TALE OF TWO GARDENS

Did a forbidden fruit like this cause Adam and Eve's expulsion
from the garden? Or was it pride? (My pastel painting, 2014) 

What images come to mind at the mention of "garden"?

Petals in full bloom. A rainbow of colors. Fruit trees and palm trees and neatly trimmed hedges. A bubbling brook maybe. A veggie section definitely. Ah, glorious scents! Make mine lavender!

Indeed, who wouldn't want to spend infinity livin' la villa bella (beautiful life) in a garden? 

Adam and Eve and kids could have spent their forever in what could have been the coolest place on earth.

Genesis 2:8-9 "Now the Lord God had planted a garden...; and there He put the man He had formed... made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground―trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food."

Yet they blew it! The cost of their disobedience? Adam and Eve estranged from God and the perks that came along with it.

Sorry, Adam and Eve grandkids to the nth degree, we'd been bumped off from Eden.  

Let's visit another garden―Gethsemane.

Pastor Robert Hern (Victory Church San Diego) compared these two gardens in his recent preaching:

"The first garden symbolized man's failure to submit to God's will. The second Adam―Jesus―in the second garden, welcomed God's will and turned our defeat to victory."

Recalling Jesus' week "surging from victory (Palm Sunday) to a grief fest" at the garden of Gethsemane, Pastor Robert noted how Jesus and His disciples must have felt at home in that garden. It was their go-to place for prayers, fellowships and teach-ins. A cool place!

Yet that night, the garden turned gruesomely black.

Jesus bared His agonizing heart to His friends; then to His Father―about what awaited Him at the cross.  

As He prayed, his sweat turned to blood. Luke 22:44 "And being in agony, He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood..."

Doctors call it "hematidrosis", when blood vessels cause sweat glands to rupture due to emotional or physical distress―usually associated with man's fight or flight response to awful situations.

Jesus―Son of God who forsook heaven and became man―to save us, struggled with completing His mission? Indeed! Jesus felt it all―sorrow, joy, anger. And why not now when He knew the cross awaited Him?   

But it wasn't just the cross that haunted him. It was the prospect of all our sins and God's indignation being heaped upon Him!

Ultimately, obedience trumped sorrow. "Father, if you are willing, remove his cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done," Luke 22:42.

"...Get up and pray that you may not enter into temptation," (Luke 22:46) He told His disciples whom he found sleeping afterwards.

But at this point, the battle had been won. Jesus would finish the fight in exchange for our salvation. 

There in the garden, at the crossroads of His reason for being, Jesus yielded to the perfect will of His heavenly Father.

The first garden ushered in man's break from God. The second assured us of salvation through the blood of Jesus.

It's really about choice, isn't it? Jesus chose to obey. So could we. And complete the race He's laid out for us.  

JUST WRITE

Multi-tasker Irah takes aim at the Sole Sisters.

Just when I thought my teaching drought days have crept in, lands this manna from heaven.

"Manna" because teaching-starved-me ached to TEACH (or write, seriously write)! Call me sentimental, but yes, teaching gives me wings.     

My niece, Bambi (Gisella to the rest of the world) and her pal Grace―both Victory Church BGC pastors' wives―have recently been allowed the flexibility to jazz things up a little (through their Sole Sisters groupings) for these ladies to have fun learning and bonding as they matured in their faith.  

Say wacky, ladies.

One of these efforts? A writing seminar.

Why not indeed, since writing or the ability to communicate is key as we heed Christ's instruction (Matthew 28:19): "Make disciples of all nations…"  

And Grace and Bambi's top-of-mind for this assignment? Syempre si Tita na!

Sooo grateful for the trust and opportunity. Credit of course extends to Pastors Jeff Eliscupidez and Rev Araneta. 

Bambi sets the tone. 

(Ang palad nyo, Pastors, for being blessed with your innovative wives! Ang sipsip ko, hehe.)

And the ladies who came? Thank you! For being on time, being game enough to rap and dance the energizer―so that no one would nap the entire time, and your genuine interest to learn.

