6 Days of Creation

A week ago, I stopped asking the Lord for answers, because all He answered me was everything will be alright. Just that, for months. Until I stopped praying. The moment I gave up, that was the moment He started talking to me for 6 consecutive days!!

1. Most often our anger and frustration are a result of trying desperately to change something we cannot change. The sooner we accept the reality and adjust our attitude, the better off will be. He will help you see the bigger picture so your attitude can adjust.

2. You don’t have to lose your mind. You don’t have to have a nervous breakdown. You don’t have to lose yourself. You can decide right now that you will trust God until He makes a way out of no way for you.

3. God is also a God of hope. In the past, when things didn’t go as you hoped you would, you would be all brokenhearted. In the past, when you didn’t get to do what you set out to do, you would be devastated with no motivation to go on. But you are growing and maturing in the things of God. You are learning God’s ways and you are learning how to trust in Him.

4. Don’t live in a state of self pity wondering who you would have been and where you would be right now if you had not gone througj what you did. Believe Him to restore everything you lost and give you more that what you had.

5. The more you grow in Him, the more He will continue to challenge you. He will help you confront every fear. He will have you do things you’ve never done and will instruct you to step out on faith in ways you never have before—all to teach you how to live by faith instead of fear.

6. You may say, “I don’t feel loving”, I don’t feel strong”, “I don’t feel motivated”, “I don’t feel I can do what God is requiring of me”. Instead of focusing on your feelings, focus on the truth of God’s Word. You can do all things through Christ which strengthens you.

6 days of messages from Him was like 6 days of Him making me again – same as how He made everything. On the 7th day, I stand up, renewed and ready to face the challenges again.

I gave up, and believe me, everything was harder the moment I stopped talking to Him. If there are things that I have learned, NEVER GIVE UP and TRUST HIS TIMING. Thank You, Lord for shaking me thru this experience. I am done drowning, now I have become stronger. 🙂

Day 1: God’s Love

Ola!

So, a major decision in my life was made yesterday, and it is to step up in my service, from a Youth For Christ member to Singles For Christ, because I am not getting any younger.

Yesterday, I had a fresh start in Singles For Christ: Christian Life Program. The first talk was about the God’s Love. Since I came from the family ministry as well, I am already aware of God’s love to me, but then, I just felt that it is all a fresh start and renewed faith.

The speaker emphasize God’s love through others. Making the people around us the channel of His love.

Then I started reflecting,

Do I thank those people enough because they have been with me in every ups and downs in my life? Or do I just take them for granted? So as well as, am I a channel of God’s love to others? Am I being a blessing to others? Do I share God’s love as well to the people around me?

After the talk, the challenge was, we could give back the love God has given to us by loving others, but how can we love others?

When I just thought that I had the God’s message already by that afternoon, right after the program, I had a date with my co-Youth for Christ in a cafe. From our seat, there is this decor that says,

“He has made everything beautiful in its time.”

My heart is still broken from a relationship, but I am reminded today to be back in the waiting game, and be His princess again. I believe in His timing, perfect timing.

Going back to the message of embracing others as a sign of loving God. Just this morning I received a phone call from my grandmother, saying she needs me to be her companion for two weeks. I will be back to her house, where I was during my high school days. So responding to God’s love, I believe that I must show my love to my Lola.

And also, this morning, I received an invitation from my college friends to have a mini catch ups, I never really contacted them since our graduation, and I now is the perfect timing to catch up things with them.

 

I just can’t believe how God is moving accordingly to His messages to me. He told me to bring back the love to others, then here comes my grandma situation. He told me that everything is beautiful in His time, the he gave me the invitation to catch up things with my college friends.

And what’s more interesting and loving about myself today? It is that everything is starting fresh and it is all because of God’s love to me. ❤

Here’s for the new start with the people around me, new beginnings with the feelings within us, and new challenges of life with God.

 

If you’re reading this, I also challenge you to bring back God’s love to others. Let us be a channel of God’s love to our surroundings.

 

G?

G!

 

 

 

We Stand For Jesus

Have you ever experienced staring at children and a certain question suddenly pops in your mind? Like “What could be the future of these kids?” or suddenly prayed “I wish I am a kid again, no worries and all fun”. If you are the kind of person who always reflects, I bet you already experienced it.

