Tonight, my uncle who is a doctor in Kuwait came over to surprise us with a visit. Everyone was so excited because we haven’t seen him in years. When he sent a message that he’s coming this afternoon, cousins immediately came to our house to welcome Tito. We ate a lot of donuts and chocolate while catching up! ^^
After dinner, we drove to Pasig to my Aunt’s (My Tito and my Mom’s sister) house. We had ice cream and talked till midnight. It was fun and these family moments are just so lovely!
But there was one striking moment for me tonight.
We were readying to go back home when my 4-year old cousin Rhianne started to get anxious. She couldn’t find her new, beloved crayons. She was looking for them everywhere~inside her bag and on the table where she was previously drawing. But the crayons could be found nowhere. We were all starting to get out of the house and she started to panic. So we tried our best to console her.
I was listening to this song the whole afternoon and it spoke right through my heart--I cried so much! ^^
Don’t we sometimes forget that blessings don’t come only in sweet, candy-like forms, but even our unanswered prayers are gifts from a loving and caring God who wants nothing than the best for us?
I really don’t want to write very long today so you could just enjoy the song. I know you must’ve heard this before but a nice reminder today.
Good night everybody!
Since the day we started to move I’d been listening to Sara Groves’ new album ‘Invisible Empires’ in the evening when I’m alone upstairs and everyone has fallen asleep.
One song that I really love to play and repeat over and over is this song called ‘Eyes on The Prize’, which is a remake of the old civil rights version.
What struck me the most about the song is its message to keep pressing on and holding on no matter what we may be going through right now, and to keep our eyes on what’s ahead—on what really matters.
When The Road Gets Rocky
Sometimes, when things get really hard while we work for the Lord, we get so discouraged and we lose sight of the prize. We forget that this is not “it” and there’s eternity waiting for us. We forget about His promise.
When I was younger, I thought that I really didn’t need any reward when I get to heaven because being with the Lord is enough and it is reward in itself. I mean, Jesus is really the reward of heaven and it’s true and He is my reward forever... But as I grew older, in fact, just now, I realized the value of the ‘prize’ and ‘reward’ that the Lord will give to those who serve him.
Ay, my dear friends! It has been a very busy month. My September and October have been full-packed and I sleep like l live in the west. I sleep when it’s bedtime in NY and early morning in MNL. {So if my friends in NY are wondering why I’m always available on chat, yeah, the reason is work.}
But, I am extremely happy and joyful for what God has been doing the past few weeks.
I wrote in a previous post that that September for me this year was a season of beginnings. Not only because September is my birthday month but because God brought me to a different place other than what I’ve planned. And it was really like riding a plane to a destination of your choice but God brings you somewhere else. He makes the plane land in a different airport.
At first I was so scared and my heart raced because I didn’t know where God was leading me or why was He denying me the things I badly wished and hoped for. It’s hard when you were planning this and you were working hard for that but it just wouldn’t work out. And there were times I wondered if God really cared about my heart and if the desires of my heart mattered to Him. I was really hurt and broken and didn’t know where to go.
But ultimately, it’s for the greater good. He just knows where you’re supposed to be, where you would grow and where you love Him more…where you would shine His light the brightest. And isn’t that our ultimate goal? Isn’t that what we live for? To give glory to One who made us?
And now I see His hands moving, taking me to places I never thought I would go... and it just blows me away. I told a friend that sometimes, when God moves, you get so surprised and you can’t say anything. You just stand in awe and you can’t believe He’s giving you things you never even dared to ask for. He gives you far greater things than your heart and mind can hope for.
And I know He’s just beginning.
And I know He he also has great plans for you,too, my friend! You just have to believe and hold TIGHT to what He has told you. God has so many good thoughts for us. We just have to trust Him. We just have to trust that He loves us and desires nothing that would harm harm us. He wants to give us the best.
This is one of my favorite quotes from Elisabeth Elliot and this totally makes sense to me today.
God never witholds from His child that which His love and wisdom call good. God’s refusals are always merciful — “severe mercies” at times but mercies all the same. God never denies us our hearts desire except to give us something better.” — Elisabeth Elliot
So It’s spring in my heart… spring in October. Spring even though it’s fall. Because my God is the God new beginnings. And He gives beginnings regardless of season—even in summer, winter or fall. And because His love is enough. More than enough reason to keep me smiling, and happy, and joyful! I know my God is great and He has great things in store for me.
