tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55524448573381982732024-02-20T00:52:29.269+08:00The RevolutionistTalitha koumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401899908373307775noreply@blogger.comBlogger127125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5552444857338198273.post-82112545660508897522015-03-28T20:03:00.006+08:002015-03-28T20:03:58.494+08:00Being Compelled to Preach<div style="text-align: center;">
Even though it would cost me all the <i>me-time</i> I used to have for myself, I will never stop going out and making disciples!</div>
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I just got home from school, I was even still wearing my uniform, exhausted from the trip from Manila to Rizal, mentally drained from all the school requirements and from the demands of my current subjects, but I cannot help but go straight to where my CG's are. It doesn't matter if it would cost me a lot, if I could just share the gospel and be God's instrument for other people to realize that the Lord loves them!!</div>
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<span style="color: #151b8d; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: large;">"<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!"</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #4e5665; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">— </span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">1 Corinthians 9:16</span></div>
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..since I am <i>compelled </i>to preach.</div>
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When you are compelled to do something, you won't be able to contain the drive to do it.</div>
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<i>Di ka makatulog, di ka mapakali, di ka makukuntento, kung di mo gagawin ang isang bagay.</i></div>
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And one only becomes compelled to preach when he/she has genuinely experienced the truth proclaimed in the gospel <b>every single moment of his/her life</b>.</div>
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When was the last time you felt this kind of drive to preach the word of God?</div>
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If it's been a while, it may be a reminder for you to go back to the basics <span style="background-color: white; color: #4e5665; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">—</span> to the foundations of Christianity.</div>
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It may be time for you to allow yourself to grow more in love with Christ!</div>
Talitha koumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401899908373307775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5552444857338198273.post-29040011805582397192015-02-22T21:45:00.000+08:002015-02-23T10:07:39.670+08:00Embracing Womanhood<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yesterday, I had Bible trekking with my girls over lunch.</div>
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We dissected the beauty of Proverbs 31:10-31, exhausted every insight each one might have for every verse, until there's nothing left to talk about. It took us just 3 hours.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">3 hours!</span></b></div>
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Gahd. We didn't even finish the whole thing!</div>
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But it was another memorable CG meeting filled with fresh perspectives that just erupted as we exchange thoughts on the text.</div>
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We arrived at a conclusion that we, ladies, are called by God to this one amazing thing.</div>
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Now, what does it mean to be the woman God designed us to be?<br />
Society tries to define being a woman. Though what we hear about womanhood from the society are full of sense and can be quite empowering, don't you think it is still very important to go back to our very Creator, and ask what He was thinking when He was creating us?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rose photo grabbed from <a href="http://oer-wout.deviantart.com/art/Stand-Out-189201057">oer-wout.deviantart.com</a>.</td></tr>
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This warrants a blog series (every night of this week) on womanhood! Keep posted! 😉<br />
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Talitha koumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401899908373307775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5552444857338198273.post-8418949309938563332015-02-03T00:11:00.000+08:002015-02-03T00:18:33.119+08:00Bloom where you are planted<div style="text-align: center;">
The church is not confined in the four walls of a building.</div>
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The Church is where Jesus's followers are!</div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/GenerationCongregation/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijRvwhLpPAyIAYbCwQCp5cJJ6myxmY3JJu21bOwZ7bBtP9hx867Q5I77eVTTEhPHl0Jl7nJTgm0ymdeMxdEF3NrCiPOWaKwCRqs7mfGLVHEhnBIGbr1H88Bs82eSrgNIcHW4ykobqI44uu/s1600/10922628_1572946756283608_5367693149182226695_n.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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God's not dead, He's surely alive!</div>
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And His Hands are very tangible in schools, workplaces and neighborhoods of His soldiers!</div>
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<span style="color: #151b8d; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: large;">Bloom where you are planted.</span></div>
Talitha koumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401899908373307775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5552444857338198273.post-89128808641191039032015-01-07T14:07:00.001+08:002015-01-07T14:07:35.729+08:00What makes a free thinker is not his beliefs, but the way in which he holds them. If he holds them because his elders told him they were true when he was young, or if he holds them because if he did not he would be unhappy, his thought is not free; but if he holds them because, after careful thought, he finds a balance of evidence in their favor, then his thought is free, however odd his conclusions may seem.<span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">— Bertrand Russell</span>Talitha koumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401899908373307775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5552444857338198273.post-73648039937399304012015-01-04T01:34:00.001+08:002015-01-04T01:34:43.602+08:00God is never irrelevant and unnecessary. Sometimes, it is the church that is.Talitha koumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401899908373307775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5552444857338198273.post-19225477377097533812015-01-03T18:42:00.001+08:002015-01-03T18:42:27.211+08:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>What does it really mean to think freely?</i></div>
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Thank you Lord for this new realm You are leading me to.</div>
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The outpouring of ideas and of unbounded questions give me inexplicable excitement! I am thrilled at how I can get to know You deeper this year, in a manner I've never experienced before.</div>
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Talitha koumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401899908373307775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5552444857338198273.post-36095686585314754942014-08-16T14:27:00.003+08:002014-08-16T14:30:17.224+08:00Perfect Love drives out Fear<div style="text-align: center;">
It's my first time to go to Lupang Arenda by myself.</div>
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I remember the first time we went here in Arenda. It was to teach the youth how to play musical instruments, for the purpose of giving them the opportunity to be good at something, so as to uplift their spirits.</div>
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After a while, we were moved by the obvious unsatisfied needs of the community, and it sparked in us the desire to give hope to the young people of Lupang Arenda. We were not rich enough to sponsor them by helping them in their financial needs, and we thought that these young people do not just need financial support.</div>
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These young people need to realize that, even though they were born "poor", they can still do something great with their lives!</div>
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And so, we started forming small groups to encourage them.</div>
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4 years was a roller coaster ride with them.</div>
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It was quite a challenge going there and helping them, because the situations such innocent kids were in were very complicated. The passion to help them be victorious over their circumstances overpowers any challenge that comes our way.</div>
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Today's challenge?</div>
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Going there by myself.</div>
