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 :)