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Rarely do you find a friend who clicks with you inspite of the differences in your personality and it's even difficult to keep them once you found them. Such is my friend Welmar who happens to be someone whom God blessed me with back in my baby years as a Christian. And even now that our beliefs have gone entirely opposite, it's not a forced effort to still crack on with our lives. :) He's someone who has "something to say" to warn me but won't push it on me because he/she trusts that I can decide on myself. And at the end when what was said proved to be right, we'd just laugh about it and move on. :) haha.

Thanks Welmar for a good laugh and short meaningful catching up talks tonight. I know you're gonna have a better year ahead because I know that someone up there never stops caring for you even if you don't believe it. If only you'd see and believe again. But anyway, no need to force you because that should be a personal decision for it to be genuine. :) I and the gang will just be here to enjoy our friendship with you. :)

P.S. It's an effort to write this I'm too sleepy but I really feel like expressing my appreciation for you in a more decent way than a facebook post. Haha. 

Better Living Subdivision Places Review

One of the things I don't like so much about Better Living Subdivision, aside from the heavyyyyy traffic each day and night, is its lack of good places to chill and relax. No Starbucks (thank God there's one under construction), all the less CBTL, no Chatime although there are very rare and unheard of milk tea houses that I'm starting to explore.

First in the list is Bon Appetea. Best seller is Nirvana Wintermelon Milk Tea at a cheap price of 85 (large) with a taste that is "Pwede Na". I like it here because they got couches, free internet and power outlets... Which are my main considerations in finding a place to work/chill/think. :) Plus there's not much people so I can really have my quiet time here and stay for an extended time :) It's along Dona Soledad Ave near Caltex Station. Oh there's a setback here. They play music too loud and irrelevant for chilling! Hmp! Too distracting.

Another place is Tea Farm which is also along Dona Soledad Ave almost in front of Paranaque Doctors Hospital. Best seller is also Wintermelon milk tea which tastes better than Bon Appetea's Nirvana but cost 100 (large). Nice quiet place with free wifi internet as well but seats are wooden and there's not even one pieceof a couch so it's not recommended if you plan to stay for hours :) 

If anyone knows more, share your experience by commenting! I haven't tried InfineTea because it's too small and no couches too, but i heard wifi internet is free also :)

Christmas Date

I decided to do something relatively new to celebrate Christmas day because I'm pretty bored of just staying at home (Disclaimer: not that I have anything against being with family on this day. In fact, i went home late this morning because we celebrated Buena Noche away from home). So I have gone out on a date with The Man not just of December 25s but of every day of my life to spend some sweet time with Him. I had very little idea of how it is on the malls and streets on Christmas day. I should have thought that just like any other holidays, malls and parks are jam packed! But I went out of the house anyway thinking of going to The Fort where I imagine it to be serene with only a few people. To my surprise, it's the opposite! So I walked for around 45 minutes trying to find a good dating place and finally got to spot a Starbucks (after 3 full branches) where it's just serene and lovely :) 

I'm just so excited to have some sweet quality quiet time and bask in the presence of the Birthday Boy (or Man). This is my little gift I could give him, which is called "time". Although theologically he has no use of that time because He's outside of time. Haha you know my heart Jesus! I love you! :) Merry Christmas everyone!!!

What Happened to You on December 18?

“Think about this 18th
day of December, the day when the foundation of the Lord ’s Temple was laid. Think carefully. I am giving you a promise now while the seed is still in the barn. You have not yet harvested your grain, and your grapevines, fig trees, pomegranates, and olive trees have not yet produced their crops. But from this day onward I will bless you.” (Haggai 2:18, 19 NLT)

Caught this verse from Haggai from Steven Furtick's post and it really interested me a lot that I pondered on it.
I wanted to makr every opportunity to note or post about God's promises not just so I can remind Him but so I could remind myself, too. Because between me and God, I'm a lot more forgetful!

Haggai speaks about December 18 year wayyyyy back then when God emphasized to remember the day and promised to bless His people.

To personalize this verse, I thought of what significant things happened to me on Dec 18 and I was amazed at how pivotal that day was. :)

First is the work related Proof of Concept that I was doing since December 16 actually came to completion on Dec 18! That's my 1st ever POC, I take note! I feel so fruitful that after months of studying in theory and practicing in demo environments, I finally got to configure successfully for an end user's network. Okay dont wanna get technical but the point is, just like what the verse says, after a long time of sowing and persistent waiting and hardwork, I will start to see the fruits! And I'm just claiming verse 19 which says that God will bless me from that day onwards!!! Bring it on Lord, You said it!

Another thing is Dec 18 evening, I got to meet with Harvie, Eizza and their brother Herald, just to hear wisdom on how to manage a business. Oh my word, can hardly believe I'm gonna manage a business soon! These guys just poured on me wisdom I wouldn't get from anybody else so personal! So aside from being blessed technically, I was blessed personally as the counsel I got doesn't just apply to career bit to dear life on general. And so I'm claiming too that God's blessing of wisdom will overflow from Dec 18 onwards.

Nah, I was emphasizing Dec 18 much because it was a KAIROS moment that a verse from the Bible described a day in my life. But the truth is I will and have always been blessed. God's so good all the time!

Five Distinctives of the The Jesus Way

While listening to Judah Smith of The City Church in Seattle, I was amazed by how he put into the words of his preaching "Jesus is my Provision" how God wants to encourage me not just with life in general but more specifically in big chunks of my precious life like my finances.

He goes to describe how Jesus works, and thus titles it The Jesus Way. The following list is not all encompassing of how God works but just some that we can grasp to understand and see when His hand is working.