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During the first few years of our ministry there, my mom wasn't very comfortable allowing me to go there. There are just too many stories about the people of Arenda. One friend told me before that when they were giving out medical aide and relief goods in this area, they had to use military tanks just to be safe from the people. They weren't allowed to get out of the tanks because many of the people had guns or knives with them. Sometimes, the teenagers from Arenda themselves tell us of the culture there. There were a lot of gang wars where actual people get killed. They even point to us the place these fights happen - an area we often pass by. This is why my mother only allows me to go there when I have company.</div>
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But today, my heart was tested. How much do I really love the young people there?</div>
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Would I go there by myself, even with all the risks?</div>
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Would I still go all the way to Lupang Arenda, even if it's just for one person?</div>
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And by the grace of God,</div>
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<span style="color: #151b8d; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: large;">love eclipsed every bit of fear.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear,</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30622A" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 22px; position: relative; text-align: start; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30622A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"> because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">1 John 4:18</span></div>
Talitha koumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401899908373307775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5552444857338198273.post-42057510547310744312014-07-31T04:04:00.001+08:002014-07-31T04:04:39.842+08:00#RevolutionizingTrips<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/t31.0-8/10380458_10152657304644703_8873925248686861801_o.jpg?dl=1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/t31.0-8/10380458_10152657304644703_8873925248686861801_o.jpg?dl=1" width="640" /></a></div>
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I don't know why God granted me the privilege to experience Thailand.</div>
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But I have a big feeling that He gonna give me a whole new perspective while I immerse myself in their culture for almost a week.</div>
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This could be just another vacation. But I choose to differ.</div>
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<span style="color: #151b8d; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: large;">This would be another awesome </span></div>
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<span style="color: #151b8d; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: large;">getting-to-know-God-better-in-an-awesome-way experience!!</span></div>
Talitha koumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401899908373307775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5552444857338198273.post-11887651551956491522014-07-30T06:13:00.002+08:002014-07-30T06:13:51.671+08:00<div style="text-align: center;">
Sa-wat-dee kha.</div>
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See you in 5 days. :)</div>
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Talitha koumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401899908373307775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5552444857338198273.post-8302169726440953722014-07-23T01:22:00.004+08:002014-07-23T01:33:28.744+08:00The Fish In Our Schools<div style="text-align: center;">
Today, I was privileged to witness how God uses some of the Genconers in their campuses.</div>
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God gave me the luxury of a four-month vacation, and, as what I desired before this started, He filled it with ministries bigger than what I had imagined! :-)</div>
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Within just 10 hours, God brought Jopel and me to 3 different places for campus ministry and had awesome small groups with God as the center!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">UST CG at 9:30am.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">FEU CG <b>Launching </b>(Yey! It's our first CG there!)<b> </b>at 12:30pm.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">UE CG at 5:00pm.</td></tr>
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"The Fish In Our Schools"</div>
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Lately, God has been reminding me how He wants to change the lives and just express His love and comfort to students in our campuses. In today's campuses, the youth experience some of the greatest challenges - from beautifully crafted temptations to intelligently presented ideologies. Every student in the campus experiences a lot of stress, which he gets from family problems or from academics or from his love life ... (or a feisty combination of these stressors). Too much of this stress, made worse by the competing noise of various (very interesting) perspectives, can easily make a student into a confused and battered baby.</div>
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That's why campus ministry is a gesture we could do to express the purest love for young people.</div>
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More young people need the freedom from all of these things that try to devour them in their college life. Every student deserves to live to the full potential God has created in him without being limited by the lies and beating this fallen world might have given them.</div>
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The Lord has been working so tangibly in our campuses, He has been using many youth groups today to change lives. If you're a student reading this, know that His love for your classmates, for your schoolmates is real. I am privileged to see the manifestations of this in a number of universities today! :) If you genuinely love our Lord, I encourage you to submit yourself to Him and become His hands and feet in His mission in your campus.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
If you want to serve God, don't look too far! Whatever your setting is, know that God can use you there!<span style="font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: large;"> <span style="color: black;">You're not <i>just a student</i> in your university.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #151b8d; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: large;">You are God's messenger.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #151b8d; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: large;">#CampusLusob</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i>
<span style="color: #999999;"><i>Feel free to join us! </i><i>:-)</i><i> Check out the schedule of CGs: </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #151b8d; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif;">HIGH SCHOOL</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Taytay National High School - Mondays, 9am</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">CAYSMNHS - Friday Afternoon</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #151b8d; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif;">COLLEGE</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Roosevelt College Cainta - Tuesdays, 12nn</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">University of Sto. Tomas - Tuesdays, 9:30am</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Far Eastern University - Mondays, 3pm, Tuesdays, 12:30nn</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">University of the East - Tuesdays, 5pm</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">University of Rizal System ANGONO - Wednesdays, 10am</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">University of Rizal System BINANGONAN - Tuesdays/Thursdays, 1:30pm</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<i>Contact +639053079507 for more details (to know the meeting place, etc)</i></div>
</div>
Talitha koumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401899908373307775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5552444857338198273.post-91012148894617196492014-07-13T00:26:00.000+08:002014-07-13T07:25:13.465+08:00"Sister-in-Law"ing 101<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #999999;">One of my beautiful sisters-in-law left for Qatar last Thursday.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #999999;">I am blessed with two sisters-in-law (hi pretty Ate Aimee!) and a sister-in-law-to-be (hihihi pretty Ate Kamyl!)</span><br />
<span style="color: #999999;">Ate Ann was the latest <i>legal</i> addition.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #999999;">And yet she left us too soon.. :( (well good thing that it's not <i>for good</i>)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #999999;">So I thought I would write a blog for one of my readers (haha), my very own, Ate Ann Rafinan-Medina.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #151b8d; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: large;">How to be a Great Sister-in-Law</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Ate Ann actually showed me that a "mere" sister-in-law could actually have a big impact in a family.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The following are the things she does that makes me think so.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">1. </span><span style="color: #151b8d;">Bond </span><span style="color: black;">with your husband's family ...a lot!</span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<a href="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3900/14636070875_cfa5aa6ef3_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3900/14636070875_cfa5aa6ef3_o.jpg" width="320" /></a> I look at Ate Ann, and I see someone who really <br />
