Pressing Forward, Letting Go, and Starting Over

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First of all, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all our relatives, neighbors, officemates, brothers and sisters in LNP community, LSVP family, DLSJBC family, sulit.com.ph friends and my all time friends for being with me in times of our grief, for praying for the repose of my father’s soul, and for the comfort and assistance. 

We have been blessed to have you guys. From the bottom of my hypothalamus, thank you very much.

It’s been almost a month since my father left on earth and yet the crack of pain is on its  stillness. When I look at the picture of my father I could amply imagine how loving he’s to us. I’ll try to give you a piece of paper and let you see it also. Here is the scenario:

There’s one guy who happens to pass by along the seashore. He saw a puffer fish, (butiti/butete) being trapped on a fish net. This guy, feels pity and hurriedly extricates the puffer. 

This fish immediately on a defense and sting comes out. The guy still saved the puffer despite of the pain he incurred from the puffer’s sting. A fisherman saw this guy and asked, “hey, why did you help this puffer despite that you’re in pain?”  the guy responded with greeting first and said, “my friend, my nature is to love, and part of the puffer’s nature is to defend for survival.”  

The fisherman scratched his head and said, “human’s survival is also part of our nature!” And the guy calmly replied “you’re right my friend, but he who is capable of loving and understanding more  shall love and understand more.”

That guy is best described as my father. He loved his family more than what we gave. Amazing father! At this very moment, I am wondering of what my father feels and does. 

According to Joel Osteen, don’t be depressed forever of what you can not change in the past. Keep pressing forward for the Lord has more in store for you. If you found yourself on a dead end, find another round. There must be something out for you. God is not limited to the law of nature. He can do, what human beings can’t do. The key is keep your eyes off to your problems and on to our God.

I believe that God has a best reason for getting his life and I entrust to Him everything of me. Right at this time, I am thinking of being strong because I have two swords for my battle. 

The one is for myself, and the second  is  my father’s. I should be strong, not only for myself, but also for my father’s happiness. I should be like that guy, who painstakingly embraced life.

I’m aware that having an easy life would be a hard mountain to climb because I became emotionally crippled for the loss of my father. To be honest, I can still feel the pain everytime I think of him.  

But what can I do? I should stand and move forward. I should press myself up and start a new beginning. God has promised that all things work together for good to those who love and serve Him faithfully (Romans 8:28). 

It may be difficult for us to see and understand how this is accomplished at times, but God has promised it, and He will deliver.

From now on, I am leaving my disappointments and pains behind me to see the greater blessings of God.

 I am pressing myself forward to claim the bigger providence of the Lord.

 I highly believe and wait for the greater picture in front of me and it’s official at this time that I faithfully accept God’s lavish blessings ahead of me.

Moving forward to Christ,

Robi Marapao

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God is My Savior

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One night in my room. (I worked in Metro Manila that time in 2008) I experienced a horrible night.
Of course we all know the word nightmare, don’t we?

Oh by the way, while writing this article, the movie on HBO is also scary. It provokes my fear silently. Do you want to know that movie? It’s Drag Me to Hell. Whoa! I almost fell down my glass as it caught my attention. A lot of frightening scenes so, I stopped watching it and grabbed my laptop again. (Mind you, I already watched that for two times. Haha…)

Now, let’s go back on my article. Yeah, in my room, with a heavy head fell down on my bed. I used to pray the Lord’s Prayer before going to sleep. Without my attention, I fell asleep. “Oh no, I forgot to pray. “ But honestly, I really had a good sleep that night.

Until such time I felt vulnerable and helpless. To make this story more interesting, I’ll let you internalize of what happened. Are you ready?

That night, I was screaming and shouting like no one hears me at all. I tried to move my hands, my body and my feet, but it did not work out. I forcibly move everything of me but it was useless. I was static like a statue, screaming and helpless. It’s like demons are holding my entire body. I shouted with all my voice to reach the farthest, but there was no sound came out. Worst of it, I felt someone was choking me and I couldn’t breathe.

I still struggled and thought of some positive things. Can you imagine a person whose dying begging for help? In deed I really felt that one. When a moment I almost lost my breath, I suddenly thought of asking a help to our Almighty God. And then it’s like something sparked above my head. Yes, I prayed to God – The Our Father and God did not fail me.

I know that shouting couldn’t help me. I know that moving my body and sneaking myself out of demons wouldn’t help. So I prayed to God in silence, and I recited the Lord’s Prayer with confidence and faith and it immediately woke me up. That’s the power of God. I know and I really felt it could have killed me. Like other people just sleeping and found their dead body in the morning.

Jesus has been my savior. This is just a few of stories where God saved me.
Romans 10:13: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
I also want you to experience where God reaching His hands to help you. I knew and I believed that He helped you so many ways.

I remained thankful to God.

In Jesus name,
Robi Marapao

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Jesus is More Than Happy

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If you are happy, who do you think is the first person to be happy?

I have two nieces who are very cute toddlers and pretty!

They’re like my babies.

And everytime I visit them, they make me refreshed.

There is only one reason why I always feel the joy to see them – it’s simply because they bring joy to me.

One day, it was weekend and it’s visit time for my niece.

I went to meet my brother and to see my first niece whose age is three.

When I saw my niece, I saw in her eyes the happiness and great excitement.

We went to a department store with my brother, her wife and my niece.

As we walked around the shopping center, my niece whispered at me “tito Robi, let’s go to the kids’ center;

I want to play.”

I saw her eyes begging for it.

So I told my brother about it with no vacillation and we went there.

When my niece got inside the play center, she was ultimately happy playing inside. 

As I saw my brother and his wife, I could see a tremendous happiness in them.

They saw their daughter enjoying and so happy.

As their daughter running, shouting and laughing around, her parents displayed euphoria.

My dear brothers and sisters, have you ever asked yourself of who is the first person to feel the joy if

you are happy?

He will fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy. – Job 8:21

Clearly stated, that God wants you to be happy.  He wants to give you joy.

Today, let’s give thanks to the Lord for the joy and an everlasting love.

Spare yourselves a minute to reflect on the following:

1. Are you doing things to make Jesus happy?
2. Do you praise and thank Jesus for the joy and happiness?
3. What unworldly things can make you happy? Do you pursue them?
4. Do you make yourself available for God’s mission?
5. In a quiet moment, reminisce your past and think of the people who made you happy and pray for them, then send an email saying your thank you notes.

Happy with Christ,

Robi Marapao

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