John 6:1-14 (Jesus feeds the 5,000)

1. It's always STRETCHING

Have the people sit down (v.10)

Isn't sitting down the last thing we want to do when we are in lack? But Jesus wants us to sit down at a time when it's logical to move and do something! That's just one stretchmark. There are others I an attest to like at times when you think you have so little to stretch, that's when He tells you to GIVE, or SPEND TIME, or SAY SORRY, or STAY or maybe even LET GO. He can really get into your nerves if you wont submit to His stretching. Like sometimes when God wants me to do something illogical, I would tend to ask Him to explain first but my 8 years of Christian life tells me i don't always have to know.
But I get relief at the truth that God has always been in charged of providing throughout the entire history of the world and He has a good record :) So reject fear and doubt!

There has to be a profound peace for us believers of Jesus especially when it comes to our resources and finances because He is the provider.

2. You have to prepare for abundance where there's only lack.
Jesus made the people sit down even before they have the food! He gave the 5,00 men an expectation that they will be given food when there's really nothing except the 5 barley loaves and 2 pieces of fish that was available.
Realize what you have in Jesus because He is the God of more than enough. What you have as little as it may seem can be the key for God's miracle to meet your needs in abundance.

One of great way to prepare you for abundance is through your mouth

3. Develop a habit for using your mouth for generosity by giving away thanks!!! Thank God for everything and say it with your mouth! There's always something to be thankful for. It's hard to be grumpy and complaining if you're thankful.

Generosity has an ATTITUDE and it's called GRATITUDE

4. Join the distribution plan of God.
Distribution is a systematic way of sharing. The church is God's distribution plan on Earth and when you become part of his distribution plan, the miracle manifest in your hand just as how the miracle happened as the disciples started to hand out the bread and fish but it's not running out! Experience what it feels like to have the bread in your hand and give it away without it running. Instead of asking "how much should I give?" Ask "how much should i keep?". The more you give it out, the more you realize it's not running out! There's no lack in Jesus, you can have as much as you have!

5. Ultimately the passion for God's provision is so that no people are lost. Get your resources involved in God's rescue mission. You can use your meaningless paper to impact what's eternal.

Choose not the way of logic, safe, just enough, worry when it comes to your finances. Choose the Jesus way!

Just needs practical application now :)

2013 Inventory Season

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own? (Luke 16:10-12 NIV)

December 1, 2013 marks a good start of the end of the year for me. :) I woke up this Sunday not having an idea of how much God will speak to me and do a tweaking process in my character. It can be a little discomforting when God corrects you, but when you realize that He does this out of love, there's no part of you that will not thank Him for refining you to be able to prepare you for the GREAT things that He has appointed you to do. :)

I love how God stuffed this day with His Word, with sincere talks with my accountable friends, with little princess surprises and a sweet quiet time to rap up the day :) And I'm taking this time to record 'em all as a Facebook post will not justify the experience! :p

The preaching for 11 am service was REALLY life changing for me as God spoke and reminded me of how I need to work on with my finances. For the past week, He has been pointing that area of my life and now He wants me to be FAITHFUL with what I have been entrusted. It was also bless one another Sunday and it just really paints a smile in my heart to practice generosity and be a blessing to others!

Then I had lunch with mt Tangled Girls Jen and Kat (without Lovely :/) which was so filled with encouragement, meaning and prayer. I'm just so glad and grateful to have friends who will speak life to you! I love you both!

Noel Bazaar was up next! It's my new favorite Bazaar hihi but it only happens once a year. So I guess I'd still stick with Super Sale Bazaar. Bought some gifts and items for myself. Merry Christmas to me!!! :p

The greatest part of my day is just my 2-hour date with God in Starbucks MOA Arena. It's the best Starbucks experience I had since I WAS THE ONLY ONE THERE! That's so rare! Guess everyone's inside the arena watching the PBA game. :p Joyfully I sat down and did some lists abd arranged some skeds, but most importantly, settled some issues in my heart and prayed some prayers.

I can just feel that God will do something really great through me and He's preparing right this very season! My desire is to know You more God as I walk this journey! :) I love you Lord!

Lord's Princess,
Jonai

Throwback Pioneer

I was reminded that November 2013 marks Victory Pioneer's 6th Anniversary. Ate June (Worship Services staff in Victory Pioneer) have asked our participation in compiling throwback pictures from the past 6 years (since 2007) as part of the celebration. Pioneer (as how members of this congregation have referred to the place) has been a very significant part of my walk with the Lord and so in honor to my beloved church, I won't just send the staff a bunch of photos but write a short commemorative blogpost instead, resourcing from my memories as richly as I could :)

Victory Pioneer started out as a church plant in Mandaluyong City by two adult churches Victory Ortigas and Victory Fort. Most of the leaders and attendees who decided they would leave their home church and start a then very small congregation came from Victory Ortigas. Pioneer church plant had a vision that to reach out the students around the city as it has a central location in Mandaluyong. As a student of Rizal Technological University which is 5 minutes away from Robinsons Pioneer by jeep or 20-30 minutes by foot (yep, we used to walk to church as students), I decided to move to Pioneer because of its proximity convenience. Later did I know that God intended more for me than benefit from the convenience of the place... that this is the church He would use to level me up from a typical youth service attendee to a full-pledged Christian who would lead others to Jesus.

I remember the first ever services we had was held NOVEMBER 11, 2007  at 11am and 5pm with attendance of more or less 800 for the whole day. Pastor Luther Mancao preached at these two services while the leaders would have to stay for both services too as our commitment in helping grow the church. Too bad I couldnt get photos from 2007-2008. Who's got a good camera back  then? :P

A little later on, we started the youth gathering called "The Block" which happened every Wednesday at the leadership of then Youth Pastors Dan Monterde and Armin Torculas. We couldn't call it a youth service then because our attendance peaks at stunning 50, including us the volunteer.s :) As pioneers of the youth culture in Victory Pioneer, we did every Godly possible strategies we can execute to grow in attendance, knowing that God's power would bless our commitment. I remember we used to serve snacks in The Block, which we definitely can't do now that Level Up (youth service, evolved version of  The Block... and it was us who though of that name!) is ranging to 500 attendees! We did stuff from Music fests, Dance workshops, Music Clinics, Campus Nights, etc., just to make the service inviting to the students. Level up got along the leadership transitions to Pastor King Reyes, Tristan Degollacion, Ian Daguman and now Pastor Christian Cornejo.

