For the Courageous and Humble

After my first two jam-packed weeks of December, this week came like a rest week for me. :) I should really be resting now since I got a stiff neck... :( Never thought that having this was pretty hard-- when I look up, down, left, right... Or just have a simple sneeze, there's pain in the neck. Ouch. :(

Since it's pretty hard to move or do something really physical (but still thank God I got to do some of my laundry), I got more time to do some contemplating about the weeks that passed, some reading and writing. Activities that you don't need to move much haha!

And also I still have my hangover from these weddings and got some revelations about love in the context of a husband and wife (told ya, I still have my hangover!). :)

I heard from many people (mostly men), that love is only for the courageous. A man needs to be courageous when he lays his intentions of pursuing the woman that he loves. A woman needs courage to say "Yes" to the man and be completely vulnerable before him. A couple needs courage to face challenges together as a team and not anymore as individuals. And the list goes on. It's like embedded on my mind that if you want love, you got to be courageous.

One of my favorite shots from the #MikLang wedding :)

But God somewhat revealed to me, through these weddings that I have recently been to and through some conversations and observations from the couples that I know-- that if you want love (or you want somebody to love and be with that person for the rest of your life) you got to have not just courage but also humility. :)

People tend to just focus on the "sugar and spice and everything nice" when entering marriage that they almost neglect this part of the reality that marriage is also hard work and the wedding is not an ending but only a beginning (I was never married though, but most of the married couples that I know usually say this, or at least that's the idea when they relate some of their husband-wife stories).

"Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Saviour. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church..." -Ephesians 5:22-29

It's a commitment to forevah! (Image from fashionplaceface.com)

Marrying someone comes with a string of commitments...

Commitment of service

Commitment of sacrifice

Commitment of submission

Commitment of purity

Commitment of pursuit

Commitment of purpose

If we are not humble enough, we will not be able to do these. God's grace is needed, and God gives grace to the humble.

We need humility to serve, whenever we do our sacrifices, whenever we submit to God and also for us ladies, to our husbands. We have to have it to keep our purity, to keep pursuing the one you love and to continue to live under God's purpose (this is intertwined with our commitment to submit to God). And yes, I think we got to also have courage to swallow up our pride and be humble. That we are not always strong and not always right. Be brave and humble to know and accept that we have imperfections too, that we are not perfect, so we won't be hard on other's failings.

Just like Jesus, who showed our love for us when He humbled Himself. God became human and made His dwellings among us. He's been so humble that He chose to die a shameful death on the cross just to prove His love for us. And He was also courageous when He chose to do that. He was courageous AND humble.

Love is then, not just for the courageous... It's for the courageous and humble. ♥

3 Weddings and a Birthday

The first two weeks of December feels like a year! A lot of things had happened... or should I say, many couples got married for it's becoming a norm to get married on December here in the Philippines. All of the 3 weddings that I've been to are weddings of my friends from the church. :) (And I was also present to all of their bridal showers!)

#PeeweeIrisIDo

This year, it was my first time to celebrate my birthday in a friend's wedding! :) I wasn't really a guest but I was part of the team who prepared for it (I was more involved in the creative and styling part). :)

Last meeting (night before the wedding) for the Peewee-Iris nuptials

I had sleepless nights before the wedding because of the preparation but it's fine with me. It's always been my desire to be involved in a wedding specially if it's for a friend and when I'm with my friends! :) Thank you Lord for the roaring strength! :)

Happy wedding and happy birthday! :D

December 6 started early for me since I have to be in the wedding venue early in the morning. Thank God for my parents who went with me there early and had a breakfast with me at Coffee Bean! :)

This was also a test of faith for all of us! It was really a risk to held a wedding ceremony outdoor since there was a threat that typhoon Ruby will visit us with her rains and thunderstorms. But! Thank God He answered our prayers! It was a sunny-windy day and not even a single drop of rain came! What a happy wedding for the couple, Peewee and Iris and a happy birthday to me! :)

The wedding ceremony and reception ended and it has been a long day, so I thought that we will don't celebrate my birthday anymore but! Surprise! We celebrated it at again, in Coffee Bean! :) God knows how I really appreciate this, even though we are all feeling groggy and sleepy, my friends and my sister still made some time to celebrate my birthday with a few hours remaining for the day. :) A pleasant surprise indeed... :)


