Patuloy na Magbigay Kasiyahan sa Diyos ang Kaniyang Bayan

For me, listening intently to the sermon of Brother Eduardo V. Manalo has always been a pleasure, and likened to a deer in search of water.

Ang paksang diwa of the Church's 110th anniversary: "Patuloy na Magbigay Kasiyahan sa Diyos ang Kaniyang Bayan" was magnified and shared with great emphasis to signify its importance in these last days for the INC members' journey towards salvation.

Firstly,  ang pagbibigay kasiyahan sa Diyos ay siyang inaasahan Niya mula sa Kaniyang mga hinirang. This is a basic requirement for the servants of God, because it's all tied up to the bigger picture - ang pagdating ng Panginoong Jesus -- na kaalinsabay ang napakalakas na ingay sa langit, na ang apoy ay wawasak sa araw, mga bituin, at sa kalawakan -- na ang pagdating ni Jesus ay nasa pintuan na.

Second, ang pagbibigay kasiyahan sa Diyos ay konektado kung nais nating matamo ang kaligtasan. Sapagkat ang pagliligtas ay napakalapit na, at nagbigay ng babala ang Bibliya sa mga magaganap; ito ay natutupad at patuloy pang natutupad:

- digmaaan (i.e.) 1st World War - July 27, 1914; 2nd World War - September 1, 1939.

- alingawngaw ng mga digmaan

- titindig ang banasa laban sa bansa

- ang kalikasan ay magdurusa

- lindol

- natural na mga sakuna

- tag gutom

Ang mga kaganapan sa itaas ay inilalarawan na gaya ng paghihirap ng isang babae sa kaniyang panganganak. 

image credits to the owner

Another reason why it is important for God to be delighted with us - "Ang panginoon ang pumapatnubay sa atin sa landas kung saan tayo lalakad, at pumuprotekta sa kanila na nagbibigay kasiyahan sa Kaniya."

One great example of this is the King Hezekiah - ginawa niya ang mabuti at tama - siya ay sumunod sa Dios. Nagpumilit siya na sumunod sa mga batas (laws) at tuntunin (rules) ng Diyos. Hence, the king receive good and great things in this life.

Ultimately, ano ang pangako ng Diyos sa mga nagbibigay kasiyahan sa Kaniya?

- patuloy kang papatnubayan ng Panginoon.

- bibigyang kasiyahan sa buhay, gaya ng bukal ng tubig na hindi nawawala.

Hindi naman kailangan ng Diyos ang mga biyaya, kundi tayo ang nangangailangan; gaya ni Haring Asa na naging malakas at hindi natakot gumawa ng mga reporma (inalis ang mga diyos-diyosan sa mga pagsamba noong unang panahon), siya ay nakapagbigay kasiyahan sa Diyos, at siya'y tinulungan, naging mabuti sa kaniya ang Diyos.

Tinutulungan ng Diyos ang mga may ligalig, nabigo, nabuwal; binibigyan Niya ng sapat, mga pangangailangan, walang hindi hinahangad kundi tayong lahat ay maligtas. Kung tayo ay nakapagbibigay kasiyahan, gagaan ang lahat na ating mga pinagdaraanan.

--billymacdeus

How Often Should You Get a Pedicure?

According to Men's Health (a well-respected magazine for men), an average person should get a pedicure at least a month, (yeah! that's once a month).

It was shared with caution though, depends on how fast your toenails grow, you should get as often as you like. A pedicure, couple it with a footspa is the most effective way to maintain your feet hygiene, keeping your nails fresh and clean.

Given that it's summer time as of this writing here in this tropical land - - The Philippines, it is just normal to wear sandals most of the time. Show case your flipflops and tsinelas, and bring it on--but are your toe-nails ready? Then it's time to get that relaxing and comfy-feeling footspa.

Visit our FB page to  see the reel in action. 

https://facebook.com/billymacdeusblog/  

--Othello

Nosetalgia - The Power Of Scent

The best remembrance of memory is when it's locked and connected through certain smell or odor; this can be recalled easily by the mind when that scent comes up again in the future.

