MY BIRTHDAY WISH….

When I was little, I came to know birthdays. My Mama would always cook something special to celebrate our birthdays. It would always be just for our family, occasionally, with invited guests and relatives. As I was the youngest, my three sisters would always give me gifts, anything from simple to something big. But my Mama would always remind me: “It is the thought that counts not really the monetary value of the gift.”

Many birthdays had passed in my life and all through them I always had wishes. I always had something to ask from God as a gift. Some were granted, some were not given as I want but in another package. Yap, I even had broken dreams and frustrations.

Along my journey in life, God had taught me that challenges in life would always be there, one after the other, some just like scattered rain showers, some like heavy storms. The only shield I can have is my faith in Him and His love for me that at the end of each rain showers or storms, I will be always okay. Everything will be fine because He will make sure I will be safe. May be at times, I will have some wounds and scars but He will always be there to heal them, give me rest and strengthen me.

He also opened my eyes to the value of simple and little things. Though I still fail to recognize them at times, but I’m learning. There are many daily miracles and blessings that He gives me. I didn’t recognize them before because my eyes were so set on big things and big dreams that I got blinded by them. I also ignored them because I was so busy with doing what I want in my life.

I now realize, each day is a gift. Each time I open my eyes in the morning is a gift. Each time I breath air is a miracle. The fact that I can see, hear, touch, walk, move…and more…is a precious gift from God. Having my family is a treasure. God lending me my parents to love me and bring me up to who I am now is truly a big blessing. My siblings, my brothers-in-law, my nephew and niece are a joy. My relatives and friends are His gifts, too.

Having the opportunity to have an education, to share God to others, to eat more than three times a day, to have a home and a TV, a computer…everything is all because of God’s grace.

I am grateful that God would even think beforehand of creating me in the womb of my Mama. I was born with nothing and yet He provides me with what I need. He clothes me, feeds me and helps me grow. I am awed by the fact, that He loves me so.

This year, in my birthday, I searched my heart for the biggest gift that I wish to have. Oh, yes, I still found petty desires there, but I didn’t sense my heart leap in the thought of them. I dug deeply, further and further, until I found something that brought tears to my eyes…my birthday wish above all the others:

I simply desire to make God smile…and with this wish is that I may always allow Him to increase in me and to others as I decrease. 

Just the thought that I do good for God and make Him smile allow little tears to escape my eyes and my heart to leap in joy. It’s not easy to be unselfish and not to take credits for each accomplishment. It’s very challenging to sincerely and truthfully point to God and not to self. I still have so much to learn in life. It will take my lifetime to be transformed. I will still falter and fail God. There will be times that I will still offend Him. I may be in the half-time of my life or may be less. I don’t know. I cannot change the world. But for the rest of my life, I can do something in my little world in accordance to God’s desires. And for the rest of my birthdays, I deeply desire that this will always be my wish above all else. I may even forget this from time to time, but by God’s grace, I believe He will make me remember and He will grant it…and one day, when it is time…may He be there to welcome me in His arms…with a beautiful smile on His face…That will be such a great joy!

Everything is a gift from God…each day is His miracle…We truly have such an awesome and wonderful God who never fails to take care of us and put up with our tantrums…who never fails to show His love for us in spite of our demands…He deserves much more love than what we give Him…He will love us no matter what…

-luisadelacruz

SECONDS COUNT...

Tik! Tak! Tik! Tak! 

Have you ever wondered what happens in every corner of the world in each tick of the clock? 

As I reflect on Ecclesiastes 3:1-11, I thought of these:

How many are dying in 1 tick?

How many are crying in pain or so hungry?

How many are feeling angry?

How many are smiling or hugging their loved ones?

How many are praying and loving God?

How many are….?

Many things happen at one single tick of the clock. I can not do much for the world, but I can do something of value every tick of the clock…I won’t be here forever…

Have a Radiant Life!

 -luisadelacruz

ARE YOU UP THERE?

I look up to the blue sky.

I saw clouds hugging each other.

I asked You, Lord: “Are You up there?”

Then the wind blew, gently touching my skin.

Aaah, yes, You are up there, Lord,

But You are also down here.

You are the wind that lovingly caresses me.

You are the flowers that put a smile on my lips.

You are the sun that shines on me.

You are the soft voice that comforts me.

You are my chair that cradles me.

You are the bird that serenades me.

You are my family who loves me.

You are my friends who embrace me.

You are the stranger who showed kindness to me.

You, oh Lord, are everywhere…

Oh, yes, even in my heart, Lord, I find You.