#MikLang Wedding

The following weekend (December 12, 2014), I witnessed another glorious wedding! A sunset and the Taal lake in front of us and a rainbow behind us! No event stylist or wedding coordinator can intentionally pull this off... only God. :) Both of the couple are my friends and I've been with them in Cambodia to share God's love to the Khmers. I'm thankful and I appreciate this couple, sooo much! One of the reasons is that they are so generous with advises and imparting wisdom when it comes to courtship and being in a relationship. :) They honored God in their relationship and they are proud of it! And it was also their first time to kiss on their wedding day! ♥

(Dear Papa Lord, can You also bless me with a glorious wedding like this one when Your right time (and the right man) comes to me to get married? ^-^)

God somewhat "spoiled" us with these: a sunset and a rainbow!

#JacqDaWedding aka #BIGatinwedding

This was on December 13, 2014 or 12-13-14!

Hahahaha! I was laughing all the time during the wedding ceremony! The bride, Jacq, is also a friend of mine and so far she's the most unique bride that I have known! Why? Because she's the only bride that I know who was howling (like cheering herself) while she's walking down the aisle! Woohoo! :D It think I was smiling big (and howling also) while she was walking towards her groom, holding her pomelo-colored bouquet and wearing that usual big grin on her face! (and Daryl, the groom, was crying by the altar. Aww...)

God's grace was really evident in this wedding... there were a lot of setbacks and it even rained before the ceremony started! But just what Jacq said, the wedding still took place because of God. And I say, "Amen!" :)

It also felt like a reunion for me since I had friends that I didn't have spent time with for some seasons now who were also present in the wedding. :)

The color motif was black and white... Not common colors for a wedding right? :)

So yes, it's been a loooong first two weeks of December! Not to mention I have also attended several Christmas parties too in this span of time... :)

All I can say is... Thank You Lord. :) For the 3 weddings (and more to go) that I attended and for another year (and more) that You have blessed me with. :) I just turned 26 and I believe the 2nd quarter of my life will be better compared to the first one because of You, Jesus. ♥

‘But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
    whose confidence is in him.
They will be like a tree planted by the water
    that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
    its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
    and never fails to bear fruit.’
-Jeremiah 17:7-8

Bridal Shower Madness

Over this past weekend, I've been to 3 shower parties that started last Friday til Sunday (well, it was a Shag (Shower and Stag) party that I attended last Friday). :)

It's been really a weekend of laughs and sharing of wisdom and encouragements.

I've never been into a romantic relationship, and I will never be unless the goal for that relationship is marriage. Though it's not a popular idea nowadays, I still believe that it is a wise move because it will help you to at least spare yourself from unnecessary hurts and pains and emotional roller coaster rides.

From all of these shower (and a shag) parties that I attended, I just have some thoughts about marriage, relationships and love (don't think that I'm an expert on these, but talking to many godly people who have been there is really like stumbling upon an oasis in hot desert where you can gather enough water for your own journey).

Shower filled weekend!

Enjoy your season of being single.
Yes it's not really new but this still rings true. :) It will going to be a whole new world once you get married. There are many things that you enjoy doing while you are still single that you may not do again once you already have a spouse (example: sleeping alone in bed hehe!). And if you are not happy being single, then most probably you will never be happy being married too! Save money while you still don't have your own family to support, develop yourself as a person, be the right person for the one that you are going to marry by preparing for him/her, be a blessing to many people, etc. There are a lot of meaningful and significant things that you can do while flying solo. :)

Don't rush but instead also enjoy your time being single with the Lord. We need Him in every season of our lives (single or not), and I believe we will be needing more of Him and His grace once we got married with an imperfect person like you and me. :)


Every story is different.
Every love story is different from each other and God have His ways in doing it beautiful for His children. What important is, God is the Writer and the Builder of that story and relationship. :)

Unless the Lord builds the house,
    the builders labour in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
    the guards stand watch in vain. -Psalm 127:1

Be who you are.
You don't need to be somebody aside from being yourself. Like Jesus, believe that someone will love you and accept you... ♫ just the way you are... ♫ :) Of course there will still be some things that you need to develop like character traits, but what I mean is you don't need to change if your goal is to be liked back by the person you admire, or to change so that men (or women) might notice you. I believe that when we enjoy being ourselves, God will be pleased--who is our Creator. I'm saying this specially to women. Don't think like...

