A Woman Named Amor Infante

Last Friday night, I accompanied my brother-in-law to the ER of a nearby private hospital. While waiting, a woman called my attention asking if I could help her put down her bed as it was raised up. I then called a nurse. After the nurse left, the woman, whom I believed is in her late 50's or early 60's, would keep asking me for the time. I sensed that she'd like to talk so I went near her and I already knew that God is touching me to give her some help. This is her story, as I asked her and as she narrated in tears.

She kept asking for the time because according to her, the hospital would let her go as soon as her blood sugar level go down, that she was only accepted when the nuns allowed her. She is a diabetic. She showed me her left leg that is already amputated. She lives in Luneta, by herself. She begs. She was able to go the hospital because a taxi driver took pity on her and brought her there. She wasn't able to eat properly for days so she was on a dextrose. And she has a wound on her right leg that she was worried about. She kept asking the doctor if they could give her medicine for her wound. The doctor was saying that she has no medicine with her, that her medicines are in her house. But since the woman was insistent, she was given two small containers with cotton soaked in betadyne. She is from Samar. She came to Manila to work as household help until she got sick. She is single. She narrated how difficult it is to live alone in her condition, with nothing to buy her food and medicine. She wanted very much to go home to Samar as she has a brother there. In her desperation, she did ask the bus liner if they could let her ride for free. I asked how much is the fare going to Samar, she said it was 700 pesos. Before this, I already gave her money and told her to use it to buy food and medicine. My brother-in-law is already being discharged so I needed to go. I got her name and told her that I will be praying for her and if there'll be a chance, I may look for her in Luneta. I wanted to pray for her then but there was no more time, so in haste, I told her to pray and have faith in Jesus that He will help her. She said, "Sana nga...", meaning "I hope so".

That night, I told the story to Eve and we prayed together for her. I hope the woman realized that night, that I gave her more than enough so she can go home to Samar. And I am hoping she is now with her brother and family. My mother is also diabetic. However, she already know Jesus and she's not afraid to go anytime. But Amor doesn't know Jesus, yet. And perhaps, I will never know if she will ever get the chance to hear about Him. Nevertheless, I will continue to pray for her. There are people we get to meet just once in our life. Some of them, I believe, happen because of divine providence. To God be all the glory!

God, In His Mysterious Ways

Time and time again, our God would manifest Himself to His children when they need reassurance of some sort. As for me, He did this just very recently in such an unexpected way. Well, I had been going through something and I had been crying to my Lord about it. I received an email from a college friend whom I have never seen or talked for at least 11 years now. She was not a Christian then, but she is now. I was overwhelmed by her message which I want to post here, so I may go back to it every now and then.

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Hi Mia. How are you and your family. I dreamt of you last night. We were together and waiting for a bus or a ferry which I am not sure of. But we are about to go somewhere else. While waiting for our transport, we were talking how Alvin has taken cared of you. From what I can remember, you were telling me that you had an CF operation. Whatever that means. Then, we were called to go. There were a sack of gifts that will be distributed, looks like christmas wrappers but were colored red and green. Then we saw, Jenni-Lea, a former classmate of ours and she was crying. Then I woke up. =)As for me, I am now in Australia. For about 6 yrs now, I've been walking closely with the Lord. I still remember, you sent me a letter back in college about the Lord and where we wanted Him from our house. Thank you for that sis. More and more, am going back to my past and knowing the different people that comes to my life were a gift from Him to protect me and direct me.I've been reading a few of your blogs, did you know as well that I'm volunteering for World Vision here and is supporting a child in Cebu.I pray for your families protection always. May He bless you more and be an example of a christian family.

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I consider myself "little" in His eyes. Even then, this made me realize yet again, that He does indeed care and He thinks of me as well. It is just amazing! I am inclined to believe that this dream is prophetic. That is what I told my friend. And perhaps God is telling me to prepare for such eventuality. But until then, I will continue to trust in His unfailing love.

God's Got a Book!

