Day 2: Describe a Moment or a Day When Being Single Really Suck

You know what? This is really a hard one. You know, I’ve been single for 26 years and I’m so used to it that doing things alone is a normal thing for me. It is really very seldom for me to have that feeling of need to be with someone so, what I will share is an awkward moment of being single.

As an introvert, I really love doing things alone and one of those things is watching movies. Alone. So one time, I went to the mall and decided to watch the movie Eclipse. Since I came in a little early, I had the chance to see and observe the people coming in to watch the movie with me. Of course, I’ve always known that the movie house is a common place for dating and it would not be surprising to see couples watching the movie together. But when I saw that people were starting to come in two’s, I suddenly felt awkward and yes, alone. I started to freak out silently and I was like, ‘Oh crap, what am I doing here alone, by the way? Why am I watching this movie alone? What if these people notice me and pity me for watching this romantic movie. ALONE?!’

But then, that was just for a short moment because I shake off the thought and told myself, ‘who cares anyway? This is a free country.’ Thank God, that feeling didn’t last long so I was able to enjoy the movie. 🙂

Last Quarter Reading Goal

And just like that, we’re now in the last quarter of the year! But before that, friends, please celebrate with me because Goodreads says I’m a book ahead of my reading plan!! 🙂

Yes, I’m celebrating because for the past few months, life in general, is very difficult for me. I am disappointed because I haven’t accomplished anything great this
year so I want to succeed at least in achieving my reading goal.

Anyway, every day is a brand new mercy so let’s move forward and celebrate! Therefore, I’ll share with you my reading goal for the last quarter of the year:

1. Finish The Three Musketeers soon! I started reading this last year but I stopped halfway so it’s been in my currently reading shelf for a year now. I think it’s about time to take it out from that shelf.

2. Finish reading Quiet!
3. Reduce my currently-reading shelf to half (because this is the most realistic goal).

Day 1: Your Answer to Everyone’s Favorite, ‘Why are you still single?’

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So this is my first entry to the challenge.

I don’t actually have a ready answer whenever someone throws me this question point blank. So I’ll just share a typical conversation with me whenever this topic is brought up and it goes something like this:

Someone: Do you have a boyfriend?
Me: No.
Someone: Why?!
Me: Hmm, I don’t know.
Someone: But have you ever been in a relationship?
Me: ahmm, No.
Someone: seriously?!
Me: Yes.
Then most of the time, I will reply with a short laugh and say ‘Oh, I really don’t know because that’s the same question I’ve been asking God and myself for the longest time.’

Actually, if I will really think about it,  this question seldom occurs to me and I have never attempted to search for an answer to this question. Why? Maybe because I don’t find any need for it at the moment. And maybe because I have believed that God has a perfect plan for me. Sure I do have crushes and feel attracted to some nice and decent guys, but that’s not enough for me to plunge into the dating game.

So why am I still single? The reality is maybe because I know in my heart that I’m not yet ready. I am not yet ready to give up my independence and submit under the authority of a man. 🙂

Stargirl

Book Information
22232Title: Stargirl
Author: Jerry Spinelli
Date of Publication: September 2002

Summary
From the day she arrives at quiet Mica High in a burst of color and sound, hallways hum “Stargirl.” She captures Leo Borlock’s heart with one smile. She sparks a school-spirit revolution with one cheer. The students of Mica High are enchanted. Until they are not. Leo urges her to become the very thing that can destroy her – normal.

My Review

She laughed when there was no joke. She danced when there was no music.She had no friends, yet she was the friendliest person in school. In her answers in class, she often spoke of sea horses and stars, but she did not know what a football was…

She was elusive. She was today. She was tomorrow. She was the faintest scent of a cactus flower, the flitting shadow of an elf owl. We did not know what to make of her. In our minds we tried to pin her to a corkboard like a butterfly, but the pin merely went through and away she flew.

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I’ve been hearing a lot of good reviews about this book since 2012 and I don’t know why it’s only now that I decided to finally read it. Maybe A.J. Fikry was right when he said that ‘books sometimes don’t find us until the right time. I realized that I’ve been reading a lot of non-fiction lately that I’m starting to forget the feeling of having that emotional high over a story. So, I decided to pick up a YA book for a change. I’m thankful that I made a right choice this time because reading Stargirl has indeed gave me that delightful feeling. In fact I’ve caught myself smiling alone  several times while reading just because I really can’t help it.