I’m ending with a quote from a friend, from his status on Facebook this morning after his plane landed in San Diego, very much far away from his destination.
I hope you get inspired to and keep on believing that no matter where we are, no matter our circumstance, God makes sense of it all. His love is enough reason to keep trusting that even though we are where we are right now, He will bring us to places greater that we have imagined before.
Have a great day!
I won't find myself and my happiness at my next destination; for it is right here in this moment, of existence: just to be a child of God.
At a deserted airport waiting for a bus. Perfect. –Jonathan Otto
Photo source
This afternoon, I heard a familiar song playing on the radio. I was excited because it has been over a year since I heard that playing in the local Christian radio station. It was one of my favorite songs during my early college days and it really brought back pretty memories, not only because the song was good, but because the singer who sang it really inspired me as young lady.
I was on the bathroom when my sister Ava called me saying “Ate, Kuya Matt is on the radio!”. And I was much excited to listen as much as she did. Hearing Matt sing again was really a pretty thing (and a nice surprise for my boring day today. lol). I smile because hearing him hitting those notes makes me think he is still alive today.
*Ate means older sister and Kuya is older brother in Filipino.
But he is still alive today! He is alive and well today!
I looked up to Matt because of his big dreams and for his courage to pursue them. And I really wondered why God took him at 26, of lung cancer. If he was able to fulfill his dreams, more people would be inspired.
But I realized God did more for him that just fulfill his dreams. If Matt is singing now in His presence, wouldn’t that be the greatest honor for singer? And I, who looked up to Matt, who’s listening to his song today, who knows his story… I am inspired too, not just to fulfill my earthly dreams, but to look forward to what’s ahead and to trust that whatever God allows to come into my life is His good and perfect and will.
God gives us better things than what we can think of.
So when your dreams don’t happen the way you planned it…
When you wonder why God wants to bring you to another place you really didn’t planned to go…
When you look at the broken pieces and you don’t know how to put them all together again…
When you can’t find a reason to sing…
Just remember that in Him… for those who love Him… He makes all things work together for good. He has greater plans and wants to bring you to greater places…all because He loves you. You are His child and He wants the best for you.
And nothing can stop you from singing—because God gives you every reason to sing.
She knew that even if she goes away, love never goes away. Love remains. Such wisdom for a pretty, little lady!
A Pad of Colorful Sticky Notes
Last night, I was talking with a friend and we were talking about blogging and sharing love through the internet. The internet and blogosphere is a huge, beautiful and powerful platform to share God`s love. And a blog is like a pad of colorful sticky notes where we can write about Jesus, about God`s love for many people to see. When we write about the Lord, blogs are like little notes with heart doodles that you find inside lunch boxes and hidden between the dishes. They bring sunshine to people`s hearts. They rekindle hope and brings smiles to lonely places.
And like Elena`s notes, blogs can become a legacy. They stay behind even when our time is up--for many people to see. And if we would raise the name of the Lord in this platform today, that itself is already a legacy. When we tell His story.
But of course, love notes can also be many things other than blogs. They can be a hug to a friend. A kiss on your Mom`s cheek. Food you give to hungry. Or Sharing about Jesus to a stranger and to the bus driver. When we become the hands and feet of the Lord here on earth.
Everywhere and anywhere is a notepad where we can write about God`s love. Every single day is an opportunity to praise His name!
Leaving A Legacy
If there`s one story I would love to share with the world, it is the story how God saves and loves people continually. It`s His story of faithfulness—to me and to my family. And that if the Lord has been faithful to me and to those who had gone before me, that means He will always, always be faithful to those who will come after me.
How about you? What kind of love notes would you want to write and share with the people around you, with the people you love, with the people who don`t know about God yet?
Have you ever considered writing your own blog and sharing your testimony—His love, faithfulness and mercy? Or are there other ways God is calling you to write those love notes?
I pray that we would all grow in His love everyday!
Have a great week!
Photo source:
Tumblr and weheartit
One of my favorite books of all of time is Elisabeth Elliot`s Keep A Quiet Heart. My sister got home with the book one day and since then, it`s been on our headboard, sitting prominently, in case I need something enlightening to read.
