Ready to face the “giants” this 2012 with no fear!

This year is going to be a great one (yes, I am claiming it in Jesus’ name!) and I am very excited to embark on a new journey. I may not know what lies ahead, but I am secure enough knowing that God is with me in this decision.

Thank you Lord for the courage! Finally, I would be able to do it soon!

I am not frightened anymore because I know in my heart that this is what you’ve always wanted me to do. This is it, Lord! I am surrendering everything to You!

Off topic: To know more about 5th wheel insurance, click on the link.

Awesome lyrics!

Love Like Fire
Artist: Hillsong
Album: Beautiful Exchange

I am desperate for Your touch
A glimpse of heaven for the glory of Your Son.
In a moment You can turn a life around
Forever to be found in You.

And I am reaching out to find
There’s nothing greater than Your love that holds my life.
Your grace and mercy that have saved me by Your blood,
And swept away my shame Oh Lord.

Chorus
Your love is like fire that burns for all to see.
My only desire,to worship at Your feet.
So let this fire consume my life.
Let Your love take me deeper
Draw me closer to where You are,
‘Cause all I want is more of You.

And I’ll surrender to Your love
Forever humbled by the message of the cross.
I stand abandoned in Your presence and Your grace,
And I’ll never be the same Oh God.

Chorus
Your love is like fire that burns for all to see.
My only desire,to worship at Your feet.
So let this fire consume my life.
Let Your love take me deeper
Draw me closer to where You are,
‘Cause all I want is more of You.

When You call I will follow.
At the cross I surrender all,
Jesus I belong to You.

I belong to You Lord

Your love is like fire that burns for all to see.
My only desire,to worship at Your feet.

Your love is like fire that burns for all to see.
My only desire,to worship at Your feet.
So let this fire consume my life.
Let Your love take me deeper
Draw me closer to where You are,
‘Cause all I want is more of You.

When You call I will follow,
at the cross I surrender all,
Jesus I belong to You.
Let Your love take me deeper,
Draw me closer to where You are,
cause all I want is more of You

When You call I will follow,
at the cross I surrender all,
Jesus I belong to You.

Click here to listen

Image Credit: www.CartoonStock.com

This morning when I checked my email, I got a notification from one of the advertisers that I have been paid for the job I did for them two days ago. It’s the kind of job that only required me to do three things on my blog: copy, paste and publish. That was pretty easy!

But here’s the interesting part. Since they pay in U.S dollars, I had to do the conversion. Using the current exchange rate table from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (Central Bank of the Philippines), I was able to compute the amount of what I just earned in peso.

The numbers struck me like a lightning.

Lo and behold, it’s the same amount of tithe I had given to the Lord last Sunday!

My jaw dropped in awe.

Not because God had given back what I cheerfully gave that Sunday, but because of the realization that what just happened is a living proof that God is true to His promises to all those who have faith in Him.

A blessed day to all!

So many of these young people strive hard in order to do what’s pleasing to the Lord. Some of them are in need of inspiration and increased opportunity, while some students have Christian counseling degree so they can help those suffering from life’s trials. It’s a good thing there are some excellent online christian colleges nowadays.

To God be the glory!

This picture was taken at church three Sundays ago during praise and worship. The DLP projector flashes the lyrics of the songs being sung by the Music Team for audience participation.

Honor God. Make Disciples.

Because helping others never goes out of style.

Let us all be the CHANGE we want to see in this world. Be a volunteer and change a life forever. There are many underprivileged kids who badly need our help and support. Click here for more information.

Special thanks to Ate Sony Dela Calzada for giving us the opportunity to spend time with these kids! May God bless you more as you continue to bless others. See you again!

At a Saturday Feeding Program in Malate

Time to eat!

My husband, Leo, playing with the kids

Volunteers Class Picture

No one should seek their own good, but the good of others. – 1 Corinthian 10:24

Sa larangan ng pag-ibig, dapat hindi puro puso ang pinapairal — dapat UTAK din.

I don’t believe in the saying “Follow your heart.” Guess what, the bible tells us that the heart is the most deceiptful above all things (Jeremiah 17:9). It is desperately wicked. It is only concerned about how it feels. It doesn’t know the concept of what’s right or wrong. It doesn’t have eyes to see the distorted truth. Most of the time, it is selfish and only knows what feels good now. It doesn’t care about future consequences.

During my most heartbreaking days, I dealt with the pain in silence. The boy didn’t know how much I loved him. I prayed for God’s healing and restoration. Ten months later, I was back on my feet again — stronger, better, wiser.

Many years later, I looked back….and all I could remember was the boy’s name. Joey Albert was so right in her song when she said “I remember the boy, but I don’t remember the feeling anymore…” LOL.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. – Proverbs 3:5-7

Undoubtedly, God’s plans is way beyond our understanding! Good things happen to those who patiently wait. Let God lead our hearts and we will never go wrong.

