Saying YES to Him

Saying YES to God as He deals with me... HE is Lord in the first place!

Enough of my pride, time to deny myself because it is the right thing to do!

REPENT and LET GO indeed! 

Enable me Lord to do Your will, to do what is pleasing before You, for Your glory! 

Fickle

According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, fickle is marked by lack of steadfastness, constancy, or stability.

And well, that's my heart right now! Sobrang kulang na kulang sa steadfastness. Huhuhu! And I do not like it when I'm like this.

I need a change of heart right now...

Oh Lord would you steady my heart once again and re-align it to Yours?

Audience of the One

This was how God spoke to me in my quiet time few months ago...
That He wanted me to have an undivided, an upright and blameless heart before Him!
It may have been few months since then but it is STILL resounding!
So, Yes Lord, focus on pleasing You alone! :)

Two things

The Lord has been teaching me two things about myself lately:

1. That I am so mayabang [proud and arrogant]

2. That I am so in need of Him so that I can be trully humble [meek]

It took a while before I realized it but I am glad He is dealing with me, as always, accordingly. That is towards His likeness. Left overwhelmed again! 

Thank You! :)

His faithfulness despite...

"I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice,in love and compassion.

I will betroth you in faithfulness,and you will acknowledge the Lord."

-Hosea 2:19-20

One thing that God taught me through reading His word in the Old Testament, is that His faithfulness is never dependent on how faithful or unfaithful or obedience and/or disobedience His people are [both Israel during those time and the elect among the Gentiles today]. He is faithful because that is who He is. He is faithful because He is God and we are mere men, created beings.

How humbling is that! We are undeserving but He continuously extends His grace towards us, His people [the body of Christ]...

Thank You, Lord for who You are! :) 

Humbling me

God is humbling me. 

Someone is mad at me because (I think but I am not sure if it is the reason) the person doesn't agree with how I go about in leading our growth group and because of things I have said that was offensive in one way or another to the person. The humbling part about this is that the attitude of the person actually reminds me of my own attitude when I feel the same (mad / angry / irritated) towards someone. 

So God is now teaching me to respond in love, in patience, grace, compassion and in meekness. And it is not easy, specially the meekness part as I was told (by the person) of things I never thought I would hear from the person. 

I am hurting, yes, that's given. But I do not disregard the fact that this is nothing that is out of the control and sovereignty of God, so I will do as it pleases Him. It is hard but I know that it is possible by His grace.

I know sooner or later we will be okay again in His time and according to His will. I know that He wants harmony among His children. So I leave it up to Him and pray, and trust that He is working everything for our good because we belong to Him and we are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). 

"May Your will be done, Father... That in all these, Your name alone be glorified. Amen."

Baby Moira Celestine

Last Sunday, August 4, 2013, I was invited by my GAWAD best friend, Mari, to be one of the ninang (god-mother) to her second child, Moira Celestine. It was a special occasion indeed! I met her son, Gavin, for the first time, met her parents and sister again after more than 10 years and got to spend time of catching up with my other GAWAD friends Kuya Arjay, Jaycz, Ate Macris and Kuya Remil.

And allow me to share with you some highlights that day:

It was held in San Isidro Labrador, Parish church in Calauan, Laguna. Where Mari and Richard got married. Calauan is Mari's hometown. 

The Chua family: Kuya Gavin (not looking), Richard, Mari and baby Moira (she was asleep all throughout)

It was a batch of babies being baptized so there were a number of them that the priest had to "bless" one by one. It's my first time in a long time to be a ninang and witness this kind of baptism.

Ate Macris touching baby Moira's head. I do not know what that symbolizes though.

And she is still asleep. 

Kuya Gavin smiling as Papa takes his picture. While baby Moira still sleeping, deadma to the world lang! Hehe.

And then the family and us ninongs and ninangs were called to got to the front for the actual baptism of baby Moira. Since this is a batch baptism, it did not take long before we went back to where we were seated. Ambilis talaga. 

Candle lighting. Again, I do not know what this symbolizes.

Yes, still asleep.

The priest then told us to put off the light on the candle. Here's Richard about to do so.

Family picture!

Here's the ninongs, ninangs and visitors. Kami ang pinaka-madami. Hehe.

