life.is.short

Day 6: “When life gets tough, when you're overwhelmed with doubt, or when you wonder if living for Christ is worth the effort, remember that you are not home yet. At death you won't leave home-- you'll go home.” (PDL, Rick Warren)

“I am here on earth for a little while” Psalm 119:19

Life is short. We should live life to the full. Living life to the full means living life with Jesus.

My family strongly thinks that going to the US is the answer for everything. I grew up dreaming to work abroad. A few years ago, I stopped taking chances to go to other countries to work. I realized that the comfort of living with your family in your own country can't be equated with the comfort of earning a lot of money in the US. There's no place like home. I am the only one that my son has. I cannot compromise that for the sake of money. So, I started to work hard. I build dreams with the hope that I will be successful in my own country.

When I became a Christian, I've learned deeper about citizenship matters. I've learned that wherever I go, I will always experience discrimination, difficulties, struggles, pains and problems. "This world is not my home." Earth is just a school and nobody wants to stay in school for the rest of his/her life.

For some people, they find it difficult to accept. For them, it makes you think that material abundance is not important, so they stopped reading the book. It gives lesser value to money. I admit that it crossed my mind too. I had a lot of questions about that too.

However, later on, I've learned that God doesn't want us to forget our dreams nor stop working for a living. I believe He just wants us to be more comfortable with our Faith in Him rather than being cozy with what we possess on Earth.

"We fix our eyes NOT on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

He created everything. He gave people the intellect to build houses, cars, money etc. He created our longings. Why would he limit those to us? He created such desires for material wealth for us to turn to Him. He wants us to include HIM in our plans. He is our provider and He wants to give us the best. He is our father. Everything will be given to us if we seek Him.

Life is a test, remember? He is always testing us. If we forget to thank Him when we received a blessing, He would not be pleased. He wants us to have a good life here on Earth but there's a great purpose behind that.

As for me, I am excited to receive my crowns. I will be rewarded with crowns in heaven and those crowns are eternal treasures. He promised us rewards in eternity. All we have to do is focus on His promises and not on temporary crowns. We are created for something MUCH better. The fact that we have Jesus in our lives makes us abundant already.

"It takes FAITH to live on Earth"

i.believe.in.love

"I believe in Love"
by Barlow Girls

How long will my prayers seem unanswered?/ Is there still faith in me to reach the end?/ I'm feeling doubt/ I'm losing faith /But giving up would cost me everything /So I'll stand in the pain and silence /And I'll speak to the dark night /I believe in the sun even when it's not shining /I believe in love even when I don't feel it /And I believe in God even when He is silent /And I, I believe /Though I can't see my stories ending /That doesn't mean the dark night has no end / It's only here that I find faith /And learn to trust the one who writes my days /So I'll stand in the pain and silence/ And I'll speak to the dark night I believe in the sun even when it's not shining/I believe in love even when I don't feel it/And I believe in God even when He is silent/And I, I believe No dark can consume / Light No death greater than this lifeWe are not forgotten/ Hope is found when we say/ Even when He is silent /I believe in the sun even when it's not shining /I believe in love even when I don't feel it/ And I believe in God even when He is silent/ And I, I believe...

jesus.

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Who can miss an event like this?! I had sooooooooo much fun and I've learned a lot. Sabi nga nila, "The Day That Will Last a Lifetime". It was 100x fulfilling than pyrolympics!

Things I've learned today:
1. I will never be intimated anymore or be hesitant to share the word of God.
2. Living life to the FULL means living life with JESUS. ----------------------- J E S U S period. He is ALL YOU NEED!
3. NO AIR, no life. NO JESUS, no life. HE IS LIFE. If you have to have a life then put Jesus in your life!
4. Maintain your good relationship with Jesus. Glorify him every single day.

John 14:21 “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”

life.on.earth

Day 5: "God keeps his promise, and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test, he will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out."

Life is a test and a trust.

What is your life?

I see my life as a battle. You take part into combats every now and then. You win, you survive. It is full of cargos. I whine. I have a lot of grievances about life. Given that I view it like that, I was unmindful that how I picture life "affects" me. My pessimistic sentiment towards things was caused by wrong convictions.

I am a person who's afraid to take risks. I just hate to accept the fact that the only constant thing here on earth is change. I want terrible things to vanish or change, not good things.

