Enjoy HIM Forever

"Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

What is God's will?

• That we believe in his love and power.
• That we come to him in sincerity and trust.
• That we clear away barriers between us, including pre-occupation and excessive busyness.
• That we listen for his still, small voice and obey it when we hear it.
• That we live in his presence and enjoy him forever.

Prayer is the way to turn dry theological descriptions into warm, living, personal realities. When we live in constant communion with God, our needs are met, our faith increases, our love expands. We begin to feel God's peace in our hearts, and we spontaneously worship him.

With the heavenly beings described in Revelation we cry out, "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!... To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!" (5:12-13)

I'm enjoying God these days. He answers my prayers. He empowers me. He gives me insights from his Word. He guides my life. He gives me loving relationships. He has wonderful things in store for me.

My life with God is a constant adventure and it all begins with prayer. Regular prayer, early in the morning, alone with him. Prayer that listens as well as speaks.

You too, can enjoy God, as he created you to do. "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-17). You can feel his companionship, his capability, his compassion. He invites you to a more abundant life right now.

You are too busy not to say yes!

-Excerpt from "Too Busy Not To Pray" by Bill Hybels

Teach My Heart

Teach my heart, Oh Lord
That I may walk in Your ways, Your ways of righteousness
Help me not to quench Your Holy Spirit
Lead me to the place where You will be most glorified.

Forgive me Oh Lord, if I have sinned against You
Forgive and hear me when I call
You alone are my hope and desire
If You are going to give me something,
The very thing I am asking for
And yet it would separate me from You
Oh, Lord I wouldn't want anything outside Your will.
My heart's desire above all things is to draw near to You
All the blessings that I have received,
They are received not because I am worthy to have them
But it is only by Your grace
That I have all these things I need.

Open my heart, search my heart
Teach my heart and guard my heart
That is what I pray
Take away anything that is not from You
Purify my heart and take Your rightful place.
May it be prepared, sanctified, purified
May Your Name be glorified in all of this...

I love You more than anything in this world.
You are my desire
I will love You not only with the words I am saying
But in a way my life is lived...

In Your Love - Nichole Nordeman

I am humbled in Your presence
More desperate than before
I've brushed against Your mercy
Yet still I'm wanting more
I have felt the hand of comfort
In the softness of Your touch
I wait...

I am holding on to promises
I'm counting on the truth
And on these knees I'm faltering
I'm calling out to You

In Your love
I find my resting place
In Your love
I find my shelter
When I lay down all that I've been holding to
The beauty I've found in You
Is sweeter than all I've known
In Your love

I surrender all my failings
Please break these chains of doubt
I bring these simple offerings of what I can't work out
Won't You let these healing waters anoint my troubled soul
I wait...

(Holding on to promises...)
I am holding on to promises
I'm counting on the truth
On these knees I'm faltering
I'm calling out to You
In Your love
I find my resting place
In Your love
I find my shelter
When I lay down all that I've been holding to
The beauty I found in You
Is sweeter than all I've known
In Your love(I wait...)

In Your love
I find my resting place
In Your love
I find my shelter
When I lay down all that I've been holding to
The beauty I've found in You is sweeter than all I've known
In Your love
(In Your love)
I find my shelter
When I lay down all that I've been holding to
The beauty I've found in You is sweeter than all I've known
(In Your love...)

Will I Know It?

History never looks history when you're living through it. It always looks confusing and messy and it always feel uncomfortable. - John Gardner

Will I know when I'm walking through the story for the first time? Will I recognize the event that will begin the chapters of my love story with my mate? Will time stand still for one moment to tell me that this person, this one person, out of all the billions bustling on the planet -- is the One? Will I recognize when it happens? Or might I miss it? Some questions are probably best left unasked. I know I should push them aside and wait for life to unfold its mysteries.

Someday when I'm older and wiser, I'll sit back and tell my story to someone who will listen. And as I tell my story, will I remember the doubts and questioning prayers of today? Or will I have forgotten the silent longings; will they wash away like footprints on an ocean shore? I'll probably tell some young fool the same things I get tired of hearing from others. I'll tell her to bide her time, "for it sure work out in the end." And of course, "you can't rush these things."

Someday I'll have a story to tell. How will I respond when one day I look back on my love story? Will it bring tears of joy or tears of remorse? Will it remind me of God's goodness or my lack of faith in that goodness? Will it be a story of purity, faith and selfless love? Or will it be a story of impatience, selfishness and compromise? It's my choice. I am encouraged (and continue to remind myself) to write a love story with my life that I'll feel proud to tell. - Excerpt from "I Kissed Dating Goodbye" by Joshua Harris

An axiom in mathematics means that if your premise is incorrect, then your conclusion is bound to be wrong as well. Use the wrong formula and the answer is certain to be incorrect.

But who knows which is the right way? No one, except God... we can always ask Him for guidance. I remember asking the Lord, "Lord, how will I know if he is the one for me?" For some, it might come as a coincidence, but for me I take it as His answer to my question.. reading from Isaiah 18:3b "When a banner is raised on the mountains, you will see it, and when a trumpet sounds, you will hear it."

Simply telling me that when love comes knocking at my door, I will hear it and when the right one comes, I will surely see him and not miss the start of my love story.. God is good... God is great... and He loves me so... I can simpy trust Him to take me to the right place at the right time when I am ready. I surrender to the One who knows the best things for me.

Run To You

Last November 3, I celebrated my 10th spiritual birthday. It was in 1998 that I truly accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I was at the same time entering the leadership at our church that time.

I remembered that as I was praying about my commitment, the Lord asked me, "Will you still continue serving me, even during this difficult times?" I was forced to resign then from my work and by January the following I have no more job. That was a very painful experience for me. It was my first job and I failed.

I told the Lord that I will serve Him still even at the difficult times of my life. I just want to obey. I will trust in Him.

After 5 months, my brother told me that someone from Insular Life was calling me. I said to him, "Why would they call? I didn't buy any insurance. And I don't even apply for a job there." But anyway, I called and the person I talked to, told me that they were trying to contact me for almost two months. He even asked my cousin on how to get to Bulacan, just so to get in touch with me. There was a job opening for a programmer and he thought that I can fill it in.

I took the exam the next day and they told me to call after the Holy Week for the results. I passed the exam! Yahoo! Then came the panel interview with the 3 bosses... After the interview, me job offer agad! Hehe...

Everything that followed is history. After 3 months of probationary period, I was regularized! After 6 months, I got promoted to analyst/programmer position. After a year, another promotion for a systems analyst I and systems analyst II after another year. After 3 years, (medyo matagal...hehehe) my promotion as a senior systems analyst came.

God had been faithful to me through all the seasons of my life. I can and will always run to Him at all circumstances... whether on sad times... or on good times... He proved His faithfulness. I can always depend on Him just as you can also depend on Him. He loves you as much as He loves me.

As part of my celebration and thanksgiving unto Him who remained faithful, I did a special number presentation in our church last November 10. I may not have the most beautiful voice (nanginginig pa nga at nasisintunado...), but I want to share this song... May it minister to you just as it has ministered to me.

