Of Mice and Men - The Tale of Remy & friends

Tukutuk tukutuk tukutuk..



It's 2 a.m...I'm supposed to be asleep but the irritating sound woke me up in the middle of the night. I actually thought I was only dreaming and the sound is a part of the dream. I opened my eyes and there "he" with his "waxed" side was nibbling on my coffee stick.


Oh men! "he's" at it again!!!


Yes again..this is not the first time Remy (the mouse as we fondly call it) feasted on my food and Florie's food and Ate Evzz food..and.."he" is not the first Remy.."he's actually Remy III...to give you and brief recap on the Remy thingy in our house let me tell you how the first 2 Remy's were discovered and how "they" got exterminated (haha)

REMY I - DISCOVERY:
Discovered when "he" munched on Ate Evzz Choco Flakes, when
"he" feasted on Florie's biscuits, when "he" muched on my Crimson
Seedless grapes from Papito, and when "he" ate Teacher's chocolate
and a bunch of other stuff.
CAUSE OF DEATH:
Ate Evzz expect konking using a "tabo".

REMY II - DISCOVERY:
Like Remy I, "he" ate a bunch of our stuff.
DEATH:
My discovery of the STICKY FLY PAPER caused the end of poor Remy 2.
I sentenced "him" to death and prophecied "HINDI KA NA SISIKATAN NG ARAW."
By putting 4 traps within our house and sticking "his" favorite Goldilocks mamon
at the middle of the STICKY FLY PAPER, Florie's trap caught poor Remy 2.
Another victory for the Pretty Ladies.

That was tragic death of the 2 Remy's that once existed in our house.

Remy III is a warrior..a survivor...he sought vengeance for his two fallen comrades. In retaliation to what we did, he raided my grocery..my noodles, my coffee, my biscuits and my precious Seedless Crimson grapes..he can eat all my stuff but not my precious grapes! Remy III also ate Florie's Stock of fish feed ("he" must be really hungry).

We used the STICKY FLY PAPER to catch "him" but we only found tiny stands of "fur" stuck to the NOT SO STICK FLY PAPER. And so "he" continued with his being a tiny pest..eating our stuff...

Afer reaching the tipping point, we decided to put an end to this circus. We used our STICKY FLY PAPER and put bits of meatballs at the center to catch Remy III attention. We went on to work and got home only to find out that he manged to squiggle "his" now hairless body our of the sticky trap we had for "him". So that explains his waxed side, the white patch on his side caused by risking his freedom to eat the food at the middle. Disappointed, we were close to quitting.

The next afternoon, my rommie Trina sent me a text message that she deserves a proze for what she has done. I thought it was just one of her usual fairygod roommate stint (she actually fixes my bed and my stuff when she senses the aura of my being my old self).

When I got home, Florie tried to tell me something but i said later...
I opened my room, Trina was sitteng on her bed..smiling..
I checked my cabinet ---- still unimaginable..
I checked my shoes ---- still scattered on the floor..
My bags ---- still dumped in the cabinet...

I looked sideways and saw the NOT SO STICKY FLY PAPER gone...
My eyes widened..
"Is Remy...???"
Trina smiled and nodded...
I leaped and shieked with joy at the victory...
She whacked Remy III to unconsciousness with her Plant slippers when she saw the poor mouse stuck to the NOT SO STICKY FLY PAPER...
Ate Evzz actually took a picture using Florie's digital camera but the image is too gross to post here.

And so Remy III is gone...

SCORE:
Pretty Ladies: 3 points
Remy & friends: 0

FIN

I had to borrow the title of John Steinbeck's well-known book "Of Mice and Men" for this blog.

Crying Out

“Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us.”

Psalm 62:8

I need a break, I desperately need one...
The hustle and the bustle of my so-called-life has left me empty...
Dry?
More like parched
Tired?
Dead tired actually
Remember the 4 spokes of the Christian's Life?
Yeah I do..but right now, I'm a flat tire..

The Race

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” Hebrews 12:1

In our town, there’s a very prestigious race where only the chosen few are invited to join. The organizers and sponsors are not to look down at because their reputation for being strict and their high standards cannot be swayed. The organizer started calling the prominent people in our town, people who are regarded in their field of expertise…some are teachers, some are businessmen, some are managers, some are consultants…prominent people coming from various walks of life. I wanted so much to be part of the race, not for fame, not for the prize..but with the ultimate goal in mind---to make my Father proud. The campaign for the most prestigious race was in full blast, but I still wasn’t invited. Then came the last day of invitation. Still no call. I heard it was presented to the major sponsors and organizers when they decided to disqualify one participant in the ladies category. They said the lady is overqualified and should be one of the organizers. Upon hearing the news, I was ecstatic! I got all excited and I got down on my knees, crying, praying..praying it would be me..i promised my Father I would be the bestest runner in the whole wide world and a ton of other promises I could think of! Days passed..some friends told me I was being considered to be the replacement..but there was no confirmations to the heresays..until that blessed day...ohh that blessed Sunday when it was confirmed and was welcomed. I figured my Father did something to influence the decision, He must have whispered to the ear of the organizers and said “Jinsel’s good..I think she is the best candidate.”

And so, the race started, I started god, but I did not see a small rock in the track..i fell..but I stood up and ran like hell..i fell again..this time I hurt myself and could not get up that easily..another one of those small rocks caused my fall. “Why didn’t they clear the path before the race?!?” I saw blood on my knees and scratches on my elbows. I stood up, tried to run but the wounds hurt and I think I sprained an ankle. I pretended to be okay but I fell..facedown. The other runners are now way ahead of me now. What if I just quit..just slip away from the track and disappear? I was about to walk away but I heard my Father’s encouraging voice saying,
“Stand up my child, stand up.”
“But I’m hurt. I’m weak. I can’t do it anymore Father,” then I burst into tears.
“You can do it my child. Let me help you get up.” He picked me up and wiped away my tears and said, “Go…” I looked Him in the eyes. He nodded. I ran, not as fast as the other runners but I will finish this race and make my Father proud.