[caption id="attachment_759" align="aligncenter" width="470"] Campus night segment where we ramp to represent different student groups in the Campus. :P[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_757" align="aligncenter" width="470"] LIFE teachers who volunteered to reach out with Bonifacio Javier High School[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_724" align="aligncenter" width="470"] Youth Service held at Legend Villas during Victory Weekend Fridays since the Main Hall was used for counseling/ministry time :P Masaya to!!![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_728" align="aligncenter" width="470"] Survival! First ever youth camp of Victory Pioneer youth in Sierra Madre Tanay[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_719" align="aligncenter" width="470"] Youth service Christmas Party themed "Noodle Party". Who would've though of that? :P[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_716" align="aligncenter" width="470"] Oh this one's dated December 2007!! :) This is the joint Christmas Party of Victory Ortigas and Pioneer youth :)[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_713" align="aligncenter" width="470"] Oh come on, this is a hard-core friendship. :) This is during one of the prayer and fasting january (2008 or 2009 maybe)[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_718" align="aligncenter" width="470"] Victory Pioneer Youth during the Ignite 2010![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_733" align="aligncenter" width="470"] Pastor Christian orienting volunteers in the old Kids Church room![/caption]

Victory Pioneer also had the best methods of equipping and empowering its members to grow in their relationship with God and to bring out the potential in the leaders! There were a number of events, classes and programs under the strategic leadership of Pastor Robert that greatly helped the leaders to grow and multiply. One of the things I miss the most is the Leaders' weekly convergence which happened every Thursday!

[caption id="attachment_761" align="aligncenter" width="470"] Yep we used to have note binders before and named tags for the Leadership Group :)[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_742" align="aligncenter" width="470"] This is during the the 1st ever Training for Victory batch graduation/commissioning.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_736" align="aligncenter" width="470"] The Just 1 campaign to increase the leadership net in Pioneer.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_725" align="aligncenter" width="470"] Volunteer Appreciation Night themed This Is It! Black and white we all![/caption]

It wasn't just the youth and main services and the programs that were significant in this church but it's also the Victory Groups which then was coined "Small Groups" that really has a great impact personally for me. Friends I met here are really the ones I can keep until now. :)

[caption id="attachment_735" align="aligncenter" width="470"] Victory group that ran until the mall was already closed! Haha.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_729" align="aligncenter" width="470"] Prayer and Fasting with the girls![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_743" align="aligncenter" width="470"] Victory group at Kahve! :)[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_715" align="aligncenter" width="470"] More throwback photos![/caption]

With all these incomplete memories, I just wanted to thank God for putting in a church where Family is the Culture, Excellence is the only option and Honor God and Make Disciples is the vision. Happy 6th year Anniversary Victory Pioneer! :)

To Steven and Holly

There's just something about the rain and watching it by the glass wall of the coffee shop where I'm spending my  Saturday that puts me in the mood to write down my thoughts and publish a blog for the very little insignificant percentage of the world's population to read. And it's so  timely that I have something in my heart that I'm excited to write about. Well there are many things going on in my heart but I'll just use what's pure and positive. :)

It's obvious in my social network posts that I have been listening a lot from Elevation Church through their podcasts through the Subsplash app . I've gone (or maybe still going through) a situation where I really need to hear Words that will give light to my heart or else it would be corrupted by life's choking pain. And God greatly uses Steven Furtick's preachings, in addition to the words of my Godly friends and my home church's healing environment to bring healing into my situation.

I'm not afraid to tell anymore that I recently had a failed relationship. It took me quite a while to be ready to have it known by other people because of the shame of another failure. Only those who are closest to me had a first-hand taste of my grief and inconsistencies. But I'm not here to blame, or point fingers because I've learned that forgiveness, just like breathing keeps my spirit alive. But I'm here to really send my gratitude to the couple who, though are a thousand miles away, have greatly encouraged me when it comes to my perspective about relationships.



So to Steven Furtick, thank you for always always being bold and cool and passionate to speak God's word and making your marriage a testimony of how God's hand can work on relationships. I'm always encouraged with your small beginnings in planting Elevation Church but more specifically, you have raised my own personal standards for the man I'm going to even consider to be a husband. I know that you're not perfect (as you admit) but there's just something in you that reflects God's power to use an imperfect life to impact another's life :) I love how you would always honor your wife Holly and it really shows in your preachings that you two are one. I'm touched that you put her first and build her up in front of the church. I believe you do that even more when you're not at stage. I'm inspired that you have led your wife into fulfilling God's calling for your life and that no  matter how tough your situation could get, you always stick together as a family. I can never forget the line you said one time "I tell Holly all the time, 'If you ever leave me, I'm coming with you.'" Makes me laugh and inspired at the same time. I remember myself uttering a crazy prayer one time "I hope there are many Steven Furtick Filipino version here in my country" :P I hope you continue to set an example to the men and that God will propagate that example to great distances and deep measures in the hearts of who will ever hear your messages.
And to Holly Furtick, wow, I've never seen a Pastor's wife to be as encouraging in the public as the pastor himself. Even when you don't preach a lot (and I really love it when you do preach), your character, as portrayed by P. Steven when he's on the pulpit, greatly manifests God's command for a wife. There was a time in my struggle to keep my then soon-to-fall-apart past relationship that I would play your message on repeat on "You Be Jesus" and it really taught how to be Christ-like. I'm inspired to be like you who is very supportive to the fulfillment of the calling God has for your husband, how you would always be the "Holly Spirit" to your husband and remind him of who he is in Christ. Of course I know much less about you but what I know is enough to be inspired to set my standards and character aligned with the value that God has given me. Really, I pray for the grace to be a wife like you are in the future.  I just want you to know that somewhere on the other side of the planet, you have inspired a woman to be the one God wants her to be by looking at your example. :) I'm moved by your commitment to your husband that "No matter who leaves you, there's two people you can count on to stay with you. You're never getting rid of Jesus, and you're never getting rid of me."