P.S. Thanks to Pepito for playing the guitar and at the same time sa pagback-up. :)

RUN TO YOU - Twila Paris

Faster now than ever, I run to You
Now I know You better, I run to You
I am a little older now, You know it's true
Maybe a little wiser, too, I run to You

And I can see deeper than I did before
I do believe, never have I been so sure
That I need You every minute, every day
That I need You more than I could ever say

Ooh, I run to You
Ooh, what else would I do?
I run to You, ooh,
I run to You Ooh

Even on the sad days, I run to You
Even on the good days, too, I run to You
Even before all else fails, You know it's true
You are the wind in my sails, I run to You

And I can see deeper than I did before
I do believe, never have I been so sure
That I need You every footstep, all the way
That I need You so much more than I can say

meron akong kwento...

All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God knows me completely. Yan ang sabi sa Bible, yan ang mababasa sa 1 Corinthians 13:12b.

Meron akong kwento, hindi ko pa lang maikwento... hehehe

Kahapon ako'y nagdiwang ng aking kaarawan... (Oist! sapat na yung malaman mong birthday ko kahapon, wag mo ng itanong kung ilang taon na ako sapagka't di na ako nagbibilang ng aking edad mula nang ako'y mag-debut... LOL!)

Balik tayo sa kwento ko... November 3, mga past 10pm na ako nakarating ng bahay pagtapos ng aming meeting sa church. Kahit na pagod ang aking katawang lupa, for the first time in history... hindi ko alam kung anong nagtulak sa akin na antayin ang ika-12 ng umaga ng November 4. Habang aking inaantay ang pagtuntong ng alas dose, ang aking ginawa'y nanalangin sa Panginoon. Akin ring inilagay sa "flight mode" ang aking cellphone at ng ako'y di maistorbo ng anumang text messages, sapagkat ang nais ko'y makapiling ang Panginoon... siya at ako lamang... :) Natapos ang aking panalangin, aking tinanong Siya kung ano ang kanyang mensahe para sa aking kaarawan...

At ito ang aking nabasa na tunay naman na nangusap sa aking puso:

Is it not my family God has chosen?
Yes, He has made an everlasting covenant with me
His agreement is arranged and guaranteed in every detail
He will ensure my safety and success. - 2 Samuel 23:5

Ang mga talatang ito ay nagbalik sa akin noong taong 2002 ng una kong tanungin ang Panginoon, kung ako ba'y mag-aasawa pa o hindi na... Nakakatuwa sapagkat sa aking devotion, ang aking nabasa ay mula sa Ecclesiastes 4:12 "Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their labor. A cord of three strands cannot easily be broken".

At sa pagbuklat ko ng aking devotion mula sa "From This Verse" ay ito ang nakalagay...

One Plus One

Often in my ministry I'm asked to prepare a marriage ceremonies from today's passage, for it tells us that one plus one equals more than two. A good marriage exceeds the sum of its partners.

Charles Wesley thought so, too. Charles isn't as famous as his brother John Wesley, the founder of Methodism; yet Charles' hymns are far better known than John's sermons. All over the world, Christians still sing, O For a Thousand Tongues; Christ The Lord Is Risen Today, Hark The Herald Angels Sing and Jesus Lover of My Soul.

Charles wrote hymns day and night, sometimes jumping off his horse and running into nearby houses, shouting, "Pen and ink! Pen and ink!" He reportedly composed 8,989 hymns during his lifetime, an average of ten poetic lines every day for fifty years. He was still writing hymns on his deathbed.

When Charles fell in love, he wrote his love letters in the form of hymns, composing forty of them, right up to his wedding day.

He was forty years old and had met Sally Gwynne, who was half his age, while on a preaching trip in Wales. Sally's father, a wealthy landowner and magistrate, had initially opposed the Methodist movement, but he came to be one of the Wesley's most enthusiastic supporters.

As Charles pondered his love for Sally, and as he studied Ecclesiastes 4, he brought the two subjects together in a hymn that began:

Two are better than one
For counsel or to fight
How can one be warm alone
Or serve his God aright?

The couple was married on August 3, 1749, at Garth, Wales with John officiating. Charles preached at their honeymoon spot for two weeks, then left for an evangelistic tour. Their marriage, however, was a happy one, and Charles soon cut back on his journeys, deciding that two, after all, are far better than one.

Pagtapos kong manalangin, akin ng ibinalik sa Phone mode ang aking cellphone upang makatanggap ng mensahe... Meron naman akong natanggap na mensahe, isang pagbati ng maligayang kaarawan mula sa isang taong di ko pa mapangalanan... saka na lang pag sigurado na ako... hahaha

Meron akong kwento.. hindi ko pa lang maikwento sapagkat nasa unang bahagi pa lang ang Diyos ng kanyang pagsusulat ng aking sariling kwentong pag-ibig. Ayaw ko Siyang pangunahan kaya't mananatili muna ang bawat pangyayari sa aking puso't isipan.. saka ko na lang ibabahagi sa inyo kapag ang lahat ng ito'y naging malinaw na sa aking isipan... at makita ng totohanan. Uy, excited.. hahaha!

It Was Very Good!!! (A++)

October 1 was declared to be a holiday to celebrate the end of Ramadan. It concludes with a 3-day festival known as "Eid" or "Eid ul-Fitr," which literally means "the feast of the breaking/to break the fast."

Since it's a holiday and for a change, I stayed at home but still in front of my computer (hahaha!). I was not in the mood to compose any blog post and I then decided to make some change on my blogsite.

Thanks to split decisionz! It made my life easier to have a new blog look! (Parang nagpa-parlor lang, hehehe). The site gave some tips, tricks and some sites where I can download some good templates.

1. For the template, I used the 3-column scribe template found at Blogcrowds. I then changed the brown background to a background image I got a from citrusmoon.
2. For the header, I created it with the help of photoshop. That picture was taken when we are riding a ferry boat going to Dos Palmas, Palawan. The other picture was downloaded long ago, (so don't ask me where I was able to get it... kasi matagal ng panahon yun... past is past! hahaha). Put a verse from the Bible, Job 23:10-11 and of course my blog title.

Some of the tricks I used:
a. No scroll background.
b. Use of blogs divider image. I mixed and matched the elements, text, flowers and of course, the shoes! I thought that it would be best to put it here since my theme speaks of a journey.. hahaha.
c. Use of marquee to make the "Standing on a solid ground" text to move and scroll automatically.

It was not easy for me, since I am not a web designer. I have to study the codes, did some trial and error to see if that change matched with what I want to do with my blogsite. HTML codes and COBOL codes are very different! hahaha! But come to think of it... I'm beginning to like web designing! (LOL!) I am amazed at how I can mix the colors and the images, until I am satisfied.

A thought came to me as I was designing this blogsite. When God was on the process of creation, the earth, the sun, the moon, the rivers, the oceans, the animals and the human beings... did it brought Him satisfaction? The same kind of high I got when I was able to add some thing new to my design?

I have no doubt, God was satisfied! For Genesis 1:31 says,

Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!

God never used a trial and error method like I did. For if He used that we might have different faces everyday or every minute! (LOL!) I wouldn't want that.

