Letter to God contest first, second and third entries!

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I was overwhelmed by the responses I received from this " Letter to God contest". It does show how everyone longs to pour out their hearts to God. To bring God the glory and to inspire others.

For more details how to join the contest click here: http://joysnotepad.blogspot.no/2013/04/letter-to-god-contest.html

So here are the first three entries!  These letters made me teary eyed. Letters that  comes from the very cores of their hearts. So inspiring and touching. So go ahead and read and connect with the writer's heart.

First entry: 

GOD is to Blame

When I realized that I wasn't born rich that I had to work to finance my studies, 

I did not blame anyone. I blamed You!

When I felt like I was a social outcast for not having this and that,

I did not blame anyone. I blamed You!

When my romantic relationship ended and I felt alone and tormented,

I did not blame anyone. I blamed You!

When I had to set aside my own happiness to support my family,

I did not blame anyone. I blamed You!

When I wanted to achieve something but failed multiple times,

I did not blame anyone. I blamed You!

When my father got sick and we couldn't send him to a decent hospital which caused his passing,

I did not blame anyone. I blamed You!

When I had to keep fighting to survive but deep inside I was weak and dying,

I did not blame anyone. I blamed you!

When I looked back after surpassing all the hardships and still standing strong,

I did not blame anyone. I blamed You!

GOD, now that I surrender everything to you, I will forever be blaming you,

Because every time I do, You never fail to provide answers...

 From Senyor Iskwater: http://iskwaterstories.blogspot.no/

Second entry:

LETTER TO GOD 

I know you've always been with me

Sometimes though hard to see

My childhood was so long ago

I wish it were not so

My Daddy was not there for me

To hold me on his knee

To tell me how sweet I was

It's what a Daddy does

I wondered why it had to be

That's how it was for me

Why was he not at home

Why did he have to roam

My mother she did love me though

Watched wherever I did go

Protected me and kept me well

Lifted me up when 'ere I fell

She loved me so, this I can say

And did so till her dying day

But Lord I did not understand

No Daddy there to lend a hand

I longed dear God to know just why

And know you heard me when I did cry

I did not want my Mommy sad

Or have the need to feel real bad

So I pretended not to care

But inside felt it wasn't fair

I could not tell my friend

So help they could not rend

My mother taught me of your love

And how you were above

Watching over me

And all that you could see

You saw my hurt and sorrow

Wherever I would go

But it took sometime to realize

What was before my eyes

I had a Daddy who loved me so

That He sent His son to go

Upon the cross to die for me

How blind I could not see

From Diane: http://hometogo232.wordpress.com/


Third entry:

My Love Letter To God

I was asked to pen a story

A letter, a poem, a note,

My first thought, fear and worry

But, here goes...this is what I wrote:

Dear God

How do I love Thee?

Good question You might say,

Is my love small, is it big?

Do I let other things get in the way?

Things and people tend to occupy my time

And I fear that sometimes I forget to say,

That I truly adore You, Lord

And I am trying my best to not stray.

To stray from Your will....Your ways

From what You would have for me,

Among the chaos of my daily life

Something I must, simply must always see.

I must see through Your eyes

To follow Your lead,

So that no matter what comes

In my life, it's Your will I will heed.

So, how do I love Thee?

Where does my heart and soul live?

Within Your arms...upon Your lap

For You are my Daddy.......to Whom my heart and soul I give.

Love,

Your daughter, Debbie

From Debbie  Mitchell:  http://redemptiondrawsnear.blogspot.no/

Thanks for joining and more entries to come:)

JOY

Letter to God contest!

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Curious? Lots of bloggers friends are inspiring me since I began blogging. As you all know, I celebrated my birthday last month in the Philippines and I also found out that many co-bloggers have birthdays in the same month.
 And since I am so blessed by God in many ways,  I want to give back a blessing to him by this contest and to make some people happy:) The winners!

Anyway, Senyor Eskwater (http://iskwaterstories.blogspot.no/  inspired me ( gaya gaya) because he did the same on his birthday asking co-bloggers to define him as a person in four stanzas. And there were many who participated and it was very fun. Congratulation to the well deserved winners.

Bagotilyo  ( http://bagotilyoako.wordpress.com/) inspired me with the title " Letter to God" and his letters.