-luisadelacruz 

THANK YOU FOR READING MY BLOG (My 100th Post)

Dear Readers of The Essence,

A beautiful and blessed day to you!

Today, I am posting my 100th post on this blog. I wanted it to be special and so I thought of addressing it to you, my dear readers.

I probably know only a few of you, and I don't even know how many times you had visited my blog to browse and read my posts. You don't know me either, just maybe only about what you had read here. But I recognize the fact that every time you click your computer and end up reading my posts, you are sharing your time with me and I am sharing the content of my heart and mind to you, as well as my life and what I believe in. During these moments, somehow the boundaries of time, place, culture, age, etc are transcended.

I would like you to know that I appreciate this connection that we have and your giving me of your time. My prayer is that each moment you read a post here in 'The Essence,' God is blessing you by touching your heart and your life. Thank you for letting me enter the door of your heart and allowing me to walk through or pass by your life.

My posts may be just like little drops of water in the ocean of your life, but may it create beautiful ripples to you, your family and your friends...ripples that are more beautiful than what big waves can create.

We may never know each other personally, but somehow in spirit, where you are and where I am, we have become a part of each other. Without you, my dear readers, my blog will not continue to exist. Just one person reading this is enough for me to go on posting because I believe in the value of even just one soul being blessed...and it is a gift from God that there are more of you giving your time to read and hopefully chew on the content of my posts.

May we continue to journey in life through this blog. Again, I would like to thank you.

Jesus peace be with you. God bless you and your love ones.

With the Love of Jesus,
Luisa De la Cruz

A MOMENT OF PEACE

I got my Bible and reflected on the day’s Scriptures…Then, I went to our little garden, sat in our little bench…I listened prayerfully to some prayers on celphone...Then, to some church and worship songs…then, to the Gregorian chants I put there…

There was a moment I opened my eyes. Suddenly, I was so overwhelmed by God’s Presence…When the plants caught my sight, I so sensed God is present in each of them, even in the air and space, that I don’t want to close my eyes and miss the moment…Our little garden welled up with God’s love…Suddenly, the world was shut out, it’s just God and me…It was such a joy…

This was just this morning. I got a very busy day today, I set the alarm by 3:00 a.m. to start early, but I woke up 2:00 a.m and couldn't sleep anymore, so I started my day…It’s 4:57 a.m. when I composed this. By this time I was still in our garden…

Busy day??? Ah, the more I need these special moments with God…Oh, by the way, this is not supposed to be my sharing today, but I couldn’t help sharing with you the gift of God’s Presence…

Above everything else, it’s a must to put God first…             

Have Moments of Peace!

-luisadelacruz

MIRACLES WAITING TO BE SEEN....

Isn’t it amazing how we breath air and how it helps us to live? 

Isn’t it also amazing how our heart, liver, intestines, veins, internal organs, and body parts function to make us alive physically? 

Isn’t it awesome how our fingers can move, hold things, touch, write…How in the world can our fingers do those!?! 

Isn’t it wonderful, too, how plants, gigantic trees even, grow from a very tiny see? How beautiful flowers bloom from stems? 

Isn’t it amazing how animals like eagles or cats take care of their young without anybody teaching them?...

How come with all these,…we still search and ask God for miracles? Isn’t it there are enough miracles to behold, right before our very eyes?...

But come to think of it...true faith doesn’t need miracles anymore, because the heart knows that even without miracles…God will always be there embracing and seeing His child through every challenges that comes…    

Have a Vigorous Heart!

- luisadelacruz

TODAY I CHOOSE TO PLEASE GOD....AND....

What pleases God, I shall do today that I can put a smile upon His marvelous face....

I shall thank Him even for little blessings:

Food on the table

A ride to work or school

Money to pay my fare

The janitor who smiled at me

The computer that I use

For having ears to hear
Eyes to see

Feet to walk

Hands to touch and hold….

Today, I shall eat healthy food to take care of the body He gave me.

I shall love my family more than I did yesterday.
I shall be kinder to people I see on the streets.
I shall not judge strangers even my boss and officemates.

I shall compliment people and speak only of kind words….

Oh, there are many ways that I can please God in my everyday life even just in a little loving….I'm pretty sure you can also find your own ways, too.

There's just one most important thing that I should not forget: My intention is not to please anybody, not even myself…. 

What pleases God, I shall do today and tomorrow and the days after to put a smile upon His marvelous face….because I love Him….

-luisadelacruz

PROFIT YOUR DAY....

GOOD DAY!!! 

So what’s great about it? 

First, you had rest last night until this morn….

Second, you woke up, you are still alive!....

