Moving on...

I lost my phone last Saturday, and it was my phone for these past 4 years. Huhu... :( It really looked so used up as its keypad is slowly "tearing off" but it still works. I remember that I saved up for this when I was still a student with my allowance and pay (I'm part of our university publication wherein I was an artist staff and we get "paid" depending on our work inputs). I even saved the first-ever text message that I received with that phone which is from my dear friend back in college (yeah, I'm like that.. ;P).

I believe that this is the Word for me from God, "Forget the past or don't dwell in the past because I am doing something new." And it's obvious that my lost phone is part of that "past" that I should forget... :((

So moving on! I started browsing, searching and looking for a new phone! ;)) Sony Ericsson is just the brand for me, maybe because for the last 4 years it was one of their model phones that I've been using and it's really user-friendly for me hehe. ;P

Image from software2tech.com

I just want it simple: SMS, camera, music & internet...and it doesn't have a Qwerty pad hehe. ;)

I'm believing for a brand new Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman God. :) Thank You! ;)

There's something about Mary

Do you remember that comedy movie with Cameron Diaz?

I'm familiar w/ that movie but I never watched it. But then I'm not going to blog about that movie. This is about Mary, Mary of Bethany. She's the sister of Martha and Lazarus (the friend of Jesus whom He rose from the dead).

Last Saturday I had my personal prophesy (meaning: God speaking to you through a human agent for strengthening, encouragement & comfort--1 Cor. 14:3) in the church that I'm in. I was nervous before my turn & very expectant that God will talk to me in this. I've been praying for this that God will prepare my heart and the people that He's going to use to prophesy for me. I also talked to some of my girl friends who already experienced it and fished for other stories. :)

It was really a memorable experience for me! My personal prophesy is so... well, personal! ;P Sometimes it felt like they have read my journal haha! :D Part of the prophesy for me is that my "Martha season" is about to end & I will be like Mary, her sister. I don't know much about her other than what I have mentioned above & that Martha is the "workaholic" one while she is the one who "chose what is better" (Luke 10:42). So I took time to know more about her by reading all the Bible accounts concerning her...and this is what I noticed. In all of these there is one "common denominator", she was always said to be...

"At the feet of Jesus..."

Image from preacherontheplaza.wordpress.com

At their home while Martha was so busy with all the preparations, she chose to be at the Lord's feet listening to Him. And Jesus said that she has chosen the better thing and it will not be taken away from her (Luke 10:38:42).

Before Jesus rose Lazarus from the dead, Mary got up quickly and went to Him when she learned from her sister that He is asking for her. When she reached the place where Jesus was and saw Him, she fell at His feet (John 11:28-32).

And she was also at the feet of Jesus weeping & wet His feet w/ her tears, wiped them with her hair & kissed them. She was also the one who poured an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume on His feet and the house was filled w/ its fragrance. Some objected saying that she's a sinful woman and what she did was such a waste. But Jesus said that she loved much & she did a beautiful thing to Him. Wherever the Gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her. (Matt. 26:7-13, Mark 14:3-9, Luke 7:37-50, John 12:3)

Mary is a humble servant of Jesus who loved much & was not afraid to display her great love to the One she loved most. He commended her love & extravagant display of worship & adoration for Him. Correct me if I'm wrong, though she's not that "popular" compared to Mary, mother of Jesus & Mary Magdalene, there are no other women whom He complimented like that in the gospel books. He didn't stopped her from what she's doing--because it's right, it's the better thing to do, it's a beautiful thing & it pleased Him. :)

If there are something to admire & mimic about Mary, that will be her humility, her love (because she loved much) & her extravagant & lavish display of worship & adoration to her Lord. :)        

Wandering Hearts

WANDERING HEARTS

Staring at the ceiling again
Pondering, thinking again
I don't know what to expect of you
But I just know that I'll be meeting you

There were times I thought I knew you
There were times I thought it was you
But after many suns & moons, believing it's true
Still I see myself waiting for you

As I move & I breathe
Been meandering under this atmosphere
So I muse if we're on the same road
Or sailing the same boat
And I hope our two wandering hearts
Will one day roam in this world no more

Image from http://www.rcwilley.com

** One of the fruits of having that one of those loooong moments with God. :) (I only slept for 2 hours I think hehe. ;P) I got so inspired that I wrote this simple poem for him... Whoever and wherever he is. :)

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." -Isaiah 43:18-19 

A new season. A new perspective. Same God. Exciting! :)

In all fairness and singleness

Image from christianitytoday.com

Yeah, I know. There is no such thing as Valentine's Day for God. God IS love & love IS God and I believe He wants us to spread the love beyond February 14. But then I noticed that Valentine's Day was like specially "packaged" for couples. Chocolates & flowers are suddenly in demand in the market, restaurants and malls have their valentine's promos fit for couples & TV programs have their valentine's specials, too.

