Perfectly Imperfect

“Accept each other as Christ accepted you; then God will be glorified.” Romans 5:17

In your journey of discovering your purpose in life, you will meet different kinds of people. There will be people who will remain true to you and there will be people who are good to you when they want something from you. People will love you, people will hurt you. People will value you and some will just use you. For sure, those people who do good things for you will be easily put on your "Beloved list". How about those who have hurt you? Will you hate them forever?

I want to share to you a story on how I tried to discover what God was trying to teach me on one of the most difficult people I have encountered in my life so far. ("So far" because I know after this, He'll give me more difficult people to be with, well its part of the test) 

I consider this person difficult because he knows me when he needs me. Yes, a user-friendly kind of person. Even though he was mad at me, he has the guts to ask me to help him do some of his stuffs. Of course in the beginning I don't know that he hates me to the bones. So I have no idea what he has in mind while I am being the good-helping-girl who does my best just to help him out. To cut the story short, God allowed some things to happen to let me know what kind of person this man was. 

This man hates me because he feels jealous about me ( I won't elaborate why, for some personal reasons and because I really don't know enough reason why he should hate me). As a human, I felt betrayed, I felt used and abused. I underwent a series of depression. At church, I was told to forgive those who sinned against me so that God will also forgive me (Mat 6:14-15). So I tried to forgive him and pretended I wasn't hurt. Actually, he has no idea what was happening to me that I already discovered his true feelings towards me. 

The story didn't stopped there. It happened not just once, twice, it happened a lot of times. I got depressed again, felt bitterness and resentments towards him. During the hardest part of depression, I realized that I have been trying my best to forgive him. Why can't I? I kept on trying my best to be the best person that I can be towards him but he kept on disregarding all my efforts. I felt I wasn't appreciated after all those things that I have done for him. 

I kept on praying to God to help me forgive him. That may he reveal to me what was it that He was trying to teach me. I realized that if I will not succeed in this test (test of love towards others) I will not succeed in my journey to live like Christ.

It is today that I was reading Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life that I found what was God trying to teach me for almost three years now. I was in the 7th day of the forty days devotional book, and the topic was about how we believers can bring glory to God. I was struck on the second reason, it says "We bring glory by loving other believers. When you were born again, you became a part of God's family. Following Christ is not just a matter of believing; it also includes belonging and learning to love the family of God...It is your responsibility to learn how to love as God does, because God is love, and it honors Him."

I just felt an overwhelming feeling as I read the paragraph about loving others. For me, I took it not for believers only but also for the pre-believers (I don't want to use the term "Unbelievers" because I am hoping that God will let them be believers as well, credit goes to Bishop Manny Carlos of VCF). I realized that God has been loving me for who I am. He accepted me without even making me feel guilty of my past life (Heb 10:17). 

What I lacked in my heart is God's graciousness towards me. I am a sinner, but still he chose to love me and even I continuously sin he still loves me (Eph 2:4-5). It is because of God's grace that I am saved. I forgot that I was once a drunkard, a smoker, and all the bad things you can call me, but God chose to love me. God made me realized that in order for me to forgive that person, I should think first on how God forgave me and love me, so that I may know what His grace is all about. 

There are always difficult people that we will encounter in our life. Difficult people are those who love to push your button of anger. They can be your parent, a sibling, a friend, an in-law, a neighbor or even a random people that you meet at school, workplace or even at church.

God allows us to sin, so we may know how it is to be forgiven;

God allows us to get hurt so we may know how it is to forgive.

I am not perfect, so was that person who have hurt me. I am God's child, so was he. So what is the reason I cannot love him? :) I just realized that life is a series of tests. And this encounter with this man is one of God's test for me. Today, I choose to forgive him not partially, but fully! I choose to love him as God loves me. Not because I need to, but because God wants me to and by loving him, God is glorified (Rom 15:7). I am not doing this for myself, but I am doing this for God. :)

Photo from: http://www.zazzle.com

God created us as perfectly imperfect people so we may know that by His grace alone, we are saved (Eph 2:8-9). 

