TGIF

i had a good conversation tonight with the cab driver on my way home from work. he was listening to this christian station on the radio, so i asked if he's a christian, he said he's not but he reads the bible and listen to different types of preachers. he seems to know a lot about the Bible but when i asked him if he's already sure of his eternal destination, he said he's not. naturally, i asked what's keeping him from completely entrusting GOD with his life?... after exchanging questions and ideas, i discovered that his confusion/issue lies in the Trinity. i tried to explain it to him the best way i could and i pray that GOD will make it clear to him.

that short encounter with that man reminded me again of what our pastor said, "the distance from heaven to hell is just as short as the distance from your head to your heart." while knowledge is good, it's never enough to pave our way to heaven.

but when should knowledge/reason stop and faith or the heart to heart relationship with God begin? i think that it's good that u try to get to know GOD/JESUS first, just like in any other relationships. try to gather as much information as you can... then when you've reached the point when you think you know enough already that's the time when u should transport the knowledge from your head to your heart.

how? by talking to GOD about it. say based on your research you discovered that JESUS was sent by the FATHER as an atonement for our sins because we can't do it on our own... that our good works were not and will never be enough to get us to heaven. so, what should u do about this knowledge? why not thank GOD for this precious GIFT, ask for HIS forgiveness and accept HIS gift of redemption through HIS SON.

that's just the beginning. of course not all your questions will be answered n this lifetime, that's where you should apply faith. is it blind faith? no, because u already know enough about where u have put your faith on. it's like marriage, you don't know what the outcome will be but still you gave it a go because you love the person and u know enough about the person already. that's faith!

living life

haven't been on much lately, enjoying work. got sick also but i'm back on my feet again after resting for 2 days.

i miss seeing my girlfriends though, haven't seen them for close to 2 weeks already.

thanks for a great sunday

started the day with him on the phone... it wasn't a long conversation but it's a start and i sure loved hearing his voice again.

then i got numerous text messages from friends who wanted to meet up. had to cancel with one because going to church is top on my list and our schedules didn't allow us to go to church together. i ended up going to worship service with an old friend then we met up with another friend and went shopping afterwards.

after the shopping spree we ate, talked, ate and talked. i love spending time with this particular friend because we have the same struggles and we both have the heart for the mission. she's successful in her chosen career but she already have plans of resigning because she wanna give her time to GOD. yeah, some would think her crazy but at the end of it all the money and success that everybody seems to strive for in this life won't matter at all. it's all for nothing! and we're not meant to stay in this world forever, we're just passing through. this life will soon be over, we don't know when... and on final analysis, only what's done for Christ matters.

this i have to say, u can take away anything or anyone from my life, just leave me JESUS because HE's all that matters! and if there's a gift that i would want to share with someone, it'll be my LORD.

love u, DAD!

God's grace

i consider it grace that GOD doesn't (didn't) give me everything i asked for. the things that i've discovered lately only strengthened my resolve that i could really entrust my whole life to GOD. that HE indeed knows better.

years ago i fell in love with this guy that meant the world to me. i thought i couldn't live life without him. i prayed and prayed for GOD to restore our relationship but He didn't say yes and instead gave him to someone else and he ended up marrying that girl. i stopped going to church after that incident, thinking that GOD's so cruel in not giving me what i wanted.

but by GOD's grace again, i found myself looking for another church after years of not going to one. i got myself into trouble and made lots of wrong decisions during those times that i was away from GOD. but then HE led me to my new church, the one i'm still attending right now, and that's where HE started changing me.

GOD's showing me over and over again that HE could be trusted and that HE could run my life better than i could.

after knowing what had happened to my ex-bf's marriage, i really am thankful that GOD didn't give him to me.

thanks for the unanswered prayers, DAD! remind me always of the fact that U only have my best interest in mind. and thanks for the overwhelming feeling of joy, peace and contentment... knowing that YOU will never leave me nor forsake me. i would never trade YOU for anything nor anyone, FATHER!

corporate world

IN THE FULLNESS OF TIME, GOD IS OUT TO DO YOU GOOD.



my 1st day at work and boy, am i tired! but i love my new company, i know it's gonna make me grow in different aspects. it'll stretch me beyond my limits. and i want it!

sustain me, FATHER and help me to be a good testimony to all my colleagues. YOU planted me here, please make me grow and help me bear fruits.

old age?