I guess we validated each other, my sole sisters and I. "Sole" apparently refers to these ladies coming from all walks of life. Cool, huh.

Prayer, always our first and last recourse.
Ella (left) prayed and emceed.

Once upon a time, I too dreaded writing, fearful that my submitted manuscripts would land in the trash bin. But God's grace is greater than my fears, so here I am―numero uno case for 2 Corinthians 12:9,  “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Feedback from one of the participants: "I am not just inspired, I am moved to action! It validated my dream of continuing the blog I started years ago to encourage women, most especially the moms."

What a great day it's been!

We've warmed each others' hearts, I believe; as well as encouraged one another to kindle our passion for the glory of The One whose name alone we proclaim.

Heaven's applause. His leading. His will. What we sought as we ended the session in prayer.

Some of my new-found sisters

Prayer of gratitude: Thank you, Lord, for writers poised to add life and light to the conversation: That Jesus indeed is Savior and Lord. 

Grace (left)and the team

More new-found sisters

End-of-day treat and laughs with appreciative pastor-hubbies

MY LAST LECTURE: WELL, SORT OF

 

About this same period last year, I cleaned up my locker, turned over its key, and ended 15 years of teaching in an international school south of Manila.

My last Saturday session with my MBA students was a free-wheeling discussion of their real workplace issues.

The final days of my undergrad class had me cooped up in the faculty room (students darting back and forth to ask if they passed) to check and grade their dissertation papers before they were sent to London for second marking by my British counterpart. Teaching under the British system taught me to be more thorough in my grading so none of my students' grades were reduced.

It was really just a work-work-work week—until my last sessions with my senior high students. 

While I was yet receiving their mind maps about what it would take to have a progressive Philippines, in popped boxes of pizzas, a barrage of hugs and an envelope of messages.

Today, I woke up from my nap, thinking, "That was it, teaching days over!" then frantically looked for those messages.  

Rivers flowed as I re-read them. Teaching was my calling; and those notes proved it.

(It's humbling to be highly regarded. Thank you, God! Sharing with you some of those messages not to call attention to myself but to boast of God's grace for this oftentimes frustrated teacher; and to encourage my teacher readers to persevere in their calling.)   

Some anonymous notes from a page headlined "Why do we love Ms. Yay":

"…taught us how to live."

"Inspirational, amazing, loving, funny, lively, great role model."

"Built my confidence… molded me."

"Super kind-hearted and loving, like a mom."

"An irrevocable love for God, her students and her work… Has a way of inspiring her students and making them interested in her lessons."

Derick: "I had  so much challenges meeting expectations. If I don't meet them, I feel like a cut down broken tree. (But) I chose to focus more, work harder to be better… even if my arms and brain get sore…"

Imann: "I always appreciate how you always stand up for what you believe in… and still be open-minded. Because of that, I always look up to you."

I applaud Kim for her honesty:  "I love you even if I have quite low grades in your subject. To be honest…  your subject is my lowest. I hope when I stay here for college, you will be my prof. I did my best in your subject. You're such an inspiration… my idol."

Dillon, my Korean student: "As I am Korean… English was my biggest challenge. However… I learned a lot. I appreciate your method. I am still using dictionary to write this short letter, but soon I may be better, right?"

Andrea: "From the moment you first spoke to us and had your lecture, I already knew you were fit to be a teacher. You spoke with much passion and I was motivated. Your career history and writings inspire me. Continue to inspire others too."

Aiko: "I was able to express my opinions confidently about social issues… speak English fluently while reporting. Through these reports, I learned about a lot of things because you taught me how to do proper research. I may not be in the right position to tell you, but you are a successful teacher. You have touched our hearts not only inside the classroom  but also outside. You are now one of our inspirations … to become successful one day. I feel I'm ready to think critically.  You are a blessing. Please inspire more students."

                     My youngest pupil Coco.                   
All set to go to school.

Justin: "I will cherish every minute… every workshop. Thank you for molding me and building my confidence in reporting. This confidence I will bring to my… future business. I will send you my product… to remind you that you touched me through your teachings and life stories. You are the best teacher I ever had… I hope you'll remember me."