Letter

 LETTER FROM SATAN (DARK LETTER)

…PAY ATTENTION TO THE P.S. at the end.

Letter from the Devil

This can really make you think. It actually made me really mad while I was reading it, but it made me realize some things.

Plus, I had to send it because of the P.S.

This is deep… and I wasn’t going to forward or share it, but that last line… you’ll see.

A LETTER TO YOU FROM SATAN

I saw you yesterday as you began your daily chores.

You awoke without kneeling to pray. As a matter of fact, you didn’t even bless your meals, or pray before going to bed last night.

You are so unthankful, I like that about you.

I cannot tell you how glad I am that you have not changed your way of living, Fool, you are mine.

Remember, you and I have been going steady for years, and I still don’t love you yet.

As a matter of fact, I hate you, because I hate God.

He kicked me out of heaven, and I’m going to use you as long as possible to pay him back.

You see, Fool, GOD LOVES YOU and HE has great plans in store for you.

But you have yielded your life to me, and I’m going to make your life a living hell.

That way, we’ll be together twice. This will really hurt God.

Thanks to you, I’m really showing Him who’s boss in your life with all of the good times we’ve had.

We have been…

watching dirty movies, cursing people out, loving worldly things, having bad influences, stealing, lying, being hypocritical, fornicating, overeating, telling dirty jokes, gossiping, being judgmental, back stabbing people, disrespecting adults, and those in leadership positions, no respect for the Church, bad attitudes.

SURELY you don’t want to give all this up.

Come on, Fool, let’s burn together forever. I’ve got some hot plans for us. This is just a letter of appreciation from me to you.

I’d like to say ‘THANKS’ for letting me use you for most of your foolish life.

You are so gullible, I laugh at you. When you are tempted to sin, you give in.

HA HA HA, you make me sick.

Sin is beginning to take its toll on your life. You look 20 years older, and now, I need new blood.

So go ahead and teach some children how to sin.

All you have to do is smoke, get drunk or drink while under-aged, cheat, gamble, gossip, fornicate, and live being as selfish as possible.

Do all of this in the presence of children and they will do it too. Kids are like that.

Well, Fool, I have to let you go for now. I’ll be back in a couple of seconds to tempt you again. If you were smart, you would run somewhere, confess your sins, and live for God with what little bit of life that you have left.

It’s not my nature to warn anyone, but to be your age and still sinning, it’s becoming a bit ridiculous. Don’t get me wrong, I still hate you.

IT’S JUST THAT YOU’D MAKE A BETTER FOOL FOR CHRIST.

P.S. If you love me, you won’t share this


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I saw this on Facebook, and it scared me so. But there's something within me that tells me not to be afraid. For God is always with me and He will not give up to win my soul! :) As well as the souls of millions of people who doesn't know Him yet.

Brothers and Sisters, Jesus loves you and He will never be tired of loving you. For God is FOR YOU! :)


It is not too late to know Him better and to accept Him as your god and your personal savior. 


REMEMBER, GOD IS FOR YOU! 



Click this if your heart says, "I WANT TO BE SAVED" :)

Commercial Breaks ng buhay ko. (A testimony)

"Twelve (12) lang ang napili sa try-out, pang-thirteen (13) ako. Praktis ako ng praktis, may uniform na ko... Nay, bakit?"  - Lucky Me Commercial.

Gaya ng bata sa commercial na ito. Isang slot na lang sana, pasok na siya sa basketball team, pero he didn't made it. Minsan akala natin kulang pa yung nagawa natin para makamit ang isang pangarap. Kadalasan naman, iniisip natin na wala tayong pagkukulang at naibigay na natin lahat. Pero ang hindi natin alam, ang Diyos pa ang nawawala o ang kulang sa buhay natin kaya nawawalan tauo ng pag-asa na makamit ang mga pangarap na inaasam-asam natin.

