my dear daughter...

Today is your very special day!

And I just want to say-- it is really a joy, it is an honor and a blessing to be used by our dear Lord to minister to you for two years now... I am amazed to witness how God is molding you in becoming the person He wants you to be. I am in awe seeing how He is actively changing you (and yeah, pruning you!) from glory to glory...

You are an affirmation of His faithfulness and His goodness!

So just continue to seek Him, continue to long for Him, continue to grow in love with Him, continue to obey Him, continue to walk with Him... Just go on and never ever lose heart... Because He is with you and He is in you!

My daughter, you are dear to me... And I so love you! I so care for you! I'm always praying for you. I know you know that...

I'm so proud to be your mommah!

Happy-happy birthday to you, my dear daughter/ disciple/ prayer & accountability partner/ sister/ friend-- Elouise Rendon!

"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God." -Philippians 1:9-11


++ photo was taken during our first ever discipleship: 01/27/08 ++

Rejoice!

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

-Philippians 4:4-8

Testimony

This old testi of my dear sister still bring tears in my eyes...

She posted this in our e-groups (gcfcrossover@yahoogroups) and then P. Jon re-posted it in mosaic's blog...

And now, I'm sharing it here! Hehe.

Read on and be blessed...

" Thanks, Raya, for the beautiful testimony "

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