Life on earth is a test. I am under supervision. I am always being tested. He watches me 24/7. He has his eyes on me. He watches my reactions to problems. He continuously watches my response to every situation, good or bad. In the book, it states there that, we are being tested by major changes, delayed promises, unanswered prayers or undeserved criticism. So true. In a very short span of time, I've been assessed in all angles.

When you finally understand that life is a test, you will start to look at your problems as invocations. You will start to be very responsive even with the smallest occurrence in your life. You will start to value life, and you will see things in a different way. Every day is a significant day. Every difficulty turns to be a blessing.

Life on earth is a trust. God owns everything. He provided everything we possess. I owe everything to him, including my life and the life of my son. Hence, I have to take the best care of it. God tests us also to see how trustworthy we are. He also watches how we deal with our finances. He expects a lot from those who have been given much. Everything has a purpose.

He wants me to be responsible.

My conclusion;

"I am a wonderful person; therefore, my life is wonderful!"

Faith in God = Positive Thinking ^^

Psalm 23
"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through
the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love
will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

between.me.and.god

Day 4: "When this tent we live in-- our body here on earth--- is torn down, God will have a house in heaven for us to live in, a home he himself has made, which will last forever."

Father, thank you for that promise, I do not fear my own death anymore. I desire to be with you. In your arms there's refuge, a promise of an eternal love. I want to go home. Your promises give me strength to carry on.


Jonah’s Disobedience 04/18/08 (Jonah 1:6)

The word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before Me.” 3 But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. So he went down to Joppa, found a ship which was going to Tarshish, paid the fare and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.

Like Jonah, I tried to run away from God but we both failed.

I've been very stubborn. I keep on running away. I am very "matampuhin".

4 The LORD hurled a great wind on the sea and there was a great storm on the sea so that the ship was about to break up.

So, what God does is... He uses people or circumstances to have our love back. He allows hitches in our lives just for us to go back to Him. That's how much He LOVES us. Walang kawala... He gives us storms, he uses people and sometimes, he disables us.

"Even if you disobey, God still has His way."

Just when you assumed you lost him, He is finding a way to get us back to him. Just like how a Shepard will take care of a lost sheep. He will break its leg, carry it and bring it back to where it belongs.

JB, I now understand why He took you away from me...

Just last week (when you left me), my dreams became so vivid. I discovered what I truly wanted to do. I felt really excited about it! I made plans... I pictured out my life. However, there's a problem. A big problem . I just ran away from my father, my provider and my greatest encourager.

Instantly, it didn't make any sense. He used someone to make me realize what my passion is-- to make me realize that I need Him... That without him life is worthless. I felt really scared about how my life is going to be without Him.

He also allowed emptiness and loneliness to fill my heart. I was so heart broken, so He knew that I would turn to Him...

Isolation. Depression. I've been in a complete darkness. I felt so alone.

So, I made a remarkable "U-turn".

All of a sudden, it was just ME and God.

I felt His presence. He wants the 100% of my being, my attention, friendship and love.

He didn't give up on me...

I was touched by his GREAT love.

"Lord, I repent. You own everything. I need you. I love you. You are my provider. You are my Father. I surrender my life to you. I trust in you. Your plans for me are greater than mine... Thy will be done Lord."

god.is.love

Day 1: “I have carried you since you were born; I have taken care of you from your birth. Even when you're old , I will be the same. Even when your hair has turned gray. I will take care of you. I made you and I will take care of you.”

I am not an accident.

I am here for a purpose. There's a reason behind my existence. He figured out the talents that I would be indowed with. He chose my guardians. He made me this way-- there's a reason why He made me small. He created me because He loves me therefore I should love myself.

Day 2: "God... is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of--- infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes"

Ish driven by guilt. I was wielded by memories. I thought that I had already moved on. I wasn't aware that I am already allowing my past to control me. I was skeptical to turn to God because of my past.

Ish driven by resentment and anger. I was holding the pain caused by traumatic memories for a long time. I forgive but I do not forget. I resent. I was holding on to the pain through bitterness. I didn't realize that it only hurts me. It even injures me more than the person I despise. I continued to fret in my pain.

Up to the present moment I find it difficult to forgive. It was never easy to forgive the people who have betrayed you. I am still in the process of learning the art of forgiveness. It is very difficult but I am trying... I am praying for his healing. I definitely want to be healed.