Humbling, don't you think?

As I tuck back those messages into my stash of fond memories, I say a little prayer for all the students I'd been privileged to mentor. I've never ceased praying for them. Because frankly, it's a dog-eat-dog world out there. 

Oops, my youngest pupils call. "Na-na," says my one year-old grandchild Coco as she eyes a banana. Her sister Natalie waits her turn to play scrabble and sungka! 

Who says my teaching days are over?  

I Blew It!

Image credit:/www.capitalfm.co.

How many times have you and I uttered this line―aftermath of our wrong decisions, hastily-formed opinions or careless utterances?

Some of the consequences? Missed opportunities or promotions. Even soured relationships.

Oh I could write a book about my own duh-moments and mishaps. What about you?

Why such failings? Because truly, we're all just kids!

Check yourself. Just because you're senior doesn't mean you're wise. Your gray hair is no evidence!

Appointed as king after his father David, king Solomon admitted he was "only a child and didn't know how to carry out his duties," 1 Kings 3:7.

Just like a good natural father, God loves getting involved in our lives, in whatever calling or stage of life we're at.

God was pleased that this earthly king humbly came to Him for help, 1Kings 3:10; telling Solomon further, "… since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be," v 11-12.

He's proven this same promise in my own situations.

I was appointed to head a team of 12 or so people in a job I once held in an international hotel in Manila. From managing just a staff of three, I'd been tasked to handle not just the hotel's public relations function, but sales and marketing as well.

A new and on-fire believer then, I searched the scripture for guidance, and took to heart this exact same promise even as I was close to panicking. But His peace prevailed. And though at times I felt like a camel passing through a needle, I survived, by His grace.

Some mishaps? You bet, but nothing compared to the learnings and victories our team experienced, like the hotel experiencing one its best financial successes―while most other hotels reeled through low traveller turnouts because of martial law.

Didn't the bible promise that we will be a blessing wherever he plants us?

Apart from His wisdom, we are zilch, powerless, mishap-prone. That's the consequence of our fallen nature. That's why we need Jesus. In Him, we are more than conquerors!

The key? Fear of the Lord! "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding," Proverbs 9:10.

"You need wisdom, knowledge and understanding," I used to tell my students at the start of every term.

They can access tons of information because of the internet; but which of these are useful for sound decision-making?

Discernment comes from the Lord. That's the Holy Spirit keeping us from "I blew it!" episodes.

Lord grant me wisdom. Holy Spirit, teach me glean right from wrong and follow you in spite of contrary voices, in  Jesus' name.

THIS LITTLE BOAST OF MINE

Who's more euphoric when a child does something exceptional? His parents? Or  his grandparents?

Yes, this sense of jumping for joy and shouting alleluia, plus the urge to show these feats off. This lola is guilty as charged. 

Believe me, it takes a lot of self-control to under-boast, especially if it concerns apos. Right, fellow grannies?

Paul (Galatians 6:14) says not to boast except in the cross. Pretty please, allow me just this one boast. 

LET'S START WITH JOAQUI

Now 15, first grandchild is genuinely awesome! These soundbites should moderate the platitudes: Batch valedictorian. Champion sportsman―recently competed in Australia's national martial arts meet as member of the New South Wales team. 

Math whiz kid. Keen on studying bio-medical engineering and nano technology. Excellent writer and public speaker―recently won first prize in his school's speech competition.

Yet my favorite grandson 😄😜 has remained as shy and low-key as ever, like her parents Lucci and Joel. 

A bit of a homeboy too. Religiously takes out the garbage. Laughs easily. Mababaw ang kaligayahan (easy to please).

His favorite toy: a three-D printer with which he's created odds and ends, outputs of his curious, design-prone and computing mind. His Instagram posts celebrate nerdy stuff―quite intriguing even for his 68 year-old engineer lolo (Jack).

JOAQUI'S SISTER CHARLIZE

Grandchild number two: Excels in dancing and singing. Dancer and back-up singer in kids' praise and worship, Hillsong Southwest (in one of Sydney's suburbs). 

