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Dear Dudung,
Kailangan na naman nating mag-usap. Lockdown na lockdown, bakit mo naman sinaktan si Inday? Alam mo namang fragile ang heart niyan (not to mention, pokmaru din at times), but it doesn't give you the right to take advantage of it. I understand na marami talagang instances na magulo (at maingay) si Inday pero sa totoo lang, ang gusto lang talaga niyan is mahalin mo siya'ng tunay. Nakalimutan mo na ba?
"She is more precious than rubies. Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." - Proverbs 31:10, 30
Parehas kayong anak ni Papa (paki-pronounce 'to Dudung ng tama, please lang. Papa as in español na mayaman) at parehas Niya kayong pinapahalagahan. So diba, dapat respetuhan. Naghintay ka na rin lang, panindigan mo na. Dahil ang puso inaalagaan, hindi pinaglalaruan.
Sabi mo sakin iba ka pero yun pala pare-parehas lang kayong lahat! Parehas ka lang pala nila! Chos!
Alam ko naman na hindi ka ninja, Dudung. Alam kong kaya mong harapin si Inday. Ang akin lang, sana lubos mong maunawaan yung wisdom na sinabi ko sayo since birth dahil malaking bagay talaga ito:
High Expectations + Low Preparation is a Deadly Combination.
Kailangan handa ka na talaga. Since ikaw rin naman ang magiging head ng family soon, might as well master the heart and the timing ni Papa. By the way, kinakausap mo pa ba si Papa? Alalahin, low preparation will have a high (and damaging) impact in marriage later on.
Speaking of low, okay lang yung low budget. Kasi kaming mga Inday, hindi lang kilay is life; sometimes, kwek-kwek is lifer. Willing to adjust naman kami so keribels lang. Mas masaya pa nga ang simple basta ikaw ang kasama, Dudung. Nakanaman!
Iwanan kita ng "4 Simple Ways on How to Take Good Care of Inday's Heart":
#1 Don't pursue if you can't commit. Huwag mong paasahin kung hindi mo kayang mahalin.
#2 Be pure and sure. Pure ang motibo, sure sa iisa. Hindi pwede ang labo-labo dahil hindi ka naman plastic labo. Kapag nag-commit ka, it means yes to one and no to others.
#3 Pray for her and encourage her to do the right thing. Hay naku Dudung kung alam mo lang, napakalaking tulong nito kay Inday, pramis! Man up!
#4 Mag-usap kayo ni Papa. Ito ang pinakaimportante. Kailangan settled ito sa langit bago sa lupa dahil kung hindi, baka mauwi pa sa impyerno. Before you pursue the "Right Inday," aim to be the "Right Dudung" muna.
O sya, nawa'y maging maayos ang lahat at kakausapin ko rin si Inday.
Hart-Hart.
#HelloDudung
#SagotKitaInday
© KF Abellar
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Dear Inday,
Kumusta ka na? Nakausap ko na si Dudung at mukhang nahimasmasan naman siya (sana tuloy-tuloy na). Sorry di kita nasulatan agad kasi nag-usap pa kami ni Papa. Uy siyanga pala, bumisita si Facundo sa Hacienda! Ayun, masaya naman siya sa buhay niya. Pero... naaalala mo pa ba?
When we we're younger diba nililibot natin ang Hacienda na bigay sa'tin ni Papa, tapos dun natin nakilala si Facundo? Hahaha! Huling-huli ko yung mga mata mong nag-sa-sparkle na parang Lemon Soda nun, grabeee! Tapos one day, dinalhan ka lang ni Facundo ng isang basket ng mangga, mahal mo na! Jusme Indaaay! Andami kong tawa nun—mga 873! Hahaha!