wants to get to know everyone of us more. She expressed this by really investing time to go with us to places, and even a lot of effort for us. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Even though it was out of her comfort zone, she initiated conversations and asked us about the important stuff. Well, she generally made each of us feel that she wants to get to know us because we are already <i>her</i> family. I feel her genuine concern for us, and of course, her appreciation of every little thing we do. This makes us more comfortable in being with her. To me, she became more than just a sister-in-law, she became a <b>friend</b>. She is someone I can have so much fun with, yet she is also someone I can talk about the more serious and more personal stuff. She's literally someone I've laughed and cried with!</blockquote>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: large;">2. Bring your husband </span><span style="color: #151b8d; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: large;">closer </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: large;">to his own family</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2916/14632821251_3b032c8418_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2916/14632821251_3b032c8418_o.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
Relationships, well at least the immature ones, tend to snatch away the individual from his/her own family too early in the relationship. The guy spends less time with his family, as he exerts more effort to please his girlfriend. The girl has reserved almost all her affection for her guy, leaving a scanty amount for her family. While this is very common in modern relationships, this is not true with my Ate Ann and Kuya Pao. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Before Kuya Pao met Ate Ann, we were relatively close <i>(if by close, you meant teasing each other all the time and fighting round the clock)</i>. But when Ate Ann came into the picture, she inspired me to know my brother deeper. She became a connection to my brother, because she's a lady whom I can relate to more. Our conversations made me know my brother better, and actually be excited to bond with them! Haha! More than that, Ate Ann encourages my brother to show appreciation to everyone of my family. She never kept my brother to herself. Rather, she inspired him to be even more thoughtful of us. <i>(my kuya was already thoughtful before, but now, his thoughtfulness tripled! ha! amazing!)</i></blockquote>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: large;">3. </span><span style="color: #151b8d; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: large;">Love </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: large;">your husband with all your heart</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3909/14449413700_ab1c74828d_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3909/14449413700_ab1c74828d_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
His family has loved him for 26 years, and it would be tormenting to see him end up with someone who does not care about him. Ate Ann? Oh after 5 years of being in a relationship with my kuya, her love and respect for him has become very tangible. My brother can be very crazy sometimes, and Ate Ann knows well how to tame the beast! :)) I am never worried that my brother would be mistreated by her. In fact, I am very excited because I see how she helps my brother to become a better person through her love!<br />
<i>Aww sweeeeet</i> :))</blockquote>
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: large;">4. Be part of the family's </span><span style="color: #151b8d; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: large;">journey with God</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Our family have gone through a lot of ups and downs and we recognize that it is God, only God, who gave us everything we needed to overcome. That's why, it is very precious to me to see my sister-in-law, also valuing that. She also personally wanted to experience what I, we, experience in God, without someone forcing her to do so. She knows that it was never about the religion, but about the relationship with God. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
We had our first Bible Study last week, and before Ate Ann left, she gave us the privilege of enjoying it with her. That, in my perspective, took our relationship a lot deeper than ever before. My friendship with my sister-in-law became something that has an eternal value in my heart! It's something which I think is worth more than gold. :')</blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3835/14449413809_b83069295a_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="800" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3835/14449413809_453959ecd3_c.jpg" width="532" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>To my Ate Ann, if you're reading this, I just wanna let you know that I appreciate you so much. You are more than the sister I've asked for since I was little! Hahaha! This is why I cannot bring myself to send a message on the day you left - I know that writing to you means I'd be bursting with tears. It's impossible to find someone like you, you already have a unique place in my heart. I will miss you a lot! Every time I will miss you, I will whisper a prayer for you... 'Cause I know that wherever you are right now, it is God who brought you there and He has a lot of lessons for you to learn there! Share mo na lang samin ha? Hehe I love you <b>my</b> Ate Ann!</i></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #151b8d; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: large;">"<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">A wife of noble character</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-17295K" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-17295K" title="See cross-reference K">K</a>)"></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">who can find?</span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #151b8d; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: large;"><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px;"><span class="text Prov-31-10" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">She is worth far more than rubies.</span></span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #151b8d; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: large;"><span class="text Prov-31-11" id="en-NIV-17296" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; position: relative;">Her husband<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-17296M" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-17296M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)"></span> has full confidence in her</span><span class="text Prov-31-11" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 0px; position: relative;"> </span><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px;"><span class="text Prov-31-11" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">and lacks nothing of value.</span></span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #151b8d; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: large;"><span class="text Prov-31-12" id="en-NIV-17297" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; position: relative;">She brings him good, not harm,</span><span class="text Prov-31-12" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 0px; position: relative;"> </span><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px;"><span class="text Prov-31-12" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">all the days of her life."</span></span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #151b8d;"><span style="font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif;">Proverbs 31:10-12</span> </span></blockquote>
Talitha koumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401899908373307775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5552444857338198273.post-73150507250117594932014-07-08T03:18:00.000+08:002014-07-08T20:49:13.243+08:00Finish Strong<div style="text-align: center;">
It was indeed a challenge to write a blog post after what happened to a very inspiring woman of faith.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Our Tita Reby, our dear friend JR's mom, died in an accident while she was at Tikling junction, crossing the street. We are missing her a lot already. :-(</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2929/14596124614_1197dd9bdf_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="436" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2929/14596124614_1197dd9bdf_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Her radiance was from the joy she finds in God!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It was a tragic farewell. And yet, God has been continuously using her life even now that she's no longer with us.<br />
