The Artsy Fartsy Challenge Part 3

Yikes! I completely forgotten about posting the last batch of this challenge here in my blog (yeah, it ended over a month ago). So I'm just going to post them here (even though it's so late) because I said that I'm going to. :)

The first and second part of this challenge was posted here and here, just in case you want to check it. :)

Day 11
♫ Christ is enough for me / Christ is enough for me / Everything I need is in You / Everything I need... I have decided to follow Jesus / No turning back / No turning back ♫ -Christ Is Enough by Hillsong
This was my LSS song during this time. :) Beautiful song indeed!

Day 12
How to achieve your dreams? A balance between passion and compassion... lead and love. :) Both the heart and the mind must be used. :) A tidbit of wisdom on this one!

Day 13
I remembered a quote that goes, "Bloom where you planted." Sometimes (if not, most of the times), we don't "bloom" where we are right now because we are so caught up with this another quote that goes, "The grass is always greener on the other side." That we will be happier or more contented if we are in a different circumstance. Why not thrive where you are right now? You could have been missing the best things in your season right now because you are itching to go out from it!

Day 14
This artwork is for our kids church lobby window design for Easter Sunday. Got inspired with stained glass artwork! :)

On paper...

On glass windows (used poster paints)

Day 15
Oh yes, who could forget that animated movie, Up? This is the only cartoon movie that got me crying just about 5 minutes after it started! A very touching movie... I can watch it over and over again (same goes for Kung Fu Panda movies and Finding Nemo haha!) I'm having that throwback memory and I have to think of a lesson for my students (I have a part-time/freelance job as an art teacher for kids) for their coming art session with me during this time. So I thought that it's just also fitting for my Day 15 artwork. ♥

"That might sound boring, but I think the boring stuff is the stuff I remember the most." -Russel

So there you go, done with my self-induced Artsy Fartsy Challenge! I'm thinking of giving myself yet another art challenge but a different one from this. :) Maybe a little related to fashion? Hmmm... :)

The Artsy Fartsy Challenge Part 2

Almost there! Posting my Day 6 to 10 artworks for my self-induced art challenge! :) Other than sweaty hands, this challenge so far is doing me good! Haha! :) Most of my artworks for this batch are more on typography, and yes most of them are lyrics from songs that had been playing on my head for these past days! ;)

Day 6

Not this one though! Obviously it's not a typography art haha! :) I was helping my sister do some accessories to sell it online (yep, these are on sale! ^^). But the item's on the left is already sold, though... Yeah! :) For more items, you can visit my sister's online store on eBay- Diaspora Shop. Most of the items for sale here are first-rate health and beauty products from the Philippines, drop buy when you can! :)

Day 7

♫ This girl is on fayaaarrrr! ♫ You're probably thinking about that Alicia Keys song that became popular a few years ago, but this one was not a product of a LSS (Last Song Syndrome). I was listening to a podcast preaching of Ptr. Steven Furtick of Elevation Church that talked about passions and desires. The youth is generally passionate and full of desires, and when not guided, they could channel these to ungodly deeds that result to guilt, shame and brokenness. Since it can't be tamed, why not just put these passion and desires for the pursuit of God? Hearing that, this phrase crossed my mind. I'll be a "girl on fire" for God! :)

Day 8

♫ God is fighting for us / Pushing back the darkness / Lighting up the Kingdom that cannot be shaken / In the name of Jesus, enemy's defeated / And we will shout it out / Shout it out ♫
I was listening to the song of Darlene Zschech- In Jesus' Name for the whole day (yep, I was playing it on loop! ^^) This song's very encouraging, definitely a pick-me-up-for-I-am-feeling-down song! :)

Day 9

Random. Just plain random! Haha! I just remembered a shampoo TV commercial before and it got a song that became trending during that time. Yes, it's just that... :)

Day 10

I drew Brooke Fraser this time but I think I didn't draw her very well hoho... ;) 

♫ There's something in the water that makes me love you like I do / Doo / Doo doo doo / Doo doo doo doo doo... ♫ :) from her song, Something In The Water. (Warning: Get ready to be hooked with this song once you've heard it!)

Image reference here :) Just a screencap from her Something In The Water music video.

