Second Pen Drawing

Praise God! This makes me happy :o)

G-Tech Pilot (point 3)

Dad's Early Bday Celebration

Yesterday, my family and I had an early bday celebration for my dad (Sept. 24). We went to Eastwood, attended church there and had lunch there as well. It was a fun, chill time. Praise God for my daddy! Does he look 60+1 years old!? He's a cutie!!!

 

Happy Bday, Daddy!

Pen Drawing

My first attempt to take on the pen drawing feat. What you think??? :o)

Wee!!! I feel like an arteeest.

Doodles + Jesus

I bought watercolor pencils and an ultra fine ball point. 

Not my best, but it's all good!

Hope ya'll are doing sweet and fine!

Faithfulness

If God is my Creator and I was made for Him, isn’t it only right that my heart and my mind and my soul with all my strength are all meant for Him?  

The art of faithfulness begins with our Maker.  Faithfulness means loyalty and commitment.  It entails trust and perseverance. Faithfulness does not mean when you don't feel it, you don't have it. It doesn't mean that just because you’re not in the mood you’re going to give up.  If we claim to love God, then faithfulness will coincide. Love is not conditional or selective. It is a choice to stay committed.

It is not to say that people no longer have a place in our lives. It is not to say that we no longer need people or that we will never want anything else but God alone. I don't think I can ever claim such because that's legalistic. That’s not being real. That’s being self-righteous. To deny my nature and my design is to be in denial. The point is, if I turn to people in order to gain something that God alone can fill, I'm headed for disaster.

You were made for God. Your heart, your mind, and your soul with all your strength should be faithfully be for God because He is first and foremost the Lover of your soul.

Assess yourself, how faithful have you been with God? Do you only go to Him when you’re not okay? Or do you worship Him in and out of season?

Faithfulness is a commitment. 

In Need of Coffee or Savior?

Last night, I volunteered to help in this ministry called 'The Shed' at our church.  As people walked up the steps to grab a cup of coffee, I observed their desire likened of a sinner's thirst for the Divine: we are all in need of a Savior.

The song, None But Jesus, played at the background and it couldn't come at a better time. If everyone acknowledged, it would be an anthem song. I couldn't hold back the urge to well up. I wanted to run to a corner and bask in God's grace as humble reverence to Him. I felt in awe. I felt touched. I felt privileged. But I allowed the emotions to overwhelm me as I greeted everyone with a smile, 'Free brewed coffee!'  People looked at me with a sheepish smile and some with a polite decline of the offer. Some just walked passed me. It didn't matter if they came or not, what dawned one me was that before our King, we were all one and the same.

I am certain that this life I'm living will one day pass. To live in view of eternity changes the way choices are made. All that we believe to be true here on earth should shattered by one truth : were made for Him and we belong to Him. 

Baby Cuteness

 Some pictures I took of Franco when he was an infant. How precious?

Surprise!

Love it! My sister surprised me with not only one but three cookies!

:o)

Got My Art On

Finally met up with a friend whom I've been wanting to reconnect with. We've been friends for about 12 years and finally went on a date! She helped me buy art materials which are really nothing extra ordinary. Just some basic stuff: pen, watercolors, and paint brushes.
Some of her artworks are below. They're awesome!

I started doodling this evening. Soon I shall post!

All Fogged Up

After PTC, which was a great success, my co-teachers and I went on a day trip to Tagaytay to try this place that serves breakfast buffet! Upon arrival, the city greeted us with a thick fog and the restaurant we aimed to go was closed! OH NO! Despite the weather and shattered dream, the trip was fun! We ate elsewhere and I devoured like I ought to.

Looked like clouds around us.

Resounding Gong

“Blah blah blah blah… and BLAH…” that’s how I thought I sounded as I taught the first graders yesterday. I thought, “God, I’m sorry, but I feel like I’m just going through the motion just for the sake of doing so!”

Then I added, “Lord, I want to teach with joy regardless if I like who I’m teaching or what I’m teaching.”

Unknowingly, God answered my prayer the moment I taught my students the lesson that was intended for me. It wasn’t until I got to my apartment and turned down the world’s volume that I recognized His voice and His leading.

For the past two weeks, my lesson to the first graders was on 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.  Weeks before that, God had also led me to the same verse and last night was no different. It appeared on this book I borrowed and the chapter was on love. I know I have yet to grasp each word that He intends for me to learn, but what caught my attention this time was vs. 1:

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.”

What am I doing wrong to feel convicted about this?