And to the both of you, I pray that God will immensely bless you more that you can even imagine or pray for. I will always tell your example to others in my own little ways because I know it would inspire them, too.

P.S. I'm not even sure if you can ever read this post, but please let me know once you do. 
I love Elevation Church and Steven and Holly and Elijah and Graham and Abbey ^_^



 

I'm a Favor Finder

God rewards the hardworkers.

This has been one of the principles I've lived out since I got to have a relationship wit God. And I really appreciate the opportunity I'm having to prove it one circumstance after the other. I've written previously that I was going to conduct a training to engineers who have more experience than me in the Technical Consulting field. Only that I have an advanced knowledge than them when it comes to Netscaler. I've been working on the program, content and hands-on environment from the time that I passed my certification exam (since it's a 3-phase training). Almost 2 weeks of leaving office at 9pm to maximize my day to study, of sacrificing lengthy sleeps so I can reach the office at a conveniently early time, of skipping meals at night just to catch some sleep (or maybe because I'm emotionally impaired at the same time haha).

And I just knew that in God is where I rest my confidence. So even when I'm unable, my God is able to make me excellent for His glory. The training I conducted this morning was good for a first-timer like me :) I was able to peek at some of the evaluation forms and saw good feedback checks (even excellent ones) and Im just humbled because I know God was covering me with His greatness throughout those 3-hours of discussing to engineers, all were men.

I also had an impromptu discussion with one of our partners' business owner in the afternoon... Completely unplanned but the situation called for it and I know that instead of complaining, I should take responsibility as part of the team. My product manager has been so generous then to commend my performance and as per him, I exceeded his expectation. And at that moment I was able to tell him "Galing ni God eh" (God is great) and he said back galing niyong dalawa (You both are great). And that was the first timenI actually heard my boss speak nice about God. :)

This day has really been very very challenging but i know that these situations are God's opportunity or me to experience His favor. :)

I'm thankful to have a message I listened to for the past wern which is about God's favor (Pastor Steven Furtick's Found Favor series http://subspla.sh/12J9GDY) . I definitely have experienced that favor today and I pray that i would always respond with obedience whenever God poses me with opportunities to reflect his glory :D :D

God doesn't give you His favor for your convenience or to make to make your life easier. He gives it to make his presence bigger and more real to accomplish his purpose in your life.
-Furtick

Yes, I want God's favor still :)

Fruits of Movement

No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame (Psalm 25:3)

I've been very busy since I shifted to my new company that I haven't been able to at least write about the meaningful transition events that are marking my 2nd quarter life. In my occupied weekdays and weekends, I even have not celebrated the little successes that God helped me achieve in the past 1 and a half months except for the humble "thank you's" I have uttered to the Lord.

One of the reasons I chose this path instead of staying in Smart is the handful of opportunities to learn. And indeed, I've been learning a lot that I spend almost everyday studying. The 1st month of my stay in WSI was intended for me to learn about Citrix Netscaler ADC which is totally new to my Networking vocabulary. By God's really amazing grace, I was able to pass the 1Y0-A28 Certification Exam for the said technology. I have been longing to get a Certification since I was in college but I never got the chance to pursue a course such as Cisco. But I realized that what I have now is even more prestige than Cisco since I'm one of the very few that I can count with my fingers to have the said title in the Philippines. There goes to prove that God knows me much to know that I don't like mainstream. :) So thank you Lord that one of my goals in moving has been achieved and I know it doesn't stop with acquiring that Certificate as I'm greatly encouraged by my boss to take more exams such as Citrix XenDesktop and Microsft. I need more of you each and every day. I will really get crazy trying to understand all these without Your help. :)

Another goal met with me moving is the consistency of my personal quiet time and ministry. :) I have been excited to spend time with God every morning and my working day is never complete without a touch of God's presence in the morning. I have been graced as well to be able to establish a victory group that I meet every sunday with girls that are really great. :) I know that my transition is far from perfect as there have been things that happened  that still affects my everyday but I'm thankful for the people who surrounds me with Godly encouragement and joy :)

Right now, I should be going back to the slides I'm gonna present on Monday. Yes, yet another challenge that I'm given through my work. I'm just a dummy Systems Engineer yet I already have the task to train professional SEs who are far more experienced that I am. Before my crowd was only students with whom I'm ahead in comparison with experience, but now eyes and ears that will see and look at me are much greater than I am and I feel like Moses whom God appointed to speak to Pharaoh in spite of his lack of experience. I know You love me as much as you did Moses so You gotta get me through this Lord. Oh how could I ever face these without You? Your grace and favor and love are the only ones that keep me hanging.

Back to work. On a  Saturday. Late night.

The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all; (Psalm 34:19)

Who Jesus Came for

Jesus came for the chewed up, the crossed off, and the crying out,
The dropped out, edged out, fizzled out, and freaked out
The have nots and the held back,
The hung over and the knocked around

He came for the left out, the loaded down, and the looked over
The locked up, led astray, the laid off, and the let down
He came for the messed up and the mixed up

Jesus came for the passed over, the picked on, the put down
and the pushed around

The ripped off, the run down, and the run over

He came for people who are screwed up and shrugged off
The shut in and shut out
The smashed up and the strung out

He came for the torn up, the thrown away, and the turned off
Those who are used up and walked over
The washed out, the worn out, and the wiped out.