Yes He does! And it's called the BOOK Of LIFE.

If you have known of the eternal security doctrine or more commonly known as the "Once Saved Always Saved" doctrine (OSAS), then knowledge and references to God's Book of Life is one way of countering this belief.

There are numerous argumentations you can find in the web regarding this, for it and against it. If you are a Christian, then you should seriously contemplate on this and decide on which to believe in. I for one, have just recently made up mind. During one of our pastor's preaching, he briefly touched on this subject and clearly pointed out using references in the bible, that even though your name is already written in the book of life which happened when you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, God can still erase or blot out your name.

Exodus 32:32 But now, please forgive their sin -- but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written. The Lord replied to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot out of the book."

Psalm 69:28 May they be blotted out of the book of life and not be listed with the righteous.

Revelation 3:5 He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.

Surely we know how extremely important it is for our names to be retained in God's book as the bible also says that only whose names are found in the book of life will enter heaven.

Daniel 12:1 But at that time your people -- everyone whose name is found written in the book -- will be delivered.

Revelation 20:15 If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Death Conquered

I found this interesting site on the web http://www.deathclock.com/. Apparently, it can tell the specific date of a person's death. You just need to indicate some personal details. So the information above is my personal day of death. Sounds freaky? Personally, no. This is every man's destiny. Ecclesiates 7:2 says "..., for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart." Yet I know, this isn't the exact date, God can take me anytime, anywhere, anyhow.

I heard news from my sister that her husband's 94-year old lola passed away. Even though we know that she is already with our Father in heaven, still, family members can't help but feel sad. It is human nature. It brought me and my husband again to our favorite discussion, as to what age we prefer to die. The lady has been bed-ridden for quite a long time already. Likewise, my husband's lolo is almost 90 years old. He has no illness, still able to walk around with help though not very strong anymore. Yet whenever we go visit him, he would say that he wants to die already. It must be really hard living each day, just waiting for your hour of death to come. This is something that my husband and I wouldn't want to go through. Well, it's just our wish. God is still in control.

However, WHEN is not really the most important question here. But WHERE? Yes, there is life after death. And it is an eternal life. Forever! Eternity in heaven or eternity in hell. There is no place in between, contrary to popular belief. There is a way to be certain, now in this lifetime. It is a personal decision though. No doubt, it is the most important decision one can make in his/her life. May no man tarry.

"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9

I Will Be Still... Know You Are God

It's Sunday. Due to some circumstance, we are home. We won't make it to Church today.

I woke up thinking about my sister and brother-in-law in Singapore. They were in the hospital since Friday. Several tests had been made. They are awaiting for the doctor's diagnosis. Waiting makes us anxious, makes us worry specially when things are uncertain.

I also thought of my best friend who is right now hurting because of marital problem. I never imagined it would happen to her. I thought she does not deserve it.

I said a prayer for them. I wish I could be by my sister's side. I wish I could hug my best friend. But they are far from me. But no matter. God's grace is more than sufficient. He is with them - enabling them, comforting them, strengthening them.

We are Christians. But that doesn't mean that we are immune from problems, pains and sicknesses. What's wonderful about it is that, we don't have to go through these trials alone, by ourselves. We accept them as they come. Most of the time, it is hard from the start. But as we learn to trust God and slowly see His wisdom behind each trial, we endure, we persevere. Because we know, at the end, we will overcome.

In The Beginning . . .

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." Genesis 1:1

The Bible says, God created the heavens and the earth, day and night, water, ground and sky, sun, moon and stars, plants and animals, and yes, man and woman... and it was ALL GOOD!

Well, I started this blog and I hope that something good will come out of it. My aim is to have a venue where I can store my thoughts, share them to anyone who may take interest in them.

Yes, everything was good from the beginning. We could only imagine. God talked and walked with Adam and Eve. They were in His very presence. Everything was provided for them. There was no need for hard labor. I know, most of us wish for that beginning to have remained up to this day. But the fall of man changed everything. Yet, all is not lost for humankind. There is hope.