Eto pa, pinilit natin ang mga bagay-bagay na siyang hindi ikinatuwa ni Papa. Ang dami nating rason at palusot nun, naalala mo? Hahaha! Andaming nangyari tapos ang ending, ikaw rin ang nasaktan. Ikaw rin ang nahirapan. Ikaw pa nagalit. Kasi sinabihan na tayo eh pero hindi tayo nakinig. Iba ang pagdidisiplina ni Papa, mas mapait pa sa decaffeinili este decaffeinated coffee na iniinom natin dyan sa may kanto nyo. Pero at least kay Papa, alam natin na dahil yun sa lubos na pagmamahal Niya saka kasi He only wants what's best for us. Tama Siya all along (as always).
At ngayong nandito ka na naman sa crossroads ng puso mo, nais kong ipaalala 'to sayo:
"Promise me, brides-to-be, not to awaken love until the time is right." - Song of Solomon 8:4
Alam mo Inday, hindi ko talaga maintindihan kung bakit masyadong mataas ang EQ (Emotional Quotient) ninyo ni Dudung sa panahon ngayon. Yung masyadong pinapairal ang puso sa almost lahat ng bagay. Tapos gusto nyo pa agad-agad. Ikamamatay mo te?
You should be growing while you're waiting... until you become the "Right Inday".
Hay... Ewan ko ba sayo Inday, dapat by now natuto ka na eh. Dapat by now naintindihan mo na ang sinabi ni Papa. Para sayo naman yan eh. Anyway, itong ibibigay ko sayo, mag-notes ka. I-highlight mo na rin lahat para ma-remind ka paulit-ulit kasi lahat importante.
Here's "How to Slay a Dudung," ay mali! erase. erase.
Here's "How to take good care of Dudung's (and your) Heart":
#1 Kilalanin bago mahalin. To save you both ni Dudung from being brokenhearted, kilalanin nyo munang maigi ang isa't isa. Give it time. Don't rush and huwag puro flirt-flirt lang tapos konting kilig mag-a-assume na. Please lang, Inday! Ikaw ang mas pokmaru dyan.
#2 Know your worth. Nagiging pokmaru tayo kasi hindi natin nauunawaan ang worth natin bilang isang babae. We pray for our Dudung but we easily forget that Papa is our One True Love. Na Siya lang talaga ang Knight in shining armor natin at kailanman, Siya lang ang makakapuno ng hole or emptiness sa puso natin—hindi si Facundo, hindi si Dudung.
Kapag nakita 'to ni Dudung sayo—that you respect yourself just the way how Papa created you to be respected, Dudung will also respect you. Walang pera o alahas o kahit ano pa man ang makakatumbas sa halaga mo, Inday. Huwag mong hanapin kay Dudung ang mga bagay na si Papa lang ang makapagbibigay. Papa is always enough, so trust Him!
#3 May direksyon hindi puro emosyon at lalong hindi magbibigay ng confusion. Isa ito sa talagang inaabangan ko. Ang turo nga sakin ni Papa, Master–Mission–Mate. Alam nyo dapat both ang priorities, lalo ka na Inday, because your heart is so fragile. Love is always a triangle, a three-way street. Kapag niligwak mo si Papa sa triangle, gugulo ang lahat. Unahin mo si Papa, then ang pinapagawa ni Papa, then si Dudung.
#4 Kilig responsibly. Hindi lahat ng atensyong binibigay sayo ay kailangan mo ring suklian ng atensyon. Guard your heart, Inday. Hindi mo rin pwede isisi lahat kay Dudung like kung para sayo pinaasa ka pero sa umpisa palang pala ay klinaro na niya na tropa lang (sana ganito katapang sila Dudung). Mahirap kasi kung lagi ka o kayong nag-a-assume. Your heart is your responsibility, so again, kilig responsibly.
To love is to be selfless, and there will be times (actually marami 'to) that proving this means letting go and letting God.
Iiyak pero hindi susuko. Tahan na.
Hart-Hart.
#HelloInday
#ICareForYouDudung
© KF Abellar
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LIGO
Minsan, gusto mo nalang iligo ang lahat sa dagat. Lahat ng sakit, lahat ng pagkakamali, lahat ng pangit na nangyari mula noon hanggang 2020.
