SIGNBOARDS OF LIFE!

Yesterday early morning, my two sisters, a family friend and myself visited my cousin Arlene in Perpetual Help Hospital in Las Piñas. She was brought there Wednesday around 12:00 – 1:00 a.m. Doctors found out that she had to operated on her appendix immediately. Thank God she's fine and on her way to recovery.

Coming from the hospital, we followed a sign that says: Alternate route to C-5 via Naga Road. Wow! Faster way of going home and avoiding traffic. We turned right and followed all the signs that direct us to our destination. We entered a subdivision.

At first that was so easy, just follow the signs. But there was a time, we got lost, there were no signs. We followed a car, but alas! Hahahaha, the owner lives there. We asked a gardener for directions.

A second time, we didn’t know whether to go straight, right or left. Straight ahead was a gate, to the right was another gate with a sign “NO ENTRY – One Way.” So we turned left. But it seemed not the right way, so we asked bystanders and they directed us back, then we took the straight path. But as we turned we ended up where we came from.

We asked two youngsters on a bike and they accompanied us since it’s also their direction. Oh no! They led us pass through the “NO ENTRY” gate, hehehe. God bless those youngsters. Their heaven sent.

As we reached their destination, they gave us instruction and we parted ways. Oh, we got lost another time, and we asked an elderly man who gave us directions. Haaaay! Siiiiigggnnn boards, pls! As we reached a guard house and pass through it, yes! We were on our way to SLEX, then to C-5. We got home, avoiding traffics, too much heat and faster.

But you know what!?! I enjoyed our ride home. I realized, like the new way we took, changes happen in our lives as we ourselves change. We need directions. But if there are none, don’t be afraid ask those who knew and who can help. There will be times, signages are all around or none at all, or instructions are not that clear, but there will be times we’ll encounter those who are willing to get out of their way to help us. But all these, can help us to get to our destination, faster, easier, in spite of some hassles.

When God sets us to new directions in our lives, He will give all the help we will need. Whatever is missing, He will provide. Don’t be afraid to take risks. God will be there to guide you.

-luisadelacruz

TRAAAFIIICCC!!!

It’s already dark, around 7:45 p.m. I am getting impatient and worried. Why? I am caught in the middle of the traffic, bumper to bumper, as in. Haaay, I have a meeting 6:30 p.m. in SM Megamall. Yeap! I am already late, more than an hour, in fact.

This was my situation the night of June 3, 2009. I came from my Ate Lulu’s residence in Meralco Ave., fifteen minutes or less away from Megamall. We had a simple surprise for our eldest sister, Ate Conie, and her husband, Kuya Joseph, for their anniversary the day before. Their family spent three days in Bohol and they would be coming straight to Ate Lulu’s house.

We were supposed to meet at 4:00 p.m., but their flight was delayed due to rain. Tik! Tak! Tik! Tak! It was getting late and I have a dinner meeting with a couple who would be our new pastoral head and a sister in the community. Around 6:00 p.m. I was about to text Ate Lulu that I would be leaving, when I saw her arrive.

With the ample time that I have with them, I listened to Ate Conie’s joyous stories of their experience as my niece took pictures here and there. God is so good!

By 6:30 p.m., I said my goodbye and Ate Lulu asked their driver to bring me to SM. There . . . was where my ordeal in the traffic in J. Vargas St. happened.

Could you believe it! We were moving just like a space one tricycle could occupy every after 20 minutes of not moving. Our side of the street was filled with vehicles, even motorcycles and bicycles were having hard time passing through. They were stuck, too. Yeap! That was how it was.

I tried to relax myself. I couldn’t do anything about this situation. I tried to pray for others, but I couldn’t focus. Tik! Tak! Tik! Tak!

I was real worried, never in my life had I been this late in a meeting, considering that it was my first meeting with them, I didn’t know them yet. I felt I had no face to show in that meeting, haaaay. By 7:45 p.m. I said to God, “Dear God, this is the time only You can make a miracle happen. I entrust this situation with You. Pleeeeaaaassseee, make this traffic be gone.”

Wow! Nothing happened. I assessed myself. I saw my heart being impatient. I knew I need help in prayer. That was the time I text my intercessor friends. I told them my situation and asked for their prayers.

