Calm Assurances

Like my dad said, when we face adversities and trials, or in lay man's language - problems - that means one thing - we are humans. It is particularly normal for us human beings to have problems and I don't know what we'll be without them. How can a child learn to read if his parents don't push him to. I remember what one of my companions, Elder Velasquez, taught me, "Pressure makes diamonds."

We all have little, or in some cases, big struggles to face. It may be in any degree or may it be of different circumstance or nature, but the underlying fact that we do face challenges cannot be eluded in our nature as human beings, or rather, as sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father. It is part of the "grand design" we call the Plan of Salvation that we learn from our mistakes and from the challenges that we face. It is a matter of behavior and attitude that we learn to respond to these storms of life. Most importantly, having a firm, solid rock foundation will help us be still and calm in times of trouble and despair just as a 30-storey building will stand still and immovable against hard-blowing winds because of its sturdy foundation. I have proven for myself and have gained a testimony that it really is Jesus the Christ who is the rock of our salvation, a firm and "sure foundation whereon if men build, they cannot fall." Familiar scripture verse? One of my favorites. Book of Helaman 5:12 in the Book of Mormon.

Preparing for next Friday's SA class lesson, I studied the reading assignments associated with the lesson. I studied Doctrine and Covenants Sections 6, 8, 9, and 11. They're all about personal revelation and the power by which it is wrought. Recently, I myself struggled with my "inner demons" in a raging battle inside of me. Just as what the 2nd sequel to the legendary Spiderman movie's slogan portrayed, "The greatest battle lies within." I really can attest to that. Your worst enemy is yourself. Yeah, my worst enemy is myself. The only person that stands between you and your goals, may they be of eternal significance or of temporal welfare, is you. It is us who makes the choice. The adversary can only influence by tempting or enticing us. But in the end, it is still us who makes the choice. Most of the time, if we want to live a righteous life, we need to give up our worldly passions. There are choices to be made. Some choices are what we want to make. Some are totally contrary to our wants. That's the kind of battle I am fighting against myself. But as I studied those sections I mentioned above, I was reassured that Heavenly Father does love me. My appreciation for the Atonement of Jesus Christ has greatly increased and my longing for its healing power has dramatically evolved into a daily yearning and constant need that I cannot live without it. It is the power of the Atonement that I hold on to right now and if I let it slip, I know I will be miserable.

Oh how grateful I am for the words of the Lord which really are "quick and powerful". No other words can heal my heart except those of the Lord's may it be from Him directly or by the words of His servants.

I hope, and there really is hope, that each human being will recognize the hands of his or her Maker at work. That we are never alone. That the Man upstairs is and will always be watching.

Sometimes in times of despair I ask the Lord, "Why hast thou left me?" but at the moment I do these words of calm assurance from the Lord tells me,"My son, I never have left you."

Longing for My Home

It has been a while since I last entered the House of the Lord in Manila, Philippines. I used to go there every month for two years back when I was assigned as a full-time missionary in the Philippines Quezon City Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I served from May 2006-May 2008. Those were best times when I was learning a lot of life's lessons through rough times and by being more dependent on Deity.

After 8 months, here I am now in Doha, Qatar. It is a different environment here given that it's in the Middle East. Missionary work is prohibited in this side of the world. I am grateful the government allowed disclosed Church meetings. Even though we meet as a ward, still it is a different feeling not seeing missionaries on the streets and most especially, for me, not having a Temple around.

The Temple was my abode when I felt pressure upon me. Each time I step inside, I immediately feel calm assurances that all will be well, that I will be able to overcome the challenges that I faced. It was as if the presence of the Lord was always there that answers to prayers came quickly, personal revelation came instantaneously, that the moment you walk out, you feel the burden of the world pressed upon you again. It was a place of safety for me. Whenever I was inside, literally, all of my worldly cares left me and I could only think of exaltation and the Plan of Salvation.

Given our circumstances here in Qatar, I long for my peaceful abode set on an hill, which I know is the abode of my Savior Himself. His presence is undeniably present there. I can relate to the last verse of Isaac Watt's words:

The sure provisions of my God
Attend me all my days.
O may Thy house be my abode,
And all my work be praise.

There would I find a settled rest,
While others go and come.
No more a stranger nor a guest,
But like a child at home.

That is my favorite song. It's entitled, "My Shepherd Will Supply My Need." Surely I have found a settled rest in His abode. While others go and come, I seek spiritual enrichment and enlightenment, just like a weary child who has just arrived home seeking for nurturing care from a parent.

I love being the Temple! 8 months of not being able to enter there seems like an eternity to me. I cannot wait for my next visit to the Temple, wherever it may be...

The Best Steak Ever!

