- Dr. Rick Warren, Author of The Purpose Driven Life

Take it from a man — we know the difference.

You can be someone who’s 45 and wanting to look 25 to regain confidence. Or an 18 years old who wants to look prettier because you lack confidence.

Or you can be confident enough to walk around and feel beautiful because you know who you are.

Do you want to be Belo-fied?

I’m not downplaying cosmetics and hair spa or whatever those things girls and ladies do for beauty’s sake, but what I know is that there’s no amount of Belo-fication can replace being confident for who you are. Its you who knows your strengths and weaknesses. Rejoice in your strengths and accept your weaknesses. And believe that the Creator did not make a mistake when He designed you as you are right now.

PS: As a married man, I just have to say this. My wife is blessed to look 12 years younger without really exerting much effort. Call me arrogant, but I just think it’s a blessing that I should be thankful for. Having said that, she’s the most confident woman I have ever seen. She knows her weakness and strengths. And she knows her standing in Christ. That, to me, cannot be replaced by any cosmetics.

A childhood Adventist friend supposedly asked why I had to change. I was a passionate Adventist leader to them, and they were so disappointed that I changed course. My answer was that famous anonymous quote: “If there’s no change, there’d be no butterflies.”

The right question is not why you had to change, but rather, did you change for the better or for the worse?

* * *

Ok, now wasn’t that an eye opener? I mean, we know this, but we’re just sucked up inside this holiday tradition.

- we spend way too much in seasons of Christmas

- we buy people stuff that WE like but THEY don’t need.

- we feel guilty for not buying people presents

- we even feel annoyed for receiving gifts with lesser value than the gifts you gave!

Commercialism on Christmas season simply sucks. I mean, really sucks. We lost it. This is not supposed to be. Giving generously is fine. But obliged, guilt-driven, price-tag focused giving is not. Sadly, this is Christmas now a days.

So, friends, it’s ok if you’re not giving us gifts this Christmas, you don’t have to feel guilty about it. We, however, sincerely thank those who gave and sure appreciates whatever you gave. We’re giving away simple gifts this Christmas to some friends — but will not to others. That doesn’t mean we don’t love you, we simply want to save and wouldn’t want to spend a lot this Christmas.

The best way to celebrate this season is to be with the family, worshiping Jesus for who he is — a God who decided to be a man on Christmas morning in his love for us all.

When I met Jesus — for who he really is — 10 years ago, one of my battle cry was “Jesus is enough”. He is enough to give comfort, joy, eternal security. He is enough when we feel inadequate. He is enough when life seems to fall apart. He is enough even if you’ll loose everything.

Matt Chandler is a very popular pastor in the US. He leads a successful church, The Village Church, that ministers to thousands of people. He is a well-known speaker in conferences. And, with his words, it seems that at 35 years old, God has given him victory after victory in this life.

Not until the morning of Thanksgiving day. He had a seizure and was rushed to the hospital. They found a tumor in his frontal lobe and has undergone surgery last Friday. He recorded this video before this operation.

If you’re about to loose everything, is Jesus enough? Watch this video and be encouraged — or even be led into repentance for trusting on what you have even knowing that Jesus should be enough in our lives.

So how should we spend the Christmas season. Let’s go back to basics. A note from LifeChurch.tv’s Facebook account:

Christmas has become, for many of us, a season of eating, shopping, hosting and spending. We run ourselves ragged in an effort to please the people around us and make everyone get along long enough for all of the holiday pictures to be taken. It’s exhausting and it’s all a bunch of focus on the things that Christmas was never meant to be. We’re not gonna take it anymore. We’re going to make this year different.

This year, (let’s go) back to the basics. This year Christmas (should) be about worship, giving, and love. Those are the things that the first Christmas was all about. When Jesus was born he was a gift from the creator. He was the symbol of God’s love for us. These two realizations caused the shepherds who first visited him to worship in awe of the wonderful miracle of the Messiah.

So as we head into the holiday, let’s conspire to change Christmas. Let’s leave behind the stress and spending and trade them in for worship, giving and love.

Pray like you never prayed before.

Pray like you mean it. I mean, something that comes from your heart. An authentic cry for help.

Pray like you really expect God to answer. Because he does answer. He does care. He does know what’s happening.

Pray even if some spiritual police mocks you for praying only at times of need. Pray.

Then rest in his arms and say, “Yet not my will Lord, but yours.” At the end of the day, God knows exactly what we need. We may not understand what’s happening. But God is still God. He is sovereign.

In the midst of these storms, may we find peace in the one who is immovable, certain and strong – Jesus Christ.

I’m praying for them, Lord. Please give them emotional and physical strength to hold on and keep their hopes alive. We know that help is coming. It may be taking long, but it is coming. Please whisper this to their hearts. Embrace them with your love at this very moment.

I’m praying for us — for us that are safe, spared from the disaster. Move our hearts from just having pity to real compassion. Convict us to DO something, not just SAY something. Allow us to realize that we are your hands and your feet. Give us the burden, a genuine burden to love.

We are not sure yet, Lord, of what you are telling us because of this tragedy. I’m sure in due time, you will reveal this to us. Whatever it is, may it draw us closer to you. May it become an avenue of self evaluation. May this become a way for us to consider a relationship with you that may have been lost in the past, or even inexistent in the first place.

Be our guide. Be our strength. Be our God. We love you Jesus. Let your children here in the Philippines shout that out loud!

The United States of America is in recession. Big companies filing bankruptcy. The latest was General Motors, the biggest car manufacturer in the country. Here in the Philippines, top CEOs project that 2009 will be the year for the country’s own recession. Should you be concerned?

If you’re an employee, or a student, or a housewife, thinking that this problem is just for the country’s economists or the businessmen to solve and you think you should not be concerned, think again.

If you’re an entrepreneur, you have a reason to be concerned. You may experience decrease in orders, or projects, because your clients will tighten belt and reduce spending. In effect, you will have nothing to pay for your overhead and, worse, you may close shop.

If you’re an employee, you have a reason to be concerned. You might loose your job tomorrow because your company may downsize or eventually close shop.

If you’re a student, you have a reason to be concerned because your dad can loose his job because of the downsizing. Who will pay your tuition, or the broadband internet you’re using to access your Multiply and Friendster account?

If you’re a housewife (or houseband), your have a reason to be concerned. If your working spouse looses his/her job, who will pay the rent and the bills?

If you plan to go abroad, good luck! You may loose your job just months after that company abroad starts purging employees and prioritizing their own citizen.

Recession is everyone’s problem. We all have a reason to be concerned.

In fearful times like this, the only way to live out of the fear is trust. Trust that God will lead you in every single day. In every twist and turn. In every disappointing hour. Jesus, through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, will inspire you to do exactly what is needed for the moment. This is the best time to come closer to him. To have that personal relationship become even more personal and intimate. Because the more closer to him we become, the clearer we hear his instructions in times of recession.

God, you caught our attention. Now, what do you want to tell us?