One thing that I really love about it is its theme. (Although, I admit, I wasn`t too attracted the first time I saw it. Quietness sometimes make me feel a little awkward and afraid. But that`s a different story I`ll tell you about next time.;) And if there`s really one great thing I learned from this book, it is about finding contentment in trusting God—in being still and quiet and in trusting that His will is good and perfect.
A spirit of calm contentment always accompanies true godliness. The deep peace that comes for deep trust in God`s loving kindness is not destroyed even by the worst circumstances, for those Everlasting arms are still cradling us, we are always under “the Mercy”.—Elisabeth Elliot
We rarely hear about contentment today. People don`t talk so much about being happy with what we have. Everywhere we are nagged by media to buy this and buy that. Get this and get that so we look good and we gain a our place in society.
But don`t you agree that the chase for all these things get tiring and wears us out in the end? The desire for more and more actually leaves our hearts with less and less. And we have to deal with all these emptiness we don`t know how to fill. That all these things we bought can never fill.
And the cycle repeats over and over. Desire more. Work more. Chase more. There`s an endless list of things to love and like in this world!
Dealing with Discontentment
I would be so dishonest if I would say that I`ve never battled with discontentment in my life. Truthfully, last week I made a long list of what I don`t have--not in paper, just in my heart—but it made me so weary, nonetheless.
When we look at what we don`t have instead of God`s sweet and delightful blessings everyday, our souls become tired and heavy. Or sometimes, even worse. Our joy is stripped and we become ungrateful.
And the Lord has been teaching me so much how to keep a quiet heart. How to listen ONLY to Him. To shut down the noise of this world and find my value in who He says I am and not on what I have—or don`t.
And it`s really a joy to think about everything I do have in my life right now. Afterall, I really have so much. I do have the things I could ever ask for.
A Different Perspective
If God feeds you with manna today instead of cucumbers and olive oil and a salad of fresh greens, do you have the right to complain? Definitely not. Manna is manna. Straight from heaven. It`s like God is feeding you like how a Mom feeds her baby. It`s love from the heart of a sweet, caring God.
And just the same today. If we look for gourmet steak in the desert, of course, there`s we can find none. If we look for freshly baked seafood or pasta, our mouths would be watering and we would hate our journey. But if we would learn to be content and see the beauty of those little things that falls from the sky… if we would realize that they are God`s precious gift… we would be happy and peaceful and we would enjoy our lives knowing that having our God is enough.
Let your conduct be without covetousness; and be content with what you have: for He has said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you. –
Hebrews 13:5
So would I ever make a list on what I don`t have? I pray that I will never again. ;) But in case, I know that my God is the same God of beauty and love and patience. And I know He would always remind me…
To find the beauty in everything. To find His hand. His love. To find Him in everything.
Lord, thank you for the beautiful things we have in our lives everyday. May we not ruin our joy by looking at what our neighbors have and which we don`t. We have enough. We may not have everything in the world, but You are enough. And we find joy in that.
We love you, Lord. Thank you!
Photo credits: click photo
It`s August. I can`t believe it. I`m a month away from turning 24. ;)
The truth is, August is one of my favorite months. Not only because I love how it sounds but because August makes me stop and think about God`s faithfulness. Maybe because it`s a month away from my birthday and I can`t help but look back on the past year that has been.
One of the greatest things about this year is that I know God is in the process of changing my heart. It is so much of a sweet thing, but it also comes with a lot of ouches and really painful pruning. {Beauty sometimes comes with a price, yeah?} But even though, I know and I am fully aware that this whole thing is really a beautiful thing. And I must look out or I might miss what God`s doing.
This whole year, God has renewed my hope and taught me how to trust—so much more than I have ever done before. I think my season is like Joseph`s when he was sold as a slave in Egypt. Although that looks quite pitiful at first glance, I don`t think God wanted Joseph to feel sorry for himself. I think God`s teaching Joseph about humility and trust. I think that`s where God is working on with me right now. :p I need to learn to trust His sovereignty wherever I am now.
This year, I`ve also learned to open my heart more to the Lord and He has opened my eyes to see that He is always the Father I can run on to. I love admitting the secrets I keep, the worries I have. And I always find that He cares about me and He`s concerned about what`s going on with my heart.