This blogsite still is a work in progress. I still have to edit my old posts so that it would be more readable and pleasing to the eye. I have to adjust the fonts and line spacing. I have to re-align those paragraphs and other images... Just got a lot of work to do...

But just as this blogsite a work in progress, I am also a work in progress. God has a lot of things to change me to be the woman that He wants me to be. God is shaping my character. God as my Creator knows what is pleasing to him, I just have to trust Him!

Father, I pray for You to put faith in my heart, a mountain-moving faith if that would be possible. At times when I can not see Your hand working in my life, I believe that I can trust Your heart. Lord, do unto me as You will.

This Site Is Under Construction

I Will Go

There's a song that has been on my cellphone for a long time now, but it's only yesterday that the meaning of the lyrics strike my heart... It was sung by Steve Green and I thought of sharing it to you, here it goes...

Give me ears to hear Your Spirit
Give me feet to follow through
Give me hands to touch the hurting
And the faith to follow You

Give me grace to be a servant
Give me mercy for the lost
Give me passion for Your glory
Give me passion for the cross

And I will go where there are no easy roads
Leave the comforts that I know
I will go and let this journey be my home
I will go, I will go

I'll let go of my ambition
Cut the roots that run too deep
I will learn to give away
What I cannot really keep
What I cannot really keep

Help me see with eyes of faith
Give me strength to run this race

I will go Lord where Your glory is unknown
I will live for You alone
I will go because my life is not my own
I will go, I will go, I will go

===============================================
Father, when thoughts of giving up come and visit me, You are the Hope I am clinging to... You showed Your strength when I am weak and You are the source of my strength. Thank You for showering me favor after favor. Thank You for opening up the Heavens and pouring out Your blessings. Thank You for smiling down on me.

Thank You for guiding me when I can not see and I am blinded by the mountains in front of me. You have said in Your word, that my faith in You can move mountains... I look to You just as a servant look to the hands of its master... You are my Lord, guide me I pray, strengthen the feeble hands... make me wise by knowing You and Your percepts everyday. Thank You for the unmerited favor. I can not and will not live without You in my life. Help me see with eyes of faith and give me strength to run this race ... I'm letting go of my ambitions and laying it into Your hands. I see my victory in You. ===============================================

I Knew My Shepherd (Psalm 23)

There is a story of an old man and a young man on the same platform before an audience. A special part of the program was being presented. Each of the men was to repeat the Twenty-Third Psalm.

The young man, trained in speech and drama, gave in oratory, the Psalm. When finished the audience clapped for more so that they could hear his beautiful, modulated voice once more.

Then the old man, leaning on his cane, stepped to the front of the platform and in a feeble, shaking voice, repeated the same words. But when he was seated no sound came from the listeners.

Folks wiped tears as they seemed to pray. In the ensuing silence, the young man again stepped forward and made the following statement:

"Friends, I wish to make an explanation. You asked me to repeat the Psalm with your applause, but you remained silent when my friend was finished.

The difference? I shall tell you. I know the Psalm, but he knows the Shepherd of the Psalm."

(The Shepherd's Psalm by Robert Strand from Especially For the Hurting Heart)

And here's a video I downloaded from YouTube wherein a little cute girl named Abby, recited Psalm 23. So cute!

Psalm 23 (New International Version)

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Father, thank You for You are my Shepherd. You enjoyed to bless me in the presence of the enemy. You protect me in every step of the way. You have been my strength when I am weak, Your strength still shows even at times when I am strong. You guide me and lead me to the paths of righteousness. Surely, surely, surely goodness and mercy and Your favor follows me wherever I go. Thank You for loving me this much....

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BE RADICAL!

I am radically committed, I have Holy Spirit Power
The die is cast; I've stepped over the line
The decision has been made; I am now a disciple of His.
I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still
My past is redeemed, my present makes sense and my future is secure.
I am finished and done with no living, side-walking, small planning.
Smooth knees, colorless dreams, tainted visions, mundane talking, chimsy giving and dwarf goals
I no longer need man's pre-eminence, positions, promotions, plaudits or popularity
Jesus has made my life right, first, tops and victorious.
He's one to be recognized, lean by faith, love by patience, live by prayer and labour by power.
I have no doubts, no borders, no limits and no fears
My face is set, my gate is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow
My way is rough, my companions few, my God reliable, my mission clear.
I can not be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, diluted or delayed.
I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice; hesitate in the presence of adversity
Negotiated at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
I won't give up, shut up, let up or slow up
'Til I'm preached up, prayed up, paid up, stored up, stayed up for the cause of Christ.
My destiny is irrevocable, my call is unchangeable, my bonus unstoppable and my compassion undeniable,
For I am a disciple of Jesus
I must go 'til He comes, give 'til I drop, preach 'til all know, and work 'til He stops
And when He comes to get His own, He'll have no problem recognizing me.
My color will be clear and that makes it clear!
Doesn't it? - Author Unknown

i got this one posted from a programme.

You Are Good!!!

I just have to write this down. The problem I had last Saturday is now okay. I read the program and looked at the validation part. Eureka! I found it! Hahaha! I wanna dance! I wanna sing! Lord, You are just so good! You are great! Whoah! Weeeeeeeeeeeeh! Yippie! Yahooo!

Oh! I just can't contain it! O whoah! O whoah!


To think that I started reviewing the program at around 6p.m., because I was on "Effective Business Writing" Seminar for the whole day. And I got it by 6:30p.m. Weeeeeh! :) I may not be able to describe how happy I am! But I am just soooooo happy...

On the sideline: This morning while I was walking on my way to the office, I was listening to worship songs from my cellphone. God really has His ways of making me smile. The lyrics of the song was: "Shine Your light and let the whole world see..." But, what's funny, you may ask. A friend told me a story about the lyrics of the song. Since the singer was a foreigner and has an accent, his friend taught this was the lyrics: "Send the lion and let the whole world see..." . That may sound corny, but I really laughed when I remembered it.

About the seminar: I attended so many seminars and as always, part of it is the introduction. Speakers have used different techniques. Some may ask you to think of an adjective that describes you using the 1st letter of your name. Some may ask you the history of your name. Well, this morning it was different. Our facilitator gave us 10 minutes to compose a 2 stanza poem that would introduce ourselves. It was fun. And here's what I have done:

My name is Zha-Zha Esteban
I came from a happy family in Bulacan
I love to write stories in my blog
Though sometimes, I'm having trouble to log.

My dream is to travel the world and explore
To see its beauty and much more
I'll be in Palawan in September
All the places I go, I'll remember.

It made my day. I never thought I can compose a poem, time pressured. (LOL!) And what's more, I will be submitting my project for user acceptance testing! Whoah!

A Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today…August 23rd, 2008

Outside my Window…It's a cold afternoon but the sky is clearing up after a rain...

I am thinking… about what to teach on Sunday... maybe from Isaiah 40

I am thankful for…my mom and my dad... and my brother and her wife who's in Dubai right now. for having a wonderful rest yesterday and last night...

From the kitchen…my dad preparing a cup of coffee.

I am reading…my bible, Isaiah 40. I am also re-reading the Purpose Driven Life Book by Rick Warren.