The story behind this... After the 5pm Sunday service in our church, they started playing some Brooke Fraser songs and I was like... "That's my playlist too!" :D She also composed/written some of my all-time favorite Hillsong pieces like, You'll Come, None But Jesus and Hosanna. She wrote the songs that I feel I've been wanting to sing for God... Yeah, that's a God-given talent indeed. :)

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That's it for now, 5 days to go! :)

The Artsy Fartsy Challenge

Few days ago, I gave myself a self-induced challenge and called it the "Artsy Fartsy Challenge". The challenge is this, for 15 days I have to make at least one artwork in a day. My reasons are pretty simple... Number 1 is so I will not get tired, lazy or dormant with the talent that was given to me by God (I also believe in the saying, "If you'll not use it, you'll lose it."), and the other one is because I also believe that practice makes bongga. :) ("Bongga", for those who didn't understand this word is an informal Filipino word that could mean "Great" or "Superb"). ;) I also try styles and stuff that I haven't did before or did for a very long time.

Sharing the artworks that I did for the past 5 days (Sorry for the low-res pictures. I'm still praying for a new phone with a bongga camera with it ^^).

Day 1

Used black pens with felt tip on paper. I just draw on paper whatever things, words or images that crossed my mind during that time. It's like a... umm... "vomit artwork" (for lack of good terms) ;) Sometimes random things can make a beautiful whole picture when they are put together.

Day 2

Used black pen with needle tip on paper. I was watching the PBA All-Star Games during this time and was very entertained with the Slam Dunk competition. :) You know, inspirations can come very randomly to you! ;) I haven't drawn a man's anatomy in action for a very long time so I think it's just a right time making one. :) I searched for an action shot from the internet and copied it.

Day 3

Ballpens with black and red inks were used for this one on paper. I copied it from a shawl that my aunt gave me that got eagle heads all over it. A Bible verse crossed my mind before drawing this eagle head--

Isaiah 40:31- "But those who wait on the Lord

Shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles,

They shall run and not be weary,

They shall walk and not faint."

Just a trivia about how an eagle soars. The eagle is the only bird (correct me if I'm wrong) that can fly ABOVE the clouds. It means the eagle can fly above the storms. It means if you "soar like an eagle", you can soar above your troubles (not soar away from them but soar above them). Waiting or trusting in the Lord will give you that strength to soar on wings like an eagles.

And yep, I've read this Bible verse several times before making this artwork (from my own Bible reading, from a friend's text message, a Facebook status, etc.! This could be a Word of God for me or for you my dear reader. :)

Day 4

Oil pastels and black ink on paper were used in this one. This is one of the days wherein there's no enough inspirations and I don't feel like doing it. Indeed feelings are not always right and could be very unstable... Now that's the time wherein commitment and diligence should kick in, bringing it over your feelings to stay true to what you've decided. I read a definition of "commitment" during the time I attended the World Vision Loyal Donor Dinner last year and it got stuck on my mind since then-- "Commitment is staying loyal to what you have said... Even when the mood already left you on the time you said it."

From you hands are much opportunities and possibilities... don't let yourself miss those just because you don't feel sticking on your commitment. Much realization for this simple artwork haha!

Day 5

The latest one, watercolor on paper (paper specially used for watercolor). This is not the initial artwork that I made for day 5 for the first artwork that I made for this day is something that I didn't really like haha! It didn't turn out the way I wanted it to be. It's like a "vomit artwork" too but this time it didn't look very pleasing unlike the artwork that I made for day 1. Watercolor is really not my forte and I have to practice on this medium more than any other.

Some realization for this one, or maybe a reminder, that for something to be beautiful you gotta put more time for it. Now that's the difference between my "vomit artwork" day 1 from my "vomit artwork" supposed-to-be-for-day-5... Time. Yep, I put just random things on paper before BUT it took me a long time to finish it, unlike my supposed-to-be-for-day-5 artwork wherein I just put some random colors on paper in a much shorter time (not to mention that the medium that I used is something I'm not used in using).

