the issue of romance

i was talking with a good friend yesterday, and the issue of romance and service came up.  i think it's no secret that, in YFC, romantic relationships have been somewhat discouraged in generations past--remember the time when everybody kept saying true love waits, or whenever they would say having a girl/boyfriend was sablay?  anyway, it seems that the philosophy is slowly evolving (thankfully), and everybody is now more open and amenable to the idea that having a romantic relationship CAN also be pleasing to the Lord.  in fact, it should be, although it is not really the norm.  that is no longer the issue, really.  but the question is HOW?  this is one of those things wherein i only have my theories and speculations but have almost zero personal and empirical evidence to present.  so i am turning over the keyboard to my fellow HH-mates who can, to answer this question. 

How can your lovelife be a form of (instead of a detriment to your) service to the Lord?

Ephesians 3:18-19

And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is.  May you experience the love of Christ though it is too great to understand fully.  Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

60 hours before caving in

was i wrong to do that? i certainly hope not.

i think the coming weeks will certainly be an exercise in patience and self-control and faith.  anyway, here's my verse for the day:

"But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint." - Isaiah 40:31

at work a while ago, i took a break to treat myself to ice cream and 10 minutes of quiet time.  i took my time on a special bench amidst the rare foliage in UPM.  i prayed for my HH (i hope you're all doing good and i wish you well, especially with your family and career).  i also prayed for my family and our relationships with each other.  i recalled how my sister uncharacteristically visited me in my room two nights ago to show me her latest project (Cloud 9 commercials) and i wished that we'd have more of those moments.  I also prayed for you, sort of.  i don't know if i did the right thing today--it sure made me happy.  i realize i don't know nil about these things and i just prayed that i may do what's right.  i realize that i can't avoid hurts--that's a natural part of life.  i just wish that, somehow, i'd be guided so that i can minimize being the cause of such. 

Romans 5:5

"With gracious uncertainty, we can be confident in our expectations, knowing our hope in the Lord will not disappoint."

this is one of my favorite verses (one of many).  right now, i'm a bit restless.  sige na nga, kwento ko sainyo nang konti. hahahah. hindi man lang ako nagpappilit, di ba? *drumroll* i'm sort of praying for someone.  i've always avoided this because of my fears of disappointment and feeling of unreadiness.  i'm not saying i'm mature enough now, but God knows i've been trying my best the past few years.  i realized that i'm slowly, finally coming into my own, and i think this is important for spiritual maturity.  i'm trying to be more positive and realistic at the same time, and i'm doing my best to live my life according to what He wants, even if it's difficult or i'm feeling lazy or it doesn't matter to other people that i do.

see, i've developed a very new friendship with someone (it's only been less than two weeks since we actually started talking).  this could be infatuation, for all we know.  but he is a wonderful person, a good friend.  i didn't pray that he be the one, my GG or GPC.  but i did pray for the friendship to deepen and for both of us to become better for it.  and i am also open (hoping?) to the possibility that it could lead to something more.

anyway, i haven't talked to him in 36 hours. grabe, infatuation na ata talaga 'to.  di ba ganun 'yun?  hindi ka mapakali? hahahah. i'm dying to text him, kahit quote lang! pa-cute lang. hahahah.  but i also recognize that i shouldn't try to take some matters in my own hands, the way i've done so before in different situations and to disastrous results.  so, this is my mantra today.  "With gracious uncertainty, we can be confident in our expectations, knowing our hope in the Lord will not disappoint."  i just need to be patient and have faith in Him.  Lord, ikaw na bahala.  i'm here to please You, and not to satisy my own desires.  Please give me the grace to always and only do what is for You.  Strengthen my faith, that i may learn to accept Your will and make them my own, knowing that Yours is always the best.

my most powerful weapon

is PRAYER.

people can hate us or diss us or disregard us when we approach them. but there is one thing they cannot reject, and that is our prayers. so let's continue praying for the people in our lives: those who make living life so much better, and those whose lives it is our responsibility and privilege to make better.