I am hoping…to finish my project at the office.

I am hearing…the fan and the keyboard. Outside, the birds are chirping.

Around the house…it's full of trees and plants.

One of my favorite things…traveling, reading a good book, sipping a hot coffee (when I like it...)

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week…attend my technical business writing seminar for 2 days, submit my project for UAT, finish my teaching for Sunday.

I accomplished since last week: sample birthday cards for our church members

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you…

The many faces of Zha-Zha... hahaha! These photos were taken May 2007 in Baguio during our Discipling The Next Generation Pilipinas (Youth Leader's Conference).

I joined in Miss Jocelyn's "A Simple Woman's Daybook...".

On Wings Like Eagles

Most birds fly by flapping their wings. But not eagles. They are built for soaring, not flapping; that allows them to travel much farther on
less energy. It seems that God built into our planet invisible columns of hot air called thermals which rise up here and there from the earth's surface. Eagles know where to find thermals. They fly into these invisible updrafts, stretch out their wings, and are lifted higher and higher into the sky as though ascending on an elevator. They may rise as high as 14,000 feet, so high they cannot be seen from earth with the naked eye.

When they reach those heights, they emerge from the updraft, their wings will spread, and they soar this way and that way, downward and sideward, traveling for miles with very little exertion of strength.

It is a perfect picture. God himself is an invisible, uplifting thermal current. When we claim His promises and trust His Word, we are
spreading out the wings of faith and are caught up to a higher plane. We mount up with wings like eagles. We run without growing weary. We walk and do not faint.

The strength we need for holy, effective, victorious living comes not from frantically flapping through the air like sparrows in distress, but from gliding in the currents of God's grace. (From This Verse, Isaiah Ornithology, April 30)

Today, I was at the office at 7:30AM and left at 6PM. Yes, siree! I've worked overtime. I'm having trouble trying to find out why the accounting transactions I loaded to the system was not processed. I haven't fixed it. I still have not found it.

Ayoko na, masakit na ulo ko. Naiiyak na nga ako kanina. Kinakausap ko na yun computer ko, ayaw naman sumagot! Wah! (Normal ba sa linya ng mga programmer o analyst ang kausapin minsan ang computer na walang malay? Maybe... malay mo sumagot at sabihin sa iyo ang mali mo.. o di ba? hehehe)

Napagod ako! Daig ko pa ang tumakbo sa marathon sa Olympics. Mas nakakapagod kaya ang magtrabaho maghapon and at the end of the day... di ka pa rin tapos. Naubos na ata ang butter cookies na baon ko, nakailang inom na rin ako ng tubig, ngunit wala pa rin nangyari. Nakailang beses na rin akong dumungaw sa bintana at baka nandoon ang kasagutan. Nakailang sabi ba ako ng, "Lord, please ipakita mo po sa akin ang error..." Pero di ko pa rin nakita.

Kumanta na nga ako, "Sometimes the very thing you're looking for is the one thing you can't see.... " O di ba? Tugma ang linya ng kantang "Save The Best For Last"? hehehe... (Naalala ko tuloy, ganito rin ang feeling ko non, nung araw ng defense para sa thesis namin, ngunit wala kaming maipapasa...) Haay! Baka mabaliw ako kaya umuwi na lang muna ako. I am awfully tired. Two months ng ganito ang buhay ko, overtime, overnight! Naisip ko nga, ang gusto ko lang sa mga oras na ito ay isang mahaba at kumpletong tulog. Maybe, I should learn from the eagles...

Maybe I was tired because I'm just flapping my wings and not soaring. God promised and this is what's keeping me on...

Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength;They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run and not get tired They will walk and not become weary. - Isaiah 40:31 New American Standard Bible (©1995)

"Lord, please renew my strength. You are the Source of Life... You are my strength. Amidst the pressures and tight deadlines, I still believe You are in full control. Show me the right way, help me and give me wisdom. I remembered praying to You, to make me shine... I know this is one of the answers. Help me dear God and hear the prayers of Your servant. Help me soar with You on wings like eagles."

p.s. Oh! I have to finish that project. Btw, it's due on Tuesday... hahaha!

Here In My Life

I have never walked on water
Felt the waves beneath my feet but
At your Word Lord, I’ll receive Your
Faith to walk on oceans deep


And I remember how You found me
In that very same place
All my failing surely would've drowned me
But You made a way


You are my freedom
Jesus you’re the reason
I’m kneeling again at Your throne
Where would I be without You
Here in my life, here in my life?


You have said that all the heavens
Sing for joy at one who finds
The way to freedom, truth of Jesus
Bought from death into His life


And I remember how You saw me
Through the eyes of Your grace
And though the cost was
Your beloved for me
Still you made a way!

You have a choice...

There was a young girl who dreamed to finish school even at hard times. This girl didn't come from a wealthy clan or family. But she also experienced how it is to live abundantly when her dad was working abroad.

But, after some time her dad had gone home to the Philippines and decided to live and work there for good. Her dad became a driver of a good company. After a year or two, her dad was retrenched from work.

But still this young little girl was able to continue her studies through the help of her loving grandmother. Her grandma paid her tuition fees and gave her Php 1,500.00 every month as her allowance. That amount might have been sufficient. However, if you will remember her dad has no work and that allowance also became her family's source of daily food. At times, when Friday comes she has no more money to even pay for her transportation to go to school. It will be good if her aunt would lend her some money and she will be able to go to school.

She's already in College during those times. 3rd year College. One Friday morning, her mother was sick and they don't have any money. They were not able to borrow money from her aunt, so she will not be able to go to school that day. They have not eaten any breakfast at all. She laid down on their small sofa. Trying to forget how hungry she was, while tears roll down from her eyes, she fell asleep and when she woke up, it was already lunchtime. Still, they have no food at their dining table.

This girl told herself that day, "I won't let this happen again." She then worked as a municipal clerk with the help of her aunt. And because of God's favor and of some people, she was able to continue her studies while working at the same time. She made a letter that promises she will be extending working hours when she has no classes. But she will leave the office a little earlier than 5 o'clock.

Her class would start at around 3 o'clock in the afternoon. But most of the time, she will get out of the office 3 o'clock. She will need to travel at least an hour or two to get to school. Praise God, that everytime her teacher would check the attendance or give a quiz, she was already inside the classroom.

Months went by and her dad was able to find a good paying job. This girl then choose to resign from her work even if she is paid at Php 5,000.00 a month. She continued her studies and she graduated as a Computer Engineering. This girl is the author of this article.

Through the grace of God, if I were to go back at our life then, I can truly say that the Lord is good. In my decision to continue my studies, He held my hands and helped me to change my future.

I may not be rich, but I can say that God blesses us to have food everytime we want to eat.

Why am I writing this? This is my life. And I want to testify on God's goodness in my life. I want to share to everyone how God has changed my future.

My parents were able to finish vocational courses. They were not able to have a good-paying job to sustain all of our needs. Still, I am thankful that they have thought us perseverance and how to live life.

The past does not have to be your prison. You can never change your past, but you still have today and tomorrow in your hands. You have a voice in your future. You can give God the control over your life. You have the choice on what roads you will thread upon.


