'TIS THE SEASON: A Christmas Diary

One of the dates in the calendar that I always find my anticipation with is 'December 25'. Obviously, everybody knows the tradition. But I'm talking beyond this customary practice that the world does when it bangs that day. Well, it's very nice to spend the season with our families and friends. However, it's nicer to reminisce the first Noel (early modern English synonym of"Christmas") and take a fellowship with the One who truly is the reason for the celebration - #JESUS Thank God He added me these precious moments in my life - together with my #LovedOnes ;)

Dec. 20, 2015 - SFCA Christmas Party

That was a blast! The Fame Hotel was filled with jubilation and amusement! (By the way, with me on the picture is indeed a warrior of God, Ptr. Simon Abundo, my spiritual mentor). Yahoo! We won the singing and dancing competitions. But never I thought of them as contests. I just had to give my best and let God do the rest! Owe it all to Him <3
Also, I received my gift from my special someone - a diary copybook for the year 2016. I'll make it as my prayer notebook. This would be a big help for me to do the 'War Room' thing - prayer strategy! By the way, the one who received the 'Devotional Book' I gave appreciated it well. I would love to see her reading the entries daily. That book is really encouraging and promising!

Dec. 22, 2015 - Samaritan's Purse Inc.: Facilitators' Appreciation Day and Closeout Activity

After the life-changing activity done at Samar National School (SNS) last Oct. 10 regarding the D.A.R.E. (Dahil Ako'y Responsableng Estudyante) Campaign spearheaded by the Samaritan's Purse Inc., the said int'l organization surprised the facilitators with a delicate buffet served at Cafe Rosario, and token as well. Pastors also joined. The Coordinator vividly discussed the graphical representations of the result of the said activity. Truly, the campaign held did a great impact to the life of the students! #PraiseGod

These are the gifts the coordinator gave to us. 2 Lovestruck books (Red and Black; Hoping I could collect other editions!), a MUG (My Ultimate God) from PCBS and SP's calendar. Awesome! #SamaritansPurse #GodlyService #LoveFacis

Dec. 23, 2015 - My 19th Birhday! Hooray for today!

I love my birthday cake. My churchmates gave it to me as they did their surprise (and I was really surprised with a loud acclamation of 'wow!' haha) Time seems to have its way as swift as I never expect it would. But thank God for reminding me to number my days (Psalm 90:12). "I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being" (Psalm 104:33).

This was how we designed the place. It was simple yet special for me. Those balloons made me feel a bit childish (Haha!) I played Planetshaker's #LetsGo album for a lively atmosphere. The crepe papers were well-patterned. I just love them all!

A big thanks to my family, churchmates, social media friends, classmates, and above all GOD, for these moments I had that day which I will never ever forget! Love y'all! #ThankYouForTheLove <3

PS: Gotcha! Hahahaha These are my buddies, lovely servants of God! They ate well actually (especially that good-humored black-haired girl -Jesh Pacuma- carrying my nephew) Haha Thank you guys for dropping by! I loved the way you surprised me with the whipped cream cake. That was priceless! :D

Dec. 25, 2015 - MERRY CHRISTMAS! #ASaviorHasCome #JESUS

In the most ordinary of settings but most extraordinary of circumstances, a very special Baby was born. God's love was made manifest, and the potential for our relationship with Him took a whole new turn! "Don't let this time pass us by without some special moments in the presence of the One who makes it extraordinary. Thank God for His Son - His Gift too WONDERFUL for words." #JoyousChristmas #SaviorJesus

I have an extraordinary family! Before the midnight celebration, me, Mom along with my sisters and cousins prepared the buffet and made things up. We contacted and greeted our relatives who are in distant places. To better feel the atmosphere, I opened my Bible and started reading Luke 2 - the birth of Jesus. My heart was renewed at that time and touched on how God demonstrated His unconditional and endless love toward man. Then, I played the album of Christ Tomlin - 'Adore' - via Youtube. I would love to repeat the playlist of songs 'cause they're heartrending, songs that tell Christ's first coming! #ChristmasInOurHearts

Yeeey! I thank all the persons who extended their love on me. I admire these gifts! Thank you very much! I couldn't ask for more, more particularly knowing that I have #JESUS in my life. He's the Greatest Gift of all!

 "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you!" [Luke 1:28]

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests." [Luke 2:14]

"The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which we just as they had been told." [Luke 2:20]

#MerryChristmas #Diary2015 #JESUS #GreatestGift

Love, 

Jeff

I Make Sense In Using My Senses!

Journal Journey #3

'Imagery' is powerful. It adds scenery on a plain text. People tend to overlook panels that are merely painted in white. But what catches a man's eye is a wall that's splashed by a kaleidoscopic colors of painting. In such way this literary imagery works. I like the pieces Prof. Montallana gave us - the short story, the 3 varied poems and a 10-minute comic play. This activity tested my critiquing skills :D Another dimension in creative writing has been disclosed. Unlike the previous tasks we had, expressing and imagining, this one is kinda conventional. However, it didn't build walls against the freedom in expressing my reviews. In fact, it's an integration! 