Tapos bigla kang aahon. At sa iyong pag-ahon, dala-dala mo ang bawat butil ng buhanging hinampas ng alon sa iyong pagdating. Ang asin na kumapit sa iyong katawan ay siya ring naglinis sa lahat ng karumihan. Binigkas ng iyong mga labi, "Okay lang masaktan basta tama ang tinahak na daan."
Iba ka na.
Pinili mong maglakad sa ilalim ng napakainit na liwanag kasama ang asin, pati na rin ang buhangin. Kampante ka at payapa ang iyong kalooban dahil alam mong may panibagong pag-asa.
Iba ka na.
Mas malakas, mas marunong, mas matatag. Pinili mong gawin ang tama. Pinili mong magpatawad. Pinili mong lalong magmahal. At sa lahat ng ito ikaw ay nagpasya na sa mga susunod pang kabanata, Siya na ang iyong laging kasama.
Iba ka na.
Sa wakas, naligo ka na ng Kanyang presensya.
© Words by KF Abellar // Photo by Warren Keelan
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Sa isang magaganap na kasal, who's more excited? The bride or the groom?
Whoever your answer is, I am very sure that there's Someone who is much, much more excited than any of us on earth—the ultimate Bridegroom, none other than JESUS.
Alam mo ba yung feeling na excited na excited na yung other party tapos ikaw, hindi ka pa ready? Yung gustung-gusto mo na Siya makita, ma-encounter kaso may mga hindrances kung bakit hindi matuloy-tuloy?
Friend, the greatest hindrance to your encounter with God is YOU.
Here's what's trending: Fear is the top 1 reason in this broken world. 9 out of 10 people think na kapag na-encounter nila si God ay hindi sila matatanggap. The excitement radically turns into fear kasi takot silang makita ang kanilang imperfections. Na feeling nila, mapapahiya sila kasi malalaman ang kasalanan nila at kung ano pa mang kababalaghan ang ginagawa nila.
But would you rather know the truth?
Truth is, the Lord longs for you.
Selah. [meaning, take a long pause and ponder what you have just read]
That's exactly why Jesus wants to give you an encounter with Him. Kung baga a very special date—one to one, sobrang intimate, sobrang one of a kind.
Psalm 34:18 says, "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed."
Teka ha, this is not just yung brokenhearted ka kasi di ka crush ng crush mo, ok? Ok.
This is brokenness to the deepest longings of our hearts which results to a sense of emptiness. The feeling na tuyung-tuyo yung spirit mo na para bang wala ka ng pupuntahan. Yun bang pakiramdam mo hopeless ka na at gusto mo na talagang gumive-up (kahit 1000x mo na yan sinabi pero di talaga natutuloy—thank God for His grace!)
This my friend, is what will draw you nearer to Him.
Jesus doesn't want us to live a double life by us pretending to be someone who we are not. He expects us to approach His Throne of Grace just as we are. Naunawaan mo po ba?
The reason why He is so excited to meet you and give you your one-of-a-kind encounter is because He wants to comfort you and rescue you sa kung ano mang ikapapahamak mo. And the mark of a true follower of Christ is the willingness to be changed.
O diba? Saan ka ba makakakita ng Bridegroom na ganyan? Only JESUS can and only JESUS will.
So I challenge you: SU-RREN-DER your fears to Him and be willing to encounter God #justasyouare, then tingnan natin kung hindi mabago yang buhay mo because of His transforming presence oozing with unconditional love.
I'm 200% sure na kikiligin ka to the bones.
© Words by KF Abellar
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It's not even the end of the first month of 2020 yet the Philippines and the rest of the world already experienced a lot of surprising events.