P.S. Please choose to live your life for God. He will never fail you. I surely know, He never fails me. He can also bless you... in many ways you just can't imagine.

Writing from my heart,

Zha-Zha

OREO Personality Test

There are things that are just darn funny.

Somebody says that your personality could be determined by the way you eat Oreo cookies.

I wonder what they would come up next?

The Oreo Test?

Psychologists have discovered that the manner in which people eat Oreo cookies provides great insight into their personalities.

Choose which method best describes your favorite method of eating Oreo's:

1. The whole thing all at once.
2. One bite at a time.
3. Slow and methodical nibbles examining the results of each bite afterwards.
4. In little feverous nibbles.
5. Dunked in some liquid (milk, coffee...).
6. Twisted apart, the inside, then the cookie.
7. Twisted apart, the inside, and toss the cookie.
8. Just the cookie, not the inside.
9. I just like to lick them, not eat them.
10. I don't have a favorite way because I don't like Oreo.

Your Personality:

1. The whole thing
This means you consume life with abandon, you are fun to be with,exciting, carefree with some hint of recklessness. You are totally irresponsible. No one should trust you with their children.

2. One bite at a time.
You are lucky to be one of the 5.4 billion other people who eat their Oreo's this very same way. Just like them, you lack imagination, but that's ok, not to worry, you're normal.

3. Slow and Methodical.
You follow the rules. You're very tidy and orderly. You're very meticulous in every detail withevery thing you do to the point of being anal retentive and irritating to others. Stay out of the fast lane if you're only going to go the speed limit.

4. Feverous Nibbles.
Your boss likes you because you get your work done quickly. You always have a million things to do and never enough time to do them. Mental breakdowns and suicides run in your family. Valium and Ritalin would do you good.

5. Dunked.
Every one likes you because you are always up beat. You like to sugar coat unpleasant experiences and rationalize bad situations into good ones. You are in total denial about the shambles you call a life. You have a propensity towards narcotic addiction.

6. Twisted apart, the inside, and then the cookie.
You have a highly curious nature. You take pleasure in breaking things apart to find out how they work, though not always able to put them back together, so you destroy all the evidence of your activities. You deny your involvement when things go wrong. You are a compulsive liar and exhibit deviant, if not criminal, behavior.

7. Twisted apart, the inside, and then toss the cookie.
You are good at business and take risks that pay off. You take what you want and throw the rest away. You are greedy, selfish, mean, and lack feelings for others. You should be ashamed of yourself. But that's ok, you don't care, you got yours.

8. Just the cookie, not the inside.
You enjoy pain.

9. I just like to lick them, not eat them
Stay away from small furry animals and seek professional medical help -immediately.

10. I don't have a favorite way, I don't like Oreo cookies.
You probably come from a rich family, and like to wear nice things and go to up-scale restaurants. You are particular and fussy about the things you buy, own, and wear. Things have to be just right. You like to be pampered. You are a prima donna. There's just no pleasing you.

Eating Oreo cookies a study in people's personalities? I hope you won't take this seriously.

The best way to know your personality is to ask the people who are living with you.

But be prepared to hear things you may not like to hear. Develop the courage and honesty to become a better person in the process.

The biggest room in the world is the room for improvement, and it has to start with you and me.

Perfection comes, but not in this planet. Not yet. And so meanwhile, I'll go along with crazy little tests like the Oreo cookies test just to remind me that I still need a lot of working to do and a lot of improvement. And maybe, so do you, too. (From The Early Bird Catches The Worm But The Second Mouse Gets The Cheese By Francis J. Kong)

Last night, we had our quarterly Council of Leaders Fellowship. We had a team building theme this time. Part of the activity was a "pen and paper", wherein a sheet of bondpaper with our name on top, will be passed around to each member of the group. Each member will then try to write some of the person's characteristics and qualities within the labels: Continue Doing, Start Doing, and Stop Doing. Here are some of those in my lists:

Continue Doing:

• Pagshe-share ng Word of God


• Keep on smiling


• Keep up the good works


• Serving God


• Being a blessing to others


• Keep serving God and being always happy


• Go on as a leader


• Pagiging mabait (para bang daga ito? hehehe joke lang po)


• Palangiti (yup, i'll always remember this... madalas makalimutan ko eh.. hehe)


• Happy palagi (wow! naka-enervon ako! hehehe)


• Mabait (lapis ang ginamit na pang-sulat dito)


• Mabait (dito, ballpen na itim ang tinta.. hindi kaya isa lang ang nagsulat nito? O baka naman may cheating na nangyari? hehehe)


• Tahimik (wow! siguro, di ko ito kakilala... tahimik daw ako eh, malamang, di ko siya nakakausap kahit minsan... hehehe)


• Softspoken and quietness (dalawa na sila... hehehe)

Start Doing:

• Ano ba? La me maisip eh (sige, mamaya tulungan kita mag-isip.. hehe)


• Cell Groups (hmmm... tingnan ko ha... kung kayanin ng sked ko...)


• Boyfriend (Joke) hehe (sorry) - drev... (hmmm, wishlist ba ito? di ko pa birthday.. hehehe pero sige, try kong gumawa ng boyfriend... pano ba paggawa nito? anyone? hehehe)


• Have time for yourself (sige... salamat...)


• Keep on smiling (hmmm... teka lang po ah, nangangalay ng pisngi ko sa pagngiti... pwede naman magpahinga kahit konti? hehehe)


• Magkaroon na ng boyfriend (at nagkaroon nga... parang "magkaroon ng liwanag... at nagkaroon nga..." hehehe)


• Smiling (eto na )


• Mapagbigay (hmmm... start maging mapagbigay? kelan nga birthday mo? hehehe)


• Ayos (di ko alam kung ang ibig bang sabihin nito ay magulo ako o magulo ang ayos ko... ano daw? hehehe)


• Health Consciousness (Week?)


• Discover more and aspire for higher calls (ge po... )

Stop Doing:

• Overloading your schedules


• Being masunget po!!! (at talagang "e" at hindi "i"? At pinagdiinan pa...hehehe)


• Abuse yourself in work (child abuse daw!)


• Minsang masungit (2 na silang may sabi)


• Medyo masungit (3 na... hehehe)


• Laging tahimik


• Laging tahimik (eto na naman sila... cheating... hehehe)


• Masipag (hmmm... hahaha so kelangan maging tamad na ako... hehehe.. ayoko ata nito...)


• Abuse of health (teka lang po, malakas pa po ako... wala po akong sakit.. hahaha)

We know who we are. Other people have their own perception of who we are, depending on how we talk or act in front of them. We have to learn how to communicate to them, so that they also would know the "real" us.

P.S. Salamat po sa mga nagbigay ng kanilang mga katangian ko, sa iba na nagbigay rin ng wish kahit na di ko pa birthday, THANK YOU po. At least, alam ko kung paano po ako dapat pang magbago.

