Looking up the sky
searching for God still,
unmindful of the flowers blooming,
and birds sweetly singing

Under the blanket of starry night
still I was looking
calmly falling to sleep
without finding anything

I was looking for God
in every place I see
without even realizing
that He is always near me

————————-
Roy
November 19, 1999
4:19 PM
Subic, Olongapo
Philippines

God exists

A man went to a barber shop to have his hair and his beard cut as always.

He started to have a good conversation with the barber who attended him. They talked about so many things and various subjects.

Suddenly, they touched the subject of God.

The barber said: “Look man, I don’t believe that God exists as you say so.”

“Why do you say that?” Asked the client.

“Well, it’s so easy, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God does not exist. Oh, tell me, if God existed, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be no suffering nor pain. I can’t think of a God who permits all of
these things.”

The client stopped for a moment thinking but he didn’t want to respond so as to prevent an argument.

The barber finished his job and the client went out of the shop. Just after he left the barber shop he saw a man in the street with a long hair and beard (it seems that it had been a long time since he had his cut and he looked so untidy).

Then the client again entered the barber shop and he said to the barber: “Know what? Barbers do not exist.”

“How come they don’t exist?” asked the barber. “Well I am here and I am a barber.”

“No!” the client exclaimed. “They don’t exist because if they did there would be no people with long hair and beard like that man who walks in the street.”

“Ah, barbers do exist, what happens is that people do not come to me.”

“Exactly!” affirmed the client. “That’s the point. God does exist, what happens is people don’t go to Him and do not look for Him that’s why there’s so much pain and suffering in the world.”

Still, it’s always a delight to watch the young Connie Talbot as she was singing in the show Britain Got Talent.

Here she is in the finals singing Over The Rainbow

Lovely, isn’t it.

And I found another video where she sings You Raise Me Up in a Taiwan televison… and this time, she sang with another child inspiration - a young girl accompanying her on the piano as she sings.

I hope you like these two videos.

Two Little Boys Named Chris
by Delores Lacy
(from a 6th Bowl of Chicken Soup of the Soul)

When my firstborn child, Christian (Chris), was a little over three years old, he was diagnosed with cancer.

After two to three years of treatment and several surgeries, it became apparent that his learning abilities had degenerated. With the help of Cancer Institute personnel, we were able to get Chris into a special-education class in a local school.

His teacher soon realized there was a problem in identifying two little boys in the class named Chris. Every time she called the name Chris, both boys answered.

So she decided to ask each one what his mother called him at home. The other boy answered, “Chris,” and my son answered, “Sweetheart.”

If in your heart, you find it hard
To forgive someone who hurt you in the past,
Don’t carry the burden, don’t hold on to the pain,
Let go and let God

If your heart is weary and your burden is heavy,
And no one is beside you to make it easy,
Offer it all to Our Father who never turn His back
Let go and let God

For even the birds that fly are not bothered,
Where they will eat or where to rest their wings,
Because they know they will not be forsaken,
They have let go and let God

What then do you think of us His sons and daughters?
Whom He loves so much, He gave up his own life
If you haven’t believe yet, maybe now is the time
To let go… and let God

—————————————————-
Roy
January 14, 1998
11:00 AM
Balanga, Bataan
Philippines

Walk on water, as if on land,
You will not sink, you will be fine,
E’en the storm may blow a wind so strong,
And the sea my raise a tide so high,
So long as your heart is calm.

Walk on water and you will see
How great a person you can be
Through the tides of trials that blocked your path
And the winds of troubles that push you back
A great hero from you will shine

If clouds of uncertaintees darkenned your path,
And rains of frustrations fall on your heart,
Hold on for a while, but never give up.
Then keep on going, never look back,
Just keep that faith in your heart.

Walk on water, despite the storm,
Keep your heart pure, your will be strong
Be great the threat that faces you
Your great faith will help you come through
’til you reach the glorious shore.

—————————————–
Roy dela Cruz
August 10, 1989
Manila, Philippines

“What majestic trees!”
“What powerful rivers!”
“What beautiful animals!”

As he was walking alongside the river, he heard a rustling in the bushes behind him. He turned to look. He saw a 7-foot grizzly charge towards him.

He ran as fast as he could up the path. He looked over his shoulder and saw that the bear was closing in on him. He looked over his shoulder again, and the bear was even closer.

He tripped and fell on the ground. He rolled over to pick himself up but saw that the bear was right on top of him, reaching for him with his left paw and raising his right paw to strike him.

At that instant the Atheist cried out, “Oh my God!!!”

Time Stopped. The bear froze. The forest was silent.