Ever wondered how the scent of burning firewood on a cold weather, brings back nostalgia in the days when you put your hands together to get it warmed during the early hours of morning by directly putting your hands closer in the burning fire of the "dalikan" - an Ilokano term for a stove, a hand-made potted clay which is used for heating, cooking, and even warming your face, body, or hands.

My Lola used to wake us up along with my cousins when we were kids as early as 5:00 am during the ber months in our province. She would let us taste the "siggit", a rice soup which was lifted from the vapors of the boiling rice being cooked from the stove.

Alongside the burning firewood in the stove, we would place our hands near it, close enough to warm the chilling morning December breeze.

Dalikan - Stove (image courtesy of Ilokano Ak Facebook)

 

How about the scent of a freshly cut grass? It suddenly transports you back in time when you get to be early going to the school grounds during elementary days, prepping for a flag ceremony - with the fresh feeling of morning dew, smelling the wave of this sharp but fresh smell of grass all around. 

It was indeed reinvigorating - when you suddenly smell this pungent odor of grass, it seemed like you're back in time enjoying the greens and sceneries of non-polluted environment.

There's a plethora of examples in the power of scent -- its ability to trigger emotions and memories, locked up long ago, suddenly bringing it back in a snap, as if you are there in that moment in time again.

This property of scent is so magical that even a vague whiff of certain smells, will evoke a strong visual images in our minds and taking us back to a fond memory - may it be a lulling craving of good-old-days happenings, or some tragical moments in our lives.

According to research, the strong connection of memory to odor is primarily attributed to having access of the central brain structures such as the amygdala and hippocampus, which are involved in regulating emotions and emotional memories. Compared to the other senses, the sense of smell is so potent in activating the brain wires to call these memories tied to specific smells when those memories were made.

So, the next time you want to have a memory imprinted, couple it up with a strong odor -- surely, this will trigger those brain circuits to come rushing alive, transporting you back in time.

--Othello

Charity With Dignity

 

I first came across the phrase "charity with dignity" when I was doing a prospecting session with a Sun Life client. She narrated "Bakit kaya by default, karamihan sa atin ay tumatawad lagi sa  mga nagtitinda sa lansangan, o sa wet market, o sa mga naglalako na nagbabahay-bahay?".

"Bakit hindi natin i-reverse ang sitwasyon at gawing - charity with dignity? 'Yung tatawad ka, na ang unang iniisip natin ay upang makatulong sa mas nakaka-baba sa atin ang buhay. 'Yung scenario na 'sige, bilhin kona lahat itong paninda mo (walang tawad), nang upang matapos na ang iyong pag-babahay-bahay, napaka-init pa naman ng panahon!'".

Subalit sa halos lahat na mga pagkakataon, tulad ng isang Manong na nagbebenta ng mga paninda niyang isda, matapos siyang sumagot ng '120 pesos po per kilo', sa tanong ng isang ale na, 'magkano po kilo Manong?', kaagad-agad, tinatawaran natin, or madalas, ang karamihan ay nagsasabi: 'bibili ako ng tatlong kilo, basta gawin mong 100 pesos kada kilo, mahal masiyado ang 120 per kilo!'.

Malimit, hindi makahindi si Manong, "Sige, bigay ko na sa'yo 100 per kilo, para makabenta ako, kanina pang alas siyete ng umaga nag-iikot ngunit dipa nakakabenta, ikaw ang buena mano kaya, kunin mona".

At dali-dali namang naglabas ng pera para bilhin ang itinawad, sa kadahilanang naniniwala ang tumawad na, nakamura siya sa binili niya kay Manong. Na siya ay naka discount at siya ay nanalo, without realizing  consciously na mas pinahirapan niya ang naglalakong si Manong.