Yes, you are right, I was at home the whole day! Hahaha... But guess what, I accomplished something! Yipee! Mom had me try a recipe. It's from "Cooking Light" magazine. It's Sizzling Steak! We had a couple of ribeye steaks in the fridge so I tried it out on one. And it was surprisingly delicious! I had to substitute Cranberry juice over red wine. Of course we don't drink red wine. 

So I wanna share with you my recipe. This is for my future reference as well. Hahaha...

Marinade:

• 1/3 c. Cranberry Juice (or if you prefer, dry red wine)
• 1/4 c. beef broth (what I did was boiled water and added Knorr Beef Cubes)
• 2 tbsp. Balsamic vinegar (pref. Italian, Modena)
• 1 tbsp. brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp. coarsely ground black pepper
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 4 (4-ounce) beef tenderloin steaks (1 inch thick) (I used one of our almost one-inch thick New Zealand ribeye steaks)

Marinate it for 2 hours in the fridge. I marinated my steak in a zip-top bag. Turn it occasionally. When about to cook, rub with coarsely ground black pepper and salt. Fry each side on butter until degree of desired wellness is achieved. Then voila! You'll have a juicy and flavorful steak! The best I had so far. It's better than Chili's. hahahaha.. My family loved it! So try it out. It's so delicious and so juicy. Yummy! Hahahaha... 

Yeah, I do love cooking and baking. Mom said I could be a chef someday. I don't want to. Food is my weakness. If I indulge, heaven knows how obese I could get!

So yeah, that's one accomplishment for today. Mom loved it. It was just a test really for lunch today. So she had me buy two more ribeye steaks at Lulu Hypermarket for QAR 31.84. Just don't convert it to pesos. Hahaha.. Then I marinated it again and cooked steak for dinner. The whole family loved it!

O di ba? Pwede na ba? Hahaha...

"(Untitled)"

I was just at home the whole day through. But I came up with a good idea!

I was practicing Sonatina by Clementi today and I just played with the electric piano and decided to compose a song. It wasn't the first attempt to compose and actually write music for a song I have mind. Many times did I attempt to do that but I didn't have an inspiration. But today was a toally different story. I was inspired. Well, I am inspired. It's just the turnout of recent events, realizations, and further understanding of my nature that really, in some way and in some degree, has partiall inspired me. And so, I spent most of the afternoon digitally writing the music I had in my head. 

I tentatively titled it, "Alone". I am still thinking of a theme for the music for its lyrics. I am excited. It's the first time I really dared to finish a song and actually be serious about it. Mom heard me playing the intro on the electric keyboard and she liked it. Dad liked it too. He heard most of the music I already wrote on Sibelius.

So that's what new today. I am ahppy I have a little bit of an accomplishment today. It's going to be fun! Of course I will post my music on Facebook and share it to everyone else. Hehehehe...

My Shepherd Will Supply My Need

I love Candara font. Hahahaha...


I just want to share with you my my favorite song. It's by Isaac Watts. I particularly love the lyrics and the perfect arrangement of this song is by Mack Wilberg. 

My Shepherd will supply my need:
Jehovah is His Name;
In pastures fresh He makes me feed,
Beside the living stream.

He brings my wandering spirit back
When I forsake His ways,
And leads me, for His mercy's sake,
In paths of truth and grace.


When I walk through the shades of death,
Thy presence is my stay;
A word of Thy supporting breath
Drives all my fears away.

Thy hand, in sight of all my foes,
Doth still my table spread;
My cup with blessings overflows,
Thine oil anoints my head.


The sure provisions of my God
Attend me all my days;
O may Thy house be my abode,
And all my work be praise!


There would I find a settled rest,
While others go and come;
No more a stranger, nor a guest,
But like a child at home.



I love pondering on the message of this song. It touches my heart all the time and reminds me of how dependent I am on the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I especially love the first chorus, "He brings my wandering spirit back when I forsake His ways." I am always assured of the Savior's love and of His tender mercies as I reflect on the song's message.


In my succeeding blogs, I might post my own rendition of the song. I hope you like the lyrics and that it may enlighten you as it had enlighten me.

Time Heals

Well, another day of blogging! Hahahaha...

I was just listening to one of my favorite songs, "Memory Lane" from EFY 2000. I love the lyrics of the song. Sometimes I really am stuck in memory lane, just wishing that today can be yesterday, relive the moments when I was back in Quezon City; Kalookan; San Jose del Monte, Bulacan; Tabang, Plaridel, Bualcan; and Antipolo. Those were great times! I went through rough times but then led me to the right times. The negative becomes positive. I have learned to transform myself from being pessimistic to being optimistic. I had learned many things I never knew before, skills that helped me cope up with dealing with other people, and especially with someone you are with 24/7! It was such a great experience.

