By the way -- (Despite of my already hectic schedule)....... I have been doing a lot of acting workshop lately. Last week with direk Laurice Guillen, with tita Vangie Labalan for my voice-acting workshop this past couple of days until this afternoon... with direk Gina Alajar naman for next week.

Tita Anabel is responisble for all of these workshops...haha, she is a great 'pusher' ! :p

Long over due na ang mga workshops na yan, but she's making it all happen now. She is really my number one encourager right now!

And a dance session daw with the G Force anytime soon??? Woooot! That will be like pushing me over the edge -- in a pleasant way, haha!

This Isn't a Dress Rehearsal

When you perform . . . you are out of yourself---larger and more patent, more beautiful. You are for minutes heroic. This is power. This is glory on earth. And it is yours, nightly.

---Agnes de Mille

You've probably heard the expression "life's not a dress rehearsal."

Unfortunately, many of us unconsciously act as if it were. Like an actress just going through the motions in order to conserve her creative energy and focus for opening night, we hold back. Perhaps you save the pretty china for when company comes; perhaps you're like me and rarely dress up when you're home alone. If we're not playing to an audience, does it really matter?

I think that's a good question to ask ourselves as we examine the quality of our real life journey. It does take more effort to set an inviting table, but it enhances our enjoyment of eating. We all feel better when we take those few extra minutes to fix our hair and put on a little make up, but what's more, we act different. Every actress knows the magic power of props and costumes to create special moods both onstage and off.

Now none of us can be expected to perform every minute of our lives. But a lot of us might tap into the power, excitement, and glory of Real Life more frequently if we cast ourselves as the leading ladies in our own lives.

This is for ♨ tonight!

Kinda looks like a Thai food but

this is just actually Tinola --with a twist!

"Sampat gid ini, namit kaayo"

I will slurp it good!!! =D

It's scary when you know a little, have a little, and thought so highly of yourself..as dangerously serious as having schizophrenia, a mental sickness happens when one passionately and obsessively FIND WAYS TO PROVE HIS EXISTENCE TRULY MATTERS. -Issha

Saw this late..a brotherhood message of love.

We really are made by God according to His image.

Our hearts and our minds is molded with God's kindness.

No white or black.

In moments of turmoil like this we become as one.

That's a reason why I appreciate this video.. ☮

Great Artists! Met Lionel Richie last time I went to US.

Wish I met all of the other stars in this video too!! Heh.☺

(O kaya kahit si Enrique Iglesias man lang, haha!) ♥

Naglalambing sa'yong mga mata...

Bitter envy.

If 'envy' is desire for what another has, 'bitter envy' must mean a person wants something so much that he is angry and hateful over it. Bitterness is a child of anger and resentment.

Bitter envy takes jealousy to the next step by adding resentment and anger, and from it emerges words that STAB, CUT, TEAR DOWN, REFUTE AND DIMINISH. Envious words are bitter words: They are pointed and sharp, but their target is subtle. On the surface, they may even sound righteous, but in reality, they manipulate thinking --in the speaker's favor.

We use these to reduce the stature of another so we may seem to stand taller.

A talebearer or GOSSIP ONLY WANTS HIS LISTENER TO THINK LESS OF ANOTHER SO THAT HE MIGHT THINK MORE OF HIM. Yup, this is the underlying truth.

Here's a test: Do our words build or burn ? Do we talk badly about other people ? Do we focus on their flaws ?

If we build our stature by burning another's, we are standing on a platform of ashes that will crumble and topple us anytime. Only after I was gossiped about repeatedly did I began to see my own words of envy expressed. How foolish it had made me look, trying to stand taller on a pile of ashes !

I watch a lot of people exist. But few people have sure directions in life,
and purpose for every action.

When you live a life with no directions,
you will find yourself ALWAYS chasing for ideas, and something (else) to do.


See you can be really busy in life




going

↓



NOWHERE .

Why I wasn't surprised

January 11 '10, Monday
- I dreamth that my uncle's right leg is in pain.
- The moment I woke up, I wanted to pray and then call my lola to check on my tito. I got busy, I kept reminded to call my lola that whole day, but I kept ignoring the thought, and the day passed by, I wasn't able to call her.

Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
I've totally forgotten about that dream already.

Jan 15, Friday
I was at MarcNicdao's studio for a photoshoot. That morning I got the news, my tito was rushed to the hospital 'a few days ago' because something went wrong on his right thigh, he was brought to the hospital but the doctors couldn't figure out the cause of his 'disease'. He was getting worse and no medications could aid him, he was dying they said. They were then forced to sign a waver, and they took him home.

That afternoon after my shoot, I went to visit him. There I found my tito, lying on his bed. His right thigh, from his foot to his hip - he was swelling, and he was all bruised up -making him unable to walk (You've gotta understand, his thigh swelled-up twice bigger than his normal size!!) And for some reason, he was having a hard time breathing, and speaking. He was so weak, he almost couldn't move.

I didn't know what to say. I had to lock myself in a room, I wanted to be away and talk to God.
I praised Him, for being so......... how do I describe it? He knew that my tito is going to suffer, He revealed it to me. And He was very specific when He did so. I mean hey, that's the God of the universe and He took time to 'message me' !! He loves my tito and He cares about him. I wasn't crying because I was worried ike everyone else in the house, I wasn't worried because I knew God could heal him. I was crying because I was just in total AWE.

I knew what I had to do - Pray. But I didn't know how to.... No, I know how, I know the verse -Isaiah 53:5 'By HIS stripes we are healed' .... I know very well, that no sickness or disease has the power over us! Jesus took it all on the cross! But I was so hesitant, because first of all, I haven't been that prayerful during those times, I feel like I'm not 'worthy' you know? I mean my prayer might not be 'effective'. And I haven't prayed for a sick person before, and I mean as sick as my tito? He's dying! So I wrestle with God in prayer, Ok Lord I'm going to do this, the way I know how.. please help me, please give me the courage to do this. And Lord I don't want to delay this, my tito needs to accept You as his personal Lord and savior, just in case he dies he will go to heaven.... I need to lead him to prayer! No one else could (that time) !