As for me, I always experienced it. I always ask, “Can she still remember me years from now?”, “What could be their work when they grow up?” “Would they stay as kind and sweet as they are now when they turn to teenagers?”

Last weekend, a conference was held in Legazpi, Albay. (behind the scene photos are already posted in my previous posts) And I think that my questions above are already answered.

Who would imagine that these person was once our Kids For Christ?

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And now, they are with me serving the Lord. Yes, it really sounds I am an adult now, but I think it is one thing I am proud of, I grew up serving the Lord. And I am gladly to serve the Lord with the people who I used to served for.

As I grew serving the Lord, I realized that I am standing for Jesus already. I will still stand for Jesus as much as I can.

These kids we used to serve are now also serving other kids. And it answers my questions. Kids can be a servant of God as well if we only pray continuously for them. Kids can be a servant of God if we never let go and never give up to them. Kids can stand for Jesus if We can also stand for Jesus.

As for my stand, I wanted to share these photos of kids that our team captured during the conference.

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Something I liked the most to kids is their innocent faces. It is so innocent that all I want to give them is the love of God that needs to be shared. I always pray that their hearts and minds would be open for Christ, instead of worldly things in life. I pray that they would also have the heart of a servant just like those who were once kids and now serving the Lord with me.

Here’s a calling for us, servants, we need to stand for Jesus.

Since these kids can see us as their role model, they would also imitate us, so as We Stand For Jesus, these kids will also Stand For Jesus.

Just like last year’s conference, this year’s family conference has been so personal to me again. It is also a calling for all to strive for our family, just like these families.

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This emphasize the need for a family to catch up, even every dinner. In our family, it is a must to have a dinner together while our mother asks us “Kamusta ka?” / how are we in our aspects in life, a daily catch up, like, how was my day at work, how was the day of our younger brother at his school, how was my elder brother’s client deals, simple questions that really meant a lot for us. And there were times when I was away from them over the weekend to attend conferences like this, they always say that they miss me, and asks how was the conference. As soon as I get home, there’s the need to catch up with them and I would tell them how happy the conference was.

Family should be the major strength in us, when life gets rough, I know there’s a group of people (my family) who has my back.

So I say, Family Dinner is very important.

I thank the Lord for this conference, and I am excited for what’s next for us.

For us, again, Let us Stand for Jesus and finally declare that

KFC Cavite goes to IKV Iloilo!!

PS: This is an old post. Retrieving from by blogspot account. But the feels are still there! 🙂

First of all, para sa mga nagsabing “Uy, bigtime! IKV Iloilo!”, this is all I have to say, “No, hindi kami bigtime, hindi biro ang ginawa naming pagiipon para sa IKV Iloilo. Hindi biro ang gumawa ng sandamakmak na articles para lang may pang plane fare. And mas lalong hindi biro ang magpaalam sa magulang ko para sa first airplane experience ko. hahaha.” We are all just driven by our passion for our service. We just felt God’s grace by making this IKV Iloilo experince possible. It took a lot of faith struggles before we finally come up with “Yes! nakabook na tayo! g na talaga!”

December pa lang, pinaghandaan ko na to. Niregaluhan ko pa nga si Joyce ng alkansya para makapagipon na kami. Naka ilang “Ano, magkano pa kulang natin?”, “Abang pa tayo ng murang fare” at “pano na tayo?” hahaha. Indeed, God never left our side.

So here goes our journey.

I have my two very mission buddies, A and Joyce. May 1, Friday lumipad na kami paIloilo. Yes! haha.

From Iloilo Airport, ang tagal pa pala ng byahe para makarating sa mismong venue. pero ayos lang. It is all worth it. Pagkarating namin, kinuha lang namin yung ID namin then punta na kami to respective committees namin. And as usual, nasa Docu Team ako. haha.

And since wala pa din naman masyadong ginagawa, chill muna with my docu buddies.

Finally, I had my photo with this Love Project drop. yey!!

Sorry not sorry, but kids’ faces are my fave subject! These are all mine. And I am so honored that these photos are posted in KFC Page. First time ko lang kasi magDocu sa International event. hahaha. Kaya tuwang tuwa pa ako.

