Crazy Weekends!

These past weekends were kinda crazy... Crazy in a good sense. :) God made me realize about some things and answered some of my prayers. ;) Let me start with a couple of weekends ago (and I'd make sure that I will make this short BUT helpful hehe ;P)

Worship is a lot like love
It was Friday and I was in the church with the small group that I'm leading. We we're attending the Friday youth service and the message was about Worship. Ptr. Joe Bonifacio was the preacher then. I like it when he uses examples from his past experiences to his preaching, making it easier for us (the listeners) to grasp and comprehend the message. (God-given strength! ^^) One of those examples is when he and Rica (now his wife, who is a celebrity here in the Philippines) was still in a bf-gf stage (I apologize.. I don't know any wiser word to use in this haha! ;P). He once gave her an orchid for a gift thinking that this would please her. The next time he went to her house, he saw the orchid--and it looked like it hasn't been taken care of. He then asked her why and she told her that she's not keen on receiving flowers as a gift (or something like that).

Worship is like that. It's not about what you give to God but it's about what He wants. It's like you wanted to please Him with your worship and you want Him to give a rose. You gave Him the flower, but what He wants is a food-trip with you in Batangas. So do you think He is pleased, then? Or worst do you think that He accepted it? God seeks for true worshipers. He is high-class and doesn't want "second rates". So what does He look in a worshiper? A worshiper that worships Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24) ;) It's not about the place, the style, or your opinion. It's about who you worship, your heart, based on God's truth. :)

A "Gen Ad" mentality
Come follow Saturday... It was April 21 and Israel Houghton with New Breed & Planetshakers was in Manila for a worship concert! I wasn't able to reserve a ticket for myself because I'm in a tight budget. :) The night before the concert a friend texted me and told me that she still got a gen ad ticket for the event. She asked me if I'm willing to buy it for P250. Honestly I have nothing to pay for it even just for a gen ad ticket but I didn't close the possibility that maybe God will do something--that someone will bless me so I can buy that ticket, haha! :D Before leaving our house for volunteers' orientation in our church, I charged my digicam in faith that I will be able to watch the concert even though I still don't have the ticket. :)

To make the story shorter. No one blessed me with P250 for me to buy the gen ad ticket BUUUTT!!! Someone blessed me with a complimentary ticket... and it was for a Patron seat! Weee! :D Me with some friends were in the 2nd row from the stage! Some of my friends even saw my face flash on the giant screen because the camera man was just a few steps away from me! Haha! :D

That's the camera man that I've mentioned. ;P

 I was just asking for a Gen Ad ticket (the cheapest), but God gave me a Patron seat ticket (the most expensive). Sometimes we just believe for God to give us a "gen ad" ticket for something and not seeing the fact that God can give us a "patron" ticket for what we are asking! ;) So, do you have a "gen ad" mentality? ;P

It starts with the leader
Just this weekend I was able to attend our Kids Church core leaders team building. Again, someone blessed me so I can attend this vital team building! Weee, thank You Lord! :D This is one of my faith goals this year, wooh! ;)) We are "leveling up" in Kids Church that's why our leaders should be equipped. God put a high premium to the kids that's why in serving them, out of our love for God and for His people, we should serve them with excellence.

I've learned a lot about leadership. A leader should have a Christ-like character, discover his/her skills, then develop them for him/her to be competent and excellent and... love his/her team to maintain chemistry in the spirit of unity and being one in Christ. :)

A glimpse of my notes :)

It's an honor to be a leader because it means that God entrusted you with bigger things. But then it is also crucial, and maybe at some point dangerous. Being a leader could make you more busy, and could lead you in neglecting your relationship with God. The more you climb the leadership ladder, the more you should be close to your Ultimate Leader-- God. :)

Guarding your heart
Here goes that phrase again! Haha! :D During our team building, there were a lot of "revelations" among the single women (and I'm one of them ;P). We were giddy about those and we talked about them until in the wee hours of the morning. (Yeah, it's a girl thing! ;P) Then I realized, it's really hard to guard your heart (and your mind) specially when you're a woman. It's really relying on God's grace in this! ;))

Carrying the Cross
Still on Saturday was the graduation of my sis from her missions training at Asian Center for Missions (ACM). So from team building, I went here with my family to attend (thank God for the strength! ;P). I had mixed emotions here. I was happy because my sis is now nearer in living the life that God have for her, and that is to be a goer in the missions field for long term. I was also sad because it means she will be away from home. Then I was reminded of this: when we give our lives to Jesus, our lives are no longer for us to live for ourselves but for Him. It's paying the price and carrying the cross. It's not about what you want or what your family wants... It's now all about God.

That's me with my sis and mama :)

♫ Where You go, I go / Where You stay, I stay / Whom You love, I'll love / I will follow... ♫

I don't know the title of this song but it hit the right chords in my heart about carrying the cross and following Jesus. It's actually about--Worship. True worship ends in obedience. Now my sis is gearing up and raising partners for her long-term missions. Please pray with me that God will enable her to raise faithful partners that will support her through prayers and finances. :) Thanks!

Passing the baton
And since my sister is now preparing for her missions calling, most probably she will not be able to maintain her online store that she started few years ago. So she passed it on to me hehe! ;) I believe that this is one of the avenues that God can use to support her missions financially. ;))

Whew! There are more reasons now to love weekends! ;)

P.S. Papa is now home from abroad! Yeah yeys! :D and I got a new mobile phone (thank you papa! ;P)

  

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! :))