"A gift received, a gift given away."
I know my greeting is late and, yeah, where have I been? I've been counting people's bonuses, the 13th and, 14th months pay. That's where I've been. Hey, the holidays are over. Banks look like banks again and not movie houses with long queues. So, yay!
If you are reading this, Mommy Gi, thank you so much.
She's always been generous and thoughtful of me. God will continue to reward her in full.
I asked God if I can open it this time, and He said yes. :)
What if I decided to keep the first planner? Lighting wouldn't strike me. God would still love me. Ela would get her planner, SB or not, in one way or another. God would use someone else. I would have a planner but missed a great lesson on generosity.
I'm just thankful that through God's grace, I was able to obey. Now, Ela has an SB Planner and her praise report. I have my SB Planner and a valuable lesson I can impart to the next generation. Lord, thank you!
No, it's not about recycling gifts you receive on Christmas day, as some of us are in the habit of doing so. (Hep, be honest).
Before I get to what it is about, let me greet you a *HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!*
I know my greeting is late and, yeah, where have I been? I've been counting people's bonuses, the 13th and, 14th months pay. That's where I've been. Hey, the holidays are over. Banks look like banks again and not movie houses with long queues. So, yay!
Moving forward, I want to come back with a BANG! And what bang-er way than to give a praise report? I'll share now one of the many praise reports I have of God's faithfulness in my life.
Dec. 29, 2012
After my pagpapacute and pasimpleng hirits, my dear friend Kim Santiago gave me her Starbucks 2103 Planner. To my over the top joy, I hugged and twirled her around. Later on, at home, I was about to rip the plastic covering when God impressed something.
Give it away.
I said, "What, Lord?"
GIVE IT AWAY.
"But... It's a Starbucks Planner. What about my collection?"
GIVE IT AWAY.
"Okay po."
One person kept appearing in my head -- Mikhaela de Leon. She's an amazing woman who does lots of things, meet lots of people, and goes to lots of places for an international NGO.
After my pagpapacute and pasimpleng hirits, my dear friend Kim Santiago gave me her Starbucks 2103 Planner. To my over the top joy, I hugged and twirled her around. Later on, at home, I was about to rip the plastic covering when God impressed something.
Give it away.
I said, "What, Lord?"
GIVE IT AWAY.
"But... It's a Starbucks Planner. What about my collection?"
"Okay po."
One person kept appearing in my head -- Mikhaela de Leon. She's an amazing woman who does lots of things, meet lots of people, and goes to lots of places for an international NGO.
At that time, I believe God wanted to teach me an aspect of giving. We pray for things we desire, we get it, and that's just awesome. But sometimes, He blesses us so we can bless others. Like seeds, the gifts we receive are not for us to keep. They are to be sown on good soil where it will be more fruitful.
Jan. 6, 2013
After the service, I handed her a brown bag with the planner in it. Said bye and went off. I was heading for the elevator when I saw her walking-running to me, tears flowing from her eyes. Little did I know, she was praying for a planner and intended to buy one that afternoon. She recalled, "Sabi ko, kung planner 'to, iiyak talaga ako." (If this is a planner, I would really be moved to tears). Her friends, who are now also my friends, showed me the photos of her sitting by the stairs, crying tears of joy and oblivious to the stares of passers-by.
It was a humbling experience to be an answered prayer to someone else. God wants to use us to be channels of His blessings. And the best part is, when we give, He doesn't leave us empty handed. He has mind-blowing ways of rewarding our faithfulness and generosity.
After the service, I handed her a brown bag with the planner in it. Said bye and went off. I was heading for the elevator when I saw her walking-running to me, tears flowing from her eyes. Little did I know, she was praying for a planner and intended to buy one that afternoon. She recalled, "Sabi ko, kung planner 'to, iiyak talaga ako." (If this is a planner, I would really be moved to tears). Her friends, who are now also my friends, showed me the photos of her sitting by the stairs, crying tears of joy and oblivious to the stares of passers-by.
It was a humbling experience to be an answered prayer to someone else. God wants to use us to be channels of His blessings. And the best part is, when we give, He doesn't leave us empty handed. He has mind-blowing ways of rewarding our faithfulness and generosity.
Jan. 7, 2013
I got a call from Mommy Gigi Alcantara asking me if I already had an SB Planner. I was grinning from ear to ear as I said, "Wala pa po." She promised to give me one and here it is!
I got a call from Mommy Gigi Alcantara asking me if I already had an SB Planner. I was grinning from ear to ear as I said, "Wala pa po." She promised to give me one and here it is!
If you are reading this, Mommy Gi, thank you so much.
She's always been generous and thoughtful of me. God will continue to reward her in full.
"A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great."
Proverbs 18:16
I asked God if I can open it this time, and He said yes. :)
~
What if I decided to keep the first planner? Lighting wouldn't strike me. God would still love me. Ela would get her planner, SB or not, in one way or another. God would use someone else. I would have a planner but missed a great lesson on generosity.
I'm just thankful that through God's grace, I was able to obey. Now, Ela has an SB Planner and her praise report. I have my SB Planner and a valuable lesson I can impart to the next generation. Lord, thank you!
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