Being cut-off...

I am the vine, you are the branches, if a man remains in me and I in him he will bear much fruit, apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 (NIV)

Early this morning the communication line(s) of 23 branches was cut off due to a cut off fiber optic connection at Bayugan, Agusan del Sur and Quezon, Bukidnon was cut due to certain incidents. This caused a burst of energetic activity for those support units in the bank until all connections were up. During the time the connections were down made me realize we (along with our operations) are at the mercy of the telecommunication providers of the bank. Without them it is hard (closer to impossible) to continue operations.

I am like that too.

Apart from God, I am nothing.

If I continue to live my life away from God, destruction is just around the bend.

So that is why suddenly I feel dry, powerless, and so off tangent...

Truly God's presence in my life is determined on how I respond to Him...I know I will find Him if I seek Him with all my heart (Jer. 29:13)...where is the confidence coming from? well..because He said so..

3.07

1 Corinthians 13 (The Message)
1 Corinthians 13 The Way of Love

1 If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. 2If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing.

3-7If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up.

Love cares more for others than for self.

Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.

Love doesn't strut,

Doesn't have a swelled head,

Doesn't force itself on others,

Isn't always "me first,"

Doesn't fly off the handle,

Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,

Doesn't revel when others grovel,

Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,

Puts up with anything,

Trusts God always,

Always looks for the best,

Never looks back,

But keeps going to the end.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Let's see how well i fared in this exam:

Scoring System: 1 highest, 5 failure

My Score

Love never gives up. 3
Love cares more for others than for self. 4
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. 3
Love doesn't strut 3
Doesn't have a swelled head 4
Doesn't force itself on others 2
Isn't always "me first," 5
Doesn't fly off the handle 4
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others 4
Doesn't revel when others grovel 2
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth 2
Puts up with anything 3
Trusts God always 2
Always looks for the best 2
Never looks back,But keeps going to the end. 4

TOTAL SCORE 46 / 15

GRADE 3.07

EQUIVALENT FAILED - TO BE ENROLLED THIS SEMESTER

Jinsel: So near yet so far..please be patient with me..God is not finished with me yet. I am a work in progress. Fine fine I'm making excuses...sigh..hope i pass this test the next time.

A New Do for a New ME

For most of the people i know, getting a drastic haircut means something...it could mean rebellion for some, an outward manifestation of newly gained independence, a new look..
Well, i got a haircut not just to counter the effects of the heat wave that is sweeping Davao City by storm (the answer i give anyone who asks me why i cut my hair to avoid the chain of questions if i tell them the sysbolism of the New Do), i got a most needed haircut to symbolically shout out that i have decided to really have a New Life. For me it means cutting off the OLD ME along with the OLD WAYS and the OLD THOUGHTS. It means a NEW LIFE, NEW WAYS, NEW THOUGHTS, NEW WAY OF LIVING, DEEPER FAITH, STRONGER CONVICTIONS, a STRONGER WILL...a NEW ME.

Drifting Away

Tired
Stressed out
Weak

These three words best describe my physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual status right now. The past week went by in a daze. I can't even think straight right now. I can't even organize my thoughts and put them into writing..I hate this feeling..it leaves me in the middle of nowhere..i tried to do what i had to do..but i failed..i failed..i hate this feeling..i know..i'm drifting away...i wish i can sleep and wake up feeling light and reconciled..

Picking up the Pieces

It all started last September 2008, when i was chosen to be part of the G12 Ladies Network. I was given the opportunity to lead ladies and mentor them. I thought it was easy..I mean my G12 leader, Ate Irene, did it so with much confidence, with so much ease..she lead our cell group without sweat! Then came my turn..i was so excited for our first meeting..it was okay..but it didn't turn out the way i wanted to. Then it all came crumbling down..the flocks were scaterred and i don't know what to do. I got discouraged and even thought of giving it all up. Boy it was hard..i got tired..and blamed it all on the ladies..their weaknesses..their pride..their unavailability..their unwillingness..their lack of commitment and conviction..then they were gone.

I must admit it took a while before the smoke all cleared up and i was left alone, kneeling, crying before my God. Asking for forgiveness and surrendering all i am holding on so dearly..everthing was taken away because of my self-centeredness..my pride, my unyielding spirit..it was all about me..and my lack of HIM.

I surrendered. Now I'm picking up the pieces..they are now coming back slowly..others are now being added..

Lord, change me, mold me..use me..help me as i pick up the pieces...I am living under your grace..I am yours..all yours..

Resolutions?!?!

Looking back in the past year, i am now made painfully aware of the countless times i failed my God. Just like when the Lord Jesus asked Peter, the same question is posed for me..:"Jinsel, do you love me?" I can enumerate everything i need to do to LOVE God...RESOLUTIONS! It didn't work last year..or the year before that..God doesn't need my promises to try harder this year. There is just one thing the Lord asks of me..LOVE HIM. If i truly love God, i will serve him in the quality that He desires and deserves....no more mediocrity nor hypocrisy nor jealousy nor competition,,,hence, excellence, genuine brotherly/sisterly love, genuince appreciation and co-laborship should rule..This year is all about LOVE LOVE LOVE !!! Love in every angle...in every aspect...Mark 12:30 " LOVE the Lord your God with ALL your heart and with ALL your soul and with ALL your mind and with ALL your STRENGTH."LOVE LOVE LOVE...