"I think I should be like her..."
"I should be like this because this is what he likes..."
"If I can be more like her, maybe he will notice me..."

Stuffs like that.

Our goal is not to be someone else... Our goal is to be more Christlike! Not to be "very likeable" or be "crushable". It is to be Christlike! So don't focus on them but focus on Him-- Jesus! :)

There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:...

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
-Ecclesiastes 3:1 and 11

Image form amendesigns.com

Color blocking

Color blocking by happymitchy on polyvore.com

Ways To Wear The Little Black Dress

Ways To Wear The Little Black Dress by happymitchy on polyvore.com

Soft and Dainty

Soft and Dainty by happymitchy on polyvore.com

Take me to the ball

Take me to the ball by happymitchy featuring a choker collar necklace

High and Light

High and Light by happymitchy featuring platform pumps

Knock knock! Who's there?

Would you still knock even if the door is already closed? But thinking about it, you would not knock on the door that is not closed. I was reading this common passage in the Bible one day and somewhat it spoke to me in a different tone.

This was during the time Jesus was teaching about prayer (remember The Lord's Prayer?). Then He continued and told about a story of a man who goes to a friend at midnight...

"5 And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; 6 for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7 and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’? 8 I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs." -Luke 11:5-8 (NKJV)

So I asked God if I got this one right after reading this passage again... That there are times that He will answer and give to us what we've been praying for not because we just know Him (v. 8a- " I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend...), but because we are bold AND persistent in asking Him (v. 8b- "...yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.").

That even though the door is already closed and others have already turned us down (v. 7- "and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’), He will still answer us because we are bold AND persistent in asking Him. Because we are always asking, seeking and knocking... and so He will move and give to us as much as we need (v. 8- "I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.").

Image from intimateweddings.com

There are times when God teaches us two things in praying- let go or hold on. "Let go" because maybe He will give something better to you, more than what you are asking from Him. Or simply because it is not just part of His will... His good, pleasing and perfect will. And "Hold on", maybe because He is just teaching you to be patient or to be bold and persistent.

"7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." -Matthew 11:7-8 (NKJV)

So, not all "closed doors" are also lost opportunities. Sometimes, with God's leading, we just have to knock on that door!

"9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!" -Matthew 11:9-11 (NKJV)

Bottom line is, our God is the Good Father. He gives good things to His children who ask Him! :)

Coffees, Teas and Cakes

Wow! I was so happy when I got to read an email today from Coffee Bean Philippines! :) It's not really a big thing but I was just happy to also share to other Coffee Bean lovers our story as the "Overfellowshippers"! :) My post was featured in their Brew Your Best Year site just yesterday under the "Your Coffee Bean Story". :)

Click the picture to read the whole post that I'm talking about! ;)

Overfellowshippers at CBTL! :)

About Trees, Tierra and Trust

Last Saturday, we had our bonding time with some of our kids church volunteers. We did tree planting and then had our lunch and some games after. :) It was my first time to experience tree planting somewhere in the mountain haha!

We have people from the government who went with us (they are from the DENR- Department of Environment and Natural Resuorces) and they are the ones who guided us all throughout. I had a short conversation with one of them and I think he's been working in the DENR for a very long time and told us some stuff about trees. :)

He told us that you can't just plant trees every where since there are different types of trees. Well I know that there are trees that can only grow in a tropical country, and there are trees that can flourish in countries that have four seasons. He didn't told us that but what he said is more of like a "tree's behavior" and its different functions.

Image from www.typesofeverything.com

Say there are trees that suck up more water than the usual, then there are trees that gives out water. There are trees that are fit to be planted in the mountains for their roots are perfect in supporting or holding the soil together. There are trees that are good to be planted in urban areas but there are trees that are dangerous to be planted in there. Example is the Acacia tree. It is kind of dangerous because on the outside it may look sturdy, but on the inside it can be hallow. Sooo... there's a big chance that it can be uprooted or be cut down by itself. He also mentioned that if the place is endemic with birds, then Mahogany trees are not the best trees to be planted there. He told us that the Mahogany trees tastes bitter to the birds so they don't opt to live there (Ooooooohhh.. (: )

