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