Sa buhay natin, madami tayong mga pangarap na gustong matupad. Mga pangarap na matagal na nating inaasam-asam, na palagi nating ipinagdarasal. Pero hindi lahat ng pangarap natin ibinibigay agad ng Panginoon. Minsan binibigo niya tayo para matuto. Binibigo niya tayo para masaktan, para lalo pa nating pag-igihan ang mga bagay na dapat nating gawin para makamit ang pangarap na ito.

When I was invited to attend the retreat, nagda-dalawang isip talaga ko kung pupunta ko o hindi. Ang kalaban madaming sinasabi para lang hindi ako mapalapit sa Diyos. Pero nagsawa din siya. Si Lord ang nag-tagumpay. Naka-attend ako ng retreat at sobra akong pinagpapala ngayon. Hindi ako makapaniwala na naka-tayo ako sa harap niyo ngayon at ibinabalita kung gaano kabuti ang Panginoon at tinanggap niya kong muli bilang kanyang anak.

Kaninang madaling araw lang ako sinabihan ni Tita Elsie na kung maari ay mag-testify ako kung anong "impact" ng EGR sa buhay ko. Wala akong idea kung paano gawin yun, pero dahil napakabuti ng Diyos, andito ko sa inyong harapan, nagsasalita kung gaano niya tayo kamahal.

"Ang dami kong gutom." - Lucky Me Commercial

Bago ako umattend sa EGR, madami akong gutom. Tayong lahat, madami tayong gutom. Gutom tayo sa pera, sa pagmamahal, sa pag-asa, sa pangarap. Pero alam niyo po, pagkatapos ng EGR, naisip ko na lahat ng gutom na ito isa lamang ang makakapuno. Ang tangi lamang ng makapagpupuno ng gutom na ito ay ang pagmamahal ng Diyos sa atin. Ang pagmamahal na ipinangako niya sa atin.

Kaya mga kapatid sa May po mayroon ulit EGR ang CPCC, kayo pong lahat ay iniimbitahan. Mapalad po kayo na kayo ay narito at iniimbita ng simbahang ito na umattend, gaya nga ng sabi ni Robin Padilla sa SkyFlakes commercial, "Ito na ang break mo, kagatin mo!" Opo mga kapatid, wag po nating palampasin ang pagkakataon na mas makilala pa ang Panginoon kung sino at ano siya sa ating buhay.

I experienced stress and depression bago ako umattend ng retreat. Ang dami ko pong pinagdadaanan at hanggang ngayon ay akin pa ding pinagdadaanan. Pero mas malakas na po ako ngayon. Dahil alam ko na may Diyos na nagmamahal sa akin at hindi ako pinababayaan. Kinagat ko ang break na ibinigay Niya sakin at binusog Niya ako ng pagmamahal. Gaya nga ng tag-line sa Cobra Energy drink commercial, "Pag meron ka nito wala kang talo!" Kapag patuloy tayong nanampalataya at nananalig sa Diyos, wala tayong talo! Hindi man natin makamit lahat ng pangarap natin sa buhay ngayon, hindi man tayo magtagumpay sa buhay natin dito sa mundo, panalo naman tayo sa langit, dahil mahal natin ang ating Panginoon. Hindi niya tayo bibiguin. Patuloy lamang tayong manalig at magtiwala sa kanya.

"Making things possible." - Globe commercial.

Ang Panginoon po natin ay makapangyarihan, at walang imposible sa kanya. Gaano man kabigat at kahirap ang pinagdadaanan mo, ialay at itaas mo ito sa kanya, lahat kakayanin mo. Minahal niya tayo noon, at patuloy na minamahal hanggang ngayon sa kabila ng ating mga pagkukulang. Kaya mga kapatid, bigyan po natin Siya ng panahon, para makilala muli. Para malaman natin kung sino at ano ba talaga Siya sa ating buhay.

