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i＜J:ournal Prompt#1

On any gift-giving occasion, what sort of gift (clothes? gadgets? toys? books?) do you always look forward to? Why?

Yes, notebooks, journals, diaries, organizers, planners, even notepads make me super happy the way ice cream does! I guess whatever we want to receive on our special days all comes down to one thing - our hobbies.

I am so awed at people who have hobbies that are totally incongruent with their jobs or their academic capabilities. An example is a friend from college. He was one of the smartest people I knew; he was also one of the weirdest. He loved reading books on psychology and philosophy, yet Playboy and FHM magazines were also some of his types. He had the most objective opinions and ideals. He drank; he smoked; he even smoked marijuana, but his fancy for little kids was so endearing one would think he's already a father. :)

So back to what I was saying. We can classify people according to their looks, their brains, and even their upbringings, but we can't judge them for what they do in their secret times and places. For me, hobbies define the heart of a person - the inner personality only he/she and God know, and whatever gift we always look forward to on our birthday and in Christmas only reflects our values and belief system - who we are when no one's looking and how we view ourselves in relation to the world and life itself.

Now that's just the introduction. Ha! Got you there! XD

Since forever I've thought of myself as a poet, a playwright, a female Shakespeare clothed in thick adipose tissue. If I had to express myself, I would gladly do so in writing - in poetry more often. I couldn't imagine my life without words written by my callused fingers. The funny thing is when I receive a journal or a notebook that I actually terribly like, I don’t use it just yet. I keep it on display until I grow tired of poring over it and admiring its pages. Until a new and fancier one arrives, I wouldn’t be using my beloved journal for just any writing. It should contain my best works, my best writings. This was the case until September 30, 2011. I didn’t have spare money to buy a new devotional journal, but I had all those cute diaries from Korea and Taiwan that I didn’t want to use for JUST any writing.

Then came the voice of thunder. Yeah, God spoke.

Heck, daily devotions are NOT just any writing. It’s God’s voice in a horrid and unpleasant situation. It’s His comforting embrace amidst a dark and repulsive state of mind. It’s passionate, unconditional love pouring out on a seemingly hopeless life. Why couldn’t I dedicate even one of my favorite notebooks to the One who gave His one and only, of course, favorite Son for my salvation? *bangs head on the table*

God gave His best for me. What is a notebook compared to Jesus?  Paper that when wetted may well be as trash to the Darling of heaven?  I know – a speck of dust in a palace of pure, untarnished gold. If I don’t give my best and all the best gifts I have to God, do I have a right to claim the perfect Gift of all as my own? Not a chance.

All right, I'll be expecting notebooks or diaries from all fo you. Come on, you know God's gonna get all of them. Trust me! XD

Smiles,

Realizations of a 24-year-old

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It's been months since the last post. I really should be doing something fruitful with my life right now. In between December 3, 2010 and this day, March 4, 2011, I've had enough spare time to reevaluate my goals and what I really wanted to do. Here's what I came up with:

1. Working from home does my body no good. Sounds like a joke, but hey, I'm not! Totoo, I gained so many pounds over the last 3 months. When I saw my weight at the clinic yesterday, my eyes literally bulged. This was my heaviest yet, which makes me come up with a next realization.
2. Healthful food is helpful (pala). Sure I knew I had to eat veggies and fruits and carbs and protein-rich foods to maintain a healthy diet. The problem was, I ate too much. And too much of junk food as well. Ha! Sad story for me there. Anyway, healthful food is the way - nothing follows!
3. Learning is so much fun - when I do it with others. Photoshop class is on its 11th week. At first I didn't like the idea of studying Photoshop. It was kinda humiliating, I thought, knowing that many of my friends are already good at it. But since i was offered free tuition fee (by my dad), I couldn't help but grab the chance. With this humble act, I realized I loved being in class and studying alone was a drag. I rarely spoke to my classmates, though, but it was fun observing (Ssh, don't tell!).
4. Learning is my passion; teaching is application. With every new job opportunity I'm faced with, I realize there are so many things I have to know. I have to improve to reach a higher step. I have to learn to reach the next ladder. And boy, I am so determined to do that now. I've never been so enthused in my life! :)
5. Focusing on one area of competency is good, but using this competency to advance in another is better! Enough said.

I'm 24, and needless to say, I have to grow up and leave my childish habits and ideas behind. Thank God He's always there to be my Guide and my Shelter from the storms in my life.

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to him be [all] the glory! -- Eph. 3:20-21a

Smiles,

Let's get the multitudes!

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G12 National Conference!
It's time for us to conquer the Philippines. This is our time! See the multitudes of people already drawn to Christ? 17,000 people!
Next time, it's gonna be twice the size of the Big Dome. And still next time, there won't be any ticket fees (because the Aranetas will be in CONQUEST as well). :P

Smiles,

This won't be me!

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I just have to, have to post this excerpt from Joshua Harris' blog and claim it for myself.

Of all hypocrites, grant that I may not be

an evangelical hypocrite,

who sins more safely because grace abounds,

who tells his lusts that Christ's blood

cleanseth them,

who reasons that God cannot cast him into hell,

for he is saved,

who loves evangelical preaching, churches,

Christians, but lives unholily.

