Don't Deny

A girl named Diane went to a party and stayed longer than she planned, and had to walk home.

She wasn't afraid because it was a small town and she lived only a few blocks away.

As she walked under the tall elm tree, Diane asked God to keep her safe from harm and danger.

When she reached the alley, which was a shortcut to her house, she decided to take it.

However, halfway down the alley she noticed a man standing as though he was waiting for her.

Diane became uneasy and began to pray, asking for God's protection.

Instantly a comforting feeling of quietness and security wrapped around her, she felt as though someone was walking with her.

When she reached the end of the alley, she walked right past the man and arrived home safely.

The following day, she read in the newspaper that a young girl had been killed and raped in the same alley just twenty minutes after she'd been there.

Feeling overwhelmed by this tragedy and the fact that it could have been her, Diane began to weep.

Thanking the Lord for her safety and to help this young woman, she decided to go to the police station.

She felt she could recognize the man, so she told them her story.

The police asked her if she would be willing to look at a lineup to see if she could identify him.

She agreed and immediately pointed out the man she'd seen in the alley the night before.

When the man was told that he had been identified, he immediately broke down and confessed.

The officer thanked Diane for her bravery and asked if there was anything they could do for her.

She asked if they would ask the man one question.

Diane was curious as to why the man hadn't attacked her.

When the policeman asked him, he answered:

Because she wasn't alone.

She had two tall men walking on either side of her.

Amazingly, whether you believe it or not, you're never alone.

Did you know that 97 of teenagers won't stand up for God?

PS: God is always there in your heart and loves you no matter what.

STAND UP FOR HIM!

I'm Wearing a Mask

Poetry By Charles C. Finn

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               Don't be fooled by me.
               Don't be fooled by the face I wear
               for I wear a mask, a thousand masks,
               masks that I'm afraid to take off,
               and none of them is me.

               Pretending is an art that's second nature with me,
               but don't be fooled,
               for God's sake don't be fooled.
               I give you the impression that I'm secure,
               that all is sunny and unruffled with me, within as well
                    as without,
               that confidence is my name and coolness my game,
               that the water's calm and I'm in command
               and that I need no one,
               but don't believe me.
               My surface may seem smooth but my surface is my mask,
               ever-varying and ever-concealing.
               Beneath lies no complacence.
               Beneath lies confusion, and fear, and aloneness.
               But I hide this.  I don't want anybody to know it.
               I panic at the thought of my weakness exposed.
               That's why I frantically create a mask to hide behind,
               a nonchalant sophisticated facade,
               to help me pretend,
               to shield me from the glance that knows.

               But such a glance is precisely my salvation, my only hope,
               and I know it.
               That is, if it's followed by acceptance,
               if it's followed by love.
               It's the only thing that can liberate me from myself,
               from my own self-built prison walls,
               from the barriers I so painstakingly erect.
               It's the only thing that will assure me
               of what I can't assure myself,
               that I'm really worth something.
               But I don't tell you this.  I don't dare to, I'm afraid to.
               I'm afraid your glance will not be followed by acceptance,
               will not be followed by love.
               I'm afraid you'll think less of me,
               that you'll laugh, and your laugh would kill me.
               I'm afraid that deep-down I'm nothing
               and that you will see this and reject me.

               So I play my game, my desperate pretending game,
               with a facade of assurance without
               and a trembling child within.
               So begins the glittering but empty parade of masks,
               and my life becomes a front.
               I idly chatter to you in the suave tones of surface talk.
               I tell you everything that's really nothing,
               and nothing of what's everything,
               of what's crying within me.
               So when I'm going through my routine
               do not be fooled by what I'm saying.
               Please listen carefully and try to hear what I'm not saying,
               what I'd like to be able to say,
               what for survival I need to say,
               but what I can't say.