So I went back to my tito's room, his wife and my lola were there. I told them about my dream, and I told my tito how much God loves him, and that he cares enough to even let me know in advance what was about to happen. He thinks about him. He wants to save him and heal him!
I told him it's not important if the doctors can't find the cause of his disease, it doesn't matter, God can heal him!

I prayed for him. I asked him to come to church with me that sunday.
I left that house, carrying in my heart so much faith. God's going to do something.

Sunday
-On a wheelchair, my tito went to church with me. With my lola, and my tito's wife and their kids.
-He got better, he could breathe properly and he coul talk!!

-My friend from church (who's a doctor) acidentally saw us in the parking lot, when we were about to leave church. She saw what happened to my tito, she prescribed some pain relievers for the swelling and to help ease the pain (won't make my tito's situation worse anyway). She told my tito to come back to church next sunday so she can check if the medication will get him any better.

Some of my friends and I kept him in prayer that week.

Friday, saturday, sunday .. I fasted and pray.
Asking God for my tito's healing, fast recovery.

Jan 24, Sunday
He didn't need a wheelchair going to church anymore.
He couldn't walk straight, but the fact that he can already stand up is a big impovement!
We thought he's getting better and better! And his complete healing is on its way!
And then my doctora friend saw him again after church, she's happy with the changes, that he just need to continue on with the medication. But she also insisted that my tito should have another check up to make sure he doesn't need any further treatment, coz my tito was swelling still. She has the idea what the illness could be, so she recommended another doctor, a 'specalist'. But again, we were all at peace already, praising God for the big improvement.
In my heart I was already assured, he is healed!

Monday, Jan 25
-I woke up early that morning, keeping my tito in prayer. This is the day of his check up.
-At 6:42 pm I got a text message from doctora:

'Good eve Jewel, your uncle is diagnosed to have Renal failure (kidney failure), septic arthritis and other complications.'

-For some reason, I wasn't bothered. I was at peace. I ignored the txt message.

-Monday night, my lola got home, alone. Weeping. She said the doctors didn't allow my tito to leave the hospital anymore because, his case is serious, they can't allow my tito to go home because that disease/infection/virus can kill him ANYTIME. It's a serious case, it's accute. They immediately had to make some blood transfusion. The virus has been posining his blood. They will try their best to 'save him' .

-I heard the stories.. from my lola, from the driver... All of them crying in the hospital.. My tito couldnt hold back his tears anymore.

-I was calmed all along.
I just talked to God.
Lord, parang whirlwind...... he was dying, you made him better, you made him walk again, we thought he's okay na.. and now he is dying again. Wow.
I said Lord, I prayed for him as much as I could. I trust You with all of my heart. And yet my tito didn't get any better and in fact here comes the big blow now, he is dying. I am already thankful that my tito is going to heaven now if he dies. I submit to You, if You want to take him that's fine with me. But Lord please prepare the hearts of my lola and lolo, my tita and the kids..... I pray that they won't question and doubt Your love and reality, ako I understand completely... But them? After all the prayers and trust... they might question You why... Please Lord, don't let that happen. Don't let them turn away from You if my tito dies.

-I don't know..... I never questioned Him... I was so calmed all along... I was never in doubt.. I was at peace. Unwavering in faith. I know HE IS GOD. Thy will be done.

Tuesday, Jan 26

Morning - my lola approached me, they were about to go to the hospital to visit my tito. She was so down.. she was like 'kawawa naman tito mo, he's too young to die......'

I remained silent.

-A few hours after that, around 11 am....
I got a txt message again:

'Nakakakapag-taka. Biglang nag clear yung kidney, lahat ng tests sa kanya negative. Even his sugar. He doesn't need to undergo any dialysis anymore. Pano nangyari yon in less than 24 hours since he was diagnosed? Pauwi na lola dyan, nakatawa na!'
---------------

Well. A miracle took place. I wasn't surprised at all.
I went straight to my room and bowed down before THE LIVING GOD!

1Peter 2:15

'For God wants you to silence the IGNORANT TALK of foolish people BY THE GOOD THINGS YOU DO.'

Have you found this joy yet?

Coz there are two kinds of it:

---INWARD JOY that comes from knowing and trusting God and HAPPINESS that comes as a result of pleasant circumstances.

Inward joy is lasting; happiness is temporary.

You see, there's a BIG difference.

True joy is far deeper than happiness; we can feel joy in spite of our deepest troubles. Happiness is temporary because it is based on external circumstances, but joy is lasting because it is based on GOD'S PRESENCE WITHIN US.

Happiness is unpredictable.

Inward joy is steady as long as we trust God.

Inward joy defeats discouragement; happiness covers it up.

Without God's presence, joy is impossible to experience.

Joy is present ONLY in God's presence. That's the truth.

And only His presence brings PEACE AND SECURITY in our hearts.

As we contemplate His daily presence, we will find contentment.

As we understand the future He has for us, we will experience joy.

Do not base your life on circumstances.

Find out the joy and benefits of a life lived in companionship with God.

Psalm 4:7

'You have filled my heart with GREATER JOY...' ❀◕ ‿ ◕❀

Pag-ibig, O pag-ibig. Masdan mo ang ginawa mo !

Hindi ko alam kung mapapa-iling ako o matatawa sa'yo.

Mahiwaga kang talaga !
Hahahahaha !

Whatever you yield yourself to, that, you become a slave to.