Then I got this "God moment" while I was planting the tree seedlings that I have. God puts us (or plants us) in a place where He knows we will bloom. He created us, and so it is just right that He perfectly knows us... Our behavior, weaknesses and strengths. Or He can put us in a place where He knows our hidden skills or talents can surface. Sure there can be times when we doubt God's ways, we think in ourselves if this place where He is leading us is a place where we can bloom. But then He is God, and He knows waaaaay more than what we know. If we surrender our lives to Him and trust on His leading, then wherever He plants us, that will be a place where we can bloom. :)

"Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
    Nor stands in the path of sinners,
    Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
    And in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree
    Planted by the rivers of water,
    That brings forth its fruit in its season,
    Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper." -Psalm 1:1-3

The Clingy Ruth

I've been recently reading the book of Ruth. Several times I've read this whole book in the Bible (it's only 4 chapters short), and it's always an inspiring story of hope, redemption and love.

While reading this book, these verses somewhat struck me again,

"But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.”  -Ruth 1:16-17

This was the time when Naomi decided to go back to her hometown in Israel after her husband and years later, her two sons died. Her sons were married to Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth. Orpah stayed in Moab but Ruth clung to her and said this strong declaration that she will not leave Naomi... ever. (She's one very clingy daughter-in-law!)

Illustration from distantshores.com

The story of Ruth is also known in the realm of love-- the Boaz and Ruth couple. From them came the lineage of David and so of Jesus. But this will not came to be have not Ruth stayed with Naomi from the start of the story. It's very obvious that Ruth loved her mother-in-law so much that she's very willing to leave everything behind just to be with her, wherever she goes--may it be in her hometown or anywhere else I believe.

In this time of the year, we always have a series of preaching in our church that is focused in world missions. I somewhat had it connected, the statement of Ruth to Naomi, in world missions.

I've been to short mission trips before, and they were really life-changing and fulfilling. Whenever I am asked if I'm going to go someday for long-term missions, I usually say I don't know or I am open with the idea. I sometimes think that I can just marry a missionary so to be in a long-term missions haha! But yeah, that was just a crazy idea that crosses my mind sometimes about going long-term. :)

But the real question is... Can I say and do what Ruth did? Say when the time comes, will I be able to say and do it like she did? Going where God told me to go? In this I was reminded of these verses that I believe God had given to me during our annual prayer and fasting by the start of this year...

"From one man he made all the people of the world. Now they live all over the earth. He decided exactly when they should live. And he decided exactly where they should live. God did this so that people would seek him. Then perhaps they would reach out for him and find him. They would find him even though he is not far from any of us." -Acts 17:26-27 (NIRV)

So wherever God will be placing me (or you my dear reader (: ), it is something that is already been planned even before we became humans. And when He calls, He gives grace. :) It is just a matter of seeking God for His will for our lives and trusting Him as we obey. :)

Three Simple Thoughts

I've been keeping a journal for like four years now. I finished another notebook (actually it's a planner and I turned it into a journal hehe) just yesterday, and did some "throwback" reading of my past journal entries.

Image from www.scribetime.net

My journal entries are my conversations with God written on paper. :) I write whatever I'm feeling, my prayers and even tantrums or just about anything! Most of them are also my devotional entries from His Word, the Bible. I noticed a short yet helpful entry that I had last June 6 that I would want to share here. :)

¹⁹ When you lay siege to a city for a long time, fighting against it to capture it, do not destroy its trees by putting an ax to them, because you can eat their fruit. Do not cut them down. Are the trees people, that you should besiege them? ²⁰ However, you may cut down trees that you know are not fruit trees and use them to build siege works until the city at war with you falls. -Deuteronomy 20:19-20

I don't know... But three thoughts from this passage came to my mind on the time I read this:

1. Do not tolerate sin. Cut away the things that cause you to sin in your life.

2. There are things from your past that you can learn from them and help you grow.

3. But there are also things from your past that you can't neither benefit nor grow from it. Cut them or let go of them so the burden will be lighter. It can help you advance in your battles in this life.

Simply put--- Don't tolerate sin. Learn to grow. Let go to grow.