Docu buddies!

Second Day! Para makapunta sa venue galing sa accomodation namin, kelangan muna namin mag trisikad. hahaha. tricycle na side car!

Relaxing with Docu buddies. haha. Sobrang epic, kasi tumakas kami since workshop time pa naman and wala masyadong idodocu, so nagMoonleaf Tea muna kami. Dahil takas lang kami, we didn’t expect na makakasalubong din namin dun ang program team. haha. IN short we all had a sweet escape. I also think that we deserve a short relaxing moment. haha.

Wait, syempre. Paselfie muna akoooo!

Highlights of the IKV magazine! Proud photog here! yey!!

KFC ROCK Cavite Team!!

Before bidding goodbyes to my docu buddies!!

Sisters trip! hahaha. Hi JOyce and ate Wating!

Birthday ng loving coordinator ng Cavite. ❤

Hello from KFC Cavite!!!

This is just few of my IKV experience.

Not just the IKV but also God’s messages from each and every one of us. We are moved. We are pumped to love more! Horay for this mission! Thank You Lord for the gift of mission, friends, family and LOVE!!!

I love You, Lord!!!

You Matter and You are Valued

“He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.” Ephesians 4:16 NLT

Let this scripture minister deeply to your heart today. No matter how you may feel, you matter a great deal in God’s Kingdom. You are an instrument in His symphony and a beautiful expression of Him in the earth. No more valuable than any other part, but valuable nonetheless. To the Lord you are very special and when you obey Him by doing your part you cause a tremendous amount of strength to flow throughout the body of Christ. Your obedience blesses and inspires others. Your obedience causes the whole body to be healthy, to grow and to be full of love. You are vitally important to your brothers and sisters in Christ whether they realize it or even acknowledge it.

God is affirming you today: “You matter to Me. Don’t you see? I called you for such a time as this. Walk not with your head hung low as if you have nothing to give. I have filled you with My Spirit and grace. I have given you My all. Give your all to Me. Give your all. Let Me use you to the fullest extent. Let me be glorified in you. For you matter and you are valuable to Me.”

(Daughters of the King, Devotion)

We will never be a FATHERLESS Generation.

FATHER –

 

According to Google:

A father is the male parent of a child. Besides the paternal bonds of a father to his children, the father may have a parental legal and social relationship with the child that carries with it certain rights and obligations, although this varies between jurisdictions.

But according to what I have learned and observed, a Father may be defined with 3 P’s. What are those? I’ll explain it later.

 

Our generation is now called a FATHERLESS GENERATION, because of only few of us has a father. With this generation, with pre-marital sex issues, boy who can’t be a man for what he had done, a boy who can’t stand being a father in an early stage, these are the reasons why many of us are fatherless. A man can just go away, but a mother can’t. We all lived in our mother’s womb for 9 months. For 9 months, we felt how we are loved by her, she can’t just take us away in her body. But for a father, yes, he can.

 

Besides of being a biological father, I believe that being a father is not just by blood, but by heart and the responsibilities he accepts for his child.

 

As I said earlier, here are the 3 P’s.

PASTORAL HEAD. 

As the Father is the head of the family, he himself should also be the Pastoral Head of the Family. He should be the one initiating the kids to grow up with the Lord. And not just that, not just by words, but also with actions. There are some fathers who wants to go to church with the family but does not the gospels to their family. As a father, he should be the one nourishing the family, proving and teaching the family of what is wrong and right.

PROTECTOR

As the Father, he should always prioritize the safety of your family. There will always be the questions, “Are you home, son/daughter?”; “Where are you, son/daughter?”, because being a man means protecting your love ones, assuring that they are safe and not just physically but also emotionally. I admire those father who just secure their family if they are okay with every aspects of their lives.

PROVIDER

Here comes the very issue of I think most of the family has. As a father, he should be the one providing all of the needs of his family. He should assure that his family is in the right state. Provide foods for the health, educational needs of the children and of course the shelter. He should be a great provider.

 

Those 3P’s are the ideal identity of a Father. But wait, if your father does not qualify those 3 P’s, it does not mean that he is not a good father. There are some circumstances as well in life that a father could not come up with those characteristics.

I am not telling this to put all the fathers down for those who can’t be the Pastoral head, Protector and Provider.

