Incidental Collection

My previous posts had been quite serious. So, it's time to take a break. I am here for something light. :)

Thanks to Francine Rivers' blog post that has gotten my attention a few months back. Basically, this is a response to her post, Collections.

Francine Rivers: What do you collect?
This Blogger: I collect...

STAPLE WIRES!

Yes, you read it right. I collect staple wires --- the useless, rejected, unwanted ones.

Francine Rivers (again): And do you have any idea why?

This Blogger (again): I do! :)

You may find it silly - collecting used staple wires. The collection idea wasn't really there. It had somewhat sprung up from what was already there. It was unintentional. It was incidental.

Working in a carpeted workplace a few years ago had made me pick used staple wires around my station. I can't imagine how worried I was about the carpet! I was cautious for the wires not to scatter around. If I happen to remove them from a pile of sheets of paper/documents, I would do so carefully and find a container where I can just gather them and ~ nothing! Just nothing.

And so the staple wires increased and increased as I stayed in my workplace for years and years. 

From a small container (where I used to place them), I transferred them to a quite bigger one. Then my 'artsy' sense made me buy a vase just for these wires (Can you imagine?)!

So, my wires found a home in my workstation. It's funny how some of my colleagues come to me with a closed hand saying,

"I saw you're collecting staple wires. Here, take this. I reserved these wires for you."

Some pass by my desk and would touch and feel the wires inside.

Initially, I do not have any idea of what I am going to do with this. But eventually, my mind is kind of working for these wires. Once my vase is full, I will let you know. :)

What makes us collect what we do? Mine was incidental. I think that explains it for my staple wires. But I also think, it springs up from what is already there, from what we already have - those little things that make us happy. Then we let it grow, then to the people we show.

What does the collection say about us? Like Francine, I'm afraid to guess. Next question please.

As for me, I will still be collecting useless, rejected, unwanted staple wires. I don't know how many vases of staple wires I will be able to fill in my lifetime --- never mind. I will just keep on doing what I do.

It makes me happy.
And it is good to see a floor staple-wire-free!

A Nugget on Forgiveness

It's my off from work today. I welcomed the morning with a smile and excitement to what this day would bring. True enough, this day was special, exceptional and personally different. Although I have no plan to blog today, what happened this morning made me say, 


"I need to write this to remember what the Lord did today."


I want to start my day with the Word. So I got up, took out my Bible, journal and pen. Just to make it different this time, I set up the laptop with speakers on. It's podcast this time. From an array of message series, I looked for the one I have not listened to yet. On and on I looked and checked. Then I found the icon,

Do you find it impossible to forgive someone who has offended and hurt you?

Is it keeping you from moving forward with your life?

Forgiving someone for an offense is never easy.

But there is a reason why God commands us to forgive.

It may be even more practical than you thought.

Read the passage with me:

Matthew 18:21-35

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant

²¹ Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?”
²² Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
²³ “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. ²⁴ As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. ²⁵ Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
²⁶ “The servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ ²⁷ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
²⁸ “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.
²⁹ “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’
³⁰ “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. ³¹ When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.
³² “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. ³³ Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ ³⁴ In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
³⁵ “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”

Many things has been said and heard about forgiveness. Maybe most of us are already drowned with it. I do not want to bore you with things you already know (but still having a hard time doing) but, before you close or skip this post/blog, allow me to share these 3 nuggets:


How should we deal with offenses?

1. Admit that you are offended.  If there's an opportunity, go to the offender and admit that you have been offended . Or, at least be honest with yourself.
2. Choose to forgive. Choose to forgive whether the offender asked for forgiveness or not. Release and bless them. Remember how the Lord has forgiven you.
3. When forgiveness seems hard to do, look at the Cross. The message of the Cross is the ultimate sign, proof of God's forgiveness.

It's forgiveness in a nugget: ADMIT. CHOOSE. LOOK.

God's Word struck so strong, new and fresh. I know it's different this time. I think I will write this 3 nuggets in a small card and put it in my wallet or post it somewhere in my room. :)

The pastor invited the congregation to a time of prayer. Though I am listening just now through podcast, I followed and agreed in prayer. I am not going to say here what exactly happened, but this I will tell you: the Lord met me where I am in this. It was through His gentle ways I responded to His call. It was a moment I didn't want to miss. 

