Look and Remember :)

It's more fun to see people being changed by the gentle love of the Lord. (to be continued),..

Happy Happy Clan

**this is part of my 30-day blog challenge

They say that whatever happens we should hold on to our family because at the end, they are the once who will be there for us no matter what.

Well, I'm bless to belong in a huge and amazing family. Want statistics? Just in my Mom's side alone, I have almost forty (first) cousins. And for the record let me say this: We are huge, amazing and intact family..

Every year, we make it a point to spend Christmas and New Year together and we always look forward for family events like this. Allow me to post some photos to speak in my behalf how fun my life is because I belong to this clan (:

Cousins and Titas with our beloved Lola.

I know not everyone is bless to have this kind of family... where love is genuine and care is tangible..

Oh, have I mentioned that we're also photo addict? Yes we are! Look at our beloved Lola..

and we love games as well especially "sambutan" hahaha!

Haha! See that? That's my Mom and Tita Belle..

When we (cousins) get old, we know that this is something we wanna keep until we pass on to our children the value of family.. What could have been more fun than this?

It's More Fun to Inspire, Impact and Influence

**This is part of my 30-day blog challenge

I pulled this picture from one of the blogs I'm recently lurking and and as I read some of her posts, it confirmed to my heart that this is what I really wanna do, not just to write but to impact, influence and inspire people. I'm really not a good writer, as some of you might noticed it already. Words doesn't just flow swiftly and easily and I even find myself stuggling in expressing my heart and my mind.. But I guess, it doesn't hurt if someday, God will tell me that I'm not designed as a blogger. I'm ready to hear that anytime. But here's one thing I'm sure of, I'm called to impact, influence and inspire people. Get that? :)

Here are some of the contents of Shad's post where she express her grattitude to Riz (her fellow blogger who impact her life without Riz knowing it):

"Aside from God’s word and plans for me, and my parents’ and friends’ support and confidence in me, it was Riz’ words that I’ve held on through several phases in my life as a writer: a blogger, a web/SEO-centric writer, and now an editor."

"Sooo… thank you, Riz, for chasing God’s dreams for your life throughout the years. You’ve been making a difference in my life since that day I talked about ^. I mean, even my career path now has somehow been influenced by you. You deserve a chapter in my autobiography, hehe."

How was that? Imagine yourself influencing people even those you do not know or haven't even met hearing reading those very very kind words from them. I imagine Riz with her huge smile and flattered heart more inspired to do things that could inspire and impact and influence people..

Upon writing this, there's a song that came to my mind.. And as i went through the lyrics, it made me cry, because this is what I wanna be like.. I wanna share what I have to inluence people for God.

Thank You for Giving To The Lord
Music & Lyrics by Ray Boltz

I dreamed I went to Heaven, you were there with me.
We walked upon the streets of gold beside the Crystal Sea.
We heard the angels singing, then someone called your name.
You turned and saw this young man, and he was smiling as he came.
He said, "Friend you may not know me now," and then he said, "But wait -
You used to teach my Sunday School, when I was only eight.
And every week you would say a prayer before the class would start.
And one day when you said that prayer,
I asked Jesus in my heart."


Chorus
Thank you for giving to the Lord,
I am a life that was changed.
Thank you for giving to the Lord,
I am so glad you gave.
Then another man stood before you, he said "Remember the time,
A missionary came to your church, His pictures made you cry.
You didn't have much money but you gave it anyway.
Jesus took that gift you gave
And that's why I'm in Heaven today"


Chorus
Thank you for giving to the Lord,
I am a life that was changed.
Thank you for giving to the Lord,
I am so glad you gave.
One by one they came, far as your eyes could see.
Each life somehow touched by your generosity.
Little things that you had done, sacrifices that you made,
They were unnoticed on this earth
In Heaven now proclaimed.