I thank God every single day for blessing me with a husband that I prayed for. I am so glad I waited.

If you know anyone suffering from bulimia or anorexia, check out these eating disorders treatment centers.

In Colossians 3:23, Apostle Paul reminded us to do our work with all our hearts as if working for the Lord and not for men. I’m glad that my dear husband not only knows this verse, he actually lives by it. To this very day, I am in awe at how he manages to stand strong despite the odds. Amazing!

Let me tell you a little secret though.

The past few weeks have been the toughest for me — yes, for me! It was tough seeing him carrying the heavy cross on his own.

How can a person’s life be of more importance than money? Why is he being “forced” to bite off more than he can chew? Why is he expected to do so much, yet was given nothing in return?!

Not even kind words when he called in sick…Talk about APATHY!

But through it all, I find solace in knowing that our Big Boss up there sees everything that men fail to see, and hears the cries that men refuse to hear.

I guess it’s more than enough to know that the Big Boss we serve is always fair and just; He doesn’t play favorites.

I know one day, He’ll step in and fight for what is right. For sure, He has better plans.

Funny, but it’s true.

I’d rather go through hard labor than eat less rice or skip meals.

My unspoken motto was, “It’s better to be tired than hungry.” LOL. Because when I’m hungry, I tend to be impatient. Hunger has this devilish power to put me in a grouchy mood.

You see, prior to giving birth I’ve always been slim even though I ate a lot. So the words exercise, diet, or diet pills were simply not in my vocabulary.

Little did I know that as we get older, our metabolism tends to slow down. Which means — you don’t burn calories as fast as you did when you were younger.

Ouch! Truth really does hurt sometimes, doesn’t it?

The thought of being old, wrinkled, and overweight haunted me for weeks. It made me paranoid!

The next thing I knew — I started exercising religiously with this motivation in mind: I have to slim down to have my self-esteem back. Because when you’re slim, you look good.

That’s how I see it.

It’s all physical — nothing more, nothing less. It’s all about me.

Weeks later, I wasn’t motivated anymore. So I stopped. Why? Because I wasn’t losing weight as fast as I wanted to.

I was impatient. very impatient.

I made two more pathetic attempts. But I just flunked miserably, leaving me more discouraged than I had ever felt before. For months, my weight had been fluctuating from 60 kilos to 59, then back to 60, down to 59 again, then back to 60. It was topsy-turvy!

Then it hit me. God made me realize I had the wrong motivation.

Upon realizing how superficial I had been, I made a decision to run regularly on weekends. But this time, I had a different motivation in mind.

I want to take good care of the body that God has given me, so I can serve Him, my family, and others. After all, He is the source of my strength. My life is not about me — it’s about Him. We are all created to give glory to the one sitting on the throne. I repeat, to give. Not to receive.

With God being my number 1 motivation, I was able to keep myself motivated in achieving my goal. And what’s amazing is, I wasn’t even thinking about losing weight anymore. I just run because I want to be healthy!

And here’s the good news.

To this very day, I weigh 51 kilos (112 pounds) and every one I know sees the big difference. Yes, I am no longer overweight! (SIDE NOTE: my eyes are twinkling while writing this part.)

For the very first time, I had victory in my hands.

I am a living testimony that if you put your trust in God, everything is possible. And sometimes, you don’t even need to lift a finger. God is always willing to do all the hard work for you!

Thank you, Lord, for the change of heart.

…Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you. – Joshua 3:5

Our church had its annual Seven Days of Prayer and Fasting on the 2nd week of January. But I decided to do it in my own time — from January 25-31. The day after my birthday. I’m doing it for the first time and I know that suppressing my dear appetite won’t be easy, but I know I can make it. God’s grace is more than sufficient for me!

And yes, I’m going to do this every year from now on — with delight!

So why am I fasting?

It is my heart’s desire to have a personal encounter with God.
I want God to reveal Himself to me, so I can give Him all the glory.
I want to sharpen my spiritual antenna, so I could hear His Voice.
I want to seek His will for me.
I want to be transformed.
I want God to replace my rotten heart with a brand-new one.
I want to build a stronger relationship with Him.
I want God to rule in my heart wherever I go. ALWAYS.
I want to intercede for my family, friends, church, and country.

During this week of consecration, it is my heart’s desire to focus on God alone and be filled with His Word. I am believing God for victories and breakthroughs in every area of my life this year.

Fasting in the biblical sense is choosing not to partake of food because your spiritual hunger is so deep, your determination in intercession so intense, or your spiritual warfare so demanding that you have temporarily set aside even fleshly needs to give yourself to prayer and meditation.

-Wesley Duewel