So how will I apply it to other areas of my life??? Haha! Well here it is (and maybe you can also apply it to your own life, too) Time makes things beautiful or makes them MORE beautiful... or you can say it this way, "Waiting can make things beautiful..." for rushing some things can make them ugly even though they're supposed to be beautiful. And don't rush things just because you just have to do it, put some lovin' in it. You know that there's much lovin' in someone's work or effort if he/she took more time in pulling it off, not because this person's a perfectionist freak, but because he/she wanted it to become "great" from "okay". :)

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Will be sharing the rest of my artworks and the inspirations and realizations that comes with them in the following days. :) Now, this self-induced challenge is more than just an art challenge to me. :)

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. ♥

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

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! :)

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!

Cambodia Love

Cambodia.

Angkor Wat by sunrise :)

Just a mention of its name, number of thoughts starts running in my head. Before, I just know this country for its Angkor Wat, which is one of our UNESCO World Heritage site. I think it was roughly 4 years ago when I saw this nation on a different light. It was during the time when I watched at the 700 Club Asia its dark history under the Khmer Rouge regime during the 70's. From then on I already had a heart for Cambodia and it's been my prayer that someday God will let me come to that nation and be a blessing there. I have friends who went there before me and hearing their stories just made me pray more to God that He will let me come there someday just like them. God answered my prayer, because years after praying He let me come to this nation for a short-term missions last year! I was really joyful when at last God answered my prayers! It was a great time and my love for Cambodia just got deeper that after my last year's trip I have decided that I will return the following year.

Just this October, I'm thankful to God that He again honored my prayers and enabled me to return in the Kingdom of Cambodia. One of my goals this year was really just to see the fruits or the growth of the local disciples that we met from the last year's trip, since we conducted a team building there on having a small group. Even just before this month, we already heard some good reports about our church there, Every Nation Church Cambodia. One of these are they have transferred to a bigger venue and the other was they have sent many delegates at our Ignite Conference 2013 last summer. It was different seeing them here in the Philippines for it's also a proof of God's faithfulness to them because He made them come here in the Philippines.

Ignite 2013!

Some of our Khmer delegates :)

I think until now, I'm still overwhelmed with God's goodness from the trip. Other than seeing my friends at ENCC, I also had chances to see again my friends whom I've known from Korea when I attended a conference there last year.

With Chantra and Sinat :)

Maybe a single blog post is not enough for me to share my experiences and thoughts for the past trip that I had. It was a long but exciting journey by the way... since I applied again for this trip late last year, met the whole team who were with me in this journey (I will also miss those the monthly meetings that we had before the trip) and arriving again in the Kingdom of Cambodia. I pray that those who read this will also be inspired to go and be a blessing to the nations and also see the bigger picture of God's plan to spread His love to every nation. :)

The future is bright for you, Cambodia

I hate rules!

It was during the time when I was teaching in one of my Saturday art classes with kids aged 6-7 years old. We are about to do a side view of a zebra using charcoal pencils.

Before we start I always make them recite our class rules. Originally we only have 3 rules, but since these kids are really active I made another rule which is "Don't go before teacher." (It's because when we are doing an artwork, we do it one step at a time) What usually happens when they go before me, their artworks will look different from what I am teaching. So they will air their concern and comment on their works with "Why is my zebra looks different?" or "My zebra looks abnormal!"

So my answer is (of course), "Because you are going before teacher..." or "Because you are not waiting for my instruction..." And this will happen again and again in one session. One time I asked them, "Why you are not following the rules?" And one of my students answered me, "Because we don't want to follow the rules!" And I answered him, "But rules are for your own good that's why you should follow them. They can make your artworks look great."

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Then I remember a time when I was commuting going home. In a fleeting moment I saw a barber shop by the roadside. And in the barber shop I saw a toddler who is inside a crib, jumping. Good thing the kid is inside the crib or else he could be on the road and get hit by a vehicle!

Image from http://northtexaskids.com

Then I remember God and His rules. There are people who doesn't want to get serious with God because they think that God have "so many rules" that they need to follow. Thinking about the toddler inside the crib, it's like we are the toddler and God's laws are the crib. They keep us safe.

Proverbs 6:20-13 (NIV)
²⁰ My son, keep your father’s command
    and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
²¹ Bind them always on your heart;
    fasten them around your neck.
²² When you walk, they will guide you;
    when you sleep, they will watch over you;
    when you awake, they will speak to you.
²³ For this command is a lamp,
    this teaching is a light,
and correction and instruction
    are the way to life,

His laws are meant for guidance, instruction and correction. They are not meant to choke us or so we can live boring lives. When we believe and know that God loves us so much, we can be sure that His laws are for our good, following them will not be a burden but a delight and treating them will not be with contempt but with thankfulness.

