My Mom Was The First To Be Born Again

This means a lot to me because my Mom was already baptized in the name of Jesus. And the Lord loves her so much more than I do, so I believe and claim that the Lord will take her back to where she belongs. To her first love, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Born Again year 1990, Baptized year 1991

#Believing #Trusting #Desiring #ThankYouLord

Thinking of You

Photo Not Mine. Credits to Owner. (Forgot where I took this photo from)

While riding in the bus earlier to go to NCCC Mall and meet a person to have our Lifegroup, the Lord talked to me.

I thought, "What would I tell my mentees if they ask me how I was able to manage and go through the difficult times of my life while serving Him, and still serving Him? How did I keep the faith? Even with heartbreaks, hurts, disappointments, failures, and everything not nice, why am I still here as their leader?" I saw their faces in my mind.

The only answer I came up with was, "I was thinking of you."
When Jesus, the only begotten son of God, went through the most horrible times, kicked on, spit on, wore a thorny crown, walked with a heavy cross, got nailed on that same cross, died on that cross and got resurrected after 3 days, why did He go through all these?

"He was thinking of you." On the bus ride, tears welled up in my eyes. That's how precious we are to Him. In order for us to have better lives, better selves, and better futures, He died for us because He was thinking of us.

As sons and daughters of God living for God, and serving God, we should also be responsible of the people around us. Think of them as Jesus thought of you.

Why hasn't God removed this struggle yet?

It's so good to rest in the presence of the Lord after I stubbornly fought and prayed so hard to get me out of my current situation.

Example are these 6 pieces of clothing I've just washed. Haha.. This was done for 2 days! (Walay jam!) I wanted it to be as white as snow (char.com), and so I put on more Zonrox and Surf (libre commercial) powder on them. I finally stopped when I couldn't get it done. I finally decided to put on Zonrox again, and then leave it. So I did. And ta-dah! When I took it out, it was perfectly imperfect!

It's been a year now, and I think a few months (I can't remember anymore), and I am still struggling with my finances. And I've thought of so many ways on how to get out of this hole, praying with a broken heart, and so helpless.

I've made an excel sheet to list down my expenses (bills and money I owe people), tried my best to write a budget and to no avail, still end up out of the budget. 

I tried to ignore it and eat, eat eat! Haha. And then I come face to face with bills I needed to pay, so I feel this little twinge of regret for squandering my money just because I wanted to eat this and that. 

I borrowed money to pay another bill or money that I owe to another person (which I really hated to do, and never wanted to do, but then, I DID! OMG!). Reality bites, I still am short on money.

Finally, I came with another revelation that I don't have to fight it. I've been praying for this problem to be removed from my life, and I asked: "Why hasn't God removed it yet?" 

At first, I thought it's because He wanted to punish me. Or maybe somewhere down the road, I made a mistake of giving my tithes, offerings, the portion to the Man of God, et cetera, that's why I'm suffering this. I couldn't even complete my pledge!

I soon realized that I've been praying the wrong prayer (yes, there is such a thing as wrong prayers). Why hasn't God removed this struggle in my life? Yes, He is teaching me something. I've come up with a few realizations that have broken me humbly and trusted God to do something about it. But, there's more. So today, I prayed and asked the Lord to give me strength as I go through the process. To help me get through this with His grace and love.

 Now, I understand what 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT) says: 

 "Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses so that the power of Christ can work through me."

Job went through the worst ordeal of his life, but in the end, the Lord has blessed him twice as much as he had before. I have received promises from devotional, and I decided, to believe that it shall come to pass soon. 

 Isaiah 61:7 (NLT)

"Instead of shame and dishonor,

    you will enjoy a double share of honor.

You will possess a double portion of prosperity in your land,

    and everlasting joy will be yours."

So, girls and boys, go through the process if God hasn't removed that struggle in your life. Continue to pray, and believe.

"Perhaps your last place of service to the Lord seemed to be a complete failure. Yet it is possible that the Lord has simply been making you perfectly weak so that He might manifest Himself perfectly strong within you." -Ministries of Francis Frangipane

Happy Hearts Day!

Our simple HAPPY HEARTS DAY! Since my pamangkins are sick, and my mom is a bit tired so I cooked lunch/pre-dinner for them. And then we ate together.


My niece was very excited for the food! She kept on checking on me and she kept on asking me if the food was done, while I was preparing and cooking. Hehehe..

JULIA: Tita, naluto na?
ME: Wala pa ate..
JULIA: Sleep sa ko Tita ha?

hahaha
Thank you, Lord! 

Grandparents

Grandparents fill the world with love.

Pilones Apartment with Lolo and Lola

Grandpa would always have Saturday bible studies with his grandchildren, watch The Three Stooges with me, laughs at the Tom & Jerry cartoon shows with us, we go jogging during the summer at Shrine Hills, he buys bread and bananas everyday. He showed the kind of leadership I want to follow.

Gradma would wake up at 3AM, and cook breakfast for us. She would clean the house, spic and span. She would wash our clothes, and bought coin banks for us and put money in it. She cooks the best beef steak in town. She showed the kind of teacher I want to be.

My grandparents were an epitome of love, teamwork, patience, and discipline. Thank you, Lord, for I have encountered people like them. Kahit saglit lang, you have given me an opportunity to spend time with them.