Chorus
Thank you for giving to the Lord,
I am a life that was changed.
Thank you for giving to the Lord,
I am so glad you gave.
And I know up in Heaven you're not supposed to cry
But I am almost sure there were tears in your eyes
As Jesus took your hand and you stood before the Lord
He said "My child look around you,
Great is your reward."


Chorus
Thank you for giving to the Lord,
I am a life that was changed.
Thank you for giving to the Lord,
I am so glad you gave,
I am so glad you gave

Logos Hope {4/30}

**this is part of my 30-day blog challenge

This post was supposed to be part of my earlier post but i think this is worthy for another post.

As I've told you, my Sundays are amazingly fun.. Sometimes, often times, after the church service is over and the fun long talks ended, we (the young churchmates) roam around somewhere to fill in our eagerness to bond with each other. The usual place is SM CPoint. We go there and eat and sometimes watch a good movie. If we lack budget, we go for not so old movies which only costs us P26.00. Yes there's a cinema ticket that costs twenty six pesos if in case you're not aware of it..

Last Sunday is not usual though, me, Jay-Jay and Jaypee (as most of the youths were invited to a valentine event in another church) went to Logos Hope - the world's largest floating book fair, duct at South Harbor Pier 15, Manila. Logos Hope replaced Doulos if you've heard of it.

We were bless to have a volunteer friend who's kind enough to ask a crew to tour as inside Logos. Not like any other visitors who can only roam in the book fair, we were privilege to visit different parts of Logos like their dining, their worship halls, their laundry area and yes, I should mention, privilege to have free drinks which really made us feel very special :)

Left to right: Jay, Ate Elisa, Jaypee and yours truly :)

If ever you get a chance to be there and privileged to have some of their drinks, go for the milk, you'll never regret it..

And more than that, we meet a new Malaysian friend, Esther who's our tour guide for that day. She's very kind to share even her personal stories with us like her turning point why she decided to join Logos as a volunteer for 2 months, her family, her faith, her country and all. We really hope to see her at our church this Sunday as she said she'll try her best to join us. We wanna repay her for her hospitality.

Logos Dining Hall

By the way, have I mentioned that Logos has hundreds of volunteers from different parts of the world? Yes, it's true. I can just imagine how fun it is to be in such experience, meeting new people with different backgrounds and cultures but with one faith. I even told Jay-Jay that when we get married, I'd like us to join the ship as volunteers and he said that he also share the same desire with me. Esther told us that there are husbands and wives with their children who voluntered inside that amazed and excite as even more. Well. we surrender that desire to the Lord. If it's according to His will, then it will come to happen.

This wonderful unusual Sunday made my day more fun and meaningful. Hooorrrrayyy Logos Hope!!

Oh How I love Sundays {3/30}

**This is part of my 30-day blog challenge

No Doubt, Sunday is my most favorite day of the week.. Most of those are tiresome, but it's all worth it. This is how my usual Sundays goes:

For the past 7 years I seldom miss church. Not only because we are commanded to respect the Sabbath but because I get reminded with simple and basic things in life that I unintentionally dropped along the way. I get to be encouraged, I get to be inspired and I would like to believe that I am transformed Sunday after Sunday and above all this, I get a glimpse of God through my Pastors, my churchmates, my brethren.

I am proud to say that our church - Horizon Ministries, isn't just an ordinary church but a cool and a more fun church. For me, Horizon is the best church in the whole wide word, inspite and despite of so many things. Our preaching team is amazing and anointed. They incorporate fun and power in what they share that makes people excited.. We are taught to be leaders and missionaries. Loving God and making disciples is our core.

Sundays are also the time for accountability wherein we can freely share our hearts our issues to our mentors and a time that we could pray and encourage one another and battle for each one's heart. We sharpen each other as iron sharpens iron.

And Oh, Look at that! How I love Horizon fellowship after service. We find it so hard to go home early after service because it's really really fun here. Have I mentioned that? Haha.

