I am blessed

I thank you all for praying for me... Nakaka-bless ang aming Bible study yesterday! Praise His name and to Him be all the glory!

As the members were sharing insights and God's revelation to them sobrang ramdam na ramdam ko na buhay na buhay ang Panginoon sa life ng bawat isa... As in , WOW! It leaves me in awe and leaves me praising Him more and more...

I'm overwhelmed. I'm blessed.

Anyway, share ko na rin uli kung ano etong updates ng aming "Walk the Talk" Series study, from the Book of James:

1. James 1:1-4—consider it pure joy, let perseverance finish its work.
2. James 1:5-8—ask God for wisdom, when you ask you must believe and not doubt.
3. James 1:9-12—take pride in your high or low position.
4. James 1:13-18—we are tempted by our own evil desires, every good and perfect gift comes from God (so don’t blame God when you fall).
5. James 1:19-21—receive the Word of God; grab every opportunity to study the Word, do not be hasty to teach the Word if you don’t understand it, let it correct you.
6. James 1:22-25—do what the Word of God says; study the Word with the intention to obey.
7. James 1:26-27—abide in the Word of God; be consistent… live by the Word.
8. James 2:1-4—do not hold the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s glory, with any kind of partiality.
9. James 2:5-7—why favoritism contradicts the Christian faith.
10. James 2:8-11—taking partiality/favoritism seriously; it is a sin (illustration with adultery and murder), love you neighbor as yourself (your neighbor is someone that God brought in your path that is in need).
11. James 2:12-13—show mercy and compassion as we (Christians) are recipients of His compassion and mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.
12. James 2:14-19—Trusting Christ as Savior + Following Christ as Lord = Faith that Works (genuine faith).

See also my previous posts...

I need Your wisdom

I will be leading our group in our 12th Walk-d-Talk (James series study) lesson this coming Saturday, January 30, 2010.

Do pray for me, I have not finished the lesson yet.

Here's the assigned passage for me, James 2:14-19--

   
¹⁴ What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? ¹⁵ If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? ¹⁷ Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.


¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. ¹⁹ You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! (James 2:14-19, New King James Version)

"I am your servant
And I am listening
Speak to me Lord, speak to me
I need your wisdom
And truth and comfort
Speak to me Lord, speak to me

Speak to me
Speak to me
Through your word
Through your spirit
Speak your words of life
Speak to me
Speak to me
I am listening
I am waiting
Speak to me

I am your servant
And I am listening
Speak to me Lord, speak to me
My heart is silent
My soul is longing
Speak to me Lord, speak to me"

something happened

In relation to my entry: Contemplating (Part II)

Jan 22 @ 5:32am, I texted this to John:
"Naiyak ako kanina love... Sobrang inis ko... sarap nya sapakin eh. Nakakabwisit humirit. Pero mabait tlga si Lord kasi He kept me still at di ako pumatol at sumagot pabalang... Pero after tlga naiyak ako. Para akong bata na nagsusumbing kay Lord.. He is dealing with my attitude. Masakit pero, oks lang."

And then we saw each other past 6am... I told him my story, before we parted ways, I asked him-- "Wala kang masasabi?" He just asked me these-- "Bakit kailangang sabihin mo sa kanya yun? Na kaya tuloy nasabihan ka ng ---? "

I stopped, and thought about what really is inside my heart... Na ang nasabi ko na lang kay John ay-- "Oo nga noh? Parang ang yabang ko pala nun at may pride pa rin ako... "

Pagkadating ko sa bahay, ganito na yung text ko kay John @ 7:04am:

"I'm home na love. Thank you, I feel better now... InExpose na naman ni God kung ano tlga ang nasa heart ko at tunay nga na He wants me to change... Mas malinaw ngayon sa akin. =)"

Then I went to my 'silent sanctuary' and spent quality time with the Lord, around 8:05am.



This was my prayer then:

"Thank You-- all things work for the good for those who belong to You! Thank You for C, for L, and for John--whom You used to comfort me and expose what really is in my heart.