Ah, Stargirl! She’s the strangest yet the most big-hearted girl you’ll ever met. As someone who is fond of stories with eccentric characters, I didn’t find it hard to like Stargirl. I like that she’s weird, innocent and carefree and I can easily relate to her because I can be like her sometimes. I mean, my officemates often describe me as someone who’s living in her own world (may sariling mundo) but I take it as a compliment, so I can somehow relate to Stargirl.

What I love most about this book is the lesson we can learn from Stargirl: Always be yourself because you are enough to stand out and make a lasting impact to this world. 🙂

My Rating: ★★★★★

Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire

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What is it really that stops us from becoming mighty warriors in the Lord? God has not changed. He is still superior to anything the enemy can throw against us.

No personal or church situation is too hopeless for the all-sufficient power of the Holy Spirit. God will be no more eager to act tommorow than he is right now. He is waiting for us to take his promises seriously and go boldly to the throne of grace. He wants us to meet the enemy at the very point of attack, standing against Him in the name of Christ. When we do so, God will back us up with all the resources of heaven.

This book basically summarizes what God is teaching me lately when it comes to my personal ministry. Ministry is nothing without the help of the Holy Spirit. This book has really challenged me to pray fervently and really ask God to increase my faith so that He can use me effectively for the advancement of His kingdom. I hope and pray that soon I will be able to share  to everyone the practical application of the things I’ve learned from this book in my life.
Please pray for me too. 🙂

I Will Never Pursue You

exactly my thoughts

anniemarr's avatarARABY

Maybe I’m beginning to like you a lot,
but I will never pursue you.
 
 
Around me, I’m tempted by all these pawns
calling me to use them,
looking me in the eye, saying
maybe you and I can ”accidentally” bump into each other in a coffee shop;
maybe we can schedule “friendly dates” with a bunch of conniving friends;
maybe I can start “innocent” topics with you over that gleaming chat box,
ask you things that no one would brand as bad,
I can even send you “wrong sends.”
But even this early, I realized
that albeit pawns are the most numerous pieces in a game,
at the end of the day,
they are but
the weakest.


 first-line-pawn--large-msg-1133112801-2
 
























Don’t get me wrong -

I want to be with you.
Just to get to know you more,
I am ready to manipulate
so many things -
things…

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“I’m busy…always”

Because I’m feeling the same. Thanks for representing.

Anna Bachinsky's avatar

withdraw1Sometimes I think a full schedule of things to do is one of the enemy’s sneakiest tricks into living an unfulfilled life.

Our planners full of meetings to attendant, people to meet, and events to participate in may make us feel like we are doing something worthwhile and important but often times those things that are supposed to be so good are the very things that get us further away from Christ.

We become like Martha, hustling and bustling away in the kitchen, preparing amazing things for our Savior, and yet ignoring Him the whole time.

Lately I have been feeling a lot more like Martha than like Mary.

I don’t remember the last day I’ve had just to Jesus and myself.

I feel like I’m running a marathon race and I can’t stop until I cross the finish line.

Unless I make a conscious effort to take a break…

View original post 670 more words

Dealing with Pain

When pain is to be borne, a little courage helps more than much knowledge, a little human sympathy more than much courage, and the least tincture of the love of God more than all

– C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain

Pain is essential in the growth and maturity of a Christian. Are you hurting right now? Praise God for He is doing something to refine you.

A good-bye letter

Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead.

Anna Bachinsky's avatar

dear past, letter to pastYou like to remind me of my failures and my shortcomings.

You like to bring back memories of pain long buried away.

You like to predict my future and tell me I don’t have anything to look forward to and that nothing will ever change.

You like to interrupt my day and stop me dead in my tracks from taking one more step.

You like to drag me around in circles down memory lane and keep me stuck in what could have, would have, or should have been.

Yes, you will do anything to destroy the future I’m dreaming about and the day I’m living in.

But today I’m writing you a good-bye letter.

Because there is no room in my heart and in my mind for you to stay.

No time for wallowing around in self-pity and regret.

No need to recount my failures and my mistakes.

No reason…

View original post 492 more words

Investing on Eternal Things

A few weeks ago, I’ve been meditating on a quote by C.S. Lewis in his book, Four Loves. He said that all that is not eternal is eternally useless. 

All that is not eternal is eternally out of date.

Ever since I became a Christian, I have always believed that my life here on earth is temporary. I also believe that everything in this world will be destroyed by fire. So I must set my mind on things things above and not on earthly things. But I’ve been also thinking how would I know whether I’m spending my time and energy on eternal things or not?

Praise God that today, some lights have been shed on my questions when our Pastor mentioned it once again during the service. He said that according to the bible there are only 3 things that are eternal: GOD, GOD’S WORD and SOULS of men. These are the only things that will last so time spent on these things is never a wasted time.