Third, you can see your room, you are not blind….

Fourth, you have feet to walk around, others have none….

Fifth, you have a home, others sleep on the street….

Sixth, you have breakfast, others have nothing to eat for the whole day….

Seventh, you have work, others are still looking for one….

Eigth, you have people who loves you, others die alone and lonely….

Ninth, you….

Oh, there are so many things to be thankful for. 

Don’t waste your day looking for troubles. 

Profit your day looking for blessings....

They are all around you, just waiting to be noticed by you….

While you are at it, thank God for each of them. 

It is indeed a GOOD DAY, everyday!

-luisadelacruz

MY LITTLE GARDEN - by my window

            Tuesday last week, I came back home from the province of my best friend. Her Mom gave me four kinds of plants. One of which was a flowering plant they called “alas quatro.” When I saw its flowers in her garden, I was attracted to them. I found them beautiful. She said that by 4:00 p.m., these flowers always fold. Cool! 

The next morning, I did some gardening in the ample space by my window. I cleaned it, tilled the soil and removed some potted plants. Then I planted the plants I brought back with me. I spread out the “alas quarto.” I envisioned this space later to be filled with them and with flowers as time would go along. I was so excited and looking forward to that day. But for now, I had to be patient and take care of my little garden by my window.

 

You know what I did? Morning and night I said good morning and good evening to my plants. I also told them that I loved them and God loved them more than I did. I always thanked God for the gift of them and I let them hear that. 

There is life in them. I believe they have sensitivity enough to feel that love.

 

Friday morning, I was so filled with joy! Why? Oh, I saw three buds. Wow! My heart really leaped with joy! A little while later, as I closely watched them, I saw the three opened up and bloomed into cute, tiny, beautiful flowers right before my very eyes! A double wow for me! Clap! Clap! Clap! I was truly joyful! I was bubbling with it when I told my best friend about it. Oh, how thankful was I to God! I always smiled and was filled with excitement every time my eyes laid on them and when I remember them.

Around past 3:00 p.m., the three flowers started to fold. By past 4:00 p.m., they were withering. The next day, I was still excited to see my flowers, but they were gone. Oh, I was expecting them to unfold and show their beauty again. Well, I thought, “Maybe the heavy rain brought by the storm “Falcon” we were having affected them. I was still hopeful though because as I looked closely, there were other buds still to bloom in the days to come.

Yesterday morning, just three days after this wonderful experience I had, I was watering my plants. Then I noticed two buds about to come out, just like little babies being born and waking up to the morning of this world. Wow! I immediately got the camera, took shots from time to time. Yes! Right before my very eyes again, I saw the two bloomed. Super wow! Clap! Clap! Clap! I took their pictures just like a proud mom lovingly taking pictures of her little children.

The flowers were awesome! By past 3:00 p.m., guess what happened….The two flowers folded. By past 4:00 p.m., they were withering. But I noticed something, There was a bud starting to bloom. Wow! Talk about the mystery of life, huh?!? 

This morning, as I checked on them, the two flowers were almost gone. So it was not the rain, but it was the cycle of their life. But I’m still thankful for the joy they brought me. I’m also excited because the other bud was starting to bloom. And guess what? I saw another bud about to bloom. That was really cool! Clap! Clap! Clap! 

As of now my garden is not that beautiful yet, but in it, if I will just look closely, there is beauty. There is life, and a future full of hope and captivating view.

Life is like my little garden by my window. At times, we see life as dull, so ordinary, nothing exciting going on. There were experiences we had from childhood until now that left scars of hurts and sufferings. Sometimes, we want a different life or we don’t like the people around us. Anger, disappointments, frustrations, and other negative emotions eat us up.

But like my little garden, if we look closely, our lives have beauty in them….Your life has so many wonderful things and people in there that can give you joy. Like the storm that my garden had, it may look like a bad weather destroying my flowers, but as I look back, the rain helped them lived, considering I had traveled for around five hours from the province with them and I just replanted them. Your troubles, your rains in your life add up to your inner strength. The lessons you have learned from them makes you wiser in facing your future. New hope is always born out of them.

Like the dying of my flowers and the coming of new buds, there will be something new in your life….always….guaranteed! Why do I say that with confidence? Because like what I did with my plants in my little garden, God is doing the same to you. He takes care of you. He never ceases to reach out to you and show you His love. He watches over you, talks to you, caress you. You are so precious to Him.

He said in Isaiah 46:3-4, “….I have cared for you from the time you were born. I Am your God and will take care of you until you are old and your hair is gray. I made you and will care for you; I will give you help and rescue you.”

