Answered Prayers

Verse of the day:

And all things ye shall in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Matthew 21:22

Application:

In some NIV (New International Version), it says "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

This is just amazing. I was marveled and blown away. Jesus gave us a clear and easy steps in getting what we ask for. The first thing is to ask in praying, believe that God will provide it and then lastly, receive it.

Asking through prayer is easy--- claiming and believing was actually the hard part. If you ask for something, you should be confident that God can do it. I know it's easier said than done. 

When I was young, God never failed me. Even the most selfish and petty prayers were answered. I wondered what happened as I grow up.

In Matthew 19: 14, Jesus said "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

That's when I realized what happened to me. As a child, I didn't really care so much if this or that was impossible. All I did was ask them at night in prayers, and trusted that God would give it to me, regardless how impossible it might be. As a young girl, I believed that God was too big and powerful, overflowing with goodness that nothing could ever be impossible when I asked. I believed that God loved me enough, that He had a big widescreen tv and was watching over me. When I wanted something, I just asked for it.

I never worried that it was impossible. I was confident that there's nothing my good Lord could not do for me.

But as I grow up, I realized that life wasn't easy. I realized I have to work hard for something if I want it. I still pray. But it never made me less worried. Then it suddenly hit to me why my sincerest prayers seemed to not work anymore. Here are some tips you might find helpful:

1. Pray like a child. When you want something, ask for it. You don't have to justify or defend why you want it. What I used to do was pray and tell God all my good intentions. But God sees my heart. God knows my intention. He sees my real motives. So next time you want something, just ask for it. You don't have to sugar coat it. Just ask God through prayers and believe He'll do it for you.

2. Do not bargain. I am guilty of this because I often tell God that if He'd answer my prayer, I would be a better person or I'd promise to do this and that in return. God doesn't need my promise. God doesn't ask anything in return. God doesn't need anything from me aside from one thing--- FAITH.

3. Leave up all your worries. When I was a child, when I was afraid of something, I will pray. And right after I prayed, I instantly felt good because I knew He'd answer it. I would feel good because I trust in Him. I became confident after every prayer because I knew that God would give it to me. Leave up to Him all your worries. Trust that God will do it because He loves you.

4. Be specific. "Lord, I leave up to you everything." this is the common prayer I often hear. There's nothing wrong with it. But if you want for something, you have to be specific. Tell God what it is that you want. You are having a quality time with God when you pray. You are having your most intimate moment with Him. Don't waste it by being too hesitant. Tell exactly what you want and ask for it.

5. The Joy of Receiving. Act like you already receive it after praying. Be joyful. Forget all the worries and trouble. When you pray, you don't only ask for something. You leave up to God all the negative feelings you are feeling. It could be stress, worries or fear. Be confident that God will take care of it. Go on with your life and be as joyful as possible. 

So that's about it for now. Keep the faith and be blessed!

Boykape

In My Comfort Zone

So, ang tagal ko nang hindi nagpo-post. Nakakapagod rin minsan magkwento ng hindi totoo. Nakaka-burn out promise. Ginagawa ko na ngayon ang third sequel ko kaya nakikipaghabulan taya na naman ako sa writer's block.

Last night, kachat ko yung editor ko. Ayun, kinukulit ko na naman sa omniscient subjective POV, wala ng katapusan ulit-ulit na lang yung tanong ko sa kanya! Grabe, nakakaasar na ko. Kung ako sa editor ko, hindi ko papansinin ang mga tanong nang isang makulit, aligaga at baguhang writer.

Honestly, I thought omniscient was my comfort zone. Dati kasi sulat lang ako ng sulat until I learned about the rules.

Ayun. Nagulo ang buhay ko.

Since wala na kong facebook, ang gamit ko pangchat eh yung FB ni Baba Bo. Well, dahil mga isang oras bago sya magreply, pinilit kong magsulat ulit.

Sayang. Kukulitin ko pa naman sana kung kailan iri-release ang libro ko.

Tapos napunta ko sa isang blogsite, reviewhavens.blogspot.com na nagre-review sa mga PHR/MSV pocketbooks. Ayun. Magagaling silang tao. Mahahalata mo talaga na mga batikang editor sila. May mga "K" maging critic. Kung gusto mo ng isang makatotohanang review, sa kanila ka magrequest.

Tapos ihanda mo ang sarili mo. Kumalma ka. They don't sugar coat. Saktong-sakto. Totoo lang talaga.

Kaya nabuo na ang desisyon ko. Hindi ko na kukulitin ang editor ko kung kailan ba lalabas ang book ko. Hehehe... 

Anyways, inabot ako ng 5AM kababasa lang ng mga review nila. Nakalimutan ko day off nga pala si Teteh (yaya ni Margaux) the next day. Kawawa si Baba Bo.

Hapon na the next day eh wala parin akong silbi. Para kong zombie, ayaw magfunction talaga.