My contest is not about me. I will ask you blogfriends or readers to define God or write a poetry letter or just a letter to God . It can be thankfulness, heartaches or whatever one  wanted to say to God from seven stanzas and above as it  suits the writer. It should be written in English because the person who will be  judging the entries is English speaking. And she is:

                                                           Michelle Griep. 
 She the author of the book  " Undercurrent" that made me sleepless one night coz I just have to read until the last part of the book. It was a book worth having a sleepless night. She had been a judge in  writing contests before. But this, she will do it for free. Thanks to her.
                                                              Her book

That is why blogging is fun and worth doing. We get to know so many wonderful people. For more details about here, visit her blogsite :http://writerofftheleash.blogspot.no/

And for the prizes of course, it won't make you rich, but you can buy a cup of coffee or tea and one slice of cake I believe:) Hope you join just for fun and to bring glory to God.

I will be featuring your entries in my following post until the end of the month. You can send me your entries to my email address: ligaya.bugten@gmail.com. And by the way, you are free to post your entries to your blogs whenever you want:)


First prize is:      100$
Second prize is:   75$
Third prize is:      50$

And now the first contestant!

                                       Letter to God
I was a child and hungry....God where are you?
I was bullied, no one can defend me.... God where are you?
I was  a teenager being abused, molested and exploited.....
 God where are you?
I was a grown up woman being mistreated, humilated and beaten... God where are you?

                                              Now
God where are you?

And God said:


I was with you all the way.

I was your Father when you needed one!

 I was the voice saying: " Don't give up".

I imparted  you strength to survive.

I had given you hope when everything seems hopeless.

I had shown you a glimpse of light when you were in darkness.

I comforted you when you were hurt.

I was the one who reminded you which way you should go when you were lost.

I was the one who had given you courage to fight for your right.

I was the one who had given you understanding.

I was the one who had given you wisdom when you asked.

I was the one who rescued you from death to life.

I was the one who had given you a heart to love and forgive.

I was the one who loved you, given my life for you, purified and forgiven you.

I was the one who sends you help along the way.

(God's love letter to me!)

This is an excerpt from my blogpost that I wrote before. I am not joining the contest. But since I am the one who started the contest, I have to write God a letter too!

I hope that many will participate in this contest  " Letter to God contest".

                                     JOY

After 50!

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How does it feel to be able to celebrate my bitrthday for the first time together with my children and their own  families in the Philippines? Strange feelings. At last after 51 years, I can truly have a birthday celebration with them. Now, I can afford.  So, I was really very happy that God had given me the opportunity.

These are my three children, their other halfs and my grandchildren.

And the good things was, the rest of the clan, almost, were there. What a nice day to unite my loved ones.

My second daughter Michelle helped me to book this venue . Max is known for their crispy fried chicken.

The staffs set the table for us and decorated the place.

Borrowed picture from my daughter's blog.

A birthday cake was included in the package, but something happened with my birthday cake, so they offered a baptismal cake instead and 5% discount to compensate. 

It really made my day:) Just to think that I was turning 51 but there was a baby on my cake. It was so funny. Does the baby look 51 years old to you?

Anyway, we were all satisfied with the servings. More than enough for everybody to eat and to take home.

borrowed picture from my daughter's blog

And to my surprise, my grandchildren performed a dance number for me. I was touched.

And with this I also  want to thank Jondmur of: http://jondmur.blogspot.no/



for this special greetings on my birthday. 

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  Thanks for all the gifts from my children and special thanks from co-bloggers:
  
  Zaizai of :http://simplycomplicatedzai.blogspot.no
  
  
  
  
  Arline of: http://journeyofthepinkline.blogspot.no/
  
  
  
  They gave me scarfs, a key chain with my picture and cards with touching messages when we met! I love them.
  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  
  
  Thanks also to Mel of: http://melhiddenpassions.blogspot.no/
  
  
  
  She gave me a  pair of pearl earrings and a native bag. Beautiful!
  
  

  

  
  

  Well, more surprises:

  
  

  Telelalahbells

  
  

  

  
  

   gave me an award as Ms. Teledaldal together with Senyor Eskwater as Mr. Teledaldal. And this what she wrote why she had chosen me. She made my cry. What a hearwarming words. Thanks Lalah. It really means a lot to me!

