Touch of Glory.. the 2nd Day

July 5, 2008. The alarm on my phone woke me up at 4AM. But I decided to get up at 5AM. I washed my face, brushed my teeth and fixed my things (bible, check! journal, checked! ballpen, checked!)... I put it all in my bag... I brought also with me a digicam to take pictures of the mountain. I planned to take in the sunrise view at the mountaintop, but I wasn't able to find the trail to the mountain. And so I decided to go to the Prayer Hut, but there's no table.. and so I went to one of the prayer cells again.

At 830AM, I went out of the prayer cell and finally found the trail going to the mountain. I took pictures... here they are:

way up to the mountain...
at the mountaintop...

the lake at the center of the mountain...
this is the view from the bench where I rested...
i set my camera's timer.. and click! =P

para lang may souvenir ako... =P

After picture taking, I set off myself to talk to God and pray. There were some other people cleaning the area, but they don't stop me from seizing up these moments with God. I put my earphone on and played worship songs from my cellphone. One of the songs that strucked me was Rescue by Don Moen, it says...

You are the Source of life

I can't be left behind

No one else will do

I will take hold of You

Cause I need You Jesus

To come to my rescue

Where else can I go

There's no other name

By which I am saved

Capture me with grace

I will follow You

My heart is Yours for life

I need Your hand in mine

No one else will do

I put my trust in You

God spoke to me through His words in Ezekiel 36:26-38.

26 And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I
will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.*27 And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations. 28 "And you will live in Israel, the land I gave your ancestors long ago. You will be my people, and I will be your God.29 I will cleanse you of your filthy behavior. I will give you good crops of grain, and I will send no more famines on the land.30 I will give you great harvests from your fruit trees and fields, and never again will the surrounding nations be able to scoff at your land for its famines.31 Then you will remember your past sins and despise yourselves for all the detestable things you did.32 But remember, says the Sovereign LORD, I am not doing this because you deserve it. O my people of Israel, you should be utterly ashamed of all you have done! 33 "This is what the Sovereign LORD says: When I cleanse you from your sins, I will repopulate your cities, and the ruins will be rebuilt.34 The fields that used to lie empty and desolate in plain view of everyone will again be farmed.35 And when I bring you back, people will say, 'This former wasteland is now like the Garden of Eden! The abandoned and ruined cities now have strong walls and are filled with people!'36 Then the surrounding nations that survive will know that I, the LORD, have rebuilt the ruins and replanted the wasteland. For I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will do what I say. 37 "This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am ready to hear Israel's prayers and to increase their numbers like a flock.38 They will be as numerous as the
sacred flocks that fill Jerusalem's streets at the time of her festivals. The ruined cities will be crowded with people once more, and everyone will know that I am the LORD."

These were God's promises to me and I know that I am blessed not because I deserve it, but it is because of His grace and mercy. For all the blessings and favors I received it is only by His grace.. by His grace that I am standing on my feet... it is by His grace. I know that I am a child of the King. I am blessed and favored. I will live my life to please my King... I know I will return to this mountain to offer sacrifices of thanksgiving because I met Him there and He answered my prayers... =P

A Visit to Touch of Glory... prayer mountain

July 4, 2008. My heart is so excited in having a special date with the Lord. I would visit Touch of Glory Prayer Mountain to be refreshed and to get away from all the busyness of life... At 4:30PM, I readied myself and went out of the office. It is my first time to go to this place. I've been to other prayer mountains like Peniel in Tarlac, but this time it's different... I will go up to the mountains alone, to meet with my GOD.

What an adventure! Excitement filled my heart. I have never been to the place. All I know is that I have to take an FX from Cubao going to Cogeo Gate 2, then ride a jeepney going to Paenaan. My friend told me to tell the jeepney driver the place and the driver already knew the place.

From Alabang, I rode a bus going to Magallanes to take the MRT. I got off at Cubao Station, walk through Farmers Plaza and headed straight to Gateway. I took the escalator to go down and crossed the street to Araneta Avenue. I asked the guard where can I ride an FX going to Cogeo Gate 2. He said, here you can wait (wow! englisero si manong guard! hahaha).

There are so many people waiting for an FX, but no, no one's falling in line.. they just occupied a lane off the Araneta Avenue (hehehe, pinoy talaga!). The FX caller shouted, Marikina.. and I asked him if that could take me to Cogeo Gate 2. Well, he didn't answer me and shouted again Marikina!.. (suplado! hmp! hehehe).

I walked nearer and by God's grace, I finally got an FX ride going to Cogeo Gate 2. I paid a P100 bill and got a P70 change. Somewhere along Marikina, the driver picked up a passenger. The man paid I think P20, and he's asking for a change. He's insisting that he only owes P15 as fare. He said that only jeepneys have been authorized to have a fare increase. He's telling the FX driver that he is also a driver, a jeepney driver to be specific. Finally, he said that he will get off at Masinag and that it should be a P10 fare.. hahaha! (ang kulet!).

Finally, I arrived at Gate 2. I asked the man sitting beside me where was Cogeo Gate 2. He said, here we are. I also asked where can I ride a jeepney going to Paenaan. The people were very courteous and they tell me the directions. The rain has poured already and the road was muddied. I saw a jeepney with Paenaan on the signboard, but it was already full. I walked a little more and asked a student where can I ride a jeepney going to Paenaan and he pointed a jeepney with a signboard Paenaan. I was not able to control my kakulitan and said to the boy, "Oo nga, kaso sira.. hehehe". But the boy was so courteous and he smiled. I walked a little more and I was able to finally get a jeepney ride to Paenaan. I asked the driver how much, and he said P18 was the fare. I also asked him to drop me off the Prayer Mountain.

After 10-12 km drive, we arrived at the Prayer Mountain site. I saw a tricycle and asked if he could take me to the prayer mountain. He laughed and said, "malapit lang yun ma'am, lakarin mo na lang." Taking his advice, I walked... a little scared because the road was dark... no street lights. The only lighting came from the houses of the street. There was a man and a child walking alongside me, so I asked "where is the prayer mountain?" He pointed me to the gate of the Touch of Glory.

After registering, the guard take me to the female dorm site. I took the 1st bed near the door. I think there are about 6 more people to come, because at least 6 more beds were fixed and awaiting to be occupied.

I decided not to eat dinner and have a fast. I went to the prayer cell. I cried my heart out to God. Wrote to my journal, read the Bible. Pray even more.

From Isaiah 49:
The Lord called me from birth; from within the womb he called me by name.
He made my words of judgment as sharp as a sword. He has hidden me from
the shadow of his hand. I am like a sharp arrow in his quiver.

He said to me, "You are my servant, Israel and you will bring me glory."

I replied, "But my work seems useless! I have spent strength for nothing and
to no purpose . Yet I leave it all in the Lord's hand; I will trust God for my
reward."

At 1030PM, I went back to my room. Washed myself, talked with Ram (she's one of my dormmates that night). And went off to sleep.