As a bright light shone upon the man, a voice came out of the sky:

“You deny my existence for all these years, teach others I don’t exist and even credit creation to cosmic accident. Do you expect me to help you out of this predicament? Am I to count you as a believer?”

The atheist looked directly into the light, “It would be hypocritical of me to suddenly ask You to treat me as a Christian now, but perhaps You could make the BEAR a Christian?”

“Very well,” said the voice.

The light went out. The sounds of the forest resumed.

And the bear dropped his right paw, brought both paws together, bowed his head and spoke:

“Lord bless this food, which I am about to receive from thy bounty through Christ our Lord, Amen.”

Hope you like it.

I See You Lord

Lyrics for the song

I See You Lord
by Aiza Seguerra

I’m so blessed my Lord
I can see you
In all the lovely things
So fine and true
I see you in the beauty
Of the flowers and the rain
I see you between the lines
Of a sweet refrain

I’m so blessed my Lord
I can see you
Even when I’m lonely and in pain
I see you in the beauty of the stars at night
I see you in my life
I feel alright

I see you Lord
In sorrow and in happiness
I see you in the glory
Of sweet success
I see you Lord
Every hour, everyday
I can see you Lord
Whenever I pray

I’m so blessed my Lord
I can see you
In the smile of a baby
Sweet and true
I can see you in the eyes
Of my very best friends
I see you in these bonds
Just like your love that never ends

I see you Lord
In sorrow and in happiness
I see you in the glory
Of sweet success
I see you Lord
Every hour, everyday
I can see you Lord
Whenever I pray

I see you Lord
In sorrow and in happiness
I see you in the glory
Of sweet success
I see you Lord
Every hour, everyday
I can see you Lord
Whenever I pray

I pray…
I can see you Lord
Whenever I pray…

I see you Lord…

End of Story

Now, here is another story.

One day, Daddy God created you. He loved you so much that you became the apple of His eye.

One time, he decided to let you go on your own and see what you will do. Sadly, you made one bad decision after another that you slowly drifted away from Him. You kept on sinning and sinning as you continued to walk away from Him. Daddy God cried so hard be He lost you, His prized possession.

One day, while Daddy God was walking along town, he saw YOU, right at the window. The shop owenr, satan, however would not want to give you back to Daddy God, your original owner and creator. They went into a negotiation, until finally satan demanded a price.

This was the price: Jesus Christ has to die on the cross as payment for you. Daddy God, because of His love, said yes to this demand and have you back.

The truth is, you were destined for hell. But because of Jesus Christ, you were brought out of the hands satan. In reality, it is our sins that nailed Jesus on the cross.

That’s why, whenever we choose to sin, Jesus cries and weeps for you. He says to Himself, “My child, whom I gave up my life for, is hurting me once again.”

Taken from the book A Date with One by Ru dela Torre

I was born in a secluded village on a mountain. Day by day, my parents plowed the yellow dry soil with their backs towards the sky.

I have a brother who is 3 years younger than me.

I wanted to buy a handkerchief, which all girls around me seemed to have. So, one day I stole 50 cents from my father’s drawer. Father had discovered about the stolen money right away.

He made me and my younger brother kneel against the wall as he held a bamboo stick in his hand.

“Who stole the money?” he asked.

I was stunned, too afraid to talk. Neither of us admitted to the fault, so he said, “Fine, if nobody wants to admit, you two should be beaten!” He lifted up the bamboo stick.

Suddenly, my younger brother gripped father’s hand and said,” Dad, I was the one who did it!”

The long stick smacked my brother’s back repeatedly. Father was so angry that he kept on whipping my brother until he lost his breath.

After that, he sat down on our stone bed and scolded my brother, “You have learned to steal from your own house now. What other embarrassing things will you be possibly doing in the future? You
should be beaten to death, you shameless thief!”

That night, my mother and I hugged my brother. His body was full of wounds from the beating but he never shed a single tear.

In the middle of the night, all of sudden, I cried out loudly. My brother covered my mouth with his little hand and said, “Sis, now don’t cry anymore. Everything has happened.”

I still hate myself for not having enough courage to admit what I did.

Years gone by, but the incident still seemed like it just happened yesterday… I will never forget my brother’s expression when he protected me.

That year, my brother was 8 years old and I was 11 years old.

When my brother was in his last year of secondary school, he was accepted in an upper secondary school in the central. At the same time, I was accepted into a university in the province.

That night, father squatted in the yard, smoking, packet by packet.

I could hear him ask my mother, “Both of our children, they have good results? Very good results?”

Mother wiped off her tears and sighed, “What is the use? How can we possibly finance both of them?”

At that time, my brother walked out, he stood in front of father and said, “Dad, I don’t want to continue my studies anymore, I have read enough books.”