The written off

He came for you.

And me.




Rick Warren

Make my Faith larger than my Fear

Today I choose to feed my faith so that it becomes stronger than the fear I feel. I know that I'm not called to be fearless but faithful--that there will really be situations that will pose fears in front of me but even so, thr God who is in me is bigger thank any challenges I am facing.

I confess that I couldn't help but eake up with a heavy heart in the morning knowing how big the challenge is ahead of me in my workplace. My certification exam is nearing an I only got about a week to study. The feeling is far from how confident I was when I took the board exam last 2010. Lord I want to have that same perspective--that no matter how critical this exam is, I would look at it as a victory I can win because you already won. I want to live the "fighting from victory" perspective.

Lord I pray that you'll transform my perspective. I don't ever want to look at myself but look to you. I know that you'll come through. Help me hear your assurance. Need to feel your presence overwhelm me. You alone satisfy me.

Mornings are Important

I love this morning. It's not a perfect one--I feel pressure and sadness and discouragement still but I love how God can use my mornings to remind me that He's just here for me. My alarm clock is set to repeatedly wake me up at 5am but I would always wake up earlier than that so I could have time to set my heart right as early by reading my morning devotions or just by whispering my thoughts to God in prayer. :)

Then I would prepare for work -no rush, just easy and listen to podcasts that would really address the issues of my heart for the day. And then I would arrive to my workplace 30-45mins before 8am when the place is still really dark (lights off) and there are not many people yet. And I would use that quiet time to be intimate with the Lord in prayer. :)

And I just realize now how blessed I really am with my new workplace because my purposes of transferring to a new work environment is being met--which is really so I could practice having back my spiritual discipline (prayer and reading and hearing the Word) and eventually have it become my lifestyle once again. :)

My new work is very challenging though to the point that I really feel disqualified to meet my team's requirements. However, I know that this is a way for me to see God's goodness. He is good. :')

Wrestling with God

I can't help but write this post after reading Jacob's story about wrestling with God in my daily devotion this morning. I know that it's threatening to write a personal experience in a public blog like this but I just feel like God wants me to expose my current learning experience.

Genesis 32:22-32 tells about Jacob wrestling with a man whom he later found out was actually God. Jacob fought so hard like a man  who wouldn't allow him to be overpowered. And because Jacob wouldn't concede, God broke Jacob's hip so he would limp. Jacob did not let this man go until he was blessed. And right there God changed the name of Jacob to "Israel" because of that encounter. Jacob was never the same again.

I don't really care about the theology of this story and the details whatsoever. I just wanted to write because I very much relate to Jacob. I have a recent "wrestling with God" experience and guess what? Like Jacob, I didn't win. It was funny looking back to the past months when all the struggling happened. God wanted me to do something that I just thought then was really stupid. The urge was so STRONG and FREQUENT yet I thought I was strong enough to  shrug it off, steady my mindset and move on as if everything was okay. I was offering God an alternative to what he wanted me to do. I bargained and I delayed, simply because what God wanted me to do was very costly and difficult and painful. Although I would never win against God, I still fought just to see how long I could delay it. Until he broke something in me that left me no choice but to finally surrender, like how he broke something in Jacob that made him stop fighting. God knew that I gotta hurt now and force me to obey him (I'm thankful that he forced me to obey him) rather than keep fighting him and suffer a greater consequence in the future.

I'm not very proud to say that I had a wrestling encounter with God. It's always more "Christian" to share stories of obedience, PROMPT obedience that is. But what comforts me is how Jacob's wrestling with God ended. I know that I my name wouldn't change like Jacob's. What I'm looking forward to is that JACOB NEVER WALKED THE SAME AGAIN because of his injury. This wrestling with God caused him to change. And I'm dearly praying that I would have that same change. I got something broken and I hope that it would cause me to walk differently. And this would forever remind me of God's dominance over my life.

Jacob heard blessings from God right after their fight. I wish that I could also hear something directly from God's voice that could help me walk on by despite of my limp. But I know He has not left me, that as I walk, he carries me through. I also know that the succeeding events in Jacob's story is his reconciliation with his enemy brother Esau who longs to kill him. A victory. And it reminds me of the DIP which means that a valley is always sandwiched by two mountains (peaks/high). And it's  encouraging to know that there's a coming victory ahead of this experience.

So if you feel like God has something he wants you to do, just do it. Because even if you fight, you'll still have to eventually do it. But even if you've done it, don't dig deeper into your pit. Remember that you will never be the same after God touches you.

Christ alone, Cornerstone.

Sundays have again become my favorite days since aside from getting fed with the Word of God through the preaching in the services and the worship experience, I also get encouraged as I help other girls get to know Christ better.

This day started with a reminder from Andy Stanley's preaching podcast in Elevation Church's series Christ Alone with the title "Whole World" which was about how to manage the tension of maintaining hope in a hopeless situation. Do you still persevere with your hope or just give it up? I realized that there are very significant areas of my life in which I have put the ladder of my hope to a wall aside from the unshakable cornerstone of God. And now that those walls are shaking, my hopes are also starting to fall apart. It was a great realization as I have decided to put my hopes back to God.

How timely it is as well that the worship song during the 11 am service is one of the songs that have captured my heart although i havent really heard it being sang in Victory Pioneer before. I have only listened to a part of it during the transition period in one of the podcasts I've heard from Elevation. It was like a confirmation that it was no mistake that I'm consciously putting my hope again back to God. Practically, it's not very easy to apply the "put your hope in God" in my everyday life as I have expectations from other people as well. But God reminds me that even I expect others to do what they're supposed to do, my satisfaction and reward should come from Him alone. Because it's not that i should stop believing in other people's potential, but it's having peace knowing that even their kinetic can happen through God's grace alone.