Courted (biased lola words)  by the bigger Hillsong church (Australia) to join its kiddie praise and worship videos. Represents her school―either in running, swimming, discus throw, basketball―in inter-school varsity meets.

She too recently made it as finalist in their school's speechfest—first runner-up, wow! But Charlize is most passionate about dance—competes in dance meets. Dreams of teaching dance as a profession. 

She can prepare a mean pizza too. 

GRANDKID 3, NATALIE. 

Just turned six, Natalie is a performer. One who'd excel in a world of words, and singing or music per se. Plays the drums like her dad. Makes reading fun by singing book texts. Draws like an Olmedo (her other lolo, Onib, on Jack's side is one of the Philippines' most celebrated artists).

Just tonight, we caught her trying to play the tune―and pressing the right keys from memory―of a song she recently learned from her teacher. And she's not even having piano lessons yet. Right there, I asked: gifted?

Her mom Opalyn has become more excited for her recently because Natalie's taken a big leap in her school performance. She's a US-born Pinoy kid. Yet, converse with her in Tagalog and you'd react, "Nagsasalita ng Tagalog?!" But she does it with a twang.  

Natalie's quite an ate (big sister), genuinely looking after her baby sister's safety. This lola's been a bit sick a few days back so I got delayed rising from bed for supper. Guess who came in with a bowl of sinigang for granny. Caring, like her mother. 

THE LITTLEST, COCO

Just turned one, this one's a charmer. Our hungry caterpillar who attacks a chicken drumstick like she had a full set of teeth—she's got only two.  

Too early to say what her gifts are. Meanwhile, she's my supervisor―tirelessly walking through every part of the house, checking out things and sounds like a detective would. Joaqui was like that when he was one. 

Coco definitely has rhythm. Rocks to any form of music or beat. Screams with a deep and lusty vibrato. Who won't if your house pulsates with drum beats? 

I've lived―er... put up―with my son Carlo's drumming for the most part of his life so it's not surprising that Natalie and Coco rock too.

SURE FOUNDATION 

Some may dismiss the above as feel-good pre-quals for these kids' future bio-profiles. For sure, they're fodder for pridefulness. 

We've read a lot about over-achievers and gifted people. I've worked with some of them. Behaving like they're center-of-the-universe, they're quite a pain really. 

That's why these parents/grandparents pray:

That these kids will know God's purpose for them. That they'd grow in wisdom and sense of excellence and service. That even as they succeed, they will remain humble, disciplined and dependent on Him. That they'd live by the Word and shun the toxic influences around them.

This is what I boast of: Luke 1:50 "His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation." 

Raising up children is like preparing your puttanesca sauce. Armed with faith and prayers that they'll turn out fine, you relish them with love, hugs, memorable play times and fun times, reminders, rebukes and conversations, along with a hearty dose of your own good actions—because no matter how you press them to behave or shape up, your "doing" is what they'll eventually catch. 

The bible urges us to teach them in the way they should go "so that when they are old, they won't depart from it," Proverbs 22:6.

Enjoy your grandparenting moments. But more than reveling at their feats, let's constantly nudge them to be kind, considerate, compassionate, patient, etc.—that they'd behave as Jesus did! 

For more parenting/grandparenting wisdom, check out my book, "Grandparenting: Happiness and Hard Work." OMF and other popular bookstores. EBook format from Amazon.com

HUNGRY

My granddaughter Coco is always at it—eating! Her all-time favorite? Blueberries, yum! 

Her mom Opalyn fondly calls her "my very hungry caterpillar," referencing Eric Carle's very popular and multi-awarded children's book.  

So naturally, when Coco turned a year old recently, "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" became her party theme. And as usual, all her photos showed her munching... munching... munching. 

She just wouldn't stop! Give her a chicken bone or pork rib and she'd just as happily gnaw at it. 

Always biting or chomping, a caterpillar is a persistent eater. 

What happens after all the nibbling and crunching? The caterpillar digests itself with its own enzymes, dissolving its tissues, then transforming these into body parts—a painful yet miraculous process. 