A Puritan prayer from the book Valley of Vision.

Lord, please don't let me be that kind of evangelical (even though before I was).

Smiles,

Who do we really fast for?

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On my third to the last day in my study of the Old Testament, the prophet Zechariah challenged me with a question from the Lord: When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me? (Zech. 7:5b).

It was then I had the conviction to reconsider my actions and decisions the past two weeks. The Lord didn't deliberately reveal to me that I, and a partner, should fast for us to be heard in our prayers, but with all my stubbornness, I thought it was the best choice for me, for that person, and for the Lord. Nevertheless, it was not pleasing to the Lord, but He was kind enough to remind me - without any reprimand at all. :)

The Lord doesn't require us to fast. Sure it can give Him glory; it is also a weapon against the forces of darkness. But the most crucial question is: Why do we fast? Do we really fast for the Lord? Do we fast for His ultimate will to be accomplished in our lives? Or do we just do it out of self-conviction and wrong, oh-so-selfish motives for us to escape sin?

Bang! It hits home.

What good does fasting do if we don't promote justice and mercy?

"This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other.'

-Zech. 7:9-10

Who do we offer our sacrifices to if we don't recognize the authority and lordship of God?

For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.

-Hosea 6:6

What is there to sacrifice and to burn if we don't obey the voice of God?

 But Samuel replied: 

       "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

-1 Sam. 15:22

Yes, I was wrong. Now I'm ready to get back on track, with the right mind, right heart, and right attitude! :)


Smiles,

Old home~

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I always consider my workplace as my home. Oh, well, despite the very short one-month period I spent in this place, I still miss it till now. Take note of the stickies on my computer. Sorry. :)

I miss the people, too. But I sure hope to see them soon - when I get back for my clearance. Teehee!

Smiles,

I love Jeremiah.

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Ever since I started doing my devotions by chapter, I've been wanting to come across the book of Jeremiah. Sadly, it took me about a year to reach the book. And now that I'm finally in the middle of it, I think the Lord has spoken to me many times through this young prophet. Everyday is a new day, and every chapter gives out a prophecy - something I have to remember for myself.

God promises us a lot of things, but only if we follow Him and abide by His ways. I always stick to the fact that SIN HINDERS BLESSINGS, so anything rightfully ours is not given to us by the Lord because of our sins and disobedience.

Jeremiah was given a very difficult task by the Lord. Instead of prophesying about God's grace and blessings, Jeremiah prophesied about God's judgment on His people - and heck, nobody believed him! They continued to blind themselves by false prophecies saying that the Lord was good even though they were bad. We should always remember that God is not just some charity or foundation - HE IS A JUST GOD - and He proclaims blessings only to those who deserve them. Likewise, He commands judgment to the unworthy ones.

This is what the LORD Almighty says:

"Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you;
they fill you with false hopes.
They speak visions from their own minds,
not from the mouth of the LORD.
They keep saying to those who despise me,
'The LORD says: You will have peace.'
And to all who follow the stubbornness of their hearts
they say, 'No harm will come to you.'

Jeremiah 23:16-17

We shouldn't be believing that something is from God just because it is good. Sometimes, things may look ugly in our eyes, but in God's, they are the best for us. :)


Blessings,

Goodbye to bumhood!

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I think this is something to thank God for: I got a job!

Well, it's not exactly my dream job, but hey, I'm saying goodbye to bumhood. How I miss getting my thumb mark scanned and pushing my card into the bundy clock (yes, I actually pushed my time card in there!). It's also a stepping stone towards my ultimate goal - oh, that, I have yet to determine.

Cheers all! Here's to my less-pressured life at Mapua.^^

Smiles,

Wordless Wednesday exception - sarree..^^

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I never thought holding a position (actually 2) in our youth ministry could get so Satan-prone. I mean, not only I experience his trifling; even my fellow leaders - even though they won't admit - experience the same harassment.

However, bugged as I may be, I won't let him get to my nerves and get the best of me. The best is only for the Lord. And yeah, I leave you (and myself) this verse for today:

And don't for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you'll get where you're going; then you'll succeed.

 Joshua 1:8 (MSG)

It's a wonderful day!

Smiles,

I am For You

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Words: ISTARLI
Music: TINTU
Manager: JEJEMONX

Here are my eyes, Lord
Use them to see your glory
Here are my ears, Lord
Use them to hear Your word

My body is Yours
I offer it to You, Jesus

*I will go against the flow
I will strive to be like Christ
I am now transformed
and my mind is renewed

Here are my hands, Lord
Let me do what You want me to
Here are my feet, Lord
Lead me back to where You are

My heart is Yours
Trade it for a new one, Jesus

So I seek Your will, my Lord
I seek Your will

I am for You
I am for You, Lord


Inspired by Breakthrough 2010 & Romans 12:1-2, I composed this song along with the renewal of my commitment to the Lord to offer myself (life included) as a living sacrifice. Will be posting the video (or the mp3) soon.

Thanks Tin for the chords. Thanks Mon for the.. err..
Love you two much!^^


Smiles,