Single Life

I received this SMS from a friend:

Pagiging single ay masarap..
solo mo tym mo,
walang dumadagdag sa problema..
di ka obligado mag text..

ang pagiging single talaga ay masarap..


pero di ko sinabi na MASAYA..

from a single's forum BENEFITS OF BEING SINGLE:

1. u get to focus on something u want to do...
2. u get to go out with friends anytime u want...
3. ur not answerable to anybody...just ur parents...hehehe
4. u get to go overtime with ur work
5. u get to meet alot of people (guys and girls alike)
6. u get to roam around the city without thinking na may magagalit sayo kasi naglalakwatsa ka....
7. and most especially....u have all the freedom u want

dagdagan ko pa....

• di mo kelangan magreport minu-minuto kung nasaan ka na
• di mo kelangan magpaalam kung may pupuntahan ka
• di mo kelangan ang opinyon nya tungkol sa suot mo
• pwede kang magsabi ng "Sama ko!" anytime
• free kang gawin anuman ang gustuhin mo (like enroll in a driving school, learn to cook, bake, etc)
• pwede ka nilang i-link kahit na kaninong "available"
• hindi mo kelangan alamin kung anong magiging reaction ng bf/gf mo pag nagpagupit o nagpakulot ka ng buhok
• di mo kelangan bumili ng gift kapag bday ng bf/gf mo

kasi nga wala ka naman bf/gf... hehe

Kapag may kaibigan kang ikakasal... ikaw at kung kelan ka susunod ang siyang madalas na maging paksa ng usapan. Kahit nga pasko at bagong taon at mga reunions, madalas kang matanong, "Kelan ka mag-aasawa?" O kaya, kapag may nakasalubong kang kaibigan na matagal mong di nakita, eto ang tanong agad: "May asawa ka na?"... hehehe

Yung iba naman na kakilala mo, ayun! Aligagang-aligaga (busy) sa paghahanap ng pwedeng i-match sa iyo... merong tipong "boy-next-door" ang hitsura, minsan kulang na lang eh pati ang "boy" ng kapitbahay nyo ay ireto sa iyo... may "cute" at meron din namang "nakakata-cute". Pati nga nanay ng kaibigan mo eh ipinaghahanap ka... hehehe...

Natataranta ba sila na baka mahuli ka sa byahe? Samantalang, ikaw eh eto, nagpupuyat sa kasusulat ng blog entries, natutulog, kumakain, lumuluwas at umuuwi pag gabi... Patuloy pa rin ang buhay.

Sa mga nagtatanong, masaya ba ang pagiging single? OO naman... masaya ako eh.

At sa mga nagtatanong ulit, pinangarap ko bang maging single for life? HINDI.

Isa pang tanong, "may balak ka bang mag-asawa?" OO naman.

Ang sabi ng iba, "baka kasi mataas ang standard mo". Ang tanong, alam ba nila ang standard ko? May nagtanong na ba kung anong standard ko? hehehe

Ang sabi ng iba, "baka naman pihikan ka?". Ay oo naman... alangan naman pumili ako ng batong ipupukpok ko sa ulo ko... hehehe

Naalala ko ang biro sa akin ng dati kong officemate na si Manny, "Dapat maglagay ka na ng SIGNBOARD sa harap ng bahay nyo, "WANTED: Husband. No Requirement basta lalaki. Benefits: Lot with Title" (hindi ko na maalala kung ano pa yun ibang benefits na sinabi nya.. hehehe)

Well, hindi ako yung klase ng babae na "ligawin" as in araw-araw eh may umaakyat ng bahay (kasi wala kaming hagdan? hehehe). Pero may mga nagtangka naman (kahit konti). May sobrang kulit, ayun nabusted tuloy. hehehe... May foreigner pa nga... busted din, muslim eh. hehehe

Tapusin na natin ang entry na ito, at ako'y inaantok na.

Para sa akin, masaya ako sa estado ng buhay ko.. sa pagiging single. Kung nangangarap ako na ikasal at magka-asawa, oo naman. Siguro, di pa lang dumarating yun tamang lalaki para sa akin (pero, sana nama't isinilang na siya! sana.. sana... hehehe). Maaaring pareho kaming "under construction" pa. Inihahanda para maging maayos ang buhay may asawa. Hindi ko rin alam, baka nga maging "single for life" ako. Only God knows and I trust Him.

Ang punto ko lang naman... "Be happy in whatever stage of life you maybe in right now. For who knows, God will bless you with that GOOD THING you were praying for, when He sees that you are contented and thankful for who you are and where you are now."

Single life may be only a stage of a life's journey, but even a stage is a gift. God may replace it with another gift, but the receiver accepts His gifts with thanksgiving. This gift for this day. The life of faith is lived one day at a time, and it has to be lived -- not always looked forward to as though the "real" living were around the next corner. It is today for which we are responsible. God still owns tomorrow. - From "Let Me Be A Woman" by Elizabeth Elliott

When it's not yet time

21When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. 22Then one of the synagogue rulers, named Jairus, came there. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet 23and pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.”
24So Jesus went with him.

25And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed. 29Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.

30At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”

31”You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’”

32But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

35While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher any more?”

36Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, “Don’t be afraid, just believe.”

Jairus’ pleading with Jesus was heard. Jesus went with Jairus! The fact that Jesus will go to their house, there’s a sure blessing – assured blessing! But along the way, someone has touched Jesus’ garment.

Jairus’ blessing of healing for her dying daughter was disrupted. The assured blessing become a disrupted blessing. Someone has touched the hem of Jesus’ clothes and Jesus noticed that power has gone out of him. As if it was not enough, Jesus tried to find out who touched him!

We saw how Jesus healed the woman and it was a blessing to her. But to Jairus, it was a disrupted blessing, an interruption of Jesus to go to their house and heal her dying daughter.

Is it not enough that the bleeding woman has already received healing? What’s the use of identifying who was it that touched Jesus?

For the woman, it is to complete her healing. The woman felt that she was healed, her bleeding stopped. Jesus wanted to complete her healing.

For Jairus, the disrupted blessing tells him to:

a. Wait for the perfect time.

What was the situation here? Jesus was crowded with so many people, pressing on him. I believe many of these people were trying to take hold of this opportunity to touch Jesus! Many of them were trying so hard for them to have even just a glimpse on Jesus, much so to touch him. Did Jesus suddenly forget that he is coming with Jairus to heal her dying daughter? Of course not! But why in the world, was Jesus still trying to find out who is that someone that has touched him? Is it not enough that the bleeding woman received her healing?

Can you imagine the reaction here of Jairus? If we are to remember, he is running out of time because his daughter is at the point of death. And here was Jesus, still trying to find out who has touched him? Does it really matter to Jairus? Is it important for him? What does it matter, if Jesus found out who has touched him? What will happen if he was able to find who it is that was healed?

Did we see Jairus, so anxious and might be saying to Jesus, “Lord, can’t you see? There are so many people out here pressing on you, how in the world will we be able to identify who that person was?” But, did we hear it from Jairus? It was not told in the Bible, what was the reaction of Jairus while Jesus was looking for the person who has touched the hem of his garments. Only the disciples’ reaction was noted here. I suppose Jairus might have felt the same way, or more. Anyway, he is just the father of a dying child. However, Jairus never said a word, he waited for Jesus. He waited for the perfect time.

