline. Without patience, we cannot inherit the promise of pure joy. Having patience is a requirement to seeing our faith fulfilled. It is the proof of fruitfulness, the ability to hold on our faith with the assurance that we are sincere and faithful in our walk with the Lord. Patience allows our faith to endure, that no matter what lies ahead we will never give up what we have earned as children of God.

“Patience is cheerful, or hopeful, endurance, constancy:” Cheerful is when your heart leaps with joy or with the calmness of peace. Hopeful is when it is manifested with excitement and the outlook of success is inevitable. Endurance is when we are able to withstand hardship or stress, i.e. calmness in the midst of a storm. Constancy is when we are sincere in fulfilling our own purpose, being loyal, and faithful.

The most time-specific driven person I have ever met is my husband.  Seconds, minutes, and hour is important to him. Planning a family get-together or an outing is to me the most stressful thing to do. I can deal with pesky people at work. I can deal with meeting deadlines and doing three projects at one time, but dealing with my husband’s quest for time management is unbearable. I do time management but I always give myself leeway on everything – at least 30 minutes in between.  For my husband, missing time is hard enough, waiting for a person is worse.  Do I have the patience to deal with my husband? At first, none all! Can patience be learned and developed? In due time, yes, because “a man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense” Proverbs 19:11.

Patience is one of those things that many Christians do not have – especially the patience to wait for patience.  We should know that the more we understood our salvation, the more we can grow spiritually and waiting for patience is not longer an issue, because if we are in Christ, we already have patience.  The ability to walk in patience is strictly up to us. We have to recognize that being with Christ patience must be highlighted within us. Keeping patience will set us free and cause us to have assurance in the midst of chaos. The ability to experience the joy of patience comes with the acknowledgment of the Holy Spirit being present in us.

In Christ, we let patience have its perfect work that we may become perfect and complete lacking nothing [James 1:4].  How can we become perfect when we lack patience? So how can patience have its perfect work if we do not have it? If we do not have it, then God would be unjust in telling us to let it have its perfect work.  Wouldn’t He? Our God is not unjust. He has provided us all that we need to do whatever He has called us to do. We have it. We need to understand that if we do not yield to it, then we have no one to blame but ourselves.

God wants us to succeed, that is why He is telling us to let patience have its perfect work, because if we will not let it patience will not have its perfect work. In the contrary, we are too stubborn at many times to yield to Him. We are conformed to the sights and sounds of the world that prompts us to rebel against God that can spoil the plan of God for us – in our lives. It takes our full cooperation with God to bring His will to pass in our lives, for God will not override our will. He gives us the freedom to choose our own free will.

If you are not a person that has allowed patience to have its work in you, you must know that it is not too late. You can start right where you are, just as so many of us have had to do and begin the process. As I’ve already said, this takes our cooperation. He has not left us hanging, He is always there to help and show us the way. Let’s start by looking at where patience comes from and why it is so vitally necessary to fulfill God’s purpose and inherit the promise. There is a pay off for God’s people, who through faith and patience stand fast in His promises. If He didn’t want us to receive it He wouldn’t have told us to let it have its perfect work in us. He has invested an incredible amount to redeem us and see us restored to His perfect creation, so let’s cooperate with Him. We cannot do it on our own.

For those who do not think they have patience let us refresh our memory with what James said in James 1:2-4 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James is saying that the trying of our faith is what produces patience. In Galatians, patience is mentioned as one of the fruits of the spirit which God has given us, yet as His children, this fruit has to be developed. In all things, we do not start out as a perfect and mature Christian, we develop into one. We have the right to say that we are complete in Christ, but we also have to learn to live in the Spirit and walk in the Spirit to acquire the fullness of our inheritance. This requires a great deal of patience in our part.

We cannot have the patience produce in our lives or any other fruit for that matter if we are unwilling to put down the flesh. We cannot walk in the spirit if we allow our fresh to dominate us.  Walking in the flesh and not living in the Spirit and walking in the Spirit impede our assurance of receiving the inheritance. One aspects of patience is to endure the test with confidence, not just to endure but knowing full well the outcome.