Voila! The miracle happened. Right after I text, after a minute or two, we moved about three cars away from where we were. My hope was increased. In a very short while, we moved several cars away from our spot before. Still after a very short while . . . zoom! No vehicles in front of us. I was in front the mid-entrance and getting out of our vehicle.

From the spot where I asked for prayers, it took us less than 10 minutes when awhile ago, with the very heavy traffic, I was thinking I wouldn’t even make it to the meeting.

Talk about the power of prayer and God’s grace.

PSALM 34:17 When His people pray for help, He listens and rescues them from their troubles.

Time in time again, God never failed to amaze me even in simple ways. He never failed to make me feel His fatherly love for me. I was real grateful to God and my prayer warrior friends. Thank God for His gift of prayer and friends. Thank God for His wonderful grace.

The dinner meeting? Oh, it went very well. I was forgiven, too. They were very nice people. Well that’s another story to tell. ;-D Happy Prayerful Day Everyone!

-luisadelaruz

WISDOM SEARCH

I wake up . . . uhhuurrmm . . .It is still dark, still very early, haaayyy . . . I’m sleepy, but then, I can’t sleep. I sit down, pray, open my light and get my Sabbath, a daily reflection reference, and my Bible. I read:

WISDOM 6:12-19 Wisdom shines bright and never grows dim; those who love her and look for her can easily find her. She is quick to make herself known to anyone who desires her. Get up early in the morning to find her, and you will have no problem; you will find her sitting at your door To fasten your attention to Wisdom is to gain perfect understanding.

If you look for her, you will soon find peace of mind, because she will be looking for those who are worthy of her, and she will find you wherever you are. She is kind and will be with you in your every thought.

Wisdom begins when you sincerely want to learn. To desire Wisdom is to love her; to love her is to keep her laws; to keep her laws is to be certain of immortality; immortality will bring you close to God.

Wow! Excitement slowly runs from my heart to my veins. It was pounding with enthusiasm. Wow! Wisdom, she’s such a great treasure to be found. The desire in me to find her suddenly got increased. I got so awake.

I read on and as I reach the prayer of Solomon for Wisdom (Wisdom 9), I sort of borrow it from him, and I so sincerely pray it, as if they are my very own words, then I read on again up to chapter 11, on one seating.

. . . This happened one morning at dawn, early of 2005, a few months after I entered our community. Considering I only read my Bible no more than 15 times until August of 2004 when I got across Rick Warren’s “Purpose Driven Life” . . . within 40 days I had read verses from my Bible more than 700 times.

But that morning, it was very different, an experience I would never forget. Since then I prayed to God for Wisdom, because I knew she could guide me towards Him. She could tell me what pleases Him and not. She could tell me whether to turn right or left, trace back or go straight ahead in my life’s journey. But the most wonderful of all, she could bring me close to God. That’s the best above all. J

Later, I was also led to read the Books of Proverbs and Sirach. I love the Book of Sirach, so full of Wisdom.

As of now, my search for Wisdom is not over yet . . . well, it will only come to an end when God will take away His breath from me.

As long as we live, it is a continuous search for Wisdom. I am thankful that God is not selfish. He shares His Wisdom with us . . . not only through The Bible. Every creation He made, every experience we all have, everything we see or hear . . .speaks of God’s Wisdom.

Awesome! God really reaches out to us and wants to make sure we don’t take the wrong turns in our life. Well, we still make mistakes and have failures, as we turn deaf or blind on Him . . . but still He makes them into victory as He gives us Wisdom through them. Right, my friend? J

Wisdom had helped me a lot in my decision makings. She helped me see things beneath the surface of situations and people. She helped me take the right steps towards my purpose in life. She helped in my continuous transformation . . . but above all, true to her promise, she brings me closer and closer to Dearest God. J

Search for Wisdom! Sincerely desire her! . . . She’s one friend you can’t do without in your daily journey in life.

WISDOM 8:20 Still, I realized that I would never receive Wisdom unless God gave her to me – and knowing that only God could give her to me was itself a sign of understanding. So I prayed, begging the Lord with all my heart.

Oh, by the way, I discovered, as I pray for Wisdom, I have to pray for discernment, too. I have to choose from what I learned from her which one I can apply at the right time, at the right situation . . . “Teach me, Lord, for I know not . . .”

-luisadelacruz