Her life is a big inspiration to people who knew her. She lived her life whole-heartedly following Christ, as witnessed by people around her..<br />
Whew! I cannot imagine how much joy she now has seeing Him, the One she's most passionate about, face to face!<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #151b8d; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: large;">"For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain."</span><br />
Philippians 1:21<br />
<br />
Each person's memory of Tita Reby was of her kindness, her pure heart and her love for Jesus.<br />
From her husband, sons, daughters, grandchildren, to us, who had only little but very meaningful encounters with her, seem to only think of her amazing love for God and for others when we think of her. She is a very devoted worshiper of God and lived every bit of her last days on earth for God.<br />
<br />
<b>She faithfully sought the Lord everyday.</b><br />
She would wake up at 3am everyday to read the Bible, praise God with all her heart, and pray.<br />
In fact, she had a journal entry written earlier that day, filled with praises and reverence to the King!<br />
Her writing bursts with the love and the delight she has in God!<br />
<br />
<b>She used all of her days to love others with all that she is.</b><br />
Every testimony we hear from various encounters of various people with her was overwhelming with her love and service.<br />
From her immediate family, we hear of a mother and of a wife who put them first before herself. From those around her, we hear of how she treated them like they were family. From the others, we hear of how she used brief encounters to be a blessing in whichever way she could.<br />
Everyone tells of a woman who had so much passion for God that she fervently prayed that more people would experience the joy of being in a relationship with Him.<br />
<br />
What she left is a legacy.<br />
She lived almost 68 years on earth, yet her physical age never interfered with her service to God and to others. The more we recounted her life on earth, the more her lifestyle is exposed to more people, the more her life shines with God's glory! She who worshiped God until she breathed her last. She who spent every last minute of her life to bless others. And now, she is with our Lord in heaven, doing the very things she genuinely delighted in - worshiping God and standing before all His glory!<br />
<span style="color: #999999;">(and so there is that hope that we will be reunited with her, rejoicing in the presence of God, <i>soon</i>)</span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: black;">I don't know about you, but for me, I want to say goodbye like Tita Reby.</span></b><br />
Even in her last farewell, God uses her life timelessly, to lead people to Christ - her life being a great testimony of how God strengthens us and sustains us<br />
<span style="font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">so that we, His soldiers, would live<i> </i>a life that strongly impacts others' and</span> <span style="color: #151b8d;">finish strong</span>.</span><br />
<br />
<i>..and reunited with our Sustainer we will be, more delightful in His presence than ever.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Let us all pray for comfort for the Rebenque and Ponciano families, and for everyone else who counts her as family, in his/her heart and in the faith.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>1 Thessalonians 4:13</i></div>
</div>
Talitha koumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401899908373307775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5552444857338198273.post-69905291046335046642014-07-01T22:14:00.000+08:002014-07-02T00:06:28.474+08:00There SHOULD be Shedding of Blood!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #151b8d; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: large;">"In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding <i>your blood</i>."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif;">Hebrews 12:4</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3876/14364202128_12c4952c59_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3876/14364202128_12c4952c59_o.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Prisoner" by <a href="http://www.eoloperfido.com/" target="_blank">Eolo Perfido</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sin = death.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sin gives nothing but temporary pleasure or an easy way out.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sin only entraps, destroys.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Heard about habitual sin?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It can be pre-marital sex, pornography, masturbation, <i>overeating</i>, gossip, foolish talking, coarse joking, drunkenness, idleness ... oh the list could just go on and on.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It becomes a habit, an addiction, most probably because you think you get a lot from it.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But even though you think you're getting something from it, you know in your heart that it's not what you really want. That's why you try to fight it. <i>Try.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You may be tired to go through the cycle over and over again.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The cycle of repenting, and, <i>sadly</i>, repeating.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
After hearing one sermon, or maybe attending a youth camp, you may find yourself conversing with God, a dialogue you think would be the last of its kind. You ask for repentance and you vow to never do it again. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And yet, after a few days...........</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Oh sin would <i>never </i>lead us to what our hearts truly desire!</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It would not give us real joy, real peace, or even the permanent solution to our problems.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Thinking otherwise is just a product of deception. Sin is never the right answer.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>So why do we cling to it so much that we never really learn to stand up against it with all our might?</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;">Unless your sinful nature dies, it would be hard for you to live for Christ.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Christ and your sin cannot be comfortably sitting across one another in your heart. It just doesn't work like that, they are <i>stark contrasts</i> of each other. A holy God like our God have <i><span style="color: #151b8d;">nothing</span></i> to do with wickedness!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
If you really want to witness how the Spirit could powerfully move in you, renovating and transforming all of the rooms of your heart, not just a <i>guest</i> sitting at the porch, be reminded that overcoming sin is part of it.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The good news? God abundantly supplies us with what we need to end up as victors against sin. In fact, in Jesus Christ, <i>it is finished</i>.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So we should stop being slaves to sin as if it still has ultimate power over us. Our counterpart is to respond to God's gentle, loving, constant discipline to have nothing to do with sin! We should have the willpower to defeat and trample sin underneath our feet. No matter how hard, we should submit to God and to learn about discipline.</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30224R" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30224R" title="See cross-reference R">R</a>)"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> for those who have been trained by it.</span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Hebrews 12:11</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
If you know you are weak when it comes to pornography, be extra extra cautious when you're surfing the net (<i>or even try fasting on the internet</i>). If masturbation is your weakness, resist being alone in a private room! If you struggle with gossiping, don't rashly join in conversations about other people without sincerely praying first!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: x-large;">Fight sin until it </span><span style="color: #151b8d; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: x-large;">seriously hurts</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: x-large;">!!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
What we need is the willingness to resist temptation even to our limits - <b><span style="color: #151b8d;">even to the point of shedding of </span><span style="color: #990000;">blood</span></b>. <i><span style="color: #666666;">Kahit na ikamatay mo pa yang paglaban sa kasalanan.</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
If we learn to submit to the discipline of the Lord, if we learn to <i><span style="color: black;">"throw off everything that hinders and the sin that easily entangles"</span></i>, we would see miracles, far greater than we've ever seen before, happen around us.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And what's the best about being dead to sin?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: large;">We experience true freedom in Christ.</span><br />