God and I smile :)

I made God smile today and God made my heart smile a hundred times more. :) Didn't expect that my last day in Smart would be so meaningful in different ways..

1st, the team had a mini celebration since we are 3 in the team celebrating our birthdays this July, plus of course to make my last day memorable. It wasnt the usual gathering as our General Manager (Sir Jeng) and the Department Head (Sir Ardy) actually joined us :) It was a fun time with the team and I really felt touched when Sir Jeng gave me a box of Ferrero Rocher. It was my first time to receive a grand pack of chocolates. ^^

We took more photos and I finally said goodbye and punched my last time-out. I headed to World Trade Center to find items I could use in my new work. I found, too an iPhone that must have been forgotten in the washroom. I took it having the confidence that i would return it without hesitation. Although I admit that it was VERY VERY TEMPTING to just keep it for myself and sell it so I could have an extra encome (that definitely crossed my mind) to add up to my shortening budget for the dear month of July, I chose to keep my integrity intact. :) Besides, to make God smile is worth immeasurably more than keeping (or spending) a few thousands of cash.

I attended the Yout Service and was equally blessed to have my compassion for the youth stirred up and to see my church friends. Eca, Charm and I also had a dinner-movie date at Eca's place. The husband of the phone's owner dropped by Eca's place too so i could hand him his wife's phone. He in turn gave us a little token of more sweets to show his thankfulness. I just felt refreshed to have blessed another person for God's glory. And although I myself am in need, I'm not gonna use other's loss to my advantage. I would never live up to the Holy Spirit's conviction otherwise.

And that's how colorful and relational this day was. Lord, it's my delight to please you.

Bye Smart

I have decided to use an iOS diary application to help me journal everyday. It's called Grid Diary and I aim to publish here what I'm gonna be writing there (well that's still depending on my content's confidentiality).

It's my 2nd to the last day of work at Smart today. I admit that my heart is not there anymore. But the thought of me leaving something I have been with for the past two years is pretty saddening. I started to take photos of the people and places in smart :) I also accomplished my last requirement which is the ID pictures. I have already brought home items that are kept in the cabinet. And despite this things going on, of course I'm still missing Mac. Sorry had to mention :p

Well tomorrow I aim to finish doing the clearfile on resignation. July birthday celebrators of Smart's Messaging Services team have a little treat for the group at lunch... Will serve as my despedida party as well. My ultimate goal tomorrow? Feel my last day as if it's God's one of the most significant blessings in my life. :)

That's it for today. Tomorrow I'll detail why i had to leave Smart. :)

What to Think

Today I'm reminded that I have a choice to decide what to think whatever I may face.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8 NIV)

So I choose to think whatever is

TRUE. The enemy presents so much lies everyday that if I don't warn myself, could affect my perspective about myself and other people.

NOBLE. We usually waste lots of time conceiving thoughts that re purely daydreaming. However, we have the choice of thinking of doing something that is worthy of respect and praise but not to our own gain but so we could glorify God in the fruits of our thoughts.

RIGHT. We know what is wrong from right yet we're sometimes convinced that there's nothing wrong thinking about the wrong as long as we're not doing it. Dump that idea. Whatever you think of will grow into a desire and a decision. I choose today to align my thoughts to whatever is God's standard.

PURE. Even sometimes when what we do is good, the motive is not right or pure. Why don't we recalibrate the purpose of why we do our job, our studies? Let's keep our minds also clean and with NOT EVEN A HINT of any kind of immorality.

LOVELY. Whatever promotes peace, inspiration, motivation, joy, life, excitement, I'll think about sung things :)

ADMIRABLE. This could apply with how I think about other people. I choose to think of whatever is admirable about other people rather than criticizing.

At the end of the day, I get to keep my peace if think of such. :)

Puerto Galera Summer 2013

 

I have started to explore Philippines' abundant lands and seas since Summer 2011 when I got tagged by my church friends to Anawangin, Zambales. Summer 2012 was even more adventurous when I hitched the Degollacion Family to their Visayas escapade traveling the provinces of Negros Oriental and the cities of Cebu. Sad that I missed the chance of writing about those trips. This Summer 2013 I didn't miss the chance to travel again, but this time, I organized almost everything and tagged my family, Mac my love, and his family! :) In this article, I aim to detail the pre-, during and post-travel experiences that could be of encouragement or use to you readers. :)

[caption id="attachment_541" align="alignright" width="300"] 3D/2N Tribal Hills for 4pax Offer at Metrodeal[/caption]

Being always in a tight budget for travels, the 1st thing that came to mind was to find a good hotel accommodation promo from online group buying sites such as Metrodeal, Ensogo, Cashcashpinoy and Dealstent instead of direct or online booking which is more costly. I was fortunate to get this Puerto Galera deal @ Metrodeal last Mar 06 2013 (deal is still available as of this writing). Check out my review for Tribal Hills Mountain Resort where we stayed in Puerto Galera. I booked two rooms for 3 nights for 8 pax for April 7-9.

After securing our accommodation, next thing to do was to plan our detailed itinerary so as to not surprise my and Mac's wallets since we's be shouldering the expenses of our families. My planning was based on Puerto Galera blogs and reviews I read which really helpful. Since it's a 3-day 2-nights trip, it's better to be prepared and know what you'd do rather than be spontaneous on the spot (Being spontaneous could be so expensive). Below is the itinerary I prepared for our trip. There are surprises along the way but my estimates were close to the actual expenses.