The purpose of patience is to follow God’s will because God has a purpose and a destiny for eacone of us and if we want to see His will and purpose fulfilled in our lives.  With that said, let‘s have the power of patience in our lives. Let patience be perfected and see the completion of God’s work in us.  In essence, let Hebrews 6:11 be a reminder to us all: “And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”

Let's start practicing patience as a discipline and a commitment to oneself!

Rembering Timmy: Mission Accomplished

Half an hour west of Phoenix, a chain-link fence corralled s a  desolate gravel lot. There was no iconic sign anywhere that would indicate that  the place was a favorite visiting place for friends and families. A Friday  afternoon drive from Glendale-city center to the outskirts of Maricopa County was a trial run. I did not know what to expect. I was completely reliant to Ms. Tomtom, my reliable GPS system which I diligently packed the day before I put my  mind to the trip to Glendale, Arizona. The research about White Tanks Cemetery began in spring of 2009 after I  heard of the death of “Timmy”, a brother-in-law whom I never met and never knew. Timmy was the youngest of four children of Melvin and Barbara O’Neill. Being married to Timmy’s brother, Mike the oldest of the four; I made it my commitment to support my husband’s mission, to find where Timmy is buried.

Quick Background

In Le’s article, White Tanks Cemetery - When there’s no  one to care, chain gangs bury the poor and the unknown of Maricopa County in a  desolate cemetery half an hour west of Phoenix (i) she described White Tanks Cemetery as the indigent burial site where Sheriff  Joe Arpaio’s chain gangs bury more than 300 bodies a year. She mentioned 2, 984  bodies, including babies were buried at White Tanks since 1994. The article was  written in 2007, therefore, the calculated average burial per year is 229.  Sheriff Arpaio is the Maricopa County sheriff who opened the nation’s  largest tent prison in 1993, saving taxpayer money. Sheriff Joe Arpaio's Chain Gang Tent City (ii) You Tube video highlights the pros and cons of this gang, and also has a snippet of women prisoners, the only female chain gang in the county working together to  lift a blue casket out of van in preparation for burial.  Women prisoners volunteer the burial services by joining the chain gang. According to Le’s interview with Officer Nancy Hernandez, the chain gang is a  30-day program for those who misbehaved in jail or violated parole. The  program’s purpose is to make a difference in these women’s lives – believing  that chain gang will change a person with a bad attitude to someone who wants to  do something good. These women represent the deceased’s family and friends.
After all, White Tanks Cemetery is the place where the John and the Jean Does  are buried and those names, yet no one came to claim the body.

On the Spot Preparation

Our hotel was comfortably situated in the Glendale area, right  across from the University of Phoenix Stadium, the home of the Arizona  Cardinals.  We took our time unloading our luggage and familiarized ourselves with the hotel surroundings.  From the dry heat outdoors to the air-conditioned indoors were a bit  uncomfortable for me, but I knew that Mike was enjoying the feel of a  well-cooled room, so the thought of my own comfort was the least of priority  during the trip – this is Mike’s ‘mission trip’ after all! A glimpse of the pool  placed a reminder in my mind – “that would be my place of refuge” later on.

Camelback Road

The dry heat of Arizona was somewhat distractive, but the automatic  blast of the rental SUV’s air-conditioner was a refuge from the heat. I felt the  sweats gathering on the peak of my nose and nested in my mid-forehead.  Mike seated quietly on the passenger’s seat, not saying anything. Then, I remembered, how would I find out where to find Timmy’s grave? I am glad I had  written down the number.  A week  before the trip, I had called the Maricopa County Facilities Management to get  the physical address of the cemetery, the address was, 15926 W. Camelback Road,  Maricopa County,  Arizona.  The telephone number I dialed was 602.506.7762, the office of Kevin Blair  of the Maricopa County Facilities Management. His voice recording mentioned  another number to call for information on the White Tanks Cemetery,  602.506.5801. It was about 4:30 p.m., Friday and I hurriedly dial the number for  Timmy’s location information. The lazy voice from the other end, gave me the  location information, after I spelled Timmy’s first name and last name and the  date of his death, December 16, 2009. I also asked for direction to get there,  but the lady on the phone could not give the exact location. All she could say was, “There is nothing there!”