<span style="color: #151b8d; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: large;">We end up enjoying the life God has beautifully orchestrated for us!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>For further reading hover over these verse:</i></div>
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Romans 6:23 | 2 Corinthians 12:9 | John 19:30 | 1 Corinthians 10:13 | Romans 6:11-12 | Romans 6 | Hebrews 12:1-3 | Hebrews 12 | Hebrews 9:22</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #151b8d; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: large;">#RevolutionizingTheFightAgainstSin</span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div>
Talitha koumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401899908373307775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5552444857338198273.post-52221481931458825962014-07-01T01:41:00.001+08:002014-07-01T10:47:50.275+08:00Cellgroufie<div style="text-align: center;">
Comrade group at Roosevelt College Cainta, with Abby, one of my <i>panganays</i>, and her friend.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I praise God for His tangible presence earlier.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Please excuse our shameless #cellgroufies <3</td></tr>
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<br />
God is at work in this generation.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It makes sense that we give Him our best in reaching out to today's youth and</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #151b8d;">do campus ministry</span></b>.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #151b8d; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 25px;">#CampusLusob</span></div>
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Talitha koumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401899908373307775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5552444857338198273.post-75067257120332437642014-07-01T00:10:00.000+08:002014-07-01T16:10:38.482+08:00When Life is in Black&White<div style="text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dress: Forever 21 | Necklace: Forever 21</td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><b>Life is not always as colorful as we want it to be.</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #151b8d;">Nevertheless, we should always be reminded to look at things in the way God sees it.</span></b></div>
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When it is not as happy as we think it should be, when everything around us seems to give us problems, we tend to focus more on ourselves and less on others.</div>
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When life is in black and white, it's easy to fail to see the bursting of colors around us.</div>
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We easily overlook the opportunities to serve God, the chances to help out people in need.</div>
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We think that when we have problems, we earn the right to be selfish.</div>
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<br /></div>
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But the real deal is that, when you give others what you can give them, like encouragement, time, effort or even material support, despite the stinging reality that you too are hurting, you witness how God works.</div>
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Witnessing how God works in other people's lives reminds us how God can also work in the things that give us distress.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;">So when life is in black and white, </span><span style="color: #151b8d;">all the more be a blessing to people around you in gratitude to the Creator of everything beautiful.</span></span></div>
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'Cause you never how simply sharing an umbrella with someone could paint rainbows in both of your lives!<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Phil-2-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px;">Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit,<span class="crossref" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29393A" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29393A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></span> if any tenderness and compassion,<span class="crossref" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29393B" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29393B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="text Phil-2-2" id="en-NIV-29394" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px;">then make my joy complete<span class="crossref" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29394C" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29394C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></span> by being like-minded,<span class="crossref" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29394D" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29394D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></span> having the same love, being one<span class="crossref" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29394E" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29394E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)"></span> in spirit and of one mind.</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="text Phil-2-3" id="en-NIV-29395" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px;">Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.<span class="crossref" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29395F" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29395F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)"></span>Rather, <b><span style="color: #151b8d;">in humility value others above yourselves,</span></b><span class="crossref" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29395G" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29395G" title="See cross-reference G">G</a>)"></span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="text Phil-2-4" id="en-NIV-29396" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px;">not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.</span></span></div>
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Philippians 2:1-4</div>
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<span style="color: #151b8d; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">#RevolutionizingProblem-Solving</span></span></div>
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</div>Talitha koumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401899908373307775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5552444857338198273.post-79034822874433875482014-06-29T14:10:00.003+08:002014-06-29T14:22:20.642+08:00With God Equipping Us, We Sure Can!<div style="text-align: center;">
It's our first time to disciple a married couple.</div>
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They say you need experience first before you could give any advise to married people.</div>
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Well, I say, we are students of the wisdom of God, so nothing is impossible.</div>
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This wisdom comes in different forms, and first-hand experience is just one of its avenues.</div>
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You can find wisdom in observing and reflecting on your surroundings, and of course, in His Word.</div>
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This is really a nerve-racking and exciting experience to walk with these young people as they offer their marriage to the Lord!</div>
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I am not the most experienced person to help them, but one thing I know, God prepared both Jopel and I for this.<br />
..and I know that more than any wisdom on earth, it is His love that could teach me, us, how to disciple these guys and help them towards Christlikeness.<br />
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<b><span style="color: black;">Was blessed to see their repentant hearts </span><span style="color: #151b8d;">thirst for more of God</span><span style="color: black;">!</span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif;">Jesus looked at them and said, </span><span style="color: #151b8d; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif;">"With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif;">Matthew 19:26</span></span><br />
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Don't ever limit yourself by lack of experience. Know in your heart that there's nothing you cannot do, if God is with you in doing it!<br />
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<span style="color: #151b8d; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: large;">#RevolutionizingDiscipleship</span></div>
</div>Talitha koumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401899908373307775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5552444857338198273.post-77418433681113376582014-06-25T02:01:00.000+08:002014-06-26T10:28:14.483+08:00OUTBREAK<div style="text-align: center;">
Campus Ministry at URS-Binangonan!</div>
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Pastora Jana. Claudine (my lovely CG member) and I met with a Christian organization's president and some of its officers to arrange Gencon's partnership with them in spreading the great news of love in their campus!</div>