By the time April 7 came, we were already prepared to enjoy the trip. I tagged mama, my brother Openg and my cousin Warren with me. Mac brought his mama, his cousin Dove and her husband Mike. Since Papa would be driving all of us to Batangas Port, Mac and I agreed that they'd just meet us in Paranaque. We left Pque as scheduled at 6:30AM and  traveled to Batangas port. We encountered an incident while on passing through SLEX. The van hit a small stone that crashed through the radiator leaving a small hole where the water leaked. Good thing the van reached through Shell where we had to stop and make a temporary fix, or else we wouldn't be able to reach our destination :( We we're stuck there for an hour and our packed drinking water (1 container) was consumed by the van since its water was leaking.

[caption id="attachment_543" align="aligncenter" width="270"] The men trying and watching the van get fixed.[/caption]

We were still able to stick to the schedule and arrive at the port by 9:15am. Upon arriving at Batangas Port, a couple of guys from Minolo Shipping Lines approached us and assisted in getting our tickets. And there we encountered our 1st surPRICE: round-trip tickets raised from P450 to P500. Environmental and Terminal fee are still P30 and P50 respectively so that makes P580 per head.

[caption id="attachment_545" align="alignright" width="470"] Water in Port costs 150-180 each. Water in PG costs upto 100 each. Better if you have water before leaving your home![/caption]

Remembering that our drinking water got consumed by the van, we opted to buy water before boarding, and there was our 2nd surPRICE: The typical Absolute drinking water which regularly costs P50 is priced P180 at the port!!! Manang tindera was saying that water price in Puerto Galera is even more expensive so we were left with no choice but to buy what she was selling. We haggled down to P150 since we need to buy 3. I really regretted that we have spent P450 for water. I greatly advise that if you're going to PG, bring your own water!  Later as we got to PG, we found out that there was a cheaper option for water.

[caption id="attachment_551" align="alignleft" width="135"] 2-way ticket costs 500Php[/caption]

We were scheduled to board the Golden Hawk ship by 9:45 but actual boarding started at 10:45 (we waited for 1 hour for the ship to arrive). Waiting at the Batangas Port terminal was comfortable though. At around 11am, we started sailing and it was smooth yet exciting. I have read previously from blogs that boat trips to PG are usually rough because of the wild waves. I wasn't bothered though with those warnings because I love rough adventures :P

[caption id="attachment_549" align="aligncenter" width="300"] I and Mac excitedly boarded the ship. :)[/caption]

As we touched the sands of White Beach at around 12:45pm, we were already starving. Our arrival was beyond my expected time and lunch time has already passed so we chose to eat at the nearest restaurant/carinderia we could get to. We ended up eating in this resto near VM Beach Resort which we didn't enjoy. 1st, staff were impolite. 2nd, they don't serve water with the food. 3rd, washroom is not free even for their customers. 4th, they serve food very slowly! I ordered BBQ which they claim to be "fast serving" but it was the last to be served. Had we not been hurrying because our check-in was @ 2pm, we would have looked for another place for lunch. There are other cheaper options that serves good food that we discovered as we walked around the streets perpendicular to White Beach. You could get good food at half the price of what is offered in White Beach front.

[caption id="attachment_554" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Impolite staff and very slow and poor service at VM Restaurant.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_557" align="alignright" width="300"] I've always wanted to be in a quiet and nature-inspired place like this.[/caption]

After a fast lunch, we headed straight to where we would be picked up by Tribal Hills' vehicle. Travel was very exciting as we were sitting at the back of a pick-up truck. After the check-in, we spent a couple of hours to be settled in our rooms. The place was exhilarating as we were surrounded by the greens and the mountains! I have no regrets getting this Metrodeal offer ^_^

At  around 4:30pm, we went down to White beach again to start our beach bumming! First thing we did was to look for the Banana Boat station where we would pay the fee, leave our stuff and board the boat. Check this out for our detailed Banana Boat Experience in Puerto Galera. After this activity, we just went on beach bumming in White Beach. The beach was pretty crowded since it's peak season and April 9 is a holiday. We still enjoyed it though because we were with our families. :) I wanted to cross the rocky border between White Beach and Tamaraw beach but Mac asked me not to since it was dangerous and the sun was already fading. We stayed in White beach until 10pm, had dinner in Chicken Inasal and watched the fire-dancers do their thing. Gays were all over the place!

[caption id="attachment_560" align="aligncenter" width="300"] White Beach on a peak season. Nevertheless, the crowd did not drown our fun. We still enjoyed the waves and the sand.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_562" align="alignright" width="300"] We loved Tribal HIlls' little pool. It was not too chlorinated so water wasn't irritating. It was clean and nice as well.[/caption]

The water fun did not end when we left white beach. Upon reaching Tribal Hills, we soaked in a Jacuzzi  and enjoyed the peaceful night. :)

Our second day in PG was jam-packed. 1st activity was Trekking to Aninuan falls in the morning right after our free breakfast. This guided tour is still part of the voucher's package. It was a looooong journey along the rocks and hills of Aninuan Mountain but the waters of Aninuan falls were worth it. I will detail our Trekking to Aninuan falls soon. :)

We reached our hotel at around 12:30pm. Our day was very filled that we skipped lunch. Thank God we still have our sandwiches we packed from the 1st day. Around 1:30, we went down to Tamaraw beach for the much-awaited Island-hopping and snorkeling activities. We took Tribal Hills' offer of P250 per head for the Island hopping (A total of 2000 for our group of 8). There were options of P1500 per 8pax back in White Beach but due to some reasons detailed in my other post, we availed of Tribal Hills' package. Check out our Island-hopping and Snorkeling experience here.