Tapos nagpunta ko ng Wattpad, binasa ko yung Miusings and Umprintables ni "the legend" lola C a.k.a Camilla! Haaaayyy.. nainspire tuloy akong magdiary na parang ganto.

Lunch time. Si Baba Bo ang nagluto. Yung corn na may flower ng kalabasa tapos may pork? Hindi ko gusto yung corn, may issue ako sa mais, oh please! Pero gusto ko yung ulam na yun kasi magaling magluto si Tita Lyn (mame ko).

So excited much ako nung lunch. Nung tinikman ko, anak ng!

Parang lasang bicol express, kulang na lang eh gata!

Ayun. Nilagyan pala ng imbentor ng luya!

Hindi na ko nakakain ng maayos. 

"Bakit may luya?" tanong ko na para bang gumawa sya ng isang kahindik-hindik na krimen.

Suam na mais, tapos may luya? Asan naman ang hustisya do'n?

"Nilalagyan ba yan ng luya?" para parin niyang nalabag ang human rights by the way I sounded.

Na-offend ako!

Pinaasa ko.

"Natikman mo na si mame magluto nito?" para na syang kinder na nahuling nangopya ng teacher. 

"Oo." sagot nya, hindi nya ko tinitingnan.

"Ang sarap ng luto ni mame nito, eh!" may bigat do'n sa bagsak ko ng bawat salita.

Buti na lang, napupupu na si Margaux, so tumayo na ko. Tinulungan ko syang umire.

"1, 2, 3,

Puuuuush!"

Hindi rin lumabas pupu nya kahit ano pang emote ko.

Naisip ko na lang na okay na rin ang suam na may luya na yan sa diet ko. 

5pm nung dumating si Teteh, pinagtutulakan ko syang kumain na. Parang nasense nya na may masama akong balak, busog pa daw sya.

Muntik na kong tumambling nung kinuwento nya sa akin yung jeep adventure nya for the day. From San Jose Del Monte, sa Malolos pa sya pumunta kaya long drive talaga. Sa mga mahahabang express na jeepney sya sumasakay.

Maganda daw yung jeep na nasakyan nya. Makabida naman ang luka-luka!

May tv daw kasi, tapos horror ang palabas.

"Annabelle?" bigla ako naexcite. Gusto ko kasi yun panoorin kasi maganda daw sabi ni Plainvanillagirl sa Wattpad. Napanood namin ni Bo yung The Conjuring 1 and 2.

"Hindi. Ano ba yung Annabelle?" clueless sya. "Yun ba yung patatas?"

Natigilan ako. Naweirduhan ako kay Teteh. Ano naman kayang patatas yung sinasabi nito?

"Anong patatas?" nahihiwagaang tanong ko sa kanya. "Movie yung Annabelle. English movie."

"Ewan ko ba, uso kasi yun sa facebook ngayon, eh. Si Annabelle ba yung patatas?" konti na lang ta-tumbling na ko dito. 

"Expression lang yung patatas. Parang dati, patola naman. Sa susunod baka talong na." hindi ko alam kung bakit ine-explain ko sa kanya na parang big deal ang bagay na ito.

'Sa susunod, sana papaya naman. Para mauso ka!' gusto ko pa sana sabihin kaso iniwan na nya ko sa terrace. Si Teteh kasi eh gifted na bata. Nakakalunod.

Lakas tuloy makaselos.

"Babe, okay ba sa'yo yung fish fillet ko?" si Bo. Katatapos lang namin kainin yung uwi ni Teteh. Ganito talaga yung batang 'toh, laging may uwi sa amin kapag naglalakwatsa.

"Okay yung fish fillet mo." sabi ko.

Parang hindi naman sya satisfied sa comment ko.

Challenge ito sa akin. Feel na feel ko ang pagiging writer kaya ginamitan ko sya ng pamatay na description sa fish fillet nya. parang nobela lang.

"Parang ganito..." eto na naman ako, pakiramdam ko ang galing ko, eh. 


"Kapag may dumalaw sa atin na mahalaga sa akin, fish fillet ang ipapaluto ko sa'yo. Kapag may dumalaw sa akin na hindi ko masyadong gusto pero gusto ko magpa-impress, fish fillet parin ang ipapaluto ko sa'yo. Pero kapag ang dumalaw sa akin ay bisitang ayaw na ayaw ko," binitin ko talaga. Wala, eh... Writer, eh. "Yung niluto mo ngayon ang ihahain ko sa kanila para wag na silang bumalik kahit kailan!"

Yun. Walk out sya.

Nagtaka ko. May mali ba sa sinabi ko? Puring-puri nga ang fish fillet, eh!

"Bo..." habol naman ako. I have to admit, suam na mais lang ang hindi masarap kay Baba Bo. 


"Uy, Bo!" Kailangan ko pa ang katawan nya para mainspire ako sa bed scene ni Dave at Charlie (character ng sinusulat ko ngayon).

"Bo... sorry naman na!" habol kawawa parin ako.

Inisnab nya ko sabay sabi, "Uwi ka sa Malolos, paluto ka sa mommy mo."