There is Nothing There

How could she say “there is nothing there” when in fact, I am driving there now to visit my  brother-in-law’s resting place?  I  didn’t hear a hint of compassion from this ‘lady on the phone’.  Hello, dear lady, there should be  something there. Why would I travel this far from my comfortable weather
home to this dry heat that is giving me a horrible headache if there is nothing  there?” Hello, dear lady show a little compassion, will you, please!  With a sense of urgency I turned on Ms. Tomtom to get us drive-ready to  the city of Litchfield Park.  I had  no knowledge of Litchfield Park’s whereabouts, until I searched for driving  direction in Mapquest a week prior to this trip. According to the city’s  website, (iii) Litchfield Park is recognized by Phoenix Magazine as one of the eight  best places to live in Arizona, with at least 5,000 residents located 15 miles west of Phoenix. Ms. Tomtom directed us to Highway 101 South to exit on West Camelback  Road, registering a 22.2-minute drive to White Tanks. 15 minutes into the drive,  we passed by the Falcon Golf Club at 15152 West Camelback Road. My heart beat  started to flutter as I mentally calculated the distance to White Tanks, ‘we are  almost to 15926.’  There was a point  the two lane road became a one lane road, and the well-kept roadway started to feel neglected feeling the rough vibration of theSUV tires while maintaining  a 45 mile/hour drive. And then I saw the blue and white road sign, “Maricopa County WHITE TANKS CEMETARY”

No Private Markers

Grave Marker

I made a sharp right turn onto the dirt road. I could only hear the crunches of the gravel and dirt, Mike’s sighing turned into silence and glancing at the fence I could sense deadness and desperation seeping through the cracks. I maneuvered the car through the last gate towards Lot Three and parked. An eerie feeling of unconsciousness rushed through me as I grasped my Nikon camera. I saw several PVC pipes used as markers indicating that ‘someone is buried six feet below.”  Cacophony of thoughts seek through my mind as I scanned the vicinity and hoping to find words into my thoughts. I urgently searched the center of my peace to handle the moment – to be guided through this eerie but yet solemn place with hundreds of the ‘Unknowns’ buried and forgotten. I counted 20 fresh graves without the round-brass markers. The last grave with brass marker is with a death date of December 15, 2009. Timmy died on December 16, 2009.

The Beauty Within

Flowery prickly  pear cacti and organ pipe cacti proactively inspire the area with their  everlasting greenery and occasional flowers, and few shrubberies and trees  within the perimeter of the cemetery bring forth warmth, which I heartily took  into consideration that some ‘caring souls’ planted these greeneries few years  back, and now they are giving ‘visitors’ solace that beauty is present within  this desolated place. Then I noticed the endless sky – clear and vast. When I  propped my camera aiming beyond the horizon, I knew then that we leave this  place we will bring with the memory of Timmy and the beauty within this place  and the consoling presence of the White Tank Mountains. I could see the mountain  ranges rising out of the desert flats on the horizon, its majestic beauty  sending out freshness into the flatness and dryness of the cemetery spritzing  the air with coolness.

These Flowers Are for You, Goodbye

Then I saw him placing flowers and a note on his brother’s unmarked grave. Head bow down. I could not see his facial expression. I could not read his mind but his  solemn stance and the firmness of his feet stamping love and respect, letting Timmy know that he is loved and prayed for no matter what!  He remained standing facing the White Tank Mountains allowing his mind to reminisce family memories, the time when he played ‘go hide and seek’ with his brothers and sister. Such a long time ago – the memory so hazy, but now he is here standing on Timmy’s resting place. He said his goodbye!

_____________
References:
http://cronkitezine.asu.edu/fall2007/whitetanks1.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1tfIKUZ0fY
http://www.litchfield-park.org/

Remembering my Sister Maribeth!

I just read my niece Feb's request for some pictures of her Mom, my  younger sister Maribeth  Coming to America, Christmas has always been a 'struggling holiday' for me.  Every year, it seems that the length of time I have lived here and became 'americanized' did not help the feeling of emptiness of missing my loved ones back home, the Philippines. Through the years I have experienced tragedies at a distance,but yet felt every pain of anguish. My faith has kept me unbroken from these pains. Today, I am thinking of my sister, Maribeth.   I remembered the fatal day when I heard of the tragedy. I had to root out the pain through this first post in my blog.