  
  

  
  

  Ito naman si Ms. TeleDaldal for this 1^st quarter, sa sobrang ingay ko, at napunta ako sa blog niya, tahimik ang peg ko, nahihiya ako kasi feeling ko si God ang nakikipagusap sakin, na-eenlighten ako whenever I stopped and read. Somehow on the other side (dual personality? Haha lol) na-lilift up ako with the words, quotes and verses she threw sa blog niya at hindi lang ako naman ang may ganong feeling but everyone does. It help us, it reminded us that no matter how busy we are sa araw-araw, kailangan natin magkaron din ng relasyon kay God, hindi lang tayo dapat magaling sa pakikipagrelasyon sa ibang tao. Kilalang kilala siya sa blogsphere na siya ang granny na bagets, mommy ng lahat. Nagmamasid man siya sa mga kabataan ngayon, sa ano man ang iniisip natin, ano ang takbo ng ating mga utak natin, she knew that it’s too far from what she used to see but ni minsan wala akong narinig na pinagalitan niya tayo (hahahaha) dahil lahat naintindihan niya, inintindi niya ng walang judgment at doubt. Siya ang Ms. TeleDaldal this 1^st quarter dahil hindi niya pinapalagpas ang kanyang iniisip sa bawat blog entry ko, may sense man o wala.

  
  

  So ito na talaga, this is it na really… drum rolls again so hard… please.. requesting mecoy and animal friends feyel, kat and pao na gumawa ng mecoy face at ikot ikot kembot kembot at lahat jump then dapa bigla, dyan lang dapa lang kayo, wag kayong tatayo hanggang hindi ko sinabi (hahaha)

  
  

  So here it is finally… ohalalalalalala telelalalala tadaaanngg…

  
  

  Sila ang Mr. & Ms. TeleDaldal for the 1st quarter. 

  
  

  Senyor Iskwater

  Joy's Notepad 

  
  

  

  
  I met Senyor Eskwater together with other PBO during my vacation in the Philippines. He really deserved to be Mr. TeleDaldal.
  
  And last but not the least thanks to " http://prayernotesbycynthia.blogspot.no
  
  for choosing me as one of the receiver of her giveaways. It is one of her handcrafts. You can visit her " Etsy Shop" for more inspiring handcrafts.
  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  Well,  being 51 is also an exciting age, as you can see. I met a lot of wonderful people who made my life colorful after 50:) And life has just began for me. Thanks to God who made all these possible!
  
  JOY
  
  

Im back!

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Yes! I am back again in Norway after three weeks vacation in the Philippines. Happy and sad at the same time. Happy to be again able to sleep in my own bed, having my own things and being with my daughter and husband here. Sad because of  departing from my loved ones in my homecountry and saying goodbye to my husband again, who left today. But, that is my life and I just thank God for having a wonderful time with them although for a very short time. 

Reminds me of my departure from Norway,  three weeks ago. Happy and sad at the same time. Leaving my husband, who just came home from a four week work ombord the ship and our daughter. Leaving the comforts of home, peaceful sorroundings and the cold climate. Going to sleep in many different places, meeting my loved ones there, and to be in a hotter climate.

It was a very fine day when I left Norway. Clear blue sky and the birds were chirping.  Seems that  the weather was on my side.

It was a long journey. So me and my sister rented a hotel room beside the airport the day before the departure to make sure that we won't miss our flights.

We ate our dinner at the hotel's reataurant. Food were delicious, but expensive. They called this light meal, but the portions were more than enough for us. I don't a have picture of my sister because it was in her camera.

I was very tensed, but the views through the hotel's window were enough to calm my soul and body!

Afternoon, night and morning views.

Then the nexy day, after a few hours sleep, off we go! It was a clear blue sky, but all I can see was snow and snow and snow on the ground.

After 17 hours by three aiplanes, plus many hours of waiting ,  we finally arrived  in Singapore. Changi Airport always amazes me because of their plants and flowering orchids eveywhere, which is not usual in other airports. They make the travellers feel like being in a paradise.

Showing also pictures how Singapore looks like outside the airport.

And who can we meet:)

But, our the journey  continued. Me and my sister left home in Norway Thursday afternoon. It was Saturday night when we reached our destination, our homecountry.  So, we were very happy that we made it, although it was already dark and not much to see. But we know deep inside that there will be more than enough to see and experience days ahead. 

My son fetched us from the airport and after  a more than an hour drive, we arrived at his place and my grandchildren surprised me with this:)

They call me Lola Gaying. Lola means grandma and Gaying is my nickname in the Philippines. Made their grandma very happy.

Thanks Jan Andrei and Candice :)

First night in the Philippines. More happenings to come. Day after, my birthday!

JOY