At many points in our lives we meet a lot of people, some we really get along with, share interests and hobbies with, some friends you really can relate to. You share many happy moments and some sad moments as well borne by conflicts, inflicted by each one's unique weaknesses. Yet that's where your friendship is tested. Most of the time, humility and understanding is the key to solving problems. Then as the hands of the clock rotate for hundreds of times, the moment to separate ways come. And it sometimes hurts. 

I am a very emotional person and I really love my friends. I love being with my friends. It's like having a really big extended family. And then when the time comes to separate with them, I really weep. But it's just a temporary sorrow that I experience because as time goes by, I learn to be more independent. I have learned that people in our lives really do come and go. That's when I learned about Facebook. It's a great tool to keep in touch with friends from around the globe! It's amazing. I am happy I can keep in touch with my friends. Blessings of technology.

Sometimes I really do long for my friends to be around me especially when I am bored here at home. Imagine, I'm just inside the house 24/7! How lame is that? Hahahaha... Trust me, I don't like it and I wanna get out of here. I guess I learn new things still while I am alone.

I just wanna say in conclusion that I really love my Father in Heaven. He's just always there. When I am alone at home and I have no one to talk to, I can always talk to Him in prayer. And He teaches me more about myself and about my purpose here on earth as I reflect on it more. I know He lives and that Jesus Christ does live, too. 

Windows Live Writer

This is kind of cool. I am using Windows Live Writer to edit my Blogspot.com blog. Hehehehehe… Awesome. I really will be writing more in my blog.

Yeah, it is like an online journal, huh? It’s cool. Hahahaha….

Well, see ya tomorrow!

HMmm....

Does this work? Hehehe...

Developing Talents

Well, here I go blogging again. I sure am going to get the hang of it.

As usual, I am just at home. I was mostly alone today at home.Yeah, Home Alone. Boring? Yeah... to death!! It's kind of sick just staying here in the house figuring out things to do. But hey, of course I found myself useful when I decided and actually committed myself to practice Sonatinas and Sonatas by Clementi, Beethoven, and Bach. I thought of myself as a stagnant-learner when it comes to playing the piano. That's what I first thought of myself when I dared play and master Beethoven's most famous Fur Elise. At first, I simply thought I couldn't do it. It was not long until I found out that I could do it! I have finally mastered the piece. I thought I'd never get through the fast and tricky parts. Mind you, Fur Elise is not that really hard, but to me it seems like it's super hard. Hahahaha... So anyway, the point is, I did it! I firmly believe that anyone can achieve his or her potential if he or she puts his or her mind and heart into it. That's what I learned from President Gordon B. Hinckley. He was the 13th President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The so-called Mormons. Yes, I am a Latter-day Saint and I am truly grateful that the words of our Church leaders inspired me to become optimistic.

Yeah, so if there's something that you have difficulty doing, you can do it! Just focus ad believe that you are a son or a daughter of our Father in Heaven with great potentials! We can all excel in our chosen field or career as we stay optimistic and believing, having faith in our Father in Heaven. In the first place, He created us! And I assure you, we are not a waste but a grand creation.

I kinda love this now... writing my thoughts. I easily get tired when I write. And to think, I am sometimes a prefectionist! When I write in my journal, I should be using my favorite pens. Otherwise, I wouldn't write at all! hahaha.. Sounds silly, huh? But that's me. :D I love pens!

So yeah, I practiced several times today and I am close to mastering Clementi's Sonatina (Op.36 No.1). I am not a piano expert so I am learning what I can to become one, I hope. :D It's a fun piece and it's my current favorite. Next in line, I would want to perfect Pachelbel's Canon in D. I also practiced Mack Wilberg's arrangement of Isaac Watts's "My Shepherd Will Supply My Need". I love that song! It moistens my eyes every time I listen to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's rendition of the song. I can just relate to the words of the song. It's heavenly. I also ra through my Suzuki Book N0. 2. I miss Mrs. Jamandre! She was my piano teacher when I was in college - perhaps the only time I took professional piano lessons. I started playing at age 9.Most of my knowledge and skills came from self-studying. I just love music! Music is my life! Take away my music, I'll be miserable!

So anyhow. Today was of course boring at some hours. But I just find my little classical rehearsal productive. Aside from that I also attempted to watch "Get Smart" and "Eagle Eye". Yeah, I do love movies! I'm a big fan of motion pictures. Literally. The motion pictures themselves. The art of cinematography. :D

This is fun! I'll post another blog again tomorrow. I wonder if Facebook has an app that can link to my blog. :D Hahahaha... Well have a good night... errr... day.