Ang mga pinagdaanan ko noon, at ipinagdadaanan ko ngayon ay hindi naman nasolusyunan kaagad. Ang nabago lang ay kung paano ko ito hina-handle. Kung noon gumigising ako sa umaga na problema ang iniisip, pagkatapos kong makilala ang Panginoon, gumigising akong may ngiti sa aking mga labi. Ngumingiti ako dahil alam kong may pangako sa akin ang Panginoon, na anuman ang dumating, hindi ako mag-iisa dahil nariyan lang sya sa aking tabi.

Sa May po, may EGR ulit dito sa ating simbahan. Dumalo po kayo, hindi po kayo magsisisi. Nagpapasalamat po ako sa Panginoon dahil nabigyan ako ng ganitong pagkakataon na humarap sa inyo at lahat ng ito'y iniaalay ko para sa Kanya.

Bago po ako umalis sa aking kinatatayuan, mag-iiwan po ako ng isang katanungan para sa ating lahat.

"Para kanino ka bumabangon?" - Nescafe Commercial

Magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat, ako po si Kerlyn Rufino, 22 years old. Naka-attend po ako sa EGR dahil inimbita po ako ni Tita Edith, Key and Bobadilla Family. Maraming salamat po at patuloy nating papurihan ang ating Panginoon.


PS: Hindi ito yung original na testimony, sinubukan ko lang dagdagan at ilagay lahat ng natatandaan ko. :)
May this message Bless us all!

If you want english translation, e-mail me. I'll try to do it. Though I know it'll be tough! :)

Starting my mission.

God makes things possible - so true indeed!

I am just another girl in the block who is finding how and where to use my skills and talents. I am a Mass Communication graduate major in Broadcasting. I love to write and public speaking is chicken to me. Boasting aside, it is not really hard for me to stand up in front of the crowd and speak the things that pops into my mind. That's why I chose my finished coursed. :)

Two weeks ago, I attended a two days and one night retreat entitled Encounter God Retreat (EGR) made possible by Christ People Christian Church (CPCC). I can't discuss further the things and the activities we did during the encounter since we are not allowed to do so; but after the retreat, I am so blessed. I have encountered the Lord in the least expected moments of my life and I feel over-joyed. 

(Actually, I had made a blog regarding my encounter you can read it here: http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150184741489199 )

After a week since the activity, I was asked by my facilitator to make a two to three minutes testimony of how the EGR affected my life. At first I was worried and unsure if I will do it or not. Speaking in front of the people is not a problem to me but I am afraid that my words won't convince them to join the next EGR.

But our Lord God Almighty is so good that He helped me to make a simple, precise and clear testimony that will bless all the people who can hear it.

I made a testimony using famous commercial tag lines and it made a recall to the people who have heard the message. I used our vernacular language which is Filipino. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to write everything down! What I have in hand while speaking are the list of commercial tag lines that I will reflect on. 

But I will try to write it down so I can share how God blessed me.

God let me spoke to the people as if I have created my testimony days before the talk, God gave me strength and courage to share to all the people what God has created in me and the feeling after the talk was indescribable. I wasn't able to hear the applause of the people, what I am hearing as I walk down the stage is God's voice telling me that this is the reason why I gave you those talents that you have my dear. I will use you , your creativity in writing and speaking, so that you can glorify me! 

I seated in my chair thinking, my heart pounding and everything seems to be so quiet. As I said to myself, If this is Your plan for me Lord, Your will be done!

I am not special. I know I am not. I am just another girl in the neighborhood whose faith is struggling just like you. Today, as I publish this blog, my mission have just begun and I want to offer everything that I can write to the one and only God that gave me the talents that I am sharing and that I will share with you.

The staffs and participants of the EGR. (photo courtesy of Ptr. Richard Angulo)

This is the beginning Lord, and Your will be done! I know with Your grace, nothing is impossible.