Share Your World: Week 3

This sounds fun so I’m participating. It seemed this is the third week of the meme but I only found out about this today. Anyhow, here are the questions (and my answers!):

• If you could live anywhere in the world, where would that be?

I’ll choose the Philippines of course! I was born there. My mother, my sister and my brother are there. All my other relatives are there. I love the place, no matter what they say.

• What is your favorite comfort food?

Pasta, Ice cream, Pinoy desserts.

• Coffee or Tea?

Coffee.

• What is your favorite TV show of all time ie you’ve seen them all, can watch it over and over again and quote lines from it?

Hmm… I have nothing specific. Okay, “Showtime” would be one. It’s a talent show hosted by a hilarious group of guys.

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This meme is hosted by Cee of Cee’s Life Photography Blog.

The 3 Trees

Here’s a special story I’d like to share with all of you on this Sunday Christmas morning. This is shared via FB by Malinesky, a dear friend from Victoria, Australia. Original author unknown.

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Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, “Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty.”

Then the second tree said, “Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull.”

Finally the third tree said, “I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the Hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me.”

redwoodhikes.com

After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said, “This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter,” and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest.

At the second tree the woodsman said, “This looks like a strong tree. I should be able to sell it to the shipyard.” The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.

When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. One of the Woodsmen said, “I don’t need anything special from my Tree, I’ll take this one,” and he cut it down.

When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for. The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end. The third tree was cut into large pieces, and left alone in the dark.

The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams. Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time.

Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn’t think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and He stood and said “Peace” and the Storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat.

Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.

The moral of this story is that when things don’t seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him, God will give you great gifts. Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined. We don’t always know what God’s plans are for us.

We just know that His ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!

BETWEEN

Before I start, allow me to apologize that I am sharing a picture that is not mine. And so I decided not to write “Weekly Photo Challenge” before my post’s title. This is not part of the challenge, but I’d like to share this with everyone.

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(photos were taken from HERE.)

For the last few days, it was very difficult for me to watch the Filipino news on tv. Typhoon Sendong came like a thief in the night, killing more than a thousand of my fellow Filipinos while they were sleeping, early morning of December 17.

The floods went up very fast and mud went inside almost every houses in Cagayan de Oro City, Iligan City and other nearby provinces. People were caught by surprise, as their towns do not usually flood easily.

To date, the number of deaths have reached more than a thousand, some more thousands injured, lost their loved ones, lost their homes and properties – lost almost everything.

Each time I watch the evening news, my heart sinks as I watch and hear the stories – a father who lost his wife and all his children, a boy who has no where to go because all of his family members have died, and his house have been swept by the flood, a mother carrying her dead son full of mud. I saw people asking for help in the evacuation centers. There was not enough food, water and clothes – basic stuff that most of us enjoy and just take for granted. And tomorrow is Christmas.

And as I sit here in the comfort of our room, I felt so blessed. There was a huge gap BETWEEN my life and some unfortunate others. And so I don’t have a single right to complain about my life.

Allow me to share this prayer I got from Scriptorium:

Oh God  our Father:

In  faith we acknowledge Your paternal care over us, Your sons, daughters  and children. In hope we trust in Your divine providence of giving us  wisdom and courage as we face the challenges in life. In love we invoke Your help and guidance during these difficult days of death and  destruction in our dear country.

Our  is a prayer of thanksgiving for once again reminding us that ours is an  imperfect world, that heaven is not on earth, and that nature every now  and then tells us not to abuse her. Ours too is a prayer of repentance  for calling upon You when we are in need and desperation but forgetting You in favourable times and pleasing occasions. Ours as well is a prayer  of petition as we say:

Grant  eternal peace to those who lost their lives. Embrace the children who  died in their innocence. Help those who are hurt and cure those who are  sick.

Encourage  those who suffer the destruction of their homes and properties, and to  once again stand up and rebuild their future.

Bless  all those who extend their helping hands to those in need of food,  shelter and clothing, who share their time, talents and resources with  others.

Inspire  more people to be men and women for their neighbors, convinced that the  more they are for others, the taller they stand before you.

Spare  us please from other natural disasters and devastations if this be  according to Your will and for our own spiritual good and growth.

[Through Christ our Lord. Amen]

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If you are interested to help, check out this link for various ways to help. Click HERE.

Weekly Photo Challenge: SELF-PORTRAIT

The instruction for this week’s photo challenge is that one should take a picture of one’s self, however way he wants to express  himself.

Laid-back.

Dreamer.

Capturer.

Weekly Photo Challenge: CELEBRATION

Last June, I celebrated my birthday with a visit to the Divine Mercy Shrine in Marilao, Bulacan Philippines. For me, to thank the Lord for this gift of life is the best way of celebrating natal day.