Morning Blessing

I stepped out of the house for my early morning walk and talk with God.  The air is chilly and fresh. No bustling sound coming from the main road a few meters away from our place. No belting from videoke enthusiasts in the neighborhood. It's too early for that. Even the birds are still asleep. I couldn't hear even a faint delightful chirping. Perfect moment.

I uttered a prayer. Bless me, O Lord with the joy of  Your presence. Increase my rejoicing with Your wonderful promises. Make me happy with answers to my prayers. 

I needed God's comforting presence. The past days have given me enough reasons to weep, worry and be worn. Two friends lost their fathers. A contagious virus struck my son at a time when he needed to complete requirements for graduation. For months now, I've been looking and hoping to find a lost item. And we've been praying for an important application to be finally approved. I desperately needed God's presence and promise. And so I prayed.

In my past conversations with God, He would speak as I open the Scriptures. Sometimes the verse is the exact answer to my question. But at times, I would read a passage that has nothing to do with the thought that's troubling me. Then I would just trust that God heard me anyway. I may not get my answer now, maybe it will come later, or not at all. God's silence doesn't mean His absence.

But this morning, God answered my prayer with a promise as I turned to a Bible reading guide and discovered the verse for the day. It's Romans 15:13. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Joy and peace come from trust in God, but such trust is finally the gift of God, for believers abound in hope only by his grace (ESV Study Bible). Thank You, LORD for enabling me to trust You, and as I trust You, You fill my heart with gladness. What a blessing for this lovely morning.

The Worth of a Book

I won! Or at least that's how I felt when I received this email from a reader who came across my latest book, How to Keep Your Hubby Happy at Iba pang Tips para kay Misis. On the last page of that book is a list of my website and blogs. My website has a contact page and it was through that site where she sent me this feedback.

         Good day! I was walking in National Bookstore earlier, when I caught sight

                     of this book--How to Keep Your Hubby Happy. When I opened it, it directed

                     me to the page about Leave and Cleave which I believe is an answer to my 

                     confused mind. I immediately bought it hoping I would be enlightened about

                     my marriage and my relationship with the Lord. I honestly need help but with

                     God's grace I know help will come to me soon. I believe God sent me the

                      answer to my my prayers through this book. Thank you for writing this book

                     and I hope a lot of women out there could read this. 

I was touched and teary-eyed because a reader went out of her way to let me know how the book has affected her. To create a manuscript, writers often work in seclusion. We're wordsmiths who carefully select words to craft them into a message that will inform, instruct, and inspire. So when our readers interact with us, especially with a positive feedback, we have reason to rejoice. This particular comment was also an affirmation of a calling to write. God enabled me to write and used what has been written to impress a message of hope at a time when it was needed the most. Mission accomplished. I give back all glory to God. 

But I was not the only one who accomplished the mission. My publisher, OMF Literature, is committed to offer books of inspiration, instruction, and insight to make a difference in people's lives. Each department works hard to ensure that each book, including How to Keep Your Hubby Happy, is prepared, printed, and promoted so it could reach its audience and touch lives. I'm thankful to OMF Literature for the opportunity to be part of a big team who loves books and produces books that make a difference. 

The worth of a book is to be measured by what you can carry away from it. 
--James Bryce

How to Keep Your Hubby Happy at Iba pang Tips para kay Misis is available at OMF Literature Bookshops, Passages, National Book Stores, PCBS and other book stores. 

You can also purchase and download the e-book version from Amazon, Flipreads, Buqo, and Barnes & Noble. 

with OMF Lit CEO Aleks Tan and wife Daphne
Photo courtesy of Aleks Tan

with OMF Lit Publishing Director Yna Reyes
Photo courtesy of OMF Lit

with Senior Editor Ian Magallona

with Beng Alba Jones, editor of How to Keep Your Hubby Happy

OMF Lit Family
Photo grabbed from OMF Lit Facebook page