This church is composed of ordinary people who believes in an extra ordinary God and a happy and joyful God too. And this church makes my Sundays more fun and amazing :)

Meet them :) {2/30}

**This is part of my 30-day blog challenge

Let me talk about my family this time. Well, we're five, used to be six. But Papa went home early with the Lord 6 years ago. 47 is a very young age to die, and too early for his kids to be fatherless but I would like to comfort myself through the fact that His (God's) will and timing is perfect. Loneliness still hit me us at times, the fact that we couldn't see him again. But you know what, I know someday, we'll have an amazing reunion in heaven. All six of us. (*tears of joy*)

Mama and the three siblings are not perfect. And we could never be.. We fight a lot. There are times that we almost hate each other but inspite of that, I know that our love and care for each other is genuine and pure.

But this is one thing that makes my life more fun: Me and my family share in one common faith, this is what we believe, that Christ once and for all died for us so that we could experience fullness of life and be with Him in heaven someday. I need not to cover up my church involvements because they too are serving. I need not hide while reading my bible and praying because they too does that. What could have been more fun serving together in one church, supporting each other with our own ministries.

Life is more fun because of them, my priority, my inspiration, my treasure :)

My Highest Praise Team {1/30}

**this is part of my 30 day blog challenge

When I was just little, I already found interests in songs, musical instruments, cassette tapes, amateur singing contests (though I never joined) and a lot more. I remembered Mom and Dad so willing to pay an hourly rate to a piano instructor to take advantage of my interests. LOL :)) Well, I guess their pride of having me being invited to some big events in town to play a piano paid the costs of it already.

As I grow old, I realized that everything does not just happen because we chose it but because God intentionally knit it together for a bigger purpose.

Thanks God who gave me such gift that I could be able to serve Him Sunday after Sunday with this team:

This is one of our fun usual Saturday practice. Saturdays can't really be complete without this :)

This is the Highest Praise Team which I am very blessed to join with. We are a perfectly imperfect team who admits that we need God's grace in order for us to be worthy to be called front liners. Yes, perfectly imperfect! At times we also have arguments and disagreements. We also commit unwanted compromises in our own personal lives, we have struggles and all but one thing i love most in this team is it's eagerness to really do something bigger for God inspite of the limitations. To mention, our musicians are not really professionals, often times, we commit mistakes even in the actual Worship time, same with our vocals and dancers. But I think, God honored that desire, because we see and feel that God is moving in our smallness and in our humility.

boodle fight after practice.. More please :)

One thing more is our real family-like relationship. We act like ate and kuya to each other, becoming true friend to each one. We're not afraid to be authentic, because we know we wont accept condemnation but real love and encouragement instead.

this is during Highest Praise Christmas party where we need to have our hats or headdresses. Very fun memory !

This people, this team, this ministry, makes my life more fun. :)

It's More Fun - A thirty Day Blog Challenge

Okay, okay! I am courageously (with fingers crossed) accepting a 30 day blog challenge which will start today, February 19 and will end on March 19 which I will call, IT'S MORE FUN. This will compose writings about things that makes life (atleast for me) beautiful and more fun. I got a bucket of reasons why I decided to grab the challenge. First, I realized lately that I easily get frustrated with simple and small things and I guess this is one way to slow down and appreciate small and big things alike. Second, this is I think one of the best way to really indulge myself forcefully into a blogging habit which I intentionally chose to start this year for the purpose of leaving imprints of life. Third, I want to expose myself on doing the blogging stuffs. I find great desire within me doing this, so I guess I should feed this desire and see where will it lead me (I'm not expecting though). And a lot more reasons I chose to keep it to myself for now.

No one actually handed me the challenge. I was just inspired by some bloggers I looked up like Riz who never failed to impact me through their writings. I hope, someday my blog could also encourage strangers and be a blessing to them as well :)

1. My Highest Praise Team

2. Meet Them :)

3. Oh How I love Sundays

4. Logos Hope

Believe Me, 'twas Me!