Lord, mali po ako--ang yabang ko nga po at masyado akong nagmataas at ayun nga, sinasabi ko sa sarili ko that Your are good and still sovereign but my attitude tells (You and me) otherwise. Forgive me Lord, for disregarding your sovereignty in my life once again... Forgive me 'cause i failed to apply what I told A (my disciple) to do... =(

But then again... Thank You for being so faithful na kahit paano sumunod ako sa Inyo, na kahit paano naging conscious ako sa paligid. Thank You Lord, kasi Ikaw po ang may gawa kung bakit hindi ako sumagot pabalang at hindi Nyo po hinayaang masira ko na naman ang testimony ko... And again, thank You, Lord Jesus for correcting my attitude, for dealing with me real hard. Thank You, Lord!

'Attitude do not just happen; we choose them.' -Blackaby

'Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus...' -Philippians 2:5

I pray Lord na patuloy Nyo pong i-reveal sa akin ang sarili ko... At patuloy Nyo po akong baguhin... Thank You for Your patience Father! Hindi pa po talaga kayo tapos sa akin.

As for the person Lord, please do not let me give up on her. She is still my friend and I want her to know You. Sana Lord gamitin Nyo pa rin ako to minister to her. I hope Lord I would see her and look at her according sa perspective Nyo. Sana po Lord, makabawi ako at maipadama ko sa kanya na love ko sya. Sana Lord, makita ka pa rin nya sa akin, sa buhay ko. Thank You Lord, for using her as a tool in correcting and molding me... Bless her Lord and I really pray she would come to know You.

Thank You po uli... Prepare me now Father as I read and study Your Word... Open the eyes of my heart so that I will see You...

In Jesus' name, I pray, amen. =) "

The Lord lead me to read John 17:25-26

"O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. 26 And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them."

And then, hindi pa don natatapos ang message sa akin ng Panginoon kasi meron din Syang sinabi through Blackaby (I'm using Experiencing God Devotionals kasi):

-You cannot walk close to God without being affected by His love.
-You will be incapable of ministering to everyone God sends you unless you have His love. You cannot forgive others or go the extra mile with others or sacrifice for others unless you have first been filled with the boundless love of God.
-Seek to know the Father and His immeasurable love; then allow His Son to love others through you!

Napatulala ako ata nasabi kokay Lord: "You are so in control! Sakto ito Lord ah! Galing... Nakakatuwa po... "

That moment, I ended up praying again... This was my finale, from Psalm 119:
"124 Deal with your servant according to your love
and teach me your decrees.

125 I am your servant; give me discernment
that I may understand your statutes.

135 Make your face shine upon your servant
and teach me your decrees."

Praise His name, forever and ever! ;-)


(ps. this is the first time I published the whole content of my personal reflection and journal. wala lang. wahehe.)

Bathaluman Diwa

One of my dearest niece is celebrating her 3rd birthday today...

♥ HAPPY BIRTHDAY DIWA ♥

"And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them." -Mark 10:16

Contemplating (Part II)

I have to keep this in mind and live it out at the same time:

Jesus replied, "You may go. Your son will live." The man took Jesus at his word and departed. -John 4:50

And

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus... -Philippians 2:5

HE is teaching me hard. It hurts but I'm glad that He is doing what He is doing to me...

I love you more and more...

Happy 16 months and counting love!

"The loneliness of nights alone
the search for strength to carry on
my every hope has seemed to die
my eyes had no more tears to cry
then like the sun shining up above
you surrounded me with your endless love
Coz all the things I couldn't see are now so clear to me

You are my everything
Nothing your love won't bring
My life is yours alone
The only love I've ever known
Your spirit pulls me through
When nothing else will do
Every night I pray
On bended knee
That you will always be
My everything

Now all my hopes and all my dreams
are suddenly reality
you've opened up my heart to feel
a kind of love that's truly real
a guiding light that'll never fade
there's not a thing in life that I would ever trade
for the love you give it won't let go
I hope you'll always know

You are my everything
Nothing your love won't bring
My life is yours alone
The only love I've ever known
Your spirit pulls me through
When nothing else will do
Every night I pray
On bended knee
That you will always be
My everything

You're the breath of life in me
the only one that sets me free
and you have made my soul complete
for all time (for all time)

You are my everything (you are my everything)
Nothing your love won't bring (nothing your love won't bring)
My life is yours alone (alone)
The only love I've ever known
Your spirit pulls me through (your spirit pulls me through)
When nothing else will do (when nothing else will do)
Every night I pray (I pray)
On bended knee (on my knee)
That you will always be
be my everything

Every night I pray
down on bended knee
that you will always be
my everything
oh my everything"


I ♥ Ü

And I'm so happy-- We love because he first loved us. (John 4:19)

Status: Contemplating

I've been singing this song for almost two weeks now... I listen to it every night while I'm on my way to work and when I travel back home...

