Sensei Diaries—Adulting

“Not all prosperity is a blessing from God.”

That’s what I wrote today after reading the book of Daniel. Daniel 11:36–39 describes the king of the north who has the position and power as king, and he does what he wills. He experiences prosperity, but you know what I realized? It is the fact that some people may have prosperity, power, and position, yet if they remain in sin and refuse to humble themselves before the Lord, they too will have their own end.

So if we see corruption and injustice done by wicked people who seem “blessed” and prosperous, do not fret, because God is a God of justice. He will bring judgment. He sees, and in due season, they will be accountable for their deeds—whether done openly in broad daylight or in dark hidden places. God sees, and He will act.The wrath of God awaits those who refuse to repent.

This is not just a call to repentance for those in power, but also for ordinary people who still enjoy sinning. Now is the day of salvation—repent, for the kingdom of God is drawing near.

“Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.” — Psalm 37:1–2

“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” — Mark 8:36

Prayer:
Lord, today I humble myself before You. I confess my sins and turn away from them. I ask for forgiveness—please help me live a life that honors You. Please change me, and heal me.In the name of Jesus, amen.

It’s been a few months since I last opened this notebook. I admit it—my prayer life has been unclear and inconsistent lately . And as I opened this prayer notebook today, I saw my prayer list for the month of January. First on the list was the healing of Nanay Lina. I stared at it for a few seconds and then placed a check beside it. (It’s an answered prayer.)

Those who knew Nanay Lina may wonder why, since she was reunited with the Lord that same month. But as believers in Jesus, we hold on to this blessed hope: in His presence, there is no more sickness, no more pain—only fullness of joy.
Praise God! In His presence, she’s healed!

Thank You, Jesus, because in You, death is not the end but the beginning of something glorious. In You, we have this blessed hope. We still miss our loved ones and sometimes cry, but in Your promises we find comfort.

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
— Revelation 21:4

ps.
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https://senseidiaries-books.systeme.io/kintsugi

This morning, during an online devotional with a friend, I noticed a very familiar object behind her—the chopping board we both got as souvenirs from Baguio. It reminded me of my beloved Nanay Lina, who passed away in January this year.

I used to feel inis or bothered every time I saw my chopping board because of all the scratches. Nanay Lina loved using it, and that’s why there are so many marks.

Now that she’s gone, I remember her through those scratches. And just this moment, I realized their beauty.

This reminded me that we may not understand some things right now, but someday we will see the beauty in them. We will understand why we had to go through what we went through.

It also reminded me of what I read last week in the Gospel of John, when Jesus washed the disciples’ feet (John 13:7). Peter did not understand at first and even resisted, but Jesus said, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” The disciples had to experience that moment to truly understand what it means to follow Him—serving one another in humility. And they understood it all at the right time.

Right now, you may be experiencing something that doesn’t make sense. You may not see the beauty in it and may even think it’s unfair. But here’s a gentle reminder: someday it will make sense. It may look messy or painful right now, but someday you will understand why God allowed it.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

During my quiet time this morning, I was inspired to write this poem as I read Psalm 23.
And I wrote:

As long as I have Jesus, I’ll be okay
He’s all I ever need
You can take the things of this world
but as long as I have Jesus,
I’ll be okay.

I’ll be okay
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
For He is my Shepherd and I have everything I need
He is my Provider,my Protector,my Leader, the Living water who restores my soul
The Alpha and the Omega
The beginning and the end
The King who reigns forever
His kingdom knows no end
His faithful love—how it endures
How it it cures that most wounded souls
O my Jesus,Jesus—the Lover of my soul.

✍️ : senseidiaires

I just came back from a 7‑day social media break, and here are the things no one seems talks about when you step away:

• You’ll struggle at first — your hand and brain are trained to scroll mindlessly, so breaking that habit feels uncomfortable. You’ll even catch your hands moving automatically when you see that blue ring around a friend’s profile, tempting you to check their newest stories.

You’ll have a clearer mind — without being bombarded by endless information, you can focus on what truly matters as you sit quietly. You will get bored—and that’s okay. 🙂

• You’ll lose unnecessary cravings — no appetizing food on your FYP means fewer impulse buys; you become intentional about what you eat and buy.You can avoid unnecessary spending!

You can sit with your thoughts — reflecting and hearing from God more clearly. Not audibly, but through His Word, when your mind isn’t distracted by the newest posts, you listen better and reflect more. In that stillness, you’ll see there are so many things to thank God for.

• You’ll miss sharing stories — the cute moments, daily happenings, and your friends’ updates. And that’s okay. You can enjoy the meaningful work you’re doing and the precious moments with your loved ones without posting it online—just living the moment, savoring it quietly.

You’ll have more room for creativity — personally, I gained two new clients/students within just 7 days of stepping away. I believe you can, too. With the extra space in mind, you’ll discover fresh business ideas, clearer marketing strategies, and the next necessary steps for you to move towards your goals . And when you “commit to the Lord whatever you do, He will establish your plans” (Proverbs 16:3). Seek God where He’s leading you next, and you’ll be surprised. Just put that phone down, live fully, and see what unfolds.Shalom! 🤍

ps.

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I once had a conversation with my late grandmother. We openly talked about everything, and one time, while we were washing the dishes, I asked her to imagine how God would feel if we asked for His protection yet relied on amulets, anting-anting, or charms instead of trusting Him to protect us. Wouldn’t God feel jealous or angry if we put our trust in those handmade things? The same is true when we place our hope in things made of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood—idols that can neither see nor hear nor walk. I praise God for my grandmother’s response and her humility. She grew up in a culture where anting-anting was common, and even today, similar practices are rising through new age teachings. Many are convinced to trust in the “evil eye” for protection, “money dust” for provision, or yoga for meditation. But as we read the Word of God, we realize that these are, in truth, rebellion, evil, and witchcraft—things that God hates.