               I don't like hiding.
               I don't like playing superficial phony games.
               I want to stop playing them.
               I want to be genuine and spontaneous and me
               but you've got to help me.
               You've got to hold out your hand
               even when that's the last thing I seem to want.
               Only you can wipe away from my eyes
               the blank stare of the breathing dead.
               Only you can call me into aliveness.
               Each time you're kind, and gentle, and encouraging,
               each time you try to understand because you really care,
               my heart begins to grow wings--
               very small wings,
               very feeble wings,
               but wings!

               With your power to touch me into feeling
               you can breathe life into me.
               I want you to know that.
               I want you to know how important you are to me,
               how you can be a creator--an honest-to-God creator--
               of the person that is me
               if you choose to.
               You alone can break down the wall behind which I tremble,
               you alone can remove my mask,
               you alone can release me from my shadow-world of panic,
               from my lonely prison,
               if you choose to.
               Please choose to.

               Do not pass me by.
               It will not be easy for you.
               A long conviction of worthlessness builds strong walls.
               The nearer you approach to me
               the blinder I may strike back.
               It's irrational, but despite what the books say about man
               often I am irrational.
               I fight against the very thing I cry out for.
               But I am told that love is stronger than strong walls
               and in this lies my hope.
               Please try to beat down those walls
               with firm hands but with gentle hands
               for a child is very sensitive.

               Who am I, you may wonder?
               I am someone you know very well.
               For I am every man you meet
               and I am every woman you meet.

Heaven's Grocery Store

I was walking down life's highway a long time ago.
One day I saw a sign that read,

"HEAVEN'S GROCERY STORE"

As I got a little closer
the door came open wide
And when I came to myself
I was standing inside.

I saw a host of ANGELS.
They were standing everywhere.
One handed me a basket and said,
"My Child shop with care".

Everything a Christian needed
was in that grocery store.
And all you couldn't carry,
you could come back the next day for more.

First, I got some PATIENCE:
LOVE was in the same row.
Further down was UNDERSTANDING:
You need that everywhere you go.

I got a box or two of WISDOM,
a bag or two of FAITH.
I just couldn't miss the HOLY GHOST,
For it was all over the place.

I stopped to get some STRENGTH and COURAGE
To help me run this race.
By then my basket was getting full,
But I remembered I needed some GRACE.

I didn't forget SALVATION,
For SALVATION was free,
So I tried to get enough of that
To save both You and Me.

Then I started up to the counter
To pay my grocery bill,
For I thought I had everything
To do the MASTER'S Will.

As I went up the aisle, I saw PRAYER:
And I just had to put that in,
For I knew when I stepped outside,
I would run into Sin.

PEACE AND JOY were plenty
They were last on the shelf.
SONG and PRAISE were hanging near,
So I just helped myself.

Then I said to the angel,
"Now, how much do I owe?"
He smiled and said,
"Just take them everywhere you go.”

Again, I smiled and said,
"How much do I really owe?"
He smiled again and said,
"MY CHILD, JESUS PAID YOUR BILL
A LONG, LONG TIME AGO."

 Author: Author Unknown

Sometimes, you just have to let go and let God take care of you...

Writing

I've always loved writing- blogs, stories, one-shots, poems and essays. Along with reading, it has been my passion since I was in grade school. My school brought their students up with passion and talent for writing since we write about 4 essays per week.

Here are the things I learned about how to write properly.

STEP 1: Think about a plot/outline.
If you're writing a story, you need to think of an original and creative plot. Choose a genre and decide about the characters. Then make an outline of your plot. Try to desribe every scene and every dialogue. Think about how you will introduce your characters, how your characters encounter problems, the climax, how your characters solve their problems and how the story will end.

If you're writing an essay, remember to choose one main topic. Research all about it. Decide what is your purpose in writing do you have. Is it to persuade, to entertain, or to inform? After deciding, write a rough draft of your essay. Remember to have a seperate paragraph for inroduction, seperate paragraphs for supporting details and a final paragraph about summary/conclusion.