#Ohana #Love

At Paradise Island with Lola

Renewing Our Minds Daily

One of my notes last July 14, 2013
Renew our mind daily in our lives. Satan will continue to lie in our lives, and as long as you listen to those lies, you will be hiding and looking for something in the world.

Let the Holy Spirit in your life because you can't do it on your own.

Reference: Judges 6:15-25; Judges 7:1

Stay

Isaiah 55:4-5 Ang tubag ni Lord sa akoa, after praying for the last 2 weeks.. This was my devo yesterday, and up until now, His message is the same for me. I wanted to quit in the leadership, and just live life on my own. I was also asking God if ang promise nya and His declaration na mag multiply ko when mahitabo. But yesterday, He gave me another command and promise which I will hold on to. I need to wait a little more. God is still pruning things in my life, still molding me, and I need to continue doing what I was assigned to do.

So many disappointments along the way as I have lost a lot of people I wanted to stay in my lifegroup, but God has taught me patience, and assuring me that it is part of the process. He has shown another side of me, both the negatives and positives. Still, I end up being with God. Lahi ra jud if you have experienced God already in your life. Lord, thank you.

Pangarap Lang

Pangarap lang ni sa una.. Trying out, testing the waters, nagbabasakali, unsure pa. This was year 2012, & I was in Cebu pa. Walay plano mag uli og mo settle sa Davao. Wala pa nako ni seryosoha because it was a long shot. But this is one proof na pag mag declare ka, & it comes from the heart, maskin testing2 lang, pwede mahitabo.

I even messaged this girl, who later on became one my best friends in church now. My aunt wanted me to message her so I could go back home, and not work in another city anymore.

Fast forward 2017, 3 years na diay ko online worker. I will continue to pray and declare for the things I desire to happen in my life.

Thank you Lord for the creation of FB Memories, it gave me something to reflect on today.

#AllisGood #AllIsWell #GodIsGood

Lord, Help Me Let Go...

(ctto)

Today,  I asked the Lord to help me let go. 

And piece my heart back to make it brand new. 

Because of my first marriage, my first love, everything in my life just fell into pieces.

After that, my heart has never been the same. 

My life never really became better. 

I carry the sadness and the regrets that has shaped my present life. 

I never really moved on. 

I firmly believe that we are more than our mistakes. 

But I still have a lot of wounds to heal.

Every day, even though I try to forget it or deny it, 

The past still catches up on me.

And I feel the pain again and again.

I find it hard to renew my life, 

To restore how I was before,

Or even make a brand new me.

Lord, today I ask for a brand new future,

New hopes and new dreams.

Please, help me let go,

So I can move on and start anew. 

Not Forgotten

From the 3 chapters of my devotional, the Lord all throughout assured me that He has not forgotten me, and everything will be restored. He will show that He is the Lord in my life (an answer He gave me from what I have prayed yesterday in the afternoon). But this verse though struck me because he is assuring me that my hard work will be rewarded, and I just need to be persistent (again another reply I was pondering through the week if I always need to work this hard to earn).

He gave me a warning in Isaiah 49:14-15 that in moments of darkness, confusion, helplessness, I might wonder where He is and if He has forgotten me. God reassured me that I am not forgotten.

Thank you, Lord! Pictured below is the verse from Isaiah 49:4-6 (Promise)
Application? Work hard, wait, and continue to pray for my family.

Good Morning!

Photo Not Mine. ctto

Good morning! Started my day with prayers and worship, and talking to God. It's nice to be alone.

"Give your burdens to the Lord,
and he will take care of you.
He will not permit the godly to slip and fall." [Psalm 55:22 NLT]

Knee-o-logy

Photo not mine. ctto (St. John's UMC)

So many times I want to go back on my promise, and turn my back to God because of so many things/circumstances (money problems, fighting with my sisters, offense, anger, hurt, etc), but I always end up talking and crying to God. 

I realized that God has me better than anyone else. He never disappoints, Men does. And I love Him, so it's better for me to follow His teachings. 

Pride just goes down the drain.

Unbiological Sisters

Thank you for being my unbiological sisters.

"A friend who understands your tears is much more valuable than a lot of friends who only know your smile." 

NY Eve 2017

I just got home from Cabantian where I celebrated New Year's Eve. It is my younger sister's house where my mom, youngest sister, and pamangkins live. As I have observed them, the Lord revealed to me how my family truly needs JESUS. So when I got home, I prayed over my family, especially in the spiritual aspect. I prayed that they will desire and seek God. I prayed for each of them. I prayed for my daughter. I prayed for the Garcia/Pantaleon/Pilones/Cruz family, for my ministry & my disciples, for the planned upcoming events this year in my life & for the church, for the provision to make all these plans possible, and for my friends.

2016 was the most difficult year for me, and through those difficult times, I have experienced a lot & learned a lot. At first, I couldn't understand why I had to go through it all, but with each step I take, each prayer I sincerely uttered, each thought that comes into mind, God would unfold revelation after revelation making me realize I needed it all. He is preparing me: my mind, and my heart. There are so many to share, but God has taught me to just fully trust Him, to be honest where I lack, to surrender to Him at every start of the battle, to love without choosing who, to forgive again & again, to extend my patience, and to think before speaking. God is truly wonderful!

THANK YOU JESUS!