Ish driven by fear. I am a worrier. I fret a lot. I don't trust myself. I am afraid to go out on my comfort zone because I fear rejection and failure. I've been traumatized by my past. I grew up in an environment where people throw criticisms everywhere. I've been fearful to venture out.

Ish driven by materialism. I thought that if I only have everything that I want to possess, I would be happy. That's why, for me life is unfair! It just wasn't fair!!! "Why are they rich, and I'm not?", "Why do they have that, and I don't?" etc... A lot of whining. I always compare. That's why no matter what I receive, I never get contentment.

Ish driven by the need for approval. I didn't have my own identity. I worry about what other people might think of me. I am controlled by the opinions of others. The pressure is unbearable. I tried to please them the best that I can. I was trying to be someone that I am not.

My parents once said that I am ugly, so I lived my life believing I am ugly. My past boyfriends made me feel cheap and stupid, so I lived thinking I am cheap and stupid. Things like that...

The progress?

He gave me a fresh start. I am living in a "new life" with Him. My life revolves around Him now. It's the relationship I've been waiting for my whole life.

I learned that, if I can't trust myself, I can always count on him. At the same time, he will work on my confidence.

"I am confident because I trust him."

Everything made sense. Now my ultimate goal is to discover my purpose. My life is now focused ONLY on what's essential. He makes me realize what I need and even what I truly want in life!

Now, don't care what other people say about me. If I see them rich, high-maintenanced, or high profile, it doesn't strike me anymore. He satisfies me. I trust him. He has GREATER plans for me. My relationship with Him is my pride and joy. I don't want to lose it.

the.calling

Day 1: "It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eyes on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone."


Everything I'll do, I will do it for the Lord. I will do things that will glorify him. It's my goal to finally discover his purpose for me. I've never felt this good, contented, important, special and complete. He spoils me like a 2 year old kid. He gives all my needs. He supports me with everything! He never fails to amaze me.

This book (PDL, R. Warren) is one of my blessings. Thank you Judit!

JB once asked me, "What made you smile today?" I paused for like an hour and can't think of anything at all. *Laughs*

Oftentimes, we don't realize that those we consider "simple things" makes a BIG difference in our lives.

So, here are the things that made me smile today:
- The high speed internet connection (w/out it I can't set up this blog)
- The YM audible who laughs hilariously. (see audibles-> insults)
- Deion's good mood this morning (whew! it's hard to compromise with him)
- My favorite sinigang. (Yum!)
- My student who said he doesn't like school because it's boring. (I agree...)
- Judit's stories and her talent to "act" them up. (the best!)

When I received Jesus, everything made sense. I started to appreciate my life. I started to see how beautiful it is. I used to complain about life being soooooo unfair. I experienced feeling empty with no reason at all.

One day, I found myself crying asking God a lot of "WHY?" questions. I actually hated him. I have no bestfriend... Not even one single loyal friend... My parents abandoned me... I never had a boyfriend who took me seriously... I am not rich... He made me a single mom... etc.

I'll tell you this... He was there. He was listening while I was questioning him. He was there when I felt empty. He stayed beside me when I hated him. He was there with me when I was crying. He was there. He did not turn away from me. He made "a way" to bring me close to Him. He answered my questions.

"Me", He said.

He was the answer to all my questions.

He wants me to befriend him. He's the perfect bestfriend. He is my Father, and even if my parents forsake me, he will never forget me. He's the perfect parent. I don't need a man to make me happy or complete me. He's the perfect lover. My son is the perfect gift.

This is how special I am. My life changed. He changed it. I've learned that life isn't unfair with Jesus in your life. You just have to receive him. As I've said, it's all about HIM. It's not about ME.

purpose.driven.life

This is my Journey.

"You, Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in You."
-Isaiah 26:3


I pray that You, Lord God, will give me the Spirit of Wisdom and revelation so that I may know YOU better...


because...

at the end of each day, it will always be ALL about You Lord.

i.love.you

I love you Lord God.

Thank you for being a Perfect Father.

You overwhelm me with your Love.

"Show me Your ways, Oh Lord.
Teach me Your Paths;
Guide me in Your Truth and teach me.
For YOU are God, My Savior
and my hope if in You all day long..."
-Psalm 25:4-5