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<span style="color: #151b8d; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: large;">#CampusLusob</span></div>
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Talitha koumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401899908373307775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5552444857338198273.post-22011273359741286672014-06-25T00:04:00.002+08:002014-06-25T00:04:24.244+08:00She'll Always Be My Baby!<div style="text-align: center;">
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<img height="384" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2920/14496730034_e51f837e41_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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This is one of my disciples from Arenda Church of the Nazarene.<br />
She got married last Sunday.<br />
And she's my baby and my love no matter what. ;)<br />
<i>Hinding hindi akong magsasawang makinig, maki-tawa, maki-luto, maki-kilig, at syempre, maki-worship sa labidabs kong ito. Kat, ikaw ang palaging kasama ko sa kakikayan, at kalaban ko sa kainan. Hehe.. Sana lumalim pa lalo relationship natin,</i><br />
<span style="color: #151b8d; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: large;">Katrina Loy-A<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">—</span>Ricafranca</span><br />
<b><span style="color: black;">I love you!</span></b> <span style="color: black;">❤</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?</span><span class="crossreference" style="background-color: white; font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; text-align: start; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28152BY" title="See cross-reference BY">BY</a>)"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"> Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?</span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Romans 8:35</span></span></i></div>
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Talitha koumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401899908373307775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5552444857338198273.post-51107958009813449062014-06-23T21:48:00.000+08:002014-06-23T22:12:41.264+08:00Not by force, not by strength!<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5582/14302350799_ba3957af30_o.jpg" target="_blank"><img height="800" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5582/14302350799_ba3957af30_c.jpg" width="531" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maxi: Forever 21</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: large;">"<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: </span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #151b8d;">'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,'</span></span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"> says the LORD Almighty."</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Zechariah 4:6</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Modesty, as all of the other discipline we should develop for God, does not come by force, nor by strength.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You cannot force someone to involve in this pursuit, you cannot force someone to dress modestly, a relatively radical way for the modern woman to worship God..</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">..just as how you cannot force <i>yourself</i> to have the discipline that pleases God.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It is only by the Spirit that we have such discipline.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: large;">It is only when you give the Spirit control over your heart that you could experience total transformation.</span></span></div>
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<i>Ready to be all out for God?</i></div>
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<i>..it starts with just allowing the Spirit to soak you in His power.</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<span style="color: #151b8d; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: large;">#RevolutionizingFashion</span></div>
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Talitha koumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401899908373307775noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5552444857338198273.post-86088238277621045662014-06-20T02:07:00.000+08:002014-06-20T14:40:26.154+08:00Death is just around the corner<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">I have been surrounded by the idea of death lately. My mind was led to this idea by crazy dreams, the books The Fault in Our Stars (<i>John Green</i>), Heaven is For Real (<i>Todd Burpo</i>) among others.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #151b8d; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: x-large;">Death.</span></div>
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A word we do not talk about so much. It's not the word you hear in your everyday discourse. It poses a lot of questions like, <i>is there life after death?</i> <i>What is it like when you are about to breathe your last breath?</i> <i>Will fear of it still be there?</i></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Awesome conceptual photo grabbed <a href="http://browseideas.com/creative-ideas-of-conceptual-photography/" target="_blank">here</a>.</td></tr>
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We spend all our life haunted by this reality.</div>
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We seldom talk about it, but we can never deny the influence of the idea of death on our lives. <span style="color: #666666;">(could be a conscious or </span><i style="color: #666666;">unconscious </i><span style="color: #666666;">influence</span><span style="color: #666666;">)</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black;">Some people</span> <span style="color: #151b8d;">spend a lot of money just to</span></b><span style="color: #151b8d;"> <b>delay death</b></span>.</div>
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From anti-aging creams to inflating hospital bills. They are the ones who would give everything just to take a sip from the fountain of youth.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="color: black;">Some people, those who do not have the luxury to spend much to delay death, </span><span style="color: #151b8d;">regard life as an everyday test of survival</span>.</b><br />
They do not want their bodies to just waste away and succumb to the everyday taunting of death, so they do everything they can to get through every single day. These are the ones who would do everything, even to steal, or to do dirty work, just to keep their stomachs from being empty. That defines <i>all </i>their life. There's no time to reflect on the beauty of life, because all life offered them was grim reality. They don't have time to spare to reflect on what life is really all about. All they know is they need to keep themselves alive for the day.</div>
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Even though we know that we could never evade death, we try to run from it even though we know how the chase will end.</div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif;">This journey of life, is, after all, our journey towards death.</span></div>
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We know that everything here is gonna end.</div>
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That's why<b> <span style="color: black;">some, who understand that they cannot delay death as much as they want to, </span><span style="color: #151b8d;">focus more on making most of their lives</span>.</b></div>
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They spend all of their time, their effort, their money just to improve the quality of their life.</div>
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This is not a bad principle, right?</div>
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But there is just a little problem about this.. Some people die while they are still "preparing" the life they wanted to enjoy! Some die even before they enjoy the fruits of their labor. Some die with their time used up busy for work, or for studying, or for anything else they did to prompt the way to a better life. ..and they die without spending time just appreciating life itself.</div>
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Some fear death, so they have this intricate plans and principles they live on,<span style="color: black;"> </span><b><span style="color: black;">while some, with the very mindset that life on earth is temporary,</span><span style="color: #151b8d;"> don't bother to make plans or goals at all</span>.</b><br />
They are the ones who just live for the moment and doesn't care what they make out of their lives. It will end soon, and it will soon be forgotten like <span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>"a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." </i>(James 4:14)</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"> </span>why would they even bother to make it look pleasant? They would as well just do what they please. ..at the moment.</div>
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<b><span style="color: black;">Some people? Well, they die after they've</span> <span style="color: #151b8d;">watched their dreams unfold</span>.</b><br />
They see their kids grow in a nice home, get married and start a family as nice as theirs. They are the ones who sit in their balcony and let out a sigh and play with the thought that <i>"life is good"</i>. They are the ones who understand life in a depth youngster would hardly grasp.</div>