I wrote this on my journal for over a month ago, but I think God is reminding me again of these three simple thoughts from this "throwback" journal entry. Truly His Word is always timely. :)

WWJD in a Sportsfest

WWJD stands for "What Would Jesus Do". Just want to share my God-moment that I had last Ministry Sportsfest in my home church. We had basketball, volleyball, badminton for sports and a cheering competition. I came from the Kids Ministry and I joined our volleyball team with some of my co-volunteers. So we had practices for few days and I also supported our cheering squad.

To make this one short, we didn't win any of the sports and even the cheering competition. Though we are really promising in all of it (except for the basketball sport hoho!). This made me a little sad, thinking that God didn't honor our sacrifices and hard work. We gave our best and all that but still things didn't went in our favor. Then I thought of Jesus.

Sometimes, it's really not about winning, but it's about giving your all. Yes, this sounds very cliche... But just what Jesus did, He gave His all to the world without the assurance of winning all of the people. But still He loved and He gave, and I believe that is what we did in this past sportsfest-- we gave our all, fiercely, lovingly and with joy... without the assurance of winning. :) In the end we gained new friends and built relationships with other kids ministry volunteers that we didn't even know that existed until this sporting event. This I believe is far more important than winning trophies and awards. :)

Isaiah 49:4
But I said, “I have labored in vain;
    I have spent my strength for nothing at all.
Yet what is due me is in the Lord’s hand,
    and my reward is with my God.”

Point is to give your all in whatever God had called you to do... for what is due us and our reward is with Him. :) Like what our motto in Kids Ministry says, "Whatever it takes!" So thankful that God called me to be in this ministry... or should I say, family! ♥

FUN. FAITH. FAMILY. :D

Photo collage from Ren :)

Better together! :)

The "Why" behind the "What"

Hangover.

That would be the one word that best describe what I am feeling right now after our Victory Kids Teachers Summit 2014 last February 20-22 at Island Cove, Cavite. Ever since the first time I attended this Teachers Summit last 2012, it has always been part of my yearly faith goal to be able to attend. It's really a great time for the kids ministry volunteers to be refreshed, equipped and to be reminded again of why we do what we do.

Let me share a short story with you why I ended up being a kids ministry volunteer. It became so influential in my life that I am now an art teacher for kids. I was "forced" by my former small group leader and by a friend who was with the same small group with me to join. Both of them were active volunteers in the ministry here in our local church. They said I would best fit in the Preschool age group, since I was a Fine Arts graduate and they have craft-making there. So I signed up even though I really don't have that great desire to be part of it. I thought before, God blessed me with these talents so it's not bad if I use them for kids ministry, and I have few friends there (and my sister volunteered in this ministry before me) so "jelling in" with the people will not be that hard. :) But as the time goes by, I've spent more time with them and found out that they are the craziest, fun, loving, patient and passionate people that I have known. It's like they are the great combination of both "serious" and "funny". God used this ministry and the people for me to see His vision and know His heart for the next generation.

It's like someone pushed me towards a black hole and I couldn't do anything but to go with the magnetic force that is pulling me towards it. I kind of think that what happened to me. Kids ministry "magnetized" me towards itself... but I like it. I am thankful for it. (naks!)

Just to say since I have mentioned "magnetic force" and stuff, the theme for our Teachers Summit this year was "Magnet". It's making your kids ministry attractive to kids, to the parents and to the volunteers. All of the sessions were great and of good help but I just want to highlight my favorite part-- the worship night! We just sang to God with songs throughout the night with some short exhortations from the Word in between. One of them that struck me the most is this from Luke 2:41-46

"Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions."

Then the pastor asked the crowd, if there's anyone in the room who have been serving in the ministry for a time and that it's already becoming a routine... and didn't realized that Jesus was not with him/her anymore. Just like what in the verses mentioned, Joseph and Mary were just observing a custom (or in our case, serving in the ministry) which is generally not bad. But the thing is they were unaware that Jesus was not with them anymore. Many raised their hands and I'm one of them.

Ouch.

It has been really a super jam-packed February for me-- the meetings, preparations and stuff was starting to take a toll on me and I haven't realized it if it weren't for this worship night. I still have my quiet time and devotions... but it's not enough. It's like I am still not satisfied with it. It's like I'm running on a marathon and the sun is up, bright and shining and I'm all sweaty and tired but I just got to drink an ounce of water. Yet I still go on and run. I go and run and somewhere I don't know, I "left" Jesus and was unaware of it. During the worship night, I realized what was lacking in me was more of God's presence. That is why I feel always tired, I feel like almost giving up, stressed and burned out weeks before the Summit. One of the songs that we sang was a quite old song of Matt Redman, "Better Is One Day".