Further, more realizations approached. In order for a writer to effectively penetrate a reader's heart, he or she has to add more senses to that literary work. Regardless of the customary way of writing, the message and the intention of the reader would be grasped by the reader. Well, going back to the activity, I tried reading the entries, but there's one literary piece that seemed to seize my attention. Don Nigro's work is actually inspired by Alfred Tennyson's poetry, having the same title. Nigro made a twist on it. It'd be a pleasure for me to include my critique on this blog. (P.S. Thanks to my Prof for the inspiration)

My Critique on:

‘COME INTO THE GARDEN, MAUD’

by: Don Nigro

         Don Nigro seemed to intentionally make this play a funny one. It’s comic in nature. It develops out of a phone call from a woman named ‘Phoebe’ who called John repeatedly saying that there was a cat in her garden which she emphasized to be his. Obviously, the arguments of the two made the play entertaining. But more than that, there’s an imagery a reader could find within the dialogues. The three main characters – John, Phoebe and Jill – have the spotlight. At first glance, literally, one could think that there was a cat in the garden of Phoebe. But as the conversation went on, another angle of the drama is being revealed – the “cat” to be signified as a ‘treachery’.

      Phoebe told John, “Cats are like people, don’t you think? You really might want to consider getting her fixed.” Her statement will give us an idea that there’s a profound imagery with the cat that she was arguing about. It’s a woman John slept with without Jill’s apperception. During Phoebe’s and Jill’s agreement about John’s treachery, they concluded that he must have thrown the cat out when Jill arrived and that’s how the cat went into Phoebe’s garden. A dispute led Jill to go home while leaving John behind.

       Things got even more figurative when Phoebe called John again that maybe she was mistaken about the ‘cat’ and that a very large object was moving and approaching her house. John said he couldn’t go to her ‘cause he didn’t know her address. Phoebe replied that the “thing” was banging her window, and there was a sound of a shattering glass. What could Don Nigro want to imply? Was that really a big bear from the woods? Or was it a big man who’s related with the woman pertained by Phoebe as the cat? Does the comic play deliver it literally or mean figuratively? Indeed, imagination plays an important role in making imagery. It adds imaginative visual scenery on our minds. The readers have the creative minds on making own suppositions. The dialogues give us the idea of the whole scenario. “Everything you can imagine is real,” Pablo Picasso, a renowned artist once said. The characters may denote our society too nowadays. Well, the imagery of this play is vivid and descriptive. It reveals the true intention of the author. The language is not abstract. Realist text is more often disclosed.  In other words, it portrays life as it is. Beyond its nature of being a comic, it leaves readers an image needed to be revealed through imagination.

To God be all the glory!

 Imagining...'Til Things Become Real!

Journal Journey #2

Bumper Sticker. It left me astounded to concede the fact that this small adherent stuff could change the image of an entire car! Well, the second activity we did in accord to writing creatively was a bit challenging on my part. We were asked to create our own bumper sticker and make some suppositions or brief story in relation to this. I'm a bit of being a realist when it comes to such matter, not that riveted in imagining. At first, it took me moments before yielding a story imaginatively. I, then, realized things while working on the task. I saw myself on the mirror of the future, the kind of a person that I could be, along with my 'luxurious car'. Basically, it's kinda a tough thing to include the experiences of your senses and presume in an exact way. Nevertheless, this activity was fun! It made me to be an 'international speaker' (as what my created scenario says so) even just for a moment. Everything is possible to those who believe [Mark 9:23]. But even though I'll not be able to have a car, it'll never change the fact that God has in store greater things in my life!

     

My bumper sticker goes this way: Stop! Pray First.

Often times, we tend to be carried away by the busyness of life. Travels hither and thither. Appointments seem to hold sway. And while driving your car, you forget to do this very significant communion with God - #PRAYER. It's very powerful. It changes everything. It makes the impossible possible. It'll guide you to the right path. As far as I am concerned, it's better to have bumper stickers that can lead a person, not just give information. You car is not just simple a vehicle. It could reflect your own character, your own self. Well, thanks to this kind of an activity. This will not just be a mere dream. Imaginations can be real!

“I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.” ― Albert Einstein

'In True Love'

Journal Journey #1

  Skimming through the pages of Gordon O. Martinborough's book entitled 'I Love You', my fingers unexpectedly pointed towards these three words: 'in true love'. What could it mean to me? If I am to be asked with its definition, well it's beyond reasons. Words are not enough to express. But our hearts have the language to utter so. 

I searched for true love before. I thought it kinda easy to be found. Well, I'm not just talking about 'relationships' but life matters more particularly. Material things, as I was expecting, would adequately fill that empty vessel of mine. Yet, I merely received a drop of satisfaction. Things got worse when I disregarded people's affection. I was like staying on a dark room where lights could sparingly be seen. Time passed by, my heart could no longer remain empty - it needs for more. I searched for love, but I failed. But then I realized one great truth: it wasn't me who did the first move. LOVE SEARCHED FOR ME!

If you are drowning now of confusion and doubts, there's a hand ready to rescue you - the hands of Jesus. Everybody knows Him, but only few understands His love. He demonstrated to me what's true love. He taught me how to love authentically. He commanded me to love unconditionally. For me, 'true love' could never be defined by words; it's beyond definition. But it can be reflected to the One who authored it. The only one who can satisfy your heart is the one who made it. You couldn't give what you don't have. That's why, you must first experience filling your vessel with an overflowing 'LOVE' and then you'll be able to share it to someone who needs it. Beyond the words of 'I love you', let your action says so!

I love my family.

I love my friends.

I love my studies.

I love my guitar.

I love books.

I love adventure movies.

I love travelling and photographing.

I love serving.

Are they enough? No, not yet.

Let your uttermost declaration be: 'I love the Lover of all loves!'

That's your story to tell. Let the whole world know about it!

#InTrueLove

How 'bout you? Tell me yours too!