My Black Cat

I used to know a stray cat. 

A cat of my neighbor, actually.

He has a different name, 
but I named him Kitkat. 

He goes to the front door every morning to wait for me. 

Whenever I open the door, his cries are expected. 

That habitual sound 
when he asks for food;

That familiar feeling
whenever I look for a bread to give;

That natural thrill
whenever I come to ease his hunger.

I'ts been a constant morning routine.

Then one morning came, 
where my Kitkat hasn't been found.

I called for his name, 
but I heard nothing. 

That mundane and eager clamor 
looking for a home, 
while I go over and fill his excitement--

is now gone. 

Well, I just realized--

he's not mine, after all. 

Like Kitkat, 
there are certain things that we hold on to-- 
but are not meant for us. 

That do not belong to us. 

And yet we try so hard to keep it.

Then I guess that's what set you and me apart.

Unvented Words

A walking tree once walked;

It came across a man,

But continued to walk,

Without even stopping by

It walked and walked

Passed the same road

Again and again

Without hesitation

The girl remained

As quiet as she is

Curiousity was stirred

So the tree asks:

"Why so quiet my dear?

Why even the littlest noise

What our puny ears can hear

Cannot harken your voice?"

For a moment,

she was hesitant;

But still she uttered

not a single word

As tears began to fall

The tree decided to stay-

Though that is all

there is to say

-Janna Sevilla

Trials

But then sometimes God does this to prepare us for something. It is a rule of the Scriptures, and a rule which is confirmed by and exemplified in the long history of the Church and her saints, that when God has a particularly great task for a man to perform, He generally does try him. I care not which biography you pick up, you may take the life of any man who has been signally used by God and you will find that there has been a severe time of testing and of trial in his experience. It is as if God would not dare to use such a man unless He could be certain and sure of him. So one may have to pass through this kind of experience because of some great task ahead.

Look at Joseph, and at the things that happened to him. Can you imagine a more dismal kind of life? Everybody seemed to be against him. His own brethren were jealous of him and got rid of him. He was taken to Egypt and there people turned against him. He had done nothing wrong but because he was what he was things went against him. But in all this God was only preparing the man for the great position that He had in store for him. And it is the same with all the great men of the Bible.

- D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on Trials, Spiritual Depression: Its Causes and Cure

Praying with the Right Motive

"And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure." -James 4:3, NLT

It is clear from God's view (or Word) that He delights in giving His children blessings, but it is also clear that He is not a genie who will grant our every wish. We may pray, "God, please give me that promotion at work," not so we can have a more strategic position in which to witness for Christ, but because we want more power and prestige. We may pray, "Lord, help this deal to go through," not because we think it will glorify God, but because it will bring us lots of money to spend on our pleasures.

-Falling in Love with Prayer by Mike Macintosh

A Quote on Perception

“What I need is perspective. The illusion of depth, created by a frame, the arrangement of shapes on a flat surface. Perspective is necessary. Otherwise there are only two dimensions. Otherwise you live with your face squashed up against a wall, everything a huge foreground, of details, close-ups, hairs, the weave of the bedsheet, the molecules of the face. Your own skin like a map, a diagram of futility, criscrossed with tiny roads that lead nowhere. Otherwise you live in the moment. Which is not where I want to be.”

― Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid's Tale

Just needed to vent it out

It's hard to shout for something that cannot be understood. Different cultures, different backgrounds, different experiences, different personalities, different circumstances being dealt with... factors that you cannot control, situations that you cannot weigh and balance for them. Sometimes, the heart gets overwhelmed and the only thing that can appease you is to understand that everyone has a different language, and you do not have to learn all these languages to speak their language and make them understand. Sometimes, the truth and promise of comfort cannot be seen with the naked eye, and the only thing that can appease you is to understand that there is God who will listen and give you the peace your heart needs.

Philippians 4:6-7:

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

And now, a simple poem without worrying on the technical side. Just a simple masterpiece from the heart:

It's hard to talk to someone

Who doesn't speak your Language, 

What's the use of speaking Taiwanese

When the other speaks Portuguese? 

It's hard to look for something 
In a place where it cannot be found 
What's the use of looking for peace
 When only from above, you can be appeased?

Thank God for his Word and Grace to speak through the heart of a sinner. Thank God for notepads, pens, papers and keyboards.

What I Hope Would Never End

I once heard someone say that it's good to be idealistic in your dreams when you're young, but when you get older, practicality is the first thing you need to consider first. Is that the reason why many are already giving up on their dreams? I'm not being narrow-minded by not considering all the possible, unavoidable factors that hinder people from achieving their dreams. It can be a lack of budget, resources, time, energy or other unavoidable things. Or maybe some are just getting tired as days pass. I don't know. But my dream is for all people--from the eldest to the youngest-- to be revived with their deepest dreams and remain strong in their faith, though they know they're getting older.

''Whatever happens I am going on''

"You say: 'I am weary and tired, the thing is too much for me'. And there is nothing to say at that point but this negative-- do not listen... You must say to yourself: 'Whatever happens I am going on'. You do not give in or give way." 

- D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on well-doing, Spiritual Depression

Present Sufferings

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us."

-Romans 8:18