And today, God`s still dealing a whole lot of other impurities deep within my heart. My desires, my dreams, my inclination to do things my own way. And I am constantly reminded that all these things in the world will fade away…and this is not my home. I am born for another country {which they call Aslan`s country in Narnia—I love that analogy!!!—and which we call heaven in ours}.
I really don`t know where He will lead me. But I pray that my heart would be ready and would be willing to obey. That I will not falter but would give my heart to Him in surrender. That my heart will be happy and content only in HIM and that I would continually long for that country I was made for so that there wouldn`t be a hint of desire for this world in me. I want to learn to let go and finally lose myself completely for Him.
We will find no purpose in our lives until we learn to loose it and let it go--into His hands. Into the hands who wouldn`t let go of us. Into the hands who would hold us close and tight.
…I'll show up and take care of you as I promised
and bring you back home. I know what I'm doing.
I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.
Jeremiah 29:11 (MSG)
Photo Credits: click photo
There`s a storm over Manila today. From my window, I watch the rain pour out in the darkness. The sun still hasn`t risen and because of the bright lights across the street, raindrops seem like jewels glimmering in the air.
Beautiful, I whisper to myself.
Everything is silent. I guess people are indoors making a bowl of steamy soup also looking outside their windows, marveling at the beautiful rain I`m enjoying from mine.
And I…I`m sipping on a cup of coffee… amazed at how could something so beautiful come out what we first perceive as gloomy and discouraging.
There`s only one reason. I know it`s Him. It`s because of Him. And I look outside again with a bigger smile in my face—and with a deep joy in my heart. My God makes jewels out of rain.
I love staring at the rain today. It`s because I am reminded that God`s ways are different from ours. His thoughts are higher. And what we may think as ugly for the moment, is beautiful when brought under His light.
Because Jesus is the beauty in everything.
His presence makes everything beautiful.
Even storms. Even rain.
There might be darkness as of the moment.
The wind might be cold and biting.
And the sun is taking a long time in coming.
But there is a bright streetlight that gives you hope and changes lonely water drops into crystal jewels in the air.
And that bright light is God. That bright light is Jesus.
When you let HIS light shine in Your life,
you see jewels you never noticed before.
You see beauty you haven`t seen before.
You may not understand everything clearly,
but you find His purpose.
And you know that you are valuable.
You find His hands working.
And You find His love.
And I know He`s making jewels out of the storms in my life and heart. For He makes everything beautiful—in His time.
And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
Romans 5:5
Photo credits: Click photo
So sorry! It`s been a while!
The truth is, everyday I`ve been thinking of writing but I got the occasional writer`s affliction again--writer`s block. It just happens sometimes. Without notice. One day, the words are just flowing and the next morning you wake up waiting for that flicker of inspiration to come so you could write. And it just wouldn`t come.
But I think God used my two-week writer`s block to step away from my computer and walk into the “quiet” life away from my internet life. And even though every day, I felt pressured to come up with something, I actually had a great time enjoying things around the house and spending time with the family. I did a lot of cooking and supermarket-ing with my Mom. Got band t-shirts printed. Window-shopped. And I was finally able to see my dentist. And did I tell you, I have this phobia of having my teeth checked. When I was a kid, on my first trip to the dentist, the little girl ahead of me cried hysterically and so my heart races every time I step into a dental clinic. :)
Anyway, I was wondering how you`re doing? I hope everyone`s doing well. If not, I know God is doing something behind the scenes and you just have to hang in there and trust Him.
…"I've never quit loving you and never will.
Expect love, love, and more love!
And so now I'll start over with you and build you up again,
dear virgin Israel.
You'll resume your singing,
grabbing tambourines and joining the dance.
You'll go back to your old work of planting vineyards
on the Samaritan hillsides,
And sit back and enjoy the fruit—
oh, how you'll enjoy those harvests!
The time's coming when watchmen will call out
from the hilltops of Ephraim:
'On your feet! Let's go to Zion,
go to meet our God!'"
Jeremiah 31:2-6
Photos Credit: click photo
Do you remember last month`s post about telling our hearts to beat again when discouraging, heart-numbing times come? The jumping, cheerleading thing? I really did talk to myself so many times that time and did the cheering every time I would remember the discouragement. I felt that if I would forget His promises and cling on to what He says, I would wallow in despair. lol And God is really faithful. He really didn`t let me forget. And He just held on to me. He really held me close.