When we love, it tends to be choosy or selective. It tends to be conditional. Work has been a great blessing to me - Praise God for this amazing gift! However, there are times when I feel like a resounding gong just to get work done. Why? Because when I like what I do, I am capable of giving my 101% but when it's something that does not interest me, I sacrifice excellent output just to get it over and done with. To accomplish a task without love and purpose is drudgery. Verses 2 and 3 has the same idea as vs. 1: the things you do, even if it may appear that what you do is spiritual or glorifying to the Lord, if you do not love, “you are nothing.”

In my own words, “If I teach, but do not have love, I am merely a resounding gong as I yap about pronouns and nouns.”

If I expand this teaching to other things, I know that it teaches me that love is not selective. Love is a choice. Why should I love my job or the people in my life? Because they're gifts to me.

How do you know if you love what you do or love someone?

When you CHOOSE…

- to be patient with the task/ assignment/ person

- to be kind to the person…

- to be humble

- to not take advantage of others

- to be selfless

- to forget about the past

- to rejoice with the truth about the task or about the person

- to protect

- to trust

- to hope

- to persevere

My prayer is that I mirror the love of Jesus in all aspects of life. Jesus was not selective when He died for you and me. He chose to love. I want to choose to love my job, my family, and my friends regardless if I like it or not. 

Do you feel as though you're a resounding gong or clanging cymbal as you go about your daily routine? How about when you relate to the people in your life? How can you change the melody to the way you relate to the blessings God has given you?

God in a Sandwich

So remember the crackers I ate yesterday? Well, the Lord definitely turned my mourning into dancing! lol! Lemme tell you!

During that sad moment of forced contentment, I said, "Lord, a sandwich sounds good right now... Im hungry!" Around 730ish, I left work but turned back immediately due to my OCD tendencies! I had to double check the drawers at my cubicle and make sure I didn't leave anything. As I walked out, I thought that it was an unnecessary waste of time to go back even if I knew I had locked it. I consoled myself, however, by acknowledging that every delay has a purpose and a reason. 

On my way to the elevators, I saw a friend who jokingly invited me to join her meeting so I can grab something to eat (she knew I was hungry! Poor me). I declined but went with her anyway to say hi to the people at the meeting. Thereafter, I walked away but my friend called me out and waved a sandwich in the air!

A SANDWICH!  

(Okay, that picture below is not what she gave. That picture is c/o Pinterest!) 

When she handed me the food, I gleefully held onto it and said, "God, You are amazing!"

Indeed, every delay and every waiting period has its purpose and reason. You just have to find Him in the situation.

Ewiiie.

Some cute photos of my nephew and I. He was kissing the pole. Oh no!

Photo Credit: My sister 

Taken at Bonifacio High Street, Fort

@theCore

Cropped photo; taken from Pinterest (Israel Houghton and New Breed)

I should be home already, but here I am, still at work munching on some boring crackers and staring at my laptop! lol!

I'm done with what I need to do and I'm ready to head out, but I would like to post an entry. Perhaps I'm inspired. 

This song by Israel Houghton has been on my mind for the past few days. As I sing it, I use it as a prayer with a pressing thought, "How does it truly look in a believer when Jesus is at the center of his or her heart? What does it mean?"

I guess I came up with my own observation after much pondering. 

By the Spirit's enabling, the heart, mind, and spirit:

- acknowledge that Jesus is the lover of our souls

- appreciate the value Jesus did for man

- appreciate the beauty of Jesus and His amazing glory

- aligns our perspective with God's

- are surrendered to His leading

- at peace in spite of confusion or chaos

- submissive to His will

- choose to be joyful or thankful

- are willing to obey

- responds to obedience

Evidently, when Jesus is at the center, the Spirit empowers a believer to do things that he or she would not typically do. Hence, a spirit-filled life.

Everyday has to be a commitment to put Jesus at the center. Everyday it's a choice to do the will of the Father because as human beings, we forget. Life gets busy and our minds get preoccupied. It is therefore, no wonder that God never left off the cognitive aspect of loving God because He knows that WE WILL FORGET. I need to remember to pray. I need to remember what I learned. I need to remember to ask Jesus to be at the center of my heart, my mind, my spirit, my body.

God's amazing. He takes us for who we really are and He's patient with us. 

Brothers and sisters, I don't know what your story is, but I want to assure you that if you put Jesus at the center of your heart and your life, He will strengthen you day by day to be a better person. I can't explain how, but He can and He will. Put Him at the center.

Happiness for the Meek

Dr. Bill Bright

"The meek and lowly are fortunate! for the whole wide world belongs to them" (Matthew 5:5).