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But is it all that there is to life?</div>
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Is life on earth solely about that little span of time between your birth and your death?</div>
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Is life all about what you make of <i>yourself</i> before you die?</div>
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Is the beauty some people, who know how to look beyond the superficial stuff about life, marvel at, encompass life here on earth?</div>
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Is there more to life than what anyone on earth knows about it?</div>
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Or, is it that, like what Hazel Grace Lancaster said, maybe there's no point?</div>
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You know what, in my perspective, there's more to life than what we, on earth, can comprehend.</div>
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Everyday, we beat our bodies to do things we think we need to do, we do our best to endure the difficulty of life here on earth. And then someone will say that it's all for nothing?</div>
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That's just ridiculous!<br />
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We have to admit it. Our life will soon be forgotten by the world. Quoting John Green in The Fault in Our Stars,</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“There will come a time when all of us are dead. All of us. There will come a time when there are no human beings remaining to remember that anyone ever existed or that our species ever did anything. There will be no one left to remember Aristotle or Cleopatra, let alone you. Everything that we did and built and wrote and thought and discovered will be forgotten and all of this will have been for naught. Maybe that time is coming soon and maybe it is millions of years away, but even if we survive the collapse of our sun, we will not survive forever. There was time before organisms experienced consciousness, and there will be time after.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">”</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"> </span></blockquote>
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<br /></div>
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..but there has to be something more to life.<br />
<br />
It is when I think about death that I realize the weight and the grandeur of what Paul said to the Philippians:</div>
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<span style="color: #151b8d; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: large;">"For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain."</span></div>
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Philippians 1:21</div>
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Life is living by the example of Christ who was not afraid of death, and who, through the most beautiful sacrifice done for humankind, the death on the cross, has freed us from the bondage of sin and of death. In Him, death has lost its sting. If we live by this, we would look at death and only see the door that leads to paradise, endless days of being with Jesus.</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="text 1Cor-15-54" id="en-NIV-28773"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Death has been swallowed up in victory.”</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“Where, O death, is your victory?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text 1Cor-15-55" style="position: relative;">Where, O death, is your sting?”</span></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">1 Corinthians 15:54-55</span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: 20px;">Our lives can only have an eternal worth if we live by its sole purpose - to worship God. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: 27px;"><span style="color: #151b8d;">We live to bring glory to the very Creator who breathed <b>life</b> into our nostrils</span>.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="color: #999999;">How does the idea of death, of everything being ephemeral, influence your life? What type of death-dealer are you?</span></i><br />
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Talitha koumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401899908373307775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5552444857338198273.post-73108315758865400412014-06-17T21:43:00.002+08:002014-06-18T10:19:10.029+08:00Clothed in Christ<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">"Rather, </span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #151b8d; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ</span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif;">Romans 13:14</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This verse interests me a lot because it is in the heart of my pursuit of modesty.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It is fascinating enough that the writer used the word <i>"clothe"</i>, but the message of this verse makes it all the more beautiful!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our clothing is what other people see on the outside, and this verse suggests that we should be seen by the people around us following the example of Jesus Christ. It conveys the importance of following Jesus every minute, no matter what we do, no matter the situation, no matter how hard it is. Ever heard of the phrase, <i>"huhubarin ang pagiging Kristyano"</i>? It's like putting aside your values and beliefs to do something <i>you know</i> <i>you shouldn't do. </i>It's like showing people a different version of you, one who breaks rules, in order to get what you want. In other words? .. in order to <i>"gratify the desires of the flesh"</i>. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Whether it's revenge, defense, or simply doing what you please.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm quite sure it wouldn't be worth taking off you Christianity for!</span></span></div>
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I can relate this so much to modesty, 'cause my clothes become a unique reminder of this verse for me.</div>
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Everyday, whenever I choose which clothes I will wear, I do it with a mind fixed on what would please God, and not on just what I think would make me look good. During the time I choose my clothes, I learn to beat myself, to fight the selfish desire of wearing the trendy immodest pieces.</div>
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The result?</div>
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All day, I wear an ensemble that reminds me to fight against my selfish desires,</div>
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to have that kingdom mentality,</div>
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to do everything in line with my choice to <b><span style="color: #151b8d;">follow Christ</span></b>.</div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: x-large;">Being clothed in Christ is</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #151b8d;">being clothed in power</span>.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #151b8d; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: large;">#RevolutionizingFashion</span></div>
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Talitha koumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401899908373307775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5552444857338198273.post-8381324536887015412014-06-11T22:16:00.000+08:002014-06-12T00:56:59.551+08:00Who wants to be a trend-setter?<div style="text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top: thrifted | Polka-dot Overalls: Forever 21 | Shoes: Aeropostale</td></tr>
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<b>Be a bold trend-setter!</b></div>
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I wasn't always modest, but I was always an admirer of fashion. I adore how one can wear <i>a piece of art</i>, and I realize how much courage one should muster if she wants to be a trend-setter. Trends aren't born overnight - these are set by fashion revolutionists who are bored of the mainstream and who think that <b><span style="color: #151b8d;">creativity is limitless</span></b>.</div>
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I know how bold one should be if you want to be more creative with your clothes! If bold colors are a trend right now, like those found in runways this Summer 2014 (see this <i><a href="http://fayemedina.blogspot.com/2014/06/brighter-for-son.html" target="_blank">post</a></i>), you would need the guts to color-block in the midst of the pale crowd! Sporting a trend can mean having your <b><span style="color: #151b8d;">passion</span></b> rule over your insecurities and fears.</div>
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But what is your passion?<br />
What <i>should be </i>your passion?</div>
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Be passionate about the most beautiful thing in the world! Yes, be passionate about something even more beautiful than <b>fashion itself</b>!</div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif;">Fix your heart on the Designer of everything beautiful! Be passionate about God <i>more than anything.</i></span> </span></div>