Father swung his hand and slapped my brother on his face. “Why do you have a spirit so damn weak? Even if it means I have to beg for money on the streets, I will send you two to school until you have
both finished your studies.”

And then, he started to knock on every house in the village to borrow money.

I stuck out my hand as gently as I can to my brother’s swollen face, and told him, “A boy has to continue his studies; If not, he will not be able to overcome this poverty we are experiencing. ”

I, on the other hand, had decided to further my studies at the university.

Nobody knew that on the next day, before dawn, my brother left the house with a few pieces of worn-out clothes and a few dry beans. He sneaked to my side of the bed and left a note on my pillow; “Sis, getting into a university is not easy. I will go find a job and I will send money to you.”

I held the note while sitting on my bed, and cried until I lost my voice.

That year, my brother was 17 years old; I was 20 years old…

With the money father borrowed from the whole village, and the money my brother earned from carrying cement on his back at a construction site, finally, I managed to get to the third year of my studies in the university.

One day, while I was studying in my room, my roommate came in and told me,”There’s a villager waiting for you outside!”

Why would there be a villager looking for me? I walked out, and I saw my brother from afar. His whole body was covered with dirt, dust, cement and sand. I asked him, “Why did you not tell my roommate that you are my brother?”

He replied with a smile, “Look at my appearance. What will they think if they would know that I am your brother? Won’t they laugh at you?”

I felt so touched, and tears filled my eyes. I swept away dirt and dust from my brother’s body. And told him with a lump in my throat, “I don’t care what people would say! You are my brother no matter what your appearance is!”

From his pocket, he took out a butterfly hair clip. He put it on my hair and said, “I saw all the girls in town are wearing it. So, I think you should also have one.”

I could not hold back myself anymore. I pulled my brother into my arms and cried.

That year, my brother was 20 years old; I was 23 years old…

I noticed that the broken window was repaired the first time I brought my boyfriend home. The house was scrubbed cleaned.

After my boyfriend left, I danced like a little girl in front of my mother, “Mom, you didn’t have to spend so much time cleaning the house!” But she told me with a smile, “It was your brother who went home early to clean the house. Didn’t you see the wound on his hand? He hurt his hand while he was replacing the window.”

I went into my brother’s bedroom. Looking at his thin face, I felt like there are hundreds of needle pricked in my heart.

I applied some ointment on his wound and put a bandage on it, “Does it hurt? ” I asked him.

“No, it doesn’t hurt. You know, when at the construction site, stones keep falling on my feet. Even that could not stop me from working.”

In the middle of the sentence, he stopped. I turned my back on him and tears rolled down my face.

That year, my brother was 23 years old; I was 26 years old…

After I got married, I lived in the city. Many times my husband invited my parents to come and live with us, but they didn’t want.

They said, once they left the village, they wouldn’t know what to do. My brother agreed with them. He said, “Sis, you just take care of your parents-in-law. I will take care of mom and dad here.”

My husband became the director of his factory. We asked my brother to accept the offer of being the manager in the maintenance department. But my brother rejected the offer. He insisted on working as a repairman instead for a start.

One day, my brother was on the top of a ladder repairing a cable, when he got electrocuted, and was sent to the hospital.

My husband and I visited him at the hospital. Looking at the white gypsum on his leg, I grumbled, “Why did you reject the offer of being a manager? Managers won’t do something dangerous like that. Now look at you, you are suffering from a serious injury. Why didn’t you just listen to us?”

With a serious expression on his face, he defended his decision, “Think of brother-in-law. He just became the director, and I being uneducated, and would become a manager, what kind of rumors would fly around?”

My husband’s eyes filled up with tears, and then I said, “But you lack in education only because of me!”

“Why do you talk about the past?” he said and then he held my hand.

That year, he was 26 years old and I was 29 years old.

My brother was 30 years old when he married a farmer girl from the village. During the wedding reception, the master of ceremonies asked him, “Who is the one person you respect and love the most?”

Without even taking a time to think, he answered, “My sister.”

He continued by telling a story I could not even remember.

“When I was in primary school, the school was in a different village. Everyday, my sister and I would walk for 2 hours to school and back home. One day, I lost the other pair of my gloves. My sister gave me one of hers. She wore only one glove and she had to walk far. When we got home, her hands were trembling because of the cold weather that she could not even hold her chopsticks. From that day on, I swore that as long as I live, I would take care of my sister and will always be good to her.”

Applause filled up the room. All guests turned their attention to me. I found it hard to speak, “In my whole life, the one I would like to thank most is my brother.”

And in this happy occasion, in front of the crowd, tears were rolling down my face again.

-Love and care for the one you love every single day of your life. You may think what you did is just a small deed, but to that someone, it may mean a lot.