Kinagabihan... ang ale na bumili ng isda ay nakipagkita sa kaniyang mga kaibigan at nagdinner sila sa isang restaurant na mamahalin. Noong bayaran na ng bill, given na maykaya naman talaga siya, nag-initiate siyang bayaran ang bill na 2,200 pesos, at nag-iwan pa ng 200 pesos na tip kahit may service charge na sa resibo.

Ang nais kong ipa-pansin dito ay ang magkaibang behavior ng Ale na tumawad sa paninda ng Manong na babad sa sikat ng araw, hirap sa paglalako at pagbabahay-bahay kumpara sa walang anumang pagbibigay ng tip sa isang restaurant na hindi naman nanghihingi ng tip. Para bang automatic kaagad sa isipan ng Ale, na tumulong sa hindi naman nangangailangan ng tulong.

____

Sana, tuwing nakakatagpo tayo ng mga sitwasyong alam nating mas hirap ang buhay ng kasalamuha natin at patuloy silang kumakayod upang maitawid ang pang-araw araw na pamumuhay, ay maisipan lagi nating tumulong sa kanilang kapakanan. Gawin nating may touch of "charity with dignity". Iyong maging automatic din tayo sa isipang kahit kaunti, makakatulong ako sa taong ito upang mai-angat ang kaniyang kalalagayan sa pamamagitan ng additional effort o mas mataas na pagpapahalaga sa kanilang serbisyo. Ito ay maaring nating gawin by adding more value through tangible payments of their services or whatever they are offering; similar to our example above, o kung hindi naman natin kayang bilhin ang lahat ng paninda nila, mag-dagdag tayo ng additional payment sa binili natin, bilang tulong na rin sa kanilang kalalagayan -- tip natin sa kanila, ito ang tinatawag na Charity with Dignity.

Insurero

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Taking Care Of Your Physical Well-Being During Summer in The Philippines

 

It's summer in the Philippines. The temperature is breaking records as high as 36 degrees Celsius (96.8 Farenheit) but it feels like 43 degrees -- it's immensely hot!

Taking care of ourselves and our whole being during these critical weather conditions in PH is a form of self-love--it means that you just don't go outside without prepping for the solar burn, not to mention the UV Index so high it could easily damage our eyes under the sun without protection, and bring skin cancer if basking for so long under the sun's rays.

Today I learned that these tips will help:

1. Use a Humidifier: Adding moisture to the air with a humidifier can help increase humidity levels indoors, which can prevent moisture loss from the skin.

   
   

2. Shorter Showers: Long, hot showers can strip the skin of its natural oils, leading to dryness. Opt for shorter, lukewarm showers instead.

3. 
   

   Moisturize Regularly: Use a rich, emollient moisturizer immediately after showering or washing your hands to lock in moisture. Look for products containing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, shea butter, or ceramides, which help to hydrate and repair the skin barrier.

4. 
   

   Avoid Harsh Products: Avoid using harsh soaps or cleansers that can further strip the skin of its natural oils. Opt for gentle, fragrance-free products that are formulated for sensitive or dry skin.

5. 
   

   Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day to keep your body hydrated from the inside out.

   
   

   
   
   

6. Protect Your Skin: Wear protective clothing, such as gloves and scarves, when venturing out into cold or windy weather to protect your skin from harsh environmental conditions.

7. 
   

   Use a Lip Balm: Keep your lips moisturized with a hydrating lip balm to prevent them from becoming dry and chapped.

8. 
   

   Protect Your Eyes/Avoid Overheating: Wear sunglasses at all times, even when driving. Overheated indoor environments can further dry out the air and your skin. Keep indoor temperatures moderate and consider using a humidifier if necessary.

9. 
   

   Choose Moisturizing Ingredients: Look for skincare products that contain ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, shea butter, or ceramides, which help to attract and retain moisture in the skin.

10. 
    

    Consider an Overnight Mask: Using an overnight moisturizing mask or a thick layer of moisturizer before bedtime can help replenish moisture levels while you sleep.

    
    

    
    

    
    

    
    

    
    

    --Othello