Actually, a couple of days before that… I wasn`t feeling so much into cheering my heart to start beating and trusting and holding on. I felt like bursting into tears and just running to Daddy—to our Father in Heaven.
I really didn`t know what to do. I wondered if he would accept me, with all the tears and the broken heart.
And I was reminded of a very important lesson about His character. About who He is and who am I to Him.
I wrote a post about it. And it`s up on Incourage! Yey! {I`m obviously so excited!} You can read that post here.
If you`re heart is broken or if you just need to be reminded about God`s love and grace… know that God is always… always there. He loves you.
Photo credit: Click photo
I opened Yahoo and this is what greeted me today:
Seriously? You can get a lighthouse for a bargain? Even for free like a cookie?
Nah. I read the entire article and some of the lighthouses still cost too much. But there`s one that costs $5000 dollars and if I had a little took much, I would`ve consider that. lol And the freebie? They only give it to historical agencies. I love history but starting an agency would take me forever!
So in the end, buying a lighthouse…is still and only in a girl`s dream. At least, in my dream. If you`re dreaming of building a lighthouse for the fisherman of the sea, I mean, that`s totally possible and and that`s for a really great purpose. Buying it for myself is like a little crazy and selfish, eh?
***
Honestly, I really thought it would really be great to own one. A lighthouse is a lighthouse. I think it`s better than owning the most priced car. 
I Have A Lighthouse
When you come to think of it, we don`t need to own a lighthouse or get ourselves one because we, ourselves, are like a lighthouse.
You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill.
If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.
Matthew 14:6
I don`t need to own a lighthouse. `Cause I am one. I am a light-bearer. God called me to shine His light like a tall lighthouse in this dark world.
Reminds me of the Sunday School song my sisters and I loved to sing when we were kids.
This is the light of mine
I`m gonna let it shine
Let is shine
Let is shine
Let is shine!
I want to carry Your light, Lord! I wanna shine Your light!
I want people to You through me. May I always shine that they may see Your glory!
Sometimes, we`re tempted to think that wilderness days are pointless. That days of waiting or suffering amount to nothing. That our time has been wasted and is being wasted. But no. That`s not true.
So when we don`t understand, let`s just trust that God`s thoughts are always, always higher than our own and He knows where we`re going.
Every single day is a step closer to ultimate plan God has in store for us.
All things work together for good, to those who love the Lord and those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
Click photo for credit
Edited by Periwinkle Confessions
Via Bluebirdandtree
FOR TODAY
Outside my window
No trace of the big storm last week. Pretty much enjoying sunshine!
I am thinking
about last night`s sweet victory. Ava won in the pageant! So happy!
Proud `cause you really don`t have to show skin to win.
I am thankful for
love, hope and happiness.
From the learning rooms
Korean! I printed my lessons before the storm came so that`s what kept me busy when the electricity was gone last week. Language-learning is really challenging, but I`m enjoying the difficulty.
From the kitchen
Ava made embotido {Filipino-style meatloaf that`s steamed before fried, made with ground pork, raisins, carrots and onions}
I am wearing
Pyjamas! 
I am going
to go to sleep again in a while.
I am reading
articles on Incourage. I`ll be featured there next month! Yey! I`ll let you know when the post is up!
I am hoping
to have time to go to the dentist this week. It`s been a while since my last visit.
I am hearing
a program on the local Christian radio program. {Hey, did you know LJ Salceda is leaving FEBC `cause she`s gonna get married in the US? So sad to hear. She`s been doing broadcast for years. I was listening to her since High School…}
Around the house
Our house is pretty cluttered. Everyone`s so tired and sleepy.
One of my favorite things
is herb toasted bread! Yummy!
A few plans for the rest of the week
Go to the bank `cause they`re asking me a penalty for my dormant account (the one I had back in high school and college). They`re charging P200 every month until I get it active again. Too much!
From My Picture Journal
My Nursery Graduation picture. Look at my classmates! I wonder why we`re all confused in these photos! I`m the one in front with short hair and pink headband.
Photo Credits: yanilavigne
and chloefranch on Tumblr