My father does not reach those qualification as well. Not because he does not wanted to, but because just as I said earlier there some circumstance in life that are unexpected. My father used to be the Pastoral Head of the family, but then our faith was tested. My father used to be the protector, but then our bond as a family was tested that leads to having individual lives. My father used to be our provider, but then he had an heart attack when I was in elementary and stopped to work.

But here is my main point. For those who can’t feel their fathers, who never had the chance to meet their fathers, who thinks their father is useless, this is the only thing I can say:

“Look at the Father above, He is our real father.”  

He is our main Pastoral Head.

Ephesians 6:4

⁴ Fathers,do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

He is Protector.

Psalms 91:1

Whoever goes to the Lord for safety,
    whoever remains under the protection of the Almighty,
² can say to him,
    “You are my defender and protector.
    You are my God; in you I trust.”

He is Provider.

Philippians 4:19

¹⁹ And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

 

See.

Reflect.

Do you understand that we will never be a Fatherless Generation?

That up there, someone is hearing our cry, someone is comforting us, someone is concern with us, someone is protecting us, someone is providing our needs, and someone is loving us eternally.

I believed I could, so I did.

Today was just a normal day, but it’s FRIDAAAAAY, and PAYDAAAAAAY.

Waking up in the morning with a headache was one of the worst thing I could ever feel, but what’s worse? It’s waking up with bills in front of you. I woke up with my mom saying, “Bigay mo yung phone bill natin sa ate mo.” And there, now I feel the adulthood stage.

I am 20, but I can’t imagine my life with this one. When I was 14, I wanted to be 20, so I can have a boyfriend with the consent of my parents because I am at the right, I can travel whereever and whenever I wanted to, I can go on roadtrips overnights, I can do whatever I wanted, but now that I am 20, its total different.

Yes, I do have a boyfriend, but because I am 20, we’re both busy living our lives.

Yes, I can travel where ever and whenever I want, but I have to accept the consequence of being terminated with my job because of absences, and I have to accept the guilt of not helpingy parents with our bills.

Yes, I can have the roadtrips I wanted, but i have to suffer on the next day on work being so sleepy.

When we wanted something, it all has the consequence. And I think, this what it takes to be an adult.

While I was on my way to work, I saw a high school student from Bethel Academy and, OH MY, I MISS BEING A STUDENT!!

When I was a student, I have my weekly allowance where I could just buy anything i wanted.

When I was a student, I can just skip classes in order to sleep, or when i am sick.

When I was a student, I can handle my time.

All long, I feel young enough to handle adulthood, but old enough to stay in teenager life.

Sometimes, I question my life, is this the life I wanted? Go to work every Mondays to Saturdays, Pay the bills, Worry for tomorrow, but then, I realized something.

Despite of my complaints, I feel blessed.

Blessed to have the strength for everyday work.
Blessed to have this work.
Blessed with the opportunity to support myself.
Blessed with the places I’ve been through.
Blessed to go on roadtrips and still has the strength for the next day.
Blessed to have a supportive boyfriend who is also busy with his career.
Blessed to have the ever loving family.

Alog my way to work, I stare in the kirror, what I saw was a matured woman. And I thank the Lord for this.

From this very moment, I realized that everything is a blessing, everything was put in my life to make me ready, to train me, to prune me. And I thank God for His ways.

When I thought, I have nothing as an achievement, I realized I have everything.

I believed I could so I did.

To believe means not just believing in yourself, but also believing in our God.

To more achievements to come.

For my work, more and more strength for everyday, and opportunities to grab on.

For my lovelife, more patience for us my dear. Someday we’ll reach our dreams.

For my health, yes, I wish someday I could also say, I believed I could have a fit body, so I did. (claiming for gym moments)

For my service, more callings and seeking the Lord.

I will never stop with believing

, so I could always say,

“I believed I could, so I did.”

LOOK. STAY. SHARE.

LOOK. STAY. SHARE.

I don’t know if my friends would know that I’m not okay, when in fact, I am really not.

It took weeks for me to blog about this one because I have to process it in my heart and mind.

Yes, I was over with our Mission Volunteer phase 1 training. But before my interview, I was really finding and seeking for clear answers from the Lord.