This morning, during my Bible reading, I was struck by these verses in Revelation:

“But the people who did not die in these plagues still refused to repent of their evil deeds and turn to God. They continued to worship demons and idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood—idols that can neither see nor hear nor walk. And they did not repent of their murders or their witchcraft or their sexual immorality or their thefts.” (Revelation 9:20–21, NLT)

God hates it when we put our hope in the wrong things. Those things will not protect us, especially on that terrible day when it comes. Let’s not wait for that day to turn away from them.

Let’s get right with God before it’s too late—and remember, Jesus saves. He died on the cross 2,000 years ago to rescue us, and He rose again to keep His promise. All we need to do is repent and believe.

P.S.
If you haven’t yet, grab our free gospel tract. Feel free to download it and discover the good news:

https://senseidiaries-books.systeme.io/kintsugi

Lost my job last month, and if I’m being honest, it was one of the most challenging months I’ve ever had. It was a very challenging season, but somehow, there was peace.

I didn’t panic that much because I knew I had built my emergency fund while things were still good. Thankfully, I was able to set aside small amounts each month from my pay, and little by little those small amounts became significant. That’s why, even though I lost my main source of income instantly, I was sustained.

I’m grateful for the principles from the Bible that carried me through this season. One of them is Proverbs 21:20:

> “The wise have wealth and luxury, but fools spend whatever they get.” (NLT)

This taught me not to spend everything I earn, but to set aside something to prepare for the future.

The most important realization is that you can avoid—or at least minimize panic is when you are prepared.

Proverbs 22:3 (NLT) says:

> “A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.”

With the recent happenings in the world, my question is: What steps are we taking to prepare?

This message is not meant to cause fear, but to encourage everyone to prepare.
And don’t just prepare your food,groceries or finances—prepare your heart for what may come. Most importantly, prepare your heart before Jesus comes.
Repent.Get right with God.Believe the gospel, and remember: Jesus saves!

Now, God has provided me with a new job—a new challenge. But thank God, I have Jesus, and I will conquer.

ps:

Get your free gospel tract here—download now and discover the good news:

https://senseidiaries-books.systeme.io/kintsugi

I neither worry nor boast about tomorrow.
I choose not to worry;
I let tomorrow carry its own sorrow.
To God, I cast all my cares.
I choose not to boast,
For just like waves, our crowns can be tossed.

I bow and bend to the kingdom that knows no end.
In Him I find delight;
In Him my soul rejoices.
In Him alone is my confidence.

Storms may come—I shall not fear,
For He holds me so dear.
He holds me in His hands.
He knows the plans He has for me,
And I trust Him:
Plans not to harm me,
But to give me hope and a future.

And my soul rests in this.

With the recent passing of a loved one, I have been reading and reflecting on the book of Esther. Specifically, when Mordecai received the bad news that he and all his fellow Jews could be put to death, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and cried out in mourning.

“When Mordecai learned all that had been done, Mordecai tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city and wailed loudly and bitterly. He went only as far as the king’s gate, for no one was to enter the king’s gate clothed in sackcloth” (Esther 4:1–2).

In Persian custom, it was forbidden to enter the palace or appear before the king while wearing sackcloth or garments of mourning. Earthly kings demanded dignity, order, and ceremony in their courts—visible grief was not permitted in their presence.

But here’s what I realized: when it comes to earthly kings and leaders , we cannot usually approach them in mourning or brokenness. Yet the great King we serve—King Jesus whom every knee will bow—welcomes us even in our sorrow.

We can come to Him just as we are, with our grief, our weariness, and our broken hearts.

He invites us:
“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”
(Matthew 11:28).

Today, if you feel weary, know that you can come to Him. He is near—especially to those who are broken. As His Word says: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18).

Don’t hide your brokenness—bring it to Jesus. Lay your grief, your burdens, and your weariness before His throne. He saves, even in our brokenness.🤍

6 Things I've Learned from the Passing of My Beloved Nanay Lina

🤍1.Take as many photos and videos of your loved ones—even on ordinary days. Capture the moment while you’re sipping tea, even the most mundane moments.

🤍 2.Dance and sing with your loved ones, even if you can’t. Just savor those moments with them.

🤍3. Say “I love you” even if they don’t. One thing I’ve realized is that some things are not expressed openly in the older generations, so we initiate. We say “I love you” to them until they get used to it.

🤍4.You’ll never regret pouring out your love for people—whether through a gentle pat on the back, random hugs, giving gifts, or other gestures.Express your love through every love language you know. You’ll never regret giving it all for them, and they’ll leave this world without questioning the love they’ve received.

🤍5.Our loved ones are imperfect, and so are we. The only thing that can help us love them better is understanding the love of Christ and His forgiveness. As you receive His love and forgiveness, you are able to love people despite their imperfections.

🤍 6.We can be at peace, knowing that the gospel was shared with them out of love. They may have never read the whole Bible in their lifetime, but as the gospel is shared and lived out, they too experience the overflowing love of God through our lives.

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Once again, we praise God for the gift of you,nanay Lina.
Palangga kaw gid namon,nay. 🤍
By God's grace,we'll meet again at the feet of Jesus.🙌🏽