janjararanjenjen

reviving my tumblr account to be my outlet again.

watch out for my coming posts, not rants rather outlet of emotions. haha

Proverbs 31:10-12 and 25-31 
A wife of noble character who can find? 
She is worth far more than rubies.

Her husband has full confidence in her 
and lacks nothing of value.

She brings him good, not harm, 
all the days of her life.

She is clothed with strength and dignity; 
she can laugh at the days to come.

She speaks with wisdom, 
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

She watches over the affairs of her household 
and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children arise and call her blessed; 
her husband also, and he praises her:

“Many women do noble things, 
but you surpass them all.”

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; 
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

Give her the reward she has earned, 
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. (NIV)

I love you, Ma. salamat sa lahat lahat.. <3 <3

THE START OF THE LENTEN SEASON

What is Lent?

Lent is a season of soul-searching and repentance. It is a season for reflection and taking stock. Lent originated in the very earliest days of the Church as a preparatory time for Easter, when the faithful rededicated themselves and when converts were instructed in the faith and prepared for baptism. By observing the forty days of Lent, the individual Christian imitates Jesus’ withdrawal into the wilderness for forty days.

Ideally, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast and abstinence. Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence.

On days of fast, one full meal is allowed. Two other meals sufficient to maintain strength may be taken according to one’s own needs. Eating between meals is not allowed although fluids may be taken.

On days of abstinence, the consumption of meat is not allowed. The Church strongly encourages this observance of Friday abstinence, but failure to do so is not regarded as sinful.

But why do we have to do this?

To fast is to do without food.  Its purpose is to experience the effects of not eating.  It also serves to be a penance or a sacrifice - for the purpose of strengthening us.  When we don’t eat, for even a little while, we get hungry.  When we get hungry, we have a heightened sense of awareness.  If, when we eat too much, we have a sluggish feeling, when we fast, we have a feeling of alertness.  Fasting is a wonderful exercise whenever we want to sincerely ask for an important grace from God.  It is not that our fasting “earns” God’s attention, but by fasting, we clarify our thinking and our feeling.  It is purifying and prepares us to pray more deeply.

To abstain is to not eat meat.  Its purpose is to be an act of penance - an act of sacrifice, that helps us grow in freedom to make much bigger sacrifices.   Of course, it would not make sense to make the sacrifice of not eating meat, and then eat a wonderful meal I might enjoy even more.  Many people eat a vegetarian diet, for a variety of reasons, and eating meat is not even an issue.  It might be possible to abstain from a non-meal that I really like, on all the Fridays of Lent.  It should be noted that many people in this world cannot afford to eat meat or do not have access to it.   Part of our abstaining from meat can place us in solidarity with so many of our sisters and brothers around the world.

Starting today, (supposedly February 17, 2010—>Ash Wednesday I will keep this account as my journal of faith. Everyday, let me share my realizations and silent moments with the Lord. :)

Since today is the start of the Lent season, everyday from now on, this will be my Lenten diary. I hope those who might stumble upon this website could be enlightened the same way i did.

For today’s readings: Matthew 6: 1-6, 16-18.

“But when you pray, go to your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what you do in private, will reward you.”

~Matthew 6:6 ^^

I never would want my friends to see me doing this thing. Not the “in” thing or something. If someone would find me doing this, I honestly would feel humiliated, in the sense that, many misconceptions about me would be formed. Truly, when I was in high school, fourth year to be exact, I wanted to be a nun. No joke. I entered college having that thought in my mind. 5 years gradually passed and here I am, starting a blog feeling insanely sane tonight because a lot of things happened to me for the past years. I changed my major, I met friends I would never exchange for anything in the world (MILKO and LIS peeps), I fell in love and got hurt in the end. And today, here I am vowing to stand again for my Savior and Creator.

I might went astray for the past years of my life, almost forgotten the relationship I had with Him but it’s never too late to come back, ayt?

I found myself today at the break of dawn, feeling the completeness again that I never felt for the longest time in my life. Only You, my Lord, would ever complete me. The emptiness I’ve been feeling inside was filled by the overwhelming presence of His love for me.

Find an isolated place today where you can have an intimate time with Jesus Christ.

“Lord, I want to know you in a deeper way. Reveal Yourself to me. Amen.”

And lastly, for my Lenten realizations and actions:

Pray. Fast. Abstain. Give alms. Give up “something”.

My Lenten discipline is going to be that of writing.  I have committed to God time each day to read and write on the subject of the heart and what it looks like to allow God to open us up and transform us.  Much of what I could contemplate I will post here.   I’d love any feedback or insights or good reads…

Keep posted for the coming days, let’s have a meaningful Lent everyone! :)

If we must part forever,
Give me but one kind word to think upon,
And please myself with, while my heart’s breaking.

…and these are the days without you. painful, bitter and sorrowful. But I have to face tomorrow with a smile, knowing my friends will keep me by and my family will always be there. Lastly, God is closest to those with broken hearts.  ~Jewish Saying

Smile, jenjen. :) everything will be fine.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path. Amen.

~Proverbs 3:5