Bodies in life jackets washed up on islands and drifted at sea Wednesday as more than 100 divers investigated deeper inside the ferry boat that capsized during a powerful typhoon. More than 800 people are still missing since the tragic incident on Saturday, June 21st when the 7th-story ferry boat hit ground and capsized. I wish I could continue to pretend that my sister Maribeth is not a passenger in this boat, but I could no longer deny it. The cries of my 15-year old nephew Jan Karl seems to be permanently tattooed in my mind and in my heart. I could no longer hide my feeling of despair and anguish as I anxiously wait for news- any news from the Philippines that my sister Maribeth is alive and well or if not her lifeless body is washed ashore somewhere in the many islets nearby. I can feel my insides in knots, twisted in different directions. For the past four days every time I open my eyes from a forced sleep, I see my sister grasping for air above water her legs struggling to kick, her hands outstretched, trying to hold on to me, asking for help. I could not help but scream with anguish- I should have been there helping my little sister swim for her life. I should have been there cheering her on, encouraging her not to give up and to continue to swim for shore. She can swim. I know that she is a good swimmer.

The poem "In the Arms of God" was the result of that tragic news:

No more despair, no more cries
No more darkness
No more night, no more night!
No more despair, no more cries
No more sadness
No more wailing, no more wailing!
Only joy and light, joy and light

Lift your eyes to the hills
What do you see?
You see the dawn
You see beautiful mercy
In the arms of God!

Go in peace God be with you
Go in peace be at rest
Laugh with the saints and the angels
Now you are free
Go in peace
Touch His robe of white, purest white
Go and feast at His table
With the bread of life, bread of life
Sing with the angels
For you are home
Home in the arms of God!

My sister is on dry land. At this time, I know that God’s grace is working in me, because of the strength I have to persevere. Through the indwelling Holy Spirit, God releases into me His supernatural power so I might endure. This is founded from Acts 1:8 that clearly states that we will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon us, and we will be God’s witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. A spirit of confidence in Him is ignited within me. God revealed to me – His grace has awakened my heart and mind to believe that the Lord will turn my troubles into something beneficial. The passage in Roman 8:28 penetrated into my heart and became a rhema to me: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

This unexpected tragedy was at first an unknown – and now has been revealed to us, to me- which brings great pain to me and to my family, and specially to my niece Ryn-ryn and my nephew Jan Karl. The feeling of pain is not physical. It is the pain of a knotted feeling inside twisted in many directions. This pain will subside, in God’s time. I believe that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. I feel in my heart of service, that God has special plans for me to do something for the better good of others.

According to several accounts of news reports, MV Princess of the Stars, the flagship of the Sulpicio Lines fleet left the port of Manila on June 21, 2008 on its way to Cebu City. The number of passengers is variously reported between 700 and 800, but according to the passengers’ manifest, published in the official Sulpicio Lines website [www.sulpiciolines.com], there are 724 manifested passengers, 112 crew members, and 27 contracted employees. My sister was traveling under her maiden name, Constancia Gevero. She is listed as the number 208th passenger. The seven-story ferry boat sent a distress signal late on June 21, 2008 at around 11:30 a.m. when its engine stalled in strenuous waters near Sibuyan Island. Mayor Nanette Tansingco, Mayor of San Fernando, Romblon sent a speed boat to the site, and confirmed that the ferry boat had a hole in the hull, partially submerged and that several bodies had been found nearby. ABS-CBN’s account of the submersion location, the ferry boat is partially sitting on a lodge sixty-feet below water. The plan was to dig a hole to sip out crude oil, to avoid oil leak but they did not continue the process because there is a possibility that the boat will lost its balance and once crude oil is emptied, the boat will fall to the ocean ravine 120 feet below. The sketch of the capsized boat showed passengers in the economy section which is now barely resting on a lodge under water is the location of piled bodies. My sister might be one of these piled bodies.

News/Video of the Tragedy

Two years and six months ago, I was tested and churned by my God. I knew then, that the only way I could drink from every cup passed unto me by Him, I have to put my complete trust in Him - I learned to walk in integrity and trust in the Lord without wavering - that day I committed to live a life in abundance! My sister Maribeth now lives an abundant life!

Let's make this Christmas a holiday to uproot the pains in our hearts and replace them with the welcoming of the love of Christ into our heart and receive the most imortant gift of all, His Son Jesus!  "For God so loved the world He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 [ESV]