Metamorphosis! How a crawly and slowpoke worm magically turns into a vari-colored swift-flying wonder—the best friend of flowers, a boon to plant life, especially agricultural productivity, and a sight for sore eyes. 

"The very hungry caterpillar" may be an apt metaphor for a growing child who always needs to be fed so he or she develops into a healthy individual. 

I've prayed that Coco's (and our other grandchildren's) constant hunger for food metamorphoses into a craving for the things of God—that she would turn to God's Word for spiritual nourishment and desire His righteousness instead of the transient pleasures and highs found in material possessions. 

That these words would resonate in and convict her heart to do His Way:

1Peter 2:2 Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the Word, so that by it, you may grow in respect to salvation.

Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

John 6:35 Jesus said to them, "I am the Bread of life; he who comes to me will not hunger, and he who believes in me will never thirst."

Between ten to 15 days, a caterpillar is no more. Changed, totally! 

The Word of God promises us the same thing. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here," 2 Corinthians 5:17. 

Coco developing a hunger for God? She's on the right track. 

She may have started like the very hungry caterpillar. With godly parents and loved ones teaching and showing her the Way, she will soon realize that Jesus alone satisfies. 

Image credit: kids.nationalgeographic.com

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for our children and grandchildren. May they know You intimately even as they mature. May they see the difference between the "food" that the world offers, and the real riches you have stored up for them. May they walk on solid ground and glorify your Name alone. 

STATUS: IN A RELATIONSHIP

Image credit: www.instructables.com (I Do Wedding Prop)

Our universe and earth-life are all about relationships, symbiosis or mutuality.

The sun's radiation and rotation affect not only our climates and sense of night and day, but also our health and overall well-being.  

Plants―while giving us shade, timber and food―provide us oxygen while they take in carbon dioxide from what we exhale.

As small as they are, bees pollinate crops for sustainable agricultural production, on the side gratifying us and bears with honey. Ants rely on teamwork to escape being trampled upon.

Human babies depend on their mothers and fathers' love and caring if they are to become capable adults.

So is it so surprising that our Creator would want to carry on a relationship with us? After all, He refers to Himself too as our Father.

And He has made known His intentions in many ways. Adam and Eve were definitely in speaking terms with Him―until the fall. Nonetheless, He let he door open for them and their future sons and daughters  to seek Him even if they botched it.    

God gave us this awesome universe and this planet we call home. If you don't see His hand in that, you're blind indeed. How could every nano-nano, functioning and interacting detail of this amazing creation be just a random infusion of elements, or evolution, as scientists would have us believe? 

Sadder still is the fact that many have chosen to worship the created―the sun and moon, for example―instead of the Creator Himself.

But God, being God, was persistent, picking a bunch of hard-headed and complaining folks to demonstrate His plan and power. By favoring the Jews, was God being unfair to the rest of the world? 

Well, He is God and He could choose any one, can't He, to prove that He is God?

Look at what happened to the Jews: forever assaulted by other nations―with the holocaust as one of history's recent nightmares; yet till today, and in spite of their neighbors and the devil's destructive designs on her, Israel thrives―a kind of prosperity and ingenuity envied even by the West. Quite a testimony of God's favor, patience and protection!

And through the Jews, God sent us His Son who became man. Ironically, they refused Jesus, the promised Messiah, save for a handful of believers. But through His miracles, and His death and resurrection, and the power He bestowed on His followers, God unequivocally revealed: I want to have a relationship with you. I will be great on your behalf. If only you'd follow Jesus as the Way, the Truth and the Life.

Even if Jesus rejoined His Father―to fulfil His role as our intercessor―God sent the disciples the Holy Spirit, first at Pentecost when the apostles gathered, after which they were  empowered to preach Jesus and perform miracles. Up to today, every one placing his faith in Jesus gets to be indwelt by the same Holy Spirit―for power to obey and preach Jesus.   

Acts 2:17―"In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams."

Jesus our Shepherd continues to gather His lost sheep―relentlessly. Have you come back to His pen yet?