With Ate Macris and Jaycz. Thanks Kuya Arjay for this shot! :)

Reception was held at the parents of Mari's house. 

Here are more photos of baby Moira still sleeping after all the commotion around her and even after her change of clothes. Hehe. 

With ninang Jaycz, who knows how to carry an infant properly as she is a nurse by profession. Ikaw na sis! Hehe. 

Isn't that baby girl so cute? Sarap ng tulog oh!

Here's Kuya Remil and Ate Macris.

The love birds. Need I say more? I can see it in your eyes you two! *whatever* Haha!

And then here's us: Kuya Arjay, Jaycz and myself.

At wala pala kaming picture ni Mari sa camera ko. 

Anyway, it was fun seeing all those folks! my good friends for 10 years now whom I do not see a lot these days. Special occasion such as this is indeed a very good excuse to travel back to my home province, Laguna to see them! Until next time!

<G> 

His first birthday as my husband

At first, I did not plan to surprise him but then I thought, this year should be very special because it is his first birthday as a husband! Hahaha! Well, actually para lang may ma-i-rason lang ako. Gusto lang talaga ang nangsosorpresa. Hehe. 

Anyway, sharing few highlights during my dearly beloved hubby's birthday (July 23)

The surprise happened that morning, I invited few chosen men, some of which he is currently discipling and the rest are members of our growth group, to come to our house before he arrives from work (he works at night) to celebrate with him through a mini men's fellowship.

It was a wonderful time! It wasn't just food that was shared but testimonies of how God's been faithful to His men! The men also affirmed John through encouraging words on how God is using him to lead them closer to Him and then we prayed for the birthday boy! Such a blessed time!

Then later that evening, we had our date! We went to eat dinner at Mom and Tina's in Makati then watched Pacific Rim in Greenbelt. Below are the photos of our sumptuous dinner:

  

We loved the food! it was so sulit for Php940.00, we were so full and really satisfied.  Did you notice how big the steak was? Ay grabe talaga! Hehe. John had medium well lamb chops while I had fettuccine with sea food with sun dried tomato pesto.  We will definitely go back for another date there. 

And so it was indeed a "success" surprise birthday bash! He had a very happy birthday! I'm glad he felt very special on his special day! Next year ulet my love! Hehe! Mwuah! :)

Thank You, Lord for special occasion as this! Thank You for Your provision. 

 

Roles

Wife, an employee, a growth group leader and a discipler.

These roles have kept me very busy and are my main resons (or is it an excuse?) why I have neglected this blog a lot.

But I still miss it. I miss writing, I miss expressing myself and sharing my thoughts and personal reflections.

We'll see. :)

No excuses!

13 No trial has overtaken you that is not faced by others. And God is faithful: He will not let you be tried beyond what you are able to bear, but with the trial will also provide a way out so that you may be able to endure it. -1 Corinthians 10:13

No one should ever say that his/her trial is just for him/her. It is clear in His word.  Therefore, we have no excuse to fall and sin when facing trials.  God is faithful, look to Him.

This is just one great reminder for me. 

Amen. 

Our testimony in my wedding vow

And so it's just now that I've learned there's a blogger app for iPad so... I thought I'd share this "very short" wedding vow of mine as my first post after a looooong time. Hehe.

Well, this is more of a testimony (from my point of view) of how God has been faithful to us through the years before marrying each other and then less than half of it is my vow itself. Haha! :)

Hope you will be blessed as you read!

Photo Credits: Jonas Acorda

"You know love that I always tell you that I praise and thank God for you... And you know I always will! Especially now that God granted the desire of my heart to be married to you and be your wife.


I praise and thank God for you
-for your love for me
-for your concern
-for looking after my walk with Christ
-for how you always point me to Him and to Him alone
-for how you always remind me to check my heart to be always right before Him.

I'm blessed to have a godly man like you in my life.