STEP 2: Find some inspiration!! 
Whenver I get writers' block, I browse other stories posted on the net, like on wattpad and fanfiction.net. When I see other writers get good feedbacks, I motivate myself to write better than them and earn even more feedbacks. I also think about how my plot is way better than theirs, and that motivates me to keep writing. 
Daydreaming also helps. Try to create new twists and turns in your plot. That way, you'll get even more excited to write a good story. 

STEP 3: Learn grammar and spelling 
Grammar and spelling can be the one thing that makes a story with a good plot go down. Learn to write with proper grammar and spelling! Check other authors and try to imitate the ones with good grammar and spelling. 

STEP 4: Take your time writing 
There are just some times when your creative juices are not flowing. Try to find the right time when you are truly inspired to write.  But don't procastinate!!

STEP 5: Publish it on the net 
I reccommend publishing the first chapter of your story in Wattpad.com. In my country, if you post an awesome story online and get good feedbacks, you're story will be published by local publishers. I 
If you publish it online, you'll get feedbacks that will motivate you to write more. 

STEP 6: Ask someone close to you to read your story/essay.
Having your bff read your story can help you be motivated to write. Ask him/her advice on how to make your story better. Your bff will surely give you encouragement on your writing career. 


STEP 7: Never give up! 
Remember that your story might be the greatest story ever writtten in the future. Don't let it be stuck in our mind forever! Think about sharing your ideas with the world and think about how happy you'll be if you finally finish your story. 

Good luck in writing!

Daydreaming

\

Let's all enjoy looking at this picture of spongebob for a while and reflect on the lesson he gave us....

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Done reflecting? 

Of course not. Cause YOU DID NOT REFLECT AT ALL. :) Hahahaha, me too :)

But why reflect on this? Because Spongebob just taught us one of the most important things in the world.

IMAGINATION- the power of the mind to do things that are impossible. Thanks to this, we now enjoy awesome books, movies and tv shows. Thanks to this, we don't fall asleep during math class.

I'm one of the daydreamers. I dream about random things all day long. I dream about Harry killing Edward (just kidding). I think about Ironman fighting with Optimus Prime. I think about a mega crossover between Jimmy Neutron, Timmy Turner, Spongebob Squarepants and Phineas and Ferb.

AND IT"S FUN

Daydreaming exercises not only your spatial skills, but also your willpower and creativity.

We are Filipinos

I am a Filipino... I was born in the Philippines, and naturally, I plan to also die in the Philippines. I am the heir of a glorious past. I am the recipient of the rewards of the hardwork that my ancestors gave to fight for our freedom.
I'm proud to be a citizen of my country. You know why? These are the reasons...

1)We have incredible perseverance.

Even though our country is still considered as a developing country, we Filipinos sure try our best to succeed in life. In fact, most of the richest man in our country were once poor people, but through hardwork and determination, they were able to rise out of poverty and prove to others that your ascribed status doesn't matter; what matters most is your achievements and final status.

2)  We are hospitable.

You can't leave a Filipino's house without food in your stomach and your back rested. Even if you're a stranger to the house, as long as you have need or purpose for your visit, Filipinos will let you in, offer you a sit and serve you food.  

3) We are creative.

The Filipinos' creative cultures are preserved up to this day. Ethnic groups in the Philippines still hobby their cloths and many of us still use indigenous materials in making different things such as bags, wallets, clothes, etc.

Another proof of the Filipinos' creativity is found in the way we build our houses. Since most Filipinos are still suffering from poverty, we find creative ways to build sturdy houses from cheap materials.

Of course, Filipinos has their own share of paintings, sculptures and buildings.  Our masterpieces includes Spolarium, by Juan Luna and Transfiguration, by Napoleon Abueva.

4) We are optimistic.