If I can just find the right words to explain how I felt during that time! Like I said, it's like I'm running on a marathon and the sun is up, bright and shining and I'm all sweaty and tired... but this time someone splashed a pail of cool water all over me! Or it was like God's presence was a pool or a body of cool water, and I dived into it!

AND THAT'S REFRESHING!!!

I realized the importance of really, REALLY in constant presence of God specially when you are serving in the church. You may really know the importance of what you are doing and may be really sold out in serving God and His people. But you know, when you are tired... you are tired! When you are dehydrated, even though in the heart of hearts you don't want to quit, you just can't go on because you are running on an empty state.

The pastor continued and it's should be a constant reminder for all who are serving in the church, in full time capacity or not, that ministry should always, ALWAYS be an overflow of God's presence or love in us and don't go running in the ministry with an empty supply. When you are always in God's presence, remembering the "why" behind the "what"... why are you doing what you are doing... will always be there with you.

A great reminder! I do what I do because of Him. :) ♥

A Love Letter For No One... Yet.

You got mail!

Dear You,

I think this is really a corny/cheesy idea... writing a letter (or a blog post on this matter) for you, but I'm doing it anyway. Maybe because of the season, it's February! It is when my Facebook news feeds are filled with posts about love. It is when the preachings in my home church (Sunday service, youth service and even in our Kids Church Tweeners service) are all about love. And it is when the malls are full of hearts and reds. Maybe somehow these also compelled me to do this. :) A little cheesiness won't kill me anyway. :)

I just want to say that I'm praying for you... Whoever you are. Before I wasn't that consistent, but this time I'm pretty much more disciplined in doing it compared before hehe. :) I think I'm more guided now in what to pray for you, God is just leading me so. :) I'm praying that you will be the man that God wants you to be, that He will bless the works of your hands and will make you fruitful in every area of your life. I'm praying that you will be a man that is after God's own heart and be excellent in your craft, that you will be a leader serving out of love, who is generous and a man of integrity that flees away from sin. A man who have a child-like faith. And above all else your greatest concern is honoring God, pleasing Him and glorifying Him.

Sometimes I think that you are not existing, and yes I'm open in being single for life. If that is the case, then this letter will be "null and void" and all of my prayers and preparations are just in vain, like a "chasing after the wind". But I am just keeping myself open with the idea of single blessedness so I may not be so focused with the fulfillment of the promise (you) that I'm on my way to neglecting/ignoring the Promise Giver (God). I just want to keep everything in good placing but really, I'm still praying for you and believing that one day I will meet you (or maybe I have already, I may still just don't know now).

I have many crushes but I'm praying that God will guard my heart and keep me emotionally pure haha! Please pray for me that I will be pure even in my emotions. I am praying the same to you. :) Reserved and preserved. :) As early as today, I'm already learning to love you and honestly sometimes it is not that easy, but I know God is helping me (He is my greatest "stirrer" you know! Haha!) It is also my prayer that God will not just prepare us but also our families and friends. Geez I have lots of friends who are excited to see you and sometimes I think they are even more excited than me haha! So don't be surprised if you have to meet many people from different groups of different shapes, sizes and backgrounds. :) But still no pressure! All is well in God's perfect time and ways. :)

This doesn't look like a love letter don't you think? Haha! It's quite challenging to write a letter addressed to no one. At least for now. :) And I hope one day when we both figured out who is the "you" in this letter, we will just at least have a good laugh at this! ;)

                                                                        From,
                                                                             Your soon-to-be bestfriend & suitable helper                                                            

Patches and Wineskins

I attended the first installment of our February/Love month series called "Crazy Love" in our church's Thursday youth service yesterday. To summarize our guest preacher, Ptr. Dan Monterde's message about love, using this very popular verse (and I believe this was also the first-ever Bible verse that I've memorized) in John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

He just gave 3 points about love from this. First is "Love is a decision" (God decided to love us. He loves us. Period. Love is not about feelings or emotions.), second is "Love is giving your best" (God gave His best to us, His only Son Jesus Christ) and "Love is eternal" (God is eternal, He is love and His love is eternal).

