Beat Shame Before Shame Beats You!

Beat Shame Before Shame Beats You!

Growing up in a traditional Asian home, I was taught to be polite, quiet, shy, humble, and deferential. Conformity to expectations is often emphasized, and emotional outbursts are discouraged. Failure to meet the family’s expectations could mean bringing shame...
Shapeable, Moldable

Shapeable, Moldable

“Bote!” “Garapa!” “Dyaryo!” Shouted by a cart-pushing Chinaman going around our Manila neighborhood, these words woke me up most mornings when I was a kid—bagong-saltang probinsyana (fresh from the province, Sampaloc, Quezon)...
Claiming Jeremiah 29:11-13

Claiming Jeremiah 29:11-13

The scripture mentioned above is part of a prophecy made by Jeremiah and is used and claimed by many people just for that specific part. Now, I will not venture into any discussion about claiming verses out of the blue just because it is their memory or life verse....
Reclaiming God’s Covenant Promises

Reclaiming God’s Covenant Promises

The greatest treasure in King Solomon’s Temple was the ark of the covenant, where God’s presence resided. Priests would sprinkle blood on the ark’s mercy seat for the forgiveness of the people’s sin. We, too, have a covenant. Jesus made it, saying, “this cup is the...
7 Ways to Make This Year Great

7 Ways to Make This Year Great

Some folks measure time by years–January 1 to December 31. Some folks keep track of it by birthdays. Some by how long it is until they can finally draw retirement benefits and kiss work goodbye forever, or how many weeks or years stand between them and getting...