Rica's Spring

“There are fine things which you mean to do some day, under what you think will be more favorable circumstances. But the only time that is surely yours is the present, hence this is the time to speak the word of appreciation and sympathy, to do the generous deed, to forgive the fault of a thoughtless friend, to sacrifice self a little more for others. Today is the day in which to express your noblest qualities of mind and heart, to do at least one worthy thing which you have long postponed, and to use your God-given abilities for the enrichment of someone less fortunate. Today you can make your life - significant and worthwhile. The present is yours to do with as you will.”- Grenville Kleiser

These lines jumped at me. They did this many months ago and now, these same words are achieving the same thing.

Passion. Heart. These are two words that have been resurfacing daily in my head for weeks. Starting this blog I believe is one courageous step I made and I thank my mom, our Pastor and the movie Julie Julia for really reminding me to do something in line with one of the biggest dreams I've been treasuring in my heart.

I just want to keep on writing. This started with the books my mom bought for me when I was still in kindergarten. My love for books commenced when I was 6. Then it evolved into something else. College paved the way for me to get THAT pen and start writing, pouring my heart out onto paper,and sharing them with a wider audience through school papers. I have accumulated gazillions of notebooks and journals where my prayers, heartaches and dreams are permanently inked. Where are they now? They're Neatly placed in a certain portion of my cabinet collecting dust. I know in my heart of hearts that this is something I want to continue doing not because it's a hobby but because it's one of the things that bring me joy. Being able to concretize most if not some of the thoughts in my head is just therapeutic. I see it as a balm-like conduit that makes my heart sing. Seriously. :)

Gone are the days when I wrote away about how I was hurt and how I should whisk up revenge, for my eyes have been opened to the wonderful Truth of how amazing God is. This is why I called this WONDERFUL-INKED. It's a lifelong journey of sharing how faithful He is and how loving He is as my father. Though I am the one writing, I want this to be all about Him. This is for Him. I am looking forward to a beautiful journey ahead as I move on to using this more, over pen and paper. I want to share my walk with the Lord as He continues to surprise me, love me as I am & graciously guide me in walking into His will. This helps me to reach out to more people. I pray that as you read each post, you will be inspired to delight in, seek and follow Him, and be abundantly blessed beyond what your mind can imagine.

I write because I am right in this season.Whichever season I may be in.

This is Spring.


By God's grace, I will start writing the book I've been praying for...and complete it.:)

Heart Story

I am now in one of my favorite coffee shops. With my laptop's battery almost drained and seeing an empty page on my computer, I know I am being invited to once again punch some letters and let my heart out.

Through God's grace, I will not steal the pen from His hand. He knows the main characters, the whole plot, setting and scenes. I will Trust in the LORD with all my heart and not lean not on my own understanding (Proverbs 3:5). I will not excite love, stir it up, until the time is ripe—and I am ready(Songs 2:7). I will live by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven." - Ecclesiastes 3:1

Lord, I surrender my life to you. My emotions, I am handing over to you so that it may be purified and sanctified. I want to seek You alone my God everyday. Let my heart be truly in You. There is no one who can take your place in my life. I want to have the kind of faith that enables me to step out of my comfort zone so I could walk into Your will. Your best is truly worth the wait. I will keep this joy in my heart and never let go of Your hand in my life.

Continue to read His word & be amazed by His love-filled revelations. Be sure that He is your first priority everyday. Cultivate the gifts God has blessed you with and use them for His glory. There are many gifts for us to unearth in each season. Let your waiting time be His avenue to graciously prepare you for the next season of your life. God's best is always worth the wait :)

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." Hebrews 10:23

Thankful After the Pause

Read not to contradict and confute; nor to believe and take
for granted; nor to find talk and discourse; but to weigh and consider.Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed,and some few to be chewed and digested:that is, some books are to be read only in parts,others to be read, but not curiously, and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention.-Francis Bacon

I spent the other night fulfilling my resolve to de-clutter my room, which of course involved emptying my bags of paper scraps, safety pins and finding things that I thought were perpetually lost. This cleaning mode started with my books. I realized that I had the habit of appointing almost all tables (and chairs) in our rooms as bookshelves. Rearranging the books was therapeutic, putting together all the business/management books in one side and all the inspirational ones in a special section that I could easily reach anytime my spirit would need a lift. This helped me unearth the fact that I have purchased so many books, but surprised to see certain titles existing in our house. I think I was hit by a consumerism bug, which could be good for the economy but bad if you deem material possessions as your sources of comfort, security, joy and confidence.

The service this week was again full of lifechanging insights, but as our Pastor put it, a dumbbell on its own can't build your muscles.It's when you pick it up and use it that it transforms into something useful and beneficial. You may be touched by a powerful message but it's only our willingness and resolute commitment to change and renew our faith in God daily that can shape our lives into something that bears fruit with love, joy and heartwarming success. Not putting into practice what we have learned from a great book, can be as dangerous as not opening it. In a lot of homes, the Bible has just served to be "one of the books." It's not just any kind of book. It must be read and medidated on in order for you to know the manual of our lives' Creator. If you're sick you go to the doctor, but when you need strength, joy, love, security, forgiveness, healing and wisdom, go to your Life-giver.

Inspiration is available wherever we are. Yes, inspiration is available 24/7, not only through things that we could observe with our own eyes, but also by way of the wonderful changes that have happened, and continue to take place in us. The key is to remember all the good things the Lord has done in your life and that He loves us so much to the extent that He always wants to surpass the last greatest miracle He has performed in our lives. Do not lose your gratitude or you'll develop this "attitude."

HE deserves so much more than scraps of our time.

Choose peace-giving Truth over the world's empty promises.

I'm thankful for I discovered these after the "pause." =)

A New Story Unfolds

Photo: "Basking In His Grace" (taken at Club Paradise, Coron Palawan 4/17/2010)

Somewhere in the land of “busyness,” people tend to forget what’s important and neglect to pursue what they are truly passionate about. I have decided to rewrite my story. This is my blank page, and the rest, shall be written. They shall be inked.=)

Scrutinize my room and you would not only see books perfectly arranged on my shelves, several scattered on my bed and placed inside my cabinet, but where you will see them, you’d also get a glimpse of the many notebooks and journals I have accumulated over the years. So yes, you could say I am a bookworm and another "yes" linked to my delightful fondness for the written word.

Just the other week, I finally started watching one of the films I have always wanted to catch – Julie & Julia. I used the word “started” because I have not finished it yet (but that’s another story). Through the few times I watched the trailer on the internet, it became one of the movies that I could move heaven and earth just to see. That started last year and surprisingly (or pathetically), I only had the chance to view it a few days ago.

Thinking it would rekindle my fondness for cooking and concocting recipes my friends and family can feast on, I am now admitting that it failed to do so. I had set expectations about the film, but little did I know that my “eureka” moment tucked in here would turn out as one that’s prodding me to write again. Blog. Not just once or thrice a year, but make it a refreshing staple in my life as a conduit I can use to open my heart and share my life with others, which can only be made beautiful and amazing by God. He is my life's author, my truest joy. I thank Him for this season.=)

"He has made everything beautiful in its time."- Ecclesiastes 3:11