But I just want to emphasize on one of his message's chunks that was under point number 2 which is "Love is giving your best". He shared to us that loving is about giving and not gaining. The question should be "What can I give?" and not really "What can I gain?" Then he continued and gave some examples on how can you give your best to the person you love. One point is to respect the person's current season. It's also becoming the best for your love when you respect and maximize your own season right now--being the best child that you can be for your parents, being an excellent student or an outstanding staff in your work or just honing your craft or fostering your character (because a lot of people are looking/waiting for the best person for themselves but they are not being the best for the person that they are looking/waiting for). Every season have its reason (or reasons) and every season is a preparation for your next one.

Then I remembered these verses from one of  my quite recent devotionals in Matthew 9:16-17

“No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

This reminds me of seasons in our lives though Jesus didn't mention any word that you can directly relate to it. It just says that there are some things that we are not fitting to do in a particular season. If we still do, things will just get messy (the tear will get worse or the wineskin will burst). Unshrunk cloth will not fit on an old garment, neither new wine on old wineskins. It's like some of your old ways will not be fitting to do on your new season. There are some things that you do as a student that you cannot do as a single young professional. There are some things that you usually do as a single person that you cannot do as a married one. There are some things that you are so used in doing when you are 20 that you cannot do when you are 40. Of course we can still use our "free will" ticket and still do those things but just like the verse paints it, things will get messy. We may not see the effects for now but in the future we will.

It just doesn't fit.

Results might be unmet expectations, disappointments, broken hearts, regrets, should've, would've and could've thoughts, etc.

No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.

So let's preserve ourselves. :) Seasons will not adjust for us-- for our feelings, whinings and mayhems. Besides God is super wise that He knows what He's up to when He put us in the season that we are in on such a time as this. :) He is wise and He superbly loves us too that He will put us in our new seasons just in His right time and ways for our own good. :)

We only got 86,400 seconds in a day

First day of 2014. Felt like year 2013 was the longest year ever because many things happened (personally for me and in our nation) and it's overwhelming sometimes to think that it all took place in the same year. But like any other years that have gone before... it ended. And today it's another year for all of us to face.

It was like a roller coaster ride for me. There were a lot of ups and downs, twists and turns. There were times of mourning and times of celebrations. I've build new relationships with new people and bonded more with people that I've known before. All in all I am thankful to God for the year that was. 2013 started with a bang and it also ended with a BANG! Yes, a louder one! Haha!

Gratefully smiling! :)

Personally I have many things to be thankful for to God this past 2013-- for my family, friends, loved ones, in kids ministry at church where I am actively involved, for all the answered prayers (even to prayers that are still unanswered), for my new work, for the mission trips that I had (in Aparri and Cambodia)... the list could go on and on. For our nation Philippines, it's been really a tough year for us, but still thank God because He made the Filipinos tough. In our weakness we are mede strong because in our weakness, God's power works best. :)

For 2014, I relate it to a song that's been playing in my mind for these past days. It's not a new song, but it is a good one. :)

"We gotta start looking at the hands of the time we've been given If this is all we got and we gotta start thinking
If every second counts on a clock that's ticking
Gotta live like we're dying 

We only got 86,400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or to throw it all away
We gotta tell them that we love them while we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we're dying" -Live Like We're Dying by Kris Allen

I know that in God there are no calendars and there is no such thing as "new year", because I know that He is not bound by time. He is above time and He holds it. But for us unfortunately, we are. So maybe that's why God caused our ancestors to invent clocks, calendars, planners and organizers so we can keep track of our time.

"So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom." -Psalms 90:12

Image from funkycalendar.zoomshare.com

I just turned 25 last month, and it's been a fruitful and fun first 25 years of my life (thanks to Jesus). :) A lot of things happened that was not really part of my plan but it still went great. It's only a proof that God's plans are always better than mine haha! So it's like 2014 is the first year of the second quarter of my life (thinking if I'm going to live a hundred year just like my grandma). I have lots of plans, but of course they are still subject to change depending on God. :)

May we plan according to God's will in our lives. May we plan with a heart of wisdom. May we set our goals with faith not just in ourselves but with God who can do immesureably more than we can ask for. May we live like we're dying, living a life fully for God. :)

Charge on to 2014!