Victory- UBelt

Valentine season is also very appealing to the youth so it's really a great time to appeal to them! We have this February series in our church for our youth services named, "Weird Love". It was really UH-MAY-ZING because on our week 1, we already have 6 overflow rooms filled with young people! Before the service starts the line even reached outside the building! :D GOD is BIG! ;))

Today, February 14, 2012 is my Sabbath day for the week! ;) Not that I did this on purpose but it just so happen that I don't have any appointment on this day. :) I'm just taking it easy today & not pressured to go out for the sake of this "season".

As I mentioned above, there is no Valentine's day for Him. Every day is a love day & we also should live and walk in love (Ephesians 5:2, 2 John 1:6). But honestly this morning, I prayed to God about this. (Haha! Not that I'm not happy being in this season but seeing & hearing love & hearts all over the place can make you pray such prayers! ;P)

Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. Mark 4:27-28 (NIV)

I may not know how He works but I just believe that God is working in the background. I don't know how, when & where, but like the verse say "...the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how..." I may not see it but God says something is happening... though I do not know how!

Some of you (single people in the house specially the ladies!) who are reading this might need to know, or at least be reminded of this: God is working in the background. Maybe you've been sowing seeds of prayers. Night & day believe that those seeds are starting to sprout & grow even if you don't know how. I can honestly say that I'm enjoying this season. When you are filled with God's love, you will not be looking for love from any place or any thing or from anyone. Instead, love will be overflowing from you that it should be shared! ;))

Image from RuthieDean.com

In all fairness & singleness! Let's just enjoy the season that we are in! Practice excellence, love God & love people, do great things for His Kingdom that you can do as a single, etc... As we work for the things that matters to God, He will work on the things that matters to us. And in the first place, it is God who put that desire in our hearts. :)   

That should be my prayer too!

Last Sunday's Word was about "Love at first sight", the first part of our February series, "Love Different". The gist was, don't focus on the external (the looks, the fame, the money, etc.) but on the internal (the character, the calling, the heart) of the person. Because the external will eventually fade, but the internal will stay. :) Love at first sight will not last because a "better sight" will always come along. There will be someone who is more good-looking or more fragrant or sexier, etc. But then this doesn't say that we should "abandon" our looks, instead we should just invest more on our character-building and spiritual growth. :)

Image from victory.org.ph

On our way home, my sister told us this story that was sort of a "love at first sight"...but that was God-ordained. Hmmm! (She is currently on missionary training so she got a lot of real-life faith stories that are really awe-inspiring! ;P) There was a man who prayed to God & asked Him to "blind" his eyes from all the pretty ladies. He prayed that he will just see the beauty of the woman the Lord purposed for him.

Image from imgscraps.com

To cut the story short, God granted his request. He never dated because he was not attracted to anyone or got interested to any ladies he met or know. People thought that he was a handsome snob. Then his friends set him up for a blind date & after all the urging he reluctanly gave in to it. When the day came for their blind date his friends told him to pick her up in her church where she was practicing with their church's music team then. As the man entered the church and saw the woman whom his friends set up for their blind date, the "scales from his eyes" came off (while my sis is telling us this story I exclaimed, "Wow! It's like Saul's conversion! Haha! ;P) and saw her very beautiful. He said to himself that she's the one whom he will marry & eventually they tied a knot. :)

Well, I don't know but I realize I should be praying the same prayer. It's true that the heart is deceitful above all (Jeremiah 17:9), but I believe that our eyes contributes to that deceitfulness. ;) Not all that are pleasing to the eyes are really, well... pleasing! I remember Eve and the forbidden fruit in this!

It's like a "love at first sight" story, but then what is remarkable is how the man surrendered it all to God and how God delivered. :) Who got all the glory? The King of Glory, Himself! :D

PS. And I also pray that the man for me will also pray the same prayer. Reserved & preserved. BOOM! :))       

An on-going courtship

"Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert & speak tenderly to her... "In that day," declares the Lord, "you will call me 'my husband'; you will no longer call me 'my master'. -Hosea 2:14 & 16 (NIV)

Courtship stage. This is when the man pursues the woman that he desires to be with. It is the man in pursuit of winning the woman to have her & be with her. It can be also taken as a getting-to-know-you stage where both parties can be more familiar with each other: their likes and dislikes, how they behave and know their families and circle of friends. People who are close to them can also be taken as their accountability folks. :) And courtship should be done with an intent of developing a more intimate relationship that will eventually lead to marriage.

Image from Facebook

That's the definition of courtship, well at least for me. But I will not be writing about courtship that only involves a single man & a single lady. I realized that we, the Church, is also in an on-going courtship stage with the Lord. This revelation came to me during the seminar that I attended for our Kids Church last Saturday. We can be called as His people, His servants, or His children, but we are His bride, too! Actually in all of our lives as long as we are still living here on earth, until our Lord is not calling us home or not coming back for His glorious wedding with the Church--we are in the courtship stage with Him.