Filipinos are always happy... and that's not an exaggeration. During hard times, we learned how to always look on the bright side of things. During typhoons and when a family is stranded, you can still see children smiling and waving at the news camera like they have nothing to worry about. You know why that is? It's because we Filipinos believe that everything will turn out right if we just ask for God's help and guidance. 

5) We are family-oriented.

Filipino families are tight-knit. It's the basic unit of the community. A Filipino individual's family is the one who teaches him the most basic of all basics. It teaches him the joy of life, the importance of just being yourself, and how to grow up not to make the same mistakes they did. 

It's normal to see  18 year-olds still living with their family. It's not like they're still dependent or anything, but they stay with their parents because they love them. Without a family, Filipinos will grow up misguided and unappreciative of relationships. This is why parentless orphans are the subject of pity in Filipino soap operas.

6) We are God fearing citizens.

The Philippines is one of the first Catholic countries in Asia. Influenced by the Spanish conquerors, Filipinos learned that there is Someone out there who is just and kind. We depend on Him, but we know that we still need to do some of the work. We follow by the Catholic laws and we do our best to be included in Jesus' salvation.

Trust in the Lord

I've been browsing a lot of blogs lately, and I've realized that my blog is lacking something: inspirational essays and stuff like that.
So here is my inspirational post for this day:

One day when I was still in grade school, I suddenly realize that "Hey, why am I not praying to God?" I don't know if it's just me, or a heavenly force made me realize that I'm not alone in this world and that there's someone out there who cares for us.

Since that faithful day, I started praying every night. Whenever I got problems, I pray. When I'm happy, I pray. When I'm sad, I pray. I learned to turn to God for everything. I tell the Lord even the most insignificant problem, like "Lord, please, let not the song I will pick for guitar class tommorrow be a hard one," or "Lord, please, let our breakfast tomorrow be hotdog and eggs". And you know what? All of my prayers are answered. Maybe not in the way I want it to be, but nevertheless, answered. I promise you that there was not a single problem that I relayed to God that wasn't solved. God never let me down.

Let my experiences inspire you to keep praying and to always trust in the Lord. My Christian Living teacher once told our class that in praying, we should have three (3) things: PERSISTENCE, HUMILITY AND TRUST. If you have these things, God will surely answer your prayer.

To end this post, let me share with you an inspirational true story...

A girl named Diane went to a party and stayed longer than she planned, and had to walk home.

She wasn't afraid because it was a small town and she lived only a few blocks away.

As she walked under the tall elm tree, Diane asked God to keep her safe from harm and danger.

When she reached the alley, which was a shortcut to her house, she decided to take it.

However, halfway down the alley she noticed a man standing as though he was waiting for her.

Diane became uneasy and began to pray, asking for God's protection.

Instantly a comforting feeling of quietness and security wrapped around her, she felt as though someone was walking with her.

When she reached the end of the alley, she walked right past the man and arrived home safely.

The following day, she read in the newspaper that a young girl had been killed and raped in the same alley just twenty minutes after she'd been there.

Feeling overwhelmed by this tragedy and the fact that it could have been her, Diane began to weep.

Thanking the Lord for her safety and to help this young woman, she decided to go to the police station.

She felt she could recognize the man, so she told them her story.

The police asked her if she would be willing to look at a lineup to see if she could identify him.

She agreed and immediately pointed out the man she'd seen in the alley the night before.

When the man was told that he had been identified, he immediately broke down and confessed.

The officer thanked Diane for her bravery and asked if there was anything they could do for her.

She asked if they would ask the man one question.

Diane was curious as to why the man hadn't attacked her.

When the policeman asked him, he answered:

Because she wasn't alone.

She had two tall men walking on either side of her.

Amazingly, whether you believe it or not, you're never alone.

Did you know that 97 of teenagers won't stand up for God?

Repost if you truly believe in God.

PS: God is always there in your heart and loves you no matter what.

"If you deny me in front of your friends, I shall deny you in front of my Father."

STAND UP FOR HIM!