i was advised to see the company's cardiologist, so in between worship service and small group today, i went to see the doc. it turned out to be a reality check.... yes, i'm not getting any younger. if my BP would stay the way that it was today, i would need to go on medication. but thank GOD it went back to normal tonight! i guess i was just tired and stressed when they took my BP today because i had to rush back to the clinic from the church. GOD is indeed good.

call this mystical or whatever u wanna call it, but today while in worship i again felt GOD right in front of me... embracing me and telling me that HE loves me just the way i am and that I am precious in HIS sight. imagining HIM coming down from heaven, being enveloped by the clouds moved me to tears. i am so looking forward to seeing that day!

this is one of the ways that i know my GOD is alive and that HE is a personal GOD and that HE is the ONE TRUE GOD... it's when HE makes me feel HIS presence despite the chaos.

thank you so much, LORD for saving me. for dying on that cross to save me from my sins and to give me an abundant life not only here on earth but more so in heaven.

between 2 buses

BUS # 1

1) it's a new bus

2) i don't know where it's headed

3) the doors are wide open and i could come in anytime




BUS # 2:

1) it's a familiar bus, been seeing it around town for years already

2) i know where it's headed

3) the doors are locked, not sure if it's gonna open to admit a passenger.


given these conditions, give me your answer! the poll's right above the entries.

heart strings

felt that old pull once again and all because of a text message that started before 6am and lasted till almost midday today.

mission accomplished

this has been a very lonnnnnnnng day but i've accomplished a lot. went to my college again to get my transcript of records and diploma. though i have graduated for what seems like eons ago already, this is the first time that i've seen my official school records.... feels great! :-) saw a lot of people also and they still remember me, even the photocopy lady. it feels good to see those people again and doubly good to be remembered though they see thousands of students everyday.

after school i went to my future (hopefully) company to submit the requirements. then after hours of waiting, they had me sign the employment contract and then the thousands (feels like) of tests for the medical requirements. thank GOD i was able to finish everything before 9pm. if everything turns out well with the medical tests, i'll start work on monday.

i'm still worried in a way but if this is GOD's will, then i'll make it through. i've been working for myself/freelance for the past 3 yrs already so being hired full time
will be a major adjustment on my part again.

pray for me.

the cost of obedience

many times i have repented from the same sin but kept on coming back... i know it grieves the heart of GOD to see me being constantly defeated by the same sin. last night i realized that this has got to stop. i can't go on living like this anymore. i will not go on leading a double-life. and GOD, as always, never failed me, HE will always maneuver the situations to accomplish HIS will. today HE sent me someone whom i could discuss this thing with, somebody who has been delivered from the same struggle. and when we prayed i know GOD was with us, i felt HIS presence. didn't HE promise that in HIS word, that whenever there are 2 or 3 gathered together in HIS name HE's there in the midst of them?

i know the battle's not yet over but the battle's not mine but GOD's. i may fail HIM again one way or another but i know He's just there to pick me up, dust me off and inspire me to keep on.

yes, following GOD will cost me self denial and it will hurt for sure but the cost of not following HIM will surely be greater. i don't wanna miss out on GOD's best plan for me.

as we have discussed in our small group today, anyone of us is not indispensable to GOD. HE has a plan, yes, and HE would give us the chance to participate in accomplishing this plan but if we don't want to obey, then it's up to us. but one thing's for sure, HE will accomplish HIS plan one way or another, with or without us. and the consequence of our disobedience is us missing out on HIS blessings that would've been ours had we obey.

thoughts to ponder : BELIEF IS THE ROOT OF OBEDIENCE. if you say that u believe in GOD and yet do not obey HIS word, then you're lying.

loving me

since my plan for the day had to be postponed, i went out and loved myself. had a haircut and pedicure!

i had to pamper myself because the heat's really getting too much to take, even for an asian like me. though i love my country this is one of those days where i couldn't help but wish that i live somewhere else... i wonder what it's like to be in europe on a day like this....

CHANGING LANES

things took another wrong turn or maybe it's more politically correct to say that i'm being forced to grow. my decision making skill is being tested again. i need to make another major decision and i really hope i make the right one. guide me, LORD.

but i'm not scared of change anymore, in fact i'm embracing it. my life has been kinda predictable for the past years. i wanna grow and be what GOD wants me to be.

BLESS ME, LORD!

and to start it right and to mark the changes i decided to move here from my old journal.

welcome to my new abode!