After months of discerning, I still can’t get what God’s answers to me, what He wants me to do.

While waiting for my turn, I pray harder, it was 8:00 and I still haven’t eaten my dinner, but instead of feeding my hungry stomach, I was led to Fullybooked forbunknown reasons.

Then for a moment, I knew the reason. Of all the books in the Biblical session, this book was the only one open for reading, all about DISCERNMENT.

When I read it, I think I saw myself in the character.

His story was abiut being a missionary, he discerned, and he believed God put him to the mission for the poor, but after months, he knew he was not called there. He’s a rich one, he didn’t found comfort in the poor place, he can’t stand not having a hot shower, soft bed, delicious food, he can’t, despite of the joy in mission.

For all he know, he was not called to be there, the joy wasn’t there, so he went home for a short break, and as he pray in the chapel, a girl approached him, and invited him for a mission for the disabled. By that moment, he found joy, he stayed, and shared what God has imparted in him.

The moment I was reading it, I saw a clear message from him, that I believed, God wants me to do in my situation.

LOOK. STAY. SHARE.

I am lost, with the religion I have. I am not a pure Catholic, but I am entering a Catholic mission, which is a total misleading. With my 7 years of serving our community, I didn’t embrace all of it. I was raised as an Aglipayan and believed in Christian beliefs because of my elementary school.

I was reminded by that story, I shouldn’t force myself when I am not really called there, but I should try because maybe, my heart was there.

LOOK for yourself; STAY with the Lord; and SHARE it to others.

I won’t be selfish, but right now, I felt like I don’t belong in this community. To the fact that no one ever asked me “Kamusta ka na?” And no one ever said, “Miss ka na namin, Ara”.

Looking for myself and standing up for my belief is what I wanted now.
And I am blogging this though no one cares because exactly, no one cares, tgis is the only output I could have.

God’s Greatest Masterpiece: YOU

Yesterday, I went to a very peaceful place, Palace in the Sky (Tagaytay City) for a photoshoot. I also had the time to reflect on how things on Earth are going and how am I dealing with it.

As I saw His wonders from above, I ask the Lord, “If I am this high, and all I can see is Your wonders, then what more can You see from there, Lord? I bet You could see the Earth. But Earth from above is not beautiful as it was. Are you disappointed on how man ruined Your creation?”

There are still wonders in His creations. Living in the city hinders us from looking at His wonders. The simple living. Living out of our comfort zone. Where we don’t need an air condition just to feel comfortable, because His amazing cold breeze is enough. Where we don’t need the vehicles just to get in one place because walking with His creations around us makes us feel complete. This place is really perfect for reflecting, unwinding and relaxing.

As I asked the Lord, I also found the answer, He replied to me, “I can see the beauty from here. Because it is not just the environment that I created, but also YOU. You are my masterpiece. And I love you. I will never get disappointed of what you’ve become. Because I am with you in your journey.”

His sweetness. His love never let me down.

When we are in the city, and we are so desperate to see His creations, we merely forgot that We, Ourselves are also His creation. We are His greatest masterpiece. And He will never be disappointed in the man we became.

But how come that He will never be disappointed on us when all we did is to sin. I am not holy as a saint. I also sin, and to be honest a lot. We are still humans after all. We make stupid decisions as well. Is God still proud of us?

We knew that God loves us in whatever we do. And that’s what makes it unfair. We always complain of the one-sided love, not knowing we have this one-sided love with God. He loves us very much, gives the best for us, but in return, all we gave Him is sin.

In the middle of my confusions, a group of High School Students shouted, “Walang Forever!” And the only reaction I did was, “Don’t they understand that there is FOREVER with God?”

Then there. We lack understanding. Understanding that we are His GREATEST MASTERPIECE.

We are His Greatest Masterpiece. Therefore, we are loved the most. We don’t need to seek for any affection from others. We are His, and only His.

We are His Greatest Masterpiece. Therefore we should not be afraid. Since we are favored, He is assuring us that He has the best plan for our lives.

We are His Greatest Masterpiece. Therefore we should know our worth. Being the greatest masterpiece, we should not lower our standards just to fit in the world.

We are His Greatest Masterpiece. Therefore we should bring back the glory to Him.

“I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful.