How do you know if your prayers are answered?

In one of the comment boxes of a fellow blogger, someone asked this question, how do you know if your prayers are answered.If all prayers are answered, how do you know the answer is No? If the answer is yes, it's easy; you just get what you prayed for. But what if it's no?

What the person does not realize is God answers the prayer not in our time but HIS.

Last 2006, I had this dilemma of moving from California to the East Coast. I was very depressed because I was planning to file my naturalization application in San Francisco. To do it here in the East Coast, I have to wait for months for the residence eligibility. I wanted to get already a passport so I can go home to the Philippines.

The waiting for the interview lasted for a year. The same period of waiting when I was diagnosed with C.

This week, I got my citizenship. Then it got me thinking. If I have my passport that time that I wanted to go home, what could have happened if I were in the Philippines without medical insurance?

God indeed knows the proper timing.



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When Life Gets You Down

I just talked to a friend. She bought her second house which she is renting out.
When she came to the States, her future and that of her family was uncertain. They fled from the turmoil in the country where they're from. She got also two houses in that country. She sold one and left the other to a relative. She could not believe that she was starting anew.

Her first years were definitely a time for trial like when she became a teen mom when she was young and almost did not finish her education. Their father left the family when she was two years old.

She married a classmate and have two more children while her eldest stayed with her mother.

When she was looking for a job, she had sent more tha a hundred resumes. She visited each and every building in New York to look for employment.

Looking back, she vould not believe that she was able to stand so many trials. She's active in her parish in community outreach program.

This poem may have served her as inspiration:

His Faithful Care

When life gets you down
With its troubles and cares
and the winds of the air,
You need only to look
at the places, you've been,
And the days with no end,
For they each will remind you
How you made it through
And each will bring hope
And with comfort too,
For God's care is for always,
Not just now and then,
Each yestersay and tomorrow,
Each and every day my friend.

By Gina Mazulo Laurin

from Salesian Inspiration Books



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PRAY, PAUSE AND LISTEN-Does GOD talk to Men?

How come when we talk to GOD they said that we are praying but when we say that GOD talks to us, we're schizophrenic?--The Friars Club

Do you pray, pause and listen? God must be talking to you.

When I was about to graduate in high school, I was included among the candidates for valedictorian. The teacher-in-charge of the school's organ required us to submit a black and white photo for publication in case we're selected. I was positive that I will be selected-- I got the highest average.

But I still went to Baclaran to pray. I liked to get a scholarship so I could pursue college. It's the only way I can get to College without spending so much for the tuition fees and miscellaneous. Without this, College was impossible. We're fatherless and my older siblings were also working students.

After my prayer request, I paused and sat down. This was the time, I heard the voice.
I will not become the valedictorian. But I can finish college no matter what happens.

I simply dismissed the "voice" that as my own self talking to me.

The following day, I got the bad news. I did not qualify to become the valedictorian. Not even honorable mention. I lacked the residence required for honor students.

For months, I was angry to God. How can I go to College. Even with my passing UPCAT, I still need money for allowance and for books. Besides, that time, we were residing in Sampaloc area where getting to UP would make me take three jeepney rides.

Before graduation, my favorite teacher informed me that I passed the entrance exam at PLM,the city university which provides free college education for bright but financially challenged Manila High School graduates. I was ecstatic. This must be the answer to my prayer.

Despite the many trials that I faced pursuing college, as promised I got the diploma Then I pursued postgraduate courses. Never, I ignore the little voices that I hear after praying. It must be God responding to my prayer. Am I schizophrenic? I don't care.






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Does your heart beat for others?

I could not help but recall the story I read about Mother Teresa.

It is about a family with eight children who have not eaten for days. The faces of the little children were disfigured due to lack of nourishment. There were no sorrows in their faces. Only pain of hunger.
When they were given food, the mother divided the rice into two halves. The first half was apportioned to the children. Carrying the other half, the mother disappeared momentarily. When she came back, she said that she shared the food with the neighbors who were also hungry.

This was about a mother, an adult who despite being poor can be generous.

What I witnessed was a little girl. She lives in the depressed area where contestants from that noontime show were recruited. She was lucky to have been chosen as one of the winners. When she was made to choose for the prize she wanted, she pointed the package of toys. I thought she was stupid to select the package among the more expensive and useful home appliances.

Asked why she chose the toys , she said that they were not for her but for her siblings who never had new toys in their lives.

There were times in the past that I whined. " Why Lord. Why do you allow these things to happen? What more prayers do you need?"

A non-Christian sent this to me when I was in deep depression. Did the Lord use him as an instrument when I already refused to pray?










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The Gift

Somewhere in Milaor, Camarines Sur, there lived a fourth grader boy who would follow this route to school everyday: He has to cross the rugged plains and cross the dangerous highway where vehicles are recklessly driving to and from.

Once past this highway, the boy would take a short cut, passing by the Church every morning just to say Hi to God, and faithfully say his, "Magandang umaga po" in Bicol dialect. He was faithfully being watched by a Priest who was happy to find innocence so uplifting in the morning,

"Kamusta, Andoy? Papasok ka na?"

"Opo padre ... "he would flash his innocent grin, the priest would be touched. He was so concerned that one day he talked to Andoy.

"From school...", he advised "Do not cross the highway, you can pass through the Church and I can accompany you to the other side of the road...that way I can see that you are home safe...."

"Thank you father ... "
"Why don't you go home ... why do you stay in this church right after school?"

"I just want to say 'Hi' to my friend, God," and the priest would leave the boy to spend time beside the altar, talking to himself, but the priest was hiding behind the altar to listen to what this boy has to say to his heavenly FATHER.

"You know my math exam was pretty bad today, but I did not cheat although my seatmate is bullying me for notes... I ate one cracker and drank my water, Itay had a bad season and all I can eat is this cracker.

Thank you for this! I saw a poor kitten who was hungry and I know how he feels so I gave my last cracker to him ... funny but I am not that hungry.
Look, this is my last pair of slippers ...I may have to walk barefoot next week, you see this is about to be broken... but it is okay....at least I am still going to school.... Some say we will have a hard season this month, some of my classmates have already stopped going to school .... please help them get to school again, please God?

...Oh, you know, Inay hit me again, it is painful, but I know this pain will pass away, at least I still have a mother.... God, you want to see my bruises? I know you can heal them.... Here... here and .... oh ...blood ...I guess you knew about this one huh? Please don't be mad at Inay, she is just tired and she worries for the food in our table and my schooling that is why she hits us....Oh, I think I am in love ... there's this pretty girl in my class, her name is Anita ... do you think she will like me? Anyway, at least I know you will always like me, I don't have to be anybody just to please you, you are my very best friend! Hey your birthday is two days from now!!! Aren't you excited? I am! Wait till you see, I have a gift for you . but it is a surprise! I hope you will like it! Oooops, I have to go ..." then he stood up and calls out, "Padre, padre, I am finished talking to my friend ....you can accompany me to the other side of the road now"

This routine happens everyday. Andoy never fails. Father Agaton shares this every Sunday to the people in his church because he has not seen a very pure faith and trust in God, a very positive look at negative situations.

One Christmas day, Father Agaton was sick so he could not make it in the Church, he was sent to the hospital. The Church was left to 4 manangs who would chant the rosary in 1000 miles per hour, would not smile and would always find fault in what you do, they were also very well versed in cursing if you irritate them! They were kneeling, saying their kilometric rosary when Andoy, coming from his Christmas party,playfully dashed in.

"Hello God! I ."

"P----!! (a curse) bata ka!! Alam mo nang may nagdadasal!! Alis!!"

Poor Andoy was so terrified, "Where's Father Agaton? He is supposed to help me cross the street ... and to be able to cross the street I will have to pass by the back door of this church .not only that, I have to greet Jesus. It is His birthday, I have a gift right here....

" Just as he was about to get the gift out of his shirt, the manang pulled his shirt and threw him out of the church. "Susmaryosep!!! (does the sign of the cross fervently) Alis kang bata ka, kung hindi matatamaan ka!!!

So the boy had no choice but to cross the dangerous side of the road in front of the church. He crossed. A fast moving bus came in.

There was a blind curve. The boy was protecting his gift inside his shirt, so he was not looking. There was so little time. Andoy died on the spot. A lot of people crowded the poor boy, the body of a lifeless young boy ...

Suddenly, out of nowhere a tall man in a pure white shirt and pants, a face so mild and gentle, but with eyes full of tears... He came and carried the boy in His arms. He was crying. Curious bystanders nudged the man in white, and asked,

"Excuse me sir, are you related to this child?

Do you know this child?"

The man in white, His face mourning and in agony, looked up and answered,

"He was my best friend . " was all he said. He took the badly wrapped gift in the bloody chest of the lifeless boy, and placed it near
His heart.

He stood up and carried the boy away and they both disappeared in sight.

The crowd was curious .

On Christmas Eve, Father Agaton learned of the shocking news. He visited the house, and wanted to verify about the man in white. He consulted the parents of Andoy.

"How did you know that your son died?"

"A man in white brought him here." sobbed the mother. "What did he say?"
The father answered, "He did not say anything. He was mourning. We do not
know him and yet he was very lonely about our son's death, as if he knew
our son very well. But there was something peaceful and unexplainable about him.
He gave me my son, and then he smiled peacefully. He brushed my son's hair
away from his face and kissed him on his forehead, then he whispered
something..."

"What did he say?"

"He said to my boy..." the father began, "Thank you for the gift ... I will see you soon ... you will be with me..." and the father of the boy continued, "and you know for a while, it felt so wonderful ... I cried, but I do not know why....all I know is I cried tears of joy .... I could not explain it, Father, but when that man left, something peaceful came over me, I felt a deep sense of love inside ... I could not explain the joy in my heart, I knew my boy is in heaven now but...tell me, Father, who is this man that my son talks to everyday in your church, you should know because you are always there ... except at the time of his death ......"Father Agaton suddenly felt the tears welling in his eyes, with trembling knees, he murmurred, " ... He was talking to no one .....
but .. GOD...."




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