More than just a "Puppy Love"

Puppy love.

They said, "puppy love" also means "young love". This term is usually used (not all the time) by grown-ups to describe their first crushes or first relationships that they had when they were younger. It also means "immature" or "shallow". It's like saying that you "love" the person because that person have a mega-watt smile or is cute, plays basketball very well, makes you laugh, makes you feel happy, makes you inspired, etc.

Image from http://picsbox.biz/

So it's like puppy love = you.

A person is childish or immature when he/she thinks or cares all about him/herself. Notice how a baby clings to a toy that he/she is holding or how a baby cries when you get what he/she is holding. Sadly I realize, there are still people who are already grown-ups yet still have this "puppy love" in them. They go into relationships because they don't want to be alone, they want to feel happy or they want to feel "complete", etc.

"When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me." -1 Corinthians 13:11

For a very long time I was puzzled why is this verse included in the "love chapter" of the Bible. God made me realize that when we love (like we reeeally love in its truest sense), we become mature therefore we think or care less of ourselves and more about the person that we love. We mature so "we put our childish ways behind us". Much like what Jesus did for us. He think less of Himself and showed His love for us by dying on the cross so we may have salvation from our sins and have a full life in Him.

So you know that you love (like reeeally love in its truest sense basing on 1 Corinthians 13) when you think less of yourself and more of the person that you love. :)    

Your love goes on and on...

♫ Your love never fails / It never gives up / It never runs out on me ♫

Yep, that's the chorus part of that song by Jesus Culture, "One Thing Remains". I've been listening to it on and on again for these past two days as this song ministered to me on a different light.

LSS mode :)

It has been said that "No man is an island". It means that other than food, shelter, clothing and some other stuff, a man needs to be with other people through having relationships with them. Whether we like it or not, we are already born with those-- we have our parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. But there are also relationships that we have to choose to have, and that would be our relationships with friends or with any people who happen to be outside (or far from) of your family tree. :)

But as we build relationship with people, we give a part of us to them, making us more vulnerable to them. We are more exposed to possible disappointments, unmet expectations, mistrust, heartaches and letdowns. Time and again we might come to a point of holding all it up, build our own walls around us and then have our reservations of giving a part of us to people since we can be so tired of being hurt. We may be all around with people yet be so reserved. In one way or another, I may have come to this point without knowing it.

The thing here is I kind of decided in the back of my mind that I will contain myself behind my own walls so as not to be too vulnerable. Playing like a "tough cookie" I guess. ;)

I would have call this as a "Fasting Hangover 2.0" post. :) It was during the Day 2 of our Mid-Year Prayer and Fasting that was held last week when I read the "Love chapter" of the Bible in 1 Corinthians 13. In that whole chapter, these words kind of spoke louder to me:

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails...

It dawned on me that I'm doing this not because I'm scared to be wronged or don't want to be hurt. They are just on the surface. The truth is I don't fully trust God anymore in this. I may give tons of reasons why but this is the bottom line, I'm having trust issues with Him (Ouch!) It's like I'm saying that God is holding my heart, only that it is caged and chained. :) But no no... God doesn't want me to do that. He still wants me to be open and free, just like a loving father. :)

If God is love, then HE always protects, HE always trusts, HE always perseveres and HE never fails.

I attended the Day 2 prayer meeting in our church later that day, and the song that I've mentioned was played by the music team. It struck a chord in my heart and then have this thought in my mind:

If I have God and His love in my heart... then disappointments, heartaches, heartbreaks, letdowns, etc. may come but it's just fine... because HIS LOVE NEVER RUNS OUT ON ME. :) It's not that I will be super invincible and will not feel any pain anymore, it is just being secured, being brave and confident that whatever this heart may go through... it will not be calloused or dried up because God's love flows through it. :)

I realized that God's love doesn't just make us complete, joyful and alive. It can also make us brave and strong, not because we are rigid, but because we never run out of love to give that is from the Lord. :) Now that is being secured!

♫ And on and on and on and on it goes / And it overwhelms and satisfies my soul / And I never ever have to be afraid / 'Cos this one thing remains ♫