Archive for April, 2009

i love it how our God is big enough to care about even the most trivial things… I got mineral foundation and mascara (and then some) from L’Oreal just when I was about to run out!

(yes, i could be just over-spiritualizing things… but i’m learning to give thanks in every and any situation. it’s not like i pray for free makeup! i just know where to credit these unexpected windfalls to.)

nope. not my photo. that’s my sister and my niece on their trip to the ocean park last week (or was it the other week?). but i went back there today (sans camera) for press conference of Hands On Manila’s launch of their Hands on Volunteer Vacations, which is kinda awesome, and you’ll be hearing more about that soon.

i love the sea and all the stuff in it (except for pollution) and I’ve always enjoyed going to aquariums, snorkeling and scuba diving. i love watching the fishes moving gracefully in the water. and yes, i even like sharks. the under sea world is such a colorful alien place that i get to visit once in a while. and once again, i am reminded of how crazy creative our Creator is.

because even in the midst of the beauty of creation, we sometimes we forget.

“But ask the animals, and they will teach you,
or the birds of the air, and they will tell you;

or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,
or let the fish of the sea inform you.

Which of all these does not know
that the hand of the LORD has done this?

In his hand is the life of every creature
and the breath of all mankind.”

(Job 12: 7-10)

“There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die…”

(Ecclesiastes 3:1-2)

God’s fair. Everyone gets a lifetime.

(image from Neil Gaiman’s Sandman: Brief Lives)

“…Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.”

Isaiah 43:1

“Love is particular, that’s why each of us has a name.”

(Ravi Zacharias, The Lotus and the Cross)

i’m glad He knows my name.

When I consider your heaven’s the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of  him, the son of man that you care for him? (Psalm 8:3-4)

These are two of my most favorite verses ever and still, everytime I read them, I’m still amazed at the implications posited bythe psalmist. “who am i?” that the creator of the inoverse would know my name, have set the path for my steps long before i was even born? that’s just so mind-boggling!

But then another clarity has been brought to my attention when I look to my side right now– where Merlin’s curled up by my arm on the bed. A few minutes ago, I kisseed him on the top of his head– he’s still smelly from the kennels at the vet, and he’s still quite scruffy. i recognized all that and still felt so much love for him that it even surprised me. i just spent thousands of pesos– my monthly retainer fee for the magazine i work for, actually– on him just to get him well, and i know that had it been for something else, i wouldn’t have been able to get myself to shell out that much cash.

and merlin’s just a cat! the most constructive thing he’s ever done was to catch an occassional mous. most of the time he ignores me– even runs away when i try to hug him. he eats my mom’s plastic plants, bothers us every meal for hand outs, and he scratches me all the time (not on purpose)– he’s even split my lip open twice already! and yet– whenever he does come willingly, sits at my feet, or beside me, whenever i’m sick or sad–or for whatever reason a cat has for giving occasional acts of affection– my heart just fills with joy.

i love him because he’s mine, and no matter what he does, i still love him– but that doesn’t mean I don’t discipline him whenever he does something bad. actually, one of the first words he learned was “no!” the other one was, “down!” it’s mostly when he’s eating the plastic plants or stealing food from the table.

and right there, i think, is a stef scale model of God’s love. i’m not saying that what i feel for the cat is all like God’s love, but for me, that’s a tangible hing of what it is. I love my cat because he’s mine– and it’s not because of the things he does or stand for.

God loves me because I am His. And I think I have an idea now of how much He loves me– I could just multiply how I feel about my cat to azillionth power, and then some. And if i think how overwhelming, surprising, and joyful it is right now– man, God’s love is just awesome! and i can take no credit for it– it’s all His.

Oh my God, Your love is much wider and higher than the heavens. Who am I? I am yours.

(from a journal entry January 10, 2008. Merlin just got home from the a six day confinement at the pet hospital when he got so sick he nearly died. Now, Merlin’s a big fat fuzzy cat who is a lot more mellow and affectionate than ever before. hihi).

He's got the whole world in His hands

found in Angelus Eternal Gardens in Imus, Cavite. It was noon, the sun was just right, i looked up and snapped this with my fisheye camera. we used to play softball in the shadow of this statue. the scratches on the film gives an awesome weird lightning effect.

i was pleasantly surprised how this shot turned out. it looks like Christ is carrying the sky on His shoulders.

I know that my Redeemer lives and in the end He will stand upon the earth. (Job19:25)