I praise and thank God for you
-for all of your rebuke
-for your tough love, though at times it's painful, I know its for my good
-for how you taught me to be unselfish, not to call too much attention to myself and to consider others better than myself
-for how you always remind me to love, to forgive, to understand and be gracious despite how others would respond
-for all the acts of service you have given me
-for all the quality times spent with you
-for not giving up on me, ever
-for being very, very patient with me sa lahat ng kakulitan ko, even if at times I'm stubborn, irrational, emotionally weird
-for all of your encouragments and prayer
-for being my best friend, my leader, my mentor, my accountability partner and my number one prayer warrior
-for the partnership that we have in the ministry
-for loving God above all, for your heart that you want to always give yourself fully to the Lord

And also I thank and praise God for how He has preserved you and me for each other and from each other.

My prayer and yes it is my desire to be worthy to be called your wife.

As a wife, I commit myself
-to give you my utmost and unconditional respect
-to submit to you in everything as you lead me to where God is leading you
-to always pray for you
-to love you and honor you
-to listen to you and be quiet
-to take good care of you and meet all your needs, especially your physical needs
-to support you and always be there for you be it good times or bad
-to make you m number one priority and ministry
-to walk with you faithfully and obediently in the Lord

I commit to do these not because I am expected but because I want to honor and give glory to God as I do. I trust that He will be the One to sustain me and lead me to be your wife, your lifetime partner.

"This is the confidence that we have in approaching God; that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know He hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of Him." -1 John 5:14-15

I am very excited for what God has prepared for us in our life together from this day on... Because indeed through our relationship, sa nagdaang apat na taon, God has given us a taste of the hope of eternal joy that we have in Him, how much more in our life together as husband and wife?

Indeed we are able to love each other because He first loved us, when He died at the Cross and paid for the penalty of our sins.

And indeed, this journey towards Christ-likeness has become really really much sweeter since you came along and I will forever be grateful for the Lord for that.

I am honored to love you and to be loved by you. I love you always and forever, love...

Thank You our Third Party, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we honor you and glorify You today for who You are in our lives!"

God deserves all the glory for He is indeed our Faithful Third Party! And yes, even after eight months (and counting), HE STILL IS!

Hope to blog more often from this day on! Bow. :D

Been singing this to Him

Your steadfast love extends to the heavens
Your faithfulness it reaches to the clouds
Your righteousness is like majestic mountains
And your wisdom like the depths of the seaAnd you come to me...

Filling my heart with your loving kindness
I find my peace in the shadow of your wings
I eat my fill from the abundance of your household
And I drink from the streams of rejoicing

You are my King...

"Your Steadfast Love" by Don Moen

When it's hard to give thanks

Today I received a sad news.

But then God is just faithful! He reminded me of two verses today when I was on my way home, crying...

"...in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." -1 Thessalonians 5:18

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." -Romans 8:28

This is the difficult part. To give thanks when the matter for you is not worth thanking God for. But His word says in everything, meaning there is no exception. And yes, not this one!

As a child of God, I have to be thankful for everything because everything happens for my own good, in accordance to His good and perfect will.  All I need to do is to trust in Him and take Him at His word.

And then boom!

He made me realize that this "sad news" is a wonderful opportunity for us (my husband and I) to level up on our trust in Him and for us to be amazed once again on how He will work our life as we build our family.  And with that, His peace ruled in my heart supernaturally.  He didn't allow myself to be eaten up by my ego and for me to be consumed by my being a "control freak of my life" because He is the One in charge, and not me.

He has proven Himself to be faithful to me, many, many times.  Why would I doubt now, right?

Thank You Lord for who You are.
Thank You for Your faithfulness.
Thank You because You are trustworthy.
Thank You because I have Your word to affirm and encourage me.
Thank You Holy Spirit for helping me keep things in Your perspective.
Thank You Jesus for there is forgiveness in You, and for Your righteousness imputed upon me.
Thank You dear God, for everything that You are.

PS... Yes, I was crying habang naglalakad papunta sa EDSA. Good thing I had my shades on! Lol!

Mema = Mema-i-blog-lang :)

My husband and I were on our way home last night riding a cab when I heard the DJ from the radio read poems...One thing I realized while listening to the beautiful poems is: I miss writing! :'(

And yeah, if I really want to improve on that area, I have to write again. I guess I have to blog again. I've been out of this blog for a long time now and up until now, even with an unlimited internet access at home, I still can't figure out how am I suppose to make time for this "hobby."

Sigh.

But we'll see where I'll get from here.

For now, that's all folks! Happy New Year! :)