Surely, there will always be an experience of life and death that will happen to you. There will always be a storm that you will have to face in your life. This is a reality that will definitely be there to come and go in different faces. But what will keep you strong? Who will keep you going?

Jesus commanded the wind, “Be quiet!” and He said to the waves, “Be still!” The wind died down and there was great calm. This happened when He was on a boat with His disciples in the midst of the storm when they were so terribly afraid. Their boat was almost filled up with water and when that would happen, they would drown. But Jesus was so calm. His disciples were amazed that even the wind and the waves obeyed Him. (see Mark 4:35-41, TEV)

Jesus can keep you going. Your faith and trust in Him can keep you strong. As He calmed the storm in this situation, He can quiet down the storms in your life.

Like my little garden, your life right now may not seem beautiful for you, yet. But God is not finish with you and your life. As long as you are still breathing, there is new hope each morning for you, a new beginning to make your life beautiful, a future filled with joy. You just have to look closely and discover the beautiful flowers of blessings in it. I’m pretty sure you will find many. It’s just a matter of looking at your life in a different perspective and a positive way. 

 If you put your trust in Jesus, if you allow Him to take care with you ….the garden of your life….one day….yes, one day….you will see your life so wonderfully filled with beautiful flowers of experiences and blessings, yet to come….as one goes, one comes….You will have a blooming future because God is always lovingly taking care of you as He promised….as you believe….

Click video below to see more pictures and inspiration 
of "My Little Garden - by my window"

-luisadelacruz

ONE UNEXPECTED MORNING!

            Late last night, I had a heart to heart talk with God. I poured out what’s inside me and asked for His help. I asked for His healing, His forgiveness, His guidance. I lifted up to Him the people and ministries I treasure. I entrusted to Him my future. And I said to Him, “All I want, Father is to love You each day.” Oh, yes I cried to Him and He embraced me with silence and comforting peace. Then I went to sleep.

            Today, was just like my ordinary days. I woke up before 4:00 a.m….prayed the rosary….after praying I went back to sleep….then I woke up around 5:15 a.m. As I got up, I noticed something different. There was a striking yellowish light outside that I saw from my window. As I looked closer, Wow! I was astonished at the picturesque view of the sky. It was so blue, white clouds with grayish parts were there. The sun’s so bright rays penetrated them which made them more beautiful.

            I immediately went outside to shot some pictures. I couldn’t be satisfied just standing on the ground, so I slowly climbed the ladder towards the roof over my room. My handicap didn’t prevent me. I really want to capture this beauty before it was gone. I sat on the roof. Wow! I took more pictures. I tried not to get the dark silhouette of the structures but its contrast to the sky added beauty to the scene.

             I sat still for a moment and looked around. I noticed the big tree on the other street. Oh, that was why every morning there were birds chirping and flying. They gave delight in my mornings. I also felt the cool air embrace me. I was just so happy and awed by everything. I was so grateful to God.

            Then all of a sudden, He made me remember something. I stared at the so beautiful scene before me. The blue sky, the white clouds, the gray shades, the silhouettes of the structures, they all contribute to the beauty of the scenery. Yes, even the grays and dark shades. The striking, penetrating, brilliant ray of the sun turned it into an awesome picturesque view here in this busy city of ours. They are all necessary to contribute to the whole beauty that beheld my eyes.

             God made me remember through this, that me and my life have light and dark side…. good and bad experiences…. strengths and weaknesses. Even if I try to ignore or remove the dark side, the bad ones, my weaknesses, the fact remains, they add beauty to me and my life. The striking rays of the sun is like the striking warmth and unconditional love of God for me. His love penetrating in my heart and my life makes them more beautiful than I can ever imagine. Each component is necessary and contributes to my whole beauty and to the whole beauty of my life.

Sometimes, I just have to climb to the roof of my life, give an extra effort for me to see things in a different perspective.

            As I reflected on today’s Gospel when I went down from the roof, my heart was further embraced by God. John 16:23-27 says:

When that day comes, you will not ask Me for anything. I Am telling you the truth: the Father will give you whatever you ask of Him in My name. Until now you have not asked for anything in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your happiness may be complete.

“I have used figures of speech to tell you these things. But the time will come when I will not use figures of speech, but will speak to you plainly about the Father. When that day comes, you will ask Him in My name; and I do not say that I will ask Him on your behalf, for the Father Himself loves you. He loves you because you love Me and have believed that I came from God.

 This was God’s confirmation to me that indeed He heard my prayer before I slept. He answered me through that picturesque view that astounded me when I woke up. I just so love God. He is truly such a wonderful Father….