After the fun-filled Island-hopping, we were dropped off at Tamaraw beach at around 5:30pm and since we have to eat in our discovered cheap carinderia in white beach, we crossed the rocky border between Tamaraw and White beach--which I really wanted to do since Day 1! :D

We had our best eating experience down in White Beach in one of the local carinderias we passed by as we were going home to Tribal Hills. I didn't get the store's name but they offer good food. Sizzlings were priced at P60 only yet serving was generous and the food was tasty, too! After dinner, we went home early to Tribal Hills to enjoy their amenities away from the crowds of White Beach. Our Day 2 (April 8) was tiring yet I insisted that Mac and I wait for his birthday (April 9) so we slept at around 12:30am... very tired!

Then our last day at PG came :( We enjoyed our breakfast first thing in the morning and enjoyed the pool one last time. We checked out at 11am (1 hour earlier than the hotel check-out policy) since we wanted to have time to buy souvenir shirts before boarding our ship back to Batangas Port which was scheduled at 1pm. Prices of souvenir items in White Beach are standard so even if you comb every store, you'll get the same price for an item. The trip back to batangas was stressful! mac and I both think that the ship was overloaded. And it took us about 2 hours to reach the port via a different ship Golden Condor. By 5:30 pm, we were already in Manila. :)

So to summarize our Puerto Galera expenses per head:

[caption id="attachment_568" align="aligncenter" width="300"] 3D/2N Puerto Galera Expense per head.[/caption]

We were pleased with our Puerto Galera trip and a big factor to our satisfaction is Tribal Hills' accommodation. :) Praises to God for providing us protection and financial provision for our enjoyment :)

MacJonai's story

Friendship is the foundation of a lasting relationship.

Macmac,

It's Valentines day and I wonder what do ladies give their significant other on this occasion? Surely men give gifts like flowers, chocolates, stuffed toys, fine dinner (ehem ehem, di po ako nagpaparinig! haha) because it's men's nature to pursue their partner. But Vday is a 2-way event. I think ladies also have role to make this day special for their man aside from saying yes to a date or giving thanks for the gifts.

So here's my move to make you blush ^_^ I'm writing this blogpost to tell everyone about our love story handcrafted and written by the perfect Author himself--God.

Not everyone knows that the existence of our bond started back November 2009 in our alma mater, when you became my instructor in Broadcast Engineering. I remember mentioning about you in my journal because it was a thrill to have an instructor who recently topped one of the most difficult engineering board exams. You were as enthusiastic as a hyper machine when you teach and as honestly as I can remember, I loved it :)

[caption id="attachment_509" align="aligncenter" width="470"] 1st encounter with Mac. This was my jounal entry Nov 27, 2009. Smiley means I was thankful for the item listed. :P[/caption]

I recall you started calling me by my name after only about 3 class meetings and I know now that it was strange since you forget names so easily. Maybe because I was the non-stereotype bibo/epal student who caught your attention. Having you as my quiz bee coach assisting Sir Jam, I started being comfortable with you, not as stiff as I was with other instructors. More than anything else, getting close with you was a God-given opportunity to meet my prayer of helping at least one instructor get to know God. There was this sense of pleasurable responsibility over me to engage you to church. I was very glad that you were so open-hearted about God. :)

I started looking up to you then, amazed at how boldly you credit your achievements to God's deserving name in front of the class. You were even one of the few who inspired my passion to go back to campus and teach!

[caption id="attachment_511" align="alignright" width="282"] Prayer and fasting 2012 Day 7 in Victory Pioneer![/caption]

So our instructor-student relationship (just a 1-year gap though ^_^)grew into friendship that we never knew would turn out to something even more beautiful. Different seasons in my life went on and you were there as my kuya. You supported me through important period of my life such as my board exam, job-hunting and teaching. I was there for you, too, as a little sister and more who can take charge of your petty errands in school. I enjoyed our friendship so much and I believed that that's all were ever gonna be.

Then fast forward October 2012. Three years after, our friendship developed and longed for more. I realized that during our friendship span we made mistakes individually but still our friendship endured, our bond strengthen. Although it was hard for me to accept the possibility that we can be more than friends just as a real brother remains only as a brother, there was this peace that gradually calmed my struggling heart and mind.

You persistently pursued me despite of me asking for space and time. Our courtship period was a little tough, too. It's a very serious decision for me to make if I'm gonna enter this relationship with you since I know, and you know too, that either this will bloom pleasantly or ruin our friendship. Although the non-platonic feeling towards you is already evident, I still had countless fears and doubts. But they all suddenly went away as I began to believe God's being in control of my story. And so though it was only actually more than a month, it feels like it took so long to make this decision. December 24 came you saw this video:

[youtube=http://youtu.be/tfWI6n9Ei0U]

People often ask themselves why they love a person.
Well I can list some of the many things that I like about you.

I see a man that despite what's in the past, is being sanctified and built up in God's character. Who cares about the past anyway? What matters is who you are in the PRESENT and who you'll be in the FUTURE.
Our wavelength correspondence is a real magic (thus B1 and B2).
I find you real sexy when you are being hard-working (as in every single day) yet still finds time to check on me and send some love.
I still admire until now how you enthusiastically prepare and deliver your lectures.
I'm captured by your persistent effort even after you've "got the girl".
I'm drawn even more with your stand to involve our families in our relationship.
I smile at your discreet plans for us in the future. hihi
I'm amazed at your loyalty and how our people around you notice the difference as well. ;)
I melt with every kind word you say and how you appreciate even the weirdest corners of my personality.
Oh, need I say the obvious gorgeousness? The dance moves? The winks? Haha!
I could say a lot more but there's no need. These aren't the reason why I love you.
There's no reason why I love you. It's just that our hearts are knitted together and loving you at your best or even at your worst is so natural and easy.
I thank God that He did the knitting because for sure, what he knits can't be torn apart.

Love you bi! Happy Valentines day! Ants attack!

[caption id="attachment_514" align="aligncenter" width="470"] Mac is B1 and I am B2 :)[/caption]