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Your clothes <i>can </i>be a very bold expression of what you're really passionate about.</div>
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Are you more passionate about fashion, following the newest trends? Or are you more passionate for God, using fashion to <b>glorify God</b>?</div>
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<span style="font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: large;">It's your choice.</span></div>
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I don't know about you.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif;">But for me, if I am bold in sporting a bright orange shirt in a scandalous polka-dot overalls,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif;"><span style="color: #151b8d;">I choose to be bolder in sporting a timeless trend called <b>modesty</b>, all for the glory of the Lord!</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #151b8d; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 25px;">#RevolutionizingSettingTrends</span></div>
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Talitha koumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401899908373307775noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5552444857338198273.post-54022779455377854872014-06-06T12:59:00.000+08:002014-06-06T13:10:28.355+08:00I was never self-righteous, not even once.<div style="text-align: center;">
You never thought you were self-righteous, did you?<br />
The title could have been echoing, maybe not in your mouth but in your heart, for so long now.</div>
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The first mark of self-righteousness is not admitting to yourself that you are, indeed, self-righteous.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3866/14169874698_67247424b2_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3866/14169874698_67247424b2_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-righteous" target="_blank">Merriam-Webster</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #151b8d; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif;">Self-righteousness</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif;"> is nothing but</span> <span style="color: #151b8d; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif;">venom</span>.</span><br />
It seems good at first, boosting your self-esteem. Boost your self-esteem too high and you arrive at a very dangerous place.<br />
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So, what does self-righteousness make you?<br />
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<ul><ul><ul>
<li><b><span style="color: black;">Judgmental on others</span></b>. <i>All you see and all you look for are the wrong stuff people think, say or do.</i></li>
<li><b><span style="color: black;">You think that you're superior over other people.</span></b><i> You treat them accordingly, unconsciously stepping down on them with your words or with your actions.</i></li>
<li><b><span style="color: black;">There's a thick wall between you and people.</span></b> <i>You never let your guards down so they wouldn't see your weakness; they, too become alarmed and not show their true self to you. Thus, a big relationship barrier.</i></li>
<li><b><span style="color: black;">You think that you're better than what you really are. </span></b><i>All you see and look for are the right things you think of, say or do.</i></li>
<li><b><span style="color: black;">Blind to your own mistakes. </span></b><i>It is hard for you to see your shortcomings or your <b>sin</b>.</i></li>
<li><b><span style="color: black;">The <i>same </i>person as yesterday.</span></b> <i>Since you are in denial of your own mistakes, you would not know how you can improve.</i></li>
<li><b><span style="color: black;">Prideful before God.</span> </b><i>Instead of seeing <b><span style="color: black;">the enormous role God</span></b> has in the things that happen in your life <span style="color: #999999;">(and be humbled by it)</span>, you'll try to take the credit and <b><span style="color: #151b8d;">exaggerate the tiny role </span></b>you had in everything!! </i></li>
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<span style="font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: x-large;">"There is no one righteous, not even one;"</span><i> </i><br />
Romans 3:10<br />
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<i>Boom, sampal!</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Let's check out the context of this verse.<br />
This line was said by Paul to the Romans. He was talking to the Jews, who already learned to recognized Jesus as Lord, but whose hearts were still stained by their pride in how they followed the law. This pride, or self-righteousness made them think lowly of their Gentile neighbors and might also made them the things I've listed earlier. Paul hated this pride before God, and so quoted Psalms and Ecclesiastes. Read more of this in Romans 3:9-20.<br />
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This is what the Bible says. Does this say that no one is ever pleasing in God's eyes? No, it doesn't. But it definitely says that everyone has nothing to brag before Him. <i>Every. One. </i>My reflection on this is that every little good thing we do, every righteous corner of our heart, were not the fruits of our righteousness. <b><span style="color: #151b8d;">These, too, are products of His grace, are given and are inspired by God.</span></b><br />
So if we do something good or righteous, is it fitting to credit it to ourselves? Definitely not! Because we know how weak, how unholy and how sinful we are.<br />
The strength and the capacity to do good are all from God!<br />
Who, then, are we to brag about what we do for Him?<br />
<span style="color: #666666;">(you could be a braggart in your heart, ya know, and seem to others like you're the humblest person on earth)</span><br />
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Also, it is hard to bear the guilt of sin, that's why we do things to keep our minds away from it - we focus on the <i>"great things"</i> we do!<br />
You think that because you are such a "good person", God will try to ignore your sins.<br />
You end up judging those who indulge in vices (if you don't), or those unbelievers. If you're holding a position in your church, you could have a tendency to look down on your laymen and think of them as less faithful. Looking so highly of yourself makes Romans 3:10 a verse hard to believe and to understand!<br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">There was a man who committed murder and was brought into trial, before the Judge. He enumerated the good things he's done - lots of charity work, helping old people cross the road and whatnot. He used these to appeal to the Judge. Do you think the Judge would let this man's good works influence the verdict on his murder?</span></blockquote>
No matter who you have become right now, no matter the position or the number of things you do for God, it is He who brought you here. Your title or the number of years of being a believer do not justify your sins. Learn to humble yourself before God everyday, and regularly reflect on the sins you've committed, let God search your heart deeper until He transforms you through and through.<br />
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<span style="color: #151b8d; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: large;">Because the one who's truly righteous is the one whose righteousness came from God, and not from the prideful self-seeker inside him.</span><br />
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<i><span style="color: #999999;">I was the most self-righteous person that I know. God is at work with it, and I learned that humbling yourself before God and allowing Him to change that self-righteousness into something real is very liberating!</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #999999;">How about you? When are the times you think you're most self-righteous? How do you let God pull that poison out of your system?</span></i></div>
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Talitha koumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401899908373307775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5552444857338198273.post-49783851042437674862014-06-06T09:49:00.000+08:002014-06-06T09:49:11.889+08:00"Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as intruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God , as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness."- Romans 6:13Talitha koumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401899908373307775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5552444857338198273.post-58159274321538093052014-06-04T15:51:00.001+08:002014-06-04T15:51:44.023+08:00Little Setbacks are Little Tests of Faith<div style="text-align: center;">
Chip boards for the exhibit on Sunday ... <b>wet</b>.</div>
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<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: x-large;">'Cause imperfections make </span><span style="color: #151b8d; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: x-large;">better stories</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Cuprum, arial, serif; font-size: x-large;"> to tell!</span></div>Talitha koumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401899908373307775noreply@blogger.com0