What does it mean to us? When we know that our need is in God’s hand, the only thing we have to do is wait. We have to wait for the perfect time.

b. Keep the faith.

The reality of the disrupted blessing finally came in front of Jairus. While Jesus was still speaking to the woman, some men came from the house of Jairus, and told him, “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher any more?” But Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid, just believe.”

After Jairus have waited for Jesus to finish his dealing with the woman, here comes men from Jairus’ house and told him that his daughter is dead and it is no use to bother the Lord anymore.

Could you imagine what Jairus might have felt after hearing the news that his daughter had died? Could you feel what he felt? If I were to imagine his reaction, he could have said to the Lord Jesus, “Oh Jesus, did you hear the news? My daughter is now dead! If only you and I have walked directly home and ran instead of bothering who has touched you such as you did, oh my daughter could still be touched by you and be healed! But what now? She is now dead!” Oh, could you see and feel the anguish on Jairus’ heart, right at this moment? His daughter is now dead! There’s no use to bother Jesus. Oh, if only…
But, again those were not written in the Bible. It was just my imagination of what our true reactions as human often do. The true story was, Jesus have told Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just believe.” It’s as if Jesus was saying to Jairus, “Don’t worry. Just believe and everything will be alright. I will prove to you who I am… everything will be all right. Just believe”. KEEP THE FAITH!

LIFE APPLICATION:

Like Jairus, are you in the same situation right now, wherein your blessing seemed to be disrupted? Know that God knows the perfect time to give you the blessing. It could be “disrupted” as of now, because God wants you to be ready to take hold of that blessing. He wants you to learn how to take care of that GREAT BLESSING He would be giving you in His time. It could be God is preparing you to be just the “right vessel” of that one GREAT BLESSING. If now you are just like a glass that can take hold of just a glassful of water, how can He give you a “pitcherful” of water? The overage of that pitcherful of water will just be wasted. Wait for the perfect time till you are able to take hold of what God wants to give you, just keep on keeping on. Keep the faith!

Just like Jairus, I may not understand it right now, but all I am asked is to wait and keep the faith.

God is God and I am not
I can only see a part of the picture He’s painting
God is God and I am man
So I’ll never understand it all
For only God is God
- Steven Curtis Chapman

The Father's Love

An intimate message from God to you...

My Child,

You may not know me, but I know everything about you. Psalm 139:1 I know when you sit down and when you rise up. Psalm 139:2 I am familiar with all your ways. Psalm 139:3 Even the very hairs on your head are numbered. Matthew 10:29-31 For you were made in my image. Genesis 1:27 In me you live and move and have your being. Acts 17:28 For you are my offspring. Acts 17:28 I knew you even before you were conceived. Jeremiah 1:4-5 I chose you when I planned creation. Ephesians 1:11-12 You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book. Psalm 139:15-16 I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live. Acts 17:26 You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14 I knit you together in your mother’s womb. Psalm 139:13 And brought you forth on the day you were born. Psalm 71:6 I have been misrepresented by those who don’t know me. John 8:41-44 I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love. 1 John 4:16 And it is my desire to lavish my love on you. 1 John 3:1 Simply because you are my child and I am your Father. 1 John 3:1 I offer you more than your earthly father ever could. Matthew 7:11 For I am the perfect Father. Matthew 5:48 Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand. James 1:17 For I am your provider and I meet all your needs. Matthew 6:31-33 My plan for your future has always been filled with hope. Jeremiah 29:11 Because I love you with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3 My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore. Psalm 139:17-18 And I rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17 I will never stop doing good to you. Jeremiah 32:40 For you are my treasured possession. Exodus 19:5 I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul. Jeremiah 32:41 And I want to show you great and marvelous things. Jeremiah 33:3 If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me. Deuteronomy 4:29 Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 For it is I who gave you those desires. Philippians 2:13 I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine. Ephesians 3:20 For I am your greatest encourager. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you. Psalm 34:18 As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart. Isaiah 40:11 One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes. Revelation 21:3-4 And I’ll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth. Revelation 21:3-4 I am your Father and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus. John 17:23 For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed. John 17:26 He is the exact representation of my being. Hebrews 1:3 He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you. Romans 8:31 And to tell you that I am not counting your sins. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you. 1 John 4:10 I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love. Romans 8:31-32 If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me. 1 John 2:23 And nothing will ever separate you from my love again. Romans 8:38-39 Come home and I’ll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen. Luke 15:7 I have always been Father and will always be Father. Ephesians 3:14-15 My question is... will you be my child? John 1:12-13 I am waiting for you. Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Dad.

All you need to do is simply believe that Jesus died in your place to make a way for you to be born into His family. The following words might help you express your thoughts to God.

Father, I want to come home. Please make me your child. I turn from my sin and accept your forgiveness made possible through Your Son, Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection. I place my faith and trust in Jesus alone to save me. Thank you for making me part of your family. Would you like to come home?

an intimate message from god to you © http://www.fathersloveletter.com/

Let Me Be A Woman

I am currently starting to read a new book which I borrowed from Grace, entitled "Let Me Be A Woman" by Elizabeth Elliot. (Actually, it's my birthday gift to her last year.) Quoting from the book;

"Lord, I give up all my plans and purposes, all my own desires and hopes, and accept Thy will for my life. I give myself, my life, my all utterly to Thee to be Thine forever. Fill me and seal me with Thy Holy Spirit. Use me as Thou wilt, send me where Thou wilt, work out Thy whole will in my life at any cost, now and forever." - Betty Scott Stam

I am at the phase of my life where, no longer I lives in me. My everything wholly surrendered to God's great plans for my life. I do not know but I am very much at peace with myself. All I know is that God loves me, He is in control of my life. I want to pray like Betty Scott Stam had prayed. Let me be a woman. And what kind of a woman? I want to be a woman God wanted me to be.

God reminded me of Proverbs 31:10-31 (Amplified Bible), where the true traits of a woman is defined:

A capable, intelligent, and virtuous woman--who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls.

1. The heart of her husband trusts in her confidently and relies on
   and believes in her securely, so that he has no lack of [honest] gain or need of [dishonest] spoil.
2. She comforts, encourages, and does him only good as long as there is life within her.
3. She seeks out wool and flax and works with willing hands [to develop it].
4. She is like the merchant ships loaded with foodstuffs; she brings her household's food from a far [country].
5. She rises while it is yet night and gets [spiritual] food for her household and assigns her maids their tasks.
6. She considers a [new] field before she buys or accepts it [expanding prudently and not courting neglect of her present duties by assuming other duties]; with her savings [of time and strength]
7. she plants fruitful vines in her vineyard.
8. She girds herself with strength [spiritual, mental, and physical fitness for her God-given task] and makes her arms strong and firm.
9. She tastes and sees that her gain from work [with and for God] is good; her lamp goes not out, but it burns on continually through the night [of trouble, privation, or sorrow, warning away fear, doubt, and distrust].
10. She lays her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
11. She opens her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her filled hands to the needy [whether in body, mind, or spirit].
12. She fears not the snow for her family, for all her household are doubly clothed in scarlet.
13. She makes for herself coverlets, cushions, and rugs of tapestry. Her clothing is of linen, pure and fine, and of purple [such as that of which the clothing of the priests and the hallowed cloths of the temple were made].
14. Her husband is known in the [city's] gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.
15. She makes fine linen garments and leads others to buy them; she delivers to the merchants girdles [or sashes that free one up for service].
16. Strength and dignity are her clothing and her position is strong and secure;
17. she rejoices over the future [the latter day or time to come, knowing that she and her family are in readiness for it]!
18. She opens her mouth in skillful and godly Wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness [giving counsel and instruction].
19. She looks well to how things go in her household, and the bread of idleness (gossip, discontent, and self-pity) she will not eat.
20. Her children rise up and call her blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied); and her husband boasts of and praises her, [saying],
    Many daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well [with the strength of character that is steadfast in goodness], but you excel them all.
21. Charm and grace are deceptive, and beauty is vain [because it is not lasting], but a woman who reverently and worshipfully fears
    the Lord, she shall be praised!
    Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates [of the city]!