I was able to stole recovered my first ever picture from my Aunt's personal album! Haha. I'm not actually proud of it (the stealing) and thanks God that we're digital now so I could have my own copy and can even print it as many as I want and return the original to its proper place. (:

This was taken on my 8th month on earth. Obviously, I don't remember anymore what's with that weird smile but one thing I'm sure of is that I'm very happy. Perfectly happy! With Papa and Mama both on my side then, what could have been more happier than that. Oops, I don't mean to sound anything. Just happy to see this again.

Life is a fast moving track, now you have it, a little later more they're already gone. That's why, there's no better way to live life that to be grateful and be more appreciative. I like Ms. Becky Heggins tag line on her blog "Cultivate a good life and record it"! Amazing fact.

I feel like i wanna record everything, in words and maybe in photos. So that I could have something tangible to pass on to my children and grand children when I grew old. And this is also the reason why I'm a trying hard blogger (LOL). I also love keeping journals. For me, it's my breathing space. I feel comforted every time I put everything in my journal 'cos it feels like issues are already taken care of once it's written.

I also wanna encourage you dear folks! Cultivate a good life and record it. I'm sure you'll be more grateful and appreciate God's faithfulness in your life.

Shattered Thoughts

Hey dear readers.. today, allow me to share to you my shattered thoughts. Past few days were been so loaded and not so usual. Office works has been more demanding and presure was every where. Devotions ware affected I had to say. And I almost reach the point that I really wanted to stop, back out and give up.. Until a mentor-friend reminded me that this is just a defining moment in my life and God expected me to overcome this. I guess, I have to believe that. Greatness can't be achieved overnight.. It require efforts, pressures and even tears that will sharpen us to get us ready to handle it when we're already there.. (:

My weekend was worth the wait however. I spent half day of my Saturday in my bed and another half at church wherein God is so wise enough that he brought me there. EGR was on going when I came and I joined the music team in ushering delegates into a deep worship. While worshiping, God reminded me that He's far bigger than my worries, bigger than my frustrations, bigger than my fears even bigger than me and it left my heart loving Him more.. It was so amazing.

Sunday came, I had my lifegroup meeting with 2 LG members who's kind enough to bless my heart with what they have shared. I'm very proud of them.. My lifegroup is one of my closest inspiration to go on and never be contented with what I have. Also had an opportunity to lead the congregation into worship in our afternoon service. The Lord really knows the needs of my heart and he's willing to provide it for me.

On a lighter note, this year I wanna be more intentional in creating my imprints and make memories more fun and lighter. So I guess, I'll renovate my blog site in the coming days. I hope you'll bear with me. :)

This Year is All About...

I am inspired to hear friends and churchmates sharing their "this year theme" which makes me wanna have my own also. It's not just for the sake of copying them, but I guess I understand fully why they want to have it. First, it helps you become a more focus person. I remember one sermon of Pastor Craig Groeschelle when he said this:
"Everybody ends up somewhere but few people ends up somewhere with a purpose"

As for me, I wanna make this year really rockin for God because a year is so precious to waste. I've already spent 23 years of my God-given life and I wanna have a blast for the next 23 years ahead.

Second, It'll be a constant reminder and an inspiration. Everytime we feel bad, remember the word, everytime we wanna give up, remember the word, everytime we're loosing hope, just remember the word.

Saying this, I would like to share to you my theme for this year and the simple word is this: INTENTIONAL. Looking back, I realized that I am not an intentional person. Funny but I'm like Snoopy, who just hit and hit and shoot and shoot somewhere and later on will put a target mark in my arrows. Very bad.

This year, I'll be intentional in my prayers, in my devotions, in my discipleship, in my being a sister, being a daughter, being a cousin, being a friend and being God's disciple.

How about you? Isn't it great to have something to hold on to?

Isaiah 54:
² “Enlarge the place of your tent,
stretch your tent curtains wide,
do not hold back;
lengthen your cords,
strengthen your stakes.
³ For you will spread out to the right and to the left;
your descendants will dispossess nations
and settle in their desolate cities.