I am always humbled as I reflect on God's love and forgiveness - how He has given His life on the cross, so that we might live. He has forgiven and loved us from the beginning though undeserving. He never fails and He never will. His forgiveness has no limitations. His forgiveness demands no performance on our part - just accept and believe. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. (Ephesians 1:7-8)

In response, love and forgiveness must be extended to others. As human as I am, it was and it is hard. And I know it will get harder as situations become tougher along the way, but I believe that God's grace is more than enough to carry me through the coming days. 

I know the Lord wants me to get it. And to Him now I say,

I got it.

Once again, ADMIT. CHOOSE. LOOK. A nugget, it really is.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* If you know & understand my language and you wish to listen to the same message (some parts were in English), click here. 
Confused which one? Forgiveness by Sonny Oaman - that's it. :)

The Friendship Chapter

I miss my friends. I miss them in a sense that before, I had a 'daily' or 'regular' time spent with them. Some of them were my schoolmates so we see and talk with each other almost everyday. Some were inter-church friends who I regularly meet then for activities, fellowships, etc.


Things and situations really do change. Friends oftentimes are separated from each other because of very valid reasons relating to family, work and ministry. Having been conditioned for those kind of changes, I have accepted it with love and grace. :)


Friends are treasures. And I thank the Lord for blessing me with them. They may not be as many as one can think of, but I can say I have few real ones. That's the real deal about friends isn't it?


My human strength may fail (and it so often does) to prove what a treasure they are to me, but the Lord knows how they are sincerely well-cherished in my thoughts and in my heart.


Okay, I am getting a bit softer. Well, I miss them, so please bear with me... at least for this post. :)


What inspired this post was the thing that happened yesterday. It was just simple and sudden so, please don't expect to read something magical here. :)


I went up to my room for a very quick wash up then this came up to mind:


1 Corinthians 13 ... 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a. Okay, I know that's the 'Love Chapter'. But now what? I knew I needed to stop for a moment. So, I took my Bible, took a seat, and intently read it. If you may, for this time, read it with me again: 

Reading this passage yesterday touched me in a different way. Missing my friends & with the Lord reminding of this love chapter has made me see how friendship, or being a friend really is ~ in God's eyes. So I came up with this 'Friendship Chapter':

"A friend is patient, a friend is kind.

He does not envy, he does not boast,

he is not proud. He is not rude,

he is not self-seeking, he is not easily

angered, he keeps no record of wrongs.

A friend does not delight in evil but rejoices

with the truth. He always protects. He

always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

A friend never fails..."

I closed my Bible with a smile and uttered a simple prayer of thanks for the gift of God-inspired friendships I realized that day.

Then from my room I came out with a washed up face and heart to finish my day away. :)

Due This June

I am back. I welcome myself back to my blog that I so long missed! 

I had been silent for 1 month and 16 days ~ to be exact. Silent but was never really gone. Silent but was never idle. Take a moment with me to flashback - to help me remember what transpired last month in case I happen to read this post again after 365 days (or more or less). :)

~ 1st week : Leadership/Discipleship Camp
~ 2nd week : Work, work, work, friend's bridal shower & wedding
~ 3rd week : Work, work, work
~ 4th week : Staff Retreat

I was a bit hard pressed to write and blog last month. It was not a good feeling so I needed to shrug the self-induced pressure off and decided to put writing to a temporary halt for a few weeks. I think it has done me good. Now that I am back, I am more thrilled to write! There are drafts in my mind that I have been reserving for this month. I can't wait to have them posted here!

... and the stories behind the poses are due this June ~ a note to self (hopefully). But if I fail to post, please don't be mad at me. :)

Take Time to Smell the Flowers

"Take time to smell the flowers..."

I will be doing that before next week's leadership camp starts. I find it so neat when camp counselors are given the time to reflect, rest and rejuvenate for a while before a whole bunch of campers start coming in through the gates.

I remember doing that last year. It was very serene, solemn, tranquil. It was everything! I actually took some photo memoir of it:

So, I will be gone for a week for the leadership camp, in this place, in this camp site/garden. I wonder how the place looks like right now after a year. :)

I will go.
I will teach.
I will serve.
But, I will also take time to smell the flowers.