"Let us rejoice & be glad & give Him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, & His bride has made herself ready." -Revelation 19:7 (NIV)

Personally, before really knowing God & taking Him seriously, I realized that He was "courting" me. He's been good and gracious and sweet, but I wasn't just mindful or didn't care much of His "moves" to win my heart. But now after I decided to have Him in my life by saying "Yes" to Him, He is still "courting" me! Even we already have said "Yes" to God, He is still on the works of wooing us and pursuing us! He is still on the works of making us fall in love with Him more as we grow with our healthy relationship with Him. Interestingly, the more we know God, the more we will know ourselves. And in saying "Yes" to Him, we should also have in mind of being with Him now and forever! :)

Image from weddingwallpaper.net

Our relationship with God through Christ is like an all-purpose flour or... a swiss knife! Haha! ;) It's all rolled into one! He's our Father, He's our Lord, He's our Friend, He's our Counselor, He's our Savior, our Teacher, etc.! But He is also our Groom! No wonder apostle Paul wrote to the husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church. All of the pruning & sanctifying that we are going through in our lives is for us to become holy & blameless Bride (Church) for our Groom (Christ).

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church & gave Himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, & to present her to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy & blameless." -Ephesians 5:25-27 (NIV)  

So yes! If you are in Christ Jesus, whether you are single, in a relationship or married... Even if you are a man, you are in an on-going courtship stage with the Lord! :))

Talking to yourself is sometimes healthy

Goodbye year 2011 and hello year 2012! It was quite a "roller coaster ride" for me on the year that was, and I heard this one quote from the radio, "The unreflected life is not worth living." Or something like it. And I'm not sure who said this but it got a point... hehe. :) So after some reflections, I came up with a letter I addressed to myself. I realized that talking to yourself is sometimes healthy! ;)

Image from oranges-world.com

Dearest Mitch,

Another year have passed, and here is another year for you to live out. I know 2011 was a year full of trials and testing in your life. It may not have been one of the best of your years but I know you can always be grateful to God for the year that was. Several days ago, you reflected upon your life on year 2011. It was kind of a surprise because you didn't expect that it will turn out like this! :) But then it's your prayer that God will take you deeper and make you more Christlike. To be more Christlike, a man should go through pruning, refining and molding and in this he will be going through tests and trials because only through these his character will be developed for the better.

You reflected that 2011 was like your year of "purification". God made you check your heart and your motives many times this year. Many of your wrong mindsets were changed and you had a lot of "renewing of mind" episodes. It was also a year of big changes and big decisions in your life concerning work and your walk with God. There were a lot of times when you doubted God, too. There were times when you felt like you're not contented with just His Word because you already want to see concrete results in what you are doing. You are yearning and crying for your promised harvest that doesn't look near to you. You even entertained fear in your mind and be clouded with worries of what would be the future like. In the end you still chose to hold on to God's Word. The Word that you thought is "not enough" is still the One that makes you go on and makes you sufficient. It's still living by faith and not by sight or by your feelings. Always ask God to boost your faith and eliminate your doubts because whenever you doubt Him, you are hurting Him.

And you're also super grateful to God that He blessed you with many friends and a vibrant spiritual family! Surely they are your "fire throwers" when your flame for God is losing its fire! You are thankful for your Victory Group and for the times when you bond with them, study the Word with them or just sharing your life with them. You're also thankful for Kids Church wherein you can be refreshed with the kids or with your co-volunteers and teachers, who also turned out to be your friends. :) Thank God because He entrusted you to be a part of the Kids Church Creative team, that even it can be so tiring the joy is still there because there are people whom He also put to be in the team that you became friends with. And you know you are using the gifts you have from God to serve others so it may bring glory to Him.

Be more thankful to God because He uses you to bless people even at times you are broke! Haha! ;D He also entrusted beautiful people for you to guide with their walk with God. You know that you prayed and waited for them and God gave them to you this 2011. Never get tired of discipling them and meeting them in your Victory Group even though you don't feel like doing it hehe. ;) He also put you in Arellano University to be part of His work in campuses -- Change the campus. Change the world! Again He blessed you with beautiful people that you became friends with! :)

TRULY, IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU AND IT'S ALL ABOUT HIM! Imagine what your life be like if you're apart from Him? A life without purpose and lasting joy!

Never forget to be always thankful with your old friends and family! You can always bond with your Burgeon friends, or spend an evening with your "Tumblr" mates and talk about anything under the sun haha! :D Be in the mall with the Petshap, go out for dinner with your Varsi Kada or hang-out with your HS dabarkads! :D And your family who are loving, caring and who always guide you is something you can always be thankful to God! :) Being part of a godly family is always a blessing from the Lord! :)
 
Also don't forget that though 2011 has been a "crazy" year for you, it's also been a year of breakthroughs for you in the ministry where God had put you. And remember that those God loves He disciplines. He disciplines out of His love for you and because He's taking you as His daughter.

Be thankful for the year that was and expectant for the new year. God said that He have good plans for your life and His best will for you to choose. God is the Rock on which you stand and you know that He's unshakeable. Though you may not know what the future holds, you know who holds the future -- it is your loving and perfect Father God in Heaven! :)

                                                                          Love,
                                                                          Yourself

PS. And about that one prayer that you've been praying for a time now, which you almost quit on believing for may times... Just continue to pray and believe for God to do awesome things. God is working on the background, and he's just out there. :)