As I am waiting patiently for the right man to come into my life. I pray to be a woman for God; who has the following character:

• Trustworthy and honest.
• Comforter, encourager and supporter [of her husband].
• Obedient
• Good manager and good steward [of their finances].
• Knows how to enjoy life.
• Giver
• Industrious
• Secure
• Wise when to speak and not to speak
• A crown to her husband
• Fears the Lord

It's not just a wishful thinking, it's gonna be a long road to travel. It will be my life-long journey...

You are not forgotten

Look at the birds of the air, they do not sow nor reap but Your Father in heaven feeds them. Or look at the grass that is here now and tomorrow is thrown out into the fire, not even Solomon in his splendor has been dressed so magnificently like them. Your Father in heaven knows all that you need. He knows the plans He has for you. He sees each tear that falls. He knows the number of your hair. All of your days have been ordained. Your future decided. You are not forgotten. Continue to declare, "Surely, surely God's goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

He knows my name.
He knows my everything
He sees each tear that I've cried
And He hears me when I call

I am not forgotten
I am not forgotten
I am not forgotten
God knows my name.

NOTES: Yesterday together with our SPs (senior personnel)staff we went to Hacienda Monica, Lipa, Batangas. Our purpose is to have planning session for 2009.

This morning, while I was alone at the veranda and taking a view of the trees and grass and the wonderful sky, I prayed. These things were God's impression to me this wonderful morning. That's how God cares for me. And you can count on it. I love the Lord of my youth, He is still the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. He holds my future in His hands.

Badminton 101 (Friendship 101)

Last Friday, 18 July 2008 our division had a Badminton Tournament. Whoah! Such a big name "Tournament"! But basically, it was just a fun game. I'm a badminton player since I was in High School and then when I went to College, I took it as one of my P.E. subjects. But, no, don't get me wrong! It still doesn't mean that I'm a great player at that!

NOON: Ang aming playing court nung ako'y High School ay ang kalsada sa tapat ng bahay ng aking lola! Larong kanto, ika nga! Habang ang aking raketa ay nabili lamang sa tindahan ng Evelyn's (ang school and other supplies store sa aming bayan sa Bulacan...) at ang shuttlecock namin ay plastik na kapag malakas ang hangin.. siguradong iiskor ka dahil di matatantya ng kalaban mo kung san babagsak. At kung minsan nama'y babalik sa iyo ang bola ng hindi naman tinira ng kalaban (Whew!) hehehe

NGAYON: Kuntodo porma, ang raketa ay Wilson o di kaya'y Yonex (na hiniram lang din naman sa kaibigan...). White mini-skirt at kulay asul na Penshoppe t-shirt plus Adidas na rubber shoes (hiram lang din!) hehehe. Inisip kong bumili sana ng rubber shoes na pang-badminton (yun may gum sole, sabi ng salesman!) para sa araw na iyon, (naks! ang yaman!), ngunit wala naman akong magustuhan. Kaya nanghiram na lang ako sa aking kaibigan (buti na lang at meron pa siyang isang rubber shoes na gagamitin!).

Mula ata Martes, ang PAKner kong si Papsi ay inaasar na ako. Ayaw daw niya akong PAKner. Ang gusto niyang maging partner ay yun partner ng gusto niyang partner ko! (ang gulo ba? hehehe) Basta, ayaw nya akong PAKner!

Huwebes. Kami'y magkasabay kumain ng merienda, kasama ang iba pang katropa. Yung gusto niyang maging partner ay nag-backout na, dahil nagkasakit ang anak. Ngunit ayaw pa rin niya sa akin. Aba! Sumasama na ang loob ko ha! Parang hindi na ito biruan lamang. Kaya nasabi ko sa kanya, "Papsi ha, malapit ng sumama ang loob ko sa iyo! Malapit na akong mapikon! Ayaw mo ba talaga sa akin? Sige, di na lang ako maglalaro bukas!" Yun ay birong may halong katotohanan. Sapagkat, malapit na talaga akong mapaiyak ng mga oras na iyon. (Hmmm... lam mo yun feeling busted ka? O yun nireject ka ng kaibigan mo?) Yun ang nararamdaman ko ng mga panahong iyon. Pero, sige tuloy pa rin ang biruan namin.

Biyernes ng umaga. Naglabas na ng official line-up ang aming organizer. Whoala! Hmmm... eh ang pumalit sa gusto niyang maging partner ay ang dati niyang ka-loveteam (biro lang po...). This is my redeeming time! I dared him if he still wants to change partners (ang tapang ko! kasi alam kong wala siyang lakas ng loob gawin yun sa mga pagkakataong iyon hahaha). So it leaves him no choice but to play with me as his Pakner! (LOL!)

Oras na ng pagtutuos, wala na ang sama ng loob ko sa aking PAKner. Unang laro namin, ang kalaban namin Burt and Erick na sa tingin ko ay malakas sa amin. But who cares? The Care Bears? haha! Let's dance papsi! (Ang yabang naka-iskor kasi! hahaha)

We enjoyed the game even if we lost. Not bad! At least we had fun! We had another game, this time with Nanie and Eyen, but we also lost. We had fun still.

Sabi ni Jacq (isa sa juvah girls), dapat daw ay ipa-frame ko ang picture naming ito ng aking PAKner, kasi ang dami daw pinagdaanan. Natuto din ako dito sa kaganapang ito, "A friend loveth at all times." Maaaring may maganda namang motibo si Papsi sa pagpipilit niya na iba na lang ang maging partner ko. Sadya lang kung minsan, ako'y pikon (hehehe). Siguro, kaya din ako nasasaktan kasi hindi alam ni Papsi, pinapili ako between him and Franz.. siyempre, siya ang pinili ko, dahil alam kong mag-eenjoy akong maglaro dahil kaibigan ko ang PAKner ko.

Mababaw lang siguro itong pinagdaanan namin bilang magkaibigan, pero dadaan at dadaan talaga sa pagsubok ang friendship ng kahit na sino at iyon ang magpapatibay sa inyong pagkakaibigan. Ang mahalaga sa bandang huli, "you will still stay friends, di ba papsi?"

A friend loves at all times. - Proverbs 17:17

more ISD Badminton Pictures at this link.