When you think of the word "meek," does the name Casper Milquetoast or some other similar figure come to your mind? True meekness in no sense means or implies spinelessness. In truth, genuine meekness is patience in the face of injuries, insults, abuse and persecution, whether physical or mental. It is not cowardice or a surrender of our rights. Rather it is the opposite of anger, malice, prejudice or resentment.

Meekness today is seen in the actions of believers who allow God to be their defense instead of making an effort to avenge real or imagined hurts. It is patience in the midst of extreme difficulties or humility under fire, as described in 1 Corinthians 13. It hardly even notices when others make a mistake.

Certainly this is one of the major characteristics of our Lord who claimed to be gentle and humble at heart. Matthew 11:28,29: "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy- laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you shall find rest for your souls" (Matthew 11:28,29, NAS).

The meek, like our Lord, are those who have remarkable, controlled strength and are calm and peaceful when all around there is confusion and chaos. These are the ones who will inherit the earth, who will be sought out as leaders. They are the ones who will help to build a better world.

Scripture reference: James 4:5-10

Heck Yes.

A word to mah girls.

Gotta keep praising. 

Gotta keep the Spirit moving!

#rejoice

#gratitude

#attitude

Worship Leading By His Grace / 101

His grace carried me through. With my pounding head and my tired body about to give up, the Lord sang for me and allowed me to lead people.

I learned many things about worship leading that night. If you're like me who rambles or panics on stage, here are some practical tips:
1. Know your transitions well. I used to think that leading is highly dependent on the Spirit's leading. Though there is some truth to that, the phrase "highly dependent" may be faulty. When we're given a role to lead people, we don't just say, "I'mma just nail it when I get there" - oh dear, disaster! No, we have to prepare as much as a Pastor or a speaker does. We have to know what to say during, before, and after a song. Sure, those scripts won't sound the same when we get there, but those are guides so you won't get lost. There were so many times when I led worship in the past and I said things that made people go, "HUH!??? What the heck is she saying!?" Obviously, I wasn't prepared.

2. Awkward silence is not exactly awkward. Sometimes, there needs to be a time of silence. Talking all the time may distract others from grasping the words of the song they have heard so far. Just as we all have the time to pause after a good read, worship leading has the same concept. We need time for our brains and emotions to pauuuuseeee and procccessss.

3. Don't just stand there, move! Hehe. I know it took me years to finally break free from being shy, but you just have to let go. If you want to lead people, you have to prompt them not just through words, but through action. Once people see that you're on stage, the role automatically changes. You are a leader. So show leadership by setting an example to mean what you say or sing on stage.

4. Leaders are not extra special before the Lord. We are all one and the same in the eyes of God. The whole purpose of a church service or a praise and worship night is not to glorify the people on stage. That's a lie from the Devil. The purpose is to lead people, to guide them, and usher them into worshipping Jesus. We are one and the same before a glorious God.

5. Songs give us the words to say. Just like a Hallmark card that we give on special occasions, worship songs are created to help us express what we want to tell God. Songs should not be selected JUST because they sound nice. Songs are selected because it is Biblically sound and are full of substance.

6. Dig deep into your heart. I've been a Christian all my life. I was pretty much born and raised in a Christian home. Because of this, the tendency is to be complacent and feel unmoved by truths that you've heard all your life. It's easier for believers to feel moved when they accept Jesus as their Savior later on in life. They see a transformation from darkness to light. But I believe the challenge for most believers like me is to exert effort into discovering a unique encounter with God like never before. Think about those times when God truly showed his grace and kindness towards you. Those are enough to move you into worshipping a loving God.

7. Feelings don't equal devotion. Just because you don't feel anything doesn't mean you're not worshipping God. Or just because you're all out in emotions doesn't mean you're worshipping. Feelings are not barometers of how small or big your faith is. God sees the heart above all else. I know that the melody of a song has the ability to move hearts. But if you take that away and write the lyrics in a piece of paper, read them, you'll discover something else. Ask yourself, "Do I really mean what I'm singing/ saying here?"

8. This may sound silly, but watch YouTube or Prince of Egypt. I am a visual learner and when I can visualize God actually working, it moves me. There was a scene in Prince of Egypt where He calls Moses towards the burning bush. OMG! What a beautiful scene! Or how about the scene where He parts the sea!? It's easy to read the Bible without visualizing, but when you picture God working and communicating in the Old Testament, you can't help but get chills. Watch films to help you remember stories of the past. The Passion of the Christ is an awesome way to help you think about the pain He went through for you and me.

This is all I have to say. I know I have more. But whew. Those all came up to me when I led worship that night. It is all by His grace. I hope I helped you!

Ignite2 August 31, 2012