"Does anyone remember this house—this Temple—in its former splendor? How, in comparison, does it look to you now? It must seem like nothing at all! But now the Lord says: 'BE STRONG, Zerubbabel. BE STRONG, Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. BE STRONG, all you people still left in the land. And NOW GET TO WORK, for I am with you,' says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 'My Spirit remains among you, just as I promised when you came out of Egypt. So DO NOT BE AFRAID.'"
The verses above ay galing sa book of Haggai chapter 2. Sa istoryang ito, it was the season when the the king of Babylon released a decree para ang mga Jews ay makabalik sa Jerusalem to rebuild their temple and so they did. However, take note that although the promise of the Lord had been instilled upon them through prophet Haggai, their hearts had doubts (because of the circumstances around them) and the Lord knew about that.
So the prophet continued sa Haggai 2:6-9 saying: "For this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: 'In just a little while I will again shake the heavens and the earth, the oceans and the dry land. I will shake all the nations, and the treasures of all the nations will be brought to this Temple. I will fill this place with glory,' says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 'The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,' says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. "The FUTURE glory of this Temple will be GREATER THAN ITS PAST GLORY,' says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 'And IN THIS PLACE I will bring peace. I, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!'"
A decree from heaven has been released. A promise has been spoken. Pero sinabi rin ni Lord sa kanila to get to work—rebuild the Temple—until they see the fulfillment of God's promise to them.
Likewise, ito rin ang command sa atin. Everything that is happening now is part of God's wonderful plan. Notice that He never promised an easy plan, but a successful plan which requires our utmost obedience. Ikaw na ang Temple, ang Temple ni Holy Spirit. That is what you need to "work out" and "rebuild".
Bakit?
Friend, it's not about keeping the fire. It's about increasing the fire. You need to live a life that is built to last.
Sa panahon ngayon, it is so important that we not only have the same fire (hunger and thirst) for God in the past, but a continuously growing desire of an increasing, burning fire in us. Then and only then can we endure in finishing the race.
So, anong dapat gawin? Let's read Revelation 2:3-5:
"I know all that you’ve done for Me—you have worked hard and persevered. I know that you don’t tolerate evil. You have tested those who claimed to be apostles and proved they are not, for they were imposters.
"I also know how you have bravely endured trials and persecutions because of My name, yet you have not become discouraged.
"But I have this against you: you have abandoned the passionate love you had for Me at the beginning. Think about how far you have fallen! Repent and do the works of love you did at first. I will come to you and remove your lampstand [Fire] from its place of influence if you do not repent." [emphasis mine]
Have you ever lost the passion to love God as you did the first time? Repent. Go back to your First Love. Soak in His Word. Encounter God. Do the works. Increase the Fire and see His greater glory!
© Words by KF Abellar
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I love you.
Kinilig ka noh? Ako din eh. Apir!
I remember the time when I had this very specific encounter with God na life-changing. It was the time when everything fell apart and wala na akong ibang mapuntahan. I didn't understand God then kahit laki ako sa church and sa christian family. I didn't fully understand His love, who He is and the cost of what He has done just to save you and me.
Until one day...
In a galaxy far, far away... I decided to end it all by committing suicide. I had so many attempts back then pero ito ang panahon na talagang desidido ako and firm ako sa belief ko na hindi talaga ako mahal ng Diyos (kasi nakatingin ako sa circumstances ko that time).
Lo and behold, as I was about to cut myself, I heard that still small voice. Ang sabi Niya, "I love you."
Mic drop.
Everything changed right then and there! In an instant! I suddenly felt peace and parang may natanggal na scales sa mata ko and shackles sa boung katawan ko. I felt His magnificent power of love enveloped me.
"When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I gave Egypt as a ransom for your freedom; I gave Ethiopia and Seba in your place. Others were given in exchange for you. I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to Me. You are honored, and I love you."
There it is: I love you. Isaiah 43:2-4. The very first promise God personally gave to me.
This love is incomparable. This love is unchangeable. This love is unselfish. And this love desires us to grow...