"I will give you all my worship
I will give you all my praise
You alone I long to worship
You alone are worthy of my praise

I will worship (I will worship)
With all of my heart (With all of my heart)
I will praise you (I will praise you)
With all of my strength (With all my strength)
I will seek you (I will seek you)
All of my days (All of my days)
I will follow (I will follow)
Follow all of your ways (All your ways)

I will give you all my worship
I will give you all my praise
You alone I long to worship
You alone are worthy of my praise

I will bow down (I will bow down)
Hail you as king (Hail you as king)
I will serve you (I will serve you)
I'll give you everything (I'll give you everything)
I will lift up (I will lift up)
My eyes to your throne (My eyes to your throne)
I will trust you (I will trust you)
I will trust you alone (Trust you alone)"

...and then last Monday night, nasa jeep ako when I pondered on "Lord, what does it really mean to give You ALL my worship?" Sa thought lang na yun ako nag-dwell during my short travel from my house (Mandaluyong) to my workplace (the Fort, Taguig).

When I went home, Tuesday morning... I found myself telling this to God (in my journal):

"I've been thinking since last night kung ano po ba talaga yung 'all my worship' at kung naibibigay ko ito sa Inyo... and the answer is 'no'... Many times I fail to follow You, many times I disappoint You, many times I go ahead of You, many times I displease You and disobey You... At maraami pang pagkukulang at pagkakamali...

Forgive me Lord for those times..."

What does it mean to give Him all my worship then-- OBEDIENCE. Having the RIGHT HEART before Him... Living the Christ-like life MOMENT BY MOMENT... At marami pang iba na patuloy na ipinapakita sa akin ng Panginoon...

And then He lead me to this:

"How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word." -Psalm 119:9

So the journey goes on... He is dealing with me, that's for sure! ;-)

Prasie His name, His love endures forever...

Walk the talk! Ü

Our Bible study group ( Connect's Agents of Change ) meeting resumed last Saturday, January 9, 2010.

It has been an exciting 2009 for all us and we are all so eager to see how God will continue to reveal Himself to us as we go through the study of His Holy Word.

I have mentioned before that we our going through a series study entitled "Walk the Talk" based on the Book of James. Here's what we have studied so far:

1. James 1:1-4—consider it pure joy, let perseverance finish its work.
2. James 1:5-8—ask God for wisdom, must believe and not doubt.
3. James 1:9-12—take pride in your high or low position.
4. James 1:13-18—we are tempted by our own evil desires, every good and perfect gift comes from God so don’t blame God when you fall.
5. James 1:19-21—receive the Word of God, grab every opportunity to study the Word, do not be hasty to teach the Word if you don’t understand it, let it correct you.
6. James 1:22-25—do what the Word of God says, study the Word with the intention to obey.
7. James 1:26-27—abide in the Word of God, be consistent.. live by the Word.
8. James 2:1-4—do not hold your faith by showing favoritism. Do not hold the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ; God’s glory, with any kind of partiality.
9. James 2:5-7—why favoritism/partiality contradicts the Christian faith.

This coming Saturday, we will study James 2:8-11. If you happen to be available then, feel free to join us at 6pm, GCF Ortigas , room BM04.

I find this timely

It's that time of the year... Wherein people gather and follow the black figure as part of their "panata"...

So I find this passage very timely:

Exodus 20:1-7

1 And God spoke all these words:

2 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

3 "You shall have no other gods before me.

4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments.

And then as I am typing this, I heard someone say-- "Oh my god!" as her normal expression over something... And so I will continue on with this verse:

7 "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

Happy Anniversary!

Today marks our 3rd year as JP Morgan Chase Bank employees.

God is good and is ever faithful to all of us.

Happy-happy 3rd year anniversary Wave 20!

Sometimes, I just can't wait

(ang ganda nang place noh?)

I showed this photo to John and told him what I was thinking... He did not give me any reactions or comments but rather asked-- "Saan yan?" and I told him where, then he said-- "Ang layo ha! Papahirapan natin ang mga bisita pag dyan..."

So... okay, the answer is No.

Okay fine, I will scout for a different one. Na-e-excite lang tlaga ako. Hehehe.