1. Grow from our apathy o walang pakialam sa iba.
2. Grow from our immaturity o childish ways and feelings, especially when it is outside the will of God. For example: Dwelling in the past broken relationships or camping in unforgiveness; God wants you to grow from your past, bes! Move on, move on din!
3. Grow from our lack of passion and direction lalo na sa ating calling.
4. Grow in the grace and in the knowledge of God.
Yes, mahal na mahal ka ni Lord and because He loves you that much, He wants you to grow old with Him. Not stagnant, but grow to be just like Him.
Tara, G?
© Words by KF Abellar
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Just like Rahab, yung prostitute.
Tama ang nabasa mo, just like Rahab.
"If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won't be honest with greater responsibilities."
- Luke 16:10
Kilala mo ba si Rahab? Isa siyang Canaanite at isang prostitute. She had a very short story in the Bible, but there were a number of times na minention ang pangalan niya even up to the New Testament. Bakit? Siya lang naman ang tumulong sa 2 spies na pinadala ni Joshua to scout the vastness of the promised land and to check the military strength ng Jericho. Although bawal sa kanilang kultura, tinanggap ni Rahab ang 2 spies sa kanyang tinutuluyan and more than that, when the soldiers asked Rahab to bring out the 2 spies, tinago niya sila hangga't sa makatakas sila at makabalik sa kampo ng safe and sound. Other than that, she was a nobody to everyone else, but a somebody to The One who sees.
Anong meron sa kanya? She recognized the God of Israel and she had faith in Him.
Sabi ni Rahab sa Joshua 2:9-13, “I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when ye came out of Egypt, and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites that were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. As soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above and in earth beneath. Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token: and that you will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death."
Right that very moment was the pivotal moment in her life. Nagkaroon siya ng oportunidad to bless the people of God even to the point of death! She was given an opportunity to show and prove her faith in God through her actions; an opportunity for salvation, an opportunity to serve God. She not only believed in God but she also acted accordingly.
One small action, one small service to the Lord, rippled for around 44 generations.
1. Neither she nor her family were killed just as the two spies promised her.
2. She got saved through her faith in God and she attained righteousness through Him.
3. Rahab’s faith in God engrafted her into a new family—the Israelites.
4. More than that, nagkaroon siya ng physical family as she became the wife of Salmon, one of the leaders of Israel who supported Moses when they left Egypt.
5. Ang babaeng tinatawag noon na pokpok became a godly wife and mother in Israel. She bore a son named Boaz na later on ikakasal sa isang widow na si Ruth.
6. God raised up a harlot to become the great-great-grandmother of king David.
7. Finally, from the line of Rahab came our Messiah, Jesus Christ. Basahin mo ang Matthew 1:1-17.
God used the humble and the most unlikely. God used someone who was not famous, but faithful.
Nakakatuwa ang Panginoon dahil He always uses little things to test our integrity. Faithfulness requires integrity, at si Lord, tini-test ang integrity natin beginning with the little things.
For someone who has faith in God, are you a good steward of what He has given you?
1. Your body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit, are you taking good care of it physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually?
2. Nagbibigay ka ba ng tithes? Ng offering? Nagbibigay ka ba at all?
3. Nagbibigay ka ba ng hindi nakasimangot o nagwo-worry o pilit?
4. Inaalagaan at pinalalago mo ba ang spiritual gifts at skills set at material things na binigay sa'yo ni Lord?
5. Inaalagaan at pinalalago mo ba ang mga taong ibinigay sa'yo ni Lord? Are you also honoring the servants of God at ang spiritual authorities na inilaan sa'yo ni God not just with words but much more in deeds?
6. Are you doing what you're doing for God or for self? Yung totoo.
7. Are you becoming more and more like Christ or more and more like—huwag na natin banggitin, pangit siya!
Hindi mo kailangang sumikat o maging sikat to serve God, frenny. Pero kailangan mong maging faithful to Him 'til the end dahil ito ang kalooban Niya.
© Words by KF Abellar
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